Author's Note

Hi guys! Here's another chapter for you all. I told you I was back. I deeply apologize for the long wait. Work and my own laziness got in the way constantly, but I managed to make my way back here. I know this isn't my usual update time, but I desperately wanted to get this to you guys. Tell me if the quality dropped at all! You will be getting more of this in the future after all. Take care, and enjoy!

Chapter 9: A Royal Welcome

"Um...Mike? Whatever is the matter?" Princess Celestia said as her expression turned from one of gentle happiness to great worry in the span of a second.

It was only then that I realized I had been staring for a whole minute and a half.

"Oh, well, It's nothing!" I said as I chuckled nervously. "It's just...you're so beautiful and-"

I covered my mouth as soon as I said it. 'Stupid! What were you thinking?! This woman is royalty! Have some respect!'

"Oh my...what a charmer he is. You've stumbled upon quite a gentleman haven't you, Twilight."

I looked over at her to see that she too had gone silent, and was blushing profusely- no doubt from embarrassment at being put on the spot- as she tried to think of an answer to her question.

"Pfft! Well...you know..." She waved her hand as if to wave away the question.

"No, I'm afraid we do not, Twilight Sparkle." Said a voice to my left. When I turned to see who it was, I saw the blue-eyed woman this time. "Pray tell, dearest Mike. Could thou perhaps be...interested...in us~?"

That caught my attention a little bit, and my face began to heat up a bit. "U-um...well..." Was she coming onto me? Never mind the fact that she sounded like she belonged in medieval times, this definitely qualified as flirting!

Unfortunately (and perhaps fortunately) Celestia stepped in to stop her, grabbing her and pulling her away from me. "Sister! Stop it!"

"Aw, we were just teasing him a bit..." Luna says as she pouts and crosses her arms.

Celestia turned to me with a big smile and said, "Don't mind her, she's like this with everyone. This is my sister Luna, by the way. My younger sibling and fellow princess of Equestria."

I was broken out of whatever trance Luna's words had put me in at those words. "Wait a minute. Fellow princess? You're both royalty?"

Celestia herself seemed confused as well "Well...yes. Is it not like that where you come from?"

"No. We only have one ruler for each nation where I come from."

"Oh, I see. Your people must be quite skilled to be able to handle such a task alone." Celestia said, the smile never leaving her face

"They're not alone. All of our leaders have a group of people around them to help them run the country and make sure they don't go overboard."

"Oh really? Then I suppose I should say they are quite lucky, instead."

"That sounds about right. Hey wait. How do you know my name?"

"Yes, well, about that. Twilight sent us a letter telling us of your...circumstances, and we thought we would come and introduce ourselves. Please, if there is ever anything you need, anything at all, do not hesitate to ask."

"Alright. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you." I said, smiling nervously once again. How these girls managed to get even royalty on my side I'll never know.

"Say, Twilight. Do you mind if we sit with you?" Celestia asked, giving her the warmest smile i'd seen on anyone.

"Not at all, Princess! Please, feel free!" Twilight said, noticeably sweating.

"Now how many times have I told you to call me Celestia? We're both royalty you know?"

Twilight blushed again at this. "Right, sorry. Still getting used to that."

"T' is alright, Twilight Sparkle. We understand. Taketh thy time."

I silently chuckled to myself as I heard that one. That is until the two bombshells sat down...right next to me. I could swear I felt a certain blue-eyed princess's breasts pressing against my arm.

Luckily Celestia glared at her, and she stopped. Oh, my heart.

We sat like this for the rest of the meal. It lasted pretty long, too. By the time I realized the food was gone, it was already 3 o' clock.

I got up and managed to keep my composure long enough to say, "Well, that was delicious. Thanks for the food, Rarity."

She smiled and stood up as well. "Well, of course, darling. It was my pleasure."

Soon, everyone was filing out of the room, and I was the last one left. Well, all except for Luna, who for some reason, had been standing completely still for two minutes after the others left.

I made my way out of the dining room, all the way up until the point where my feet exited the door, at which point I turned around to look at Luna. She still hadn't moved. I called out to her.

"Um...Luna?"

This seemed to get a response out of her. "Yes?"

"Are you alright?"

"Oh! Y-yes. I'm alright."

She then proceeded to walk around the table, apparently following me out of the kitchen.

She stops however, when she gets close to me, bending down to look me dead in the eyes. Her blue eyes bore into mine, once again reminding me of that deep, never-ending ocean. But there was something odd about them this time. They seemed to...glow. They pulsed with mesmerizing light that felt almost hypnotic in nature, and yet I felt no less in control of myself than I had been prior to this moment. And yet, for some reason. I couldn't look away.

I was snapped out of my trance however, when I heard her say, "You're quite easy on the eyes, dearest Mike."

Her voice sounded...different. More...adult. She almost sounded like a completely different person altogether.

I felt her hands brush against my chin, and saw her flash me a quick smile, before my delusions were shattered entirely by her slamming her hand against the wall and fixing me with a glare that would've made any man piss their pants. Good thing I didn't have to pee.

"I don't know who you are or where you came from, but If you hurt her, i'll make you wish you stayed there."

Then she blinked and whatever that was...was gone.

"Mike? Art thou alright? Breakfast is over now, is it not?"

It was my turn to snap out of it. "Oh. Uh...yeah. I'm fine. Coming."

"Don't take too long~!" She winked at me and left, her playful self having returned. But, when I turned to look at her, I could still see that glow, just behind her eyes. Whoever that was, they were still there.

"...and that's Rarity's boutique, that's Sweet Apple Acres, and that's Sugar Cube Corner!" Starlight explained to me, pointing the mentioned places out as we made our way through town. She had opted to take me sightseeing to help me get a better grip on where I-as well as everything in town-was. She thought it would help me relax. Get used to things here in Equestria. I appreciate her effort but, that isn't the problem anymore. This place still feels unfamiliar sure, but I'm more worried about what happened to Princess Luna. I know that whoever I talked to wasn't her. It couldn't have been. And that threat...

I think I'm gonna have to watch my back from here on out...

"Mike? Everything okay? You've been spacing out for the past five minutes." Starlight Glimmer's voice woke me from my trance and I looked up to see her giving me a worried look as she laid a hand on my shoulder. "It's alright. You don't have to worry. You're not alone anymore. And we'll never leave you."

"Oh, that? Don't worry, it's not that. It still hurts, but I'd be pathetic if I let that continuously get me down."

"Oh? Then what is it?"

I weighed my options. I could tell her about Luna, but that would just make me sound crazy, or I could keep it to myself, and save her the worry of thinking I really have lost my mind.

"It's...nothing. Don't worry about it."

Yeah...don't worry about it. That's my job. And it's a job I hope I get fired from.