> Velveteen Embrace
>  by Cloperella
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1: Graduation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Speeches, speeches, and more speeches. The air of the Canterlot Gardens that morning  was filled with endless words from stallions who’d served in the Equestrian Royal Guard in times past. They droned on, giving commemorations to an audience who’d most likely never heard of them, unless they’d had a family member who’d served in the guard before today. Mares and stallions watching from the bleachers focused little on the words of the soldiers at the podium, but nonetheless applauded at the end of every speech without absorbing a single word they’d said. 

Their attention was instead focused on the rows and rows of young stallions clad in armor they’d only received a day prior to this event. Each stallion stood rigid, their backs straight, eyes forward, tails jutting out under their backs, draped down in uniform over their backside. These were the proud graduates of recruit training for Celestia’s Royal Guard. Sixteen weeks of grueling physical and mental training, of breaking each stallion down to their core and rebuilding them into soldiers fit to protect their princess if need be. Though the position of royal guard was more a ceremonial title than anything, Equestria did occasionally find itself caught in the midst of a sudden attack. Thus, the guard needed to ensure that its recruits were made strong enough that they were willing to put themselves between the princess and immediate danger.

Another round of applause followed the conclusion of yet another elder stallion’s speech. The palms of everypony in the audience had become sore from frequently beating themselves against one another. The motion from the leaders in front of the recruits unknowingly signaled that the ceremony was reaching its close. 

“Flight!” The captain of the guards called out. A number of recruits in dual lines facing one another stood ready for their next orders. “Present. ARMS.”

The stallions rose their spears upwards, crossing them against the spears of the soldier directly in front of them. Those still in rows and without weapons brought their hands up to their temples in a respectful salute.  A captivating silence held the area, as another soldier marched into view toward them, accompanying a pony of quite a different stature than any of the stallions seen since the ceremony had begun. 

Princess Celestia, wearing a flowery gown as white as her flawless coat, marched toward the arc made of spears. She had to duck her head a few inches as she made her way underneath them, her height a bit high for the guards themselves to reach. A low chuckle resonated through the crowd at the sight, and even the corporal at her side had to purse his lips to keep from smiling. Her ethereal shimmering mane wafted past the guards, still retaining a sense of elegance and beauty even as she strode along with a hunch.  Reaching the end of the arc, Celestia rose her head back up and climbed the stairs up to the podium. The audience stood on edge, knowing this was to be the final speech of the evening. 

“Mares and stallions, I would once again like to thank all of you for joining me on this, one of Canterlot Castle’s most important days of the year.” She began, her arms crossed formally in front of her. “You are here today because among these rows of stallions, you see somepony who is more than just a recruit in training. Your son, your brother, your friend or maybe even your partner. You have known them for long enough that you wish to be here as they undergo the final step of the long journey they’ve undergone. These stallions have willingly signed up for months of grueling training under the most stern of advisors, where they were treated not as individuals, but as part of one collective unit. A unit with only one purpose: to serve and protect those who need it, and to be the best guards they can be. Your presence here today reminds them of who they really are underneath the armor they wear right now as of this moment. A soldier who has forgotten his roots, be they family or friend, is not destined for greatness. And as we conclude this ceremony, we hope that your love and support for them will help rekindle that spark that helps them shine as individuals. However you and your loved ones decide to spend your future, the magic of friendship will steer you towards a bright and happy future.”

With the princess’s speech concluded, another round of applause filled the air as she made her way off the stage. An unspoken tension gripped the audience, matched only by the recruits turned graduates standing so firmly at attention, as they’d been for nearly an hour now. The leaders of each cluster  of stallions stood at the ready, as the squadron leaders faced them. 

“Squadron!” the lieutenants called out. 

“Flight!” the sergeant drill instructors relayed to their cadets. Though their faces remained fixed and rigid, their ears were trained, desperately waiting for the final command of the evening. 

“Graduates, DISMISSED.” 

“Whoo!” An enthusiastic cheer from the ranks broke the momentary silence, and spurned a resounding clamor of whoops and hollering from the soldiers and audience alike. What followed was a rush of the two forces toward one another, like two seas amidst a storm, spilling out and mixing into one indistinguishable mess of armor clad stallions and their loved ones praising their accomplishments. 

Amidst the chaos of ponies was Twilight Velvet, a mare dressed in light capri pants and a charcoal blouse, as well as a ruby necklace matching the gray and purple streaks of her mane and tail. With her husband Night Light in tow, she searched and searched for any sign of their son. She’d spotted him from her place in the audience the minute he’d walked with his flight into the grassy area. Though he’d been dressed in identical armor as his comrades, Velvet recognized his light bluish-green eyes and his squared jaw even from several yards away. She’d tried her best to keep her eyes on him as she’d hurried down the steps of the bleachers, but the movement of ponies had obscured her vision and broken contact with him. She couldn’t shake the antsy feeling building in her fingers and toes as she wished she could quickly find him again.

