A Different World

I don't think that bath will be used again for at least a week. After draining it three more times to wash away the filth, there was still a film of grime left on the bottom. So in the end, I was escorted to a shower where they rubbed soaps, oils, and shampoo's into my fur and flesh.

I was a little put out by how invasive they were of my backside. At least they were gentle. As a final touch, my fur and mane were combed within an inch of their lives, and my feathers preened by a pair of the winged ponies. That was an interesting experience in and of itself.

Looking in a mirror afterwards, I saw I was, indeed, fully neon blue with a sky blue mane and tail. My eyes were as brown as they'd ever been. Which was A-Okay. No need to change everything. Besides, I like my eyes. They were mine, and they were the best pair I ever had.

I couldn't remember when I felt so relaxed and clean. This place almost seemed safe. How boring.

Anyway, Celestia insisted I walk with her for a tour of the palace. Apparently she was planning on me living here for the foreseeable future. She'd get no argument from me. For the moment anyway.

At some point during my cleansing, she had slipped away to ditch the dress for a very formal uniform. A scarlet jacket with gold trim and along with a matching long skirt. It looked very nice on her, and, whoever her tailor was, had designed it to accent her best features.

I, however, was left in the nude, and no one seemed to mind. It was rather drafty. But, nothing I hadn't done before. Nudity was a strategic advantage if you were clever enough. Look up the Picts. They knew how to use it. And, I was already blue.

"This is our hall of heroes," Celestia mentioned proudly as we walked down a long hallway with stained glass windows on both sides. The scenes they depicted were incredibly interesting. "We extend it from time to time, allowing room for future heroes. Though, due to our latest batch, we've been stuck with near continuous renovations."

She chuckled as though it were some inside joke. I politely offered a few yucks myself.

We'd already seen the kitchens, loved it, the guest rooms, fancy, the dining hall, loved it, the library, I love books, and just every other nook and cranny she thought important for me to look at. It was giving me plenty of practice for walking on all fours.

But, it was still so long and tedious.

"Not to appear ungrateful for being shown around this lovely place," I began, drawing her attention to me, "but, being inside for so long is making me a little antsy. Perhaps there's something outside you'd like to show me."

Celestia smiled kindly. "Of course. I understand. That was our next stop. I am sorry if this is boring you, but it is necessary. Follow me."

Past the hall and through a pair of large doors was what could not be mistaken for anything but the gardens. Exotic plants, fountains, fish ponds, and stone statues. there was even a hedge mage and dozens of fruit trees.

Celestia seemed pleased by my amazement. "Please, feel free to explore, I'll follow so that I may answer any questions you may have."

I was so gonna make her regret those words.

"Well, what's this?" I asked, pointing to a red flower. I wasn't really that concerned with what it looked like, as I was just looking to have some fun.

"A rose," she responded his a patient smile.

No kidding? Taking another look at it, it was indeed a rose. Not so alien as I originally thought. Then again, when everything tends to get burnt down around you, you can lose appreciation for it.

"What about this?"

"That's the same rose," Celestia responded kindly.

And so it continued. For how long? I didn't keep track. I was bound and determined to annoy her.

And I was failing miserably at it. No matter how ridiculous my questions got. For crying out loud, I asked her what dirt was. Finally, it was me who cracked.

"What gives?" I cried out. She laughed at me. "In the bath you got upset with my questions. What's changed?"

She waited patiently for me to finish. "When I slipped away to change my clothes, I also took a moment to reflect on a few things. You're young, inexperienced, and in need a lot of help. I should not expect too much from you, for now." She stepped up to me and cradled my chin in her hands. "Like a child, you're going to require a lot of patience and guidance from all of us. I trust you're willing to learn?"

I blinked so hard I think I strained the muscles in my eyelids. They had been incredibly kind to me, but... but this... this was advanced kindness. Or, what some people would call compassion. I remembered this feeling.

Before I could further contemplate the emotion. A sound to my left drew my attention.

An alabaster stallion, like myself, only smaller, and blonde, exited the hedge maze in a huff, kicking up grass in a tantrum. I don't know exactly what he was so upset about, but the appearance of his messy fur would suggest that he had tripped. Was that what he was so upset about?

The stallion noticed Celestia first and quickly brightened up, letting out a whinny and trotting in her direction. Then he noticed me and froze in terror. I guess I'm a little intimidating.

Celestia rolled her eyes with a sigh. She began calling and beckoning to him like he was dog. "Blueblood. You little chicken, come over here and greet our guest. That's it. There's a good boy."

Slowly and timidly. The stallion practically crawled towards her on his belly, traveling in an arc so as to put her in between us. Using her as a shield? That's just disgraceful and disgusting. I really hoped that that wasn't an example of this world's masculinity.

When he finally reached her, Celestia bent down stroked his mane softly. "My dear nephew, when will you grow a spine?" She turned to me. "Offer him your hoof, it will help him calm down."

I did as I was told, seeing no other option. Good grief. My hoof was almost the size of his head. Now he seemed even more terrified of me. Almost as though he thought I was about to crush him. But, Celestia held him firmly in place, reassuring him in her motherly voice.

"It's okay, Blueblood. The nice stallion isn't going to hurt you. He's a gentle giant." She continued stroking him in soothing motions. "You know I would never put you in danger."

Slowly. Again. Boy was this stallion a lethargic coward. He reached out his own hoof and placed against him. I remained still. I guess, maybe because I didn't stomp him into paste, that he was actually reassured by this. He touched the giant, and the giant didn't hurt him.

"There you go, Blueblood, good boy," Celestia chuckled as the stallion shakily stood back up on all fours and looked me in the eye. She patted his head and stood back up herself. "This is Selfen Surt. I want you to be nice to him."

He was obviously still uncomfortable around me, as he was still keeping Celestia between us. But his tail wagged in a careful fashion.

"Not a brave one, I take it?"

The mare shook her head in despair. "He's a spoiled, lazy, coddled little brat most of the time. His mother thinks he's simply becoming a proper high-society stallion. A little monster is what he is." She rubbed Blueblood's ear gently. "But, he is my nephew, and I do love him. I try my best to change him, but his mother is quick to reverse everything I do."

I didn't say anything for a bit. "His mother? Is he Luna's son?"

Celestia threw her head back and laughed. "Hardly. It's really more of a traditional honorary relationship that I shall explain another time."

"Oh," I was amused by this bit of information. "Speaking of Luna. Where has she been for the past several hours?"

"Oh, arranging the investigation, your temporary sleeping chambers, and the discussing plans for the wedding," Celestia replied with a shrug. "As I am the more patient sister, I agreed to watch over you for the day."

Part of that caught my attention.

"Planning a wedding?" I asked. "Whose?"

She gave me a long, hard stare of disbelief. "Yours and ours."

It was then, as my high school English teacher was rolling in his grave, that I found out what a consort was.