The moon was falling and the trio knew it was time to return to the castle.

“Instead of hailing another carriage, why don’t we walk back to the castle?” Moonlight suggested. “It’s not that far and we could see a few more of the sights.”

“Sounds nice,” Thomas agreed.

“Hmm,” Talon groaned. “I’m not so sure about that one.”

“Why not?” Thomas asked.

Talon folded her arms in contemplation. “I suppose it’d be alright if we stick to the side roads and avoid main street. But let’s just say these uniforms we’re wearing are like red flags to bulls.”

As they walked, Thomas noticed that the closer they got to the castle, the fancier the buildings and ponies became. Apparently the market district they’d been in was predominantly middle class, while the rich, unsurprisingly, concentrated in the shadow of royalty.

“Why hello there, my good ponies,” said a white unicorn stallion with a blue mane, monocle, and fancy suit that thankfully covered his lower half. He was accompanied by a slender white unicorn mare with a pink mane. Apparently she did not see fit to wear anything to conceal her small yet firm looking breasts or anything down below as she draped herself over the stallion. “My name is Fancy Pants, and this is my companion Fleur de Lis.”

“Nice to meet you,” Thomas said a bit quietly. “My name’s Thomas and this is…”

“Ms. Talon! So good to see you again,” Fancy Pants extended a hand and gently shook the Griffon’s claw. Fleur kept her hand on the stallion’s wrist, almost like she was trying to mimic him.

“Been a while, Fancy,” Talon greeted warmly. “And I see you’re still with Fleur.”

“What can I say? She seems to be quite taken with me,” Fancy Pants laughed as he pressed his muzzle against Fleur’s while they both giggled. “Oh, but forgive my rudeness. A Mr. Thomas, was it? I see that you have taken the same career path as Talon, here. But if I may be so bold as to ask, what are you?”

“Uh, human,” Thomas answered nervously.

“Uhomen?” Fancy Pants asked while stroking his chin. “I can’t say I’ve ever heard of one of those before. Is this your first time to Canterlot?”

“I should think not,” Fleur added while also stroking her chin. “Royal concubines live in the castle, after all. Surely he’s already taken the time to see the sights of all our beloved city has to offer.”

“Actually, this is the little chimp’s first day off,” Talon corrected. “So I thought I’d do him a solid and show him the sights, myself. But we’re actually getting a bit tired right now, so we’re heading back to the castle.”

“What a pity,” Fancy Pants bemoaned. “Still not quite used to the night life, ay? My friend Hoity Toity is actually holding quite the shin-dig,” he said slowly and deliberately, “as young ponies say these days, at his personal auditorium. Every pony who’s any pony in Canterlot will be there. I was actually on my way when Fleur decided to h-eep!” The stallion jumped before looking down in surprise at the mare still draped around his arm while she fluttered her eyelids.

Before Thomas could figure out what he just saw, Talon leaned down and whispered in his ear. “Lucky for us all the paparazzi are probably too busy fawning over nobles that they can’t be bothered with us.” She then stood up and addressed Fancy Pants. “Sorry bud, but I’m afraid we’re gonna have to pass on your offer. My friend here’s a bit shy and I don’t think he’s ready for that kind of publicity.”

“Oh well,” Fancy Pants sighed in disappointment. “Still, when next you have some free time, be sure to look me up. I know all the finest shops and restaurants around and would love to be your guide,” the stallion concluded by offering his hand.

Thomas shook it politely. “I’ll keep that in mind, Mr. Pants.”

“Oh, please. Call me Fancy.”

The five said their goodbyes and went their separate ways, but Thomas couldn’t help notice Fleur giving him a playful wink as she walked off, shaking her rear much more than was necessary.

“You like the skinny type?” Talon whispered into the human’s ear.

“What? No. Why?”

“Just curious,” Talon said with as much innocence as she could muster. “Moonbutt’s got a great figure, but I wouldn’t exactly call her skinny. Got curves in all the right places, if you ask me.”

“Well I didn’t.” Thomas insisted before realization donned on him. “Moonlight! I forgot to introduce you back there. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s no trouble at all, Sir Thomas,” the unicorn dipped her head politely. “To be honest, I take it as a compliment. When a guard is doing her job right, the pony she’s guarding doesn’t even notice her as she fades into the background,” she waved her hand and whispered whimsically.

“You’ve got orange fur and you’re wearing purple,” Talon pointed out accusingly. “The only thing you’re gonna blend in with is an over-sized salad bar.”

Moonlight did her best to focus on Thomas and ignore the griffon. “I’m here as your protector, Sir Thomas. And while I’m grateful that you wish to invite me to join in, it is much easier for me to do my job if I’m not in the foreground.”

“Suuuure,” Talon teased. “If you really do your job right, certain Princesses might just forget to ask you to leave the room next time she’s feeling antsy. Good plan.”

“Must your perverted mind pollute everything?” Moonlight scolded.

“Must it? No. Should it? I think there’s an argument to be made there.”

Before the unicorn could be sucked into the griffon’s trap, Thomas stepped in. “I really appreciate you guarding me, Moonlight. And I also understand what your job entails. But I don’t really want to have you following me around like some kind of accessory. It makes me feel weird.”

