
After a wonderful dinner at Verdant Fields we had gone out and enjoyed the nights festivities before retiring in my Equestria dreamscape.
The next morning the mares were up bright and early, they wanted to go into town and do some shopping while we were in Canterlot. It had been posted all over town and in the papers that most shops would be closing early today, and tonight was the Royal Banquet so we would need to start getting prepared for it in the early afternoon.
Heading out into the streets of the city we partook of breakfast at corner café. After fortifying ourselves with coffee and blackberry pastries we began our shopping expedition.
Surprisingly Petina was not interested in shopping for clothes, jewelry or other luxury goods today, instead the white unicorn mare made a beeline for the establishment of Canter and Mane Purveyors of Commercial and Office Machinery. Petina was looking to improve the speed of her writing and she’d recently seen articles about the latest in office technology, the typewriter. For the next hour or so she poked and examined several of the models in the showroom and grilled the shop owners about their reliability, cost, training and maintenance. When we left the shop Petina was the proud owner of a new typewriter. It would arrive from Fillydelphia in about two weeks and as part of the expense, which was substantial, Petina would receive several typing lessons and hoof on instructions concerning the care and upkeep of the intricate device. Also delivery and set up in our cottage was included in the price.
With that task accomplished the rest of the morning was spent wandering the streets of Canterlot taking in the sights and sounds of the day. Along the Grand Boulevard city workers had been over the last few days erecting grandstands for the parade, now they were beginning to close off streets in preparation for tomorrows parade. Homes and businesses along the parade route were positively encrusted in ribbons, banners and flags. Over Central Park where the parade would end one could catch glimpses of the Wonderbolts rehearsing tomorrow’s performance.
While many shops were closing at noon today the eateries were not. In fact Service to the Crown Day was one of their most profitable times of the year. At small café near the hotel we were able to get a table outdoors after waiting about forty minutes. The establishment was called The Hearty Hearth and it was a modest café with about twenty tables in all. The café’s usually customers were the ponies who worked in the numerous government offices in the immediate area, the Décor was modest but very clean and well maintained.
Since we knew we’d probably be eating a substantial meal that evening we decided to partake of a fairly light lunch. Our meal consisted broiled asparagus spears that had been briefly marinated in olive oil and a dash of lemon juice; the spears were then sprinkled with sea salt, fresh cracked black pepper and a hard Parmesan-like cheese. Then they were broiled to perfection. Accompanying it was a polenta flavored with cream, fresh herbs and minced sun-dried tomatoes. More of the grated cheese was sprinkled on the polenta.
For beverages we had sparkling mineral water from a source just outside of Canterlot. Cinnamon wafers and tea spiced with orange peel and clove completed our meal, then it was back to hotel to get ready for the evening.
The rest of the afternoon we spent bathing, grooming and fussing over garments. We had arranged with the hotel front desk to have a carriage pick us up 5:30pm and take us to the palace. From our experience last year attending Octavia’s performance we had learned that three ponies wearing fancy dress did not fit well in a Hansom Cab. Besides arriving at palace in a cab seemed unbefitting for such an important evening. Therefore we rented the services of the hotel landau to take us to and from the palace.
At the appointed time we went down to hotel lobby to catch our ride. Waiting for us outside was gleaming black landau with red lacquer trim and matching red crushed velvet interior. Pulling the carriage were two young, very large, very handsome all white unicorn stallions. The stallions’ harnesses and bridles were also black and red with multiple gold bells attached to them. Their coats immaculately groomed and their manes and tails were impeccably combed. Even their long flowing fetlocks were pristine.
It was a very pleasant evening so the landau’s tops were down, and if they hadn’t been Petina would’ve insisted on them being made so. We soon learned that the stallions were twin brothers Snowline and Winter Gift. For rest of the trip Petina sat up front and chatted with them.
The Grand Boulevard was still open in a few areas for traffic. The great thoroughfare was bustling with traffic leading up to the Royal Palace. Gleaming carriages filled of ponies slowly made their way toward the palace. As we neared the palace traffic slowed to a crawl as the Royal Guard was checking for invitations before admitting carriages on to Royal Palace grounds. Finally we were allowed entrance to the palace.
