The Lost Element

by XD-385

Equestria has long been known as the land of ponies. However, the name of Equestria is misleading. For far too long, a certain element has been missing from the world. And now, that element has been brought back. But for better or for worse?

141. A Return to the Summit

I have been anticipating this coming Sunday. I made a promise to myself after the last time I saw the king and queen in Ponyville for Nightmare Night. This would be the day. The day when I return to my beloved Celestia and her sisters for a day together. And they had no idea I was coming.

That is not to say my day was lacking in notable moments before that point. I had a very...pleasant morning today. I handled breakfast that morning while everyone else got started on their day around the house. Pancakes, fruit, hash browns, so much good stuff lined the table as my family gathered around with our two temporary tenets as well. But while Smolder had a hearty appetite, Ocellus...did not.

I happened to notice that the beautiful little love bug was not eating at all. She does more often than not, even if not much. Ocellus normally only eats a little of everything at a time just to sample the flavor. She has no real need for physical sustenance when she can feed on my love whenever she wants. But whenever my eyes glanced her way, I saw that...she was staring right at me. She did not converse unless spoken to. And when she was done talking, her eyes would lock onto me again.

There was nothing predatory or conniving about her gaze. Ocellus had such a serene smile on her lips. And at one point... When our eyes locked for a moment as I wondered why she was not eating, she made her intentions known to me. That little mare pursed her lips to mime a kiss at me. I knew then what she wanted. She was not interested at all in the food around her. She only wanted me and was waiting for an opportunity to just relax with me and feast upon my love once again. I winked at her while feeling a certain giddy tension in my heart. It is not something she does often, but I have learned to enjoy our moments together after breakfast.

Everyone had plans once breakfast was done. Fluttershy gathered up Gladesong to go spend the rest of the morning with Rarity. Sundays have become the day of a new routine for my two beloveds and our precious firstborn. Scootaloo rode off on her scooter to meet up with her friends and to work off her breakfast. Smolder grabbed a satchel and set out to do some autumn harvesting of any berries she could find in the Everfree Forest. Fluttershy has been making some amazing cobblers out of Smolder's finds out there. And I have grown to cherish those Sundays of silence to myself. At least for a short while.

That left me alone to myself for a quiet Sunday. I stayed behind in the kitchen to do the dishes while Everyone set out to tend to their weekend schedules. But when I finally left the kitchen, I found her resting on the sofa at the back of the living room. Ocellus was relaxing upon it with her beautiful blank eyes gazing upon me with a certain intent. Her hoof lightly patted the open space beside her in invitation. And I did not refuse the call of my little love bug.

I promptly headed over and took a seat beside that lovely little Changeling mare. And she was practically upon me the moment I was seated. She climbed up and rested her hooves on my shoulders while oozing with hunger. I whispered to her, "Only interested in one item on the menu today?"

"Mmhm... I'm only hungry for you right now." Ocellus whispered back to me as I put my arms around her. I expected to feel that subtle sensation of my love being drain, but it did not come. Was she not hungry after all? Did Ocellus overindulge in my presence in the days leading up to Sunday? Before I could even ask, she whispered into my ear. "I want to feed directly... Through your lips again. Please?"

She wanted to feed on my love through a kiss. A method of feeding a Changeling I have grown to adore from her. I did not object. I put my arms around Ocellus and closed my eyes as our lips drew near. And I felt it. Those soft womanly lips upon mine as I felt that beautiful love bug beginning to feed. That pleasant sensation upon our lips combined with the knowledge that my very own love was sustaining her as it coursed through my lips... How could anyone be afraid of something with such an earnest heart?

Ocellus drank deeply of my love. Whenever I thought she would soon stop, she continued. That kiss went on for minutes as she cooed and sighed deep in her throat. But then...I felt it. Something coursing back into me. And I felt my adoration only growing for her by the second. My love had become her love. And Ocellus was happily sharing it with me all over again.

As the love in me grew, I felt a certain need. I did not want that kiss to remain only on the surface. My lips began to part before my tongue reached out to her. And Ocellus happily answered. Our embrace tightened as our tongues began to dance together. Her voice moaned and squealed in delight deep in her throat as our breaths became ragged through our nostrils. So much love being giving and taken between us... I loved that little love bug, but how much could I let myself love about her?

The time eventually came for us to draw breath without obstruction. Ocellus ceased her feeding the instant out kiss ended as she gasped and wheezed for breath. But that serene smile never left her face. Ocellus cooed at me, "I needed that... Do you feel my love still inside you?"

She was not wrong. There has always been love in my heart pining for her. Even before we came home from the battlefield, there was a certain love blossoming in my heart for her. Dark and scarred on the outside, but with a beautiful heart filled with longing on the inside, Ocellus had always been a lovely lady cursed by a ghastly outward appearance. And when she finally gained a physical form to match that inner beauty, my love for her only began to burn hotter. She was just...so beautiful. A Changeling showing her inner beauty for all to see. "I... Yeah, it's in there. It makes me want to hold you..."

"Then hold me, please. Like you'll never let go." Ocellus whispered as she pressed herself up against me, hooves resting upon my chest. I gazed down at her as she smiled up at me. Such peace and joy in that lovely face. And I... I wanted to love her. But my inhibitions held me back. She was no longer a filly. Ocellus would turn seventeen in a matter of months. But she was still so young. So young and demure, her body being smaller and more frail than the average pony mare. She looked like I could break her in two over my knee. And yet... She was had always been so earnest in her affection towards me. So confident and unwavering. Not at all the heart of a feckless naive girl. How well did she understand the workings of the heart?

My hands roamed over that beautiful little lady's carapace. Not a single fine hair of a mare's coat was upon her body. Only the smooth chitin of an insect covered her, but was still soft to the touch. As I slid my fingers down the middle of her back, her ladybug wing covers responded. They sprang open and display her beautiful wingspan. Gossamer membranes that glistened in the rays of the late morning sun. She was just...so beautiful. Enrapturingly so. And so I asked softly, "How are you this beautiful...?"

"I never would've found my inner beauty if you never found me out there." Ocellus whispered before she...became evermore intimate. She dragged her tongue up my exposed neck and along the underside of my jaw. I shuddered at her brazen affection, but did not resist. I trusted her. She would never take advantage of me. That beautiful little lady continued to whisper with such sincerity in her voice. "I'm so blessed to know you. To...be a part of your life."

One of my hands rose to the back of her head as she alternated between long slow licks with her tongue and soft little kisses. My fingers slid over that shimmering crest atop her head, staying upright but bending easily from side to side. Not exactly a mane, yet still such a lovely display. And yet... Moment later, I heard Ocellus whisper to me. "I love you."

"I know..." I muttered softly, having heard those sacred words from her before. But I never inquired as to what she meant by that statement. How deep did her love go? Did she love me as a friend, or...

"I love you." I heard from her again. Ocellus continued to shower me with affection that was far to sensual to be anywhere close to platonic. Licks and kisses along my neck. She even used her levitation magic to pull my shirt off and cast it onto the stairs behind me. That beautiful little thing had nothing between my bare flesh and her smooth chitinous body. Her hooves slid over me as she continued to whisper those beautiful words over and over. "I love you... I love you."

She was not drunk on love. Ocellus had not overdosed. And yet...she did not stop. Those wonderful words just kept coming as I shuddered as her touch and acts of affection. She loved me. And...I loved her. But could I say it? Should I? I eventually took my hands off of her entirely and left myself to her mercy. Ocellus bore down on me with her lips and tongue caressing my upper torso. And at one point...she kissed me right over my beating heart. And I felt it. A twinge of her love being transferred directly into my heart. My face felt flush as I gasped softly at the literal love now taking up residence in my own heart. And as she rose up to bring her face before mine, Ocellus whispered again. "I love you so much."

I could not resist. I took that beautiful little love bug in my arms and gave her the best kiss that I could. Her wings spread wide and fluttered rapidly as she cooed with our lips locking and tongues dancing. I was in love. So dearly in love with that wonderful little lady. I just could not say it. Not yet. She was still so young. No longer a filly, yet just barely a mare. But her words... Her tender actions and delicate pacing... Ocellus was so...masterful in the art of love. So sincere... So earnest... Not at all the love of a young girl. It was deep... So deep. And I was drinking deeply of that succulently sweet reservoir of a Changeling's love. For being one who would starve without love, she had so much to give.

We basked in each other's overflowing love. A love far beyond friendship. And my hands roamed over her beautiful body. Ocellus... Such a charming fusion of equine and insect traits. My hands slid over those delicate gossamer wings as they trembled against my palms. And then my hands slid over her smooth rounded flanks. And I was reminded of how delicate Changelings can be. She did not have the mass of muscle I had become very familiar with in pony mares. Her flanks felt weak. Rounded and feminine, yet so...lacking. Not as much to grasp as I expected. But I still felt compelled to admire and cherish her beautiful body. My hands slid over and gently grasped those smooth love bug hips. But then...something took hold of my hands. An unseen force began to inch my fingers along the inward curves of her flanks. I saw her beautiful wing tail rise high in invitation. And she paused in the kiss to whisper to me with such need in her voice. "Please... Do it. I'm yours."

No words came from me. A part of me was telling me not to, but the rest of me... I had so much love in my heart pining for her. I wanted Ocellus to feel as blessed as possible. And there were no legal ramifications to stand in our way. She was no longer a filly. She had been a mare since the moment I first met her. And as our lips joined again, I answered her call. I brought my fingers inward and felt fleshy lips that was so familiar to me. An equine vulva. No matter how much like an insect she was, Ocellus was still a mare. And I began to trace my fingers along her most sacred spot, feeling it twitch and wink in response to my affections.

"Mmmm... Mm! I love you..." Ocellus whispered to me with a quivering voice. She knew such pleasure already. But never before had it been given to her by a man her heart desires. While my left hand continued to bring sweet pleasure to her delicate marehood, my right held the back of her head to keep my beloved love bug close to me. Our kiss softened as Ocellus had difficulty in maintaining enough focus to keep such a deep kiss going as her breathing became more erratic. We shared so many kisses while Ocellus continued to whisper such sweet words to me. Words oozing with a genuine sincerity. "I love you... I need you... You're my everything..."

"Ocellus, I..." I just could not find the will to say those words. I wanted to. I dearly wanted to, but it still felt too soon. My mind and heart were at an impasse even as my body continued to give that wonderful little lady sweet pleasure. My fingers continued to slide around her delicate lips before siding inside to caress her from within. The scent that began to reach my nostrils... A familiar muskiness, but interlaced with a cloyingly sweet scent. A scent unique to a Changeling mare. It was so...enticing. And it only encouraged me to continue in my endeavors to bring that wonderful love bug to new heights of pleasure.

"You don't have to say anything...my love..." Ocellus cooed as our kisses paused with my fingers deep inside her. She gazed lovingly into my eyes as I noticed her cheeks taking on an even deeper shade of greenish blue. Darker than her own eyes. And her hooves slid sensually over my bare chest as she spoke with such a smile on her lips. "You're heart...is telling me so many wonderful things right now... You don't have to say it...because your heart is saying it for you."

I truly was an open book to Ocellus. No wonder she was always so confident with her advances towards me. My heart was being more honest with her than my own thoughts and reasoning. My heart knew what it wanted. And the rest of me was slowly starting to agree with it. I kissed her right upon her horn before Ocellus before to apply tender kisses all over my face. Down my jaw and across my neck even as my fingers continued to caress her inner walls. So slick with fluids that filled the living room with a wonderful enticing aroma.

My other hand gently slid down her body as I explored Ocellus while she continued to shower me with affection. Down her smooth body and under her. My fingers traced under her belly, caressing her wherever I could. And then I felt them. But they were so...virginal. A pair of teats exactly where they should be on a mare. The chitin over those two mounds was even softer than the rest of her, located in a spot that was unlikely to be targeted if ever attacked. Those soft mammaries meant to provide nourishment to her foals. Foals that...she did not have yet.

My thoughts could not be contained. I could not help it. I am a father. A father to a beautiful little pegasus filly. And I will surely be a father to many other children of different species. Rarity. Novo. Celestia. Rain Shine. So many of my beloveds have voiced a desire to have children with me. To have our family grow. And Ocellus... My heart swelled with a beautiful desire. To be a father of Changeling children...

"Oh my... What a beautiful thing your heart is saying to me..." Ocellus cooed as she basked in the pleasure my hands were providing her with. For being a creature with no way to read minds, her ability to read my heart was hauntingly fluent. As if my mind and heart were not so different. My eyes widened as I suddenly felt like I had made a mistake. She was so young. I should not have been entertaining such a bold thought about her so soon. But perhaps...the heart cannot be controlled. One can wrangle in one's thoughts, but not their most sincere desires.

My hands and fingers froze where they were. I dared not move as Ocellus gazed lovingly into my eyes. And she continued to whisper sweetly to me. "Your heart...wants to do something with me. To...create something with me. There's something you don't have yet... Something you want that only I can give you. James, do you want what I think you do?"

"Oh my god, I am so sorry... I... I was just thinking... Wondering what it would be like if we..." I muttered and stammered while trying to avert my gaze. But Ocellus silenced me with her hoof lightly touching my lips. I glanced down at her hoof at the edge of my vision before looking at the beautiful little mare before me. "Ocellus...?"

"James... You don't have to apologize for anything." Her eyes narrowed, but only because was grinning that broadly. And the words that followed were not said lightly. "If I was in heat, I wouldn't say no."

A new type of excitement burst into my heart as a powerful warmth filled me. Love, desire, and hope filled me as I heard that beautiful admission. Ocellus once again licked me up my chest and to my chin to send another shiver down my spine. And she whispered another beautiful thing to me. "I would be honored to have...a family with you."

She kissed me. Passionately. Our lips locked. Our voices sang. Our tongues danced. I was so madly in love with her at that moment as my fears faded. And as my fingers resumed their caresses upon her both inside and out with renewed vigor, I felt Ocellus adjust her posture. She hiked her hips up, raising them as if voicing a desire. My eyes closed as I savored everything about her. Her hips raised high... Ocellus was not exaggerating. At that moment, in her heart of hearts, she desired my child. Desired me to mount her and fill her with a gift only I could give her. To create a new precious little life between us...

My love coursed into her while she fed me hers right through my lips. We were locked in a spiral of love looping between us. There is no love like a Changeling's love. I have never felt so engulfed by the love of a woman before. A love literally coursing through me and back into her as I did all I could to bring Ocellus to new heights of pleasure. And then I felt it. She began to raise her hips even higher. Higher and higher until she was balancing on just the tips of her hooves. Her muffled songs in her throat became more desperate. More shrill. She was so close. And I wanted to bring her to know just how much I loved her.

And then it happened. Ocellus threw her arms around me in an embrace as she squealed into our kiss. I felt her inner walls spasm around my fingers as they became soaked in her fluids. Pleasure the likes of which she never felt coursed through her body as she slowly disengaged from our kiss. A thick line of saliva connected our tongues as she panted and gasped in that wonderful afterglow. Ocellus soon slumped against my chest as her body slowly came down from that euphoric high while I kept my spare hand resting against the back of her head. She gasped and whimpered joyfully, "Love you...so much... Yours...forever... Your...little love bug..."

I still could barely believe what I had done. Did we really just do that? I was at a loss for words as I looked down at the lovely little mare in my arms. So young...yet so earnest. How could she be so inexperienced, yet so wise at the same time? As I pondered this, I noticed that my right hand still had its fingers wedged inside her soaked marehood. And when I held it up to examine the fluids coating it, I found that it was rich in that pungent yet sickly sweet scent.

A strange thought occurred to me. With her insect traits being so noticeable, Ocellus brought to mind the exotic honeypot ant and how their abdomens contain what is essentially a type of honey. Between that observation and that wonderful aroma filling the air around us, I braced myself and brought my fingers to my lips for a taste.

I... It was unlike anything I expected. Powerful and potent, but actually flavorful. Somewhere between the flavor of honey and spiced wine. Was this an evolutionary trait of Changeling mares? A means to make themselves as enticing as possible to potential mates? I licked my fingers clean as I marveled at Ocellus' ability to produce such a flavorful liquid. And I could feel it building in me as I consumed that fluid. It was rich with her love. Love meant for just one man.

"You like how I taste?" Ocellus giggled as I was reminded that she had not exactly passed out. I looked down at her sharply while she gazed up at me with a blushing smile while she still breathed deeply in that lingering afterglow. While I glanced about in embarrassment with no idea what to say, that precious little mare giggled at me. "Don't worry. It's safe. But...how do I taste?"

"Really, curiosity only got the best of me... But it... It tastes...powerful. Like something I can actually enjoy in small doses." I muttered in careful admission. But then I froze as I felt something press into my pants. Ocellus rubbed her hoof between my legs.

"I hope you taste just as good." Ocellus said with an almost giddy smile. I remained rooted to the spot as she began to move backwards down the sofa before her horn was coated by her magic aura. Those beautiful blank eyes gazed up at me with an almost bashful sincerity. "Please... Let me do this for you. Just this once?"

My mind was once again in conflict with my heart. And my heart won out. It was only fair. I gave my beloved love bug pleasure, so it was acceptable for her to return the favor. I only nodded and allowed her to do as she pleased. And there was no denying how my own libido had been affected up to that point.

Her magic aura took hold of my pants and undid the belt on it to pull it down. And Ocellus gazed with wide eyes and a deeply blushing face as she beheld my erection before her. Stiff and aching for release, I had focused exclusively on her up until that point to distract myself from my own carnal needs. Her silence remained me of the first time Ember saw me in the nude and I assumed Ocellus was equally uneasy about the sight of me for the first time. I averted my gaze and muttered, "Sorry... I know I probably wasn't what you were expecting..."

"No... No, it's just... It's beautiful." Ocellus meekly whispered as she beheld my own masculine equipment. I watched with an uneasy tension as she observed it from one side and then the other. The intrigued little love bug brought her lips closer. I closed my eyes and braced myself for a familiar warm wetness to take hold of my eager shaft. But instead... I felt a soft touch upon it. And when I opened my eyes, I saw that precious love bug...kissing it.

Ocellus had a beautiful serene smile as she repeatedly and slowly placed kiss after kiss upon my stiff erection. Such a delicate touch... And with every touch of her lips to my length, I felt a twinge of something... With every kiss, she transferred a glimmer of her own love into me. Directly into my shaft and probably even down into my virile orbs. Was she preparing me? Enhancing me to provide her with the best results possible?

I softly sighed as the pleasure in me spiked. Ocellus most certainly did not mean to tease me, but this delicate foreplay was proving to be quite the enjoyable delay. This was her first time engaging in intimacy with anyone. I should not rush her. But she was just... Just so masterful in her touch. My shaft throbbed painfully, desiring release. I loved her... And I was lusting for her so bad. When so dearly in love with another... Is lust and love one in the same? When you want to pleasure them and be pleasured yourself? I wanted to see and hear Ocellus squeal in pleasure and joy...

That wonderful love bug finally move on to the next step. She dragged her tongue over my length with slow and meaningful strokes. She was delaying the inevitable for as long as she could. Letting a torrent build up behind the dam until the walls finally broke. I saw it in her eyes. Not one of excitement. Lidded and blank, I saw a gaze of deep loving desire. She wanted to make this moment special. And as her tongue caused me to grunt as I tried to force my climax to not come too soon, I asked with a gasp. "How are you this good...?"

Ocellus only had one answer for me. She quickly took my entire shaft into her jaws. Bringing her lips right down to the hilt as I felt her jaws caressing it from within. She sighed and moaned with muffled melodies, her eyes gazing up at me while I was sure I could see a smile at the edges of her lips. My hand reached out and stroked her head with every rise and descent. That wonderful love bug... What a woman she was proving herself to be. Although she did eventually provide me an answer through words. "I'm just following my heart."

I could feel something else as she pleasured me. Ocellus was still feeding. Draining my love through the tool I use to make love. And she was still sending her own into me. Those adorable ladybug patterns sprang open as those beautiful shimmering wings rapidly fluttered sporadically. The insect equivalent of a wingboner? Ocellus tried to keep her movements slow, but she could not help herself. Alternating between massaging my shaft with her throat, sliding her tongue over its length, and showering it with soft kisses, Ocellus appeared to be impatient. She wanted me to reach my climax soon. To not keep her waiting.

And it was working. Between her pleasuring affections and my growing desire for her, I could not keep my climax from coming for long. I tried. I really tried my best to keep the dam from breaking too soon. But the torrent building up behind it... So much, yet so quickly! The love she had siphoned into me... Was my body reacting to it? I felt so virile... How much of my seed with my two orbs producing and how quickly?

I gasped and inhaled sharply through my teeth. I was ready to burst in a matter of minutes. I gripped the sofa as I began to thrust my hips upward. And Ocellus all too happily joined in that dance. She bobbed her head up and down in time with the movement of my heads, her tongue and mouth expertly trying to bring me to my climax. And when I did...

"Ocellus...!" I gasped as I placed a hand atop her head. I kept her pinned where she was as I just exploded into her. So thick and potent, one of the strongest climaxes I had experienced in some time. As if I had gone weeks without pleasure. My throbbing shaft pumped spurt after spurt down Ocellus' throat as she desperately gulped it all down without fail. Only after the last dribble of seed came from my softening shaft did she lift her head from my length as she let out a shrill gasp for air. Did she get more than she bargained for? Fearing that the experience on her end had suddenly become an unpleasant one, I panted in apology. "Sorry... I... I couldn't control how much..."

"No... No, don't apologize. That was...wonderful." Ocellus muttered as she too took a moment to catch her breath. She gazed at me with loving eyes, her cheeks still a bold dark hue. "It was... So much love in it... Like it was all liquid love..."

She began to crawl up me. Her lips whispering to me. "You don't do this for yourself. You never think about yourself when you feel pleasure. You only find pleasure when sharing it with the ones you love. That...is the best kind of lover a man can be. You don't have sex with your mate. You make love to them."

Ocellus rested a hoof over my heart as I gazed at her. Sure a serene and sincerity smile. Our first act of intimacy...and she was smiling in contentment. "I love you... And I'll always love you, James. And...I can feel it in your heart too. I just wish it wasn't covered by fear... But I'll wait. I'll be patient for... James?"

I was becoming angry at myself. What was wrong with me? Why was I trying to hide my heart from her so much? That wonderful little mare... She could read my heart even with a wall around it. And she loved me for it. She was young, but she was still a mare. Not at all a feckless little filly despite her petite form. Frustration taking hold, I defied my own sense of caution and grabbed Ocellus in a tight embrace with tears nearly spilling forth. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry to keep denying it... I love you... I love you, Ocellus..."

She did not respond at first. But when she did, it was without words. The wonderful love bug brought her lips to mine and locked us both in a kiss. Even as tears flowed down her cheeks. And when that kiss ended... That gaze of tearful joy... How much love did she feel in that moment? "I could always hear it from your heart... But to hear it from your own voice...? It's...even more wonderful than I could've imagined..."

"I'm sorry, I really am. It just...hurt to keep you at a distance like that. It always felt like it was too soon... Even if it wasn't." I replied with shame as I cradled my little beloved to my chest. Those old instincts were still hardwired into me. A product of spending the first twenty-five years of my life in a very different world where very different people lived uncontested by other species of equal sentience.

Ocellus rested her head on my chest as she gazed into my eyes. Her hoof rubbed over my heart as she whispered to me. "James... It's OK. I could always feel that tiny bit of fear in your heart. But...why so afraid? What were you afraid of?"

I knew that she likely had a inkling of an idea of why I was so hesitant to openly declare my love for her. I remember that talk we had on the train while on our way to Canterlot that day. And I had to wonder how much she remembered. "It's just a byproduct of growing up in a human society. In a world where the only people are humans. Human customs. Human laws. Human standards. It gets to the point where one can't help but look through a certain lens of humanity and...impose human expectations on literally everything. Because that's all we know."

My beloved's gaze never once became upset. And I reached out and caressed her head. "I'm sorry. You're not human. You'll never be human. And yet, I just can't help but expect you to...function like a human. It's something I just have to phase out of my psyche in time. I'm just...sorry it got in the way."

"I know... I mean I know what it's like to have to get used to a society that's nothing like the Changeling hive. But even then, I guess we've always known that we're not the only race of people in Equestria." Ocellus muttered as she reached out and kissed me on the cheek. She then tucked her hooves under her chin and displayed such a sweet smile that belied the intimacy we had just engaged in. "I promised I would be patient. But...thank you. Thank you for finally saying what I knew was in your heart. I love you. I always will, all right?"

My hand rose to my chest and rested atop the tip of her hoof. I still felt so conflicted over how old instincts could truly interfere in my love life. Only time would fix that. I gazed at Ocellus and managed to smile weakly. "I love you too... My little love bug."

"I'll always be your little love bug." Ocellus whispered with such a delighted grin spreading from cheek to cheek. And for a moment, we just rested there. Holding each other and basking in that lovely afterglow. It was a good day. With a wonderful change in our status quo. Although Ocellus then whispered from under my chin. "Please don't hide your heart from me anymore. Not after today."

"I won't... I love you." I whispered again as I tried to reaffirm to myself that it was safe to say such a thing to her. A little repetition always goes a long way. And we engaged in another action we had done many times before. A kiss upon each other's lips. But not as friends teetering on the brink of romance. We had both fallen into that vale together by then.

Ocellus got comfortable atop me and just gazed lovingly into my eyes. She sighed with such quiet joy with lidded eyes. Perhaps she was debating curling up with me for a nap. But as I gently stroked my hand over the contours of her smooth scalp and shimmering crest of a mane, I remembered that I could not stay much longer. I had made plans for that day. And the rest of my family knew. "Ocellus... I really should be on my way soon. Don't want to miss the next train to Canterlot."

"Oh? Ah, I can feel your heart whispering something to me. There's someone up there waiting for you?" Ocellus said with a bit of a sly giggle. That beautiful love bug then slid a hoof over my beating heart and whispered, "There's someone you want to see. Someone you love very much. I won't stop you. Just be sure to come home tonight. I...want to be here with you now that we're...so much more."

"I will, dear. Promise." I whispered before we shared one last kiss. Although I did almost forget that my pants were almost down to my knees. "Uh... Better fix that first."

"Oops, can't let anyone see you like that. Hold on." Ocellus giggled as she hopped down from the sofa. She used her levitation magic to adjust my pants and even reset my belt. Her ears drooped in some embarrassment over the state she had left me in a moment earlier, but she still smiled up at me. "There you go!"

"Thanks, dear... Oh, wait. Something I need to bring along. Just a second." I replied before I hurried upstairs and went straight for a certain spot in the bedroom. A little hiding spot at the back of a drawer. I returned to the living room with a scroll in hand while Ocellus gazed at me with her eyes widening. As if in response to something. "Huh? What's with the stare? Something on me?"

"Huh?! Oh, no no no, it's just... What's in that scroll?! It's just...full of love! So much!" Ocellus replied with previously unseen interest. Although she then glanced up at me before averting her gaze. "I mean... Yes, I can...sense your love in it. That's a love letter, right? You literally poured your heart into writing that one. I can feel it from here. Who's it for? Your special someone in Canterlot?"

I gazed down at the scroll in my hand as a certain somber longing filled my heart. It was absolutely for a wonderful woman who had found a place in my heart, but not someone I would be seeing that day. I then explained in brief, "It's for Novo..."

"Novo...? Ooooh, the hippogriff queen!" Ocellus gasped with her ears perking up. And she spoke with such a smile on display. "Right, I remember! I could sense it between the two of you. So...madly in love with each other. Is she there right now? Maybe visiting the royal family?"

"No... No, not likely. She would've surely informed me ahead of time if she was planning a diplomatic visit. She's probably back home...across the ocean. On Capricorn Island." I muttered as I felt my heart longing for that wonderful queen. A woman like no other. And it was crushing to know that there was no easy way for us to see each other when our lives were bound to different lands while separated by an entire ocean. "I wrote this...hoping that maybe Celestia could send this to her for me. They're very close friends and have been for centuries. They must have a way to communicate quickly and efficiently."

"Ah... So that's who's waiting for you. Your...sun queen?" Ocellus giggled as I realized that I had hinted at who I was most looking forward to up there in Canterlot. I looked away while actually feeling myself blushing. Ocellus then asked more sincerely, "How does that work? I mean...she's a princess, right? One of the most important monarchs in the world? I mean I know you both love each other very much, but... Does it actually work?"

I closed my eyes for a moment as I thought of the Princess of the Dawn. A mare I never expected to fall so dearly in love with. She brought me to this wonderful world of Equestria to essentially serve as an ambassador for humanity. She did not do so to fall in love with me. "Yeah... We make it work. The crown doesn't matter. And her parents approve of us. We love each other and know how to make time for each other. And that's enough."

"I hope so. I've felt the love between you two. I...hope it all works out in the long run." Ocellus said with a ore subdued smile. She understood that my love with those who carry the burden of leadership is not an easy love. Celestia... Rain Shine... Ember... Novo... Separated by distance and a vast class divide. Could we ever truly make such love work? Building and living a life together. Starting and raising a family. Can it happen? I did all I could to not think about it too hard. Best to just wait and see where things would go. But I had faith. And so did they. We did not fall in love just to let such obstacles get in the way. But as my mind wandered, Ocellus then spoke a little more loudly. "Anyway! I really shouldn't keep you. Your heart really wants to be with them!"

"Ocellus... Come here." I said as I dropped to one knee. And she answered. Ocellus only barely resisted the urge to take to the air as her wings unfurled while she trotted right into my embrace. I kiss her upon her smooth scalp and whispered to my little beloved. "I love you. Don't think that you're less important than those I love who just happen to wear a crown. I can't replace you anymore than I can replace them. You are all...beautiful treasures that shine in our own unique ways."

The precious little Changeling rested in my embrace without a word. And I felt her hoof slowly rise to my chest and rest over my heart once again. I felt the subtle sense of my love being siphoned out of me for just a few seconds as Ocellus spoke softly. "I know. I know I'm just as...precious to you as everyone else who's become so much more than just a friend to you. And I love you for that."

It was so hard to release Ocellus from my embrace. Now that I had finally admitted to her and to myself just how much I love her, I did not want to let go. But I had to. I promised myself to be somewhere that day. For someone I love who I do not get to see often enough. The house was quiet as I stood up again. Everyone was still gone. And so I asked, "Before I head out... What're you gonna do with your Sunday?"

"Hmm... Good question. It's pretty quiet around here now that lots of the animals that hang around are going into hibernation..." Ocellus mumbled while rubbing her wrist under her chin. She then shrugged her shoulders and spoke with a smile. "I guess I'll go find Smolder and help her forage for wild berries. I love the jams Fluttershy's been making with them."

A fine idea on its own, but I had to ask a question. "And how are you going to find her? Smolder could be anywhere in the Everfree Forest right now."

Ocellus looked up at me and winked at me with a knowing smirk. "Do you have any idea how hotly a dragon's love burns? Even when she's not thinking about you, I can always feel it from a pretty big distance."

The little love bug then pointed in the direction of the nursery with one hoof. "She's somewhere over there. It's faint, but that's definitely a dragon's love I'm feeling."

"Ok then, my little lovehound. I'll get outta your mane and let you have some girl time with our little friend. I'll be seeing you tonight, OK?" I chuckled at just how easily Ocellus could track down her reptilian friend. She and I headed out the door after I wrapped myself in a light jacket. Ocellus then fluttered off for the Everfree Forest while I headed east.

