Back on Duty

When Gregory entered the guest bedroom where Fluttershy had taken Blossom, he immediately froze. His mouth, already open to ask the mares how they were doing, snapped shut. A moment later he was smiling at the sight. Fluttershy was sitting more or less upright, leaning against the pillow and idly stroking the other mare's mane. Blossom was lying on her back with her head in Fluttershy's lap and her legs folded against her body. She seemed to be asleep, or at least relaxed enough to have closed her eyes.

As Greg walked closer, Fluttershy returned his smile but didn't otherwise move. He could understand why. It would have been a sin to wake up Blossom right then. He stopped beside the bed and just watched for a moment.

"Sit," Fluttershy whispered and carefully patted the bed beside her. Greg obeyed, moving slowly so as not to jostle Blossom.

"How are you two doing?" he whispered back.

Fluttershy gave this some thought, but eventually she shrugged. "Too soon to tell," she explained. "I think we made good progress today, but it will still take a while."

That made sense. Greg remembered Blossom's indecent offer the other morning and suppressed a grimace. She must have had a lot of issues to offer something like that so casually.

"Learned anything about what happened?"

Their whispering seemed to be waking Blossom up and her eyes fluttered open. Greg froze in place, but the mare just smiled faintly and shifted herself a bit closer to him. Unable to resist, Greg put his hand on her belly and scratched, careful to stay above the waist line. The affection just made Blossom sigh and close her eyes again.

"You're good at that," Fluttershy commented.

"Got a lot of practice," Greg replied, but didn't say on whom. Fluttershy knew, of course. Everyone in Equestria probably knew by now, there was no need to point it out. "Well? Blossom's story?"

The mare opened her eyes at the mention of her name, but when she saw that Greg wasn't looking at her she closed them again.

"Not in front of Blossom," Fluttershy said. "I'll tell you and Princess Celestia later."

That made sense. It probably wouldn't do Blossom's self-esteem any good for them to talk about her like she wasn't there. He continued his scratches up her barrel while Blossom yawned and stretched out her hind legs. She held the pose for a second, then slumped back.

"Um, Blossom, sweetheart? Would you mind moving a bit so I can stretch too?" Fluttershy asked, having been reminded of how stiff her limbs were.

The pink mare didn't so much sit up as merely toss her weight from Fluttershy's lap to Greg's. The fact that she was bent almost double to achieve that didn't seem to bother her in the slightest. She gave the man a sad, soulful look and partly lowered her ears. He understood what she wanted and went back to scratching her belly. A moment later she closed her eyes and her mouth quirked up in a faint smile. It was barely there, but Greg was familiar enough with Blossom by now to spot it.

"You like this, don't you?" he asked.

Blossom opened her eyes and nodded. She preferred to nod, rather than speak, but that was okay. Gregory didn't mind a quiet pony on occasion, especially since so many of them were very extrovert and talkative.

Fluttershy finished stretching out her legs and wings. She watched Blossom for a while, then grinned at Gregory. "She likes you."

"Yeah, I kinda figured when she ran straight past Celestia and asked me for help instead."

"I think I know why."

Greg glanced at Blossom to make sure they weren't dredging up unpleasant memories again, but the mare had her eyes closed and didn't appear to be listening. He really wanted to hear what Fluttershy had found out, but he agreed with her that they shouldn't talk about Blossom as if she wasn't there. It'd have to wait.

"Anyway, are you two ladies hungry? We could go and see if Celestia has finished her bath."

Both he and Fluttershy looked at Blossom, who nodded enthusiastically, this time without opening her eyes. She probably associated the Princess with sweets by now. Gregory withdrew his hand, which made Blossom sigh sadly, but she flipped to her belly and then stood up without much fuss. Fluttershy followed quickly and he led them out of the guest room.

He hoped Cadence wouldn't suddenly arrive and expect her suite to be ready. Blossom was just settling in and it would be a shame to throw her life into disarray again so soon after the last upheaval.

Of all people it was Luna and Eli who ended up watching Blossom while she stuffed herself silly on Celestia's hoof-baked cake. The older Princess joined Gregory and Fluttershy's briefing. Even Rainbow Dash appeared from somewhere, but she didn't seem all that interested in the discussion, opting instead to lounge in the chair and occasionally flick an ear.

