Proceeding with caution

Chapter 25: Proceeding with caution

About a week had passed since my increased sensitivity to magic sprung up. It was because I was taking in too much with absolutely no way to expel it. Twilight had suggested I wear a magic dampener, which would keep the magic from coming in, but it wouldn't get the magic already in my body out.

In that week, I had been ill, what some would consider gravely so. My color was completely drained, by eyes were practically crusted shut, and I could barely take two steps out of bed without crashing to the floor. (believe me, I tried my hardest) Luna had been there for me for the entire week, and she was doing things for me without the use of her magic, which seemed quite difficult for her.

When Luna had to go to Night Court, Celestia would take the reigns of my care if I was still up. Mostly, she would just lay down with me, talking about how I was going to make it through this. Though, something in her voice screamed that she was doubtful. It was hard to hear that from someone I loved...

Apparently, news had spread about my illness. While everypony was remaining quite, those that attended Night Court had noticed my absence. Some thought Luna and I had separated, while others quickly found out of my magical overload. Ponies who I've never met all sent condolence cards, which was adorable because most of them were young fillies and colts.

I had never known I was popular with the younger crowd. There hadn't been a Prince of Equestria in many, many generations. Many thought it was cool that, not only was I a Prince, but a completely different species all together. One of my favorite cards was from the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The three fillies made an impossibly large card with a giant glitter heart with the words, 'get well soon' written in sloppy hoofwriting. When I got better, I planned on writing each and every one of the ponies who sent me a card a letter back. It's the least I can do.

Lilly, who had been busy for a while attending Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, had visited me every day after her studies. While I was able, I helped her with her homework, making sure she was keeping up. It's not like I needed to tell her. Lilly was always a bookworm. I was also asking if she was making tons of friends, but she always said that she had her books to keep her company. She was becoming a mini Twilight Sparkle, and that worried me more than a bit.

That was all earlier in the week. Now, my health was going further downhill. My head was constantly in throbbing agony whenever somepony in the castle used magic, which was all the damn time! I could no longer walk without assistance, so going to the bathroom was no longer a private affair, and I had caught a bad case of pneumonia sometime during the week, which I still don't know how...

It was now about sunrise, and the constant pain had kept me awake another night. Luna, on cue, entered the bedroom slowly, giving me her biggest fake smile. "Good morrow, Nathaniel... Didst thou get any sleep?" She asked. I shook my head, which jarred a sleeping Celestia a bit. The white Alicorn murmured something unintelligible before draping a delicate foreleg over my chest with a happy sigh. "I see my sister has." Luna giggled, rousing Celestia from her slumber.

"Huh..." Celestia groaned, looking up at Luna. "Oh... hello, Luna. Is Night Court over already?" She asked with a large yawn. Luna giggled and nodded, nuzzling her sister.

"Indeed it is. Now, you must raise the sun, but make sure you do it far enough away that you do not harm Nathaniel with your magic. Tartarus only knows what magic of that magnitude would do to him." She shuddered, looking at me with pitiful eyes.

Celestia smiled, kissed my cheek and got out of bed. "I shall be back in an hour from Ponyville then. Take care you two." And with that, Celestia stepped to the balcony, taking flight once she was outside.

Luna sighed heavily as she crawled into the spot Celestia once occupied. "Nathaniel, how are you feeling?" She asked me, resting her chin on my chest. I turned away as I coughed, giving a cheeky thumbs up.

"Never... better." I chuckled hoarsely, earning a slight slap on the chest from Luna. My mare's smile quickly faded as she snuggled as close as she could to me.

"Your fever is back." She stated slowly as she began to list other things off. "Your lungs aren't filling like they should, your heart is beating faster, and your suffering from exhaustion..."

I sighed and looked out the window, letting the breeze rolling in engulf my face. I turned back to Luna and kissed her horn, feeling it burn my lips like fire. "I-I've come through worse than this, right? You know I can get through anything." I laughed, giving Luna another kiss on the lips.

She was skeptical at best, not looking at positives. Maybe she didn't see any at all. "Dost thou always have to make a joke out of a serious situation?" She chided, letting out a frustrated grunt. "That is just like the man I love."

"And this is just like the mare I love." I grinned rolling so that I was now on top of Luna. It took every ounce of strength I had to do that and hold myself up over her. She squealed happily as our bodies made contact, our lips meeting instantly as my arms gave out. Just because I was sick, didn't mean I wouldn't try to make Luna smile.

"Nathaniel- Ah~" She moaned as I nibbled her ear. "T-Thou can't get aroused like this! T-Think of how sick you are..." She pleaded, but her body betrayed her as her hooves began to rub up and down my lower back, squeezing my ass every time they went down.