“Over here!” A low, boyish voice called out to her from behind. Velvet’s eyes opened wide as she recognized that voice. She turned so quickly on her black high heels that she nearly lost her balance. Waving at she and Night Light was a tall soldier in the identical gold helmet and armor the rest had strapped to their bodies. But this one had just a bit of his blue mane sticking out from the bottom of his helmet. Most of all, he had those enthralling eyes she’d recognized at the start of the ceremony. 

Velvet’s heart leapt in her throat. Shining Armor, her son,  was just a few feet from them, a new graduate of the Royal Guard which he’d set his hopes and dreams on when he was a little colt. Her heels tapped furiously against the floor as she scampered over to him. 

“Oh, sweetheart!” Velvet’s voice cracked as she threw herself against him, her arms hanging around the back of his neck as she lost her demeanor and began to cry. “Shining, you’re such a wonderful stallion, you did it, you- oh my goodness, my sweet little boy.”
Shining Armor chuckled nervously as he returned a more gentle hug to his mother. “Happy to see me?”

His light-hearted jab brought Velvet’s attention back to reality. She at once felt ashamed of herself. She told herself she wouldn’t embarrass him today. He didn’t need his mommy spazzing out and causing a scene in front of his peers and instructors on the day he’d been dreaming about for so long. However, sixteen weeks without any contact whatsoever was more time than she’d been comfortable to put up with. All that mental preparation before the start of the ceremony had flown out the window as soon as she’d seen him, reminding her just how much he’d grown. Had it really been so long since he was a foal taking his first steps across the living room? Since he had received his cutie mark when meeting Celestia and her guards for the first time? The years gone by, as well as the weeks spent in a house without him, caught up to her all at once and made her an emotional mess. 

“I’m sorry, dear.” Velvet apologized, pulling back and wiping the wet corners of her eyes hurriedly. “I’m so silly, here I was telling myself I wouldn’t do this. You’re growing up too fast for me to handle!” 

“You made it, son. Good job.” Night Light told his son with an admirable smile. “Can’t tell you how proud I am of you.”

“Heh, you’re not gonna start crying like mom, are you?” Shining chuckled, noticing the glimmer in his own father’s tan eyes. 
“Hm?” Night Light asked, suddenly aware of the creeping blurriness of his vision. “Oh, uh, I put too much cologne on this morning.” He explained, wiping his own eyes with a knuckle. “It’s been bugging me the whole time.”

“I’ll bet.” Shining Armor resigned with a smile. A look of confusion came about his face as he looked around his parents. As happy as he was to see them, he felt a little distraught at noticing they were short one member of the family. “Did you guys forget to bring my sister or something?”

“Oh, sweetheart, you weren’t able to know since we couldn’t write you--Twilight’s fine!” Velvet reassured him as a worried expression came over her son. “It’s a good thing actually. She-!”

“I take it you two are the parents of this graduate?” A gruff voice asked from behind. A stallion with an impressive amount of medals and ribbons on the right breast of his uniform looked toward them. He was a little taller than Velvet, but not quite as tall as Shining. Despite the stallion’s size, Shining Armor’s back went visibly rigid at the sight of him. “Sir, madam, I’m Drill Sergeant Hardy Gaskin.” The gray-maned stallion introduced himself. “ I’m the stallion who’s been responsible for making your son and the other recruits hate me for the past sixteen weeks.”

“Oh… you don’t say?” Twilight Velvet replied uneasily, finally managing to get her eyes under control.

“ I was hoping I could meet you two today. I wanted to tell you personally that your son was the most impressive stallion I had in my flight of recruits, and he’s in the top five percent of recruits out of all the flights gathered here today.” 

Shining Armor couldn’t believe his ears. During his time in boot camp, Sergeant Hardy had done nothing but bark orders and run his stallions ragged, to the point it made them physically ill. Every word, every utterance out of the stallion’s maw had been at a blistering volume and packed with enough anger to scare a manticore. He’d never even imagined Hardy was capable of offering praise. 

“No kidding?” Night Light asked as Shining and Velvet collected themselves from the unexpected compliment. 

“You’d better believe it. Our job is to put every one of our boys through the grinder, and see who comes out alright on the other side. Every command I gave your son, he followed with gusto. I noticed he had a glimmer in his eye, one that said he’d show me what he had, and how it was better than what everypony else had to give.” Hardy Gaskin looked Shining Armor in the eye with a proud smirk. “You had something to prove, and you sure proved it, kiddo. Good job.” He said, stretching his hand out. 

With weeks and weeks of verbal abuse behind him, Shining was hesitant to take the stallion’s hand. Nonetheless, he shook off his reservations, reminding himself that none of it was personal. He grabbed the stallion’s hand and shook it firmly, the two squeezing each other’s palms more than what was necessary. 

