All Aboard

Chapters

A Small Departure
Settling In
Off The Rails

A Small Departure

Between the wholly unexpected emergence of the sun the night prior, and the fact that Anon had been spotted entering Celestia’s chambers shortly before the event, it wasn’t long before the castle was abuzz about the royal couple. Many of the staff and guard had speculated about the pair being an item, but having their suspicions confirmed caused quite the stir. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on who you were asking, the Princess and her faithful knight wouldn’t be around for long enough to ask questions about the celestial incident; the elder alicorn would be leaving later that morning for one of her semiannual tours of the Empire - with her bipedal companion, of course.

With the train set to arrive in Canterlot before noon, Celestia and Anon awoke and began readying themselves for the day. Despite their somewhat tumultuous and romantically charged night, they both realized that delaying their departure would be both an egregious breach of conduct and exacerbate the gossip which was likely making its way through Canterlot. After showering and making themselves presentable, the duo strolled to the banquet hall to help themselves to a bit of breakfast.

“You don’t - uh - think too many ponies are going to ask questions?” Anon muttered, walking alongside the Princess.

He’d noticed at least one chambermaid giggling at the sight of them, as well as a praetorian who was apparently struggling not to smile as they passed, so he was almost positive that the secret was already out. He’d confessed his feelings for the Princess and spent a very passionate evening with her - now he’d have to deal with the ramifications.

“Oh I’m sure a great many of them have questions, although I doubt all but the most brazen or brave would ask us directly,” Celestia remarked, smiling over at him. “I wouldn’t be too worried. After we return to Canterlot, I’ll be sure to deal with any pressing concerns.”

Having never courted a pony, or a royal for that matter, Anon found himself in unfamiliar waters. From what he’d gathered, there was nothing overtly taboo about romantic endeavors between differing species of the land, yet he couldn’t stop himself from being self-conscious. He’d hate for anypony to think ill of her, seeing as how she was one of the oldest and most influential ponies in all the land.

Noting his unease, she slowed. “Really, there’s nothing to worry about. I may be a Princess, but that doesn’t mean I’m above being in a relationship. For goodness sake, everypony is free to find love - myself included.”

He raised a finger to protest, yet thought better of it. “Yeah, you make a good point.”

Celestia nodded, affixing him with her warm smile. “Honestly, there are only a hoofful of creatures who may give us any trouble and I’d be sure to handle them.”

“And whom, dear sister, would those creatures be?” a voice rang out, causing the pair to turn.

Lethargically trotting around a corner, not some dozen yards away, appeared Princess Luna. While it wasn’t uncommon to bump into the young diarch in the early morning or late afternoon, she seemed to be somewhat worse for wear; dark bags rested beneath her eyes and she looked far more exhausted than usual. As she wearily drew nearer, scowling at her sister, she almost entirely ignored the man by Celestia’s side.

“L...Luna! I trust your night went smoothly?” the elder alicorn stammered, caught off guard by her sibling’s question and dubious state.

“No,” Luna flatly responded, coming to a halt before her sister. “Between addressing the public as to why the sun suddenly rose, after it had set, and assuring the guard that thou were alright, I’m exhausted.”

“I…” Anon began, drawing the baleful gaze of the fatigued alicorn. Falling silent, he swallowed. He hadn’t intended to cause an upset, though he’d done so all the same. “Thanks…”

“While I am pleased that you two finally worked up the gumption to profess thine sentiments for one another, please attempt to abstain from upending the cosmic order,” the night Princess huffed, looking between the two. “It was bad enough that I had to endure regular interruptions from ponies last night, but I hadn’t been prepared to deal with Discord.”

Celestia went rigid, hearing the deity’s name. “Luna, that’s not very funny.”

“Nor was it when he appeared and began heckling me about the situation,” Luna rebuked, her frown deepening. “Considering I did use him as a scapegoat for the entire ordeal, telling the staff that he was playing a practical joke, I shouldn’t have been surprised when he showed up to inquire about being made a patsy of.”

A cold chill ran through Anon, knowing the Lord of Chaos had become involved. “He wasn’t too mad was he?”

“No, thankfully, although he was dreadfully amused by the true cause of the entirely unnatural event,” Luna chided. Stifling a yawn, she pressed onward to pass the two - that was, until an alabaster hoof shot out and halted her.

“You told him?” the elder sibling gasped, plainly shocked by the admission.

“What was I supposed to tell him? If I hadn’t been honest, there was a very real chance that he would have seen himself into thine room and spoken with thee himself!” the umbral Princess grouched, batting her sister’s hoof away. “Given the circumstances, I did the best I could to assuage him.”

Though Celestia was none too pleased with the revelation, there was little she could do. She and Anon had inadvertently caused a heavenly upset, temporarily illuminating the night and doubtlessly leaving many to wonder what in Equestria was going on, so she couldn’t be perturbed. Taking a deep breath, holding it for a moment, then exhaling, she attempted to calm her frazzled nerves.

“My apologies for the inconvenience and my thanks for your assistance,” she sighed, turning to hug her sister. “I’ll make a point of speaking with him about the matter - if only to avoid any drama or shenanigans on his part.”

“That would be a wise option. Now then, if thou have nothing else to say, I will take my leave. My bed calls to me,” Luna grunted. Unceremoniously releasing her fellow Princess, she turned and plodded down the corridor.

Waiting until the overworked and slightly grumpy alicorn had disappeared down an adjacent hallway, Anon leaned in and brought his face to Celestia’s ear. “Maybe we should do something nice for her. I mean, we did kind of cause her trouble.”

“You’re right, although this isn’t the only time we’ve covered for one another. In our youth, we both got into our fair share of mischief,” Celestia murmured.

“Remind me to ask you about that later,” he chuckled, somewhat relieved to hear that it wasn’t the first time that they’d caused trouble among themselves. “Anyways, we should probably grab a bite to eat before we head out.”

“Indeed. Once we’ve had our breakfast, I’ll send a steward with you to carry your effects. Bear in mind, we’ll be gone for nearly two weeks, so please pack accordingly,” she intoned, resuming her march towards the dining area.

Forcing himself not to dwell on the prospect of confronting Discord about his passionate night with the Princess, Anon began stewing on what he should bring for the trip. It wasn’t like he’d traveled much throughout his time in Equestria and, unlike the Princess, clothing would be a necessity. Even though they would be gone for the better part of a month, he saw no reason to bring more than a handful of outfits and his armor; so long as they’d be afforded accommodations which could launder his garments, he should be fine with traveling relatively light.

