The Man Inside the Colt

Chapter 20: The mask I wore

The the sofa I sat on was so plush and cozy. It was positioned to look out the window, at the majestic city of Canterlot. However, the majestic view did nothing for my mood.

It had been an enjoyable trip to the city, I even got to meet some of mom’s friends. The level of friendship was pretty easy to tell from their interactions. The ones that mom nuzzled were friends, and the ones she kissed were closer friends. My boner was apparent to everyone that saw it, it was just so stimulating.

The kids however, were another story entirely. Some of them were nice and just greeted me because of their parent relation to mine. I say parent, since I’ve only seen the mares that mothered these kids.

So anyways, when I met some of these kids…

Yesterday:

Mom had went off with some of her… more intimate friends, and had left me with the triplets, a book worm and an athletic pegasus. They were all females, which was a little surprise at this our point.

Our mothers left us in a cafe with some bits, we ordered some cake and I ordered coffee , while the others had shakes. I had my staff all covered up in cloth, and strapped to my back. From another ponies perspective, it was a little odd to see a colt with something like that on their back, but the raccoon on my shoulder was a bigger distraction.

“So what’s up with the raccoon?” Turn Spin asked, as she preened her feathers.

“Couldn’t find a sitter,” I sighed, but then smiled when Coco started nuzzle the side of my head.

“She’s so cute!” The triplets dawed at the raccoon, I looked down at the three earth ponies. They were no less than ten years old, and synchronization was so cute, “Can we play with her?”

I smirked at the the three fillies, then looked at Coco. She looked at me with a toothy smile and made her way down to be fondled with the kids.

“Go easy on her!” I said, then took a sip from my coffee. I looked at the older pegasus, then the unicorn with her nose in the books, “So… what do you girls do around here?”

“I’m training for the Wonderbolts!” Turn Spin puffed her chest, then pointed to the green unicorn, “Ward here is studying for exams.”

“Exams… what exams?” I didn’t want these conversation to die, it was already acquired with the kids and Ward kept to herself.

“Some magic exam.” Spin took a sip from her shake, and she grew quiet. The kids were the only ones to make any noise, added with Coco’s squeals. I just sighed and took a look at the book Ward was reading.

“Advanced levitation.” I mumbled, I tried so hard not slap my head and tried to keep a straight face. I almost got away with it, until someone decided to be a snarky asshole.

“Still stuck on levitation… eh Wardy?” Shield Thrust, a mare that I met just an hour ago when mom decided to drag through the town to meet her friends. Her mom wasn’t the one of the one’s mom was to inmate with.

“Go away Thrust!” Spin said, her wings started to spread and I think everyone started to move away from the pegasus. It did nothing for the smirking unicorn, her horn glowed and I couldn’t help but grab my staff.

“You really wanna go featherbrain?” Shield Thrust sneered, while the aura on her horn grew a brighter shade.

“What’d you call me?!” Spin stood up, the chair fell to the floor. She was about to launch herself at Shield who covered herself with her aura. Spin was about to slam into the barrier put up, but she just looked in surprise as she floated in the air.

I don’t know what history these two may have, but I wasn’t going to let the kids get caught up into it.

“I’d advise you two to calm down.” I held onto the cloth covered staff, even if I was separated by a thin piece of cloth, I could still channel mana into it. I looked at both mares, then focused it toward Shield Thrust, “Either order something or get out.”

I didn’t know these mares enough to pick a side, and the store owner wouldn’t be too happy to lose a customer. I continued to glare at the unicorn, she looked at the pegasus covered in my copper aura then back at me.

“I-I’ll order a cheesecake.” Shield Thrust backed away, and slowly headed to a booth in the corner of the cafe. I looked at the pegasus, and moved her back to side of the table.

When I ended the spell, I thought she would have fell flat on the ground but she was quick enough to straighten herself.

“Huh. Nice reflexes!” I said, then took a sip from my cup.

“W-what just happened?” Ward looked at me with her mouth wide open. I just smiled at the mare and let out a chuckle.

“Magic.” I continued to smile, even more when the waiter arrived with our food. I wanted to avoid it, but we ended up eating in silence, cake was still good though.

After I finished the cake, I had to head out since Celestia wanted me over at a certain time. I was going to go with mom, but I could just meet her later at the hotel.

“Come on Coco.” I grabbed hold of her, and placed her on my shoulder, “We gotta go… nice meeting you ladies.”

