The King Of Nothing

Once Backup finished checking on his two other patients and ensuring they were healing properly and taking their medication, the doctor and nurse turned their attention to Amon, chatting with Purple about nothing in particular.

As usual, the guard respected his privacy and decided to explain how things went after their encounter with the creatures, revealing how the guards brought Amon to the castle due to his particular circumstance, ensuring that all his bag and all the stuff inside were safe and sound and would be returned the moment he asks for them, how the crown would pay for his medical bill, will receive a fresh change of clothes. And until he fully recovers, he is more than welcome to remain as a guest in the royal castle.

The "good" news only makes Amon groan and angrily facepalm.

"Yeah, I imagine you would be trilled about the idea," Purple replies sarcastically and chuckles while he pats Amon back.

"Listen, I would love to stay and tell you how, after you get all the whining out of your system, you would love spending time here, but I need to go report to the princess that you are awake; she wants to see you and the stars know you two need to have a chat."

Purple mentions before standing up, "Oh, and before I forget, the top drawer on your right, I left a small present for you."

Amon looks at him, confused, as he sees the stallion leave. Intrigued, the alicorn turns to his side, and sure enough, there is a small coffee table with two drawers on it. Opening the top one, Amon is surprised when he finds a new red beanie; this one is made for unicorns instead of the other one he used to have, and a purple vest for him to wear next to a cart that simply states, “Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve.”

Smiling briefly at the thought, Amon picked his presents, putting on the beanie first before grabbing the vest, but Backup's hand stopped him.

“I advise putting that one on hold for a while, Mr. We have plenty to discuss regarding your wings.”

Dreading these interactions and rolling his eyes, Amon put the vest on his hip and looked at the stallion. “Is that why I woke up without a shirt?”

“It is, Mr…”

“...Amon, just call me that. Purple convinced me, and you can have my name, so drop the honorifics already,” Amon requests with slight annoyance at how the stallion keeps using titles with him.

Remaining momentarily quiet, Backup smiles and nods before writing something down on his clipboard.

“You got it, Mr.Amon. Thank you so much for deciding to cooperate. It makes things easier for everyone. Also, you must keep your back exposed until we find a back shirt your size. I’m afraid you must remain like this; your wings urgently need to be spread and get some air.”

Backup explains with a worried tone as he approaches the side of the bed and pokes the base of one of them with his pen. The contact sends a strange shiver down Amon's back, similar to the one he experienced when he slept on his arm. The sensation was concentrated on only half his back and riding to his elbows.

"See? They are sore and overly sensitive because of lack of use. I would ask when the last time you groomed them was, but I'm afraid you don't even know what that is. And the state on your left wing especially concerns me." Backup points at the other wing as the nurse pokes, extends, and slowly retracts the exposed part of the appendage. The nurse had to take a couple of steps back because the side of the wing was proportional to his size.

Amon was still feeling the strange shiver, but on his left wing, it was accompanied by the sensation of sharp electric needles piercing the skin of his wing, a new, confusing, and unpleasant sensation for the poor alicorn.

"Thank Celestia. We re-adjusted the bone, and nothing too serious was damaged."

Backup explains as he makes a folder appear and levitates two radiographs of his wing, showing the state of his bones and how one fracture was displaced.

"Seriously, with how those nobles trample on them so much, it is a miracle you walk away from that with only that amount of damage; we were able to re-adjust your wing, and if nothing else happens, it will fully heal. But until then, you will have to keep it stretched out for at least one more week before folding it, and then we could start the physiotherapy. I want you to move your other one and get some blood pumping there."

Backup explains before putting the images in the folder and placing them on the coffee table.

"A week?! No, doctor, you don't get it; I can't simply stay shirtless and keep this wing stretched out for everyone to see."

"Afraid is not for discussion, Mr. Amon, one week of rest. You can roam around the room, but that is it. Until that wing heals enough, your orders are bed rest and wing exercise."

"And don't forget grooming lessons." Cloud mentions leaving his wing and picking one of the feathers out of place. "Seriously, Mr. Amon, this is almost criminal. Why did you decide to hide such beautiful wings? Even the claw at the base is mesmerizing!" She points at said part.

"Claw?" Curious, Amon looked and was slightly startled when he noticed that because it was street out, the claw was poking out, a simply black sharp curved claw poking out of the edge of the cast.

"Wait, you are telling me that you never noticed that? Did you ever bother to see your wings when you got them?!" Bliss asks in astonishment at Amon's reaction.

"I think I made it clear how I'm not exactly thrilled with the idea of having them in the first place," Amon said with irritation.