Before I got much further, I took a moment to examine the home that was being constructed down the lane. The future home of Smolder and Ocellus was coming along nicely. The foundation was already fully set with the base frame of the house having been assembled. I walked along the concrete foundation and slid my hand over the thick wooden planks that would serve as the core for the eventual addition of drywall. I knew that the resulting duplex would not be all that large, even by human standards. I could recall how the two of them insisted that the scaling of the architecture be adjusted for human occupants, although the closest thing they had for a comparison were dwellings designed for harpies. The place was silent and empty. Sundays tend to be quiet days for most businesses in town.

My gaze followed the general layout of the concrete floor and the wooden frames. I could almost picture where the kitchen and bathrooms would be and I could even pinpoint where the stairs to an upper loft would be laid. The two halves were nearly identical. Nearly. Perhaps Ocellus and Smolder had differing needs? At any rate, it looked like their little home was coming along quite nicely and would likely be done at the onset of winter. "You two little ladies have grown up so fast..."

I was happy for them. And yet, a tinge of sadness flickered in my heart. I had grown accustomed to that little dragoness and mare living under my roof. How I loved them. And how they loved me. And yet...I knew it was for the best. Especially for Smolder. It would be healthier for her to live away from me as she continued to grow and mature. For as much as we love each other, being around each other too much would not be for the best. She needed time away from her potential mate to come into her own on her own terms. She may be a woman, but too much of her is still that of a girl and only time would fix that. They would leave eventually...but they would still be very close by. Gladesong would hate having to say goodbye to her love bug and dra dra.

And I was happy for little Smolder. For as wretch as the War of Preservation was, a glorious boon had come out of it. Ocellus and Gallus had become the close circle of friends Smolder needed. They have been keeping her preoccupied and out of the house frequently. A consistent social circle is healthy for a developing mind. She was certainly better off than I was at her age when it came to regular interactions with friends. And...

It took a second for me to realize that I was pondering and reminiscing too much. There was somewhere I had to be and I did not want to miss that train. I silently scolded myself before hurrying away from the dormant construction site and off to Ponyville proper.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my DSi before turning it on to check the clock function on it. I never bothered to buy a watch since none were designed for wrists as narrow as mine. My eyes narrowed as I saw that I had roughly an hour before the next train for Canterlot would be departing from the train station. "Hm... I've got some time."

My eyes scanned the horizon for the unmistakable rooftop of Sugarcube Corner. Knowing Celestia as well as I think I do, she would appreciate a gift of edible sweets. And why stop at just her? The entire royal family would likely appreciate such a gift. Orbash and Sunflare likely had not had a chance to sample the wares of Ponyville's premier confectionary. My course plotted, I hastened my pace.

Sugarcube Corner was surprisingly active when I arrived. Autumn tends to result in more people staying indoors whenever they are partaking in their routines away from home. Rather than take their orders on the go, several Ponyville locals were enjoying some sweet treats at the few tables set around the storefront. Some even had cups of hot chocolate or steamy coffee with their orders. And Pinkie Pie was quick to greet me as one headed out the door while I came in. "Morning, James! What can I get you?"

"Six chocolate drops to go, please." I retorted as I reached into my pocket to pull out the required number of bits. Pinkie Pie rang me up with an employee discount before heading back into the kitchen to box up a fresh set. The amount of time it would take to reach Canterlot would give the chocolate glaze time to settle. Pinkie Pie soon emerged through the swinging doors with a white paper box on her back before doing a little hop to send it lightly through the air and landing lightly upon the counter. "Thank you, Pinkie. I'm heading up to Canterlot today and wanted to bring a little something from home... Hey, what's this?"

Pinkie Pie had added something else to my order. A donut topped with white fondue icing was sitting atop the box. She then happily explained, "It's one of our seasonal donuts! Everypony's always itching for apple and pumpkin spice at this time of year. Try it!"

I did. And it was lovely. The rich and pungent flavor of pumpkin spices complimented that sweet icing perfectly. I smiled with my first bite and gave her my first impressions. "Mm, perfect flavor to compliment that encroaching autumn cold. Thanks for the bonus."

"So glad you like it! And you're heading up to Canterlot today? What's the occasion? You going to see Trixie today?" Pinkie Pie asked as I was suddenly and brutally reminded of one of the greatest casualties of the War of Preservation. Pinkie Pie must have noticed the drop in my mood and spoke with her cheerful demeanor also diminished rapidly. "Oops, I mean... She's gonna be OK in the end anyway, right?"

"No... No, it's fine. You're right, I should be glad she's gonna make it. She even came out of that coma last time we were up there." I said softly while trying to see the silver lining of that magnificent performer's situation. She survived. And she has a defiantly powerful will. Trixie will recover someday. It is merely a matter of when. I then nodded and said, "You're right though. I should stop by and check on her while I'm at it. How about another one of those donuts to go?"

"Sure! Just a second." Pinkie Pie replied with her cheery demeanor starting to return. She was in and out of the kitchen in less than a minute with a little paper bag holding a pumpkin spice donut inside it. She then winked at me as I took it in hand.
"This one's on me. Say hi for me when you see Trixie again."

"Will do, Pinkie. Have a good one." I said in farewell before also taking a cup of steamy pumpkin spice black tea for the road. Pleasantly cool on the outside while it warmed me up on the inside. I was never able to tolerate the bitter bite of coffee and have taken a liking to flavored black tea for my morning caffeine kick. And pumpkin spice has become one of my favorite flavors for the colder seasons.

I reached the train station without incident and even saw the next train for Canterlot pull into the station before I could get there. A quick flash of my lifetime pass to the conductor was all I needed before I boarded the rear car and sat down all the way back at the last row of seats. I had gotten used to the rear car being the one that sees the fewest passengers, but that day was not the case. One thing I have learned is that Canterlot sees more visitors by train during the colder seasons. Something about that higher alpine climate seems to be attractive during the colder seasons and the holiday season is especially bustling with travelers. It must be how well all that colorful glitz and glitter of the Hearth's Warming season goes so with all that snow among Canterlot's pale architecture. Even the Canterlot Elite tend to be in better spirits than average once that time of year comes around. "Truly the best time of the year no matter where you go."

After the train was refueled or whatever steps were needed to pass the time before departure, the doors to the train care closed as the conductor spoke over the train's intercom system to announce our departure. The train suddenly lurched forward as it began the climb up Canterlot's mountain. So many twists and turns as it climbed the path that spiraled around it. I always get such a subtle thrill when the train crosses the occasional towering wooden bridges set up over the mountain's insurmountable steepest declines. The other passengers hardly seemed to notice since they had each other to chat with while I was stuck alone and admiring the view to pass the time.

I looked inside the box filled with chocolate drops and counter them. A total of six. One for each of the members of Canterlot's royal family and one for me. I decided to not wait and enjoy mine right then and there. The chocolate spread atop had solidified a bit and I found the treat to be just as enjoyable as every previous time. I chugged the rest of my tea down afterward to cleanse my teeth of the sugars. Although I wished I had water instead since it does not stain one's teeth. "At least my next dentist appointment is coming up soon."

As the train neared the summit, I happened to notice all of the ponies seated in the rows ahead of me. Quite a few were aboard the train car by then. And not once had they even batted an eye at me during the entire ride. I suddenly had an epiphany. I was the only one of my kind in Equestria. The only human amongst an ocean of wondrous creatures that were not human. Ponies, griffons, dragons, harpies, hippogriffs, kirin, and goodness knows what else I had yet to cross paths with. And there I was amongst them, an anomaly who was not native to their world at all.

So much had happened in the previous two years. I could still remember all of the inquires I got over just what I was and where I had come from. Humans had always been known as creatures of myth. Until it was discovered that they were not. The War of Preservation happened. And the truth could no longer remain buried. Humanity's dark history was reluctantly declassified and revealed to the world for all to know. And yet...no one approached me. Nor did they even cast me a wary glance at any one time. I overheard quite a few conversations during that ride and it did not sound like they were talking about me.

I sighed at the new normalcy of my situation. They were not directly engaging with me or even talking about me. But only because I was the same as them. Just a stranger going about his day. A citizen of Equestria just like them. There was no hatred or prejudice against me. Because they knew. And I smiled. The worst really was over. I may not be native to this wonderful world of Equestria, but I love it all the same. Maybe more than any human who came before me. For I have seen the other side. I have lived and known a world not like this one. And all I want for this world is for it to never become like mine. I think they knew this. And that was enough.

The train soon rolled into the station and I stepped out to behold the shining gem of Equestria's capital towering over me. I think I have found myself warming up to that city over time. It does not help that the place generally feels warmer the colder the climate becomes. And the War of Preservation was a time of mass camaraderie that brought Equestria together like never before. While the Canterlot Elite did not have the means to participate on the battlefield, they instead contributed with their wallets. Feeling more at home in Canterlot than I had in some time, I adjusted my jacket and continued on my way.

I did not go far before crossing paths down the road with a face I have grown to recognize at a glance. That pompous lout of a stallion. Blueblood walked with his usual regal flair and we both noticed each other. Our eyes never looked away as we strolled past, but not a word was said. I waited for him to strike the first blow as usual, our dislike for each other being mutual. But he did not say a word. As he drew near, Blueblood simply tilted his head up for a second as if to pass me a silent passing greeting. I did the same as I passed him and we went on our ways. It is so strange that our burning disgust with each other had grown into a kind of...bitter respect for each other after the war had ended. We both did our part to aid in Equestria's victory. In that regard, we were not so different. Two men who love Equestria in our own ways.

I wandered about for a bit with my precious edible cargo in hand as I tried to remember exactly where the hospital in Canterlot is located. I simply have not been there enough times to memorize every aspect of the city's layout. While Canterlot is not the largest city in Equestria due to its location limiting how much it can expand outward, it is still difficult to navigate with little experience. "This place is about as easy to navigate as Venice or Florence. Doubt I'll ever get used to it...

After rounding a few corners and bends, I suddenly heard a voice from behind me that I knew well. A voice that was joyous to see me. "Ah, Sir James! Over here, friend!"

"Wha... Fancy Pants! Hello!" I retorted once I saw that dapper gem of a stallion trotting my way with an entourage of his peers flocking around him. They all greeted me with unexpected sincerity. No doubt a result of my recently bestowed knighthood. I took a step back as those fancy ponies spoke over themselves while I could barely get a word in. "Uh... Right. Good afternoon."

They all scattered a bit as Fancy Pants stepped forward and bowed his head for a second while his magic aura engulfed and adjusted the positioning of his monocle. "What brings you back up to Canterlot, my friend? Are you drawn here all the same as the rest of our many visitors from afar? Things tend to get festive up here as the winter cold starts to creep in."

"I'm only here for personal reasons. And... Say, maybe you could help me? I'm trying to find my way tot he hospital, but I can't really recall where it is... I've been meaning to stop in and check on Trixie." I explained while having to readjust my grip on the bag and box in my arms.

"Trixie? Ah, Miss Lulamoon? Then we should not delay you. All of you, let us rendezvous later, yes?" Fancy Pants replied before turning to his entourage. They began to scatter rather agreeably to carry on with their day now that Fancy Pants had his own agenda to deal with for a moment. He then turned to me and tweaked his moustache with a hoof for a second. "Now then, shall we be on our way?"

Fancy Pants guided me along the streets of Canterlot while I made a conscious effort to memorize the path. I went silent while taking in the locations of certain shops and establishments and the more subtle differences between certain roads and intersections. My guide happened to notice my prolonged silence and looked back over his shoulder. "Something troubling you, Sir James?"

"Nah, I'm just...memorizing where everything is. Don't want to have to ask for help in the future." I explained honestly while hoping my lack of an attempt to converse was not disrespectful to him.

"Perfectly understandable. Although I understand why you don't visit more often." Fancy Pants replied without a shred of displeasure. Except I think he was fully aware of Canterlot's less than stellar reputation when it came to his own social class.

"I really should though..." I muttered under my breath. Things had changed in time. And there was at least one wonderful mare in Canterlot's own castle who pined for me as much as I longed for her. I should not let such distance get in the way of our relationship. Not when it is only a single train ride away and it costs me literally nothing every time.

Fancy Pants then found a great topic to discuss as he led me along. "If I may be so bold... What is your history with Miss Lulamoon? How did you come to know a traveling performer?"

"Quite frankly, I met her while just doing my job at Sugarcube Corner. She called for a delivery while in town, we were both very surprised at the sight of each other, and I basically learned of her entire history and gave her some good advice. She took my words to heart, turned her career around, and we've been friends ever since." I explained while hoping I would not have to discuss what happened to her on the battlefield.

"I see... A friendship forged through kind words during troubled times? I'm certainly relieved that she got things back in order. I've attended a few of her shows in the past and she has talent." Fancy Pants said while nodding meaningfully in agreement. Although he then smirked a bit at me and added, "But she still has a way to go before she can compete with her dear father. Ever since Jack Pot set up shop in Canterlot recently, his shows have all been selling out. I was lucky to secure a ticket last time."

"Oh right, her dad is sticking around here for now. I met the guy. I see where Trixie gets her bravado from." I remembered fondly her father's very unexpected grand entrance that day when she finally awoke. A very good man, that stallion. Even if his career prevented him from being there for her previously, he did not let that get in the way when she needed him most. And now he had set up shop in Canterlot... Just to be near his daughter and wife as she recovered from a harrowing ordeal. "Jack Pot's a good guy. And so is her mom. If nothing else, Trixie's in a good place in terms of family."

Fancy Pants smiled in a more subdued manner as he adjusted his monocle. "I've had the fortune of sharing a drink with those two at one point. They have had nothing but the kindest things to say about their daughter. And they have said many kind things about you as well."

That last bit caught my ear. And it confused me. "Huh? Me? I only met them once. They don't even know me that well."

My guide maintained his smile, although it gradually began to fade. "Then either they heard things about your exploits through the grapevine or their dear daughter enlightened them herself. They told me how you've been nothing but a blessing to their child and that you performed admirably upon the battlefield. And that you...faced some heavy struggles out there that did not necessarily require the sword. It sounds like they gathered most of what they know about you through an eyewitness."

Those memories came back to me. And yet...some were too much of a dull image to fully recall. But I remembered most of my time out there. The anxiety and dread, the feeling of helplessness as the truth of the Forgotten Emperor's return was revealed to us. The growing wariness my allies held for me... How much did Trixie see until the day of the dreaded Battle of the Purple Tide? She rarely approached me after the arrival of the king and queen, yet she risked it all for me when I was being evacuated from the battlefield... "I suspect she might have been watching me from the shadows now and then... Keeping an eye on me..."

"Watching from afar during dark days? Ready to swoop in and render assistance? Sounds like she was looking for a chance to return the favor." Fancy Pants chuckled while I averted my gaze. And he was right. She would have done that. And she did. But not much longer went by before we came to a towering structure that I did recognize. "And here we are."

"Right, now I recognize it. I shouldn't have any trouble finding the place now." I replied before turning to my dapper friend. He bowed to me briefly in farewell while I dropped to one knee to shake his hoof. "Thanks, Fancy Pants. You have a good one."

"Same to you, Sir James... Ah! I must say, if you have a moment... Where is your sword? Surely you have one to carry at your side?" Fancy Pants started to say before he suddenly found another topic to chat me up about. A sword? Like a personal sidearm?

I glanced down at my left arm after having become far too accustomed with carrying my sword on the back of the shield that is normally attached to it. "Huh? Uh... Don't you need a permit for that or some other kind of clearance?"

"Yes, unless you happen to be actively serving in the royal guard." Fancy Pants explained before he glanced over his monocle whimsically. And he was quite jovial with his tone. "Or...if you happen to be a knight. And you were most certainly knighted recently, my friend! The only thing you raise your sword for is Equestria itself! And the people know this. So come now. Wherever is your sword?"

Really? How had I not known that by then? Regardless, I shrugged my shoulders and said, "Don't have one. I mean I do have a big wooden sword that some younger friends carved for me, but that thing doesn't even have a scabbard for it. I only use it to beat off things that harass me around the Everfree Forest."

Fancy Pants raised an eyebrow at me. As if he could not believe that a proper knight did not have his own personal weapon at all. "You...don't? Then...whatever did you fight with out there on the Empty Plains?"

I was careful with what I said next. After glancing about to make certain no one was within earshot, I spoke more softly to my companion. "An enchanted sword. Something forged by Celestia herself. It's not the kind of thing I keep on hand at all times. I only retrieve it when I need to. Not something I want to get too dependant on."

"I say... Her royal highness forged a sword for you herself? I never took our Princess of the Dawn for the smithing kind!" Fancy Pants threw his head back an laughed at the notion. When considering what Celestia is often seen as by the public, imaging her as someone who could work a forge did sound pretty absurd on paper. My guide adjusted his monocle again and said, "What a mare of many talents our dear princess is, eh? Well, I must say it is most commendable that you abstain from wielding such power unless you absolutely need it. Bravo, Sir James. Bravo. But after all of your services to my fair city of Canterlot, I believe I could see about getting a little something forged for you."

"That really won't be necessary, Fancy Pants. I mean I'm thrilled that you would offer to get me my own sword forged, but...I really don't need one. That wooden sword back home is enough to keep me safe." I replied with my hands outstretched. Being the sword aficionado I am, it was extremely tempting to take him up on that offer. But I had to remind myself that carrying a sword around when trouble in Ponyville that would require defending myself is so rare would be impractical. But I still said, "But...if a sword does end up in my possession, sure. I'll start wearing it when I'm out of the house. Especially when I visit Canterlot. All right?"

"Sounds like a fine plan, my friend. Anyway, I do believe I've kept you long enough. There is somewhere you need to be, yes? Cheerio!" Fancy Pants finally said in farewell while I shook his hoof. He trotted off with a chipper spring in his step and I was in better spirits myself. Good man, that stallion. I then turned and entered the hospital while hoping to hear nothing but good news.

Things were quiet in the lobby as I approached the front desk and found a older mare seated behind it. I would never find Trixie in the hospital on my own. I did not even know if she was in the same room as last time. I took the bag containing her donut in one hand before asking, "Excuse me. Is Miss Trixie accepting visitors at this time?"

The receptionist was quick to respond. And not with what I expected. "I'm sorry, but Miss Trixie Lulamoon is currently undergoing surgery. She'll be out for the rest of the day once they're done."

Surgery. That term struck a nameless fear in my heart, but I quickly pushed it aside. After everything she had gone through, surgery would likely be necessary. It was not a bad thing to say. It meant she was on the road to recovery. Although I did sigh in disappoint now that I knew I would not be able to see her. But I did not want to leave without seeing to it that her gift would reach her. I then handed the bag to the receptionist and asked, "In that case... Could you please make sure she gets this when she wakes up? And to tell her that it's from a Mr. James? Do whatever you must to keep it fresh. Freeze it, whatever works."

The clerk took hold of my gift with her unicorn magic and set it beside her desk. She cast me a smile and said, "I'll see to it that she gets this, Mr. James. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"That'll be all. Have a good one." I retorted before I saw myself out with the box of chocolate drops still tucked under my arm. While disappointed that I did not get to speak with her, I took comfort in knowing Trixie would still get to experience that autumn spice and sweetness before long. And it meant I had more time to spend with who I really wanted to see. I hurried off at a brisk pace towards the royal palace. No one can get lost when trying to find it.

I reached the castle without incident and hurried up the stairs with the two guards standing at the door saluting me on sight. They even opened the door without waiting for me to request permission. If I was there, they knew that I was needed inside. It was...strange as I walked down the halls. Every guard I passed saluted me once. Some even greeted me with a single word. "Sir."

Was this just part of being a knight? Then again, I am certain every stallion there had served with me out on the battlefield. These stallions and mares were my comrades. I felt...a connection to them that I did not expect. Regardless of the difference in our capabilities, we all fought for the same thing. For Equestria. In that regard, there was no difference between us. I nodded and smiled at all of them as I passed. We all came home alive.

I tried to recognize the armored ponies I passed, but they were all too interchangeable due to the blue and white coat of arms that they all shared under that gilded armor. But then I happened to pass one pegasus stallion with his right wing raised to his brow as he greeted me in passing. But he looked...a bit young to be a guardsman. And then I looked back as I passed and saw his folded left wing. Everything below the first joint was a glorious shimmering golden prosthetic. My heart raced as I recognized this young stallion. "Phalanx!"

There was no resisting the urge. I quickly set down my box of pastries and grabbed the boy guardsman in my arms for a hug. He stammered at this very unprofessional greeting while remained rooted to the spot. "Sir! Sir, I... This is against protocol!"

"You're young enough to be my baby brother, Phalanx. I've got the right." I retorted with my arms around the young stallion. I could still remember when I saw him standing over me in the infirmary. That bloodied rag secured around his ruined wing. I thought he would never fly again. And then came the day of celebration to cherish the end of the war. And that boy became Phalanx the Gilded Wing.

As if on cue, Shining Armor himself came walking by in his own extravagant suit of purple barding. His subordinate called out t him and asked, "Captain, this wasn't my idea! What do I do?!"

Shining Armor just laughed at the two of us and said, "I really don't see what the problem is, Phalanx. He's not in service with us. He's not bound by any of our protocols. If the man wants to hug you, let him. Unless you'd rather he didn't."

"No, no, I just... Uh..." Phalanx stammered before he just shut up for about five seconds. With nothing more to really say in objection, he reached up and held me in his arms too. "Thank you, sir... It's good to see you again."

"Glad to see you're doing well too, Phalanx. I wasn't sure if I'd even see you again, but you're easy to spot with that gilded wing of yours." I retorted as I finally released the boy guardsman from my embrace.

Phalanx rolled his eyes modestly as he said, "Yeah, I do get a lot of attention when I'm making my rounds. I think some of my buddies are even jealous of how shiny it is. And it's still working fine! Like I never lost it in the first place."

Even after all he went through out there, Phalanx was still in good spirits. No boy should ever go through what he did at his age. He was barely old enough to enlist in the first place. He never should have served on the battlefield so young. I then turned to Shining Armor and whispered to the guy, "Be honest with me here, Armor. How has he been holding up? You're his boss, right?"

The captain of the guard whispered back while Phalanx stood at attention nearby. "All of my men received the mandatory mental health treatment we did. They're all doing fine, Phalanx included. I've assigned him to low risk duties, even by Canterlot standards. Just to give the kid a break after being put through the ringer so soon after he signed up. Anyway, Phalanx. I think Miss Inkwell should be finishing up soon. Would you mind waiting outside the throne room to escort her?"

"Yes sir. Excuse me, Sir James." Phalanx replied in brief before he trotted off down the hall. He certainly carried himself like one of the guards, even if he was still a bit green. I had high hopes that he would not regret his career choice.

Now that Phalanx was out of sight, I turned to Shining Armor and asked, "Inkwell... Is she that aide I've seen once in a while? I guess I showed up at a good time."

Shining Armor surprised me by displaying a smug smirk. "Nah, I don't think whatever's going on in the throne room right now is exactly close to being done, but I doubt they'll be staying there once you show up. You're not here on any official business. If you were, I would've been informed to send one of my men to the train station to escort you over. Standard protocol when someone arrives in Canterlot on official business. If I don't know you're coming, you've shown up on your own time."

He sounded like he knew more than I expected him to know. That smirk... He knew. And Shining Armor's status as a married man left me feeling a surge of anxiety now he was aware of my very unorthodox relationship status. He then sighed and shook his head before saying softly, "I don't know how you do it, man. I mean having so many in your life on equal standing is one thing, but being in that kind of relationship with my boss? Princess Celestia herself? You're braver than I am."

"Hey, it's got nothing to do with her crown. We don't let that get in the way... Wait, what about you? You're married to a princess yourself." I retorted while noticing a certain hypocrisy in his words.

The captain of the guard snickered in response while he averted his gaze in amusement. "Cadence? She's only a princess by association. She doesn't really have any royal duties... I mean sure, she did get put in charge of authoritative duties in Canterlot while Equestria's true rulers were out on the front lines, but that was an unusual circumstance. Nah, I'm not really married to a mare who carries the weight of a kingdom on her shoulders."

"Right, right... She never gave me the kind of feeling that she has any real sway over how things are run around here." I said with an amused smirk of my own. I still have to wonder how Cadence ended up in that position in the first place. And there is no way she was born an alicorn... But with that thought out of the way, I then had to ask the most obvious question. "But anyway... You know? About Celestia and I? And...the rest?"

My friend nodded solemnly as that smile left his face. But not out of contempt. "Yeah... Need to know basis. Princess Celestia is my boss and I kinda need to know these things. I'm just sworn to never speak of it to anyone. What's said to me behind closed doors never leaves the room. Or else. But since this is about you... Yeah, I can talk to you about it."

I bowed my head in some shame. It is a sad thing that there are some things one cannot tell even their closest friends. "Sorry... It's not the kind of thing I can talk about with just anyone."

Shining Armor reached out and patted me on the shoulder as that smile returned to his face. "Hey, it's fine. You're my friend and the closest thing to a little brother I ever had. And it's not like anything I say would change Celestia's mind. It's not something I can see myself doing and I know Cadence would never approve, but if our dear Princess Celestia is that crazy for you despite everything... What's the problem then? If she approves, then you're all doing something right."

Those words took a lot of pressure off of me. Despite being a traditionalist, Shining Armor was nothing if not understanding. "Thank you. I'm still figuring things out as we go, but I'm getting more confident by the day. I'm expecting this whole will turn out to be very fulfilling in the long run."

"Sounds like it. But if you don't mind me asking... Just...how many lucky ladies have become your special somepony... I mean assuming if they even are all ponies." Shining Armor then asked with genuine curiosity in his eyes.

For once, I did not know how to answer that. I began to search my memories and try to find the difference while counting with my fingers. How many had become my lovers? How many were still just friends and who was simply on their way there while not quite at that point yet? But I could not even finish finding an answer before Shining Armor burst into a snickering fit while looking at my hands. "Wow... If you're not even sure of how many, then... Dang."

I felt myself starting to blush at the sheer embarrassment of not even being sure who was in what state in my life at the time. I bowed my head in shame and grumbled, "I only just entered this kind of relationship this year... Sorry if I'm still figuring out how to balance the whole thing."

My friend was quick to pat me on the back with his armored hoof. "Hey, there's no shame in that. All relationships take time to figure out the groundwork. Cadence and I are still learning too. We've only been married for a couple of years and we're still learning new stuff bit by bit. You'll figure it out eventually. I just hope they're all very happy with you."

That got a smile out of me. There really is no sense in trying to figure so much out in less than a year. It is something only time can build. Although Shining Armor then chuckled as he said, "Say, I still haven't even met your kid yet! Gladesong, right? When you bringing her up to meet me and the missus? You know Cadence is the best foalsitter ever, right? Or at least that's what Twilight always says."

"Tch, yeah. I recall those two. And yeah, we really need to figure something out. Gladesong loves meeting new people. And it sounds like she will adore Cadence." I snickered at the thought. Two generations of foals being babysat by the same precious mare? I really need to figure out a meet up with Shining Armor and Cadence someday for them to meet my little girl.

Once again, Shining Armor took the opportunity to use a topical segue to loop back to what we had just been discussing. "And speaking of kids... What about all the other ladies in your life? You planning on having kids with them too?"

I was far to embarrassed to even try to answer that honestly. I clammed up completely as I felt my face turn hot with blood. There was no way I could openly list the number of wonderful women in my life who have voiced a desire to have a family with me at one point or another. And my furiously blushing face and total silence was all Shining Armor needed to see to get an answer. "Whoa, you OK there? Hey! Hey, it's cool! I get it, OK? Your family's gonna get a lot bigger in the future. Just be good to all your kids, right? And try to be there for all of them."

"Yeah... Yeah, I will..." I wheezed with my face starting to relax. But then I tried to change the subject by throwing it right back at him. "What about you though? Aren't you and Cadence making plans for kids?"

That crooked grimace... Shining Armor was trying to not laugh as he said, "About that... I think it happened again. Cadence woke up in the middle of the night and woke me up in the process. Had a nightmare where...something came outta her and blew up the entire castle and everypony in it. Then it looked at her and called her 'Mama'. That's when she woke up."

The two of us just stared at each other in amused silence for a moment. I had seen that hypothetical demon child before while peering in from the realm of dreams. Everything about that thing just looked...wrong. A mistake. It must have been the same one as before. I then asked dryly, "Staying on birth control for now?"

"Yep. She's making sure we've stocked plenty of pills." Shining Armor replied before we both cracked up in laughter. Poor Cadence. I know she most definitely wants children someday. It is just a shame her own psyche is getting in the way.

I never knew what I is like to have a big brother and Shining Armor was the closest I would ever get. But then... As I thought back to that admission from just minutes ago, a sudden realization hit me. "Wait a second... I'm the closest thing to a little brother you have? What about Spike? Wasn't he living with you and Twilight since the day he hatched?"

Shining Armor looked nothing short of embarrassed or at the every least found that topic to be exceedingly awkward to discuss. "Yeah, Spike... Let me just say right now he's much more her little brother than he ever was to me. For the longest time, I always thought that little dragon in the house was part of a personal assignment Princess Celestia had given her. So I just stayed out of the way when it came to the baby dragon that was always with her. I mean I was always nice to him, but he spent far more time with Twilight than he ever spent with me."

"I think I get it... Just the circumstances surrounding the situation." I said with a nod of my head. And I did not want to think about the context of Twilight's status as Celestia's pupil too hard. Not when I had learned there were some shadier underlying motives that Celestia was keeping very hidden from the public. I can only hope her sisters will keep her from making the wrong choice in time. Although I then grunted and looked down the hall. "So many distractions today... I really don't wanna have to cut this chat short, but there's somewhere I really should be right now."

"Oh right, didn't mean to interrupt! Just haven't seen you in a while. You have a good one, all right?" Shining Armor replied before almost tripping over the box of pastries I had set down. He ended up losing his footing so bad that he stumbled and fell onto his side with a clatter. "I...really hope no one saw that."

I placed a hand on my right thigh for leverage to push myself up, but was reminded of something that was in it. And then I had an idea. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my DSi. "Hey, Armor. Got time for a photo?"

"Huh? You carry a camera around with you?" He replied while starting to climb to his feet. He was no worse for the wear, but the captain of the guard falling over because he almost stepped on a flimsy paper box was not a gracious sight at all.

"Kind of... It's something from back home that I carry around out of sheer utility." I explained before powering it on and activating the camera feature. I set the active camera to the inner lens that was facing us. I made sure it was pointing at us with Shining Armor and I being displayed in real time on the upper screen. "See? We can snap a photo without someone else having to take it."

"This is the kind of tech your world has? Wow, the Joy Boy's got nothing on this. Sweet! Ready when you are." My friend then got into position beside me and did not even try to put on a more professional facade. We were both wearing a big smile when I pressed the button to snap the photo. Shining Armor was pleased with the resulting photo on display and said to me, "Looks nice. Be sure to show your kid her Uncle Armor tonight, yeah?"

"Will do. Have a good one, man. And tell Cadence I said hello." I replied before snatching up my box of pastries and continuing on down the hall while Shining Armor headed in the opposite direction. I eventually came to the great doors outside the throne room with a pair of armored guards standing at each end. They saluted me on sight while Phalanx stood nearby by his lonesome. I turned to the young stallion and asked, "They're not done yet?"

"Doesn't sound like it. I don't know why the captain would send me here this far ahead of schedule." Phalanx asked while genuinely confused. He knew nothing of the connections I have with the royal family of Equestria. I walked up to the door and listened closely. I could hear voices echoing around via the acoustics of the throne room. It sounded like Nightmare Moon was discussing topics with another mare's voice I did not recognize. All over subjects I did not have a mind for. I had reached my destination and placed my hand upon the door and...