“Any suggestions on what I should bring?” he asked, tilting his head towards her.

“Be sure to pack something warm. Even during the more accommodating months, the Crystal Empire and north-lands can get quite chilly - that being said, I’m sure you could forego any excessively stifling pajamas,” she replied. A coy little smile played across her muzzle, as their eyes met.

Knitting his brow, it took Anon a moment to grasp the implications of what she meant. “We’ll be sharing a bed?!” he conspiratorially whispered, taken aback.

“I see no reason why we shouldn’t! It’s only a matter of time until everypony finds out about us and I’d bet my bottom bit that Cadance will know almost straight away; she’s always had quite the gift for sniffing out romantic affairs,” Celestia snickered.

“Fair enough,” he chuckled, still a bit ill-at-ease about the prospect of openly bunking with her. “As long as she doesn’t try to stir the pot.”

“Cadance? Please - she’ll likely be ecstatic about us. The Princess of Love is more than just a title - why she routinely fawns over couples while out and about,” she continued. “The worst you’ll have to expect from her is a hug and excessive well wishes.”

Breaking into laughter, the duo navigated the corridors of the castle and soon found themselves at their destination. One benefit of dining in the castle was that virtually any dish was at their beck and call, although neither were prone to ordering anything particularly lavish. After speaking with the kitchen staff, Celestia was delivered a short stack of pancakes, bedecked with whipped cream and maple syrup, while Anon had a frittata and hashbrowns.

Staying silent throughout most of their meal, the pair happily sated their appetite and quietly ruminated on the day ahead. The discovery that Luna had no doubt deduced that they’d consummated their feelings was disconcerting enough, but knowing that she’d divulged that information to Discord was even more unsettling. The draconequus was relatively harmless - at least, compared to how he was a millennia prior - but he wasn’t above the odd bout of devilment.

Though the man was only able to polish off most of his breakfast, the Princess finished her flapjacks and a parfait before she was full. After ferrying their plates to the scullery and thanking the staff for their labor, the two parted ways - if only temporarily. With only an hour before the train was set to depart, there was perilously little time to prepare. While they would have had their affairs in order well before then, had they not spent the night together, neither complained about the added bit of rushing.

“Meet you in the courtyard!” Celestia called, cantering towards her room.

Anon nodded and waved back at her, as he made for his chamber. Though he couldn’t say what packing she had to do, since he’d never seen her travel with much of anything, he wasn’t about to question her. She probably had some last minute correspondence to tend to, or perhaps she was planning on leaving final instructions for the guards - either way, he felt sure she wouldn’t be late.

Bursting into his room, spying his armor heaped beneath the manikin, he winced. It wasn’t that the gleaming plate was heavy, seeing as how it had been fashioned from a mystical material called Uru, yet that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be cumbersome as all get-out to transport. Leaving the door ajar, he rushed for his closet to retrieve a duffel.

“Ahem,” a voice coughed, as he darted into his wardrobe. “The Princess mentioned that you’d be needing some assistance?”

Unsure of whom the alicorn had dispatched, yet too indisposed to care about the specifics, Anon rooted around for his travel bag. “Yeah. If you could gather up my armor and carry it to the train station, that would be great,” he shouted.

“And what of your other baggage?” his unseen visitor asked, with an odd inflection in the final word.

“Uh - I think I can get the rest,” Anon responded.

Spying his duffel under an old banner which he’d saved from the last Summer Solstice event, he hurried back into his room and froze. Standing by the manikin was a tall, serpent-like chimera with mismatched limbs and strange set of horns. He’d ever only ever seen the creature in pictures, or on the stained glass in the throne room, yet he immediately knew who he was facing.

“Quite the extravagant set of gear,” Discord chuckled, effortlessly levitating the various bits of armor around himself. “I had no idea that humans were so gaudy.”

“It was a gift,” Anon rebuked, stomping over and snatching his helmet from the air. “And it’s not that gaudy.”

“A gift, eh?” the chaotic being quipped, quirking a brow. “And from whom did you receive this rather garish protection from? Wait, no, don’t tell me,” he snickered. “Her name starts with a C and ends with a tia…”

The man’s mouth flapped for a moment, before he pursed his lips. He’d been told tales about Discord, of how his nigh omnipotence allowed him to play jokes with impunity, but actually facing a cosmic being of such unimaginable power left him feeling uneasy. If what he’d heard was correct, Celestia and Luna had only barely been able to defeat him - and that was working in concert while wielding the Elements of Harmony. Needless to say, if the Lord of Chaos wished to harass him, there was next to nothing he could do to stop him.

“Yes, Celestia gave it to me. Is that a problem?” he countered, marching over and placing the helm on the dummy’s head.

“My, someone’s testy!” Discord grunted. Snapping his fingers, perfectly placing the armor onto the man’s frame, a snuggle-toothed grin split his features. “And I would have thought that after such a chaotic night you’d be in higher spirits.”

And there it was - just like that, the chimera came to the point. Out of all the creatures in all the lands of Equestria, there couldn’t have been a worse one to discuss his love-life with. Closing his eyes, he chose his words carefully. Even if he’d been put in a corner by a being which outclassed him in age and sorcerous might, he wasn’t about to back down - after all, he had successfully befriended three of the four Princesses of the Empire.

“If you’re here to bother me, could you come back at a better time? I’d be more than willing to talk with you, but we have a train to catch,” he griped. Grabbing his helmet and placing it over his head, he opened the visor and faced his guest.

“Time?” the chimera cackled, issuing another snap. “My good man, we have all the time in the world.”

Anon wasn’t sure what the beast had meant, until he glanced out the window. Frozen in mid-flight, a flock of birds hung in the air. Peering to his clock, seeing the unmoving second hand, he frowned. The demigod had literally stopped time for their little chat, removing one of his few avenues of escape. With few other options afforded to him, a defeated sigh escaped him.

“Ok, yes, Celestia and I are an item. I don’t see why that would be any concern of yours,” he attested, defiantly crossing his arms over his chest.

Affixing the man with his crimson eyes, Discord leaned in. “Oh it wasn’t my concern - that is, until Luna decided to throw me under the bus for your little kerfuffle last night. Even if the night mare hadn’t spilled the beans,” he tittered, materializing a bag of dried legumes in his paw, “I would have figured it out soon enough. It’s not every day that the sun spontaneously rises at night.”

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry about that. Just…” Anon trailed off, gathering his courage. “Just please don’t mess this up for us. I really do have feelings for her and, so far as I can tell, the feeling is mutual.”

