Chapter 33

Rarity and Nightwing’s room, The General’s Palace

Rarity’s eyes slowly creaked open as she awoke to the sounds of rustling. Normally, she wouldn’t concern herself with such a trivial detail because her beauty sleep was infinitely more important. The difference was that the rustling of fabric was magnified one hundred fold due to the massive hangover she was experiencing at the moment.

With a whinny of pain, she begrudgingly lifted her head off the pillow to see what—or who was causing such a ruckus. Oddly enough, it was Nightwing. Out of all of the things he could be doing (like sleeping), he was packing their suitcases. Rarity took a quick glance at the clock on the adjacent wall and found that it was still seven thirty in the morning. It very nearly made her want to smack Nightwing with a pillow.

“Mmmm…why are you packing darling? It’s only seven thirty. Come back to bed and snuggle me.”

Nightwing snorted. “You really don’t remember what happened last night, do you?”

“Well, I do remember having a few drinks. But…I suppose the pounding headache I now possess, means that I might have had a bit more than I originally intended.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“It is? What happened exactly?”

“Hmm…let’s see. You basically chugged an entire bottle of wine and proceeded to make out with me…sloppily, I might add.”

“I suppose that isn’t too bad.”

“Yeah, except for the part when you threw me on the floor and sucked me off. Naturally, it was in front of everypony at the party, including the general.”

Rarity blushed. “I don’t quite remember that part but it does explain the strange taste in my mouth. Are you upset with me?”

“It’s…alright. We all do stupid things when we’re drunk. You just happened to do something very stupid and embarrassing in front of the leader of a sovereign nation.”

“Look, Nightwing I’m sorry if I…”

“Seriously, it’s ok. I was really upset and embarrassed last night, but I’m over it now. All I want to do at this point is go back home and wash our hooves of this whole…experience.”

Rarity ignored the throbbing pain in her skull and ambled over to her stallion. Considering how foul her morning breath was (with the addition of stallion spunk), she didn’t really feel it was in her best interest to kiss the irritated thestral. So instead, she chose to offer him an apologetic nuzzle to the neck. She felt him tense up briefly before he turned around and wrapped his hoof around her own neck.

Rarity let out a relieved sigh. “I’m so lucky to have such an understanding stallion.”

“Yeah…well I care about you too much to let a little drunken stupor ruin our relationship.”

“If I may be so bold, did you…enjoy my ministrations, by chance?”

Nightwing coughed awkwardly. “M-maybe…ok…it was mind blowing. There, I said it!”

Despite her embarrassment, Rarity felt a huge grin spread across her lips. She was quite certain that a large part of Nightwing’s psyche still found the whole ordeal just as embarrassing as she did, if not more so but it was comforting to know that he was being honest with her. Of course, it had the added benefit of boosting her own sexual ego…not that she really needed it. Perhaps later, in the privacy of her boutique, she would reward Nightwing’s honesty.

The fashionista started pondering all the wonderful techniques she could use, until her reverie was interrupted by a knock at the door. When she opened the door, she was surprised to find the general standing outside. He wore a very similar outfit to the one he had donned during the party, except it was olive-drab in color and bit more casual-looking. He wasn’t wearing a beret this time but he did have silver tray with three cups placed on it, clasped tightly in his teeth. With a slight nod he placed the tray on a nearby coffee table.

“Good morning, I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Good morning to you as well general. Nightwing and I were just discussing last night’s events. Although I’m terribly sorry that I’m not presentable, I’ve only just woken up.”

“Ah, well it is only seven thirty. But…I’ve been up since five. An old habit from military life I suppose. Besides, you couldn’t possibly be any less presentable than you were at the party last night.”

Rarity stared at the floor and blushed. “Ermm…well I was quite intoxicated at the time. I’m sorry if I caused a scene…”

“Ha ha! Think nothing of it! We Saddle Arabians aren’t as prudish as our Equestrian counterparts. Hell, what you did was mild compared to some of the parties I’ve seen in my lifetime.”

“Come again?”

“You might say that our culture is quite a bit more relaxed when it comes to sex. In fact, during ancient times it was considered normal for celebrations or feasts to include at least one orgy.”

Rarity blushed even harder. “My word!”

