Azure led me through the city streets with her head held high even though the many ponies looked on at us with questionable and haughty looks. I didn’t pay them any mind as I heard them whispering amongst themselves about me being the princesses new muscle. Well they weren’t wrong I would do anything for the princesses since they you know, helped me.

Azure led me to a very large, very expensive looking store. As we entered a very flamboyant stallion with a bright and when I say bright I mean bright red mane smiled at us and stood on his hind legs lifting his fore hooves into the sky dramatically.

“Welcome to the Canterlot sultan,” he exclaimed “if you don’t find it here. You won’t find it anywhere, how may I help you with today.”

“Hello,” Azure said calmly as she looked around, I looked around as well, the very expensive looking furniture glistening with gold or silver linings and gem incrusted furniture as well “we would like to buy some things please.”

“Dear,” the pony began as he looked us over finally “do you think you can afford any of these?”

Azure was about to say something but I placed a paw on her head.

“You,” I said flatly “show us what we need or, so help me I will burn it all to the ground and there is nothing you can do about it, so, either help us or, watch it burn.”

I smiled exposing my fangs making the flamboyant stallion noticeably swallow and step back.

“I understand sir,” he said shakily “p-please follow me.”

“Wonderful,” I smiled genuinely as I winked at Azure making her quietly chuckle

The stallion we followed led us deeper into the store where even more luxurious furniture waited for us, they were all too bright, and they didn’t fit my personality at all. The stallion though he gave us the usual spiel wanted to leave us as quickly as possible.

“Hey,” I said finally bored “here’s what’s going to happen.”

I pulled out the talismans from I had attached to my upper paw and handed it to Azure, she looked at me confused for a second and nodded after a few seconds and immediately got to work, she started slapping the talismans on the furniture she decided we needed.

“Sir,” asked the stallion “what are you doing?”

“Calm down will you,” I sighed “I actually don’t like anything your store has to offer but, your store will have to do.”

“And how will you be paying for these items?” asked the stallion as he walked to a couch that had a talisman and was about to remove it but the couch suddenly disappeared “What, where?”

The stallion looked at me angrily and stopped towards me, his stuck his hoof towards me angrily and tapped it on my chest “sir you have much to answer for you will be arrested by the guards.”

“Really” I rose an eyebrow “well, alright, please tell Celestia and Luna why you don’t want to sell your furniture to me”

“W-what, the princesses?” asked the stallion

“No, the other princesses known as Celestia and Luna,” I said sarcastically

“You should have said so before sir,” the stallion said starting to prance around the store hoping Azure with her choices

“What a peculiar pony,” I whispered under my breath as from behind me a family of ponies walked in, they looked at me and the foal they had with them teleported himself onto my head making me yell in surprise and fall over. The foal gripped on to my muzzle and giggled happily. The mare came to me immediately voicing her apologies to me.

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” I said as the foal found his way onto my head and bit my ear “I like babies, was just a little surprised is all.”

“Dear me, are you the monster of the princesses?” asked the stallion in a very distinguished voice as he approached me and took the foal off my head “the elite were discussing you.”

“Well,” I smiled “what did they say?”

The stallion laughed “Well they said you were a vicious creature that eats ponies on the princess’s command” he explained making my eye brow rise “for me though I couldn’t say, I never met you before so my impression of you would have been mute.”

“And now?” I asked

“Well, seeing that my son is very much comfortable with you,” he began “I must say there perception of you would have been erroneous.”

I laughed “Well then let me introduce myself then, my name is Vreizo.”

“I am Hoity Toity and this is my wife Photo Finish,” he said

“Darling, charmed to meet you,” she said, from behind her glasses I could feel her eyes scan over me “’ave you ever modelled before?”

“No, can’t say that I have,” I replied as she suddenly approached me

“Well, you shall be my new masterpiece,” she exclaimed “I shall capture your essence in a photo for all to see, all will be in awe of you.”

I stepped back instinctively, as the female earth pony approached me as she spoke. Her voice rose with each syllable, Hoity Toity had to wrap a hoof around his wife’s neck to hold her back,

“I’m so sorry about that,” he apologized “my wife, goes into her own world when she sees somepony, or creature she wants to work with, she’ll usually stop at nothing until she gets the photo.”

