> A Quiet Cabin On The Edge Of The Everfree
>  by Sir Hat
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A Few Cotton Balls For Dinner
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I sat around my cabin, leaned back and waiting for something of interest to happen. I ran the tip of my middle finger up and down the arm of my chair, still waiting for anything to happen. But like every other night, nothing did. I was going to end up sitting here, alone, bored, nothing to do but read sleep and do the occasional bit of editing for a small newspaper in Ponyville. My life wasn't glamorous, but it paid the bills.

I simply wished I had something to do in these dull winter nights. The Everfree was usually calmer in the winter, the ponies usually sprinkled a bit of snow high above and that usually triggered a rather deep freeze down below. But all that meant for me and my far off neighbor was lots of longer nights and the occasional bear at the door.

Or rather that meant Zecora would end up with a bear at her door, I would end up with all sorts of weird things around mine. Or I left the light on to scare them off, and I ended up with something rather weird laying at my doorstep, staring up a the light. It wouldn't ever really hurt anything, but I'd always end up feeling bad and turning off the light. I figured whatever it saw in there was just going to end up making it go blind.

But for all the annoyance that sprung from it, the scratching at my door, the rich voice asking me to turn it back on, the creature was still good company. Better company than nothing. And so with a soft mumble I lifted myself from my chair and started over towards the door. I flicked on the porch light and leaned my back against the wall.

"One...." I muttered, stretching my legs, the soft burning in my toes starting to grow annoying. "Two...." My hands felt frozen, but I was completely useless with gloves on. "Three...."

On cue a soft tapping came from the door. "Henry, you called?" A soft, extremely crisp extremely rich voice cut through the chirping crickets. I took a deep breath and swung around to face the door. Lock after lock came open until finally I swung the door open, revealing a salmon mare, her legs bleeding down into a richer red until hitting her hooves, a thick ring of white fluff running around her neck with an equally smooth white mane and tail. Most striking however was a pair of bright red feelers poking through her mane, ending in bright white tips that bobbed ever so slightly in the dull wind.

She turned to me, popping a set of reserved brown hexagonal irises half open, "You needed something?" She asked, stretching her dull brown segmented wings. "You look like you wanted something."

I took a deep breath and moved aside, holding the door open for her. I never talked very much, and it seemed to suit my friend well enough. "...Rouge...."

She nodded a single curt time and walked inside, brushing along my leg. "You know a simple, how are you, happy you're doing well, would be wonderful."

I slowly closed the door, sure not to slam it. "...How are you?" I asked, awkward as ever.

Rouge turned around, taking a few backwards steps before growing a small but warm smile. "I'm fine, it's nice to get out of the cold though." She stopped in the middle of my den and extended a leg. "Come on...I know why I'm here."

I slumped over and redid my locks. With the defense against the outdoors rehashed I lumbered back towards Rouge and ducked down, scooping her upper half up and hugging her against my shoulder. "...I'm glad you made it."

Rouge pressed her soft body against me, nuzzling the side of my head and causing her white fluff to rub against my neck. She was soft, and the plush feeling of her fuzz was heavenly against my skin. "I know, and it's too cold out not to."

I let out a pleased sigh, carefully rubbing along the underside of her wings. "Can't you...you know...sleep with the others?"

Rouge pushed back, flaring her wings to keep me from touching them. "Those muppets? Hyperactive loons." She turned to my chair, hopping up and sitting neatly down. "I have to scare a few off so they don't hang around your door at night...."

I scratched my head and walked towards a small set of drawers on the wall. "Why...you know I wouldn't mind the company."

Rouge scoffed. "Henry I was raised by normal ponies, pegasi to be exact. Those...barbaric little psychos are what happens without proper parenting, when you're born, plopped out into a world where you're raised in the woods to not give any sort of--" She stopped dead as I turned around with a bag of cotton balls in my hand. "...That's hardly fair."

I walked over to her, gesturing for her to move to the side which she promptly did. I squeezed in next to her, quickly gaining my entire seat back as she climbed up onto my lap and settled in across my stomach. "...You know, we're not even supposed to eat these after we turn from foals to full grown...but they're just...they're good!" She explained, frantically covering her own back.

I took my time, leaning back in my chair and letting Rouge spread out across my thighs and rest her head across my gut. "...Tall for a pony...." I mumbled, trying to avoid eye contact despite the mare staring me dead in the face.

"I am. Your point?"

I shook my head, staring down at the bag of cotton balls. I pulled one out turned back to Rouge. She had her mouth open, neatly waiting for me to pop it into her maw. "...Weird...." I mumbled, carefully tossing the ball into her mouth.

"Bek- ah!" She yelped, nearly hacking up the small ball. She looked pained, eventually chewing the cotton and swallowing it. "Henry! For the love of Luna, don't do that!"

I threw my hands up, "Sorry, sorry, sorry!"

She lifted herself up with her forelegs and rubbed her throat. "It's fine...but I told you before, gently place it...throwing it in means I'm going to choke to death like an overactive child!" She laid back down crossing her leglegs on my stomach and laying her chin across her hooves. "Does touching my lips bother you? You touch my backside...you seem fine with that...."

I felt my cheeks burn slightly. "...Different...."

Rouge reached a hoof out and turned my chin to face her. "...Henry...do you love me?" I tried to look away. "Henry look at me...." She reached out her forelegs and held my head in place with her hooves. "Henry...not once have I tried to push you...but you've invited me in...you feed me, I stay, we sleep together and not once have you ever actually opened up!" She climb herself up my body, "You've never kissed me, we've never actually been together...why?"

Fear rattled through my body, having her staring right at me was burning through my usual calm and melting my higher functions. "...I just- I don't- I can't even-- My words don't work well!" I shouted, crumpling the bag. "I just...not good with...people--"

"You're usually fine with me." Rouge stated, pulling herself up my chest. "Do I scare you this close?" She laid across my body, settling her head on my sternum. "Do I make you nervous? I'm not trying."

I pulled my head back, her hooves folding under her chin. "...Look...just, not ready yet." I dug my hand back into the bag. "...Can we just have a calm night?" I pulled a ball out and held it before her face.

Rouge rolled her eyes, opening her mouth and pressing her tongue against the bottom of her mouth. Her right eye watched me, watching as I slowly placed the cotton in her mouth, her lips closing on my fingertips as she pulled her head back with a soft moan. "Mmm, thank you." I pulled my hand back, the soft feeling of her lips on my fingers causing a natural problem with me.

"Can I have--" rouge jumped slightly, whipping her head around towards her backside. "...Henry...is that your.... That's your penis...."

I couldn't help but feel both excited and utterly embarrassed as my tented body jabbed Rouge in the lower belly. "...I'm sorry." I groaned, rubbing my face. "I'm really really--"

"You know, you saying sorry for being attracted to me is a bit offensive." She stated, poking me in the face with her hoof, the dull point landing on my upper lip. "...It's like you're saying I'm ugly." She stated, adjusting herself and crushing my rod against my gut. "Now...I'll leave what happens up to you, but I'd appreciate it if you could actually tell me what's on your mind."

I closed my eyes and lowered my head. "...Soon...I promise...." I mumbled, digging back into the bag. "I think this is okay for today."

Rouge nodded, opening her mouth and waiting for another ball. I placed another ball in, her usual routine growing a bit more comforting instead of provocative. "See? Nice...calm...warm."

I nodded, continuing to carefully feed the moth-pony cotton. Everything grew warm and simple, the evening falling into night. "...How can you eat these?" I asked, pushing the newest ball into her mouth with my thumb.

She sucked it in, chewing up the cotton ball and swallowing it with a soft sigh. "Hmm? The cotton? Well...personally I prefer wool, but it's too expensive." She looked a bit nervous, shifting the remnants of the ball to her lips and forcing it across to her jaw. "...The closest thing I have to compare it to is...cotton candy, ironically enough."

I scratched my head. "Taste?"

Rouge tapped her hooves together, "Umm...have you ever tried honied hay?" I shook my head. "...Thick potato mash and sugar?"

"...That sounds...not good."

Rouge grew a bit flustered, "Well I- it's not...the best. It's thick, but we tear it up and once you do it gets all sweet, but it still has that nice thick cream texture, like good pudding."

"Sounds nice." I yawned, things getting a bit sleepy. "...Well, I think that's it."

Rouge stretched out, her hooves hitting my knees. "Aw...but I'm so comfortable."

I looked around, spotting a blanket neatly folded on the couch across from my chair. "Um... I think I can...." I swiveled my chair, leaning back into the seat and trying to grab the corner with my toes. "...C-come on...come on...stupid...thing."

Eventually my flailing succeeded and I could fling the blanket into grabbing distance. "Henry...do you want me to get that." Rouge asked as I tried to pick up the blanket.

"...No...." I nabbed it, pulling it up and throwing it over us, covering up to Rouge's neck. "There...."

Rouge settled in, staring at me before pulling up and nuzzling the underside of my chin, her feelers running gently against my side. "...You smell like sweat...."

"Sorry." I stated, pulling the blanket over her head like a hood and placing my hands under her wings.

"Your hands are cold too...." I started to pull back, "You should put them under my stomach."

I froze, still not entirely comfortable. I'd squeezed her flank a few times, but never really thought about it in a sexual way. It was more sheer awe at how soft and squishy she was. But something about her underside, the tender parts of her body made me feel even more nervous than I usually was. "That's alright--"

"Under my belly," she commanded, "gently."

I carefully slid my hands down her body, tucking them under her sides and burying them against her soft underside. "...Good?" I asked, my palms against her tummy.

She let out a soft coo and pressed against them, surrounding them in super soft short hairs and smothering them with warm flesh. "You should really wear gloves." She stated, pressing up against my chin and scratching her crown. "Now...I think it's time for bed...."

"Yeah...." I mumbled, flicking off a standing light before returning my hands to her sides. "Good night."

With the lights out I could barely see her moving, only a soft shimmer from the white of her eyes told of her shifting. "Night," She cooed, kissing my chin. "I'll be here in the morning."

I felt my heart flutter, causing a small hitch in my breathing before calming down and leaning back in my seat. The extra weight against my chest felt good, as did the warmth shared between us. "Yeah..." I craned my head down, her feelers brushing against my cheek as I pecked her crown, burying my face in her white pine scented mane. "Same as always." I moaned, settling in, truly content.

All I could hope for was one day soon I could actually explain my nervousness, explain everything, and hopefully move past it. But, tonight I had this, and that was enough for me.
> Mail
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I stood at the post office, sifting through my mail along with Zecora's. Things felt weird, wrong. All around me were ponies, the occasional human or griffon shuffling around PO boxes and taking packages. I felt tense, barely able to keep from hyperventilating as I tried to sort my mail. I could feel myself starting to sweat and shake as I stared down at my letters.

I wiped my hands off my on my pants and slammed my box shut, locking it and pushing off towards the exit in one clean movement. I had no idea how Zecora did it, and I wouldn't even have Rouge for company. She'd been busy the last week, never giving me a chance to spill my guts while I had the nerve.

Thinking about her helped me calm down. Even while in town with people I knew weren't going to cause me any trouble crowds had a way of making me panic, but I couldn't let anyone know. I needed to pretend to be normal, granted I was in a land of magical horses, but there was some sort of normal buried under the magic.

I hurried out of the post office, rushing towards the road out of town. I felt like I was drowning, a crowd headed towards the road into the Everfree. I had no idea why there was such a large group, but I needed to get past it. I needed to get into the trees, I needed to run, I had to get out.

I felt myself starting to panic. Half the reason I moved to Equestria was because I was going to end up taller than most, and in theory, being taller meant I would feel less claustrophobic. Sadly their being shorter didn't compensate for them taking up more room around me, their longer bodies locking me in, making me feel like I was mere seconds from getting stampeded.

I had to get out, I needed to get out, and with a quick duck to the side I slipped into the bushes and look off running into the lighter woods that surrounded the Everfree proper. I bolted in, my shirt tearing on a tree as I ran in the vague direction of Zecora's. We had a small agreement, I got the mail, she dealt with the electric and plumbing they had to get out to us. It wasn't the simplest thing to set up, but given my panic around others it served us well, and it meant Zecora never got stopped and bugged by curious ponies, all wondering what new potion she was working on.

I enjoyed the woods, I even enjoyed the Everfree, compared to the constant buzz and crowds of ponyville. It was dangerous, the occasional manticore or other horror cropping up along the densest areas, but it was something you learned to synchronize with. Life in Equestria was weird, and I knew plenty of non ponies that bugged out back home after a while. But life outside the normal Equestria was a rather unique experience.

I got to meet strange creatures, eat strange creatures, grow a modest amount of weed, hang out with a bunch of strange ponies and of course there was Rouge. But for the last week, she hadn't shown up, other moth ponies and a dracony had shown up, hung out for a bit, but rouge had been M.I.A. for a while now. And even as I stepped up onto the path to Zecora's, wading through Poison Joke and avoiding the occasional rogue stick, a looming sense of dread had buried in my gut.

Passing through the strange plants and over to the small hut was simple, a quick knock equally as simple, but then came the difficult part. Zecora poked her head out, "Who comes to my humble abode?" She spotted me, smiling gently and extending a hoof.