“Who’s to say you’re not some deviant with a penchant for royalty? You wouldn’t be the first creature to go lusting after her, you know,” the draconequus noted, squinting down at the man.

Though Anon had been about to defend himself, his guest’s statement caught his ear. “So she’s had other suitors over the years?”

“If you could call them that, yes,” Discord groaned, rolling his eyes. “As far as I know, only a dozen or so have had even the slightest bit of luck, yet they eventually dropped the ball.”

Reflexively stepping back, the man caught a beach ball which fell from the ceiling. “But she wasn’t interested in them?” he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

With casual indifference, the chimera shrugged. “Not really. The few who were lucky enough to catch her interest quickly lost it, after she found out how haughty they were. Though she may be one of the oldest creatures around, she’s always been more of the modest sort - which leaves me to wonder why she’d allegedly buy you something so tawdry.”

“I...I’m really not sure,” Anon admitted. While the armor was a bit flashy, it wasn’t offensively tacky - at least, he didn’t think it was. “I’m pretty sure she made it after hearing me talk about knights back on Earth. If you’re hung up about her tastes, how about you go ask her yourself.”

“I may,” Discord muttered, disinterestedly picking at one taloned claw, “but that can wait until later - for now, I’m still curious about your intentions with her.”

The man’s shoulders sank slightly. “I love her, ok?”

“In what way?” the chaotic beast pressed.

“Every way. She’s funny, cheerful, caring, and one of the nicest ponies I’ve ever met,” Anon breathed. “I don’t care if she’s a Princess or not - if she were just another pony around here, I’d feel exactly the same way.”

“And I thought Pinkie Pie would be the one to give me diabetes,” Discord mused. Waving his paw, removing the ball and teleporting the armor back onto the manikin, he yawned. “I also hadn’t predicted you’d be this boring. No groveling, not the slightest bit of fanfare, and you didn’t even take the time to formally introduce yourself.”

While Anon would have been more than justified in a rebuke, he bit his tongue. “Anon,” he said, extending an arm.

“I thought it was Sir Anon - in any case, I’m Discord,” the Lord of Chaos formally greeted, shaking the man’s hand. “Well then, before this gets any more - ugh - mushy, I’ll see myself out,” he nonchalantly quipped, releasing Anon and moving towards the door. Just when he seemed to have disappeared, he peeked back inside. “Just hope the sun’s heat doesn’t become too much to bear…”

With that perplexing final line, Anon’s visitor was gone. The birds outside the window resumed their flight and the clock began mechanically ticking away the seconds, as the flow of time continued its onward march. Though their meeting had been terse, it left him feeling uneasy and more than a little baffled. It made sense that Discord would intervene, especially after he’d taken the fall for the cosmic disorder they’d unintentionally caused, but it felt like there was more to it than that. Left to wonder about the enigmatic being’s motives, he turned his attention back to the armor clad dummy.

“Anon?” a meek voice called, causing him to turn. Poking his head into the room idled a unicorn stallion wearing a fitted vest. “Celestia said you’d be needing help with your luggage?”

The man smiled, relieved that things were starting to get back on course. Soon enough, he’d be on his way to the Crystal Empire with his lover - he hoped. Discord’s unforeseen appearance was a bit regrettable - not because he minded meeting the enigmatic being, but because of the circumstances surrounding it. Maybe if he was lucky, with a bit of help from Celestia, they’d be able to chat under slightly less conditions.

“Yeah,” he finally replied, “if you can help me get this to the courtyard and then to the station, I’d really appreciate it.”

With his sorcerous assistant in tow, after gathering some clothing and toiletries, Anon made his way through the castle and towards the main entryway. Sure enough, after a half-dozen corridors and three flights of stairs, they’d reached their destination. As he moved through the gate and into the open air, he beamed; lingering by a hedge and watching a group of finches soar towards the royal garden, was Celestia.

The Princess immediately trotted over to him, as soon as she saw him exiting the castle, but something was amiss. In place of the normally sunny expression she bore, a look of concern rested on her face. Strolling to and past the man, she thanked and dismissed the steward. It was only once the unicorn had moved away, cantering through the courtyard and towards the station, did she give Anon her full attention.

“This may sound silly, and it may just be me, but you didn’t have anything odd happen in the last half an hour or so, did you?” she inquired, looking him over.

“If you consider getting pestered by Discord odd, I’d say yes,” he answered. Her shock at the admission shifted into annoyance, causing him to shake his head. “It wasn’t anything bad - he just showed up and wanted to heckle me a little about - you know - last night.”

“The next time I see him, I’ll be giving him a piece of my mind,” she grumbled, glowering down at the ground. “He wasn’t too bothersome, was he?”

Dismissively waving his hand, Anon shook his head. “Nah. All he wanted to do was give me a hard time, although he did wish me luck - I think?”

Celestia’s eyes narrowed, as she looked to his face. “Wish you luck?”

Thinking for a second, he decided to paraphrase. “Yeah. He wished me luck with you,” he curtly explained. Seeking to ease her tension, he tenderly caressed her cheek. “Really, I promise, he didn’t do anything bad or pry.”

“It’s not that,” she began, lowering her gaze. “As soon as I sensed a magical disturbance, I should have been by your side. None of this was your fault and you shouldn’t have had to put up with it.”

“I wouldn’t be much of a knight if I didn’t deal with some of the problems - besides, it’s not like I didn’t have a part to play in our little mishap,” he chuckled. Caressing her face, he did what he could to sooth her. “Heck, you should have seen it. There I was, adorned in your armor, facing down the Lord of Chaos.”

“I have no doubt that you were as courageous as ever, but do be mindful of him. Discord may be a trickster at heart, but you know full well that he’s almost caused several cataclysms,” she murmured, draping her head over his shoulder.

Embracing her, slipping his fingers through her gossamer mane, he closed his eyes. “Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll - Woah!” he blurted. The Princess had taken another step forward and rather forcefully pressed herself against him, nearly toppling him over in the process. “Careful there!”

“M...my apologies. I simply don’t want him meddling with you...with us,” she groused, heavily stroking her neck against him.

Though he couldn’t see her expression, a peculiar noise caught his ear. It almost sounded like a deep sigh, but it was repeated twice in rapid succession. Odd though the instance was, he didn’t have much time to dwell on it; the distant sound of a train whistle reminded him that they needed to get to the station and board. Swearing that they could cuddle on the trip, he reluctantly pulled away.

“Don’t you think we should…” he began, falling silent and giving a subtle nod in the direction of the station.

