“Thirty four,” Talon counted as she loomed over her student. “Come on, little guy. You can do it.”

Taking a few extra seconds to breathe, Thomas finally worked up the strength to push the weight up again.

“Thirty five. There ya go! Come on, chimp. Let’s shoot for forty.”

“You can do it!” Moonlight cheered.

Thomas’ arms shook as he struggled with the bar weight, but it took all his effort just to keep the damn thing from crushing his ribs. “Gah.” Finally release came when Talon relieved him of the weight and set it back on the stand.

“Good job, chimp. Good job,” she tapped his shoulder encouragingly. “Thirty five reps at thirty five pounds is a good first bar for you… I think. Anyway, we’ll work on getting you up to forty next time. For now, let’s work a few leg muscles. I can tell ya right now you’re going to get a lot more mileage out of those.”

**********

Wednesday had been fairly repetitive. Wake up, breakfast with Celestia and her harem, speech lessons, meetings, breaks in which Luna would relieve the stress she’d built up from dealing with frustrating ponies, lunch, more meetings, dinner, and ending with early morning stories and cuddles. Thomas was a creature of habit and appreciated the familiar routine. He’d been this way even before his routine involved intercourse with an Amazonian anthropomorphic goddess. Even so, he’d been looking forward to his day off, wondering if they’d go back to Canterlot and see more of the sights. However, Talon had other plans.

As Luna had predicted, Talon’s days off were indeed adjusted to match Thomas’. After a brief chat in chow hall, during which Talon had repeatedly dodged questions about why she was wearing a sports bra, the griffon had practically dragged him off to the gym, all the while wearing a maniacal smile. He’d tried pleading with Moonlight, but the traitorous unicorn only grabbed his other arm and carried him all the faster. Apparently she agreed that a little workout would do him some good and help build his confidence.

Upon arrival, Talon lead the way to a field where various ponies played hoof ball and other games in small teams. Surrounding the field was a track where ponies jogged and sprinted at whatever pace they chose. The stallions, much to Thomas relief, were all wearing jockstraps while the mares were wearing sports bras like Talon’s. According to Moonlight, this had nothing to do with modesty, but rather keeping the floppy parts in check.

There they performed a few warm up exercises in the cool night air. It felt good to stretch out his limbs in these familiar poses, but he hesitated when they got to the toe touching portion. Thankfully, Talon was standing by his side so he didn’t have to worry about her… exposing herself again; possibly because Moonlight made it clear that she’d be keeping an eye out for any funny business. The unicorn guard, after removing a few plates of armor, joined them in their stretches and the run that followed.

Both females encouraged him to jog at whatever pace he felt comfortable with, but that didn’t make him feel any less embarrassed by how obviously they were holding back just so that he could keep up. He didn’t know if it was because they both had military training, or if there was just a natural difference in their species abilities, or maybe all of the above and then some. Regardless, running alongside two larger, stronger females who could easily outperform him in pretty much every way wasn’t doing anything to make him feel more confident. However, whenever it seemed he was beginning to slack off, Talon added some extra incentive by threatening to pinch his rear.

After a half hour warm up, they moved on to the gym proper. The gym was roughly the size of chow hall and littered with numerous exercise machines. They were all familiar to the ones he’d seen in gyms back home, save for the lack of any electronics. Ponies, it seemed, had the same muscle structure as humans. The only differences were the machines designed for wings.

Talon was the spotter while Moonlight elected to watch and cheer Thomas on. It wouldn’t be appropriate to be caught with a dumbbell in her hands in the event her charge needed protecting. Both did a fine job of motivating the human to push his limits, encouraging him to do just one more rep before Talon decided he’d earned a breather. While he caught his breath, the griffon took his place on the machine while Moonlight spotted her. Each time, Thomas found himself feeling incredibly inadequate at seeing the griffon work the same machine at three times the reps under twice the weight.

**********

“Damn, chimp. You stink.”

“Thank you,” Thomas gasped, too tired to protest as he sat in the machine.

