“Hey, Aunt Luna,” I said with a wave after she appeared before me in her dreamscape.

“Good eve nephew,” she replied happily with a smile hugging me which I returned. “I trust you are well?”

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s been three days since Manehattan and things have settled down. Rarity is starting to treat me like she treats all her other friends. As a matter of fact, in the morning I’m due to see her practice more on my magic. Through her, I’ll study more on multiple manipulations at once. Which she’s good at, being a seamstress and all.”

“That is good news, indeed.”

“Meanwhile,” I continued, “AJ is keeping me in shape because I work on her farm. My choice, by the way. I want the exercise and I get to know her, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom better. Granny, unfortunately, I doubt will change from her hate for humans. Any news here?”

Luna just stood there for a second in silence. At first, I was confused until a grin slowly spread across her face. A second later I knew why when my mother’s surprise hug came at me from behind.

“News is that your mother misses you and wants you to come and visit,” she said into my ear as she hugged me hard. If it was in reality then she would have knocked the wind out of me. “Besides me missing you,” she continued, “there are some ponies that I want you to meet during a meeting to discuss the Equestria Games. Namely some foreign dignitaries and the Wonderbolts.”

“Wonderbolts?” I paused in thought as the name rattled around in my head. “Isn’t that the performance group of the military that Rainbow likes?”

“Yes,” Luna nodded to me.

“And you can bring a plus one,” Mother said softly with a mischievous voice.

“Plus one other than Philomena?” I asked already thinking about Rainbow.

Mother seemed to think about it. “Alright, plus two then,” she agreed while still hugging me from behind. Both her arms and her huge wings were wrapped around me.

I chuckled, “Yeah, you know that Philomena will be following me wherever I go because of all the trouble I’ve found myself in lately.”

“True,” Mother agreed. “But why Rainbow Dash?”

“Remember the bet?” I asked her, she nodded her head. “Well instead of dating it will just be get to know me times. She always wants to meet the Wonderbolts, so this can be one of those times.”

“I see, but why not date her then?” Luna asked curiously. “Was that not the bet?”

“It was, but that was before Philomena and I got together,” a smirk crept up on my face.

“I understand,” mother cooed with a giggle.

“So, when is this shindig anyway?”

“Tomorrow morning, so you can come home on the train tonight,” Mother told me. She was still holding me like a typical mother, not that I minded that much. In public would have been a different story.

“Works for me, Mother.”

“The morning comes, sister,” Luna said before everything started fading.

“See you tonight, my sunshine boy,” Mother cooed before I woke up.

^-^

Apparently, I was the first one to wake up this morning. As the sun began creeping over the horizon and the light shined through the window, I caught a glimpse of the sleeping form of Twilight, Spike, and Philomena. Twilight was wearing her usual nightgown, Spike was in his smaller bed between us, and Philomena was laying against my side. While looking over at Twilight, a wicket through popped into my head making a grin snake its way on my face. I had just decided to mess with Twilight this morning.

For the past little while, I had been practicing my levitation and had been getting really good at it. Including heavy objects. But this morning would be the first time to try and move a sleeping Twilight. I raised my free hand toward Twilight, pushed all doubts and fears away, and concentrated. My hand glowed with magic as Twilight’s body was surrounded by my magic.

The key was to do it and not wake her up, so I took my time and carefully lifted her off her bed to float over to mine. Being careful, mind you, of Spike’s bed between us. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face. She was almost to my bed when she started shifting in the air and started to grab for something. I thought this was perfect and reached out to her when she got close enough.

Just as I lowered her onto my bed, she found my arm and latched onto it. Twilight snuggled up against me with a content sigh of approval. Meanwhile, I was trying not to laugh but stay absolutely still and pretend to sleep as my arm was now between her breasts.

And now I wait. But while I was waiting for the morning entertainment to start, another thought popped up in my head. And it had to deal with my arm that Twilight is hugging. My hand was just underneath her breasts. And after stretching a couple of fingers, I was able to lightly rub against the underside of one of them. My guess was that she was between Pinkie size and Fluttershy size. Her nightgown was soft, almost like silk. And her breasts had a pleasant volume to them that ached to be touched, held, and squeezed.

What surprised me was Twilight’s reaction. She moaned my name very softly, just below a whisper, and gripped my arm just a tad tighter. This is interesting. Not to mention thoroughly enjoyable. So, I laid my head back down on the pillow, closed my eyes, and continued to lightly rub a finger against her breast.

Philomena was dead to the world as my other hand gently massaged a butt cheek. Yeah, life is good. Man, I love magic. But I didn’t want to push my luck too much with this. So, I stopped tickling her breast and waited for her to wake up.

I didn’t have to wait for all that long before she started to wake up. Apparently, she wasn’t one of those that are instantly awake in the morning. But one of those that slowly wakes up. This was apparent as she moaned slightly before opening her eyes.

My own eyes opened as I turned my head to look down at her. And as our eyes met, I could tell that she was still half asleep. So, I smiled and whispered to her, “Morning honey.”

She groaned slightly before softly saying back to me, “Morning,” and proceeded to close her eyes going back to sleep.

I waited for it.

It was around fifteen, or so give or take, seconds later is when the situation caught up with her. Her whole body stiffened instantly, though she didn’t let go of my arm, right before her eyes popped open as far as they could go. A second later her head slowly turned to look up at me, her eyes wide in surprise and shock. Now, remember, I was wearing the shorts I wear to bed, so she couldn’t see me. I wasn’t wearing anything else though.

This was too good. I held in my mirth and simply smiled down at her before leaning down to lightly kiss her. “Hi,” I whispered because Philomena was still asleep. However, I don’t think she’d be asleep for much longer when Twilight exploded. Which should be any second now.

She didn’t explode as I thought, but put a hand on the bed, the other hand on my chest, and leaned up looking between her bed and myself. The shocked look on her face was now showing confusion as she kept looking between her bed and me. After a few seconds of this, she just looked down at me, still in shock with her mouth working like a fish out of water, with her hair falling forward to frame her confused face.

Slowly, I reached up and put a finger to her lips. “I won’t tell a soul,” I whispered very quietly to her with a smile, “I promise.” I did notice one thing during all this. She wasn’t wearing underwear. And one thing I kept in mind was that if I got away with this, there was no way I’d get away with it a second time. And the one thing that I knew was that if she ever found out, I was dead.

She still didn’t explode, but got off of the bed, still with a confused look on her face, and went back over to her side of the room. There she took out some clothes and walked toward the door. More than likely to go take a morning shower. And left. A couple of minutes later I heard the shower running.

I was definitely dead if she ever found out. At least if she exploded she got it out of her system. From there the morning went pretty uneventful. Twilight got done with her shower, came back to the bedroom to put her nightgown away, and then head downstairs to make some breakfast. Philomena woke up soon after where we showered together. A rather intimate shower that got a little heated and I got to preen her wings. I was getting better at that. The last to wake up was Spike. He didn’t wake up until the smell of breakfast wafting up the stairs.

At breakfast, Twilight ate rather quickly and quietly. Philomena and Spike could tell that something was bothering her, but all she said was that she needed to speak to Fluttershy about it.

“I wonder what she has to talk to Fluttershy about?” Spike asked aloud while blinking at the door.

“I don’t know,” I faked not knowing, even though I did, to keep what happened a secret. Then finished my breakfast.

“Hey, Philomena? Could you go find Rainbow and ask her to come to see me at Rarity’s when she has a chance?”

She nodded, “Yes. Why?”

“Yeah, why do you need to see Rainbow? And why are you going over to Rarity’s?” Spike asked as he looked at me a little suspiciously.

“Relax, Spike,” I chuckled at his jealousy. “Mom told me that she wanted me to come to Canterlot to visit with her and meet the Wonderbolts and other dignitaries. And because Rainbow is a big-time Wonderbolt fan and she wants to get to know me, I figure it would be a good chance for us. Rarity is going to help me with my multiple magic manipulations that she’s so good at.” Philomena nodded, understanding me. “What’s your schedule today, Spike?”

“The Cutie Mark Crusaders want my help with something, so I’ll be going over there right after breakfast,” he said with a slight shrug. “I’d rather be helping Rarity to be honest.”

“Well, can’t blame you there, Spike,” I told him with a smirk. “Rarity is a beautiful mare. Aren’t you a little young for her though?”

“You think that’s why she seems to tolerate me?” his question was a genuine one.

“While I can’t tell you for certain,” I began slowly and gently. “I will say that if she is anything like her human counterpart or other human women, then what they want, in general, is a man that’s older, taller, and stronger than they are. And in Rarity’s case, at least her counterpart anyway, tall dark, and handsome that can sweep her off her feet with romance. And with something dangerous mixed in, which goes with the dark.”

He looked like a whipped puppy. “So, how does she feel about me then? How does she see me as?”

I shook my head slightly with a shrug, “A cute puppy maybe? You’d have to ask her that, honestly. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings, mind you. But I also didn’t want to lie to you either.”

He nodded, “Yeah, I know. I get it. And I appreciate you being honest.”

“You’re welcome,” I told him before standing up and heading toward the door with Philomena. “Catch you later, Spike.”

