"This is spectacular." I stepped onto the white marble floor. "..."

It's hard not to marvel at this master bathroom.

The white, grand marble tub, near the wall, looks like it's carved from a single stone slab; the tub, looking eerily built for two, doesn't even take up a tenth of this room. There's also one hell of a large, posh looking shower with ornate glass sliding doors. Heh, it looks like the shower is built for two, too.

"Chris," a warm, gentle sensation graced my right cheek, "the 'spectacle' you keep muttering about is right. In. Front. Of. You." Gusty Breeze bent down, slowly. Our lips met, the mare pulling me in as close as possible. Her hand feels so warm and gentle against my back. This isn't our first kiss, but it's just as special. "So, my precious stallion," Gusty Breeze pulled back, "you wash me, I wash you. That sound fair?"

I nodded.

The mare turned. Her soft, semi-dark blue tail brushed against my cheek. Gusty Breeze strolled to the center of the bathroom. White towel held close to her body, the mare stopped, turned, and bent over a little. She smirked, and then gave a casual wink.

Gusty Breeze broke the proverbial mold when she was made.

"Hmm...." Gusty Breeze sauntered toward a black, tower-style cabinet near the tub. Her right wing grazed the tub's hot and cold knobs. The mare retracted her wing, and then tapped a finger against her chin. Her towel fell to the floor. "Perfect."

Huh, a pink and blue bottle?

Well, that answers my question. A bit of pink, a dash of blue, and you get a purple bubble-bath. Though, it's not true purple but a "purplish" color, anyways.

"Rule numero uno, Chris. Never," she turned off the hot and cold water, "I mean never get between a mare and her bubble-bath, ever." Gusty Breeze said. Her sensual legs disappeared underneath a cloud of purple tinged, semi-translucent bubbles. The mare extended her wings over the back of the tub. She extended her right thumb, "Do a good job on my wings, and I'll let you scrub the rest. Deal?"

I nodded.

Weird, this bottle looks like it says "pinion brand wing soap," for all a feathered friend's wing care needs. What the hell is a pinion? Meh, whatever, a little bit of shampoo on the red wash-cloth, some hot water from the tub, and a little lather should do the trick.

Now, I must be careful. Those vets I volunteered with said to be gentle with bird wings. Just be gentle, calm, and wash as thoroughly as needed.

"A-Ahh.... I tell ya, a girl could get use do this." Gusty Breeze said. She stretched her arms, her semi-dark blue hair draped between her wings. "Chris, I've got to give you credit. Those fingers of yours are 'wonderfully' nimble. It feels like I'm at the spa in Ponyville."

Her wings are beautiful, now that I can see them up close. They're also soft. A person could bury their face in these feathers and fall asleep into a peaceful slumber.

Gusty Breeze hummed a calm melody, soft and beautiful like her feathers. I wouldn't mind learning the words to that song.

"C-Chris... p-please, don't fiddle with them." Gusty Breeze said. I stopped. The metal clips, two on each wing, are the same color as her feathers. I hope I didn't hurt her. "I, I will wash around them before I go to bed. For right now, just ignore my clips."

"Are you okay, Gusty Breeze? Does it hurt?" I picked up the red wash-cloth. She shook her head, the mare's lips quivering. It's best not to ask. "Sorry. I'll clean around them."

Gusty Breeze clutched onto my hand for a brief second, the one I placed on her right shoulder. The mare patted my right hand three times, and then let go. Her elegant left hand slipped into the tub. Her sigh echoed in the master bathroom. The mare glanced over her shoulder. She mouthed a slow "thank you," and then turned away.

"..."

I tapped Gusty Breeze's right shoulder three times, receiving a gentle nod in return. The mare raised her hands, bubbles floating into the air from her slow breath. Like everyone, Gusty Breeze has a right to her secrets. In time, maybe she'll talk about them.

Alright, there's more work to be done. These wings won't clean themselves, though it would be one interesting magic trick if they could clean themselves.

"We're almost done, Gusty Breeze."

Phew, that's a workout. It's a good thing we're in a bathroom.

