John Sampson Returns Chapter Eleven

“Rise and shine, it’s zero four hundred,” it’s Sam.

I stand and fold my wings. There’s no point in racing to the toilet because Galinda is already winning. Smooth is waiting so I just slip out to the other toilet down the hall and on the way to the kitchen. The kitchen is the real priority because I can smell the tea.

“Thank you, Sam. How are you feeling these days?” as I begin my caffeine infusion.

Sam replies, “I’m not sure. I don’t feel any different but I don’t sleep like I used to and I don’t feel tired even though I spend all night flying the great plain.”

“Not sleeping is an Alicorn trait. The rest of it is a purely Luna territory. If you are happy and feeling good, I’m inclined to not mess with it.”

“John, It’s not something that I ever imagined and I’m not sure that I can describe it accurately even after doing it, but I know with complete certainty that I am helping Ponies all over Equestria. That is all I need,” Sam assures me.

Galinda walks in and claims a cup. She has to stop part way through the cup and scratch her head.

Galinda asks, “John, could you please look at this. It’s itching like crazy.”

Smiling, “I warned you. I’ve been watching it for days. You had a bald spot the morning after the sun spoke to you.”

Galinda is excited, “It’s my horn!! I can do magic?”

I caution, “Remember how sensitive my old hard horn was when you brushed feathers against it? Your new soft horn is going to be much more sensitive for a while. It hasn’t broken through the skin yet so be prepared for when it does. And when it does you will have free magic at about the level you had flight when you were weeks old. But it will grow.”

Smooth walks in just in time for the last sentence of my explanation and asks, “John, could you look at my head? I’ve got the damnedest itch.”

Everypony but Smooth starts laughing. Smooth throws some dirty looks around and asks, “What did I say?”

With sympathy, I reply, “Without looking, I will predict that you have a bald spot with a bump in the middle of it. Other than the fur verses feathers, it will look exactly like the spot on Galinda’s head that I just explained to her. Your horn is near.”

Smooth accuses me, “You knew yesterday. That’s why you were so insistent in horn safety training. You knew.”

With measured innocence, “I did not know with certainty, but let’s just say that my old friend the sun is very predictable. And Galinda is going to spend similar time with Luna while you and I sit Court.”

Galinda and Smooth take turns examining each other while I get another cup of tea. We form up and I lead the parade to the cafeteria while Sam returns to Luna. I order my favorite omelet and oatmeal. Smooth and Galinda both order nine egg omelets and fruit bowls. They are going to look really good by the time the official ceremonies begin.

“Thirty minutes, we need to head that way.”

I salute the room and the parade returns to my quarters with a quick stop at the Clerk’s office for Galinda’s ID.

“You can go with me or wait here. If the sun does anything, it will express amusement and approval. That’s all.”

Both elect to wait. Luna is on the balcony with Sam. The time arrives and we change night to day. The sun fools me, though. Today it’s happy. Back down the stairs I grab another cup of tea and take it to my office while I glance down today’s list.

“Smooth, I believe you’re right about today’s list. We should burn right through it. How’s the line look?”

She responds, “At least half of them are already waiting.”

“Okay, let’s go.” and I make tracks for the anteroom. Donning my regalia, I assume my Throne.

“Smooth, to my right. Galinda, my left. Galinda, drop out and go see Luna after a few cases. She’ll explain it to you.”

I nod to the Guardponies at the door and our day is begun. This is one of the things that I love about my Ponies even when it does drive me crazy. They know what what should be done, they just need a voice with authority to say it.

Galinda leaves after an hour and change. Smooth and I are here until lunch.

Back in the kitchen, “Smooth, I would love to finish with more than an hour to lowering. I have an errand to run.”

She assures me, “At the rate you’re going, that’s a safe bet.”

We groom a little and then it’s time to resume. Smooth’s prediction is borne out and we finish with plenty of time. I drop my regalia in the anteroom and leave via the balcony. As soon as I have altitude, I reach for Griffonstone and come out a couple of hundred yards over town. I find the jeweler’s and land in the street in front of his door.

As I walk in the door, “Hello?”

From the back, “Your Majesty! I have been waiting for you.”

He’s carrying the finished breastplate. It looks good with a shimmering red silk collar to support it.

“Yes, this is what I wanted.”

He brings out a bag, “These are the stones and parts of the metal that I didn’t use.”

“Why are showing that to me? I told you to keep it. How much do I owe you for the work and figure in for the design.”