^_^

As Philomena went off to find Rainbow, I went through town to get to Rarity’s. “Rarity? Are you awake?” I asked while knocking on the door of her boutique. There was silence for a short bit before Rarity’s head peeked out the upper window and looked down at me. “Good morning,” I said cheerfully with a wave.

“Good morning,” she said back, though with her face looking like she was half asleep and with a bad case of bedhead it looked like she just got up. Which would explain the tired response before yawning. That and the white silk opaque nightgown she was wearing kind of gave it away. “Let me see if I can get Sweetie to open the door.”

I nodded and waited as she ducked back inside again. A couple of minutes later her head popped back out the window again. This time with a key. “Sweetie doesn’t want to get up yet,” she dropped the key down to me. “Open the door and head on up with the key after you shut and lock it behind you. And make sure that the closed part of the sign is showing.”

I gave her a two-finger salute, “You got it,” and walked inside making sure to lock it behind me with the sign in the proper direction. Even with the light off, the way upstairs was easy to see. However, I wasn’t sure which room was hers. Then again I did know on which side of the building it was on. The upper floor seemed to have three rooms, which meant that of the two on the right only one was her room. I picked one and knocked on the door. “It’s me, Fred.”

“Come in,” Rarity called out to me.

Her room, though simple, was elegant. Underneath the window against the far wall, was a four-post bed complete with a semi-transparent bed curtain. On my left near the bed was a chest of drawers with a large mirror on top and a chair in front of it. On my right appeared to be a standalone closet with a privacy screen. And Rarity was behind it. Changing. Just one problem with that. As the sun shined through the window, and upon her, she cast a very provocative silhouette against the semi-transparent paper. It didn’t help that it had wide slits between each pane.

“Just put the key on the dresser,” she told me while waving a hand over the screen.

“Alright.” My voice probably sounded spaced-out, but that was due to the beautiful silhouette I was watching. Not to mention the peek-a-boos I was spotting through the cracks. And set the key on the dresser and decided to keep my back to her. “How are you Rarity? Since Manehattan?”

I heard her sigh from across the room. “I’m coming to terms with it and myself. You see, it happened in Manehattan. When I was a filly a human tried to ponynap me. I guess that’s when it all started for me.”

“And when you returned to Manehattan with me,” I faked understanding it considering I’ve seen it through her dreams already, “it all came forward again.”

“Yes,” Rarity confirmed.

I wanted to fill the silence with something and a thought came to mind. “It is said,” I spoke softly, still with my back to her, “that your worst enemy is always yourself.”

My ears picked up the sound of the screen being pushed aside. “You kept your back turned?” Why?”

After taking a peek, and seeing her wrapped in a robe, I turned to her. A white robe with her cutie mark on it. It looks like she was heading toward the bathroom. I did my best to keep my eyes on her face, but couldn’t help taking glances down. “Well, your screen is semi-transparent, cracks between the panes, and with the sun shining through the window you created a beautiful sight. Actually.” While I was talking she walked over to me. “I know it sounds cliché...but...”

To my surprise, she wasn’t mad, or even upset. “You think I’m beautiful?” She didn’t ask it in an alluring way either. It sounded like an honest question.

“Yes, I do. And if I am to be totally honest, then ever since I came to this world and having magic, it seems like my hormones are on overdrive,” I chuckled a little nervously, clasping my hands behind me. “But it should pass.”

“Well, thank you,” she said, but sounded unsure of herself and even started blushing. “My...counterpart said that you are a wonderful person that she trusts implicitly. Because she loves you”

I gave her an amused smirk, “I don’t think we’re there yet.”

She shook her head with a slight smile in agreement. “No, but I want to work on me trusting you, as she does.”

“I’d like that,” I told her, raising a hand up to gently cup her chin or muzzle in her case, and look into her eyes, “but you realize that it took a few years to get there. And even though I appreciate you wanting to trust me and working toward that end. I also don’t want you pushing yourself where you are uncomfortable either.”

“I understand,” she reached up and took my hand in hers, “but I have to start somewhere.”

“You already have, Rarity.” She looked up at me slightly confused. “You have already invited me into your room while you were changing behind the privacy screen that wasn’t all that private. You’ve already taken a first step.”

Now she was really blushing. “I didn’t realize...”

“I didn’t see any details,” I told her quickly to reassure her. “Only a silhouette, but a beautiful one though. It was very picturesque.”

“Thank you, Fred,” her voice had that embarrassed though liking the compliment tone to it with a volume similar to Fluttershy. She was also smiling though still blushing.

“You’re welcome,” I said with a smile.

“I’ll go take a shower then we can start on the lessons,” she told me, her voice sounding more business-like. I nodded to her then she headed to the door. Only to stop at the door with her hand on the doorknob. She just stood there for a second, not moving. Then she let go of the knob and look at me with determination written on her face. “You said that you didn’t want me to do something uncomfortable.” I nodded, not knowing where this was going. “But when you want to take a leap of faith, it makes you uncomfortable. And when trusting someone you might have to, or want to, put yourself in an uncomfortable position. I want to take a leap of faith this morning with you, Fred.”

I looked at her totally confused.

“I am going to put my complete faith and trust in you this morning,” she told me, walked up to me, and took my hand. And by the hand, she led me out the door and into the bathroom next door. After walking in, she shut the door behind her before turning to me. I could tell that she was nervous and uncomfortable. It showed in the way she looked at me and how her body was giving off waves of nervousness. “I’m going to trust you not to look as I undress and take a shower.”

That shocked me and it showed on my face. I'm sure my eyes looked like they were bugging out of my head.

“I want to take this leap of faith in you while I feel the most vulnerable,” she was fidgeting with the string of her robe as she talked to me. “I want to take this leap of faith for me and for us.”

“I...I don’t know what to say,” my head shook slightly at her. So, without anything coming to mind, I simply turned toward the corner of the room and closed my eyes. I had to stare at the corner, so I wouldn’t be tempted to look in the mirror that was by the door over the sink and medicine cabinet.

My ears picked up the sound of her removing her robe. “How did your mother take the news regarding Manehattan?” A second later I heard her pull back the shower curtain and turn on the water.

“As any mother would, I’d imagine.” I tried to make my voice sound normal, but how could it be normal when a beautiful woman is showering and you can’t look? “Even last night in Luna’s dreamscape she wouldn’t let me go while we were talking. And partly because of what happened in Manehattan that she wants me to come back home for at least a couple of days.”

“To Canterlot?” she asked as my ears heard the sound of water splashing around.

“Yes,” I continued. “Partly to spend some time with me and partly to meet some other ponies. The Wonderbolts for one and foreign dignitaries for another. She let me bring two with me. One being Philomena considering she won’t leave my side for hardly anything. The other is Rainbow. I thought we’d use this opportunity to get to know each other better. And she is always wanting to spend time with the Wonderbolts.”

“That she does,” she said as water still splashed around. “She’s been a big fan of them ever since she was a little filly. Even more so now that she won the Best Young Flier competition three years ago with her sonic rainboom. I know because she saved my life doing it.”

“How did that happen?”

She sighed, sounding embarrassed as the sound of the water changed. Probably doing her hair. “In order for us to be there for her during the competition, Twilight used a spell on me that created huge butterfly wings. She used a cloud walking spell on the rest. I entered the competition in spite of Rainbow. I got so carried away with my new beautiful wings that we went out together. My replacing her song with mine screwed up her performance. I, on the other hand, flew up too high making my wings disappear. I started falling. The Wonderbolts flew after me but my flailing knocked them out. That’s when Rainbow used her sonic rainboom to rescue me and the Wonderbolts before we died.”

It was really tempting to turn around and look, but I didn’t. “Wow,” was all that I could really say to that.

“I owe her,” she said softly then went silent. I didn’t know what to say, but apparently, she wasn’t done just yet. “I was wondering...” she paused as if trying to put together the words, “could you ask your mother if it would be alright for me to come as well?”

I thought for a second. “I don’t see why not, but we’d have to talk to her through Twilight. Why do you want to come?”

She seemed to take a deep breath and let it out. “The biggest reason is to apologize to your mother.” Then her voice sounded almost like a schoolgirl, “And to spend more time with you.”

“I’d like that, but we’d have to speak to Twilight before leaving. And that’s tonight. Mother told me last night about it.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem,” I heard her say before the water stopped and the curtain got pulled back. My body was just itching to turn around for a quick peek. But I didn’t. Barely. Secretly I took a slow deep calming breath and steeled my resolve. “I know you didn’t look,” she said softly as I felt her wet fur-covered hand on my arm. “And that proves that you are a true gentlestallion and prince.”

“I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t tempted,” my own voice sounded a little nervous right now.

“And as tempted as you were, you didn’t look. Thank you and my counterpart was right about you,” she told me with a voice sounding happier than before. Like she had a smile on her face. “I’m glad I trusted you and took that leap of faith.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin when a knock sounded at the door. “Rarity? You done with the shower yet?” It was Sweetie Belle.

“Yes, dear. In a minute,” Rarity called out as I heard material rustling. Less than a minute later, Rarity touched my arm again. “You can look, darling,” she told me softly. With her hand, she told me it was alright to turn around by pulling it slightly. I turned to look and saw her wearing what was a combination of a towel and a large robe. It was one of those large robes that were as long as a dress that wrapped around you. It was white, thick straps on her shoulders, and her cutie mark on it. “Let’s continue this in my room,” she said before opening the door, showing Sweetie standing there in her own cute nightgown.