I wheezed as Luna's attention to my lower half increased the strain on my body. She was right, and I absolutely hated that at this moment. I fell back down into the bed, trying to catch my breath again, albeit very poorly. Luna rolled over and held me tightly, stroking my back like a mother would to sooth an infant.

"Shh... Do not worry. You have your Luna to take care of you... Breath... just breath..." She whispered. I focused all my attention on trying to fill my lungs again with air. After about a minute of constant coughing, the fit had subsided, leaving Luna and I just snuggling in the bed. It pained me that the mare I loved had made me so ill... I could never be mad at her for this though.

"Luna... I don't feel so good..." I mumbled, stating the statement of the fucking century. Of course I didn't feel good! I felt like Death rolled over! I hadn't slept all week, I could hardly breath, and I just wanted to get this illness over with!

A light knocking came at the door, barely audible from the bed. It couldn't be a guard, since their knocks were more prominent. Luna quickly got up and went to the door, opening it slowly. "Sorry, but we are not to- Oh, Cadence. Please, come in." Luna said after realizing who had been knocking.

When I saw Cadence, she did not look pleased. "So, Auntie. I hear that you and Nathan are herding?" She asked bitterly. Luna raised a brow questioningly as she raised one hoof to her chest in shock.

"Cadence... thou art married. I did not think to tell thee of this for said reason." She stated, trying to figure out why Cadence was so angry.

"No, Luna, it isn't for me. There is one mare whom I know that feels more betrayed than anypony I've ever met. And do you know why?" She asked venomously. All at once, my vision went white as Cadence opened the door with her magic, causing me to scream in pain. Luna rushed to me, glaring at Cadence for the use of magic in such close proximity to me.

Behind the door was Applejack, her eyes puffy and red as she stared at both Luna and I. Mostly me, since that was where her affection really lay. "Because this mare is in love with Nathan! She made a mistake that night at the party, and she is more sorry than anything in Equestria! But I know what you probably said to Nathan about her! I will not stand to see a heartsick pony denied the right to be happy because you still hold onto the past!"

Even though I was in searing pain, Cadence's outburst was pretty epic. Luna looked over to Cadence and Applejack, a bit flabbergasted, I might add.

"But... She, a-and Nathaniel-" But Luna's stuttering was silence by Cadence yet again.

"Luna, you and I should talk. Let's leave these two to do that as well." Cadence gestured for Luna to follow. Luna looked at me, as if asking me if this was okay. I nodded, giving her a peck on the lips as she slid off the bed and trotted to Cadence, leaving the room and leaving Applejack and I alone.

There was a very pregnant silence that hung in the air. Applejack's interest was in the flooring and ceiling, while mine was rested solely on her and just how much she hurt. It could be seen in her puffy red eyes, her slouch and her disheveled mane. I felt, honestly, like a piece of shit for this.

Finally, Applejack spoke, still refusing to meet my gaze. "A-Ah heard Twi talking about... your herd last week...." She stated, shuffling her hooves. "Ah wish Ah could be a part of it, too, but Ah think Luna still hates me for what I did..."

I folded my hands awkwardly and twiddled my thumbs. "Well, she doesn't... hate you, per say... She's just Luna being Luna. And, you gotta admit, you were a little rambunctious that night." I added, reaching for my water on the nightstand. Applejack quickly took initiative, running over and grabbing the water with her mouth, giving it to me.

"'Ere oo go, shuga coob." She said through a mouth full of glass. I smiled and thanked her, taking big gulps of water to clear my throat. There was one thing I really enjoyed about that cup of water, too. It was the taste of Applejack. The mare who had taken my pony virginity, the mare I shared my first kiss with... I felt the memories of that day between us flood back with force. It made me so upset to see how far she and I drifted off.

"Thank's AJ... Y-You know you don't have to help me... I'm a big boy." I teased with just a hint of a fluster in there. Applejack still got me a bit flustered, seeing her again. Every time I looked into those green eyes, I could just see them staring back at me as we made love. It was hard to get out of my head as she kept staring at me with that soft, innocent smile.

"What?" I asked, smiling back. Applejack turned away slightly and began giggling herself.

"Nothin'... Just wonderin' why yer starin' at me all funny..." She said through the laughs. I joined in, and soon it subsided back into a silence. A silence I decided to break this time.

"I really missed you." I said, turning away in shame. I had pushed my first friend here away from me, and that was a horrible thing to do. Applejack deserved better than that; after all she's been through in her life.