“So yeah, don’t worry about thinking that you’ve offended me or anything. Honestly, what you did to your stallion was pretty much what we consider just a token of romantic affection. Similar to kiss, I suppose.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever understand your cultural norms. But…at least Nightwing will be happy to know that we didn’t cause some international incident.”

“Speaking of cultural norms, I brought some coffee with me. I figured the both of you could use some to help put some spring in your steps.”

Rarity was a mare that enjoyed tea more often than she did coffee. It was part and parcel of her lady-like attitude. That’s not to say that coffee couldn’t be enjoyed by ladies. In fact, espresso was often consumed by the elite of Canterlotian society at various coffee houses that peppered the capital city.

Coffee was often far too bitter for her tastes…but it would be rude to refuse the general’s hospitality. Not to mention that she desperately wanted to be rid of her pounding headache. As she took a sip of the steaming black liquid, she inadvertently scrunched her muzzle at the sheer strength of the brew.

“Sweet Celestia! Your coffee has a bit of a bite to it.”

Qadir chuckled. “It’s traditional qahwah, that’s why. If it doesn’t suit your tastes, I can get some sugar and crème for you.”

“While that would be nice, I’d rather drink it quickly. I’m quite eager to get rid of this headache of mine.”

“A hangover eh? I’m not surprised. Just be careful not to burn your lips.”

“Noted. Not be rude, dear general, but why have you decided to visit us?”

Qadir sipped his coffee. “I wanted to alleviate any lingering worries you might have had concerning last night’s celebration. However, I also wish to make a request.”

“A request? Well, I can certainly try to accommodate you. But…I’m not sure what I could possibly do for somepony who has so much power and influence.”

“That’s just it. I need somepony like you. Somepony who lives a relatively normal life, away from all of hustle and bustle of the palace.”

“But why? I’m afraid I still don’t understand what you’re trying to ask me.”

Qadir sighed. “It’s my nephew, Nazeem. I want him to stay with you. Not permanently, of course, but for an extended period of time.”

“Excuse me, but that’s a rather tall order! I’m not sure if I have enough…”

“Money isn’t an issue. I’ll provide for any expenses he might incur. Please, he really needs to experience life outside of Saddle Arabia. It’s for his own good!”

Rarity chewed on her bottom lip, trying to process the general’s request. As of now, the boutique already housed two ponies and she wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to take on yet another tenant. It was already difficult enough taking care of Sweetie and Celestia knew how much harder it would be if there was yet another to worry about.

“Your nephew, exactly how old is he?”

“He’s fourteen.”

“Ah what a coincidence! My sister just so happens to be the same age." Oh great yet another potential Cutie Mark Crusader to deal with.

“Good, the boy could really use some friends his own age.”

“Doesn’t he have any here, in Saddle Arabia?”

Qadir frowned. “The answer to that question is a sad and complicated one. Are you aware of the civil war that raged in this very nation, naught but a decade ago?”

“Vaguely, but what does that have to do with your nephew?”

“It has everything to do with him. The war itself ended about ten years ago, when my forces stormed the palace and executed the sultan and his remaining loyalist forces. Unfortunately, Nazeem’s parents were killed during the battle that occurred just prior to that.”

“Oh my…the poor dear.”

“I felt it was my duty to take care of my brother’s colt, so I adopted him as my own son. He was always a bit of a bookworm and socially awkward, even before his parents died. But…afterwards he became even more introverted. It worries me, Ms. Rarity. I’ve done everything I can to show him that I care, but the boy’s been like this for the past four years! That’s why I want you to take him with you. He needs to get away from this place.”

“If it means that much to you, I can’t help but oblige.”

“It is true what they say. You really are the Element of Generosity! Should you ever find yourself back in Saddle Arabia, I’ll make damn sure that you are greeted as a national hero!”

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Carousel Boutique, Ponyville

After a long and rather awkward ride in one of General Qadir’s blimps, a trio of tired ponies finally arrived at their destination. Nightwing mentally sighed, recalling just how difficult it had been trying to spark a conversation with their newest charge. The stoic colt barely said a word during the entire trip, only speaking when absolutely necessary. On the bright side, Nightwing and Rarity didn’t need to even so much as lift a hoof to entertain him. He was perfectly content reading a few books.