“Finally,” Sweetie threw up her hands in the air in frustration.

“Sorry dear,” she apologized while pulling me out of the bathroom with her. “It’s all yours.”

Sweetie’s eyes caught mine as we passed each other. Hers looked totally confused as to why I was with her sister in the bathroom. If it was a cartoon, a large question mark would have been over her head. My response was to smile nervously with a small wave as Rarity pulled me back into her room again.

Once we were in the room again, she walked over to the dresser and sat down in the chair. Still, with the towel robe on, she picked up a brush and started working on her hair. “Now then, tell me more about why your mother wanted you back to Canterlot.”

“From what I understand,” I started to explain while moving over to the bed to sit down. “It’s not just a meet and greet alone. The Wonderbolts and dignitaries are there to discuss something called the Equestria Games.”

“Oh that’s right,” she paused, taking a look over at me, “you don’t know about the games do you?” I shook my head. “It’s games that are held every four years here in Equestria. One town gets picked to host the games where nations from all over come to compete.”

I chuckled, shaking my head slightly. “And as usual the human world has something just like it.”

“Really?”

“Yep. They’re called ‘The Olympic Games’ and held every four years where nations from across the world gather to compete in friendly events.” A playful smirk worked its way onto my face, “I think I’ll tell Mother to have Equestria quit mimicking the human world.

She laughed with an ‘it is on’ look on her face. “What if the human world is mimicking us, my dear Fred?”

“Yeah, I doubt that,” I chuckled playfully at her where she simply huffed at me and went back to brushing and styling her hair. “Anyway, with the meeting about the games being tomorrow morning, she thought it would be a good time for me to visit.”

“Rarity? Fred?” came Rainbow’s sudden call from downstairs interrupting us.

“Way earlier than I thought,” I mused and headed toward the door. “I’ll see if she wants to come.”

Rarity giggled at that, looking at me with a knowing smirk, “I think you know that answer.”

“Yeah,” I turned my head to her and grinned as I grabbed the door. “But I can still have some fun with her though.” Then left, heading downstairs. “I’m coming Rainbow.”

“Alright, Fred I’m here,” Rainbow looked at me with a look of annoyance with her arms crossed under her chest. She was wearing her usual sports outfit, as always. “What do you want to talk to me about? Philomena wouldn’t tell me.”

“Mom told me last night that she wants me to come home to Canterlot,” I began cryptically. “Being a mother, and after everything that has happened, she’s feeling lonely for me. That and there’s a meet and greet regarding the Equestria Games coming up and she wants to introduce me to some ponies.”

Rainbow shrugged, not looking too impressed, “Yeah, ok, but what does that have to do with me?”

“I was wondering if you’d like to come with me, Philomena, and Rarity?” I walked up to her and looked down at her with barely a smirk. I knew how this conversation was going to go.

She laughed, waving it off, “And deal with all those snob nosed nobles? Yeah, right. No thanks.” And that’s when she turned around on me, “If that’s what you wanted to ask me then I got better things to do than deal with those ponies.”

“So you don’t want to meet nobles?” my voice was filled with mischief as I grinned to her backside.

“Nope,” she kept walking.

“Not even my mother and Aunt Luna?”

“As great as they are,” she said stopping at the door, “not while they’re with nobles.” And then opened the door.

“Alright then,” I gave an exaggerated sigh of disappointment, “I’ll let my mother know that you don’t want to meet the Wonderbolts either.”

She stopped dead in her tracks, frozen as the words hit her ears. For a split second, there were two of them. She had moved from the door to directly in front of me so fast that she left a ghost image of her behind at the door. “The Wonderbolts?” she asked while looking up at me like a puppy with her favorite toy, wagging tail and all.

Lowering my head down to hers, I gave her a wide grin, “Yes, Rainbow. The Wonderbolts. Mom wants to introduce me to them. However, that would mean having to deal with the nobles and dignitaries in order to talk with them. And no slipping out before it’s over either. And it would mean dressing up and staying by my side the whole time. Think of it as one of our get to know each other meetings.”

Her face contorted a little as the gears in her head started turning over the pros and cons.

“Think of meeting the nobles as battle training,” I whispered to her with a smirk.

“Alright, alright, I’ll go. When is it?” she said while not looking too happy, but not wanting to miss the opportunity either.

“Tomorrow morning,” I smiled down at her. “We leave on the last train tonight.”

She nodded up to me before looking a little glum, “And because Rarity is coming she’ll want to do something with my mane and tail to go with the dress she made for me. I just know it.”

A chuckle escaped from me, “No doubt, but would it be worth it?”

“Yeah,” she gave a mix between a smile and a smirk, “it will be.”

“And,” I leaned in conspiratorially, “we could always pull a few pranks as well.”

A slow mischievous grin spread across her face, “I’m all in.”

“And you know Philomena is in.”

“Aw, yeah,” Rainbow rubbed her hands together like an evil villain. “She’s good at pranks. I’ll be on the train, but until then I got work to do. See ya.” She was off again, leaving her signature rainbow trail behind her after she walked out the door. With my fun with Rainbow out of the way, I headed back upstairs. Knocked on the door first. “Rarity? You decent?”

“Yes, come on in,” was her reply.

“Well, I had my fun with Rainbow for the morning and she’ll be at the train tonight.” As I walked in my eyes saw her getting dressed behind the screen again. And still giving me a beautiful silhouette to burn into my memory before I turned around that is. “She was headed toward the door when I mentioned the Wonderbolts. And when she heard it, she moved soo fast that for a second I saw two of them.”

Rarity giggled, “I’ve seen her do that before. And now with that out of the way, we can start on your lessons Twilight assigned to you.”

Oh, joy. So, you can imagine how the rest of my day went. All through the rest of the morning and into the afternoon, taking a break for lunch that is, Rarity had me working on levitating more than one object at a time. She’s actually a good teacher, I’ll give her that. All throughout the day I didn’t see or hear from either Twilight or Rainbow. Not that I expected to of course, but after this morning I wondered how Twilight was doing. And whether or not I went too far. I still didn’t see her when I picked up my clothes from the library and headed to the train station either.

As usual, Philomena was at my side ever since we met back up at the library, clinging to my arm. Rarity and Rainbow were already at the train station when we got there. And the train ride itself wasn’t all that interesting, just us riding the train with some conversation here and there. The fun didn’t start until we got to Canterlot.

^_^

“CANTERLOT,” came the conductor’s call through the train as we pulled into the train station. After I grabbed my bag and Philomena took my arm again, I had to watch out for Mother. “Just a word of caution girls,” I warned them as we exited the train, “when you hear my mother keep at least ten feet away.”

“Why?” Rainbow questioned as she shouldered her own bag and stepped out before me.

“You’ll see,” I chuckled with my head immediately on a swivel as I left the car. I knew she was out there. As the throng of ponies came and went around me, both Rarity and Rainbow had no clue why I was acting like this. “She’ll come,” I whispered, acting like prey being hunted, “when you least expect-“

“MY SUNSHINE BOY,” Mother’s loud cry came from the other end of the train platform.

“What the…” Rainbow questioned, turning to where my mother shouted.

“Here she comes. Incoming,” my own voice cried out in mock alarm as my eyes spotted her flying through the throng of ponies. Her wings buzzing behind her she zipped through them as if they were standing still. She almost looked like a mad pony with her arms outstretched and her eyes wide locked onto me like an incoming missile.

“My goodness.”

“Run girls save yourself,” I laughed waving them off as Philomena comically got behind me as if ducking for cover.

“NEPHEW!”

“Oh no, not Aunt Luna too!” I cried, waving off Rarity and Rainbow, which to their credit did back away from me. Luna was mimicking my mother’s attitude perfectly. And with both of them together zipping through the crowd with mad looks on their faces gave some a good fright.

“I MISSED YOU, MY SUNSHINE BOY!” “WE ARE SO GLAD THOU ART SAFE NEPHEW!” both of them shouted one after the other as they came flying through the crowd.

Both of them were almost to me as I watched Rarity and Rainbow out of the corner of my eye. “Wow, and I thought you were dramatic, Rarity,” Rainbow laughed at us but kept her distance.

My body gave out an “oof” as both my mother and Aunt Luna hit me at the same time. They both embraced me with their arms and wings while peppering me with kisses. Philomena was able to sneak away at the last moment leaving me to be the filling between a mother and aunt sandwich. During the kisses and the ‘love yous’ and ‘miss yous’ I heard Rarity giggling and simply going “aww.” Of course, she wasn’t the only one that was cooing at us. Much of the crowd around us was doing the same thing.

“I’m so glad that you are safe my sunshine boy,” mother cooed as her arms tried to squeeze all the air from my lungs.

“And we are so thankful for Philomena,” Luna echoes mother’s words with her own. And because my head was being squeezed, I couldn’t see how Luna grabbed Philomena and brought her into the group hug. But I heard it though. Philomena’s sudden and startled squawk hit my ears as Luna’s magic suddenly grabbed her and hauled her in.

And there we stood, Philomena and I, being smothered with kisses and affection as our breath was being squeezed out of our lungs. But eventually, Mother and Luna let us go. “Alright, I’m done,” mother let me go with a giggle before stepping back to take a good look at me.

