It was nearly noon, Zemrite had slept most of the morning away from his exhaustion of last night’s transformation. He slowly pushes his body up and onto his knees, he rubs his eyes and stretches out his body. Having gone back to his normal self during his slumber. He looks down to see that he was completely nude, but it didn’t surprise him. He slowly makes his way out of the bed and spots the bathroom.

“A shower sounds pretty good right about now…”

He said as he walked in and turned on the water, waiting for it to get nice and hot before stepping in. He let the water run over his form for a while. He just stood there, thinking back to last night’s events. The water trailing down his marked body.

“Man...now I know why the werewolves are always so pissed in the movies...that shit hurt!”

He began to scrub his body down, making sure he got as clean as he could. One thing he noticed and took was that there was a fresh loofah and soap sitting there for him. Had this been given to him to use by the princesses? He shrugged and took them and began to clean his body with them. Surprisingly they didn’t smell as girly as he thought they did. Oh well, he was getting cleaned, that’s all he cared about. Once he finished his shower, he gets out a dries himself off. His wolfish side kicking in as he shakes his hair free of water, getting the walls and mirror completely soaked.

“Alright, feeling a bit better now.”

He walks out of the bathroom and stands in the middle of the bedroom. He closes his eyes and holds out his arms to his sides, a black mist covering his body and slowly flowing down to the floor as his clothing appears on him as the mist fall to the floor. Once fully clothed, he makes his way to the door and opens it. He walks out to see two guards standing at each side of the door.

“Thanks for keeping watch, fellas.”

“No problem, sir. But we have been asked to escort you to the dining hall at this time. Lunch will be served very soon. And the princesses have requested that you join them.”

Zemrite grabs at his stomach, a loud rumbling coming from it. Food certainly sounded like a good idea to him. He hopes there was a lot of it. The guards began to escort him to his destination. As they walked through the halls, he could help but think to himself.

I am actually in Canterlot Castle...I am continuing to live every brony’s dream right now...it’s so crazy….

Eventually, he and the guards reached the dining hall. Both Celestia and Luna already sitting at the table having a hushed conversation. One of the guards clears his throat

“Your highnesses, the guest as you have requested.”

They both look Zemrite’s way and smile to him warmly. They then nod to the guard.

“Thank you, you are dismissed.”

The guards bow and take their leave. Their attention fixed back to Zemrite.

“Good afternoon Zemrite. I trust you slept well?”

Ask Celestia as she motioned him to come and sit at the chair left of her. He gladly takes the seat beside her.

“Like a deadman. Meteors could have fallen and I would still be snoozing like a pup.”

They both giggle at him as he said that last part.

“Well, we figured you would be rather hungry. So we thought you would like to join us for lunch.”

“You ladies didn’t really have to worry about me. But it is very sweet of both of you to do so. Thank you both.”

They both blinked at how polite he was being. They certainly did not expect someone like him to be so...gracious. They didn’t think he was a bad being sure, but he was so...gentlemen-like.Little did they know that he was slowly becoming more like his character each and every day, the human side of him slowly slipping away. Even he did not know it. It seems...being in the body of a halfling that holds a human soul and mind, slowly begins to take over those very things. Slowly, but gradually. And after what had happened last night, his humanity was indeed fading.

“Well, we wanted to make sure you felt at home while you are here, Zemrite. We had our griffon chef prepare something special for you. Our pony chefs can’t handle preparing meats.”

Right as Luna said that, the smell of a juicy beef steak hit Zemrite’s nose when it wasn’t even in the room yet. And was that…? It was….mashed potatoes. His mouth was watering.

“By the shadows...I can already smell it coming…”

He catches himself speaking the way he spoke, he covers his mouth for a moment.

“Since when did I start talking like that…?”

He asked as he looked to them in confusion. They had no idea what was going on either. Before they could discuss it however, the food was brought in and placed in front of their respected owners. The steak he had was large, and the heaping helping of mashed potatoes went nicely with it. It was perfect. He took up the fork and knife, twirling both between his fingers before beginning to cut into the soft and tender meat of his steak, scooping some of the mashed potatoes onto the peace like a professional. He takes a bite of the hot food and closing him eyes in delight.

“It is absolutely wonderful...the best steak I have ever had. Please give my compliments to your griffon chef. They did a fine job with this.”

Suddenly, an older female griffon with a soft motherly voice comes out from the hall and smiles warmly at Zemrite, bowing her head with her claws folding in front of her.

“Thank you very much, dearie. It isn’t often I get to cook my recipes these days. But when I heard we would have a guest like you joining the princesses this afternoon, I just couldn’t resist.”

Zemrite smiles and stands up, bowing to her.

