>I could smell it
>That hot, musky nauseating smell that always infested the air when the spring began to turn into summer and my sister's sun grew in size and strength
>Below me, a noble was talking about something or another
>At that moment my attention wasn't on them
>I saw staring through the glass window and out onto my canopy
>My stars gleamed brightly like the finest of jewels, my moon hung fat and heavy in the sky
>Upon closer inspection, I could see the shadows accenting my celestial body in the most lovely of ways
>I let my gaze linger upon it for a few moments, letting an artist's vanity fill me, before looking at the background to both my moon and stars
>Blues and brown and greys meshed together so that the color was seamless and perfect
>And then there were the less noticeable colors, the yellows and the reds and the blacks
>These colors were used sparingly, but where they were used they made the other colors pop and made the painting so that it seemed like one could reach out and touch it...
"Lady High Horse," I called in irritation, not pulling my gaze away from this night's artwork. "I swear to the old ones if you do not cease your bumbling then you will be removed from this court."
>High Horse, whose family had somehow risen to power during my absence, jumped at my proclamation
>She was a pretty mare, all things considered
>Taller than most, filled out in the right places, a white coat that gleamed in the moonlight, and a mane and tail that could have been spun from gold and deep blues eyes
>If she were not a noble she might have done very well for herself as a model of some kind
>"W-Whatever do you mean, your majesty?" the mare asked with surprise, indignation, and a little embarrassment. "I have n-not--"
"It shows a poor character when one lies to their elders, young filly," I growled from my throne as I rested my head on a hoof.
>I carefully looked at the curvature of the moon, both irritated and bored
 
>It looked like I had used just a little more brown on the bottom than I should have...
"Twice you've drifted off to stare at my guards," I continued, finally turning my attention toward the young mare. "Others ponies need an audience with my just as much as you, my lady, and--"
>My muzzle scrunched when I saw that the state that she was in
>Her usually well looked after mane was frazzled and messy
>There was a thin sheen of sweat coating her body
>Her eyes were wide and wild, I could see her legs shaking as she stood there, and if I was not mistaken I could see a bit of drool making its way down her chin
>The unicorn was doing her very best to look at me, but every few moments she would look at my guards, my Thestrals
>The two of them were strapping young stallions, massive and strong and both of them in the prime of their life
>Such creatures were the ruination of a weak-willed mare in heat
>High Horse's gaze lingered on the Private standing at attention to my left
>She whimpered, her tail slowly flagging for all to see
>My nostrils flared
>That smell, the smell that had overwhelmed Canterlot for nearly a week, seemed to be stronger for just a moment
>It was a hot smell; a musky, potent smell
>It was the smell of weakness
>I growled, just loudly enough to catch the unicorn's attention, just loudly enough to make her jump
"If you can do nothing but stare slack-jawed at a pair of stallions like some filly during her first heat then you had best come back to this court when you have found your better senses," I growled, perhaps a little more harshly than what was needed 
>High Horse's ears flatten at my dismissal
>"M-My lady, pleas--"
"That will be all."
>"B-But--"
>My gaze narrowed, and the young mare whimpered again, this time for an entirely different reason
"That. Will. Be. All. My. Lady," I said, my voice quiet but my tone dangerous
>I caught a glimpse of her eyes widening further before he bowed as low as she was able
 
>Hearing the fearful tremble in her voice tempered my anger somewhat
"In a few days you may come back with your concerns and I will listen to them. You have my word on that," I said eveningly, leaning back against my throne. "Now begone child. Go and find what relief you can."
>High Horse somehow managed the seemingly impossible feat of bowing even lower, keeping her nose to the floor as she backed away, stood back up, and made her exit as quickly as she could without running
>As she made her escape her tail was still very much raised, giving myself and everypony else that bothered to turn their heads a glance at her puffy, soaked marehood
>I very nearly shook my head at the sight, turning my attention toward the line of ponies waiting patiently 
"May the next partitioner plea--"
>I stopped once again, peering out onto the crowd
>I could see many ponies were in a similar state to the young unicorn who I had just seen off
>Sweaty, wide-eyed, their back legs shaking
>Somewhere rubbing up against their neighbors, biting their lips to hide needy whimpers
>I could see the need, smell it in the air
>I could see that nearly every single pony in this room had succumb to weakness
>A low growl escaped my throat, and I found myself rising from my throne
"I hereby proclaim that tonight's court be dismissed," I proclaimed. "And it shall remain dismissed until this blasted heat is over. I will NOT spend my nights babysitting ponies that cannot control themselves."
>My subjects looked at each other as I climbed from my throne to stand amongst them
>I knew that many wanted to protest
>Many had come from far away, and almost all of them had been waiting for half of the night to speak with me, but I could take no more
>For the last three nights I have had to listen to scatterbrained mares and stallions with their cocks slapping against their bellies bumbling and braying and whimpering like buffoons, and I had had enough of it
 
