John Sampson's Story

The train car was empty except for us so we just piled and napped our way back to Canterlot. At the Palace gate I checked us in as the Major John Sampson band. That got some raised eyebrows and knowing smiles. I guess I just added a line to my legend.

There were two messages waiting. The Colonel wanted to see all of us at the first available regular office hour. And Princess Celestia wanted to see me in a private audience before the next regular public audience. There were several ‘regular office hours’ left in today and we wanted to see the clerk anyway so that’s where we went.

She announced us to the Colonel when we walked in the door. As we walked by she informed us that all the papers were ready and lacked only signature and date.

“Congratulations, Applejack, John, Swift. You presence is requested tomorrow from lunch until, in the Officer’s Garden for an informal welcome of Applejack to the Guard herd.”

AJ actually blushed, “Colonel, Ah’m honored. Just call me ‘AJ’.”

Steel smiled, “AJ, Outside of Royal Court, I’m always ‘Steel’ to you. You have papers to sign and an ID waiting for you. You are entitled to all food, shelter, medical care, and transportation that the Guard can offer in addition to the previously detailed benefits for your foals. I suspect that are already entitled as an Element Bearer but this lets you claim it without advertising as much. Because we are Princess Celestia’s personal Guard, it will get you similar consideration from any other Service or Agency. The Guard is a very large herd.

“Steel, there is one potential bump in that plan. I have a morning Audience with Celestia. I have no clue what She wants or how long I will be occupied.” I warned.

“John, She knows about this gathering and approved.”

“Okay, that works. By the way, we would like to spend the spring season on the farm. We don’t have to worry about noise complaints that way.”

Steel openly laughed at that. “You don’t know, John? Your apartment has permanent extra heavy duty noise canceling spells in the walls and self closers on the doors. We’re ready for you.”

AJ is laughing now, “I told you I liked him. Steel, you’ll be pleased to know that Granny Smith has approved of John based on him being ‘a stallion that knows how to make a mare squeal’.”

Time to change the subject, “Steel, do you happen to know if Twilight is available?”

“Not today but she will be there tomorrow at the gathering. That’s one of your beneficial side effects. We now have a Princess with an interest in the lives of her Guard ponies.”

We completed or business and went to our apartment for some quiet grooming and consideration of the day’s events. After dinner, we retired to the bedroom as one happy pony pile.

Morning was the usual zero four hundred start followed by breakfast but then I took a different turn.

“I’m going to skip PT today. I feel like between pulling a plow and all the horizontal calisthenics, I’m in good enough shape to skip one. Instead I’m going to Royal Court. I might get to say hello to Luna but at least I’ll be early enough for ‘before regular public audience’.”

I walked into the Throne Room just in time to see Luna rising from Her Throne.

As She spotted me, “John Sampson, come and walk with me.”

I followed her up some stairs and out on to a balcony.

“Thou art timely. The hour is here for me to lower My Moon and My Sister to raise Her Sun. Stand and watch.”

I am used to magic auras but this is something different. A column of magic so dense it looked like a solid deep blue bar emanated from Her horn and cradled the Moon. As She lowered the Moon below the horizon, became aware of an equally solid golden column rising from the other end of the balcony. Celestia was raising Her Sun. It’s an interesting feeling to have your nose rubbed in the fact that some of your friends are a literal force of nature. It kinda puts your own ‘supper powers’ in perspective.

Celestia called, “Hail Sister. May I borrow your human pony for a while?”

Luna smiled at me and replied, “If thou promises to take good care of him.”

So I went with Celestia down some stairs and a hall to an ordinary kitchen.

“Have a seat, John. We are here today to talk as a mare concerned about her protege and adopted filly and a potential suitor.”

“Your Majesty . . .”

“Forget the Throne. This is Celestia the mare speaking to John the stallion.”

“Celestia, I am planning to speak with Twilight today. I have a magic problem I need her advice on. I also want to find a private way to speak with her about our relationship. I know she has a crush on me and I know that it is for the wrong reasons.”

“So what do you intend to do about it, John?”

“I have previously told her that I could refuse to spend time with her because it would be harmful for her. She has never questioned my judgment in the matter, but she has made it abundantly obvious that she wants to join my band. She’s reflexively stood for me a couple of times.”

“She has asked me for advice. I have yet to answer her. I could deny her permission and relieve you of this burden.”

