“So you’re staying here.” Twilight said to Ryan as he met the mane six, Spike and Stealth in the main foyer of Canterlot Castle before they made their way back to Ponyville.
“Yeah. Probably for the best that I don’t risk Orion destroying anything if he takes over again.” Ryan replied. “But don’t worry I’ll be back after I figure out how he does it and put a stop to it.”
“Okay then. But wait what if he takes over while you’re in Canterlot? Won’t he cause destruction anyway?” Dash asked.
“A good point Dash. But if he does take over the princesses and two different groups of guards to subdue him.” Ryan said getting an understanding nod from Dash.
“Well we better get going.” AJ said getting nods from the rest of the mane six, Spike and Stealth. “Take care of yourself Ryan.”
“Don’t worry I will.” Ryan said before giving the mane six a hug each.
“What not going to give me and Stealth a goodbye hug?” Spike asked once Ryan had finished giving Fluttershy her hug.
“Sorry didn’t think you’d want a hug.” Ryan said before moving over to the drake his arms outstretched.
“Whoa!” Spike exclaimed jumping back a few feet. “I was only joking.”
“Okay then.” Ryan replied with a chuckle. It was then Ryan noticed that Twilight and the others had already walked away from Spike, Stealth and himself. “Hey make sure you two take care of Twilight okay.” Ryan said to the duo as they made their way after Twilight and the others.
“Got it Ryan!” Stealth exclaimed before he and Spike ran after the others.
“You really think that you can keep me away from them forever?” Orion said to Ryan with a dark chuckle.
“Not forever. But I can at least keep you away from them until I figure out how to keep you from taking over my body.” Ryan replied. It was then Ryan heard hoofsteps approaching him from behind. When he turned around he saw Moonlight. “Hey Moonlight.” Ryan said with a smile.
“Good afternoon Ryan. You just see the Elements off?” Moonlight asked.
“Yeah just waiting for Celestia to get back from her tour of Canterlot with Chrysalis.” Ryan said turning his gaze back to the foyer’s main entrance.
“Not that I doubt Mother Sol’s abilities but why exactly did she take Chrysalis on a tour of Canterlot?” Moonlight asked copying Ryan’s gaze.
“She wanted for ponies to see how she has changed first hand. Rather than only making an announcement over the news.” Ryan explained, repeating Celestia’s reason for taking Chrysalis out on tour. It was then that said royal duo arrived through the castle’s front doors. “Speak of the devil.” Ryan said to himself as Celestia and Chrysalis walked over towards him and Moonlight. “How’d it go?”
“It went well. Until the ponies pulled out tomatoes and began throwing them at me. Other than the unexpected shower of fruit it was nice.” Chrysalis said shaking off a few tomatoes that were sitting on her back.
“Wait they actually threw tomatoes at you!” Ryan exclaimed before looking to Celestia. “And you let that happen?!”
“I stopped most of the tomatoes with a bit of magic but Chrysalis deactivated the shield I had in place saying that she wished to face some form of punishment.” Celestia explained.
“Anyway let’s move on.” Chrysalis said before moving next to Ryan. “You wouldn’t mind giving me a hand to scrub all the tomato juice out of my chitin. Would you?”
“Don’t you have a changeling that could do that for you?” Ryan asked.
“They’re in the hive. And I don’t want to fly all the way there or call them out here. I need to get rid of the juices now before they dry in the cracks between my plates of chitin.” Chrysalis explained getting Ryan to let out a sigh.
“Fine.” Ryan said before making his way towards the castle’s bath room. “C’mon or do you not want the juices gone?” Ryan called back to Chrysalis getting a grin from her as she trotted up to him. “And no funny business.”
“Aw you just had to go ruin the fun didn’t you.” Chrysalis whined.
“Too bad.” Ryan said as he and Chrysalis made their way towards the baths.
Scene change
“Not going to join me?” Chrysalis asked seeing Ryan sit on the edge of the bath she was in.
“Don’t need to just stand here and I should be able to clean you.” Ryan said getting a smirk from Chrysalis.
“But it’d be so much easier if you joined me.” Before Ryan could say anything he found himself submerged in water as he was pulled into the bath by Chrysalis. “There was that so hard?” Chrysalis asked when Ryan resurfaced.