“No. I’m afraid she’s right,” Moonlight added. “Your odor is… most pungent.”

“Well forgive me for smelling like I’ve been working out in the gym for, what, an hour?”

“An hour and a half, but that’s not it,” Talon grimaced as she folded her arms. “You smell like you’ve been left baking out in the sun for… I don’t even know how long.”

“You sure it’s even me?” Thomas asked as he sniffed under his arm pit, only to recoil at the foul stench, much to the amusement of the females. “Okay. Maybe I do sweat a little more than most. But it can’t be that bad. I mean, we’re in a gym. Surely everybody’s sweating a little.”

“Everypony,” Talon corrected. “But that’s not the problem.”

“Then what is?”

“Forgive me, Sir, but you don’t have much of a sense of smell, do you?”

“What?” Thomas asked, noticing a tinge of pink was coloring the guards orange furred cheeks. “What are you getting at?”

“Does your species have… pheromones, Sir?”

Thomas felt his blood run cold at that question as he feared where this conversation was going. “Um, not really.”

“You’re… well… attracting attention.”

Thomas looked around to see a number of ponies suddenly turn away as they met his eyes. No one had batted an eye earlier when two concubines in uniform had come to the gym. Concubines could go anywhere they wanted in the castle without raising much of a stir, with the forgivable exception of someone’s bed chambers. However, since their workout had begun, Thomas’ presence had been turning an increasing number of heads. Mares and stallions of all three tribes could generally walk by one another without earning much more than a brief glance. Talon’s presence had elicited more than a few hoots and whistles from both sexes, which the griffon met by puffing her chest out and strutting with a bounce in her step. She liked the attention. It was only now that he was no longer tuning out the world around him that he realized that not all the cheers had been directed at her.

The human looked pleading at the guard and griffon. “What… exactly do I smell like?”

The pair exchanged uneasy glances before Talon gave a shrug. “Basically, like a mare in heat, only you’re a stallion. It’s how stallions react to a mare’s heat to show that they’ve got… well, that they’ll make strong offspring. Griffons do it too, so you can trust I know what I’m talking about.”

Oh shit. Thomas thought. “Um…”

“I think I’ll go get us some water and towels,” Talon volunteered. “Smarty-corn. You stay here and make sure no pony gets any funny ideas and tries to jump the little guy.”

Moonlight nodded certainly as Talon departed.

“Do I really smell like… that?”

Moonlight hesitated and averted her gaze. “Perhaps you should speak with a doctor about your… perspiration issue. However…”

“However?” Thomas asked hesitantly.

“No,” Moonlight shook her head after a brief pause. “It would not be appropriate for one of my station.”

“I don’t really care about stations right now,” an agitated Thomas confessed. “What’s wrong?”

“I-if…” Moonlight took a long sigh before closing her eyes. “If I close my eyes and rely only on my sense of smell…”

“Yes,” Thomas motioned for her to continue.

Moonlight paused again, seeming to stare very intently at something pained on the inside of her eyelids. “I have a picture in my mind of an exceptionally… virile stallion.” She gulped, praying to Faust that her charge wouldn’t ask her to elaborate on the exact details of the picture his scent had painted in her mind’s eye.

Before Thomas could inquire further, he noticed her nostrils flaring as she took long and deep inhales. She’s a guard. Thomas told himself. She’s got plenty of training not to do anything inappropriate, right?

“Excuse me,” a magenta pegasus stallion announced as he approached. His eyes fixated on Thomas before Moonlight stepped between them. “Forgive my bluntness, Mr. Concubine, but I was watching you work out over here and was wondering if, maybe, you could be my spotting partner for a while?”

“Thanks, Mr. But I…”

“Crimson Tulip,” the stallion interrupted, his eyes fluttered flirtatiously. “But all my friends call me Tuli,” his voice thick with desire.

“Thanks… but I’ve already got a spotting partner.” Thomas’ eyes shifted about as he looked for some other excuse, also wondering what kind of name that was for a stallion. “Besides, I’m not sure Princess Luna would like it if we, uh…”

“I won’t tell if you don’t,” Tulip offered, taking a step forward, only to be fully blocked by Moonlight.