Shooting him a pained look, as his hands wandered off her withers, she only eventually nodded. “Yes, right, the train. Goodness me, I must be more frazzled than I thought! Shall I teleport us?”

“I wouldn’t mind the walk, since we’ll be seated for most of the day,” he replied. “You can always help tote this though,” he added, patting the armored dummy’s shoulder.

Celestia’s horn went alight and the manikin floated from the ground. “Good idea about the stroll. As easy as it would be to whisk us off to the Crystal Empire, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the view of the countryside on our ride. I’ve booked us a spacious suite in first-class for the journey, so we’ll have a large window, comfortable seating, and privacy,” she merrily exclaimed, wheeling around and practically prancing towards the main gate.

Peering into town, seeing ponies come and go from the various shops, Anon was knocked off balance for a second time. Glancing over at his lover, who’d practically glued herself to his side, he found himself grinning down at her. It wasn’t out of turn for her to be affectionate, but this somehow felt different, almost lacking her usual gentle touch. “Are you sure you’re ok?”

“Mmmhmm,” she hummed. Lazily rubbing her head on his bicep, she softly snorted. “Are you wearing cologne?”

The question was unusual - not only because he wasn’t wearing cologne, but because he didn’t even own any mens’ or stallions’ perfume. “Can’t say I am. Why do you ask?”

“You just smell nice,” she sighed, wriggling her head under his arm.

Content to walk with his hand on her shoulder, though puzzled by her unusual behavior, he savored her company. Soon enough they’d be trundling to the north-lands and they’d forget all about the strange and somewhat embarrassing morning - that’s what he kept telling himself anyways. Try as he might, he couldn’t shake the suspicion that something was amiss...

Settling In

“Oh wow,” Anon breathed, getting his first good look at their room.

Celestia beamed over at the man, as he surveyed their little suite. “You know I’m not one for luxuries, but I wanted your first trip to the Crystal Empire to be special.”

After she’d passed his armor off to the train staff, so the cumbersome suit could be stored in one of the luggage cars, she saw him to their room. The relatively short trip through the locomotive took a bit of time and patience, as she stopped to warmy chat with passengers and employees alike. She didn’t mind the delay because, as Anon had noted, they’d likely be seated for several hours. Finally, having worked their way through seven cars, they reached their destination.

Though she usually traveled larger distances by teleportation or, on rare occasions, flight, she truly did want her lover to get a scenic view of the countryside. The train’s course wound over plains, crossed a hooffull of chasms and rivers, and ultimately weaved through the foothills of the northlands. It was an exceptionally charming way of travel and one she hadn’t treated herself to in several centuries - as such, she thought it would be a splendid experience for Anon.

His reaction to the cabin was priceless. While the room was by no means large, it could easily accommodate her and Anon for their trip. Equipped with a full sized bed, a loveseat, and a chest of drawers, their accommodations took up nearly a third of a rail car. Seeing himself in and sitting his duffel on the foot of the mattress, he turned to face her.

“This is going to be great,” he chuckled, walking over and closing the door behind her. “I have so been looking forward to this.”

“Oh?” she quipped. The excitement on his face was infectious, causing her to grin. “Anything in particular you’re eager to see or do?”

“Everything! I’ve been meaning to visit the Crystal Empire for some time, I still hadn’t had the chance to meet Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, or Flurry Heart, and I’ve only ever been on a train once before,” he explained. “And those aren’t even the best parts about all this.”

She cocked her head and studied him for a moment, hoping he’d continue, but he kept quiet. He simply stepped forward, hooked a finger under her chin, and lifted her face towards himself. As her eyes met his, he leaned in and softly kissed her on the lips. His touch was electrifying, sending a shiver down her spine and causing her hair to stand on end - then, as soon as it began, he departed.

“You’re the best part,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to hers. “You have no idea how long I’ve dreamt of being able to spend time with you - well, spend time with you without staff or townsponies or guards pestering you for this or that.”

Celestia simply nodded, suddenly finding it difficult to speak. Truthfully, she felt the same way. She pined for time alone with him, away from her duties and the concerns of anypony else, yet freedom was a rare commodity for her. There was no way she could simply abandon her responsibilities - at least, not for any protracted length of time - which was exactly why her little vacation was more valuable to her than all the bits in the royal coffers.

“Thank you for all this,” he murmured, as his hands steadily moved down her neck. “I promise, I’ll make it up to you someday.”

His fingers danced over her coat, his hot breath teased her face, his scent filled her nostrils, and his words rang in her ears. Despite being humble and heartfelt, his mere presence was more thrilling than anything she could remember. Her heart skipped a beat as she felt herself beginning to blush, yet those sensations paled compared to a subtle feeling in her abdomen. An insidious warmth crept through her, almost too faint to notice, causing her to stiffen.

“It’s a gift, Anon,” she snickered, playfully pushing him away. “If you’re truly looking for some way to repay me, you could fetch me a ginger-peach fruit punch from the dining car.”

“Not a bad idea - having something to sip on would be pretty nice,” he thought aloud.

“Just so. You should have a few minutes before the train pulls out of the station, but I’d hurry,” she urged, sorcerously opening the door behind him. She needed a minute to think, without him present, so sending him on the errand seemed to be the only reasonable option that wouldn’t raise his suspicions.

Rushing to his bag and digging out a few coins, he hurried by her, stopped himself, then leaned back to give her a peck on the cheek. “I’ll be right back,” he noted, shooting her a wink and disappearing into the hallway outside.

Closing the door behind him, Celestia grit her teeth. Something wasn’t right, although she was unsure what in Equestria it was. She always looked forward to her time with him, and she’d fantasized about him more times than she cared to admit, but she shouldn’t be getting worked up that easily. For goodness sake, the only other time she’d felt a thrill like that was…

She gulped, wondering if she’d somehow lost track of the date. As impossible as the notion was, it almost felt as though her heat was coming on. Pacing the room, she paused by a small desk beside the window. There was simply no way she was about to go in season; not only was she several years ahead of such a happening but there’d had none of the regular signs of an impending estrus.

Her biology, while being almost entirely the same as any other mare’s, functioned slightly differently. The immense magical power afforded to her ilk came with a few physiological effects, amongst which included an increased size and preternaturally retarded aging. Maturing at a far slower rate than their pegasi, unicorn, and earth pony kin, alicorns were blessed or cursed with a lifespan which lasted for millennia - as such, some of their internal processes were affected.

