The Mayor Of Canterlot

Waking up with a startle Mark sat up on his bed.

"Again with those weird 80's style dreams. The hell is going on with me?"

Sighing in frustration and holding his head he looks around before relaxing and remembers his current situation as he takes a glance at the pile of trunks stacked together in a corner of the very luxurious room with only the one containing his clothes and basic necessities open.

The chaos of last night after Luna announcement rally the press to no end as they didn't waste time in chasing them all the way to his home where they were just finish packing everything inside, or more accurately Luna used a spell to levitate everything except the floor, walls and roof and pack them all in giant trunks she conjured to save time as she teleport them both away to avoid the mass, but making sure they had pictures of him indeed moving into the castle to post in the papers.

So far that was the easy part of everything that transpired but now that things have calm down enough the weight of the situation has dawned on the human. Speculation of what Drusilla told him about Twilight, and Luna’s friendly behavior and how the latter even offer her home and eagerness to help fairly fast when the plan was starting have left the human question their intention, and play with the idea of if resuming or not his attempt of finding out which royal did he slept with. Not helping with how his strange dreams keep happening and have been gradually increasing in a sexual manner.

Should I even be thinking about it? She herself told me this needed to stop... And yet, the very next day, Twilight came by wanting to be friends again oddly fast. Then there is Luna who Drusy is right; she arrives at the police commission oddly fast. Could it be either of them? Maybe she is trying to send me clues? No, that can't be, she asked me to stop, but…do I want to stop? Does she? Maybe she wants me to make a move now…AGHT!

Holding his head in frustration he sighed and pulled away the covers.

Okay, try to calm down, maybe I'm just overthinking things here, those two are probably just being their normal friendly selves. I need to keep reminding myself that Equestria doesn't work the same as earth…but then again when the princess did visit me in the hospital, and then shoved her gorgeous and succulent…no! focus! He shakes his head with an intense blush.

Keep it together Mark, the press would eat you alive if you even try, it's the end of the story, it has to end while it still can! You can't ruin your friendship just because you were horny, just respond in kind, be friendly and forget anything else that happened!

Ignoring the ache of his heart the human stood up and prepared to start his days as best as he could. Trying to return to his usual routine.

Once he was done showering and changing into his formal clothes Mark made his way through the hallways as the first rays of sunlight shined through the windows. Once he reached his destination he was pleasantly surprised to find Princess Luna about to start her dinner. Still in her formal royal regalia although slightly worn out and her mane slightly messy, as if she was returning from work.

"Ah, mayor Mark, good morning." She waved at him with a calm and relaxed demeanor, "So glad to be able to catch you before I retire for the day. By all means," She extended her hand to one of the empty seats in the table, "take a seat and join us for this meal, while we await for my sister."

"Thanks." He grabbed a seat and soon after informed a maid of what he will have for breakfast. "And thanks for letting me stay in the castle for a while."

"Think nothing of it, you are a member of the government after all. Your security is very important for all of Canterlot.'' Luna mentions with a dismissive wave, "Besides, to ponies set bend on removing you from office and view you as unworthy, seeing you spending time in what is considered the peak of luxury, is a sure way to rile them by an enormous degree real fast."

"I understand, and it really sounds like a very solid plan, virtually doing the opposite of what they are demanding and taunting them into doing their worst. But even so I swear it would only be temporary, 3 maybe 4 days tops. Last thing I want is to overstep my welcome and…"

"…Mark, Mark please breathe." Luna reached out to calm him down, "You are overthinking it, really. I assure you, your presence here is no bother whatsoever. Don't feel pressure, and know that you can remain for as much time as needed. Even after the investigation is concluded." She closed her eyes and smiled brightly at him, "You are my very esteemed guest and close friend after all. I would even love to serve you some of my dishes, it will be no problem for me. I like to cook and it might help you relax more."

Her smile lets him calm down somewhat as he chuckles with some heat on his cheeks "Thanks and sorry, I tend to do that. I really hate the idea of being taken advantage of or subconsciously doing the same to somebody else. So when I'm invited to a friend's house I tend to get nervous."

"Completely understandable, don't worry, I will do anything in my power to make the castle as homely as possible." She finishes by raising her cup.

"And in turn I would try to be the best guest possible." He mimicked her action with his own cup as he was just pouring some orange juice.