This was the second time we had been invited to a formal function at the palace. After disembarking from our carriage we confirmed our pick up time with Snowline and Winter Gift and then got in the line for admission to the palace. A platoon of seniors from Celestia’s Academy for Gifted Unicorns was assisting with verifying invitations. Invitations were checked and then stamped. Eventually we able to present our invites and were admit to the banquet.
Now I have been in the palace on several occasions but I had never attended such a formal event here. Not even the Garden recital matched the sheer wonder of this evening. The sounds of ponies chatting and laughing, mingled with the sweet sound of chamber music and hundreds of hoofs strolling and dancing across gleaming marble and tiled floor. The scent of perfume, fine food and thousands of burning beeswax candles wafted through the palace. Since we were VIPs a palace page directed us to get in line so our arrival could be properly announced and so we could greet the princesses.
Slowly the line advanced toward the main ballroom entrance. When a pony of importance reached the front of the line they presented their stamped invitation. Then one of the palace unicorn heralds would announce the arrival of the pony or the party of ponies. From there one could go and meet the Royal Sisters. In clear, wondrously magical voices of the heralds carried clearly over the sounds in the ballroom, and yet they did not have to yell to be heard.
Finally it was our turn. The pale green unicorn took or invites scanned them for a moment then turned and announced.
“Now arriving, Sky Brush of Ponyville, Petina DePony of Ponyville and Carousel of Ponyville!”
At this point a pegasi member of Royal Guard in gleaming gold plate and scale armor trotted up to us. He bowed and then addressed us.
“Good evening, if would please accompany me you may greet the Royal Sisters tonight.”
Following our guide we were led toward a raised dais where the Royal Sisters were standing.
To be continued.
I hope you like what you see. Please help make more art like this possible by supporting me at Patreon
The next morning the mares were up bright and early, they wanted to go into town and do some shopping while we were in Canterlot. It had been posted all over town and in the papers that most shops would be closing early today, and tonight was the Royal Banquet so we would need to start getting prepared for it in the early afternoon.
Heading out into the streets of the city we partook of breakfast at corner café. After fortifying ourselves with coffee and blackberry pastries we began our shopping expedition.
Surprisingly Petina was not interested in shopping for clothes, jewelry or other luxury goods today, instead the white unicorn mare made a beeline for the establishment of Canter and Mane Purveyors of Commercial and Office Machinery. Petina was looking to improve the speed of her writing and she’d recently seen articles about the latest in office technology, the typewriter. For the next hour or so she poked and examined several of the models in the showroom and grilled the shop owners about their reliability, cost, training and maintenance. When we left the shop Petina was the proud owner of a new typewriter. It would arrive from Fillydelphia in about two weeks and as part of the expense, which was substantial, Petina would receive several typing lessons and hoof on instructions concerning the care and upkeep of the intricate device. Also delivery and set up in our cottage was included in the price.
With that task accomplished the rest of the morning was spent wandering the streets of Canterlot taking in the sights and sounds of the day. Along the Grand Boulevard city workers had been over the last few days erecting grandstands for the parade, now they were beginning to close off streets in preparation for tomorrows parade. Homes and businesses along the parade route were positively encrusted in ribbons, banners and flags. Over Central Park where the parade would end one could catch glimpses of the Wonderbolts rehearsing tomorrow’s performance.
While many shops were closing at noon today the eateries were not. In fact Service to the Crown Day was one of their most profitable times of the year. At small café near the hotel we were able to get a table outdoors after waiting about forty minutes. The establishment was called The Hearty Hearth and it was a modest café with about twenty tables in all. The café’s usually customers were the ponies who worked in the numerous government offices in the immediate area, the Décor was modest but very clean and well maintained.
Since we knew we’d probably be eating a substantial meal that evening we decided to partake of a fairly light lunch. Our meal consisted broiled asparagus spears that had been briefly marinated in olive oil and a dash of lemon juice; the spears were then sprinkled with sea salt, fresh cracked black pepper and a hard Parmesan-like cheese. Then they were broiled to perfection. Accompanying it was a polenta flavored with cream, fresh herbs and minced sun-dried tomatoes. More of the grated cheese was sprinkled on the polenta.
For beverages we had sparkling mineral water from a source just outside of Canterlot. Cinnamon wafers and tea spiced with orange peel and clove completed our meal, then it was back to hotel to get ready for the evening.
