Last time on “The Pony Is Now A Horse” Quest:
>With Pinkie, you were brought before Princess Luna in the throne room.
>As expected, she accused you of bring responsible for the state of emergency Equestria is in.
>Did your best to explain that you had no memory and couldn’t understand what's even going on.
>Pinkie Pie supported by attesting to your good deeds.
>Luna refused to believe you, thinking you had tricked the ponies.
>After some arguing and tactful wordplay, Luna seemed to come around to let her guard down.
>You asked why your people had done to deserve such animosity.
>Luna explained that your people had came to Equestria long ago and had caused an all out war, using tactics similar to what is happening now.
>After convincing her that you yourself meant no harm and asked what you could possibly do to show that, she asked for your help with her sister.
>After you and Pinkie swore to secrecy, she brought you to Celestia, who seems to be acting like a mindless animal, chewing on books and rubbing on walls.
>You could no find what the cause was. Luna explained that Celestia was found in this state after she had left to speak with your people.
You are Rusty Shackleford, a human who has found himself lost in Equestria with no memory.
Currently, you are in Princess Celestia's bedroom with Princess Luna and Pinkie Pie. There was a sudden flash of green flame and a very large scrolled letter has plopped to the ground at Celestia's hooves.
You quickly go over and scoop up the scroll just as Celestia was bending down, probably intent on chewing it. Its deceptively heavy in weight. Mindful of where you are, you take it over to Luna.
As she undoes the seal, a huge roll of parchment unfurls down to her hooves and across the floor. No wonder it was so heavy. Luna reads aloud.
Please listen. I was wrong before. The human named Rusty is a good honest person. I was scared before because of all the trouble in Ponyville and the prolonged silence from Princess Celestia.
I know he has been arrested and take by two guards a day ago and they've probably made it to you by now. I don't know why you think he is so dangerous, but I can promises you he's no threat to anyone! He has proven himself to be a good friend and protector of Ponyville, risking his own life several times. I have gathered a list of signatures below to attest to this fact.
I know that these are difficult times for everyone, but I'm sure Rusty is not to blame for any of it. Please Princess, listen to reason.
Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle."
Luna looks down at the long list on the flood.
"I believe this is everyone in Ponyville..."
You feel really good about Ponyville's support for you, but try no to let it show and end up miffing the princess. Instead you turn to Pinkie, who is lying on top of Celestia's back.
"Any ideas, Pinkie?" You say, gesturing to Celestia.
"Nope!" She say with a smile. "Too bad Twilight isn’t here. She's the brainy one."
"Huh," You think for a moment and turn back to Luna who is rolling the letter back up. "Princess, would it be possible if the Elements of Harmony could fix your sister?"
"Of course!" She says, her expression lightening up since the first time you've seen her. "The Elements can do anything under the correct circumstances. I will send Twilight Sparkle a letter. It will be best if all the elements were gathered here at Canterlot."
The younger Princess goes over to a table and begins to jot a quick letter with a long quill.
“Wait, what about Rarity?" Pinkie says
"Oh right, I forgot!" You say, smacking yourself in the head. "She's still missing with those guards."
"Patrols are already searching for them." Luna says, wrapping the parchment into a tight scroll. "After what you've told me, we'll be able to refine the search area much more by focusing on the underground. Do not worry, they will be found."
With a whiff of magic, the scroll disappears in a cloud of smoke, which then flies out the open balcony.
"You know, I've been thinking." You say aloud, watching the letter go. "Something Twilight said about the helmet head we had in Ponyville. They're supposed to live deep underground. And when I was in those caves, I think I saw a spider and slime sorta like the ones that attacked the town, too. Maybe whatever is going on, its underground."
"That does make sense," Luna says, looking intently at Celestia, who is laying on her back with Pinkie. "My sister never did tell me where your people disappeared to."
"Do you think the humans went underground?"
"It's possible. The cave systems of Equestria are extensive. If your people have been hiding all this time, that would be a logical place for them to remain unnoticed."
"Also, when I was wandering the tunnels, I was able to get into the city by walking through a magical shield, likes the one around it outside."