“That’s … unnerving.” I whispered

“IT gets worse,” Hoity laughs as he continues to pull her back “she usually has her camera but today, I made her leave it home, not even the princesses are safe when Photo Finish wields a camera.”

Hoity chuckles uneasily as he looked at me, he looked awkward holding back a grown mare and a feisty foal both of which who were fighting to get to me.

I sighed “Fine, come to the party tonight she can take all the photos she wants there”

Hoity forcefully pulled the mare and looked her in the eyes “Dear,” he said in a commanding tone that made her stop “you will be given the chance tonight now, hold back your enthusiasm”

“Thank you,” she said with a smile, her feistiness suddenly gone as quickly as it came “we shall see you tonight.”

With that being said Photo Finish and her husband walked deeper into the store catching one of the store clerks as they passed by. I watched them walk away as, Azure and the flamboyant clerk returned, his smile was the widest I had ever seen.

“Did you get everything?” I asked

“Yes master,” replied Azure as she stood in front of me “they have all been teleported to the castle.”

“Alright,” I said turning to the clerk “What are you own my guy?”

“Oh, the palace will be billed,” he said excitedly “no need for you to be worried with the bill.”

I looked down at him for a while making him feel the uneasiness of my silence, he started to squirm. Azure looked at me then to the clerk and without saying a word looked away.

“S-sir, please you do not need trouble yourself,” he stuttered my tails twitched making him flinch and rub is front hooves together “Ok, it’s thirty three thousand bits.”

I smiled once he answered “Was that so hard?” I asked “aright then so please bill the princess, Celestia to be exact.”

“Understood sir.” the clerk said “may we help you with anything else?”

I turned and walked out the store, with Azure bowed to the clerk and followed close behind me

“Master don’t you think that was rude?” asked Azure as we walked down the street

I thought for a moment and shook my head “No, he’s used to the nobles right,” I began as I sidestepped a group of mares who walked through us with their head held high, I stopped and looked at Azure and raised a eyebrow “do I need to say more?”

“I understand sir,” Azure said with a bow and continued to follow me down the street

“So, tell me what else is there to do before we head over to my castle?” I asked

“Nothing master,” explained Azure “our only goal was to get the furniture, with that done we have nothing else.”

I nodded and thought for a moment “Alright, we will go home,” I explained “let’s head to the castle then.”

Azure nodded and we walked towards the Canterlot palace, the guards we passed all stopped and gave us a bow making me question many things since they have never done anything of the sort, I knew Celestia had something to do with this, I would need to find out.

As we came upon the front of the Canterlot castle the guards were running around in a panic, they stopped and saluted us but went on their way almost immediately. I stopped at the entrance, something didn’t feel right, the air was heavy and the uneasy feeling came upon me, soon a large pony came towards us his grey fur and did all but covered the taut muscles that flexed under the golden armour her wore, his stern cold eyes held both wisdom and battled hardened toughness. His ice blue eyes scanned me over for a moment before saluting.

“My name is Captain Greystone,” he introduced, his voice was strong and commanding but still had a softness to it “the princesses ordered me to bring you to them as soon as you arrived.”

“Okay, Greystone.” I said

“That’s captain to you sir,” he said flatly “I worked very hard for my rank and I demand that respect.”

“I apologize captain,” I said “please take us to the princesses.”

“Well, since you are apologetic,” explained Greystone with a huff “but, I’ll tell you this I don’t know what the princesses see when they look at you.”

“Then I’m guessing you don’t like me at all,” I questioned as we started to walk into the castle

“All I see is a monster larger than my rulers,” explained Greystone “who will take advantage of their kindness if you are kept free.”

“Well, isn’t that something,” I began “Azure am I a monster?”

I turned to look at Azure who looked at us from walking behind us, she chuckled making Greystone raise a eyebrow.

“Why are you a laughing servant?” Greystone queried his voice growing irritated

“I am sorry captain,” began Azure “but, my master is a monster through and through, but he is very kind unless you get on his bad side.”

“I am not that bad,” I smiled widely as we continued through the corridors “captain, where are the princesses by the way?”

