At Gregory’s invitation, Maud had begun more frequent visits to the castle. They’d shared many private meals in his room, which were only occasionally crashed by either Blueblood or Luna. Celestia, sadly, was too busy. Often Maud rested against his side while he told her of his world, but that rarely lasted long as he would soon grow excited and walk animatedly around the room as he acted things out for her amusement, which came in the ever increasing frequency of tiny smiles.

In turn, Maud would explain the details of pony culture that the royals had missed. Ponies were a very physical species. And while the human had never been much of a fan of being touched by strangers, he found the ways Maud would gently press against him quite appealing. As such, Gregory was getting into the habit of petting ponies, but only those he considered close; for the royals he’d maintained discretion and only laid hands on them when in private. Gregory had learned exactly what that nip at the banquet really meant, for which she refused to accept any further apology. She could be very forceful at times, but he didn’t mind. Instead she seemed to delight in torturing him with the details on each and every step she had to take to find relief.

Most recently Gregory had invited Maud to play games with him and Luna, She’d tried many, but found that such things simply weren’t to her liking and contented herself with sitting beside the gamers, just far enough back that the stallion wouldn’t notice the glances she stole of his plot. Luna noticed, though. The queen’s eyebrows bounced suggestively each time the earth mare was caught with her hoof in the cookie jar, so to speak.

“And you used to sleep with rocks under your pillow?” Maud asked as she watched the alicorn and human begin their expedition into the enemy stronghold.

“They were crystals, but yeah.”

“That sounds nice,” Maud said in a monotone that did not betray her interest. “I still sleep with rocks under my pillow.”

“Stop hogging all the ammo,” Luna grunted as her hoof viciously tapped at the buttons.

“Just change weapons then,” Gregory countered, never taking his eye off the screen. “I read that they could help with focus and stuff. It seemed kinda interesting, so I shelled out the twenty bucks for a set of seven, one for each chakra. Find cover already!” he barked. Luna’s health was dwindling as the enemies, an assortment of bizarre aliens, were moving up. “I’ll deal with these guys while you get the health back in the hall.”

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Luna said through gritted teeth. “I have commanded Equestria’s legions against the horrors of the night since before you were even-” but her tirade was cut short as a sticky grenade appeared on her character’s shoulder.

“Got a spider,” Gregory teased.

“Shut up,” Luna grumbled, not appreciating the in-joke.

Boom! A long pause followed as Luna pointed an accusing hoof at her snickering team mate. “Not. One. Word.”

“Don’t worry,” Gregory assured as he tried to calm down. “I’ll mop up these guys and heal you as soon as I can.”

“Point stealer,” Luna pouted in frustration, but never took her eyes from the screen. Gregory was more bold than her, yet did not encounter any of the same issues. He always seemed to anticipate the enemy movements, pulling back just in time to avoid certain doom. She studied him, plotting her day of vengeance when it would be she, Queen of the Night, who would be the one giving him advice as she swooped in to save the day. Oh, the look on his face then.

“Did they help you focus?” Maud asked, silently glad for a break.

“I’m not quite sure,” Gregory admitted. “I wanna say yes, but it’s possible it was a placebo effect combined with other factors. I was in college and the gym was like five minutes from my dorm, so I got exercise on pretty much every level.” The room was cleared and Gregory headed back over to Luna. “The only thing I know for certain is that whenever I put the things out on the windowsill under a full moon, to charge them, I’d always have the trippiest dreams the next week or so.”

“You’re welcome,” Luna boasted as she saw the icon indicating her character was being revived. “And thank you kindly, comrade in arms.” Her tail swept across the floor and gently brushed against Gregory’s.

Maud caught this and gave the queen a look, which seemed to please the cougar of an alicorn. The earth mare turned her body and also brushed her tail against Gregory’s, though in a manner that was less playful and more possessive. Again, Luna looked pleased, forcing Maud to realize she’d just fallen for the alicorn’s trap.

