*Knock Knock*

Celestia looked up from the stack of notes on her desk that had refused to go away. Even after all these years of royal protocol, the mare had to suppress the urge to ask who it was. After all, that was her guards’ responsibility.

“Sir Thomas of Princess Luna’s Harem to see you, Your Highness,” a gravelly female voice called from the other side of the door.

“Send him in,” Celestia answered casually.

The door opened and in walked Equestria’s cutest human as he cautiously surveyed the room until his eyes landed on the Princess. He let out a brief sigh of relief, presumably because Celestia was wearing a dress, and strode in, showing off his little colt’s clothes. By Faust, he looks adorable in those. Celestia cheered internally as she gestured for him to sit across from her. I wonder if any of my lovers would look as cute in little foal’s clothes. Shelving that thought for a later date, Celestia magically moved the formal paperwork to the side and levitated a folder out directly between them on the desk.

“Thomas,” she greeted. “It’s been too long.”

Thomas glanced between the day guards to either side of the alicorn. Even sitting down she was taller than them, yet their armor made it difficult to discern who was the more intimidating. “We had dinner just yesterday.”

“I meant since we had some proper us time, you know? You never call, you never write,” Celestia bemoaned playfully. “A pony might start to think you were avoiding her or something.”

“I… I wasn’t aware that was bothering you,” Thomas admitted meekly. “I’m sorry.”

Four months of bucking an alicorn and still no less humble, Celestia thought approvingly. “It doesn’t bother me, per se.” She pushed the folder forward. “However, there have been issues with another mare you’ve been neglecting.”

Meeting Celestia’s golden eyes for permission, Thomas took the bulging folder and opened it up to find about half a dozen letters, all already opened and signed from purple book horse. “Twilight? But these all look signed to you,” Thomas asked.

“Yet the subject matter is you, Sir Thomas.” Celestia beamed sweetly, knowing how much he disliked being referred to as ‘Sir’. “See for yourself.”

Since the letters were all conveniently dated, Thomas started with the oldest first and quickly skimmed. Unbeknownst to him, Celestia watched his little lips move as he silently read, fantasizing about just how soft human lips were compared to ponies. However, her fantasies were cut short as Thomas soon found what she’d intended him to see.

“She wants you to send her some of my sperm?” Thomas asked with a befuddled expression.

Okay, maybe not that part.

Celestia shook her head, laughing good-naturedly. “She’s also asking for other details regarding your person, such as height, weight, hair samples, and…” she trailed off with a mischievous grin.

“Yeah. That.” Thomas scowled at the letter for going into such exuberant detail on his kissing ability. He wasn’t even sure if half those adjectives were real words. “She’s not trying to clone me, is she?”

“Not to my knowledge, no.” Celestia shook her head, her limp pink mane sweeping her shoulders as she did so. “Twilight is just very curious and, now that you have her attention, many of her last few letters have been alluding to a desire to learn more about you.”

Thomas continued to frown as he looked between Celestia and the letter. “She makes it sound like I’m some lab rat or something.”

“Try the next letter,” Celestia advised.

Thomas did as instructed and skimmed until he found the part mentioning him. A small grin touched his lips when the first line was an apology for approaching the subject as an object and not a sentient creature. “Eating habits, physical output, blah blah… and cultural peculiarities? I take it you’ve been replying to these?” Thomas asked.

“To the best of my ability, yes.” Celestia nodded.

“Alright,” Thomas nodded warily. “This seems less weird than the last one, but why are you showing me these?”

“Because, Sir Thomas.” Celestia’s grin grew ever so slightly when she heard him give an exasperated sigh. “I had asked Twilight why she doesn’t address these letters directly to you, to which she responded in the fifth letter expressing concern that doing so ran the risk of unknowingly committing a cultural insult.”

“Ah,” Thomas said, now understandingly. Twilight’s also the neurotic type, so I guess she would worry over that. But that still doesn’t answer my question. “And you have a solution?”

“Naturally,” Celestia beamed. “I think it would do the both of you some good to broaden your horizons and become pen pals.” She paused, taking the opportunity to study the contortions of Thomas’ face as he considered her proposal. Like Twilight, Celestia always enjoyed learning new things, to which Thomas’ small eyes, motionless ears, flat muzzle, and other alien features posed an exciting challenge. Near as she could tell, he was unsure, but not exactly opposed to the idea.

“I’m not sure. I mean, I’ve never really been good at long distance relationships before.”

Nailed it, as the young ponies say these days, Celestia thought to herself while pumping her fist under her desk. “Which is exactly why I think this would be a good learning experience for both of you,” Celestia said with a gentle maternal tone. “In a way, you and Twilight have a lot in common in how you’re both learning the many facets of what it means to be friends with ponies. She can learn about human culture, which can provide a new outlook on our own. And you can have somepony to turn to with questions you might not feel comfortable addressing to anypony in your current circle, trusting that my little protégé will maintain nothing short of professional objectivity.”

