Author's Notes:

A new character is introduced this chapter in which she will play a passive yet very important role, much like Blueblood, though a bit more visible. I'm only adding this due to see seemingly jarring reaction from some that I'm getting for suddenly adding in a new character (a very natural reaction, in my opinion), but I have my reasons, and this was a better path than my initial course. Just fyi. So, I fully understand the concern people may express as a result.

Got a new Surface 3 this last weekend and it's galvanizing my want to write. Chapters may be a bit more forthcoming. Sound off in the comments below to tell me what you thought and if you have the usual questions, comments, concerns, rage, etc. Enjoy!

Part XIII. Aftermath

“Thank you… but you really didn’t have to show me all around the castle, Stella,” Fredrick shyly stated to the batpony guardsmare walking next to him. After his more-than-riveting first conversation with the Princess of the Night, he was running on a slight high due to the fact that he had made his first friend, especially one in royalty. However, in heading back to his room, he got slightly lost and asked the nearest guard for directions. That guard happened to be Stella: a beautiful, gray-coated batpony mare who was about a hair shorter than Fredrick but had an overall demeanor that made her several feet taller in effect.

“No trouble at all, Fredrick,” Stella replied with what Fredrick would say was identical to a Scottish accent. “My night was rather boring until you came along so I should be thanking you actually.”

“You’re surprisingly friendly after meeting an alien for the first time, y’know that?” Fredrick commented as the two continued a comfortable walk. The guardsmare giggled.

“You have little idea how many different species exist in this world. It doesn’t matter if you came from a different universe, really… you might as well be somepony from an exotic country!”

“Fair enough I suppose. Still, again, thanks for the grand tour of the castle at this time of night. I know not everyone… excuse me, everypony will be as welcoming as you,” Fredrick admitted apprehensively, still nervous about the whole ordeal in general, but Stella waved him off dismissively.

“Don’t let it get to your head too much. The Ponies are a welcoming and ultimately forgiving race. The magic of friendship is a very real entity that you’ll find out about in your stay here… and I’m sure that by the end of the month—”

“Oh hey, Stella!” another guard called as the duo rounded a corner. “Ouch… got stuck on leash duty with it I see,” he observed with ignorance rather than malice. Fredrick rolled his eyes as he knew this would have to start sooner or later but before he could even say or do anything, Stella cut him off.

“Oi! SHUT IT knob-for-brains!” she scolded loudly and contemptuously, startling both Fredrick and the offending guard. “Unless you want UTI treatment with my sword you’ll show Fredrick some goddamn respect ya fuckin’ savage!” Stella threatened as she quickly closed the distance between her and the other batpony guard, more than willing to make good on said threat, or so it seemed. From Fredrick’s point of view, from how the guard reacted by backing up hastily and throwing both hands up defensively, it only corroborated for the human that Stella’s threat may have been more than credible.

"I-I-I’m sorry, Stella…”

“AND Fredrick!”

“I’m s-sorry Fredrick and Stella…”

“That’s Corporal to you, Private! Don’t try to get chummy with me. You’re giving Ponies a bad name in front of our guest, now mind your post, arseclown!” Stella ordered, staring the young guard down as he cautiously moved back to his original position, standing at attention. Fredrick, for his part stared on with a perpetually astonished gaze adorning his features.

“Y-Yes Ma’am.”

Stella nodded sternly and rejoined Fredrick’s side, beckoning him along down the Lunar Corridor. With the lapse in conversation due to what had just transpired, Fredrick only had one thought occupy his mind:

Jesus Christ don’t ever get her mad…

“As I was saying…” Stella finally resumed conversation in her adorable—yet equally terrifying in the previous situation—accent. Her overall complexion resumed the status quo, as if she did not even scare the piss out of a fellow guard. “The Ponies are a welcoming and forgiving race.”

“Indeed, definitely forgiving I can see,” Fredrick replied with a raised eyebrow and a half-smirk.

“Getting sarcastic with me already? Ooookay, human,” Stella riposted with equal humor, rolling her eyes with a grin on her face. However, despite what he had just witnessed, Fredrick had to admit that there was seemingly some truth to what Stella was saying. In the end, he really did not feel too uncomfortable in his current position outside of the whole ‘being ripped from his world and having no apparent hope of ever seeing his friends and family ever again’ thing.