“Wasn’t your moon,” Gregory said. He’d noticed the sensation in his tail, but ignored it for the screen.

“No matter.” Luna shrugged as she readied her controller once more. “But it sounds like Earth’s minerology is not so dissimilar from Equestria’s.”

“It’s true,” Maud added. “Most ponies only care for gem stones and construction material. It’s only recently with the return of Crystalia that crystals are becoming popular once more. It’s nice to know humans haven’t lost that deeper appreciation.”

“You don’t say.” Gregory glanced back at Maud, surprising her to look up from where she’d been staring. He smiled at her colored cheeks. “Popular how?”

“Video games, for instance.” Maud gestured to the screen. “Refined crystals have always proven ideal for storage of magical energies. But Crystalia’s brought back lost knowledge of how to use them for information storage. They’re library is impressive, but the real archive is a hall of crystal balls that hold the collective knowledge of the ancient days when Crystalia was the capitol of a vast empire that could match even Equestria.”

“Hey!” Luna whined as the screen froze and the word ‘PAUSE’ appeared. She readied herself to give her so-called comrade a good verbal thrashing for this treason, only to find him staring back at Maud with a soft smile.

“What?” Maud asked. “Something on my face?”

“The way you spoke just now,” Gregory beamed. “It sounded, I don’t know.” He blushed. “Passionate.”

From Luna’s perspective, Maud’s flush spread from her cheeks and soon threatened to consume her entire head. All of this while her face remained as neutral as ever. Gregory smiled more, no doubt finding it cute. The queen also noticed that both ponies’ tails were practically wagging with joy.

“We hit a save point in the last room, did we not?” The queen asked.

“Y-yeah,” Gregory answered, remembering himself.

“Good.” Luna turned off the machine, set her controller in its usual place, and stretched her limbs out after sitting for so long. “We will pick up again later, after I have cooled my nerves. You two may do as you wish.” She turned and left them alone in the game room, smiling to herself.

“I know a place that gets imports directly from Crystalia,” Maud said. Normally she wouldn’t mind sitting alone and quiet with the stallion, but only in nicer settings. The abundance of game posters, piles of plushies, and shelves stacked to the brim with board games and video games alike was not to her liking. The dim lighting was a nice touch though, perfect for stealing glances. She’d have to remember that for later. “I could get you some.”

“Well, sure,” Gregory stuttered uncertainly, clearly having not expected such a request. “B-but only if I can get you something too.”

“Sure,” was Maud’s calm reply.

After fetching some money from his room, Gregory checked in with Blueblood to confirm where he was going. It was a little embarrassing, but the human had begrudgingly accepted that the stallion was worried for him and that certain measures should be taken for his protection. The pair set off into the city, accompanied by a guard out of uniform trailing behind them.

Maud paid the guard, a unicorn mare named Strong Hoof, no mind. She’d also accepted that her stallion, for he was hers, was important and absolutely deserved to be protected. Since the night of the banquet she’d gone home and done as much research as she could on humans of the past, rekindling her fillyhood fascination with the creatures of legend. And now she had one of her very own, and he was a unicorn to boot. However, the question of how much of him was hers was still unclear.

“Sweetie,” Maud said experimentally as they walked together. She wasn’t sure if they were quite ready for pet names just yet.

Gregory’s ear flicked. “Yeah?”

Relieved at the lack of protest, Maud ventured on. “Out of curiosity, why do you always wear pants? Most ponies don’t usually wear pants, except for special occasions.”

Gregory glanced back at the blue slacks covering his flanks and hind legs. He’d picked them because they were comfortable, but also because Blueblood had said that looser clothes were less likely to make ponies think he was giving them an invitation, as it were. “Habit, I guess. I’ve worn pants all my life, and there’s kind of a nudity taboo back home, so it’s how I was raised and it’s just more comfortable for me. Why?”

“Just curious,” Maud said dismissively. “It’s not like I’m harboring a secret grudge against you for hording those flanks of yours all to yourself.”

