The Pampering

The Pampering

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Five Weeks Later (Week 16)-

“Ergh!” Gleaming wiggled and squirmed, trying to fit the straps of her armor around her belly. “Come on, you stupid thing! Fit!” She tugged a little harder to get the strap to go all the way, but even with it so tight that it left red marks, it remained a few centimeters shy. “Oh, for Luna’s sake... I just adjusted this last week!”

“And it looks like you need to adjust it again,” Cadance said. She was on the couch enjoying the show, all the while fighting the urge to touch herself. “Both the flanchard straps, and the crupper, I think. Your hips look like they’re about to burst right out of that armor.”

Gleaming’s eyes widened. She turned her head to look at her rump, groaning as she now realized how tight the back pieces felt on her flanks. It was a wonder that she’d gotten them on at all.

“Damn it…” There was a hum and a FLASH as Gleaming teleported a few feet to the right, leaving her adornments behind to fall noisily to the ground. “I don’t have time for this! It’s going to take at least a half-hour for the armorer to refit me, and I need to go in a few minutes!”

“So go without it,” Cadance said. “Not much you can do at this point. Either that, or send word to Commander Spitshine to cover for you. I’m sure he can handle things.”

Gleaming’s jaw dropped. “Are you crazy?! Leave a lecture on the reactive adjustment of greater arcanometric pressures to that moron?! I had more telekinetic finesse in magic kindergarten than he does! He couldn’t even put a barrier around his own dick!”

Cadance bit back a laugh, trying to maintain her straight face. “I think that might be a little harsh, dear. I’ll admit he prefers bigger, flashier spells, but I’m sure he can explain the theory—”

“He’s a damned blithering idiot!” Gleaming snarled. She picked up her fallen armor pieces, angrily shoving them into her saddlebags. “Not to mention that he has less discipline than a crackwhorse at an orgy! You should’ve seen what he did just the other day—I specifically told him I wanted the recruits doing magic resistance training at fifty reps daily in order to strengthen their telekinesis, and how many does he tell them to do?! Forty-five! Oh, he says that they can’t handle fifty yet, so he’s trying to work them up to it, but I say I’m ready to shove a bayonet up his ass!”

Cadance pursed her lips. Several replies came to mind for what her pregnant mate was saying, but she kept them all to herself. Instead, she merely watched as Gleaming began pacing back and forth, spitting with fury while magenta sparks jetted from her horn.

“And holy hell, these recruits!” Gleaming shouted. “Fucking worthless, the lot of them! Slack-jawed, mouth-breathing, cowardly little bags of smashed assholes! They can barely maintain a level five forcefield, none of them are above a Class A in power, they ask me the STUPIDEST questions all the time! One of the little geniuses thought it was a good idea to use a Gamma rune instead of a Theta in their containment array, and their forcefield popped like a damn soap bubble after only two dozen boulders! That wouldn’t last for SHIT in a real siege!”

Cadance noted that it was getting warmer in the room, but she still didn’t comment. She folded her hooves and lay calmly on the couch, her eyes never leaving her partner.

“And Luna almighty, another couldn’t recite the formula for Starswirl’s Second Law of Abjuration when I asked them!” Gleaming growled with crackling eyes. “Never mind that that’s the fucking foundation of what I’ve been trying to teach them, oh nooooooo, that’s not important at all! They have no pride in their appearance, their techniques are sloppy, they never polish the brass on their uniforms, and I swear to Celestia I’m about ready to—”

“Honey,” Cadance said.

Gleaming whirled. “WHAT?!”

“You’re on fire.”

Gleaming blinked several times. For the first time she noticed the heat around her, as well as the shimmering in the air. She glanced back at the mirror and saw that her mane and tail were both bright blue blazing infernos, and her irises had shifted to pure gold.

Gleaming muttered a final curse and quelled her magic, reverting her body to its normal state. “Sorry...”

“I think you need a break.” Cadance got to her hooves and went over to her closet, pulling out the regalia and crown she wore whenever they left the castle. “Actually, scratch that, I’m telling you that you need a break. For the sake of everypony around you, I want you to take the day off.”

Gleaming curled her lip in a sneer. “A break?! I don’t need a break! What I need is a set of armor that fits me, a contingent of soldiers that aren’t morons, a second-in-command who doesn’t have SHIT for brains, and—”

Gleaming stopped. She repeated the words she’d just said in her mind, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a nasty wave of shame.

She hung her head and let out a sigh, taking off her saddlebags. “...okay, maybe I do.”

“Come on,” Cadance said. She gently guided them towards the door. “I know just the thing.”

“But the troops—”

“—can handle a day without their fearless leader,” Cadance said with a loving nuzzle. “You need this right now, and if anypony has a problem, they can take it up with me.”

“Mrrrgghh…” Gleaming grit her teeth, her cheeks turning pink. “I’m not used to… you know I’m not usually… I didn’t mean...”

“I know.” Cadance placed a wing around her, giving her a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay, really. I know this isn’t you.”

Gleaming slumped in defeat. “Stupid… body. Stupid everything. Fuck the world. I swear, if you weren’t so into all of this, I wouldn’t be able to deal with it.”

A small, giddy shiver swept through Cadance. She wrapped their tails together in an affectionate gesture, then leaned over and nibbled Gleaming’s ear. “And I assure you, I most definitely am.”

Gleaming rolled her eyes. “Such a perv.”

Cadance waggled her eyebrows. “You know you like it.”

“Never said I didn’t…”

They walked out of their apartment and down the hallway. Their usual escorts fell into step and followed silently, and together they made their way down through the castle, the guards and staff bowing and saluting as they passed.

