John Sampson's Story

When I woke in the morning the sun was already up. Swift Trail was gently rubbing her cheek against mine still wrapped up in my arms.

“Oh my. I think we overslept. But damned it feels good. I wonder why Fred didn’t wake me?”

“John, do you think that we might have some breakfast before it is all gone?”

“Certainly. I fact I think that’s an excellent idea.”

“The why don’t you release me so we can get up and walk to the common room?”

“Oh! I’m sorry. You just fit so well right there.”

And I unwrapped myself from Swift and rose to my feet. As I drew on my shorts and shirt Swift went to small bag near the pad she started the night on and donned her chevrons.

“You might as well move in here and leave the small room to be nothing but an office.”

“You are probably right, John, but let’s see what the day brings first.”

It looked like every single guardpony from both shifts was sitting in the common room watching the door to my (our) room. As we stepped out they all rose and began to stomp. I started looking around for place to run.

“Calm down, John. That’s applause. They know what you have done for me and they are grateful.”

“There’s really no way to hide anything from a pony, is there?”

“Why would you want to hide anything so wonderful?”

“I don’t but I do want the pleasure of telling somepony and bragging about it.”

And she laughed. It was a small thing but oh so wonderful to behold.

Then the classic pony sense of timing kicked in as a strange Pegasus walked in the main door.

“Who are Sergeant Swift Trail and Chief John Sampson?”

We stepped forward and the courier handed us each an ornate scroll sealed with wax and bearing the emblem of a sun. “You are hereby summoned to appear before the Royal Court at your earliest convenience.” And she turned and walked back out the door.

Swift opened her scroll and read. “We need to catch the next train for Canterlot. Aren’t you going to read yours?”

“I haven’t learned to read Equestrian yet. But I know what it says. My application for citizenship has been accepted.”

“That’s wonderful, John. But let’s be sure there’s nothing else.”

She unrolled my scroll and read for a few seconds. “You are right, John. The Royal Court is going to accept your Oath of Citizenship. But there is more. We are going to be offered some sort of special appointment to the Royal Guard.”

“Wow. Just. Wow.” How the hell did She know my rank?

“Hello. John? Grab whatever you need for a couple of days and a Royal Audience. We’ll eat on the way.”

“I’ll just grab my ‘go bag’. I doubt it’s all I need but it is all I have. Why don’t you put together a food basket while I go tell Fred what is going on.

And out the door I went at a full run. Fred was waiting right around the corner of the barn.

“Damned, Fred, that was a speech. Thank you for this morning.”

“Okay. Try not to confuse the nice ponies too much. I’ll be back as soon as possible.” And I sprinted for the barn door.

We rushed down to the station and got there just in time to see the morning train disappearing into the distance. No problem, our tickets were good for any train. And I had a few hours to see my first pony town.

Ponies tended to see me first (I wonder if sticking up about twice as far from the road had anything to do with that?) and get big eyed and excited. Then they would spot Swift in her full Guard uniform and calm down. We took a pretty good loop around town with Swift pointing out various stores and restaurants. I have no idea why ponies need signs, everything looks like what it is.

We had nibbled out of our food basket on the way into town but the plan was to have a full meal in the park and be back at the station in plenty of time for the afternoon train. We had settled on a bench in the park with the food between us when I discovered why the words ‘pony’ and ‘plan’ should never be used in the same sentence.

We had drawn a small parade as we passed through town, mostly wide eyed foals too fascinated to stop looking and too afraid to come closer. This was different. It started as a bright pink streak zigzagging across the park. Swift said, “John, let me do the talking!” By the time she had said that there was a small pink pony bouncing in place in front of us.

“Hi there!You must be the new guy!I know you’re new because I’ve never seen anypony like you!I’m Pinkie!What’s your name?I’m going to throw you the best ‘welcome to Ponyville’ party ever!Everypony will”

“No, Pinkie,” Swift quietly said.