I have confused the jeweler, “What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

I explain, “This piece will be worn by Galinda, a Griffon, as she stands by my side during the succession ceremony and the following celebration. Another piece, made from this pattern by the Royal Jeweler, will be worn by Smooth Trail, a Pony, as she stands on the other side of me. Both of them will have small horns by then and the whole will send a strong message of union and growth between Ponies and Griffons. The subtle differences in style between the Pony execution and the Griffon execution of the same theme will show that both retain their identity within the greater whole.”

“Your Majesty, I will be honored to represent Griffonstone before the Royalty of Equestria.”

I call out a bag of gold coins, “You will, but meanwhile I want you to eat and be here for further commissions so take this,” and I float the bag of coins to him.

After putting the breastplate in my pocket, I make the short flight to the castle.

“Hello my fine Griffon family.” as I walk in the door.

“Welcome, John. Is Galinda with you?” as Granger emerges from his office.

“No, I’m sneaking around arranging presents. I need to raid the jewel closet.”

“No problem. We can talk as we walk,” Granger responds.

I begin, “When you come for the ceremonies, you will be staying in my private quarters. There will be extra security too. Galinda will have a small horn by then and just about everypony outside of Equestria and Griffonstone will doing everything they can to find out how to get one for themselves. Galinda will be staying close to me and when she isn’t ‘available’, her family will become targets.”

Granger is thoughtful, “You’re telling me not to bring any Griffon not a warrior.”

“I’m telling you that family is welcome to visit any time so it might be wise to bring Germain the week after all the spies and connivers leave. For the rest, use your own judgement.

We’re at the closet and Granger opens it. I pull out five of the big diamonds and a large assortment of smaller stones. With all of them in my pocket, we lock up and head back to the main room.

Granger asks, “Are you sure you really want Germain running around your castle?”

With amusement, I reply, “We plan to have a flock of little Griffons flying around before long so the staff might as well get used to it now. I might even bring Fast Freddie, my four year old, to the party.”

“This is the foal that’s as strong as four adults?” Granger asks.

“Yep. Right now his magic manifests as ordinary Earth Pony magic multiplied. It comes out of his hooves like Griffon magic comes out of your wings.”

“Griffon magic?” Granger wonders.

“Every living creature in Equestria has some kind of magic. Flight magic is the most common kind. To fly without magic, you would need about fifteen yards more wing and forty Griffons more muscle.”

I thank Granger and take off for Canterlot. Landing on the main road, I walk in the main gate and up the hall to my office. Smooth is inside with still more paper.

“Have you spoken with Twilight about taking some Throne time?” I inquire.

Smooth smiles, “I have and she says you can have tomorrow morning to play with Luna but you need to be back in the chair tomorrow afternoon.”

“Hey, what if I want seconds?” I protest.

Smooth is not sympathetic, “I guess you’ll have to schedule another day.”

“I’m going to remind you of this some day,” I promise.

“When?” Smooth asks sweetly.

“When you’re ready. That shouldn’t be very long now,” I smile big, “Right now I have another appointment.”

Through the apartment and kitchen, up the back stairs, and out onto the balcony to find Luna, Sam, and Galinda already there.

“Don’t even think about stealing another apprentice from me! In fact, send Sam over here for a hostage,” I insist.

Luna laughs, “We had planned such a trade already and I’m sure you know why.”

Sam walks over and we wait for the last couple of minutes. I light my ‘sun suit’ and reach out with my magic. The sun sends a tendril and briefly touches me before examining Sam in detail. I get a strong feeling of satisfaction and gratitude then the tendril withdraws and the sun eases below the horizon.

I look over, “Sam?”

“It thanked me and told me how much it loves me.”

I nod, “That’s pretty much what I expected. You have big strong wings and flight magic with endurance. Luna’s dream magic doesn’t need a horn so you will get yours on the normal schedule, not the accelerated one. The sun is happy with what you are doing and said so.”

Sam is disappointed, “I feel left out.”

I remind, “Sam, you are the very first Pony that the sun has ever thanked. Everypony else needed some help. You got it right from the beginning. Treasure that.”

We walk over to Luna and Galinda so I can report, “The sun thanked Sam. I got a heavy dose of satisfaction and gratitude. Have you ever heard of that?”

Luna is surprised, “No, I have not. Celestia never spoke of anything like that. I’m impressed.”

I smile, “There’s more to treasure, Sam. It’s not easy to impress Luna. And, Luna, I have a question for you. Do you want a foal?”

“No, John. As much as I want one, two out of four pregnant at the same time is enough. I think the time will come soon, though,” Luna answers.

I agree, “Yes, and not just you. It might be time to think about building a nursery wing on the Castle.”