“Okay.” Thomas nodded. “But will we be sending letters through regular mail, or…”

Celestia levitated a small stack of parchment from a table on the far wall onto her desk. “These are the same enchanted papers with which Twilight sends her friendship reports.” Celestia gestured proudly. “I can modify the enchantment so that all you’ll have to do is toss them into any nearby fire and they’ll be received by Spike in ten seconds flat.”

Thomas narrowed his eyes at Celestia. She knew what she said. And that grinning smirk said that she knew that he knew that she knew what she said. “I’ll give it a shot.” Thomas pulled the stack towards him. “But I’m not sending her any samples.”

“Fair enough,” Celestia shrugged. “However, there was one last thing I wanted to mention before you go.”

The diarch of the sun stood from her desk, her enormous and braless chest puppies bouncing a little from the sudden movement. With only a smile she motioned for Thomas to follow her to the far side of the room. This required the human to move past one of her guards, whom he gave a wide berth. Celestia walked along the wall, passing a variety of paintings and sculptures Thomas hadn’t paid much mind to before. However, the more he studied them, the more he realized that Luna’s office was relatively barren compared to the near gallery status of Celestia’s. Finally they stopped.

“Waking Night,” Celestia stated as she indicated the piece.

Upon a column shaped pedestal sat a pitch black statue of Luna dressed in full armor as she stood atop a pyramid with her sword thrust back in preparation to strike. Across from her on a separate pyramid loomed some sort of Lovecraftian monster; a nightmare comprised of dozens of mouths fully jagged teeth, hundreds of unblinking eyes angrily fixed on that which would defy it, and all connected by thin strands of muscle tissue that resembled more of a spider web than any kind of beast.

“What is it?” Thomas asked in wonder.

“A gift from the Prince of Saddle Arabia,” Celestia stated plainly, as if her companion didn’t require further explanation. However, the smile on her face suggested she was purposefully delaying. “This is a miniature of the piece Prince Gray Hammer sculpted to honor Luna’s heroism after she defeated the Waking Night, an abominable amalgamation of the collective nightmares of a nation, brought to life by a contemptable wizard with dreams of world conquest.”

“Who was the wizard?”

“No pony knows.” Celestia sighed grimly. “So vile was Waking Night that it not only devoured the flesh of its victims, but also the memories of their very existence. We only have clues of the wizard’s existence because of the few journals left behind, as well as my sister’s lingering feelings at meeting such a wretched pony, only to watch as he became his creation’s first victim.”

“Whoa,” was all Thomas could say after such a heavy story. It was reminiscent of the countless other stories he’d heard from other fictions depicting what could happen when magic, especially dark magic, was misused. Just the thought of a monster that could not only kill someone, but also all memory of them, was something he really didn’t want to dwell on. “So… The Prince?”

“That is where the story takes a turn for the better.” A smile returned to Celestia’s lips. “For after Waking Night’s defeat, previously strained relations between Equestria and Saddle Arabia, had smoothed over generously with Lulu and Hammer’s wedding.” Celestia sighed fondly at the memory. “That was when the true sculpture, which stands over two stories tall, was officially unveiled in the main square in front of the Saddle Arabian palace, where it remains to this day.”

It was all Thomas could do to keep from turning into a slack jawed idiot as he marveled before the statue. In his mind’s eye he pictured a very dashing and chiseled stallion in a tuxedo escorting a much larger indigo alicorn in a pure white wedding gown down the aisle in a traditional wedding ceremony. The thought filled him with warmth to imagine how happy Luna must have been that day, even if it was with another stallion who… Best not to follow that train of thought.

“It’s…” Thomas struggled for something to say. “I mean… Wow.” He chuckled at his inability to properly convey just how impressed he was.

“I can see you’ll make a fine writer someday.” Celestia smiled coyly, her voice somehow free of sarcasm.

“Why are you showing me this?” Thomas frowned as he finally tore his eyes from the sculpture and looked up at the much taller alicorn. “And why’s this here instead of Luna’s office or something?”

Celestia’s smile faded. “In the instability following the banishment of Nightmare Moon, there was a group of radicals who sought desperately to purge the world of all evidence of the Princess they thought beyond redemption and gone forever. The Nightmare Purge,” she whispered. “We stopped them, but not before they’d tragically destroyed so many beautiful works.” Celestia reached out for the sculpture, her finger tips stopping barely an inch before making contact and she pulled back. “This one I managed to save by claiming it as my own work. When Lulu returned, of course I offered to return it, but she appreciated the sentiment of my keeping one of her proudest moments and asked that I continue to hold on to it.