"Uh...mail." I mumbled, sorting out our mail and handing it off. She was courteous enough not to talk, not making this anymore painful that it had to be. I smiled in returned and turned to the road, appreciative of her understanding and eager to get back home. There was going to be something waiting for me, either some sort of pony, disaster or violent creature. Either way the day wasn't going to be boring.

I blazed a trail, made my way towards the small clearing I'd planted my house on and hurried up to the front door. My small cabin was normal as ever, the smell of dust lingering around the porch overhang. I put my hand on the knob, giving it a test turn before trying to find my keys. My stomach dropped as the door popped open, the lock neglected. I yanked my hand away, pulling it back to a small dirk I kept on my belt. There was maybe three people in all of Equestria that had my key, two friends I had in town and Zecora. The two in town would never come out here if there wasn't an emergency and Zecora would have told me.

I took a few shallow breaths, bursting into my house with my hand primed to draw my knife. What sat before me, smack dab in my den chair, wasn't a burglar or a thief, but Rouge sitting staring at the doorway. "Holy shit...." I hissed, clutching my heart. "Rouge...hi...."

She stared at me, pursing her lips and nodding. "Henry, hello."

I closed my door, locking it and unlocking it just to be sure it worked. With my paranoid satisfied I walked into the den and found a seat next to her. "So...wh--"

"I asked your friend for the key, she figured out who I was easily enough." Rouge stated, stepping down from my chair and fixing herself in the middle of the room. "But...enough about how I'm here, why I'm here is much more important."

Bile rose into my chest, burning my guts and causing a small tremble to run through my hands. "...Rouge, haven't seen you in a week...I guess this is about that...right?"

She looked out the window, staring at the dense trees that lay around my home. "Yes...well. I- Henry...do you love me?" She asked, not turning to face me. "I need to hear you say it."

I rubbed my face. "You know I do...."

"No!" She swung her head around, tears starting to form along the underside of her eye. "Henry...you need to say it." She commanded, stomping her hoof. "Please...."

I felt my mouth go dry, my body trying to freeze up, my mind going blank. "I don't- I'm not good at- Rouge...I just.... What's going on?!"

Rouge shook her head. "...You can't say it...can you?"

I slumped back into my seat. "...It's hard...I just- I can't think of the words, and--"

"You don't need to think of the words!" She yelled, storming over and planting her hooves on my feet. "I--Love--You! That's it!"

I rubbed my face, biting my thumb before turning to her. "Rouge...I love you, I love you more than anything else in my life...the days you aren't around are by far the worst of my li--"

"That's- that's enough...." Rogue stated, lowering her head to the floor. "...You know...I thought hearing that would make this easier...." She pressed her forehead against my knee. "I need you to let me go." She stated, weak, barely audible. "I'm leaving."

"What!?" I screamed, nearly shooting up from my seat. "Leaving, what!?"

Rouge stepped back, turning towards the door. "Henry...last week.... Henry they're offering me work, a home, they're offering me a life in Prance." She backed herself against the door, smiling up at me, tears cresting over her muzzle. "They're giving me a life, Henry. They're offering me something besides the woods, besides living with these animals out here."

"Animals!? You think I'm an animal!?" I shouted, storming over to her, "You break into my house, just to tell me you're leaving!? You scream at me to tell you I love you, and then you say you're leaving!? What- what the fuck!?" I shouted, my rage overtaking my shyness. "Rouge...Rouge why!?"

She stared up at me. "Henry...I wanted to ask you to come with me, I really did," She wrapped a foreleg around my back, "I wanted you to come with me...but Prance is- you can barely handle Ponyville with your problem, there's no way you could be happy in Prance." She pushed buck, running a hoof along my thigh. "Henry...this is a chance for me. If you can't be happy for me, then please don't be mad at me either. ...If you love something...let it go. Isn't that one of your human sayings?"

I sputtered a while, running my hand through my hair before falling to my knees. "Oh my god...I'm gonna be sick." I whimpered, clutching my head. "Jesus...I- you know...I thought I'd found someone who cared, someone who wouldn't just leave me like this--"

"Henry!" Rouge snapped, charging face to face with me. "...I came back to say goodbye." She stated, wrapping her hooves around my shoulders. "I do care.... Henry, I care enough to do this...not for me, but for you. I could have just left, I could have left you wondering, but I can't do that to you." She nuzzled my cheek, the fluff around her neck gracing my own. "Henry, if you don't think I love you, you're an idiot. But I need this, I need to know I'm more than just some freak out in the Everfree, I need to be somepony, I need to live like a normal pony, I can't keep doing this, not when I have a chance to be something more!"

I grabbed the back of her head, cradling her against my shoulder. "...I guess I'm not good enough.... That's fine." I stated, leaning my head against her withers. "I understand it...I really do. I just thought you'd looked past it."

Rouge took a deep, rattly breath. "Henry...please. This isn't about you, this isn't about me--"

"Then who is it about!?" I yelped, forcing her back by her withers. "Who is it about?"

Rouge stared at me, feelers drooping down and landing across my head. "This about Dusty, Marigold, Baux, this is about all the moth ponies. Henry if I can talk to them, the ponies in Prance, I might be able to convince them to take us in. Henry your people have a home! I can't just let mine live their lives in the woods with these animals!" She nuzzled the side of my head. "Henry...please, just let me do this."

I lowered my head, slowly bobbing it back up. "...I can't stop you." I stated, adjusting my hands around the back of her head. "And you're right...I'd never fit in around a big city, I'd be miserable. But...I- Rouge I love you." I pulled her close, seizing my opportunity and pulling her into a deep kiss.

I closed my eyes, my trepidation melted away by sheer fear that I might never get this chance again. It was a soft, tender thing. A soft cock of the head, the feeling of her body tensing up then going slack with a soft hum of acceptance. I felt warm, my body finally accepting this kind of contact. The feeling of her soft lips against my own chapped mess was unjustly wonderful. The feeling of her mane was unbelievable, her feelers brushing against my fingertips as I held her tight. Even the occasional blunt hoof to the back of the head was comforting. But, she was right, and I couldn't dare keep her from something that would help her more than it would help me.

I pulled back, turning on the ball of my foot and facing the den. "Go." I commanded, "Go, get out of here."

"Henry...what was--"

"Go." I stated again, dull, emotionless. I was at the balancing point between utter joy and complete despair, and I could only hope one lasted long enough to see her gone.  "Just go...."

I could hear her sputter, her voice growing shallow and shaky. "I'll...Henry I'll write, I promise." The door creaked open. "I promise you, I'll never forget you." The door slowly creeped shut, the lock clicking into place and sending me to the floor.

I had managed to keep her from seeing me fall. I had my first kiss with the girl I loved. I'd let a graceful woman go so she could better herself. I did everything right, yet as I lay weeping on the floor, the lights dim in the background, I felt nothing but shame. 

I could have gone with her.
> Kiri
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I dragged a cheap wooden chair onto the porch. In the two weeks since she left Rouge was making a name for herself, modeling, networking, living. I couldn't be mad at her, I really couldn't, but not having her here hurt me. I'd since pulled the wires for my porch lantern out and Jerry rigged something I could take outside. Winter was in full swing, the creatures of the Everfree were hibernating and I could always count on some company if I turned it on.

But the moths that came now, spazztic and jittery, couldn't be let into my house. They were like children, running around a mile a minute and tearing up my house like mad. Letting them inside would be carpentry suicide, and I wasn't about to let the last thing I had in my life get eaten up by a bunch of crazed children.

But, outside, wrapped up in a thick jacket and a thick pair of socks I could enjoy a little company. I flicked my fire hazard of a light switch on and sat back. The dark void that stared at me was terrifying, the very essences of my fear. I had to brave it though. Without the contact they gave me I would be truly alone, going mad like a hermit.

"What's up?" A gravely voice asked, followed by a soft, woosh, as a rather large pony fluttered down along the railing of my porch. A scaly mare, half dragon by her accounts, curled up her tail and picked at her claw. "Bug friends aren't gonna come around tonight, saw 'em all huddle up in a big pile."

She looked like any other pony. Normal body, but a pair of horns jutting out and curving along her skull were a dead give away, as were the leathery wings and scaly body. Like someone stretched a dragon over a pony skeleton.

I took a deep breath, "...You gonna stick around?"

"...I can?" Kiri pulled her claws back, her hand almost looking like a hoof when she did. "Do you want me to?"

"...It'd be nice." I muttered, setting the switch down. "...How've you been?" I asked, simply trying to get some kind of conversation going.

The dracony just stared at me, a confused look on her face. "...Fine, I mean...uh...." Kiri scratched her neck, "That's kind of a weird thing to say."

"...Is it?" I asked, staring out into the thick black void that sat beyond the trees. "I don't think it is...."

Kiri looked uncomfortable. "...I come here like...once a month...so I can't say this for sure, but then again some human moved into the crag a while ago so.... Dude you're acting funny." She blurted out, turning her hand up and stretching her claws. "And I grew up with dragons, so...I mean, I know funny."

"Ponies are weirder than dragons.... Dragons are just assholes." I stated, my tact annihilated a while ago. "...So what's up?"

Kiri started slowly digging her claws into my railing, her expression more frightened than I could have imagined. "Uh...nothing...." She continued to dig her claws into the wooden railing, tearing grooves into the hard wood. "What's up with you?"

I took a deep breath. "...Bought a gun." I stated, staring out, still waiting for something to come visit.

The half pony mare stepped down from her roost, "Um...why?"

I shrugged, a strange pudgy expression forming as I pushed my lips to the side. "Dunno'. Thought I might end it, blow my brains out, but-" I started laughing, "-idiot me forgot you need bullets. I sat in my den punning the hammer back all day."

Kiri stared at me. A muted expression rode her face as she sat at my front. "...Do you want a hug or something? Like, should I go into town and call someone to make sure you're alright?"

I started laughing, "I live in Equestria, I'm human, I can't bring myself to live in town so I live out in the sticks, I have no entertainment besides reading, the one romantic relationship I got past talking left for a better life, and I don't have the balls to go with her!" I jumped up, throwing my arms out. "Do I look alright!?"

The dragon spawn stared at me, slowly lifting a foreleg and putting the dull of her claw on my head. "Sit...sit down...yeah...." She pushed me into my seat, patting my head gently as she did. "There...now...I'm gonna take a step back, then freak out at you, okay?"

I shook my head. "Save it. This has been going on a long time, and I've already heard anything you could say." I rubbed my face. "God damn...I talk so clearly when I'm fucking mad...but as soon as I get out into a crowd it just- feels like I'm talking with food in my mouth."

Kiri put a claw on my knee. "Why did I get involved, Kiri you idiot...." She whispered, scratching my leg slightly. "Uh...so, what's the problem?"

I slumped back in my seat. "See...you don't even care. You care just enough to ask, that's it."

Kiri cocked her head. "Hey...I...sorta care. You're like one of the few people I talk to that doesn't immediately try to headbutt me. I mean, sure half dragon, but I don't have a lead skull!"

I rubbed my face, slumping further down. "You know...I'm asking for help and you keep bringing it back to yourself. That's...really nice."

Kiri cocked her head. "You were asking for help? But--"

"I was asking, subtly. If I ask outright it just sounds like I'm bitching." I stated, still rather angry. "...Wanna punch you right now."

Kiri shook her head. "You know...I was raised around a bunch of macho jerks. If you don't ask something outright, I'm gonna just ignore it."

"How nice." I mumbled, pulling at my chin, "...Why the fuck do I even bother shaving anymore...."

Kiri tapped her claws together, "Uh...so...you wanted help?"

I let out a tired huff, pulling a few letters from my sweater pocket. "...I was gonna just...here, burn these." I tossed Kiri the stack of saved up letters. "I'm letting it go...."

Kiri fumbled, dropping the letters across my deck. "Gah- shit!" She nabbed one out of the air, quickly turning it over to look at the name. "...Who the heck is Rouge."

I started chuckling. "...Remember what I said about caring just enough to ask?"

"Alright stop being a dick!" Kiri yelped, throwing a foreleg out. "I'm not good with this shit! Now who is this!?" She poked through the envelope with her claw. "What- read this to me!"

"Read it yourself." I shot back, tired, quiet. "Kiri just burn them for me! If I throw them away I'll just dig them out of the trash. I need them to be gone and I can't do it myself!"

Kiri grew a bit red, fire twirling from between her lips. "I can't freaking read pony. Now are you gonna--"

"It's the girl that left me!" I screamed, kicking a few letters into the snow. "Alright!? You fucking happy now!?"

Kiri glared at me, her horns forming a V as she lowered her head. "Stop...being, a dick." She commanded, picking up the few letters that remained on the porch. "Now...who did what?"

I started to yell, catching myself and stopping. "Are you fuck-- ...You know, I really want to be mad at you. But I really think you might just be stupid...." I rubbed my eyes, exhaustion slowly overtaking me. "That mare...the mare sending me letters, she left to go to Prance, make something of her life."

Kiri scratched the scales on her jaw. "Oh...that's fucked up man."

