John Sampson's Story

We have showered, dressed, and dinnered. Shining, Swift, Spike, Twilight, and I are in our apartment in the Guard Sector. Shining and I are both a little sore. We have pummeled each other for most of the day.

“John, I’m impressed with your ability starting from scratch like this. Right now you are more than most swordsponies would want to deal with. You have to learn to watch out for all the tricks but head to head your reach, speed, and strength are enough to make up for a lot of lost training. Get Swift to work on the tricks with you.

We have decided to wait until after the party to try any more sparing. It is only two days away and it wouldn’t do to show up sore or injured.

I want to thank Shining, “Shining, this has been hugely educational for me. I owe you for this.”

Shining grins, “You already know what I want. I’ll collect in a little while. But right now I have duties I must get to. See you at the party if not sooner.”

Twilight zeroes in on Shining’s last statement, “John, what is he talking about ‘collect in a little while’?”

“It’s a stallion thing, Twilight. He’s teaching me about ponies and I’m teaching him about humans. Just like I’m teaching you about stallions. You learned a lot today, didn’t you?”

“I’m not sure I want to learn how much you enjoy hacking ponies to pieces.”

“Don’t you want to know what kind of monster you’ve invited into your bed, what our foals are going to grow up to be?”

Twilight is getting petulant, “I want to go home and go to bed.”

“Go ahead, you’re a big filly.”

“With you, John.”

“I’m sleeping here tonight and so is Swift. You are welcome to join us.”

“What about Spike?”

“Spike is welcome here too. He can join the main pile or use either of the guest rooms. His choice. We are going to talk about mushy things so he will probably be happier outside of the master bedroom. I do wish he would stick around and teach Swift how to make that sweet tea.”

Spike speaks up, “John, I’d rather go back to the tower and take care of some things. Thanks for the offer.”

“You’re always welcome, Spike. Think about staying here when we move there for the week. I’d be happier with somepony I trust taking care of the place.”

“I’ll certainly think about that, John. Until tomorrow.”

Now it’s just the three of us so I strip my uniform off and get comfortable. I walk over to where Twilight is standing and caress her cheek. When I walk to the big bean bag she follows my hand. I sit in the middle of it and she immediately lays in front of me. I begin grooming her as she stretches and moans. Swift settles behind me and starts on my back.

After a few minutes I say, “Swift, Twilight is going to need some help from you. Her knowledge of daily life with stallions is rather limited and rife with misconceptions. She needs an experienced mare’s point of view and we will need to show her what band life is really like.”

Swift picks it up, “Twilight, Just how much do you know? How many stallions have you known?”

“I’ve studied stallion physiology and psychology in detail. I know a lot about what makes stallions tick.”

“That’s not exactly what I asked, Twilight. How many stallions have you been intimate with?”

“One. John.”

I can feel Swift twitch behind me. “So, Twilight, you’re a virgin?”

“I’ve played filly games with my friends every season.”

Swift is beginning to sound concerned. “Did you have any colt friends when you were a filly?”

“I spent all my time studying especially after Celestia moved me into the Castle.”

Swift gets up from behind me and goes to the other side of Twilight and hugs her against me saying, “Twilight, I understand the Alicorn viewpoint of having centuries to work things out but damn it, it’s abuse to a foal. You have a massive gap in your understanding of the world but don’t worry. Mama Swift will fix.”

Swift is in full maternal mode now, “You do have one great fortune. John is an unusual stallion. They exist to take care of us but few take it to John’s level. He has a total compulsion to make his mares safe and happy and he’s very capable. Give him your complete trust and you won’t be disappointed.”

I chime in, “Twilight, we will be your friends forever. That absolute you already have. I want you to learn and grow. We will give you love and foals for as long as needed but I don’t want you to stop looking at other stallions. You need somepony that will be there when I can’t. It’s a fate that Service members accept. We get transferred or fall in battle so every moment that we do get is treasured. When it happens somepony steps up to take over our duty. You will have to learn that way. It doesn’t make the love any less, it makes it sweeter.

“But we have years to work all those things out. Right now we have some decisions to make. We’ve already decided that Swift and AJ won’t be pregnant at the same time so we would appreciate a contraception spell when the time comes. You have to decide when you want a foal. We’ll support you any way possible but that includes advice on timing and good sense. You’ll get plenty of cover regardless. What do you want to do?”

Twilight has started rubbing against my chest. “I want you, John. I want your stallionhood buried inside me.”

I sigh, “You’ve been reading those romance novels, haven’t you? Look down. Tell me what you see.

“I see you, John.”

“What parts of me do you see?”

“I see your belly and your legs.”

“What else?”

“I see your balls.”

