Tumbling out of a portal came a girl with short blonde hair and a clean white dress. She ended up on her back with her legs over her head, her skirt shrouding her head and arms so that she looked a bit like a wilted flower.

Only her bottom half was visible above the petals, clothed in white panties and a solitary sandal, the other one tumbling after her to arrive just before the portal disappeared.

She had been deposited right in front of the princess, who stepped forward and used her magic to pick the girl up and set her to rights, even returning her errant shoe.

The girl's blue eyes were wide with fear and astonishment. "Thank you." she said softly, hesitant to look away from the princess as if she would simply disappear the moment she did.

"Are you real?" asked the girl, the question sounding silly in her ears.

The princess laughed. "As real as you."

The girl smiled shyly, then looked around. On either side of her were smaller ponies, beautifully dressed in golden armor.

The girl realized that all these guards must have seen her tumble into their world like a klutz. She turned red and began idly brushing off her dress, as though she could brush the memory of her ungracefulness–and her panties–from the minds of her observers.

Why do I care if a horse sees my underwear?

It was the princess's turn to ask a question. "Who are you?" she said, her smile gone. "Answer carefully, and be aware that you have arrived quite suddenly and without warning, right in the middle of my inspection of the sun guard."

The girl was a little turned on by the princess's commanding tone. She also noted how her embarrassment over her accidental exhibition earlier seemed to help that feeling along.

"I'm... My name is..." the girl began.

My name... What is my name?

It felt like it was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't quite get it out.

"I can't... remember." she said at last, a little shaken up.

The princess sighed, then smiled again. It was a warm smile, knowing and comforting.

"What should I do now?" asked the girl.

"You shall allow me to introduce myself." the princess replied. "I am Princess Celestia, Spirit of the Sun and Stars and Heir to Old Equestria.

Celestia tucked one hoof and bowed, inspiring the girl to perform a simple curtsey on instinct, which seemed to please the princess.

"Why don't you walk with me on my inspection? You shall be my guest, and afterward we may try to sort out the circumstances of your arrival, and the state of your memory."

The girl had no inclination to refuse, and took her place by Celestia's side.

"Very good." declared the princess, and the inspection resumed.

As they walked, the girl became fascinated by the flowing mane of many colors that enswathed the princess's head, battened down by her golden tiara. She also noted just how much bigger the princess was than any of the other ponies.

The uniforms of the guard were prim and proper, their posture excellent. The sun was especially hot that day, its intensity reflecting the scrutinizing gaze of its mistress, yet still they endured.

"What do you think?" asked the princess, assumedly in reference to the guards' impeccable demeanor.

"Impressive." replied the girl, though she was speaking about something else which had grabbed her attention.

The girl had noticed that the guards-ponies' junk was hanging rather low in the heat, and some even had erections as they beheld their glorious princess.

The sight made the girl giggle, and though a few of them blushed at her laughter they never flinched, standing as stiff as their members.

That really is impressive.

The two of them reached the end of the promenade, where a balcony overlooked the district below. There were rooftops and chimneys, suggesting a residential area.

Beyond that, a long way in the distance, the clouds briefly parted and the girl thought she caught a glimpse of marble structures in their midst.

"What a view!" said the girl, just before a gust of wind lifted her dress up above her bellybutton as a patrol of pegasus guards came swooping by over the rooftops.

"It is indeed." joked the princess, meeting the girl's gaze while she used the heels of her hands to try and clamp her errant skirt to her thighs.

The girl was so flustered that the bob of her hair rose as though charged with static electricity. When the princess gave her a wink she had to look away, her shoulders stiff, still holding the hem of her skirt like a vice.

"With that, my inspection has come to an end." said the princess. "Let us return to the palace. My sister will soon arrive to perform her inspection of the moon-guard."

The girl wondered what the princess's sister was like. Would she be dark as the night sky, or pale as the moonlight?

They travelled back the way they had come, toward the grand spires of the castle, and entered into a great hall hung with banners. Celestia took the girl down a branching corridor and up some spiraling stairs, then showed her to her quarters.

"This room once belonged to my apprentice. You may stay here as long as you need, or at least until you wear out your welcome."

The girl looked at the princess in surprise only to see her wink playfully once more.

This horse is an enigma.

The girl blushed as she watched the princess walk away, her powerful flanks driving her meaty ass to bounce like a Trait Breton's.

So I can recall horse breeds...

"We dine at dusk. Some-pony will fetch you." said the princess over her shoulder.

The girl did not know how long until then, only that she was hungry.

The girl flopped on the bed and suddenly felt sleepy.

I think I like it here.

Author's Note

I have a few ideas I have been working with, but realized they needed some context. This is that context, or the first part of it. A setup, really, for what is to come.