Amore

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Early Spring, Approximately 1½ years after the Return of Princess Luna

"Sir Shining Armor, please wake up."

Woken up to a royal guard.

"Princess Cadance requested me to wake you at 10 o'clock."

Thank, dismiss guard.

I step out of bed, and immediately hit the floor. Instantly, all sleep and grogginess dissipates. I'm most definitely awake now. The guard turns around, stepping forward concerned, but I wave him off with a hoof. "I'm fine. Just... you know... morning after..." It's good enough for the guard, who exits the suite. Using the bed as leverage, I bring myself back to all four hooves. I had forgotten.

The reflection from a large mirror across the room reminds me ever so much of the fact that I am a pony. I'm also struck by the sight of something... unseemly... dangling from my body.

"You gotta be kidding me..." I step in front of the mirror, taking a hoof and touching the blackened appendage. Without a doubt, most assuredly, that thing is... "...my dick." Half-erect, hanging several long inches out of the furry pouch that held it normally. Half-erect, and already putting my equipment as a human to absolute shame. Pleasing someone with this would be...

"AMAZING!" Cadance's voice, echoing in my mind. A ginger sniff to my hoof confirms the flash of passion that's now pumping blood into my organ. The sweet, sensual scent of that amazing mare. My mind processes all the signals this enticing scent contains. The nose of an animal is a big step up from the human nose. I'm able to pick up the finest details, bringing back the vision of just how my hoof became coated in Cadance's scent...

A sudden shock of cold to my now-erect member. I look down as I pull it away from the source.

My penis... touched the floor.

The revelations about my body come at the strangest times. I wasn't able to take notice of it during the night--this is the first time I've been able to get a good look at myself. The last time I saw my body up close like this... was back on Earth. I touch it, run my hoof along it's length.

I was so absorbed in myself, I hadn't noticed that another pony slipped into my room. She's brought to my attention when the faintest squeak escaped her throat, stammering out the most embarrassed "E-e-excuse me" I've ever heard.

I jump back, and immediately try to cover myself--a much harder task now that it's fully erect. "I'm sorry! I thought I was alone!"

"N-No, i-it's my fault!" I get a look at her. She appears to be one of Luna's night guard ponies. The animal-like eyes are turned away, fixated on a very particular spot on the ceiling. "I-I-I should've known better, the honeymooning couple..."

During the explanation, I manage to drape a towel around my flank. It does little to hide the giant bulge between my legs, but at least it's not hanging out... bare and exposed... "Can I help you, though?"

"Y-Yes! Princess Luna requested that you meet her in her tower in one hour for tea. She emphasized that you arrive on time and of sound mind for your discussion, and that no formal attire would be necessary." The bat pony recites her instructions while gazing well away from my body. Once complete, she snaps to attention, eyes fixed on me, although extremely reluctantly.

I've gotten used to this with the other guards already, and I dismiss her with a salute. Quickly, she trots away towards the exit to my bedroom. I can't help, but my eyes drift to her flank. I don't get any sort of visual confirmation, as her tail's in the way. Before she can leave, I put up a hoof. "Wait!"

She stops, and turns to me, perplexed. "Yes, your highness?"

"This is going to sound like an extremely stupid question. So I need to know if you can keep a secret?"

Immediately, her cheeks flush with color, and her eyes dart away from me. "I-I am bound to serve the royal family and their every command, but as one of her personal guard, I answer to Princess Luna. If she asks..."

"I get it, and that's fine. Just... don't tell anyone else, please?"

I can see the discomfort in her rising. "Y-Yes, your highness..." I hope she isn't thinking I'm planning something.

I take a deep breath, and sigh. "Uhm... Chrysalis messed with my head a bit, so I've forgotten some of the stupidest things, but... how do... you know..." I gesture down towards my midsection covered in a towel. "How do ponies keep stuff like this from happening in public? How do you keep these things hidden?