“Twilight, my sweet confused love, we’re talking about my flaccid member. Look at it. Touch it if you want to. I’m sure you know all about how blood will flow in and engorge it in preparation for cover. But you aren’t ready to be covered until you know why that blood flows in. Remember the doctor’s office? I stood there uninterested in the wooden dummy. Then Swift got the blood flowing and me emptied in nothing flat. That’s what the books leave out and you need to know.”

Now we have a more confused Twilight. “But, doesn’t it just happen, John?”

“Only in silly books. The traditional stimulus is estrus scent and pheromones. That means cover for at most two weeks a year. I don’t want to wait that long between orgasms so we have other ways. If you want cover outside of estrus you have to start by learning the other ways. It’s not that hard and I’m not trying to torment you but I don’t want to rush things. Getting in a hurry is how ponies get hurt.”

Swift jumps back in, “Twilight, as I understand it, Celestia took you into the Castle and special school the very day you got your cutie mark. That means you had a normal relationship with your sire as a filly but since that day all of your friends are mares and the only stallions you know are Guardponies on duty and relatives. The best stallion role model you’ve known is your brother and he gets to visit about twice a year. I’ll even bet that most of the stallions that you’ve interacted with have been enemies like Sombra.”

Twilight is beginning to look cloudy so I hug her and Swift to me. “Twilight, for the next little while we are your mentors. We will bring you through this into full marehood. I would strongly suggest skipping the foal this year. You are going to change a lot this season and you need to be stable and reliable for a foal. But the final decision is always yours.”

Swift agrees, “John is right. In a very short time you will look back on this and recognize it as the true end of your foalhood.”

I thought for a moment then, “Twilight, this is your life that we are planning here so it’s only fair to give you some say in it. My intent is to use nature as much as possible. I want you to spend time with Swift and AJ. They can familiarize you with how I work and what to expect from me. They’ll also explain what is expected from you and, if they think it necessary, we will demonstrate for you. I want you to be completely ready when your estrus hits and we will act as nature intends from there. You’ll get maximum enjoyment and minimum pain that way. After the season is over you’ll have memories and experiences to draw from for out of season cover.”

Something is worrying Twilight, “How much pain, John?”

Swift is laughing at that, “Twilight my sister, we are going to exercise some muscles that you have never used and we are going to work them hard. Of course you are going to be sore but it’s the most wonderful sore that you can imagine.

There Is a collective gasp when we walk into the cafeteria for breakfast the next morning. I know it can’t be Twilight because it is not her first time with us. I assume that word has got around about me and Shining. Twilight heads to her tower after breakfast and I head for PT. The gym is a repeat of the cafeteria so it’s certainly me. But everything else goes as usual so I head for my office.

Around mid morning a runner comes requesting my presence at the armorers. They want my approval on the rough in of the Claymore they are making for me. I tweak a few details on the grip and love the overall design. They tell me not to worry about a scabbard, it will be delivered separately tomorrow. Then they beg me to let them make the big sword. It will be an honor to be allowed to participate in the birth of such a princely weapon. So we play with sticks and shorten it enough to make it safe for me to run wearing it. I thank them and they bow when I leave.

I decide to have a snack in the kitchen for lunch. Swift isn’t here so I bachelor it. I am about to move to my office when Swift walks in with the mail.

She looks at me and bows deeply, “Oh great prince, I humble myself before you.”

“Swift, what in the nineteen levels of special hell are you on about?”

“Your promotion, John. Haven’t you heard that you’ve been promoted to Prince?

“Swift, I’ve had enough strange pony behavior already today.”

“I’m just reporting what I hear, John.”

“Details, Swift, details.”

“John, when a stallion is summoned to a Princess and spends the night it means that the Princess is horny. Nothing more. When a Princess goes to a stallion and spends the night, it means it’s serious. Combine that with fighting to a draw with the Princess’s brother, the only current Prince of the realm, and everypony is making bets on exactly when the official announcement will be made. The odds on favorite is during the Spring Fling.”

“What does sparring with Shining have to do with it?”

“You have proven yourself worthy of the Princess and the title. It really helped when you had Her witness it.”

“Is there any chance that anypony will ask me?”

“Not really. You’ve already made your intentions regarding Twilight very clear. Most Royal marriages are marriages of convenience. You’re already two up on that. AJ and I don’t mind. We get promoted along with you and we do love Twilight.

“John, just do one thing for me. Never change. It’s this sweet naivety of yours that makes me love you so.”

Surrendering to the inevitable, “Would you please send a letter to AJ advising her of what is going on and moving heat week to Twilight’s place?”

“Another one? Why do you think I went for the mail?”

We are already planning to spend the night with Twilight so we could get up and go with party prep in the morning and Twilight has already told us to bring our party clothes. It doesn’t matter. We’re moving in with Twilight bringing our things. It’s another brick in the wall.

