All wasn't quiet in the royal palace. Guards ran from room to room, searching for the source of a poorly timed cry of fear. No pony knew what had happened, nor the source of the dilemma, but still they searched the castle halls for the pony in distress. The atmosphere in the palace was bleak and the usually vibrant colors that adorned her walls seem faded and dull to the panicked crowd, who did their best to make themselves scarce. Eventually, the source of the scream was located, but by then it was far too late for the pony. Guards scrambled about in a frenzy trying to find a doctor. The occasional voice of "That's the third time this month" or "Why is this happening?" was heard from a terrified servant or royal. Finally, the voices were quelled and the crowd dispersed as Celestia herself ran into the kitchens in her night robes.

"What happened!?" She yells to the bystanders.

"Another servant … err" A guard tried to let it down lightly, avoiding her fierce gaze.

"Well?" The princess pressed

"Another servant was poisoned."

The usually stoic princess was struck silent. The news itself fell and struck like a hammer blow. Very few had the audacity or the resources to do this three times in one month. All the killings were aimed toward her and every one had the same grisly toxin involved.

"Do you think it's the same pony as last time?" She asked the Captain.

"Same poison, same liquid, same target and the same awful method of killing." He shook his head. "Slowly and very, very painfully. Whoever wants you dead has a very bad history with you, milady"

Celestia looked at her hooves and tried to think of who would possibly want her dead this badly. She was on good terms with all the royals and diplomats, as well as the ambassadors, as annoying as they were with their accents. True, there was the occasional political rival or rebellion, but those were poorly funded and were always found and crushed before they gained any real power. Besides that, they were all headed by a pony who was either poorly educated or just lacked the intuition of a true ruler.

"Close the castle gates. No pony gets in or out until dawn."

Later that evening the ruler of Equestria lay in her quarters. Her mind raced at a breakneck pace. until a sudden revelation appeared. All of these killings had happened during her royal address to the courts. A very momentous event that happened every week in which the ponies of her kingdom could freely converse with her about politics, current affairs, taxes and more .

'So, the killer needs me to be occupied before he strikes and knows I prefer some tea after court.' She infers. 'Clever, to figure my preferences and schedule.'

The news of the continued murders would prove to not be the only thing weighing on the Immortal mind that night. A letter was delivered to her by a messenger later that evening. The pegasus mare who carried the letter looked tired, dirty and sore from a very long flight. Thanking the weary messenger, she opens the old parchment and begins to read. At first her eyes were wide in wonder and excitement, and then she was torn between wanting to forget the letter and jumping for joy. But when she reached the last sentence on the page, she felt like shredding the paper, burning it and sprinkling the ashes over Discord's statue. This made things so much more complicated

Celestia burst into Luna's rooms.

"Have you seen this?" She asked, holding the letter up to her sister.

"No." A frown creases Luna's flawless complexion "I most definitely have not."

The two alicorns looked at each other and the older sister sighed.

"Any other time I would throw a gala so grand it would last a year and be sung about for all history. But… I can't feel good about this. No good will come of a third. "

"But sister… he's a " Luna began, but was cut off rudely.

"We'll take care of that later. For now we must prepare. I'm contacting my student and the rest of the elements. I want them here for this."

"Why? They aren't all as… couth as Twilight, you know." The younger sister mused, remembering her own trip to Ponyville.

"I may need that. Neither is the pony I'm negotiating with. And sister…" Celestia looks directly at Luna. "She' from the north and there… they own slaves. It's a very alien place with strange customs. Try to understand the situation I'm put in by this culture while we figure this out. I don't agree with it, but I must respect their customs for this exchange to be a success."

"You mean… they own other equines…"

"Mostly males." The sun princess finished her sibling's thought.

"We can't just take him?" said the rambunctious young alicorn.

"Not without angering our neighbors to the north. And I wish to not to start any war, especially with you adjusting."

"I'm not helpless!" Luna protested, suspicious that her older sister was coddling her.