“We see you brought the Element of Generosity as well,” Luna noticed as she looked over to them.

“Yeah,” I chuckled seeing them carefully step up to us. “Rainbow was a given, but Rarity asked to come and so here we are. Is that alright?”

“Oh yes, it’s fine,” she waved off my concern before taking my arm, leading me away from the train. Luna was on the other side with the girls following us. “Tomorrow morning at nine is when everything will start. I wanted you here for the meeting to not only meet them but also for political reasons as well.” The ponies parted for us as we left the station to a waiting chariot.

“And why politically?” Rarity asked, curious. Good question, I was also curious.

“Because it will be the first Equestria Games that will be actively used to push the end of slavery,” she explained, though her voice sounded unsure.

“Got it,” I nodded to her understanding. The chariot was larger than I thought it would be. It was large enough for all of us with mother, Luna, and I on one side with Philomena, Rarity, and Rainbow on the other. “Have you had dinner yet?”

“Nay, we have not,” Luna shook her head as the chariot jerked forward after a crack of a whip against the bulls pulling it.

“Then we can have dinner together,” was my suggestion.

“I even had some meat stocked for you son,” mother said to me with mixed feelings.

I brightened when hearing that, but not without noticing her mixed feelings about it. “Thank you mother,” I said with a smile and a hug. “I'm sure that makes you a little queasy.”

“Yes, it does I admit,” she hugged back. “But I do know what a requirement it is for you. And I want what's best for you.”

“Chicken?” Philomena asked with a face looking like she is asking for her favorite treat.

And while Luna, Rarity, and Rainbow made slight gagging faces my mother just smiled all the same. “Yes, there's chicken.”

“In that case, I've got a great idea,” a grin spread across my face while looking over to Philomena. Which she looked back at me with curiosity on her face. I winked to her, “Trust me, you'll love it.”

“You might, but I think we're about to lose our supper,” Rainbow complained, making a gagging sound.

“Sorry, Rainbow,” I shrugged. “But that's why I didn’t go into details about it.”

“Thanks, I think,” Rainbow muttered, “so can we talk about something else?”

“Yes,” Rarity spoke up softly while looking directly at my mother. “I need to explain myself while we still have privacy.” Rarity looked nervous and I knew why, but there was also a firm resolve and determination on her face. She took a second as if steeling herself for what she had to say. “I'm partly responsible for what happened to Fred in Manehattan.”

Luna remained quiet, just raised an eyebrow.

“How so?” mother asked quietly. There was that motherly gentleness in her voice, but her voice still held the tone of curiosity.

“Things weren't going well for me,” Rarity began slowly while looking right at my mother. “I gave some fabric to a competitor, which then used it to copy my whole line I was going to enter into the competition. Everypony, including Fred, encouraged me not to give up but that they would help me make more for the next morning. Inspiration struck and they all helped me put together the new line. However, I was frustrated and took it out on them. Pushing them too hard and then got upset with them when they complained, I ran out of the room. Fred followed while they continued working. That's when he saw me outside crying and came to comfort me, but I was too upset to listen. That's when the two constables saw me and you know the rest.”

When my mother didn't say anything right off, I interjected. “Mother, we talked it out together, and as a group, and worked it all out. I've already forgiven her.”

Mother smiled over at me giving me a sideways hug, and Luna was smiling as well. But Mother's voice didn't sound too happy when she spoke up. “Miss Rarity,” she sounded disappointed, “I thank you for telling me. It shows your honesty and commitment to resolving this. Even knowing who Fred is most might not want to come forward out of fear.”

“Yes, that is true,” Rarity nodded slowly, “I'll admit to being fearful about telling you. But I've also seen how my actions affected my friends. And yes, I want to include Fred as a friend. I've told him that I want to get to know him and trust him as a friend. I also know that also requires time. Which I'm willing to put forward.”

At first, after Rarity was done, there was only the sound of the chariot rolling down the stone bricked streets and the clip-clop of the bull's hooves. Then Luna spoke up softly with a voice of understanding. “To look at one's own faults, see how it affects others, and want to change yourself accordingly is always the hardest. Hard to face and to resolve. Looking back upon my life, I'm still ashamed of my actions even though my sister has forgiven me.”

Of course, we all knew what she was referring to. Her time as Nightmare Moon.

“Very well,” Mother said softly with a small smile, “then I'll leave it between my son and the Elements.”

“Thank you, Princess,” Rarity said thankfully with relief written on her face.

Rainbow, meanwhile, just looked uncomfortable during all of this. “Well, this is great and all, but I'm hungry,” Rainbow suddenly interjected to change the subject. “How 'bout you, Fred?”

“Yeah,” I agreed immediately wanting to change the subject as well, “I can't wait to get to the kitchen. How about me making dinner tonight? I'll already be there anyway.”

“Thank you, son,” Mother put her wing and arm around me hugging me from the side.

“Alright, just don't put meat into mine,” Rainbow warned with a slight sneer, “or we might have a problem.”

“Oh?” I raised an eyebrow at her. My inner ass decided to mess with her. “Or what? You'll punish me?”

She grinned, taking the bait. “I might, yeah.”

I put a hand to my chest in mock shock, “Why, Rainbow I didn't know you were into spanking.”

Everypony giggled, but Rainbow. Matter of fact, she looked at me with shock. For a split second her eyes went wide and she blushed beet red. Then a second later her upper lip curled up and she snarled at me, “Oh you are so going to pay for that one buddy.”

With a chuckle, I made a motion with my hands pretending to throw a line out for fishing. Then pretended to reel her in.

She knew what I was doing and smirked all the same, though still with fire in her eyes. “Yeah, yeah I get it. I fell for it. You're still going to pay for it, pal.”

I nodded to her while chuckling, “I know. I can see the gears turning in your head already.” And I could too. “It will be a good one I just know it.”

“Oh, you darn right it will,” Rainbow grinned like a maniac. “And it will come when you least expect it.”

“Of that, I have no doubt.” We fell into silence after that. It didn't take us long to get to the castle and then into it. Philomena and I went right to the kitchen where I started to prepare dinner. At least this time there wasn't a mare that would try to bonk me on the head with a frying pan. Always beware of a mare and her frying pan, those things hurt like hell. For my mother, Aunt, Rainbow, and Rarity I went with simple Alfredo shells with mixed vegetables mixed in. And while the shells were cooking I also cooked the chicken, so I could add it to Philomena's and mine. I did see Lucy Love again while I was cooking in the kitchen. We were able to catch up and talk. Nice mare. She even started helping with dinner after I told her what I was doing.

“So, what do you think?” I asked later to everyone after dinner was served, and they had a chance to taste it. I was already eating mine, as was Philomena.

Rainbow eyed me and the meal wearily, “You didn't put meat in mine did you?”

I chuckled with a smirk on my face, “No, Rainbow I didn't. Though I'll admit that it was tempting. However, I'm already being punished later, I don't want to dig my own grave.”

“Good call,” she stuck her tongue out at me and dug in.

“A simple, yet delectable dish,” Luna praised as she finished a couple of bites.

“It is very good, son,” she cooed leaning over to hug me again, “thank you for sharing.”

“You're welcome,” I hugged back.

“My this is good,” Rarity also praised.

Philomena complimented me by leaning over and rubbing her cheek against mine.

“At least there are good portions here,” Rainbow chuckled.

That got me a little confused. “What do you mean, Rainbow?”

“Well, whenever Rarity takes us to any of the places in Canterlot they always serve small portions,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “I mean come on, when I'm hungry I'm hungry. I go to eat, not stare at the meal and compliment how pretty it is. It's food, not art.”

“I, for one, agree with you on that one,” I chuckled when she rolled her eyes.

“Puhlease,” Rarity whined the first part of the word. “Just because it's food doesn't mean that one can't be elegant at the same time.”

“Rarity, elegance is one thing,” Rainbow pointed out, “but to keep a pony from enjoying a meal simply because you want it to look pretty is something else.”

I leaned over to whisper to Mother, “Why do I get the feeling this is an old argument?”

“Because it is, dear,” Rarity batted her eyes at me with a smile. “I for one think a meal can be elegant and delicious.”

“I don't mind that,” Rainbow reiterated, “I just want bigger portions. I want to eat, not take pictures of it.”

“Remember the small cakes of Maretonia, sister?” Luna suddenly asked.

I had no clue as to what nation that was. I really had to study up more.

My mother giggled, “Oh yes, I remember. Beautiful small cakes and very delicious.”

“Indeed, but I had to eat a whole plate full they were so small,” Luna shook her head, now having made her point.

“Ha,” Rainbow raised a glass to Luna, thank her.

“But smaller portions are good when one just wants a small portion,” Mother pointed out while taking small bites herself.

Rarity grinned with a nod and a “hmph.”

“Excuse me,” I interrupted immediately, “can you two not encourage this pointless argument?”

“Yes, of course,” Luna agreed with a nod. Then turned to Mother, “We must not let Fred see us fight.” Now I know she said it in a serious manner, but there was clear humor in it. That and I saw her smirk slightly at me when she said it.

With a sigh I went back to my dinner shaking my head, “I give up.”