“Damn you.” Ryan said before taking off his shirt.
“I thought you said no funny business?” Chrysalis asked as she licked her lips at seeing Ryan’s built frame.
“And I mean it. You know how annoying it is to have a loose shirt cling to your skin?” Ryan asked getting Chrysalis to shake her head. “Well it’s a pain in the ass.”
“Hmm well from where I’m standing It doesn’t seem like a bad thing.” Chrysalis smirked.
“Ha ha.” Ryan said sarcastically before reaching for a sponge he had left on the side of the bath.
“What are you doing?” Chrysalis asked turning to see Ryan pull himself out of the bath.
“Getting the soap.” Ryan said before walking over to a nearby set of drawers with different cleaning products in them. As he walked back to the bath after retrieving the soap he pulled off his shoes and socks.
“You do know you’re not going to need that.” Chrysalis said pointing at the sponge.
“Why?” Ryan asked as he lowered himself back into the bath.
“Because it won’t fit in the cracks between my chitin.” Chrysalis said before levitating the soap out of Ryan’s hand and held it up to one of the cracks in her chitin. “See won’t fit.”
“Okay then. So what do I use then?” Ryan’s response came from Chrysalis moving one of Ryan hands to hover over the crack. “Now I see why you wanted me to clean you.” Ryan said before sticking one of his fingers into the crack.
“Whoa!” Chrysalis exclaimed jumping out of the water slightly. “Warn a changeling before you go plunging your fingers into the cracks in their shell.”
“Sorry. That didn’t hurt did it?” Ryan asked worrying if he had hurt her.
“No. However if you stuck a knife in there it would hurt. But if anything soft ends up there the crack becomes quite a sensitive spot.” Chrysalis said, saying the last part in a seductive voice.
With that it was Ryan’s turn to jump slightly in the bath his cheeks a fine crimson. “You could’ve told me that before telling me to clean the gaps between your chintinous plates!” Ryan exclaimed getting a smile to form on her lips.
“See that as my payback for you saying no funny business.” Chrysalis said her smile taking on the form of a smirk.
“Good point I guess.” Ryan said moving back to Chrysalis’ side. “Let’s get this over with then.”
“Ooh yeah. Right there.” Chrysalis moaned as Ryan returned to cleaning the cracks in between chitin plates.
“Having fun?” Orion said trying to keep himself from laughing at Ryan’s embarrassment.
‘Shut up!’ Ryan thought back as he kept cleaning Chrysalis.
“Okay you can stop now.” Chrysalis said using her magic to remove Ryan’s fingers from their position. “I think you got the job done.”
“Good to hear.” Ryan said making his way towards the side of the bath.
As Ryan began to pull himself out he could feel something pulling him back in. “Now where do you think you’re going?”
“Leaving. My mission here is done.” Ryan replied before finding a sponge put in his hand.
“Sorry but you did agree to cleaning my chitin. And you’ve only cleaned the cracks in the chitin.” Chrysalis explained. With that said Ryan moved back to Chrysalis’ side before applying the sponge to her side. “Hey Ryan have you ever considered moving to my hive?”
“Um no. Why do you ask?” Ryan replied.
“Because I’d love for you to be my royal cleaner.” Chrysalis said with a small smile.
“What’s the pay like?”
“Pay? You expect to be payed in bits?” Chrysalis responded getting a confused look from Ryan.
“Then what would I be payed in?”
“Well you’d be given a life of luxury. As well as anything you could wish for.”
“Could I ask to be payed in bits?” Ryan said jokingly.
Before Chrysalis could respond a short cough could be heard from behind them. “So what exactly is happening here?” The voice of Luna said as the duo turned to see her standing on the edge of the bath.
“Ryan’s giving me a bath.” Chrysalis said.
“Really?” Luna asked skeptically. “Nothing else?”
“Nothing but the bath.” Ryan said.
“Well then in that case.” Luna said before stepping into the bath. “Mind giving me one too?”
“Not at all.” Ryan said before finding himself pulled into a kiss by Luna.