Normally, for the last eight-hundred years or so, she’d entered estrus every decade or so. While being in season wasn’t normally an issue, since she usually had plenty of time to prepare for it beforehoof, the situation was less than ideal. She was alone with her lover, they’d spent two very passionate evenings together, and her dear sister wasn’t available to intervene - moreover, it didn’t make any sense. Why in Equestria would her body betray her at such a…

“Discord,” she hissed to herself.

At the mere mention of his name, she swore she could hear him cackling somewhere off in the distance. There were only a hoofful of creatures in existence powerful and foolish enough to play such a cruelly insensible joke on her; the chances of it being Twilight or Cadance were next to none, and Luna wouldn’t dare do something so brazen, leaving the mischievous Lord of Chaos as the prime suspect.

There was a very slight chance that she was getting ahead of herself. Given the fact that she was practically head over hooves for Anon, and finding herself becoming more and more attached to him by the day, she may have just been exhilarated to spend some time with him. Peering over at his opened bag, seeing his garments within, she sighed. There was one particular way to test if she really was entering her cycle, although she was loath to carry it out.

Moving to his duffel and levitating one of his spare shirts to the air, she glanced to the door. She’d simply die if somepony walked in on her, let alone her trusted knight, so she’d have to act fast. Lifting the garment to her face, she buried her snout in the cotton fabric and deeply inhaled through her nose.

Though the article was clean, his scent lingered. As her nostrils filled with his aroma, a singular and distinctly masculine perfume, she suppressed a shudder. Sweet stars above, he smelled absolutely heavenly. In all her many, many years, she couldn’t say she’d ever encountered a fragrance like his. Strong, but not as overpowering as a stallion, earthy and exotic, his bouquet was as captivating as the first warm breeze of spring.

“Oh man, these things are great!” Anon announced, letting himself into their compartment and shaking her from her stupor.

Scrambling in place, dropping his shirt from her ensorceled grasp, she wheeled around to face him. There was no doubt about it, something was definitely wrong with her. Simply smelling a laundered article of his had been enough to cause her mind to wander. She hadn’t suffered a mental lapse of that magnitude since she was a hormonally charged youth! Doing what she could to shoo away the unwanted and wholly uncouth thoughts dancing around in her head, she surreptitiously kicked his blouse back into his bag.

“I told you they were good!” she laughed, stepping over to retrieve her drink.

Plucking her beverage from his grasp, she took a sip and dwelled on the situation. She couldn’t excuse herself without a valid reason, especially after Anon had admitted to looking forward to spending time with her, and she wasn’t sure if she would be able to ignore any inappropriate thoughts throughout the train ride. One small consolation was that her condition was still in the budding phase, though that wouldn’t last for longer than a day or two. Assuring herself that she’d be able to hold out until they reached their destination, she set her resolve.

“You’d mentioned they have smoothies where you’re from?” she asked, cocking her head.

She recalled him having mentioned the fruity beverages before, which was exactly the point. So long as she could keep herself distracted, ensuring she wouldn’t be taunted and teased by immoral musings, she’d be fine - as such, creating idle chatter would be the simplest way to while away the hours. Remaining standing, she motioned towards the couch.

“Yeah, they’ve got all sorts of smoothies on Earth, but I never really tried many of them. I’ve always been more of a milkshake sort of guy,” he replied, trotting around her and seating himself on the sofa.

Tracking him with her body, lest he get a peek at her backside, she nodded thoughtfully. The last thing she needed would be to inadvertently tempt him or, heaven forbid, let him see her moistened entrance. As shameless as it was, the dull ache in her marehood told her that she was already a bit wet at the thought of him and his divine carnal prowess. As he continued chattering about various sorts of libation, she found herself watching his mouth. Remembering all too well what delights his full, pouting lips could afford, she tore her eyes away.

Creating some distance between them, she hopped back onto the bed and laid down. With her legs folded beneath her, and her wings resting on her back, she made herself comfortable. “Milkshakes are quite good, although I prefer them as a dessert. During the day, smoothies tend to be more refreshing and leave you a bit less lethargic,” she replied. “As Luna would be quick to tell you, I have a weakness with sweets.”

“So you have a sweet-tooth, so what? It’s not like you struggle with your weight,” he chuckled.

“You don’t have to humor me, I of all ponies know that the royal flank is a bit on the large side,” she lamented, peering down at her lower half.

It was true, she was the largest and heaviest between the quartet of Princesses. It wasn’t like she was portly, not by any means, yet if compared to her sister she was taller and substantially more curvy. As much as she would like to chock it up to her age, she knew that wasn’t the case; she’d struggled with confections and treats ever since she was a little filly.

“You don’t seriously think you’re overweight, do you?” Anon countered, drawing her attention.

“It’s a...sensitive subject. You have to admit, Luna, Cadance, and Twilight are far leaner than I,” she halfheartedly complained.

The man simply sat there for a second, stood, and stepped over to her. “There’s just one problem with that,” he grunted, easing himself down beside her. “Those other mare’s aren’t as enchanting as you either.”

The compliment was immediately followed by the soft, affectionate sensation of his palm gliding up her back. His touch was beyond reproach, kind and warm on her fur, leaving her to exhale contentedly. As he reached her shoulder blades, he arched his fingers and lovingly scratched the frustratingly hard to reach area between her wings. The spot was almost impossible to get to, without magic or assistance, so his efforts were well appreciated.

“Like that?” he softly asked, turning to better face her.

Her eyes drifted closed, savoring his ministrations. “Mmmhmm…”

His one hand was quickly followed by his second, as he sank his fingers into her coat. His strong and dexterous digits dug into the flesh over her back, working the stiffness from her muscles and drawing the lightest groan from her. Even the most skilled unicorn would be hard pressed to give her treatment of his caliber!

Focusing on the awe-inspiring massage, she shifted closer to him. She could feel herself becoming putty in his hands, while he manually rubbed the stress out of her body. As he reached the midway point of her back, he abruptly halted and retreated. Cracking an eye and and gazing up at him, she noticed him repositioning himself.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t stop,” he grunted, knitting his brow in frustration. “I’m just trying to figure out the best way to do this. It’s not like I’ve ever given a pony a massage before,” he nervously laughed.

“You could…” she cut herself off, a heartbeat before saying something she may have regretted.

Tilting his head, he looked to her face. “Could what?”

The idea which came to Celestia wasn’t exactly orthodox, nor was it something she’d be comfortable doing with anypony, yet she found it compelling. Anon wasn’t a pony, he was a man. His long, relatively slender legs could easily straddle her back and allow him to continue where he’d left off - that being said, the mere thought of having his weight upon her was wildly thrilling.