^-^

After dinner Mother wanted to spend some time with me. I also wanted to spend this time with Rainbow and Rarity as well. So, I made a compromise. Tonight, I would spend it with Rainbow, because she wanted to pull pranks with Philomena and I. After the meet and greet tomorrow, I would stay here and spend some time with Mother and Aunt Luna until it was time for the Equestria games tryouts at the Wonderbolt’s training facility. Where I would go there to meet up with the girls as they came in on the train.

So, tonight was just Rainbow, Philomena, and I pulling pranks. Rainbow wanted it to be on the guards. Which I don’t blame her for and Philomena was all in on it.

“So, what are we going to do tonight?” Rainbow asked through a wide mischievous grin. After dinner, we had retreated to my bedroom to discuss our prank plans.

“That depends on what reaction you want to get out of them,” I grinned back at her. I had something in mind, but I wasn’t sure if she’d go for it.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, do you want them to laugh, cry, wince, or get hot a bothered under all that armor,” emphasizing my last option by wiggling my eyebrows at Rainbow.

She blushed when she heard it, but I could see the gears turning in her head.

“Sun princess teased guards in past,” Philomena said quietly with her own wicked looking grin on her face.

“Really?” Rainbow questioned to which Philomena nodded her head. She seemed to think about it. “I’ve never done anything like that before,” she said, blushing at the thought. “You think I can do something like that? You think I’m pretty enough? I mean, Rarity sure. She’s got the looks for it.”

“Rainbow,” my hand cupped her cheek, turning her head toward me. “You’re prettier than you are aware of, ok? You might need to learn the techniques, but let me just say that I can’t wait to see what Rarity does with you in the morning.”

“Really?” her eyes held in them a need to know.

“Yes, really,” confirmed for her with a smile and a nod. “Just don’t look at me to demonstrate for you. I don’t do guys and with me being human I doubt that any of the mare guards would take a glancing look at me. Besides, look at what you’re wearing.”

She looked down, a little confused, “What? Something wrong with this?”

I chuckled, “No, something right. You’re wearing a skin-tight sports bra and sports shorts that leave nothing to the imagination.”

“Yeah,” she shrugged, still not getting it, “I wear it all the time. It’s comfortable and aerodynamic.”

“It’s also hot and alluring,” my eyebrows wiggled at her to try and get the point across.

She looked down again, this time taking a longer look before blushing. “I think I get it.” A smirk played across her face. “I think I know why Thunderlane keeps taking passing glances at me all the time now.”

“Now you’re getting it.”

“Alright, so what do I do?” Rainbow stood up, looking toward the door. She was clearly out of her element with this. Just like her counterpart. Too much of a tomboy.

“Watch,” Philomena got off the bed and motioned for Rainbow to follow her. She opened the door and headed left down the hall with Rainbow beside her. There were always guards in the castle, just none at the doors. They were posted at the ends of the hallways. I guess so they could look at multiple hallways at a time, I don’t know. As they walked down the hallway Philomena was sashaying in a slow walk in her simple sundress. I leaned around the door frame to take a peek and watch.

The guards had chest plates, helmets, arm and leg guards on while having spears in their hands. Underneath the armor appeared to be a material similar to leather to prevent chafing. Both of the guards at the end of the hallway “T” section were stallions. Two earth ponies if my eyes were correct.

Once they were at the end of the hallway, Philomena walked right up to one of them and started flirting. Looking up to the guard and whispering something. Of course, she was too far away for me to hear what was being said. I think Rainbow started to get the idea because she walked right up to the other one, asked something, and then wiggled her butt at him. She didn’t stop there though because she started rubbing it with both hands while looking up at him.

And of course, the whole torture is that they can’t move or acknowledge their presence.

Rainbow got the idea to start doing some stretches in front of him. Stand up stretches. Especially the ones where she bends over at the waist, extending her wings, and then turning around and stretching the other way. That one really got the guard looking.

Got me looking too, actually. Just don’t tell Philomena that.

Now that Rainbow seemed to have the idea, Philomena blew a silent kiss to the guard, turned around, and started walking back to me. As she turned around she used her tail to accidentally brush up against him.

Shortly afterward, Rainbow stood up again from bending a leg up behind her and turned toward me as well. Rainbow used one of her wings to accidentally brush up against one of them.

I ducked back inside the room as they both came back in giggling.

“Can’t believe how much fun that was,” Rainbow looked over at Philomena with an excited face, as if she got her favorite present for Christmas. “All you did was whisper at him and had him going.”

Philomena giggled, bouncing a little on the edge of the bed when she sat down. “Your stretches had him looking and staring.”

Had me looking and staring.

“Fred next,” Philomena looked over at me with a smirk on her beak.

“Me?” I scoffed at her. “Yeah, right. Know of a female guard that likes me? Much less humans in general?”

Now she grinned at me. I wasn’t sure I liked that. “I did not say, guard.”

That got me thinking. True, it didn’t have to be a guard. And while thinking it over my eyes caught Philomena’s as she took a quick glance over to Rainbow. At first, I wasn’t sure if she was serious, but then she quickly glanced over at Rainbow again with a nod to me. She wanted me to flirt with Rainbow. Now there’s an interesting proposition.

“So, who did you have in mind then?” she asked, looking over at Philomena.

“You,” she pointed at Rainbow with a mischievous grin.

“Me?” now Rainbow was really confused.

“Well, think about it, Rainbow. If I can affect you, then I think there’s a good chance I can affect other mares.”

Rainbow crossed her arms under her chest and smirked at me, “Really? You think you can get to me?” It was a challenge that I wouldn’t mind trying. I told her as much by simply staring at her with a knowing smirk. “Alright, Fred. You’re on. Affect me without touching me.”

I had an idea of where to start. So, with her standing in the middle of the room, I walked behind her and leaned down, putting my lips close to her ear. “I was watching how you were stretching earlier.”

“Yeah? So?” was her nonchalant reply.

“So, I had the thought of you doing the exact same thing in front of me instead,” I whispered into her ear.

She turned her head to look up into my eyes. I could tell that she didn’t quite believe me. “Really?”

“Really, Rainbow,” I gave her a slow nod then stood up straight to stare down into her eyes with an intensity of my own. “Watching you stretch in front of me. Showing off your slim athletic feminine figure.” I gripped the bottom of my shirt with my hands. “Especially the one where you face me then stretch over backward,” my voice took on a bedroom quality to it as I raised my shirt over my head, taking it off.

Rainbow was blushing.

“Putting yourself on display just for my viewing pleasure,” I whispered to her, tossing my shirt over to the bed. “Leaning down, raising one of your slim beautiful legs up to run your hand up it. All while looking up at me with bedroom eyes as your hand rubs yourself. Up your stomach to your breasts where you trace around one of them.” My own heart was beating faster as I was genuinely getting excited over this little fantasy I was telling. It showed in my eyes as I looked down at her. She not only was blushing hard, but her wings were rising on their own.

“You whisper my name,” I continue softly while standing directly in front of her, “asking me if I like what I see?” My eyes roam across her slim athletic figure. “I’ll say, ‘Yes, Rainbow. I do. I see a beautiful mare who loves teasing me. And that’s not very nice of her.’ You’ll grin at me and turn around to say, ‘You’re right. That’s not nice.’ Then you’ll stick your butt out closer to me.” Her deepening blush told me that she knew exactly where I was going with this. And her body’s response was to raise her wings high as they started quivering slightly. Her mouth was hanging open slightly with eyes slightly wide in arousal. “You’ll look up at me and say, ‘Then why don’t you spank me. I’ve been a very naughty mare.’ You’ll take my hand in yours and put it against your firm ass. Letting me gently rub and squeeze.” As I spoke to her in soft whispered, trying to be as sensual as possible, she tried to hide what was clearly happening to her. Even I could tell that her wings were painfully stiff. Her eyes were dilated, her mouth hanging slightly open, and her breathing slow and steady were all indications of deep arousal. Slowly I moved behind her in order to put my head down close to hers again. Then gently blew against her ear.

And that snapped her out of it. She took a few quick steps forward away from me before spinning around. “Wow, would you just look at the time,” she said in an almost rapid-fire way as she started back away toward the door. “I’d better get some sleep if I want to endure whatever Rarity has in store for me in the morning. See ya.” As she got to the door she quickly opened it and would have walked through if it wasn’t for her wings. With how stiff they were, they prevented her from leaving. She cursed softly before turning sideways to get out the door before quickly shutting it.

While I was staring at the door, I heard, “Fred,” from Philomena. And it was the slow alluring bedroom vibe tone of voice too. And when I turned around, she was standing in front of me. Her eyes were locked onto mine with lust in them. She hiked one leg up to rub against mine while pressing her body against me. “It got to me,” she whispered as I put my arms around her and held her slim form against my body.

“You know when you healed me you also erased your scratches,” I whispered while looking down at her. She didn’t say anything as she searched my eyes. “Put them back,” my voice was filled with arousal and passion that wasn’t a suggestion to her.

She did.

^_^

“I think the whole castle heard you two,” Luna shook her head with a giggle as I appeared in front of her.

All I could do was shrug sheepishly, “Sorry?”

“I doubt she was,” Luna smirked at me before changing the subject. “So what would you like to do tonight?”

I just smiled at her, “How about something together?”