“Dr. Endo took my measurements yesterday,” Gleaming muttered quietly to Cadance. “I’ve gained twenty pounds already, and my fundal height is measuring at twenty-eight centimeters. Do you realize what that means? I look like I’m seven months pregnant, and I haven’t even hit my first real growth spurt yet!”

Cadance giggled. “Oh, I know, dear. I’ve had a front row seat to it all, and I’ve loved every second of it. Were the tummy rubs I’ve started giving you not enough of a hint of that?”

Gleaming bit her lip. “I didn’t think that those would feel so good…”

“You’re getting big so early because of the spells,” Cadance said, smiling. “Normally your womb would push both inward and outward as it grows, squishing all your other organs and making you uncomfortable. We strengthened your insides a bit to avoid that, but as a consequence, the foals are going to be pushing out more. That’s why your skin has been so sore.”

Gleaming grunted acknowledgement. “I really like that coconut butter stuff you’ve been using. Smells good.”

“You’ve said that a few times, now,” Cadance said in a sly tone. “Though I probably could’ve guessed by how you’ve been putting a touch of it on your muzzle after showers.”

Gleaming didn’t try to deny it. Instead, she merely shrugged and changed the subject. “I just didn’t realize how fast this all would be happening…”

Cadance guided them down a set of stairs and towards the main door to outside. “Time does have a funny habit of slipping away from us. Though I did warn you that things were going to happen fast. Warned you that you were going to be huge, too.”

Gleaming let out a dry laugh. “Yeah, you did. I mean, I expected it and all, but it’s one thing to be told something, and another to experience it. I don’t wanna complain or anything; I know I’m having this a lot easier than it could be, but even still, I just… ugh...”

Cadance tenderly kissed her cheek. “You’re the bravest pony I know. You’ve amazed me time and time again, and I know that you’ll continue to from here on out. I love you so very, very much. Never forget that.”

Gleaming closed her eyes and leaned into the embrace. “Such a patient, understanding wife… what did I do to deserve you?”

“You were the first one with the balls to ask me out, you’re a demon in the sack, and you most importantly, you put up with all my crazy shit.”

Gleaming smirked. “Ah. Right.”

Ding-a-ling-a-ling!

The entrance bell gave off a pleasant sound as Gleaming and Cadance entered a little blue building on the edge of the city. Inside was a spacious waiting room decorated in colors of violet and cobalt, with long curtains of sparkling moss hanging from the ceiling like chandeliers. The clean scent of lilacs was in the air, and a harp-like instrument could be heard playing a melody from unseen speakers.

“Azure Mist Day Spa?” Gleaming read aloud the loopy cursive logo on the reception desk. “I don’t think I’ve ever been here before.”

“I’d have been surprised if you had,” Cadance said, waving at the pony at the front desk. “This is one of the best kept secrets of the Empire.”

“Princess Cadance!” The crystal pony mare behind the counter squee’d and clapped her hooves. “Welcome back! So good to—ohmygoshisthat—AHHHHH! You brought her! And she looks so cuuuuuute~! Welcome, welcome, welcome!”

Gleaming winced at the mare’s high-pitched, tinny voice. “Uh, Honey…”

“Don’t mind Azzy,” Cadance said in an undertone. “She gets excited easily.” Cadance cleared her throat and stepped forward. “It’s great to see you! How are you?”

Azzy tittered. “Oh, you know things never change around here. Business as usual, and nothing more. But what about you? I haven’t seen you in months! And I know I’ve never seen you here, Miss Princess-Consort. What’s the occasion?”

Cadance exchanged a brief look with Gleaming before merely shrugging in reply. “I just decided we both could use some R and R.”

“Of course, of course,” Azzy said. She trotted out with a clipboard and jotted down a few notes. “So, what would you like today? The usual, I assume?”

Cadance raised a hoof to her chin. “Well… I know there’ll be some things that Gleaming won’t be able to do, so we can skip on those parts. definitely everything else, though, and we’d like to do as much as we can together.”

“Righty-o.” Azzy circled a few things on the paper while crossing out a few others. ‘So that’s a nix on the aromatherapy, hot tub, and steam room, although... we can do a normal warm bath or a multi-spray shower instead. Sound good?”

Gleaming’s ears drooped. “No hot tub?”

“It’ll still be in one of the jacuzzis with the nice-feeling jets,” Cadance said to her. “I’ve seen them do it for other mares. They just turn down the temperature.”

Gleaming perked up at that. “That’s all?”

Azzy laughed. “Yep! Not hard in the slightest.”

“Oh! Well, in that case, that sounds really nice.” A small smile formed on Gleaming’s face. “Let’s do that.”

Azzy continued filling things out on her clipboard. “Let’s see… so facials, hooficures, horn filings, a wing preening and oiling for one, mild-scent soaps and shampoos, and of course, the massages. Deep tissue massage for you, Princess Cadance, and a neonatal for Princess Gleaming. You’re actually in luck—the only one in today certified in neonatal is Amber, and she happens to be free right now! She’ll need to know how far along in your pregnancy you are, though. What month are you in?”

“Fourth,” Gleaming replied, placing a hoof on her protruding tummy. “Just hit sixteen weeks.”

“Six—” Azzy did the smallest of double takes. “Right, right… you’ve got four in there... heh, that’ll be a new one for Amber... shouldn’t be a problem, though. Right then, all that’s settled. Do either of you have questions?”

Gleaming and Cadance both shook their heads.

“Fabulous.” Azzy turned and began heading for a hallway. “Follow me, please.”

The three of them made their way further into the spa. Azzy led them towards a quick-responding elevator, which opened and closed its doors with a gentle chime. It then began to take them down, which surprised Gleaming, but she kept her observations to herself.

Good thing, too, for when the doors opened again, she was completely floored by what she saw.

“Holy...”