“Not gonna tell me?” he inquired, leaning over and bringing his face towards her blurry, unfocused eyes.

Though she’d somehow managed to down nearly half of her smoothie, she felt downright parched. “If I were to say you could sit on my back, would you think less of me?”

“Why would I think less of you for that?” he rebuked, stunned by the odd question. “I’d be hard pressed to think less of you for anything - besides, it’s not like we didn’t go on that little aerial adventure.”

“Right,” she replied, reminiscing fondly on their flight and the subsequent and extremely impassioned moments which followed it. As she slowly extended her wings, so he could more easily access the entirety of her back, she fought back her growing excitement. “Well then, please, be my guest.”

Eager to oblige her, Anon pushed himself up and carefully swung a leg over her broad hips. Settling on her, he wiggled in place and got himself comfortable. As she’d suspected, having him resting atop her gave her goosebumps, but there was more than that; even through his trousers, the heat of groin permeated to and through her delicate coat. Sure enough, as soon as he was adjusted, he continued to gently squeeze and stroke her shoulders.

Had she known he was capable of delivering massages she would have asked him for one ages ago. Under his caring hands, her tension bled away - still, she couldn’t help but assume he was taking it a bit easy on her. She’d seen how strong he was, lifting or moving objects which even the most stout stallion would struggle with, yet it seemed like he was being overly gentle with her. Yearning for more, hoping to have the deeper tissue around her wings loosened, she rested her head to the side and peeked back at him.

“Harder,” she faintly sighed.

“Just tell me if I’m being too rough,” he whispered. Leaning over her, adding his weight to his efforts, he applied more pressure.

As his thumbs bored into the brawn under her feathered appendages, a shuddering breath escaped her. Her wings trembled, instinctively enveloped him, while he serviced her like nopony ever had. Down her neck, over her withers, and moving towards her lower back, he meticulously sought to relax her.

Laying there, basking in his sublime attention, her mind began to wander. Imaginings of them sharing a bed, pressed chest to chest with his strong arms wrapped around her, caused her pulse to quicken. It was only when she felt her tail starting to flag did she realize she’d been ensnared once again by her carnal wants, but it didn’t end there. The unmistakable warmth of her engorged marehood was a testament to her arousal.

“You alright?” he quietly urged, slowing to a halt. “You look kind of flushed.”

“I...I’m just feeling a bit toasty. Is it stuffy in here to you?” she sputtered, deflecting his question.

It wasn’t exactly a lie, seeing as how she did feel a bit feverish. Not only was she finding it increasingly difficult to quell her lustful thoughts, but her body was reacting in a very unbecoming way to his virtuous attention. Sadly, her comment was met with an unforeseen outcome, as the man unseated himself from her.

Stepping from the bed and moving to the side of the car, he cracked the window to allow in a small draft. Either he hadn’t put the pieces together, wholly ignorant of the signs that she was getting turned on, or he was being an upstanding gentleman and intentionally abstaining from exacerbating the situation. She was inclined to believe it was the latter option, although it paradoxically set her heart fluttering.

A breeze drifted through the room, accompanied by the steady sound of the locomotive’s engine, as he returned to the bed and laid down beside her. “Better?”

Gazing into his eyes, Celestia lost herself. He really was a singular spirit - not just because he was one of a kind, but because of how cordial and grounded he was. Being a stranger to their world, having been ignorant of their traditions and culture, he was a blank slate - as such, he was one of the very few who viewed her for who she truly was. Had she not been a Princess or alicorn, she had no doubt that he would have thought no less of her.

Throughout all their time together, a friendship and mutual respect for one another had blossomed into something - something which she’d never truly felt. They found comfort with each other, sharing a uniqueness which was hard or impossible to find, and they’d grown closer due to it. Putting aside the differences of their species, title, and age, it was as if their very souls were entwined.

Staring at his loving face, seeing that quirky little smile of his, her heart swelled. He was her stallion, in all but name, just as she was his mare. As he reached out to gently pet her side, the breath hitched in her throat. The two previous times they’d become intimate had been mutual, albeit somewhat spur of the moment - now, resting on the mattress with him, she wanted something more.

“Anon,” she began, folding one wing around him. Some part of her was fully aware that her urges were in part due to the hormones steadily flooding through her system, yet she cared not. Right then, at that moment, she had only a single desire. “Make love with me.”

He recoiled slightly, doubtlessly caught unawares by her request. “Right here?”

Rolling to her side, presenting him with her belly, she extended a foreleg and pulled him towards herself. “Yes,” she breathed.

“Are...are you feeling alright?” he asked, concern tinging his voice.

By the stars, his consideration for her outshone her licentious advances! He honestly cared for her - so much so that he didn’t immediately fling himself upon her. There had been untold hundreds of stallions who would have leapt at the opportunity to bed her, but not Anon. His apprehension was the sort of thing little fillies dreamt about, fanning the flames of her passion all the more - still, his integrity deserved an honest answer.

“I’m not sure why, but I may be going into season,” she purred. Drawing her hoof up his side and around his back, she drew him ever nearer.

His eyes widened slightly, as he digested her statement. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

Barely restraining herself, she slowly nodded. Though she would give him a detailed explanation, if he asked, she hoped that he would be content with her curt response. There’d be plenty of time for her to go over the finer details of estrus later - after she was sated. Glancing to the door, she evoked her magic.

“Um…” Anon hummed, craning his neck and looking towards the exit. “What are you doing.”

“Barring entry and enacting a noise cancellation spell,” she flippantly mused.

“I mean, I’m not opposed to this,” he remarked, “but it seems rather sudden.”

“Sometimes the best things in life are,” she giggled. Leaning in, she sweetly kissed his collar.

Shifting slightly, yet not shying away, he adjusted himself. Twisting her head, she peered down and quickly discovered the source of his discomfort. Resting at his groin, beneath his tented slacks, the root of his unease lay plane to see. Evidently, despite his reserved and modest reaction, he had taken note of her proposal. Steadily drawing her eyes up his chest and to his face, she grinned.

“Judging from…” she trailed off, glancing down his body and subtly nodding to his crotch, “I don’t think you’d mind indulging me too much…”

Knowing that his interest had been noticed, a redness crept into his cheeks. His mouth opened, if only for a split second, before he shook his head and gently pushed himself away from her. “If we get caught, this was your idea.”

Lifting her foreleg and pulling her wing back, she allowed him to wriggle free. “Anon, I assure you, we’ll be left to our lonesome. Between the enchantments on the room and lock on the door, there isn’t a pony on Equestria who could intrude.”