I waved her off, "She asked me if I wanted to come, so I can't really be mad."

Kiri glared at me. "Then why didn't you go!?"

I shook my head, tapping my toes on the ground. "I can't go to Prance. I'd break down, I wouldn't be able to go shopping for groceries without having a panic attack or screaming like an animal. I can't handle crowds, so heading to one of the most crowded cities in Equestria would be suicide."

Kiri moved her claw to her neck. "...Well...do you like...take something for it?"

"I did. Back before I came to Equestria. But they just messed with my head even worse. By the time Equestria had that portal open up, I was running out of options. I figured this place sounded really rural, spacious, ponies are short, crowds wouldn't be so bad, but no." I chuckled, "...Why the fuck am I laughing? I- I'm talking about the thing that killed my chances with every girl I ever liked, and I'm fucking laughing!" Thinking about it only made me laugh harder. "Jesus...I just- I'm a fucking loser. I'm such a fucking loser even I think it's funny!"

Kiri just sat there, staring at me, worried. "Um...so anyways, this mare...she went where?"

"Prance!" I shouted, not angry, but excited. "Oh yeah, big ol' Prance. Fucking sounds like a pun on France, get it!?"

Kiri looked at the letters. "...This...this the place? I'm alright with numbers." She stated, pointing at the return address.

I shook my head. "Shes got a house. She told me shes got a house. Not even an apartment, a fucking house. She got a dog...bet shes got another stallion or something. God damn...she left me and just went straight to the fucking top!" I screamed, my insides twisting into deep knots. "Oh god...god damn it all...." I jumped from my chair. "Jesus- fuck!" I screamed, running forehead first into the wall, my heart racing like mad. Fear consumed me, guiding me into a pitched frenzy. "God damn it, why!?" I screamed, clutching my chest, my heart feeling like it was trying to give up.

My breathing was shallow and weak. "I just- I don't know what else I can do! I tried to get help and nothing worked!"

"Dude...."

I felt like everything was locking up, the light growing narrow as the dark wood started squeezing tight with the borders of the forest. "Jesus- fuck- fuck!"

"Dude!" Kiri grabbed me, sending me skyrocketing into mania. I grabbed her forelegs, trying to kick her away.

"I can't fucking breathe!" I shouted, hyperventilating.

"What does she look like!?" Kiri snapped, forcing the letter into my face. "What does she look like!?"

"Red!" I screamed, kicking at Kiri's back legs. "Off, off me now!" I shouted, digging my nails fruitlessly against her scales. "Off now!"

Kiri held me in place. "Twenty-thirty-nine, Charda Road, Prance!?" She yelled, forcing the letter against my cheek. "Is that it!?"

"Fucking off me right now!"

"Sorry Henry, I'll watch your cabin." She stated, tossing the letter aside and ramming a claw into my gut. It felt like getting kicked straight in the stomach by a pony, the blunt end of her hand forcing me to my knees. I had two seconds of extreme pain before another slap slammed my head into the wall and sent me into a daze. "...Never been to Prance...." Kiri mumbled, rubbing her hoof and stretching her long neck. "Eh...free cabin." She groaned, lifting my onto her back and guiding me hands around her neck. "Now...hold on, maybe stop yelling."

"What- fuck?" I asked, my jaw starting to swell. "...Why?"

Kiri looked back as she stretched out her wings and took off. "Because you just bitched at me over a mare for about an hour! There's gotta be something there...maybe she can help you with...whatever your issue is."

I gave up. I'd known Kiri on and off for a few months and she wasn't exactly bright. I was going to die within the next few hours. Either from a concussion, from a panic attack, suicide or her dropping me from on high. But, maybe I'd get to die seeing Rouge a final time, and that's something I would never have done without some help.

But for now it was bed time, and maybe things would be better when I woke up. They certainly couldn't get much worse.
> Welcome To Prance
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I woke up to a soft tapping. My eyes shot open, revealing a surly man with a gun across his shoulder. "...Okay...awake, now perhaps you tell me why you are here."

I jumped upright, nearly flying out of the bed. "Whoa, wait wait wait!" I threw my hand out, my saner mind screaming for me to run. "Put the gun down!"

The man slid the gun behind his neck, pulling it against himself with his wrists. "I think it would be a good idea to explain why it is you are in my house. Now." The man stated, his finger squeezing around the trigger guard. "...Is for your little friend, yes? The moth girl?"

I felt my breath catch in my throat, my focus shifting from myself to her in a second. "How the fuck do you know her?"

The man rolled his eyes. "How do I know anyone? I meet them, I talk to them, I listen." He pulled his gun around and unloaded two shells. "Henry, I take it. The social retard." He stated, extending a hand. "Your mentally damaged friend dropped you on my porch, Rouge let you in. I tell her no, better you go home, but she says is good time to explain some things."

I fell back into the bed. "...Let me guess, you're her new--"

"Fear, let us talk of fear." He stated, setting the gun aside and pulling over a chair. "We are...two humans, in a land we don't belong." He sat backwards, facing me with the back of the chair. "But, we do not fear most things. I don't think you fear me now." He stated, pointing at me, his finger bobbing agianst the back of the chair. "But she says to me, he is afraid to come. And I say, is his fear more powerful than his love?"

"Shut up!" I snapped, "It's not like that--"

"And she says to me, ...I don't know. He wished he could. Then I say again, but he fears everything more than he loves you. And she went quiet." The Frenchman's words dug into my chest. "But now you are here, too late perhaps, but...how they say, A for effort."

"Too late!?" I snapped, "How the fuck am I too late!?" I threw my legs out of the bed, turning to face the man. "You better make sense or--"

"Anger." He stated, standing up and walking over to me. "You live in a wonderland, with the kindest creatures ever conceived, and greater than your fear, greater than your love, your anger is the strongest emotion you have." He laughed, that peculiar mocking French laugh. "...I took your friend's virginity." He stated in such a dry tone, such a emotionless, flavorless tone I believe him.

I felt my anger boil over. Betrayal, anger, rage, shame, hate, all rose up and threatened to explode out my gut. "You mother fucker!" I shouted, haphazardly throwing my fist at him, nailing his shoulder and making him step back a bit.

The Frenchman took a step back, quickly brushing off his vest. "...Hmm, well...I suppose maybe there is hope for you yet. I mean, if you feel that strongly about it, there's some drive left." He stepped back up to me. "The first thing you do is not to ask where you are, who I am, what day or time, but to get in a fight over someone you left behind. Brave...very, very stupid, but brave."

I rubbed my hand, my sloppy punch hurting me just as much as him. "What the hell are you even talking about?"

The French let out a soft laugh. "I'm married, and your friend is still a virgin girl." He pointed to the bed. "Lie down, I have some things to talk to you over."

I rubbed my knuckles, looking back to the bed. "How about you tell me where Rouge is first."

The French laughed, "I make a joke about your little friend's virginity and all the sudden you're Mr. Pissed Off. Good lord...you were crying like a baby when you got here, now you're swearing and cursing me like I screwed your mother." He turned the chair around and sat down. "I am Jan, my wife is Saint, this is Prance and your mare is at a coffee shop. Any other questions?"

I looked around, taking a deep breath and defusing my anger. "...I- I don't know...."

Jan shook his head. "You know, people don't like those who are indecisive. If you don't know, figure out, be definitive, take charge. I know for the depressed masses such as you it would seem impossible, but it is your choice to make it so."

"It's not that--"

"Don't tell me it's not easy." Jan shot back, pointing to the window, "I have not lived an easy life, but I have made choices to better it."

I looked towards the window, slowly getting up and peeking past the curtains. I could see a mare bounding through the snow in a fall field fenced in my a short wall. But behind her a pony faced creature bounded after her. A satyr, an anomaly with a human body and pony head, was running after her, giggling like mad. "...What the fuck?" I asked, "What is that thing?"

Jan laughed. "That thing is my son. Poor boy was cursed from birth."

I looked back out the window, marveling at the unsettling creature. "H-how?"

Jan shook his head. "I don't know. Should come out normal, but should is a very finicky word. At any rate...is why I brought your mare to Prance, is why I didn't throw you out. I feel for the odd, the outcast. Is a curse you know...."

I rubbed my mouth, turning away from the window. "So...what, you--"

"I give anyone a chance, no exceptions." He nodded curtly. "You and your mare, no exception. But, I expect something from you, and I expect an answer now. Are you worth the effort?" He asked blandly, "Because I need to know if I should bother, or give your place to another."

"I- what do you mean?"

Jan shook his head. "I mean, you are social retard, this is known. But what is not known is why, how long, or what can be done. But I need to know if you're willing to change. I need to know if you have the want, the capacity, the drive to change. I need to know if you care more about her than you fear...whatever it is you fear." He shook his head again. "Though...it is apparent you don't. And you are fit to let others lead your life for you...but that doesn't mean you lack the ability."

I rubbed my forehead. "It's not like I chose--"

"You chose everything in your life, or, you chose not to chose." Jan put his hand on my shoulder, leading me towards the door out of the room. "You chose to let fear rule your life, you chose to let fear be more powerful than love, it is all an active choice. Maybe a difficult choice, maybe painful and tiring, but a choice regardless. I suppose you're here by choice though...a passive choice, the choice of a man afraid to chose for himself."

I started to feel a soft burning in my stomach. "I asked for help okay!"

"No...from what your little dragon friend said, you whined until she couldn't take anymore and she dropped you like a sack of spuds on my porch." Jan pulled at the shorthairs on his chin. "You complained until someone made the choice for you."

I locked up, unable to really refute him, but still angry enough to belittle him. "You know I don't need my life critiqued by some- some weird little man with a fucked up son!"

Jan nodded, rubbing my back. "True, I am a strange man with a stranger son. But perhaps a strange man with more of a life than you. A man who has made an active choice to be happy. And...friend, if I may call you that, happiness is the end goal. Some may be fit to live in sadness and regret, leading passive lives and surviving, but I don't make time for those. I make time for those willing to take control, to overcome, to grow. If you wanted help, ask for it, seek it, but don't expect it to be dropped at your feet just because you complain."

"You know what, fuck you! I've been depressed for so god damn long I can't--"

"Then why are you complaining now? Why not complain sooner? Depression is no excuse for living passively," He lead me out of the plain white guest room and into a warm beige hall. "Your friend, your mare, made a choice to change. She invited you, but you chose to stay in your little home. And when you saw regret, you chose to complain and whine until someone forced you to do something."

"I- No I- That's not fair!" I shouted, quickly losing all control of the argument. "I wanted to go with her! I just- I break down in public, I can--"

"So have many others." Jan stated, cutting me off at every opportunity. "You think you are special? I tell this to pony, the satyr, to man, I say, you make a choice to be special. Being special isn't something given, it's something earned. Now please...stop making excuses, and cut out...how you say...cut out the middle men, and make your own choices."

"...God I hate you." I muttered, looking around the dull beige walls.

"That is a choice. And in honest it's a better choice than despair. But...perhaps learn to love more than hate. Hmm, maybe learn to hate more than to fear, then to love more than hate. Hmm, things to think of in a shower, no?" Jan hurried down the hall and past a flight of stairs. "Basement," he pointed down the flight. "Hobby rooms and such." He pointed to the opposite side of the stairs, a path upward. "And...your friend is staying in the room we just came from."

I let out a tired groan. "You know...you barely know me...you don't know me. Why bother helping--"

"Because, what else am I to do?" Jan spun around, walking up to my and planting his hand against my chest. "This...this is opportunity. The dead don't chose, the hopeless don't chose, the thinking, the bright, the hopeful chose. And while perhaps a whiny, self deprecating and half assed choice, you did make a choice to give that dumb little dragon girl the right address, so...hope, however small." Jan brushed off my jacket. "Now...go wait for your friend. Maybe we start fixing you soon."

Jan turned on his heel, hurrying towards the door outside. "Oh, and welcome to Prance. The ponies are rude, the wine is expensive, and the fields are rolling."

I stood in the hall, scratching my head lightly. "...Hell of a welcome...."
> Couple
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I sat around the porch of Saint's house. The place turned out to be an old farmhouse that just lingered after the farm. It still had a generous yard, perfect for the child running around and the mother who seemed to not give an absolute damn about anything. She was so blissful, it made me a little jealous. But I was just happy to be outside, in a huge white field instead of the dark constricting forest I had secluded myself in.

I was simply waiting for Rouge and I to have a chance to talk, figure out what was going to happen next. It was peacful, calm, nothing in the world could surprise me or disrupt these few moments of tranquility I had. "...This is--"

"Henry...." Rouge's voice cut in, followed by the soft brush of her feelers against the back of my neck.

"Jesus- fuck!" I shouted, jumping up from my seat. "Rouge, hello!" I snapped, sticking my hand out. "...Hi...."

Rouge looked me up and down. "Yep...it's you." She lunged at me, wrapping her hooves around my stomach. "...Thank you."

I took a deep breath, steadying my head and gently placing my hand on her head, sliding it down her soft mane and over the fuzz around her neck. "...Yeah.... It's good to see you again." I carefully shimmied down, nuzzling Rouge's cheek and letting out a pleased sigh. "...Prance is nice...."

