Author's Note

Hey everypony, sorry for the two week delay. I had a couple of business trips happen and some disturbing things take up my time.

I know this is a short chapter, but I'm having trouble writing at the moment. My inspiration is not lost, I just had to see some sick stuff while I traveled to Japan and England.

To be blunt, I'm having trouble writing for the fact of driving past so much trafficking during my trip. And it had affected a great deal in how I portray romance in my stories.

I'm not quitting my stories, I just need to take some time to collect my emotions, my inspiration, and see past the sick stuff some people commit. I know that sounds childish of me, but knowing what trafficking is makes me think about how some of those women were once children that were kidnapped and turned into such beings.

I apologize, but I'm taking a little time to collect myself. I'll be on here from time to time to at least try writing a thousand words a day.

I hope you understand.

Chapter 9

Marcus stood grim in the east section of Walmart, dislike clearly visible in his eyes as he watched Celestia rummage game after game in the electronics. His eyes drifted from her curves to her narrow, careful eyes reflecting in the glass as he rocked Sombra; calmed him after his first horrifying diaper change in the men's restroom. "If there was ever a day where I wished for someone to give me amnesia. . ."

"I see no value or importance in these video games you purchase," Celestia said, holding two cases she personally picked out to examine. "What reason would there be to animate violence that is bent and manipulated at your disposal?"

A low chuckle escaped the man. "It's a substitution of the real thing. Take our soldiers for example; men who were raised to be runners. They're trained to their breaking point and turned into killing machines so that when they go beyond the wall they are ready to kill an infected without hesitation."

"That doesn't help me understand," said the alicorn, staring into his reflection.

Marcus nodded his head with a groan. The assumption was too familiar, and he felt judged as the groan slipped. "Let me put it like this; would you rather have someone kill a real person or kill a digitally crafted character that is not real?"

He could see the realization in her eyes, and her curiosity come out. This was no the reaction he had anticipated, and it amused him. His intentions brought forth a small push of the mare's boundaries, but it was more of an observation than to have her try to like what he enjoys. It was with standing up and taking one of the games from Celestia that he had the idea to see how far this would go. Make no mistake though, part of him lurched in disgust of himself as he parted with his conscience. He smiled down at the case as he gave her a bit of teasing.

"This is a good one, and it's one of very few people dare to play," he began. "I'm surprised you wanted to look at this, considering how easy it is to scare you."

A deep snort of irritation left the alicorn. "I never said I was not interested in your methods of entertainment, just a little boggled by it."

"Shall I explain this game to the mighty Celestia?" he mused, invoking her agitation as cocked an eyebrow.

She growled then joined him to read the description on the back, carefully avoiding to upset the tired Sombra.

"Just explain, please."

"Okay then, so this is based off a Japanese horror story that is supposedly true. The premise of the game is you journey through different areas searching for clues while trying to avoid the dark entity that is trying devour you. It's not a violent game like the other one you have in your wing, but it is freaky. I played it once and almost crapped myself."

Celestia had a thought come to her as Marcus stared at her, waiting for her approval or rejection of the game as people walked past them with disgruntled looks of her 'beauty'.

"How can such a story exist when your world is in shambles?"

"I didn't know you were that perspective," the compliment made her blush as she listened to his chuckling. "But you're right, my world is in shambles. This was a horror story that was based out of fear before the collapse of humanity. It's as dead as the infected."

The alicorn nodded. "It's caught my attention. Perhaps it would be nice to participate in these video games."

Marcus gave her a quiet laugh.

"What is so funny," she said defensively. "Just because I'm a mare doesn't mean I cannot partake in your activities. I do enjoy a good fright every so often."

"Besides," she continued, holding his hand lovingly. "I would enjoy a dark evening of attempting this game; especially if you are at my side, in the dark, frightened with me."

He was getting the hint.

"You're really desperate to spend some alone time with me, aren't you?"