I stopped. I could not simply barge into the throne room announced while they were conducting official business... Could I? King Orbash and Queen Sunflare themselves had insisted I visit without planning in advance. Do I dare enter?

Out of sheer caution, I looked at the two guards watching from the sides and they merely nodded at me. It appeared that I had enough clearance to meet with the royal family on short notice. Despite this, I felt like this was a bad idea. It took all the courage I could muster to push those great doors open and step inside.

There they were. Seated upon the three thrones of sun, full moon, and new moon, were the three royal sisters themselves. Celestia. Luna. Nightmare Moon. And standing below the higher platforms the thrones rested on and beside the red carpet reaching to the door were the king and queen themselves. Orbash and Sunflare merely stood by the sidelines, before and below their children. It appeared that they were genuine in their claims to have abdicated the throne to fulfill the roles of royal advisors. And standing beside the three sisters was a unicorn mare of pale coat and black mane and tail who was wearing glasses and a white color with red tie. Her tail and mane were tied in matching buns and definitely looked the part of a studious secretary. Was that the Miss Inkwell I had heard of?

I stood at the very end of the carpet as the three royal sisters gave all their attention to their personal aide. Sunflare and Orbash were the first to notice my presence while remaining rooted to the spot. I saw a smile spread across Orbash's lips before he appeared to glance at his wife. "You did say he should show up unannounced."

Sunflare said nothing but I could see her smirking at the two of us. But rather than speak up, they remained silent to allow their daughters to catch on. And Luna was the first to notice me. I saw her suddenly glance my way with a look of surprise. She then quickly tapped Celestia on the shoulder while she was in the middle of conversing with Inkwell before pointing her hoof at me. And when Celestia and Nightmare Moon both looked my way, they gazed in stunned silence to just see my standing there. With all eyes on me, I started to feel like I had actually screwed up and was on the verge on being told to leave immediately. All I could do was wave in nervous silence.

My fears thankfully proved themselves to be unfounded. Rather than call out in frustration, I instead saw Celestia smile brightly. She then turned to Inkwell and said, "Raven, let us adjourn for now. We will continue this evening."

The mare before the three sisters looked like she was on the verge of objecting before she dutifully bowed and trotted down the carpet and past me before nodding at me in silent greeting. Once the doors closed, the three sisters rose from their thrones as I approached them. Once I was almost at the point where the carpet curved up to rise towards the thrones, Celestia trotted down the gentle slope and stood before me. And for just a moment, no words were said. The vast throne room was silent. And in the face of Celestia's bright and almost excited smile, I whispered to her. "I... I just...wanted to see all of you while I had a day to myself."

Celestia did not even say anything. She spread her wings wide and wrapped me up in them for a firm embrace with her head resting against mine. Only then did I hear her whisper to me. "My sunshine... I've missed you."

I heard Nightmare Moon speak next as I saw her and Luna approaching from behind. "What brings you to us today, my friend? It is not often you arrive unannounced. Has something transpired? Something we must know?"

"No, no! Nothing bad has come up. It's just... Um..." I replied as Celestia released me from her embrace. With the three sisters before me, I then glanced over my shoulder at their parents. "I was...requested to visit last week. And I was told to show up unannounced. Right?"

"I do believe that is what I requested." Sunflare replied with an uncharacteristically cheeky smirk on her lips. Her three daughters looked at her in surprise before the mighty sun queen spoke wit a laugh. "Why that stare, my children? Would you prefer I escort your friend back out?"

"No! Heavens, no! Perish the thought, Mother!" Luna barked before she turned to me after clearing her throat. "But with all due respect, my friend... What brings you here today? If there is not trouble about, then...why are you here?"

I decided to be as honest as possible as my gaze went from mare to mare. "I have a free schedule today and I was requested to come by without telling you, so... Here I am. Do you have time to just...spend a day away from your duties?"

"You're here...just to be with us?" Celestia asked while I readily nodded. The beautiful Princess of the Dawn then stepped forward, her smile brightening, before suddenly planting a quick kiss upon my cheek. She beamed at me and said, "James, my love. Of course we would be happy to spend a day with you. Our duties can wait! Let's get out of here and enjoy ourselves!"

That was probably the most direct Celestia had been with her affections towards me. And in front of her parents, no less! But what about the guards who were stationed in... Wait, where were the guards? Every time I had visited the throne room, there were at least two members of the royal guard positioned somewhere nearby. But even with their aide's departure, I saw no guards about. I then asked, "Wait a second... Are you unguarded in here? No last lines of defense?"

"What? And be upstaged?" Orbash laughed from my left. The mighty yet loveable moon king grinned at me and explained, "Have you forgotten who we are, my boy? Anyone who knows what's good for them won't dare make a move on our children in our presence."

Sunflare added to that statement by once again displaying a stern glare upon her face that complimented her fiery visage. "Those who would seek to harm our daughters in our presence will meet a swift end. The royal guard's presence is not necessary when we are present."

"You are the king and queen...and royal advisors...and the elite guards of Equestria's princesses?" I asked before Orbash and Sunflare looked at each other with gazes of mutual smugness. Not that she was wrong. Even at my best, I could never hope to challenge either of them in a battle of raw magical might. Sunflare could incinerate me where I stood and Orbash had forced me to kneel in spite of my enchanted armor. Their magical prowess was leagues beyond anyone else in Equestria. I turned to the king and queen before saying, "Then they're in good hands... Uh... Hooves... They're safe as long as you're around."

Orbash chuckled heartily before that beautiful stallion came walking up to me with a wing raised. He began to stroke it over my head as he asked more softly, "Enough of that though. Let me have a look at you, my boy. How's your head? Hair is growing back nicely... Have you been well?"

"Very well, thing's are back to normal down in Ponyville." I replied before being compelled to embrace that wonderful stallion. He may have been the true king of Equestria, but I loved him all the same. As much of a father to me as Sky Beak himself. He returned the favor all too eagerly with a wing draping over me. "It's only been a week, but...I missed you, your majesty."

"Shhh, no need for honorifics, my boy. My crown holds little meaning these days anyway. Just a symbol of what I once was." Orbash whispered softly to me as I felt his head nuzzle up against mine.

Such a humble man. No wonder he was king of the wonderful world of Equestria. The best stallion of them all. And I was quick to refute that claim. "But you've kept watch over this world even after leaving the throne. Stepping in when absolutely needed. Isn't that what a true king does? Serving his people?"

I got him there. Orbash suddenly burst into a snickering fit with his jaw draping over my upper back. "I had not considered that! Perhaps my royal duties never truly ended after all!"

"We may no longer reign over our people, but we still serve them all the same. We do not rule any longer, but we remain as queen and king all the same. Is that not so, my love?" Sunflare asked while being less humble about her status. Orbash released me from his embrace before facing his queen. The two soon shared a brief kiss before Sunflare spoke with a much more loving gaze in her eyes. "And even if that ever changes, you will always be my king."

"And there is no mare I'd rather have as my queen." Orbash replied with...quite the sultry inflection in his voice. Such passion between those two! A love that has not waned once in the eons they have been sworn to each other. It was inspiring to see that the king and queen of Equestria were most likely the longest married couple in the world's history.

As the king and queen basked in each other's love, I was reminded of the last time I saw them. And the state they were in when they departed for home. I turned to their daughters and whispered, "Hey, before I forget... Did you see how they looked when the came home after Nightmare Night?"

Those crooked and even annoyed grimaces the three of them displayed... They knew of what I spoke. Luna then asked, "I dread to ask, but...what exactly happened down there? What were they even covered with when they returned?"

"Pumpkin guts balloon fight. Your dad sucker splattered your mom with one and then it became a free-for-all between them. They used u every last balloon Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash had come up with that night." I explained as I recalled the sheer absurdity of Equestria's own king and queen partaking in fierce yet harmless competition with each other.

Nightmare Moon brought a wing to her face as she snickered behind it. "Father, you just had to make a fool of yourself..."

"A beloved fool, you mean. Can't the stallion have fun once in a while?" Celestia giggled as she looked back at her sister. I can only imagine their reactions when they saw their own parents covered in dried splatters of pumpkin paste. But she then began to step past me and pulled me along with her wing draped across my back to pull me along. "Enough delays. Let's be off. All of us."

We all departed at once with the guards positioned outside the throne room departing now that their services were no longer needed at that location. Phalanx was gone by then after having likely escorted Miss Inkwell away... Or is it Raven Inkwell? Regardless, only then did Nightmare Moon happen to notice what was tucked in my arm. "I apologize for not asking sooner, but what do you have there?"

I had been so thoroughly distracted that I had entirely forgotten about the gift I had brought along. Now that I had been reminded of it, I promptly held out the box and popped it open. "A little something from Ponyville. I wasn't sure if you've tried them yet. Ever heard of chocolate drops?"

Sunflare's eyebrows rose as she seemed to recognize the simple yet delicious pastries. "Ah, I recognize this commoner fare. Although I do believe they were more...decorated last time? During Nightmare Night?"

It turned out that the five of them had sampled chocolate drops at one point or another, but that did not stop them from savoring that tasty treat. The five alicorns all took one into their magical grasps and savored every bite. But as they did so, being reminded of something on my person that I had momentarily forgotten about caused me to notice the presence of something peeking out of my left pocket. I reached in and pulled out a scroll. "Um... Before anything else happens..."

Luna was the first to speak as she laid eyes on the scroll. "Oh? What's this? Did someone give you something to bring us? Or is it from you?"

I averted my gaze from them all as I found myself having to basically confess to the fact that I was holding a love letter meant for a woman like no other. "It's for Novo..."

Orbash smirked at me before rolling his eyes. "Ah, the queen of Capricorn Island. Yes, that magnificent creature. Better you than me, my boy."

Sunflare was quick to cast her husband a most suspicious scowl. "Orbash, I have not forgotten all the times I have caught that harlot feasting her eyes upon you. Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Ha! Perish the thought! True, the glorious Queen Novo possesses a beauty few mares can match! However..." Orbash laughed before very suddenly bringing his face much closer to that of Sunflare's. So close that she recoiled with eyes wide in surprise. And that deep...sultry tone in his voice... "None can compare to your blinding radiance."

My eyes widened as Sunflare responded in a manner I did not expect. Her great wings suddenly spread open wide. And I had to suppress a laugh. Not even the queen of Equestria herself was able to hide a wingboner when her own husband was trying to seduce her. She took a step back as she completely lost her usual domineering facade. "Orbash, not here! Tonight... Tonight, all right?"

A rather...bold question came to mind. As Orbash and Sunflare muttered to each other with that handsome stallion bearing down on his wife, I turned to their daughters and asked, "I probably shouldn't be wondering about this, but...have they been...keeping you up at night since they moved in?"

Those looks on their faces told me all I needed to know. And Luna rolled her eyes as she grumbled, "We had to implement some extra sound insulation around their chambers the very next day. Does that tell you what you need to know?"

Orbash did not overlook that statement. He then glanced at us whimsically and spoke up, "And can you fault me?! Have you seen this beautiful creature I was blessed enough to be sworn to?! There is no mare more radiant than my queen! And I will gladly sing it to the world!"

Nightmare Moon's eyes widened in mortified horror. "Father. Don't."

My god, that stallion... He suddenly lifted his head high and started shouting while just barely keeping himself from tapping into the Royal Canterlot Voice. His calls were carried far down the halls while I barely stopped myself from laughing. "My queen is the loveliest mare in all of Equestria! Beauty that cannot be had by any other! Her body shines with a luster that enthralls me night after night, compelling me to..."

Sunflare had heard enough. She swatted her husband across the face with her wing that surely felt like getting smacked by a feather duster instead of an open palm. And he clearly displayed no pain while trying not to laugh. "Shut up, shut up, Orbash! Must you test me so?!"

Orbash's voice was definitely heard. We could hear distant laughter all over the palace as the many guards stationed about cracked up en masse. The sun queen's mane and tail were billowing more fiercely. Almost like actual flames. And instead of being intimidated by his queen's fury, the mighty moon king merely smirked at her and silenced her with a kiss. "You only become more dazzling when you're angry, my love."

"Man, I need to take lessons from this guy..." I snickered to myself as I had to wonder who was really wearing the pants in their relationship. Orbash was completely unfazed by Sunflare's magical might and fury. Nothing she did intimidated him. And he always seemed to know exactly what to say to rile her up as well as when to calm her down. No wonder their marriage has endured for so long.

Celestia was not too keen on my words. Even as her sisters snickered and giggled at her response. She suddenly smacked me over the back of my head with her wing before growling, "Don't you dare! Don't you even think of trying to become like my father! One of him is more than enough!"

That swat to my modestly covered scalped only made me laugh instead of recoil in pain. Getting smacked by the feathers of her wing felt more akin to being swatted by a sheet of paper or a large pillow. Celestia only made certain that her wing's longest feathers struck me since getting hit by the wing's bony frame would probably hit as hard as that of a swan if not harder. But now that the situation had calmed just slightly and my laughter was running its course, I then held out that dear scroll in my hand towards my beloved Celestia. "Anyway... Could you please send this to Novo before anything else happens?"

Her expression softened immediately before Celestia turned to her sisters and parents. "I'll be just a little while. Could you please wait for me in the main hall?"

They all agreed and I began to follow the rest of the royal family down the hall after Celestia had taken hold of the scroll in a levitation spell. But I barely made three steps before something pulled on my shirt. The right shoulder section of my jacket's sleeve had been coated in Celestia's golden yellow aura and was being yanked up by a set of invisible fingers. She smiled at me with an almost confused gaze. "Where are you going? Shouldn't you be the one sending this love letter to your queen?"

They all snickered behind me as I felt myself blushing profusely. Love letters were something I almost never write, let alone send in the mail. All of my beloveds up to that point lived near me and all I had to do was seek them out if I wanted to share my love with them. But that had changed. I was in love and loved by wonderful women who lived very far away. Written communication was the only reliable means to talk to them. Wanting to make certain that the love letter in Celestia's grasp reached its correct recipient, I nodded and began to follow the Princess of the Dawn down the hall.

We did not get far before Celestia tried to strike up a conversation now that we were alone. She leaned over to me with only the sounds of her hooves and the gentle din of her magical aura breaking the silence before I heard that lovely voice as well. "How have you been, my love?"

Such a wonderful greeting now that my ears were the only set hearing her. I smiled at the Princess of the Dawn and said softly, "Things have been well. Very well. Just like how they used to be."

Celestia extended her wing towards me and gently rubbed it over the top of my head. The only remaining sign on my body of what had transpired. My hair was growing back at a sluggish pace after being shaved off to deal with that skull fracture I had received. Celestia then winked at me and said, "I do like your haircut."

"At least now I won't have to worry about getting a trim before winter gets here." I replied while Celestia grinned back at me. Getting the right haircut before jackets become required for being outdoors is vital to me since I dread the risk of my cold weather attire getting coated in countless bits of hair right after a haircut. There is no easy way to launder most of them. But I then noticed that scroll again in Celestia's levitating grasp and how she kept eyeing it in obvious curiosity. I knew what she was wondering and said, "You can read it if you want."

The Princess of the Dawn stammered a bit and rolled her eyes dismissively at that notion. "James, I could never... This is meant only for Novo's eyes."

I reached out and placed my hand on the back of Celestia's neck. I knew she was just respecting the bond between Novo and I, but she was also forgetting one important aspect of our relationship. "Celestia, you're both equally dear to me. We're all in this together, right?"

"We... We are both your queens, yes..." Celestia muttered with a subtle blush filling her cheeks. I may have been madly in love with Novo, but Celestia was equally dear to me. I wanted to reach out and kiss her, but resisted for the moment. Not when someone could come along and see us. Shining Armor may have been aware of my relationship with Celestia, but the rest of his men were surely oblivious to it. Her confidence restored, Celestia removed the seal from the scroll and unfurled it. A moment passed before she looked at me with a big smile. "Novo is going to love this, dear."

"I hope so... I miss her. Long distance relationships only get harder after the first meeting." I muttered while Celestia secured the scroll in its seal again before we continued on down the hall. Unfortunate memories resurfaced from very shortly before I came to Equestria for the first time. "The last one I had...didn't end so well."

Celestia glanced at me with a gaze of solemn concern. "I've...heard bits and pieces hear and there. Your first love?"

"It all fell apart in no more than two weeks after we finally met in person. Granted, I'll never know if she was sincere in her affections towards me or if her own cursed family sabotaged us, but...yeah. I just hope Novo won't...let me go like she did. Or...anyone else." I sighed as an unexpected surge of anxiety came over me. Novo. Ember. Rain Shine. How I loved them all. And while we did part ways after the war, we met again soon after and our love was as strong as ever. But what if another week went by without us seeing each other? Two weeks? A month? Would they...move on from me?

The wise Princess of the Dawn must have noticed my precarious shift in emotions and quickly snatched me up in her wing for an embrace. She whispered firmly to me, "Don't even go there, James. I know Novo better than anyone else in the world. She would never leave you now. Not when she wants to have a family with you. Do not underestimate the heart of the hippogriff queen, for she will never ever allow her love for you to die."

I remembered those sweet honeyed words of Novo. Not just her desire to have children with me, but to make me a very happy father in the end as well. To make me happy...while I gave her joy too. I raised my hand to look at my wedding ring upon it. And it came back to me. Novo's stalwart words claiming that she would find a way for us to truly become sworn to each other. She...wanted to marry me. To be mine forever. I sighed in disappointment with myself, "Sorry... I... I really should have more faith in her. And in everyone else. They're not her... They're not the wretch who turned on me."

"Don't forget me, my sunshine." Celestia suddenly giggled before bringing her brow to mine with her horn resting right atop my head. She gazed meaningfully into my eyes as she whispered to me. "I love you so very much. Do you still believe me?"

"Of course I do. That's why I'm here." I replied before closing my eyes and embracing that wonderful mare. She draped both wings over me as well. We just stood there for a moment and savored that near total silence. Man and mare, commoner and monarch, native and outlander. It did not matter what we were. All that mattered was the love we had found together.

We had to force ourselves to release each other from our embrace. Someone was waiting for us and we did not want them to get impatient. Celestia eventually led me to what I can only assume was the castle's own telegraph room. My eyes wandered across the room and ceiling to observe many devices and magical artifacts that blurred the like between antiquated and fantastical. A few officers were present in matching uniforms and did not appear to be part of the royal guard. Celestia then smirked at me and said, "Watch closely now."

Celestia walked over to one of the officers as he transcribed a received message onto a scroll. The instant he finished, Celestia held out the scroll in her own levitating grasp. "Excuse me. Could you please send this to the Ivory Palace?"

"Yes, your highness. One moment please." He replied while the scroll was set on a type of small platform on a nearby table. It stood tall on its side before a glass dome was placed over it that was taller than it was wide. Lights began to glow around that archaic device, the whole thing looking like something out of a vintage science fiction novel. The operator turned some knobs back and forth as they appeared to be used to find the correct coordinates. Once that was done, he pressed a button that did not seem to do anything. Although a light soon light up that had the text 'READY' displayed over it. My assumption was that it had sent a signal to the Ivory Palace's own telegraph room to try and establish a connection. As if the whole thing was some kind of magical fax machine. The operator then faced the dome and the scroll underneath as a circle of light formed around it. The glow became much more intense as the machine hummed and...it was gone. The scroll vanished in a flash of light while the machine quickly quieted down. The operator then turned to his superior and asked, "Done. Anything else, your highness?"

"No, that will be all. Thank you." Celestia replied while bowing her head in thanks before she left the room with me in tow. We began to retrace our steps down the hall while Celestia quickly took note of my intrigued eyes. "Any questions, my sunshine?"

I most certainly did have questions. "Yeah. What even was that?"

The Princess of the Dawn then explained, "We have our own express communication channels for contacting those in positions of authority around the world. Every capital city and seat of power have their own telegraph rooms for contacting fellow world leaders quickly and efficiently. I promise you Novo will be reading your message to her in a matter of minutes."

"That means we might even hear back from her within the hour..." I muttered while filled with a subtle sense of excitement. My beloved bird of paradise was really about to receive my first ever love letter to her? I should not have been so giddy.

Celestia giggled very heartily as she said, "If she does, I'll see to it her message gets to you. But we really shouldn't keep everyone waiting."

We hurried down the hall at a brisk pace. Not much later, we all entered the grandly spacious main hall of the castle. It felt so...empty. Especially after it had been filled with guests returning from the battlefield to celebrate the last time I was there. The four remaining members of Equestria's royal stood at the bottom of the stairs. And Nightmare Moon was quick to comment on our tardiness. "Took your time. Did something come up?"

"Let's just say it was someone's first time seeing the castle's telegraph room. Lots of new things to see." Celestia said playfully while I smirked knowingly at her. That was only a half truth. The greatest delays came when we stopped in the halls to bask in each other's affections. Celestia then cleared her throat before saying, "Anyway! Let's be off! We have the entire afternoon to ourselves."

"Well said! Lead the way!" Orbash laughed as his daughters led us out of the castle and out into the city of Canterlot. And sure enough, when we passed anyone in the streets, their eyes were drawn to the glorious king and queen of Equestria. The people of Canterlot had grown accustomed to the beautiful three royal sisters making the round now and then, but everyone wanted to get to know the mysterious king and queen now that they had settled down amongst their people. But we did not get far before Orbash looked back at us and asked, "What say you we find a place for lunch? Has anyone eaten since breakfast?"

He was not wrong. It was just a little past noon and we had not eaten anything recently that was not slathered in sugary sweetness. We needed to fill our bellies with something more substantial. Although I nearly laughed when I found ourselves approaching the local pizzeria. Luna cast me a cockeyed glance in response to my barely suppressed snickering and asked, "Uh... Does something amuse you, my friend?"

"No, no, it's just... I only just now remembered that I had quite a bit of pizza last Sunday too." I explained while not trying to sound like I would rather eat elsewhere. It had been quite some time since I last visited that particular pizzeria. The hostess at the front desk was more than happy to be visited by the entire royal family and guided us to a table large enough for a small party. The place was thick with customers eager to get out of the autumn chill for a hot meal while music as zesty and authentic as the food itself joined the clamor filling the air.

We were all served a large pitcher of icy water to pass around along with cups of hot cider that must have been a seasonal drink. The waiter soon arrived and we quickly ordered quite the buffet of goods. A few pizzas, a heaping party bowl of a salad, breadsticks, toasted cheese raviolis, and a chocolate cream pie for dessert. For being just lunch, it sounded more like we had ordered a filling dinner for the end of the day instead. Perhaps larger ponies have larger appetites too...

Sunflare glanced over the menu once again with what almost looked like a gaze of confused alarm on her face. She then peaked over the booklet in front of her face and asked, "How much did we order just now?"

"Think nothing of it, my dear. We are all quite peckish now, are we not? And I've been eager to try this 'pizza' that has become popular across Equestria over the centuries." Orbash replied with a chuckle. With how much they have been staying out of sight over the eons, I have to wonder how much they know of modern cuisine. They only truly rejoined their people's society just weeks ago.

"There are few foods that can compete with the sheer versatility of pizza, Mother. We regularly order for delivery ourselves." Nightmare Moon replied while I listened in. Between the happy and lively atmosphere, the strumming of guitar and wheezing of accordions over the restaurant's audio system, and the swirling aromas of all the other customers' orders on the tables around us, it was the perfect atmosphere to counter that encroaching late autumn gloom. I had barely said anything yet, but I was still having a good time.

I just listened n for a few moments while sipping at my delightfully warm cider. The five members of the royal family chatted each other up like the family they were. I felt like the odd one out, but I did not mind. I was just a commoner watching the five most royal ponies in all the land behaving no differently than any other family of commoners. They all smiled and sometimes laughed. Although I noticed a wildly shifting display of emotions when the topic shifted to the most recent Nightmare Night from not even ten days ago.

Orbash was as playfully smug as ever while Sunflare looked mildly annoyed as they brought up the shenanigans they got up to that night in Ponyville. Especially when the topic shifted to how they constantly sabotaged each other during the pumpkin launching event. Their daughters were all equally amused as the mighty king and queen bantered back and forth before cracking up in laughter. What a night that was. Although Celestia then finally dragged me into the conversation as she leaned over from my right. "What about you, dear? Did you dress up for Nightmare Night too?"

I knew my response would be underwhelming, but I was honest anyway. "I kinda forgot all about it, really... And any costume I wore would've clashed with the baby harness I was carrying Gladesong around in anyway. I guess you can say I just went as Super Dad this year."

Orbash chuckled at the title I recalled referring to myself as at the time. "And a fine super father he was. The little thing was simply delighted to meet us. Gladesong, yes? We really must arrange a date for her to come to us instead of the other way around. It's been barely more than a week and I already miss my granddaughter..."

Luna, having not been present to witness the interactions between my firstborn and their parents, asked with her head tilted to one side. ""But...Father. You do not have grandchildren yet."

"Nonsense, my dear! This boy right here is family now!" Orbash laughed before reaching over from my left and patting me on the back with his great sable wing. "I love this boy as if he were my own and his little ones are just as much my grandchildren as they are to the mother and father of their own parents. So of course I long for that precious little filly even now."

"Father, you are spoiling him..." Nightmare Moon snickered while we all started to noticed the nearest customers seated nearby were all starting to look on as the conversation picked up. I strongly doubt they could make out what was being said between us over the clamor in the air, thank goodness for that, but having the chance to be near Equestria's illustrious king and queen was a rare treat. I would not be surprised if they have become something of a local celebrity.

Orbash's unyielding kindness towards me was almost overwhelming. I could not resist the urge and soon reached out to him. And the wonderful moon king turned to me and took me into his wings for an embrace. I whispered to his ear, "You are far too kind, your majesty..."

"Nonsense, my boy. You have done much for my world and its people and now you've gone and made my daughter a very happy mare on top of providing me with my first grandchild. Why should I resist the urge to appreciate you, my dear James?" Orbash said softly to me with his head beside my ear. How could such kindness even exist in the heart of such a mighty stallion? So eager to love and accept me into his own family... There were no words. He was simply the best stallion Equestria had ever seen. A powerful and responsible king, a wonderfully loving and supportive father, an eternally devoted and loyal husband, and just an amazing person all in his own right. My embrace tightened around him. I just felt so blessed to be in his embrace. He sighed deeply next to my ear and whispered in response to my trembling arms around him. "Is...something troubling you, my boy? You're trembling..."

"Just...so touched, your majesty. You're a far better father than mine ever was." I muttered while I heard some of the nearby customers marvel at the affection on display between king and commoner. I wonder what sort of interactions Orbash and Sunflare have had with the common folk? I can only imagine the kind things Orbash must have said towards the many children of Canterlot. He must surely mingle with the commoners every other night.

The king of Equestria immediately misinterpreted my words. "Your father...? But...Sky Beak is a very fine stallion indeed! Did something happen since he and I last crossed paths?"

I felt dumb for even implying that wonderful fatherly bird of a stallion could ever become cruel towards me. I remained shielded in Orbash's embrace as I frantically whispered, "No, not him! Sky Beak is great! He's been an amazing father to me! I meant my...actual father... Back home. On Earth."

"Ah... Say no more then. Whatever things were like back there, just know this. I am not him. I am simply the stallion you see before you." The lovely moon king whispered to me while beginning to rub his face up against the side of mine. "Just know that I love you, my boy. I truly do. I said it before and I will say it again. You are family now. You understand?"

"I do... And thank you, your majesty." I whispered as I barely managed to avoid shedding a tear. Such words were easy to say, but to say it with full knowledge of the ramifications behind them? Orbash meant every word, for the word of the high king always carried weight.

The customers around us began to mind their business once our orders started coming out bit by bit. It would be unwise to interrupt us while we were finally dining. And it was all fantastic fare. Orbash and Sunflare were especially pleased to be trying pizza for the first time, our options ranging from margherita to an olive oil sauce lined with fresh green veggies and roasted garlic. The fresh crunch of the salad complimented everything nicely with that zesty vinaigrette slathered all over it. And the pie at the end... The chef's kiss to top it all off. We would surely not be having dinner until much later.

We all left the pizzeria full and happy. Not a scrap was spared. But now we were in danger of being a little too sated. I was almost in the mood for a nap by that point. And Sunflare shared that sentiment while she let out a graceless yawn. "Gracious... Perhaps we overdid it."

"Perhaps some more vigorous activities are what we need to work this meal off... Perhaps a visit to the fitness center is in order?" Nightmare Moon asked while my eyes perked up at the mention of that location. Have I only been there once before?

No one was in disagreement. A little physical activity would surely reinvigorate us. And so we made our way down the streets under a gloomy autumn sky in the afternoon. Once we arrived and stepped inside, the general energetic atmosphere was a welcome change of pace. Commoners and elite alike were present in the fitness center as they went to work on the clanking weight machines in a likely effort to combat the autumn doldrums. As someone who suffers from seasonal depression with the arrival of autumn, I knew that feeling too well.

"Hello there, my good man! Sign this fine fellow up for one day of activities, yes?" Orbash spoke heartily to the clerk at the front desk. The young stallion appeared familiar with the king and queen and responded happily with me signing my name in the guest book. I suppose all five of the royal family had their own family plan in effect at the time.

I watched at first now that we were free to do what we pleased. I recall us only using the swimming pool last time while only briefly getting a glimpse of the general exercise areas last time. I was especially curious with Sunflare when I saw her approaching the weight machines. She got a lot of stares and greetings from those who were busy with their own workout routines, especially those from the Canterlot elite.

Something I learned quickly about fitness centers in Equestria is that many of their weight machines are not designed for human use. Sunflare approached one device that had panels set low for all four hooves. Not at all someone like me could use. And my eyebrows rose as I saw Sunflare set the weight for maximum. This device had two weight stacks, one for both front and rear legs. And Sunflare was going for the highest possible resistance. I glanced at the weight bricks and back at Equestria's mighty sun queen before asking, "You sure you can handle it?"

"Hmph. Just watch." Sunflare said with a bit of smugness in her voice. I worried for her as she stood on the hoof panels. The royal family of Equestria have always been better known for their magical might instead of their physical prowess. And I have seen ponies with far more muscle mass on them than Sunflare. And yet...she succeeded. Even though I could see that making the machine work was a challenge, she did indeed fully extend all four limbs until she looked like she was in the middle of a great leap. She then smirked at me in triumph and said, "Never underestimate Equestria's queen, my dear."

"Noted. I'll...uh...leave you to that." I muttered before stepping away with my expectations shattered. The might of an equine is truly something humans cannot match, even if the ponies of Equestria do not come close to the massive walls of muscle that feral horses possess back in my world. I glanced about the weight machine area and saw that all of my royal companions were at work in one machine or another. Orbash was using the same kind o machine as his wife with the weight settings maxed out, Celestia and Nightmare Moon were using a device that was meant for strengthen their wings, and Luna seemed to be locked in the equine equivalent of a rowing machine.

I felt like an utter weakling in the presence of those five mighty alicorns pushing their bodies to the limit. Even though I was easily in the best shape of my life at the time, it was hard not to feel inadequate around them. And so I decided to try and fix that. I went looking for weight machines that were compatible with human bodies and found some pretty quickly. I thought back to the times I had taken a fitness class and remembered to pace myself with movements set in groups of twelve.

The first machine I used was for arm curls with a resistance of sixty pounds. I tried going for a total of sixty repetitions and managed to pull that off handily. I honestly ended up surprising myself with how well I did. So much so that I pushed the weight resistance from sixty to eighty. That was when I started to feel the burn. Although anything that used my legs was something I tended to do better on. My legs had always been stronger than my arms. Most likely a result of carrying around all that upper body weight for years until I slimmed down after coming to Equestria. Although the one type of weight machine I did not bother with was the kind that worked my abs. I have always had strong abdominal muscles and I am not entirely sure what kind of daily activity could result in that.