It was a cavern. A natural, underground crystal cavern. It began as a wide grotto with high ceilings and smooth floors, with interspersed stalactites and stalagmites embedded with enchanted, luminous jewels. Crystal formations of all colors were everywhere, each of them meticulously chiseled and sculpted into artful shapes that glinted and glittered in the light. Gleaming could see that there were a number of pathways leading out of the main antechamber to other caves, and ponies wearing bathrobes could be seeing moving to and fro via these routes. The sound of running water could be heard from somewhere, the smell of perfume was in the air, and a thin blue mist floated throughout the place like a serene carpet.

Cadance grinned. “Not bad, eh?”

“How in the…” Gleaming turned to Cadance. “Why didn’t you ever tell me about this?”

“I did,” Cadance said patiently. “A few times, in fact! You said you weren’t interested in coming to a day spa.”

“You never said it was like this!” Gleaming waved her hoof at the natural beauty before them. “This is amazing!”

From just ahead of them, Azzy laughed. “Her Majesty approves of my little establishment? I’m flattered.”

“Your establishment?” Gleaming cocked her head. “Wait... you’re the owner?”

Azzy turned with a small flourish and bowed. “Azure Mist, at your service.”

It took a few seconds for Gleaming to find her voice again. “Why were you working the front desk?”

“Azzy likes being on the front lines,” Cadance explained, a note of fondness in her voice. “She’s not one for attending meetings, or talking about shares. She has other ponies do that so she can get a feel for what her customers want.”

Azzy winked. “Customer service is paramount in any business, my lady. If you have that sorted, then everything else works itself out.”

Gleaming didn’t know what to say. She tried a few times to form a reply, but nothing seemed like it’d hold against Azzy’s air of confidence. Her posture was tall and sure, her eyes never wandered, and her smile was an honest one.

“You must be quite the professional,” Gleaming managed.

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” Azzy beamed and trotted forward, leading them further into the spa. “I just happen to know what’s important, that’s all.”

They walked some way through the caves, passing by various implementations of the spa. There were pools, massage tables, steam rooms, and reclining beds, many of which were occupied by relaxing ponies chatting and unwinding in the mist. The employees that saw the royal duo waved and bowed as they passed, and while Gleaming noted that while a good deal of eyes were on her, they were looks of curiosity more than anything else.

Azzy took them out of the public parlors and into a more private area. She stopped at a set of doors installed into the very rock, emblazoned with Cadance’s cutie mark and set with a secure-looking lock. Azzy produced a set of keys and unlocked it, and they all went inside.

The rooms beyond looked like they could’ve been an extension of their apartment. The overall style and color scheme was the same, although the ceilings were higher, and were set with bright, shining jewels. A stone garden with flower sculptures was off in the corner, surrounded by a clean carpet of moss that looked as soft as heather. All of the features of the spa they’d seen so far were present, albeit a bit more luxurious-looking, and everything in the room was alicorn- sized.

Gleaming whistled. “Snazzy.”

Azzy motioned for them to make themselves comfortable. “Just ring the bell by the door when you’re ready to start. The staff will see to you.”

“Terrific,” Cadance said. “You’re the best, Azzy.”

“Of course I am!” Azzy said with a laugh. “Why else would you keep coming back to me?”

And with that she left, leaving Gleaming and Cadance alone in the suite.

“So…” Gleaming looked around a bit, still taking in the details of their new surroundings. “You’ve got a private room at a secret underground day spa. Quite the display of decadence.”

Cadance held up her hooves. “Hey, I didn’t have anything to do with the place being built! I didn’t even ask for this room! Azzy just gave it to me.”

Gleaming wandered over to one of the beds and examined it. “Aww, the crystal ponies like to spoil their pretty pink princess. How cute.”

Cadance laughed despite herself. “Yeah well, the pretty pink princess is now going to use it to spoil her pretty pregnant partner so she doesn’t kill somepony .”

“Heh. ‘Pretty pregnant.’” Gleaming looked down at her sizeable baby bump. She hadn’t had many issues with discomfort, but carrying so much extra weight was tiring her out more easily. Even the walk down here had left her feeling thirsty. “I’d say that that’s accurate.”

“And how.” Cadance took a few steps forward, eyeing Gleaming with an all-too-familiar look. “You look great, you know. I know I say it I lot, but you really, really do. I get hot and bothered every time I notice that you’ve grown a bit more, and I just wanna kiss and rub and lick every inch of you…”

A smile crept up on Gleaming’s lips. She slowly turned to her advancing mate, allowing a bit of her mane to spill over one of her eyes. “That so?”

“Mmhmm.” Cadance’s wings began to flare, extending to their full, impressive span. “I can barely keep my hooves off of you these days, and you’re not even at the halfway point yet. You’re driving me stark freaking crazy with that body of yours, and the only thing I can’t decide is whether to rut you as a stallion for hours, or eat you out until I can’t feel my tongue.”

“Hmph.” Gleaming pretended not to be interested and turned away, walking towards one of the massage beds with a bored look. But as she did, she put a small strut in her steps that emphasized her twitching tail, and beckoning cunny. “Promises, promises. I bet if you had your way, you’d keep me at home all the time so we could have that much more sex. Would we even leave the apartment at all?”

“I’d fuck you twenty-four seven if I thought we could manage it,” Cadance said, her voice low and sultry. “I’d make your desire and tolerance for pleasure endless so I could fill you over and over, and I’d alter your body so you could become pregnant countless times over. You’d become the most fertile mare in Equestria, and only get more so by the day…”

Gleaming bit back a moan. She quickly coughed and made it look like a yawn, but she knew Cadance heard. She wiggled her hips and dragged a hoof across the soft bed, trying not to pay attention to the fact that she was shivering. “But how would you manage that, hmm? That nasty curse of Sombra’s is why we’re in this situation in the first place. We can’t have any more children.”