Celestia watched him turned red. Her desires were partially sated and she knew if Marcus could be ensnared and Luna's distaste for ghostly creatures, then she could obviously get her time with Marcus and have nopony to bother them. Perhaps even tonight with a blanket to snuggle in and the fireplace to warm their atmosphere. She was prepared to use dirty tricks against her sister if it meant getting this man all to herself.

"I haven't seen you in two years," she cooed with a vampish grin. "You figure it out."

Although the answer was quit obvious, Celestia could sense his confusion with how he always looked away to think. But why? What was there to think about when it was a clear as day what her motives were?

She had a grin growing to wide as she stroked his thigh to rack his nerves. It was cute to see him so flustered over such little hints. "Is my big-bad human embarrassed by how his mare wants to spend some alone-time with him?"

His face scrunched. He never expected Celestia to be so open with him about intimacy or actual teasing. He only wanted to relive the moments when they were casual and unafraid to talk about their lives to pass the time. His free arm tightened when she clasped it with her wings, nearly pulling him off his balance.

He sent the alicorn a warning glare. "I'm still not used to all of this."

Celestia shook her and kissed him, amusement in her eyes. "Well you have plenty of time to adjust." The smile turned sadistic from her eyes gazing down at the clothes in the extremely full basket, temptation showing—and a little mischief. "Marcus, I just remembered you telling that this is not the best store for clothing."

Marcus raised a suspicious eyebrow to the princess. "What are you implying Tia?"

Celestia did not play him softly, but forced the matter, her inner teenager coming alive, taking control to try to find the best method of owning the man before her sister could.

"I am a mare who has been deprived of her teenager years." She leaned into his ear and whispered. "I want to shop for clothes that you would not find me wearing often."

Marcus had to pull out his wallet and check his fairly used debit card for this one. He shed a single tear and kissed the plastic for it's upcoming heroic duty before saying one last thing to honor it.

"You've been scanned hundreds of times. Now you're final test has come."

. . .

The journey was long and treacherous for the brave hero of Celestia's reign of selective shopping. Nightmare Moon and Chrysalis kept Sombra entertained, while Marcus stood in the corner with every woman in the shop staring at his companion with jealousy and disgust in their eye. Running through a decrepit full of zombies, killing anything that has the infection—that was much easier than this new job he had going on because of his mare.

She's trying to kill me with embarrassment, He glared at the clerk past him to avoid another encounter of the "woman" with multicolored hair, knocking her into a wall with her plump rear. If I make it out of here without drawing too much attention I will be surprised.

"Oh honey~" Celestia called out in a musical tune, stepping out to reveal that the oversized clothing she picked was a perfect fit. Of all the things for her to pick though, Marcus could not look at her properly without blushing in humiliation of the cultural standards in proper attire being generations apart with this pony.

She gave him a twirl and winked seductively, uncaring of how uncomfortable he'd felt. "I think this looks good on me."

"Honey?" He paid no attention to her ridiculous outfit as it did what he tried to avoid. "Since when did you decide to call me that?"

"Since the day you kissed me," Well at least she was honest with him. "Besides—" she hugged him tightly, giddiness in her voice while the scene made some women pretend that they were nonexistent. "I'm your marefrend, and it's your job to endure these things."

"So long as it doesn't hurt my budget," he muttered.

"Oh that looks cute," Celestia walked fast to the rack on her right, bumping humans out of her way as though they were not there. Marcus wanted to respect her wishes of acting normal in the open world, but she was making it hard with her childish antics.

Unfortunately that meant cutting her time in the store, and he was not ready to sadden the only creature in the entire universe that makes him happy.

"This is very cute," he caught her eyeing a blue beanie that made her stick out in the open. Women watched as the poor fabric "mysteriously" grew a large hole in the middle of Celestia's forehead, and quietly walked away in confusion and worry that she was not normal.

Marcus couldn't take it anymore. He took the foals and marched to her. The danger in being discovered was the princess might become too fond of acting like a normal pony. She had forsaken all parts of her younger-self, embracing a monarch, but it was now impossible to tame a princess that loved being spoiled.