Yeah that was definitely a hurdle that he would have to climb himself over but currently, it was something that he just had to accept. His father, with whom he did not always have the greatest relationship, had always told him to ‘make do with less’ and ‘learn to play with the cards you’re dealt.’ Through his initial grieving stages, Fred mulled on the fact that fate had a cruel and unforgiving way of forcing him to apply those principles.

Such is life, though.

“So, based on the information you gave me…” Stella began speaking again as she was paying particular attention to the rooms within the Residence Hall of the Lunar Quadrant. “Your quarters should be riiiiight… here,” she pointed, the duo stopping in front of a set of beautifully polished, ebony-wood double doors that were as plain as they were intimidating in size. At first glance, Fredrick was not entirely sure how Stella was able to state with any certainty that this was his room considering each of the other sets of doors in this seemingly endless expanse of corridor.

“How do you know?” he asked, giving it another once-over just in case he missed something.

“Why don’t ya try the key if you don’t trust me,” Stella replied humorously.

“I-It’s not that at all it’s just…” the human ceased his embarrassed explanation when he found the guardsmare attempting to stifle her laughter. “Wow… know what? Fine,” he conceded, inserting the key he was given into the lock and turning. Lo and behold, a satisfying feeling and the sound of the mechanism unlatching resulted and the right-side door opened ever so slightly. Fredrick looked back at the mare with a deadpanned expression, to which she reciprocated with a smug one.

“Seriously though, how did you know?”

“Because I’m just that good?”

"Mhmm..." Fredrick nodded with a less-than-convinced expression, though of course he meant it in jest, because Stella actually was awesome. “Either way though, thanks for showing me around. Again, you really didn’t have to give me the grand tour, but thank you anyway.”

“Hey, I was bored and I had fuck-all else to do. Besides, you’re cool anyway, I can see why the Princesses, especially Luna, would like you already,” the armored mare replied genuinely.

“Heh, thanks Stella,” Fredrick thanked again somewhat awkwardly. She gave a gentle nod as she stood tall and proud as any guard would.

“Well, I’ll let you get to sleep… and I do have to mind my own post as well. But don’t be a stranger! If ya ever wanna shoot the breeze or catch a pint after shift you can probably find me in the Castle’s tavern on most evenings.”

“Y’know, I think I might take you up on that really soon,” Fredrick replied with a tired, gentle smirk without even mulling on it. If he was going to have to start a new life fresh in this new place, having to play with the cards he was unfortunately dealt, he’d have to make the best of it… and that started with having to make some new friends. “Goodnight, Stella.”

The bat-pony mare snapped to attention and gave him a full salute with a friendly smile as the human moved to seal himself in his new room for the first time.

“Goodnight, Fredrick.”

It was probably one of the better decisions Princess Luna made, in hindsight, to have Celestia cover her moon raising and lowering duties for the weekend, as she would not have had any energy nor will to do so herself. As well, she forsook her dream-walking abilities for that night alone so she could rest and dream herself… she would need it direly after the night’s events. Unbeknownst to anypony else but themselves, Luna and Fredrick, after the ‘first round’ went at it like rabbits hopped up on aphrodisiacs.

The results: completely unkempt hair (and in Luna’s case, coat as well), dried fluids… dried fluids everywhere including on each other, horrifying scratch-marks on Fredrick’s back, approximately three love-bites on Luna’s neck, all articles of bed dressing rendered completely and utterly unusable, and each and every one of their muscles aching like hell. On a slightly cuter note, the two best friends were snuggled up tightly but not in their usual position: both had their arms wrapped around each other, fronts pressed together with Luna’s muzzle buried in Fredrick’s neck.

Luna was the first to stir, her eyes fluttering open as the annoying sun cast its rays upon the two cuddle-bugs. Her annoyance immediately died when she saw the position she was in with Fredrick, being snuggled in his arms. She internally ‘squee’d’ and pulled the human tighter against her, the memories of everything that happened last night flooding back into her mind… all the positions, the carnal lust, the multiple orgasms, the sheer amount of bodily fluids produced (and probably consumed, now that she thought about it)… absolutely, sexily wonderful.

She was so sore down there, but quite frankly, Luna did not mind at all.