"How come you are not proud of them?! Outside of dragons, I have never seen claws on a wing. I was convinced that a pegasus couldn't have them. Is this like an alicorn thing? Is that what happens when a stallion ascends? It is so majestic and mysterious; I have so many questions!" she grunts in frustration. "Why do you keep something so incredible and majestic hidden?!"

"Easy, they are easier to hide than a horn on my forehead, and I don't want to stand up and be viewed as some sort of exotic animal," Amon fired back with a slight glare at the pegasus before looking at the doctor.

"Let's leave something clear here. I never wanted all of this." He points at the horns and the wings.

"I don't know or care how they work or even look. You can have them if you like them that much since the crown pays for everything. They will not mind a simple operation to eliminate them."

When he says that everyone in the room remains quiet and completely mortified, Bliss and Cloud hold their wings in complete horror.

The stallion didn't seem to care or even mind. He nodded and started to think to himself, forming a morbid idea in his head.

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, consider it a gift or payment for your hospitality," He mentions calmly. "You would be doing me a favor; it will make my recovery quicker and not cost you anything since everything will be free anyway. Think of the possibilities. Backup, you can be the very first doctor in Equestria to have the chance to study an aviary mutation in history!"

Amon suggests with excitement, looking at the doctor, who stands back and slowly shakes his head, not liking the idea. Amon keeps ignoring everyone's face as he addresses the rest.

"And even better, think of the princesses. I'm a political rival at best and an insult to your customs at worst, so if you chop these lumps off my back and head, I stop being a threat as a male alicorn, and they would not have to lock me in a dungeon."

"Funny, I don't recall ever writing a law forbidding stallions from ascending." A regal, softening new voice sounded angry and slightly disappointed from behind. When they turned around, they spotted a tall, majestic alicorn mare standing at the front door, looking at Amon with a disappointed scowl as she advanced next to Purple, who gave Amon the same look.

She wore an orange winter gown with a sun symbol on the hoodie that revealed some cleavage, a golden tiara with a purple gem in the top, a golden course on her abdomen, and white boots. Her fur and wings were as white as snow, and just as Amon had seen her on newspapers and TV, her pastel-colored rainbow mane, which was longer than his, was flowing on a nonexistent breeze and roughly the same size as he was. Her presence made the room feel warmer and soothing, as everyone looked at her in awe as she marched, looking at him in pity and slight anger.

"Princess Celestia!" They all exclaim and immediately lower their heads in respect, bringing their arms to their chest, all minus Amon, who keeps staring at her and breathing through his nose in defiance as he watches her advance toward her

"It's such a shame that this is our first encounter. I heard your story, and you finally woke up. Our first meeting would be more joyful, maybe a turning point in your life where the dark clouds in your path could be lifted, a true Hearth's Warming Eve event. Instead, the first thing I hear walking inside is something so horrible that it makes me want to puke."

She complains while glaring at the stallion and marches until she is in front of his bed. "It seems that you misunderstood the situation here, Mr. Amon; the crown, indeed, will assist you in making a full recovery, and I will listen to any curse afflicting you. But there would not be any mutilation or talk of such barbaric ideas in here, do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal," Amon replies with a sharp tune and crosses his arms immediately. "Anything else? Or did you want to see your competition? If so, let me put your mind at ease; I'm not; I'm no prince, never was and never will be, so unless there is an actual reason for you to be here, you can go now; I bet a kingdom or a party is waiting for you."

Everyone is taken aback by Amon's blatant disrespect towards the princess. Their gazes shift between him and Celestia. Amon's eyes, filled with a mix of frustration and anger, lock with Celestia's. Her expression, once soft, now carries a hint of pity.

"Amon, did you lose your mind?! You can't talk to the princess like that!" Purple was quick to scowl at him before looking at the princess. "Please forgive him, your highness; Amon has lived a long time in the street and is a bit paranoid and reserved; it took me a while before he spoke two words to me; it was not his fault that…"

For her part, Celestia just raised her hand to stop him before looking at Amon again.

"Purple Heart told me about the nature of your curse. He says that any pony that gets too close to you and tries to offer their friendship will be targeted by the creatures that put you here. Is that why you want to keep me away? Are you trying to protect me?"

Amon's voice quivers as he lowers his head and tightens his fist. "You don't understand the danger you're in. You must stay away from me, all of you. Just walk away and erase me from your memory."

Celestia only shook her head and moved closer, going as far as sitting at the end of his bed, much to his surprise and alarm. "You know why we can't do that, and the fact that you are trying so hard to keep us at bay speaks volumes on how, in reality, you are a nice pony, which only encourages me to help and dig further into your case. Please help me understand Amon. How is it possible for a curse to fight one of the strongest forces in all of Equestria?"

