Arianna

"I'm doing WHAT?"

"You are taking my place during court today. Tia feels that you need experience in dealing with how court works and dealing with the nobles." Ari's smile was weak. She knew I wasn't thrilled with the current situation.

"What will you be doing?" The sheepish grin I got was a little alarming.

"Luna has made the two of us appointments at the spa in Ponyville." I was surprised, but she could use some pampering.

"What? Did you think I would be mad" I asked her.

"Yes." When her ears folded to her head, I was confused.

"Why would you think that ya goof? I can tell that you need a break, hell you all could use a break. I'm not holding that against you Ari. Why would I?" Running my hands down each side of her neck, I could feel her relaxing against me. "Go and enjoy yourselves, then tomorrow, Celestia can go and the two of us could cover for her." Her look of surprise was adorable.

"You would do that for us?"

"Why not? I'm going to have to do this sooner or later anyways, right?"

"Well, yes. We will be married one day, but Tia has already declared that you are to be treated as if you're royalty."

"Because I'm your destined mate correct?"

"Yes."

"I guess I have to get acclaimed to all of this. I can't keep hiding from everything."

"Are you sure your not mad?"

"I'm not silly. Now, go and have fun with Luna. Relax, make girl talk or whatever you mares talk about" I said swatting her ass when I walked by. The look I got from her could have melted a glaciers frozen heart.

"I may have to repay you tonight" Ari all but purred.

"Get out of here dizzy. I'm gonna hazard a guess that Celestia is in the throne room?"

"She is and is waiting. Don't keep her waiting too long."

"Yes, my love" I replied walking away. "I love you" I called out over my shoulder.

"And I love you too." She called back.

The wall to the throne room was enlightening to say the least. As I walked by, the various castle staff and guards would bow to me. To return the favour, I would smile and nod to them. I guess they have taken Celestia's words about me as law I mused to myself. Reaching the throne room doors, both guards bowed to me.

"Ya know, that's already old to me so if y'all would, stop the bowing. I'm not comfortable with it."

"Princess Celestia has said to treat you with the same respect that the Princesses get, but if that is your wish, the guard shall honor your words my Lord." The right hand guard answered which happened to be a pegasus. Another mare guard? What the hell. I know Ari told me that this was a mare dominated society, but I didn't think it was like this.

"Don't take this the wrong way alright, but both of you are mares correct?"

"Yes sir, we are." the left one answered. She was a unicorn.

"Is the entire guard mares?"

"Yes sir, it is. With the imbalance the way it is, stallions are not allowed in the guard. They have to be protected. Is it not the same way on your home world?"

"Nope. Its pretty much fifty/fifty as far as the male to female ratio, so it's pretty even. Anyways, I guess I need to go and play with the noble class." I said the last part as snooty as I could and had the guards giggling in hysterics.

"Yes sir, you should. The Princess is waiting for you."

"Yeah, I need to go sell my soul to them then. Later." I added walking into the throne room. Both guards waved at me still giggling somewhat. As I headed down the aisle towards the throne, I noticed that I was getting a lot of attention. When I made it the thrones themselves, I just kept going till I plopped down into Ari's. When I looked at Celestia I asked one question.

"So, when do we get to the part where I become a despotic ruler and the princesses become my playtoys" I asked in a nonchalant tone of voice. All noise and activities stopped immediately when I asked my question. Celestia just stared at me for a moment before she broke down laughing. I'm not kidding. Here we have one of the most graceful and regal ponies I know damn near rolling off her throne she was laughing so hard.

"Was it something I said or do I need to set up a scheduled meeting to start my nefarious plans? Come on Celestia, I need some input here." I know I wasn't helping, but I figured what could it hurt. Watching Celestia laugh was funny in its own way. She started to hiccup after a minute then I heard the best part. I was treated to a snort from a princess. Yep, I'll say it again, she SNORTED. When she did that, her laughter stopped, she sat up and covered her mouth with a hoof while looking around.

"Don't worry, I'm sure I was the only one who heard that" I whispered to her. "I won't tell anyone here....." I said smiling.

"Thank you, Vatore. I needed that. It been awhile since I really had a good laugh."

"I just hope the walking stiffs in here don't think I'm serious."

"Don't worry about them." she said still snickering. Your protected by the Crowns, besides sister Ari has already told them the penalty for even looking at you wrong." I was taken aback by her words.

"Sometimes that mare scares me." All Celestia could do was sit there and nod her head in agreement.

As I was dragging my tired ass to the chambers that Ari and I shared, I was wondering how her day had went. After court was over, me and Celestia had dinner together since it would be late before Ari and Luna would return. It was enjoyable to spend some time with Tia as she asked me to call her from them on, but I was looking forward to my bed or I was till I opened the door to said chambers and beheld the vision on the bed. Lit candles was everywhere and laying on the bed in a very provocative pose was a black alicorn I had been missing all day.

"Are you going to stand there all night or are you going to come over here and keep your mare warm" Ari purred in a very seductive voice. Needless to say, all the blood in my body went to the tingly parts down south and I slammed the door so hard it cracked.