The Forsaken

Chapter 2: Settling In

Anon

I opened my eyes almost immediately once the magic left me and gasped.

My voice was a whisper. “It’s beautiful…”

The ‘small house’ was a Victorian style, castle-like manor, that would have been perfectly in place for a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. The opening line came back to my mind.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

Midnight nodded, with a small amount of pride. “It’s been in my family for ages. It’s big for a single pony but I never desired to have a general household staff. I’ll admit that only by casting a spell that prevents dust, that it stays in any way clean. Cleaning is not my favorite chore.”

Anon blinked, the quote repeating in her head once more, and asked. “Single? You’re not married?”

Midnight shook his head. “I was engaged twice… but it didn’t work out. I’ve had my fair share of lovers over the years but… I never managed to fall ‘in love’ again. I guess it’s my loss.”

Anon swallowed her nervousness and nodded. “I would be happy to help with the chores, if only to make myself useful. Shall we go in?”

Midnight opened the doors with magic, and they entered his home. They were greeted by a shining chandelier in the foyer followed by a series of classic artwork paintings on the walls and humble furnishings in every room. He stopped to look at a set of paintings.

One was of a blue filly with beautiful green eyes and a cyan mane. The next was the same pony but as an adolescent with a star filled mane. The third was the same pony as an adult, beautiful and regal. The final painting had taken a darker tone with her wearing armor and looking like a nightmare reflection of the once beautiful mare. He sighed heavily and continued walking.

I wanted to ask him more about the paintings but followed Midnight at a safe distance and had also peeked into a library, a private study and what looked like a miniature throne room as we had passed by the rooms, all of the doors having been left open. Midnight finally stopped and took his armor off with magic, placing it on a pony-sized mannequin. Similarly, he placed his two weapons on a weapon rack. I finally saw his flank and stared at it.

“You have a tattoo?”

Midnight looked at her and smiled. “No. That’s my cutie mark. All ponies magically get one sometime during their adolescence to show what their special talent is. All cutie marks are unique, given that no two marks are ever exactly alike. Mine hasn’t made me many friends.”

Anon swallowed softly as she continued to stare at the cutie mark.

“And… what is your special talent?”

Midnight’s silver eyes seemed to darken as he cast them down to the floor.

“Well, I have a lot of talents that seem to correspond to a particular skill set. I am gifted in illusion magic, shadow teleportation and combat magic. Plus, I have a natural talent for hiding in the shadows and I have a knack for sneaking up on ponies and other creatures. Over the years, I have worked to defend this land from many threats… however, in the plainest terms… my special talent is assassination.”

Midnight

Buck me… did I really just admit that?

I expected Anon to flee in terror but to my surprise, she seemed almost excited. “Cool! You’re a Ninja!”

I blinked. “I am not familiar with that term but if that is the term your people use for what I have described… then I guess I am. The kitchen is through here… are you hungry?”

Anon nodded with enthusiasm. “Oh god, yes. I haven’t eaten in over two days.”

We walked into the kitchen, and I sat her down at a table in what might have been considered the household staff’s dining room… if I had a household staff. I went to the fridge and pulled out a huge pre-prepared salad and sat it on the table.

Her eyes went wide. “That’s the best-looking salad I’ve ever seen.”

I magicked over a fork and grinned at her. “Dig in. I’ll go get us some drinks.”

I grabbed two glasses in my magic and trotted downstairs to the basement and grabbed two glasses of the newly acquired hard apple cider. I scanned it for poisons, just to be sure, and went back upstairs. I placed the glass beside her and watched her eat. She took a drink from the glass and her eyes went wide.

“This is good! I didn’t think that ponies would have beer.”

I chuckled at her. “That’s more of a cider, but regular beer, ale, and other types of harder liquor are also available. I have plenty more so don’t be shy.”

Anon ate for over an hour and drank at least 2 full glasses of the cider before she was done. She managed to eat nearly two-thirds of the salad. She patted her stomach in appreciation.

“I can’t believe how big that salad was. You ponies really know how to eat.”

I smiled at her. “Actually… I am a busy pony at times so I tend to make large meals once or twice a week and use preservation magic on it so it won’t spoil before I can finish it. The salad that you just ate over half of… normally would have lasted me a whole week.”

Anon’s face went red with embarrassment. “Oh… I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean…”

I cut her off with a gentle laugh. “I’m glad you liked it… and like you said, it’s been a while since you ate. Are you ready for a bath?”

She gulped. “…Sure?”

She followed me to the bathhouse, which had a bathtub the size of a small swimming pool. At least eight ponies could bathe in it at the same time… more… if they were on the smaller side.

I looked at Anon. “Get undressed and I’ll grab the soap and shampoo. I’ll join you in a minute.”

Anon looked unsure but did as she was told. When I returned… my eyes went wide as I finally fully saw her in all of her naked glory.

Oh… by Celestia.

Anon

Shit… his eyes went so wide when he saw at me naked. He must think I’m a freak.

Midnight swallowed hard. “Okay… I have everything… would you like to get into the water?”

I nodded calmly and got into the water and Midnight joined me. I was surprised and a little nervous, but I didn’t feel like I had the right to object.

He took a bottle in his magic and poured shampoo on his hooves. His used magic to wet my hair and gently rubbed the shampoo into it. His touch… was so soft. So gentle. He took his time and washed every part of me, which at times, caused me to blush. When he was done, I felt cleaner than I think I had ever been. I looked at him and smiled.

“Thank you. Would you like me to wash you now?”

He nodded. “If you don’t mind. I’ve used a lot of magic today. It would be embarrassing to get mana burn from taking a bath.”