The red wash-cloth placed on the tub's side, I stood up. Both wings are cleaned to perfection, if I do say so myself, heh. Time to take a shower, get cleaned up, and head out for dinner. There's no time to waste.

Oh, shit. If, if that clock is right -- damn it, we need to hurry.

Whoa!

"Now, now, my precious stallion. Where do you think you're going?" Gusty Breeze latched onto my wrist. She smirked. "Remember what I said, if you did a good job?"

G-Gusty Breeze, this isn't the time. We've got to get ready. There's no telling how late we'll be if you keep up these shenanigans.

Come on, let go! We've got to get moving.

"Ahem!" an audible voice said.

Umm, h-hey, t-this isn't what it looks like, Doctor Transfusion. We're just getting cleaned up, promise. Heh heh, heh, eh... We're so fucked, and not in a good way.

"Fu-Fu, Chris gave me the most wonderful wing massage, ever. They feel so clean. It was -- ack! That wasn't nice, Fu-Fu. Why did you do that?" Gusty Breeze said. She rubbed her forehead. "Hmph, you're no fun."

"Mr. Chris, need I state the obvious, love? You are not a little puppy. If Gusty Breeze asks you for something, you have the right to say no." Doctor Transfusion said. Towel wrapped around her body, the mare's hair pinned up, the doc towered over both of us. "Now, I expect you two cleaned, dried, dressed, and ready in thirty-five minutes. We are going out, remember?"

Doctor Transfusion stepped forward, and our eyes met.

The distance between us closed as I stepped forward.

"I understand and will be mindful of that, however, I wanted to assist Gusty Breeze in bathing her wings. She did not rope me into it." I made firm eye contact. Doctor Transfusion placed her hands on her hips. The mare sighed. I patted the firm, gentle hand she placed on my shoulder. The doc nodded and said "alright, love," and then stepped back and turned. Her red hand slipped into the tub. "..."

No one gets between a mare and her bubble-bath, huh? The doc must be one exception to the rule.

"Fifteen-minutes." Doctor Transfusion walked toward the door. "Understand?"

The master bathroom's door closed with a soft thud.

Gusty Breeze stood up. Her wings twitched. She flexed her legs, and then her arms. The mare gazed at me. I stepped back.

"F-Fifteen minutes..., that's plenty of time for a good hot shower." my heart skipped a beat. "You wanna help wash me?"

A devious smile answered the question, along with my towel being ripped off.

Thanks, my beautiful mare.

*** *** ***

"Thanks for the lift, Fluttershy."

"My pleasure, Chris."

Even at night, Canterlot is alive. As the moon begins its ascent, the stars twinkling in the sky, the town looks beautiful.

The roads are bustling with activity. Lights are flicked on, outside lamps being lit by several workers. Creatures of all shapes, sizes, and uniqueness are going about their own pace throughout the streets. This whole scene is worthy of a Tolkien fantasy novel. It's beautiful.

"We're here." Fluttershy floated to the ground, and then put me down. "I hope you enjoyed 'Air-Fluttershy,' heh heh."

"It was a wonderful flight, Fluttershy. Again, thank you for the lift."

Man, this place is posh. It'd put the casinos on Earth to shame. A person would need twenty-grand in the bank account just to stand outside.

"Welcome to the Grand Quartz Casino, Mr. Chris." Doctor Transfusion said. The two stallion bouncers stepped back. "Topaz. Onyx. It's a pleasure to see you two."

I'm glad Mrs. Rarity sent me a neck-tie for my clothes.

Wow. This place, it's just, just wow. Roulette, slots, black-jack, they have it all. The tables are lined up, every chair filled at the slots.

Yesh, that's a bouncer if I ever saw one, dragging that poor stallion off to the door. I'm glad I kicked my habit, having some help. I'm still grateful for that help, bud.

"So, where we heading?" I said.