“be there!We’ll have cakes and ice”

“No Pinkie,” A little louder.

“cream and presents and fire”

“NO, PINKIE,” Full force.

“crackers and music”

My turn “NO PINKIE!” in full command voice.

“. . . . .”

Swift jumped in, “We are on or way to a Royal Audience, Pinkie. Do you want us to tell Princess Celestia that we were delayed by your party?”

“no” And it was like somepony had let all the air out her. She stopped bouncing and just sagged.”

I couldn’t let that stand, “Pinkie, we will come back to Ponyville and I would be honored to attend your party then.” Besides, I needed some good public relations.

The air rushed back in and she started vibrating, “Oh!I’ve got to start planning right now!This will give me time to get City Hall or a stadium booked!You.Promise.To.Be.Here?”

“I’m sorry Pinkie but I can’t promise anything right now. The Princess has a job for us and I don’t have any idea when I’ll be where until She tells me. But I will let you know as soon as I know.”

“Okee Dokee!I’ll be waiting.” And a pink streak disappeared into the distance.

“I’m impressed, John. Very few ponies can handle Pinkie that well. Right now we need to get to the station.”

So we packed up our mostly uneaten picnic and hit the road.

There wasn’t much left of the day by the time we got to the castle gate so I ventured, “I guess we missed today’s Court. Is there a place to stay overnight?”

“We need to check in right here at this gate. We may go to Princess Luna’s Night Court or they may direct us to our rooms.”

“Lead on. This is your home territory.”

The guard at the check in made a mistake. He glanced at Swift’s uniform and said, “You know where the barracks are.” Then he looked at me, “And your business is. . . sir?”

“NO!” Swift was full bristle. “He is Chief John Sampson, here to see Princess Celestia and I am Sergeant Swift Trail, his official escort by order of the Princess Herself.” And she threw the scrolls down on desk in front of him.

He didn’t get a chance to read them. At the sound of my name two ponies that were lounging against the back wall of the office jumped up and rushed around the desk. One of them said, “We’re here to escort you to your rooms, sir. After you are settled in, Princess Luna requests your presence at an informal Night Court.”

I’m not going anywhere in that place without a guide. We went up, down, and up again. I swear we made five right turns in a row. But we ended up at a large ornate door that opened into a suite well worth the trip. The leader of our escort said, “We’ll be right here when you’re ready to go to Night Court.” Then they took station on either side of the door.

I walked through until I saw what I wanted. “Swift, this looks just like a shower to me and I’m going to use it.” As I dropped my bag on the bench just outside of it and started started stripping. It took a few seconds to decode the pony oriented controls but there are a limited number of things that can be done with water valves. I was getting lathered up when I felt a pressure against my leg.

“This will go much faster if you help me, John.”

“Of course. What are friends for?” I started between her ears and lathered down her mane massaging the soap in as I went and pushing it down her neck and across her withers. The pattern continued until I had lathered her tail then I went back up and started under her chin working her neck, chest, and down her front legs in that order. From there I went across her belly and when I got to her teats I very gently separated them and ran a finger into the crevice between them. She was trembling a little but she spread her legs to give me full access. Finally I went back up to her flanks and worked down her hind legs. She raised her tail and I carefully washed under her dock. She gasped as I ran the flat of my hand down her most sensitive parts.

Then we did it all over again with the shower hose. She was panting a little by the time she was thoroughly rinsed. “John, marry me.”

“Can Luna do it?”

“I’m sure she can but it would incense Princess Celestia. Maybe we had better wait. But I have to tell you that as perfect gentlestallion and without taking any liberties at all you have just made me feel better than full on sex with a lot of stallions. Spring isn’t that far away and if you haven’t committed by then I’m not going to leave you a choice.”

“Full disclosure, I’ve already promised Applejack at least one date.”

“Not a problem. She’d make a damned good bandmare while we are off on Royal business and Fred already likes the farm. I have a strong suspicion that you could handle both of us easily.”

What have I gotten myself into?