“Good to hear. Maybe if you do a good job me and Chrysie will reward you.” Luna said before turning to Chrysalis. “How does that sound?”
“Sounds wonderful.” Chrysalis said before moving to Luna’s side. “But let’s save that reward for when he’s done cleaning us.”
“Of course.” Luna said before turning back to Ryan a seductive smile on her face. “So then Ryan, Chrysalis and I are both wet so how about you clean us with your sponge.” She said seductively leaving Ryan’s face a bright red.
Scene change
“I’m starting to have second thoughts about starting a herd.” Ryan said aloud as he left Luna’s room. Which he found himself in after Luna had teleported himself and Chrysalis there for his reward.
“Really cause if I remember correctly you weren’t complaining when you received your reward.” Orion said with a short laugh.
“Oh shut it.” Ryan said before realizing he had nothing to do. Fortunately, he wouldn’t be standing still wondering what to do for long as he remembered one pony that he hadn’t seen in a while. “I think it’s time to go visit Trixie.”
After a short walk Ryan found himself outside of Trixie’s room. Before Ryan even raised his hand to knock on the door the door swung open. “Yes?” Trixie said as she stood in the doorway. “RYAN!” She exclaimed jumping into Ryan’s arms giving him a hug.
“Hey Trixie.” Ryan said before putting her down. “How’s it going?”
“Not bad. How are you doing? I heard what happened in the throne room.” Trixie said with a grim expression.
“Yeah I’m fine. And don’t worry about what happened. Don’t want anybody to go worrying about me.” Ryan said moving past Trixie into her room. “So how have your studies been?”
“It’s going well. Luna’s been teaching all sorts of advanced illusion spells. I’ve also been learning a few other types of spells.” Trixie replied nodding to a small table which had a few piles of books laid upon it.
“Destructive magic?” Ryan asked picking up one of the books. “Guessing Luna wants to teach you how to defend yourself?” Ryan said getting a nod from Trixie. “Good to hear.”
“So anyway I heard that the princesses have the changeling queen in the castle to discuss peace. Is that true?” Trixie asked.
“I thought Luna would have told you about that.” Ryan replied getting Trixie to shake her head. “Huh okay then. Well Chrysalis is in the castle discussing peace with Celestia, Luna and Cadance.”
“Oh. How’s that going?”
“As far as I can tell it’s going well.” Ryan said with a smile.
“Good to hear.” Trixie said before levitating out a tray of tea. “Want some?”
“Sure.” Ryan said before pouring himself a cup of what seemed to be green tea. “So how was the coronation?”
“Coronation? For who?” Trixie asked sarcastically.
“For Twilight.”
“Oh yeah that. It wasn’t that great.” Trixie said her mood turning sour.
“Trixie. You alright?”
“NO!” Trixie exclaimed. “I’m not alright. I hate it when ponies talk about Twilight! Oh did you hear Twilight became a princess?! Did you hear about how she defeated Discord?!” Trixie said hysterically. “Oh and let’s not forget how she beat that magician in a magic duel.”
At this Trixie began to cry. “Hey Trixie it’s alright.” Ryan said enveloping the mare in a hug. “Look Trixie, you want to know something. I don’t care about what Twilight has done and neither should you.”
After a few moments Trixie’s sobs had come to an end. “Thanks Ryan.”
“No problem Trixie.” Ryan said removing his arms from around Trixie. “So how exactly was the coronation I was a bit busy trying to convince Chrysalis to come to Canterlot.”
“Well it was hectic to say the least. There was a heap of ponies gathered outside of the castle to see the new princess. It was actually sort of funny seeing how much makeup Twilight had to wear.” Trixie said with a chuckle at the memory.
“So you didn’t think of getting a photo for me? I’m hurt.” Ryan replied in a hurtful tone.
“Sorry but I didn’t have my camera on me at the time.” Trixie replied.
“Darn. So anything else of interest been happening other than magical study?”
“Well Princess Celestia held a small celebration party after Twilight’s coronation. And Luna put me up for entertainment.” Trixie said with a smile.
“How’d it go?”
“Well let’s just say if I was charging the nobles than I’d be as rich as the princesses.” Trixie said with a smug grin.