With that implication hanging, I turn and lead Galinda to our kitchen and dinner. Smooth has everything laid out and it doesn’t take long to empty five bags between us. Being of the prudent sort, I have Smooth get more bags while I clean all the bags we have used. Then I call out and divide more meat until the first locker is refilled and a second locker filled.

Moving to the bedroom, I decide it’s time for one of my very favorite things, grooming my mares. I’m not sure how it happened but I find myself with both wings outstretched and a mare working on each wing. I like this so much all I can do is lay there and hum.

“Zero four hundred and the tea is ready.” Sam is right on schedule.

Wait a minute. I’m covered with feathers. They lift and I realize that Galinda and Smooth were covering me. The last thing I remember is being totally happy while they preened my wings. Life just keeps getting better.

There’s no point in rushing for a toilet because Smooth has caught on to my down the hall trick and has already occupied that toilet. When I finally get to the kitchen, everypony else is partway through their tea.

“I don’t know how you two pulled that off but I love it,” I declare.

Smooth giggles, “It was Galinda’s idea.”

“I told you I like taking care of you,” Galinda states matter-of-factly.

I promise, “If you keep it up, I might let you stay around for a while, maybe even a millennia or two.”

Sam goes back to prepare Luna’s meal while the rest of us make our daily trek to the cafeteria. Given the speed with which our orders are filled, I suspect we have become predictable. Far Trail is here and beckons to me so we join her at her table.

“Hello, John. I hear there’s going to be a show this morning.”

Nodding, “There might be more than one. At least half of the show is up to Luna.”

Far Trail is calm, “I’m confident Luna won’t fly through the Castle in the middle of a busy day.”

Smiling, “No, but I might buzz Ambassador's Row.”

We have breakfast and small talk followed by my regular salute, then a short wait in my kitchen.

Galinda is curious, “How do they know? Do you tell them everything you are going to do?”

“They’re Ponies. Ponies herd. It is our nature. Within the herd, there are no secrets. Just believe that you can’t hide anything from a Pony.”

Then it’s time. On the balcony, Luna is waiting. The sun is hugely amused. We conclude our ritual and I stand, looking at Luna. Focusing I take a step. And another. Luna is focused on me. I make to the middle of the balcony before Luna squeals and launches straight up. The chase is on!

Luna accelerates straight up then begins to angle towards a bank of clouds. No problem. I concentrate on seeing magic because Luna is using lots of magic to fly like that, so she stands out like a fog light in the clouds. I get a sense of her direction and teleport ahead and higher so I can pounce when she comes out of the cloud.

The problem is, she comes out twenty yards to my left and veers into the next cloud. I teleport to the other side of that cloud and wait. This time she comes out ten yards right. Almost! Jumping ahead again, when I look back for her I see nothing. She’s doubled back on me. It’s time to get serious about this.

Dropping below the clouds, I know she is north of me so I move all the clouds south of me away. Jumping in her direction, I come out west of her as she turns east. I send all the clouds west of me away. Teleporting far enough east to be ahead of her, I watch her turn south as I send all clouds east of me away. Then I jump to the north a short distance and send all clouds north of me away. She comes out of the clouds on the south and doubles back into the clouds but she’s got nothing left but a small island now and the only direction she hasn’t tried is north so I wait there.

When she comes out of the clouds, I shoot up and between her and the clouds. She tries to get past me but this simple herding now and I’m a master of that. Luna teleports into the cloud. She’s going east so I send all cloud west of her away. When she comes out and realizes how little cloud is left, she dives hard for the castle and I’m right behind her. We loop between spires and towers but this is herding again. It takes several minutes but I get her into the main courtyard and throw a shield over it to keep her from teleporting out. I hover and wait while she looks for a way out. Finally, she stops and confronts me.

I’m rumbling deep in my chest as I drop. We both know there’s only one possible way out for her. She snorts and tosses her head but it doesn’t move me a bit. Slowly, she turns until she is facing away from me. Her tail is over her back and I can see red. Accelerating towards her, I drop the shield and grab her firmly with my front legs. Both of our horns are sparkling as I teleport us a hundred yards straight up and settle into a glide. We solidify our magic and wrap it together. Full contact! I begin flying both of us as my erection probes ahead. We feel lust and love and a touch on our backside. My hips shift to correct our aim and we feel wet heat. Thrusting hard, we feel deep penetration and an expanding flare. We get two short thrusts and our cervix sockets into our flare triggering orgasm and hard pumping. Our magic is shining bright enough to cast a second shadow in full daylight.

We are satisfied. We carefully separate and fly along wingtip to wingtip basking in the afterglow. Looking down, I see we have a large audience including some visitors. Looking back to Luna, I incline my head inquisitively. Luna nods and the second round begins. This time there’s no chase, instead we fly increasingly complex aerobatics in tandem. Faster and ever more difficult, we take turns trying to find a move the other can’t match. It takes over an hour but finally, Luna falters.