She stepped up to me with a wide happy smile and hugged me. “I’d like that, my nephew.” Her hand raised up as orbs swirled around, “Let’s see what nightmares are around tonight.” Orbs swirled around her and continued to do so for a good few minutes. Before she hummed in thought, “Seems there're no nightmares tonight. Or shall I say none that can’t solve themselves.” Lowering her hand, she turned toward me with the orbs slowing down to return to their natural movement. “So, why don’t we do something just for fun?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“It would have to be here in the dreamscape because you are asleep,” she mused, clasping her hands behind her in thought as if a teacher thinking of the best way to teach her student. “You have somepony in mind?”

A grin slowly crept up on my face. “I might have one. What is Twilight dreaming about right now?”

She raised her hand bringing the orb closer. “Now this is interesting,” Luna mumbled quietly while gazing into the dream. “It appears to be about you.”

“Really?” stepping closer, I gazed into it as well. “Can’t imagine why with everything going on between us.”

“Oh?” Luna looked at me, raising an eyebrow now curious.

I chuckled, “Four times now she’s inadvertently walked in on me while I was naked. I decided to play a prank on her one morning. I woke up before she did and Philomena and I were in one bed and she was in the other with Spike in his smaller one between us.” Luna nodded for me to continue. “Well, I’ve been practicing my levitation. And I was able to levitate Twilight over to mine. Surprisingly she latched onto me when she came into contact with me. Whispered my name and snuggled up to me. Surprising, but ok.” I laughed at the memory, “She was so shocked when she woke up with me and Philomena. But she didn’t blow up like I thought she would have. She just eventually stood up to begin her day with the gears turning in her head. Part of me worries that I might have gone too far.”

Luna hummed in thought. “Might have. However, this dream isn’t a nightmare and it’s about you. Shall we go see?”

“Sure,” I couldn’t contain my excitement or my curiosity any longer and touched Twilight’s orb when Luna did. A flash of light later, and we were inside Twilight’s dream. I was surprised to find myself in the upstairs bedroom and laying on the bed. Naked. “You put me in the dream didn’t you?” I asked looking up to my Aunt.

She was blushing a little when she saw me and giggling.

“Could you…?”

“Nay,” she gave me a mischievous smirk and looked around everywhere but at me, “I want to see where this leads. Twilight will not see me nor hear me.”

“Great,” I mumbled just before hearing some hoofsteps coming up the stairs. One guess as to who it was.

“Why am I not surprised at this?” Twilight asked, not bothering to blow up at me. Instead, she chose to walk up to the bed with a frustrated snort, almost like a bull, and stare down at me.

I gave a nervous shrug while putting my hands up in surrender. “Because it’s happened so many times that you just expect it to happen now,” I told her with a face as if I told the correct answer to a difficult question.

She threw her hands up and started to pace in front of the bed. “But why does this keep happening? This defies all the laws of probabilities.”

“That I can’t help you with. Though I do have a confession to make,” I told her knowing how she’ll react. At least in the real world anyway.

She stopped and looked over at me as if I had the answer to all of this.

“Remember when you woke up in my bed with Philomena and I?”

“Yes,” she said slowly while looking like she’s not going to like what I said next.

“Well,” I started saying sheepishly, “it’s kind of my fault. You see I used my magic to levitate you over to my bed as a joke.” Her face started to tighten. “I thought you’d blow up at me, honest. It was a good idea at the time. You’d seen me naked a few times already, so I thought we’d have a good laugh about it.”

Her eyes were now read and her mane and tail had started smoking.

“Or not,” my voice took on a mouse’s squeak quality to it while seeing Twilight’s transformation.

She stood there simmering for a minute, or two before there was a sudden look of recognition in her eyes. “Fred?” she asked slowly while her eyes looked around.

“Yes?”

“This is a dream and that is the real you isn’t it?”

She didn’t have to wait for the answer because Luna appeared beside the bed. “You are correct, Twilight.”

“Damn it,” I muttered softly while looking at doom in the face.

“Where’s Fred right now?”

“He is with me and his mother in Canterlot for the meet and greet in the morning,” Luna replied.

I didn’t like how the wicked grin of payback slowly spread across Twilight’s face as she looked down at me. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Which is just about to cal-“

^_^

“WAKE UP,” somepony suddenly screamed into my ears startling me awake. But that wasn’t it though, this mare was also dragging me out of bed and while I was still half asleep. Luna didn’t get to finish what she wanted to say because of this mare. So, I went from looking at Twilight and hearing Luna’s voice to the waking world being forcefully woken up. Of course, while my body was being dragged across the room my dream fuddled mind hadn’t caught up yet.

“Come on,” the girlish raspy voice told me, “it’s time for your morning punishment.”

“No…wait,” I tried saying through my morning fogged out mind, “I’m sorry, it was just a joke.” I suddenly felt tile under my feet as she stopped pushing and pulling, leaving me to sway a little standing up.

“You’re forgiven,” she said then I heard a little soft squeak. “Now here’s the punishment, Fred.”

Right before my whole body was drenched in ice-cold water. “WHOA!” I was awake in an instant and not only shivering from the sudden onslaught but also recognizing who it was. A normal reaction was to back away from the water. Which I did, but toward her instead of away from her. And I was naked at the time, so I got…

“Nice ass,” she exclaimed and smacked my rear end.

Which made me turn around and face her. Of course with what Philomena and I did last night plus the cold water gave me morning wood. I raised a finger to admonish her, only to get…

“Nice wood,” she giggled at me and pat my semi-hard member, which shocked me into silence. Then she pats my chest with a “Nice morning,” to me before turning around and walking away. My ears picked up the sound of her going to the door, opening it, and then leaving the room with a laugh.

Philomena was standing there giggling at me as I turned around, turned the water on hot, but not boiling, and waited for it to heat up before plunging into it. I groaned as the warm water flowed over me, my head, and down my back. “I’m so screwed this morning,” I muttered remembering what I had woken up from.

Seeing my distress, Philomena walked in, and in front of me, and pushed me back enough for her to hug me. “What worries you?”

I sighed hugging her in return and then told her what happened between Twilight and I while she was asleep. To my surprise, she found it funny as well. However, I then pointed out that Twilight was on her way to Canterlot even as we were speaking. With that sobering thought in our heads, we enjoyed showering together before she rubbed her cheek against mine.

“Need to be with Rarity for dress,” she told me after putting on her simple one-piece dress.

I already had the suit with me in the bag, so everything was set for me. “Alright,” I told her with a smile. And with one last hug and rub from her cheek, she was out the door. Leaving me to get dressed with the thoughts of my impending doom.

^_^

Breakfast was actually going to be part of the meeting this morning. So, my whole schedule was to get dressed, which I already did, and to meet up with my mother. Which I was about to do. My suit was the typical black jacket and pants with a white shirt and tie setup. The whole meet and greet would be in the throne room, so she told me to meet her in the hall of heroes just outside of it.

“Good morning, my sunshine boy,” mother greeted me with a smile a mile wide and a deep hug.

“Good morning, mother,” I returned the hug. Then turned to Luna, “Good morning Aunt Luna.”

“Good morrow, nephew,” she said happily with an air of foreboding around her because of last night. “Who woke you up from your slumber this morning?”

I chuckled, “Rainbow. It was my punishment for yesterday.” We were standing just outside of the throne room doors. Mother was in her regal white gown and Aunt Luna was in her dark blue one. Complete with regalia.

They both giggled at the look on my face. “Well, you don’t look worse for wear,” Mother pointed out.

I shook my head while thinking, ‘Not yet.’

“And you do look handsome my sunshine boy,” Mother cooed at me while straightening up my collar.

“Thank you, Mother,” I smiled at her. That won’t last for long if Twilight has anything to say about it. “What’s the schedule for this morning?”

“First is going to be the greeting,” she told me. “Where everypony, or everyone, gets to meet everypony else. This is when I’ll introduce you to everyone when they arrive. After that is breakfast, buffet style, and yes son, there will some meat there for you.” When she said that I said a soft “yes” in response before she continued. “Then the meeting about the Equestria Games will start,” she continued with a soft smile, seeing my reaction. “That will be short. Relatively. Where I will mention how it will be dedicated to the abolishment of human slaves.”

“Sounds simple enough,” I nodded while wondering when Twilight will crash this little party during all that.

“Just don’t start without us,” came Rainbow’s excited voice from down the hall. And when I turned to say something, I froze.

My eyes widened in order to take them all in. Even Rainbow was beautiful, and that was saying something. Rarity went all out with their dresses. And apparently tight-fitting was the trend. Rainbow’s dress was a strapless tube dress that hugged her body to accent her streamlined curves. It even had a short train attached to the waist of her dress. Light blue in color with white lace trim on both the dress and the train. The train had a back only, no front which made eyes wander to her sensuous curves. And I don’t know how, but Rainbow’s hair was probably the most attractive feature. Her normal windblown long thick hair had been shortened because of the curls that were added. All the changes made for an eye-popping attractive mare.

Rarity’s dress was a white backless curve-hugging mini-dress with a deep v-cut down the front that dipped below the bust line. The silk lace-trimmed shawl covered the straps that tied off behind her neck, coming forward to button together just above the tops of her generous breasts. Which gave my eyes some beautiful eye candy side boob action. Her hair was more straight than her normal curled, but it looked beautiful on her. And by the smile she was giving me, she knew it too.