Choosing to stay silent, he got to his feet and began unbuttoning his shirt. With her eyes practically glued to him, Celestia watched the serene burlesque show; bit by delectable bit of his chest was revealed, until the garment hung from his shoulders. After contorting his arms and freeing his upper half from the garment, his hands moved to his waist.

Despite having viewed his nude form on two separate occasions, there was an undeniable thrill to seeing him strip. Unfastening the button of his pants and unzipping his fly, she was given the first tantalizing peek of the bare flesh of his groin. Her mouth watered, her heart beat ever faster, and she felt her marehood eagerly wink at the display. As he lowered his slacks and underwear, ultimately letting them fall to the floor, he straightened up and smiled at her.

His blush and sheepish grin, as adorable as they were, spurred her to act. If the man was even the slightest bit uncomfortable showing himself to her, she would be remiss for not remedying the situation - as such, she beckoned him over with a wing. She could have complimented him, or perhaps reassured him that there is no shame in bearing one’s self to one’s lover, although she was struck by an idea - why use words when using actions would suffice.

Locking eyes on him, she lifted her hind leg and presented herself. There was no way in the world she would have ever made such a bawdy display to anypony, even while in the throes of a powerful estrus, yet she felt compelled with him. Seeing his eyes wander down her belly, over her teats, and ultimately to her meaty loins, her confidence warred with her embarrassment - that was, until she lowered her gaze. Spying the manhood proudly standing at his groin, her eyes widened. With each noting the enthusiasm of the other, all that was left to determine was who would make the first move...

Off The Rails

Apparently mulling his options, Anon surveyed the area for a moment. Although their cabin was the largest available, it afforded them relatively little room for certain activities. The bed was smaller than the one in Celestia’s private chambers and there wasn’t much floor-space to work with - that being said, enough determination could make the endeavor possible almost anywhere. As the man squinted down at the mattress, he waved a hand at her.

“Slide down a little, I want to try something,” he requested.

Without so much as a second thought, Celestia did as she was asked. His rigid manhood, as proud and majestic as ever, waggled slightly as he moved. Although his equipment held several differences to a stallion’s, she’d discovered that it was more than capable of pleasing her. The soft, rounded head seemed like it had been designed to bring pleasure, as opposed to the blunt, almost boorish endowment of male ponies, but that wasn’t his most mind boggling gift - no, that honor went to his endurance.

While she was no virgin, having been prone to the odd fling in her more lusty years, she could hooves down declare that the man’s stamina was unparalleled. Even the more experienced stallions typically lasted less than a minute, rutting away before they came to a swift and messy end, yet that wasn’t the case with Anon. Her lover could run laps around anypony she’d been with or heard of, and that wasn’t even counting his obscenely short refractory period!

“You really are worked up,” he lightheartedly snickered, snapping her back to the present.

She hadn’t realized it at the time, having lost herself to the fond and sublimely pleasant memories of his carnal prowess, but she’d been absentmindedly staring at his crotch for several seconds. Shamefully averting her gaze, she finished repositioning herself. She wasn’t sure what he had in mind for her, yet that added another layer of exhilaration. Mutely following him with her eyes, seeing him move towards her lower half and gently grab her hind leg, her confusion mounted.

Slowly, carefully, he crawled onto the bed beside her. Resting on one shoulder, laying on his side, he moved his face to her groin. It wasn’t until his hips squirmed closer, bringing his waist towards her face, was she granted a moment of clarity. Trying and failing to fight back her excitement, sure that he would be upon her at any moment, she struck first. Her head shot forward and she gave the crown of his length the smallest kiss, before wrapping her lips around his shaft.

As obvious as his intentions had become, she had not anticipated him to open with a sixty nine - that being said, she felt foolish for expecting any less. He always took his time with her, warming her up and preparing her for the deed, which was yet another reason she found herself enamored with him. The sensation of his hot breath on her loins lasted the blink of an eye, as he set upon her slavering marehood.

Not to be outdone, she lavished the manhood within her muzzle and caressed his length with her tongue. The velvety flesh surrounding the rigid core was soft and inviting, holding only the faintest traces of flavor. Inhaling through her nose, she flooded her sinuses with his heady aroma; his crotch, though having only the slightest bit of hair, was a nexus for his masculine perfume. Relishing his scent and taste, as he licked and suckled on the meaty folds of her nethers, she trembled.

Ever so slowly, her raised leg began to descend. Between servicing her lover and having her marehood worshipped, it felt like being trapped in an exceedingly impassioned juggling act. The thrill of servicing him, while bolts of raw bliss surged through her body, was almost too much to bear. How he could so flawlessly dine on her sex was beyond her - nevertheless, she couldn’t bring herself not to give him her all.

Bobbing her head and steadily torquing it from side to side, she did what she could to please him. She didn’t have all that much experience with oral, outside of a hooffull of times in the past, though she’d never received any complaints. Pressing her face to his groin, shoving her nose against his ripe balls, she enveloped all of him within her snout. Even though she was markedly larger than most ponies, the tip of his length bumped against the back of her throat. Despite her best efforts, a light gag escaped her.

Anon’s ministrations ceased and he patted her thigh, though it wasn’t until he spoke did she realize what she’d inadvertently done. With his head sandwiched between her ample thighs, the most he could manage was a dull muffle. Lifting her leg and retracting her muzzle from around his glorious spear, she peered down at him.

“S...sorry,” she stammered. Noticing a thin strand of pre-cum connecting her to his manhood, she licked her lips. She hadn’t meant to suffocate the poor man, but her impulses had gotten the better of her.

Wiping his chin with the back of one hand, he grinned from ear to ear. “Don’t worry about it - heck, I was just getting comfortable. Do you want to continue or would you rather…?” he let the question hang, softly bucking his hips.

Celestia couldn’t help herself, nodding vigorously and biting her lower lip. As she pulled her wing back, allowing him to slither free, she awaited with bated breath. As exquisite as his oral skills were, she was more than ready to proceed. The man gradually stood and looked down upon her, yet his expression seemed anything but enthusiastic - no, if anything, he appeared contemplative.

“Do you want to try something different?” he asked.

“So long as it’s not too adventurous. What do you have in mind?” she countered, sneaking glances to his endowment.

Wheeling around, giving her a glimpse of his bare bottom, he stepped over to the sofa, retrieved the pair of throw pillows resting there, and turned back to face her. Though her interest was piqued, she still hadn’t the foggiest clue what his intentions were. There were already a number of cushions on the bed, ones which were far softer and more inviting than the two he had taken from the couch, so she was unsure what use he would have for them.