“They are waiting for you in the dining room,” Greystone explained “they had cancelled the day’s day court.”

With that we remained silent; captain Greystone led us through to the dining room where a few guards were standing at the door. They looked at us and opened the door.

“Announcing sir Vreizo,” one of the guards announced as he entered with us “in accompany with captain Greystone and the servant mare.”

“Her name is Azure,” I said annoyed the guard paid no attention to me and simply turned and left the room

Greystone stepped forward as we stood looking at why all the formality was required, sitting around the table were the three Equestrian princesses and two others one that had pink fur and a multicoloured main and the other looked like a equine bug. A stallion sat next to the pink one and the bug looking one.

“Vreizo,” Celestia said happily “did you get through with shopping?”

“Yes, expect a bill soon,” I explained “so, I see some new faces.”

Celestia’s smile grew as she stood and came towards us “Well Vreizo I took the opportunity to invite the other rulers in Equestria to attend our new wards party,” she began the glint in her eye making me feel wary “come let me introduce you.”

I stepped forward and immediately locked eyes with the white stallion that kept glaring daggers at me, Celestia didn’t seem to notice though and simply stood in front of me.

“Vreizo, allow me to introduce to you Queen Chrysalis ruler of the changelings,” began Celestia “we were once at war with the changelings but now due to the efforts of Princess Twilight Sparkle we are in diplomatic relations that benefits every creature.”

“So…. A pony bug?” I asked confused “that’s kinda cool”

Chrysalis scoffed and her bug like wings buzzed “You should bow in my presence lowly creature or are you dense to the ways of addressing royalty.”

I was confused at that moment, Chrysalis’s voice sounded like it was going to a voice modulator, and it entertained me. I just looked at her and she stared back expecting me to bow my head to her royal presence.

“Are you waiting for a cookie or something?” I asked making the changeling queen get to her feet with the readiness of war

“Sit down Chrysalis or shall I burn your wings to crisps?” asked Celestia calmly, reluctantly the queen sat down with a audible humph but still glared daggers at me “my dear fox, I would appreciate it if you will not aggravate the royals of our neighbouring lands.”

“I promise nothing,” I said flatly before turning my head to the two other ponies

The pink one was looking at me with the most beautiful light purple eyes… though they had nothing on Azure’s grey and didn’t come close to Luna’s cyan, maybe I’m being biased because they were the closest to me at the moment but, no doubt the pony before my was beautiful.

“Hey, stop looking at my wife like that,” the stallion said suddenly “or do you want to go a few rounds, I don’t care if you’re bigger than princess Celestia.”

I raised a eye brow as Greystone snickered in the back ground.

“Yes teach him not to mess with the crystal empire!” exclaimed Chrysalis chiming in

“Both of you stop it,” the alicorn said as she stood and approached me “my name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or you can just call me Cadance, this is my husband Shining Armour we rule over the crystal empire.”

“I don’t trust you,” Shining Armour said suddenly “You broke my sister’s horn, did you know how much mana is needed to fix that she’ll be incapacitated for two months.”

“Bbbff, did you forget I told you he saved me,” Twilight spoke up

“But your horn was-“began Shining but was stopped by the hoof of Cadance covering his mouth

“Shining, please stop, Twilight already said that he didn’t hurt her,” Cadance said before turning to me again and smiled “thank you for protecting our Twilight.”

“You are welcome,” I said with a bow much to Chrysalis’s disgust I smiled and caught Luna looking at me so I did a sly wink that didn’t know unnoticed by Cadance

“Did I just,” she asked as he eyes started to go wide ad she turned to the night princess “Aunty Luna?”

“How may we help you dear niece?” asked Luna taking a sip of her drink and avoiding eye contact with Cadance

“Aunty, I’m the princess of love or did you forget?” asked Cadance as she all but sipped towards her aunt, my ear flicked as Cadance looked at me slyly

I cleared my throat and turned to Celestia “So, what’s going on today?”

“Well, we’re all going to attend your part,” explained Celestia “those guards you saw making preparations belong to our kingdoms, Captain Greystone will be going with you with a team to help you organize for tonight.”