"I would like to thank you both again for coming on such short notice," Celestia told the pair and Gregory just nodded in agreement.

Fluttershy smiled widely and blushed at the praise. She still wasn't accustomed to ponies saying nice things about her, it seemed. "Please don't mention it, Princess," she replied.

Rainbow Dash added: "Yeah, it's cool."

"So, you said you learned something from Blossom?"

This was firmer, if sadder, ground and Fluttershy's face fell. "Yes, actually. She didn't spend her entire life in that mine, which is good, but - I don't really know what to make of it..."

"Maybe I will be able to help?" Celestia offered.

Fluttershy swallowed a lump and went on: "She grew up on a farm, but it didn't belong to her parents. It's a bit confusing, because she was just a filly, but she thinks they suddenly moved from a city to someplace with a lot of griffins."

"Griffins?!"

"Mhm," Fluttershy nodded. "They moved to a farm with another pony family, but the bosses were griffins. Blossom said her parents didn't seem too happy about that, but they always told her everything was going to be alright."

"This is... concerning," Celestia asked with a calculating look already on her muzzle. Gregory had a feeling the griffin ambassador would have some pointed questions to answer the next time he came.

"So, what about the mine, then?"

Fluttershy was lost in some dark thoughts and she flashed Greg a grateful smile when he brought her out of it with his question. "Blossom says her parents sent her away one day. She doesn't know exactly why, or how long ago, but it was about five years, I think."

"Around the time the portals opened?" Greg suggested.

"I g-guess so."

"Coincidence?"

His last question was directed at Celestia, who just shook her head. She didn't believe that it had been coincidence either, especially if humans were somehow involved.

"Anyway, they put her in a room with some other ponies and set her to work in the mine. I didn't get a whole lot, because... b-because..."

Fluttershy's eyes were filling up with tears and she looked on the verge of breakdown. Greg reacted faster than Celestia and almost jumped from his chair so he could go and give the pegasus a hug.

"It's okay, she's escaped," he reassured her.

"I think they whipped her. Unicorns, mostly. She calls them 'horns' or 'bosses'..."

Celestia nodded, her face carefully composed even though she was furious inside. Greg could read the tightening of her eyes and the uncomfortable shuffling of her wings.

"It would explain why she is so afraid of unicorns," the Princess guessed in a tightly controlled voice.

"Yes..." Fluttershy said, then heaved a sad sigh. "Anyway, some humans came along and..." she began, then leaned her head to the side in confusion, as if unable to quite make the story straight in her mind.

"They were in charge of the whole thing, weren't they? You can say it, I won't mind, Fluttershy," Greg reassured the mare.

She shook her head. "No, it wasn't that. Blossom said the humans slept in the same room as the worker ponies. She said they also worked in the mine and took orders from unicorns."

"What?!"

"What?!"

Both Gregory and Celestia had spoken up at the same time.

"It didn't make a lot of sense," Fluttershy admitted. "She said the human beds were right next to pony ones and they spent a lot of time together, working. She said the humans were nice to her."

That would explain why the mare bolted straight for Gregory, rather than a pony, but why would humans live and work with pony slaves in a stone mine?

"This really makes no sense..."

The yellow mare looked offended, but Celestia quickly reassured her: "We believe you, Fluttershy. Is it possible Blossom remembers incorrectly?"

"No, she was very clear on that part. She trusts humans because they treated her well and worked alongside her. When it was really cold, they cuddled for warmth and sometimes..."

She didn't finish the sentence, but the way her ears splayed made it clear what she was about to say. Greg put a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, we know."

That was a relief and Fluttershy managed a small smile.

Rainbow Dash spoke up for the first time since saying hello to Gregory: "So, where is this mine? I say we go there and kick some flank!"

Shaking her head, Celestia explained: "I tried to find it, but it seems somepony does not want me to. I am afraid there are spies in the Castle, or someone is blackmailing my staff."

"Okay, so we kick their flanks first and then we go look for the mine!"

Gregory and Celestia both chuckled at that. Rainbow Dash didn't have much tact, but her straightforward and passionate views were refreshing to see.

"We're investigating, don't worry. We'll get to the bottom of this, I promise," Greg reassured the fiery pegauss.