“I’ll find a way,” Cadance growled. She was now only a few steps away from Gleaming, creeping forward in a low crouch. “By all that is pure and good in this world, I will find a way. That dead bastard won’t have the last laugh. So long as you’re willing, we will have more children than this. I don’t care what we have to do.”

That statement struck a chord for some reason. Gleaming turned and met Cadance’s eyes, who from her current position, looked almost like she was bowing. The thought made Gleaming stand a little taller, and she looked down at her wife with piercing eyes.

“Promise me.”

Cadance didn’t hesitate. “I promise.”

Gleaming held her gaze a long time, but Cadance’s resolve never wavered. That fiery spark in her eyes burned strong, driving away any sense of doubt.

“Hmph. Well, in that case...” Gleaming putting a hoof on her swollen belly. “I hate to say it, but I think that that nurse was right.  Four kids isn’t nearly enough.”

And that was the last straw. With a burst of blue magic, Cadance picked up Gleaming and forced her hind legs apart. Gleaming suddenly found herself face-up onto the bed with Cadance seated at the end, and with a shark-like grin, she dove into Gleaming’s nethers, feverishly lapping away.

“OH!” Gleaming shrieked out her approval. “CADYYYYY!”

Cadance let out a lusty purr. She wrapped her hooves around Gleaming’s back legs and shoved her snout in hard, burying her tongue in Gleaming’s slippery folds and wiggling it around. The familiar sweetness of Gleaming’s juices filled her mouth, and she alternated between massaging her mate’s velvety walls and sucking on her clit.

There was a knock on the door.

“NO!” Gleaming snarled. She put a powerful barrier around the entrance and wrapped her legs around Cadance’s head. “I SWEAR IF YOU STOP…”

Cadance’s reply was to lick even faster.

“OOOH!” Gleaming threw her head back and pounded the bed. “THERE! YES! RIGHT THERE!”

Cadance was relentless. She ravaged Gleaming with her frantic tongue, lashing her love button without mercy and yanking on her tail. Then suddenly, she pulled back for a moment and lowered her head, and using magic to guide her, she plunged her horn into Gleaming’s slit and held it there.

“AHHHHHHH!~” Gleaming’s voice cracked as a mighty orgasm ripped through her. Her inner walls spasmed around Cadance’s fluted length, clamping down and shuddering in wild ecstasy. Cadance started channeling a spell through her horn, and the vibrations very nearly caused Gleaming to white out.

“My dear little sweethearts,” Cadance whispered, calling on her alicorn magic. She didn’t know for sure yet, they wouldn’t for another month at least, but a part of her told her that this was the right thing to do. A hot, syrupy essence bubbled out of her horn and seeped into Gleaming, imbuing her and the foals with divine energy. “Hush now… Mommy’s here…”

An inner light appeared from within Gleaming’s belly. It shone with a prismatic light for a few short seconds, and her navel, which had already been getting shallower and more sensitive the last few weeks, began to swell and throb. Gleaming cried out and thrust her paunch high into the air, and with a loud POP, her innie pushed out of its tight prison and became a prominent outie. The sensation was enough to give her another orgasm, and a shower of sparks shot out of her horn to fall down over them both.

Gleaming’s muscles went limp. She stared up at the ceiling and gasped for air, her whole body warm and fuzzy from the extended dual peaks. Cadance withdrew her horn with a soft shlick and looked her over, and upon noticing the changed bellybutton, she smiled mischievously and planted a kiss atop it.

Gleaming gasped as a pleasant jolt ran through her. “AH! Whoa, what… what was that?!”

Cadance raised an eyebrow. “Did that feel good?”

“Your Majesties!” A voice from beyond the door called. “Are you in there? Miss Azure Mist sent us. Could you let us in? The door seems to be locked!”

Cadance cringed and glanced at the still-blocked door. “Please tell me you soundproofed that barrier.”

Gleaming managed a weak laugh. “What do you... take me for? An amateur?”

Cadance pretended to think. “I dunno, your shield spells are pretty basic.”

“Pfft.” Gleaming magicked away her fluids and rolled to a more modest position. “Your face is basic.”

Cadance stuck her tongue out and cleaned off her horn. “Come on, let them in. We don’t want to start a panic.”

Gleaming hesitated. “You don’t want me to get you off?”

“Later.” Cadance went over to the other bed and sat down. “Right now, it’s pampering time.”

A small team of spa ponies came in to assist with the care of the royals. In a flurry of activity, the previously-vacant room became filled with the hustle and bustle of comings and goings, and they brought in a whole slew of tools, equipment, and items to see to Cadance and Gleaming’s grooming. The spa ponies explained that it was going to take them a bit to set up everything, so while they were waiting, one of the spa ponies adjusted the settings on one of the jacuzzis.

“Nice,” Gleaming said once it was ready. She stretched her legs and sauntered over to the hot tub, and after testing it with a hoof, she carefully stepped down and waded in. The warm, sudsy water bubbled and splashed around her knees and thighs, and when it got to her swollen belly, she let out a long sigh of relief.

“Mmmm…” She lowered herself in the rest of the way, submerging up to her neck and letting her mane spread out on the water like a blue-streaked island. Her legs became relieved of a good chunk of the weight they’d been carrying, and she just floated there for a few moments, enjoying the feeling of the water swirl around her. “Yeaaaaah, that’s goooooood…”

Cadance followed suit behind her. She stepped down into the water and gracefully swept past Gleaming, stealing a peck on the cheek as she went by. She sat on one of the bench seats and let her mane fall down into the water as well, closing her eyes with a small sound of satisfaction.

“Would your Majesties like to be washed while you wait?” Two of the spa ponies asked. In their magic was a small collection of soaps, shampoos, and brushes.