"Isn't it?" She asked, pushing back. "The country is beautiful, but...um...how are you feeling?"

I looked around, butterflies in my stomach as I spotted the far off walls. "...It's alright.... It's quiet...closed in, I'm alright." I flexed my arms, tugging at my sleeve to keep it from bunching up. "...Yeah...I'm okay right now."

Rouge smiled. "I'm glad. Well, not glad you just got dumped off in the middle of the night, but glad you're here."

I looked her up and down. She was clad in a bright cream jacket, her wings sliding through and a pair of high white boots that went up to her knees. "...You look...good." I mumbled, growing a bit self-conscious. "Uh...sit?" I pulled out a chair, standing behind it.

Rouge smiled, nodding her head and beat her segmented wings like mad. She lifted her lithe frame up and fluttered over to the chair, bumping her flank into the back of the chair before slowly setting herself down. "Thank you."

I took a seat across from her, rubbing my mouth before plopping down across from her. "...Um, Rouge...I never asked...but can you fly well?"

Rouge folded her wings, flicking them and turning her head away. "Not...particularly well. Why ask now?"

I tapped my fingers on the edge of the metal lawn chairs. "Uh, I don't think I've ever seen you fly that much." I looked around the dull white plain. "I don't think I've ever really seen you outside. Outside," I waved my hand at the white field, the pony headed child dawdling over with his mother. "...Out...side...." I stopped my waving. "...Satyrs...." I groaned, not completely settled with their existence. "What do you think?"

"Of him?" Rouge asked, pointing her ear towards the pony headed child. "He's a good boy, problems in town, but I'll assume you could figure that out."

I shook my head, "No...just, satyrs. Even the normal ones with the pony legs...the...like, normal looking ones still kinda bug me."

Rouge cocked her head. "...I could have one, you could have one...we--"

I felt my face flush at her sudden implications. "We could-- but- I- ...Um...uh.... ...Take things slow." I croaked, sinking back into my seat. "...Rouge...it's just good to be around you."

Rouge smiled, a small nervousness to her movements. "It's good to be around you too...."

Things grew quiet, the space between us rather harrowing. "...Rouge...do you--"

"Yes." She hopped from her chair and fluttered across the gap and against my chest. She curled up her forelegs and pressed herself against me. "...I missed this.... Hands?"

I carefully put my arms around her, rubbing her back and digging in against the plush beige coat. "...This is nice...." I cooed, nuzzling her head. It was the perfect amount of open space, the perfect amount of people, I had Rouge and I had something to hug. I was set. I had no idea why I found her so calming or why I felt such an attachment to her, but I wasn't about to question it. This was something I had, and I wasn't about to lose this again.

"Ooooh, look at this, look at this!" The hunter green mare that was prancing through the snow ushered her son past and trotted onto the paved porch. "The happy couple, reunited, happy, mostly I think." Saint walked around, making sure her strange son headed inside before trotting around and pulling up Rouge's seat. "Hallo hallo, such a cute pair I think."

Rouge and I turned out heads to the mare. I let go of her, leaving her to turn around and sit on my lap. "Saint...stop it...."

Saint shook her head jauntily. "But you two sit so well together, red mane, white mane, Hearth couple like none other!" She pressed her hooves against her cheeks, squishing them together and shaking her head left and right. "So tell me this then, how did you two meet!? How did the happy couple start?"

I scratched my head, unsure of her accent. It was clean, but her English was clunky and strained. She was a deep green, both body and hair, save a small champagne streak running through her bobbed mane and tail. She was perky, but her age showed through. "Um...we...just kind of started talking one night."

Rouge leaned back, flicking her wings against my chest. "...He left his porch light on one night, I'd never seen anyone else living as far as he was and I decided to check it out."

I put my arms around her, pulling her back against me and letting he back hooves dangle as I laid her rump down, flipping her onto her back. "She was really nice, well behaved...quiet. I enjoyed the company...and she used to tell me stories about her home...."

Saint let out a warm coo. "Is so cute...how you two finish the story together."

I felt a bit bashful, scooting back and trying to hide behind Rouge. "...I- no...."

Rouge coughed roughly. "At any rate...I enjoy being around him, he's very gentle when he's not panicking over the trauma of the day."

"Hmm." Saint tapped her hooves on the chair. "Well...I don't know either of you too well...I don't know him at all. So...tell me of yourselves! What is it you two are coming together for? Why is it such trauma was wrought by you coming here?"

I took a shallow breath, stifling it and turning away. "...I don't know...."

Rouge laid against me, snuggling me with her back. "It's just...animalistic.... He's not the most romantic type."

I lowered my head. "I could be." I whispered, scratching my cheek. "...You just never really stayed through the night."

Rouge jerked upright. "I left because I thought too much of me would get a bit obnoxious. And I do enjoy going out a bit, even if you don't."

"What? I never asked you to leave, and there isn't much you could do to make me that mad."

Saint let out a pleased squeal, frantically tapping the tips of her hooves against the chair. "Is a little winter romance. But question is, will it survive the spring? Saying you love someone and cuddling up is all nice and cozy, but the passion comes with the heat, that fire, the love is in the warmer situations!"

I grew a bit nervous. The mare was obviously a bit eccentric, but her words had a certain truth to them. Until now I had played everything very low, very quiet, I'd been reserved and calm, but now here I was, dragged off to Prance and thrown into a world of uncertainty and amazing possibilities that both frightened and excited me. But if I was going to try and fix my problem I would be spending a lot more time around Rouge, and having her find out that she doesn't love me, or that I don't love her would be rather crushing.

"...Uh...I- so...I--"

Saint turned to me with a smile. "Is okay, you two seem rather attached, I'm sure the fire will be lit, many happy nights, many hot nights." She giggled, covering her mouth with her hoof. "I'm so bad...."

I scratched my head. "We've never--"

"We've never had sex...." Rouge cut in, covering her mouth and looking off to the side. "...There was never really a moment for it."

Saint nodded, "Ahhhh, problems with the pecker?"

"What!?" I shot, digging my heels in and sitting upright, "No no no, nothing like...no...just no." I crossed my hands and waved in the negative. "I just never really took that step with her...."

Rouge slowly turned around. "...With her? What does that mean?"

I felt my heart jump into my throat. "Um...just...I like you...a lot. You're kind...well mannered, understand--"

"Henry?" Saint asked, "...Rouge tells me you two had a first kiss...was very cute. But you seem nervous now...why?"

I started laughing nervously. "Did I ever tell you how I used to run a radio?"

The two mares continued to stare at me. Rouge cocking her head and pouting. "Henry, why are you red?"

I swallowed hard. "Rouge...tell her about your dad, about that time--"

"I think perhaps Mr. Henry might have had an awkward encounter with another colt...." Saint muttered, rolling her hoof. "So, was a first kiss or not?"

"It was mine!" Rouge snapped, growing bright red along the white patch of hair on her face. "...Henry...did you lie?"

I pulled my lower lip into my mouth. "No...that was my first kiss...."

"But?" Saint questioned, leaning towards me. "Buuut?"

I resigned to taking the hit, lying wasn't going to do me any favors, and I wouldn't, couldn't lie to her. "...But I fucked the audio engineer back in college."

Rouge's jaw popped open, Saint mimicking her but with a wickedly wide smile. "Ooooooh, such scandal!"

"Henry is this a joke? You're not--"

"No...not a virgin...I honestly didn't think you were either...." I sank down into my seat, Rouge scooting back as my lap dipped off the chair. "Not...saying you were a slut, but I figured you'd had some sort of relationship. You always seemed so well adjusted."

Rouge continued to stare at me, mouth hanging open, "That's- I- but your problem!"

I waved her off. "It's an issue in open spaces and crowds. This girl and I- it was back in college...you ever go to college?" I asked either of the mares, getting a pseudo nod from Saint and a hurt stare from Rouge. "...Anyways, I took a bunch of weird classes, and one of them lead to me and some others working a radio station. It was perfect, a tiny little booth, nice and closed in, only like five people I knew really well. I...one night me and the other host stayed around...it was just the most violent and physically depressing thing. Like, there was no romance, it was just fucking. No love making crap, no I love you baby, it was just a rut." I rubbed my head as I finished, "It was just...two stupid drunks fucking like animals. She quit like a day after and I never saw her again. I think we both needed to get away from each other after that."

"Henry that's--"

"She smelled like fish and beer.... She smelled like a harbor." I muttered, remembering my lost virginity with a bit of disgust. "God damn...I'm just glad I didn't catch anything."

Rouge let her jaw drop even further. "How did you never tell me this!?"

I shrugged. "You never asked."

She looked around, her breath curling out in white wisps as she huffed and puffed. "I thought we could be each other's firsts.... Is there anything else I should know?!"

I shrugged. "Not...really. And to be honest two virgins going at it would be an absolute mess. I mean, it wouldn't really be enjoyable for anyone...."

"It's the thought!"

Saint walked over, putting a hoof on my knee. "This...is...amazing."

I shook my head. "...I've got a lot of stories. I'm a citizen of Scotland, I went to Belgium, I can da-- I've got a lot of weird things I can do."

Rouge just stared at me, slack jawed and confused. "H- but you're living in the woods and begging, me, some no name moth pony, to stay with you!?"

I rubbed her ribs, "I like you.... You're quiet, calm, collected. You're better at social stuff, and you have neat stories...."

"I have stories about growing up in Ponyville! You- I- I'm...boring?" She questioned herself, rubbing her chest. "...Am I boring?"

I hugged her back, leaning back and nuzzling her head. "You're not boring...you're young--"

"You're young!" She shot back, "I'm- I am young, but I'm boring now!"

Saint looked between us. "What?"

I rubbed my mouth. "I'm only about twenty-five.... Rouge, how old are you?"

Rouge turned her head to the ground. "Twenty-two, ...boring...dull--"

"You're not boring." I stated, rubbing her stomach. "You're a model...you're a moth pony, you live in--"

"Don't condescend to me!" She snapped, trying to kick free.

"I'm not--"

Saint slammed her hooves together, letting out an extremely loud metal clang. "Children!" She screamed, staring at us. "...Become interesting. There are plenty of ways to turn from a bland lump of clay into a beautiful statue or work of art!"

Rouge sniffled softly. "...I- why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

I closed my eyes and kissed her ear, causing it to flick and slap me across the cheek. "You never asked."

Rouge took a deep breath, rolling onto her haunches and wiping off her eyes. "Fine...fine, you know what, I'm strong! I can- I can go to school, I can learn things, do thing, I can, can- I can do anything!"

I nodded, nuzzling the base of her ear. "Sounds like fun."

Rouge nodded, "I'm gonna go, have adventures, I'll be amazing!"

"Just don't go overboard." I mumbled, rubbing her belly.

Rouge scoffed, her defense mechanism making her rather abrasive. "I'm not like you...Mr. Fucks a lot--"

"Hey, it was a few times with someone I knew really well!" I shot back, sitting upright. "I--"

Saint shook her head, "Children and sex...so much drama, so much fuss." She walked around behind the chair and started shoving us towards the door inside. "Come...we fix."

I stared back at the surprisingly strong mare. "Wait, what?"

Saint started snickering. "We're going to see if we can't sort out your problems. A nice night in bed, a glass of wine, hoof cuffs, good for the body, good for the soul."

I dug my heels into the ground immediately. "Oh no!" I snapped, "It's fine, it's fine we'll work it out on our own!"

Rouge joined me, laying her hooves over my shoulder and staring at Saint as we slid towards the door. "Saint it's okay!"

"Beside, I know what I'm doing for the most part!" I shouted, my heels catching against the threshold. "It's--"

"Have you ever been with a mare?" Saint asked, slowly tipping our chair upwards. "Because I have seen the human's bodies, we are a bit more...how you say, different?"

I locked up, realizing all my experience was going to be rather useless when given a whole different partner to be with. The basics were going to be the same, but squishy bit meets hard bit was kind of difficult to screw up. "Oh dear Luna!" Rouge snapped, holding on as the chair was dumped into the room.

Saint trotted happily inside. "Oooooh, two little virgins exploring each other, this is going to be amazing!"
> Cuffs
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I was hoisted into the air by Saint. The tiny earth mare was lifting a six-one human being over her head like bane, an outstanding feat, if not for the fact she was about to throw me into a bedroom with Rouge and lock the door behind me. "Okay, you two wait, I'll bring you some things to ease the mood, some things to play around with, you know how it is."

"Holy shit!" I yelped, clutching her hooves as they dug into my chest and gut. "Put me the hell down!" I was terrified that I might prove to heavy or the mare too weak, but despite my flailing the steel shod mare hoisted me up, tilted me back and chucked me into the plain bedroom I had originated in.

I landed square on my chin, sliding across the wood floor and slamming against the far wall. In one foul swoop Saint had proven that Earth ponies were by far the strongest creatures for their size, or that she was some strange abnormality with bones of steel and a fiery temper with the power to back herself up. But all I knew for certain at the moment was, I was just tossed across the room by a five foot mare as if I was filled with straw.

