Author's Notes:

Canterlot City, The Celestial Palace - Equestria #2651915

Johnny’s jaw dropped, startled as he spotted the palace before he saw the broad, golden and bronzed doors open to reveal a tall, slightly under seven-foot tall winged unicorn with a mane that made him offhandedly think of the aurora borealis. He felt the slight tingling as the repulsor apertures closed, absently noticing the sensation in the back of his mind.

He felt a tingling warmth push his jaw shut as he saw the winged unicorn smile warmly, noticing a swirling golden yellow aura around her horn before he glanced down, noticing a slight golden sheen as the aura of magical energy she’d manipulated to close his mouth faded away. He cocked an eyebrow, not noticing the ruby aura growing around his right forearm and wrist before it became Zero’s armored form. Almost immediately, a holographic screen shimmered to life.

was what came up upon the screen. “Well, that doesn’t help much, does it?” he muttered dryly, shaking his head as he noticed the screen dismiss before the armored gauntlet also dismissed, reverting to the silvery white of the bodysuit which he noticed receded into a shorter bodysuit much like that of a surfer’s wetsuit in summer, shorts that stopped at his knees, and a short vest; it was only then that he noticed that he had a black bodysuit on beneath it.

“So, what precisely are you? You are not a pony, clearly,” the winged unicorn said.

“Human, though where I came from, equines aren’t able to speak, nor are they half as attractive as you are,” Johnny said wryly, smirking slightly. One of the guards swatted him hard across the back, which hurt, but more annoyed him. As he turned his head, he noticed the spear shaft dropping lower towards his knees before he lifted and stomped suddenly, not only catching, but breaking the shaft.

“Flattering, though I do not like that my guards seem to feel you are being disrespectful. It is quite refreshing for somepony to act as I am merely another pony rather than royalty,” the winged unicorn remarked.

“I wouldn’t know about being royalty, but I could see how that would be exhausting… and annoying… asshole nobles with their heads up their arses,” Johnny said bluntly, rolling his eyes.

The winged unicorn, or more precisely, an Alicorn, laughed warmly. “I have thought the same more than once, but there are things that they can do that I cannot without it demanding too much of my attention and time,” she said wryly.

Johnny sighed softly. He looked skyward, covering his gaze with one hand to keep the excessive sun from his eyes.
“I have a Celebration to plan, though it is not for another month,” the Alicorn said wryly.

“You’re this… Princess Celestia... the dumbass referred to?” Johnny said dryly, blocking the swipe of the dark golden yellow spear blade at his face with one hand before shooting a glare at the guard, keenly aware of the guard’s dislike, nay… borderline hatred... of him.

“Guilty as charged. Who are you, may I ask?” Celestia said with a small smirk, chuckling.

“Johnny Alexis Carmichael,” Johnny said wryly.

“Johnny, I assume, is short for Jonathan,” she commented.

Johnny nodded. “Though… ever since waking up… wherever here is… not only are my memories fragmented… something really strange happened to me earlier,” he commented wryly.

“Such as?” Celestia said with curiosity.

“Namely the fact that I awoke on that airship as a woman…. which obviously I’m not at the moment,” he said wryly. He sighed softly, shaking his head in mild confusion.

“We will find that out in due time, I suspect, Jonathan. Until then, follow me with Lieutenant Shining Armor,” Celestia commanded in a gentle, warm tone.

Johnny exhaled as he shivered, more keenly aware, with the fact that his bodysuit had retracted into shorts and a vest, that he had quite a lot of dirt and mud on his body.

“You might want a bath, to get rid of that,” Shining Armor muttered wryly, smirking.

“I will have one prepared for both of you, as you both need one, though I could use one as well,” Celestia remarked with amusement, looking back at them. She found it rather amusing that the ‘human’ blushed deeply at that. ‘Hmmm, he’s intelligent. Seems willing to learn, though…. he seems to be in discomfort, for some reason. I can feel magic gathering around him,’ she noted.

Johnny winced, feeling the aching pain in his back and shoulders increasing before he heard a dull ripping sound as pain erupted through his body, unaware a hot bluish white aura flared around him before fading as two broad six foot wings of prismatic copper upon the lower outer feathers whilst the feathers on the undersides of the wings were a beautiful opalescent cream color. The tops of his wings were a rich reddish golden tone like a strawberry dipped in honey. Unfortunately, the wings also dripped in a all too familiar crimson liquid critical to life.
Celestia frowned slightly, spotting the blood. She cast a cleansing spell upon the floor as well as a barrier spell to catch any additional blood; perhaps her scientists would be able to look over the blood to see if there were any magical aspects to it. Fortunately, it was only a very slight drain upon her very formidable magical reserves.