“Please,” Cadance replied. She fanned out her wings so that they could be cleaned. “Could you use the hazelnut oil today? I really liked that last time.”

“Of course,” the spa pony said. She went over to Cadance and began attending to her with a practiced ease. Meanwhile, Gleaming’s attendant came up from the side and bowed.

“I have some special shampoos for you,” the attendant said. “Their scents are mild, and are made specifically for sensitive skin.”

Gleaming smiled. “That is much appreciated. Thank you.”

The attendant began by taking out a pink, fluffy-looking sponge and wetting it in the water. There was a clinking of bottles as she chose among her selection, before eventually pulling out a yellow one with a label in slanted cursive. She squeezed out a healthy dollop of the sweet-smelling soap and began scrubbing Gleaming’s back, going about her task with finesse.

“Do your best to relax,” the attendant said. “I’ll handle the rest.”

“Will do…” Gleaming shut her eyes and leaned into the sponge. The attendant’s touch was like a feather, and apparently, she knew exactly how much force to apply without getting irritating. It was incredibly soothing, and Gleaming found herself falling into a trance, the rising steam of the water combining with the pleasant aroma of soap, and comfort of the gentle scrubbing.

Next, the attendant started washing her mane. Switching to just telekinesis, she began massaging a shampoo of rosemary and mint into Gleaming scalp. It felt pleasantly tingly, and Gleaming let her head fall forward a bit, allowing herself to enjoy the warm buzzing while the product sank into her roots.

“Don’t fall asleep on me,” Cadance teased, noting how low Gleaming’s head had dipped.

Gleaming made a small grunting noise. “Sleep is for the weak…”

“Is it?” Cadance said, chuckling. “Guess you must be pretty weak then, what with all those extra naps you’ve been taking.”

Gleaming stuck her tongue out at her. “You try eating five full meals a day without falling prey to food comas.”

Cadance leaned to the side at her attendant’s urging. “Speaking of which, I heard through the grapevine that you’ve been making a bit of a spectacle of yourself in the officer mess hall. What’s that about?”

“Oh, heh. That.” Gleaming idly pushed the water around a bit with magic. “The other officers have a bet that if any one of them can eat more than me in a single sitting, that pony won’t have to pay for drinks the next time they all go to the bar. Pretty silly, in all honesty.”

Cadance suppressed a snicker. “More like flat-out stupid. I’ve seen how much you can eat, and you’ve only been upping your portions lately. They don’t stand a chance in Tartarus.”

Gleaming snickered as well. “And to make the odds even worse against them, I’ve been using more magic in drills lately, so when I come in, I’m even hungrier. It’s getting to the point that they can’t even match half of what I put away.”

Cadance lowered her eyes, shivering giddily at the thought of Gleaming eating a group of big, strong military ponies under the table. She wasn’t entirely sure why that idea was hot to her, but she wasn’t kidding when she’d said a while back that just about anything involving Gleaming got her motor running.

The attendant finished with Gleaming’s mane, tended to her tail, then used a few other soaps on the rest of her. For her belly, she used a collagen-rich oil that smelled faintly of vanilla, which was probably Gleaming’s favorite scent out of all the things used. Then, after a few final touch-ups, the royals were notified that everything else was ready.

“So, what’s first?” Gleaming asked as she dried herself off.

“Massages.” Cadance rolled her shoulders and wiggled her wings, sluicing out the tiny droplets of water. It was actually funny to see her wings like that—like a pair of sodden, pink mats that dangled at her sides. They were certainly a far cry from the immaculate appendages they usually were. “You’ll be getting a different one than me, though.”

Gleaming nodded. “Yeah, ‘deep tissue’ doesn’t sound very appealing right now.”

They went over to the beds, where a duo of crystal ponies waited for them. Cadance went to the first and immediately began chatting away, while the second approached Gleaming with a slight hobble in her step.

“Good afternoon, Princess,” she said in a deep, smooth voice. “My name’s Amber. I’ll be giving you your prenatal massage today.”

Gleaming looked her over. Amber was a small, demure thing with a brown coat, an almost gaunt frame, wiry limbs, and a reddish mane and tail tied back in ponytails. She was an older mare, probably a little past middle-aged, and her eyes held a kindness that immediately set Gleaming at ease.

“Well hello, there.” Gleaming took Amber’s hoof and shook it, noting the hard, toned muscle of the masseuse’s leg. “I’ve a feeling I’m going to be in good hooves with you.”

“Hehe. I should certainly hope so.” Amber looked Gleaming over as well, examining her legs and frame with a trained eye. “Hmm… your body seems to be agreeing with the pregnancy so far. That’s good. Some mares aren’t so lucky, and I have to turn them down. Has your doctor said anything about not getting a massage?”

Gleaming shook her head. “He’s only said to avoid steam rooms and hot tubs.”

“Mmkay.” Amber led Gleaming over to the massage table and directed her to lay down on her side. “Any particular part of you that’s sore?”

Gleaming eased herself down onto the bed and got comfortable. “No, not really. Cady and my sister cast some spells to prevent that. The skin around my stomach feels a little irritated, though.”

Amber let out a dry laugh. “I wonder why.” She brought over a few pillows and put them beneath Gleaming’s shoulders and legs. “I’ll be sure to give your tummy lots of love as I go through the motions, so don’t worry about that. I can hydrate your skin with some special lotions, too.”

Gleaming’s ears twitched at the word ‘lotion’. “Do you… er, I mean, by chance are you planning on using coconut butter?”

Amber made an affirmative noise. “Among other things, yes. Why?”

Gleaming’s cheeks turned a faint pink, her voice turning quiet. “I really like the smell of it…”

Amber hummed thoughtfully. She turned around to a small basket of supplies she’d brought with her and rummaged around a bit. A few seconds later, she produced a silver jar and held it under Gleaming’s nostrils.