With that said Captain Greystone stepped forward but was stopped by Twilight raising a hoof.

“Twilight, you’re not in the magic alchemy anymore you don’t need to raise your hand,” Celestia chuckled

“Oh…sorry,” Twilight smiled “but, Pinkie Pie is already in the castle, she had one of her many Pinkie sense moments and grabbed Rarity and AppleJack and ran off towards the castle.”

“What’s a Pinkie sense?” I asked

“You do not want to go down that rabbit hole,” explained Celestia “you’ll quicker figure out how Luna stores stars and galaxies in her mane that understand the pink anomaly.”

In one bound I jumped over their heads and landed behind Luna my I squinted my eyes and stared at her mane my mouth hanging open.

“Holy shit, it’s true I thought they were sparkles or something.” I explained “how does it work, can I put my paw in would I feel the galaxies.”

Everyone just looked at me as I excitedly fawned over the mane of the night princess whose face was as red as a tomato.

“So… did I act like that?” asked Twilight silently

“Well, you weren’t a almost ten foot tall nine tailed fox,” started Celestia “but you did act like a foal finding a new shiny toy… much like our esteemed fried.”

Celestia cleared her throat catching my attention

“I’ll talk about this later,” I whispered as I walked back to Celestia “so, what now?”

“Well, since you don’t need the guards to assist you anymore,” began Celestia I suppose we all relax till it’s time for the party.”

I looked over to Azure and thought for a moment “You know what,” I said “we need to get acquainted with my new place, Azure and I will go check it out.”

“I’ll go with you,” Twilight piped up “we still have experiments to conduct after all.”

The smile that came over Twilight’s face made a cold chill run down my spine

***

Many more ponies had died since the small stallion came to the slums, homeless ponies, those who were on drugs the so called dregs of society. No one will miss them, but lately the city guard presence were in the slums.

The missing ponies were reported by somepony but nothing was found. The guards canvassed the entire area but found nothing out of the ordinary. The missing ponies simply disappeared and nopony has any information to give.

The cult that has been under watch has even been silent and attempts to reach out to them has not been fruitful. The leader of the guards wrote his report and sent it to the Canterlot court with urgent need. A new threat has surfaced and they were in ground zero.

***

Azure and I watched the pink pony zip across the castle floors, it had been almost six hours since we sent the furniture and they were already in place and the ballroom was already decorated. Pinkie was putting the final touches on the entrance when we arrived suspended by a harness.

She waved happily at us and pulled some lever allowing the harness to let her drop, she came careening towards the ground and in the last second stopped a mere three inches off the ground.

“Are you okay?” Azure asked worriedly running towards her

“I’m great,” chipped Pinkie “glad you’re here, what do you think of the party decorations?”

“Well,” I said as we entered into the castle and looked around, all my new furniture was pushed into corners “it looks pretty good.”

“Great,” laughed Pinkie “well, we are getting everything ready so look around, and then we’ll party when the princess puts the sun down.”

With that Pinkie bounces away, literally bouncing away. Azure kept looking at Pinkie as she bent a corner and disappeared.

“Master,” she began “is that one of the elements of harmony?”

“Yeah,” I said as we continued on “the one or joy I think.”

“Well, Happiness but you’re on the right track,” Azure corrected me as we continued on; the castle was well lit with the many magic infused crystals that lined the walls “master do you smell that?”

I sniffed the air and sure enough the air was filled with the sweet fragrance of baked goods “So… should we find the kitchen?” I asked

“Should I scout ahead master?” asked Azure, I nodded and watched as she faded into the shadows in the corridor

“Well…now I’m alone,” I said as I continued walking

My new castle was even bigger than I expected it to be, I had lost my way a few times and ended up to the back of the castle where the ursa minors were lounging around the broken structures, when they saw me they got to their feet and bound their way over to me the earth shook as they bounced like happy little cubs.

“I thought you would be gone by now,” I said as one licked my face and dropped to their stomachs in submission “guess you’re my pets for real, I should probably name you guys.”

The ursa minors stayed where they were as I took a seat and thought for a moment. The larger of the two had a dark white fur and the other was honey brown.