Gregory snorted appreciatively. This brand of playful flirting had become standard for their relationship; at least Gregory was fairly certain it was just playful. He was still learning pony body language and Maud had proven especially tricky at times. However, there were times he swore he saw indicators of something more. “Alright then. Why do you always wear a frock?”

“Tradition, mostly,” Maud answered. “This is what my ancestors wore as they worked the land. Before the Pies were rich, we were humble farmers, and garbs like this were all we could afford to protect our bodies from the elements. Now it’s just an old custom that looks good on me, so I’ve been told.”

“It does, but wow,” Gregory chortled. “Way to one up a guy.”

Maud shrugged. “It’s your own fault. I’d expected better from a story teller.”

“Oh?” Gregory raised an eyebrow in intrigue. The challenge had been issued and he was honor bound to accept. “Shall I then tell you the tale of a dreaded curse, passed down through my family for generations as our reward for conquering a foul beast?”

“You may, if you’d like.”

Despite her poker face, Gregory was slowly learning the mare’s tells. She was excited. “So vile the creature that even in death it cursed my ancestor with a terrible mark capable of condemning all who see it into stone.” He whispered the last word. “Hero that he was, my ancestor did everything to purge the mark from his flesh, be it fire or knives, but nothing worked. He hid the mark, hoping to carry it to his grave. Tragically, years later a son was born to him, baring the same mark. The village found out. And despite his bravery against countless foes in the past, they still cast him and his family from their midst.

“And so they went on in secret, each generation baring the shame of the mark and learning to hide it. Unaware were they for the longest time that the mark was not just of the beast’s wretchedness, but also it’s cunning. They were clever, my ancestors were. Slowly they returned to society, wealthy and powerful thanks to the cursed mark, though they kept it hidden and dealt harshly with those who discovered it. They chose their friends carefully and enemies more so, working, growing, and ascending the ranks until they were a mighty clan that sat atop the world.

“Alas, in their arrogance, their secret was made known, and the people readied to cast them out once more. They were more powerful this time, and not as honorable as the hero who spawned them. It was a grueling war that lasted for decades. In time the people won, and slaughtered as many of my ancestors as they could find. So eager were the foolish people to see the war ended that they carelessly overlooked the bastards born to the family servants.

“It is from these that I descend, carrying the mark of old as my eternal burden. That is why I wear pants, dear Maud, to hide my family shame and protect the lives of all those I treasure.” His story finished, Gregory smiled at her, earning a blush.

“Don’t stop there,” Maud insisted. “What was the beast, and what does the mark look like?”

“Careful fair maiden,” Gregory warned, now fully engrossed in the act. “For to share this dreaded knowledge may fill thee with such terror as to forever rob you of pleasant dreams.” He hardened his face, fighting the urge to laugh. “Tell me then, fair maiden. Do you truly wish the burden of such knowledge?”

“For my stallion, I will proudly share in his burden,” Maud proclaimed dully.

“Very well,” Gregory snorted, feeling his cheeks heat as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “The name of this wretched beast, of whom has condemned my family to eternal suffering, is none other than…” he paused, building suspense. “Uranus,” which he pronounced as ‘your anus’.

Maud ceased her trot, snorting softly as she covered her face with her hoof. Gregory grinned as he watched her body tremble and listened to the chortles and snorts that broke through her barrier. It was a tricky thing to make the earth mare laugh, but the human found it immensely rewarding each and every time. It was almost a minute before she calmed enough for them to press on.

They arrived at the store Maud had promised without incident. Even nobles who seemed to recognize one or both of them walked past with little more than a casual greeting. Apparently word of Blueblood’s declaration of ownership had spread, meaning the average pony of ambition considered the prince as the primary venue of acquiring the asset, leaving Gregory relatively unmolested. Gregory pushed aside thoughts on how so many seemed to view him as property to be purchased, rationalizing that this was just how nobility were, and focused on the pony he genuinely cared about.