“What do you think of that?”

Gleaming took a sniff. A sweet, spicy aroma filled her nose, one that reminded her of fall days when the leaves were just falling, and the wind was still warm. It was also similar to the perfume her mother wore in autumn, meaning that Gleaming caught a whiff of it every time she gave her a hug.

“Wow...” Gleaming looked up at Amber with curious eyes. “What is that?”

“Coconut butter infused with frankincense and myrrh,” Amber replied. “It’s a little more fragrant than what I usually use in prenatals, but if you like it, we can give it a whirl.”

Gleaming nodded eagerly. “Yes, please.”

Amber moved out of Gleaming’s sight, and a moment later, she felt a pair of strong hooves spreading a slippery substance onto her back. The scent of the infused lotion wafted past her nostrils, and Gleaming relaxed further into the bed. She felt her mane being pulled to the side and tied in a rubber band so it wouldn’t get in the way, the cool air of the room tickling the swan-like arc of her neck.

“That’s really nice,” she murmured with a happy sigh. “Your Princess approves...”

Amber snickered. “You’re going to be putty in my hooves, aren’t you?”

“Mmm, probably…”

Amber started by pressing lightly along the base of Gleaming’s spine. She then began making her way up, gently kneading her back muscles and working out any kinks she found. She did this a few times, going back and forth in a methodical motion, and each time she pressed a little harder. She always kept her touch on the soft side, though, and it was never so much that it was bothering.

“You have very good muscle tone,” Amber observed. She twisted her hooves a little bit with her touches now, trying to loosen up the tight spots she found. “I can definitely tell you exercise regularly. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up. It’ll help support the extra baby weight.”

Gleaming felt like she was melting into the mattress. “Mmmhmm, s’part of the plan... these kids are gonna get big, so the stronger I can be, the better...”

Amber started concentrating on specific spots now, using both her hooves to squeeze and rub out the stiffness. “I can’t say whether I’m jealous, or sorry that you wound up with four at once. I know that a normal pony would have a near-impossible time of it, but you and Princess Cadance aren’t exactly normal, are you?”

Gleaming couldn’t help but laugh. “I suppose we’re not. I wouldn’t say that that’s a bad thing, though. S’made life interesting, at the very least.”

“For sure, for sure.” Amber switched positions and now started working on Gleaming’s upper back. She rubbed and worked Gleaming’s shoulder blades for a while, humming softly as she fell into a practiced routine. Gleaming’s eyes almost crossed from how good it felt, and a feeling of contentment was starting to buzz inside her head, like a dizziness that made her feel pleasantly loopy.

“Your pectoral and neck areas are tight,” Amber commented. She started rubbing just above Gleaming’s collarbone in little circles, steadily moving upwards before switching sides. “That’s pretty common in pregnancy, but you might want to consider wearing a maternity brace. It’ll help with soreness, and make it easier to keep your balance.”

Gleaming opened her eyes. “A maternity brace?”

“It looks kinda like a snuggie,” Amber said. “Helps distribute the baby weight, and keeps your bump from swinging all over the place. Might be something worth looking into, especially since your coat is white. Most ponies won’t even know you’re wearing it.”

Gleaming thought that for a moment. “Not… a bad idea. I’ll have to do some homework.”

Amber spent a few more minutes on Gleaming’s upper body, working out the tight spots and gradually coaxing out the kinks. Eventually she had Gleaming get up and lay on her other side, and after about ten minutes there, she moved down to Gleaming’s belly.

“All right.” Amber pressed a button at the base of the bed, and it started moving into a reclining position. “I’m gonna have you roll onto your back so I can get at all of you.”

Gleaming complied with a small grunt. As she did, she felt the pressure of her womb shifting against her insides briefly, but then things readjusted and normalized. Now settled, the swell of her stomach stuck proudly out into the air, and as Gleaming looked down at it, she couldn’t help but blush.

“Got an outie already, I see,” Amber said fondly, looking at the protruding nub. “Cute. Is it sensitive?”

Gleaming squirmed in place. “Ah... w-well, u-um...”

Amber snorted. “Let’s leave that area to your wife, then. Sound good?”

“Y-yeah,” Gleaming said. “Probably for the best…”

Amber spread out some more lotion onto Gleaming’s womb, kneading it in with a feathery touch. The slick, heavenly-smelling substance felt amazing to Gleaming, and the sliding of Amber’s hooves working it into her aching skin brought about a whole new set of wonderful tingles and flutters. Amber then started rubbing properly in a clockwise motion, starting at the base of Gleaming’s belly, slowly working her way upward.

“Oh, Celestia…” Gleaming held back a small moan as she broke out into goosebumps. “This should not feel this good.”

Amber smirked. “If I had a bit for every time I’ve heard that.”

“Mmh.” Gleaming started pushing into Amber’s strokes, trying to get her to push a little harder. Amber kept her force steady, though, staying focused on her task. She kept an eye on Gleaming’s reactions as to not go too far, but other than that she stayed quiet, letting the Princess enjoy her ministrations.

Gleaming felt herself starting to drift off. The feeling of Amber’s skilled touch was making her entire body feel warm and relaxed, and while she thought about fighting it at first, she finally just let mind sink into a floaty haze. She hovered in that place between asleep and awake, where time has no meaning, and everything feels like it’s underwater. She wasn’t sure how long she was like that, but at some point, she did feel Amber begin working on her legs a bit before finally stopping.

“All done, Your Highness,” Amber said in her ear.

Gleaming snapped out of her bliss. She was still staring up at the ceiling, although she’d never felt more relaxed in her life. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Amber was wiping her hooves off with a cloth.