"Indeed," Celestia added. "You may trust me on this when I say I will find out who is running a slave labor mine in my Equestria!" The authority in her voice couldn't be doubted. Whoever was behind all of this, they would pay, dearly. Gregory swallowed, happy that he wasn't in their shoes. Or horseshoes, whichever.

"So, what do you need me to do, Princess?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Giving the question a few seconds' thought, Celestia said firmly: "I need you to stay near Blossom, but surreptitiously. Keep an eye on her and make sure nopony tries to hurt her. I have a feeling whoever is running things would prefer if she did not talk to us."

"You got it!"

"For how long?" Fluttershy asked, looking at her friend with concern. "I don't think Rainbow Dash can stay away from the Wonderbolts for a very long time..."

"Yes, thank you for reminding me, Fluttershy," the Princess said. "It will only be a couple of days until Gregory discovers which of the Castle guards can be trusted with the task. Do not worry, both myself and Princess Luna will keep a close watch on Blossom as well."

"No problem! I'm your mare!" Rainbow said and saluted with a wing.

Fluttershy had another question. "Um, what about m-me?"

"Can you stay a couple of days as well? I think Blossom is really opening up to you. Maybe you can find out more?"

"Gregory is correct," Celestia confirmed. "I know you are busy with your sanctuary, but I can send some ponies to help out while you are here, Fluttershy. What do you say?"

The mare didn't like to be the focus of attention, but despite the slight blush she smiled. "O-Of course! It would be an honor, Princess!"

"Thanks!" Greg said and gave Fluttershy's shoulder a squeeze before returning to his chair.

"So, what are our next steps?" Rainbow Dash asked. "There's spies everywhere, right? What if they're-" she began, but then gasped and covered her muzzle with a hoof. She continued in a whisper: "What if they're listening to us right now?!"

Celestia laughed a little and waved a dismissive hoof. "This is a room I use for the more sensitive diplomatic discussions. It is soundproofed - I checked the spell when we came in."

"Won't it be suspicious we are meeting here?"

The Princess shrugged a little. "Perhaps, but I made sure there was a slight accident in my normal sitting room. I am afraid a pot of coffee smashed and the carpet is being replaced."

"Smart horse."

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash looked at each other at the expression and blushed a little, but they didn't comment.

"I cannot keep breaking things or looking for excuses, Gregory. You need to find out how the staff are being influenced or bribed or blackmailed. Fluttershy will look after Blossom so you are free to investigate."

"I'll do my best."

"I have utmost faith in you."

"Um, where should I start?"

Celestia gave this some thought. "Perhaps you can start with the guards. Find out why exactly Comet Roll was transferred to the Baltimare garrison and where that order came from."

"Okay."

"After that," the mare paused and shook her head as she corrected: "While you're doing that, speak with ponies who know Ember Wishes. See if you can find out what her 'family emergency' was all about. Try to find out who approached her when she was preparing the report for me."

"Got it! You can count on me, Princess."

Celestia gave him a pleading look and Greg stood up again so he could go and give her a hug. "Thank you. There has been dissent and subterfuge in the past, but it is a lot easier to deal with when I have you by my side, Gregory."

He almost went to kiss her, but then remembered about their guests in the room. Obviously they knew what was going on, but he didn't want to rub their faces in the fact.

Seeing his indecision made Celestia chuckle and she pulled him closer with a wing for a very brief kiss.

"Um, Princess?" Rainbow Dash asked, a lot less certain of her words than a minute ago."

"Hmm?"

The pegasus swallowed and asked her question without meeting Celestia's or Greg's gaze. "Is it true what they say about humans - you know... in bed?"

Fluttershy put her hooves over her mouth in horror, but the Princess just giggled and winked at Rainbow Dash. "Every word!" Celestia answered in a husky voice.

Even Gregory felt a bit hot in the face at her tone and he urgently changed the topic: "Yeah, okay, we should probably check on Blossom and then I'll go and see what I can find out from Fire Fly." The guard captain's name reminded Greg of the incident just he checked in on Fluttershy and Blossom. "Oh, there was some mare out in the plaza, saying I am cheating on you with Blossom. I told the guards to let her speak."

"Smart move. If they had stopped her it would have been censorship."

"My thoughts exactly."

"You can't just let somepony spread false rumors about you!" Rainbow Dash said forcefully as she jumped on her hooves. "Want me to go and have a word with this mare?!"