Inside the store was an array of different colored stones, all set out in displays similar to that of jewelry. Gregory quickly spotted a set of seven just like the first ones he’d bought back home and pointed them out. Maud bought them, along with something she slipped into her frock pocket before Gregory could see.

When it came time to choose his gift for her, the mare remained frustratingly unconcerned, saying she’d be fine with whatever. Treating this as another challenge, Gregory dismissed Maud to the front of the store where he could shop in peace. Finally he found something that caught his eye. After listening to the salesmare’s description of the stone’s lore, he handed her the bits without a second thought.

“What do we have here?” Maud asked as she looked at the smooth stone of layered blue.

Gregory knew she knew what it was. She was Maud, after all. But he appreciated her giving him the opportunity to explain it. “Blue lace agate.” He beamed. “It’s said to engender tranquility and even bring happiness. It’s also a throat stone, which is supposed to help with communication. I saw it and, well, it made me think of your eyes.”

Wordlessly Maud held out her hoof and accepted the stone. She regarded it a moment, lightly touched it to her lips, and placed it in her back pocket. “Thank you, sweetie,” she said, hoping it didn’t sound too forced. “It’s a lovely gift. I’ll be sure to add it to my collection.”

There was something about the way she looked at him that made Gregory’s heart start thumping. They left, the guard still in tow, and for a while said nothing. Gregory’s mind raced with images of Maud kissing the stone, wondering what those lips might feel like. The more he thought, the more he realized he really wanted to know. As he reflected over the day in his mind, recalling all the little things they’d said and done, a question began to loom, one that demanded an answer.

“Hey, Maud.” Gregory spoke meekly. They’d taken a detour into the park.

“Yes, sweetie?”

“About what you said back there, you know, with me being your stallion.”

Maud was fairly certain her stomach had just done a backflip. “Yes.”

“I’m still new to all this.” It was the excuse he always offered before potentially putting his foot/hoof in his mouth. “But just so there’s no, um, misunderstanding…”

“I like you,” Maud said bluntly. She went forward a ways before she realized Gregory was no longer following her. She turned around to face him fully, staring intently as she waited for his response under the cool shade of a tree. A part of her felt that she was worrying over nothing, but that part was overruled by the unruly feeling of a confessing mare. “Gregory?”

“Maud,” he said after realizing he’d been slow to respond the first time. He met her eyes, the eyes of the first normal pony he’d really opened up to since coming to Equestria. Whether it was her eyes, those lakes of blue inviting him to jump in and swim for hours, or perhaps being in a crystal shop had given him some good vibes, Gregory didn’t especially care. He owed her an answer. “Maud. I…”

But his words were cut short as his lips were suddenly consumed by hers. Maud’s hooves were that of a working mare, rough yet sturdy. In contrast, her lips were as soft as velvet. The kiss was brief, a spur of courage to claim what she wanted. She pulled back, feeling a surge of guilt for stealing her stallion’s kiss so abruptly. Flirting was all well and fun, but this was a step too far in her opinion. She readied herself for his answer in earnest, more certain than ever that she’d made a terrible mistake.

Maud was less than an inch away before she felt the familiar contact of Gregory’s lips as he held her head in place with a hoof. Gregory’s kissing me! That thought repeated a hundred times over in her mind over the next couple seconds. Though her body was still, her heart threatened to burst from her chest at any moment, no doubt with the intent of performing cartwheels that would put her pink sister to shame.

Gregory’s lips were chapped and his kissing clumsy and inexperienced. Emboldened by his answer to her confession, Maud readied herself to give him a proper lesson. She started by pressing her tongue forward, requesting entry. It was granted as she began exploring the confines of his mouth. The taste was divine as his tongue met hers, pressing against one another in gentle greeting. As they danced in each other’s mouths, Maud paid special attention to his front teeth. They were sharp, like a predator’s, designed for consuming meat. The analysis proved prophetic as the human pony began devouring her lips the same as she had done with him. Fast learner, she thought before pulling back.