The night with Twilight goes fairly well. She grooms me while Swift works on her wings. It turns out Swift has had extensive experience with a Pegasus. Spike is feeling kind of invaded but as long as it makes Twilight happy, he can handle it.

We eat in the kitchen the next morning because I can’t stomach all of my friends bowing to me when I don’t even know if it is really going to happen. It lets us sleep later which is a good idea if we were going to stay up late with the party.

The day is filled with chasing down details and telling uncertain vendor ponies to just stop farting around and get it done. Finally, we go back to Twilight’s tower to change. There are three packages waiting for me.

The longest and heaviest has a note that says simply ‘Thanks’ and is signed ‘Celestia’. It contains my sword very nicely engraved and with a sun emblem set in the pommel.

The second longest contains a scabbard to match the sword with the marks of all four Princesses embossed down it.

The final package contains a belt just right to fit me and and the scabbard. It has a large gold buckle with a purple inset containing Twilight’s cutie mark. I’m taking this to be the official announcement.

I put it all on with my dress uniform and I look good. I settle on wearing the sword left for a cross draw and practice with it a few times. Then I hear applause. There are two mares standing in the doorway admiring me.

Twilight looks like a Princess and a damned fine one too. She is also positively glowing with happiness. Swift is razor sharp and pure Guard, the iron to Twilight’s velvet. Together we look like Frazetta’s wet dream.

Spike opts to skip a festival devoted specifically to ‘mush’.

We meet with the rest of the Princesses backstage to line up for the Grand Entrance. Steel sees me and comes over smiling from ear to ear. We hoofbump and he says, “Didn’t I tell you. You got the dream, colt.”

I have to ask, “Haven’t you ever dreamed?”

“Of course. Every stallion does. But I couldn’t last thirty minutes on the mat with Shining much less all day and walk off with a light sweat. You’ve proven brains and muscle. Don’t be surprised if Celestia wants you next.”

The trumpets sound and we walk out. Celestia is first, of course, and Twilight is last. Escorts walk shoulder to shoulder with their Princess. And I hadn’t imagined that there are that many ponies in the whole world. The Royal Ballroom is packed and every single one of them is looking at me.

Now Steel’s advice makes perfect sense. Twilight does whatever she needs to do and I’m attached to her shoulder. I can nod and smile with the best of them. We say hello to about a thousand young nobles and I get to hoofbump a crowd of eager colts. But there are snacks and beer. Then I see a familiar face.

“Twilight, what’s he doing here?” pointing to Prince Blueblood.

“John, he’s always looking for more mares. He goes through them that fast.”

“Want to do something fun and evil?”

“Does it target him?”

“Yes.”

“Lead on.”

“We’ll just kinda wander over near him. Then I’ll step away enough to not be obviously with you and smile at a few of the mares around him. That should be enough. If too many come after me you can ‘show up’ and rescue me. Swift will be with you anyway.”

I work my way to a few yards behind him with Twilight a few yards behind me and keeping a low profile. I wave at a mare in front of him and she stares straight at me. I smile and her tail starts waving. That leads to several other mares following her gaze with the same result. They start moving my way, passing around Blueblood. That gets more mares looking and more heading my way. He turns around and for about half a second I see something really ugly on his face. Then he smiles and walks off the other way.

I talk with swarm of fillies for a few minutes about how good health and education would get them a shot at my band then Twilight moves in and ‘rescues’ me, giggling intermittently.

“John, you are forgiven whatever you are thinking about all those fillies. That was fun.”

But Swift is more serious, “John, did you see what I saw when he turned?”

“If you are referring to an intense desire to torture and kill, yes.”

We kept mixing and greeting. After a while we drift close to the snack tables. I have noticed several Earth pony stallions a little older than the average and not looking at any mares. They seem to drift in the same direction that we do. Then I hear a drunken slur behind me.

“I didn’t know they let pets in here.”

I start moving Twilight away from the disturbance.

“Of course ponies that screw their pets aren’t any better”

I turn to Swift, “Get Twilight out of here, fast.”

I turn and look. It is a Unicorn stallion swaying and leering at Twilight. The Earth ponies seem to be lining up behind him.

I turn back to Twilight, “Twilight, if you aren’t out of here in two seconds I am going to throw you across the room.” I reach for her and ‘pop’ she is gone.

Turning to the Unicorn again, “You, sir are drunk. In the morning you will realize just how big a mistake you are trying to make.” His horn is glowing and something is moving under his jacket. I reach down and dial up my speed just in time to see three knives float out in front of him and come shooting toward me.