The triplets were sad at Coco’s departure, while Ward and Spin just looked, same could be said with Shield Thrust.

The way toward the castle was pretty easy to follow, since they had those signs pointing the way. Not to mention the buildings seemed to be more high class, the closer I got to the castle.

I had to keep from laughing most of the way, because of the odd decorum some of the ponies wore. From puffy wigs, to those odd oversized dresses.

These ponies however took one look at me and raised their heads in the air. I almost fell on the floor laughing from their actions, the over sized pony had a double chin and it shook when his head looked into the air.

Luckily I made it to the castle without any further incident, except for that one guard.

“Sorry kid, but we can’t let you in.” The guard said, while his partner stood there and stared straight forward.

“Just look. This letter should explain it all.” I held up the letter, but the guard just refused to do so. I just sighed, then looked him dead in the eye, “Just point me toward someone I can talk to...”

The guard just went back to his statue like poise, ponies that wore those ridiculous clothes just raised their damn heads in the air and walked by. I shook my head, turned and went to go find some other entrance I could use. It seemed one of those upper class pricks said something to the two about me, and now I have to walk all the way to the other entrance.

“Why didn’t he just read the bloody letter.” I mumbled, and took a look at the once pristine piece of paper, “It even has the fucking seal on it.”

The royal seal should have been an indication for the guy, but apparently that doesn’t count when some guy in a dress for men says otherwise. Though if Celestia ask, I’m just let those guys hang, really don’t want to deal with that mare.

Ten minutes passed, before I found another entrance to the castle. I walked pass the guards, but they continued to look straight forward. Strange how most of them are guys, I mean we have a high female rate, but every guard I saw in the castle seemed to be a guy.

“Where are all the female guards?” I mumbled, my head swiveled toward the various guards that patrolled the hall filled with various ponies. I seemed to have wandered into one of those tourist halls with the various paintings and stained glass. I stopped dead at a certain stained glass, “The fuck?”

The stained l glass window had seven mares on it. Twilight and her friends where on the bottom, beams of light fired from each mare. All going toward, what looked like Luna.

“That seems kinda mean!” I said, Coco squeaked something and I just nodded. I didn’t understand it but I believed it was her agreeing with me. The stained glass just made me worry more about the mares that I saw everyday.

I had to pull myself away from the spectacle, or spectacles since there were more windows dedicated to the mares. My legs quickly took me out of that hall, the whole thing just gave me the shivers.

“What the hell is going in here?” I was on the edge right now, because of what I just saw. No matter what I will do from now on, I was going to have to be extra careful with Twilight and her friends. It took some time to get my bearings, “Okay… now I’m in some grand hall.”

The place was big, there were ponies that flew near the rafter. This castle was meant to show off the wealth of the country, or someone had some inferiority complex and decided to mess with the measurements. Bad enough I was already lost, worse was that no one was going to point me toward the princess.

“Why isn’t there a map in this place?” I was surrounded with ponies, but they were either too busy or just didn’t want to bother me. You could take a guess at what type of ponies surrounded me.

“Never seen a pony with an animal on their shoulder… unless it’s a new trend I’m not aware of.” A white unicorn in a suit walked toward me, his blue hair combed without a hair out of place. A group of ponies followed behind him, while the unicorn brought hand toward me, “Fancy Pants.”

I tried to hold back a twitch, this guy was being way too friendly. My hand met his and we shook, “Button Mash.”

The pony seemed to have raised an eyebrow, either from my handshake or something I wasn’t aware of. Though he quickly hid it and started to talk when we let go.

“So what’s a colt like you doing in Canterlot?” He asked, with a too happy smile plastered on his face. This guy was just creepy, his entourage seemed to be in the same boat.

“Business!” I said, my gut told me that this guy was someone I wouldn’t be comfortable hanging with too long. I looked around, just to seem like I was in a hurry, “You don’t by chance know where I can find Princess Celestia?”

The stallion raised an eyebrow, but then a smile plastered on his face, “You are here see the Princess?” I nodded a response, “Well you're in luck. I’m headed to meet the Princess.”

’Oh shit! Don’t tell me...’

“Why don’t we head to the Princess together?”

’Fuck…’

There was never any contact between me and Fancy Pants. Yet, somehow I was dragged along with the pony. I tried to simply just walk away, but there was something about this pony, I just wanted to follow him for some reason.