“Whoa,” Gleaming said. “Didn’t think I’d doze off like that.”

“It’s par for the course, in all honesty,” Amber replied. “I take it as a compliment.”

Gleaming shook her head, trying to clear the fogginess a bit. “That was sure… something. I am definitely going to have to do that again.”

Amber bowed her thanks. “You know, I’d have to clear it with Azzy, but I could probably come to the castle for a session or two rather than have you come all the way out here. I imagine it’d be easier on you.”

“You’re hired,” Gleaming said immediately. “I hereby commission you for services as a Royal Masseuse. I’ll have the paperwork filled out by next week.”

Amber giggled. “I can’t very well refuse a royal request. Guess I’ll have to clear my schedule.”

“Damn straight,” Gleaming said, shaking her hoof. “And when you come, make sure to bring more of that coconut butter.”

A Few Hours Later—

“Feel any better?” Cadance asked.

Gleaming and Cadance were just walking back into the castle after finishing their appointment at the spa. They’d had the facials, horn filings, and hooficures all at the same time, and they’d both been so relaxed after the massages that they were both content to just let the spa ponies work.

“Yeah,” Gleaming replied. She and Cadance were both wearing makeup, had their manes done, and were wearing their finer sets of regalia. As a result, they were drawing quite a few stares from the guards and castle staff as they passed. “That really did the trick. Thanks.”

“Anytime.” Cadance patted Gleaming’s shoulder. “I could tell your nerves were shot.”

“These moodswings are driving me nuts,” Gleaming said. “One minute, I’m upbeat and I love life, then in a complete one-eighty, I want to watch the world burn. I could be having a perfectly normal day, then one little thing goes wrong, and I want to start crying. It really, really sucks! Not to mention it can’t be easy on the ponies around me.”

Cadance waved to a housekeeper they knew as they walked to the dining room. “That’s one of the reasons why I’ve been trying to get you to take things slower, hun. You’ll be able to manage your day better, and it won’t feel like you’re on a hair trigger. Take it from me, I know what it’s like dealing with a lot of stress while at the mercy of hormones.”

Gleaming sighed, but didn’t argue the point. “I’m just surprised that I haven’t gone off on you. I thought pregnant mares were supposed to hate their spouses.”

Cadance giggled. “Your spouse can sense emotions, as well as how ‘volatile’ said emotions are. I can tell when you’re at high risk of a moodswing, as well as when you’re just venting about something. I don’t take it personally.”

Gleaming leaned into her. “Thank you… I hate it when I run into somepony that doesn’t understand that. They think I’m attacking them, or something.”

They entered the main dining room, which was largely empty around this time of day. There were many places set up for eating in the castle, but this was the one most ponies preferred. Gleaming and Cadance were no exception to this, although they had a private room next to the kitchens to avoid bothering anypony. It was a small, quaint space with a crystal floors and a medium-sized table, decorated with transparent hexagonal crystals that allowed them to see underneath. A simple chandelier emblazoned with lavender stars hung from the ceiling, and a large window showing off the castle gardens was on the west side.

Gleaming and Cadance sat at their preferred spots and relaxed for a bit, enjoying the comfortable silence of each other’s company. It’d been quite a walk to the spa and back, and while neither of them were worn out, they were happy for a short rest.

Gleaming felt her stomach gurgled as she started to think about the things she wanted to eat. This was her third meal of the day, and she really wasn’t picky about eating certain things at a certain time. She pretty just went with whatever she felt like.

Cadance seemed to pick up on this. “What’cha you’re in the mood for?”

“Breakfast stuff,” Gleaming said immediately. “Pancakes, eggs, hay bacon, yogurt, granola, fruit, hash browns, muffins, scones, and cereal. Orange juice and milk to drink, please.”

Cadance took a few seconds to process all of that. “Were those all just suggestions, or do you actually want all those things?’

Gleaming licked her lips. “Well, I am a growing mare…”

Cadance’s eyes flickered to her wife’s swollen belly, and she had to bite her lip. Her eyes became half-lidded for an instant, but she shook her head and coughed.

“I’ll… send word to the kitchens.” She got to her hooves and walked away, her tail twitching from side to side. Gleaming watched her leave with a small snicker, taking note that her marehood looked a little flushed.

Gleaming zoned out for a little while Cadance was away. Her mind flitted from one topic to the next, never fixating on anything substantial. She raised one of her arms to her muzzle and sniffed, catching the sweet smell of lotion, and that perfume the spa ponies had used. She felt very much at peace, and it was the most mellow she’d felt in weeks.

Gleaming glanced over at her reflection in the window. A part of her still expected to see the bulky, buffed-out stallion she’d used to be, but instead she saw the very picture of femininity. Her face was slender and sultry, with bright, baby-blue eyes that shone and were emphasized by silver eyeshadow. Her three-toned mane was full and sleek, almost glowing in the light as it spilled around her graceful neck. Her pure-white coat was unblemished, immaculate as Celestia’s, and she smelled of mildly sweet spices. Her frame was filled out and solid, the built muscles adding to her curves for an almost buxom look. Her round, full belly stuck out proudly as a symbol of her fertility, and her soft, plush rump nearly spilled over the edges of her seat.

Gleaming examined herself for a few moments before whispering what’d been lurking in her mind for weeks.

“I really am a mare, aren’t I?”

“GENERAL!”

Gleaming jumped. Commander Spitshine was at the entrance of the private dining area, looking quite flustered and gritting his teeth.

“Where have you been?!” He marched up to Gleaming, his face twisted in a savage scowl. “You had a lecture with the troops at oh-nine hundred! I had to give it in your place and—what the... are you wearing makeup?!”

Gleaming narrowed her eyes. “I apologize, Commander. I had a matter of extreme importance that I had to address.”