She asks with a hopeful smile, placing a hand on Amon's knee.

Amon stares at her hand before looking at her with a stoic expression. "You are not gonna stop until I tell you, don't you?"

Celestia keeps her calm smile and closes her eyes while tilting her head. "Call it the teacher and nurturing side of me. I'm sorry if I come across as nosey, but I always enjoy learning new things, and I never stop when it comes to the safety of my little ponies. Your case, unfortunately, falls into both."

Amon remains quiet and takes a deep breath with his eyes closed. "Can I at least have time to think about it?"

"But of course!" Celestia patted his knee before standing up again. "I mostly wanted to say hi and give you a proper welcome to Canterlot, and today is Hearth's Warming Eve. There is no need to sour the mood of the holidays. Just focus on rest and healing, Mr. Amon; once you have time to relax and collect your thoughts, we can speak properly." She explains in a cheerful tune and smiles.

"Until then, I took the liberty of picking a special menu perfect for an alicorn in recovery." She smirks and raises an eyebrow. "Considering how you have been living on the street before this, you may be open to something more filling?"

Before he could say anything, the grumbling sound from his stomach gave Celestia the necessary answer. With a slight blush and telling her it was pointless now, Amon just looked away, causing Celestia to chuckle.

"Yeah, I imagine as much. So what do you say, Dr. Backup? Should we serve him now?"

He checks a watch on his wrist and nods. "It would be for the best; it is almost noon, and the only nutrient he had before was through I.V. He could use the proteins."

"Great, hospital food," Amon replied with a sigh and a roll of his eyes. "I suppose it at least beats dumpster dives, berries, and canned food."

"Oh, something tells me it's much better than all that." Celestia issued another nurse to enter the room, another pegasus with the same nurse uniform, pastel yellow fur, and light blue straight hair with some volume. Who was carrying a cart that could easily belong in a fancy restaurant with an entire course of dishes, including a bowl of fruits, a giant plate of pasta with a small mountain of half-melted cheese, and a small glazed-up velvet cake? All of them were covered with a tall glass of what Amon assumed was iced tea next to a jar with the same content and some slices of oranges floating on the top.

Amon had to take a double take at food and another one when the nurse placed the cart beside his bed.

"Wait, all that just for me!?" Amon has to point at the food before looking at the princess, who chuckles and nods.

"Consider it my welcoming gift, and should you decide to stay longer, there may be more meals like this. From one alicorn to another, I know we need just a notch more quantity when it comes to food." She ends with a smirk, taking some of the frosting from the cake and having a taste. Amon cannot look away, unsure if she is trying to be flirty or wants a taste.

"Well, Amon, do you still hate staying here?" Purple asks with a knowing smile as he crosses his arms.

He wanted to argue and tell him off, but the smell of the pasta overwhelmed his senses. He could feel his stomach screaming at him and reminding him how hungry he was.

"This doesn't change anything!" he finally exclaims, taking a fork and eating the fruit before pointing at it with a full mouth. "But I will need some plastic bags when I leave."

The rest laugh a little while Amon grumbles and decides to focus on his lunch.

Later that night,

Once they were discharged from the infirmary, Bliss and Bricks returned to their homes with instructions to rest, take their medication, and return to the castle every three days for treatment. In Brick's case, this was so his chest finished healing and didn't leave any scars.

After changing to more casual clothes, consisting of thick sweaters, jeans, and snow boots, and promising Purple and Amon that they would stop by and visit, the couple returns home after finishing some shopping.

"Ah, home sweet home," Bliss sighs in relief, plotting herself on the couch and adjusting her body in contentment as Bricks chuckle and put their grocery bags on their kitchen counter.

"Carefully, Blissy, you know what Backup says; we have to take it easy for the next two weeks and rest before returning to the force."

Bliss sighed and said, "Pay vacation for two weeks to relax and rest. Oh, me, oh my, what would we do to spend the time?" Bliss asked sarcastically as she removed her sweater and shirt, revealing a frilly black bra with an erect nipple showing underneath the fabric. She looked at Bricks with sultry eyes and started playing with her mane.

"Seriously, Bliss? Now?" Bricks questions in mild surprise as he removes his sweater, revealing a simple semi-translucent white shirt without sleeves and neck, putting away their groceries in the kitchen.

She chuckled and shrugged. "Hey, it's still Hearth's Warming Eve, and I'm a sucker for traditions, especially the sexy kind," She defended herself, sitting on the couch and letting loose one of the strings on her bra. "Besides, don't tell you aren't interested, big boy, or is that an eggplant you stole from the store?" she asks sarcastically, looking down at Bricks.