As the knives slow down I draw and sidestep. When the knives get close I knock them down with my sword. I close on the Unicorn and see more knives emerging so I lop his horn off. The knives fall and he screams but it isn’t over. All four Earth ponies are bringing up weapons. I circle left to put them in a line to me and start down that line. I hit the first one with the pommel of my sword and he just collapses. I hit the second one on the side of the head with the flat of my sword. He goes down but I hear a crunch I don’t like. The third one manages to get his knife fully extended and aimed at me so I cut it off his leg with my sword and get some leg with it. The fourth one is turning to run so I let him go. Behind him, directly in his path, is Prince Blueblood. He is shouting something at Blueblood but I never get hear what. Blueblood has already drawn his sword and when the Earth pony gets to him he runs the pony through.

I grab a cover off of one of the tables and apply it to the leg wound on the third Earth pony and tell him he can hold it there and wait for help or he can die. Luckily help is pulling up as I speak. Shining is in the lead.

I shout at Shining, “I have unfinished business. Take care of these and make sure they can answer questions.” But Blueblood is nowhere to be seen. I run in the general direction but the odds are he teleported out. I drop my magic and head back.

About time I get back to Shining, Celestia pops in with Twilight in tow. She is pissed. I walk up to her and say, “Princess, we need a very private talk before anything else.”

By the time I finish the sentence we are standing in Celestia’s private office. “Speak, John.”

So I told her the whole incident as it happened, then, “It is obviously aimed at me. The Unicorn was drunk and insulting until Twilight is gone. When she teleports the weapons come out immediately. I tried to leave them in shape for questioning.”

Celestia is focused, “I agree, John. But that doesn’t make a difference. They attacked a member of the Royal Herd in the Royal Castle. Somepony will pay dearly.”

“Your Majesty, that somepony is Blueblood. He was behind them when they attacked and the last one ran to him shouting. Blueblood ran him through and vanished.”

“John, are you very sure of this?”

“Yes but it will be nothing but my gut feeling unless one of the prisoners talk. We need to protect them carefully. Can we go back now?”

And we are back. Shining reports that the Unicorn is in shock and headed for the hospital. Number one has a concussion and might talk later and might not. Number two has a crushed skull and is gone. Number three is headed for surgery and will be questioned later. Number four has been run through the heart and was dead before he hit the floor.

Shining had one question, “If the first four are classic adrenalin mistakes, how and why did you kill the last one so neatly?”

“I didn’t kill the last one. Further discussion will be in a secure location.”

The party is, of course, over. I am proud of ponies in general because their exit is quick and orderly.

We move to a conference room in the depths of the Palace. All of the Princesses, Steel, Shining, Swift, and myself are looking serious at each other.

Celestia directs, “John, tell them exactly what happened and leave out no detail.”

I do.

Celestia asks Swift next, “What did you see?”

“I saw exactly what John described right up until the Unicorn straightened up and the knives came flying. He was moving too fast for me to get a good look after that. Blueblood was standing well behind the Earth ponies but I didn’t see him after the action started.”

Celestia looks to Twilight.

“I noticed that John was getting nervous and kept looking behind us. Then he said we should move away. Before I had a chance he shouted that I could leave or get thrown. I teleported out immediately.”

Celestia focused back on me, “Would you have handled a Princess like that?”

“In a heartbeat, Your Majesty. At that point, all I knew was that there was a serious threat. My plan was to get Twilight to safety while I blocked them from pursuing. My actual words were ‘if you aren’t out of here in two seconds I am going to throw you across the room’. I know She has wings and magic so I wasn’t worried about harming her. Mostly I wanted a fast way to impress on Her the seriousness of the threat.”

Celestia smiles, “That’s how a pony gets to be a Prince. Steel, what could you tell from examining the scene?”

Steel summarizes, “Every bit a physical evidence agrees perfectly with what Prince John describes. We have the knives in the places he named and more identical knives on the Unicorn. We have the weapons on all of the Earth ponies in use as described. The few party goers able to give a coherent account match Prince John’s descriptions. Several of them did see Blueblood where Prince John described him but nopony saw what Blueblood did or where he went. The wound on the last Earth pony could not have been made by a sword as large as Prince John’s.”

Then Celestia turns to Shining, “Shining, how are the prisoners doing?”

“The Unicorn may never be sane again. Cutting off a horn in use causes a terrible backlash. The Earth pony with the concussion will survive but won’t be able to answer questions for an unknown amount of time. If what the Earth pony with the leg wound says is true, it doesn’t matter. The last Earth pony hired all the other ponies for the job. All were given an advance in gold coin, which all had on them, with the rest to be paid on completion. They did know that the job had to be completed before the end of the festival but only the last Earth pony knew who ordered it and was going to pay for it.”

Celestia looks at me again, “Conclusions, John?”

“They are obviously after me. All I had was some ponies that stood out from the crowd and a sloppy drunk until Twilight was gone. Then five assassins came out with weapons. My theory is that they were taken by surprise with me being promoted and wanted to kill me before it became official thereby avoiding the whole ‘attack on the Royal Herd’ thing. I can say with deep personal conviction that Blueblood et al. are behind it. We had a minor confrontation earlier in the festival that Twilight and Swift can attest to where he exposed his emotions. He has to know by now that I’m the primary reason they’ve lost millions of bits. And the final Earth pony, the one described as the link to their employer, ran straight to him when panicked.