"Maybe not" Celestia said sarcastically. "Regardless, our guest will be here tomorrow at midnight. Meet us in the throne room." She strode pompously out of the room. Luna scowled and shut her doors in an angry flash of magic.

The next day in the throne room the Elements stood in their line of six. Starting with Applejack and ending in Rainbow Dash, the line was in full royal attire (all by Rarity's make of course) and each looked up at the two princesses' on their thrones. Celestia's throne was the typical gold and red, but Luna's was silver with navy blue, with slightly more height to be level with her sister's. The windows depicting Equestria's history cast a miasmic spectrum of colors onto the room. In the dark, enigmatic glow of the moons distorted light the two rulers' eyes seemed to glow with an unearthly spark.

AppleJack squinted in the dim half-light, trying to make out the shapes of her companions.

"Pardon me, princess, but ah can't really see nothin." She commented.

"No, pardon me." Celestia responded. "Our guest is very important and her culture demands we only light the room once she is present."

"Not to be that pony," Pinkie spoke up. "Buuuuuuuuuut why are we here?"

The two alicorns look at each other in the gloomy moonlight.

"We can't really explain it all in the limited time before our guest arrives." Luna responded first. "But know that whatever happens, don't betray any emotion. No matter how… awful things get."

"I will be forced to act very… immoral for the duration of this ordeal. Know that I'm only doing this because it's necessary. Our guest is from a place where males have no standing in society and I need to barter for one very important colt..."

Twilight knew the culture her teacher spoke of. "The Northern Counties."

"Exactly." Celestia agreed.

"You mean we need to buy him from her?" Twilight inquired.

"Yet again, you are absolutely correct."

"But why do you need a slave?"

Luna scowled and spoke over her sister in annoyance. "We plan on liberating him as soon as he's in our care."

A guard burst into the room and flew like a flash of white and gold to the sun princess's side. After a hastily spoken message, he left as fast as he'd entered the gigantic room. With an unimaginably bright flash of magic, three thrones appeared on each side of the long carpeted aisle.

"Seat yourselves, my little ponies. Betray no emotion during this exchange and whatever you do, maintain constant focus on me and the ambassador."

Just as the six were seated the huge doors at the grand opening exploded open violently. As the lights brightened, they saw a single pegasus standing in front of the doors, still in the posture of opening them. The doors were easily three-hundred times his mass and usually took a dozen guards to push open, yet the blonde and blue colt simply stood there smiling at them, his wine red eyes reflecting no emotion except a morbid, putrid curiosity that made the mares feel exposed, as an antelope before a lion rips into it to savor every sinewy pop of gristle and flesh.

"Now presenting her highness, the fair lady Medley." The startlingly strong colt announced in a voice that conjured images of frost creeping over bones.

Applejack and Rainbow were the closest to the doors and both of them tensed at the disturbing presence. Applejack shifted on her throne and the slight movement caught the colt's eye. He went up to the chair and flashed a toothy smile that held no warmth or sympathy. Feeling threatened, she flexed her strong muscles, built from countless days on the farm.

"What's the matter, miss?" He chuckled "Do I…" He was leaning closer. "Unnerve you?"

She was ready to shove the creepy pegasaus away, but the gleam of his unnaturally long fangs stopped her. She was about to look up into his large sanguine eyes, but a swift shout from Twilight stopped her from making the awful mistake.

"Don't look at his eyes! He's a vampire!"

The nosferatu scowled "Ugh, had to ruin that for me didn't you, wench?"

He went back to the center of the aisle and stood as still as a statue. Pinkie and Fluttershy were the next two down the row, while Rarity and Twilight were closest to the dais where the two alicorns observed the happenings with an almost bored expression. The room was fully lit now, but not in the normal, harsh white lights. Candles cast warm yellow light from chandeliers onto the ponies below. The vampire looked totally out of place in the soft, comforting glow.