“I’m afraid the Senior Concubine has declined your invitation, Mr. Tulip,” Moonlight said with a smile, but the threat in her tone was unmistakable.

The mare and stallion stared each other down until finally Tulip surrendered. When he was gone, Moonlight turned to Thomas and gave him a reassuring nod.

“That guy didn’t really want a spotting partner, did he?”

“Maybe for starters,” Moonlight answered suggestively. “Then, perhaps, bodies glistening with sweat, he’d invite you to the showers to help wash off the smell of your work out. After that, maybe, he’d ask you to wash him off, and then once your bodies had been fully lathered up…” she trailed off.

“Wo, now!” Thomas held up his hand. “I’m gonna stop you right there, because that ain’t happening.”

“Uh, of course it isn’t,” Moonlight stuttered, her cheeks blushing brightly as her eyes conveyed a hint of disappointment. “That would be silly. It’s not like this is some sort of cheap erotica novel or anything, right?” the guard stood her ground quite well against Thomas’ condemning glare.

Erotica novel? Does she really think this is a scene out of some book? Does she want it to be?

“Fear not, little Tommy,” announced a voice so gratuitously pompous that it gave Thomas a sudden desire to jump in the shower in spite of what Moonlight had just described. “For I, the noble Prince, shall protect you from the advances of such common riffraff.”

“Prince Blueblood,” Moonlight greeted as politely as she could, standing at attention between the Prince and her charge.

“We meet again, little Tommy,” Blueblood said as he approached the pair, his stallionhood concealed behind a large jock strap as he was accompanied by a butler holding a towel.

“Hey,” Thomas greeted unenthusiastically. He did his best to hold his ground, but made sure to position himself facing towards the Prince at all times, never exposing his back.

“Now now, little Tommy. Is that any way to address royalty?” Blueblood gestured to himself. “On the other hoof, I suppose I should have known better than to expect manners from the likes of you. After all, what else but an uncultured ape would be so thoughtless as to refuse an invitation from the Prince of all Equestria? Oh, how you wound me,” he said with a mock whimper.

Unmoved, Thomas continued to glare at the pathetic excuse for a Prince. “I am so sorry… that you were offended by my refusal.”

Blueblood’s ear flicked in annoyance at the less than subtle insult.

“But I’m not really into stallions, so…”

“How dare you,” Blueblood seethed. “I am no common colt. I am Prince Blueblood, nephew of Princess Celestia, and the most magnificent and superior stallion in all the land. I have given you an explicit order and you will be into me at my say so!”

I will be… He probably meant to phrase that a little differently. Thomas thought. Then again, maybe he didn’t. Maybe, despite all his boasting on dominance, Blueblood’s really a bottom. Either way, ew.

Blueblood took a deep breath to calm himself. “But do not fret little… whatever it is you call yourself, for I am a merciful Prince. While I would be well within my rights to throw you in the dungeons for the rest of your life for defying a royal order,” Thomas intensified his glare at the Prince, “I have decided to suspend your sentence in favor of time served.” He smiled sinisterly. “All you have to do is spend the next, let’s say… two weeks in my chambers. Yes. Two weeks of being the plaything of a Prince is hardly a just punishment for such a wicked crime, but as I said, I am merciful. Now,” he extended his hand, “come along.”

Thomas recoiled and Moonlight moved to block the stallion’s reach.

Blueblood was taken aback. “You… how dare you defy me? Do you know who I am? Do you know what a word from me can do to your career?”

Moonlight stood stoically against the Prince’s threats. “My orders come directly from Princess Luna and Captain Shining Armor. I am to protect Sir Thomas from any and all harm that may befall him.”