"Ah... missed you, too... Somethin' mighty fierce actually. Ah just... Ah heard about how sick you were, and Ah just thought Ah'd come see you, you know... in case somethin' happened and I'd never get the chance again..." I could see the tears brimming her eyes as she walked closer. "Y'all are gonna make it through this... aint'cha?" She asked hopefully.

I sighed and sunk into the mattress more, unsure of how to answer that question. I couldn't answer the question, but if I heard the answer from somepony else...

"Applejack, you tell me. I want you to be honest. Am I going to make it through this?" I asked. Applejack stared at me long and hard, before her frown broke into a fragile smile.

"Y-Yes... Yes, yer gonna make it through this in no time. Ah just know it." She said, resting a hoof on my arm. I moved my hand slowly to it, watching as she eyed it expectantly, waiting for it to touch her.

When it did, the smile that adorned Applejack's face was instantaneous and more genuine than before. I had really missed the orange farm pony and that livid smile of hers. Maybe... I should talk to Luna about AJ joining us. I mean, she was the first pony I had relations with. It only seems fair to let her into the heard.

Right?

"No! Absolutely not!" Luna huffed, making Cadence groan and roll her eyes. Luna was being as stubborn as a mule about the whole thing.

"Auntie, you can't deny the love they still feel for each other! Sure, Applejack made a mistake! We all make mistakes! She's only pony!" Cadence pointed out, but Luna huffed in indignation, standing firm on her decision.

"Cadence, you may be the Princess of love, but that dost not mean thou can butt into any relationship and try to 'fix' a problem that is not there!"

Cadence rolled her eyes. "The problem is there, Auntie! You and Nathan are herding, so why not let him try to rekindle something that was lost! He even said that his love for you is the strongest love he feels, so why would adding Applejack into the herd be such a bad thing? You already asked one of her friends to join, and how do you think that makes her feel?"

Luna chewed her lip in thought. Cadence was right, of course. Luna had been acting a bit... stubborn on the subject. How would she feel if someone said she couldn't be with somepony who was herding, just because their spouse said no?

"Alright..." Luna sighed, lowering her head. "We shall give her one chance and one chance only. If she lets her jealousy get in the way of things again, then I will do far more than just remove her from our herd." Luna warned, flashing Cadence a glare. "And why do you bring up this subject at a time like this? My husband is sick, deathly so! Why do you care who is in his herd if the very bed he lays upon could be his death bed?"

Cadence gasped. "Auntie! Surely you don't think this is going to kill him, do you? You know exactly why this is happening and what it means for him! Neither you, nor Auntie Celestia, can deny him this right!"

"We must, Cadence!" Luna said loudly, stomping her hoof for emphasis. "He is not ready for this. It would tear him apart from the inside out, and... humans are quite susceptible to corruption..."

Luna didn't expect what Cadence did next. If it had been anypony else, Luna would have them beheaded on the spot. But, no, it had been sweet, little Cadence that had just slapped her right across the face. Not hard, but hard enough to knock some sense into the irate Alicorn.

"How dare you think that of him! Is your faith in the man you love that little? He came here, to a world he barely understands, a world that he wasn't used to, and won your heart, and vice versa! If you truly love him, then you would allow him the right, the right your magic put on him!"

"Cadence! Do not dare question the love I have for my husband! EVER! It may be that my magic and that of this world has... accelerated the process, but, I do know that he is far from ready. And that is my decision."

Cadence groaned. "You and Auntie Celestia can't hide this from him forever. You can take away this power from him for a time, but it will only come back. And then you'll have to make the decision."

Luna let out a long exhale. "Young Cadence, believe me when I say I want nothing more for my love. I want this for him, more than anything, but my decision stands. He is not ready for this kind of power. Until he fully understands what it means, I have to withhold it from him. And remember, there hasn't been a human in Equestria for over two thousand years. And we all know how badly it went when Celestia granted him his power."

"No, we don't actually." Cadence replied. "All history books containing human kind have been thoroughly erased. Luna, the kingdom needs change, and Nathan is the human to help push that along."

"Say we give him this power now." Luna began, walking over to the stain glass window of Nightmare Moon. "What if the power consumes him? What if the nightmares that took me also take him? Do you want to take that risk? To have a human... my human, perverted by power until there is nothing left of him but darkness? That is not the fate I wish for my love. Not now, not ever..." She said sadly, running a hoof down the mural. "Celestia and I had to lie to him... He cannot know yet. Not until we are certain his heart is pure and his intentions for the kingdom just. Now, I feel it grows early, and I have yet to sleep. I bid you a good day, young Cadence."