"Saint, wait!" Rouge yelped, quickly popping up in the hall as I rolled onto my back and looked over. My moth mate was held up in a similar manner, her wings beating like mad as she covered her face with her forelegs. Saint was laughing like everything she was doing was completely normal.

"You two get comfortable, look each other over-" She reeled back, getting ready to toss the panicking mare, "-I will come back soon with the fun things, clean and ready for your little day."

"No no no-- Aahaha!" Rouge yelped, thrown like a torpedo, barely able to right herself with her wings before crashing into my stomach and knocking my wind out. Rouge landed hoof first into my stomach, passing under my ribs and right into my less than toned stomach. "Oh no, Henry!?"

"I'm okay!" I shouted, simply trying to reassure her, in reality I was in a massive amount of pain. But as the door shut, a loud metal click following soon behind it, I hopped up, mare in hands. "Oh no, what the hell was that!?" I tossed Rouge onto the bed, her wings fluttering as I ran over to the door. I slammed shoulder first into it, grabbing the knob and trying to turn it. "...It's locked...it's locked!? How- it's locked from the outside!" I rattled the door, the actual frame moving more than the knob. "What is this fucking black magic!?"

Rouge dusted herself off, her long coat collecting a bit of dust from her toss. "I don't think it's magic...I think they probably just put the doorknob on wrong." She trotted over, her fluff rising around her cheeks as she tightened up her stance. "...Saint?" She asked, leaning against the door, ear twitching as her antenna tapped against the wood. "...Saint.... Saint?!" Rouge gave up, quickly grabbing the door knob between her hooves and yanking at it desperately. "I- no! I don't like being locked in!"

I ran my fingers through my hair, walking towards the window. I hadn't realized earlier, too distracted by the abnormal satyr to see, the thing was barred with nicely painted white steel. I was half tempted to kick it off, but seeing as I was actually a little eager to be with her, even if only to make sure she still cared about me past the cuddling. "God damn it...what now?"

"Now!?" Rouge spun around, facing her flank to the door. "Now we bust the buck out of here!" She picked her backside up and slammed her hooves against the door. She stood there, leaning against the door with an expression of surprise. "...Ooooooow." She moaned softly, a single tear running down her cheek. "Owwwwwww."

I cringed, slowly walking over to her. "...You alright?"

Rouge closed her eyes, her body still in perfect bucking form. "...My hooves hurt...so bad...."

I scratched the back of my neck, for all her sweetness and pleasantry she was rather frail. "...You wanna lay on the bed?"

Rouge let out a soft squeak, "...I'm stuck."

I knelt down, putting my arms next to the bases of her legs, picking her up like a fork lift and carefully carrying my now limp mare towards the bed. I set her down, pulling off her boots, sitting on the edge of the bed and carefully massaging her back legs. "That sounded like it hurt." I jeered, carefully running my fingers up and down her legs.

Rouge huffed softly, "It really di-- ow ow ow, Henry!" She kicked her back legs softly, her forelegs curling up against her chest as she looked up at me. She pulled her face into a tight pout, "Henry...gentle...."

"I am...I am." I continued to run my hands up and down her legs. I held them high, keeping her back to the bed as I ran my thumb over her underhoof. "...You're really fragile.... I never--"

"I'm not fragile! It's just a really tough door!" Rouge yelped, letting one of her legs fall, the other held up and gently tweaked by my fingers. "Henry...you can stop now, I'm fine."

I kept on, pulling her perpendicular with me and cradling her backside on my lap. I raised her back legs up, punning my hands up and down, hoof to knee, knee to hoof. "But you're so soft...."

Rouge covered her mouth with her forelegs. "...F-fine...just...whatever."

Things got a bit quiet as I gingerly massaged Rouge's dark red legs, bordering rust brown along the lower half of her foot. Her coat was soft, silky under my touch. Her legs were a bit fleshy, but there was still a decent amount of resistance to her muscles. As I rolled my fingers over the hard of her hoof, dancing along the ridge, I felt warm. Rouge had never liked me touching her hooves, the rest of her body was mostly fair game, but her belly and her hooves were off limit until a decent ways into our relationship.

The door swung open in a flash. "Box of fun!" Saint chirped, her back hooves showing as she kicked a small cardboard box into the room. "Nothing too strange, just for the once a month!"

Rouge shot her legs out, "Hey wai--" But before she could scramble to her hooves the door slammed shut, the loud lock snapping into place and sealing us in. "-ait.... Damn it!" She crossed her forelegs and threw herself back down into the bed. "...Damn...."

I let out a tired huff as I ran my fingers past her hoof and into the soft frog of her foot. It felt warm, a sweaty heat still lingering from her boots. "...Yep...." I ran my finger along the soft tender crease in her hoof, sliding my finger between the soft, fatty flesh she walked on. It struck me as odd that it was so soft, but she was so light, and light footed, it didn't surprise me too much.

"Will you stop it...." Rouge cooed, her legs twitching as she snuggled her back against a pillow. "...You're enjoying this too much."

I stopped with one hand holding her legs together and the other rubbing its thumb over the inside of her hoof. "...How much is too much?"

Rouge huffed angrily and tried to roll away. "Just...stop it...it's enough."

I held her in place, keeping her flank on my lap. "No...you feel nice, and plus the moment I do you're gonna complain about your hooves hurting."

Rouge shifted around nervously, her wings flicking out for a moment before shooting back. "Ahhh, just...you just...rah...." She threw her head back, shifting her flank and raising her back legs higher for me and my constant caresses. "I don't like...when I'm not...in- Aughhh!" She moaned, picking her flank up and flicking her tail across my lap. "What was that!?" She shot, looking around nervously. "See, now just stop it!"

I stared at Rouge, her brown eyes darting away whenever we would make eye contact. "You seem to like it, what's the big deal?"

Rouge fluttered her wings, kicking her hooves softly. "...I don't like you...like this, over me." She snuggled deep into the bed, tightening up her body and trying to hide behind her hooves. "I- I do the romance, I do the- I push...I'm on top...."

I cocked my head, tracing a circling on her hoof with my fingertip. "Are you serious? I've carried you around and--"

"I'm nervous alright!" She shouted, kicking my hands away and tucking her legs up to her belly. "Just...first time...we're trapped...I'm nervous, okay!" Rough went from her usual salmon color to a soft pink rather quickly. "...I'm just nervous...and you touching me isn't going to make things any better...."

I let my hands fall against her legs, not rubbing, not poking or prodding. Her tail was pulled tight between her legs, covering herself and adding a beautiful white to her red belly. I took a deep breath and looked towards the barred window. "You know we don't have to do this. She can't keep us locked in here forever."

Rouge took a deep breath and turned away. She didn't say anything, only shifting and getting redder. "Rouge...did you hear me?"

Rouge nodded. "Yes...."

"...And?"

Rouge let out another tired huff, wiggling her flank. "...I'm not going to say it."

I felt my heart jump as I slowly realized the implications. "Uh...so.... But you don't--"

"Yes, I'm nervous...but- look one of us has to know what we're doing! You- ...having experience, it makes me feel stupid, and you touching me just makes me feel warm and stupid. I just want to- I- I need to know I'm not the dumb one this time!" Rouge shouted, lifting her front half up with her forelegs. "You're intimidating now, and it's making me feel funny!"

I stared Rouge in the eyes. Weathered chestnut irises in a pattern not unlike the crystal ponies. "I'm not intimidating...." I mumbled, taking my hands off her legs.

"Yes, you are!" Rouge shouted, "Not in the like, murdering kind of way, but you're...you know more than I do about it and I don't like that!"

I laughed gently. "You were ready to do this back in the Everfree, what changed?"

Rouge locked up, throwing her head back. "Ugh! I just- you changed! You and I were supposed to- we were going to be the firsts...now you're just...now you're just Henry."

I frowned rather hard. "I didn't change. You just found something out. And you were my first kiss."

"How?!" Rouge dug her hooves into my leg and curled up. "How am I your first anything?!"

I took a deep breath. "Look...I could tell you this whole big story about how me and- fuck...I don't even remember her name, Karin? I knew Karin for two years, we got drunk, we fucked. There was no romance, there was no love, she wasn't my girlfriend, we were drunk, we were working non stop, and we fucked in the closet." I leaned back, not quite falling to the bed. "It was awful. It was sweaty, it was gross, we both smelled and by the end of it I'm pretty sure we hated each other. What do you want me to say about it!?"

Rouge started squirming around my lap and the bed. "I don't know.... I just- I expected it to be me and some colt, deep in love, going at it for the first time and both being as clueless and young as could be." She closed her eyes and rolled her head towards the window. "Henry...I'm just...it feels weird, okay?"

I got back upright, tapping my fingers against her leg. "Maybe I'm not a pony, maybe I'm not too young, maybe I'm not entirely clueless, but I'll love you as much as you let me. You put in the effort to put up with me, to deal with my problems, the least I could do is put in the same effort you did. And let me tell you this, if I can even put half the effort you have been, well...I- there'd be a ring on my finger.... But...it's up to you, I- I'm as ready as you are, for- for this, for Prance, for anything!" I rubbed her leg, the short hair soothing my frazzled brain. "I've gotta start, but I don't want to do this without you. You're beautiful, you're kind, and I want you to be happy. I mean, that's why I let you love to Prance! I thought you'd have a better life, better than living out in the woods, better than dealing with me! But I'm here damn it! I'm ready to go forward, you just need to let me know what this is, what we're--"

Rough cut me off, lifting her back legs up high. "Henry, shut up...." She wiggled her back hooves for me, the lithe limbs shuddering as she stretched. "...Just do it...."

I watched her hooves, swaying and swinging as she struggled to keep her legs straight. She was still hiding though, her tail between her legs, her mouth covered by her forelegs. She was tense, but still offering that first step forward. And in that offering I saw a chance I'd never had before, and in the spirit of changing who I was to who I wanted to be, I grabbed her hoof. "Well are you going to- Aaaha!" She yelped as I pulled her leg up and kissed the inside of her hoof. "Henry, that's so disgust- taah." She let out a sharp squeak, her mouth popping open and her eyes jamming shut as I dragged the tip of my tongue over her underhoof.

The taste wasn't great, something between dirt and warm sweat. But above the taste, the texture of her skin beyond the coat, the sound of her giggling and trying to keep from moaning was amazing. I lifted her backside up, wrapping my arm around her body and cradling her left flank. I gave her a hearty squeeze, my fingers digging deep into her exceptionally squishy flank. "Henry st-aaaaah!" Rouge threw her head back, clenching her eyes shut and biting her lip as I squeezed her pillowy flank.

An involuntary leg twitch sent one of her back hooves glancing off my chin, the hard inside of her hoof scraping against my patchy facial hair. "Dear Luna, Henry stop!" She cried, barely keeping herself from a giggle. "I can't- I can't--" She chomped her fore hoof, back legs twitching as I kissed her underhoof and rubbed her legs.

I pulled back, half cocked. "Uh...you alright."

Rouge let her back legs fall, curling up and resting her hooves against her lower belly. "D-ear Luna...that felt...so weird." She giggled nervously, "Like...so weird...."

The once elegant and composed girl I had fallen for was now sitting half on and half off my lap, giggling, nervous, adorable. It felt good to be the one pushing, to be the one in control, figuring things out, leading. "Rouge...I'm gonna...." I set her flank down, sliding off the bed and walking towards the door. I ducked down next to the box my heart racing from the sudden dive into hoof. I wasn't exactly enjoying the light taste of dust, but my higher brain was slowly giving up and letting my lower head do the thinking. "...Hey Rouge...do you trust me?"

Rouge rolled upright, "Henry?"

I looked around the modest toy box, a ball gag, a few dildos and four pairs of fuzzy handcuffs were neatly sorted and creepily well taken care of. Not that I expected them to be used or dirty, but it seemed too sterile, too neat for the obviously perky mare named Saint. "Just...looking." I grabbed two pairs of cuffs and the gag. I knew she was nervous, but I was slightly afraid I'd never get a chance like this again. I was trying to be impulsive too, trying to force myself into action, and while it was a bit perverse, it was still action.

Rouge watched my like a hawk as I walked over, hiding the toys behind my back. "Rouge...can I tie you to the bed?" I asked plainly, holding the cuffs out for her.

She stared at the fuzzy purple cuffs. "...Henry, is this a joke?"

"Nope."

She stared at me, slowly cocking her head. "Why?"

I took a deep breath and let the cuffs fall into my lap. "Because I think it would- ...be.... ehrem... sexy." I urked out, rubbing my mouth with my wrist. "You completely helpless...wiggling around...it- it's hot...it's a hot idea." I mumbled, only half convinced she'd even consider it.

Rouge scanned the cuffs, her gaze half on the cuffs and half on me behind the cuffs. "...What do I get?" She asked, completely blowing my expectations out of the water and sending a warm shot up my spine. "You get to see me helpless...what do I get out of this?"

I clapped my hands together and swayed left and right. "Uhhh...love? Cunnilingus? I mean...I- ...I'll figure it out...how hard can it be?"

Rouge rolled her eyes. "You know, you're not really selling it to me. I mean, what the heck is cunnilingus, anyways!?"