"We're in for one Tartarus of a treat, Chris. Fluttershy here hooked us up, and I mean big time hooked us up. We will be dining in the Ethereal Hall, and our entertainment for the night will be The Great and Powerful Trixie's last performance. After this show, she'll only do part-time stuff since she'll be working at Princess Twilight's School of Friendship." Gusty Breeze said. Magic can't be interesting to these creatures. All of them are magical and do magical things all the time, right? "This'll be my first time eating in this place, being all fancy."

You're not the only one. A person must need need twenty-grand in the back just to stand outside, forty-grand to step onto the red carpet.

Huh, the "Ethereal Hall of Wonder," I guess that's it. The letters are legible, but look like old-school cursive writing.

"Those dresses look nice on you guys." I stayed within arm's length of the three mares. "Now that's, that's impressive."

Stage looks set, for sure. They're setting up the lights and everything.

Hmm, yea, there's Mrs. Rarity and Ms. Applejack. I guess we'll be waiting on the rest of their friends.

"Mr. Chris, so good to see you, darling. That little ensemble looks wonderful on you, if I do say so myself." Mrs. Rarity said. It is her handy work, so it should look great. "Are you alright, Mr. Chris?"

Mrs. Rarity's bluish, dark-purple dress looks amazing. It sparkles in this dimly lit room. The center hole cut out for her belly is well-made, and, oh wow, now that I can see them, Mrs. Rarity's wings look beautiful. They're so elegant, and they have the same look as Gusty Breeze's wings. I bet Mrs. Rarity's feathers are probably just as soft.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for asking." I said. I smiled and scooted into the booth next to Ms. Applejack, Gusty Breeze off to my left. "However, I'm just wondering if you're alright, Mrs. Rarity. You seemed a little tired this morning."

"Aren't you the gentle-colt, asking about a lady's health." Mrs. Rarity said. Well, it is the polite thing to ask. "Excuse me, waiter. Waiter. Hmph," Mrs. Rarity furrowed her brow, "I'll light them myself."

Light them, yourself? Oh, right, Mrs. Rarity's "other side."

The part-dragoness, alicorn mare blew a slight kiss towards the candles and "poof," they lit up... in a purple flame.

"Heh heh, nice one, Rarity." Applejack said. The large mare leaned back. She stretched and flexed her legs. "Phew, Ah tell ya, bein' able ta sit down is nice. Those deliveries put one Tartarus of a strain on these legs of mine."

"Being part dragoness does have its advantages." Mrs. Rarity blew a heart-shaped flame toward the last unlit candle. "Hmm, perfect."

It's hard to believe there are so many creatures in here. This place is packed.

"Oh, Fluttershy, I meant to tell you. Spike, he's been so 'aloof' lately. I know it's not surprising since he's going to be a father, but still, you think he'd be more upbeat. I mean, you remember how it was for Princess Cadence and Princess Shining -- oh dear, I mean Princess Cadence and 'Prince' Shining Armor." Mrs. Rarity said. Princess Shining? Prince Shining Armor? "Those two were a bundle of nerves when Flurry...."

The two mares' conversation melded with the white noise of the Ethereal Hall.

Hey, what the hell, Ms. Applejack?

"Heh, don't mind those two gossipin' mares." Ms. Applejack said, having poked me in the side. She chuckled to herself. The mare turned and extended her right hand. "Ah think we need a do-over, so, 'ahem,' names Applejack, Chris. Ah'm the local farm gal of Ponyville. That and several other things, heh heh. There's no need for any fancy names, formalities, or titles with me. It's just plain ol' Applejack. Kay'?"

It's nice to -- shit! T-That's one strong grip, girl.

"You wouldn't believe the routine they had going on at the academy. I can't believe they kept me for so long." A voice said. The mare in uniform stretched her arms. She extended her sky-blue wings. "Those rookies can't break twenty-seconds, and they'll never break twelve. It's sad."

"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy said. She stood up. The towering mare hugged her friend. T-They do exist. My god, regular women do exist in this world. They exist! Rainbow Dash looks like a normal chick, minus the fact she's like seven-foot five. "That new outfit looks incredible. It's so smooth."

It's definitely impressive. The outfit looks like spandex, but it's kinda odd. I get the blue and yellow colors, but the holes on the side with that weird mark on the hips looks awkward.

