What is Love?

I sat awkwardly upon some kind of stretcher clearly designed for a smaller and lighter being, still marveling at my new found health, clarity of thought, and utter lack of coordination.

Moving my fore-hooves in front of my face did wonders in trying to block out the unreality surrounding me, but surely was doing nothing to convince my hosts of my soundness of mind as four identical looking winged horses grabbed a corner of my litter. Winged horses. Pegasi, I supposed, or pegasuses, or maybe pegasoi, since Pegasus was the name of a particular horse, and...

When we had first taken off, I had tried frantically to convince myself that it was possible for these pegasi to fly, that their stubby little wings could bear the weight of their bodies and my own.

I failed, but luckily I didn't faint. I’m not sure I would have continued existing.

In any case, they seemed to be Praetorian Guard, clad in gleaming gold armor, but surely not! Gold would make terrible armor. Especially if you had to fly.

I spent most of the trip up to some sort of vacant infirmary trying not to vomit or faint, and when my escorts put me down in a tower next to some kind of metal framed medical bed, they seemed far too winded for me to be comfortable with the prospect of being flown down.

I continued examining my hooves to calm my nerves, trying to determine what kind of joint structure allowed me to actually see the bottom of my own hooves.

At least they seemed in good condition. Made a nice sound when I clacked them together, well maintained, no chips or cracks in the wall, healthy looking soles and frog. No horseshoe, either. Apparently I wasn’t domesticated. Should get myself to a farrier right away if I’m expected to run around on stone paved streets!

I stopped giggling (when had I started?) when the Big Horse, the pure white one with golden jewelry, ethereal mane, and oddly rhyming name (Celestia of Equestria, I mouthed dumbly) stepped in with what was clearly a smaller horse in what could only be a lab coat.

Who put that horse in a lab coat? Ridiculous. Still, at least they care about hygiene.

One of the Praetorians flitted to her Majesty, the Princess Queasy Hair, and whispered something in her ear that I could not catch. Her Royal Brow furrowed slightly and she nodded, before taking a few steps towards me and Lord almighty I am floating in mid air.

This time I really did faint.

I awoke what must have been only a short time after to the sight of Celestia and the lab coat (horse doctor?) peering down at me. More importantly I awoke, but it was very odd thing to awake to.

I vaguely noted that the doctor horse had a horn as well.

“Ahem. Hi?”

I always was a great conversationalist.

Somehow mustering motor skills I had lacked before, I sat up, if a bit unsteadily, and blinked at the Princess. She blinked back and bowed her head slightly.

“I'm very sorry. I didn't think you would have such a reaction to my magic.”

Magic. I mouthed.

Well of course, if the damned pegasi could fly when it was clearly impossible, then... but outright levitation! Movement of distant objects with no obvious mediator! (Telekinesis, a small voice in my head whispered. A term unfamiliar to me, but fitting.)

“Magic.” I said, flatly, suddenly aware that the previous time no sound had come out.

She tilted her head. “Yes... magic. Magic is innate to all ponies, but only unicorns can channel magic through their horn to move things around as you've just seen.” she said, levitating what seemed to be a teacup, complete with extraneous handle. It was surrounded in some kind of pink glow.

I got the impression she was speaking deliberately slowly and simply. I didn't know whether to be grateful or annoyed. It had been a long time since someone had to speak that way to me, but... well, obviously she meant no offense. I sighed.

“That’s...” I trailed off, unsure of what to say.

Impossible. Amazing. Both, really. I attempted to feel around my head for a horn and did not find one, though I did manage to give myself a good knock on the head.

“You don’t seem to be a unicorn now. Were you... before?” the Princess asked me.

She really was strikingly white, with the faintest pearlescent shimmer.

I snorted. Was I a unicorn before?

“No, I most assuredly was not a unicorn before this afternoon.” I replied, covering my eyes with my hooves. “I was a...”

The most intense vertigo of my life hit me in waves. I struggled to keep my bile down as it felt like reality itself was dissolving.

Eventually the wave of disorientation passed, and I opened my eyes again. The princess laid a hoof on my shoulder, and smiled warmly. For a moment I felt reality wash away again, but in a completely different way as I felt myself staring into her eyes, speechless.

She seemed like the very Platonic ideal of a just and benevolent ruler. So blindingly radiant that a part of me immediately began to suspect malevolence, simply because no real creature could be so... fair.

That small part of my mind that doubted, indeed the part of me that had made me if not great, then at least respected among my peers, began gibbering at me all the myths of the Fair Folk.

“Your Majesty,” I began, suddenly a lot more concerned with politeness, when her smile widened and she interrupted.

“Suffice it to say you are not from around here. We can save the more difficult questions for later. And please, spare the honorifics. Or at least call me Princess, if you must. Unfortunately I don’t think I can lay claim to you as one of my subjects anyway.”

The doctor came around from behind me and whispered something to the Princess. I hadn't even noticed him move behind me in the first place. I’d actually completely forgotten about him, I had been so enraptured by the mere presence of the being in front of me, who, even without outright displays of magic, seemed somehow... more.

She nodded, dismissing him, and continued, “Luckily, you don’t seem to have any parasites or contagions, but there will be a few more tests before we can say for sure whether you are a health risk.”

I frowned slightly. “And if I am?” I asked.

Again, her blindingly reassuring smile. “We will do our best to cure you. You are welcome in Equestria and perfectly safe here. We mean you no harm as long as you do us no harm in kind.”

She put one of her wings around me in what must have been a purely reassuring gesture but... well, I can’t say if I blushed, but it sure felt like it.

“You seem alarmed, and disoriented. I can’t blame you. Is there anything you can remember easily?”

Well, there was no way I could think of... anything, in this situation. This was too much like an embrace from a... well, she was a horse, but I was a horse too (small wave of vertigo) and she was most definitely... a she.

Somehow I knew I would have been a shivering wreck, before. As it was, I was only almost shivering, and not obviously a wreck.

“I’m a philosopher. A natural philosopher.” I started. Somehow at this moment, the vertigo left me completely, and everything felt completely right.

“I examine the world. I measure. I categorize. I break things down into their smallest parts and try to put them together again.

“My colleagues often said I was obsessive about precision, that I wasted time on minuscule details. I would contend that nature does not give up her secrets readily. We’re easily misled, and there’s no one easier to fool than me.

“I had a long career. I measured the weight of the earth and the components of air. And then I died.”

I felt a wave of unreality crash through me again, though this time it felt... different, somehow. Like the difference between being tossed by waves of syrup and waves of water.

The Princess moved her wing away. I felt cold without it.

"I feel now as if it may have all been a waste, because nothing I've seen here makes any sense."

She seemed to be staring at my flank. I looked down to see what had caught her interest.

AN: Really sorry about the delay. Been really busy, and then sick, lol.