Applejack and I had been talking for a little over an hour now, just enjoying the company we had missed for so long. She had told me about how the farm was doing; how her family was and the big harvest coming up. She has always been a strong, independent mare, but I could hear the strength in her words ebb from what they used to be. The strength in her resolve had left when I moved to Canterlot with Luna.

"So, everything is good then?" I asked her after she finished her story of how she got to be here. Apparently Cadence was butting into mine and Luna's herd, which, if it meant somepony I cared for didn't have to hurt anymore, I was okay by it.

"Y-Yeah. Everythin' is fine, sugar cube. Ah know it hurts, but Ah-" Applejack was cut off as the bedroom doors flew open. Luna entered with a large frown on her face, approaching me and the mare she detested. Apparently Cadence's talk wasn't too thrilling.

Luna approached Applejack and sighed. "Are you loyal to my Nathaniel? Do you really love him?" She asked. Applejack looked hesitantly from Luna, to me, then back to her before nodding. "Then you shall be in mine and his herd. You have one chance, and if thou messes it up? Pray that dost not happen."

Applejack barely heeded the warning as her face lit up like a Christmas tree. She zipped quickly over to me and planted a large, sloppy kiss on my lips. I let out a few gasps and grunts in surprise before she pulled away, licking her lips happily.

"Golly... Y'all don't know how long Ah've been waitin' to do that fer..." She giggled, smiling dreamily. "Well... um, I should probably get going... When y'all get better, you should come by tha farm. It'd be mighty good ta see you again, and mah family is wonderin' where you ran off to."

I smiled and nodded, getting comfortable in the bed again. "Yeah. I'd like that a lot. As soon as I'm back on my feet, they'll be marching towards the farm." I smiled as Applejack giggled.

"Heh. Well, y'all take care now. And thank ya kindly, Princess Luna." Applejack said, bowing before the Princess. Luna flashed a smug grin my way, which I replied by rolling my eyes.

"Tis a generous thing we have done for thee, fair Applejack. Pray my kindness holds. Now, I wish to be alone with my husband. Please, let us talk." She ordered, pointing to the door. Applejack nodded quickly and made a beeline out of our chambers, shutting the door as she went.

After a moment, I was the first to break the silence. "So... Is this what Cadence wanted to talk about?" I asked, scratching my head. Luna let out a long groan and fell face first onto the end of the mattress, still groaning as her head sunk into the sheets, muffling her voice.

"Yes, but that is not all we talked about... We... found a cure for you, an old spell that Star Swirl the Bearded invented actually. It was once used to take the magic away from Unicorn prisoners, so that they cannot escape. I feel that this shall work on you quite well."

Luna's tone was anything but happy. She seemed almost... upset. "Well... Um, that's good. Why so down about it?" I asked worriedly. Luna's eyes shot open, as if she remember it was me whom she was talking to, and smiled wide.

"Oh, no, no, no! We are extremely happy that thou shalt be cured of this ailment! It is just... I have other things on my mind right now." She said, still holding onto that bit of frustration and sadness.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" I asked, sitting up slightly. Luna instantly crawled up the bed, pushing me back down as she cuddled up to my side.

"Nay, it is unimportant for now. Just lay back and I will make everything better. This spell is going to make thee sleep for over a week, but after that, the magic in your system will fade and you will be back to normal." She was about to lower her horn to my head, when I stopped her.

"Whoa, hold on. An entire week asleep?! W-What if I miss something important? Who's going to help Lilly-" Luna placed her hoof over my mouth and smiled.

"Tis worries you should put aside. Thine health is the most important thing to us. I shall take care of everything whilst you rest." Luna removed her hoof from my mouth and replaced it with her lips. "I'll see thee soon."

I could feel the searing pain of Luna's magic ripple through my head, sucking at it like a straw, removing all the magical energy that resided inside me. True to Luna's word, the more this happened, the more tired I became until I was quickly drifting off to sleep. Before unconsciousness took me, I heard Luna utter one last thing.

"I am sorry, but you are not ready for this... Soon, my love. Soon..."

Author's Note

So, Applejack is going to be more prominent in the upcoming chapters, and the next one will start off with Celestia's trip to Ponyville to raise the sun, but also talk to a certain student about things. Would you like to know what? Sorry. Spoilers. ;)
So, my grammar sucks, I know. I write wicked fast, 115 words a minute, and with that, mistakes are bound to happen. Thanks for putting up with it, and if it's an easy mistake, well, you all know what I meant. I'm proofreading every chapter I put out now twice over to hopefully catch more of these mistakes. So, thanks for not going full Grammar Nazi on me, well, some of you. ;)
So, until next time. Allons-y! <3