Another pony entered now, a white pure unicorn with snow white hair and slate gray eyes. She observed the gathering in pure contempt, as if she could hardly be bothered to look at ponies of such low birth. While everpony was distracted by her entry, the vampire was approaching Fluttershy, stalking her like a lion or tiger would. He licked his thin pale lips and she looked to her friends in fear.

"Jakben!" The white unicorn scolded. "Leave the pegasaus be."

He cringed at his name and turned around grudgingly. "Oh come now miss, it was merely a jest. I wasn't going to really harm her." He turns around and traces her form with his sanguine eyes. "Unless she wants me to…" he chuckles.

Fluttershy was shivering at the disturbing interest Jakben took to her.

"Pardon my manservant," Lady Melody spoke. "Despite his age he still hasn't outgrown his gender's folly."

"Leash him, or I'll have a stake in his heart before even he could stop me." Celestia threatened. The threat wasn't idle, either.

"Jakben!" Melody barked. "Fetch the boy."

With an irritated sigh and a grumble of dissent, the vampire disappeared in a blur. The royal then strutted up the aisle and stood at the base of the stairs, looking up at the two princesses.

"And now for the terms of our deal. First, who am I selling him to?"

Both of the sisters stood. With an awkward glance, Celestia sat back down.

"Luna." Melody smiled. "I think that after a thousand years of loneliness you'll appreciate him." She winked.

"What do you?" The meaning of what the royal had said dawned on her. "Oh! I… Err..." her cheeks reddened. "No! I."

"No need to explain yourself, I understand. It's one of the very few things males are good for. Why one of such… low birth I don't understand, but who am I to judge?"

Twilight was fidgeting nervously in her seat and kept glancing at the door. Everything about this felt wrong, from the way the ambassador's servant was a supernatural apex-predator to the way she spoke of colts. As she sat there restlessly tapping her hoof she caught Celestia's eye. An unspoken signal went between the two. Adjusting her posture, the princess smiled and spoke sweetly to the guest at the base of the stairs.

"While we wait, could you tell us of your country? I'm sure you have a lot to say about such a prosperous kingdom."

Lady Melody narrowed her eyes. "No I am forbidden to speak of my homeland. Ask me something else."

Twilight couldn't help stop her curiosity from getting the better of her. She blurted quickly. "How do you treat colts?!" She clamped her hooves over her mouth. Celestia gave her a look that would flay a guard alive.

The Lady shrugged. "I suppose there is no harm in that."

Melody strode over to the curious purple mare just as Jakben returned, a bundle of red-black colored blankets slung over his back. With a careless toss, he bucked the bundle into the aisle. It didn't move.

"Forgive me Madame, he was having an episode and I had to knock the wretch out." The vampire apologized.

Melody's nostrils flared in fury. "You are a thousand times stronger than him you idiot!" A wild look was in her eye.

"But Madame I" He was cut short

The proud pegasus was thrown to the floor in a resounding 'CRACK!' of the vampire's stone skin hitting unyielding marble. He struggled in vain to retaliate; his limbs were pinned spread-eagle to the cold floor. The Lady walked over calmly.

"Now Jakben, we've discussed this many, many, many times." She knelt, a false tenderness in her voice and eyes. "I own you. And anything I tell you is fact, or I am free to punish you."

Jakben looked to the mares around him. "Stop her! Please!"

They all looked to the princesses. The two sisters shook their heads. He looked at his master despairingly.

"Do you have a place where I can put him?" Melody asked.

Luna motioned toward the door to the left of her throne. The Lady levitated the vampire as if he weighed no more than a jug of water. He flailed helplessly and beat his wings, revealing a fanciful tattoo of a crest in between the feathered patch of skin.

"While I deal with this can you fetch me two glasses of wine? I prefer cranberry." Melody asked.

Celestia sent a servant to retrieve one of the finer grades while the ambassador slammed the door shut to the side room. Then the princess turned her attention to Twilight. A deep disappointment was emanating from her.