And of course, there were the rather meaningful words that the two had exchanged, and mulling on that particular thought sent Luna’s heart into a flutter, her cheeks coloring adorably and she averting her gaze from Fredrick’s sleeping one as if he would wake to poke fun at her embarrassment.

Still… returning her gaze back to her best friend, it only affirmed how much truth Luna knew to be in those words. From the day the two met that fateful evening to where they were now after a wild night of lust, the Princess of the Night always knew that this human was special. Thinking through it all, she began to feel the magnitude of how special she considered herself to be. This man, not even from her own world, braved the unknown and showed Luna the kindness and friendship that she so craved before and after she returned from banishment. It was not even a question, now, of what these feelings were before she admitted them fully… She loved Fredrick.

And he loved her.

Luna leaned in and gently rubbed her nose against his, then planting a tender kiss on Fred’s sleeping lips.

“I love you…”

“Hmmm…?” Fredrick began to stir, moving and stretching a bit as his own eyes began to open. As the blurriness cleared, he was greeted with the beautiful teal eyes of Luna, as well as a gleeful smirk on her face.

“Well good morning…” Fredrick said groggily, a smile coming to his face as he too remembered the events of the previous night. Luna grinned and snuggled close, pressing her still nude body against his own and pulling the covers tighter on them.

“Tis not morning anymore, Fredrick,” Luna replied, resting her eyes as she laid against him. The human looked behind him and found the clock, indeed confirming that it was just before noon.

“Huh… guess you’re right.”

When Fredrick rolled back over to face her, Luna surprised him with a kiss. Said kiss quickly deepened as they pulled each other even tighter against one another, as if that was even physically possible at the moment. From their seemingly usual progressions, it would look like another steamy sexual encounter was just around the corner. The moment Fredrick grabbed the Lunar Princess’ ass, however, there were a few knocks at the door to their room.

Luna and Fredrick both separated their mouths and ceased their actions immediately. Even their hearts seemed to stop.

“Princess Luna? Fredrick?” Twilight’s voice sounded softly from the other side of the door. “Is anypony awake in there?” she asked. Fredrick and Luna looked at each other frantically, mouthing and motioning with their hands incoherently.

“Yes Twilight, we were just stirring… apologies for sleeping in so late,” Princess Luna called back, lest Twilight overreact and attempt to peek in, thus seeing all the ‘carnage.’ Looking around at their current predicament, Fredrick and Luna realized that the bed-area should clearly be quarantined for hazardous materials. The two sat up and continued mouthing to each other incoherently while pointing at the door. Fredrick gazed down at Luna’s tits and she decked him in the shoulder.

“Oh okay! I didn’t mean to disturb you but I just didn’t expect you both to sleep so late. I got a bunch of pastries from Sugarcube Corner for breakfast but they’re still nice and fresh!” Twilight said through door, apparently not going to enter without Luna’s permission, which was perfectly okay by the latter.

“Sounds lovely, Twilight! We’re just freshening up and will be out momentarily!” Luna affirmed, Fredrick quietly scurrying out of the bed and gathering up their clothes.

“Take your time! I’ll be out here reading when you come out,” the lavender unicorn replied before walking off. Ascertaining that their host was sufficiently far away, the two decided to raise their voices in order to speak properly.

“Jesus look at the bed,” Fredrick pointed out, finally spying all of the stains of sweat and other fluids. In hindsight, he was somewhat disgusted that they slept in that. He tossed Luna her night clothes that were terribly wrinkled.

“Oh please, they could be in much worse condition. I’m actually quite surprised that there are no rips in the fabric,” Luna retorted, Fredrick rolling his eyes.

“Yeah, you’re washing the sheets if Twilight complains.”

“I beg your pardon?” Luna huffed out.

“What? Like Twilight wouldn’t find out eventually? Were we going to just let her wash these sheets I mean come on… look at them!” Fredrick reasoned as he gestured to the plain beige bed-ware that had enough genetic material on it to sustain life. Fredrick had a point though… the evidence of their rough, bed-mauling sex was quite evident. Luna really did not want to have to go through the embarrassment of explaining to Twilight why she would (most likely) be buying her a new, much better bed set.

“Fair point, but do not act like you are holier than me. You were just as much a part of contributing to this unrecognizable landscape as I was.”

