Anon X Prince Artemis Parts 1+2

>You are Anon, an insomniac

>It doesn't do your liver any favors, but you deal with this with booze and over-the-counter meds

>At least, you used to

>A month ago, you were magically transported into Equestria

>You were immediately captured and brought to Canterlot

>Now you live a comfortable, if quite, life in the castle as an "esteemed guest"

>You get the feeling you're more prisoner than guest, but you're well-treated, so no complaints

>Well, except about the insomnia

>No sleep meds to help you, and pony booze is laughably weak

>You keep yourself occupied in the day mostly through conversation, there are plenty of interesting ponies around the castle

>Occasionally you go out to experience Canterlot, but guards always tail you, making it a bit awkward

>All in all, you can normally find something to do

>Nights, however, are unbearable

>No internet, no TV, no ponies to talk with, no extra guards to take you out, no anything

>You can't even read anymore- the pony's faux-Cyrillic writing is completely illegible to you

>Fucking boring

 

>Find yourself walking the halls of the castle for the thousandth time

>It must be around 3am, and you're pretty sure you won't be getting any sleep tonight

>Rumble in your stomach

>Decide to get some pre-breakfast

>You head to the personal kitchen that the castle staff uses and start mixing some pancake batter

>The door opens behind you, and you turn around to look who it is

>Its Prince Artemis

>There's an awkward silence

>"Umm... Greetings, Anon"

"Y-you too"

>You both know who each other are, and you've even passed each other in the halls at night a few times

>His bat-pony guards always made him seem a bit cold and distant though, so you never approached him

>However, he's alone now

>He sits down at the dining table behind you without saying anything else

>You continue to mix the batter, turning around again so as not to stare

 

>It's been about 5 minutes

>You've started to cook the pancakes, and Artemis is still sitting behind you

>Neither of you have said a word

>You turned around once to look at him, he was looking at the back of your head

>He looked away before your eyes met, though

>The awkwardness is killing you, you need to say something

"You want some pancakes?" you mumble, flipping one of them

>"I'm sorry, I did not hear you"

"You want some of these pancakes?" you ask louder, turning around to face him

>"Yes, I will make some"

"No, like, I'm making a bunch. You can have some of mine."

>"Oh, yes. Umm, no. I will make mine. M-my own pancakes. I like them with blueberries"

>You look to your left, where another stove is going unused

"You could use that stove," you say, pointing, "So you don't have to wait for my pancakes"

>"I'm making my own, I'm not waiting on yo-"

"No no, like... uhh, you should make yours now instead of waiting for me to finish"

>"Yes we... I-I should"

>The prince gets up and starts mixing some batter next to you, his face just as pained from the awkwardness as yours

>A minute later he walks to the fridge

>There's the sound of rustling before you hear him announce "There are no blueberries"

>You turn to look at him, then realize that you should say something

"There aren't any blueberries?"

>"No"

>You open your mouth to say something else, but can't think of anything

>You're still looking at Prince Artemis

>Quickly, you turn back around and put the next batch of pancakes on

>Artemis walks back and resumes cooking

>Artemis only makes a few pancakes, so you both finish at about the same time

>You both sit down in silence (on the same side of the table), you both put butter and syrup on in silence, and you both eat in silence

>Artemis finishes first, as he had less pancakes

>He stands up to leave, you open your mouth to say goodbye

"Sorry about the blueberries"

>"... Yes"

>He turns around and walks out the door

>A few seconds later, the door opens again, and he pokes his head back in

>"We should hang out sometime"

"Okay"

>He leaves again

>You finish your pancakes

 

>That morning around 9, you're approached by a gruff looking batpony guard

>He speaks sternly and with an air of aloofness

>"The Prince of Darkness requests your company this night. He shall arrive at your room promptly at 11, after he has attended to his nightly duties."

>You nod your head in acknowledgement

"Yes... ummm, okay"

 

>Between a trip to the local market and a few much-needed naps, the day passes quickly

>It is now 10:55, and you are dressed to the nine's in preparation for your night out with Artemis

>Full tux with a red bow-tie, groomed hair, and a box of chocolates as a thank you for the prince

>You had picked up the candy at the market- chocolate-covered grass isn't your thing, but you figure Artemis will like it

>Soon, there's a knock at your door

>You head over excitedly, but are stopped in your tracks by what you see in the mirror next to your suite's exit

>Your reflection- the outfit, the hair, the chocolates

>It looks like you think this is a date

>... Artemis is going to think you think this is a DATE

"Uh... h-hold on o-one second please!"

>You toss the chocolates onto the counter and run back into your bedroom

>30 seconds later, and you've managed to get into more casual dress and mess your hair up a little

>You dart over to the door and swing it open

"S-sorry about the wait, I-"

>Prince Artemis is standing outside, wearing a tuxedo

>In his out-stretched hoof, a box of chocolate-covered grass

>It takes you a few seconds to realize it’s a gift for you

>You grab it with both hands and, unsure of what to do with it, just hold it next to your chest

>Artemis still hasn't said anything

>You notice his eyes are darting back and forth between your clothing and the hoof he's using to paw at the ground

>He must have noticed that he's dressed up a lot more than you

>He probably thinks you think he thinks this is a date

>... Wait, is it a date?

>You turn around to hide a blush

"Umm... Thank you for the chocolate! J-just let me put it down real fast"

>You walk over to the counter and place it on top of the other box of chocolates

>... Hopefully Artemis didn't notice that

>Turning back around, you see the prince struggling to pull the tux's undershirt over his head

>You just kind of stand there, watching him

>He finally gets it off and tosses it to the side

>Your eyes meet

>...