Moonlight gave a warm smile down at the little human. “Understood, Sir Thomas.”

“And didn’t I already say to stop with the ‘sir’ stuff?”

“Yes you did, Sir Thomas.”

Talon set her elbow on Thomas’ shoulder and lightly leaned on him. “Committed to the job, but not without a sense of humor.” She then leaned down to Thomas ear, but whispered loud enough for the unicorn to hear. “This one’s a keeper, chimp.”

“Would you stop that?” Thomas tried not to smile as he pushed the griffon off him, only for her to give a friendly push back.

Per Talon’s advice, the trio took the backstreets back to the castle. Apparently their meeting with Fancy Pants was a lucky break because concubines tend to be treated like celebrities, with all the perks and drawbacks that come with the title. Once they went through one of the servant’s entrances, Thomas asked to look over all the receipts Talon had collected and made a copy of the amounts he owed. One hundred and six bits after she volunteered for him to pay the tip. He did his best not to feel like a stripper as he slipped the piece of paper into the front of his loincloth.

“What’s the matter?” Talon fluttered her eyes innocently. “Don’t you trust me?”

Thomas gave the griffon a friendly scowl. “I just want to make sure I have the right amounts so I can pay you back.”

“You’re no fun,” Talon pouted, not seeing the unicorn give him an approving nod as they entered chow hall. “So you guys wanna hit up the gym after we eat?”

“We have gym here?” Thomas asked as he followed the griffon in dinner line.

“Course we do,” Talon bragged. “It’s over by the guard barracks, but any pony’s allowed to go there.”

“I haven’t been to a gym in years,” Thomas reminisced.

“I can see that,” Talon said as she poked his slightly pudgy belly, eliciting a squeak from the little human. “Being a concubine might get you more exercise than a desk job, but you still gotta keep yourself in shape. Remember, we’re here to please our Princesses in whatever way we can. It’s our job to help them release their daily tensions so they can keep the country running smoothly. That means matching our bodies to whatever they need us to be.” Talon concluded as she grabbed up what she wanted and lead the way to the table they had sat at for breakfast.

“That was rather sweet of you,” Moonlight complimented.

“What was?”

“The way you’re mentoring him,” Moonlight answered. “I just think it’s nice for you to take him under your wing and advise him on what he needs to do to be a better concubine for the Princess.”

“Can we please call me a consort instead of concubine?” Thomas pleaded.

“We can call you the castle slut for all the good it’ll do if you don’t step up your game to meet the Princess’ needs,” Talon remarked.

“What do you mean?”

“Like back at the clothes shop when I suggested Luna has a thing for younger stallions,” Talon explained. “You need to find out what her tastes are and match yourself to them. If she is into the young coltish look, you need to get the right clothes in case she wants to do a bit of role playing. In fact, next time you’re off, you need to meet me in the gym so we can work on shaping that body and building your endurance.”

“Are you sure that’s necessary?” Thomas asked. “I mean, Luna hasn’t said anything, so I don’t think…”

“She’s an alicorn Princess and several thousand years your senior,” Talon said bluntly. “She just came back from a millennia long dry spell so she’s good with vanilla stuff for now. But sooner or later she’ll want to try out some of the kinkier stuff and you’ll need to be ready to meet her needs.”

Thomas considered the griffon’s lecture carefully. Luna had been on him every free chance she got, but it was all relatively basic stuff like basic mounting, sixty nine, and anal. “Exactly what kind of kinky stuff are we talking about here?”

A smirk grew on Talon’s beak. “What do ya say that the next day off we have, I really take you under my wing and give you a demonstration?”

“Thanks, but I think I’ll take a rain check on that one,” Thomas declined as politely as possible.

“Well I can’t really tell you anyway, since Luna’s kinks are probably different from Celesita’s,” Talon admitted. “But I will say that so long as you’re the only one in her harem, all her sexual fantasies are going to center around you so you gotta be ready for anything. And when the time does come that she asks you to do something that seems a little weird, NEVER make her feel weird about it,” she asserted. “What happened with the Prench was one thing, but what goes on between you and your Princess can get into some really personal stuff. Even if it doesn’t sound like something you’d be into, keep an open mind and at least be willing to meet her half way.” There was a long pause as the griffon’s companions took in the seriousness of her words.

“Forgive me if I’m stepping out of line,” Moonlight began, “but it sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”

“Cheh,” Talon scoffed. “Three failed marriages before coming to Canterlot can be a hell of a teacher.”

“Alright,” Thomas nodded. “Anything else?”

“Just one.” Talon threw her arm over the human and hunched over in a huddle. Moonlight took the hint that this was only between them as the griffon began to whisper. “Look, chimp. I don’t know the circumstances behind you getting your role, and frankly it’s none of my business. Luna chose you and that’s what matters. However, it’s pretty clear to me that when she chose you, she didn’t fully explain what all goes into being a concubine.”

“What do ya mean?”

“We’re more than just common whorses; a lot more,” Talon stressed. “But the nature of our jobs is kept pretty hush hush. Even smarty-corn over there doesn’t really know what her dad did for the Princess. My point is that you’re here to please your Princess in more ways than just physical.”