"No, don't. She's from one of the powerful families, I think. Actually, she was in the Castle last week, complaining about her taxes."

"I will consider how to deal with this," Celestia promised.

"I thought maybe a press statement about Blossom, except I don't know how much to give away. If whoever is behind this knows we're looking for them, they might try to do something drastic."

Celestia nodded. "I agree. They must already know we are looking into the matter, so this public statement may work in our favor."

"What do you mean?"

"We can downplay how much we know. We can misdirect them into thinking we do not have all the facts, or that we have the wrong facts. It may lull them into a false sense of security."

"Smart horse!" Gregory repeated.

The Princess grinned at the praise, but she laid a wing finger across his lips. "Not when we have company, Gregory. I have told you this before."

"Sorry."

"Very well. Let us go and see what may be done. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Gregory."

The mare leaned in for another quick kiss, then they all got up from their chairs and walked out of the small meeting room. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash said goodbye, but Gregory didn't hear it. He was already lost in thought. Subterfuge wasn't exactly his strong point, but Celestia didn't have anyone else she could trust right then. Well, there was Luna, but if anything, the fiery, passionate alicorn would be even worse as a spy than him. He turned down the corridor, already plotting out his route to the barracks. He'd invite Fire Fly to drinks and pool after his shift and then just let the conversation idly arrive at Comet Roll and his 'mysterious' absence.
Yeah, that sounded like a start of a plan.

Gregory took aim along the pool cue, then slid the smooth, warm wood through his fingers a few times to make sure his shot was straight and steady. A moment later there was a loud clack and the white ball hit one of the red ones. The stroke had been a bit too strong and the cue ball followed its target into the pocket.

"Damn."

It was the work of moments to fetch it out and replace it in the half-circle before standing up and moving away to let Fire Fly have a turn.

The off-duty guard hefted up his stick and sighted down it. Of course, magic users had it easy, Greg thought, because they didn't have to mind their hands. Or hooves, as it might be.

"Remember, you can move the ball anywhere in the D," he reminded the stallion.

"Oh. Thanks," Fire Fly replied and his magic wrapped around the cue ball. He thought for a moment and then placed it down on the other side. It wasn't difficult to see which ball he was going to aim for.

"Red first, remember?"

The stallion sighed and shifted his ball slightly to the side. He brought the stick up and aimed again.

Clack! Clack! Thump!

"Nice shot."

"I still don't understand why we're playing these weird rules. What's wrong with normal eight ball?!" Fire Fly asked, trying to suppress a prideful smile.

"I just like it more. Besides, the table is custom made for snooker."

Although the guard had to concede this, he still pointed out: "It'd work just as well for eight ball. I know you have the other set of balls."

"Next game, okay?"

"Deal!"

Fire Fly took aim again while Gregory walked to the counter along the far wall. The ponies usually preferred cider, but he'd managed to import a few bottles of whiskey every now and then. You had to have whiskey while playing snooker, after all.

"Want some?"

"Nah," Fire Fly said, "it burns my throat. Could use some cider, though."

"Pansy." The stallion just grunted and focused on his play. Gregory didn't have to look when he heard the ball sink. "You know, I always said using magic is cheating."

This time he did look when Fire Fly didn't answer, only to see the stallion showing him his tongue.

They both chuckled at this and Greg quickly poured cider in the second glass, before taking both to the table. "Anyway, I was wondering if you could help me with a question," he said.

"What's that?" Fire Fly asked absentmindedly while he sighted on another ball. He stroked the cue ball expertly, but Greg was quick to point out:

"Red balls between each color."

"Dammit!"

"So, question?"

Fire Fly relaxed and took a sip of his cider. "Yeah, go ahead."

It was a bit tricky for Gregory to focus on his shot while keeping his voice as nonchalant as possible, but he did a decent job on both, even if he had to kneel down. The table was at pony-height, because it was easier for him to bend down than for his pony opponents to stand on their hind legs and still make good shots.

"I met the new guy the other day, what was his name, from... Baltimare, I think?"

Eager to help, Fire Fly took a guess: "Snow Cover? I sent him to get you for that... Plaza incident today. He's not from Baltimare, though."

