Mark was nervous...very nervous.
Oh, a lot of what he was doing could be explained away as natural. The tugging at his collar, adjusting and readjusting his three piece suit, and shifting in his seat could be dismissed as the suit just being uncomfortable. Though Rarity was very much an expert in all things clothing related, and had done ample research of Mark’s clothes as a guide, few ponies got everything right the first time.
“Really, darling, it can’t be that bad,” she said with a huff, clearly not liking how he was fidgeting around and wrinkling his suit. “I know I don’t know a lot about your…kind, but surely it’s not too uncomfortable,” she said, eye starting to twitch as he readjusted it yet again.
“Oh calm down, Rarity. Ah think it’s plain ta see he don’t fancy being so dressed up,” said Applejack, chuckling a little at both Rarity and Mark’s antics. She and the others were dressed in their usual outfits (which was to say, nothing), their close relationship with Princesses Celestia and Luna allowing them to go casual. Mark, being new, had felt it necessary to dress up…though had he known how much trouble the outfit would be, he might’ve toned it down a bit.
“No offense, Rarity, but I’m not exactly the type who goes around like this all the time, so I tend to notice it when I am,” he said, shifting in his seat once more, fighting the urge to get to his feet and pace. They were almost there, so hopefully he would be moving again soon…though at the same time, his nervousness was increasing the closer they got. Mark knew little to nothing about etiquette when it came to royalty, even though Twilight insisted Celestia preferred to be treated just like any other pony. It wouldn’t do his stay in Equestria any good if he upset the rulers.
“Come on, Mark, chill out. Celestia and Luna’ll be delighted to meet ya, I promise,” piped up Rainbow Dash, confident as always. “If their favorite egghead vouches for ya, ya’ve got it made,” she said, drawing a blush from Twilight, who tried unsuccessfully to hide it behind a hoof, getting a smirk from the cyan Pegasus.
“We’re the Elements of Harmony, Mark,” said Fluttershy in her soft, shy voice, giving him a gentle smile even as she avoided his eyes. “If you have our support, everything will be okay.”
“I told them everything, Mark, so they know how much of a stranger you are here…and they know all you’ve done to help out, so I’m pretty sure you already have a good start,” Twilight assured him, reaching over and patting his shoulder with a hoof…which drew another angry huff from Rarity, as it wrinkled his suit. The human nodded and straightened the wrinkle, scooting away a bit and trying to calm himself.
As promised, after she’d done what research she’d felt she needed to do, Twilight had sent her report off to these princesses, along with a request for a formal audience with them for the human. Celestia had responded almost immediately, accepting her request and voicing interest in meeting the new guest of Equestria. Princess Luna hadn’t responded, but Twilight had told him she rarely responded to her letters anyway, so it wasn’t a big deal.
“Of course…she hasn’t met you before…so she doesn’t know you don’t know how to act. So don’t forget to bow…and call her “Princess Celestia” or “Your highness”…and speak politely…and…” started Twilight, going into one of her OCD moments, a nervous smile on her face, sweat starting to bead on her, eyes darting this way and that. “And be extra polite with Luna…she’s very strict…and…”
“Twilight!” said Applejack, loudly and firmly, a hoof coming down on her shoulder now as the cowpony looked her in the eye. “We don’t need two of ya sweating buckets, so jest relax, sugarcube,” she said, continuing to look firmly at the ebony pony until she calmed down, then giving the same look at Mark. “Just be yourself, Mark, and Ah promise you’ll do fine. Like Flutters said, ya got the Elements of Harmony vouchin’ fer ya, so you’ve got it made.”
Mark let out a sigh and gave a weak smile, nodding as he settled back into his seat. Celestia’s return letter had expressed great interest in meeting Mark and she sounded quite pleased with what Twilight had been able to tell him, so perhaps it was best to just relax and let things go with the flow. In any case, he could see the station they were to stop at approaching, so it was now too late to change his mind.
With a loud whistle and screeching of its brakes, the train came to a halt at the station, Mark and the six ponies standing up and slowly moving to the exit…and all letting out shocked gasps as the first sight greeting them were several ponies in golden armor, standing ramrod straight with expressionless faces. As soon as they saw Mark, their right hooves shot up in a salute, then they stepped to either side of the platform, opening the way for the group to exit.