I coughed extremely loudly. "Uuuuh...." I grabbed Rouge's head and pulled her up towards my own. I cupped her ear and whispered into it. "It's tongue sex...oral, you know...."

Rouge's ear slapped my lips. "No I don't know!" She shoved me back, skidding backwards across the bed. "Why would I know that!?" She asked, covering her neathers with her hooves. "I'm not a pervert! Why would I even--"

"So, can I do it or not?"

Rouge turned her head away, shifting back and forth on her flanks. "...What's it like?" She asked, poking her belly with her hoof. "The only...thing I've had down there was a hoof...so, what's it like?"

I cocked my head hard, "Uh, I don't have a vagina, I've never done it before...so I really can't tell you."

Rouge reddened, her hooves shifting faster and faster, kneading the bed. "...I need to know I can get out, we need a, safe word." She mumbled, bright pink around the muzzle.

I felt my heart jump up, my beat racing, my body screaming to get into gear. "So I can do it!?" I shot, nearly jumping to my feet in glee. "Rouge...can we do--"

"This is so stupid.... Cotton...." She mumbled, tapping her hoof on the bed spread. "I've read a book like this...you're supposed to have a word to say no...so, cotton. If I say cotton, you have to stop, okay!"

My leg started tapping like mad, my entire being bursting with energy. "Oh my god...oh my god...okay, okay, calm down dude!" I shouted to myself, "Just keep--"

"Henry do this now, before I lose my nerve!" Rouge shouted, holding her forelegs out. "Just do it! Like a plaster!"

"Like a plaster? Wha- like a band-aid?"

"Henry!" Rouge stuck her forelegs out further. "I'm so- so- so ready to say no!"

"Okay! Alright!" I tossed the gag away and pulled a cuff to her hoof. The fuzzy mess fit around the narrow part of her leg, catching against her hard, wider, bits of her hoof. "Ooookay."

Rouge took a deep breath, "Alright, this isn't so bad...not bad at all." She scooted towards the headboard, letting me crawl over her and latch the cuff onto one of the many posts that ran along the headboard. "...Okay...a little- a little nervous...." Her breath grew a bit quick, her heart racing as I held my hand against her chest. "Okay...I'm okay...still okay."

I hurried and brought the other pair around her free foreleg. "Rouge...you alright."

Her breathing picked up like mad as I attached the other cuff to the bed, locking both her forelegs apart and leaving her trapped. "...He-he- okay...okay...breath...." She mumbled, her hooves trying to pull back to their natural place. "Okay- okay it's tight...can't move-can't move-can't-move!" She started to huff and panic, "No-no-no-no, I don't like it!" She tried to yank her forelegs back into position, shaking the bedposts and causing the chains of the cuffs to shake. "Henry, Henry!"

I took a deep breath, my arms propping me up on either side of her helpless body. "...Rouge...I'm here." I moved my hand to her jaw, rubbing my thumb along her cheek and staring her eye to eye with as reassuring look as possible. "Rouge...are you alright."

Rouge slowly calmed down, her breathing slowing as I rubbed her cheek. "Okay- okay- breathing...remember to breath...it's okay Rouge...it's okay--"

I held Rouge's face still, dead on with my own. "Rouge...I'm here, you're okay...say the word and I'll let you go, okay?"

Rouge tried to look away. "I- I just--"

"No...I'm here, I- I'm here...I'm fucking here!" I shouted, something dawning on me. I wasn't in the Everfree. I was in a city, I was with Rouge, I was locked in a room, but I had set things in motion to get me here. "I'm...I'm fucking here...."

"Henry?"

"I'm fucking- I'm in Prance! I'm not in my house!" I sat on my knees, straddling Rouge's waist. "I'm- I'm with you! I'm alive! I'm- I'm going to spend the night with you, I'm going to fucking enjoy it and I'm going to fucking--"

"...Condom...." Rouge squeaked out. "...I just remembered--"

"Awwww--fuck!" I shouted, quickly throwing my head forward and looking down at Rouge's belly. "...Hehehe...I don't even care, there isn't much that could ruin this for me."

Rouge joined me in my laughing, extremely more nervous, but showing some effort to seem eased. "Henry...I'm glad you're here, but you're acting a bit crazy...."

I rubbed my face, staring at Rouge's brown eyes. "Uh...just, one of those crazy realizations. I mean...when you left, I thought I'd never see you again, but here we are! In Prance, in bed in Prance!"

"In bed, in hoof cuffs, in Prance!" She shot back, laughing gently. "Oh dear Luna...I'm a mess--"

"Hey!" I leaned over her, propping myself up on either side of her head. "You're my mess though." I leaned my head down to her's, cradling her head and giving her a modest kiss. It was soft, warm, causing a soft mumble and blush from the bound mare. The hoofcuff's jingled as she tried to hug me, forced back and left to my mercy. She went docile as I pushed my tongue past her soft lips, clumsily running the tip over the bottoms of her teeth.

I watched as Rouge's eyes lingered open, barely able to keep from falling shut as I explored her mouth, reveling in the unique warm gooey. But amidst the soft coos and mumbles something living poked my tongue. Rouge's own was frightfully poking mine. I felt a smile grow over my face as we continued to lock lips. Rouge was a bright pink, her eyes locking with my own, half lidded and fleeting as she grew embarrassed and looked towards the side.

I pulled back, not wanting to overdo things. Rouge held on, letting out a soft moan as I pulled my tongue free of her lips. "Mmmm-auh!" She threw her head back, "Okay...I keep making noises! I don't like it!" She yelped, kicking her back legs, brushing against my groin as she did. "They're so weird!"

I chuckled softly, still on my hands and knees over her. "I like them...they're cute."

Rouge pouted angrily, her position far too harmless to be threatening. "I'm not cute...I'm refin-nined!" She yelped as I kissed her neck. "Henry!"

I ignored her and continued to kiss a line down her long equine neck, past the mass of white fluff and onto her chest. "I told you...I like them, and I bet I could make you squeak again." I smiled, kissing her sternum and laying down with my chest on her lower body. "Bet you'll like it too."

"Henry, don't you dare!" Rouge hissed, yanking at the bedposts. "You don't- don't you do it!" She snapped, her breathing picking up as I kissed down her chest and planted my ear against her heart. "Henry stop it!"

I laid against her chest, listening to the fast beat of her heart. "It feels good being on top...." I cooed, placing my hand on her ribs and gently rubbing her sides. "God I missed you...."

Rouge slowly stopped twitching and steadied her breathing. "That's great Henry...but this is a little...odd, and I think I'd rather--"

I turned my head and kissed her chest, nuzzling her with my nose as a quick followup. "Please? For me?"

Things went quiet. I was left with my lips buried in her coat, eyes matched up with hers. "...You're insufferable...."

I rolled my eyes and rolled off her. "I know...but so are you some times." I stepped off the bed and pulled my shirt off. "We're allowed to be stupid.... Most of the time." I finished disrobing, stripping down to my boxers. "Oka- ...oh, alright." I found the ball gag on the floor, "Rouge...you don't want to make those cute little noises anymore?"

"Well I'd rather not...."

I snickered softly, walking towards her and wiping off the gag on a sheet. "Well I can solve that." I crawled back over her, holding the straps out for her to see the red ball waiting for her. "...Just a thought--"

"Henry!"

"Now follow me here...safe word is cotton-balls. Three syllables, I'll know it even with a gag!"

"Henry, really!?"

"Rouge." I put my hand on her cheek. "Do you trust me? Do you trust that I am planning something good for you? That you'll enjoy this?"

Rouge grew a bit pink. "Henry it's not that...it's just a bit.... How do you even know all this--"

"I watched, a lot, and I mean a lot, of porn.... You get a lot of ideas over eight or nine years of porn." I started, sneaking the gag around her neck and snapping it into place. "So...can I do this?"

Rouge leaned her head back. "If you have to...but the moment I say something you have to let me go! Alright!?"

I nodded, "Alright--"

"No...look me in the eyes and promise."

I took the ball gag between my fingers and pressed my nose against her own. "Rouge...I promise you will be begging for more when I start--"

"Henr--" I cut her off, pulling the gag up and into her mouth. I gave it a quick adjustment and seated the ball in her mouth. Drool started to collect around her lower lip, her muffled shouts still adorable.

I took a deep breath and moved myself down her body, picking up my kissing along her body. My heart was beating like mad, excitement racing through my body and sending me into a fervor. I continued to try and meter out my enthusiasm, taking things slow and trying to ease into it. And my kisses just felt good. I felt happy, warm, the constant kisses against her soft skin and smooth coat making me unendingly joyous. Each bounce against her body came with a soft squeak or mumble from the muted and bound mare.

By the time I got to her belly I was half ready to skip down and get onto the next part. But on one particular kiss I found it. "Mpph!" Rouge yelped, kicking her legs out and giggling as I pecked her belly button. "Hmmpmrhy!" She yelped, trying to get her hooves under my jaw. "Mphpmm hmmph!"

I smiled, looking up at her and giving her another peck on the most tender part of her body. "So cute...." I mumbled, nuzzling her stomach and kissing her belly button. "Cute little mare...."

Rouge was glowing bright red, her brown eyes burning into my forehead as I kissed her soft reddish cream belly. "Mpphmm!"

"...Alright then." I pushed back, laying my face just above her groin. "Ready?"

"Hmph!? Mmm--Mmm, Mmmmmmm!" She yelped as I kissed the top of her slit. Something wonderfully horrifying stuck to my lips, leaving a soft trail from me to her. I took a deep breath, my heart racing like mad as I looked down. A bright pink nub was winking in and out of her lips. My brain lit up as I realized what I was doing.

Smells of hot, unmistakable mare juice flooded my nose. It was hearty, thick, like sweat mixed into a delicious cocktail of sexual bliss. I licked my lips, finding her fluids a bit sticky and carrying a powerful taste of cinnamon. And below me, dripping with clear fluid and damp as could be, her smooth fleshy lips were waiting for me, winking at me, asking me to hurry along despite Rouge's complaining.

I could hear nothing but my breathing, I could see nothing but the dark lips slowly winking open and treating me to graceful peeks at her pink insides. I scooted back and pressed my hands against her inner thighs, pulling her lips open with my fingertips and diving down towards her button. I landed straight on her nub, suckling the warm hard little button. Rouge let out a sharp squeal, her legs kicking like mad as I suckled her nub. "Mmmmmph! Mmmm, mmmm, mmmmhmhmmm!" She yelped, legs squeezing the sides of my head as I sucked the cinnamon fluids off her desperately blinking clit. I let out a long moan, causing Rouge to shudder and lock up.

My hands slid up her body, the heat on my fingers guiding me towards her lips. I pulled her open, sliding my right hand up and against her moist flesh. I had no idea what I was doing, but judging from the constant mumbles and moans I was getting, my warm wet probing was doing as intended. My heart shuddered as I buried two fingers into her, slowly sinking them deeper and deeper. I kept my fingers against the soft wet of her body, sliding into the tighter entrance and allowing the hot muscles so suck me in and squeeze me tight, my constant teasing and licking of her nub causing her to buck her hips and moan into the gag.

I lost focus, sliding my fingers in and out and mindlessly licking at her slit. I closed my eyes, my final view of Rouge's head pulled up and bright red, her brown eyes trying to focus on me before rolling into the back of her head as I ran my tongue over her hardened bulb. "Mmmhmm...mmmm...hmm!" She mumbled, throwing her head back and leaving me to mindlessly treat her body right.

I kept one hand on her lips, keeping them open for my other hand to probe and slid into. Each drag and push into her tight hole netted more warm stick fluid, more squeaks, more mumbles and finally a soft whimper as her inner walls squeezed me tight, fluctuating and trying to milk my fingers. Her nub joined in, my tongue held in place for her clit to flower against and brush past, causing her body to involuntarily flick her sensitive button over my tongue and paint it in the warm cinnamon mess she was excreting.

Rouge's back legs slammed against my head, her hooves bopping against the back of my skull before going completely limp. My hands were soaked as I drew back, my hearing returning. Rouge's breathing was ragged, her voice whimpering softly as I scooted further back and took a long, slurping lick from the bottom of her slit back to the button, causing her to yelp and twitch softly.

I sat back on my knees, over her body. "Oh god...you taste good...."

Rouge slowly opened her eyes, her pupils still rolled towards the top of her eyelid. "Mmmmhmmmm." She let out a creamy moan, slowly rolling her eyes towards the side and finally to me. "Hmmm...."

I crawled over her, loosening the straps on the gag and pulling it out. "Rouge...you okay?"

Rouge looked over to me, eyes barely open. "Henry...I don't- I wish you would have waited.... We could have made that last longer." She chuckled, sighing loudly. "That was...an experience."

I held my fingers for her, "...Well it's not over."

"Henry wa--" I pushed my fingers down against her lips, pushing them forwards and into her mouth. She tried to pull away for a moment before popping her eyes open and pressing her tongue against my fingers. "...Mmm...." She pulled back, licking her lips. "...I taste good? I- ...I taste good...what is this!?"

"Weird...this is weird, but I like it." I wiped my hands on the fuzzy cuffs. "...So...you ready?"

