Author's Note

By the almighty gorgeous plot of Nightmare Moon, it's in the feature list!

SWEET. I DID IT!!!

Anyway, this is where I'm breaking into the teenage years. Of course, this does not mean things are ending any time soon.

Nope. Big development for the story. Lot's of snuggly and furry moments. I'll make sure to find some drawings of each character in their teens and post them later.

Also, even if this is not good taste to some readers, please honor me with the 300 likes goal I'm reaching for.

Enjoy.

A Few Years Later. . .

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apploebloom stepped outside to scan the area around them. These young mares still had an uneasy feeling that signaled trouble—and it was much stronger in the open air—yet none of them could get a direction of their fear.

Scootaloo swore softly. "Come on, we don't his help to get to our homes. This isn't his bad situation," she said. "Seriously, we're not fillies anymore."

Applebloom took a slow, careful look around the school premises. "What do you want us to do? Run out in the open and hope for the best while we're live targets?"

Scootaloo's first impulse was to say "buck yes", but made her hesitate. Her wings ruffled and bent feathers formed in the edges.

"We're not going to get far if we keep standing here," Sweetie Belle pointed out.

"Sweetie Belle?" Applebloom said. Her friend knew her and waited patiently for the unicorn's decision.

"Come on, let's just—" Sweetie Belle found herself interrupted. Whatever she was going to say had been robbed from her voice by the hoof that grabbed her and pulled into the open. Of course, she yelped as this hoof became a whole pony that despised waiting, or being told "no" so many times.

Her friends yelled her name, but she was petrified by the stallion that tossed her onto the ground and now towered over her. Even as she knew her yelp would reach the one she needed, there wasn't much confidence in him coming to help her.

"Why haven't you given me an answer?" Omega Wing asked the cowering yet angry teenager. "I've been waiting since last week."

Applebloom and Scootaloo came to her rescue and stood in front of her to stop the yellow Pegasus.

"She has told you no a bunch of times already," Scootaloo explained.

"Besides, who would want to go out with a jerk like you?" Applebloom added.

Even as those words uttered his mind, denial burst through the pony's mind and he became angry. "Well I'm not taking no for an answer; she has no one else lining to ask her out and I doubt anypony will."

A chill went down Sweetie Belle's spine as she stood up, standing between her fellow crusaders. "That's because you bully anypony who tries to get close to me. You bullied Pipsqueak when he was just talking to me." This was a true accusation with no denial, for he smiled at her. "Omega, just give it up already. I'm never going to be your marefriend."

"Well you don't have a choice," Omega growled, nearing the teenagers as they readied themselves for what was coming over the roof of the school. If it hadn't been for that shadow looming there, none of them would have been as brave as they were now.

"YOU'RE GOING TO BE MINE!"

A gust of wind whined through the air even as Omega prepared to pounce his prey. The shadow landed behind the crusaders, so that his presence made the stallion have second thoughts. A whip of his tails and everyone had their attention directed to him, his large size instilling terror for the bully looking up to him. All nine tails curled protectively around the girls instantly and a familiar alicorn with large wings jumped down from the top of his head.

"You must be really stupid," this alicorn hummed. "Because these three just so happen to be our best friends, and we don't take kindly to somepony bullying our friends; especially my good buddy here."

Omega cowered as the large canine licked the crusaders affectionately, their laughter bringing a feeling that was warmer than all the fur on his body.

"Leo. Cut it out." Applebloom giggled, nuzzling the monstrous fox's nose whilst letting his tails lift her onto his back. There was something about getting piggyback rides that made it fun, but to ride on a fox that could shift his size in an instant. . .

"So warm," Scootaloo had to admit to herself that it was almost as fun to fly as it was to ride him. Almost. She could not fight rolling over and letting the comfort wash over here.

Finally, Sweetie Belle walked up his head and planted a soft kiss, whispering softly, "Thanks for coming down to Ponyville to pick us up." She loomed to the frightened bully with a hard glare, but if she hadn't she would've noticed how embarrassed the young fox was by her token of gratitude.

Her eyes narrowed to his face, the smile fading immediately as she watched the princess give the boy a good lesson. Leo did as well, but with his cowls raised and a snarl that would make some ponies crap themselves, like Omega Wing, just for example.

"Come on Flurry Heart," Leo said in a deep voice that made Omega flinch. "Leave this jackass to simmer in his own. . . filth."