As we walked toward where Celestia was, this guy just talked the entire time and I just nodded my head periodically. The entourage behind him would say something, Fancy would either laugh or have a short conversation. Which was a good thing, since his interest in me disturbed me on pedophillic levels.

“So why are you here to see the Princess?” Fancy asked, as we turned down a hallway. I kept my gaze forward, and Coco did the adorable pet thing when we passed some kids.

“I just have some business I need to take care of.” I didn’t trust this guy, red flags popped up in my mind when I continued to walk with him, “So… how long until we get to the Princess?”

He was a bit taken aback of my casual attitude toward the ruler of the country, but this guy knew how to recover from such things. That damned smile returned, with his lips parted to reveal those pearly whites.

“Depends on how long the line is today!” He said, I inwardly groaned that I might actually have to spend more time with this guy.

Though that didn’t seem like a problem, since there was no line at the door. Actually the door was wide open, and what I believed to be the Princess sitting on her throne.

Relief started to well up inside me, until the guards blocked our path.

“I’m sorry, but Princess Celestia is not seeing anypony right now.” The guard to my right said, we all stopped. Fancy Pants looked at the stallion with mild confusion.

“Oh dear… why is that?” Fancy asked, while my attention was directed toward the now standing Princess.

“I’m sorry Sir Fancy Pant’s.” The guard bowed, something that I found odd for a guard to do, “But the Princess didn’t say.”

I heard Fancy Pant’s sigh, then he proceeded to say something. I didn't hear a single word he said. The very fact that the Princess that walked toward us with that angry face of her’s. The one when Luna always tried to have her way with me face, then she would pop up and catch us in the act.

“Ah shit!” I said aloud, when I saw her horn start to glow that golden color. The world around me grew silent, the eyes of everyone seemed to concentrate on me. Though none of it mattered as I screamed in a panic stricken voice, “Coco Hold On!”

With that little piece said, I made a run for.

The hallway was filled with the sound of an adolescent raccoon’s panicked screams. My hooves clacked on the marbled floor, my hand gripped on my staff.

“Command. Frequency level 3. Direction…” I started to mumble out commands, for a simple energy shield. I could feel the mana being drained from my body, but I wasn’t going to take any chances with her.

A copper colored aura surrounded Coco and I, as I continued to run down the hall. I weaved through the cluster of people and guard, my heart pounded in my chest.

When entered some hall, I took the chance to look back if she was behind me. It was a bad move, because before I knew it I came to a dead stop. I still had momentum, which made my guts move forward while my body remained in the air.

I wanted to vomit, but I couldn’t even open my mouth. What ever held me started to turn me to face them, and it came with very little surprise that I stared into those magenta eyes.

“You're late!” Celestia said, I felt myself lowered while the mare continued to have this disappointed glare. Her horn faded and I could feel my body being returned to me.

“You try navigating this place!” I said, while I positioned myself to run. A headache started to form, but there is no way I was going to let up on my shield.

Celestia sighed then turned, “Come on… I think we’ve kept Ms. Beam waiting long enough.”

She started to walk down the hall, and I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Something about her didn’t seemed right, she looked stressed and her hair doesn’t seemed to have that majestic flow.

Celestia lead me down the hall in silence, ponies that we passed would bow and move out of her way. She would give them a nod in return, to everyone she greeted. All the while I had to deal with a pissed off raccoon and this uneasy feeling that lingered in my gut. Though it might have just been the mana drain.

We continued to walk down in silence, Celestia turned down a few groups of ponies that tried to protest for something. It was kinda scary, especially with that hint of anger in her voice. I was about to shit my pants when one of them didn’t take the hint. He kinda deserved it with the whole walking and complaining, but I was kinda glad he was put in his place with that calm furious stare of her’s.

I only met that glance once, and automatically I increased my shield. I looked like a giant lantern at that point.

“Will you please lower your… whatever that is?” Celestia said, her finger drew a circle in the air as she pointed it at me.

“Not on your life, Princess!” I said, my hand clenched the staff. Something was up with her and I didn’t want to face that side of her, “And it’s a shield.”

“A shield, eh?” I heard a voice next to me, and I jumped until my back was to the wall. An old unicorn mare in robes with black horn rimmed glasses smiled at me. She leaned against a cane with a big grin, her head turned toward Celestia, “He seems to have a large reserve.”

“Large reserve?” Celestia sounded surprised, she looked toward me then back toward the unicorn, “Forgive me Beam. But his magic reserves are normal for an earth pony.”