“Sounds great. So any particular tricks you want to tell me about?” Ryan asked wanting to hear more about her performance.
“Well I did get a bit of audience participation done. But the best trick I pulled was when I made Princess Celestia disappear into thin air.”
“Sounds like one heck of a trick.” Ryan said a smile on his lips.
“Making the Princess disappear wasn’t even the best part. Originally the disappearing act was meant for Luna, but she insisted that I perform the trick on her sister instead. What happened next was the guards freaking out about Celestia disappearing from under a sheet.” Trixie said barely containing her laughter.
“Sounds like the guards would’ve been on you for that one.”
“Oh believe me they were on me within seconds. If it wasn’t for Luna, I probably would’ve been thrown into the dungeons.”
“Well that one way to end a magic show.” Ryan said before noticing a blue glow to his hands.
“Someone’s teleporting you. Just to let you know.” Orion said as the blue glow spread up Ryan’s body.
“Ryan are you okay?” Trixie asked noticing the glow.
“Yeah I am. Although by the coloration to this glow Luna wants to see me.” Ryan replied finishing off his tea. “See you some time later.” Ryan said before giving Trixie a wave as he disappeared.
Scene change
“We have a slight problem dear.” The voice of Chrysalis said as Ryan’s vision slowly returned.
“And that would be what?” Ryan said as he pulled himself to his feet as the teleport had caused him to appear on the floor in a sitting position.
“Well you know how the reward me and Luna gave you left us a tad exhausted?” Chrysalis said getting a nod in response. “Well Sunbutt decided to come and see how her sis was doing. And you can imagine her reaction when she found myself lying next to her in bed.”
“So Celestia caught you sleeping with Luna. Great. Where’s Luna?” Ryan asked.
“Well her and Celestia are in the main room.” Luna said pointing to the door that led to the large room where Luna dealt with her paperwork and where she taught Trixie. “Currently Luna is explaining why I was sleeping with her.”
“So the cat’s out of the bag?”
“Not entirely.” Chrysalis said getting Ryan to raise an eyebrow. “Technically Celestia, doesn’t know about your involvement in this.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble but Celestia knows that I was dating Luna before all this happened.” Ryan replied. It was then Ryan saw a yellow glow to his hands. “And now Celestia wants to see me.” Ryan said before making his way towards the room’s door.
“Sister there is no need to teleport Ryan here.” Luna said as Ryan joined the royal duo in the large room.
“She has a point I don’t need to be teleported when I’m already here.” Ryan announced. “So Celestia how much has Luna told you?”
“Well she told me your original plan. The one that you made when you first started the herd.” Celestia said as her horn stopped glowing.
“Okay then.” Ryan said joining Luna’s side. “So what are your thoughts on this?”
“Honestly I don’t know how to feel.” Celestia replied. “But if this is Luna’s decision to start a herd than I have no problems with it.”
“Well I can’t blame you for not knowing how to feel I guess.” Ryan shrugged. “But do you mind not telling anyone about this. At least until the public gets used to changelings being our friends.”
“Alright.” Celestia said as she made her way towards the door leading out of Luna’s room just as Chrysalis emerged from Luna’s bedroom. “Although whether or not you can keep this a secret from others especially Cadance is going to be quite difficult for you. As Cadance does have a way of finding things out when they concern love.” Celestia explained before leaving the room.
“So is she alright with this herd?” Chrysalis asked after a few seconds.
“I guess so.” Ryan replied before finding Luna nuzzling his side. “So from now on if we do have fun we have to lock the door afterwards. Okay?” Ryan said getting a nod from Luna and Chrysalis.
Meanwhile in another part of the castle.
“Cadance are you okay?” Shining asked as he and Cadance were casually strolling through the castle’s gardens when Cadance came to a stop.
“Yeah I am.” Cadance said before looking back to the Lunar wing of the castle. “But I just got a strange shiver down my spine.”
“So your love sense is tingling again?” Shining said jokingly.
Instead of giving Shining a response Cadance stood still her gaze never leaving the Lunar wing. ‘Something’s up. And I’ll sure as Tartarus find out what’s getting my love sense tingling.’ Cadance thought to herself before continuing after Shining on their walk.