He pointed out the pancake size of poop that was molded to Omega's rear, his face contorting with disgust as the smell permeated his nose. Holy moly. . . And I thought waking to Celestia's morning bathroom break was bad.

"We're going to leave now," Flurry Heart informed the pony, leaning down to his eye level whilst ignoring the foul smell. "But let's get one thing straight. If you ever bother our friends again, then I'm gonna sick my friend on your butt and watch as he grinds your bones between his teeth."

Omega inhaled sharply, looking past the princess to her large companion who had winked at him and snapped his jaws. He feared the worst as his imagination took him to those glistening teeth dripping with saliva. He looked away to face the young princess with his word that he would leave them alone, but she had already left him to join her fellow teenagers.

She reached over Leo's ear, grinning at the pony. "And by the way, you're not in the same league as the guy Sweetie Belle likes."

"Not fluffy enough." Scootaloo's voice was mocking.

"Nor cuddly." Added Applebloom.

"Let's not forget about the licking." Flurry Heart reminded.

Sweetie Belle was no longer in her quiet behavior. She dragged herself to the far end of the fox prince and dragged one of his tails over her head, but it did not hide her blush as the girls finished mocking Omega. The fur was slung low on her face, hiding her expression. She was unready to deal with her emotions.

"Anyway," Applebloom laughed, patting Leo on his head to grab his attention. "Let's get going. We have to get our things before we go to Canterlot for the week."

A yip was made, this time from Sweetie Belle gripping his tail too hard. The pain carried the mournful note as he took the pony by her barrel and held her to his face. "What was that for?"

Sweetie Belle smiled sheepishly and said with a silver tongue, "Your tails are fluffy."

"Well be careful please," Leo complained, setting the unicorn on his head. "You already know how sensitive my tails are."

"I'll be more careful," she added.

"Good. Now let's get going." He began his walk towards Ponyville. For the first time he abruptly snorted on Omega and walked away, moving away and across the meadow to leave the pony in wonder. He was usually adamant inflicting his own method of fear on the poor fools that disturb his group, but he felt there was no need to challenge him, not when he was the most abnormal alpha male.

His long, thick fur was brushed in a glowing yellow over some red strands. He looked over his shoulder and caught glimpse of the girls bunching his fur into messy pillows, now resting peacefully on his back.

He swore he could see Sweetie Belle flickering some magic in the air around her horn as she blushed with her eyes on him. Flurry Heart growled quietly at this while Applebloom and Scootaloo continued talking about the plan of action while in Canterlot. Some ideas were not so innocent, as it involved the fox prince being the main target.

Flurry Heart grumbled in her own mind. Great. I have them to worry about. It was bad enough with Aunt Celestia and Aunt Luna having the hots for him.

"So what are you four going to do while staying at the castle?" Leo asked whilst passing some ponies who waved at him. Of course, he waved back, but it wasn't so easy with his size. One wrong move and he could leave a house in shambles.

"Do you really think we're going to tell you?" Flurry Heart asked sarcastically, leaning over his head to look at the prince in his right eye.

"I was just curious as to what you'll be doing. Do you have to keep so many secrets?" Leo frowned at her wink and giggling. "What is so funny? Are you messing with me?"

Scootaloo approached this time and nuzzled him. "Guys don't ask girls what they'll be doing at sleepovers. It's really weird, and you're a guy."

Leo laughed at his fellow teen and did not hesitate telling her. "The only weird thing to me is waking up every morning in either Celestia's or Luna's room— mostly Celestia's. And that's just waking up before realizing that she is snuggling my normal size."

"She's the molesting princess for a reason," Flurry Heart mocked, smiling at the fox as he snorted. "Didn't the guards tell you about that?"

"Yes, but the worst part is she's been clean ever since I got all of my tails; even my mother is telling me that I should take her as serious as Miss Luna."

"Sounds like a love triangle," Scootaloo snickered.

Leo had to agree with her on that, but he had his mind on other things. He stared to his right, towards the open range whilst listening to the deep green grass crunching beneath his paws. He studied a particular scent his nose caught at the edge of Ponyville. I know this smell, but it's been a long time. he told himself, but the source indicated his assumption with a giggle only he could have heard.

