Itinerant Kingdom

by Istaran

Chapter 4: Assorted hungers

When Wind Chaser arrived to retrieve me after class, I was in the schoolyard with Midnight Oil, helping her with her multiplication tables. To her credit, she was mostly focused on the task at hand, though she insisted on rubbing my horn lightly with her magic the whole time. Even unicorns generally couldn't 'see' magic, so I let her get away with it, using it as practice to focus through distractions. My own horn glowed a dim green the whole time, working on my own area of growth.

"Who's your new friend, Blank?" my guardian drone asked. [She seems awfully affectionate. Thinking of taking on another mate?]

"This is Midnight Oil. She's going to help me learn horn magic, while I tutor her in math. Isn't that great?" I responded. [Jealous?]

"That's wonderful! I was coming to bring you home, but I can come back later if you need?" she offered. [Not at all. A queen normally has many lovers, an entire caste dedicated to the role. A king should be no different. Especially since I myself cannot bear young for you. Just as long as you continue to love me as well.]

"I'm actually getting pretty hungry," I said, standing up. "Shall we resume tomorrow?" [She's a bit young for me, and.. honestly I'm concerned about her. I'll admit I'm a bit new to pony psychology, but where I come from a girl this young and this.. brazenly sexual is usually the result of some serious problems at home.]

"I'd like to continue, if you'll let me buy you dinner," Midnight quickly offered. "Where should I drop him off when I'm done with him?" she asked my 'mother'.

"We're staying at the Citrus Stable, on Mane Street. He'll be able to find me once you get him there. Have a good time, you two!" she said, handing me off with a wink and a smile. [Do you expect to invite only the emotionally stable and well adjusted into the Itinerant Kingdom. How many do you think will accept? I don't mind being your only subject, but I do feel like a king should have more ambition than that.]

"Well, I'm not one to turn down free food," I said with a smile. That had been true since long before I could turn calories into magic. It certainly wasn't changing now. [I hadn't thought of it that way. Anyone we offer to join us.. we'd be offering to rip them from the life they know and take them on the road with us, where they'll never know stability again. Only people with serious problems at home or a serious case of wanderlust will ever even entertain such an offer, much less accept. I'll consider it, but I'm not dragging in every mare with a lustful eye and a sob story.]

[As you wish, my king. Quality over quantity then. It is a wise strategy, as it will help us to remain more mobile,] Wind Chaser replied as she waved goodbye to me and took her leave.

Midnight and I walked side by side from the schoolyard toward the quaint little collection of businesses that was the town center. "So.. I overheard that your dad was a, umm.. you know," she started. "Like mine.."

"A loose stallion," I nodded. "I never met him.. did you meet yours?" The nice thing about an absentee fictional father was that I didn't have to make up details about him. Unfortunately, the conversation made me miss my real father, back on Earth.. a kind, loving, jovial man who could do a descent Santa Claus impression just by wearing a red sweater. Especially the facial expressions. Oh well, the hint of sadness just helped sell the scene.

"No. My.. mom eventually did marry, though. Just not to my dad. I guess your mom is still on her own?" she replied.

"We have each other," I shrugged. "She works hard, and I know she would do anything for me. I guess I don't really know what it's like having a stallion in my life, so I don't miss it."

"I do.." she said, darkly. "I guess I just wish I had a better one."

I sat down, forcing her to stop where we were, just beyond the start of the shop row. "Is that why you've been so.. forward with me?"

She blushed a bit, being called out on it so openly. "I know I come on strong but.. I didn't want to wait, and risk somepony else snatching you up. I didn't want to blink and find you gone.." There was surely another story behind that, but it would wait until she was ready.

I leaned forward and pulled her into a hug. "I can't stay.. not for long. It's not our.. way. When you blink.. and I'm not gone.. but everything else you know and love is: will that be okay?"

"There isn't anything else I love.. " she objected.

I straightened myself, looking in her eyes. "You don't love me either, not yet. You love the idea of me, and I'm not sure I even know what that idea is, let alone whether I can live up to it."

She broke eye contact, looking at my hooves instead. "I've made a foal of myself.."

I pulled her snout up with a hoof, bringing her eyes back to mine. "You are a foal, but there's time yet to grow out of it. Come on, you offered to buy me dinner. And we still both have a lot to learn."

When we got to the Orange Peel Diner, we left all the heavy stuff behind. We talked for hours, as I began to get to know her and learn about the other children and townsfolk. I kept the conversation off of myself as much as I could, which wasn't too hard. Midnight had been in desperate need of someone to talk to, just in general, and I was happier lending an ear than trying to talk about myself.

I kept my horn glowing the whole time, slowly getting brighter. Midnight chided me playfully for being such a glutton, as I ate quite a bit more than a single meal while we were there. She herself was satisfied with a salad for dinner, and a light snack just before we finally called it a night. It probably helped that she kept the inappropriate magical touching to a minimum.

She walked me to the inn we were currently calling home, and caught me in a nice, long, affectionate kiss. When we finally broke free, I was sorely tempted to invite her inside, but I held my ground while I still could. "Goodnight, Midnight Oil. It was really great meeting you today, and I look forward to spending more time with you. I'll see you at school tomorrow."

"Yeah, you too. Don't forget to eat and rest! Your glow is coming along nicely, but you've got a lot more to master."

We parted ways, and I headed upstairs. With our link, it was no trouble locating Wind Chaser. The door was locked, but I was able to turn the bolt with a little magnetism and let myself in anyways. I closed and locked the door behind me, before heading into the room.

When I caught sight of Wind Chaser, she was on the bed, the sheets pulled around her to keep her form hidden, but enough was showing to make it clear she was mimicking Midnight Oil's body. With all the teasing and groping the real Midnight had been giving me, combined with the knowledge of what Wind Chaser needed and wanted from me, I passed my limit. Mostly.

"I'll be with her when I'm with her. Change back to yourself.. your real self!"

And then I filled my hungry changeling with every manner of love I could muster.