“You were the one who kinda jumped me…” Fredrick pointed out as he put on his boxers.

“Oh and you did not want to have sex? Considering the fact that you ravaged my marehood in every which way into oblivion and that you have been eye-rutting me for as long as we have known each other… you’re talking absolute shit,” Luna riposted as she hooked her bra and slid her panties on. Fredrick bobbed his head with a concessionary expression.

“Touché.”

“By the damn stars this room probably reeks something repulsive,” Luna thought out loud, realizing that they had all gotten used to the musk that probably surrounded their senses, but one who was not used to it, say Twilight or a returning Spike, might possibly die.

“Does that window open?” Fredrick asked, pointing to the sizeable window where light was being let through.

“I certainly hope so!”

“Success!” he stated happily, getting fresh air into the room and allowing whatever funk that fermented throughout the night to slowly seep out. Luna also helped out by casting a small ‘air freshening’ spell and the noticeable difference in the air quality was like night and day. With their clothes gathered up, they being somewhat presentable to Twilight, and the potential sense-destroying smell subsiding, the question now was what to do about the bedset.

“Fredrick, we’ll go out and say hi to Twilight but insist on freshening up before we eat. I shall let her know of why I’m compensating her,” Luna instructed. The human nodded and witnessed Luna completely strip the bed of everything, leaving only the mattress on its mount. Then she piled up all of the fabric and immolated it in a teal-blue magical fire, much to Fredrick’s astonishment. Luna gazed up from the display and found Fredrick with a slightly weirded-out complexion.

“It must be purged in fire.”

“No arguments here.”

As Luna finished magically burning the fabric, her horn suddenly started lighting up, pulsing like a beacon.

“Uhhh Luna?” Fredrick asked questioningly.

“Ugh! What now?!” Luna nearly shouted in irritation as she held her hand out expectantly, a scroll suddenly coming into existence and dropping in her hand. She unraveled it and began skimming the words which were clearly from Celestia, and as she read, her gaze turned from one of irritation to shock, her pupils shrinking.

“Oh Tartarus… w-we need to cut our visit short and head back to Canterlot after lunch,” Luna spoke with urgency, slightly worrying Fredrick.

“Why? What happened?”

“There was an incident on the Equestrian-Zebranican border down south. Two Equestrian and three Zebranican troops were killed in a joint exercise when a cannon misfired and hit an armored chariot,” Luna spoke pitifully, running her hand over her face dejectedly.

“Ohhh shit…” Fredrick mirrored the sentiment.

“Indeed, and I need to meet with Celestia and military officers from both of our nations to ensure that this was an accident and no misunderstandings surface.”

“Okay,” Fredrick nodded understandingly. “We should probably tell Twilight then.”

“Yes, but we should be able to reschedule to next weekend,” Luna agreed, sighing heavily. “T’would be a shame if our outing would have to go to waste regardless. We shall merely defer it, schedules permitting.”

“Sounds good to me, Lu.”

Thus after ensuring they were somewhat presentable, the duo emerged from the guest bedroom, Fredrick bolting to the bathroom to quickly shower once they said hi to a reading Twilight.

“Hi Luna!” Twilight spoke gleefully but upon closing the distance, realized how disheveled and matted Luna’s coat was. Before she could even comment on that, Luna held her hand up.

“Hello Twilight. There’s a couple of things you must be made aware of. Firstly, we, unfortunately, must cut our visit short and reschedule our plans for today. I shall freshen up first, but we shall be departing after lunch. There was… a border incident south by Zebranica and there were casualties.”

“Oh my Celestia! Is everything okay?!” Twilight asked, hand over her mouth.

“Rest assured things are well, Celestia and I just need to make sure that this does not needlessly escalate. Secondly, however, I’m compensating you for another bed set in the guest room,” Luna continued, willing a sack of three hundred bits into existence and placing them into the hands of a confused Twilight Sparkle.

"Ummm... for what reason?” Twilight asked unsurely. “Princess… what’s that dried stuff all over your hands, forearm, and… your chin?”

“T’is not important. I would not recommend going into the guest room for about an hour or so. Before you ask, there are some things that are better left unknown, my dear Twilight,” the Lunar Princess explained cryptically, only creating even more questions for the lavender unicorn.

“Ummm… okay?”

