Aborted Romance

Doctor Hooves was ushered into the throne room. The members of the royal guard who escorted him had serious looks on their faces. They exited the room, shutting the door behind them. The Doctor was fairly sure that wasn’t standard procedure — to leave him totally alone with the Princess.

“Errrm… your majesty,” he said, bowing deeply.

“Good Doctor,” Princess Celestia said, kindly. “I trust you had a pleasant trip here?”

The Doctor stood up straight. “Yes, the train from Ponyville was most comfortable.”

Celestia climbed down from the throne and walked towards him. “You must be wondering why you’ve been summoned here.”

“Yes,” the Doctor answered, “you could say that.” The question had been playing on his mind for the past two days. Ever since he’d received the warrant to come to Canterlot and meet with the princess.

“Well, I have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal?” the Doctor asked.

“Yes, a little task I need you to take care of.”

“A task?” he asked.

Celestia rolled her eyes. “Are you some kind of parrot? Are you just going to keep repeating everything I say?”

“A parrot? … Oh, sorry.”

“Don’t worry,” Celestia assured him. “You’ll be handsomely rewarded. But… the task is one of great secrecy. You must tell no pony about the great responsibility I’ll be placing upon you.”

“Oookay…” the Doctor said, unsurely.

Celestia put her nose right up in his face. “Do you accept?”

“I… I don’t even know what the task is!”

Her horn began to glow. “Do. You. Accept?”

“I… I accept!”

“Very good,” Celestia said.

She rang a little bell and a guard appeared. “Ensure that the money is waiting for Doctor Hooves at Canterlot station when he leaves.”

“Very good, your majesty,” said the guard, retreating.

Doctor Hooves and the princess were alone again. He gulped nervously. “So what is this task which you ask me to perform?”

Princess Celestia looked around. There were many staff who worked in this castle, and Canterlot was a giant rumour mill, gossip spreading very quickly.

Once she was sure that no pony was listening, she lowered herself onto her knees and then rolled onto her back.

“Tickle me please! I’m such a naughty pony! I need to be punished! Tickle me! Tickle me, doctor!”