Rouge shifted around. "For what?"

I scratched my neck. "Uh...for sex...?"

Rouge cocked her head. "We just had sex...."

I laughed nervously. "I meant...uh, penetrative...."

Rouge grew a bit pink. "Are you serious?! I'm worn out already, how can you--"

"Like I said...I'll take care of it, but you-- Oh fuck it." I scooted back, "Let's just...see where this goes."

"See where wha- oh dear Luna!" Rouge struggled like mad as I tried to dig myself out of my boxers. "Wait, what are you doing!?"

"...Rouge, you know what I'm doing...." I groaned, finally feeling a bit powerful. "I'm not going to just shove it in, I just wanted to...." I pulled myself free and pressed myself against her lower belly. "Oh god...you're so soft...."

Rouge's breathing went a bit ragged as she grew red once again. "Dear Luna I can smell it...okay...okay, calm, calm and happy...happy calm...." She chanted, laying her head back. "Okay...okay, we're okay, we-- Didn't we have sex!? I'm not a virgin now, right?!"

I laughed and leaned back, gently sliding myself up and down her hot belly. "Uh...depends what you define as virgin. I mean, this is sex," I tapped myself against her, "...Oral is...sex, but not...sex." I stopped my flailing and put my hand on my head. "Uh...Rouge, do you want this?"

Rouge took a deep breath, looking down at my cock on her stomach. "...I- I- I think...I don't know! Oh dear Luna, I've never been this nervous!" She yelped, her legs rattling the bedposts and her body shaking. "Henry, I'm scared!"

I put my hand on her chest, holding it close to her heart. "Rouge...we don't have to do this you know...I mean, we've...we've done enough if you're not feeling okay."

Rouge continued to look down at my cock resting on her stomach. "Dear Luna...it smells like...salty, hot, I don't know!" As she spoke drool flung off her chin.

"Rouge...are you dr--"

"That gag made me drool okay!?" She looked at the ceiling and started huffing. "Henry...how does it feel? How is it supposed to feel?"

I shook my head. "I don't know...full? Good? Rouge...just let me know and--"

"Do it." She cried, shaking her head and throwing herself back into the bed. "Do it, do it, do it! It's now or never!"

"You--"

"Fuckin' Tartarus Henry, I'm not going to beg, but this is as ready as I'm going to be here!"

I slid myself back, letting out a soft groan as I drew myself along her soft coat. "Rouge...ready?"

She looked down as I laid myself against her groin. "Oh dear Luna, that's how far it goes?! Okay, okay, okay, okay- Oooookay!" She yelped as I pulled back and prodded her lips, reaching down and spreading her. "Wait- wait Henry wait--"

"Safeword is Cotton-ball." I mumbled, slowly pushing against her. I tightened up as I met resistance, my cock head half soaked from the copious fluids dripping from her body. "Safeword...cotton-ball...."

"Oh Luna- Oh Luna it's hot, ooooh Luna, Ooooooh!" Rouge devolved into a long ragged moan as my head pushed past her pink hot flesh, sliding in with a soft squelch and slowly pushing more and more of myself into her. I felt my heart weaken as I pushed into her, burying my twitching rod into her squishy soft insides, sliding in with ease. The foreplay had loosened her up physically and made this moment all the easier.

"Are you alright?" I asked, half stuck in the mare's tight twitching hole. "Rouge--"

"Henry, for fucks sakes! Just do it!" Rouge lifted her head up, "Stop asking! We're-re-re-re!" Her speech flubbed as I pushed inside her. I guided myself in, slowly laying over her and seating myself inside her warm wet organ. I was already on the verge of losing it, lasting long was going to be out of the question.

I pulled back, sticky fluids sticking to my cock as I slid wetly out of her. "Ooooh god...oh god...oh god damn it!" I shot upright, "God fucking damn it!" I shouted, shuffling back. "Just- fuck!"

"Hah...ahh, what?"

"Fucking condoms!" I shouted, lowering my head in shame. "God...fuck!" I screamed, clutching my head, my cock going flaccid in seconds. "God- Aaauragh!"

I slid off the bed, falling to the floor with a loud fleshy slap. "Henry...I- ...should we still--"

"I don't know...." I crawled over to the box, digging around until finding the keys to the cuffs. "I really lost all my god damn momentum...."

Rouge shifted around on the bed. "Aren't there any in the box?"

I stood up and walked over to the side of the bed, slowly undoing the cuffs. "I don't know...I just...so angry at myself." I undid Rouge's cuffs, leaving her on the bed while I slumped to the floor, back propped up against an end table. "Stupid...so god damn stupid."

Rouge leaned her head off the bed, staring at me. I felt humiliated, I had single-handedly ruined the first time and left myself blue balled. "...Henry...are you alright?"

I let out a tired huff, "I'm fine...just, angry."

Rouge carefully slid off the bed, her back legs trembling as she got down. "D-dear Luna...my legs are so tingly...."

"That nice...." I grumbled, laying sad and pent up. "God damn I'm dumb."

Rouge wobbled over. "Henry...hug?" She asked, thrusting her chest forward. "I'd offer a hoof, but I'd fall over."

I let out an angry huff and held my arms out. "Yes please...."

Rouge walked up to my, lunging at me and wrapping her hooves around my head. Her warm tender body pressed up against mine, backside planted against my lap. "It's okay...I had a lot of fun, and...I'm looking forward to when--"

"Don't patronize me...just don't--"

"I'm not!" Rouge yelped, pulling back and looking me in the eyes. "Henry...I'm happy it could be with you."

I took a deep breath. "Thank- Ah!" I jolted up as Rouge's soft plot slid across my cock. "Unk--"

Rouge stared me eye to eye. "Oh...what was that?" Rouge shifted around, eventually planing me between her flanks. "Care to say that again?" She cooed, lifting herself up and plopping back down on my lap, sliding her warm wet sex over my cock and causing my legs to shake. "Oh...this is fun...." She giggled, still not making eye contact. She leaned her head back, watching as I slid along her cheeks, my near exploding member barely able to keep from shooting off.

The constant squishy rolling warmth surrounded me, squeezing me, smothering me, sending my still wet member into a twitching frenzy. "Rouge...slow--"

"No...." She stated, leaning back and sliding my cock against her soft squishy body. "Oh dear Luna...it's throbbing...."

"J-Jesu- AH!" I shouted, my arms stuck to my sides as I lost my composure. A constant, amazingly pleasant throbbing rattled around my cock head, eventually taking my breath away as I shot my load into her tail. "Oh god...."

Rouge's eyes went wide as my heart went weak and my cock fell into soft squishy flank heaven. "Ooooooo, dear Luna...it's hot...." Rouge whipped her tail around, slapping against my cock and making me yelp. The cum sullen hair of her tail stuck to my cock, leaving my head swimming as I shot a final weak load. The last load barely eeked out, dribbling down my cock as Rouge pulled her head around and looked me in the eyes. "...Thank you Henry." She closed her eyes and leaned forward, swiping her nose over mine and giving me a quick lick on the tip of my nose. "Today turned out to be a lot of fun...."

"Maugh wanna raugh--" I leaned back against the table, letting my hands fall to the floor as I lost my power and gave in to the sudden cock bound exhaustion.
> Water
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I leaned against the shower wall, letting the water rush over me. "Oh thank go--" I was cut off as the curtain slid open, Rouge and Saint standing in the bathroom, watching me shower. "...Hi...can I help you?!"

Rouge stared off to the side, Saint just giggled and tapped her hoof on the floor. "That's cute," She covered her mouth with her hoof and laughed softly, "Your mare needed to shower."

I coughed softly, turning and covering myself with my thigh. "Okay...then why are you in here?"

Saint flicked a key that hung around her neck. "You locked the door!" She chirped, with such genuine glee I had to wonder what she was huffing.

"I wonder why...." I mumbled to myself, watching as Rouge snuck into the bath behind me, hiding in my rain shadow and fluttering her wings. Saint laughed softly and stepped out, pulling the door closed and causing a cold rush of air to slam against me and cause my arm to shoot out. "Fu-buh--" I grabbed my arm, dousing it in hot water before I could shiver more.

Rouge reached out of the shower, pulling a bucket and a sponge into it and pulling the curtain to the wall. "Don't mind me...it's just nice to be in here...after...what we did." She blushed softly, rubbing the back of my calf, "...Thank you Henry."

I coughed softly, lowering my head and letting water trail down my chin. "Yeah...." I looked behind me, watching Rouge push the bucket past me and into a stream of clean water. "Did you want me to move?"

Rouge shook her head, shaking her mane out and letting out a small huff. "No, shower water is hard on my wings, you acting like a big humidifier is enough for me."

I turned around, letting the water slam against my back. Rouge's wings were fluttering and buzzing about, the fluff around her neck starting to get damp as she relaxed. "Henry...you're looking at me."

I smiled softly, "You look nice."

Rouge coughed into her hoof. "Thank you...."

I frowned softly, "Are you alright?"

Rouge slowly snaked her head around, swooning left and right before laying her head across her hoof. "Henry...I need to clean up. You...finished...in my tail."

I felt my cheeks flush hot. "Uh...sorry." I turned around, clenching my cheeks. "I didn't--"

"It's fine Henry, I also...a little- I came...and it wasn't like...an explosion, but I'd still like to clean up." Rouge's hoof tapped against the ceramic basin. "Did you...want to help?"

I cleared my throat. "Wash you? I uh...sure...I guess if you're asking."

"Just...don't turn around for a second...I have to, something."

"Wait..wha--" Before I could fully turn around I spotted Rouge's scrunched up muzzle, her posture strange, hunched over and blushing as I spotted her. "Are you--"

She turned her head, a soft tinkle ringing out over the sound of the water. "I can't help it...running water and me don't get along." She squeaked, her tail bumped up as she peed. "Don't look at me while I'm peeing!"

I snickered softly, moving my head and letting a shoot of water pelt Rouge. "Its fine...just, wasn't expecting it." I rubbed my hair with girly shampoo as she went. "Seems like a very...human, thing to do."

Rouge let out a pleased coo, "What do you mean, human? Are you saying ponies don't pee?"

"I've just never known a pony to pee in the shower." I stated, turning around and watching as she shook her legs out. "Then again--"

"Henry...how many ponies have you showered with?" She asked with a laugh, pushing against my toes with her hoof. "Oh...those are weird." She poked my big toe with the point of her hoof, "Is that why you always wear socks?"

I clenched my toes, "Uh...no, and I've never showered with ponies. Just...seems like, I mean you always--"

"I know...I try to act, proper." Rogue poked my ankle. "Your leg is so strange...how are you even upright?"

I shrugged, "Humans walking is a miracle in and of itself. But I meant you try not to- I know the other moth ponies used to pee on my porch...they drank from my hose and were just generally--"

"Rude, I know." Rogue buzzed her wings, causing steam to whirl around her. "Can I just add, I love this humidity. It's very cozy." She smiled up at me, misty air between us. "I've never really been able to shower, it's nice."

I stared down at my red speckled mate. "Yeah...it is."

Rouge scratched my foot with her hoof. "It's nice to see you so...well, more energetic." She tucked her wings to the side, running a hoof along her neck fluff. "I'm glad--"

"I'm going to kiss you." I stated, ducking down, making sure to shield her wings from the water, but letting a stream slam against her flank. She took a step back, holding a hoof just off the ground. "Uh...you--"

She laughed softly, "I'm fine Henry...that was just, unexpected." She slowly leaned against my knees, lifting herself up and planting a soft kiss against my lips. It was warm, tender, with just enough pressure to make it intimate. "There...better?"

"For now." I joked, reaching back and turning the water off. "Now...I think I get why you have the bucket." I grabbed it, bringing it between us and sitting down across from her. "So...how did you--"

Rouge turned around, pulling her tail to the side. "Before I moved into Ponyville I used to bathe in a lake, after that it was always bathtubs." She stood there, waiting for me to take her tail in my hand and dampen her hair with the sponge. "And no...most of them don't bathe.... Savages." She grumbled, her wings fluttering in the mist. "I do love them-" she clarified, a sticky knot in her tail coming undone as I slid my fingers into her thick tail, "- but you can only get so many, ha ha rouge doesn't like mud, before you snap and say screw you."

I ran my fingers through her tail, cleaning her off and gripping her actual flesh tail, the thick tail warm and shapely under my grip. "But you always said you wanted to help them."

Rouge sighed loudly, hiccuping slightly as I sponged down her crotch. "Careful Henry-"

"You too."

Things went silent as I cleaned off the nooks of her plot. "Henry...what--"

"I meant, I will be.... I have no idea why I said, you too." I mumbled, cleaning off her legs and scratching her soft coat. "My brain and I don't see eye to eye all the time."

rouge sighed softly, "It's fine Henry, and yes, I do want to help them. They're missing out on so much, just running around the woods and pretending to be happy!" Her wings snapped against her side, beads of water refusing to cling to her neck fluff. "Savages...."

I rubbed her flank, letting the muscles squeeze around my fingers. "They're not that bad. I mean, you're a moth pony."