"I understand you were curious, but now you might have made this whole ordeal a lot more painful for us."

An ear piercing scream of agony deafened the entire gathering of ponies, causing them to screw their eyes shut and cover their ears with their hooves.

"And Jakben, for that matter." She added

Fluttershy stared at the unmoving bundle of covers on the floor.

"Celestia." She murmured.

"Yes?" the princess replied.

"Not to, y'know, be a bother or anything but I was wondering if I could look at him, if it's okay with you, of course."

"What do you… oh, of course dear." The princess nodded.

Fluttershy stepped toward the covers hesitantly. With her knees shaking nervously, she prodded the bundle. With no response, she gently undid the knot holding the covers over the colt. All the mares were struggling to get a good look when she pulled the cover off him. A small maroon coated alicorn with soft black down wings and a matching horn lay there, blindfolded, with his legs tied so tightly together they could see the ropes digging into his soft skin.

They all let out a gasp of disbelief and looked toward the Sisters in awe. All, except Fluttershy. She still knelt by the youngling; lost in a trance. The colt's gender hardly showed at all, for he had the soft jawline of a mare and was easily smaller than Sweetie Belle. He had fluffy down wings and a small horn perched on his head with a long black mane of shaggy hair covering one blindfolded eye. Fluttershy was lost in him the moment she'd looked at his diminutive frame.

She cradled the young colt in her arms lovingly. Seeing this, Luna cleared her throat softly to get her attention.

"Dear, I know you're having a moment, but you can do this later."

Fluttershy returned from whatever far-off place she had been.

"Yes, um, of course." She stuttered.

"What is the meaning of this?" Melody screeched, cantering in with blood coating her hooves.

Every pony froze. Thinking fast, Twilight thought of an excuse.

"Lady Melody, this is Fluttershy. She is merely examining him for any medical problems. After all, any issues will have to be considered when we purchase him." She bluffs professionally.

"You won't find anything wrong with him. I have him see a doctor every month and I have my other servants groom him far more than the stupid waste of life deserves." She huffs. "He is the crown jewel of all my servants. He is merely for looks; he doesn't do any real work. I specifically chose him because of that nice, soft jaw." She explained, eying the boy's mare-ish face.

"Is he educated?" Twilight asked.

"Of course not! And waste time teaching a stupid colt?" She scoffed. "I am not one to exercise practices in futility!"

"Anything else we should know?" Twilight growled irritably.

"Ah, yes. He has the 'Pulverum Nueterus' of course. I put it on all my servants so they aren't tempted into doing something stupid."

Twilight bit her bottom lip and looked up at Celestia. They were the only two who knew what the purpose of that inhumane, illegal tattoo was.

"Is… um… there any way you could remove it?" She asked.

"Yes, undo the enchantment so it becomes a meaningless ring of tattoos, then remove it, or cut the skin off him." Melody responded.

Fluttershy still knelt with the young colt in her arms, a loving expression in her eyes.

"He's adorable." She cooed, brushing his wild mane out of his face.

"Now to discuss what I want in return for this… waste of life." Melody said.

Fluttershy looked up, a hurt look about her. "W-What do you mean? He's amazing." She said, confused.

"Oh, surely you don't care for that thing. It's disgusting and will grow up to be a typical, hormonal, dominating, abusive, and moronic colt. There is nothing remarkable about any of those pathetic, instinct driven, animalistic brutes."

Fluttershy looked at the Lady in shock. Every pony was getting just how sure the mare was that males were the lesser of the sexes.

"Now." She continued. "I want a plot of land in the north, a thousand square miles will do. A few million bits and a construction team to build me a château on my new estate."

Just then a servant returned with two glasses of wine.

"Took you long enough." The Lady spat irritably. "Can some pony revive the boy?"

