Waking with another pony in his hooves was a regular occurrence for Joe, but this morning felt different. It might’ve have been the fact he could see a blue horn in front of him, which was strange as he didn’t really go for unicorns, or it could have been the fact he couldn’t remember leaving the casino last light.
Extracting himself from the bed, Joe yawned and trotted into the bathroom for a glass of water, finally catching sight himself in a mirror. Whoa... looks like I had a rough night of it... wait, what’s that?
Lifting a hoof to his horn, Joe brushed his mane aside, his jaw dropping open. Around his horn sat a gold ring, but this wasn’t a magic inhibitor. No, this was, to a single stallion, something much worse. Being distracted by his new jewellery, Joe failed to notice the mare had joined him until she pushed him out of the way and stuck her head in the sink, turning the cold tap on.
Leaning over her, Joe tried to look at the mare’s horn, but her mane, now soaking wet, covered her head. He waited for her to pull back, but when she did she ignored him, heading back into the bedroom, where she stopped dead. “...this isn’t Trixie’s home.”
“It’s not my hotel room either,” Joe remarked, causing the mare to jump around with a scream. The two stared at each other in silence, Joe trying to work out where he had seen her from, but his memory was still hazy. He watched as her eyes slowly moved up his head, and he was reminded of the ring around his horn.
“Oh sweet Celestia,” Trixie said, shaking her head and stepping closer. As she did, Joe caught sight of gold around the base of her horn as well, but he didn’t get a chance to say anything as Trixie glared at him. “Have you no shame? Making Trixie sleep with a married stallion! Where is your wife?”
“Actually,” Joe started, scratching the back of his head and smiling sheepishly. “I think we’re married.” Trotting over, Joe placed his horn next to Trixie’s, and, sure enough, there was a spark of magic between the rings, a sign of a unicorn wedding. “See?”
Trixie jumped back with a gasp, then ran into the bathroom and looked in the mirror, giving another scream. Joe could hear her muttering to herself for several minutes before she re-emerged, looking at him with a cocked head. “Trixie is married to you... and Trixie doesn’t even know your name, or what you do.”
“Name’s Joe, I’m a baker in Canterlot,” he replied, sitting to his haunches. “So, I guess we go get this annulled now?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. His eye went wide as Trixie stepped closer and nuzzled him, slipping between his hooves.
“Trixie...doesn’t think so, not yet,” came a quiet voice, the mare shifting against him. “Trixie... would like to know what it’s like.”
Giving a chuckle, Joe wrapped a hoof around Trixie and hugged her close, returning the nuzzle. “Well, so would I. Come on, I’ll introduce you to some of my family who’s in town.”
“Not yet,” Trixie stated, lifting them both onto the bed with her magic, pressing close against Joe’s chest. “More snuggles first.” Joe just nodded, paused for a moment, the lay a soft kiss on her lips before pulling her head under his chin, closing his eyes.
The last time Blueblood woke up with a pounding head his life changed for the better, for that day he discovered a new lead which took him back to Derpy and the discovery of Dinky. Last time he awoke on his mattress, but this time the surface underneath him was cold and hard, the sounds of everyday life filling his ears as ponies and carts went by; the only conclusion he could draw was that he was outside.
He went to massage the pounding in his temple with a hoof, but found he couldn’t move either of his fore hooves. Slowly opening an eye, the stallion looked above him, wincing as the sun shined down upon him almost directly. Okay, it’s either just before noon or just after. Now, why can’t I move?
Looking to where his forelegs were restricted to, Blueblood saw a street light between them, very confused. It was only when he tried to move his hooves again did he realise what was going on, a chain on the other side of the post attached to cuffs around each fetlock. “What on...”
A sudden camera flash drew his attention, and he saw a pony with the offending item looking at him... with more on the way. His eyes going wide, Blueblood started to tug at the chain and cuffs, but that just made them tighter and a lot of noise as more cameras took his picture.
After several minutes of panic Blueblood relaxed a little, putting his audience out of his mind as he tried to think of a way out. It became obvious when he looked up and saw the tip of his horn, making him chuckle. He gathered a small bit of magic and then launched it at the cuffs...his jaw dropping open as the spell simply bounced off the offending items.