>"THE CLOTHES WERE CAUSING US TO ITCH! WE HAVE DECIDED TO CHANGE!"

 

>The both of you are now in Artemis's private tower

>You're seated at a table in a small, dark hall

>There are only a few torches on the wall, and the ceiling is obscured in shadow

>Your table, however, is decorated with a several candles that shine light onto the meal that Artemis had prepared for the two of you

>It's sandwiches

>At first, this had seemed a little odd, but once you had realized yours was a BLT, you had almost cried tears of happiness

>The food was heavenly, but the silence, heavy

>Soon, Artemis speaks up

>"So, ah... I'm s-sorry about yelling earlier. I'm still trying to work on... that"

>You wave a dismissive hand, still in a good mood from the BLT

"Don't worry about it. It wasn't a problem"

>You flash a smile

>Artemis blushes and looks down

>"We a-... I am also sorry about arriving before you were ready. I didn't mean to encroach while you were nak-"

>He chokes on the word and starts coughing

>"I-I mean whILE YOU WERE... w-while you were g-getting ready"

>Now he's playing with his hooves, refusing to look at you

>It looks like he might start hyperventilating soon

>Maybe it’s just the bacon talking, but you decide that you must save this night from absolute spaghetti

>Small-talk mode: activate

"So, uh, how do you normally spend your nights? Once you finish with official business?"

>Prince Artemis looks up at you, his eyes thanking you for the lifeline

>"Normally I, umm... Well, I guess there's a lot of things. I visit a lot of museums and art exhibits after they close"

"Wow, that sounds great."

>"Yes, when nopony else is there, the exhibits gain a little... something extra"

>He waves his hoof in a little circle to accentuate the last phrase

>"I also enjoy visiting a bar or two on occasion. Not as often, though- everypony just tends to shy away, but I'm sure you've gotten a little of the same"

"Well, not really. Everybody in the castle knows me now, and I can't ever go out at night"

>"Why not?"

"I have to take guards whenever I go out. There aren't enough to take me out at nights, and they keep ponies away from me during the days"

>The prince perks up a little

>"Well... I could take you out sometime... I-If you wanted to that is"

>You're practically beaming now

"Really? You mean that?"

>Artemis nods before turning the question around on you

>"Well, what do you do all night then? I know you don't sleep"

"Well, I do sleep, just not that often. Not as often as I'd like to, at least. Nights are usually a whole lot of nothing for me"

>"Do you like reading?"

"Love it"

>"Well, the castle library's a good way to pass the time"

"I wish. I don't know the pony alphabet"

>"Well, I could help find you a tutor, if you have the time. Or... uhh..."

"Or what?"

>"Well... I could... read to you"

>You don't answer immediately, and Artemis cuts back in nervously

>"N-nevermind. That was a dumb idea"

"No, it wasn't. That sounds like a lot of fun"

>There's a pause in the conversation, but the silence is a lot more comfortable this time around

>Eventually, you speak again

"So, art and books. Anything else you spend time on?"

>"Well, I do have this garden I tend to"

 

>Artemis has spent the last 15 minutes walking you around his garden

>Its located on top of the ballroom, far above prying eyes

>Throughout his tour, he's listed off every plant you pass by, most of which are night-bloomers

>You've made the occasional comment, but, for the most part, have been content to let the prince do most of the talking

>Now the both of you are sitting next to each other in a patch of grass, with Artemis listing off a few of the flowers around you

>"... and that's a Dragontail over there. They only bloom once a year, but, when they do, each petal's a different color"

>You lean back into the grass

"It’s so beautiful"

>You feel Prince Artemis adjust himself to lie down next to you

>"Hm?"

"Well, just everything, you know. The garden, the night"

>You gesture up to the crisp, cloudless night sky

"And, uh... Just... Just everything's great"

>"Thanks"

>Artemis starts to nuzzle your neck

>... and then instantly freezes up

>"W-wait, I'm s-sorry. I didn't realize what I was d-doing there"

>From the sound of his breath, he's close to hyperventilating again

>You roll over on your side to face him

>He won't meet your eyes- he looks close to panic

>You speak softly, almost in a whisper

"Hey, Artemis. It’s kind of cold tonight. Do you think you could lend me a wing?"

>He looks up at you like he doesn't know if you're joking or not

>There's a beat where he just stares, but then he moves to drape his wing over you

>As you wiggle in closer to snuggle up against the prince, you see him fighting to keep back a giant smile

>You bury your head into his neck, returning his earlier nuzzle

"Thanks, Prince Artemis"

>"Call me Arty"

 

>Groggily, you come to

>You're not in the field anymore... those are definitely blankets over you

>You can vaguely remember drifting off under the prince's wing and being carried... somewhere, before a warm weight settled next to you

>A warm weight that's still there

>Rolling over, you're greeted by the sight of Prince Artemis sleeping next to you

>And then you're promptly blinded by the sun streaking in through the windows behind the prince

>You decide its best not to wake him and roll out of bed

>Damn, you must have slept for at least 8 hours- that's the best night's rest you've had since arriving in Equestria

>Rubbing your eyes, you plod over to the doorway leading out of the bedchamber

>You push the doors open, step out, and freeze as you realize two batpony guards are staring you down

"I d-didn't have sex with him. T-the prince and I. We didn't... w-we didn't have s-sex"

>They don't change their expressions

"H-heh. Just, ummm... just letting you guys know"

>Still no response from them

>You decide the best course of action is to run like hell