“Well, thank you for taking the time to prepare this meal for me. It’s just how I like it. Properly seasoned with the outside lightly burned to a crisp while the inside is nice and juicy. I make have to come by again and see what else you got.”

She couldn’t help but smile at his politeness.

“You have such good manners young one.”

“Actually ma’am. I am two-hundred fifty years old. My kind can live for thousands of years.”

Wait...what am I saying?! I am only eighteen!

Both the sisters and the griffon blink when he says this.

“Oh...oh dear, please forgive me.”

Zemrite quickly lifts his hands in front of them and waves them frantically.

“N-nonono, please do not worry about it. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to prepare this for me. I greatly appreciate it.”

He quickly sat back down and began stuffing his face

Just eat...keep your damn mouth shut…

He thought to himself as he avoided eye contact with Celestia and Luna, who continued to just stare at him with curious eyes. Eventually their gaze was too much for him and he broke.

“I...didn’t tell you because I didn’t think it was worth mentioning...I only gave you the dangerous details about me cause I thought that is all you wanted to know…”

He said after he lowered his utensils down on his place, lowering his head. Thinking they may have been slightly upset with him, luckily that wasn’t the case.

“Do not lower your head, Zemrite. While it is true we wish to know everything we need to know to protect our subjects, we also want to know you because we have an interest in you. And the fact that you are nearly immortal has our attention. Not to mention that lovely wolf form of yours…”

Luna said with a smile and blush at the end. Celestia nods in agreement, she to blushes as she thinks back to the snuggle they all had, wishing so very much it could happen again very soon.

“Well...I am not sure what all I can tell you. I am a half moon elf half garou. I am a shadowmancer that is also a ranger. I am an alchemist. These things I have already told you.”

Luna leans in on her elbows, quite interested in what ‘shadowmancy’ is.

“And what kind of magic is shadowmancy, Zemrite? I am rather curious about it, being the princess of the night.”

Zemrite blinks a few times.

“Well, from where I am from, shadowmancy is a very rare magic. It has no evil or good alignment. So anyone could do it if they were devoted to its arcane art. It is the ability to control and manipulate shadows and darkness to one’s will. See, being a shadowmancer is a symbol not of evil, but a symbol of complete magical mastery. It is believed that if one’s magical aura is black and so is their magic, they have the potential to master any kind of magic they wish. I even have a spell I use whenever I am out of options. It is called ‘False Night’. I can cast an entire city into darkness with this one spell, but it deplete my mana entirely. That is why I keep these on hand at all times.”

He said as he reaches to his belt and sets down that familiar royal blue potion onto the table.

These fill my mana pool back to the top should I run low or run out. I don’t have an unlimited source like you two.So I have to make due with these.”

Celestia reaches out and picks up the small bottle, examining the glowing liquid. Zemrite arching a brow at her.

“Tia…”

She looks at him with a bit of a pouty face and puts the bottle back down.

“Just a taste…?”

He takes the bottle back and slides it in his belt.

“You wouldn’t like it. Trust me, it’s bitter and it leaves a bad aftertaste in your mouth.”

He was lying of course, it actually tasted pretty okay, especially for a potion.But he wasn’t going to have something bad to happen to Celestia or Luna and have him be the cause of it. He cared for them too much. Then again he cared for all the ponies he has come into contact with since before he came here. Never knowing that he would actually physically be in the same world as them.

“So you have mastered both magic and alchemy? That is quite something, Zemrite. Very impressive.”

Celestia said before she began to eat her own lunch, Luna doing the same.Their conversation went on until they had finished. Eventually walking Zemrite out of the castle and into the courtyard.

“Thank you for taking care of me Tia and Lulu. You two are too good to me.”

They both blush lightly and smile to him.

“Feel free to come by anytime, Zemrite. We wish you would stay for some cuddle time though…”

He chuckles lightly.

“How about next time I come over, you can snuggle me till your heart’s content?”

They perk up at this and nod with big smiles. He chuckles and nods back.

“It’s a date then.” He then stands there with his arms open.

“Alright Tia, fire when ready.”

With a blinding light, Zemrite is teleported back to the Golden Oak library. Afterwhich nearly causes him to puke up the delicious lunch he had enjoyed earlier, but he fought it back.

“Geez….fucking teleportation…”

He said as he opened the door. He was quickly met with the tackling force of a certain lavender unicorn who was hugging him tightly and nuzzling into his chest.

“You are back!!!”

She exclaimed happily. Her tail swaying behind her in delight. He reaches up and pets her gently.

“Heheh...hey Twi.”

Author's Note

Here ya go, enjoy!

May the darkness grant you peace.