“Like what?”

“Sorry, chimp. But it’s not really my place to say. It’s a really personal thing between you and Princess Luna, so she needs to be the one to explain it. But I can say that while your devotion to her is admirable, you need to set a little time for yourself. It’s your job to make her happy and you can’t rightly do that if you aren’t happy too. Get it?”

“I think so.”

“Just one more thing,” Talon whispered even softer. “Ya ever notice how none of the other concubines have cutie marks related to prostitution?”

Thomas thought on this a moment. He’d always been slow to recognize names and faces. Most of the time, most people simply weren’t worth remembering. However, Talon did bring up an interesting point. The cutie marks of Celestia’s concubines were all pretty varied and even their names weren’t all that suggestive. “Doesn’t that one guy have a hammer and nail?”

“Sure Hammer,” Talon reminded. “His name is Sure Hammer and, while I admit the possibility of innuendo, he used to be a construction worker. He came here as part of a team to do some renovations to the castle and Celestia invited him back.”

Thomas stared at the griffon, ponderous at what she was alluding to. “Why?”

“Like I said. You need to ask your Princess.”

The trio continued their meal with some much more mild chatter before they departed. Talon left for Celestia’s wing to catch a few winks in the servant’s quarters before her shift began, waving goodbye to her friends while gently reminding Thomas that it wasn’t necessary to pay back his debt right away. With the spoils from shopping in hand, the walk back to Luna’s wing was relatively peaceful.

“Tonight was nice,” Thomas stated simply.

“Agreed,” Moonlight nodded as they approached Luna’s room.

“We’ll have to do this again some time.”

“I have been ordered to be your personal guard,” Moonlight reminded him with a smile. “No matter what, I will be by your side.”

“I really appreciate that,” Thomas held out his hand to the unicorn. After a moment’s hesitation, she took it in hers and gave a firm shake. “See you tomorrow,” he waved goodbye as the door guards pushed the door open for him.

“I’ll be here,” Moonlight dipped her head and walked off as the door closed.

Thomas looked around the room to find it a bit tidier than he’d left it. Obviously the maids had come in to straighten things out. Even yesterday’s loincloth had been cleaned, folded, and placed with the others. Thomas set the bags with his new clothes by the dresser with his uniforms and vowed to lay them all out later before checking the clock next to Luna’s dresser. The time was 5:57 am, meaning he had another forty five before night court ended and his day off was officially over.

“But it hasn’t been a whole day yet, so does that mean I’m still free even after Luna gets back?” Thomas wondered out loud. “Whatever,” he shrugged before climbing into bed. “Think I’ll follow Talon’s example and get some shut eye in, just to be on the safe side.”

The softness of the silken sheets immediately induced a feeling of drowsiness, but Thomas was stopped at the very brink of falling asleep by his old enemy, insomnia. When he’d first told Luna about it, she thought it was adorable and a sign that he was meant to be hers. The bed also felt too cold, even with the heavy blankets completely pulled over him. The absence of Luna’s warm body wrapped around his left him with the nagging feeling that he’d forgotten to do something important before he could sleep. Knowing what that thing was only made him all the more anxious.

“I guess I’m as needy as she is,” Thomas said with a mix of guilt and relief. He’d done as ordered and tried making a life outside of Luna, even making plans to do more such things in the future, but returning to this room and being surrounded by Luna’s familiar colors seemed to wash it all away. “I really am just a lost puppy with nothing to do but follow her around,” Thomas added, not certain how to feel about such a predicament, knowing there were worse fates.

“But what was all that stuff Talon was saying?” Thomas wondered. “None of Celestia’s concubines are prostitutes… yet that’s what Talon keeps calling them? And what the hell did Moonlight’s dad do besides… ugh,” he groaned. “Would it have really been so hard to just come out and tell me unless… unless she’s just messing with me.” A light smile crept onto the human’s lips. “That’s probably it. Tali was just joking around. There’s not really anything more to this job. I’m just here as Princess Luna’s fuck buddy.”

Thomas felt a twang of sadness at that thought as he recognized the all too familiar sensation of depression beginning to take hold. “This is just a job,” he told himself. “I like Luna and she likes me well enough, but I probably shouldn’t be getting so attached to her like this.” Thomas proceeded to ignore the little voice in the back of his head pointing out all the times Luna let her guard down around him and showed off a side to herself few ponies had the privilege of witnessing. “Like Moonlight said, if I do my job right, it’s like I’m not even here.”

Before he could think more on the subject, he bolted up at the creaking of the opening doors. Luna’s attendants lead the way in and smiled at the human half covered by bed sheets as he eagerly watched the door. In followed the Princess of the Night herself, in all her splendor and glory. “Princess!” Thomas shot out of bed and ran up to the alicorn. He stopped right in front of her and waited until she opened her arms before he gave her a welcome back hug.

No matter my feelings, I still need to keep smiling so I can make her happy.

So we meet Fancy and Fleur. They were nice. Talon gives Thomas some advice, though I wonder if it's serious. Also, we get a glimpse into the main conflict of this story.

As usual, let me know what you guys think.