Even if the results would likely not stick if I did not come in routinely, it felt good to feel like I was doing something beneficial for my body. Although I would surely be sore in the morning. I hung out by the water cooler for a moment to hydrate myself before Nightmare Moon came along. Her billowing celestial mane appeared to be drooping a bit as she wheezed during her approach. She turned to me and asked, "What is the way they recommend doing this? Longer, not harder?"

"Yeah, that's what they say. Why? Went too strong in something?" I asked before I just happened to notice how Nightmare Moon's beautiful sable wings were not folded against her sides. They were fully extended and dragging their tips along the ground. My eyes widened before I asked, "Did you hurt yourself?"

"Don't ask me to fly anywhere tonight and I will be fine." The Princess of Dreams grumbled while using her levitation magic to bring a cup of water to her lips and chugging it all down. She refilled it and repeated the process four times before finally relenting. The poor thing must have worked up quite a thirst. I only then noticed that she had left her pale blue regalia somewhere else during her workout session. Seeing her body so bare after seeing just how strong the royal family are in a physical sense left me feeling like I was chatting up the strongest mare in the world. I felt...tiny for just a moment. Nightmare Moon then asked with a more composed smile, "Enjoying yourself, my dear? I saw that you were very thorough in your choices today."

"Yeah, I did a little bit of everything, but...I can't help but feel like a weakling compared to you and your family. I didn't even know you royal ponies had that kind of strength." I explained while overcome by a complex fusion of physical fatigue and personal disappointment only amplified by my seasonal depression. The only times I felt like I was on even footing was while donning my enchanted armor. And now that I was in a place that further confirmed the ocean of difference between me and them in physical mighty, it was hard to not feel like I did not belong there.

Nightmare Moon was quick to notice where I was coming from and smiled comfortingly at me. "James... Come now, we did not come here to dwell on aspects of ourselves that cannot be helped. After all, you did not win my heart through a display of bulging muscles and boundless stamina."

My eyes widened as I wondered if anyone around us could have heard that. Thankfully, music playing across the complex as well as the general clamor of ponies working with the metal devices around us provided an ample auditory smokescreen. No one could hear us from that distance. But they could see us. And Nightmare Moon put a stop to that. She defied her own fatigue to bring her left wing up to shield us from the rest of the fitness center's occupants. I felt her lips upon mine. Just for a second. And they left a smile upon my face as she then whispered to me. "I love you. Not for your body, but for the beautiful heart that gave me the life I have now. Never forget that."

All I could do was nod and gently caress my fingers down her jaw. Even if it was a love that could not be, it was not enough to stop our hearts from longing for each other. "I won't... My angel of the night."

"Always the poet, you wonderful man." Nightmare Moon chuckled while she finally lowered her wing. Although she then took note of how they were both slumped to the floor. It would be far too easy to snag them on something or even have someone step on the tips. With a snort, she put in some effort to lift them back up and get them properly folded against her sides. She then chugged the rest of her drink and set the cup aside. "But enough of that. I'm going to try my hoof at an elliptical."

"Good idea. Gotta get in some cardio while we're here." I retorted now that I had rested enough. Treadmills, stair machines, and elliptical machines were set up in rows. The treadmills were surprisingly long, no doubt to accommodate for the longer bodies of larger quadrupeds. Luna was already hard at work on a stair machine while Celestia was trotting along at a leisurely stride on a treadmill. Nightmare Moon and I stood beside each other on asymmetrical elliptical machines, the one under my feet being one of the few designed for bipedal users.

It felt good to just have my legs swing back and forth on those rising and falling footrests. And Nightmare Moon was surprisingly elegant as her legs went to work. She almost looked like she was swimming through the air with her hooves held aloft on those four panels. But then an unexpected sight came up to my right. Sunflare and Orbash stepped onto a pair of treadmills just to my right. And I saw that smirking gaze they gave each other as they appeared to challenge each other. "Uh oh. I think your mom and dad are up to something."

"Oh, here we go again..." Nightmare Moon groaned in faux annoyance. And it did not take long for they king and queen to play their hand. I notice them cast their levitation spells on the treadmill controls to gradually bump up the speed. Their casual walk began to escalate into a quick trot.

"Think you can keep up with the swiftest steed in all the land, my love?" Sunflare asked with that smug smirk on display. Her trot began to shift into a quick jog.

"Ha! You would dare? Have you forgotten that they once called me the Gale King, my dear? I am the storm itself! Like lightning!" Orbash laughed before he and his wife finally reached the point where they had to enter a full gallop to avoid falling off the treadmills. It was inspiring to watch as the two mightiest ponies on the face of the planet rushed ahead while going nowhere at all.

Orbash and Sunflare began to draw quite a crowd too as we watched. I maintained a reasonable pace with my own session, but they never once slowed down. Some of the patrons even cheered the two racing alicorns as they never lost their momentum. Strong in magical might and in physical constitution. When wandering the wilds for eons while living off the land, I suppose that would result in a very lean and fit physique.

It was not until perhaps twenty minutes later that the king and queen began to look like they were beginning to realize that their competition was more than a bit ridiculous. I am not even certain if turning on a treadmill that high for so long is not a risk to the machine itself. Orbash gasped with sweat rolling down his muzzle, "I think we should...put a stop to this, my dear."

"Quite... Yes, I've had my fill of this." Sunflare gasped while they began to reduce the treadmill to a much slower pace. The gawkers who had gathered understood the show was over and also began to disperse. It was around that time that the timers on mine and Nightmare Moon's elliptical machines went off to signal us to step back down. We all disengaged from our machines while Orbash and Sunflare almost looked unsteady as they stepped back onto solid ground. The sun queen wheezed while wiping her brow with her wing, "I would say that does it for my cardio today. That's the modern term, yes?"

"Ran yourselves quite ragged, I see." Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes before noticing Luna coming on over. The Princess of the Night looked equally worn out despite the stair machine being a much slower device more often than not. "Luna? Did you overdo it too?"

"I wouldn't say that... It is just easy to forget how taxing climbing stairs really is. Thank goodness there are not that many in the castle." Luna grumbled while I knew exactly where she was coming from. I have tried stair machines before and they really get you to feel the burn much sooner than other aerobic machines. Although that was also the point where Celestia could be seen approaching us. But where had she been during our aerobics session? "Sister? Where did you run off to?"

Celestia grinned in glee at us as she said, "While you were all over here, I got my cardio for the day with some jazzercise. Got to get my groove on!"

"Ah, yes. Canterlot's very own dancing queen. A shame we could not see it this time." Nightmare Moon said with a playful snort. Celestia did look like she had worked up quite the sweat too. The Princess of Dreams then asked, "But now that we've worked ourselves silly... What about a swim to cool off?"

"Impeccable idea, my child. To the pool!" Orbash said while he and Sunflare fetched themselves some water first. We all made our down to the pool at the lowest floor and found that it was surprisingly quiet. I guess most in summer do not take well to the idea of getting wet during colder seasons.

While I did not bring my trunks, I knew that Celestia or even Sunflare could easily dry me off. I disrobed with the exception of my boxers and watched as the three royal sisters went first. They dove gracefully into the pool one by one. And then it was Sunflare's turn. And this quickly drew my attention. Her hair constantly billowed in a manner that made it resemble scarlet flames. Could it even get wet at all?

I got my answer as the sun queen went diving in much like a swan. She spread her wings for a jump before tucking them in as she went under the water. And when she breached to take in a gasp of air, my eyes widened. Her mane and tail were indeed composed of hair after all and had immediately lost their ethereal properties upon getting soak. Sunflare's mane was draped over her shoulders in the form of long scarlet hair. Not quite as long and voluminous as her daughters, but still a feast for the eyes all the same. I muttered o myself, "Why are all royal alicorns so gorgeous when there hair is wet?"

"I wouldn't say that just yet, my boy. You haven't seen mine yet." Orbash snickered from beside me. My eyes went wide as I beheld that beautiful stallion and his billowing mane and tail of shimmering silver. He flashed me a winning grin as if he knew exactly how gorgeous he has always been. "My turn!"

As graceful as any black swan, Orbash went diving in. And when he surfaced... My god, what a sight he was. His massive mane and tail of silver strands hung heavily over his shoulders and trailed behind him like a cloud of liquid silver. He smirked up at me while he, his wife, and three beautiful daughters floated in the pool with their manes and tails beautifully soaked down. Orbash then smirked up at me and asked, "Why the stare, my boy?"

"Christ's sake, your majesty..." I grumbled with my face buried in my hands. He was just too gorgeous! Truly no finer king had ever reigned! Although with my hands over my face, I did not see that I had suddenly been moved. I soon noticed that I could no longer feel the floor under my feet. When I lowered my hands, I found that I was now out over the pool while being held in a billowing silver magic aura. And Orbash's six horns were coated by that same aura. "Really?!"

The cheeky moon king released me from his grasp and I promptly dropped into the pool feet first. I quickly resurfaced and shook the water from my face as laughter reached my ears. I soon found the humor in the situation and said, "Anyone who thinks royal life is boring has never spent a day with all of you."

"What, you thought our roles consist mostly of paperwork? Stereotypes at work, I tell you. Granted, there is paperwork... Quite a bit of it. But when spread out between the lot of us and our occasional aides, it's rather manageable." Sunflare retorted with a snide smirk on display. She began to go for a swim with her husband at her side, like a pair of swans paddling along. "And I must say this is just what we needed after that marathon."

"I think we both crossed that finish line together, my dear. Are you still up for that...prize tonight?" Orbash said to his wife as they began to go out of earshot. The last thing I heard from Sunflare was a rather knowing giggle. Completely on the same level as her husband.

The three royal sisters began to approach me with their long beautiful manes and tails trailing behind them. I turned to my companions and asked, "Never a dull moment with them around, huh?"

"Not in the slightest, my friend. And they've been very at home among our people since they were appointed as our royal advisors. After eons of watching from afar, I think they dearly missed living as members of Equestria's society." Luna replied while she glanced over after her parents. They really did bring to mind a pair of swans swimming along. Especially when they brought their snouts together for a loving touch. Even from that distance, I could see that they were beaming at each other with a love as undying as that of any swan pair.

"They look like an amazing couple. I'm happy for them. You all have great parents." I replied before I began to lazily swim about at my own pace. It felt wonderful to be in that liquid pool of weakened gravity. It is easy to forget how good it feels to swim when you do not do it more often.

Nightmare Moon followed me as she stayed close enough to talk. I knew she did not have the best first encounter with her own mother. That mare is as stalwart as a stone wall and much harder to sway from her convictions than her husband, but I am sure that is also one of her greatest strengths. The Princess of Dreams said softly to me, "Yes, they have been a joy to have around. I do not believe things have been running quite so smoothly before they joined us beside the thrones. Truly, I believe their return marks a new golden era for Equestria."

"When considering the circumstances that required them to reveal themselves... I suppose the only way to go now is up." I muttered with some glum recollection. For as brief as it was, Equestria had just gone through one of the darkest times in its very long and storied history. Somber truths were revealed to the public as a result. And a war occurred where nothing was really gained from it. After that, the future beyond looked nothing short of bright.

"Ah! No frowns today, dear." Celestia suddenly barked before surprising me with a kiss upon my cheek. The beautiful Princess of the Dawn smiled sweetly at me and said, "Today's a happy day for all of us."

"Yeah, it is. I wanna enjoy myself today. Let's forget about all the whys right now." I said while glad to have something to keep my mind off of the unfortunate circumstances that brought us to where we were then. Or at least the ones I could still remember clearly.

It was a pleasant time just swimming laps around the pool. The three sisters even tried their hand at synchronized swimming, although they did not do so well and instead found themselves laughing at how poorly they matched up their movements. It eventually came time to climb out and get dry. Although it was quite the sight to see the five members of the royal family standing together with their soaked tails and manes hanging to the floor. A question quickly came to mind. "Isn't it a challenge getting yourselves dried off after bathing with hair like that?"

"Yes, but we have our ways. Just not so much here..." Nightmare Moon said dryly now that she had been reminded of the drawbacks of having such big hair. She then looked at Celestia and asked, "Celestia, if you would?"

Luna and I suddenly glanced at each other with looks of realization. Even though it had been quite a while since we last visited that fitness center together, I could never forget the results of Celestia using her heat magic to quickly dry them all off. They all had to see a hairdresser immediately afterwards. I reached out to Celestia the instant her golden yellow magic aura coated her horn. "Hey, uh... Remember what happened last time?"

"Huh? Last ti... Oh! Right, and I'm not so sure the salons are even open at this hour." Celestia chirped as her magic aura faded. She then looked at the rest of us and asked, "In that case, any suggestions on how to get our manes dried without them becoming a hairdresser's nightmare?"

"Hmph!" Sunflare grunted with a proud smirk. The sun queen's own horns were coated by her own scarlet magic aura as she was engulfed in a bright glow that radiated heat. We all stared dryly at her as her scarlet mane and tail quickly regained their almost ignited natural appearance and billowed in the air. Her own hair appeared to possess properties that her daughters and husband did not. Although she then looked at Orbash smugly and asked, "Orbash. Do you recall how we would tidy up our children after a long bath?"

"How could I not, my queen?" The moon king replied with his own silvery magic aura billowing around his six horns. His aura took hold of his own mane and tail and pulled them out and held them taut to the point of looking like a pair of motionless flags. He did the same with his daughters as they all yelped in discomfort with their manes and tails being pulled and held taut. "All yours, Sunflare."

The sun queen's magic aura flared up as she generated a very warm glow that engulfed us all for just a moment. I could feel my boxers and hair on my head drying by the second. And after a brief moment of basking in what felt like a very dry sauna, Sunflare's magic faded. Only then did Orbash release his grip on everyone. The instant their manes and tails were released, the four other members of the royal family stood dry as a bone with their glorious manes and tails having regained their more ethereal properties. They billowed beautifully for all to see as Celestia spoke up, "Oh, now it's all coming back to me! Yes, you always kept our hair straight to keep it from becoming frazzled as it dried!"

"Precisely, my dear! And I think I'd be happy to stay dry for the rest of the day." Orbash retorted while I took the time to redress myself. Our business at the fitness center having concluded, we departed and were once again greeted by the bite of an autumn evening creeping in. The sun was getting low in the sky to the west while Celestia and Luna whispered to each other. Something about the timing of their duties that involved the celestial bodies their parents had created long ago. The night does come sooner the closer winter becomes. Orbash then turned to me and asked, "At what time do you need to be on your way home, my boy?"

"I...didn't exactly plan a return time. I think I can stick around a little longer." I replied while insuring my jacket was securely fastened around me. The wind was picking up too as it often does in autumn. "Any suggestions on what to do now?"

Sunflare cast us all an inquisitive gaze as she said, "Now that you mention it... What about the theater? I'm curious of this modern technique one calls...animation."

Luna especially was intrigued by her mother's curiosity. The Princess of the Night spoke up with some excitement as she said, "You haven't seen it yet? Animation is the art of bringing motion to still images. You must see what you've been missing out on! Come! To the cinema!"

A trip to the movies? Hardly a bad idea and I do not watch movies all that often myself. We all followed Luna down the roads as the streetlamps soon came on and cast their warm glow through the bitter chill of the autumn night creeping in. The warmth of the theater's vast lobby was a welcome reprieve as soon as we stepped through the revolving doors. Glitz and glamour and soft red carpets were the name of the day, almost giving the lobby a glimpse into the timeless shimmering facade of show business. The royal family was immediately beset by moviegoers who were eager to see Equestria's eternal sovereigns in a setting they do not often frequent. I noticed the irony of the situation and muttered to myself, "Who's the real stars of the shows here?"

The gawkers did eventually return to tending to their own interests while we all approached the ticket booth. We all looked up at the list of films that were being aired at the time. I had no suggestions since I was their guest, but nothing on the list sounded familiar to me outside of a new Daring Do film. Although there was one film title that caught my eye largely due to not telling me anything of what the film was even about. "Equestria Girls?"

Orbash raised an eyebrow as he too eyed the mysterious title. "Hm. Such a vague title. And now my curiosity wishes to be sated. What say all of you? Shall we take a gamble?"

After a brief moment of discussion, we all came to an agreement. Six tickets for the next screening of Equestria Girls. Celestia used her magic to teleport in the appropriate number of bits for the tickets and we all approached the designated room. While it was tempting to grab some snacks or drinks fro the very distracting concessions counter, our lunch had been very filling and we wanted to save room for dinner.

"It would seem we're not the only ones curious about this film. And I'm very certain that its received little in the ways of advertisement." Luna said once we stepped inside. Dozens of ponies were seated in the rows, both commoners and elite alike. My hosts were very conscientious about their own bodies and headed down the very first row of seats to insure their manes would not block anyone's view.

It turned out that the seats were able to double for both ponies and anything like me. Retractable cushions could be pulled out for being seated on the floor or a folding seat could be pulled down. I went in last and found myself seated next to Celestia as a quiet murmur filled the air. Nothing was being displayed on screen yet and the moviegoers spread out before us were quietly chatting amongst themselves. I leaned towards Celestia and asked, "You sure this film's been released with almost no one knowing what it's even about?"

"Sounds like it. A very daring marketing tactic. Whoever produced this movie must be very confident in whatever they've made and taking an underdog approach." Celestia replied softly before she quickly snuck a kiss on my cheek. I snickered and returned the favor with one to her ear. No one noticed. For once, the royal family were the last things anyone was paying attention to.

Several minutes went by as we all whispered amongst ourselves. And then the lights began to dim. Everyone fell silent while Sunflare whispered to us all. "Why are the lights fading? Is it starting?"

"Shh. Yes, it's beginning." Nightmare Moon whispered back with a hoof to her lips. We all watched in suspense as things got started. But first, a slew of teasers for upcoming films had to be displayed first. Some did not catch my eye much, but I was curious when a Power Ponies movie trailer was revealed. It looked about the way I expected it to and definitely brought back memories of my own adventures in that world within the comic books. Orbash and Sunflare stared as the fully animated trailer played out before them. Nightmare Moon leaned their way and said with a smirk, "Yes. That is animation."

"It's as you said. Still images given motion... How...intriguing." Sunflare whispered as she and Orbash looked thoroughly entertained. They knew they were in for a good time. Although I think her patience was wearing thin as she then asked, "But how many of these must we sit through?"

"I'd say this next one is the last... Wait..." Luna muttered before one more preview began to start on screen. And my eyes started to widen as I beheld the very modern architecture that resembled that seen in the Power Ponies world. The tone of the preview's score was dark and foreboding. And then... Machines. Machine ponies. Machine griffons and everything between. My heart leapt into my throat as Luna too shared my shock. "It can't be..."

One stallion came into view. One in a lab coat. Doctor Luminous. A stallion I had grown to be very familiar with. His voice, which was just shy of being a perfect match to what I remember hearing, proceeded to monologue on the rise of robotics in the world of Equestria and his close involvement in the field. And with it, a rise in violent malfunctioning robot attacks with no confirmed cause. And it eventually transitioned to a large computer screen running some kind of diagnostic. He mentioned his research into a long extinct race. One whose potential was rumored to be without limit.

Scenes of conflict were displayed. Flames of burning rubble around armed robotic creatures. And finally... Alpha. The mad machine king himself, but in his original majestic alicorn form from the pilot. And finally... With a voice that was all too fitting for that haughty tyrant, I heard Alpha speak. "Doctor. What have you created?"

Glowing text was displayed against a black background. "A body of machines. Guided by a human soul."

Another transition occurred that displayed Doctor Luminous looking over his shoulder at the viewers. And with that, it cut to black again as his voice spoke the words we all anticipated. "Project H."

The moviegoers around us utterly lost it when that black screen suddenly transitioned to a close-up of Hunter's face the instant his orange HUD visor closed over his eyes. Cheers of extreme excitement filled the air while I could only look on in stunned silence. A Project H film was already in development?! Less than a year after the pilot issue released?! Either the reception and sales of Project H comic books were really that good, or the heads of EAC were just that confident in a film adaptation performing well at the box office that they were this eager to get it out there. Luna especially was delirious as she raised her hooves high as if she was Project H' #1 fan. "HUNTERRRR! YES, THIS IS WHAT I'VE LIVED FOR! FIGHT ON, HUNTER!"

One thing I noticed as the last of the preview played out with scenes I easily recognized from the pilot issue was that Hunter was entirely silent. He never said a word. Perhaps they had not yet decided on an actor to voice him. But to see that play out in stunning animation... It sent a chill of anticipation down my spine. I did not read the issue of that event. I lived it. I was Hunter himself that one time. And now everyone would get to see that event play out in real time. And finally, the release schedule. The screen revealed that this film would be released in winter of next year. As the air continued to be filled with cheers, I muttered quietly to myself. "Spike is gonna freak when he sees this."

Orbash, thoroughly entertained by the most exciting trailer on the roster at the time, laughed heartily before looking our way. "My, now I see why animation is so popular! Simply riveting... Luna? Luna, you can stop cheering now."

While we were all impressed, Luna looked delirious with excitement. Wings spread wide, a massive grin on her face with hooves tucked under her jaw, she looked like all of her Hearth's Warming Eves had come at once. She turned to her parents and squealed, "It's happening! It's finally happening! Oh, glorious day! I have something to live for, Father!"

Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes before speaking over her sister. "Father, you've seen her chambers. Luna has become very acquainted with pop culture in the modern world. And Project H is one of her favorite series."

"So I see." Sunflare snorted before everyone began to rapidly quiet down. The opening preview of the cinema's brand played out on screen as the film was right on the verge of starting. "Ah, here we go. This is where Equestria Girls starts, yes?"

"Yes, yes... Ahem. Let us enjoy, hm?" Luna humbly muttered as she managed to regain her composure. It was time to get comfy and enjoy the story on screen. And... Well... I really should not spoil the events of the movie. This is a journal, not a film review. All I will say is that it appeared to be a high school drama and comedy film. Except...all the characters were human. No doubt a result of humanity's presence entering the general zeitgeist of Equestria's society over the past couple of years and finally reaching a fever pitch very recently. I suspect it is simply a fad of sorts.

A couple of hours after we first entered the theater, it was time to depart as the credits rolled. And we all needed to take a moment to stretch after being tucked in our seats for so long. Orbash chuckled while sounding a bit tired, "Well then... For our first time in partaking in the magic of animation... I say that was quite satisfactory."

"Mm, quite. Not bad, although I would never imply that it was a masterpiece." Nightmare Moon added as we all walked along with the rest of the moviegoers joining us in a drove of ponies.

I shrugged my shoulders while throwing in my impressions as well. "It did feel very...what's the term... Very by the numbers. Nothing special, but nothing awful either. I especially didn't care for maybe half of the musical numbers."

Sunflare snorted as she brought up her own annoyances. "And the male lead... Hardly a lead at all. Devoid of character, he felt more like a solution to the conflicts and a simple love interest just for the sake of it. And I know the ins and outs of falling in love."

Luna then rolled her eyes and added, "And that villain redemption at the end... Defeated swiftly and cries like that will make everything better. Nonsense. Utter nonsense. How quickly did they come up with that script?"

"Could've been better. Could've been worse. But it did entertain us in the end, so...I would say this outing to the theater was time well spent?" Celestia replied while we could all nod and agree in some form or another. It was not a film I was in a hurry to revisit, but it was a good time spent with close friends and extended family. Although when we reached the revolving doors, we all paused. It was completely dark outside. We had lost track of time and now nightfall had come early while deep into autumn. Celestia glanced at me and asked, "Oh dear... That late already? Is it time for you to head home, James?"

"I...probably should. I didn't make any plans to stay up here for the night..." I retorted before we began to step outside. I felt unwilling to head to the train station just yet now that my lack of planning had caught up to me. But when we stepped outside, I was blasted by a rather harsh gust of wind. And the chill was startling. My jacket was only barely keeping me comfortable enough. It must have been in the low 40s by then. I would normally need thicker padding to keep me warm when out and about for extended periods. "Ugh, I should've dressed warmer... This is gonna be a long walk home."

"How long does it normally take you to get from one place to the other? I would have to estimate two hours at the bare minimum." Nightmare Moon asked in concern. And she was not wrong. Between the walk from one end of Ponyville to the other and the roughly one hour long ride up or down the mountain, getting to and from Canterlot is fairly time-consuming. Gladesong would probably even be in bed by the time I got home at that rate.

Just when I turned to face the general direction of the train station, I felt something tap me on the back of my scalp. A long horn of an alicorn. I then heard Sunflare speak as her mane and tail generated a noticeable glow in the dark of the night. "No. I insist, child. Do not suffer the cold of an autumn evening for so long. Stay the night. We would be happy to have you."

Sunflare was speaking firmly, but her face told a different story. Her gaze was soft and even somewhat concerned. An almost motherly gaze as if fearing for her own children. Back and forth at the five royal alicorns, their gazes displaying either concern or even hopeful joy. Either way, they all clearly did not want to see me go in less than ideal circumstances. While tempting, I had to think responsibly. "You sure? I mean Fluttershy is expecting me... I should tell her about the situation if I won't make it home tonight."

Celestia all too happily replied, "I can arrange that. I know just who to send if she needs to be sent a message."

"Well, if that's all settled... OK, you win. I'll stay the night, if you would have me." I replied as I resigned myself to an evening in Canterlot's royal palace. It would not be the first time, but it would be the first with the entire royal family living under the same roof.

"And have you we shall! But let's hurry home and get out of this wretched chill. I think we've all worked up an appetite by now." Orbash spoke proudly before we finally made our way down the dimly lit pale streets of Canterlot. Just about everyone had the same idea. Few were still outdoors and those who were appeared to be in a hurry to get home and out of that windy cold for the night. But before we got much further, I was suddenly stopped when something tugged on my shoulder. I glanced to y side and found Orbash's silver magic aura coating it. "Actually, hold that thought. My dears, could you excuse us for a time? Perhaps have some time alone together as ladies?"

We all glanced up and found that we were passing in front of a local bar. Not a particularly fancy one either. The kind where literally anyone can come in after a long day, grab a bite and a drink, and just forget about life for a while. Sunflare cast her husband a smirk and asked, "Really, Orbash? Taking the lad out drinking?"

"Of course, my dear! Can't two gentlemen share a pint together and talk about their day?! It's a traditional bonding ritual between stallions! Or men. Or whatever masculine term you prefer." Orbash barked jovially while we all just responded with varying forms of amusement. He then reached out and draped a wing over my shoulders before asking, "What say you, my good man? Shall we pull up a stool and just be men together for a spell?"

"Hey, if you're buying the beers, I'm always all for it." I chuckled at that wonderful stallion's invitation. While far from being an alcoholic, I do enjoy my booze. I could not say no to that offer.

Sunflare snorted with her head held high, but she still spoke with a smile. "Very well then. We ladies can't let you silly colts have all the fun. Come, my daughters. Let us raid the wine cellars and break out the finest cheeses."

"Ooh, you're in for it now, Father. Just you wait until you get back." Luna snickered as if she was more than in on the joke. We bid farewell to the royal mares before us before Orbash and I stepped indoors together. We all needed a drink after such a long day and that bitter autumn chill only made that desire burn hotter.

The interior definitely brought to mind a more Irish pub from back on Earth. Polished wood floors and furniture and brass chandeliers and lanterns hanging above. A very comfortable and pleasing aesthetic. And Orbash was immediately greeted en masse by the patrons who happened to be there. He must have become a regular patron in the time since he officially settled down in Canterlot. And he all too happily waved back at them with one wing. "A fine evening to you all!"

The bartender, a unicorn stallion with a bushier brown moustache than the waiter of the café back in Ponyville, greeted the two of us as we found a seat at the bar. Orbash was tall enough to not need a seat even when seated, but I got comfortable on a stool. "Evening there, your majesty. What can I get you?"

"One honeypot, my good stallion. What about you, my boy? Got any preferences?" Orbash replied happily before he turned to me. He then asked me, "You have a taste for light or dark? Purchased gin or rum? Or the heady flavor of wine?"

I definitely knew my preferences by then. "I've always been a whisky kind of guy myself."

"Ha! The man's got taste! Give this man an old fashioned." Orbash laughed before turning to the bartender. Our host went to work on our drinks with his levitation magic at work and even seemed able to multitask by creating two cocktails simultaneously. I saw him pour in some potent rye whisky on the rocks, a splash of bitters, and then stirred in a single packet of sugar before topping it with a cherry for a garnish. I was especially interested in Orbash's choice of drink. His was as golden as his own heart, consisting primarily of honey brandy, a splash of spiced rum, and even some cold mead while being topped with a lemon peel twist. The bartender slid our drinks to us while also adjusting the bowtie atop his white collar.

I sipped lightly from my glass to get to know the lay of the land. Potent with a subtle sweetness. "Mm, now that's good whisky."

I was surprised by what Orbash did to stir up his drink a bit as the ice cube in it melted gradually. He conjured up a little stick of pure white magic ice and used levitation magic to get the fluid swirling with it. He then lifted the glass to his lips for a tiny sip. "Ah, sweet and spiced. Ever tried a honeypot, my boy?"

"Never heard of it. May I?" I asked while reaching for his glass. We both shared our drinks to let each other sample new flavors. I took a little sip and my eyes went wide as my tongue was graciously greeted by wonderful honey hues with a touch of that spiced rum adding a layer of richness. If spiced honey cider was turned into a liquor, I am sure a honeypot drink would be pretty close to what one would get. "Oh man, that is good... You've got great taste, your majesty."

"And you have fine taste as well. Mm, that strong bitter bite with a subtle sweetness to it... It tastes like the kind of drink one would partake in to drown the bitterness of a bad day with the hopeful sweetness of a pleasant evening to follow." Orbash said with a flowery smile while we passed our drinks back to each other. With our taste buds tendered up after the slightest taste, we took a more generous drink from our glasses. Although Orbash then said, "But when going off of that logic... Have you been experiencing difficult times at home lately? Perhaps something you needed a touch of liquid bitterness to combat?"

"Huh? Oh, no. Not at all. I tend to have more good days than bad ones in Ponyville. And today... Nah, this hasn't been a good day. It's been a best day." I said with a reassuring smile. And I was not exaggerating. Since the moment I stood in the presence of the royal family that day, I have been having nothing but a pleasant time.

"One of your best days, you say? Glad to hear it, my boy. Then why not a sweeter drink? Something that reflects the joy in that wonderful heart of yours?" Orbash asked while stirring his drink a little more with his unmelting ice stick.

All I could do was shrug my shoulders. "I dunno... I mean I'm not like Pinkie Pie. I don't have the hungriest sweet tooth."

The beautiful moon king smiled more gently at me while he brought his glass to his lips again. "Mmm, I do see what you mean... You're certainly not the flamboyant type. Very reserved when kept to yourself. Although if I might make an educated guess here... You do not come across as the happiest person at times. I seldom see you smile, my boy."

"Is...that a bad thing? I'm not afraid of smiling, but..." I muttered as I wondered if I should feel shame for not openly displaying my happiness. I am truly very happy with my life in Equestria. Even if I do not openly discuss it with others.

"No, of course not! There's no need to smile constantly. For one thing, your cheeks would be sore all the time. And secondly..." Orbash replied with a sympathetic grin before he sneakily spread his wing towards me. I almost paid no mind to it until the tip of its furthest feather traced up my arm and tickled my neck and up to my face. I snickered at this silly display of affection while the moon king said, "It only makes the times you do smile all the more meaningful... Ah, ah, see? There it is. There's that wonderful smile. See how radiantly it shines when it only peeks over the horizon every now and then instead of like clockwork?"