The rest of the afternoon we spent bathing, grooming and fussing over garments. We had arranged with the hotel front desk to have a carriage pick us up 5:30pm and take us to the palace. From our experience last year attending Octavia’s performance we had learned that three ponies wearing fancy dress did not fit well in a Hansom Cab. Besides arriving at palace in a cab seemed unbefitting for such an important evening. Therefore we rented the services of the hotel landau to take us to and from the palace.
At the appointed time we went down to hotel lobby to catch our ride. Waiting for us outside was gleaming black landau with red lacquer trim and matching red crushed velvet interior. Pulling the carriage were two young, very large, very handsome all white unicorn stallions. The stallions’ harnesses and bridles were also black and red with multiple gold bells attached to them. Their coats immaculately groomed and their manes and tails were impeccably combed. Even their long flowing fetlocks were pristine.
It was a very pleasant evening so the landau’s tops were down, and if they hadn’t been Petina would’ve insisted on them being made so. We soon learned that the stallions were twin brothers Snowline and Winter Gift. For rest of the trip Petina sat up front and chatted with them.
The Grand Boulevard was still open in a few areas for traffic. The great thoroughfare was bustling with traffic leading up to the Royal Palace. Gleaming carriages filled of ponies slowly made their way toward the palace. As we neared the palace traffic slowed to a crawl as the Royal Guard was checking for invitations before admitting carriages on to Royal Palace grounds. Finally we were allowed entrance to the palace.
This was the second time we had been invited to a formal function at the palace. After disembarking from our carriage we confirmed our pick up time with Snowline and Winter Gift and then got in the line for admission to the palace. A platoon of seniors from Celestia’s Academy for Gifted Unicorns was assisting with verifying invitations. Invitations were checked and then stamped. Eventually we able to present our invites and were admit to the banquet.
Now I have been in the palace on several occasions but I had never attended such a formal event here. Not even the Garden recital matched the sheer wonder of this evening. The sounds of ponies chatting and laughing, mingled with the sweet sound of chamber music and hundreds of hoofs strolling and dancing across gleaming marble and tiled floor. The scent of perfume, fine food and thousands of burning beeswax candles wafted through the palace. Since we were VIPs a palace page directed us to get in line so our arrival could be properly announced and so we could greet the princesses.
Slowly the line advanced toward the main ballroom entrance. When a pony of importance reached the front of the line they presented their stamped invitation. Then one of the palace unicorn heralds would announce the arrival of the pony or the party of ponies. From there one could go and meet the Royal Sisters. In clear, wondrously magical voices of the heralds carried clearly over the sounds in the ballroom, and yet they did not have to yell to be heard.
Finally it was our turn. The pale green unicorn took or invites scanned them for a moment then turned and announced.
“Now arriving, Sky Brush of Ponyville, Petina DePony of Ponyville and Carousel of Ponyville!”
At this point a pegasi member of Royal Guard in gleaming gold plate and scale armor trotted up to us. He bowed and then addressed us.
“Good evening, if would please accompany me you may greet the Royal Sisters tonight.”
Following our guide we were led toward a raised dais where the Royal Sisters were standing.
To be continued.
I hope you like what you see. Please help make more art like this possible by supporting me at Patreon
Category Artwork (Traditional) / Fanart
Species Horse
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File Size 200.7 kB
Did you have to do such a good job of describing that meal? Now I'm hungry.
Um, heads up. You're really not going to enjoy the banquet then.
Oh, and it looks like Petina enjoyed the trip. For that matter the carriage ponies don't seem to have minded it much either.
Oh Petina would've loved to have brought both them home with us!
Um, heads up. You're really not going to enjoy the banquet then.
Oh, and it looks like Petina enjoyed the trip. For that matter the carriage ponies don't seem to have minded it much either.
Oh Petina would've loved to have brought both them home with us!
Um, heads up. You're really not going to enjoy the banquet then.
Ah, someone will be attacking then? Seems to be a rule in fiction that you can never enjoy a good meal in peace.
Oh Petina would've loved to have brought both them home with us!
I bet Carousel would have been happy to do that, too.
Ah, someone will be attacking then? Seems to be a rule in fiction that you can never enjoy a good meal in peace.