“Here,” he began, crossing to her and patting her flank, “roll on your back and lift your behind.”

Doing as asked, yet flummoxed by his request, she turned slightly. Her horn ignited, enfolding her lower half in a gold aura. Had she been an earth pony or pegasus, the task would have been next to impossible without help - thankfully, that wasn’t the case. As her rump hovered into the air, Anon leaned over, jammed the two cushions under her behind, then stepped back to appraise his work.

Celestia gingerly lowered herself back down and fidgeted slightly. Being situated in such an unfamiliar way felt odd, but not uncomfortably so. Resting heavily on her shoulders, with her tush balanced on the pillows, she rocked from side to side and freed her wings. It was clear that he planned on going for some sort of missionary position, although the exact purpose of the cushions was a bit of a mystery.

Moving onto the bed and positioning himself between her hind legs, “Alright, you comfortable?”

As he rose to his knees and shuffled forward, she nodded. Truth be told, she was eager to pick up where they’d left off - pillow supported posterior or not. Splaying her legs, heedless of the unabashed view she was giving him, she silently pined for him. Putting on such a needy display was bad enough, especially after having explicitly asked for his amorous attention, so she couldn’t bring herself to beg - at least, not verbally.

Apparently pleased with her response, he moved forward, guided his manhood to her sex, and drew his tip up and down her entrance. The taunting gesture was downright wicked, nearly more than she could bear, yet she endured. His teasing persisted for the briefest of moments, before he proceeded. Bending at the waist, lowering his face towards her chest, he slowly pressed into her.

With glacial speed, she was penetrated. The sensation was just as wondrous as ever. Every vein and contour of his manhood was divine, fitting her depths like the key made for a lock. Stifling a whimper of delight, as he delved deeper and deeper, the most miraculous thing happened. Due to the unusual angle of his plunge, his length ground against some mystical spot within her.

The sensation was singular, wholly unlike anything she’d ever experienced, and it left her at a loss. The sex with him before had been marvelous, more than satisfying, but this was something else entirely and it utterly shattered her self-restraint. Like a spring loaded trap, her legs snapped around him and fiercely pulled him deeper. In the blink of an eye, he was fully hilted.

“Someone’s feeling needy,” he purred, peering to her face. Bracing himself on his arms, with one hand to either side of her chest, he didn’t wait for her unneeded response. Rocking his hips back and withdrawing a bit of his length, he began rutting her in earnest.

Even if she had been afforded freedom of movement, she hadn’t the slightest desire to budge an inch. Being passionately rutted by her lover in the newfound position was beyond words. Flexing her legs in tune with his movements, giving him a little extra Umph on his thrusts, she eagerly clenched around his shaft.

Every plunge sent shock waves of pure, unrefined rapture rampaging throughout her being, stoking the growing inferno of her libidinous desires. The more she got, the more she wanted - the more she wanted, the more she got. The cycle was as viscous as it was amazing, spurring her to pick up the pace at record speed.

The fact that she had a deep, romantic interest with him was icing on the cake, yet it was so much more than that. There they were, aboard a train loaded with ponies, going at it like a pair of lustful youths! The taboo, coupled with her body’s urges and the gloriously awe-inspiring sensations he delivered to her unbelievable. Demigod or not, against such undeniable pleasure, she was reduced to little more than a quivering, covetous mare.

“D...don’t stop,” she croaked, closing her eyes and fixating on the physical feeling of being plowed.

The man acquiesced, increasing the speed and force of his pounding hips. Though their setting and the impulsive nature of the act was far from idealistic, she couldn’t have wished for anything better. Aside from the physical, the mere sounds he made added a deliciously sinful element to the moment. Their bodies collided, his grunts of exertion mixed with her increasingly loud groans of joy, and a trickle of her mareish juices crept down the cleft of her rump. While it was rather unbecoming of a Princess, in that moment, it was just what she needed.

On and on they went, growing increasingly frenzied as the seconds dragged into minutes. Under his relentless assault, her resolve began to crumble. The fuse had been lit, growing ever nearer to the powder keg of her release. While she was far from an expert on the matters of sex, she could tell her impending climax was going to be a doozy. Her thighs trembled, her breath hitched in her throat, and an inescapable heat welled within her.

“I’m - Mmmph - I’m close,” he huffed, shaking her from her thoughts.

The notion that he would reach his peak alongside her was all the inspiration she needed. Falteringly raising her waist, forcing her magic to work, she peered up at him. A sheen of sweat dotted his brow, his jaw was clenched, and his eyes were screwed shut. If she had to guess, he was holding out for her, hoping to bring her to finish, yet his efforts were wholly unneeded. Wrapping her forelegs around his neck, while her wings came to rest on his back, she drew him in.

Without so much as a single word, she ardently locked lips with her lover. No sooner had their tongues entwined than her wish was granted. Burying every inch of himself within her, his hips fitfully bucked and twitched. The pulsing sensation of his manhood in her depths was quickly joined by the pervasive, almost scalding heat of his seed filling her. Howling into his mouth, with her marehood convulsing around him, she gushed climactic nectar like a geyser.

Cumming in tandem, locked together, the two rode out their ecstasy. Save for the occasional twitch or errant hump, their sole focus was on the deep, fervent kiss which had sealed their fate. It was a beautiful end for a magnificently rash mid-morning session and, though they had planned on such an event, neither was left unsatisfied.

“How are you this perfect?” he wheezed, pulling away to stroke his cheek against her chest.

Giggling like a school filly, clenching around his softening shaft, she fondly pecked his crown. “I could ask you the same question.”

Her laughter was infectious, causing him to snicker to himself. “You know we’re going to have to figure out something to do with the blankets and that pair of pillows…”

She gave the barest shrug and rolled her head to the side. “We can just throw them out the window,” she mused, grinning at the silly idea. “But seriously, I’m sure we’re not the first passengers to get frisky while aboard.”

“Sure, but I’m pretty sure that they haven’t had a Princess christen the train,” he blithely rebuked, lifting his head to gaze up at her. “If we don’t intend on ignoring the mess, we can play rock-paper-scissors for who brings the linens to an attendant.”

“If you insist,” she sighed. Honestly, she couldn’t care less who found out about their little escapade; she’d likely change her stance on the matter later, after the warm-fuzzies of a good bedding wore off, but it could wait. For the time being, her only concern was basking in post-coitus glee with her paramour...