The poor grey bat pony is absolutely red in the face. It takes her a few moments to process what I've said, but a sigh of relief seems to come across her features, relieved over something. Yet, it returns in a different form shortly after. "U-Uhm... well, mares usually cover their, uhm... backside..." her eyes averting, "with their tail, kind of naturally. Like you saw with me."

She caught me? I have to give credit to these guards. "What about... if you know... stallions..."

She clears her throat, taking a deep breath. "Stallions do the same. As far as... your situation, your highness, I've been told that a stallion's body handles it when their mind is... not focused on.. the subject." She takes another deep breath, and seems to be relaxing to the topic at hand. "Mares... well.. they do the... you know... the wink... so it's kind of the same for us I think. Just try to keep a clear head in public, and your tail should do the rest."

I breathe a small sigh of relief. So if I'm not thinking about sex, it'll take care of itself? Come to think of it, the tightness against the towel has reduced to some extent. Maybe there was some truth to this.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much, your highness." The young bat pony offers me a fanged smile. "Most ponies don't pay much attention to things like that unless they're deliberately trying to look. And if a colt doesn't want a hoof to the jaw, they do their best to not be so obvious. Besides," she snickers, pointing her hoof at me, "there's usually a giveaway when young colts get too enamored in their thoughts."

When I feel that my lower appendage has been tucked away into my body, I lift my towel, and look questioningly to the night guard.

"Yeah, like that, tucked away, out of sight. Mares are kind of the same, but you'll have to ask Princess Cadance for a demonstration of that, your highness," the guard snaps to attention, offering another salute. "Is there anything else I can help you with, sir?"

"No, that'll be it." I return her salute once more, and as she moves to leave the room, I aim for the bathroom. Now that little Shining is back to normal, I've become aware of the previous night's champagne throbbing in my bladder. "Wait, one last thing!"

She stops with the door halfway closed, tilting her head my direction. "Sir?"

"Where is Luna's tower?"

"She has left instructions in a letter. I put it on the dresser next to the letter from Princess Cadance."

"Thank you, and, thanks again for... the help..." now it's my turn to look embarrassed and avoid her glance.

"It is my duty, your highness." Her tone is formal, but she leaves me with a smile as the doors close.

***

I enter the bathroom, and am greeted with much of the same luxury as I would come to expect given our quarters. Still, this bathroom could easily be twice the size of my old apartment. Along one side of the wall was a large, luxurious pool, currently empty, that seems to serve as a bath. Complete with an elaborate system along one wall, allowing someone to literally bathe under a waterfall.

Tucked away in a small alcove is the target of my visit: the toilet. Only I'm greeted with something beyond my understanding. It looked like one of the Japanese squat toilets.

I position myself over it the best I can, stance widened on all fours. As if on command, the pressure is relieved, and I confirm that everything is on target. I'm thankful this is all I have to worry about right now. I didn't know if it was something ponies had to worry about, but I had no reason to believe that ponies didn't poop.

Once I've handled business, I move onto another half-walled section of the bathroom. In here, there are two sinks lined up underneath a giant vanity mirror. I could tell Cadance has been here, with the random assortment of girlish products on her side of the bathroom. I skip the sinks though, and look into the giant shower.

"Jesus Christ," sums up what I think of this. To say it reminded me of the ridiculous Kohler shower commercials would understate what stood before me. Several shower heads, one of those shower hoses, and a wide assortment of colored knobs. An entire alcove is dedicated to various soaps, shampoos, and mane and tail products. One corner of the stall had some odd contraption coming from the floor, that I stayed well away from. (I would come to find out later this was an automated hoof scrubber.)

Eventually, I get the water going, and I spend a good thirty minutes in the shower playing with my horn. This was the first time taking a shower completely ponified, and there was plenty of chance to practice fine motor control with my telekinetic magic, all the way from controlling soap flow from the bottles, to scrubbing every new nook and cranny on my body with a very sensual brush. I even give my goods a bit of a wash; having Cadance's scent stuck to me as I walk around the castle probably wouldn't go over too well. There seems to be some truth to the bat guard's lesson on pony genitals; the sheath itself isn't very sensitive, and it takes a good amount of concentration on my night with Cadance to get my penis erect.