How could a man be so genuinely sweet? I have met many good men during my time in Equestria, but not even Sky Beak was this unrelentingly jovial. I tried to hide my face out of sheer modesty as I raised my voce a bit. Thankfully there was a bit too much noise filling the pub for anyone to really notice us. "You're too much, your majesty! Are you this way with everyone you meet?"

"Oh, not everyone. I mean yes, I do try to be kind and courteous whenever I can. Why would I not? Who wants to be a stern sourpuss all the time? That's that my wife is for." Orbash replied before causing me to crack up at the mention of Sunflare. What a zinger to end that statement on. Even if it was not exactly incorrect. But as soon as my laughter died down, Orbash leaned closer to me and said softly, "But you? Of course you. Because I love you."

That stabbed me in the heart. I should have expected it all the same, but it still got me. I tried to avert my eyes and said, "Your majesty, you don't really mean that. I don't compare to your daughters and you know that. I mean I'm blessed you're all so fond of me, but I could never..."

Orbash silenced me with a light tap of a feather atop my head. He then looked into his glass before sipping at it again. "I never knew what it meant to have a son. But if Sunflare were to ever bear me a colt, I imagine I would have adored if he grew up to be just like you. I have not know you long, but I have only adored you more with every encounter. My daughters adore. And at least one of them...is very much in love with you. And it is a true love. I have nothing to fear when it comes to your relationships with them. For malice is simply not in your nature."

The wonderful moon king then turned to face me while I could find no words to say. He then reached out and kissed me on my brow before saying, "James... My boy. My darling prince. Know that you are most certainly loved by my family and I am blessed to have come to know you."

I could not speak for a moment as I gazed into those beautiful blue eyes. Despite knowing that he meant every word, I could not help but feel unworthy. But that was not the same as saying I did not appreciate those kind words. I gazed down into the dark fluid in my own glass and said, "I wish you could have been my father."

Orbash remained silent for just a moment longer. As if he was waiting for me to speak. After a moment longer, he then asked gently, "Was your father truly such a monster?"

"No... could never say he was a monster... But he's no saint either." I muttered as I leaned on the counter a bit more. And I sighed in profound disappointment. "It sucks... Unless they're raised in an environment overrun with hate, children don't have the capacity to think poorly of their parents. It's only with the passage of time that a kid can look upon their parents with more scrutiny... And see just how badly they screwed up in the long run."

A tear escaped my eye. The sheer contrast between my own father and the two wonderful stallions who had become like a father to me in the world of Equestria only stung me more as I wondered how things could have been. "A jovial affable facade towards friends and associates, but with a very dark underside that I swear he only showed to me. It feels like he only got worse with time. And with the benefit of hindsight... I have to assume it was the result of too many years of success. A very arrogant man with no capacity for regret. No understanding of consequences. He still owes me apologies from years ago that I'll never hear..."

I then looked directly the wonderful stallion beside me and asked, "I don't get it, your majesty. You have far more power than my father will ever have and so much of a legacy to your name. How has all that success and public adoration not gone to your head?"

"Why? I suppose that is a very good question..." Orbash said softly while his gaze focused on nothing in particular. He appeared genuinely at a loss for words. But only for a moment. "Perhaps it is precisely because of the weight of this crown upon my brow that arrogance never found a place in my mind. The people have never served me. As king, I serve Equestria. And as a father, I guided and nurtured my beautiful daughters to the best of my ability. I have...loved them dearly since the moment they came into this world. I never had much, but I always had them when not basking in the luxuries that leadership does provide. I may be king...but I was a husband and father first. And I still am. It is a father's duty to love and guide his children. Not to make them fear or resent him."

"I have nothing but the highest respect for fathers who don't let their pride control them. I learned firsthand how pride will...alienate your children." I replied while drying my tears. My gaze then fell into the reflections being cast upon the surface of my drink. "I learned from my father there's no such thing as a perfect family. And he has no idea that he taught me that... Maybe that isn't the case in this world. Not after seeing men like you. Men who have stood the test of time."

Orbash scooted a bit closer to me before reaching out with his wing and embracing me with it. The beautiful moon king leaned against me without a word, as if just waiting for me to recover from that bout of melancholy. I glanced at the stallion and noticed he had his eyes closed. Perhaps he was certain it was not time for words and was allowing me to break that silence. And after carefully considering the words that had been said, I spoke what was in my heart. "Love you..."

"And I love you, my boy." He whispered back to me without even looking at me. I finally put an arm around that wonderful stallion and held him while he held me. Although I did eventually notice the bartender watching from the other end of the counter as he polished glasses. But his gaze did not remain upon us for long and he soon began to focus exclusively on his job. He seemed like the kind of guy who had seen and heard it all. The sight of Equestria's king gently snuggling with Equestria's sole human knight did not even faze him. I am sure every bartender has a mountain of secrets to share if asked.

The bartender soon came by once again as our embrace began to loosen. He asked happily, "You gentlemen all right over here? Anything else I can get you?"

Orbash and I glanced at each other before noticing that there was only a single mouthful of fluid let in our glasses. We both smirked at each other before lifting our glasses and downing the rest in one gulp. We set our glasses down simultaneously with a clack before Orbash said, "We'll have a couple of pints of your finest ale, my good stallion. One more for the road."

"Coming right up, your majesty." The bartender replied with some gusto in the face of Orbash's boundless joy. We watched him fill a pair of large glass mugs with a golden foaming brew from the draft before sliding them down the counter to us. "This one's on the house. Bill the rest to the castle, right?"

"Too right. Many thanks." The moon king replied before his magic aura engulfed the handle. We both clinked our mugs together before taking one big drink in unison. The ale was much lighter than the cocktails we just consumed and felt like it was something to wash it all down, but it also had more of a bite to it than most light beers. Definitely the kind of booze that is perfect for colder seasons. Although Orbash did soon whisper to me, "Now I think I see why your smile is so comparatively rare. You had more reasons to frown back home."

"Maybe... I don't even want to imagine where I'd be another ten years from now if I was still back on Earth." I muttered while trying to drown my sorrows in that heaping mug of ale. Thank goodness I am a happy drunk. "But that's there and not here. And I wanna keep it that way."

"Well said, my boy! And we're richer for it. This is your home now and we're grateful you chose to remain among us." Orbash spoke proudly as we tried to down our drinks as quickly as possible. I managed to chug the entire last half of that mug of ale and did feel quite a rush immediately afterward. Our business done, I fetched my jacket near the door and we were on our way back to the castle.

I was in a much better mood after having a drink in such good company. Orbash and I chatted up each other on the way back while passing under the bright glow of the streetlights along the way. Just having some guy talk. I had completely forgotten about the bitter memories I had discussed now that the glorious king of Equestria was in my company.

Orbash got me laughing a lot by telling me exaggerated tales about his wife. All in jest, I am sure. He is madly in love with Sunflare and would never truly disrespect her. Mess with her for fun, but never emotionally harm her. And we did have the presence of mind to quiet down once we were back inside the castle. Orbash began to lead me down the halls while saying, "If they were going to treat themselves to wine, then I have a hunch of where we may find the ladies."

I was guided down the halls until we heard the distant voices of ladies echoing through the hall. The three royal sisters and their radiant mother must have made no attempt to close a door and keep their voices contained. And when we stepped before an arched doorway, there they were. A room that almost looked like a very small banquet chamber with wine cabinets and elegant wooden decor. Perhaps it is a place reserved for very small parties. The four mares were gathered around a table that had a few wine bottles set in ice buckets and a wooden plank lined with blocks and wheels of cheeses. Although I did notice one of the bottles was entirely empty and set aside. We barely even had the chance to get a good look at them before the mighty sun queen spoke up with her piercing gaze set upon us. "And so the king of fools returns to bless us with his presence?"

"That I have, my dear! The prince and I had a pleasant chat over some fine spirits. What about you ladies? Enjoying yourselves in our absence?" Orbash replied as we both stepped inside the room. And there was something...a bit off about Sunflare. A little too confrontational right out the gate.

Celestia was quick to point something out as an act of warning. All while she and her sisters displayed anticipating smirks. "Watch out, Father. Mother downed an entire bottle before you got back."

"Oh ho, did she now?!" Orbash laughed as I took a step to the side. Granted, wine is nowhere near as potent as the kind of stuff we had, but too much of that stuff will dehydrate you and make for quite the hangover in the morning. Orbash, ever the cheeky king, was far from intimidated. "And all we had was a single cocktail and tankard of ale. I didn't expect you to outdrink us, my queen."

"Ha! You're one to talk, you ruffian!" Sunflare barked as she swiftly rose from her seat and approached her king with a wing glass floating near her. She was definitely intoxicated, but not all that severely. And she was hamming up her behavior quite a bit with her almost exaggerated steps. And...was she starting to roll her R's? As if trying to pass herself off as a stereotypical noblewoman? I cracked a crooked grin as I watched the sun queen really trying to match wits if her much sillier husband. "The great king of Equestria stooping so low as to flounder with the lounge lizards and their cheap brews of grains and hops? What happened to you, my love? Where did we go so wrong?!"

Orbash leaned towards his wife with a very entertained grin on display. He was far from insulted. If anything, he was fully in on the joke. "My love, we have long since discovered the magic of brewing wine. How many barrels did we fill over the eons?"

Sunflare quickly chugged the last of her wine and flung the glass trough the air and would have shattered it upon the floor if Luna was not so quick to catch it in her own levitation magic. She swiftly stepped to her husband while her daughters left the table and began to approach me to watch the show unfold. "And so you shirk your duties to drink yourself dry in the dingy taverns? For shame, my king! If so, then you truly are a king! King of fools!"

The two of them went back and forth like this for a few minutes while clearly just messing around with each other. This fake argument was nothing short of hilarious, especially with how...accustomed I had become to thinking Sunflare just did not have it in her to be like this. She was not angry with her husband. She was just having fun with him. And he was definitely playing along with them matching each other wit for wit. I snickered at one point and glanced about at the three royal sisters around me. "Man, your parents really are the best."

"Never a dull moment with those two, I swear." Nightmare Moon groaned while rolling her eyes. She tried to sound annoyed, but she was just as entertained as the rest of us. "If nothing else, it has made life in the castle a little ore interesting."

At long last, the king and queen of Equestria could not maintain their argument any longer. The two of them transitioned seamlessly from bickering to howling with laughter while on very unstable legs. Sunflare, the silliest smile on her lips I had ever seen, brought herself closer to the love of her life. "Oh, you silly stallion. You know I jest. Can't a queen have a bit of fun now and then?"

Orbash suddenly and amusing turned his head away from his wife before smirking at her from an angle. "You wound me, my dear! Like I could ever expect you to have enough ice in your heart to truly stab my very soul. Isn't it I who commands the frigid gales of the storm? My heart of ice always melts in your mere presence!"

"Kiss me, you fool!" Sunflare barked with a huge devious grin on her face. And they did. The king and queen embraced each other in their wings and...began to make out rather noisily. I had seen the two of them share many kisses, but never like this. And it was... Well, while I was tempted to look away, my three royal companions recoiled in understandable varying levels of disgust as they beheld their own parents getting a little too intimate in their affections. This thankfully did not go on for much longer as the two mightiest ponies in all the land pulled away from each other with Sunflare sighing in pure delight. "Aaaah... I love you, my foolish king. Never forget that."

"And I shan't, my radiant queen." The glorious moon king replied before the two of them bowed their heads with the very tips of their longest horns touching. Only then did they happen to notice the four of us observing. Orbash, always quick to share some wit, spoke up with quite the smirk on display. "Take notes, you two! This is how royalty should always love."

"Father, please!" Celestia shrieked with a wing shielding her face. Even I had to avert my gaze. It was just too much. You would think one with as much understanding of love as I would have simply laughed it off, but what is it about these situations that instills shyness in one's heart? Luna at least got a good giggle out of hr father's admiration for the love between me and her sister, although Nightmare Moon merely shook her head with a smug smirk on her lips.

After another hearty laugh from the moon king was soon followed by a long yawn as he held his head high. He stretched his wings wide before they suddenly went lax when his head lunched forward after a reflexive stretch. "I say, just what time is it? I never was the best at adjusting my schedule with the days growing shorter. Especially now that we're still getting accustomed to living by the hands of a clock."

"It has been a long day, hasn't it? But worry not, Father. It is not as late as the dark outside would suggest. We still have not dined on dinner yet. Shall we summon for the chefs?" Nightmare Moon replied while I too realized that I had not checked a clock in a while. Spending time at the cinema and then in a pub was an especially effective way to kill time quickly.

Sunflare stepped forward and said, "If I might make a recommendation... I say we retire early and have our meals delivered to our chambers. I do believe one communal meal was tiring enough today."

I nodded in agreement with that notion. We had already spent the entire day with each other and had quite a few laughs. Is social exhaustion a thing? Because I swear I was feeling it at the time. After all we had been through that day, I could not imagine us replicating the energy and chattiness we had during lunch. Luna too let out an unexpected yawn before she nodded as well. "I concur... A quiet meal to end the day on sounds much more fitting. Nightmare Moon, would you care to join me in my chambers tonight? I am certain there are many whispers to be shared between the moon and the dreams she inspires."

"Hmph! Spare me your flowery banter, sister. But of course I would be happy to join you." Nightmare Moon snorted in amusement. And she was not wrong. Those two do have their share of side projects to discuss. Hopefully projects that would bear fruit in due time.

Celestia and I shared a glance at each other before we beamed with a barely contained grin. It would only be natural for me to join my beloved in her room. But as they began to head off to speak with the palace chefs, I felt a tug on my jacket sleeve. The aura coating it was scarlet in color. I heard Sunflare speak, "You carry on. The boy and I shall stay behind a while longer."

At the sound of this, Celestia looked over her shoulder with a glance of alarm in her eyes. Not that I could blame her for being uncertain about leave me alone with her mother after what happened the first time we ever crossed paths. "I shall stay as well, Mother. I can..."

"No, Celestia. You go do what you must. Is it not improper for a queen to have an occasional moment to speak with the prince who will one day wed her child?" Sunflare replied with quite a smirk on her lips. Celestia and I stared at each other with the Princess of the Dawn's face turning as bright as a peach while her father and sisters laughed at her expense. She already looked the part of a blushing bride and everyone could see it. Even I could only snickered and grin while covering my face with a hand. That was enough to put an end to any arguments with the other four members of the royal family continuing on their way. Sunflare then turned to me and asked, "I trust Orbash did not treat you to too much liquor already. Care to join me for some wine?"

"I'd be happy to, your majesty." I replied while feeling much calmer before recalling her seemingly drunken antics from just moments earlier. That realization combined with the...unpleasant memories of our very first encounter instilled a sense of unease in me. "Although...are you feeling all right? Irritable in any way?"

"Child, I only downed a bottle of wine. Not brandy. And it was hardly on an empty stomach after that grand feast we partook in this afternoon. I will behave myself." Sunflare said more firmly with a tone I was much more familiar with. I took a seat at the round table that held the platter of cheeses and ice buckets of wine, although the only other bottle on the table was kept out. Red wines are usually not normally consumed while chilled. Sunflare readied her levitation magic and asked, "What are you in the mood for? White? Red? Perhaps a touch of rosé?"

"I'll take one of each, if you don't mind." I replied while eager to sate my craving for some more hard drink. Sunflare looked pleased with my request as her scarlet magic aura took hold of the three bottles and three more wine glasses. She poured each masterfully and swirled the fluid inside with circular movements of the drinkware to get the scent rising. Once she set them down, I had an realization as she began to cut me slices of the various cheeses on display. "Say... Didn't you or Orbash mention that you used to brew your own wine back when you were living a vagabond lifestyle?"

"Yes, we did. Wine is the most ancient of all liquor types in this world and we too found our means of crafting it. Forged our own casks, fermented our own fruit, such was well within our reach with magical means." The sun queen replied as she put that little knife to work before setting out a row of every cheese type available. She then returned the wine and cheeses to a cooler nearby. It was as if she was treating me to a little appetizer before dinner. "Come now. Sample our wares."

And I did. I started with the cheeses, sampling a little bite of each slice to test it. Rich nd strong, but one I loved most was a moist and soft type that reminded me of brie. It had even been seasoned with herbs to give it a very savory flavor. I then moved on to the wine. The white was sweet and so was the rosé, but the red was much more dry in its flavor while still containing subtle fruit flavors. But as I began to dine in earnest, Sunflare looked at me from across the table while enjoying one last glass of wine herself. "Did my husband bore you when he pulled you aside?"

"Saying Orbash is boring is like saying Discord was sane. Because they're not." I said with my own witty jab. And Sunflare was quick to get a laugh out of that. I sipped at my glass of rosé and explained, "Nah, he made sure I had a good time. Sounds like the locals love him too. Everybody loves the moon king, am I right?"

"Yes, Orbash has proven himself to be quite the people person. He mingles with the commoners almost daily." Sunflare replied before savoring another sip of her wine. She then set the glass down and cast me a very knowing smile that caught my attention. "But he especially adores you."

There was no denying that statement. Orbash had been very open with how much he had come to cherish me. And I adored that wonderful king all the same. But it sounded like Sunflare knew more than I did about him. "Has he said things about me?"

"Not so much say as much as ask." Sunflare chuckled while smiling very smugly at me. This kind of joy was rare to see from her when her husband was not around to provoke a more whimsical response out of her. The proud sun queen then explained, "He has asked so many questions about you. When is the boy's birthday? Does he have food allergies? Does he prefer spicy or sweet? Does he have any phobias we should know about? Any underlying health conditions? What are his hobbies? When is the wedding date? So many questions he wants answers to. As if he was fretting over his own estranged child he did not know how desperately he wanted to meet him until after finally seeing him for the first time... And I'm only partially joking about that last one."

It was humbling to know how seriously Orbash was taking my connections to his children. He had said so many kind things to me... Claimed he loved me as if I was his own. But to hear of him being so earnest in wanting to know more about me... Like a father wanting to know as much necessary information about his son after only coming into his life for the first time... I felt blessed. Truly blessed. To be loved by a king among kings as if I was his own was...

I had to stop what I was doing and just...put my hands on the table as I processed this revelation. What an amazing stallion Orbash truly is. I gazed down at nothing in particular while Sunflare spoke softly to me. "He loves you. Make no mistake, my husband would lay his life down for you just as swiftly as he would for our daughters. In his eyes, you are the son he never had. Even if you can never see him as a father to you, please know that he..."

"No... No, I do know. And I do appreciate it. He is... He's the best stallion who ever lived. And an amazing father. He really...makes me feel like family." I muttered suddenly to try and keep Sunflare from assuming otherwise. A father I do not need to fear is exactly the kind of father I have always wanted. And I bowed my head again as I sighed, "I wish I could have been born his colt..."

The chamber became very quiet aside from the muffled whistling of autumn winds outside the walls. And Sunflare soon broke the silence as she asked quietly, "I have heard...some unfortunate things about your own father. At least from what you've shared. Not the best parent he could have been?"

I did not mince words. I made no attempt to glorify or demonize the man. "Neither monster or saint... But I think it says enough that he finally ended up alienating me entirely in the end. The man loved me, but I suppose he didn't love me enough to own up to his mistakes whenever he wronged me... He will live and die with that pride, I swear he will."

Our eyes met as the calm sun queen gazed upon me. And I started to notice a certain detail had been omitted. One that she brought up. "And...what of your mother?"

M eyes widened in unease as I realized what this implied. I had found wonderful father figures in the form of Orbash and Sky Beak. Wonderful stallions who had filled a void in my heart that I did not even know that I had. I quickly collected myself and said, "Oh, uh... Don't worry about her. She was definitely the better of the two. I don't have anything bad to really say about her. I was never lacking in receiving motherly affection and I'm grateful for her."

A rather awkward silence presided over us for a moment before Sunflare broke it with a giggle. She held a wrist to her lips and said, "I hope you were not getting the impression I was offering to be a mother to you. I simply wished to know the full story. Nothing more."

"Yeah, I...got that impression. Don't worry, I'd never ask you to be a mother to me." I replied in brief while trying to distract myself with another slab of cheese. Although Sunflare then downed the rest of her wine and rose from her seat. She began to step around the table and soon draped a wing over my shoulders. I tried to avert my gaze for a moment and said, "Really, I appreciate your concerns, but you..."

Sunflare silenced me the only way she could. With a kiss. The sun queen planted her lips upon my brow before gazing down at me with one of the softest gazes I had ever seen out of her. "Enough. I understand you are not in need of a mother in your life, but know this. You are still family, my dear James. My daughters cherish you. My husband adores you. And my eldest is madly in love with you. In time...perhaps I too will come to love you as if you were my own. But for now... Know this."

I listened in silence as Sunflare brought her head down and rested it upon my shoulder. I heard her whisper to me, "I cannot...apologize enough for that day. For leaving such a dreadful first impression upon you. I must have seemed heartless to you that day... Oh, how I wish I could take back my words and my actions..."

I knew of what she spoke. The first time she ever crossed paths with me. An utterly terrifying mare with power I could never match. The very first thing she ever did upon first meeting me was to try and destroy me. But I understood why at the time. And I rested my hand on her shoulder as I said, "You did what you had to do..."

Sunflare silenced me with her wing patting me upon my back. "No... No, I nearly doomed Equestria that day... I could not have known. With your death, Equestria would have been doomed to being eternally corrupted by the sins of Earth. In my haste, I nearly betrayed my world. My child, forgive me... I never held any hate in my heart for you... Not even for an instant. If nothing else, please believe that..."

It really was jarring to see the sun queen before me now being what was essentially an entirely different person from the frightening goddess who had tried to incinerate me nearly on sight. And I could only hold her in my arms while trying to tell myself that the mare that day and the mare before me now were two entirely different people. It was all a mistake. The product of a lack of knowledge. She was not the only one who believed at the time that my disappearance would have saved Equestria. I too often considered that myself. "It's OK... It's all over now. Equestria's still the way it should be and...I'm glad we've gotten to know each other this way. I don't fear you anymore. All right?"

"I pray that is true. If you ever do have any fear in your heart for me again, tell me and I will do what I can to soothe it. Promise me this, my child." Sunflare whispered to me before pulling her head away from me and bowing her head to touch her central horn atop my brow. She gazed into my eyes kindly as she then added, "I assisted you in you trials. I knighted you. And I have overseen your recovery. Trust me when I say I have nothing but the best of intentions for you."

"I believe you. Really... It's OK, your majesty. I'd rather focus on thing snow and not how...messy things were back then." I replied while gently resting a hand upon the sun queen's shoulder. She was almost repeating herself by then. With how much weight that eternal crown on her head carries, a single mistake must carry many regrets. And when I remembered who it was who finally convinced Sunflare to relent in her drastic actions that day... "It's just a good thing Orbash was there that day, huh?"

That got her to relax a bit. Sunflare's more somber expression turned to one of sarcastic amusement as she rolled her eyes. "Yes, my king made the right call that day. I would be nothing without him. But did he have to be such a clown about it?"

I then twisted the knife further as I began to smirk. "And what was that about you being prone to hot flashes that day?"

Sunflare's gaze of amusement suddenly became one of very dry stoicism. She then brought her face closer to mine in a manner that had me feeling like I had been backed up to a wall. "Listen here, my child. Only my king can say such nonsense about me in my presence. Him and only him. And I will not suffer such indignities from anyone else. Do we have an understanding?"

"Yes, your majesty." I said in brief while not sure if she really did intend to do me harm if I ever messed with her the same way Orbash does. Even if it would be out of line to taunt someone else's wife like that. Although I then glanced at the table beside us and the empty glasses. "Anyway, if we're done here..."

The sun queen's gaze softened before she nodded. She then stepped away from me and began to approach the exit to the lounge. "Yes, they are likely wondering what is keeping us. Let us be off, dear prince."

That title tickled my heart. It was one thing to hear that from Orbash, but hearing it from Sunflare carried a certain sincerity to it. Once we departed the lounge, I noticed that the usual guard detail had switched shifts. The usual guardsmen clad in gilded armor had been swapped out to the more darkly colored nightshift. With that being the first time they had seen me that day, they would salute me as I pass while also bowing to their queen.

I was not expecting to find the rest of the royal family waiting atop the grand staircase in the main hall. Orbash even raised a wing to wave at us. "Over here, you two! Whatever took you so long?"

"This fine prince and I had quite the chat, my love. The queen must thoroughly vet her daughter's suitors, should she not?" Sunflare replied in a manner that sounded like she was attempting to imitate the snobby manner in which many of the Canterlot elite speak. She even lifted her chin unusually high while ascending the staircase. But once before her husband and children, she promptly discarded that haughty facade and said, "But really, we had a fine talk over some wine and cheese. I pray we did not keep you long."

"Hardly, Mother. We took our time discussing our evening meal with the chefs. I do believe you will be quite pleased with their recommendations." Nightmare Moon replied with a rather tired smile. Although she then yawned as we were all reminded of what a long afternoon we had experienced. "With that said... Shall we retire for the night?"

"If I may? I would appreciate it if we made one last stop before we turn in. Do not worry, it is very close by. We won't even have to leave the palace." Orbash then spoke up while we offered no objections. The moon king then guided us up the stairs to the side and through the halls on the upper floors. "It's not far. And I think we will all appreciate this little detour."

He was not wrong. After a few twists and turns, we entered a vast hallway that I had seen only a number of times before. The Hall of the Elements and all of its stained glass majesty. It was quite a different feeling being there with the place gently lit by sconces and not by the rays of the sun shining through. Sunflare spoke softly, "I have not been here since the day we knighted you, Sir James..."

"What are we here for, Father? Just for a stroll down memory lane?" Luna asked as the soft steps of our hooves and feet upon the hall's central carpet filled the air with each step. The only other sound to reach my ears was the wailing of autumn winds outside the windows.

The moon king nodded as he looked back and forth at the many stained glass displays depicting various important events in Equestria's long history. Both grim and uplifting. "Yes, more or less. Just to...take this all in together."

This visit felt meaningful and I held my tongue as we slowly made our way down that vast hall. There were still so many windows that were still blank. Empty canvases for which to paint new mementos upon when the time came. But I then came to a stop when I saw the newest addition to the pantheon of stained glass memories. I saw myself clad in armor above my colorful allies during the War of Preservation. I remembered the moment the king and queen themselves willed that image to form on that window. I reached out and rested my hand at the very bottom. "I still can't believe you did this for me..."

"Why wouldn't we?" Sunflare asked as the entire royal family stood behind me. The sun queen then touched her wing to my shoulder and said, "I spoke the truth that day. You were left with an impossible choice. And in the end, you chose our world over yours. You are the herald of humanity, Sir James. And while the true return of the human race is likely still generations away, because of this... Because of you... Their eventual return is now guaranteed instead of a mere possibility."

I soon turned around to look at them. They all displayed smiled, though more subdued and even somber. The era that image behind me depicted was a very dark one. A war where nothing was truly gained. My eyes scanned the five mighty alicorns before me before my eyes fell upon the one where it all started. My beloved Celestia. The Princess of the Dawn was the one who set that project into motion. A project she very nearly abandoned after witnessing too many sins at the hands of my world and its people. The planet known as Earth... It was the only celestial body in the vast expanse of the universe that she had detected that held human life. Even the world where Equestria's human population had been banished to had not been located. And when that world is eventually found... What will they find?

A deep breath sighed from my nostrils as I chose my next words carefully. "Please... When the time comes for you to bring someone else from my world to this one... Please. Choose carefully."

Celestia smiled much more warmly at me while she nodded slowly. "Do not fear, my love. We have very strict requirements that all candidates must show if they are to qualify. All it takes is one bad apple to spoil the batch and we will not allow that to happen."

"Thank you. I do think this project will be in good hands and hooves with all of you overseeing it." I replied with some relief in my heart. I had already contemplated Equestria's permanent corruption by human sin once already. That is a nightmare I never wish to see come true, even after I am long gone. Although I then turned to face the distant end of the hall. And I took a step forward...

No. That would be asking too much. I could not ask them to casually remove the Elements of Harmony from their vault just because I was tempted to see them. But as I realized this, Celestia stepped towards me and asked, "What's wrong, James? Are you concerned about the Elements of Harmony? I can assure you that they're safely kept away in that vault there."

I glanced back and forth at the distant door and the Princess of the Dawn. Left with no choice, I then said, "I know. There's no easy way to get by that door without your input. It's just that... Um... May I see them?"

Nightmare Moon smirked at me as she noticed my hesitation. She then said confidently, "Of course you can. Why so reserved? You are an Element bearer yourself, are you not?"

I felt pretty silly upon remembering that fact. One Element bearer probably had express permission to see the Elements whenever necessary. We then approached that decorated door that I had seen so very rarely. Orbash was the first to step forward and said, "Allow me. I simply insert my horn into this slot, yes?"

"Yes, do that and channel your magic through it. It only recognizes very specific polarities that only the royal family can produce." Luna explained as we all watched. The moon king lowered his head and slid his long central horn into the circular slot at the very center of the door. But when he channeled his magic through it, nothing seemed to happen. "Hm? Father? What's wrong? You're supposed to fully insert your horn for the lock to open."

"I thought I did?" Orbash replied while pulling his head back and lifting his horn high. There did not appear to be anything wrong with it. He then lowered his head again and slid his central horn back in. This time with a bit more speed. And then we heard it. The sound of something hard striking the door. Orbash yelped in surprise as he appeared to detect some sudden resistance. "Wha... Something there? What did I hit?"

Did something get in the way? I glanced over at Sunflare in confusion while she looked equally perplexed. And then I noticed it on her. That circle of five tiny horns circling the long central horn on her brow peeking through her billowing scarlet mane. My eyes widened as I suddenly realized what was getting in the way. "Wait... What about those..."

Only then did Orbash suddenly catch on to why he could not get his main horn fully inserted into the slot. And he had quite the laugh about it as he pulled back and lifted his head high. "Ahahahaha, now I see! My crown of horns is getting in the way! Never in my life would I have ever anticipated my own crown being a hindrance!"

"Hmph! A first time for everything, as they say. Celestia? Would you be so kind as to help your foolish father with this endeavor?" Sunflare snorted while we all snickered or laughed at this unexpected obstacle. Those five extra horns really were an unexpected problem here. Their presence around the base of Orbash's horn was preventing him from inserting his central horn to the hilt.

Celestia snickered with a hoof raised to her lips before she said, "Honestly, you don't have to put the whole thing in. I normally only settle for halfway. Try it again."

"I don't? Let me see then." Orbash replied in bewilderment before trying one more time. He slid his long central horn into the slot roughly halfway down its length before channeling his silver magic aura into it. That finally provoked a response. The six circular panels on the door's two halves began to glow with a brilliant pale blue light. Orbash stepped back while sounding rather proud of himself. "And there it is!"

The door's two halves soon slid open with that radiant glow filling the chamber behind it. And there upon a pedestal was a bejeweled chest small enough to carry in both hands. Orbash took hold of it with his silver aura coating the box as that blue glow finally faded. "They're all in this?"

"If they are not, then we have an emergency on our hooves. Let us see and find out." Nightmare Moon spoke rather firmly as a certain tension fell over us. We had already found the chest empty once before. We all gathered around as the lid was slowly lifted.

"Ah, so these are the forms the Elements of Harmony have chosen. Such variety!" Sunflare exclaimed as we were greeted with the sight of those six beautiful gemstones and their gilded housing. Five matching necklaces and a single tiara. The sun queen then looked at her daughters and said, "They were all uniform when the two of you served as their bearers."