Gregory shook his head. He remembered the guard's name perfectly, but he didn't want to draw too much attention to his question, so he wanted Fire Fly to guess on his own.

"Nah, the pegasus," he pointed out.

"Hmm, there's Comet Roll, but he's from Fillydelphia."

"Yeah, that was it. I knew it was that general area. Comet Roll, right. Whatever happened to him? I hope you didn't stick the poor guy on some night shift or something."

Greg hit the blue ball despite clutching the cue stick too strongly. He stole a surreptitious glance at the unicorn, who was looking at a nearby wall as he tried to remember.

Finally he brightened up. "Oh, there was some trouble with him, wasn't there? Lemon Slice said he was insubordinate on his mission."

"Lemon Slice? She's the one who looks like she's chewing on a lemon all the time, right?"

Fire Fly couldn't help but laugh, even if he felt a bit guilty and looked around in case anyone had overheard. "Yeah, I guess her name is spot on."

Gregory tried to recall the mare in question, but she rarely stood guard duty herself. She was just one of those background presences in the Castle, a pony he sometimes met in the hallway or the courtyard. "Shame. Comet Roll didn't seem all that bad," Greg commented in what he hoped sounded like idle conversation.

He sank his next red ball with a tricky bounced shot, which made Fire Fly whistle between his teeth: "Good shot. Oh, dunno, I haven't spoken with the guy a whole lot. Anyway, if Lemon said he was insubordinate then I believe her. Sour or not, that mare has experience."

"Yeah, yeah, I guess so."

"Don't worry, if he buckles down he'll be back here in no time. We're big on second chances in Canterlot, but you probably already know that."

"True, true." Greg deliberately bungled his next shot and pretend-swore. That allowed him to step aside and take another sip of whiskey. It also meant that Fire Fly was focusing on the game, rather than on him.

"Does that happen often? The insubordination, I mean?"

The captain shook his head, before sighting down the stick again. "Extremely rarely," he murmured, then paused as he struck. "Yeah!"

"Good one!"

Almost before the white ball had even stopped, Fire Fly struck it again and deftly sunk the pink ball. "That's eight for me," he said.

"Just the black and you win."

"Yeah, I remember now."

While the stallion was trying to calculate his next play, Gregory was just as thoughtful trying to figure out his next sentence. They both reached their respective conclusions at the same time.

"So, the Princess is going to make an announcement about Blossom. She's been stuck in a mine and forced to work. We're helping her get past that." As he said it, Greg kept a close watch on Fire Fly's face. He clearly saw the way his jaw tightened and his muzzle scrunched up in distaste.

"That's just... wrong."

"Don't worry, she'll catch whoever is responsible," Greg assured Fire Fly.

"Yeah, she put the Castle guard on the investigation. I've already got my best ponies on the job. And once they're caught, whoever they are..." The stallion let out a small growl from deep in his throat. "Well, let's just say I hope they enjoy looking at a stone wall, because I'll personally stick them in prison for the rest of their lives!"

"Who do you think it was? I mean, what species? Pony? Human? Griffin? Maybe dragon or something?"

Fire Fly shook his head. "No way it was a pony. No pony would do such a thing. Dragons aren't too interested in digging up stone. It has to be either humans or griffins." The stallion realized what he'd just said and his ears lowered. "Um, sorry. No offense intended."

"Don't worry. I know there's some bad people out there." It was a bit troubling how quickly Fire Fly ruled out his own kind, though. Did he know something, perhaps? Was he trying to mislead the human? "What if it turns out it was a pony operation after all?"

The guard looked up from his stick and glared at the man for a moment, but then he heaved a sigh. "I'll still toss them in jail, but... I gotta be honest with you, it'd be a blow."

"Yeah, I can imagine."

Fire Fly bent over his stick again and neatly sunk one of the last few red balls. Then he walked around the table to where the cue ball had stopped and tried to come up with a way to get at the final black.

"For what it's worth, I also think it's a human operation," Gregy said. It wasn't entirely a lie, despite what Fluttershy had found out about unicorn slave drivers. There was still probably a human somewhere at the top. Even with humans working in the mine beside ponies. After all, enslaving their own kind wasn't such a foreign idea to some people.

Thump! Thump! Clack!

"Oooh, nice shot!" For a moment his attention was distracted from his spy role while Gregory appreciated the difficult double-bounce shot Fire Fly had just pulled off. He wasn't even disappointed that the unicorn had just deftly sank the black ball.