The six ponies led Mark off the platform and down the streets of Canterlot, Celestia‘s Sun Guards forming a perimeter around them as they made their way to the castle. The six ponies appeared a bit confused by the display, but didn’t pay much attention to it…while Mark was flushed crimson, clearly put off by it.
“Is this really necessary?” he asked, the heat and his suit having little to do with the sweat beading on his forehead. He was never one for ceremonies, and this one being aimed specifically at him didn’t help.
“Like we keep telling ya, sugarcube, yer the first of yer kind here. Ah’m guessin the princesses think you deserve a special welcome,” said Applejack, the seven of them walking up the stairs into the castle, leading him through the marble halls, more guards greeting them along the way.
Mark couldn’t help but let his head swivel this way and that as he walked, the sheer size of the castle almost overwhelming. Even back on his home world, he’d never been in such a large structure, and after half a year among the humble homes of Ponyville, it took a lot of effort not to get dizzy from the complete turnaround.
“How do you girls go from someplace like Ponyville to here without being overwhelmed?” he asked as they approached a large door, which he assumed led to Princess Celestia’s chambers. He felt his nerves starting to act up, stomach fluttering, but he steeled himself and put his best face on, giving one last check of his suit.
Twilight and her friends formed up alongside their guest, three on each side. Nodding for him to take the lead, Twilight and Rarity opened the door with their magic, revealing a large room, decorated in splendor and regal colors. Mark hesitated for a moment, the sight a bit overwhelming…then steeled himself and moved in.
The first thing that struck Mark about Princess Celestia, who calmly sat at her throne as they entered and moved up close, was how tall she was. He didn’t exactly tower over the ponies in Ponyville, but with the exception of Big Mac, he was either even with them or taller than them. Celestia easily beat out even Big Mac, looking down at him with a warm smile on her face.
The next thing that struck him was how maternal she seemed. He didn’t know a thing about her, but just from that smile…he felt a strange warmth fill him, like what he used to feel when he was a child around his mother. Somehow, just from that smile, he knew that he had nothing to fear and everything would be okay.
She was certainly beautiful, even to one with no standards by which to judge. Her white coat was pristine and glossy, looking as if no dirt had ever touched it. Her mane and tail fluttered and waved through the air even as she remained still, the colors of blue, green, purple and pink certainly eye-catching, though not surprising Mark too much since he’d been around Rainbow Dash up until this point. Her magenta eyes met his full on, and though he often had trouble looking people in the eye, Mark found himself returning her gaze with only a slight blush, the eyes so warm and welcoming. Yes…everything would be okay.
The other ponies with him bowed low…except for Twilight, who gave a big grin and all but bounced over to the majestic pony and rubbed against her, Celestia extending a wing around her in what he assumed was a pony version of a hug.
“Hello, my faithful student. Was your trip pleasant?” she asked in an almost musical voice, nuzzling Twilight…and further confirming the maternal feeling Mark had gotten from her.
“It was for most of us, Princess Celestia. Mark, on the other hand…,” she said, turning back to him, which suddenly snapped Mark out of his observation mode. He bowed as best he could in his suit, falling down to one knee and lowering his head.
“Ah, so this is the Mark Hirami you’ve told me so much about,” he heard her say, hearing the clop of hoofs against the stone floor as she approached him. He felt a gentle caress on the top of his head, recognizing it as one of her wings…and fighting the urge to rub against it like a kitten being stroked. “Please, sir Mark, you may rise. No need to be so formal,” she said with a soft giggle, the human slowly looking up at her, then rising to his feet.
“Uhh…if it’s alright with you…your majesty, I’d prefer just Mark. I’m not that special,” he said, Celestia looking confused for a moment at his choice of words, then smiling and bowing her head. Behind her, Twilight blanched and then cringed, but Celestia’s next words calmed the nervous unicorn.