“But I can absolutely guarantee you that if he is charged, he will portray himself as an innocent bystander forced to defend himself from a mad pony that had just attacked a Princess and everypony should thank him for ending the danger to other ponies. And there’s not a damned thing we can do to contradict him.”

Celestia looks to Steel again.

Steel says, “I can’t find a flaw with that, unfortunately.”

Shining’s turn, “There is one correction I’d make. It’s a popular misconception that my marriage to Cadance made me a Prince. The marriage is the icing on the love cake. I’m a Prince because my Princess says so. There is no ‘official’ confirmation or announcement needed. When She wants it, it happens. Everything else is spot on.”

I answer, “Shining I had suspected as much and was waiting for a good time to ask. But, there is betting pool in the castle on the time and date of the ‘official announcement’. I’m treating this buckle as a pretty damned solid indication for any pony with doubts.”

Celestia focuses on me, “Since you believe that, John, and you’re wearing it, can I take it to be your acceptance of the nomination?”

“Damn you, Celstia, there will be an accounting some day for your methods. But until then this is the best way to keep my band safe so I will embrace the whole package.”

“All of it, John?”

“Absolutely everything but the previously stated exceptions.”

“It’s done , John.” And another of those ripples in the world happened.

Celestia is smug. Luna is grinning like the Cheshire Cat. And everypony else is confused.

Twilight broke the moment first, “John, what just happened?”

“I just auctioned off my soul for the future happiness of everypony I love. And that is all anypony else needs to know.

“And now that I am fully and officially a Prince of the Realm, maybe there is another possibility. I could challenge Blueblood. Get him in public and accuse him on a personal level. Make it a matter of honor.”

“He just got to see you in action, John. Do you think he’ll stand or run? Besides, removing the individual Blueblood will have little effect on the herd. Somepony else will just take his place and we will have to start all over again.” Celestia is being a wet blanket.

We kick around a few ideas but the only one with any traction is for me to appear in the next Royal Court and be loudly and publicly acclaimed. That should slow things down for a while.

Steel and Shining want to talk to me privately so we adjourned to my office. Twilight and Swift are in the apartment deciding what to take to Twilight’s tower and what to leave here and making a list of things that should be duplicated for Twilight’s Castle.

Shining hoofbumps me, “Welcome to the family from both directions. And thanks for going easy on me when we sparred.”

“Shining, I don’t know what the ultimate reach of my magic is. Every time I need more, it’s there. But you see what happens when I try to crank it up and still control myself. I’m going to have to spend hours practicing not splattering melons and hope that translates to not splattering ponies. You let me reach a little farther and that did make a difference when it mattered. Besides, there are vulnerabilities to any magic as you pointed out.”

Steel is practical, “Do you want to keep your apartment? A Prince is entitled to much more.”

“Steel, I want to keep it. It’s my link to my friends and my sanity just like the farm. That’s the tension between me and Celestia. Coming in as an outsider, without the built in worship factor that ponies have, I see how messed up some things are getting. Celestia is trying to make more Alicorns so Equestria will be safer and happier and she’s not having complete success. What I just agreed to was full participation in Celestia’s program to improve the Royal Herd. For my own sanity I need an anchor outside the Royal chambers. The human culture I grew up in ditched everything royal centuries ago in favor of merit based status. As kept breeding stock I will go insane.

“I want to eat here regularly and keep up my informal mornings. I want to keep all the things Major John has come to represent. And I want Swift and AJ to have an escape from the Duchess broodmare role. I expect Spike to use it as an escape from heat week too.

“John, that’s a big bite to chew on. Of course a Prince gets what he wants anyway but I appreciate the way you have always tried to keep me informed. I assume the status of your locked room remains unchanged?” Steel is remembering things I forgot.

“Yes. If it changes it will be to destroy everything in it.”

Shining is getting interested now, “Steel, I can testify to some of what he says. Why do you think moving to the other side of Equestria seemed a good idea to Cadance and me? John’s statement about Celestia’s methods struck a chord in me. But I want to know, what locked room?”

Steel looks at me, so, “Do you remember that simple statement that humans ended everything Royal centuries ago? That’s what’s in that room, the end of everything Royal.”

Shining is incredulous, “You can’t be serious.”

This time Steel took it, “I’ve seen it, Shining, and his explanation of it makes perfect sense. That’s why we don’t talk about it.”

We talk for a while, mostly speculation, and Shining has some very good suggestions for training methods. A knock sounds on the door and when I answer Swift walks in with a tray of steaming tea cups.