“Really, now.” Beam adjusted her glasses, and took a good look at me. She started to walk toward me, and walked back and forth. Her eyes looked me up and down, “Hmm… how are you maintaining such a high level barrier?”

“Ah. Can you not get so close…” My mouth shut as the headache started to take its toll on me. The old mare’s eyes grew wide and I felt Coco’s paw rubbed my head.

“You better end that spell soon. Or you are gonna end up knocking yourself out,” Beam said, Celestia joined our little group next to the wall. Beam brought up a hand to lay on my shoulder, “I may not know why you have that shield casted, but that spell is taking too much out of you.”

I looked from the unicorn to the goddess next to her, “Yeah.” I said, then turned to look into the unicorn’s silvery eyes, “I’ll take my chances.”

“Button.” Celestia sighed, her hand rubbed against her temples, “I promise I won’t use my magic on you. Now. Please end the spell.”

I stared into that one uncovered eye, Coco purred in my ear as she nuzzled my head. The choice to end my shield in the presence of the mare whose magic has caused me nothing but trouble, was a hard choice.

“Fine,” I sighed, the mana flow ended and the spell slowly faded. I looked at the mares then said, “Happy?”

The old mare nodded, then turned to Celestia, “You have an interesting student here. Much more than the other one.” She started to walk down the hall, and Celestia followed after her, “Now. Let’s head to my study for some tea.” Beam turned to me, “Coming… Button?”

I just nodded, and started to follow after the two. Something about this just bugged the hell out of me.

We arrived to Beam’s office, with tea and snacks already set. So while I ate a cake and sipped on tea, the two mares conversed. I acted like I wasn’t interested in what they were talking about, but I listened nonetheless.

“So, how’s that student of yours?” Beam asked, the old mare casted her silvery eyes upon the demigod across her.

“She’s doing fine!” Celestia smiled, then levitated a cube of sugar into her tea. My hand wrapped around the staff, “Twilight is doing wonderful with her studies in the Magic of Friendship.”

“Urk!” The two mare’s looked at me, as I choked on my cake. I managed to put my plate back on the table, and Coco sat next to me, “Hmph-Magic. On Friendship.” I double over in laughter, just the fact there was a magic on such a ridiculous magic.

“Are you done…?” My laughter cut off Celestia, and I saw her sigh even with tears in my eyes.

“Hehe. Give me a second.” I cleared my throat. Then laughed again, to the point that I fell off my chair, “Magic!”

Celestia shook her head, while Beam smiled at me.

“Are you now?” Celesta asked, while I returned to the couch.

“Ahem. Yeah. I think I’m done now.” I let out a chuckle, then stuffed my mouth with cake. Coco snickered, Beam let out her own chuckle and Celestia just looked agitated.

“He seems fun!” Beam said, her yellow horn glowed. The kettle poured another cup of tea, and she stirred in another cube of sugar.

“Yes. I do believe he is.” Celestia quickly sipped her tea, and ended any questioning the old mare might ask. Though, it didn’t stop Beam from asking me.

“Say Button.” I met Beam’s silvery eyes, they seem to sparkle even in the dimly lit room. Her mouth opened, but quickly closed as her eyes narrowed.

“Ah… something wrong?” I asked, her stare started to creep me out. Not like that unicorn guy’s, cause her stare was more menacing than Fancy’s pedo stare.

“It looks like somepony’s taken a fancy to you.” Beam’s horn intensified, while I sat there confused at what she just said. My pondering was abruptly ended, when a silvery beam was fired from her horn.

“Ah! Son of a Fucking chicken shit!” Both my hands flew toward my eyes, sadly I held a cake in one of them. So not only was I blinded, I had frosting in my eye, “Why the fuck did you shoot a beam into my eyes?!”

“He’s got a mouth on him.” I bared my teeth toward the sound of where Beam was.

I was angry at the old mare for blinding me, and I wanted to strangle her for it. Yet, I couldn’t understand why I wanted to kill her.

My family had taught me to never go down that route. It was never truly an option to simple take another’s life, but I so wanted to slit her throat.

“Feeling better?” I opened the eye free of cake, with it I glared at the unicorn. She now smirked, took a sip from her cup then continued to say, “How do you feel?” I just bared my teeth at the mare, my fist clenched into fist. Beam began to smirk, “Someone must have been fond of you.”