“Now, would you be willing and able to reschedule what we had planned for today for next weekend?” Luna asked. Twilight nodded enthusiastically, though still not losing her semi-bemused expression.

“Of course, Luna. Next Sunday then?”

“Next Sunday.”

The return to Canterlot was largely uneventful, Fredrick and ‘Lumina’ getting a little bit more rest on the train ride up. Once they arrived back in the Castle, the Princess resumed her normal form and walked (with urgency) alongside Fredrick to his room, which was on the way to Luna’s office. She wanted to say a proper goodbye and apologize for things being cut short, but the human would have none of it. He urged Luna to go do what she had to do, wishing her luck that all would turn out well… which they would anyway. He just wanted her to have as good of a day as she could, and that was the thought that counted.

After a chaste kiss, Luna teleported to her room and Fredrick entered his, hoisting his luggage past the unnecessarily massive double doors before he closed them behind him. Placing his palms on his temples, Fred breathed a heavy but satisfied sigh at all that had happened over the weekend, and despite the absolutely wonderful time he had, among other things, he was still thankful to be back in his usual room and all of its normal splendor. That would constitute to enough ‘getting out’ for a while. He noticed that his left shoe was lacking a bit of friction on the ground and upon investigating, found a small note folded in half. He could only imagine what it was as he picked it up and opened it up.

Things are progressing smoothly. Meet me in three days, at midnight, within the Castle Labyrinth. I’ll have more information for you then.

-BB

“Damn… he moves quickly,” Fredrick commented out loud as he crumpled the note up, ensuring to engrain the date and time into his mind. He moved to fix himself a drink but was interrupted when there was a knock at his door. He knew for a fact it was not Luna so it might have been Celestia or a messenger of some sorts.

Upon opening the door, he was greeted with a pleasant surprise.

“It’s been a month since you’ve last dropped by to say hi, Fredrick. The first thing I told you when we first met was to not be a stranger ya human twat,” the iconic Scottish-sounding drawl of a certain batpony entered his ears.

“Stella!” Fredrick exclaimed in pleasant surprise, the plain-clothes batpony guardsmare jumped him with a friendly hug.

“See what ya make me do? Now I have to find you when it’s not even my shift. The things I do for friends.”

“Things have been so hectic as of lately, you have no idea. Come in! Make yourself comfortable,” Fredrick replied, beckoning the mare in and she nodding. He closed the door once she fully stepped in.

“Oh I think I have some idea…” Stella alluded almost knowingly. In better lighting and without her armor, Fredrick could clearly see that Stella’s navy-blue mane was up in a ponytail and her piercing golden eyes clashed nicely with her purple t-shirt and black pants which, in turn, complemented her grey coat exquisitely. Fredrick had been guilty of looking early on well before the time of he and Luna: Stella was yet another example of Equestrian beauty and the first time he bore witness to her out of her armor, he immediately noticed that she had that ass. Of course, her figure necessarily was that of a well-trained guard ready to give their life for the Princess… and even though she was noticeably less endowed chest-wise than say, Luna or even many of the maids, she was definitely no shirker.

But that ass was present. Oh lord by all that was considered holy did she have it.

“Oh really now? Anything I should be concerned about?” Fredrick remarked curiously as he moved to grab himself that drink. Stella flopped herself on the bed.

“Well… word around the regiment is that you and Her Highness are getting rather close… closer than what has been normally observed,” Stella answered, supporting her head with her palms under her chin as she laid on her front. Fredrick huffed in amusement and gestured to the alcohol he had, offering Stella a drink. She shook her head no.

“Really? No drink? Trying to curb your alcoholism?” he joked, earning rolled eyes from the mare.

“Oh fuck off you know I can’t drink before my shift,” she retorted with a friendly insult, as was customary with her. Fredrick pulled up a chair and sat next to the foot of the bed with a drink in his hand.

“Well, to answer your previous question, maybe we’ve gotten a bit closer. We’re best friends, after all,” he answered. Stella, however, was seemingly staring into his soul and attempting to scrutinize his very being. That’s when she lit up and attempted to stifle a guffaw.

“By the stars have you been boning her?”

Fredrick nearly choked as he was taking a sip.

“Ummm… what?”