Philomena was arguably the most attractive and beautiful, though I am biased. Hers was similar in style to Rarity’s, but instead of the front going straight up to cover her breasts, her front crisscrossed over her breasts. Which drew my eyes in the valley between them. Rarity also did her hair in curls like she did Rainbow’s. Rarity picked the color and the dress just right. The light yellow went with the natural colors of her feathers, hair, and tail.

“Dude,” Rainbow walked up and waved a hand in front of my face, “you alright? You’re starting to freak me out.”

“It’s called a compliment, my dear Rainbow Dash,” Rarity giggled at the look I was giving them. “The wide eyes and slack jaw is his way of telling us that we’re beautiful. Because his mind has yet to catch up to what his eyes are seeing.”

“Indeed,” I heard Luna agree while my eyes latched onto Philomena.

I just heard giggling from my mother as Philomena stepped up to me with a knowing smirk and bedroom eyes. “You like?” she asked softly.

My response was to gently take her hand in mine and bring it up to my lips, kissing it. “You are truly beautiful tonight, my mate,” my voice was a whisper, filled with love and awe at the sight of her.

“Thank you,” she whispered back with our eyes locked onto one another.

“All three of you are beautiful tonight,” I said to them, now taking a moment to take Rarity’s hand. “I thank you, Lady Rarity,” I told her kissing it, “for your efforts this morning.”

“You’re welcome, darling,” she gave me a smile in return as I let her hand go and turned to Rainbow.

“So help me if you kiss my hand…” she started to say as I did just that. She had a look of ‘don’t you dare’ on her face before I took her hand. Afterward, the look changed to ‘you’re so going to get it later’ as I kissed it.

“You look beautiful, Rainbow Dash,” I told her with a grin on my face while searching her eyes. Even though the slight sneer she was giving me, she was blushing as well.

She yanked her hand away with a small snort of embarrassment, turning her head away from me. “Yeah well, thanks I guess. You’re still going to pay for it later.”

“It’ll be worth it,” I told her in all honesty before returning to Philomena’s side, putting an arm around her to hold her to me. “The Wonderbolts will be here right, Mother?”

She nodded to me while smiling at me for my chivalry, “Yes, they might be here already. They are always one for being punctual.”

“Mind if we start with them first? That way Rainbow Dash can go ahead and speak with them and try to avoid the rest of the nobles.” Out of the corner of my eye Rainbow perked up instantly.

Mother giggled with a nod, “Sure. Let’s check and see if they’re here.” Mother turned around, used her magic to open the doors, and walked in with us behind her. Two guards stood at attention at both side doors and the front larger double doors, that led to the courtyard.

“There they are,” Rainbow squealed softly and nearly started bouncing in place like Pinkie Pie as she spotted them not far away.

“Captain Spitfire,” Mother said to get their attention as we walked up to them. “I’d like to introduce someone to you.”

The three Wonderbolt’s present turned and saluted. “Princess Celestia, Princess Luna,” Spitfire spoke for the group as she eyed both Mother and Aunt Luna. She wore a dress that was almost exactly like Philomena’s. Her hair was cut short and spiked instead of long like Rainbow’s. Her eyes held the look of a soldier in command.

“Captain, this is my son,” Mother motioned to me with her hand as I stepped up presenting my hand to her, “Fred Justice.”

She took my hand in hers, “At your service, Captain.” She took the kissing of her hand in stride as if she’s had it done to her a number of times.

“My prince,” she said in the same military stoic manner to me as she did to my mother.

“Please, Captain, just call me Fred. I may have been born a prince, but I want to earn that title,” I told her.

She shook her head, “Sorry, can’t sir. Military protocol.”

“Figured,” I muttered quietly with a small smile, then turned to Rainbow. “I hear that you already know Rainbow Dash and Rarity.”

Spitfire smiled as her eyes landed on Rainbow, “Yeah, she’s the one that won the Best Young Fliers competition by not only saving Blaze, Soarin, Rarity, and I but also performing the legendary sonic rainboom.”

“Yes, I apologize again,” Rarity said sheepishly, “it wasn’t one of my best moments.”

“It’s alright,” Spitfire dismissed with a wave, “it all worked out in the end.”

“Captain,” Rainbow saluted sharply though looking like a young child meeting their mentor for the first time. “An honor meeting you again.”

Spitfire chuckled softly but saluted all the same. “At ease rookie, before you sprain something. You remember my second in command, Commander Soarin? And Lieutenant Commander Blaze?”

“I sure do,” Rainbow saluted them as well before shaking their hands as they wanted.

“Yeah,” Soarin was looking at Rainbow the same way I did with his voice sounding a little spaced-out.

“Did Rarity make that dress for you?” Blaze asked while looking Rainbow over.

“Oh yeah, she did,” Rainbow answered, fiddling with the train, “this breaks away if I take off fast enough.”

Blaze was looking at the dress carefully. She had on a typical formal dress so it wasn’t aerodynamic as Rainbow’s. “Wow, Miss Rarity, you sure did a great job on it. Could you make me one as well? Having that train breakaway is an ingenious idea.”

“Why surely, Lieutenant Commander,” Rarity beamed. “You can come by my shop in Ponyville anytime for a fitting.”

Out of the corner of my eye, the front door opened with Cadence and Shining Armor strolling in. Shining was in a formal suit like mine with Cadence in a long full-length formal dress that was light pink. Surprise, surprise.

Shining Armor, my brain updated. Crap, I forgot all about him. He’s going to have a cow when he finds out why Twilight is coming this morning. We didn’t leave on good grounds, so I could use them as an out to get away from the Wonderbolts, so Rainbow could have her fun with them. “If you’ll excuse me Captain, Commander, and Lieutenant Commander,” I nodded to each of them one by one, “Cadence and Shining Armor just walked in and I’d like to say hello.”

“Certainly, my prince,” the Captain excused me while I gave Rainbow the signal for her to stay here, which she was grateful for. And with Philomena, Rarity, Mother, and Aunt Luna in tow, I headed toward Cadence and Armor.

“Cadence,” Mother said getting their attention with a wave.

“Aunty Tia, Aunty Luna,” Cadence waved excitedly as we strolled up to them before hugging both of them. Shining Armor’s eyes were already boring into me as I walked up. “Cousin Fred,” Cadence giggled and hugged me as well. “I’ve heard you’ve had an adventure already.”

“Yes, you could say that,” I gave her a chuckle while attempting to shake Armor’s hand. Though it was more of to see who could break the other’s hand in the span of three seconds.

And once I had my hand back I motioned to Philomena, “Cadence, this is Philomena.”

Cadence gasped before squealing softly with a wide happy smile, “This is Philomena?” Philomena smiled with a nod. “Wow, you are simply gorgeous.”

“You can thank Rarity for that,” I told her before Cadence took both of Philomena’s hands in hers.

I was curious to see Cadence get close before squealing excitedly. “Oh we have to talk,” Cadence started pulling Philomena away from us. “Aunty Celestia, Luna,” Cadence signaled for them to follow which they did with some giggles. Which left me with Shining Armor.

And we just stood there staring at one another.

And continued for a few minutes before he finally said something.

“Twilight’s been talking with Cadence.” He may have said it simply and matter of factly, but there was an accusation in there as well.

I chuckled at him, amused, “And that surprises you?”

“No,” he didn’t even bother with shaking his head at me. Just simply stared at me with an accusational gaze. “Twilight’s been telling Cadence some interesting stories about you.”

I didn’t look away either as we were practically standing toe to toe. “And?”

“A lot of things have happened to you since you arrived at my kingdom,” he said with an equal stoic demeanor. His kingdom huh?

“And?” I reiterated for him. His attitude was really starting to rub me the wrong way.

“I’ve heard that you haven’t been the honorable man that you claim to be.” There was a fierceness tone aspect to his voice when he said it. Of course, now I was totally confused. “That’s right,” he said with one thing in his eyes. He wanted a fight. Why I had no clue. “Twilight’s friends seemed to come up hurt because of you.” But if he didn’t stop he was going to get one.

I remained silent, wondering where he was going with this.

“First was Philomena. She was transformed into what she is now because of you.” Oh, he did not go there. “Next was Fluttershy,” now he was whispering to me with anger in his voice, “how you raped her.” Alright, now I was seeing red. He so had his facts mixed up. “And then in Manehattan when two constables had to rescue Rarity from you and weren’t seen until the next morning.”

My whole vision was red, so I knew what was happening. I also clasped my hands behind me, so I wouldn’t do something stupid at this meet and greet.

He grinned at me as if he had the upper hand. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

Needing a minute to compose myself, I closed my eyes and took a breath to help calm me down. Images of Rarity, Fluttershy, and Philomena flashed in my mind as I let their smiling faces help calm me. Finally, I opened my eyes again. The world was back to normal, though I was still pretty pissed off. “You’ve got your facts wrong.”

“Oh, I don’t think so,” he growled at me with a glare.

“Dude what’s with the staring contest over here?” Rainbow asked as she, plus all three of the Wonderbolts stepped up to us.