As his other senses came back, he felt something a little off about his body. He looked down, being surprised for the third time upon finding an emerald green corset around his waist, and his legs sporting a pair of black stockings, with matching panties.
Turning away from the small crowd that had gathered, Blueblood got another shock to the system, seeing a sign saying ‘Photographs with Equestria’s Newest Princess!’, along with several photos of him in the position he had awoken in with random ponies sat next to him. With a deep sigh he resigned himself to his fate, but his mood perked up when he saw two of Las Pegasus’ finest coming towards him.
“Sir, you are... in violation of...” one started, doing her best but failing to hold back her snickers. “...Las Pegasus local... law thirty-two.” The mare shoved a hoof in her mouth and turned around, leaving her partner to finish off.
“The law states that whilst certain activities are not illegal in the city, doing it in public is,” the stallion said, pulling out a set of hoofcuff keys and unlocking one of them, Blueblood sighing with relief… until the cuff was snapped shut over his hoof again, without the lamp post in the way. “I’m afraid you’ll have to come with us to the station...”
Bloody Tartarus… I haven’t felt like this since my retirement…
Lucky groaned as he lifted his head from the icy floor he rested on, rubbing his eyes to clear his blurry vision from the dust that gathered in his lids. The elder stallion looked around until his eyes landed on the bathroom’s door, where the sound of loud snoring emitted from. The stallion stood up from the ground, wobbling and nearly falling backwards as he tried to maintain his balance.
Once he found his footing, Lucky’s ears perked to the sound the hotel door opening, with two stallions coming inside. One of them was Blueblood, who was holding his right ear with his eyes squinted as he grimaced. The other was Wise Words, who had a disapproving scowl on his face, something that was as rare as a blue moon.
“What the hay happened to you?” Lucky asked Blueblood, who was still massaging his ear.
“Something you will most likely see in the newspapers,” Wise grunted in response as he narrowed his eyes on Blueblood. “You should be fortunate enough I was able to coerce the guards in not filing a record on you.”
Blueblood finally lowered his hoof from his head. “You didn’t have to pinch my ear all the way to the hotel like some foal,”
“Be grateful that’s the only punishment you’re getting from me for that little stint,” Wise Words replied as he sighed. I just hope this doesn’t put a strain on their relationship.
“Where are the others?” Blueblood asked Lucky, wanting to change the topic of his morning’s escapades. Before the latter could answer, the door to the bathroom opened and revealed groggily Big Macintosh on the other side. The others gasped when they saw him.
He wore what looked like a wedding dress that barely fit him, with his hair perfectly tied in pigtails and wearing make up that was spoiled and looked smudged on his face. Big Macintosh also sported glittering shoes with heels on each of them. How he has able to stand on them in his current state was beyond anyone’s guess.
“Big Mac…” Lucky began as he cocked his brow and scanned the red stallion’s body. “Where did you get that wedding dress?” he asked as he pointed his hoof to the dress, that was beginning to tear when the behemoth tried to take a cautious step with the heels he was wearing.
“Well,” Big Macintosh grunted before he fell onto his haunches, with his hind legs’ heels caving in and shattering. “Ah think this here dress belongs to…” he paused for a moment until the front door opened to reveal Donut Joe and Trixie. “Her.”
Donut Joe felt Trixie etch closer to him and could feel her shiver, not from cold but from intimidation from have the other stallions gaze upon her. “Um… dad,” the stallion began to speak to Lucky, was staring at the pair with a blank expression. “Say ‘hello’ to my wife, Trixie.”
What the… Lucky tried to focus his eyesight, and sure enough, he saw rings on the horns of his son and his official daughter-in-law. The elder stallion sighed and planted his hoof to his face as he shook his head. “Your mother is going to have a field day with this…”
Rolling out of bed with a yawn, Celestia glanced at the clock over her mantlepiece, then lit her horn. The clock was one she had made a thousand years ago, to remind herself when to lower and raise the sun and the moon, and she'd given Luna a similar one when she came back.
Opening her balcony doors with her magic, Celestia turned her tired eyes to the east and started to raise the sun, feeling the moon being lowered by her sister at the same time. An early morning autumn breeze made Celestia shiver, and even wrapping her wings around herself did nothing to help.