She sighed softly, calling upon a maid to escort Lieutenant Shining Armor to one of the many bathrooms and to wait upon him; they would be escorted to the throne room afterwards. She personally escorted the human to a bathroom, not quite as extravagant as her own personal bath chamber, but likely far more extravagant than he was likely familiar with, from how his eyes went wide and he stared, looking around the room.

“From your reaction, you are not used to such… extravagance,” Celestia remarked in amusement as she slid her hoofcaps off to leave her pale golden hooves only a shade or two darker than her alabaster fur bared.

“Nope. Seen pictures of similar. Never thought I’d actively see such things, but then… winged unicorns…” he sighed.

“Alicorn, actually. That is the term for me,” Celestia corrected gently, noticing him swaying slightly. “Your wings are throwing off your balance, yes? I do not mind helping you get used to them,” she said gently, a small smile crossing her muzzle.

“You’re royalty. Why would you help an utter stranger?” Johnny said with a grimace as he felt her hoof, soft, yet firm, against the lower middle part of his back. The wings connected from his shoulder blades to the upper middle part of his back.

“Why wouldn’t I? You need the help and you deserve to be treated with hospitality,” Celestia countered with a playful smile. She saw him jump slightly as she ignited her horn, using a telekinesis spell to start the water flowing into the broad tub before adding lemon and citrus scented bubble bath to it as well as a lavender bath bomb to make the water more relaxing for him.

Johnny watched the golden yellow aura manipulating things before he glanced at the Alicorn Princess from the corner of his eye. He could feel the air far more keenly at the moment, though he didn’t notice the ever so slight glow coming from the case at the small of his back.

The Princess, however, noticed a small tingling itch on her foreleg and hoof where she was supporting the human which made her tilt her head, noticing a slightly green glow coming from the case before his hand covered it and removed it, the case rattling softly at his touch.

“Eh? Strange… Why is it vibrating?” he muttered before flicking it open before a greenish comet shot out, hitting him hard in the chest before his eyes flared a deep emerald green. Almost the moment he felt the impact with his chest, he slid back several feet, almost into the vanity behind them though his hands instinctively flashed out, a gust of emerald tinted air stopping him cold.

“Kenshō Armor designated ‘Harpuia’ active, merging with Blade Armor designated ‘Zero’,” he murmured, his voice a low, monotonous tone.

The glow faded from his eyes as he stumbled forward, looking disoriented, Celestia noted as she shed her hoofcaps, chestplate and crown.

He felt gentle hooves catch him before he felt the tingling heat of her magical energy touching him before, unintentionally, the armor retracted leaving him rather…. bared to her gaze.

He heard her giggle before he felt heat wash over him as his eyes fluttered open to see her watching him with an amused look. “Would you prefer my assistance, or not?” she queried with a small smirk.

“I… don’t know… if I can move… so…. Yes… I would prefer assistance,” he admitted shyly whilst breathing heavily.

“All right, Jonathan,” Celestia said with a small motherly smile. “Although, you may wish to… hide that,” she remarked with a teasing tone.

He looked down before his blush turned everything from his collarbones up a rich shade of red. “Ah…. I… can’t. It just… kinda hangs there,” he said shyly, blushing deeply.

Her eyebrow rose before she shrugged, levitating him over the tub before lowering him down into it. She giggled as he inhaled sharply, his eyes widening before he sighed softly. “You’ve never preened yourself, have you?” she remarked with amusement.

“Eh? You… do that? I thought only birds do that,” Johnny replied in confusion.

“Oh, no, I do it, as do many, many pegasi… and so will you,” she giggled.

“I know nothing about that at all,” he said shyly.

“That can wait until after we get good and clean, yes?” she teased.

“We?” he echoed in confusion.

“You don’t expect me to pass up a nice, hot bubbly bath, do you? Besides, think of it as a way for us to bond, my little human,” Celestia quipped with a giggle. She had heard of a unicorn filly who had great magical potential, Shining Armor’s younger sister, if she recalled correctly. It would be roughly a year before she was old enough to attempt joining her School for Gifted Unicorns.

She smirked as he looked nervous as she stepped into the tub before lowering herself into the warm, almost hot water. She noticed with interest that he seemed to enjoy the heat and warmth.

“So, you recall nothing before…. awakening?” she said gently.

“Not much. I remember my name… that I apparently have… multiple armor forms I can use… and, I’m assuming this… but I think with every armor I gain… I may potentially recall fragments of my past before. As it is… I remember very little, so I’m, pardon the pun, a ‘clean slate’,” he said shyly.

He saw the Alicorn Princess giggle. “Not yet, but you will be soon, and you’ll enjoy me cleaning you, I’m certain,” she said playfully, making him blush deeply.