Like many of his Saddle Arabian brethren, Nazeem’s color scheme was dull by Equestrian standards. His coat was slate grey and his short-cropped mane was black as coal. While it was true that his coloring gave off an air of stern simplicity, what really made him intimidating were his eyes. Due to a rare genetic mutation, the colt’s eyes were a dark shade of crimson, nearly the color of blood. Coupled with his cold demeanor, they almost made him seem like a demon.

Nightwing also noticed how uncomfortable Rarity was around the colt, precisely because of his appearance. It was a bit contradictory in his opinion because as a thestral, he too could be considered somewhat frightening. And Rarity hadn’t outwardly cringed at his appearance when they first met. Maybe it wasn’t about how he looked but more about how he acted. She was likely feeling a sliver of self-doubt, thinking that she had somehow committed some egregious social faux-pas. Eventually she’d have to get over it, but for now he decided not to press her.

Rarity knocked on the door. “Spike darling, we’re home!”

The little purple drake slowly opened the door and was immediately bowled over as an airborne Sweetie Belle tacked her sister in a bone crunching hug. As soon as Sweetie let go of her sister’s neck, she arched her brow in confusion, noticing the unfamiliar pony standing next to Nightwing. Being the bubbly filly she was, Sweetie bounced over to the colt and offered him her brightest smile.

“Hi. I’m Sweetie Belle!”

The colt merely stared at her, appearing completely disinterested.

“Umm you do understand what I’m saying…don’t you?”

“Nazeem.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s my name.”

Sweetie blushed. “Oh…sorry. I’ve never heard anypony with a name like that in Equestria.”

“That’s because I’m not from Equestria.”

Noticing the confusion on her sister’s face, Rarity decided to intervene before the conversation became too awkward between the pair. Meanwhile, Nightwing handed Spike a generous pile of gems for his services and before he could so much as say goodbye, the little drake bolted off towards Sugarcube Corner.

“Sweetie, this colt it going to be staying with us for a while. So I want you to try and get along with him as best you can and…do try to help him make a few friends as well. He’s not quite…hmm shall we say, as outgoing as you are.”

“Don’t worry sis! I’ll bring him along next time I go crusading. I’m sure the girls won’t mind meeting him.”

Rarity ruffled Sweetie’s mane. “Good, I’m counting on you.”

“I won’t let you down! If you need me, I’ll be up in my room.”

Nazeem trotted into the boutique slowly, trying to gauge the accommodations he would have to put up with for the foreseeable future. Even though he normally resided in a palace, the colt’s taste in décor was actually quite Spartan. His room back home was sparsely decorated with pieces of furniture that only served a practical purpose.

The only thing he had in his room that could even remotely be considered personal was his book collection. So, as one might imagine, he found the boutique to be incredibly gaudy. Of course, he didn’t outwardly show his disgust. Such an act would have been inconsiderate to his hosts.

The other thing that bothered him slightly was the cloying scent of perfume that seemed to emanate from the very walls. He’d get used to it eventually, but for now it made him feel slightly nauseous. With nothing better to do, he chose to dump his meager belongings on the floor and took a seat on the couch.

“This couch is sufficient to satisfy my need for bedding. All I require is a blanket.”

Rarity gasped. “You can’t possibly be serious!”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You are a guest in my home, darling. Guests don’t sleep on the couch.”

“I assure you that it is perfectly…”

“NO! IT MOST CERTAINLY ISN’T!”

Nazeem winced. “Very well…if you insist. Where do you suggest I sleep instead?”

“That’s…actually a good question. I’m afraid you can’t sleep in the guest room because Nightwing is currently staying there and I doubt you’d want to share a bed with him. However…Sweetie has plenty of space in her room.”

“You want me to sleep with her instead?”

Rarity’s eyes widened. “Heavens no! I was going to set up a spare cot next to her bed. You’d have your own space to sleep, dear. I can’t believe you would even suggest that!”

“I didn’t suggest anything. I merely formulated my query from the context of your previous statement. Furthermore, why would it matter if I did sleep with her?”

“Because it’s highly inappropriate! A colt your age shouldn’t be thinking of such…vulgar things, especially when they concern my sister!”

Nazeem cocked his head. “Vulgar? Ah…I see. You meant ‘sleep’ as in sexual intercourse. At first, I thought you were referring to the physical act of sleep. I assure you that I have no intention of copulating with your sister.”

“I shan’t lie; I am quite relieved to hear that. It wouldn’t be appropriate to have her exposed to such things, especially considering that I haven’t had ‘the talk’ with her yet and…”

“What is this ‘talk’ you speak of?”