"Celestia, could you keep it down?" Marcus had to pull her from the mirror to get her attention. "You're kind of making a scene, and no one is liking it."

"But we are here to shop," Celestia said, matching the intensity of her human with careless flippancy. "Can I not enjoy myself?"

"Yes, you can," he whispered then looked around to see no one was watching now. "Listen, I know you want to spend all day exploring the stores, but we have to get back before the food spoils. And I'm not too sure that your friends will take kindly to you being gone so long."

Celestia thrust a wave of her hoof at the man, looking away from his eyes. "They are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, and I'm having too much fun."

Marcus was about to argue with her when he noticed in the corner of his eye a looming shadow in the distance. He retracted slowly from his humming mare and kept a small gaze on the person in black watching him. He took a slow turn to the mirror and noticed in the reflection a woman with a heavy overcoat watching Celestia collectively.

The silence and suspicion was over in a short space of time. The woman rustled the inside of her coat with her right hand and began to approach. Marcus looked to Celestia for his own confirmation before turning to the woman, eyeing her dangerously. She stopped dead in her tracks when she realized that beneath the cold stare of this man was no distance between him and her. He was already standing next to her with the barrel of a gun near-perfect to her liver.

"Do yourself a favor and walk out of this store and forget about me," Marcus whispered, giving a fair warning with the safety clicking off when she tried to reach for her own. "Seriously, don't pull some rookie stunt just because my uncle assigned you to watch me. Tranquilizing my woman or my kids will end with a bullet lodged in your liver."

He pushed the barrel harder into the woman's side, making her grunt with pain.

"Leave. Now. And tell my uncle to mind his own fucking business."

Marcus allowed the woman a moment to think. Being a man of some moral and devoted to Celestia gave him all the time to remember why he was a person as well as a creature that can be merciful. But as the silence from this woman went on, the less patient he became. He was already getting worried that Celestia and the foals were left alone for too long, and he had less time to think over it. He couldn't show too much kindness.

A breath of relief left his lungs when the mysterious woman took her leave without saying a word. He wasn't anywhere near ready to fight and he doubt he could equal her in close combat. He wanted to go back home after this, but seeing how happy Celestia was made it all the better to endure the pain of watching try on every piece of clothing that would fit her.

And painful it was for him to endure the time, counting the minutes passing sluggishly, knowing any moment the joyful mare in front of him would have outfit after outfit for him to give an opinion on.

She's worth the trouble, He exhaled the words into the back of his mind and swept his gaze over the giggling alicorn approaching him with a surprise in store. If there was a fraction of dignity left in him, it was trying to start a war between the head on his shoulders and the head between his legs. He doubted if the throbbing in pants had a chance at something like that, but it was fun dreaming about it.

"Isn't this so adorable, Marcus," Celestia continued aloud, "but I would prefer if it was not so tight around my plot. Perhaps it can be adjusted when we return to your home."

Marcus gave a slight nod, indicating he wasn't opposed to the idea. He, like most men, had a thing for women in such clothing. He just wished she would not try to wear such things in the public of the store.

"Tia, you're wearing lingerie." He told her with a devious grin, knowing what would come next.

"Is lingerie the same in our culture?" Celestia asked with a blush, looking at the man embarrassingly.

"If involves sex behind closed doors, then yes."

"Oh. . ." She coughed to remove the lump of fear in her throat. "Well I suppose I should put this back."

"Oh no," he shook his head and laughed. "Please try on other pieces. I'm starting to like it. I may even take a few pictures and save them to my phone."

"Marcus," Celestia sent him a warning glare along her path to the rack she found her attire. "It would be in your best interest not to take pictures of me in this clothing."

He held his phone up to the princess for a good shot of her backside. "Come now, honey, I'm sure the nobles in your world would love to see a lingerie picture of their princess."

"Don't you dare!"