Fluttershy slid back into her seat, Rainbow Dash sitting beside her.

"You wouldn't believe," Rainbow Dash grabbed the zipper near her neck, "what we had to go through with practice." She said. G-Gah! "What's with the squirt?"

"Heh heh, the show hasn't even started, and I think Chris here just saw the greatest magic trick of his life." Gusty Breeze said. She closed my jaw. "Nice dress, Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow Dash looked normal, until her "magic" trick with the suit. Those suckers just popped out of thin air. This mare is on par with Rarity, almost.

"Thanks. I took a quick shower, toweled off, and slipped it on. I didn't want it getting dirty, so I slipped into my uniform before heading off." Rainbow Dash said. She shook her head at Mrs. Rarity. "A 'clean' uniform, Rarity. Yesh. That idea is disgusting, even to me."

"Welcome one and all... to the last performance of The Great and Powerful... 'Trixie!'"

The scintillating magician's heels clacked against the stage. She tapped her heel three times.

Applejack put two fingers into her mouth. Her loud whistling bellowed over the hall's loud chants and hollers. "Woohoo, you go, Trixie! Let's see this grand performance."

"And now, for my opening performance... a volunteer from the audience!"

W-Whoa, shit. Where? How? What?

"See folks, even the -- eep! Umm, y-yes, even The Great and Powerful 'Trixie' amazes herself. Ha ha! From the great unknown," Trixie waved her arms at the crowd in a smooth manner, "I've teleported a well-dressed, unknown denizen of Equestria! Ha!" Trixie waved her wand at me. She came in close, "Where in Tartarus is Twilight? You were sitting in her seat, kid. This is supposed to be the big opening number. Wait, how did you get in? You got a fake ID?"

"Look, 'Turn a Trick' Trixie, I have no idea how -- damn you, Gusty Breeze." I whispered, and then turned. The bright lights make it hard to see, but yea, Gusty Breeze is smiling alright, I think, if I squint hard enough. This isn't good. Stage fright is real. "Eh, heh heh...."

The Great and Powerful Trixie tapped a finger against her chin. The Hall fell silent, and then it broke. The blue colored mare smirked. She raised her hand. The wand in her other hand disappeared.

The black wand felt smooth. The stage lights reflected off it's gleaming surface. In my right hand, the wand started to wiggle.

"Ah, The Great and Powerful Trixie surmised as much! You're no mortal. You good sir, you are a powerful magic user, too!" Trixie strolled forward. "Let us prove it. Here, step into the box of prowess!"

Okay, just step into the box. The weird magical psycho can handle the rest.

"Psst," Trixie placed her hand on my back, "just hold still, okay. I'll tap three times, you tap three times, that's it. Got it?"

I nodded.

Three taps. One. Two. Three. Now, time to tap back.

One.

Two.

Three.

Huh? The seat wasn't this soft, before.

"A-Ahem, w-we have a royal guest amongst us. I, The Great and Powerful Trixie, welcome you to the Ethereal Hall, Princess Luna!"

"Hello," A voice said, two eyes gazing back at me. This. Is. So. Wrong. "I guess our seats got mixed up."

Princess Twilight Sparkle, I assume?

"Not cool, Gusty Breeze." I said. Gusty Breeze laid her head on the table and tapped her hand against it, me sitting beside her in the lap of Princess Twilight Sparkle. "God, I'm so embarrassed."

Author's Note

So. Many. Re-Writes!

Still, I'm rather pleased with how the chapter turned out. There's also the fact I discovered a bit of an issue where I try to use double-spaces, but they turn into single-spaces. I'm not sure if this is due to the difference between the grammar programs I use, Fim-Fic's software, or some kind of combination. It's a little irritating and makes me feel like the grammar program I use is messing with something.

At the end of the day however, I had fun with this update.

Gotta set the stage for stuff to come.

Also, thanks to everyone for the favs, upvotes, and comments. It's really appreciated. I'll keep trying my best to improve my skills alongside telling this story.