Oh Petina would've loved to have brought both them home with us!
I bet Carousel would have been happy to do that, too.
Oh Petina would've loved to have brought both them home with us!
I bet Carousel would have been happy to do that, too.
Yeah she probably wouldn't have minded although then it came down to a question of what to do with me since our bed wouldn't hold five and the hotel staff would've had kittens if they found out. But in the end problem was solved by the fact that they both already taken.
I bet Carousel would have been happy to do that, too.
Yeah she probably wouldn't have minded although then it came down to a question of what to do with me since our bed wouldn't hold five and the hotel staff would've had kittens if they found out. But in the end problem was solved by the fact that they both already taken.
No both are very good at spotting stallion, or other mares, that are in relationships with other ponies. Especially if those other ponies are not keen on the idea of their mate grazing afar. There have been a couple close calls but they can usually spot claimed ponies or worse ponies who are cheating.
Now that said they are not above flirting with another pony if they think it won't cause "too much" trouble.
Now that said they are not above flirting with another pony if they think it won't cause "too much" trouble.
The Unicorns in The Last Unicorn were all white with some having ice blue highlights. These are different than the Unicorns there because of the tails, horse like instead of snakey like a cows or a lions tail. This seems to be the standard for Equestrian Unicorns. (also, Edward from the Unicorn Western series was apportioned this way.)
These two are handsome enough, rare to find Unicorns that are strong, as the earth ponies usually do the things that require strength.
Also, I had no idea what a Landau was till this picture. is that what a Convertible Carriage is called? (using the term as known to todays cars?)
These two are handsome enough, rare to find Unicorns that are strong, as the earth ponies usually do the things that require strength.
Also, I had no idea what a Landau was till this picture. is that what a Convertible Carriage is called? (using the term as known to todays cars?)
These two are handsome enough, rare to find Unicorns that are strong, as the earth ponies usually do the things that require strength.
Yeah these were a couple very big unicorns. Not quite Big Mac size but still pretty big and rather likeable fellows.
Also, I had no idea what a Landau was till this picture. is that what a Convertible Carriage is called? (using the term as known to todays cars?)
Yes Landau was a style of carriage that automobile manufacturers mimicked until the late 1980's in the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landa.....%28carriage%29
Yeah these were a couple very big unicorns. Not quite Big Mac size but still pretty big and rather likeable fellows.
Also, I had no idea what a Landau was till this picture. is that what a Convertible Carriage is called? (using the term as known to todays cars?)
Yes Landau was a style of carriage that automobile manufacturers mimicked until the late 1980's in the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landa.....%28carriage%29
Reading the wiki, I have a observation that the Royal sisters have separate carriages, With Celestia having a full carriage, and Luna having a Landau. most notably because Celestia's has equal wheels, and Luna's has small wheels in front. Celestia has the family car and Luna has the Roadster...
both are open topped, could one of them be a barouche-landau? No mention is given in the wiki articles of why the different wheel sizes. Something for nerds to ponder, I guess.
both are open topped, could one of them be a barouche-landau? No mention is given in the wiki articles of why the different wheel sizes. Something for nerds to ponder, I guess.
"It was a very pleasant evening so the landau’s tops were down, and if they hadn’t been Petina would’ve insisted on them being made so. We soon learned that the stallions were twin brothers Snowline and Winter Gift. For rest of the trip Petina sat up front and chatted with them."
And probably stared at their butts.
And probably stared at their butts.
For rest of the trip Petina sat up front and chatted with them.
Oh my, yes, sure looks like she's doing a lot of "chatting" while perched up in the front of the landau, huh? I would just love to be the little bird that overheard what she said to make No. 2 Stallion (which is Snowline and which is Winter Gift, again?) pull that "Eh?" look!
Also, I'm wondering how analogous Service to the Crown Day is to Trooping the Colour in Great Britain.
Wonderful, as always, Barron!
Oh my, yes, sure looks like she's doing a lot of "chatting" while perched up in the front of the landau, huh? I would just love to be the little bird that overheard what she said to make No. 2 Stallion (which is Snowline and which is Winter Gift, again?) pull that "Eh?" look!
Also, I'm wondering how analogous Service to the Crown Day is to Trooping the Colour in Great Britain.
Wonderful, as always, Barron!
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