"Yeah!" the guard agreed, grinning widely.

"Eight ball next?"

"Sure!"

He probably wouldn't get any more useful information from the Captain, Greg thought, but he had gotten his next lead. Lemon Slice. He wondered if he could make up an excuse to see the mare privately and question her a little. A problem for later. He had done a good job so far and now it was time to fully focus on his game and enjoy it properly, even if it was eight ball instead of snooker.

"Another drink?"

"Yes please! I'll set it up."

Greg went back to the counter to pour more cider and whiskey while Fire Fly levitated the balls out of the pockets and replaced them with the other set.

This spy stuff wasn't too hard, actually.

It was late at night by the time Fire Fly excused himself, citing early duty. Peering at the clock on a nearby wall, Gregory was forced to agree. He ignored a pang of guilt when he remembered that he'd left Blossom with Luna and Eli for most of the day. He deserved some time off and besides, his counter-espionage work was important! Not to mention that there were also Celestia and Fluttershy who could look in on the young mare. She was probably fine, gorging herself on sweets if she was with Luna, or giving a detailed account of her life story if she was with Fluttershy. He didn't know where they might have taken the mare, but he made a detour past the guest wing just in case.

Gregory knocked on Blossom's door, not really expecting a reply, but a soft voice invited: "Come in!"

Fluttershy. His second guess, then. He opened the door a crack and looked inside. The antechamber was empty.

"In here," Fluttershy called from the bedroom.

Feeling only slightly uneasy, Greg entered the suite and went to look. It was an unusual, but not unwelcome sight.

"Oh, hi ladies. Just making sure you're okay."

Both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were on the bed, flanking Blossom who seemed quite content to snuggle down with two pegasi. She even gave Greg a happy little smile from between the two other mares.

"Hi, Blossom! How are they treating you?"

She looked from Rainbow Dash to Fluttershy, then back at Greg and just shrugged.

"Well, good night, anyway," he wished them and set off to leave.

"W-Wait..."

That was Blossom and a word out of her muzzle was a rare enough treasure that Greg turned back. Blossom had her ears folded down and her eyes big and shiny. "Stay?" she pleaded.

For an instant Gregory really considered it. Of course nothing could beat Celestia's incredibly soft fur and glorious wings around his shoulders at night, but three ponies in a pile were somewhat... tempting.

"I'm afraid that wouldn't be very appropriate, sweetie."

Blossom's ears lowered a little more and she looked down at the bed sheets. Fluttershy quickly put her hooves around the distraught mare and whispered something in her ear. At the same time Greg couldn't help but notice the interested, almost hungry look Rainbow was giving him. He almost said something about it, but Dash shook her head slightly and smiled.

"Yeah, probably," she said, agreeing with his assessment.

"I'll come see you in the morning and we'll have pancakes, right?" He was about to leave again, but remembered something. "Did Princess Luna and Eli treat you okay?"

Suddenly Blossom looked horrified and Greg almost winced. She'd been afraid of Luna - the 'horn'. It had probably been a mistake to leave her with the younger Princess.

"They let her eat a whole tub of ice cream," Fluttershy said with an annoyed scrunch to her muzzle. "She was ill!"

That would also explain Blossom's expression.

"Oh. I'll have a word with them. Hope you feel better, Blossom! Night, ladies!"

"Night!" the pegasi chorused while Blossom just waved without looking at Greg.

He left the room and closed the door behind him. The two guard ponies kept their gazes firmly on the opposite wall and didn't even glance over when Greg bid them a peaceful night as well. It looked like he would get to sleep in Celestia's bed after all. It had been a while and he missed her quite a lot. Hopefully Blossom would be fine with sleeping alone by the time Fluttershy had to leave. Even more importantly, Gregory remembered, he should know by then which guards to trust. He had to find out who was behind this conspiracy, and why, as soon as possible.

Celestia was already in bed when Gregory finally made it to their room. She lifted a head when he entered and then smiled. "Blossom in good hooves, I gather?"

"Yep. That Fluttershy is a godsend," Gregory replied and flicked the light switch.

With a carefully neutral face Celestia pointed out: "All my ponies are special and uniquely gifted, Gregory." He didn't know what to make of it until Celestia added: "But her especially, I agree."