Spitshine’s eye twitched. “Permission to speak freely, General.”

“Granted.”

“What the FUCK was so important that you needed to skip out on training the recruits?!” Spitshine looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel. “You’ve been on everyone’s asses for weeks, running these soldiers to their limits, and here you are looking like you just got back from a day spa? What the hell were you doing?! You may be knocked up, but you’re not a real mare, Shining Armor! Stop fucking pretending like you are!”

Gleaming swallowed hard. Even despite knowing that she outranked Spitshine, she was at a loss from this sudden outburst. It wouldn’t do well to say that she’d practically been foalnapped by Cadance, and her courage was suddenly absent, replaced by a knot twisting in her chest.

“I-I—

“Allow me to explain, Commander.”

Gleaming and Spitshine froze. They turned and looked to the kitchens, where Cadance was walking towards them with a steely glint in her eyes.

“Princess Cadance!” Spitshine bowed low. “I didn’t realize you were here, as well. I was just trying to—”

“Princess Gleaming and I were off getting prepared to make a public appearance,” Cadance said. She adjusted her crown before continuing. “We’re going to make another advocation for the B.R.E.A.S.T.S. program this afternoon, and we need to look our best.”

Spitshine’s face reddened at the acronym. “Y-You mean Princess Luna’s thestral repopulation plan? I believe I’ve heard about that, yes… you both are involved with its logistics?”

“We are.” Cadance took her seat and folded her hooves. “As you may or may not know, this endeavor is a matter of considerable importance to not only Equestria’s national security, but ours, as well. The longer we go without proper sentinels for our dreams, the greater risk we run of mass psychic attack. In addition, mental and psychic disorders have steadily been on the rise the past millennium, largely due to the thestrals being unable to do their jobs. This has resulted in greater government healthcare costs, which take away from things like military funding.”

Cadance leaned forward in her chair. “Princess Luna cannot be everywhere at once, Commander. She can protect us from obvious, large-scale assaults, but the subtle, smaller ones can and will add up. The Dream Guard has been comprised of interim officers for the last one thousand years, and none of them have been batponies, meaning we’ve essentially had subpar defenses all this time. The changeling attack on Canterlot happened because nopony noticed the psychic and emotional disturbance around Gleaming, or my imposter. Do you want to run the risk of that happening again, hmm? Would you like to be captured and imprisoned in darkness while some filthy parasite leeches off your loved ones?!”

Spitshine found himself at a loss for words. He looked between the two royals, but neither one held a note of jest in their faces. He mulled over what he’d just been told, the anger slowly draining. He blinked several times while he thought of how to reply, and when he began to speak, his voice was strangely sheepish.

“M-My apologies,” Spitshine said. “I didn’t realize that… I-I mean, I shouldn’t have assumed that—”

“You shouldn’t have assumed that your superior, the leader of our military and co-ruler of the Empire, skirted her duties to go play Pretty Little Princess in her own little drag show.” Cadance’s voice grew dangerously quiet. “Nor should you have tried to chew her out about it.”

Spitshine’s eyes went wide. “NO! I’d never… that’s not—”

“Do NOT lie to me.” Cadance’s magic pulsed at her command, and she stared him down as if he were a young foal. “I can see your emotions, Spitshine. The resentment, the scorn, the disgust you’ve developed for my beloved in her current state. I’ve let it slide because you’ve kept those feelings to yourself, but if it’s going to affect your performance, make you do something this out of line, then you need to take a furlough. You can come back when you’ve pulled your head out of your ass.”

Spitshine went white as a sheet, cowering under the force of Cadance’s power. He spluttered a bit for a while, but there wasn’t much of a counterpoint to be had. He fidgeted back and forth for a while, but ultimately, he gave up and hung his head.

“I’m… I’m sorry, Your Majesties. I really am having difficulty accepting the Prince as he is. I’m not sure why. I’ve been trying to push past it, but I’ve found myself frustrated at times…”

“MUCH more than that, I’d say,” Cadance snapped. “You didn’t just storm in here because you were frustrated.”

Spitshine didn’t deny that. Instead, he looked past Gleaming and Cadance with hollow eyes. “I… accept your order of a furlough. I promise I’ll do my best to come to terms with these feelings. Maybe I can nip this in the bud before it turns me bitter.”

Cadance’s eyes went soft. “It takes a wise pony to come to that realization themselves, Commander. You are relieved of duty until further notice. You will receive eighty percent of your regular stipend, but your benefits will stay the same. You will resume once Princess Gleaming has reverted to her original state.”

Spitshine’s posture slumped in defeat. “Understood.” And with a halfhearted bow, he turned and walked out of the dining room, his tail dragging behind him on the ground.

Gleaming watched him go, her mind utterly thrown for a loop. “That… came out of nowhere. Was he really…? I mean, did he actually…”

“Have that much of a problem with you?” Cadance sighed. “Unfortunately, yes. His emotions were starting to fester, too. It could’ve gotten bad if we’d left him be.”

Gleaming curled her lip. “I’ve been hard on him lately, and I guess he did seem a little on edge, but… geeze...”

Cadance fiddled with her fork and spoon. “Seems you’re going to have to find a new second-in-command, now. Sorry about that.”

“How many other ponies are like that?” Gleaming said, her eyes wincing. “I mean, there can’t be many, can they?”

Cadance watched as their food was brought in from the kitchens by the tray, the majority of it going to Gleaming. “As far as ponies in the castle, he was the worst by far.But as for the rest of the city… you’re never going to please everyone, love. You know that.”

Gleaming looked away from her food, suddenly not so hungry anymore. “I suppose we’ll actually have to make that PSA about Luna’s program now…”

Cadance nodded, a morose look on her face. “Yeah, I guess we will. Let’s do it after lunch.”