"To be fair, having only two bearers for all six Elements isn't exactly ideal, Mother. Their full potential has finally been unlocked now that they have a bearer for each." Luna replied while I noticed how Orbash was just in awe of the variety of shapes and colors of the six Elements. A blue balloon, an orange apple with a little green leaf on top, a red lightning bolt, a pink butterfly, a purple diamond, and a deeper pink hue for the tiara's six-pointed star. It was quite a feast for the eyes, even after all the times I had seen them. I knew that Orbash and Sunflare were watching when Nightmare Moon returned both times, but they likely had not seen the Elements of Harmony themselves until that very moment.

"Hm, yes... Had they been functioning at maximum potential, perhaps Sombra would have been erased on the spot." Orbash muttered in contemplation as he mentioned a name I had never once heard before.

"Sombra...?" I asked as all eyes fell upon me. I recognized that gaze. The kind I tend to get whenever I ask questions about some sort of obscure topic that they are unwilling to discuss. "Oh, I get it. Another taboo topic?"

"No, no, I wouldn't say that... Just...not something the public is aware of anymore. Just a fallen tyrant my sisters faced many centuries ago before I came to be. Do not trouble yourself over it. King Sombra is no longer an issue." Nightmare Moon insisted while I decided to take her word for it. Even if it sounded like the situation regarding that guy was not resolved in the most ideal manner.

I happened to notice Orbash looking around at all of us and then back at the Elements of Harmony. The moon king then displayed a cheeky smirk as he said, "Now that I've counted... There are six of us here."

"Father, are you suggesting what I think you are?" Celestia asked while also sharing his amusement. That big grin told me she was in on his plan.

"And why not, my dear? Let us see which Element resonates with each of us." Orbash said with a chuckle as took hold of the Elements of Harmony in his silver magic aura and lifted them from their container.

I was confused by this statement. The Elements of Harmony are bound to my six closest friends in Ponyville. I am absolutely certain that they will not activate in any way when worn by someone else. "Um... Can you do that? I'm pretty sure you won't get a reaction out of them."

"Normally, yes. But should a situation arise where...say...the Elements of Harmony no longer recognize their bearers while they still live, we can...how you say...assign them to temporary substitutes. So long as the bond of friendship between the six are sufficiently strong enough." Sunflare explained while her scarlet magic aura joined Orbash's. They seemed to know a specific spell and I was very curious over what was about to happen.

There was eventually a reaction from the six enchanted gemstones set in their golden housings. They began to glow dimly. And they soon started to gravitate towards us without Sunflare or Orbash influencing them. One by one, the six Elements of Harmony drew near. And Luna chirped in delighted surprise as Twilight Sparkle's chosen element floated towards her. "Me?! The Element of Magic chooses me?! Why... I am speechless! What have I done to earn such an honor?"

Sunflare was quick to smile down upon her middle child while her sisters looked down in awe at the Princess of the Night. "If I may, my dear? The Element of Magic demands a certain...wisdom. And you have seen both sides. You have basked in the light and delved into the shadows. You know things and have experienced things even Celestia has not. You have gained...wisdom. And the Elements of Magic can sense that."

Rather than display jealousy, Celestia was utterly beaming at her little sister. Such a look of pride in those narrowed eyes. Although Luna then grinned brightly and said, "I...suppose I have. And you, Celestia! Kindness chooses you? A most fitting choice. For you have always been most kind."

Now it was my turn to smile. To see the Element of Harmony bound to my own wife... My dear Fluttershy... To see Fluttershy's own mark of kindness identifying with the Princess of the Dawn herself... It made me feel all the more blessed over having found love with that wonderful undying mare. And much like my timid little wife, Celestia partially covered her face with a wing while giggling madly. "Ohohoho my goodness, I'm so flattered!"

"Ah, what's this? Red... The color of passion... Loyalty is your greatest asset, my dear dream child?" Orbash asked as our eyes fell upon the Element of Loyalty. It floated before Nightmare Moon with its bold red color sharply contrasting and even complimenting her black coat. Her eyes met mine as we shared a brief gaze. We nodded and smiled in knowing. Yes. Nightmare Moon has been nothing but loyal since her return to the throne. To her sisters. To her kingdom. And especially to me. Her loyalty is undying and unparalleled. And the Element of Loyalty knew this.

"I will not contest that, Father. I will never compromise or retreat in my duties as Princess of Dreams." Nightmare Moon spoke proudly as we all gazed upon her. Although her eyes then fell upon her mother as a warm orange gemstone drew near to her. "Honesty, mother? I concur. You have always been very honest."

The Element of Honesty had chosen Sunflare. And the sun queen nodded in acceptance. It was correct in its choice. The mighty true queen of Equestria had always been a brutally honest mare, never one to mince words. Orbash then spoke to his wife kindly, "I see no reason to object. You have always spoken the truth honestly, my love. Even if the truth has been...difficult to accept. And it is a quality I have always cherished about you."

"And I thank you for that, my love." Sunflare said softly. But her eyes then narrowed as a huge smirk spread across her lips once she looked at her husband. "As if we really need to explain why that has chosen you."

Orbash glanced down at the blue gemstone floating before him and lifted his head to laugh heartily. The moon king was laughing in the face of the Element of Laughter. All too fitting a choice. Constantly jovial and overflowing with amusing wit, I had never met a stallion filled with so much positivity. Pinkie Pie's greatest qualities were indeed present in Equestria's one true king. The perfect foil to Sunflare's harsh and necessary honesty. The cackling moon king tried to catch his breath as he said, "Oh my goodness, so true... The Element of Laughter chooses the king of fools, am I right?"

"A most beloved fool, my dear!" Sunflare barked before placing a kiss on the side of her husband's face. I had to suppress a chuckle while I enjoyed the show. But then all eyes fell upon me. And only then did I happen to notice what was floating before me. "Well now... Generosity has chosen you?"

"Me? But...I'm not a pony." I muttered as I beheld the Element of Generosity floating before me. The greatest quality of my beloved Rarity. The mare to went from being my closest friend in Ponyville to the first mare to become more than a friend after I found love with Fluttershy. We resonated with each other so many times. But at the end of the day, I should not have qualified.

"No, you are most certainly not... But your soul is in harmony with our world and its people. The cutie marks upon your arms is a testament to that." Luna explained as I suddenly remembered that day. When I received an epiphany when outside Zecora's home. And then they formed. That beautiful twin dove image on my biceps.

The tone around us had become more somber as the five royal alicorns turned to me. Nightmare Moon then spoke profoundly. "You are not the happiest man. You are not the kindest man. You are not the most honest man. You are not the wisest man. Your loyalty is not absolute. But...your generosity knows very few equals."

Celestia then tried to smile at me, yet that smile appeared pained. "You have always been so quick to give, but so slow to receive. And just recently...you nearly gave everything for our world. And for us. James... The Element of Generosity has chosen well."

I gazed down upon the gently glowing form of the Element of Generosity before taking it into my hands. Perhaps they were right. At least with the Element of Humanity, it was natural that I be chosen as its bearer. I was very in touch with my humanity and all the flaws that came with it. But to be chosen by something so closely tied to a race of innocent purity... I felt unworthy. But not in their eyes. Orbash himself then said to me, "And if there is one thing you have been especially generous with, it has been your love."

My face flushed as I heard that. And he was right. It was not simply how many wonderful women I had found love with. It was how much I had to give. Ocellus... Even Thorax had claimed that the amount of love in me is essentially bottomless. But never for lust... I never wanted them to be mine for the sake of my own ego. I wanted to make them happy. To feel loved and appreciated. To...find happiness together. And they knew. All five members of the royal family smirked knowingly at me as I blushed profusely. "Guys, I... You don't really..."

"Shush. Come here, my generous angel." Celestia said cheekily before she reached out and placed a quick kiss upon my lips. I only tensed up harder at her shameless display of love towards me. Even in front of her father and sisters. She then stepped forward and took me into her wings with her head resting upon my shoulder. "The humble are always the most generous. Don't be ashamed, my love."

"Celestia... Not in front of your parents." I muttered on reflex while the rest of them just snickered at the sharp contrast in our moods. Even with Orbash and Sunflare being more than happy with the relationship between their daughter and I, it felt so wrong to be openly doing that before we could truly become a couple. Even when that day does finally come, I suspect I will take a good while to get used to it.

"Nonsense, my boy. You don't see us complaining, do you?" Orbash snorted before he took all six of the Elements of Harmony into his magical grasp before placing them back in their box. "But I do suppose we've toyed with these long enough. And my appetite is calling."

We watched as the moon king placed the chest back upon its pedestal and closed the doors to that tiny chamber. There was no such lightshow this time. Although Luna then turned my way and asked, "Wait, tomorrow is Monday. Should we send word to your place of employment since you will be delayed in returning home?"

That was certainly a valid concern. And I am surprised we did not consider it sooner. I calmly replied, "That's not a problem. My bosses at Sugarcube Corner actually just recently adjusted the place's business schedule. Mondays are now closed for them to give us all more time to spend with our families. And because Mondays have consistently brought in the least profits by weekday standards."

"Really? Then I suppose there's nothing else for us to be concerned with." Sunflare replied before she began to turn towards the very distant exit to the hall. "Now then... As much as I have enjoyed our time here, I do believe we had delayed enough. And my bedchambers are beckoning me. Dinner should be along shortly as well."

As tempting as it was to hurry on for a hot dinner, I was tempted to take my time. I looked back and forth at the walls of stain glass portraits before saying, "You all go ahead. I'll...be right there."

"Very well then. Just remember, James. My place. If you get lost, ask one of the guards to point there." Celestia replied before she and her family carried on down the hall and out of sight. For the next short while, I took the time to savor that silent solitude after a long day of being surrounding by dear friends.

The hall felt so empty and desolate with the whistling of frigid winds outside the windows only adding to that dreary sense of isolation. But I enjoyed it. If only for a little while. I could barely see anything beyond even the most colorless glass panel. But the courtyard and labyrinth beyond were not my concern. I was merely interested in the stories being told through those stained glass memories.

It had been so long since I had last walked along that hall on my own time. And once again, the portraits depicting Discord ended up being the one that caught my eye the most. And I suddenly came to the realization that everything I knew about him and heard from his own mouth had been recontextualized by the War of Preservation. I gazed upon the image depicting him being turned into stone for the very first time. And then I glanced at the side of the hall that faced the labyrinth where he left this world.

I could remember the wacky first encounter I had with him in that very hall. Then the brief meeting with him out there by the labyrinth when that game was put into play. And then the...very memorable fact that I could not recall a single thing after the moment when I first entered that labyrinth. From there...to waking up in the hospital while surrounded by my six closest friends and even Nightmare Moon. Memories that I knew I should be grateful I could not recall. A parting gift from Discord himself.

That last time together... When his very ghost possessed a statue crafted in his memory just to be able to have one last heartfelt chat with me and lay some much needed questions to rest. We parted ways as friends. I shed tears as I mourned his final permanent departure from the world of the living. But now... Now that I had seen the ultimate consequences of his actions that resulted in the complete extinction of humanity in this world...

I knew the truth of Discord's madness. Once a king loved by all, a source of constant fun and unpredictable festivities. Only to be corrupted by the loss of too many friends too many times. Where the only way to get through each day was to drown that nihilistic grief with pure chaos. But before his first defeat... He did one last cruel chaotic act just to see what would happen. An act even he could never have foreseen the consequences of.

Discord, you poor mad fool. You tempted the very emperor of humanity by reaching out to their worst latent vices. Made them wonder how high they could reach if they used everyone else as a footstool. It resulted in humanity's exodus and eventual extinction from this world. Equestria was never the same again. And then he revealed himself. The emperor did not die. He resisted the purge and. eventually awoke. All while using my own presence in Equestria as a means to sustain himself. He brought war to this wonderful paradise. And very nearly ruined Equestria forever by very nearly allowing the plague of my world's own strain of human sin to spill over irrevocably into this world. Human sin from a world even Discord had no idea could have ever existed.

I suffered out there upon the Empty Plains because of that mad fool. We all suffered. Nothing was truly gained in that war. Only lost. So many came home bearing scars. Some even lost something out there. I bowed my head and leaned against the window before me. How could I ever forgive him for that? How does one rationalize what Discord did when that... When actual war, something that has no place in Equestria, ended up happening as a result of it?

This was too much. My memories of Discord during our final encounter and the last lingering result of his mad legacy manifesting this year were at war with each other. A poor unfortunate soul who became a victim of his own immortality? Or a nihilistic monster who nearly caused Equestria to be ruined forever in a way it could never recover from? I turned and hurried out of the Hall of the Elements at a brisk pace. This was not a night I wanted to dwell on such a question. Especially not when it no longer mattered in the grand scheme of things...

The lights throughout the castle had been dimmed for the night and the halls were very quiet aside from the occasional tapping of armored hooves. The guards were out in force and saluted me whenever I passed them. I remembered enough about the castle's layout to find my way to the hallway that connected to the private chambers of the royal family. But as I passed a bend, a voice spoke up behind me. "A word with you, please."

How did I not see her there? Nightmare Moon was standing in the shadows. She was not even particularly camouflaged against the pale coloration of the walls. I suppose I just thought she was some sort of hall decoration before I happened to get a good look at her. Happy to see a friendly face after my mind had gone to such a dark place, I turned to her and smiled. "Sure. What's up? Isn't Luna waiting for you?"

"Yes, but she knows it can wait a moment. I just...wanted a moment with you before the day can end." She replied softly before beckoning me to join her in the shadows. As I stepped closer, her voice dipped with a certain inflection. "Alone."

I understood what she wanted. And my heart demanded it as well. We stepped into each other's embrace, our lips touching. Even if we could never truly be together, that was no reason for our hearts to stop longing for each other. The beautiful Princess of Dreams whispered to me, "Did you enjoy your time with us today, my love?"

"Very. I had a wonderful time." I whispered back with my fingers dragging themselves through her glorious billowing mane. We sighed harshly as if we knew just how long we had been waiting for the next opportunity to savor each other in private. I then whispered directly into her ear, "Your mother and father are wonderful people. Thank you for having me today."

"No. Thank you for finding the time to be with us today." Nightmare Moon whispered back to me as we both tried to keep our voices down. While it appeared that the royal guard generally do not patrol the hall outside the living quarters of the royal family for the sake of privacy, there was no telling who might be within earshot. Not even the entire royal family was aware of the very delicate romance that had bloomed between Nightmare Moon and I. Ours is a love that must be kept hidden from as many as possible. If only because...it can never truly be consummated. I knew better than to ask if Nightmare Moon had changed her mind. That would never happen. Even so... This was enough. We loved each and that was all that we needed.

For just a moment, we said nothing. We merely held each other. Caressed each other and brought our lips together. The taste of her tongue upon mine as the two of them danced... I soon whispered with a quiet gasp as I gazed into those magnificent exotic eyes. "My angel of the night..."

"Yes, my love. Your angel. Yours and no one else's. Forever." That beautiful princess whispered to me. We kissed again, tongues dancing as we savored the moment. We both sighed together as it ended and held each other while I was wrapped in her elegant sable wings. But we were not simply there to hold and be held. We had a few things to discuss. The Princess of Dreams then whispered into my ear. "Have you dreamed well lately?"

"Yeah, more or less. Just a shame I can't remember most of them, but that's how dreams are." I said with a bit of a crooked smile on my face. If only I could remember most of them better. I probably had some memorable adventures that were forgotten minutes after I awoke. I know Luna and Nightmare Moon do not visit my dreaming mind every night.

It was then that Nightmare Moon dropped an unexpected question on me. "And has anyone...visited you in your dreams lately? Perhaps a little...lesser wyrm, as you called her?"

She... She knew? She was there that night? Even though I never heard her or felt her presence? I glanced at Nightmare Moon and asked, "You saw us?"

"Of course I did, my love. While I was drifting through the nexus, I felt a presence in your dreaming mind. A living presence. I knew for certain it was her. And after the bedlam that plagued your dreams the last time the two of you crossed paths, I had to witness it. Just to be safe." Nightmare Moon whispered to me with her winged embrace tightening. Her smooth delicate feathers brushed along my back while she then looked me in the eye. "Although while I did watch, I did not hear. Tell me, my dear. What has transpired between you and little Cynder?"

A valid question to ask after what happened that one night. My mood soured again as I was left at a loss for words. "I...don't know how to really say that."

Nightmare Moon whispered to me again. "I saw what happened, James. And I could sense it. She turned away from you in tears. She was prepared to fade away forever. And yet, you took hold of her. And she returned to your side. What did you say to her?"

I bowed my head and let out a long sigh. She had the right to know. "Cynder...wanted me to choose if she should stay or go. I...couldn't decide, so she assumed the worst and said goodbye. I...followed my gut and told her...to...just take things one day at a time and see what happens."

"A wise decision. Perhaps it is you the Element of Magic should have considered choosing." Nightmare Moon replied while causing me to snort in mild annoyance at this unexpected show of wit. The Princess of Dreams chuckled under her breath before she then said, "But beyond that... I saw it all. The two of you came to each other's aid in times of peril. She destroyed that creature of wood when it set its sights on you. You defended her when she took a wayward arrow to the throat. You could have let her die, yet you healed her with your own hands. I could see it in your eyes. In your movements. You were on the verge of panic. Tell me, my dear. Have you truly forgiven her for that night?"

I could still remember that moment. The shock I felt when I saw the local archer setting his sights on her. And the panic of seeing her take an arrow to the throat before falling out of sight. And the sense of helplessness when I fund Cynder drowning in her own blood. Why was I so afraid of losing her at that moment if I did not trust her? If her very presence made me so unsure of what to think or feel?

The memories came back to me. I should have not cared. I was still somewhat wary of her. But when I saw someone in that village I consider a friend nock an arrow in his bow with his sights set on her... Panic. That is what it was. And anger. I hurled my spare shield at him. Cynder had hurt me. Even tried to slay me. And entirely over unfounded assumptions fueled by previously unknown traumas. And yet... Why did all my disdain for her disappear in that moment? Not wanting to keep the Princess of Dreams waiting any longer, I sighed out a response. "I don't know... In that moment, nothing else mattered. I...couldn't lose her then. Not like that."

"Are you truly so certain that you cannot decide whether to hold her or reject her?" Nightmare Moon asked as she rested her horn upon my head. Her eyes gazed into mine with sincere concern.

All joy in my heart faded as I cast my gaze downward. "I think the hardest part of this is not knowing how I feel about this at the moment."

"How you feel... Then let me ask you this." Nightmare Moon whispered as her eyes lit up just slightly. An epiphany filled those beautiful irises. "If your heart is unsure, then what of your mind? Tell me not what you feel. Tell me what you think. Do you think that little wyrm still intends to slit your throat at first opportunity?"

My memories clashed hard against each other. Memories from two separate dreams set back to back. In one, I was gravely wounded by that vengeful wyrm. In the next, she tried desperately to right her wrongs. Stayed by my side. Shielded me from anything that sought to harm me. Nurtured me when I fell ill from a strain of disease unique to the world we found ourselves in. She did not even have to do that last part, but she did so anyway. And she even...did and said things to me. Gentle things that...I could not believe she really meant at the time. She sought to make amends with me. Did what she could to keep me safe. Even keep me happy. But...Cynder could never love me... Would she? Could she?

After juggling these thoughts in my head a moment longer, I once again let out a sigh of mild frustration. "I don't think my head is any better off than my heart. I think both are equally confused."

"Then if I may?" Nightmare Moon asked as she caught my attention. She then explained to me, "Let me recall what I saw. From my own perspective. There were many times where I was tempted to reveal myself and intervene. I was even tempted to purge that illness you contracted late in your dream. But I did not. Solely because she was there. So long as little Cynder was by your side, I had no reason to step in. And then came the time when you successfully reached your home in the city out on the tundra. Your servant set out to fetch a cure for your illness while Cynder remained by your side. And then...something most telling occurred. A very simple act, but one that carried profound weight."

I began to raise an eyebrow. And my eyes widened as I recalled one of the last things Cynder did for me that night. An act Nightmare Moon was quick to retell. "She fed you that night. Went out of her way to locate a means to transport a liquid meal to you up the stairs. Even if her body was not at all designed to carry such a thing. Even if she has the hands needed to hold a ladle, her body is still that of a beast. And yet, she persisted. She moved that container step by step, ledge by ledge, just to get that meal to you. An act that should have only taken a moment drawn out over the course of minutes. But did she ever once complain? No. Not once. That little wyrm carried out a labor of love for you sake. Did she not?"

Nightmare Moon was not wrong. From the moment Cynder discovered that soup pot by the fire on the first floor, she was immediately interested in getting some of it to me. The closest I ever heard of a complaint from her was the moment she finished filling a bowl and pondered to herself how she would even get it to me if she could not walk while carrying it in her hands. And I did not just hear her. I could see her. I watched her from between the floorboards. She had no idea she was being observed during most of her endeavor. Never once muttered to herself about me. And only then did I speak softly. "I suppose it really is the little things that say the most."

The Princess of Dreams nuzzled the side of my head as she continued to whisper to me. "I understand if your heart and mind are still at odds, but trust me when I say I know that she is no longer the demon who maimed you that night. What she did cannot be justified or rationalized. And she knows this. But I can assure you it will not happen again. She knows you now. She knows you in a way very few do. If you cannot forgive her, I understand. But if nothing else, please... Learn to understand that she will not repeat those mistakes."

"I'll try... I can't make any promises, but...we'll see. Maybe I'll have an answer the next time we meet." I spoke with my arms tightening around my beloved.

Nightmare Moon then asked me a question. A very heavy question. "If that is so... Please tell me. Do you wish for Luna and I to continue in our endeavors to bring her into the realm of reality? She was born from your dreams and memories. The choice is yours."

That night made me reconsider everything I knew about Cynder. From friend to enemy and back to being a friend. All because of something we could not have known about her. And now something only I knew. And...I could not tell Nightmare Moon about that. That was an admission that should not be shared freely. But that kind of trauma... And after the night where we were reunited... I sighed as I decided to not let my own concerns cloud my judgement. "Yeah... Keep at it. Cynder's suffered enough. A life in Equestria would be good for her. This is a very...healing world."

"Then we shall. And Luna and I wish to try something the next time she manifests in your dreams. To start small as a test." Nightmare Moon said with an inspired gleam in her eye. It was just a shame I could not share in her optimism. I am still not entirely sure if bringing someone into the world of reality who could never have existed, someone with the capacity to harm me, may turn out to be a mistake...

It was then that something caught my attention. As did Nightmare Moon. We sniffed the air. Delectable aromas were wafting from down the hall from whence I came. We released each other as we both turned our gazes in that direction. I muttered hungrily, "Smells like dinner is on its way."

"Mm, yes. Quite. And we should not be seen together like this." Nightmare Moon muttered before she and I glanced at each other. We soon wore matching smiles before reaching out and sharing one last kiss. Only then did our arms and wings release each other. The Princess of Dreams then whispered to me, "I enjoyed our time together, my love. On your way now. I shall see you in the morning."

"Yeah... Tomorrow. Sweet dreams, my dear." I whispered back to my beautiful beloved. While our time alone was short, it was still an experience we both needed. I hurried down the hall as I was certain Celestia was wondering what could possibly be keeping me so long.

I recognized the correct door and knocked on it lightly. I promptly heard the sweet voice of the Princess of the Dawn within. "It's open, dear."

Bold of her to assume it was me on the other end and not whoever was bringing up our meal for the evening. I nudged the door open and was pleasantly surprised to see that Celestia was in the process of loading up the fireplace in her room. It was a good night for it. The only source of light in the room at the time were a few candles. The beautiful Princess of the Dawn looked my way and asked, "What kept you? Were you really that taken with the Hall of the Elements?"

It probably would be for the best to keep my relationship with Nightmare Moon from as many as possible. I believe only Luna and Orbash are aware of it at this time. I cannot even tell Fluttershy about it... So I decided to tell Celestia a harmless half-truth. "Yeah. Lots of memories in those glass images. Did a lot of pacing. Lots of muttering to myself. I don't get to see that place very often."

"I understand, dear. And...ooh, is it almost here? You picked a good time to show up." Celestia started to say before her keen equine nose detected some of that delectable aroma wafting into her room. Not even a minute went by after I entered before one of the castle servants showed up with our meal on a rolling cart. There were four platters or plates covered by a silver dome and an ice bucket containing a bottle of sparkling grape juice. "Ooh, that smells lovely! Just set them down right here."

We were even provided little trays with foldable stands to eat off of while resting on the floor. We were soon alone in the very dimly lit room before Celestia finished arranging the logs in her fireplace. And with a flash of golden yellow fire magic, the logs were set ablaze with crackling and bright orange flames. My beloved then smiled at me and said, "Nothing quite like a fireplace for those cold autumn and winter nights, is there?"

"There really isn't. It's the best time of the year for it." I replied as I basked in the warmth of that fiery glow. It brightened up the room much better than those candles. And I then noticed a shape perched up high nearby. An avian form that I had not seen in some time. "Huh? Oh, didn't see you there!"

"And just in time too. Philomena, could you come here? I have a favor to ask of you." Celestia replied as her own personal pet spread her wings and came swooping in for a landing before us. That vibrant phoenix stood before us while even happily accepting a few scritches from me under her beak. Celestia then used her levitation magic to bring over an empty scroll and an ink quill while we got comfortable on the floor. She looked at me and asked, "You don't mind if I write this to Fluttershy, do you?"

"Sure, go right ahead. I'll be sure to explain things to her personally tomorrow." I replied while seeing what the idea was. Fluttershy would need to know I would not be home until tomorrow and Philomena would be serving as our very own carrier phoenix. The cold of the autumn night would probably not even faze her.

Celestia lifted her gaze towards the ceiling as the feathery quill lightly tapped against her chin. Probably just trying to decide on what to say in that note. A smile soon formed on her lips before she then began to write while also transcribing her message aloud. "Miss Fluttershy... How have you been, dear? This is Celestia writing to you tonight. Have you and the little ones been well? Your husband showed up unannounced today and caught me and my family entirely by surprise. Just to spend time with friends. My family and I had a wonderful time with our friend today and we kept him happy and entertained. But by the time we noticed just how late it was getting, it was already time for Luna to raise the moon over this corner of Equestria. And with how long it would take for him to get back home with this dreadful chill in the air, we thought it would be best if he stayed for the night. I am writing this to just let you know where he is and that he will be back in the morning. And I have assigned Philomena to get this message to you. If you wish, she can remain the night in your husband's stead. I'm sure the two of you have much to catch up on. I hope we can chat in person before long. Take care, dear. Yours truly, Princess Celestia."

I raised in eyebrow in curiosity at that last line. Perhaps I had been told before and it had been too long, but Fluttershy and Philomena know each other? When considering my wife's affinity for animals, especially birds, it was of little surprise to me. But once Celestia had secured the scroll shut with a band, she brought it down toward Philomena' beak in a very stern manner while the little phoenix visibly recoiled. Celestia then spoke firmly, "Be on your best behavior this time, young lady."

Philomena bowed her head while letting out a rather sheepish coo. Only then did she take to the air and snatched up the scroll in her talons. Celestia then quickly used her levitation magic to open the glass door leading out to the balcony while Philomena gracefully flew on out into the night. A bitter cold gust blew in as well and prompted Celestia to all but slam the door shut. "Oof! Autumn may be my favorite time of year, but that last stretch gets miserable with those cold windy nights!"

I then decided to ask, "I don't remember exactly how much I know, but Fluttershy and Philomena have met, right? I think I recall that phoenix feather Fluttershy keeps up in our bedroom..."

"It has been a while since you last saw her, hasn't it?" Celestia giggled as she got comfortable on the floor beside me while that blazing fireplace illuminated the room. She then spoke with a very amused smile, "It was during a visit to Ponyville. Just a pleasure trip to mingle with the commoners. And Philomena was on the last legs of her most recent five hundred years. And you have no idea how pathetic a phoenix looks when they're approaching the moment they die and are reborn. You wouldn't even recognize her if you saw her then!"

"Dang... Of all times, you just happened to bring Philomena along during the last day before she was reborn? One day out of five hundred years? Lucky... Or was it unlucky? Was Philomena a bit of a hassle that day?" I asked while finding it so amazing that my own wife was present to witness the death and rebirth of a phoenix in person. Once every half of a millennium? I was almost jealous. But at the same time, Celestia's parting words to her little feathered friend suggested something problematic about that day.

Celestia rolled her eyes as she said, "I didn't see most of it, but with how sickly she looked and how Fluttershy couldn't help worrying about her, Philomena milked the situation for all it was worth. She does have a mischievous streak that would put most magpies to shame."

I facepalmed and rubbed my temples with two fingers. Just how much trouble did that little scamp give my wife that day? "Oh my god... I hope she wasn't too much trouble."

"If nothing else, Fluttershy wasn't that upset. Philomena was just having fun on the last day of her lifecycle before it was reset. Trust me, she would never be able to pull off the act with how she looks now." Celestia said with a smile. It did not sound like a bad memory at all and might have all been in simple good fun. It is not like Philomena gets an opportunity like that every century.

Not wanting to let our meals cool too much, we set our sights on the domed lids before us. Two were smaller than the others, so we removed the lids on them first. Each hid the same appetizers. A freshly tossed salad with pine nuts scattered across them and a bowl of what seemed to be butternut squash bisque toped with a sprig of mint for garnish. An excellent choice of soup for autumn. And we were greeted by a plume of steam when we lifted the larger of the domed lids. Hearty pasta dishes were on display. Celestia's had a plate of fettuccine Alfredo mixed with green veggies while mine looked even more scrumptious. It appeared to be linguine in an olive oil butter garlic sauce with a splash of cream mixed in to thicken and enrich the dish. Spinach could be seen in it along with various seafood. With such thick rich sauces, they were the perfect pasta dishes for a cold night. "Oh man, they set us up good tonight..."

Those pasta dishes were piping hot, so we had to occupy ourselves with our side dishes first. The salad was crisp and refreshing while the bisque was the perfect comfort food for a cold autumn evening. Celestia and I went at our entrees slowly and carefully to pace ourselves and not burn our tongues. The last thing I wanted was to end that amazing day with a tongue wound that would take days to heal.

There was a sudden knock at the door roughly halfway through our meal. And upon seeing it open, I recognized the stallion on the other side as one of the operators from the telegraph room. He stuck his head in with his levitation spell holding out a scroll as he explained, "So sorry to interrupt you this evening, your highness. I was just on my way out when we suddenly received a message from the Ivory Palace. I thought I'd just leave this with you before I head home."

"Novo wrote back? Thank you very much. You stay warm out there." Celestia replied while having the scroll float over to us. Her subordinate bowed his head and promptly saw himself out without any further questions. But instead of unfurling the scroll to read its contents, she instead smirked at me and held out the scroll to me. "I do believe this is for you."

"Uh oh... I wasn't expecting to hear back from her so soon." I muttered with a nervous giggle in my throat. I was not ready to get a direct response to my first ever love letter for Novo. After sliding off the band that was keeping the scroll tightly rolled up, I took a deep breath to steel myself before opening the scroll with the text being illuminated by the fireplace. And it was...long. Maybe twice as long as the scroll I had used. "Huh... So this is her handwriting. Let's see here..."

The message... It read as follows. "Hey there, sugar bear. Looks like someone missed their queen. I got your message today during a massage and oh my goodness, you made my day. You sweet loverboy. It was so good to hear from the love of my life, even if only through your handwriting. I could see how tidy you were trying to be. Trying to impress your mare, honey? Don't worry about how steady your hands are when holding a quill, baby. Mama only cares about how Daddy uses them to hold her in bed."