“I have thought of asking you for exactly that but there are other considerations. A foal out of Twilight by me would become an awesome pony and she could have that by invoking Royal Privilege. Would I be doing Equestria a disservice by refusing?

“There is another possibility. I could invoke Royal Privilege myself and simply outrank her. Luna and I have discussed which of us should be first covered by you.”

“Celestia, I would be honored beyond all imagination but I would beg you not to ask me to neglect my bonded mares.”

“Of course not, John. You would all simply move into Royal Quarters for a week or so. Regardless of the size of my horn or title, my body is a normal pony mare. The four of us could keep the castle entertained for a week.”

“Can I break this to my mares gently? We were planning to spend the season on AJ’s farm, lost in the woods.”

“This is just speculation at this point. Think about the possibilities and get back with me. Meanwhile, we should move to the Throne Room where my first official act of the day will be an assignment for you.”

We walked to Celestia’s Throne. She ascended and took Her seat there. I bowed and spoke, “Major John Sampson reporting, Your Majesty.”

“Major, we require your advice. A project has been proposed to build a direct rail line from Baltimare to Fillydephia. It could save a lot of time traveling between the cities and allow easy access to the coast. The Royal Treasury would finance this project. We wish to be sure this money is wisely spent. You will be summoned when the proposal is weighed in Royal Court. There will be at least a week to study it.”

A large binder next to Celestia’s Throne floated to me and I captured it in my hands.

Celestia spoke again, “Go, Major John Sampson and do whatever is needed to give me an accurate appraisal.”

I walked absently to my office thinking about almost everything but the proposal.

Swift was at her desk sorting mail. I went by and dropped the binder on my desk.

“We have our first official assignment. It looks boring but I have a feeling that it’s not going to be. But first we have a band problem to consider.”

I went through to the kitchen and found AJ hard at work. Swift was right behind me.

“AJ, Celestia has given me an assignment. Swift will help me with it and there is very small chance that we may go to Fillydelphia. But there is also something concerning all of us and we must keep it absolutely confidential.

I know you have noticed that Twilight has a thing for me and that I don’t approve. The spring season is bringing it to a head. She has asked Celestia about joining our band or invoking Royal Privilege. I want your opinions and ideas. Am I overreacting? Could we make a go of it together? How would you feel if she demanded that I service her. Could you live with the consequences if I refused?”

AJ spoke first, “John, you will always have a place on the farm. That is a given. I know that Twilight has magic but I have stood up to her before. IF she did invoke Royal Privilege to take you from me I would fight the Guard and Celestia Herself to stop her. But I can’t see that happening. And too many ponies from Steel to Celestia are just too smart to allow it.

Swift agreed, “What she said. And I think Twilight is more mature than you give her credit for. It’s her way to speculate wildly but she always comes back to sensible in the end. We could make it work but right now isn’t the time for it.”

I nodded at AJ, “You are spot on, AJ. Celestia has offered us three options. First, She will do nothing unless a major disaster erupts. Second, She can forbid Twilight to have any relationship with us beyond the professional. And third, She could invoke the Royal Privilege Herself and simply outrank Twilight.”

Swift was the first to recover, “John, you know that I don’t think that now is the time for a foal. And that I have sworn to give everything for Celestia. So doing without you for a week wouldn’t be the end of the world for me as long as I had you for the other fifty one weeks. But I would much prefer the second option.”

AJ was uncertain, “I’ll prefer the second option too but I have to admit that being chosen by Celestia Herself is a high honor. Is there an intermediate choice?”

Damned AJ is good, “Now that you have had a chance to experience the shock like I did, let me tell you what some of that really means. The only way Twilight would be allowed to exercise her Royal Privilege is to join us as a band for the week. She could compel us to let her in but she couldn’t take anypony’s band rights away. In the end, she can’t force me to have an erection so there are limits.

“What Celestia is offering is far more interesting. Basically, we have a standing invitation, as a band, to spend the week with Her or Luna in the Royal Quarters where they will use their magic to make sure everypony has the best possible experience. I get a strong impression that the Sisters plan to alternate bearing foals so there is no chance of a Royal Duty being neglected.

“Right now this is all speculation, Celestia’s very words. We are to consider our feelings and options. Our personal choices will be respected but this is a larger concern than just one band or just one season. Apparently my balls have become an Equestrian national resource.”