I nodded as I started to wash him. It was like washing a big dog, which helped calm me some.

I poised myself to ask a question. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”

Midnight shook his head. “Go ahead. You are clearly new here so anything I can do to help you understand… well… everything, I’ll gladly try.”

What should I ask? I have so many questions. Midnight has been so nice to me so far and I’m oddly comfortable here. I don’t think I have to worry about basic survival. No. I need deeper answers. I may not want to be here but I’m an adult and I know what I want. What I need.

She decided to start boldly. “Why were you so shocked at seeing me naked? I mean… you told me to undress, after all…” She finished shyly.

Midnight winced. “The ponies and other creatures that make up Equestria all have and use a natural ‘modesty’ magic that hides their more intimate features. Like now… I’m naked… but you can’t see my stallionhood and you won’t see it unless we are about to be intimate. The same is true for griffons, dragons, minotaur’s, hippogriffs, and any other creature native to this planet. But you… are clearly from… elsewhere. I failed to take that into account when I asked you to undress and join me for a bath.”

Anon seemed to digest what he said. “So… did you like what you saw?”

Midnight winced and shuddered, going as red as his black coat would allow. “I…”

Anon placed a hand on his shoulder. “You seem to have been honest with me with everything else. I just want to know your mind, no matter where this goes. Please, be honest with me. I already said I would do anything for you in thanks for having saved me…”

Midnight nodded, slightly reassured. “…Yes. I liked what I saw a great deal… more than I expected, at least. Your intimate features… remind me of a young adult dragoness. Your teats are in a similar place on your chest as a dragoness’ and your… lower marehood, is in a similar place, with a similar shape as well. Dragons don’t have hair or fur of any kind so the tuff of hair between your legs is both cute and unique. I will begrudgingly admit that I have always found dragoness’ to be attractive… and by extension, I find you to be attractive. That being said… in our present situation, you must understand that ponies often bathe with family and friends because oftentimes we need help getting clean. Unicorns do okay with magic but Earth Ponies and Pegasi need help with their backs and other hard to reach places. But even so, our modesty magic stays up, unless we are being intimate on purpose. When I saw you, in all of your sexual glory, it was hard not to react to it in a… primal way. I would suggest that if you were to leave my care to strike out on your own, that you not bathe with other stallions. The temptation of your lack of magical modesty may be too much for them.”

Anon raised an eyebrow. “But not too much for you?”

Midnight swallowed. “I am older than I look. I have a great deal of restraint. More than that… I did save you, but I don’t expect you to buck me as a repayment, despite the insinuation of my earlier teasing. Also… I felt that if you knew I found you attractive, it would make it harder for you to trust me or to sleep comfortably under my roof. I don’t wish for you to distrust me or my motives.”

She thought to herself.

Hmm. Buck must be the pony slang for fuck. And I guess all of that makes sense. At least he finds me attractive and doesn’t see me as a freak. I can live with that. It is a positive start. Now… I wonder if I can push his buttons?

She smiled and asked innocently. “…And what if I am willing to consent?”

He swallowed hard. “…Then… that is a conversation that we will have to have later.”

My smile grew wider. This back-and-forth teasing is more fun than I would have thought possible. This feels like the start of a beautiful friendship… and maybe more.

“Well… you are clean. What’s next?”

Midnight

I led her out of the bath, and we toweled off. While she was still naked, I examined her injuries. Using both magic and older detention methods, I sniffed and licked at her wounds, checking for illness or inflection. She blushed under the extra attention, both of our earlier allusions coming back into the forefront. Once I was satisfied that there wasn’t any infection, I used a series healing spells to fix all of her injuries. Every cut. Every bruise. Even old scars. Gone.

Anon looked at herself. “Wow. I feel great. Thank you so much, Midnight. So… now what?”

I yawned. “I am accustomed to being up late to deal with issues like the one I fixed tonight, however, it is late, even for me. It’s time for bed.”

Anon drew a slow breath. “Okay. I’m ready.”

I led her to a quest room. I didn’t really have any sleep wear that would suit her, and she seemed to only have the one outfit I had found her in. I turned to her.

“I’ll take you into Ponyville tomorrow to see if I can get you some custom clothing made. It looks like you’re going to have to wear the one outfit you have or simply sleep naked until tomorrow. I’ll wash your clothing tomorrow morning before we leave for town.”

Anon nodded and got into bed. She laid on her back and seemed half expecting me to join her. Perhaps even climb on top of her. I had said that I didn’t expect her to buck me in thanks for having saved her, but it still seemed like she expected me to. Teasing or not, males could be predictable, after all. Her earlier hinted consent was also at the forefront of my mind. To her surprise, I used magic to cover her up and tuck her into bed.

I kissed her on the forehead like a foal. “Goodnight, my little pony.”

As I turned to leave, she spoke quietly. “You don’t want to buck me tonight?”

I stopped. My voice was soft. “I could never destroy what little trust you have in me with such a base action. If you truly desire a relationship with me… at least let me take you out on a few dates before we take this deeper.”

Anon frowned. “I don’t understand why you won’t take your reward. I am willing.”

I turned back and looked at her. “You are willing… but only because you are scared to be tossed back into the world. I won’t forsake you as I was forsaken. I want you to know, right now, that so long as you are in my house as my guest, nothing will harm you within these walls so long as I draw breath. You are under my protection. We will discuss everything else later. Now sleep… and be at peace.”

As I closed the door, I thought I could hear her crying, but I couldn't tell if they were happy tears or tears of fear and regret.

Buck me… did I say the wrong thing?