The look on my face as I was reading that... I noticed Celestia looking like she was trying to hold in a laugh as I read along that scroll. When my eyes met her, she could not stay quiet. "Novo didn't hold back, did she?"

"I'm not even halfway down the scroll yet... She must've been picking away at this all day while trying to make sure it was perfect before sending it." I grumbled while feeling more than a little flustered over how earnest and lacking in professionalism Novo's wording was. No one would have guessed the queen of Capricorn Island herself sent that scroll just by looking at the text. Novo has always been a queen who marches to the beat of her own drum and it is one the things about her I love the most. A mare who is a wife and mother first and a queen second, but a very competent and beloved queen all the same. No wonder her people have never objected to her reigning over them for so long. Who would not be all right with such a woman calling the shots?

I rolled my eyes and took another deep breath before continuing to read that wonderful love letter. And the mood quickly turned more somber. "But really, honey... I miss you too. So bad. I know you miss your sexy bird of paradise. And I miss my sweet swan king. We really shouldn't have to be apart like this. In a perfect world, you would be by my side every day upon the throne here. But I would never dare take you away from the other wonderful women who have become so much more than mere friends. How is little Fluttershy lately? You still being good to your first mare? And little Miss Rarity? Oh, and let's not forget old sexy Sunbutt..."

I had to pause and laugh at that last part. It was a complete tonal whiplash for Novo to still be talking smack about her best friend. Celestia quickly got curious over why I suddenly started howling in laughter and leaned over to read the scroll and quickly found where I had stopped reading. "Really, Novo?! Oh, you little... I'll get her back for that. Maybe some jalapeno flakes in the next box of chocolates I send..."

Celestia was taking it all in good fun. Even though she looked annoyed at first, that scowl turned into a playful smirk in just seconds. I quickly composed myself before continuing to read the rest. And the tone in Novo's writing once again shifted to loving earnestness. "And how have your little girls been? Especially your princess? Oh, how I wish I could snuggle with that little Gladesong. You be sure to tell her that Mama Novo misses her so bad. Does she miss me too? We need to start arranging for regular visits. It wouldn't do for her mama bird to not be more active in her life, not at all."

I felt such a sad warmness in my heart. I longed for that wonderful mare and I still remember the first time she met my firstborn. The way she was all over Gladesong and took the role of being another mother to her so seriously... It only reinforced my devotion to this path I have embarked on. We really are all a family here and Novo is Gladesong's mother as much as Fluttershy herself. Celestia soon noticed how my gaze was wandering and asked, "Something wrong?"

Perhaps I looked depressed with how I was longing for my queen. And so I looked at Celestia and spoke with a soft smile. "No, it's just... She really misses Gladesong. She met her when she brought me home to Ponyville and fell completely in love with her. Looked after her, changed her diapers, even gave her a personal tour of the Alabaster while it was docked. As if Gladesong was her own baby. Like...really, she was in super mom mode during the whole visit."

"Oh, Novoooo...!" Celestia giggled shrilly with a wrist held over her lips. The Princess of the Dawn sounded like she was a little too aware of that side of Novo. And she then explained, "That sounds like her. Novo was just ecstatic when she and Cygnus had Skystar. And she's always had a special place in her heart for children. She loves the little ones and is no stranger to babies."

"Then I think she's gonna be very happy down the line." I chuckled while Celestia and I shared a gaze and smile. She then reached out and kissed me upon the lips before I whispered to my beloved. "She'll love our little ones like they're her own kids."

"Only if I get to snuggle and play mommy to hers too." Celestia giggled before we shared another kiss. I felt such a warm flutter in my heart. Novo hopes to raise her child with Celestia and vice versa, Orbash and Sunflare dearly desire grandchildren... Happy days were in our future. It was all a matter of when.

I began to resume reading. And my eyes opened wider as I read what was next. "Oh, I wish I could be there with you right now. Keep you wrapped in my wings to keep you warm on this nippy night. And I was very tempted to send a little something extra. A little...teaser of what to expect next time we're in the same room together. Alone. But...not this time. I don't want to tease you too bad. Not when we'll be seeing each other again very soon. Be patient, baby. Mama will be in Daddy's arms again before you know it. Just be patient, OK?"

"Really? She'll be seeing me again soon... Oh!" I suddenly gasped as I recalled something that had slipped my mind. Something important and very relevant to recent events. I turned to Celestia and asked, "The vacation! Aren't we going to Cantercun sometime soon?"

Celestia smirked at me while surely amused that I really had forgotten about our big plans. "Mmhm. In two weeks. We'll be heading out on the Olympia early Sunday afternoon. Mark your calendar, dear. We all need some R&R after that mess on the Empty Plains. It will be a ten day stay down."

I was glad to know that it would not be much longer now. And with plenty of time to prepare. "Right in the middle of November... While it's cold up here, it's hot down there... Perfect timing. I see why you waited until now to set it up."

I resumed reading that wonderful love letter. And Novo saved the best for last. "You are such a wonderful man, James. I wish I could really put into words how much I love you. My sugar bear. My swan king. And the future father of our beautiful babies. I am so unbelievably fortunate that you came into my life. You convinced me to let myself fall in love again. And I could not be more grateful. I'm so lucky to have you. We all are. I thought it was absurd that one man could love so many ladies on equal ground, but you proved me wrong. I really do feel like I've become part of something bigger. Something beautiful. I'm just one of many amazing queens to one very lovely king. A king who really does love us all. So many of us love you, baby. And I know so many more will find a place in your family. Our family. You, us, and the many beautiful little lives who will surely be born into it. What you're doing isn't something just any man can do. So please, James. Don't start doubting yourself now. We'll all make this work. We all want to see this work out in the end. Because we're your mares and you're our man. I believe in you, my love. And I always will."

That part... It got me. I had to pause to wipe some tears away. Maybe it was because of the lingering presence of alcohol in my body weakening my inhibitions, but the tears came so easily. Anyone could have given me words of encouragement about my very unorthodox love life. But to see these words having been spoken from an actual queen... A queen of a race of creatures who mate for life... A queen who dearly wanted to see me where a crown to match her own... It carried the weight of the very mountain she ruled over. I gasped with a brief quiet sob, "Novo, you really are the best..."

Celestia reached out and wordlessly kissed me upon the cheek. She displayed a very tender smile on her face. She knew I was not upset or miserable. I was just too touched by the words of one of the best mares in the entire world. Those were tears of tenderness, not sorrow. And Celestia then peeked at the scroll around where I had been reading before speaking softly to me. "She loves you."

I nodded while unable to find the words to say. And at last, I reached the final paragraph at the bottom of the scroll. "I should probably stop here. I forgot what it's like to write out a love letter. I just hope all this text shows you just how madly in love this sexy mama mare is with her hunky sugar bear. I couldn't help myself, James. Just a little longer, my love. A little more and I'll finally be in your arms again. And Mama will be expecting plenty of kisses from Daddy. Until then, you be good to the rest of the ladies who are expecting you. Because we all love you, honey. With love, your future queen. Novo."

"She didn't waste a single spot on the parchment..." I muttered as I found that the only empty spaces between lines of text were the little gaps setting apart each paragraph. And I took a moment to process everything I had just read. I had not seen Novo in weeks, let alone heard from her. And I could literally hear her voice in my head as I read that message. She sounded exactly the way I remembered her, that sassy queen of soul. I bowed my head and sighed wistfully. "I'm definitely keeping this one. Gonna put it somewhere safe when I get home."

Celestia reached out and draped a wing over me. Just to remind me that there was someone there with me who loved me very much. And we held each other for a moment before I whispered to my beloved. "I just love all of you so much... I wasn't sure if I really had what it took, but...I think I'm starting to believe everything really will work out in the end."

"It will, my sunshine. It will. Just as long as we always believe in tomorrow. Because as long as we have you and you have us, our tomorrows will always be bright." The Princess of the Dawn whispered beautifully to me. And she was right. I could swear I had said something similar in the recent past. If I was a more cynical man, I never would have been able to do this. I have to be hopeful... I have to believe.

I soon curled the scroll up again and tenderly set it aside with its band keeping it rolled up. I chugged the rest of my glass of grape juice before pouring some more with Celestia and I resuming our meal. Reading that love letter and shedding those tears whetted my appetite a bit more. And we left barely a morsel on our plate. Each a small basket of warm dinner rolls wrapped in a cloth had been provided to let us sop up the remains of our soup and pasta sauces to make sure nothing was spared. We both sighed in satisfaction while stacking our dishes and setting them under the domed lids they had once been concealed under. Celestia then whispered to me, "How about a hot shower before bed?"

"Perfect. I never miss an evening shower before I go to sleep." I replied as I started to rise to my feet. But when I did, Celestia turned to look at the fireplace as the golden aura of her magic billowed around her horn. The flames coating the logs began to shrink until they faded away to nothing. Even the glowing embers soon lost their heat and dimmed away to black with the room becoming much darker. All that remained was a trail of smoke rising through the chimney. I then asked with the aura around Celestia's horn still being very visible in the darkness, "Is that really a fire hazard here?"

"No, not really. But there's no point in keeping it going if there's no one in here to appreciate it." Celestia explained as she stood up. The only thing casting light upon us were a few candlesticks. Celestia extinguished all but one and carried the lone remaining flame through the air as she guided me out of her bedroom and into the hall. I knew the layout of that corner of the castle enough to remember the bathroom was close by.

There was no door to the bathroom and we were greeted by the main bathtub in the center. All that pale stonework being noticeable even with such little light available. But there was also a rather spacious shower stall off to the side. It was too long a day and too late to lounge around in the tub, so we both went straight for the shower. I almost expected Celestia to turn the lights on, but she instead settled for something much more subtle. With a flash of her fire magic, she ignited every last candle in the room that was set out on little sconces. The lighting was modest, but it generated a delightful cozy atmosphere that I adored. Celestia even looked over at me and said wisely, "Best not get things too bright. We don't want to our eyes to get too active before bed."

"That's a great idea, really. I love taking showers by candlelight myself. Especially on colder nights were the steam really gets thick in the air." I spoke while surprised with just how much Celestia's pale body stands out in the dark. I disrobed while Celestia did the same as she removed the golden regalia that often adorned her body. But when she tilted her head down to remove her crown, I thought I noticed something at the base of her horn. Tucked in that constantly billowing sea of aurora hues. A glimpse of matching gold. And Celestia did not appear to notice its presence since she did not remove it. "Hey, I think you missed something. Right there..."

"Oh? You mean...this?" Celestia giggled impishly as she appeared to be tickled by the fact that I noticed something at the base of her horn. With it that far down, it would be unlikely for anyone to see it with her very voluminous mane in the way. Her magic aura flared up again as it took hold of something. And then I saw it. A gold ring with a brilliant amethyst set into the front. It floated before me as she whispered, "Remember this, my love?"

It came back to me. That simple yet lovely little ring, marked with a purple gemstone that all too perfectly matched those upon Celestia's crown peytral. "I got this for you... And I forgot all about it. You still wear it?"

"Every single day. I never remove it unless I have to." Celestia whispered sweetly with such love in her voice. But when I reached out to take hold of it, she gently pulled it away from me. "Ah, no. Not this time, James. The next time I let you put this on my head...will be when these two belong to each other."

She suddenly moved the ring deftly through the air. And it tapped me on my outstretched hand. Or more specifically, on my finger. The finger that held my wedding ring. And those two golden bands clinked lightly as they were tapped together to get my attention. My eyes glanced at the two rings and then back at the face before me. The Princess of the Dawn was beaming at me as I think I started to see a blush forming in her cheeks. I muttered softly to her, "Did I really end up buying you a wedding ring that day?"

"The price tag doesn't matter, James. What matters is the meaning behind it." Celestia whispered to me before reaching out and kissing me sweetly upon the lips. Although she then added, "But you chose so well too. It really does look like it's always been a part of my usual attire. Except this is the one thing I never want to take off."

I felt myself become flustered. I was tickled to see her still cherishing that simple little gift even to this day. But as she slid it back down her horn, I then felt the need to ask. "But then...when should I be the one to put it on you?"

Celestia's response was immediate and tender. "When the day comes where you become my king."

With that response, another question came to mind. A vital one. "And...when will that happen? Can it happen? Legally?"

I saw the joy in her eyes waver. Celestia's eyes wandered as she pondered this question. I was already married to Fluttershy. At least that is what the public record says. I could not legally marry anyone else without divorcing her. And I absolutely refuse to resort to that. And even if there was some loophole around it, marrying the Princess of the Dawn to be crowned her king would need to be public. A royal wedding on par with the one where Shining Armor and Cadence were married. While I was not present for it, I understand that it was an event that drew the attention of nearly the entire world. All eyes would be upon us if Celestia and I were officially sworn to each other. And the scandal of it all... Even if there was a way to legally make it happen, there were so many unknowns and risks of how that would play out. But as we both pondered this conundrum, Celestia's eyes suddenly lit up in hope. "I got it. I know exactly when I want you to be the one to place my ring on my horn."

She had my attention. And she looked and sounded so sure of herself. Celestia hope proved contagious enough to provoke me into asking with a matching smile. "Really? And when would that be?"

Celestia smirked lovingly at me as she gingerly stepped forward on her bare hooves. She sneakily brought her lips to my ear and whispered something that sent a wonderful shiver of anticipation and desire down my spine. "The day you give me an heir."

"Celestia... Oh god, really?" I muttered as I became flush with a powerful combination of desire and love. My mind was already racing. Imagining a beautiful future of her, I, and...beautiful little royal foals.

"Yes, my love. Remember what I told you? I would be honored if you could bear your foal. As your queen." Celestia whispered again into my ear before tenderly nibbling on it for a second. Was she trying to seduce me? Not that I minded. She then whispered to me so lovingly, "The day I bring our child into the world is when I become queen by definition. And as father of one of Equestria's true heirs, you will officially be my king. When that day comes, James... When we finally hold our little one together... Please. Place my ring upon my head for the first time. So I may be your queen for real."

What a cunning loophole to exploit. And Celestia has always had a cunning side. There was nothing anyone could say or do if that happened. Our children would literally be the chains that would secure our future as husband and wife. As king and queen. Children born of a genuine love... It was so beautiful. Such a poetic outcome. I held my beautiful future queen in my arms and shuddered in barely contained joy. "Oh my god, please... Please, let it happen. Please, I swear I'll try to be the best for you..."

"I know you will, my love. Please, just give it time. All will be right in due time. And you know my mother and father will adore you as their son-in-law. It'll all be just fine..." Celestia whispered to me as we held each other in our arms and wings with nothing between us. Such a beautiful future... Never before had I been so eager to have a crown placed upon my head. Not to lead the world as king, but just to be there for the queen who would be my bride.

We finally grew weary of the cool air in the bathroom. While the temperature was tolerable, it was still not ideal. As if the castle's heating was deliberately set low after dark to encourage those indoors to go to sleep in the warmer confines of their personal living spaces. Celestia was finally quick to guide me into the shower stall before sliding the clouded glass door shut behind us. Wonderfully warm water washed over us from multiple showerheads to insure the we both would be soaked.

Try as we might, it was difficult for us to focus on bathing. Even as I watched Celestia's glorious mane and tail lose their ethereal properties and slump to the floor as ordinary long strands of soaked hair. She looked genuinely mortal now. And so...radiant all the same. Seeing my beloved Celestia look so relatable only made me desire her more. And soon, we kissed. Our lips locked, our tongues danced, our arms and wings roamed over each other in the dimly illuminated confines of that delightfully warm and wet chamber.

Man and mare... Mortal and immortal... We were just so in love... My thoughts were still swimming with beautiful illusions of a potential future for us. Holding each other with crowns upon our heads. Watching her grow heavy with the child we would create together. And finally...just being able to be a family. Oh my lord, just how radiant would those beautiful royal foals be? How many would we have in time? A darling prince. A beautiful princess. And they would all be happy. And loved by so many mothers. Their two royal aunts would adore them and Orbash and Sunflare would be the proudest grandparents in all the land... With such loving thoughts filling my head, I whispered to my beloved at the first opportunity, "I want you so bad..."

"I need you, my love... My king..." Celestia's succulent voice whispered as I heard the gentle din of her magic emanating from her horn. And I felt it. Unseen hands grasping my stiffening shaft and sliding along its length. We were both being consumed by lust born of love. Our kissing only intensified, gasping and groaning as we audibly and messily made out under that constant deluge of warm water. I gently backed her up against the wall as our tongues danced, my shaft gently sliding against her chest as I brought my hips forward to thrust under her in need. I was only following my instincts. I would not be making any progress unless I was to move behind her, but my heart did not care. I wanted to gaze into my beloved's eyes as I entered her.

My hips kept missing their mark as I grinded against my beloved Celestia. Even as we held and kissed each other. My hands roamed along her neck and down her shoulders and across her back. I wished I could reach her full rounded royal hips from their, but her equine body was just too long for my arms to reach the other end of her. But as my hands dragged their fingers through her luscious soaked mane, Celestia suddenly broke the kiss and gazed into my eyes with a gaze of startled realization. "We... We should stop... Not now..."

Her look of unease brought me back to my senses. Prioritizing Celestia's comfort over my body's needs, I asked softly. "Why? What's wrong?"

Celestia's gaze became more...sheepish in a matter of seconds while she glanced to her right. And at the glass door beside us. "There's no door to the bathroom."

I felt a pit of fear open in my gut. Even over the noise of the shower filling the air, there would be little stopping our calls of passion from echoing down the halls. While the wrong ears would not hear us locked in the throes of passionate lovemaking, it would be nothing short of embarrassing to have the night watch overhear us. This realization hitting me like a brick, I released Celestia from my embrace. "Oh my god, I am so sorry... It didn't occur to me..."

The Princess of the Dawn reassured me with a little kiss before letting out a silly giggle. "I'm just as guilty. I almost forgot entirely."

We did everything we could to focus on bathing from that moment onward. And we failed. While we did manage to wash up well enough, our libidos were not so easily shoved aside. My eyes kept wandering over Celestia's elegant body with my hands often caressing her shapely flanks. This did not go unnoticed for long. Celestia soon smirked back at me while my hand firmly grasped her right flank. "See something you like back there?"

"Oh, I'm just...enjoying the view." I replied while trying to not go too far. And then it was Celestia's turn. She backed up and pinned me to the wall with her very feminine rump. I tried to wiggle free, but those strong equine flanks had me pinned. She then very intentionally rubbed her hips up and down against my belly with my hardening shaft tuck just under them. She smiled most lovingly at me as I rubbed my hands over those beautiful hips. "My god, what is it about mares of your stature that results in them always having such a fine figure?"

"Maybe we're just lucky. Or maybe being taller means there's more mass to go around." Celestia chuckled lustfully with such a look of desire in her eyes. I continued to slide my hands over those two curvy flanks while Celestia rubbed her rump up against me. They were more muscle than anything else, though not quite as full and soft as Novo's. That amazing queen's body would never have become so godly in its beauty had it never been tempered and blessed with motherhood. And Celestia knew this. "I'm sure Novo has a more impressive set of hips. But give me time, my love. I'll match her unparalleled figure eventually."

It was a bit of a struggle for us to keep our hands and wings to ourselves for the remainder of the shower. And when we stepped out with Celestia using some of her heat magic to dry us both off quickly while I helped retrain her mane while drying to keep it from becoming a fuzzy mess, I was quickly reminded of how much cooler it was outside that that sauna of a shower. My libido quickly went to the back of my mind when I felt that cool stone floor under my feet. Celestia snatched up our discarded clothing while I only put my boxers back on. She then peeked outside to check for any patrolling guards before beckoning me to hastily follow her back to her chambers. We hurried with a sneaky giddy gait each as if we were both afraid of being caught together right after sharing a shower with each other.

Celestia was quick to ignite the fireplace in her room again. Those crackling orange flames cast a lovely glow over her bedroom while starting to spread some much needed warmth. She then set aside her golden regalia and left my clothes neatly folded nearby. The Princess of the Dawn and I both sat on her bed at the center of the room, its mattress being something akin to a futon to the point where I almost thought it was built into the floor. And for a moment, we just leaned against each other while watching the fireplace in the silence of a cold autumn night. It was such a simple yet preciously romantic moment. Although Celestia did eventually speak of the crackling and popping of the burning logs before us. "Philomena hasn't returned... I suppose she really will be staying the night with Fluttershy."

"I bet the girls won't mind having a phoenix stay the night. Probably having fun with her too." I replied quietly while adjusting my posture to more easily let my head rest against hers. Celestia responded in kind by draping a wing over me. I felt so relaxed...yet so very fatigued. I would sleep well that night. My eyes closed as I whispered to my beloved, "I had a wonderful time today... Thank you."

"No, James. Thank you for coming today. We all needed a day to ourselves and you gave us the perfect opportunity for it." Celestia giggled before we shared a little kiss. She then whispered to me, "Now...I think we really should get to bed. You'll have to head home in the morning."

"Yeah... Shouldn't stay up too late." I sighed while also letting out a yawn. We both stood up from her bed so that Celestia could pull down sheets. As someone who has a preference for firmer mattresses, I found Celestia's bed to be very comfortable with an adequate amount of padding. She did strike me as the kind of woman who prefers firmer beds. While she rested on her side, I was right behind her and gently draped an arm over her for an embrace. To feel her warm elegant body against my bare chest with only the warmth of the fireplace beyond the covers, I felt like we were in our own little sanctuary. Tucked away where the world would never know what would happen within. "I love you."

"And I love you, my sunshine... Oh?" Celestia whispered before something caught her attention. I began to place gentle little kisses along the back of her neck Up and down, lightly pecking at her silky coat while my left hand caressed her chest. I could feel the thumping of her heart through the muscle beneath her beautiful white coat. "James... Dear, we really should get to sleep..."

"Please, dear. Just a little longer. I don't get to see you often enough." I whispered from just behind her. The atmosphere was irresistible. Beneath the glow of the fireplace, I was compelled to just let my heart spill out. I was so in love with my future queen. So many little fluttering kisses. My heart longed for her. And so did my body. Even as I caressed her chest, I pressed my hips against the base of her spine. Gently grinding against her as my unfulfilled libido began to reawaken. "I just want you so bad..."

"James... Oh, James... I... Mmmm... My sunshine..." Celestia cooed at my many little acts of affection. The erection in my shorts only grew more pronounced by the second. Celestia could feel just how desperately I craved her. And the shallow panting in her voice told me that her own desire was rising. Until finally, she pleaded with me. "James... Take me."

I did not delay. I hastily reached down and pulled my shorts to my knees. Tucked under the covers, I adjusted my position. I brought my hips lower, guiding my tip between those two full rounded flanks and...I found my way inside her.

Celestia shrilly inhaled through her teeth as my length slid between her winking lips. Deep into her feminine folds. I hilted myself to her. And I paced myself. Slow and deliberate thrusts into her. Not once did I slam my hips into her firm full rump. I wanted to take my time and savor this moment with her before we could fall into slumber.

The Princess of the Dawn tenderly gasped and allowed me to do as I pleased. She rested her head upon the pillow and remained still. My arms remained around her body with my hips repeatedly and gently pressed into hers. We said nothing with only the gentle sighs and moans of our voices filling the air for some time. Gradually and surely working towards an eventual climax.

My hands caressed Celestia beautiful body even as my shaft rubbed her from within. My hands slid along her sides and chest and finally down between her legs. I could feel those two feminine mounds. Soft teats that were ripe for massaging. My hand slid my fingers over the gently rounded peaks of those two little mounds with Celestia squeaking with spikes of pleasure. I wanted to position myself low and gently suck on them, but I did not want to withdraw from her entirely. Those inner walls were too inviting with their warm wetness.

It was all so simple, yet so enjoyable. I was pleasing my beloved while she welcomed me to do so. But eventually, my hand found its way to her belly again. And it remained there. Gently rubbing that firm slender midsection so knowingly. A sacred desire began to resurface in my heart. Barely an hour earlier, we whispered sacred desires to each other. A desire to become king and queen the only way that we could do. With a child. A child born from the two of us. And Celestia's gentle gasps became a new kind of loving moan. As if she knew what I was trying to tell her. I heard my beloved whisper to me. "Tell me, my love..."

My thrusting into her depths remained constant, but I closed my eyes as I rested my face against her back. And I whispered my most sacred desire to her. "I want to get you pregnant, dear..."

Celestia replied with quiet joy in her voice. "Tell me more."

"I want to have children with you..." I whispered most earnestly. My fingers began to drag more firmly against her belly. Reaching out to her empty womb. Wishing that our child was already growing within Celestia's body. "To be a father...to our little royal foals..."

"James... Oh, James, my love..." Celestia whimpered before me. I could hear it in her voice. A desperate need. My desire... It was one she shared with me. She gasped and whimpered before me with my shaft still slowly entering and leaving her, my hand still fondling her plump mammaries. The longer it took to reach our climaxes, the more rewarding it would be. And I so dearly wanted to give her that gift.

I was so in love... There was too much love in my heart. Too much for just her. I needed to give her something from me. And to myself. To create a precious little soul to give all that extra love to. And so I whispered once again to my beloved, "I want to have a family with you..."

"James... No more. I'm done waiting." Celestia whispered with more control over her voice. I felt an unseen force grab me and pull me back out of her. But just when I thought I had made a mistake, the covers set over us were flung across the room to reveal my beautiful bare beloved. She rolled to her side and onto her back to leave her glorious body exposed and completely vulnerable. She gazed into my eyes with such a needy smile and spoke...such beautiful words. "I'm ready, my love. Please... Come make a family with me. Make a family with your queen."

It was all I needed to hear. In seconds, I was upon her again. Arms around her and deep inside my mare while maintaining a brisker pace than before. My face was buried against her chest. Hearing the thumping of her excited heart and the gasping breaths deep in her lungs. Celestia was a goddess before me. A goddess who had chosen me to be hers. I was filled with purpose as I thrust deep inside her, knowing what needed to be done. Knowing what we both wanted... No. What we both needed.

There was something missing from our lives. Something that would complete us. And the feeling of Celestia wings and her hind legs locking over me told me what I needed to know. She desperately wanted my gift. Something only I could give her. And with every firm slap of my hips against her full foalbearing hips, we moved one step closer to that sacred goal.

I was praying in my heart with every strained groan. Praying for a miracle. The royal family had gone so long since a foal had been born into it. They were long overdue for a new addition. The sheer pride I was feeling... To be the one who would father the first child to be born to Equestria's royal family in more than five thousand years... What a glorious child they would be!

My embrace tightened around my Celestia's beautiful body as she whimpered loving words to me. And I returned the favor with equally loving words. Complimenting her unparalleled beauty. Whispering just how lovely she has always been. Filled with enough kindness to rival that of Fluttershy herself. And what an absolutely doting mother she would be to our children.

Celestia reveled in those words. I was in such a haze that I cannot recall most of the specifics, but I know she voiced a sincere eagerness to be the mother of my children. To finally have a family with me. And I was filled with a powerful urge upon hearing those words. I wanted to make her mine. To turn that wonderful princess into a queen. A beautiful glorious matronly queen. And all we needed to do to achieve that...would be to have a family.

The more I thought about such a beautiful future, the more feverish my movements became. I could not maintain a slow steady pace. My hips slammed against Celestia's muscular rump as I heightened my pace. Gripping her tightly. And Celestia pulled her head up to gaze at me as I remained atop her. She whispered to me with an almost panicked tone as we were basked in the glow of the fireplace. Words filled with need. "Do it... Do it, James... Make me your Queen of the Dawn!"

I was so very close. And those final words of encouragement were just what I needed. The pressure growing in my loins, I began to thrust as rapidly as I could into my beloved as she struggled to keep her voice down. We needed to silence ourselves. And we did it the only way we could. I reached out while she did the same and our lips met. And as we locked ourselves in that kiss... It happened.

I groaned as she shrieked into that kiss. Such ecstasy filled me as my body fulfilled its duty. Thick jets of my human seed flooded into Celestia's royal womb. Seed that, if fortunate, would soon sire new life within her. And that knowledge...filled me with such a sense of accomplishment. Man and mare. Commoner and royalty. And now...hopefully...mother and father.

Our lips dared not separate until our lungs had calmed. And when we did, gasping and wheezing from such a wonderful shared climax, I was able to see just what had become of my beloved. Celestia looked so...lewd. All composure and poise gone, her mane and tail having lost their billowing ethereal properties and now lay spread and still about her in such an enticingly unkempt manner. And so thoroughly bred. She may have been an immortal princess of near divine power, but she was still a mare. My mare. And I was her man.

I remained hilted to her for a few minutes. Just basking in the afterglow while she kept her wings draped over me in an embrace. I rested atop her as I muttered words that had never been more true. "I just love you so much..."

"And I... I... Oh my goodness..." Celestia sighed and gasped with an exhausted giggle. The aftershocks of her own orgasm were hitting her much harder than my own were. It was difficult to string together words. But soon, she succeeded as she gazed most lovingly at me. "My heart...belongs only to you, my king... My...wonderful king..."

Fatigue was beginning to set in. That last wonderful act of lovemaking was the final push we needed to truly fall asleep without trouble. I returned to Celestia's side and embraced her from behind while she readjusted the covers over us. Under the glow and warmth of the fireplace, sleep took us.

I dreamed of angels that night. Precious little angelic foals who fluttered about of feathery wings. And among them was...their goddess queen of a mother. My memories at this time are foggy, but I...distinctly remember being utterly enthralled by her beauty. The mother of so many gorgeous divine foals. And I knew... I knew that I had fathered them all. And I felt so unbelievably blessed. To hold her in my arms... To cradle our children against us... It was all bliss.

A profound sense of disappointment came over me when I awoke. The glow of the fireplace was gone. Only blackened charred logs lined with a layer of ash remained in the fireplace. Teh light in the room coming in through the glass door by the balcony was dim, yet it felt later than it looked outside. I wonder if Celestia delaying in raising the sun has happened before.

I sat up in bed while wishing I could just go back to sleep. That dream... If that was not heaven, it was very close to being so. And beside me was the slumbering form of the Princess of the Dawn. My thoughts went back to last night. What a wonderful time. An act filled with so much purpose. To create something wonderful between us. And yet...I knew it would not bear fruit. Not this time.

A long sigh hissed from my nostrils. I knew it at the time. I have grown to notice when a mare is in heat during the act of lovemaking. Celestia was warm, but not that warm. She was not fertile at the time. And I felt my heart sink. For as dearly as we both wanted it, there would be no child born from our actions that night.

But not all hope was lost. We would simply have to try again when her heat cycle came around. And it would hopefully not be much longer. I gazed upon Celestia's slumbering form. A smile was present upon her lips. I got comfortable beside her and once again held her in my arms. And then, with lips by her ear, I whispered what I knew would become a beautiful truth someday. "You're going to be an amazing mother someday."

Celestia did not awaken. At least not yet. I held her in my arms and waited patiently without once trying to rouse her from her sleep. But after perhaps another five minutes, she did begin to stir. And her beautiful mane and tail began to stir as well. They gradually went from motionless to regaining their constant billowing ethereal properties once more. And then her beautiful eyes open. Celestia lifted her head, yawned graciously, and then looked over her shoulder with a very happy smile on her lips. "Good morning, my love. Did you sleep well?"