“John, I believe that you’ll want breakfast and a change before the Morning Court. It is currently zero four thirty. If you want to take PT, I can pack your best dress and sword in my saddle bags.”

“Please do, Swift. I’ll change to my cammies before we leave.”

After Swift is gone Steel announces, “John, if you ever mess up, I’m stealing her. She’s a prize.”

“Steel, if I’m ever that messed up I want you to have her. You are one of the rare few that could keep her.”

As we walk in to the cafeteria there are a lot of sighs but no real motion. My pony friends have good instincts. I have my usual and we all talk about plans.

Twilight has a biggie, “I’ll probably be retreating to my tower in a few days. All this stress is having an effect.”

Swift immediately pops up, “I’ll notify AJ.”

I add, “Steel, let me know if the world ends.”

PT is routine. I’m going to have to get some more versatile equipment. Maybe it’s time for Steel to order that Minotaur weight set. We shower and I assemble my Dress gear while Swift gets into hers. When we walk out of the showers they are waiting. The gym is filled with ponies all bowing to us. I have to get out of there before I started crying.

Hurry up and wait, the ultimate universal constant, and it has us. Twilight has been sent to bring AJ in and Celestia is notifying friendly nobles. The new target time is after lunch. We are to wait in Celestia’s private office lest we spoil a surprise for certain ponies.

At just under an hour Twilight and AJ pop in.

AJ doesn’t even take a breath, “John Sampson, what have you done? I get rousted out in the middle of spring planting and told to report to Royal Court just get dressed and let’s go.”

“Deep breaths, AJ, deep breaths. You are here for our promotion. I’m being acclaimed a Prince of the Realm and you have to be here to be acclaimed Duchess. How do you like the new duds?”

Twilight went to join the Morning Court while Swift and I explained to AJ how we got into this situation. It took until nearly noon.

A Guardpony came to request our presence for lunch with the Princesses. I manage to finagle things around to get myself seated next to Cadance.

I open with, “Hi there. We keep bumping into each other but never getting to talk. After Shining described you as ‘the sane one’ I just had to make a chance.”

She laughed, “Really? That’s interesting after some of the things he’s said about you.”

Yep, we can get along, “I hope you’ll get a chance to make up your own mind. I want to spend some time training with Shining. I need the training.”

“Shining says you’re as strong as he is right now.”

“I may be stronger. But I’m too new to the magic to really know anything. I need technique and control for that strength to be useful and he’s got that all over me.”

“You will be welcome in the Crystal Empire any time you can be there. In fact, the impression I get from Shining is that the Crystal Empire will be safer for your presence.”

It’s time. I am to wait at the main door with AJ and Swift beside me. When I am announced we will approach Celestia. She will make the announcement and I will take my place between Celestia and Twilight. Swift and AJ will flank me the whole time.

Celestia gets out the full Royal Voice for this one, “Be it known that Princess Twilight Sparkle has chosen Major John Sampson as Her Prince. In recognition of his exceptional qualities and service to the Royal Herd his nomination to Prince of the Realm is hereby confirmed. We, the four Princesses of Equestria, do Declare this to be Our Unanimous Will. We further Declare that Captain Swift Trail and Applejack of Sweet Apple Acres, bandmates of Prince John Sampson be given the rank of Duchess. Prince John Sampson, take your place alongside your Princesses.

And I stand between Celestia and Twilight with Swift and AJ one step behind me. Luckily, Court is over almost immediately so everypony can celebrate and spread the word.

I chase down Shining, “Shining, my new Brother-in-law, where are you and Cadance staying?

Shining barks a short laugh, “In your old digs on Ambassador Row. Yes we keep the door closed.”

“Don’t. You’ll be amazed the effect that door can have on your life. But, temptation aside, I want to ask you if you can stand the sight of your sister having multiple screaming orgasms?”

“That sounds very interesting, John. What are you proposing?”

“I’m going to be instructing Twilight in the same human ways you want to learn very shortly. You’re a big enough stallion to keep it out of your sister. You could watch and learn. I could watch and advise when you practice on Cadance. All you have to do is come and stay with us in Twilight’s tower.”

“It makes sense to me, John. But you should know that Cadance has had a fixation on you since you confessed that you overspelled yourself. I wouldn’t mind the help with her but you’re going to need some help yourself. She’ll get the final say anyway.”

“I have an ulterior motive, Shining. I plan to be sterile this year and I don’t know if Twilight can be absolutely trusted on that subject.”

“That we can do. I’ll talk to Cadance and we’ll come by for a talk and spell. We might stay.”

“Fair enough. Did I mention that Swift worshiped you before she met me? She might fancy some variety when the full season is on her and I’m chasing Alicorns.”

Shining went on to the rest of his day and I went to my next chore, Celestia. Yep, She’s in and waiting.