Twilight cast a quick spell and Fluttershy untied the ropes binding his legs. Immediately he jumped to his hooves and looked around blindly, for his blindfold was still in place. The young colt jumped to his hooves and, scared senseless, he darted to the left and nearly ran right into Twilight's throne.

"Dammit boy!" Melody spat. "Stop or I'll beat you within an inch of your purposeless life!"

The colt stopped dead in his tracks. Melody levitated him over to her side and took off the blindfold, roughly scraping the fabric against his already bruised eyelids. Again the boy bolted toward the doors. She retrieved him yet again, this time he didn't run. He looked at the surrounding mares in confusion and fear. His eyes were a deep amethyst and were set at a slight angle, much to further the curiosity of the six friends.

"Here, take a sip of this." Melody offered the boy some wine.

"But miss Melody!" Fluttershy interrupted. "He's too young! That could stunt his growth or-"

"He's my servant, may I remind you. And besides, I've made it so he'll never grow beyond his height now. Now here, take a drink." She had an awful grin.

An awful cry of pain came from the colt a second later. She had brutally shattered the glass into the boy's face. She laughed at him as he spat glass shards and blood out onto the floor, tears falling from his bruised eyelids soon after. Fluttershy was mortified that she could be so senselessly cruel to something so young and innocent. No pony else laughed, most stared at the mare in shock.

"Anyway, those are my demands" She got out once she'd stopped laughing.

"Done" Celestia said hastily, not wanting to make this any longer, for the colt's sake.

A contract was quickly signed between the two.

"Somepony fetch Jakben." The Lady ordered.

The Lady of the North left soon after, taking her servant and three-million bits with her. Celestia let out a long sigh and slouched in her seat. As much as they all wanted to relax, there was still a problem to be dealt with. The young alicorn crouched in the corner of the room, terrified of them all, cuts scoring his lips and face and blood running into his tear-filled eyes.

Every pony turned toward Luna.

"What?" She said.

Celestia nodded her head. "Sister, he's yours now. You decide his fate."

The gravity of that responsibility crashed over Luna. She shook her head in denial and disbelief. After a long silence, she sighed and levitated the colt into the air. He drew his hooves close to his chest and folded his wings, making him seem even smaller. Holding him steady in front of her, she looked into his fearful eyes and said.

"Do you have a name?" she asked.

His eyes darted right, then left. Then he spoke softly. "Seamus"

"Pardon?" she leaned closer

He winced and whispered "Seamus."

Luna nodded and announced to the rest of them. "Seamus. That's a good name. Now, you're safe, so you don't need to be afraid anymore. No pony here will hurt you."

Seamus gave a nervous, cracked laugh that was immediately followed by a squeak of pain. Shards of glass were still embedded in his lips and smiling was painful for the young colt. Luna set him down and he looked about up at her.

A long silence once again settled over the room. He continued to stare up at her with searching eyes.

"Um…" Luna murmured uncomfortably. "Why won't he…err…?"

Fluttershy answered Luna's silent cry for help. The mare flew up onto the dais and looked down at him.

"Hi, I'm Fluttershy." She whispered gently.

Twilight appeared on the dais in a loud flash of magic; Seamus nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Oh my gosh! I have so many questions to ask you! What was it like? I want to hear everything!" she blurted

The colt hid behind Fluttershy in fear.

"Was it something I said?"

Rarity walked up the steps and sighed dramatically. "For a smart mare you can be a bit touchy, Dear." She said. "Just imagine what the poor boy's been through."

Fluttershy piped up. "He probably needs some space."

Pinkie jumped out from behind Twilight in a flash of bubblegum pink.

"Forget about that! Who gets to have him!" She shouted.

The room descended into chaos. Each of them wanted to be the guardian of the young colt. Celestia narrowed her eyes at Luna. Her sister hadn't given the boy his freedom yet. She may have them foaled, but she wasn't. Meanwhile, the rest of the mares were still arguing over Seamus. Order needed to be restored.