“Tut tut…Mark. You most certainly are special if Twilight’s letters speak the truth. Though you are a stranger to Equestria, you’ve done your best to endear yourself to my ponies in so many helpful ways. I think it speaks highly of you that you’ve sought to earn your place here despite how…unwelcome you’ve probably been treated by most. You have my sincerest apologies for any ponies who haven’t treated you as the guest you are, and you have my word that such treatment will be rectified,” she said, leaning down and giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek, her lips feeling like the softest of silk, the human stiffening up with a sharp intake of breath.
With another giggle, the princess turned away, Mark staying put as she returned to her throne and sat down, her gaze returning to him.
“First off, young Mark, since you now have my official blessing, you are essentially a citizen of Equestria, and as such, you will be granted all the privileges and rights that come with it…though this also includes the responsibilities to respect our laws and customs,” he said, her smile still there, but a strange firmness in her voice and bearing. Yep, she had all the parts of a maternal being, including the ability to be strict.
“However, I do understand that even with your time here, you are still a stranger in a strange land, so measures will be taken to accommodate you in any and all possible ways. But that is for later; for now, I invite you to spend some time in Canterlot with Twilight and her friends, and enjoy my hospitality. From what my faithful student has told me, you are very deserving of a vacation, so consider that granted,” she said, her warm look returning.
Mark wasn’t sure how to respond to that. It wasn’t everyday one entered not just a new city, but also a completely new world, one that defied imagination. However, her acceptance of him would do for now, knowing he might be able to live a somewhat normal life since he was officially accepted.
“Thank you, your majesty. I fully appreciate the gift you are granting me, and I will do my utmost to be worthy of it,” he said, bowing at the waist and then standing up. He hesitated for a moment, not sure what to do next…when he heard the door opening up behind him once again.
“Ah, good morning, sister. I was beginning to wonder if you’d forgotten about our guest’s arrival,” said Celestia, looking at and addressing someone behind him. Mark turned, eyes widening a little as he saw what could only be another princess approaching him, her manner regal, her face impassive. She was more his height, her body stocky and muscular, her coat a luscious shade of dark blue, her cerulean eyes locked on his. He would’ve thought her beautiful if she wasn’t looking at him so intently
“Mark, please allow me to introduce my sister Luna, Princess of the Night,” was heard behind him, Mark turning to fully face this Princess, who spoke no word nor made any motion of greeting, her eyes focused on his, her face remaining unsmiling. It wasn’t hostile or stern…more like aloof, as if she deciding what to think of him. She walked in such a way as to make a soldier jealous, body straight, steps even, eyes dead front.
Mark stood where he was, not sure if he should greet her, bow, or what have you, but he kept his eyes on hers as she got closer and closer, soon stopping almost nose to nose with him. He felt her breath from her nostrils, saw her flanks expanding and contracting, Luna still not making a move or speaking a word.
“Luna, he’s our guest. Please, remember your manners,” came Celestia’s voice from behind him, still warm, but holding that faint edge again, no doubt accompanied by a stern look. Luna didn’t answer, her gaze starting to unnerve him, making him wonder if he was committing some form of insult. Finally, deciding he had nothing to lose, he bowed to one knee again, head held low.
“Forgive me, your majesty. I’m…I’m afraid I’m not familiar with your protocol, so please forgive me if I’ve made an error or insulted you. It was not intentional,” he said, looking at her hooves, noting the glass slippers on them. He heard nothing from her at first…but then one of the hooves slowly rose, hanging in the air in front of him.
He resisted the urge to look up at her, gazing at the hoof for a moment. As he should’ve expected, it was well-manicured and clean, the glass slipper on it sparkling in the light. Could she want him to do what he was thinking she wanted him to do? Only one way to find out.
Gently taking the offered hoof in his hand, he brought it to his face and pressed his lips against it. Kissing a hoof wasn’t exactly his idea the best way to give his first one to someone of royalty, but he did his best, finding Luna’s hoof surprisingly clean. He kept the kiss for several seconds, then hesitantly looked up at the lunar princess…to see a very warm smile on her face, the stone-cold look completely gone.
“You may rise, sir Mark,” she said softly, and for some reason…Mark felt no urge to correct her.