At that moment Celestia walks in still in her pajamas which consisted of a long light pink short sleeve shirt with the picture of a bunny with a tiara printed on the chest and the words 'Queen Bunny' on top of its head. Pink fluffy slippers, and a white and red jogging pants with heart patterns on it. Her mane was a mess, her wings seemed to have a lot of loose pure white feathers and her tail wasn't fairing better, as it looks like some of the feathers ended up there and in her hair.

With closed eyes and holding a yawn she walked inside scratching the side of her head. After the initial surprise by her appearance, Luna’s eyes widened and then she smiles mischievously as she looks at Mark and raises a finger to her mouth asking him to stay quiet.

Confused, he nods and lets things play out. "Good morning dear sister, did you have a pleasant dream?" Luna asks with a cheerful demeanor.

"Morning sis, I have yeah, say Luna, do you mind if I borrow your preening comb? Molting season came early for me this year and I can't find my comb any..." Finally opening her eyes the princess froze the second she notices Mark looking right at her. "…where."

"Uh…hi?" Mark waved at her, still not completely sure what was happening.

"Good day, mayor Mark. Was there a meeting in the morning I wasn't aware of?" She asked with a raised eyebrow until they both hear the contain snicker of Luna who upon turning to her burst to laugh.

"I'm so-sorry!" She cleared a tear and recomposed before talking again, "I'm sorry sister, in my rush to prepare everything it seems informing you that Mark would be residing with us for the time being while the investigation regarding his aggressors is conducted."

"Luna!" Celestia finally recovered and glares at her sister, yet any attempt to look intimidating was lost not only by her attire but also by the fluster face she was exporting now, as well as the feathers that left her body once she stomped the floor, "These are the kinds of decisions you really should inform me about first!"

She cracked into a fit of laughter once more, "Please believe me, I didn't mean to keep you in the dark, but your expression just now…completely priceless!"

"Oh boy, Celestia, I didn't mean to be a bother. If you prefer I can pack my bags and leave." Mark offers snapping both of the princesses' attention.

"No!" They say at the same time, with oddly fear in their tone much to Mark's confusion.

"I mean;" Luna recovered and pretend to cough before continuing "Please Mark, this is just a very normal and healthy banter between siblings, you don't need to feel responsible for any of that."

"O…k, even so," He turns to Celestia, "will it really be okay with you if I stay here for sometime? It's mostly just to anger the ponies that attacked me so they make a mistake. Last thing I want is taking advantage of you."

"R-Right, because that would be simply wrong. You would only stay here with us that is all, nothing bad with that idea." Celestia replies without blinking adding to the humans confusion before she shakes her head.

"Please pay no mind to my behavior. I'm just slightly startled by the revelation I was informed at literally the very last second. LUNA!" Celestia explains calmly before glaring quickly at her sister who pretends to play innocent and looks away, "But as long as I'm concerned the doors of my home will always be open for you mayor Mark. Especially during such tense times. I have no issue with you staying in the castle as long as you need. Think of yourself as my honored guest." She smiles warmly at him while placing her hand on his shoulder, helping him relax and nods once.

"Hey don't go ahead of yourself Celly, he is MY honored guest." Luna suddenly complained

"He can easily be both of us Luna."

"This is always like you Celly, the second I get something you want me to start sharing right away."

They continue to argue as the rest of Mark's breakfast arrives and he takes the opportunity to lean into the maid that arrives. "Is this normal?" He whispers as to prevent the royal sister from listening.

"Oh no sir, sometimes they argue like a couple of fillies." She quickly replies with a knowing smile before leaving.

"Ah I see…wait what? Then what do you call this?" He continued while pointing at them but the maid was long gone. Once the surprise passed he sighed and simply smiled and decided to just enjoy the show.

Well, at least this is a sure way to kill the tension of living here.

After breakfast was done and everyone went their separate way, Mark was escorted to City Hall as an extra precaution. To his immense relief, there wasn't a mob of reporters waiting to have further information about his new home arrangement and other than the occasional odd glance by the ponies looking at him being escorted everything seemed relatively the same with Drusilla up and ready to start another day at work.

"Morning Ms. Drusy."

"Morning Mr. Mayor." She started to check the list of activities for today.