“All the unicorn guards are laughing their flanks off because she’s been glowing this past week and a half. She’s clearly gotten some… and the only one whom she’d not eviscerate, stuff, and hang in her office for eying her up would be you,” Stella explained, pointing at Fredrick’s face as a shit-eating grin wormed its way on her own muzzle. Fredrick knew he was caught at that moment, and averted his gaze.

“No comment.”

Stella could not hold back her contagious, uproarious laughter, rolling onto her back and covering her face as she evacuated her lungs with glee.

“Oh my… BAHAHAHAHAHA that’s fucking priceless! You’re pounding the royal plot!”

“Not necessarily, but it sounds like I’m detecting a hint of jealousy…” Fredrick fired back. Stella rolled back onto her stomach.

“Maybe just a little,” she admitted honestly. “I’d bet two week’s pay that you won’t find a single straight or bisexual guard who would not rut either of the Princesses willingly.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“Word also has it that you two are absolutely obsessed with each other… and don’t give me the ‘best friends’ shite, the way you two look at each other is so goddamn sappy,” Stella added. Fredrick was about to say something, most likely in defense, when Stella cut him off again.

“Don’t even try to deny that because I’ve seen it with my own eyes! It was so goddamn cute I had to kick a superior officer in the cunt to feel like myself, y’know!”

“Wait… seriously?” Fredrick looked at her curiously and with the slightest hint of joking fear. Stella huffed in irritation.

“A joke; it’s a fucking joke,” the mare playfully slapped him on the back of the head. “Would I really do that?!”

“Well… yeah actually. You’re a damn firecracker,” Fredrick replied with his own shit-eating grin, clearly pushing her buttons. Stella narrowed her gaze.

“You’re hilarious, you know that?”

“So Luna tells me.”

“Well, have ya formally courted her?” the guardsmare asked, leaning her head on her right arm as Fredrick stretched out, finishing his drink.

“Not yet. That’s a whole political barrier that’s getting worked on as we speak. I do want to prepare for when I actually can, though,” he admitted, truthfully wanting to make sure that, when he was able, he could truly ‘ask out’ his best friend and the mare of his dreams. There was no question as to whether she would agree or not, but he wanted to make the effort regardless.

“Well I can help ya with that!” Stella exclaimed happily, rolling onto her back once more and placing her arms comfortably behind her head. “What did ya have in mind?”

“Well, when the time comes I honestly just want to take her out to dinner like I could any girlfriend, or as you all say here, marefriend,” Fredrick voiced and Stella nodded thoughtfully.

“That’s good. Princess Luna wants any form of normalcy in her life so that’s actually a good idea. Don’t take her to a fancy restaurant though, do something simple. Key word with Her Highness: Normalcy,” Stella pointed out helpfully. Fredrick definitely would take that to heart, and although he knew Luna liked the simpler things in life, he did want to take her somewhere nice. He’d make a compromise when the time came.

“The kicker will be how I’m actually going to tell her. Believe me, the moment I’m given the all clear is when I’m going to break down her office door and ask her to be my girlfriend… but wording is still important. I’d rather it be a sweet memory than hilariously embarrassing. Hilariously sweet, maybe…” Fredrick continued. He was mentally kicking himself as to why he never picked Stella’s brain on this material. She was a batpony guard and naturally knew the Night Princess personally, and she was a mare so she’d know other mares better than a stallion most likely would.

“Okay… any initial ideas?”

“Well, like you had mentioned correctly, I was thinking just a simple approach… something like: ‘Luna! It’s done! Let’s go out to dinner tomorrow night, just you and me, no disguises,’” he answered, Stella covered her mouth and stifled a giggle.

“Oh what?” Fredrick asked with feigned annoyance, curious as to what she could be finding wrong with his whole approach.

“Nothing, but it just sucks.”

“It does not suck, it just needs some work!” he protested, but Stella shook her head, rolling onto her stomach and facing him once more.

“Oh it sucks. It sucks cock,” she added. Fredrick never lost his deadpanned expression as she locked eyes with him. “In fact, that idea sucks so much cock, it needs to get its stomach pumped… and I say that as a friend, mind you.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” he retorted with a half-smirk.

“Oh quit complainin’ ya big cunt I’m gonna help you. I’ve got about an hour before I have to armor up, let’s talk ideas. We’re going to make a Princess swoon.”