"Luna." Celestia said; the room went quiet. "First, I need to talk to you later. Second, I believe you have an argument to resolve."

Luna sighed and looked at each of them. She knew Twilight the most, but Fluttershy was amazingly kind. Rainbow… well… no. AppleJack wouldn't have the time and Pinkie would… do… something Pinkie-ish and make some form of chaos or another. Rarity and Fluttershy seemed the most qualified.

"He can stay with Rarity." Luna decreed.

"He can visit, right?" Fluttershy asked.

"Of course." The princess confirmed.

Celestia interrupted. "But he must return after a month. And…" A smile spread across her face" "I think the discovery of another alicorn is worthy of a celebration."

Pinkie's face lit up in a huge, ecstatic and mischievous grin. "Party?"

Celestia nodded. "However you want it."

"THE WHOLE CASTLE!" She yelled in unfathomable excitement.

"Anywhere except the private rooms." She confirmed, sharing Pinkie's joy. "As long as there's no permanent damage, you can make it as wild as you want."

No words can describe the look on Pinkie's face.

"But Pinkie, try not to invite half of Equestria." Celestia said, glancing down at the shy colt below. "Invite friends and important ponies. It's your choice on whom you choose and you can invite any pony you please, but stick to ponies you know."

"Okey dokie lokie!" Pinkie agreed.

"For now you can all sleep here." She finished. "A guard will show you to your room."

A guard walked out with a bored, stoic expression and bowed. With a brief motion and a quick nod to another guard, he led them through the door to the left of the throne. They passed a dark, messy splotch of blood on the polished marble floor and they heard Seamus whisper the name 'Jakben'.

The bored looking guard led them through a myriad of passageways and hallways; some were blue while others were the usual white and gold. Seamus walked with his head down and a piece of his mane covering one eye. Occasionally he would lick his tender lips to remove the blood, as they were still bleeding. After a long excursion through the castle, they arrived at a single door with a golden placard that read simply 'Guest Room'. Bowing curtly, the guard left the mares to themselves.

Twilight opened the door and nodded at the immaculate condition of the room. Six four poster beds were in the circular room with an eloquent chandelier painting the room in a warm sunset golden glow. The eggshell color of the walls furthered the sense of comfortable retreat. The center of the room was a silver-blue carpet with a trim of sunflower yellow. The cavernous room had thick carpet and the walls were adorned in banners and a multitude of pelts from creatures unknown, but still held the earth tone or gold colors that tied the rest of the massive room together.

Rainbow Dash frowned at the lack of skylight or windows. "No windows! How am I supposed to sleep in here?" she complained.

Twilight sighed and answered factually. "We're a mile underground. We'd get a good view of dirt and groundwater at this depth."

Rainbow suddenly seemed very nervous. "A mile underground!" she exclaimed fearfully, her phobia of depths showing obviously.

"I think this room is drab and needs to be lit better. Is that chandelier lit by candles? No wonder it's dim in here." Rarity complained.

Fluttershy entered last, followed by Seamus a moment later. He looked at the floor and headed to the small door directly across the room. Although she was concerned about the colt secluding himself, Fluttershy joined the rest of the group.

"So why do you think she picked you, Rarity?" Twilight asked, surveying her bed as well as the large trunk of sheets and blankets by the bedside.

Rarity looked puzzled by the question. "I don't know, dear."

A long silence ensued were the mares made their beds (well, most did. AppleJack just jumped onto the mattress and passed out). Rarity made hers so neatly it put military style bed etiquette seem Stone Age. Rainbow was still trying not to panic at the extreme depth of the room they were in. Fluttershy had her bed made and was about to get under the covers when Seamus left the bathroom.

He must have been wearing makeup, because purple rings were around his eyes and one eye was black with remnants of a massive bruise. His lips still looked painful, but the cuts were scabbing by now. Overall he looked awful, his eyes fixed on the floor under him and wings slack at his sides.