"The shield protects Canterlot even from below." Luna explains, but squints at you suspiciously. "But you... shouldn't have been able to simply walk through it. Only authorized ponies can pass through it freely. Or if you forced your way in magically, but I've never known one of your kind to use magic."
“Well, I don't think I have an magic powers." You think back to what happened in the cave. "I just pushed through the shield. There was some resistance, but it wasn’t that hard."
"That simply can't be." Luna says, shaking her head. "The shield is being maintained by several of the best unicorns in Canterlot, as well as myself. A dragon could not force its way through it."
"I don't know what to tell you. I just... got through." You shrug and change the subject. "What do you think we should do? I guess I could find my way back down there and show it to some unicorns or something."
"No," Luna says flatly. "We will retire. You and Pinkie Pie have had a long journey and I have much to still attend to. The best thing to do now is to wait for Twilight Sparkle's repl-"
As if on que, there's a cloud of smoke, a flash of green fire and a letter plops to the ground between the two of you. Lune picks it up and reads.
Twilight and the others left hours ago. They should be there soon, I think.
Spike."
A loud gurgling noise breaks the silence after the letter is read. Both you and Pinkie rub your respective stomachs.
“...When was the last time we had something to eat?” Luna says with a raised eye brow.
"Yesterday," You say
"At lunch," Says Pinkie
"I drank some cave water too,"
"The two of you should rest." Luna says, walking over to Celestia, who is chewing on a pillow. "I'll have a guest room set aside for you and the others when they arrive."
"Thank you, Princess. Come on, pinks."
"Okie dokie!"
The two of you walk over to the large double doors, though Luna is still with Celestia. She's rubbing her side and seems to be saying something to larger pony, but you're too far away to hear what. Celestia continues to munch on a pillow. Luna eventually rejoins the two of you and leads you out and back down the stairs you came up, eventually bringing you to another door.
"I will rejoin you later," Luna says, blinking her eyes. "There is much business for me to attend to. I will instruct the guards to let you go freely so long as you don't make any trouble. For now, I suggest the two of you eat and rest.
"Thank you Luna!" Pinkie says, hugging the blue alicorn. She stiffly gives the pink pony a pat on the back and pushes her off.
"Thank you, Princess." You say too.
"Think nothing of it. But Rusty..."
"Yes?"
Luna's horn glows dimly and you feel your throat tighten. For a few surprised moments, you are unable to breath.
"If I find out that have been lying, that this all deception, you will WISH you had no memory!"
Her horn stops and you take a breath, you hand going to your throat. Luna turns and leaves the two of you without another word.
That was... frightening. You really weren’t expecting that from Luna and feel a little panicked watching her leave. Pinkie is looking back forth between you and her concerned.
"Are you OK?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," You say, clearing your throat. You try to change the subject. "I'm starving. Pinkie, do you know where the kitchen is in this place?"
"Uhhh," Pinkie looks down the hall, trots one way and then goes back the other way. She stops back at the door to the room with you. "I dunno. Usually when me and the others are here they bring us food."
Unsure what else to do, you try the door Luna left you at. Its not locked, so you peak in to find a large bedroom with a plush bed, writing desk, a bookshelf, bathroom and an open air balcony. Its richly decorated, though not quite as nice as Celestia's was.
"Oh, is this where we're staying?" You say aloud. "I found a guest room, Pinkie."
"Me too!" She says from across the hall. You turn to see her already in a room with the door, bouncing on the bed.
You inspect the room. There's a few little nicknacks, like a little marble statuette of a pony prancing, and some stationary on the desk. The bathroom has everything you could need in there. But nothing to eat. You go to Pinkie's room, where she's still bouncing.
"Come on Pinkie, let's see if we can find some food."
"OK!" She says, doing an extra high bounce and flipping onto the ground. The two of you stroll down the hall and wander about until you find a guard.
"Excuse me," You say politely. The guard looks you up and down, his expression completely passive. "Do you know where we can get something to eat? Like a kitchen?"
"Yes, you take a left down th-"
You and Pinkie are flung forward into the guard as the entire building seems to rock violently with a loud audible bang. The three of you sprawl on the ground there, you trying to push Pinking off your chest, the guard trying to push you off him. Just as you get yourselves separated there’s another bang and you all fall down again, this time into the wall.