Blueblood’s lip curled into a snarl as he attempted to stare down the guard with a glare that was not nearly as imposing as it was in his head. “Even if such things applied to royalty, which they do not, I have no intention of hurting the little guy,” he said in his best attempt at a consoling tone. “I only want to play with it a little. Auntie Luna can have it back afterwards. No harm done. Now, come with me.” Blueblood extended his hand. “Let us depart these foul commoners for much more appealing company.”

“Begging your pardon, my Prince,” Moonlight strained. “But the Senior Concubine doesn’t wish to go with you.”

“Get out of my way, or I’ll just have to have a word with your superior officer,” the Prince growled.

“You are free to discuss my actions with Lieutenant Smokey Iron, if you so desire,” Moonlight replied evenly. “But in the meantime, I think it’s time the Sir and I go somewhere else.”

“Not a chance,” a gruff voice called out commandingly. All eyes turned to see Talon approaching with a couple bottles of water and a few towels over her shoulder. “We’ve still got six more machines to try. Gotta get a reading on all the areas the chimp needs to improve on,” she explained as she handed the towels and water to Moonlight and gave Blueblood a casual glance. “What’s up, blue balls?”

Blueblood was practically steaming with fury as Talon walked past him, handing Thomas some water and a towel. “You…”

“Yes, me. What about me?”

“How dare you speak to me that way? I will not suffer such insolence from such common whorses!”

In an instant the griffon closed the distance between herself and the white stallion, her claw grasping his bowtie as she pulled him down. “The buck you just call me?”

“You!” Blueblood struggled to free himself. “Unhand me this instant.”

“Who the buck are you calling common?”

“That’s what she’s upset about, being called common but not a whorse?” Thomas muttered under his breath while Moonlight shrugged uncertainly. “Either way, go Tali.”

“Look at this body,” Talon slid one foot back, turning sideways as she gestured to her body. “Look at this. I mean really look. Is this not the pinnacle of griffon physique?” She paused, but no answer came. “You really think the one and only Celestia would settle for any less than the finest griffon in all the land? Because I sure don’t.”

“I said unhand me, you filthy cur,” Blueblood said between gritted teeth.

“Speaking of fine bodies,” Talon continued as she pulled Blueblood into a headlock and pointed at Thomas. “I’m pretty sure you also called my little buddy here common. That’s not a very nice thing to say, ya know. You wouldn’t be making any kind of insinuations about the Princesses’ choice in bedmates, would you?”

Finally Blueblood was able to wriggle free of the griffon’s claws. “How dare you assault the Prince of Equestria like that? Guards! Arrest her at once.”

Thomas looked around nervously. There were a few guards besides Moonlight in full armor standing near the doors. And based on their physique, he guessed most of the exercising ponies were probably guards too. However, none made a move for the griffon. Even the butler beside Blueblood remained still as a statue.

“Arrest me for what?” Talon confidently set her claws on her hips. “You and me were just having a friendly wrestling match in the gym. Right guys?” She gestured to a few of the nearby ponies.

“That’s how I saw it,” one stallion answered.

“You should really restrict that kind of thing to the ring,” a mare chided. “For safety.”

“Sure thing, babe,” Talon nodded before turning back to Blueblood, her expression daring him to make the next move.

“Why you… stupid… grr.”

“Keep trying, blue balls,” Talon encouraged as she stretched her arms over head. “I’m certain you’ll remember how to use words eventually.”

Blueblood stomped his hoof to the floor in a mild tantrum. “What is your problem, anyway? It’s not like I’ve done anything wrong.”

Talon narrowed her predator eyes on the Prince, causing him to visibly shrink. “My problem is I don’t like flank holes picking on my friends. Now here’s how it’s gonna work, bud,” Talon said as she took a step towards the stallion. “You can walk away, stop pestering us, and keep your big mouth shut about all of this. Or, and I actually kinda prefer this one, things can go down like they did last time. And if that happens, we’ll just have to bring in Sun Dancer to settle things.”

Thomas didn’t think it was possible for a pure white pony to go pale with fear, but Blueblood presented rather convincing evidence to the contrary. The stallion’s lip was quivering as he took slow, careful steps back with his tail literally folded between his legs and over his privates. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Talon folded her arms across her chest and sighed smugly. “Wouldn’t I?”