He saw the soft fluffy washcloth levitate in a warm golden aura as he noticed a bottle of something a pale golden white pour onto it before the cloth dunked beneath the water before resurfacing and rubbing itself together as a white lather formed within seconds. He was struck by the scents of spices and a scent that made him think of sunflowers for some reason. He blinked as he heard the water shift as he saw the Princess approaching with a playful look on her face. He jumped slightly as the washcloth massaged gently over his shoulder as he felt a gentle pressure on it before he glanced down, seeing the Princess’ foreleg supporting the washcloth. He shivered as she manipulated it, massaging it against his skin as he felt the muscles that had been tense with nervousness and caution relaxing as he felt her washing his chest and shoulders before he felt it slide down his arms which he had his biceps and elbows resting against the side of the tub before he shivered as he noticed how close she was to him as she ran the washcloth over the other arm before he felt it slide over his throat and behind his ears.

“Have to be thorough and wash behind the little foal’s ears,” he heard her murmur in amusement. He inhaled sharply as he felt her brush her cheek against his, noticing how soft her fur was, almost like silk. He felt her hooves brush through his hair before she wrapped her fetlock and cannon around his shoulders in what he realized was a hug. He hugged her tentatively back, shivering slightly as he felt her lightly tugging him away from the side of the tub before he let her turn him so his back was to her, his wings folded awkwardly against his shoulders as he felt them open as her hoof brushed down his spine, sending chills rushing through his body at high speed.

Most embarrassingly, a very particular part of his body ‘below the belt’ grew very visibly stiff and hard. He felt her nuzzling his wings, kinda surprised how he could feel the water brushing along each and every feather as he felt the feathers shifting gently before she retreated, hearing a soft hum of thoughtfulness. “What is it?” he said with uncertainty.

“You have interesting color tones with your wings. They are a rich golden red, which is unique and rare. Though I have to admit that the undersides are an interesting color as well. Do you know if they will shift color with these… armors?” Celestia said, nuzzling one of his wings which made him inhale sharply as he shivered.

“No idea. For all I know, it could just be the ‘default’ color, as Zero’s armor is red,” he said softly.

“Hmmm. I suppose. I have not seen these… armors, so I do not know. For now, however, I’m going to wash your hair and back. I think you’ll like me washing your wings, as I’m quite gentle with those,” she said with a small playful smile.

He shivered as he heard the soft pop of a shampoo bottle, turning his head to blink in surprise at what appeared to be a surprisingly modern shampoo bottle. He cocked his head, but paused, his eyes drifting half shut as he felt the cool liquid of the shampoo before he felt Celestia’s hooves lightly running through his hair and massaging his scalp.

He inhaled softly as he smelled the fragrances of fresh peaches, the slightly acrid scent of lemons, and the fresh scent of apples along with the scent of lavender and cream. Admittedly, he had no memories of things similar to this, but it was immensely relaxing.

“You do not find this awkward, do you?” he heard her murmur.

“Not really. It is…. unique, I will admit as I don’t have any memories of anything like this, as I doubt anyone could say they’ve bathed with an Alicorn Princess,” he replied shyly as he shivered slightly, feeling the lather running down his back as he heard the soft trickle of water as Celestia rinsed his hair before he took a slow breath. He knew the areas where the wings had come from his back was sore and itchy, like the skin had thickened.

“Hmmmm, it seems like your wings, when they came out, tore through the muscle, though I notice they regenerated quickly and thicker and stronger, likely to make flight easier. They are sore, however, yes?” he heard her voice murmur gently.

“Aye. Feels like a dull toothache all over my upper back and shoulders,” he said softly.

She giggled a bit before he felt her hooves brush his wings closer to his back before he inhaled sharply in surprise as the dull aching faded as she lightly pressed a few points on his shoulders and back. “Pressure points?” he said softly.

“You know about them? I wasn’t sure humans knew about them,” Celestia said with interest.

“Humans know about pressure points and nerve clusters that can either be used to dull pain or create it. Some nerve clusters, if struck in certain ways, can render somepony unconscious immediately,” he said softly, turning his head as he saw her picking up the washcloth again before adding more soap to it, rubbing it between her hooves. He noticed that her tail and hair was drooping slightly, most likely from the heat and steam from the bath, but their color was only a few shades darker from their pale pastel tones.

He jolted slightly as he felt the cloth brush over his shoulders before gliding between his wings before he inhaled sharply, shivering as he felt his cock harden almost immediately as her hoof brushed the cloth in small circles over his skin before he felt the cloth glide back up on the skin just beneath his wings before he exhaled slowly. His eyes slid almost closed before he inhaled sharply as he felt a very strange, relaxing sensation.