Shining Armor simply grinned wickedly at me before turning to Rainbow and the Wonderbolts. “I was just telling our Prince here what horrible excuse he is of not only a prince but a human.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?” Rainbow looked totally confused.

I just simply waited for Shining to burn himself with his own ignorance and stayed quiet.

“Oh, just how he’s responsible for Philomena’s current state. How he raped poor Fluttershy. And how two constables at Manehattan had to rescue Rarity from him.” After his little triad, Shining had the gall to cross his arms over his chest and look at me with a smug grin on his face.

“WHAT?!” Rainbow exploded in shock. “What in all of Equestria gave you those ideas?!”

He kept his smug look as he said, “Twilight told Cadence, which she told me.”

“Then you should have listened better buddy,” Rainbow poked his chest, hard. “Because that’s not how it happened. First off Twilight is the one who transformed Philomena into what she is today. And today she is totally happy being with Fred, so I wouldn’t go around riling her up unless you want to get burned by an angry Phoenix.” Rainbow was just getting started as she continued poking him in his chest. “And don’t you dare say anything about what happened at AJ’s regarding Fluttershy. Because of our actions, she got turned into Flutterbat and it was Flutterbat that used him, not the other way around.” Now Rainbow was getting downright angry. As Rainbow continued poking at him, he started backing up. “And Fred nearly got killed in Manehattan trying to get Rarity calmed down. Because she was so frustrated at another mare who had used her generosity to try and steal the competition. Fred may not be perfect, but he’s not what you said, so BACK OFF!”

“What is all this?” Mother’s voice shot across the throne room like the crack of a whip. Mother, Aunt Luna, Rarity, Philomena, and Cadence were making their way over to us. All wondering what was going on.

Rainbow opened her mouth to spit it all out, but I held up a hand silencing her. “Hold on, Rainbow,” I smirked at her. “Why not let him say it? After all, he was so sure about his accusations.”

It took a second for Rainbow to realize what I was doing. Once she did though, she grinned from ear to ear. “Good idea, dude.”

“Shining Armor Sparkle?” Cadence’s voice took on the tone used when using one’s full name.

Even though he glared at me, he wasn’t feeling too sure of himself now. He also knew that he dug a pretty deep hole for himself that he can’t get out of. And he knew I let him do it too. Not without some warning of course.

At first, he didn’t say anything. That was until Cadence stepped up to him, “Well?”

When he finally did speak he did a pretty good impression of Fluttershy. “He’s responsible for Philomena’s transformation. He raped Fluttershy. And two Manehattan constables had to save Rarity from him.”

I was surprised that he actually said it. I’d figure he’d try and lie his way out of it.

“HOW DARE YOU,” Rarity exploded with a shout, stepped up to him, and slapped him so hard across his cheek that it left a bright red imprint. Not to mention how the sound of her slap had echoed in the room. “How dare you spread that lie. I was partly responsible for almost getting him killed if it wasn’t for Philomena and her healing tears.”

After Rarity got done, Philomena was next. And she didn’t say anything. As Rarity stepped back, Philomena fluttered up to him and used all her might and strength to slap him across the other cheek. And she put her whole body into it with a shout of anger. And remember she has talons. Not only did it leave another red imprint on the other cheek, but now had four deep scratches there as well.

“I’m very disappointed in you, Shining Armor Sparkle,” Cadence’s body was vibrating with repressed anger as she hugged herself. “That is not what I, or Twilight, said at all.” He wasn’t looking so good at this moment. Not with the whole throne room watching him. Two red cheeks, one that was bleeding from scratches, and with a look of utter humiliating defeat. Yep, he finally knew that he fucked up big time. His demeanor changed from simply looking like an ass to total defeat when Cadence spoke up next. “Return home,” she told him firmly and pointed to the front doors. “I regret bringing you here. We will definitely speak of this later.”

In spite of his white coat, I think he paled after she said that. He just said a soft, “Yes, dear,” and hung his head while making his way slowly toward the front doors.

I’ll admit to a certain level of satisfaction seeing him get burned by his own ignorance. And I didn’t show it, but I winced internally, slightly, at how Philomena slapped him. And hoped that I would never be on the receiving end of that. Now the only one I had to worry about was Twilight. And as I watched the defeated Shining Armor open the doors he was met with none other than…

“Shiny?” I saw Twilight ask her brother as the doors revealed her presence. “Are you alright? What happened?”

I didn’t see what was on his face, but all he did was hug her, which she returned, and then left. She watched him leave, obviously confused as to his reaction. Behind her, I saw the morning delegates arriving, so not wanting to make a scene, any more than there was already, I took a steadying breath and headed over to meet my fate. Whether it be happy and forgiven, or doom and gloom were yet to be seen. Philomena started to follow me, with the others looking at me wondering where I was going. I just held up a hand to her with a smile. She got the message and returned to Mother’s side.

When Twilight saw me, she gave me a withering glare, “Alright, what did you do to my brother?”

To her credit, not only did she look like she wanted to talk, but she was also well dressed. Hers was similar to Cadence’s dress, though more light purple with black trim. However, she was still mad at me. If the narrow eyes and arms crossed under her chest was any indication. I chuckled a little, stopping in front of her to look down at her, “I didn’t do anything. He spread a few lies about me this morning and got figuratively burned for it. He’ll live, though his pride is dead at this point.”

Twilight was shocked, “Why would he do that?” She was genuinely curious.

“He just misunderstood what you said to Cadence about what happened with Philomena, Flutterbat, and Manehattan,” I told her.

She gave an “O” expression before her face hardened. “You,” she pointed at me, glaring. “Me,” her thumb pointed toward herself. “Garden,” she motioned toward the castle garden to the left of me on the other side of the courtyard, through the fence, “now.”

I tried to look defeated, but the inner ass in me just had to take it up a notch. “Yes, dear,” I said softly with barely a smirk and made my way down the steps, toward the gate on the side of the courtyard. While we walked I wondered how long it would take for her to realize what I had just said to her.

She made it all the way to the gate before stopping with her hand on the latch and her head whipped around. “Wait,” her confused face showed the gears turning in her head, “dear?”

A chuckle escaped me in spite of me trying to hold it in.

She gave me another glare, opened the door, and motioned me in.

Which I did. “Ok, let me speak first alright?” She nodded in agreement after shutting the gate. “First off, I’m sorry. It was in poor taste. I thought you would blow up at me like you normally do. And when I saw you analyzing yourself as if you were going crazy, I couldn’t let you do that. I’d rather you be mad at me than think you were nuts.” I gave her a genuine wide smile, “Besides, I like messing with you. Your too much fun to mess with. But I didn’t want to hurt you and I’m sorry.”

She took a calming breath, “And I don’t need Applejack to tell me that you’re being honest. Still, it shocked me.”

“I could tell, sorry.” And, once again, I had to push it. “I guess I shouldn’t tell you that you latched onto me and said my name when you got close?”

Her eyes went wide as she simply stared at me. “Why would…no that…just…no.” Her eyes bored into mine, wanting me to deny it as her emotions told her to me to do. I gave her an apologetic shrug. With a loud frustrated groan, she started pacing in front of me. “Why does this happen? Why do you do this? Why am I always so frustrated with you?” she asked in rapid succession.

When she got close enough to me, I took her by the arms to stop her pacing and turned her to face me. “Look, Twilight. I don’t know why you keep walking in on me. But heck it all, I really like you. You’re adorkably cute as a button and pretty when you get angry. I’m not lying about that.” She didn’t say anything. Just looked up at me with an embarrassed blushing expression on her face. “You want to slap me to make you feel better?” I chuckled at her.

She even giggled a little reached up and lightly slapped my face.

A quick laugh was my response, “You slap like a girl.”

“Well, I am one,” she laughed in return, still blushing.

“I rest my case, your honor.”

She smirked up at me, mimicking the one I was giving her. “Oh, shut up.”

“Come on,” my head jerked toward the throne room. “You are here, and dressed for the occasion, so you might as well join me.”

“Yeah,” she gave me a smile in spite of how she showed up before turning back toward the front doors. “I was going to stay anyway, that’s why I came dressed like this.”

“Figured as much,” my arm went around her shoulders in a sideways hug. “Thanks for not killing me, Twilight.”

She giggled, bumping her hip into me, “You’re welcome, just don’t do that again.”

“On my solemn word of honor,” I held up a couple of fingers as we approached the throne room doors.

She gave me a firm nod, “Then you’re forgiven.” And we walked back into the throne room, where she was instantly surrounded by Rarity, Rainbow, my mother, and Aunt Luna.

The rest of the meeting and greeting went relatively fine. Rainbow stayed with the Wonderbolts all throughout and didn’t split during the meeting portion. Philomena and Rarity stayed by my side for the rest of it, much to my ego. What shocked me was when Mother said that she wanted me to give a speech during the opening ceremony of the games. And even say something at the start of the qualifications that will be in a couple of days. Not that I minded, but I had no clue what to say. The delegates, that represented other nations didn’t take the news too well that the games would be in dedication to the abolishment of human slavery. Mother said they were welcome to not attend. But it was clear that they didn’t want to do that either. However, it would give me a big audience though. Maybe, just maybe, my voice and message will be heard after all.

Next Chapter: Chapter Nineteen: Rainbow Falls Estimated time remaining: 13 Hours, 44 Minutes