Needless to say, my "cleaning" took a bit longer than normal. As I shut off the water, I had a very comprehensive understanding of my new body.

I notice one button in particular: a fan that is blowing bacon strips. One, sweet little treasure I'm reminded of from Earth; the unintentionally comical depiction of a dryer. I tempt fate, and push the button. Instantly, the sound of gurgling water gives way to a powerful heated fan blasting at me from all angles. The pressure is enough to get deep down into my coat, and it feels like a massage all on it's own. Seriously, if I have to look forward to this every time I want to get clean, I'm gonna have absolutely no problem living as a Prince in Equestria.

***

I make my way to Princess Luna's tower. It takes me a good twenty minutes walking to get to her door, and by the time I'm there, the clock on Canterlot's Bell Tower shows an ominous 11:15AM. The guards usher me in without a word.

I'm greeted by an archaic-style study, something pulled out of Middle Ages. Amongst towers of dusty tomes that would bring Twilight to her knees, sit a small collection of red velvet high-backed chairs. In one, sits Princess Luna, sipping at a cup, while a small sandwich floats to her side.

"You're late, human. We thought punctuality was a trait exemplified amongst your kind." Luna's taken the more regal tone, but her voice conveys little annoyance.

"I apologize for that. I didn't realize just how big this castle really is..."

She drops the tone, picking up a more casual speaking voice. "Understandable, given the state of your former living quarters. You would normally have one of your transport carriages take you to your place of employment, would you not? The palace can arrange for such accommodations..."

"Walking's fine, Luna, I just didn't know Canterlot--" I'm stopped as my brain finishes processing what she said. "How did you know I ride the tram to work?"

Her response is a light chuckle as she takes a dainty bite off the corner of her small sandwich. Her horn pulses with magic, swinging a chair out and offering me a place to sit down. She gestures to it with her hoof. Without an answer, I accept the chair.

To my left, I'm presented with a small tray containing a few finger sandwiches, as well as a cup of tea. I thank myself for the magic practice from earlier, lifting a sandwich and the cup and offering my thanks--

They hit the tray and bounce to the floor, spilling the contents onto the carpet. Looking back at me, is the shocked bat pony from earlier this morning, unsure of what to make of my reaction. "Y-Your highness?!"

"You! You're the one from earlier?" Both our faces go bright red in response.

"Yes," Luna offers in response before the mare can answer, sipping idly at her tea with her eyes closed. "BAT_PONY captains my personal retinue. I trust no other pony with sensitive matters, such as the one you find yourself in, which is why she was able to accommodate any strange lines of questioning. Is there a problem with her, Shining Armor?"

"N-No. It's fine. Just... never mind..." I dismiss my thoughts with a hoof. I look to BAT_PONY, "I'm sorry for knocking stuff everywhere."

"It's my fault again, sir. I should have informed you that I would be present," she offers back sincerely.

Luna remains silent, as BAT_PONY pours another cup of tea for me, setting it down on the small table in front of us.

L: "You asked how I knew so much about you and your world. The simple answer to that, is that it was a dream I was watching over."

SA: "Shining Armor's dream, right? I still am not sure how much of that I believe--"

L: "While I understand your resistance to such a fundamental change to your perception of life, the fact of the matter remains, is that your world was simply the dream of Shining Armor as he was entranced by Queen Chrysalis."

SA: "How did you even know to look to his dreams?"

L: "I watch over the dreams of all ponies. That is one of my duties as Princess of the Night. I took special care to watch over both you and Cadance, as you were both not only occupied with the wedding preparations, but defense of the castle. I noticed something was suspicious, when I could no longer enter the dreams of Princess Cadance. When your dreams turned into that strange place, I was unsure of what to make of it."

