//------------------------------// // 32. Celestia investigates a sighting of Nightmare Moon by Prince Blueblood // Story: Short Shorts // by Coranth //------------------------------// It was as Celestia was talking to the new Gryphon Ambassador that her nephew, Prince Blueblood, tore into the room like a frightened colt. "Auntie!" Cried he. "Auntie!" With a long-suffering sigh, the Princess of the Sun turned away from the - admittedly rather handsome Gryphon - to face the white-coated, blond-maned stallion. "Yes, Nephew; what is it this time?" she asked, an air of irritation suffusing her. "Nightmare Moon!" stammered the Prince. "It's Nightmare Moon; she's returned!" At his words, Princess Celestia rested her head in her hooves for a moment, suppressing the urge to groan; ever since the human, David, had been brought to Equestria by her beloved Sister, more than one frightened pony had come to her with reports of 'the Dread Mare, Nightmare Moon' being sighted throughout the castle. However all of the reports had been utterly true--and usually, all had been completely benign. Raising her head to look at the Prince - pasting a radiant smile upon her face - she sweetly asked him, "Nephew... where exactly did you see Nightmare Moon?" "In David and Luna's shared quarters!" the Prince promptly answered. Celestia facehoofed hard enough to shatter diamonds. As she recovered herself, the Gryphon Ambassador looked on in concern. "Everything alright?" asked he in his soft, Germane accent. Raising her head to look at him, the Solar Diarch smiled; he was such a gentle fellow. "I'm fine. If you'll excuse me, your Excellency, I need to deal with a family matter..." At her words, the Ambassador nodded amicably. "Oh, ja, ja," replied he. "Family very important. Our talk can vait." Nodding her thanks to him, Princess Celestia sighed wearily and then - with Prince Blueblood marching ahead of her - she left the Throne Room and made her way to the chambers shared by her sister, Princess Luna and her beloved, David. Upon arrival there - as they approached the chamber doors which, Celestia noted, were slightly ajar - Blueblood nervously stammered, "I--I'll just... just stay out here, yes? Don't want to be caught in the crossfire when the magic starts flying... eh-heh-heh..." Then, before the Solar Princess could even voice a protest against him, the Unicorn 'Prince' skittered away and zipped out of sight around a corner. Disgruntled, Celestia sighed through her nose then gently pushed open the doors and stepped into her sister's room. Therein, what she saw brought a bemused smile to her face. Upon her sister's bed, as naked as the day she was foaled, lay Nightmare Moon, soft coos and little breathy sighs escaping her throat as her beloved human companion used his hands to stroke, pet, and caress her everywhere he could reach. Half-jealous - half wanting to exclaim "D'aww...!" - Celestia watched as the Dread Mare stretched languidly like a cat beneath her beloved's ever-stroking hands, nuzzling and nosing foal-like into the pillow upon which her head rested. A moment later, issuing an adorable squeak, Moon rolled onto her back, allowing David to massage along her forelegs and gently cup her hooves in his hands; then he stroked and caressed her chest and barrel for a time before moving lower to gently... ever-so-gently... massage her teats and crescent before at last burying his hands into her fluffy tail. 'By Faust...' thought Celestia, swallowing thickly as she looked on, 'he... he really is touching her everywhere...!' Said touches were non-sexual in nature; all merely served to drive Nightmare Moon to greater, and greater heights of bliss. Needless to say, it took quite a while before the Dread Mare became aware of her sister's presence in the room. When at last she did, however - as she rolled here and here so that David could stroke this part of her and that part - Nightmare Moon lazily opened one reptilian eye and then, "Oh, hey, Celly..." slurred she upon seeing the Solar Diarch standing there watching, "y'know... you reeealy shhoulld try this; let him work on you with his handsss... Mmmh, feels so... so good! You know... I'mma bring more humans here, an... an I'mma open-a new business called a 'Petting Parlour.' They'll be... mmh... everywhere... - places where anypony can go be stroked and petted and massaged by humans all day long...! Gentle humans like David with his gentle hands...!" 'That...' thought Celestia, as she watched David continue to caress and pet her sister, 'really doesn't sound like a bad idea...'