"All three of them are cuddling on Cadence's bed. Should we tell her when she comes to visit do you think?"

Celestia giggled at the image in her mind. "I am sure she'd be delighted. I mean, it is not strictly love, but perhaps it is close enough."

"Such a weird power. She can make people fall in love, you said? Isn't that like, mind control?"

Celestia shook her head while Gregory went to the small bathroom attached to the suite. "Not quite. She can only encourage the feelings if they were there to begin with. She cannot make ponies do something against their will."

"It's still coercion," Greg said, looking around the shelf under the mirror. "Damn, I forgot I took my toothbrush to Cadence's suite while I was sleeping there."

"There is a fresh one in the cupboard," the Princess pointed out without getting up from the bed.

"Oh, thanks."

They didn't talk while Greg went about his evening ablutions. Scant minutes later Celestia held up the blanket with a wing for him.

"Thanks."

With a faint flash of magic Celestia extinguished the light while Gregory slid closer and brushed his hand through her chest fluff. "Mmmm," she sighed in comfort. "I missed this, you know?"

They were talking in whispers by now.

"Me too."

Celestia lowered her voice a little more and brought her muzzle right to Greg's ear. "Found anything out?"

"Lemon Slice was the one who ordered Comet Roll to Baltimare. Insubordination, that was the reason."

"He did not seem like the rebellious sort. I am thinking he might have seen too much on their scouting mission and somepony did not want him to tell us."

"Why not simply kill him?"

There was silence for a while and Greg sought out Celestia's muzzle with his hand. He patted her nose by way of silent apology.

"You forget we are still ponies, Gregory. Murder does not come easily, even to the worst among us."

"I guess." An idea struck him. He really didn't like it, but he had to tell Celestia. "What if I go visit him and find out what he knows?"

"Good idea, but we would need an excuse."

"Well, just tell Fire Fly you're sending me to the Baltimare garrison to speak with their commander. I'm drafting foreign policy and they've had to deal with both immigration and emmigration to Griffinstone. I actually could use their input. Or, maybe it could be a surprise inspection or something."

"Brilliant monkey!" Celestia said, making Greg pause.

"What?!"

She giggled softly in his ear. "Just returning the favor, dear."

"I'm not sure I like that expression."

"It is just the same as 'smart horse', Gregory."

"Point taken."

She kissed the tip of his ear while Greg's hand slid down to her belly and began massaging in small circles.

"Yes, I like that idea. Once there, you will 'remember' about Comet Roll and have a quick talk with him, correct?"

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking."

She aimed the next kiss for his cheek and pulled Greg a little closer with her hooves. "What about Ember Wishes?"

"Haven't gotten around to her yet," Gregory admitted. "I spent the evening with Fire Fly."

"And?"

"I think he isn't a part of anything sinister. I think it's Lemon Slice."

Celestia heaved a sigh. "Back when Shining Armor was the Guard Captain something like this could never have happened. Nothing got past him when it came to ponies under his command."

Even after all these years, Celestia was still trying to fill Shining Armor's enormous horseshoes, it seemed. Gregory had only met the stallion a few times, mostly when he visited Canterlot with his wife, Princess Cadence, but he was quite impressed with the guy.

"Maybe we should send Fire Fly up there to get some more training from Shining Armor?"

Celestia giggled at the mental image. "Perhaps," she agreed. "I will think about it."

"Please don't tell him it was my idea!" Greg pleaded.

The mare just laughed quietly. "Enough business," she said with finality and slid one hoof down Greg's belly. That prompted him to turned his face toward her and their lips met. His fingers stopped scratching her belly and moved lower, making the Princess moan through her nose. He pushed on her barrel with his other hand to get her to turn, but Celestia resisted.

She broke off her kiss and answered his unspoken question. "On your back. I will do everything tonight, just relax."

Gregory obeyed, but not without protest: "But I really like how you taste..." he said in a husky whisper.

That gave the mare pause. After a few seconds thought, she flopped to her back and patted his shoulder with a hoof. "You may proceed, then I will do everything tonight."

She didn't see his grin as he ducked under the covers, but she could probably imagine it, just as he could imagine hers.

As Gregory trailed kisses down her belly, Celestia was already beginning to moan.