"But I'm not a spastic would be wood nymph!" She shouted, pulling free and turning towards me. "Now touch my hooves!" She held her foreleg up, turning away and letting her wet coat drip. "Please...."

I took the sponge to her fetlocks, cleaning the well shorn hair and rubbing the hard of her hoof. "I'm just saying, you always talked about them. And...not to be mean, but you're the odd one."

"What!?"

"Compared to the other moth ponies I mean...." I dipped her hoof in the water, starting to drip dry and grow cold. Steam continued to bellow up from the bucket, Rouge starting to shiver as I finished scrubbing her down. "I mean, they seem fine about it all."

Rouge looked up at me with a heavy grimace, "Henry, they--"

"I'm just saying. They seem happy." I dropped the sponge on the floor and slowly poured the bucket over Rouge's head.

She let out a pleased mumbled as her mane grew soaked, her neck fluff finally absorbing water. "I just wish they could be more, but what--"

"You left, you said you wanted to help them here in Prance." I left the bucket upside down and stood up. "I mean, you just act like a normal pony...the fact that you've got...this, "I carefully brushed my hand against her feelers, causing her to flinch and push my hand away. "seems incidental."

Rouge pulled her mane back, "Well good! I am normal, I'm just a pony...nothing more--"

"You're my mare, that's pretty special." I stated, rubbing my forearms.

Rouge took a deep breath, her wings fluttering and spraying me in a thin mist. She huffed softly, looking off to the side and tapping water off her legs. "Um...thank you." She leaned forward and kissed my knee. "...Ew."

I laughed gently, "Why'd you kiss my knee?"

She leaned back, stretching her jaw and scraping her tongue with her teeth. "I don't know! I thought it would be cute!" She sputtered loudly. "You taste like soap!"

I reached up, grabbing a towel I'd hung up for later. "What did you expect?!" I wrapped her up, tucking her into my arms and kissing her nose. "We'll talk about this later...but I think it's about time to settle in." I stepped out into the cold tile room, spotting Saint peeking into the door. "...Saint, really?"

She flung the door open, sucking the warmth from the room and letting in freezing cold to surround me. "You were in there a while, our water bill will be your burden if you keep it up."

Rouge looked over at her, antenna dripping slowly. "Saint, we were just talking--"

"Then take it to the dinner table, or pillow. I don't want my house coated in semen just because I set you off!" She jeered, smiling wide and laughing. "You look cold--"

"Saint-" Rouge and I said in unison.

"Please stop." I begged, lowering Rouge and covering my penis. "It's so cold...can we just get some rest?"

Saint rolled her eyes. "You have one night together and you fuck the energy out of eachother."

"Saint!" Rouge yelled, causing me to jump. "Me and Henry have a party to attend tomorrow, I have to wear a new dress, and if I'm too tired to stand up straight I'm going to blame you! Now please...can we get some privacy?"

Saint looked at me, eyes wide, "You're going to a party?"

I felt my heart jump. "Uh...I guess I am."

Saint curled her lower lip over her upper. "Hmm, good for you! The agoraphobe and the fluffy mare, an awkward if cute couple." Saint mumbled, walking out.

I bit my lower lip. "Wow...so...are they both--"

"They're both very Prance, yes." Rouge added, snuggling against my arms and stretching her hooves. "Also, am I not heavy? Saint threw me like--"

"Moth pony light, moth pony cute." I mumbled, reaching into the towel and rubbing her fluff filled neck. "I love you Rouge...but a party is going to be rough."

Rouge looked up at me, bright hazel eyes strong in the misty cold. "I'll be there, and you could always ask Jan for help--"

"No!" I shouted, storming out of the room. "That man is crazy...he's right...but right doesn't make...not crazy."

"How, astute."
> They Come
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I sat outside in the dark, the only light from a small lantern. "Weird." I crossed my arms and leaned back into the patio furniture. I'd expected to be completely panicked without the trees surrounding me, but knowing there were walls hidden in the darkness calmed me. "Feels like home." I sank back into my chair, left to sit out in the cold, alone, at peace. "Rouge?" I called back towards the house, "You there?"

I watched as a window popped open. "Henry, why are you outside?" Rouge asked, popping her head out the window. "Dear Celestia, it's freezing!"

"I know, I kinda like it!" I shouted back, pushing up and turning to the house. "Wanna come out?"

Rouge frowned at me. "You've touched my wings, you really think that's a good idea?"

I felt my gut sink ever so slightly. "Oh...right." I stretched my arms. "Delicate flowers are often the most beautiful. Or something like that."

Rouge let out a soft coo. "That's sweet."

"Well you are delicate. And...beautiful." I felt a bit bashful, my cheeks burning just about my cheekbones. "I'm gonna stop no--" I felt something grab my leg. "Oh god no!"

"Henry?!"

I felt something cold grab my arm. "Fuck the outside!" I shouted as I was yanked up by my right side, flung into the cold Prance air. "Why!? What did I do to deserve this?!" I felt the cold air rush past me as the white earth below drew back. "God damn everything!" I looked up, finding a miniature dragon pulling me into the air. "Christmas is fucking ruined!" I screamed, flailing my free arm and leg to try and get free.

A familiar voice caught my attention. "Stop flailing before I drop your ass in the snow!"

I looked back up, narrowing my eyes. "Who- Kiri!? What the hell are you doing?"

Kiri looked down at me, her wings sending rushes of cold air against my side as she carried me high into the cold winter air. "I need your help, they're taking over."

"Henry!" Rouge popped up beside us, zipping through the air beside us. "Why is this, thing, stealing you?"

I reached up and rubbed my face. "Long story, Kiri, Rouge. Rouge, Kiri. Marefriend, idiot friend. Idiot friend, marefriend."

The two girls exchanged a few odd looks. Rouge coughed roughly. "Alright, so, why is your friend kidnapping you?"

I looked at at Kiri. "A good question. Well?"

Kiri looked down at me. "Your house is infested. I need you to tell them to go away."

"Infested, go, what?" I asked, starting to feel the blood rush to my head. "Can you put me down?!"

Kiri huffed angrily, her claws tightening against my jacket. "They're taking over and they need to leave!" She snapped her head around towards Rouge. "They're like that one, and they keep freaking laughing and it makes me mad!"

"What- wait, moth ponies?" I yelped, watching the fields of Prance give way to hills, the Everfree dark and foreboding in the distance. "How fast are we going? Holy shit!"

Kiri flapped her dragonesque wings. "I want my house back!"

Rouge tried to keep up, staring to lag behind. "It's not your house! It's Henry's!"

"Same thing!" Kiri shouted, zooming through the air and causing my arms to freeze. "Just, come tell them to leave, and I'll take you back! I'm so sick of them freaking laughing!"

Rouge continued to buzz along beside us. "Laughing? You're angry at them laughing? Are you insane--"

"I'm gonna go ahead and answer that for her. Yes, yes she it." I stated, tucking my free arm against my side. "You can go home if you want...I'll handle this and get back to you by the morning."

"Oh no! This isn't going to fly!" She shouted, tucking her head down and trying desperately to keep up with us. 

I stared at her, "Uh, we are fly--"

"I know! It's a saying!" She flew past us. "My feelers are freezing, my wings hurt, it's cold--"

"Well stay at my house then, head back in the morning." I looked down at the Everfree. "I'll start a fire and we can.... We'll plan for tomorrow."

Rouge slowed down, gliding along next to us. "Henry, what if she's telling the truth?"

"Huh?"

Rouge coasted towards me. "What if the others are there?"

I shrugged with my free arm. "I guess they can hang out."

Rouge looked around nervously. "Henry...the other moth ponies are a little, collectivist."

"They're like hippies, I know." I stretched my arm, watching the earth slowly return to me. My heart started to beat like mad as we approached the ground. "Oh god, I felt better in the air!"
> Moths
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Oh god!" I screamed, dropping through the canopy of the Everfree, sticks and branches snapping off as I was flung towards the ground. "God damn it--" I landed with a heavy thud, my legs flung over my head as I laid chest first in the mud. "Kiri, fuck you!" I flopped down onto my stomach and covered my head. "How hard is it to land normally?!"

Kiri growled at me and flew off. "Get them out! I don't want them there!" She huffed and flung herself through the canopy and into the sky.

I pushed off off the ground as Rouge fluttered down next to me. She took a deep breath and fell flat into the undergrowth. She sighed heavily and forced her wings to her back. "Henry, I hurt so bad." She dug her hooves into the dirt, smearing mud on her tufts as she did. "Henry, I hurt."

I pushed up and whirled my jacket off. It clung to my wrist as I tried to pull it off. "Hold on." I unbuttoned the cuff and yanked my jacket off. I swung it around and threw it gently over Rouge's back. She mumbled softly and went slack as I scooped her up. I held her close and hugged her up in my arms. I turned around until I could get my bearings. "Rouge...I'm sorry--"

Rogue puffed her cheeks out. "Why? It's not your fault your stupid friend kidnapped you." The ring of fluff around her neck started to puff out. "Its not your fault I nearly tore my wings. Its hers--"

I reached down and kissed her nose. "You didn't have to come."

Rouge stared up at me with a slightly hurt look. "You came after me."

I looked away. "Not by myself." I swallowed hard. "I had to whine to Kiri until she got mad at me." I shook my head and walked along the cut down path towards my old cabin. The soft ground crunched loudly as I walked. "Rouge, I love you." I held her close, our first meetings flooding back as I walked along with her in my arms. "No matter what happens next, remember that."

Rouge looked up at me. "Henry, what's wrong?"

I licked my lips. "That guy in Prance, that kid, you. I feel like its not going to work." I spotted my cabin, the lights out and porch littered with leaves and sticks. "He's gonna try and get me to go out, and its just not going to work." I rubbed Rouge's side. "I just don't want to get in your way. I didn't want to lose you, I still don't, but I just want you to--"

Rouge reached up and pushed her hoof straight against my mouth. I leaned back and braced myself in the dirt. "Shut...up." Rouge shook her hoof. "We're going to back to Prance, you and me."

I rubbed my mouth and looked around. "You know I don't work with crowds, it just won't work. I don't want that guy getting in my face and yelling at me either." I set my foot on the edge of my porch. "They seemed like nice people, but I'm just not ready to go deal with all this. I tried Rouge--"

"Try harder." Rouge stared up at me. "You've seen the others, you know how hard I had to try to be better than them!" She leaned her head up to me. "Henry, I'll find a way. I left once, and I regretted leaving you every night. Now you want to do the same?"

I stared down at her, my eyes started to burn. "Rouge, you know I'd never try to hurt you."

Rouge nodded slowly. "Then stay with me. I'll ask Jan if he can find us someplace to stay that's not with him." She looked up at the trees. "It wont be much, I don't make much and I don't--"

"I'll find work, I'll work until my hands bleed." I held her close. "Just don't ask me to go back to that guy.... He's going to put me somewhere I can't handle and I'll lose it." I walked up onto the porch and looked around. "I don't know why, but I can't handle it."

Rouge smiled at me. "I trust you'll get better. Maybe not in a way any of us would expect, but you found a way to Prance while getting carried by a half dragon, I trust you'll find a way-- Oh no." Her ears fell back as she looked towards a window.

The front door burst open to a galloping herd of moth ponies. "What the fuck!?" I stumbled back and hit the railing with my back. It gave way and sent me tumbling into the bushes. I felt a stick skewer my hair and a rock wedge right into my spine. "Balls!"

The stampede slowly petered out and the herd gathered up around my head. They were barely lit, but the squirmy ponies stood close enough for me to see them clearly. A mothpony with a lantern on a stick walked over and leaned in. He was a soft beige with brown fuzz. He had a number of different colored accent dotting his flank and neck. "Henry, you're back. Hi."

I frowned hard and went slack in the bush. "Hi Shrewd...what's up?"

Shrewd smiled nervously and looked around the other ponies. "Uh, nothing. Kinda moved in. I hope you don't mind."

I sighed heavily. "I kinda do. Why did you start squatting exactly?"

A pink fluffed mare leaned over. "There's a bunch of ponies cutting down trees in the forest, they keep planting new ones but the open space is dangerous." She trotted in place. "The house was safer...and the dragon wasn't that mean until we started sleeping inside."

I smiled at her. Rouge huffed angrily and looked up too. "Aw, I'm sorry. I know that feeli--" I stopped dead and locked onto some far of speck of dust. "Prance."

Rouge shifted in my arms. "Henry, no!"

"Rouge...." I looked down at her. "Didn't you get a grant for trying to move into Prance?"

Rouge groaned loudly. "Henry...they're not civil!"

I kept on staring. "Rouge...."

She cringed hard. "Henry...it'll be horrible."

I rubbed her back. "Please? You were worried about them--"

"Indirectly!" Rouge huffed loudly. "I just-- I don't-- Where are we going to put them all!?" She pointed a hoof to the crowd. "Anyplace with enough space will be wide open and you'll panic!"

I looked up over the lantern lit crowd. They looked worried, mixed in with a few chatting ponies nervously whispering. I looked to the pink mare. "Rouge...I've gotta try, just like you tried."

Shrewd coughed into her hoof. "What happened?"

I smiled at the lantern lit pony. "Prance."