"Any news on the investigation?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

She shrugged. "Nothing. Mayor, to tell the truth, some complaints here and there of jealous nobles because you have the chance to sleep under the same roof than their secret crushes or trying to butter you up so you can pass along some stupid project of theirs, other than that, everything seems quiet so far, but don't worry with how many clues you gave, arresting the creeps would be a cinch." She snapped her finger for emphasis. "Oh and before I forget, there are a lot of get well presents that ponies brought to you. I say at least half of them coming from mares."

"What makes you so sure, mares send them?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow until he opened the door of his office and saw how it was stuck full of get well baskets with almost half of them colored with bright pink colors, a ribbon, some chocolate and even flowers inside with a note written on it.

"Call it a hunch." Drusy comments with a deadpaned look standing to his right, "Mr. Eligible Bachelor, want my advice? Give me any letter with perfume on it before opening them so I make sure there are not 'get well pictures'. " She says, making air quotes.

"Seriously?! There are mares that would actually try to use this situation as an excuse to score a date?" Mark points at the baskets with in shock while looking at Drusilla who simple shrugs

"Eh, can't really blame them all that much, molting season is around the corner and you know what comes right after that."

He froze in place to remember the state Celestia was in and piece together what comes after molting season. "Heat Week."

"Yep;" Drusilla nods once. "So be careful sir, some mares might have gotten the bug earlier this year."

"I-I will keep that in mind thanks." He nods subconsciously as he goes and inspect some of the baskets.

"So...How are things going in the castle?" She ask with intrigue as they enter their office and he starts to inspect the get well soon baskets, smiling and opening one that has some candy on it, sharing some with Drusilla.

"Hmm? Oh! Y-Yeah everything is fine, still adjusting with waking up around so much luxury but everyone is friendly."

Drusilla raised an eyebrow at his sudden nervousness, "I see and do any of the princess…?"

"Nope! They have been preening…Treating me! with the utmost respect and wanting me to feel comfortable! Nothing else to talk about."

"O…k." Drusilla was still not convinced but decided not to press the issue anymore as he took a seat.

"Anyway, let's get to work! What is in the agenda Ms. Drusilla?"

"Well, there is a press conference at 10, the gourmet alley event at 12, Saffron left a message telling how she is eager to see and show you around."

"Excellent! It will be nice seeing my old boss."

"There is the stallion meeting of awareness and prevention during heat week at sunset. I don't know the location of course." She tells with a roll of her eyes.

"You know why you can't know the place or the plans for that week."

"Sir, with all due respect I'm perfectly capable of controlling my urges during that week."

"You came to work on nothing but your least modest lingerie all week!...And kept pretending to drop your pen."

"See? Self control right there."

Mark only looks at her with a dead pan until she cracks. "Fine! Point taken."

"Thanks, so anything else?"

"Let's see? Oh yeah, Princess Twilight is gonna shadow us today. She wanted to catch up on lost time and decided to work as a pseudo second secretary to see you in action."

"The princess did that?"

"All the mane six actually." She showed him a calendar with their names for each day of the next week.

"Looks like our story really made them want to get to know you better and how you run the place."

"I can't believe it." He takes the calendar and examines the order, "Can they do that? Aren't they busy getting ready to…" He stops mid sentence and hands over the agenda to Drusilla "This is part of the interview for the mayor of New Harmonious isn't it?"

"That was my first guess too, and when I asked her, Twilight didn't deny that it would help but she gave me her word that this is primarily just to spend time with an old friend, and our story cleared the air on how we would not leave. Also I intend to keep an eye on her to see if this is just an excuse to get closer, while using her friends as a smokescreen. Je I will give her this, if it is, that mare is a really crafty one, that move is an oldy but a goody."

Mark raised an eyebrow, "So does this mean you want us to resume solving the mystery?"

"I don't exactly like it, but it seems the princesses don't exactly want to drop it either so we might as well." She replied with a shrug.

Mark brings his thumb and index into his chin and starts to pounder. "I'm not sure anymore Drusy, maybe we should stop it right here and concentrate on other things like who wrote my name into the list of candidates. And this would be an awkward story no matter what, we might miss interpreting the signs and whoever was, she was only being friendly. I don't think she really wants us to continue…right?"