Returning into her bedchambers, she levitated a purple robe over to herself and wrapped it around her body, closing her eyes for a moment. As she trotted past her bed, she noticed a few odd lumps, and lifted the duvet from it.
I think those five guards can have some extra time off... Shaking her head, she went into her bathroom, at in front of the mirror, and started to brush her mane. My, I look off colour... perhaps a little pink. Has Luna dyed me again?
Giggling, she raised a hoof to her cheek, but her mirth drained away when she realised what had happened. Her coat hadn’t been dyed, the pink was her skin. Somepony had shaved off all of her fur. A scream tore forth from her mouth as she darted from her chambers, making the guards stir.
Down the corridors she ran, ignoring the snickers from servants and guards alike, making her way over to another tower, where she was certain the culprit was hiding. The two Katakans stood by the double doors marked with crescent moons took one look at Celestia and made what was probably the wisest choice of their lives; they quickly left their posts and disappeared down the corridor.
Abandoning all protocol, Celestia reared up and slammed her forehooves onto the wood, cracking it a little and forcing them open, the alicorn stomping inside. “LUNA!” she shouted, making her sister shoot up in her bed. “What did you to me this time?”
Blinking herself awake, Luna took a good hard look at her sister... and burst out laughing, falling back to the mattress. “Oh dearest sister, hath though started a new fashion trend?” Luna’s bed was side on to the door, so Celestia couldn’t see the other pony in the room, at least until Deadeye raised his head and lay it over Luna’s chest.
“...did somepony turn up the sun for extra tan?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at Celestia.
Silence hung in the room for several tense moments before Celestia’s eyes widened upon seeing Luna’s pillow. Pulling it out from under her sister, Celestia turned it sideways and watched as white pony hairs began to fall to the floor. “Luna!”
Luna just gave Celestia a smile, using her magic to put away the hair clippers that lay on the side. She then pushed Deadeye from the bed and got up herself, trotting over to her sister and nuzzling. “You know how I get when drunk... but still, I’m sorry.” A rumble from the stallion’s stomach caused both mares to giggle. “Breakfast?” Luna asked.
“Breakfast,” Celestia agreed, both mares heading to the door whilst Deadeye just grumbled from the heap he’d become on the floor.
“No!!!” Twilight screamed as she ran out of the room, immediately going into the bathroom to wash her coat and mane, that had surprisingly turned red. It was not just her coat that was red, but her mane had also become red with streaks of black flowing through it.
No matter how hard she tried, the dye wouldn’t come out of her coat or mane. “Oh my gosh! This isn’t happening! What’s Biggie going to think?! What’s my baby going to say?!” Twilight cried as she scrubbed her whole body over again. C’mon! Please get it out!
“I love it how poison joke can go so far in pranks…” Nightshade snickered as she ate her toast with Derpy, both enjoying breakfast to the fullest as they did not overindulge like the other mares did. Still… I can’t beat the Night-Mistress in terms of being mischievous…
“I wonder how long it will take her to figure it out though…” Derpy muttered as she munched on her muesli, her eyes lingering to her stomach as he a smile crept onto her face. I can’t wait until you come into the world… The grey pegasus looked up to the Katakan mare when a thought came her head. “Um, Nightshade?”
Nightshade eyes locked onto Derpy’s. “Hmm?”
“Do Katakan partake in weddings?”
The question caught Nightshade off guard as she snorted on her coffee. “Well,” the Katakan paused as she collected her thoughts. “Katakans don’t normally follow events such as what the three pony tribes do… even though the Night-Mistress encourages integration of cultures between our kind and yours,” the Katakan smiled and continued once she finished her plate of breakfast. “Even though we normally don’t do weddings, there are a few Katakans who have decided to pursue marriage with the one they love.”
“It must be difficult, trying to fit in and maintain your culture as best you can,” Derpy replied as she trailed off, savouring her breakfast with each bite.
“I suppose, though we are fast learners and capable warriors,” Nightshade grinned, exposing her fangs to Derpy who shivered at the sight of them. “Though, even with the Night-Mistress’ assistance, we still feel some things for us shouldn’t change. Like eating meat for instance.”