“You keep that resolve up, you’re gonna make Captain before any of these graduates make Lieutenant.” 

“Thank you, sir.” Shining Armor said with a nod. Breaking their shake, Sergeant Hardy took his leave of them, and disappeared into the crowd. Taking his place, another armor clad soldier gestured a large camera in his grasp toward them. His parents stood on both sides of Shining, as he stood poised with an accomplished smile on his face. The bulb flashed, and instantaneously a rectangular print was pushed out of the camera, which the photographer passed to them. 

“Hate to say this, Shining, but I gotta run.” Night Light said reluctantly. “The factory was nice enough to give me the morning off to watch you graduate, but they said they needed me back as soon as you were done. I’m real sorry, buddy.”

“It’s okay dad. I’m glad you could come by.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He said, throwing an arm around his son and patting him on the back. “You’re a good stallion. I’ll see you tonight when you get home. Wanna hear all about the kind of crap they put you through.” Breaking his grasp, Night Light returned to Velvet and kissed her lovingly on the lips. “Love you honey. Have fun with Shining while I’m gone.” 

“I will. Bye sweetheart.” Velvet called back to him as they waved goodbye to one another. Velvet reached into her purse and pulled out a set of clothes. “Here sweetheart, I brought you these to change into. I’m sure you don’t want to ride home in all that armor, do you?”

“Not really. Thanks mom.” Looking around, Shining noticed that the flow of soldiers was slowly diminishing, making their way toward the castle. “Good timing. I think they’re wanting us to get our things and get going.”

“Anything I can help out with?”

“Mom, they won’t let anypony but the enlisted into the barracks!” Shining bemoaned her. 

“Oh, alright. It was worth a try. Hurry along though dear, I’m more than ready to bring you back home.”

“Hey, before I go, really quick: can you just tell me what happened to Twilight?”

“Oh! Right, sorry. You’re not going to believe this, but Princess Celestia chose her to be her protege in harnessing her magic.”

The news lit Shining Armor’s heart up like a firecracker of joy. “No way!” he exclaimed enthusiastically. “How did that happen?”

“It’s a long story. I promise I’ll tell you all about it on the way home. Now go get your things.”

“Right. Be back in a sec, mom!” 

Shining Armor sprinted away from Velvet, making sure not to get stuck at the end of the line pushing in toward the castle, and toward the guards barracks to collect their belongings. Sixteen weeks of training had worn a hefty amount of physical and mental fatigue on the stallions. Each of them were more than antsy to make it to their bunks, collect their things, and get the heck back home. Shining Armor himself was a bit disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to spend the evening with his little sister, but he was still more than happy to spend it with the best mother in the world as far as he was concerned. 


> Chapter 2: Homecoming
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Half an hour passed by, and the stallions had begun to clear out of the halls at a regular pace. After saying his brief goodbyes to the troops, Shining Armor stepped out with his bags, one hanging from his hand by his side, and another over his shoulder. Gone were his golden, clunky armored suit that he’d worn the entire morning. Now he was dressed in the clothes his mother had brought him, a pair of designer jeans, a blue crew neck t-shirt, and a light rose sports jacket to accommodate the summer breeze that had rolled in that morning. He’d had a little bit of trouble getting the shirt past his chest; apparently his gain in muscle mass from bootcamp had pushed him a little bit past his regular size. Nonetheless, it felt much more liberating to be dressed in “civilian” clothing once again. 

With his bags in tow, he strolled outside into the summer air. He found Velvet waiting for him, next to a line of ponies waiting for a courtesy taxi service to assist them home. A few minutes passed, and the two approached the front of the line. A pair of burly guards towed a large carriage behind them and stopped in front of the pair. Velvet took her seat while Shining placed his things in the back of the vehicle, and then took his seat next to her. The two stallions took off in an instant, pulling the carriage behind them. With the vehicle in motion, Shining tilted his head back. He let out an exasperated sigh, letting his body relieve just a bit of the tension he’d been carrying for so long. Feeling himself sink into his seat, he felt his mother’s hand rest on his thigh reassuringly. 

“Shining honey, if you need to take a nap when we get home, that’s fine.” She explained to him sincerely. After spending so much time in boot camp, he’d forgotten what it was like to hear somepony speak to him in such a nurturing way. Velvet had always been the textbook example of a loving mother to both he and his sister. When he was an only child, she had spoiled him greatly, reading him bedtime stories, taking him to the park and always playing with him when he had boundless energy to spare. Sharing plenty of hugs and kisses when he felt sad and needed the support; or, when he was happy and just wanted somepony to share in his joy. The two had always been quite affectionate toward one another. 