"How could I not?" I replied before I reached out over her and brought my lips to hers. We both sighed in delight with our morning off to a wonderful start. Although as I nuzzled up against her mane and back of her neck, my hand once again slid low to Celestia's belly. And some of my joy faded. My hand slid over her slender belly in longing as I muttered, "It didn't work... It wasn't the right time."

Celestia responded to my touch wordlessly. I felt her hoof resting over my hand with us both touching her over her womb. I froze. A tender display of comfort and support. And I then heard her whisper to me, "Someday, my king. Someday. When the proper time comes."

"I suspect you're even more patient than me. And I'm a patient man." I sighed with a bit of a chuckle. Surely the eons have tempered Celestia's own patience. Although I then took note of how dimly lit the room is and asked, "Before I forget... What time is it?"

"It's currently...far too late! I overslept!" Celestia chirped when it dawned on her that the sun had been stuck lingering on the horizon for too long. The Princess of the Dawn lifted her head high with her golden magic aura flaring up around her horn. In the passing minute, the room began to grow brighter as the sun was moved to its correct positioning. It soon felt like we were in the middle of morning with Celestia soon relaxing. "There we go. It's not the first time I... Hm? Someone there?"

I heard it too. A tapping on glass. And when we looked over at the glass door that led out to the balcony, there she was. Philomena tapping on the glass with her beak. And beside her was a sealed scroll. "Oh, Philomena! Let me get that for you."

Celestia cast her levitation magic on the door and quickly got it open. And she shut it again quickly once Philomena swooped inside with scroll in foot due to a sudden frigid gust. "I hope you did behave yourself... And did Fluttershy send a reply?"

Philomena churred meaningfully while Celestia gave her little friend a nuzzle. While the beautiful phoenix flew up to her usual perch and began to settle in for a nap after the return trip to Canterlot, I unfurled the scroll before realizing it probably was not meant for me. "Right you wrote the last one. Pretty sure it's for you."

"Nonsense, dear. We should read it together." Celestia replied while I sat up in bed beside her. She then unfurled the scroll and held it aloft before us. "Now then... Let's see what little Fluttershy had to say."

That was definitely Fluttershy's writing. And it read as follows. "Dear Princess Celestia... Thank you so much for letting us know where James went. We weren't too concerned when we got home to find he was gone, but we were starting to get worried when night came. It's perfectly all right that James got to stay the night in Canterlot. It would've been such a miserable time if he tried to get home with how cold and windy it was getting. And thank you for sending Philomena! It was so exciting to finally introduce her to Gladesong and she really entertained the kids last night. Her plumage looks so bright and healthy. She's looking much better after what happened last time. And she was such good company too. Just please be sure to let James know we're all waiting for him to get home. Now I need to give Gladesong a bath, but I hope you have an amazing morning. Your faithful subject, Fluttershy."

The last line of text was a bit of a tonal shift we did not expect. Celestia and I glanced at each other with awkward uncertain gazes before I said, "That ending didn't sound right..."

"It really didn't. It just doesn't...feel right seeing her as my subject when we...are the same to you. We are your mares, James. Shouldn't that make us equals in some way?" Celestia mused with a distant gaze of contemplation. She then sighed while bowing her head. "I suppose it doesn't help that she and I haven't really had the chance to mingle and spend personal time together now that...we're essentially family now. I'll have to find a way to fix that... Hm? Hold on, what's this? Something's been scribbled in the corner here..."

She was right. A little line of text was hidden at the bottom of the scroll opposite of Fluttershy's signature. And it was not her writing. It looked like someone had snuck in a little something while she was not looking. And upon closer inspection, I saw the following. "Your love bug misses you very much."

"Uh oh, I think Ocellus was expecting to see me again after she got home..." I muttered in some embarrassment. We only just consummated our love for each other yesterday morning just to have me go away and not come home that night. I felt genuinely bad over having disappointed that beautiful and earnest little lady.

Celestia raised an eyebrow at my response and smirked playfully at me. "Ocellus? Oh, the little Changeling mare you found? Have things been well between you? Or...is there something else going on here?"

She certainly had a good idea of what was happening. Ocellus would not dare send a miniature love letter in that scroll unless she was sure it would be confidential. I averted my eyes sheepishly as I said, "Kind of... We haven't gone far enough to...do what you and I did last night, but...we're not just friends anymore."

The Princess of the Dawn then asked earnestly, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but...she is currently sixteen, yes?"

I nodded and added, "I think she said she'll be turning seventeen in a few months."

"All right. I trust that you would never take advantage of a woman, but I just had to be sure. The age of consent exists for a reason." Celestia replied while not sounding surprised in the slightest. She then reached out and kissed me upon the cheek with a look of trusting pride in those beautiful eyes. "Have you been having any...issues with her though? Not that don't trust her, but...she's been good to you since coming home with you to Ponyville, right?"

"Yeah, Ocellus has been great. Things are even looking up for her. She got her own new look and people are learning to trust her. She's a wonderful little love bug and...I love her. I really do. I just...needed some coaxing to stop lying to myself about it." I replied before gazing up at the ceiling as I contemplated the situation between the two of us. So young, yet not at all a filly. And so wise too when it came to understanding the workings of the heart. Ocellus trusts my heart more than I trust myself. And only because she can read my inner desires like a book. "There's just a bit of...culture clash lingering here. I need to internalize the fact that people who are not humans develop and mature at different rates than my own species. I know I shouldn't be, but I guess I'm just being more cautious than I should be about this issue..."

"That's not exactly a bad thing, you know. If anything, extra caution combined with patience can make for better outcomes. I have faith in you, dear. We all do." Celestia replied before touching her horn to my brow. She then said more cheekily, "Anyway, why don't you go wash up? Might be a good idea to get my scent off of you before you go home. I'll meet you downstairs."

When considering what Ocellus did for me yesterday morning... That would be a good idea. I did not want to risk any minor intimacy between me and that beautiful love bug when I already had the dried fluids of someone else on me. I did as I was instructed and hurried to the bathroom with my clothes in my arms. One hot shower later, I was clothed and all clean. I returned to Celestia's chambers to retrieve my shoes, jacket, and Novo's love letter before heading down the hall to try and find my hosts. "Can't remember the last time I had breakfast here... What do they serve royal diners in the palace?"

I passed some of the guards on the way and shared some hellos before I found myself descending the main staircase. And there at the bottom in the middle of the main hall was not who I was expecting. The entire royal family had gathered as if they were expecting me. Orbash called out first with a wing raised in greeting. "Good morning, my boy! I trust you had a fine evening last night?"

"Yeah, very. Slept like a log." I replied while not expecting to start my day off with that much fanfare. Orbash's almost booming voice echoing around the vast hall carried very well. I soon reached the bottom of the stairs and asked, "What's up? You all gathered here for something?"

Sunflare spoke with a more subdued smile. "We wished to all be present to see you off. We've taken up too much of your time already and really should not get in the way of you returning home. I hope we did not derail any plans of yours."

"Oh, no! No, everything's fine! The entire reason I even came up here yesterday was because I had no plans. And we even heard from Fluttershy this morning. She perfectly understands the situation. Although you are right in that I probably shouldn't delay in getting back home. Gladesong especially must be missing me." I replied before taking note of how right they were. I already spent far too much time away from home during the War of Preservation. I really should spend as much time with my daughters as possible for the rest of the year to compensate.

Luna stepped forward and held out a hoof to me for a friendly parting shake. Which I did partake in. "Whether you had plans or not, we appreciated our time together yesterday. Please do come visit again, my friend."

I then turned to my beloved Nightmare Moon. And for a moment, we simply shred a gaze. At least until I stepped into her winged embrace. The beautiful Princess of Dreams whispered to me, "Luna and I will most likely be seeing you soon, my dear. Watch for us within your dreams."

"If you're there, I'll know. See you soon." I whispered back to that glorious mare of darkest black. I lastly turned to the king and queen of Equestria as they gazed upon me with matching smiles. And I stepped forward with both arms outstretched and was locked in an embrace between the two of them. "I had a wonderful time. Let's do this again before long."

"It would be our pleasure, my boy. Don't be a stranger. Our home is your home now." Orbash said kindly to me before I felt his muzzle gently touch my cheek while Sunflare did the same.

"A grand time we had, indeed. We shall be awaiting your next visit." Sunflare then said before I was released from their winged embrace. Although we then saw hat someone was still not present. And I could not bring myself to be on my way without saying goodbye to my dear future queen. Sunflare took note of this and raised her voice to let the castle's natural acoustics carry her voice around. "Where is she anyway...? Celestia! Where are you?! Will you not be present to bid our honored guest farewell?!"

"Cooooomiiiiing!" I heard Celestia's voiced echo down one of the halls. And we did indeed hear the tapping of her hooves. The Princess of the Dawn soon stepped into sight with some sort of food box floating beside her She then quickly approached me with an adorably tippy tappy trot like she was just so excited to see me. She then levitated the box out to me with such a giddy smile on her face. "I was just putting on the finishing touches! We can't have you go home on an empty stomach, right?"

"Celestia, you prepared our guest breakfast?" Nightmare Moon asked with a knowing smirk? And it certainly smelled like it. Something sweet... Maybe baked. Muffins? Whatever the case, I was sure I would be enjoying my morning meal during the ride home.

The Princess of the Dawn grinned at her youngest sister with such glee in her voice. Just why was she so excited to get that treat to me? "Of course I did! You've seen what I can do in the kitchen."

"She's not wrong, sister. Have you tried Celestia's gourmet pancakes? Simply stellar!" Luna laughed as if she knew exactly what was in that box. It was even warm to the touch and was quite wide. I knew I was in for something tasty.

Celestia then finally turned to me and cast a calmer and warmer smile. She then boldly reached out and kissed me upon the lips and followed it with a whisper. "Remember. Mark your calendar. I'll be seeing you again soon."

"Count on it. I'll be here." I replied while grateful for being reminded of that vacation coming up. And I did make certain to mark my calendar when I got home later. I then looked back and forth at my royal hosts and said, "Thank you for having me here. It was an amazing time. And I really should be going. Don't be afraid to send for me if you wanna plan a fun day."

Orbash then stepped forward while he smiled boldly at me. "Actually, my good man... It won't be long before the next train for Ponyville departs. How about I escort you to the station? I know the layout of Canterlot better and should be able to get you there more swiftly."

Orbash's three daughters took note of their father's insistence and reacted with matching gossipy giggles. Sunflare was less overtly amused and asked boldly, "Orbash, must you spoil him so? I do believe the man can navigate his way back to the station as is."

"Ah ah! Stallions only, my dear! Now then, I do believe the prince and I must be off! Come along now, my boy. I dread having to make you wait for the next train." Orbash laughed while we bid farewell to the rest of the royal family. I offered no objection and was thoroughly amused by Orbash's charming antics. Once we had departed the castle and were making our way down the streets of Canterlot, the kind king of Equestria glanced over at me and said, "Pardon my insistence back there, my boy. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I suspect you don't have many...how do you say...guy friends to spend time with."

"Ha! You know what? You might be right. But I do have a close circle of dudes I know back home and even up here. I'm not exactly lacking in male companionship, your majesty." I snickered as we moved along at a brisk pace. If we missed the train, it would be a good while before the next one would come. Only one track goes up and down the mountain. While that does restrict the number of train visits per day, the fact that Canterlot is a dead end location leaves the trains with nowhere else to go but back down the mountain. Perhaps the reason why only one track reaches the city is because Canterlot also has a large airship dock carved out of the mountain. That probably more than compensates and allows for adequate commerce to come and go.

Orbash was not as chatty as I expected him to be. And I think I know why. He was being very mindful of who was around us. It would be wise to not speak too freely of my time with his eldest daughter and the obvious romance blooming between us. And when he did speak, he spoke more quietly than usual. "Not that I wish to intrude too much into your time with my daughters, but...did you enjoy yourself with Celestia last night?"

I nodded with a modest grin on my face. "Yes. She was...a wonderful host."

That smirk... Orbash was onto me. He then asked smugly, "Oh, I do strongly suspect she was much more than just a host to you. What else did you get up to in there?"

I decided to defuse that question after instantly recalling an early scene I witnessed yesterday. "Your majesty, I know for a fact you shagged your wife last night. I don't think you have any reason to ask about what happens in someone else's bedchambers."

God, I got him good. Orbash just about fell over with how he was howling with laughter. He got quite a few stares from the locals we passed before he calmed himself enough to speak. "Goodness me, your wit is as sharp as Sunflare's!"

"Maybe, but I prefer to keep mine sheathed until needed." I replied as I tried to match his wits with my own.

Orbash let out a hearty chuckle before falling silent for a moment. Although he did then turn to me and asked with an uncharacteristically soft tone, "Well, if nothing else... I certainly hope fate won't keep the two of you waiting too long for your first foal."

What was with that tone? It is not like Orbash could have heard us through all those walls. We were not at all that noisy during our lovemaking. I asked cautiously, "You sound like you know something I don't..."

Orbash then started to regain a bit of a sneaky smile on his face. "Perhaps I do. For example... I do believe you were approached by those in service to Equestria's medical field for...studies on interspecies reproductive compatibility some months back?"

I felt a pit open in my gut. Only to be followed by a sense of profound confusion. "Huh?! I honestly forgot that even happened... Wait, how would you know that?! I thought that stuff was kept confidential!"

"It's not like we asked anyone! They approached us, not the other way around!" Orbash retorted while sounding equally surprised. I had completely forgotten about that day... A very strange visit and offer that...did make a lot of sense. Determining the compatibility rate between humans and literally everything else is an important factor to take into consideration when reintroducing my species to Equestria. That train of thought then made me come to a conclusion. One that Orbash mirrored before I could even say it. "But if I had to make an assumption... The hows and the whys of your presence in Equestria being made public after the War of Preservation probably gave them reason to believe the royal family is obligated to a right to know on their findings. My daughters are the entire reason humanity even has a place in this world anymore. And once the...ahem...sample you provided was transferred to Canterlot for more in-depth studies, we were contacted shortly after."

Orbash had a very good point. I do remember that article in the newspaper. Everything about humanity's history in Equestria completely declassified overnight along with the truth about my role as a sort of ambassador for humanity's return. But then... "In that case... What did they reveal to you when they reached out to you?"

A long wistful sigh escaped Orbash's lungs. His usual boundless jolly attitude was gone for the moment. "Their studies have not yet concluded. They have yet to test your species' compatibility with all races yet. But from what they have found so far... The results are not promising. They are seeing a universally low compatibility rate across the board, from what I understand. Although they did not elaborate which species they tested your sample with. And science is...such a slow and painstaking field, from what I have come to know..."

This revelation did take the wind out of my sails. I mean...it did make a certain kind of sense. Fluttershy and I were not blessed with Gladesong until our third attempt. But what even are the compatibility rates between humans and ponies to begin with? 10%? 5%? Maybe even a mere 1%? How lucky were we to be blessed by just one miracle child? I know for a fact that changelings and kirin have very high compatibility rates with all other species, but...everyone else? Would I never be able to have children with anyone outside of Ocellus and Rain Shine? It was...unthinkable to me. And...what of Novo? Or Celestia? Or even my beloved Rarity? They all desire to have a family with me. What if it turns out to be nearly impossible? All because of the frustratingly vexing factor that is genetics?

My prolonged silence drew the moon king's attention. And he responded with a wing draping across my shoulders. "Don't look so glum, my boy. They haven't finished their studies. And they only said the compatibility rates were low, but not nearly impossible. I'm hoping the results will only be...less than ideal news instead of simply bad news."

"I certainly hope so..." I muttered while trying to push that thought out of my mind. I did not want to make any assumptions until we got a proper assessment. And I was soon distracted by the feeling of Orbash's horn upon my brow. I sighed and glanced at him. "I know... I know you want grandchildren."

"Only when you're able to provide us with them, my boy. From one father to another, there's no rush. When fate deems it time." The moon king replied before we continued on our way. It was not much longer before the train station came into view with the train still in the station. But then we heard the whistle blow. And the train began to very slowly start to roll forward. "Huh?! Are we too late?!"

"Oh, come on! Did we just barely miss it?!" I shouted in annoyance. It would be hours before the next train would arrive and have to be turned around for the next trip. But rather than just watch, Orbash suddenly burst into a gallop and rushed ahead. I called out to him and asked, "Hey, what're you doing?!"

"Oh no you don't!" Orbash barked before I suddenly noticed the entire train become coated in a billow silver aura. It was not even halfway out of the station and...he was holding the whole thing in place! With Orbash having the most powerful magic in all of Equestria with only Sunflare being his equal, even a full steam locomotive and several passenger cars was hardly a challenge to hold in his levitation spell. He then looked back at me and called out with a smile. "Hurry along, my boy! Let's not keep them held up for too long!"

"Oh my god, you're the best!" I laughed before rushing over to the rearmost door of the passenger cars. What good fortune to have an alicorn stallion as powerful as Orbash to buy me just enough time to reach the train.

The conductor aboard the train was not so amused. He suddenly opened the rear door and stuck his head out through it. While trying to be as respectful as possible, he raised his voice towards Equestria's king. "Your majesty, what is the meaning of this?!"

"My sincerest apologies, but you forgot someone!" Orbash laughed while I quickly flashed my lifetime pass to the conductor. The conductor merely snorted in annoyance and stepped back to allow me to board. I then looked back at that wonderful king of a stallion while he beamed at me merrily. "Have a safe trip, my boy! We'll be seeing you again very soon!"

Orbash did not release his magical grasp on the train until I was properly seat at the back row. Only then did I feel the train lurch forward again as it began its journey back down the mountain. That was when I decided to see exactly what kind of breakfast Celestia packed me. There was still a gentle warmth coming from the box. And when I opened it...

"Oh my god, Celestia..." I muttered as I beheld the culinary masterpiece before me. Celestia had whipped up a stack of large pancakes three layers tall with a covered cup of maple syrup on the side. And she had decorated it with strawberries and blueberries. The red strawberries were arranged in the shape of a heart while bordered on each side by blueberries that spelled out an I and U. And I knew that she had made them herself. I snickered under my breath and whispered, "Love you too, dear... Love you too."

Some cutlery was provided as well and I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast during my ride down the mountain. And upon reaching Ponyville, I wasted no time in hurrying across Ponyville at a brisk pace. It was another chilly autumn day, but the wind at least was not as bitter as last night. I passed by a few friends and said hello. I even picked up some hot pumpkin spiced tea from Sugarcube Corner. But I generally kept on the move to get home as soon as possible.

Once I finally reached the western edge of Ponyville, I was greeted by a bit of a surprise. The construction crews had resumed progress on the upcoming home of Ocellus and Smolder. I passed the crew while watching in curiosity without stopping. Noisy, but productive. They will surely be done before the end of the year at this rate. But right when I crossed the brook in front of Fluttershy's house, I was greeted by a face peeking out the door. "There you are! Come on, get in here! They're about to get started!"

Smolder had spotted me during my approach. But what was she even talking about? Curiosity took control as I hurried up the slope before stepping inside. Smolder was disappearing into the nursery at the back of the living room while Scootaloo peeked out at me from the doorway. "Hi, Dad! You're just in time! Come look at this!"

"What?! What's happening? What did I miss?" I asked before closing the door behind me. Did we have some guests? I quickly got my answer when I stepped inside. Everyone who lived in that house, from my wife and daughters to our two teen tenets, everyone had gathered for something very special. "Hey, the beehive is done?"

There it was. That boxy structure installed in the corner had finally been completed. The guys responsible for it must have just finished it. A large glass panel revealed the interior while also appeared to double as a door. It did have a lock on it as a means to keep just anyone from open it. But it was also completely empty aside from a few large chunks of honeycomb that looked like it had just been removed from the freezer. I had been wondering why Fluttershy had put those in there. Fluttershy looked back at me while Smolder cradled Gladesong in her arms to let her watch more effectively. "You're just in time, dear! They're almost here!"

I approached to take a closer look and waited. And minutes later, there she was. A single little bee came crawling in from the top corner closest to the outer wall of the house. The queen had made her way to her new home. And soon, more bees began to crawl on in. Out of sheer curiosity, I took a look out the window nearby. And I could see them. A cloud of swarming bees was filling the air. So long as the outdoor temperature was above freezing, they could tolerate it enough to fly. And they were in a big hurry to move into their new home. Everyone around us was excited to see our new little neighbors moving in to their new permanent residence. Especially Gladesong. She squealed and giggled as she waved at the little buzzing insects on the other side of the glass. Smolder nuzzled the top of the filly's head and said, "You see all those bees? Those buzzy little bees? They're gonna be here all the time now. I guess you've got a lot of little friends you can talk to every day now, huh?"

Ocellus glanced over at Fluttershy and asked, "They'll let us harvest some of their honey, right? When can we start?"

Fluttershy shook her head and said to us, "Not until next year. There's no time left for them to go around pollinating flowers, so they need all the honey in there now to make it through the winter. We won't be able to collect any honey until next summer."

"Aw man, I was hoping for all the honey on toast I could eat." Scootaloo groaned while I just rolled my eyes at her impatience. It was not much longer before the entire hive had finished moving in with most of the bees crawling over the walls due to a lack any infrastructure. It would take time for them to create all those walls of tiny hexagon holes. Our new little friends had a lot of work to do.

All of the girls stayed in the nursery to watch the new hive of bees settle in a little longer. In the meantime, Fluttershy and I stepped into the kitchen while she brewed me up some warm honey tea. "How was your time up in Canterlot yesterday? It was nice having Philomena bring us that message to explain the situation, but was everything OK up there?"

I was more than happy to give her the gist of my experience. "Oh yeah, we had a wonderful time. Got some good eats, enjoyed a movie together, even had a few drinks. They...made me feel like family."

Fluttershy adjusted the heat under the tea kettle before asking with a sudden excited gleam in her eye. "Ooh, the king and queen was there too, right? What was it like being with King Orbash and Queen Sunflare and...the entire royal family for the first time?"

"Quite frankly, I'd say Orbash is the best guy I've ever met. Just...the best. He always knows how to make you smile. And Sunflare is amazing too. They're just...great. I think time really has tempered them into being just some of the best people around. And they're very entertaining together." I explained in brief while really not knowing where to start. It was a very long day with so much happening in that time. And I suspect Fluttershy knew that since I noticed her glance over yonder at the laundry room and my typewriter inside it. She smirked at me knowingly, as if knowing what I really wanted to do now that I was home. I cracked a grin and said, "Yes, I am most definitely gonna chronicle this in a journal."

"In that case, how about I just read all about it when you're done? Your retellings of those special days are always so fun when I see it from your perspective." Fluttershy giggled excitedly while I was glad I would not have to strain myself to explain the events of yesterday. I always do a much better job of transcribing my memories through text than speech. But while waiting for the water to reach boiling, Fluttershy then smiled more softly at me. "And one more thing... A little love bug told me about what happened yesterday morning."

My blood chilled. I should not have been so anxious, but I suppose there will always be a certain risk factor involved whenever a new wonderful woman finds a place in our family. It will always have to be a mutual agreement between Fluttershy and I. And so I said cautiously, "Yeah... I mean we haven't gone as far as you and I have, but...we did...finally say it to each other. And...a bit more."

"James. Don't be so tense." Fluttershy said softly before she beckoned me into an embrace. I dropped to one knee and held my wonderful wife in my arms while she did the same. And she whispered so sweetly into my ear. "It's OK, dear. I know you both love each other so much. Please... Be as good to Ocellus as you've always been to all of us."

"I will, honey... Love you so much." I whispered back to her before we shared a tender kiss. It was so good to be home and back in the arms of the mare I walked down the aisle with. I had no regrets in Fluttershy being my first. We had become husband and wife for good reason. But she then started feeling my hooves against my chest with a look of confusion on her face. As if she had felt something under it. My eyes widened in realization and I said, "Oh, that! Almost forgot it was there."

We released each other from our embrace while I was quick to unzip my jacket. And what came falling out was a tightly bound scroll. I explained quickly, "I wrote a love letter for Novo a little while ago and brought it with me thinking that Celesta had a way of easily getting it to her. So she did, but then we got a reply just last night and... Well... Let's just say Novo was more than happy to send a reply."

"A love letter?! Oh my, I need to see this! And it's from Queen Novo?" Fluttershy asked with an excited giggle while she removed the band. Although her eyes then widened when she saw it unfurl. "It's...um...very long..."

"That's Novo for you. She likes to go heavy on her heart's desires." I snickered as I was reminded of just how much text she put in there. And as Fluttershy looked it over, her gaze only became softer and softer by the second. I whispered knowingly, "I can't wait to see her again."

"This is beautiful... I can see just how much she loves you... Oh my goodness, she really does miss Gladesong too... We need to plan some sort of visit to her place. Or maybe have her come here to see us. Some kind of plan where Gladesong can get to meet and bond with all of her other mommies." Fluttershy replied while sounding very touched by Novo's words. Not once was Novo selfish in her wording. And I was not the only one she thought of. She inquired about several women in my life. Because she knew we are all family and neither is more important than the other. Fluttershy sighed in an almost melancholy manner as she said softly, "She's amazing... And she's right. We all believe in you, James. We'll make this work in the end."

"Thank you, Fluttershy... Thanks. A little reassurance goes a long way." I spoke with a relieved sigh. Fluttershy soon rolled the scroll up and took it up to our bedroom to find a safe place for it while I headed into the laundry room and sat myself down at my typewriter to begin chronicling everything that happened recently.

That would have been the end of my recollection of yesterday, but I did not go undisturbed for much longer. Not even an hour went by before I heard the door close and lock behind me. And a quick glance over my shoulder revealed a pleasing sight. Little Ocellus was stepping over beside me while she smiled up at me. "It sounds like you had an amazing time in Canterlot yesterday."

"I did. Very." I replied before noticing her smile fading a bit. And then I remembered the little hidden message on the scroll in ten corner when Philomena returned home. "I...saw what you wrote in the note Philomena came back with."

"I was so disappointed when you didn't come home last night... I was hoping I could...be by your side in bed. Hold you in my sleep..." Ocellus whimpered while trying to not sound too upset. I felt such profound guilt as I saw her ears droop while she just rested her jaw on my upturned palm. She looked up at me with those big beautiful blank eyes and said, "I just love you so much..."

"Love you too, love bug..." I muttered as those words sang to my heart. We did not have to hide from each other anymore. Ocellus may be young, but she is not a filly. And I understood that. I decided then that the precious little lady before me was much more important than the journal I was writing out. I turned to her in my seat and reached down to her. "Come here, dear. I won't keep you waiting anymore."

Her eyes brightened up as Ocellus soon smiled. But instead of jumping into my arms, she lifted her head and soon coated her horn with her magic aura. And in a sudden flash of green flames, the beautiful little changeling disappeared. And in her place was a taller and equally beautiful young dragoness. She smiled at me shyly while I was left puzzled over why she would choose to revert to her previously preferred disguise instead of her new unique changeling form. "Wha... Are you sure? I'd be perfectly fine with you still looking like a changeling."

"I know... It's just... I wanna hold hands with you right now." Ocellus squeaked quietly as she swayed nervously before me. As if she was afraid that I might not approve. But I could not help but smile at the beautifully feminine little dragoness before me. I held out a hand to ask for hers. And she all too happily replied by setting her hand upon my upturned palm. "I think I understand why Smolder likes doing this with you so much."

I helped Ocellus take a seat on my lap while her tail curled around the back of my waist to hold her against me. Hands grasping, she leaned against me with her head tucked under my jaw. I heard her sigh lovingly while I kept my other arm around her. She had been waiting all night and day for this moment. "I love you, James... Love you forever."

A long sigh blew from my nostrils and through her long head of elegant hair. Those words were soothing to me. And it reminded me of the threshold we had crossed just yesterday. When no one was around to witness. I whispered down to the lovely little lady, "And I love you...my little love bug."

"I'll always be your little love bug, dear. My knight... My...hero..." Ocellus said softly without moving her head from under mine. At that moment, it was just us. A man and woman who were very much in love. And I soon felt Ocellus rest her other hand on my chest. "Your heart is very calm now... So full of love... It feels fulfilled... Like something wonderful happened to you yesterday... Did they make you happy up there?"

"They did... Made me feel wanted. Made me feel like family. It was...a good idea to go see them that day." I whispered back to my little lover. My memories of the three royal sisters. Memories of their glorious parents. And my memories of last night...with my beloved future queen. My hand gently slid over Ocellus' back. Up between her wings and down over the base of her robust reptilian tail. I was reminded of the form she had abandoned for the moment and asked, "Are you sure you wouldn't rather be in your real form right now?"

Ocellus giggled at my insistence. I just did not want her to feel like she had to assume that familiar dragon form for my sake. She then whispered to me happily, "I'm sure. I mean even though that new look for me feels like...me without feeling like I'd hiding in a disguise, I do really like this form too. And I've been wearing my real look long enough to easily remember it from memory. I won't have any trouble switching back. I promise."

"Whatever you're happy with, dear. I just want you to be happy with how you look." I said while making sure she was still comfortable on my lap. We continued to hold each other. And soon, our lips touched. Over and over, I felt her lips upon mine. And soon that long dragon tongue slid past my lips to invite my own to a dance. And what a wonderful dance it was as we quietly sang to each other. Such a subtle sweetness on her tongue... And when we gazed into each other's eyes... I was so taken with her beauty. I loved her... I wanted her. And I whispered carefully to her, "I...want to...do things with you... Make you feel loved..."

I did not want to be too direct with my words, but Ocellus could tell right away. Her deeply blushing face and almost drunken smile told me that my heart was whispering the real truth to her. And she adjusted her positioning on my lap as she whispered back to me her deepest desires. "And I want you to... The door's locked. No one else is here. There's nothing stopping us. I want...to make such sweet love to you. To be your woman for real..."

I wanted her. To hold her and love her and bring her pleasure she has never felt before. To let Ocellus know just how much I truly loved her. But she quickly stopped me with a finger upon my lips while she smiled very sweetly to me. "But not yet. Not just yet. Please... Give me a little longer. I know exactly when I want us...to become more. Please? A little longer? I promise it'll happen before the end of the year."

"Really? Well... Yeah. Sure. It's your call. I won't make you do anything you don't want to do." I whispered back to her while simultaneous relieved yet disappointed. I was glad that we would not be rushing into this relationship too quickly, even if our love for each other was true with there being no risks. But at the same time... I dearly wanted to make love to her. To give her the same pleasure all my beloveds knew.

I think Ocellus could sense that subtle disappointment in my heart. And she replied while resting her hand over my chest. "Oh, but I do. I do want you, James. So badly. But just...not yet. It would be best if we wait. But I promise. When it happens... It'll be so worth the wait. I promise... I love you."

And so we just sat there for a while. Holding hands. Sharing soft little kisses with each other. And allowing Ocellus to drink from my love freely. Things had changed between us. And all those doubts I had... All the fears about the risks... They were gone. I now know that we really are ready for each other. I just wish I did not keep her waiting...

I could not bring myself to resume writing after that. I wanted to catch up on a missed day with my family. The biting autumn chill convinced us to stay indoors for the day and I spent much of my time hanging out in the nursery with Gladesong while we both observed our new neighbors gradually turning their new hollow dwelling into a true home. By the time the sun had set, I could see the beginnings of a wall of waxy hexagons forming. That trembling mass of fuzzy brownish orange and dark stripes was almost mesmerizing to behold.

But now it is getting late and I am finally finished with this entry. And I am just exhausted in all the best ways. What a wonderful time. Things are good now after so much turmoil. And I am convinced happy days are ahead of us

I must keep a close eye on the calendar. There is a lot going on this month. And not just that upcoming vacation. I have plans made and gifts to give. But for now, sleep is calling for me. I hope I dream well tonight.