Drusy keeps looking at him confused until her eyes widen and she smirks at him. "Oh I see what you’re doing? You are ashamed/horny, aren't you?"

"W-What are you talking about?!" Mark backs off with a blush on his face.

"Oh don't lie to me Marky I know that face, that is 'I'm too embarrassed to ask' face.'"

"No it is not!"

"Yeah, right." She replied sarcastically with a roll of her eyes, "You’re thirsty aren't you?"

"Yes, NOT!…important right now, she is the ruler, a kind friend, and more importantly OUR BOSS!" He replies earning a pat on the shoulder from his friend.

"So glad you finally understood that, maybe now you would stop addressing them so informally, I hate it when you do that."

"…right" He finally nods having calmed down, "So are we dropping the subject?"

"Do you want us to drop it?"

Mark can only look to the side unsure.

"Yeah that is what I thought. Now, I feel bad from begging you to stop it back then. It's like an itch isn't it? Leaving things half way down really doesn't sit well with you."

"It always drives me crazy, yeah." He finally admit.

She smiled in understanding and put her fist into his chest, "Tell you what, let me handle the awkward talking, we continue, solve the mystery and once we get our mare. I return the piercing, thank her for you and apologies from having to find out. Then we try to work a deal so this doesn't make things tense between the crown and us. What do you say?"

"It…It would make things easier I suppose." He nods in agreement.

"Great! Then let’s get back to work, we'll be late." She inspected her clipboard and started heading out.

"…I kissed her." Mark finally tells not wanting to keep his friend in the dark.

"Excuse me?" Drusilla turns around in time for him to do the same and nods, "I promised not to tell a soul and I would not, but she didn't say anything to our goodbye so I can at least tell you this. Back when I was in the hospital. The reason why I made a record time recovery…"

"The princess visits you at night and cures you? But how? The doctors would have detected any magic…"

Mark raised his hands to stop her, "That is why she made me promise not to tell anyone how it happens, and she was disguised and with a voice filter so I didn't know which princess but one of them would visit me and cure me. She wanted to apologize for her actions, and wanted me to understand so we could leave on better terms. I was ready to do so but I…I just couldn't let it go…not like that."

"So you kissed her when she was leaving." Drusilla finished in disappointment as he nods.

"I'm sorry Drussy I really tried but I…I just needed to at least…"

"Forget it." It was her time to interrupt him, "I know how passionate you can get, even for one night stands." She rolls her eyes and sighs in frustration, "No wonder she is starting to leave clues. Just answer me this, are you developing feelings?"

"I…yes. And that is what is killing me the most. I don't KNOW toward which Princess."

"It's okay, it's okay, we can still sort things out here. But first we would need to make a test." She handed over a folder which confused Mark.

"Tree Hugger? Wait, is this…?!" He looks between the folder and Drusilla as she nods "She sent it earlier. I wanted to inform you once we were done for the day but, I might as well tell you now." She poked the folder a couple of times. "And she is better, cleaner and more discreet than just going to the Red Nylon District."

"Oh yeah, the forbidden street," Mark nods slowly, "but are you sure about this?

"One roll! That’s all I ask, if you have the same feelings, then you only got confused and are simply thirsty."

"And if not?"

"Then you and Shining Armor would soon have plenty in common, and we will have to work in an entirely different conversation with the princess." She closes her eyes and turns around to resume their work.

"Oh?…Oh!"

"So you understand?"

"Sounds a bit extreme, and almost like an excuse to just have sex." He is still unsure.

"Maybe, but really Mark it isn’t that big of a deal in our society and for the media. Mayor hooking up with Mayors is more common than you may think, plus you can't deny that Tree Hugger knows her stuff when it comes to the heart. Which you need and it is a far better option than the alternative. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, which considering you slept with either her aunts, or her sister-in-law, things could be one of three ways. She turns green by the thought of her aunt's naughty side and refuses to even listen. She turns overly joyful and instead of wanting to help you out, she only pressures you into marrying one of them, and starts calling you uncle/brother or…"

"Or?"

"She…gets angry because you slept with a member of her family and just disintegrates you, on the spot." She tells the last part looking away, making everything deadly silent.

"...Tree Hugger it is."

"Yep, that is what I thought." She nods and writes down in her clip board to reserve an appointment with her.