Gregory inhaled deeply through his mouth, savoring the mare’s aftertaste. “Wow,” was all the lauded orator could come up with to voice his emotions. A part of him thought that what they’d done had happened too quickly. They’d known each other a while, but kissing like that just seemed too sudden.

On the other hand, Gregory was still riding the high of the moment. Celestia had once told him that ponies fall in love a lot easier than humans and that being a pony meant he’d be more susceptible to such inclinations. While he’d initially dismissed her words, the weight of their truth had come crashing down with the full force of a pair of soft lips.

I like Maud, he thought with the relief of realization as his feelings for the mare suddenly made so much more sense. I really really like Maud.

“Wow,” Maud said right back. She lowered herself to the soft grass below and motioned for him to follow.

“That was… Wow!” He said as he settled beside her.

“You said that already,” Maud deadpanned.

“And it’s no less true,” Gregory chuckled. “I mean… that was-”

“I know,” Maud cut him off. “I was there.”

The human was now grinning like a complete fool. “Yeah. Yeah you were.”

“Does this mean…” Maud hesitated. What they’d done was pretty definitive, but she needed to remove all doubt.

“God you’re beautiful,” Gregory confessed. He was promptly winded by a pouncing predator knocking him on his back. The predator, who was suspiciously Maud-shaped, loomed over him intimidatingly as she set her hooves to either side of his head and rested her belly against his. She was heavy, and he knew she was using her legs to keep her full weight from crushing him as his back was pressed into the grass. He could feel a couple soft cushions around the groin area, each with a sharp button that poked into his tender underside.

“Say that again,” Maud growled as she leered at her prey. The way he was giggling, despite being completely at her mercy, was threatening to kill the mood. She wiggled her backside enticingly until she felt a growing bulge of her own. It was criminally confined behind those cursed trousers, but she’d wait for its liberation later. The way it nestled so neatly between her teats was good enough for her, at least for now. A mare had to be patient with her stallion, after all.

Maud was serious, and Gregory wanted to be serious for her, but he was just too happy. This mare, his dearest friend, this awkward yet funny beast of a beauty wanted him. He’d had only a single girlfriend in his life and that was back in middle school. Since then he’d more or less made peace with his social awkwardness preventing him from finding anyone. Yet here she was, this sexy strong mare, and heiress to a fortune, was currently grinding against his erection in the middle of the park.

Wait…

Gregory tried looking around, fearful that other ponies might be looking at them in disgust. What if some entitled noble saw us? he worried. Would they do something? Would we… His train of thought was cut short when he felt the familiar texture of Maud’s hoof press against his cheek, guiding him to look back at her.

“Say. It. Again.” Maud’s demand had the unmistakable air of command about it. However, the passion behind it erased all traces of fear the human pony might have felt. Instead, he could only see the love in those eyes that bore down on him in hungry desire.

“You.” Slowly he slid his legs up her sides. “Are.” He wrapped them around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Beautiful.”

Author's Notes:

And there you have it. I’ve portrayed first meetings, to friendship, and culminated it in romantic confessions, all over an unknowable amount of time. Well, I say that, but it was probably over the course of a couple months or so. For the longest of time the passage of time has really been a challenge for me as I’ve felt the need to stick with the characters through each solitary minute of their lives. The result is having too much happen too quickly and throwing the pace all out of whack. This time around I don’t feel such constraints. Weeks or months can go by and we only focus on the interesting parts of the character’s lives, rather than having every single second be relevant to the plot, and thus relationships are able to evolve more naturally.

I like liked how these two worked out. Granted it required taking a lot of liberties with Maud’s character, but what’s the point of fanfiction if you can’t have a little fun with these things? A while back there was an episode of One Piece in which Sengoku said that you shouldn’t try to explain love, and it really got me thinking. There was no single defining moment in their relationship. They met at a party, met up again afterwards, and just became fast friends which eventually evolved into something more. There’s a bit more to it, as you’ll find out later, but I’m quite satisfied with how this is working out.