“As for your first question,” Celestia continued. “I wanted to speak a moment of Gray Hammer.”

“Alright.” Thomas nodded.

“The boy, for he was little more than a colt of thirteen at his wedding, was sixth in line to the throne.”

Luna married a thirteen year old kid? Thomas thought squeamishly as he reset his previous mental image. Celestia must have seen him making a face because she smiled comfortingly.

“You must understand that it was a different time back then,” she assured. “In those days, it was quite common that of nobility were used as bargaining chips in alliances and wedded off the moment they had their cutie marks. Such practices still occur now, if only to a lesser extent. Prince Gray Hammer was such a case, offered as little more than a prize to my sister, along with a number of other treasures and contracts to show the Sultanate’s gratitude.”

“And… Gray Hammer?” Thomas asked cautiously.

“He couldn’t have been happier,” Celestia said with a beaming smile. “Previously a rather meek colt, he was so taken with Lulu that he asserted control over the obsidian sculpture and reduced a projected three years of work down to six months, earning his cutie mark upon its completion. In turn,” Celestia tittered, “Lulu was so taken by his skill that they had to add an extra sound proofing spell on their wedding night.”

Thomas cringed again.

“Alas, despite Prince Hammer continuing to produce many great marvels up until his very last day, most of his work was ultimately lost in the Nightmare Purge.” Celestia’s ears drooped in sorrow. “However, despite this tragedy, Lulu has done what she and I have always done at the loss of those we care for. She presses on, holding onto all the moments they shared together in her mind and in her heart.” The alicorn turned to face the human with a mix of sorrow and optimism. “I say this to stress the importance of making every moment share count. Do you understand?”

“I…” Thomas suddenly found it very hard to breathe as he felt a great weight upon his chest. “I hope I do.”

“An answer that holds more wisdom than it implies.” Celestia nodded. Turning to the side, she motioned for him to follow in returning to their seats at her desk. “Speaking of ancient practices in foreign cultures…” Celestia smiled, picking up where they left off as she took her seat. “I was wondering if you could help me understand something about humans.”

“Oh?” Thomas questioned before glancing to the guards at her sides.

Seeing his concern, Celestia promptly dismissed the guards, who departed with only a “Yes, Your Highness,” and a soft click of the door closing, leaving Thomas alone with a very powerful alicorn.

“So…” Thomas glanced around nervously. “What’d you want to ask?”

“Seeing as Lulu has been hesitant to broach the subject, as the older sister, I feel it is my duty to ask why you continue to not let her into your dreams.”

Thomas blinked in surprise before nervously rubbing his arm. “That’s… um… kind of hard to explain.”

“You do know that, in a dream, you’d be capable of doing literally anything your heart desires, yes?” Celestia asked. “You can fly without wings, savor as many delicious treats as you like without consequence,” she wiped a dab of drool from the corner of her lip, “and, naturally, indulge in all of your most perverse kinks.” Her eyebrows danced suggestively as she gave a mischievous smile. “Surely you’ve considered these factors and more before making your decision.”

Thomas averted his eyes. “Honestly… no.”

“No?” Celestia blinked and pulled back in surprise. “Equestria is in the midst of remembering what Luna can do to aid in their dreams. And amongst desires for her body and power, the potential for what she could offer in the dream realm was always a prominent fantasy for the old applicants to Luna’s harem. Yet none of this has factored into your decision on the matter?”

“Maybe I’ve thought about it, a little.” Thomas shrugged with sheepish embarrassment.

Celestia straightened herself in a more composed posture. It was indeed as Luna had suggested. “Then this is a cultural matter?”

“Kind of.” Thomas shrugged.

“Then please.” Celestia leaned forward, granting a clear view down her dress. “Help me to understand. Luna said that this is a matter of privacy, yes?” She waited for Thomas to nod. “What exactly is it that you are worried that she might see?”

“It’s not like that.” Thomas grimaced as he puzzled over a way to explain this. “It’s like… Aren’t there things that you keep secret, even from Luna or Sun Dancer?”

This gave Celestia pause as she only barely managed to keep her gaze focused. “Shameful as it is, I admit that there are matters that I keep secret from my loved ones,” she said with a hint of danger, warning Thomas that he was not to go spreading this around. “However, I do not see how that is relevant to allowing Luna into your dreams.”

“Not relevant?” Thomas asked. “So, you admit you’ve got secrets, but you have no problem with letting just anyone into your mind?”

“Not ‘just anyone’.” Celestia parroted with a bit of mirth at the perceived absurdity he’d suggested. “But for ponies such as Luna, Sun Dancer, and any of my harem, I would gladly let them in.”

“Even at the risk they’d find what you don’t want them to see?”