The rather one sided standoff lasted all of ten seconds before Blueblood had exhausted the last of his nerves. Thomas grinned at his adversary’s defeat, only to lose all happy feelings once the Prince pointed at him. “This isn’t over, ape.”

Talon flared her wings and claws out as she crouched down in a pouncing position. “GET OUT!” she called in a mix of an eagle cry and lion roar, made all the more threatening by the echo of the gym.

The Prince proceeded to put all the other sprinters in the gym to shame as he dashed out the doors at lightning speed. The butler gave Talon a polite nod before following Blueblood’s smoke trail at a brisk walk.

The griffon was practically panting as she seethed in frustration at the whole ordeal.

“Um, Tali?” Thomas said hesitantly, only to duck back behind a suddenly tense Moonlight as Talon faced him with unbridled fury in her eyes.

Seeing Moonlight in a defensive stance, eventually the griffon managed to calm herself down, stroking her claws across her head and pressing her raised feathers down. “Sorry about that, guys,” she exhaled.

Thomas chanced another peek from behind the guard, seeing the rage in the griffon’s eyes replaced with a hurt and pleading look. Then she turned away. “Tali?”

Moonlight shifted her hooves to be ready to jump between the griffon and human at a moment’s notice. She met his eyes and gave a look that said ‘be careful’.

“Sorry you had to see me like that,” Talon sighed as she walked over to one of the machines and sat down with her head hung low. “That’s not a side of me I like my friends to see. I don’t like ponies being afraid of me.”

Fighting against the voice in his head that told him the griffon was too dangerous, Thomas muscled on until he stood directly in front of her. Talon looked up at the human, unable to read his expression and clearly nervous about his reaction. She clearly wasn’t expecting him to smile and offer her his hand. After looking between him and his hand, Talon returned the smile and took his hand.

“Thanks for that,” Thomas nodded as he helped pull the griffon back up.

“Any time, chimp,” she punctuated with a hard slap on his arm.

“Forgive me, Lady Talon,” Moonlight stepped forward.

“For what?”

“For doubting your character,” the guard confessed like a child who knew she’d done wrong, her ears drooping down. “For a moment I actually considered you a possible threat to Sir Thomas.” She moved her right arm over her stomach and tilted her torso forward in a light bow. “You are a griffon of sound character and a good friend to the Sir. I should have known better than to doubt a member of Celestia’s harem. Please forgive me for my lapse in judgment, Lady Talon.”

Talon didn’t say a word as she approached the guard, only to smack her helmet down over her eyes. When the surprised mare looked up, she saw the griffon smiling at her. “Ya know, I think the chimp’s got a point. All this ‘lady’ and ‘sir’ stuff just sounds weird coming from friends.”

Moonlight’s ears cautiously perked up and she extended her hand. “Friends?”

Talon clapped her claw on the pony’s hand. “Friends,” she nodded before looking back at Thomas. “The buck are you doing? Get your scrawny chimp butt over here and have a moment with us.”

Thomas sprinted over to the two large women and set his hand on top of theirs. “Friends.”

And so it came to pass that Blueblood returned, only to be frightened off like a little bitch. But really, I overestimated the guy’s presence in this story and have since removed him from the tag. Thomas stands his ground as best he can, but he’s in the company of some good friends who make sure he doesn’t stand alone. Thankfully, Blueblood is a rather pathetic bully, crumbling under the slightest resistance, by which I mean a powerful griffon amazon with military training and who has favor with the co-ruler of the kingdom.

We establish that Thomas has an odor problem... of sorts, as well as the possibility that Moonlight might not be all that professional. Then again, maybe she is. Maybe she's very professional, but prolonged exposure to Thomas is testing that.

Also, regarding the reps, I tried to get it close to what I remember doing at the gym, but it’s been over a year since I last entered one so my memory is foggy. Regardless, Thomas has a lot more work to do.