“I see,” Derpy said.
Nightshade giggled as she looked around, not seeing other ponies coming downstairs. “Besides, the Night-Mistress will insist on my son for a wedding… whether he likes it or not.”
Derpy tittered as she covered her mouth with her hoof. “That will be interesting to witness…” the grey pegasus replied as she imagined Luna in a wedding dress and Deadeye in a tuxedo or in his decorative army suit. “Say, Nightshade…” Derpy furrowed her brow as another thought came to her. “Can Katakans and other ponies have babies together?”
“Of course,” Nightshade replied. “We’re just as biologically compatible as ponies are with griffons, dragons and buffalo to name a few. Even an alicorn can breed with a Katakan.” Not to mention I want some grand-foals from the Night-Mistress before I go… The Katakan mare’s ears perked when she heard Twilight Sparkle crying hysterically from a room to the side. I think I need to have one of my Shadowbolts escort her to the spa…
Just as Derpy was about to get up from her seat, Sugary Myth and the Royal Sisters entered the room and took their place at the table to indulge themselves in breakfast. The grey pegasus’ eyes nearly bulged out when she saw the state Celestia was in. The once white alicorn now resembled a giant turkey with a flowing mane. The grey pegasus did her best not to fall onto the floor in a fit of laughter.
“My, my,” Nightshade whistled when she gazed at Celestia, who wore a deep scowl on her face as she poured herself tea.
“Nightshade… don’t start with me now,” Celestia grumbled in return as she gulped down her cup of tea in one shot.
Derpy cleared her throat as she kept the laughter at bay, and looked around the table in curiousity. “Has anypony seen Amy?” she asked the others, only to be met with silence and a few who shrugged at her question.
“Now that you mention it, she wasn’t in her room when I checked earlier… I thought she was here,” Sugary replied as she scratched her head.
“I think I may have a notion to where she is,” Nightshade replied, her voice surprisingly dry. “If you will follow me, Derpy,” the Katakan captain motioned the grey pegasus to follow her, leaving the others to their own devices.
“Where are we going?” Derpy asked as they entered a chamber in the castle, and saw Swift lying awake on the bed, looking up at the ceiling, Amethyst sleeping with her muzzle tucked against his neck.
Swift lowered his face to see the shocked face of Derpy and a glare from Nightshade. “Good morning mother,” the stallion waved lazily to his parent. “Morning Princess.”
“Swift, have you actually done what I think you have done to our friend here?” Nightshade interrogated her son as she walked in closer to the bed, taking a few sniffs in the air for any odours.
“Of course not, I would never take advantage of a mare that intoxicated,” Swift replied as he turned his head to a still sleeping Amethyst. “She didn’t want to be alone during the night and I provided her some comfort… though the things she mentioned about Katakan stallions being the ‘best’ really perked my curiosity.”
Amethyst opened her eyes and saw Swift next to her, holding her close in bed. The unicorn mare smiled demurely at him, though she was feeling a slight pain in her head thanks to the previous night. She did not notice the other two mares in the room as her eyes were closing again, until she heard one of them cough.
The mare yelped and jumped out of bed with haste. “N-nightshade!” Amethyst blurted out as her pupils shrank and darted from one corner to the other. “This isn’t what it looks like!”
“Just come to breakfast, will you?” Nightshade said plainly as she walked out with Derpy following suit.
Once they were alone, Swift got up from the bed and stretched his limbs as he yawned. “I hope you had a good time last night,” he spoke to Amethyst, who relaxed once the presence of Nightshade was no longer in the room.
“We didn’t actually… you know…” Amethyst tried to ask, only for Swift to shake his head with a gentle smile. “Oh good, I must have sounded like a real idiot last night though.”
“Actually, you gave me a reason to visit Ponyville in the near future,” Swift replied as he walked towards Amethyst and pressed his lips against hers. He felt her immediately sink into the kiss with her releasing a low moan just as he released his muzzle from hers. “Now what say you we go and meet the others, Amethyst?”
The mare giggled as she walked alongside the stallion. “Please, call me Amy,” she replied as they left the bed chamber together.