“Oh, I see!” Celestia exclaimed in understanding. “You worry that Luna might not respect your privacy.”

“The mind is kind of the most private place a person can have,” Thomas explained. “It’s, like, the last place someone can retreat to where no one else can follow.”

“I think I’m beginning to understand.” Celestia nodded, though her tone suggested she wasn’t quite certain yet. “Allow me to explain. Let us think of your mind as your room. It is the place you feel secure enough to rest in and just be yourself without worry of outside judgement. Do you follow me so far?”

“I think so.” Thomas nodded to Celestia’s satisfaction.

“Your room is also the place where you keep your treasures: photos of old memories, both fond and pleasant; old school notes detailing everything you’ve ever learned; piles upon piles of papers depicting every idea and fantasy you’ve ever considered; and countless other trinkets, of which only hold value to you for their sentimentality.”

At the pause, Thomas nodded again. The metaphor for his mind was looking very fitting.

“For the sake of argument, let’s say you meet somepony with whom you feel you can trust,” Celestia suggested. “To test this trust, you take something out of your room and show it to them to gauge their reaction. If they accept it, you go on to share more and more things with them. Eventually, after thoroughly earning your trust, you invite this pony, or person, into your most inner sanctum. You stress the gravity of this show of trust, explaining to your guest that he or she is to touch nothing without your expressed permission. There are of course things that are out in plain view: the stack of idea papers for example. However, it is only through your allowance that your guest is made privy to examine these ideas more thoroughly and even then only with your supervision.” Celestia’s eyes asked if Thomas was still following along.

“But still…” Thomas stressed. “My mind is a lot more personal than my room.”

“The principle is the same,” Celestia assured. “What matters is that you have this personal space all your own that you only make available to those you trust above all else. And even if you grant them permission to enter and leave unsupervised, you still make it clear that there are certain things, boxes if you will, that they are to never touch under any circumstances. Ultimately, the core of the matter is that you trust your guest enough to enter your room and not touch your box.”

Thomas considered her words. He’d pictured the mind as a sort of labyrinth of rooms that would be free for any outsider to explore and invade at their discretion. It never occurred to him that maybe a ‘Keep Out’ sign could actually serve as a deterrent. Of course, the real question left unasked was whether he trusted Luna enough to let her in at a time when he’d be at his most vulnerable. Then again, it’s been four months and she’s respected my privacy for this long. And to be frank, if she really wanted in, then there’s probably nothing I could have done to stop her anyway.

“However, there is one other matter to consider,” Celestia continued. “If we were to expand the metaphor of the room to that of a house, as your guest spends more and more time in your house, it will inevitably come to pass that your guest will see fit to leave their toothbrush in your bathroom.” The Princess of the Day snickered at what Thomas assumed to be a dirty joke. “And I can certainly understand how that can come across as especially unnerving.”

“Yeah,” Thomas said with a sigh. “The more time she stays over, the more she’ll rub off me, the more I’ll… not be me.”

“I understand your trepidation, but I can assure you that it is not nearly as frightful as you may be imagining,” said Celestia. “She will not rearrange the furniture, changing how you process the world, without your permission. However, change is one of the few constants of the universe. Even without her impact on your dreams, can you honestly say that, with all the relationships you’ve forged since coming to Equestria, that you are entirely the same man you once were?”

Thomas lowered his gaze in consideration. It didn’t take him long to find an answer. “No.” A smile of satisfaction grew on his lips. “I’m more than I was, and my life’s so much richer for it.”

“And it may be richer still.” Celestia smiled softly. “For to invite Luna into your domain is to welcome the song of her stars to forever echo in your halls.”

“That phrasing could be taken several ways,” Thomas said with a chuckle.

“I am aware,” Celestia said plainly. As she leaned forward, elbows on her desk pushing her breasts up and out, the Princess of the Day batted her eyelids playfully. “I’m also aware that Lulu has been practically itching to share with you the wonders of her art, the same way Prince Hammer once did with her.”

“Oh,” Thomas said as he considered just how much he enjoyed writing with Moonlight, and how Luna must be dying to do the same with him.

Celestia turned to face one of the paintings on the left wall. “She may also have a desire to see how cute you looked in your foalhood, but I imagine that would be one of those things to save for later.”

“Yeah.” Thomas deadpanned. “Later sounds good.”

Thanking Celestia for her advice, Thomas turned to leave, not hearing the alicorn softly mumble something along the lines of “joining the dream orgies.” It was probably nothing important.

I like how this turned out. Originally meant to be a small section of the previous chapter, things just swelled until I decided to give it its own space. Thomas is now going to start writing to Twilight, should be interesting, and letting Luna into his dreams, even more interesting. Not to mention I liked the bit of lore around the Waking Night and marriage to Gray Hammer.