“What?” I was a bit angry and it showed in my words and action. I had wiped off the cake, and the vanilla body of food splattered on the floor. The plate didn’t shatter on the marbled floor, but it did clattered loudly.

Beam just sat there with a smile, while I fumed in my part of the room. She played with the cup in hand, then looked me in the eyes and began to speak, “Have you ever looked at a mare and felt something?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?!” Celestia was about to say something, however Beam raised her yellow hand in front of the Princess. Thus she silenced the all powerful deity with a simple gesture.

Beam continued to smile, then asked another question, “Tell me Button. Have you noticed anything odd about your eyes?” She adjusted her glasses, while I thought about what she just said. My anger clouded my thoughts, and I couldn’t seemed to comprehend anything at the moment. Beam continued to speak, a mental image of me tripping the old mare was the only thing I could think of, “Or have you ever seen your eyes glow after you’ve seen a mare?”

My eyebrow raised, and I gave the mare a slight nod. “Yeah. But...” Then it hit me, the odd times when my eyes would glow flooded through my head. Even that time with Rarity.

“It looks like you’ve figured it out!” Beam said, then she drank from her cup. Celestia could only look on in confusion.

I, on the other hand, was reminded of that pearly white mare. The thoughts of beating that plump of her’s was all I could think of. She casted some sort of spell on me, and while I was in that stupor she had her way with me. Then afterwards, I acted like it was nothing.

“That fucking cunt.” I gritted my teeth, the taste of iron filled my mouth.

“He sure is interesting,” Beam said to Celestia, “much more than the other two.”

From my angered state, I still saw Celestia’s eye twitch. She looked completely sapped, while I just sat there and thought of ways to get back at Rarity. When I get my hands on her, that ass of her’s gonna be red for weeks.

An hour passed, and Celestia went back to attend to business while Beam started her examination. The old unicorn had me do various magic spells, the simple ones like levitation.

“And you say you’ve only done magic… for a week?” Beam asked, her hand patted Coco.

“Yup.” I moved the peg into its corresponding hole, in one of the thirty holes that constantly shifted when filled with the right peg. It was extremely tiring, and Beam was more than helpful to point it out.

“Seems like you're quite skilled at this.” She said, while Coco let out her own approval by clapping those tiny paws. Beam adjusted her glasses, something that happened periodically it seemed, “Most unicorns would collapse on the floor by now.”

“Thanks!” The star shape peg moved toward the hole. I was in no mood for conversation, especially with the thought of having to meet with Bon Bon. I was so infatuated with her, that I forgot she was my boss, and I had rule about fucking my superiors.

“It seems like you have something on your mind.”

“Hm.” The rectangle went into its hole, then the tear drop followed, along with another cake. These were really good, but so bad for my waist.

“Revenge isn’t something a young colt like you should pursue.” I turned to look at the mare, she just smiled while Coco laid on her back as Beam rubbed it.

The corners of my muzzle started to rise, coupled with the sound of my laughter. Beam looked confused, maybe it was my crazed grin or something else. The use of magic made me really light headed.

“Don’t worry.” I turned to look back at the task at hand, “I won’t kill anyone… if that was what you were asking.”

I continued with the task at hand, the odd puzzle like peg and the key shaped one were left. After this I can head to the suite that Celestia was so gracious to give me. Mom was going to meet me there, and I hope we could get dinner together.

After I moped on the couch for an hour. I finally got up and ordered a dinner for two ponies. One sixth of it was for Coco, while the rest of it was for me. All that magic really made me hungry, sucks that Mom couldn’t join me.

For some reason she was suddenly called in for work, and I was left alone in a suite. With a rodent for a companion.

“Just like the good days!” I said aloud, my boredom had taken its hold and now I searched through the drawers. My baggage would be delivered in the morning, and dinner was in an hour. So I had nothing to do, “Man. I really wished I had the internet. At least had stuff to do when they were out working.”

The sudden loneliness, reminded me of the times back home. Though it was worse here, since there was nothing to do till morning…

“Is that what I think it is?” My mouth dropped, when I read the labels of the various bottles. Each had its proof, with the makers name and I couldn't help but fall to my knees. At the top of my lungs, I screamed, “Thank you God!”

My hands quickly grabbed a bottle and glass. We found our way to the table, and the cork was quickly removed. Amber liquid found it’s way into the glass, then the tip of the bottle found it’s way into my mouth.

I was going to get plastered, and there was no one that could stop me. There was so much shit I had to deal with, but that could all wait.