Caught off guard, the stallion covers his crotch and blushes intensely. "That is just… well. Can it at least wait until I finish putting things in the freezer? You know how much I hate wasting food, and things here need refrigeration, including your favorite biscuits."

Bliss only growls and tackles Bricks against the fridge, hugging him tight with her hands and grabbing his flanks. "By Celestia, how I love it when you are flustered, but not as much as the beast between your pants."

She starts to dry hump his crouch making him shiver as Bricks tries to control himself.

"Blissy, please! Just five minutes," Bricks pleads, sweating bullets and keeping his eyes closed.

"I'm sorry, honey, but after spending all afternoon looking at that Alicorn chest. I'm at my limit here; give me a taste of…" She starts to trace kissing over his neck until all of a sudden, Bricks grabs her shoulder and pulls her away.

"What did you just say?" Bricks question in a demanding tune.

"Come on, Bricky, don't act coy with me. Do you think I didn't catch you glancing at the nurse's flanks?"

Bliss mentions with a smirk poking his nose with her wings, "I know how crazy you are about pegasus flanks."

"Yes, but I still see you when we made love, Blissy; right now, are you seeing me as me, or are you using me and pretending that I'm Amon?" Brick put her down and demanded an answer while crossing his arms.

"What? Brick, you are not jealous, now, are you? You never were like this before. Don't you remember how we used to joke around this thing?"

"Answer the question!" he insisted with a glare. Having been put on the spot, Bliss looked away and remained quiet. The room around the two was getting cold, and shadow figures started to circle the couple.

"I have never felt this insulted in my life," Bricks exclaimed, practically fuming as he marched to their room.

"Come on, Bricky, don't be like this! Is not even that big of a deal, really, so I got horny from another stallion; that doesn't mean I don't love you."

"No, it just tells me that I'm not good enough, so you need someone else to get you off, and I'm just the dildo to fill your fantasy," Bricks fires back as he keeps walking up the stairs to the second floor of their house and into their room.

"Okay, now you are being dramatic. This is just me having a bit of fun, like role-playing. Remember when we occasionally did that? We can role-play right now! What if you think you are doing it with Princess Celestia? Doesn't that sound hot?" Bliss tried to negotiate, but Bricks was in no mood. He grabbed the door handle and turned around to glare at Bliss.

"The fact you are not seeing what is wrong shows how much you need to think about Blessed Winds," The mention of her full name made Bliss gasp and take a step back in shock.

"You can put the rest of the groceries yourself. And since you like it so much, you can spend the night on the couch," He replied before slamming the door in front of the pegasus.

"Bricks, please! Don't be like that! You would still be getting lucky for crying out loud! Since when do you say no to sex?!" She insisted on repeatedly knocking on the door, "It's our heartwarming tradition!"

The door opens, allowing a pillow, blanket, and vibrator to fall on Bliss' face before it is slammed again.

"Happy Hearth's Warming Eve! I hope you have fun with Amon," Bricks calls from the other side of the room, leaving Bliss astonished and kneeling in front of the door. The shadow figures keep circling Bliss as they start singing an eerie lullaby that clouds her mind without noticing.

The same arms spread across Canterlot, targeting ponies and putting them in dreadful situations.

Noticing a dark blue alicorn with a long, starry mane and wearing a black hood fly around town using her magic to dispel the rachitic and demonic hands as discreetly as she could to avoid generating panic, making mental notes on the house she wasn't as quick to dispel the issue. She would need to finish the job in the dream escape.

Finding more and more of the dark clouds appearing, the alicorn had no choice but to fly into the center of the city and discharge a large wave of magic that finally success in clearing the air from the dreadful apparition and left the mare panting and leaning against a light pole.

What in Equestria is going on?! Where did all these apparitions come from?

"Princess Luna!" Shiitake's voice alerts the hooded alicorn, who looks up in time to see the Mayor being carried by a pegasus guard and heading straight for her.

"Thank the stars. I managed to find you," Shiitake tells her while the pegasus keeps holding her in the air. "There is something urgent I need to discuss with you."

"Now is not the best time, Mayor Shiitake," Princess Luna mentions as she looks at the sky, where more stormy clouds are starting to form again. "I don't know what is causing it, but the sky of Canterlot seems to be invaded by strange apparitions, so whatever you need to tell me, it will have to wait." Luna tries to fly away, only for the mayor and her guard to chase after her.

"That is the thing, your highness! I know what is causing this, and unless we stop him, this storm will return each night. And it will only get worse from there."

That grabs Luna's attention, who stops and looks at Shiitake. "What do you know, Mayor?"

Shiitake smiles and offers the princess a folder full of papers. "Please read this, your highness."