L: "Dreams are delicate creations, but there are several fundamental rules that govern them. One of them, is that they always center around the dreamer. When I entered Shining Armor's dream, and found the dream world aligned to this particular human creature, it did not take long for me to understand that this human was the dream representation of Shining Armor. As I've said before, you are Shining Armor."

SA: "Just not the same Shining Armor that everyone else knows. Princess Cadance said that Chrysalis drained my love from me, and that it could be responsible for why I'm unable to remember much of Shining's..." I pause, looking up to her. Her gaze is unflinching, and somehow, confirms the thought I wasn't able to voice. "I'm unable to remember my past. Neither the human past, nor Shining's pony past.

L: "I did not understand the source until it was too late, but once I knew that Queen Chrysalis's spell broke, I knew I had little time to act. As you saw when I first showed myself to you in the dream, the world was collapsing. In this world, Shining had fallen unconscious, and was rushed to the medical wing. If I had not rescued you..."

SA: "Shining... I might not have woken up."

L: "Precisely."

SA: "Okay, lets say that I believe in this. That I'm actually Shining Armor. Why would I dream of a world like Earth, and humans?"

L: "I cannot say for sure. Everyone's subconscious acts in a different manner. My primary theory is that when Queen Chrysalis drained your love from you, the dreams you were left represented a world without love."

It's a chilling conclusion. Life on Earth? Without love? I guess that could explain why I never really felt much connection with my own family, my coworkers. I didn't even have someone I could call a friend. Maybe there is some truth to this.

L: "If Cadance believes your missing memories to be a side-effect of Chrysalis's spell, I agree that your strange dreams are also a side-effect of this magic."

SA: "Well, I suppose we'll get a definitive answer for sure. I brought it up to Cadance last night--"

L: "Human, we specifically instructed you..." her voice picking up quickly into the regal tones.

SA: "It's okay! It happened naturally... and she knew, to some extent anyways. She's able to sense my love... Shining's love, and noticed it was different, but she's okay with it, trust me. "

L: "I do trust you. After all, the dreams you both had of each other corroborate--"

SA: "I GET IT, LUNA."

L: "Our apologies."

SA: "Anyways, she plans to talk to Princess Celestia about it, and see what she has to say on it. I'm meeting Twilight for a late lunch this afternoon. I figure if anyone can provide us with the missing piece to the puzzle, it'd have to be the one pony who's read the entire library on anything remotely cerebral."

Luna smiles, "I see that you are quickly returning to your old self. Shining Armor often praised his sister's intellectual talents. I feel you may be right in seeking her assistance in this matter, but tread carefully. She was the first one to detect something was afoul with you and the imposter Cadance; I imagine her wits will quickly determine you aren't exactly her brother right now."

SA: "But I am still Shining Armor, right?"

L: "I understand dreams and magic are not important in the fictional world your personality is from, but in our world, they are governed by laws and concepts just as important as gravity and other natural phenomenon. I will say it plainly: You are, beyond any doubt, Shining Armor. If I were not certain of this fact, I would petition Celestia herself to banish you until we could determine your identity."

That pretty much settled that issue.

SA: "So, what now, Luna? What do I do?"

Luna tilts her head, raising a brow. "What an odd question. You are free to live your life now. You are no longer shackled to a dream."

SA: "You mean... as a pony?"

L: "You were always a pony. It appears you aren't able to remember that yet."

SA: "And my life as a human?"

L: "Surely, you do not wish for that loveless existence?"

SA: "Of course not, but, when you think you've been a human for twenty years..."

L: "That is the problem with your reasoning. You think you were a human, but in reality, you only dreamed of being one for less than three days."

SA: "Thanks... Luna..."

L: "You are most welcome, Shining Armor. BAT_PONY, could you please escort Shining Armor to the gates? I have kept him longer than I had anticipated, and I do not wish for Miss Twilight Sparkle to have to give a lecture on tardiness to her own brother because of me."

BP: "Of course, your highness!"