Zikel slipped from out of his shadow, just as the sun hit it. I was about the time that Luna had said it would be. He looks up to see the chariot arrive just in time. As the guards landed. They motioned him to hop on, but gave him a glare as he did. Zikel smiled broadly at them, knowing it two of the three he had given the slip.

"Ah, hello again boys. Sorry about yesterday. Didn't feel like being taken away in chains and all that. But I suppose I can come along willingly this time."

They snorted at him and took off towards the castle. He wondered why they wouldn't just let him fly there, he did have wings after all. But if the royal guard saw a dragon fly towards the castle, things would probably get out of hand most likely. The whole way there was silent, the guards didn't speak to him, and he didn't speak to them. They arrived at the main courtyard in front of the main doors. he jumped off the chariot and began walking towards the doors. as the guards opened them up, Luna was already there waiting for him with a smile. She waved a hoof to him and motioned for him to follow her.

"Ah good. You made it! Was beginning to wonder if you would really come. Follow me. Tia is waiting the the royal study."

"Tia huh? You know, that name actually makes her seem a bit more cute. And let me guess, you go by....Lulu?"

"I do. How did you know?"

"I had a dear friend back home who's name was Luna. I called her Lulu as well. That was back when I was a child though. Miss her dearly."

Luna couldn't help but smile at up at him as they walked

"Well, feel free to call me Lulu if you want to Zikel. After all, I am your friend now to."

Zikel nodded and returned the smile.

"Very well, Lulu"

"Don't let my sister know I told you this. But she was actually very impressed you slipped by her with such an amazing copy of yourself.. She was a little upset at first, but she laughed it off."

"Awww the princess of the sun didn't like that a shadow escaped her bright light? It can happen you know."

They both chuckled, soon coming upon the door that lead to the royal study, Luna opens the door and walks in, Zikel following behind her. To see Celestia reading a book, it looked like it was on...dragons? Who knows. She heard them walk in and looks up from her book, closing it then standing up from the pillow she was laying on. She wasted no time in approaching Zikel and poking his chest with a hoof.

"Sneaky sneaky thing, you."

Zikel was a bit surprised at how informal she was, but also really didn't mind it. This was royalty he could get along with. he grinned a big toothy grin and puffed his chest out a bit.

"Well princess...all you had to do was ask politely the first time and I would have came to see you. But, because your sister helped me get over feelings I was struggling with, and you asked nicely this time. I am here."

"And thank you for accepting my invitation my dear. Please won't you come and sit with me and Lulu?"

Zikel nodded and sat on the floor pillow across from them, he looked around at all the books on the shelving and on the table. She must have been quite the bookworm, much like her former student. Zikel looked between the two, who in turn looked at him.

"So...what is it you want to know about me then Princess Celestia? I believe I told you I am not from this realm, and I told you that I wasn't originally a dragon..."

Celestia hold up a hoof to stop him, then shakes her head "I want to know about you Zikel. And asking you questions makes it a bit easier because i can be informal with you. As you aren't one of my subjects. You are a new being to this world...for the most part."

Zikel rubbed his chin in thought for a moment, then nodded.

"I guess I should tell you that I am just a simple rogue and performer is all. I grew up without a family. But I had people I could call friends. I have been on my own since I was nine years of age."

Both of the princesses frowned at this. Even though Luna already knew, it still made her feel sad, just as much as her sister.

"You had to go through much hardship and loss didn't you Zikel? I cannot imagine what that must be like. But you are in a new world now. And I understand this is your second day here. But have you considered a fresh start? You have a clean slate here. And with time I am sure that everypony will accept you. Even though you are a dragon. Spike is another exception. He is a baby dragon, as princess Twilight is his mother in a way. She hatched him from an egg during her magical exam. Which is how she also got her cutie mark."

"Uuuh....cutie mark?"

Both the sisters lifted one of their wings to reveal the marks on their flank, the same markings as their chest plates.

"Ahaa, those...so I assume that everyone-..I mean evrypony has one of these?

"Indeed they do,except mostly the younger ones who haven't discovered their talents yet."

"So that's how it works huh? Wish life was that simple back from my world. I suppose you are wanting to know my special talent then?"

They nod to him again.

"Well, I guess you can say Shadowmancy is my special talent. Its been in my family for as long as I know. Passed down from my father's father and even beyond that. And I suppose being a rogue came with instinct as I got older. leaning to fend for myself, stealing food and such. Eventually that lead me to being able to have such agility and the ability to scale buildings and structures with ease. I even learned to take coin from rich people just by smiling at them. I never took from anyone else though. The rich people had more than enough gold to spare...even if they didn't want to share it."

The sister would chuckle lightly as they heard of his method of surviving. They agreed that the rich ponies here did have more than they should have.

"I never told this to the guard or anypony for that matter. But I can understand when we have thefts of food and a bit of coin coming from the city. Its just ponies trying to survive, because no pony will accept them for any jobs. It truly is a said thing. Also,I am curious about your abilities. You call it 'Shadowmancy', this is a form of magic I have never ever heard of in all my time. We have dark magic yes. But I sense..no malice from your magic. Can you explain that to me?"

"Ah, the sun princess wants to know how I escaped her light does she? I suppose I could let you in on it, since we are on good terms now."

She puffs her cheeks out at him and narrows her eyes.

"Y-you don't have to rub it in you know..."

She said in a soft voice as she looks away a bit. Her sister was having a bit of a giggling fit beside her, Celestia shot a glare at her little sister then looked back at him.

"Well, shadowmancy is something along the lines of illusion magic along with a few defensive spells. The spell I used in front of you when you cornered me was an illusion spell. Its something I use as a last resort should I need to make a quick exit. I can only create in within a town at the most. But it allows me to shadow crawl away from my enemies. Which is a form of quick transport. I sink into the ground and use the darkness to get away at great speeds. And the one you grabbed and teleported away with was a shadow puppet. I can create up to six at once now. but my maximum goal is ten."

Celestia and Luna continued to listen to him talk about his abilities and who he was. Their curiosity growing ever more and wanting to know who this dragon was. Celestia seemed especially curious. As she was getting more excited about him. Was...her heart beating in her chest? From what?! This was just a conversation between friends right?!

Zikel and Luna looked at Celestia with her wide eyed expression, Zikel leaned forward a bit and waved his hand in front of her face.

"Uuum..princess? You alright? Did I explain a little too much at once?"

She shook herself out of her daze and chuckled a bit nervously

"Oh no...I am fine my dear...I zoned out a bit is all."

"A bit?"

He teased her with an arched brow. She huffs at him and suddenly stand up, walking towards the door, but turned and smiled to him.

"I have day court to attend to now. Zikel.Please let us converse again in the near future."

"I would would like that, Tia. You are rather fun to poke at. But your company is also quite...enjoyable."

She blinks at what he had called her

"Did you just...call me Tia?"

"I sure did, that's what friends do huh?"

She smiled even wider and nodded to him

"Yes...and thank you. Other than my sister...I felt like I could be myself around you. sometimes a princess needs to let down her collective mane so to special. Thank you again, Zikel."

With that she left the room and closed the door. Zikel could have sworn he heard her giggle like a schoolgirl as she walked away. Luna blinked a bit as she heard it as well

"Well well, look at you. Making an impression on my big sister. You really are full of surprises aren't you mister rogue?"

Zikel chuckled lightly and rubbed the back of his head a bit. Making friend with the two rulers of this land...for some reason, he felt like this maaaay lead to a bit of trouble down the road... Next Chapter: Act 6: To Find A Home Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 40 Minutes