Acknowledging defeat, Luna turns and hovers with her tail over her back and nether lips pulled open exposing her pink depths. I ease up to her and drink in her wonderful scent. With my tongue I sample her nectar. My body responds with an immediate erection. Moving up and forward, I grasp her with my front legs and my magic. Her magic meets my magic halfway and we have union. As I begin flying us my erection slips easily into her open body. The urgency of four centuries without is absent. We stroke long and smooth in time to our wing movements while we fly more aerobatics. A hard banked turn gives everypony on Ambassador’s Row a good look at the action.

We’re fully flared so there’s only one way this can end. We’ve put it off for as long as we can but our bodies are not going to be denied. Our grips on our bodies are tightening as the tension builds. We scream our glory to the heavens as essence flows into acceptance. Our magic is spewing wildly. And then it is done.

We stay together for a minute just to enjoy the sweetness of union but we must land so we carefully separate and circle down to the Castle side by side. Landing on the balcony, I turn and become aware of a sound. It’s applause. The courtyard is filled and everypony is applauding. I stand next to Luna and we bow to the crowd. Then we must go opposite ways because I have just enough time to clean up and run one errand before I’m due on the Throne.

I get to the kitchen just as Smooth and Galinda come in through the Throne Room door.

Smooth is serious, “Now I understand ‘not ready yet’. That was incredible.”

Galinda is eager, “How long before I have enough horn to do that?”

“All of that? About three centuries. Enough for the basics? As soon as your horn has several bands.”

“Can we practice until then?” Galinda asks.

Smooth jumps in, “Hey, wait your turn. I’m still waiting on my first.”

I order, “Right now both of you can go work on the supplicant list while I run a fast errand. Have lunch ready when I get back.”

I go on through the apartment, giving myself a quick cleaning as I go, and out into the hall. I have an appointment with the Royal Jeweler.

The first thing I do when I get there is call out all of the jewels that I brought with me.

He’s overjoyed, “Where did you get these diamonds? It’s a once in a lifetime event to see one and you have five!”

I reply, “I have more and I got them from a very old Dragon.”

If it’s possible, he’s even more impressed. I call out Galinda’s gift and show it to him.

“This was made in Griffonstone by a Griffon for a Griffon. I want another piece made in the same pattern in Canterlot by a Pony for a Pony. The two recipients will wear these side by side for the coming celebration. Can you do it? And store the rest of the stones for me?”

“Oh yes. There is a strong message there. You want a Pony version, not a direct copy, correct?” he speculates.

“Exactly. The sun actually started the ascension of both of them so the sun symbolism and the joining of the races is what we are commemorating here. The other thing you should know is that the pony will be Alicorn sized.”

He nods, “I’ll have a first version ready for your approval tomorrow.”

“Very good. I’ll probably be by late in the day.” And I’m trotting back to my kitchen for lunch.

It’s there and ready. As I’m digging in, Galinda asks a question, “John, I just want to know, if you are a few minutes late opening the doors for Court, who is going to punish you?”

I answer carefully, “The smallest foal. They have hope because of me. For them I must set the standard.”

I make it to the Throne on time and we have a routine afternoon. Many ordinary Ponies find ways to get along with their neighbors or pay their debts. Finally, we are out of supplicants.

Galinda is amazed, “I can’t imagine where you find the patience to listen to all the silly little problems day after day.”

“Who told you I’m always patient?” I ask. “You should have been there when I got tired of the quibbling over how much a house was worth and told them to burn it down to remove the conflict.”

Smooth is looking at me like I just turned into a Zebra while Galinda guffaws loudly, “You were kidding, right?”

“Nope. But I gave them months to get the deed done and they were back the next day having decided that they could rent the place out and split the proceeds. I had bet Luna that they would do exactly that.”

Both of them are laughing now.

Dryly, “Now do you understand how I draw an audience? They never know when I might do something like that.”

My regalia is safely stowed and I have done my nightly duty so now we are getting serious about dinner. It takes five bags and I only get one of them. Both of them are growing now. After some spirited discussion, it is decided that tonight is Smooth’s turn. Galinda and I take a wing each and when they are fully stretched even Smooth is surprised. So Galinda and I settle in for a big project and Smooth just melts into the pad. Eventually Smooth stirs in her sleep and reflexively folds her wings so Galinda and I nestle in on either side of her and cover her with our wings. I win the contest to be on top because my wings are bigger. Sleep comes immediately.