Twilight pitied the poor colt. "Seamus." She called; he looked up at her briefly, but looked down again quickly. "I'll heal your cuts if you let me."

He trotted over slowly, exhaustion dragging his hooves. Twilight made short work of the small cuts, but one laceration was deep in his cheek, so that one took a few moments to fully repair itself. Once she was finished, she smiled in a hope he would return the gesture. He smiled, but it looked cracked and painful, as if he was putting on a positive face for her, but was actually covering a deep seated agony that he tried to hide unsuccessfully. Looking at the mask he was putting on was almost as awful as looking into one's own soul, a practice known to drive some mad in anguish towards their true nature.

The second he turned away the smile faded into a look an unending depression. Twilight wanted to comfort him, but she didn't want to alienate the boy the first day she knew him. After all, this might be something he needed to resolve himself. Seamus looked around for a bed to sleep in, wanting nothing more than to escape into the thoughtless oblivion of sleep.

No beds were available, since there was only six. Fluttershy walked over and tapped his shoulder. He recoiled in fear.

"You can um, sleep with me, if you'd like that. I mean, um, not with me… but in my bed. We'll be across from each other, y'know what I mean right?"

Seamus looked up at her with questioning eyes. "Do you want me to?"

It was the first real sentence he'd spoken that night. His voice was soft and had a slight singing, lilting tone to it.

"I just don't want you to sleep on the floor." Fluttershy explained, averting her eyes.

He looked at her with something bordering confusion. "Why do you want to share with me? I'm a colt. You shouldn't need to share with me."

"But Sea, This is Equestria. Colts are equal here."

He frowned. "Why? We don't deserve it." He said

"Why not?" She asked.

"A lot of very obvious reasons." Was his only reply.

He sighed and yawned. Fluttershy felt her heart leap at the adorable sight of the small colt stretching his long limbs and wings. Looking closer, she actually saw that he looked like her when she was that young. Long limbs with a sleek body and large, yet not exactly useful wings. The one strand of hair that covered his right eye and the way he walked with his head down all reminded her of herself.

"Are you asking me to sleep with you or telling me?" He asked

Fluttershy sighed patiently. "I'm only saying it would make me feel better if you have a nice place to sleep." She explained.

A smile flitted across his mare-ish face. A real smile that actually made him seems truly happy inside.

"Yes, Madame." He said. "If it makes you feel better."

Rarity perked an eyebrow from across the room. "'Madame'?" she questioned.

Seamus averted his eyes and responded shyly. "Melody told me to address mares with either 'Madame' or 'Miss'" he explained.

Rarity shrugged and Seamus jumped up onto the bed. The bed was as tall as him, so he had to leap in order to surmount the bedframe. Once he was under the covers and Fluttershy was across from him, he fell into a deep slumber.

Fluttershy woke an hour later to find Seamus grinding his teeth and digging at his pillow in his sleep. She felt great pity for him and her first inclination was to wake him, but she decided against it. Instead, she sidled over and- with the utmost of care- she began to sing a lullaby. As she sang he relaxed and stopped grinding his jaw from nerves and stress.

What happened next wasn't expected and at first Fluttershy wanted to pull away from the sudden contact. He wrapped his hooves around the nape of her neck and nuzzled close to her, his warm breath fluttering her hair. An uncontrollable shade of scarlet blush spread across her cheeks and through her yellow coat. Not aware of what he was doing, he rubbed his cheek against her, oblivious to the embarrassment he was causing her.

Her instincts and her head told her to push him away, but her heart prevented her. A content smile was on his face, a real smile of comfort and happiness. The first smile she'd ever seen on him. She couldn't bring herself to disturb the resting young colt, even though he was invading her space. Nothing disturbed the two and after a long while his hair began to drift down over her neck and his face. Not thinking, she brushed his hair back behind his ear. He looked more like a mare than ever before with his mane behind his long ears.

Smiling, she fell into a deep slumber.

Next Chapter: Ashes Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 28 Minutes