“Honey and whitey,” I said flatly looking at them in turn, I wasn’t good at naming pets even as a human and I don’t care if their names are weird, the ursa minors though loved their names to the point that they started to bounce again, though this time it seemed like they were playing with each other I sighed and got to my feet and was about to go back into the castle to try and find my way back to the kitchen or at least the ballroom

Seriously what the hell was the princesses thinking making this place into a damn maze. I sighed and was about to walk back in when I heard something, my ear twitched and I stopped. I waited but the only sounds that reached my ears were the Ursa Minor’s rough housing. Thinking it was nothing I went back into the castle and started to walk again.

It was almost a half hour when I found my way back to the front of the castle I stood at the door and took in a deep breath.

“Azure!” I called and almost instantly she came out the shadow and stood in front me

“You called master?” she asked

“I got lost,” I said flatly

Azure just looked at me “Master,” she began “didn’t you follow the signs?”

“What?”

“The … signs?” Azure said again slowly, she pointed to the walls where the small plaques were placed into the walls with directions that was at her eye level which was way below mine

“Well … the designer of the castle didn’t make it for ten foot tall foxes.” I deadpanned

Azure chuckled “Follow me to the back master,” she said as she began leading me “you would be surprised to know that the element of honesty was the one in the kitchen baking goods for your party tonight.”

“Right … okay,” I said

“And the element of generosity is also here,” Azure continued “she’s the one who rearranged the furniture.”

“How can they both be here and I did not see any of them?” I asked

“Master, that I do not know,” Azure Sais as she led me up the stairs “I shall take you to your room to get ready master?”

“Well, I suppose.”

***

‘That was the weirdest day I’ve ever experienced’ I thought as peeled myself off the roof of my castle, I looked around at the many ponies that were laying on the floor and that one red stallion who was on the chandelier, how did he get up there again.

I groaned as I somehow found my way towards the bathroom, as I passed Princess Twilight who was cuddling up between sunbutt and Chrysalis. Who was that, ok I can’t remember her. Princess Cadance and her husband were into the corner in a pile on the floor kegs of what I could only imagine to be alcohol was around them, I sighed and saw that Hoity Toity and his wife Photo Finish were next to the prince and princess surrounded by kegs of alcohol and cameras

“What happened?” I asked I stepped into what looked like a puddle of wine but the smell reached me nose, it wasn’t wine

The bathroom was occupied by three ponies, which were piled against each other. Seriously what happened last night? My head was hurting badly and the room was spinning. I decided to make my way out the castle for some fresh air and maybe remember what happened last night.

As I passed more ponies, changelings, a few griffins and dragons laying around, I noticed I did not see my maid. I knew Azure was there the minute the party started but from there it was all a blur. The cold air rushed over me as I went outside.

There standing in the dark morning sky was Azure, she was silently looking into the Everfree, I walked up to her and sat as well.

“Good morning master,” she said

“Good morning Azure,” I replied “do you know what happened last night?”

The silence that followed was almost deafening “Master, all I can say is that your voice is wonderful, and I thing miss Rarity may have a crush on you now.” Azure answered her face didn’t show any sign of lying “but, other than that master, it was like a bomb exploded that lasted till now, I don’t think the princess of the sun will rise in time to bring the sun.”

We sat there looking into the darkness of the Everfree, we felt the cold air over our fur making us relaxed.

“Master?”

“Yes?”

“Do you see what I see?”

I looked down at Azure whose face was still focused on the darkness of the forest, following her I looked at the forest and I saw a series of eyes staring back at me.

“Master,” Azure began “I feel their maliciousness from here.”

“Me too,” I explained as the eyes disappeared and reappeared at different intervals “Azure, I’ll be leaving the castle to you”

Azure nodded as I got to my feet and walked towards the forest, two balls of flames materialised next to me as I continued on. The eyes disappeared again before reappearing further away.

“If you’re going to attack me,” I began “then attack me, then hope that I don’t get up.”

A spear flew and landed in front me, I smiled exposing my fangs as fire licked my lips

Author's Note

I had honestly lost my drive for a few so i believe this was very lack luster if i may say so myself, is the quarantine getting to anyone? I hope you are keeping safe.