It took a bit of work but I managed to at least feed myself, which was promising, but the amused sounds that escaped Celestia each time I fumbled around with a piece of apple or pear did not give me much confidence. But none the less I managed to use my two hooves to bring each piece of food to my mouth to either bite chew off a piece of it.

Compare to my plate of simple fruits and the small loaf of bread, Celestia was eating something akin to a salad. I looked at her fork with a bit of envy before I stuffed the remaining piece of bread I had into my mouth and slowly chewed, wetting up the hard and slightly ductile crust before I could cleanly bite it off.

We ate in relative silence.

Celestia had looked curiously at me when I started to teach myself how to eat, in fact I probably looked like an overgrown baby... that would explain why she found it so amusing...

”What happens now?” I said after I swallowed, the question had burned in the back of my mind the entire time. I knew I would have to throw out any plans I had previously had, I had already broken the main goal of fitting in. The crux was that I was a prisoner, trapped in the palace, and if I had any guess I would not be released anytime soon.

”We talk,” She said as she continued to study me, she seemed to like to do that, ”when it is time I will lower the sun and then we will talk some more.”

“Hey, what about others, wouldn’t it just validate the rumours if we are seen together?” I asked and looked up at her.

Her mood soured notably.

“It will not matter,” she growled, “the newspapers are probably already printing tomorrows headline. Sneaking about will do nothing but worsen the situation.”

“Heh, you are hoping it will blow over on its own?”

“Yes, I hope if I do not raise too much fuss over all this my ponies will come to realize how groundless they are.”

Celestia looked out the windows before she rose from her seat.

“It’s time to lower the sun, come with me.”

“How were you injured?” Celestia asked as we made our way towards her study, the same pair, Blue and Green, was following us. Anypony that we met, there were only a few this late in the evening, cleared the way by standing close against the walls.

It had been… fascinating; watching her channel enough magic to lift herself of the ground was intriguing. But except for that nothing really happened that was noteworthy, it was odd, I give you, seeing the sun hurry down past the horizon and for the moon to quickly take its place in the sky.

“I-I slipped,” I mumbled, it had been a nasty fall, and remembering only made me uncomfortable. I spied Celestia give me a pitying look in my peripheral.

“Glad it was not one of my guards.” She then said after a few seconds of silence.

“Sure didn’t help any.” I growled, say what you will about hooves but they were anything but soft. I still felt a bit sore at the spots where those Pegasi had jabbed their little hooves.

She responded with a noncommittal, hmm. It appeared she did not have anything to add against that. I saw her give me a questioning look again but she returned to look ahead when she decided to speak again.

“I am wondering, why do you pose?”

Pose!? I had not even realized I had. I had without thinking started walking like… well like I had done in front of everypony in the halls, it seemed it was easy to adopt the snobbish stance.

“Oh, I-I… sorry,” I apologized, I let myself relax my neck into a slouch. I frowned, I did not like slouching, it was bad for your back and neck. So I straightened my neck again but I refused the temptation to tip my chin up. The stance was simply too comfortable and my body naturally fell into it it seemed.

I caught her smile at my action.

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly, “It’s just… comfortable I guess.” My words felt lame as they left my mouth. I might have done a social taboo for all I knew, a faux pass so to speak. Maybe it was a crime to appear or make an impression that you were rich or a noble… though I very much doubted it I could not deny the possibility.

“I see.” Her noncommittal response threw me for a loop. How was I supposed to know if I’m doing something okay if she doesn’t give me anything to work with?

The stairs was less of a hurdle this time around; the stairs were not that scary going up instead of the other way around. Only my shoulder complained a little.

The last segment of the trip was made in silence; Celestia only spoke again to tell Blue and Green to stand guard outside the door as she led me into her study, like they needed to be told. Maybe it was a little quirk of hers, maybe, or maybe it was a precaution… not all her guards might be as disciplined like they were?

“Please take a seat.” Celestia beaconed with a hoof towards one of her many pillows, the one she pointed at however seemed to have been set aside from the rest as it sat alone in the middle of the room just a few paces away from her own divan.

I took the offered seat and she laid down on her own. I was starting to come to like these pillows, they sure as hell made sitting way more comfortable.

“I have thought a lot about you and what I am going to do with you,” She began,” I have decided to give you a chance to prove to me, that you are not a danger to either me, or any of my ponies.”

“But I-“ Celestia cut me off with a raised hoof and a stern look.

“I will be honest Mr. Noche-wo, I do not trust you nor do I believe your story, but neither have you done anything, even though my ponies have caused you pain, and that is all that is staying my hooves.
“You will stay within the confines of the palace under escort of no less than two of my guards at all times. You will not make any attempt to avoid them or hide from them. You will not seek or make contact with anypony unless they come to you.

“I hope I can trust that you can keep this to yourself, and that you handle this… rumour, with discretion.”

And here it came, the conditions for my stay. I had expected something like this, though I had come to believe it would come in a less… blunt way, she had given me enough hints that she was trying to be subtle. A thought that was shattered with this proclamation.

“Do I have your promise?” she asked after watching my face for a reaction.

“Yes,” I said feeling a lump grow in my chest, my freedom of movement was a small price to pay especially considering my position in all this after all, “I promise.” I added after making sure my voice was stable enough.

Celestia bowed her head, as if she recognised how much it actually affected me.

Celestia was still awake staring out into the night. It had been hours since Boris had been dismissed. She had spent time to simply talk with the stallion, to gauge his personality, his abilities… his knowledge.

She had been partially successful.

He had been guarded in his responses, he had carried himself exactly like any other upper-class pony, and to what she could gather he did it on reflex. When she pointed it out he had immediately stopped but still held himself high, something that could only be done by being taught and not something you could just teach yourself. But then he also had the hoof coordination of a toddler.

It had been such a ridiculous sight she still found herself smile at the memory.

His claim to not be a pony did make sense if she added all the facts, he had yet to show any magic use, he handled his wings in such a horrible fashion. The mere fact that he had yet to ask for help in regard to his injuries was also worrying. It did not sit well with her; she did not want to believe that he told the truth.

She sighed, what was the point of worrying now? The days to come would tell the truth to her. She made a point to ask for a report from her guards, they must have gleaned more than she had.

“Spin Talk.” Blueblood hissed in anger. He stared at his own reflection in his private vanity, noting how his facial muscles contracted into an ugly sneer. Of course it was that commoner’s fault, what was he to expect from that filth. He cursed that inflection was not enough to base a crime on. The mare was smart, smart enough to avoid being thrown in the dungeons for a few months… that would be enough to wipe that smug grin off of her face.

She had gotten away with way to much because of her silver tongue.

Worse was that the guards had ignored his questions about the ‘guest’. None would say a word, not even a simple yes, no, or even a maybe. He knew they were keeping quiet about something. ‘Celestia must be hiding something.’

“Gah!” he screamed in sheer frustration. What was he to do!? He could not get an answer from the guards, and he could not get a suitable revenge on Spin Talk for the damage she had caused.

He slumped against the vanity, cheek resting on the smooth surface, and he looked out into the dark outside his window wallowing in self-pity.

As he sat there a brilliant thought struck his mind. All he needed to do was to replace that disgrace. Yes, that was a plan he could work with. If he could find a suitable replacement his aunt would throw that distasteful Mare out the window quicker than she would be able to ask ‘what!?’

With a smile back on his face he slipped under the covers of his bed. He would need a long nice sleep in preparation for tomorrow.

Author's Note

Here you go.