“Hello My new Prince. We’ve been expecting you.”

“Said the spider to the fly? You do know that some flies eat spiders? Let’s make this John and Celestia.”

“Oh John, can’t we just dance a little?”

“We have years and years of dancing ahead. Let’s not wear it out too soon. Besides, I need clarity right now.”

“Very well. As long as you’re ready to do your stallion’s duty.”

“That’s what we’re here to discuss. They’ll be no foals this year. I just escaped an assassination purely by my own wits. If you can’t protect me, the baddest warrior in Equestria, you damned sure can’t protect my foals. And when we do get into production I will NOT become another Blueblood.”

“John, we have a bargain. Do you think you can say ‘no’ to a Princess?”

“I know I can. I can always die and there is no way to stop me. If you’ll remember, our deal included a clause that I would refuse anything that would harm my Herd, my Princesses, or Equestria. You have made all of you my Princesses and my herd. I won’t help you destroy yourself. I will work with you for the betterment of Equestria and my Herd.”

“Convince me, John.”

“Scatter shot breeding like Blueblood is doing dilutes a bloodline out of existence. We need to concentrate on quality, not quantity. And we need to raise the foals to be best possible ponies. We need a plan. There isn’t enough time left this year to do it. Let me have my first experience with pony estrus without the added stress of foals and we’ll be ready for next year in all ways.”

“That makes sense, John. I may want to check on you and Twilight while the season is in progress. Would that disturb you?”

“I’ve already invited Shining and Cadance to join us. I wouldn’t mind you joining at all but I fear what it might do to Twilight. You have an unhealthy hold in her mind and I want to get her up to real adulthood before she confronts that issue.”

“Very well. I am certain of your commitment to her and your capabilities so I will defer to your judgment. I may want a visit from you at some point.”

“No problem. You might want to coordinate with Luna when you do.”

“What, did she beat me to it?”

“I didn’t say that. I just said it might be easier to spend a night with you and the following day with her.”

My external worries done for the day, I headed for Twilight’s tower. I guess at some point I’ll have to get used to ‘Our tower’.

The doorpony is expecting me and opens the door with a bow. Inside I look around for Spike. As I expected, he is in the kitchen.

“Spike, your use of our apartment in the Guard sector is arranged and approved. Do you have a Guard ID?”

“Thank you, John. And no.”

“Stop by the Clerk’s office and get one. Outside of the Castle it will entitle you individually to all of the rights and privileges of a Guard Staffer. It probably won’t mean much in Canterlot because everypony knows you here. But elsewhere it can make a big difference. All Services and Agencies will recognize it.

“Do you think it will help that much?”

“It will name you as my relative. There are places where my name carries more weight than Twilight’s. Between the two of us, you should be well taken care of.”

“How is it possible your name carries more weight than Twilight’s?”

“Have you heard about the assassination attempt?”

“A little, but what does that have to do with it?”

“I crippled or killed four professional assassins in three seconds. Ponies that don’t care about anything else care about their own life.”

“That’s cool, John.”

“And I need a favor from you. I need protein. Lots of protein. It’s a stallion basic and for the next several weeks I need a high protein intake. Can you stock up in here for me?”

“What kind of protein do you need?”

“Chicken, fish, eggs, beans, cheese, oatmeal, and lentils in any combination or variety. Juicy fruits and fruit juices will be good for everypony when blood sugars crash.”

“Fruits, cheese, oatmeal, and lentils are already in. The rest will be in by mid morning. Twilight is going to twitch at the meat.”

“She’ll get over it when she finds out what my body does with all that protein. Thanks.”

My mares are upstairs studying a large book with pictures.

“Hello my wonderful mares. Are we learning things?”

“AJ quips, “We are planning your demise from exhaustion.”

“Go for it. I bet I outlast you. By the way, Shining and Cadance are going to visit. I have invited them to spend the week here instead of in our old digs on Ambassador Row. It’s not a done deal but I think it would be a good idea.”

Twilight is turning that peculiar red purple color, “John, do you think my brother should see me like this?”

AJ surprises me, “Twilight, we all like to go out in the open pasture have completely natural cover. I’ve found puddles in the woods nearby. The only other stallion for miles is my brother. I wish he wouldn’t hide when he does it.”

I add, “Cadance is going to be here too. Shining wants to learn how I make mares so happy and we may put on a demonstration for them. I may also coach him with Cadance.”

AJ promptly volunteers, “I’ll show them if you don’t want to. Twilight, we’re proud of the things we can do. Swift, what was life like the day after your honeymoon?”

Swift grins, “I was the most popular mare in the Castle. Everypony wanted to know my secret. Just like your brother wants to know John’s secrets. They’re all jealous of us.”