He gazed past Fluttershy's cottage and watched as a dark figure stood in the edged darkness of the everfree forest, her deep blue eyes expressing desire as she blew a kiss to him before disappearing. Leo took his time thinking about the familiar pony, hunting in his mind leisurely for a conclusion, almost dropping down on Big Mac's apple stand. Thankfully the harsh bonking from Flurry Heart's hoof broke his concentration, as well did the laughter of the crusaders.

"No daydreaming, chauffeur," Flurry Heart said, nuzzling where she hit him. "We've got places to be and a whole week of spending time the castle. So quit the trotting and move a little faster."

Insulted, he took her request and blew it back with a deep snort. "I may be a giant fox, but that doesn't mean you get to boss me around like I'm your servant. Besides, I'm older than you."

"Still more mature," Flurry Heart coughed, invoking his frustration.

"Are you done or do I need to make you walk the rest of the way?"

He caught the little note of mumbling in her voice. He brought a tail as warmth to her body, for it was fall and the temperature was already decreasing from the pegasi building clouds, his tail brushing gently over her head and back. "I hope she and Discord are not going to be pissed at me for leaving Canterlot."

He stopped walked at that moment, planting himself in the ground, beside Rarity's house while Sweetie Belle spoke for her friends.

"Why would they be mad at you?" She slung herself off of the fox, just as her question reached his ears and a very particular goddess made her appearance. Sadly for Leo, it meant having a lecture or the wrath of this being, as it was her duty of a guardian.

Or so she made others presume. . .

"Because he's supposed to have someone escort him," the goddess cooed warmly with a smile, her large, beastly form shadowing the teenagers as she watched the boy she considered her own pup, pale when he looked back. "He's not allowed to wander alone, as he is the last of his kind. And we can't lose him now can we?"

Tears swam for a moment in Leo's amber eyes but he blinked them away as fast as he made his retreat, and a painful to the scruff of his neck, his worst fear holding him midair while the girls took their chance to hop off.

You know better than to run from me, young pup. she projected with her mind, giggling madly as her prey kicked his paws in the air. Must I remind you again that you're forbidden to be alone when outside of Canterlot.

"I'm fifteen and capable of taking care of myself," Leo protested, although it did not help that his friends and most of Ponyville were laughing at him. It was normal for this to happen, given that growing with the ancient wolf gave them better perspective and understanding. Still, it was amusing to have a peaceful beast torment their prince like that.

Amaterasu felt she was humiliating him enough, but she made sure to drop him to make her point of how frustrating it was track him down. She licked him, pouring that motherly love he hated for others to see. She was gentle and smooth and insistent of nipping a tuft of his fur to untangle it, her instincts as a mother sweeping her into cleaning the top of his head after the knot was removed, yet knowing she stole his dignity.

Leo clung to the ground for a minute when she put her paw on his back, struggling to escape the wolf as the laughter continued. He wanted to run and hide, as if home was now his sanctuary. He snorted on the girls closing around his head, surrendering just as the cleaning stopped.

"Do you not properly clean yourself?" Amaterasu asked in her normal voice, brushing a long lick behind his right ear. "You have dirt where it is impossible for us spirits to have."

"It's hard to clean all this fur when you have so much," the fox prince grumbled.

"Well from now on, any time you take a bath you will bathe with me. You're not doing a good job." She told him sternly, nipping the boy's ear to get her point across. To her enjoyment, Leo yelped at the painful pinch and found the strength to escape.

"I'm not a child!" Leo barked.

Amaterasu laughed softly. "No, you're a pup that needs to appreciate having someone like treat you like her own son."

He tilted his head, puzzled. "I have a mother already."

"Yes, and she's waiting for me to bring you back," she informed, emphasizing her words with a hard nudge to the boy's chest, which knocked him onto the side of his stomach.

"Oh look at you now. You're left side is covered in dirt that I have to lick off!"

"Bath time!" Flurry Heart laughed.

Leo gave the young alicorn his glare. "Shut up and help me!"

"Not when this is so funny."

Leo was about to retort when his ears picked up a high pitched screech of untold fury grew from the castle. He shivered at the feminine voice booming his name. Only one goddess could make such a voice, and he was not ready to face her wrath.

LEO DEL SOL. I'M GOING TO MURDER YOU!

He looked up to the now bemused Amaterasu.

"What did you do to Celestia?"

He laughed nervously. "Filled her shampoo with black paint and super glued her crown."