He turned his head to see bubbles trickling between the feathers before he felt the intense tingling sensations as she used what he was almost sure was a sprayer to rinse away the lather from the soap. “Damn, that feels so strange…. like pins and needles but stronger,” he murmured wryly, hearing her giggle in response.

“Think of what it’ll be like when you fly,” she teased, amused. She nudged him to stand a bit, noticing with mild interest that he was around six to seven inches shorter than herself as she saw his lower body exposed to mid thigh.

She let the cloth glide down over his hips and thighs before feeling him shiver as she stepped closer to him before she let the cloth slide around his thighs to the back before he took a deep breath as she washed the back of his thighs and ass, giggling as he jumped slightly. She smirked slightly, the corners of her mouth curling upward.

He shivered as he felt the cloth brush between his thighs as he felt Celestia push her head beneath his arm as she grinned before he saw her glance downward, seeing him aroused.

She giggled a bit as she manipulated the washcloth to wash his manhood as well, noticing with amusement as it twitched. “Have you ever been with a mare?” she quipped. She laughed at the fact as his face went red, almost as red as the feathers of his wings.

“N-no, and it won’t be simply for…. pleasure. I’d prefer to fall in love with somepony…. Ugh…. still feels weird saying ‘somepony’ instead of ‘someone’,” he said with embarrassment.

Celestia hummed as she nuzzled his chest and side before the cloth slid into the water with a splash as she helped him turn to face her. “I won’t make you sleep with anypony, even myself. Admittedly, it will take time to get used to these, though I can help you get used to them over time,” she said warmly.

“I’m sure it would take time to adjust for obvious reasons. For example, where I came from, there were Princesses… but none with…. well… magic like you have,” Alexis remarked, frowning slightly; he knew this fact, yet…. He couldn’t remember where he’d heard it.

“Hmmm, so it seems you do remember some fragments of your world, am I getting that right? Oh well, with time, I’m sure, you’ll remember more. If not, you are more than welcome to make a new life here, with us,” Celestia said warmly as he sat down in the water, rinsing himself off.

“I guess so. I can’t shake the feeling I’m here for a reason. That something from the past… this past…. is still around. What it is, I couldn’t say… even if I tried… but the Biometals…. are imparting this… sense to me,” he said slowly, meeting her gaze, though he noticed she was washing herself, humming softly.

He hummed softly, thinking as he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, Celestia watching him. “Bit for your thoughts?” she commented.

He blinked, distracted. “Just thinking. I always had a memory for music… and martial arts. Though I couldn’t read sheet music worth a damn. It was more…. a blend of muscle memory and instinct, though the eidetic memory helped with that,” he said wryly, his tone soft as he saw her crouching down in the water so the water washed over her back and sides.

“If I had to say my personal top three musicians would have been Tom Petty, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and George Thorogood. Bands, though…. I can think of quite a few. Top, though…. would likely be Lynyrd Skynyrd, Metallica, Journey, and Foreigner,” he said wryly. He noticed Celestia’s eyebrow rising as he got the sense he didn’t know whom he was referring to. “Stevie Ray and George Thorogood have somewhat similar sounds as both of them have heavy blues-based riffs, but some of the others are more… fun,” he said with a slight smirk.

“Maybe we’ll be able to visit a recording studio, as there is one here in Canterlot as well as Manehattan,” she commented with interest.

“If you have an acoustic guitar, I can do one after we get out,” Alexis replied with a smirk. That made the Solar Diarch’s eyebrow rise with interest.

“And it will not be by one of these… bands you have mentioned?” she said with a thoughtful tone.

“Admittedly, there are some songs by similar bands that use acoustics, known as ‘unplugged’ songs or more often as ‘ballads’. The one I’m thinking of, though…. is neither. It’s a country song with a slower feel to it, but does tell a story behind it,” he said wryly.

She hummed thoughtfully. “You have piqued my interest, Alexis… though why do you not go by Jonathan?” she said thoughtfully.

Alexis blinked, shrugging after a moment. “Alexis…. could be used either as a male name or female name. So… if I’m able to shift between forms, why not use the same name for both?” he said thoughtfully as he sighed softly.

Shortly afterward, they got out of the bath, Celestia draining it, though he did notice she levitated a sphere of it and dropped it out of one of the windows with a small playful smirk. An outraged yell soon followed as she snickered. “I get the feeling you like a practical joke every now and then, right?” he commented.

Celestia shrugged as she watched him dry himself off before wrapping the towel around his hips. “You never know when a good prank livens things up,” she quipped. He snickered in return.

“True,” he acknowledged.