“You know. The birds and the bees. That kind of talk.”

“I’m afraid I don’t. Why would you have trouble describing the field of ornithology?”

Rarity groaned. “I don’t literally mean birds! I’m talking about her heat cycle and sex. It’s just…very awkward discussing it.”

“Why is it awkward? Sex is a natural, biological, act of reproduction.”

“Because she’s too young.”

“A cursory glance at her apparent age, weight, and height indicates that she is close to achieving sexual maturity and not too young as you claim. I am not entirely certain, simply because I have not gathered any empirical data to support my hypothesis. However, in my opinion, it would be prudent to discuss such matters sooner rather than later.”

Rarity huffed. “I feel as if I’m talking to a medical encyclopedia…”

Sensing Rarity’s impending meltdown, Nightwing gently rubbed her back with his wing. The act seemed to calm her down a little but her left eye continued to twitch. Thinking quick on his hooves, he ushered her into the kitchen and brewed a pot of her favorite jasmine tea. Once she was seated at the table with a tea cup firmly in her hooves, did he finally believe she was calm enough to have a conversation.

“Rarity, just sit and relax for a bit. I’ll go talk to him.”

The fashionista smiled. “Thank you darling. I was starting to get a bit…frustrated.”

Leaving Rarity to her tea, Nightwing shuffled over to the couch where Nazeem was still seated. Even though the colt tended not to have a very broad range of facial expressions, he did seem somewhat upset from what Nightwing could tell. It was apparent that Nazeem was very intelligent but severely lacked any kind of social grace. In all honesty, the young Saddle Arabian reminded Nightwing of himself when he was a colt. As gently as he could, the thestral patted the colt on the back.

Nazeem frowned. “Did I upset Ms. Rarity?”

“Well, I’m not gonna lie. You did.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I did not realize I was discussing a sensitive topic. It won’t happen again.”

“Nazeem, you have to understand that Equestrians aren’t as open about sex as your people are.”

“Ah, now her reaction makes perfect sense. Although, I find it strange that discussions concerning basic pony biology would be considered a taboo subject.”

“They aren’t really taboo, per say. It’s more like ponies are taught about it at a certain age.”

“I am still confused. You claim that they learn about these processes at a certain age. It is apparent that she is around, if not already at, the appropriate age to trigger heat. Why hasn’t she been informed yet?”

Nightwing bit his lip. “That’s…actually a good point. I really don’t know. Maybe Ponyville includes sex-ed classes later in their curriculum than other towns.”

“I have read many medical texts, so I am familiar with the process. If you want I could teach…”

“NO! I mean…I appreciate that you want to help, but I think it’s best if you let Rarity or Sweetie’s teacher do it.”

Nazeem bowed. “I trust you judgment. In the future, I will consult either you or Ms. Rarity before I discuss anything with her sister. Again, I wish to apologize for my shortsightedness.”

“There’s no need to feel sorry, you didn’t know any better. And you don’t have to ask permission to talk with Sweetie. Just…try not to talk to her about sexual stuff ok?”

Meanwhile, Sweetie buried her face into her pillow and screamed in frustration. As loathe as she was to admit, that annoying burning sensation was back between her legs again. It wasn’t a painful burning sensation like if you spilled hot tea on yourself. No, it was more of a tingly burning sensation. A tingly burning sensation that filled her with a strange ache and filled her beleaguered brain with naughty thoughts.

She blushed heavily, realizing that those thoughts focused on the newly arrived colt downstairs. Yeah, he seemed a bit awkward, but she couldn’t deny that he was cute. As often was the case, her fellow crusaders and confidants would often discuss all of colts that caught their eye in class.

There were a few decent looking ones but this new colt was more…handsome in her opinion. Now if that handsome colt were to kiss her and…No! I can’t let myself think about those kinds of things right now. Just calm down Sweetie. The burning will go away if you ignore it. Although, Scoots did say it goes away quicker if you use a carrot to…ugghhh no. That’s just…it’d be too embarrassing if I got caught. *Sigh* I really hope that I can work up the nerve to talk to Nazeem again…without thinking about dirty stuff.

Sweetie groaned. “Why does life have to be so frustrating?!”

Author's Notes:

qahwah = Arabic word for coffee.