>If what they had to say to me was truly important then they should have controlled themselves better
>They shouldn't stand before me like they were completely willing to be mounted in the middle of the throne room
>Every single one of these ponies should know better
>My guards are quick to part the sea of ponies, who willingly let themselves to parted without fuss, to allow me to pass
>I keep my head held high as I pass them, unphased by the smell of sweat and sex and heat
>Just like the rest of them I can feel the ache underneath of my tail, but I can resist it, ignore it
>I am not a prisoner of my body
>My will is iron, unyielding and strong
>My nostrils flare for the third time that night, and I could not help but scowl
>I hate it
>The smell in the air, the heat
>What it does to ponies, what it turns us into
>Some of the most pleasant, rational creatures I know are turned into nothing more than sex-starved savages 
>All because of a biological quirk that we ponies cannot seem to overcome
>All because of a weakness that we cannot defeat
>Though I want to stomp toward my chambers with my shoulders hunched and my teeth bared I remember myself
>My steps are measured and calm, as befits my rank of ruler
>I do not lead the way to my chambers, but allow my guards to escort me there
>I am graceful, composed, elegant even though none are there to see it
>I take a few deep breaths to calm myself, with some success
>Looking out through the windows once more I let my gaze linger upon my night sky
>I had labored for hours fixing the asterisms just right
>The colors of the night sky had taken days beforehand to create
>It was a daunting task, creating the sky; a task that most were unfit for, but a task that I loved, and hoped that my subjects enjoyed
>More than anything I wanted them to look up at my canvas in wonderment and awe at what I had created
 
>I wanted them to walk underneath it, I wanted them to play as the stars shone, I wanted the darkness to bring them comfort, I wanted a young mare to look up at the night sky and smile as her lover pushed himself into her folds, making her gasp--
>My body twitched in startlement, my wings twitching and my tail flicking
>My head quickly snapped forward, my mind racing
>Looking ahead I could see one of my many protectors walking a few steps ahead of me
>Like most of the guard, the lad's tail was cut short and neat, allowing me to see his balls bouncing with each step
>They were of a darker coloration than his coat, and larger than average, with big, pulsing veins covering the thick, mostly hairless skin
>Underneath that I could see his sheath swinging as well
>A Thestral had a different cock than a pony's, I knew
>Theirs was slightly thicker in the shaft, the head narrowed and slightly pointed, and their medial rings were located a little higher up the--
>I twitched again as the thick, rich smell of a healthy, virile male filled my nostrils
>The ache in between my legs flared up, making me grit my teeth
>I could feel my mouth watering as some less-than-innocent thoughts came to my mind
 
>Did a Thestral's cock twitch like a stallions?
>Did it have the same texture?
>Did it throb the same way?
>Was the taste the same?
>Could it bring--
"No. I will NOT to beaten by this," I growled to myself
>The guards stiffened as my voice carried through the silent halls
>Spinning around, both of them saluted, their sheaths audibly slapping against their legs
>"Did you say something my lady?" one of them asked
>Scowling, I shook my head
"Nay, I am fine," I assured, shaking my head of my thoughts. "I was simply talking to myself. Please, continue onward."
>Hooves slapped against hooves as the guards chests puffed out
>"As you wish, my lady," they said in unison
>I shivered as they once again turned away, feeling my wings stiffening
>Though I had never experienced it I had heard that Thestral's bit the necks of their lovers as they mated, to keep them firmly held in place until the breeding was done
>How would such a thing feel I wondered, despite myself, despite drawing up my willpower, to be treated in such a way
>Not as a mare but as an object, to be held close and secure until one was used
>Would their fangs bring pain or pleasure as they bit down and forced themselves into your aching, soaked depths?
>Would--
>"My lady, we are here."
>I very nearly jumped in surprise, looking up from the floor
>It was as my guard said; I was right before my chambers, where I could escape the heat and these blasted, weak-willed thoughts
>I turned back toward the guard to thank him, a small smile on his face
>He was a rather handsome stallion I noticed upon closer inspection
>Broad-shouldered and barrel-chested he was, with a fine ashy coat and the piercing, glowing eyes that his kind were known for
>A few moments went by as I drank in his long, sharp, white fangs, his strong jaw, his thick neck, the muscles bulging from underneath his armor 
>The guard frowned in worry, squirming in place under my scrutiny
 
>"Is... Is there something wrong, your highness?" he asked, sounding both worried and puzzled as I wetted my lips with my tongue
"...Nothing. Nothing is wrong," I murmured, walking past him. "I will retreat into my chambers for the night. You two may return to the barracks. Good night gentle stallions."
>As I walked by the magnificent specimen before me my tail flicked, tickling his nose and giving him clear view of my arousal
>The guard shivered at my touch, his eyes widening in surprise as his fellow opened my bedroom door and I made my way through it
>I did not realize what I had done until I was in the room and had closed the door behind me