I hated to do it, but better now than later, “Twilight, since this is going to be strange for you, I want somepony trusted that can take care of you no matter what. That’s why I want Cadance. I may have to leave for a while to fulfill my obligation to Celestia. She wanted to line mares up in the hall and have me cover them non-stop but I vetoed that for medical reasons. But if She calls, I must go for at least part of the season. That is the price for all of the good things happening to us.”

AJ is miffed, “We can take care of her!”

“I know you can, AJ, right up until she teleports. That’s why I need another Alicorn.”

Spike shouts from below, “Dinner time!”

That set off a small rush for the stairs.

After dinner we are all sitting in the front room enjoying the feeling. I am grooming AJ and Swift is grooming Twilight.

I make an executive decision, “Spike, take Swift shopping with you. I want her to learn where you get things like that delicious cheese so she can stock it in other places. She can help you too since you are going to have more ponies to buy for.”

“I can just buy more, John. It’s no problem.”

“Spike, you are going to have to learn to share the load. This is just the beginning. Imagine what it’s going to be like with foals. Spike, you’re not being replaced, you’re being expanded.”

That doesn’t get any farther because Cadance and Shining have arrived.

Cadance is bubbly, “My, what an image of domestic bliss we have here.”

I smile back, “Come on in and join it.”

Shining is smiling too, “I like this side of you, Little Sister.”

Twilight blushes but spoke up, “I’ve been learning a lot that schools don’t teach lately.”

Cadance pulls a bag to across from me. “Shining tells me that you need a spell.”

“I need to be sterile for the duration of this season. I wasn’t sure I could reach a full understanding with Celestia and I didn’t want to ask Twilight to confront Her directly. It worked out though. So while the spell would be appreciated, it’s no longer mandatory.”

Cadance is impressed, “John, I have a pretty good idea what Celestia has planned for you. Are you telling me you talked her out of it?”

“As a matter of fact, I did. I have the advantage of human knowledge of genetics so I know why her plan was doomed to fail. We have a new, better plan now. Part of it is to allow me this year to learn my way around pony estrus.”

Cadance smiles big, “Okay, John, you’ve talked me into it. There’s no way I could walk away from any stallion strong enough to handle Celestia.”

“On that note, I am expecting to be called to attend Celestia for some part of the season. That’s the part I need your help with the most. Twilight will be in the depths of her first season with a stallion and I don’t want her teleporting into trouble.”

“Damned, John. You organize everything, don’t you?”

“Do you see the cutie mark?”

“I’ve been wanting to ask you what that means.”

“That is exactly what it means. I organize everything. It’s a human talent.”

Cadance moves closer and examines me, “I don’t see any reason a standard pony based spell won’t work on you. You seem to be made mostly the same.”

“I am. In fact I’m close enough to be naturally fertile with mares. That’s the one thing to watch out for. The doctor has told me that I’m super fertile.”

“That won’t matter for this spell. Do you want it timed or reverse on demand.”

“Make it reverse on demand.”

Her horn glows dimly for few seconds, “It’s done. Next?”

AJ steps up, “Can I borrow Shining for a night?”

Cadance grins, “Of course, if I can take John out for a romp.”

AJ asks, “Where do you want me?”

I get up and offer AJ my spot.

The horn glows and, “Next.”

Swift hops right in.

“Next.” And she looks right at Shining.

He lays down and grins, “Better safe than sorry.”

The horn glows then, “Twilight and I can regulate our own fertility so we are done.”

I look at Twilight, “How are you feeling, Twilight Darling?”

“I’m nervous and relieved at the same time. I’ve been dreaming of it for years and the reality is nothing like any of the dreams. It’s better.”

Cadance reminds Twilight, “Remember learning Friendship and building a circle of Friends? This is the next step. You are learning Love and building a circle of Lovers. I think you’ve got yourself a pretty damned good circle here.”

“Cadance, we’re too stressed and fatigued for anything but sleep tonight so Spike is safe. What I’m trying to gauge is when and for how long he should move to our Guard apartment.”

“I think he should spend about three weeks there starting tomorrow night.”

“You hear that, Spike? You’re safe on the pile tonight but have everything you need for a month ready by late afternoon. We’ll help you carry it. We’ll all come by from time to time but the mares will have to time it around their season. We can bring things then.”

Cadance is marveling at me, “You really can’t help it, can you?”

Swift laughs, “Honey, you don’t have a clue, yet. You’re part of his herd now. He is absolutely compelled to take care of you.”

I drop back on the big bean bag and beckon to Cadance, “Come on over here and find out.”

She sits down beside me and I start grooming her.

Shining jumps up, “Hey. What about me?”

I look up and, “So pick one.”

Swift steps right in front of him, “Come with me, big colt,” and pulls him to another big bean bag.

AJ and Twilight take the last big bean bag.

I laugh, “Think of it as the beginning of your education, Shining.”