After Twilight was born, she’d had to divide her attention between both of them. But she hadn’t given Twilight more love than Shining, and he’d never once felt neglected. It had helped that he’d taken such a liking to his little sister, becoming inseparable from her and making it easier for Velvet to accommodate both of them. Even as Shining had grown into his teenage years, he’d never made any attempts to rebel against his parents, aside from the occasional squabble that came with a rush of teenage hormones. The struggle of growing up had been made easier on him by having such a patient and loving mother such as Velvet. Feeling her near him once again took a load of pressure off of Shining’s mind, letting him breathe easy for the first time in awhile

“No, no, it’s fine.” He replied in a hurry. “I’m not THAT tired. More stressed than anything. They don’t tell you ahead of time how hard it is to stand in place, and hear a bunch of stallions you don’t know ramble on about stuff you don’t care about.”
Velvet giggled. “Your father and I were getting tired enough just sitting there listening to it. I can’t imagine what it felt like for you.” Her palm slowly moved up and down his thigh in a comforting manner. It had been so long since she’d been able to feel him, she felt as if she needed to keep some sort of contact with him, lest he slip away from her yet again. “I was watching you the whole time. You kept your face stone rigid, no signs of weakness at all. I couldn’t believe that was my son down there, looking so handsome and strong.”

“Thanks, mom.” he replied softly.  Shining felt a bit of warmth collect in his cheeks at her praise. For all of his life, his mother had never shied away from letting him know how what an attractive stallion he was. Though he’d never dated that much in school, he’d certainly noticed that the other fillies his age had shared her sentiments. Though it wasn’t a trait that he held higher than anything, he was somewhat proud of his handsome demeanor. 

He mentally shook himself from letting his ego swell and steered his mind toward other matters. “I hate to sound like a broken record, but I really want to know about Twilight. You said she’s with Celestia now?”

“Oh, yes!” Velvet replied with excitement. “Let me tell you all about that, it’s a lovely story.” 

As the carriage rolled its way through the bustling town of Canterlot, Velvet filled her son in on the whereabouts of his little sister Twilight Sparkle. Without her big brother to keep her company, the little unicorn had poured herself into studying and improving her magical abilities. Her own progression was so astounding that Velvet and Nightlight had enrolled her into Princess Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns. Before she could begin her lessons in the school however, Twilight first had to pass an entrance exam: using her magic to hatch a dragon’s egg. 

Twilight had apparently struggled to make the egg hatch, but just as she was about to give up hope, a miracle took place. A giant explosion of colors outside the castle spurned a burst of magical energy from deep inside Twilight. Her powers went haywire, not only hatching the egg and freeing the baby dragon inside, but grew his size to twenty stories. 

Velvet told Shining that her memory had gone hazy at that time, learning later that she and Nightlight had been temporarily transformed into a cactus and agave, while the judges of the exam had been helplessly floating over their seats. When her senses came back, she saw Princess Celestia herself standing over her daughter, explaining that she had a deep latent ability that would need some extensive lessons to be controlled. She’d offered the filly a chance to study by her side, as her protege. Just as Twilight had thought things couldn’t get better, the princess had pointed out that she’d also received her cutie mark some time between the explosion of magic and regaining control. 

“Shining, you should have seen the look on her face!” Velvet recounted the memory fondly. “It made my heart so happy to see her bouncing around with excitement. And within the week, we had her all packed up, and off to live with the princess.” Velvet took a deep breath as she thought about Twilight’s departure. “And that’s where she’s been while you’ve been gone. I Wasn’t prepared to have both my kids out of the house at once, but… well, I couldn’t deny your sister a chance to excel at what she’d finally found her life’s calling to be, could I?”

Shining forced a soft smile in return. Honestly, it was quite a lot for the stallion to take in himself. He’d spent so much time in royal guard boot camp putting up with so much harsh treatment, exercise and lessons. He’d been counting on the thought of returning to his family at the end of his training; his, mother, father and the best sister in the world. Not only had he learned that Twilight wasn’t going to be there to welcome him home, but in the time he’d been gone, she’d received the mark of her destiny and been given an opportunity of a lifetime. He’d missed an extremely pivotal moment in his sister’s life. He felt his heart sink as he contemplated what sort of lessons Celestia was putting Twilight through, wondering if they were nearly as harsh as the lessons he’d undergone. 

Shining Armor put his thoughts aside for the moment as the carriage slowed its pace. He looked outward and noticed the little two story house on the hill, in a grassy area just outside of the busy city, and a few houses nearby. He felt his heart yank him toward the place, eager to get inside before the carriage had even come to a complete stop. When it did finally stop, Shining Armor sprang to his feet and moved to the back of the vehicle to collect his luggage. 

“Thank you, sirs.” Velvet said daintily to the guards who had pulled them home. The two stallions snorted in a welcoming manner, before taking off in a steady pace away from the house. With his bags in tow, Shining walked briskly up the grassy hill and toward the front door. 
Opening the door in front of him, Shining felt his arms and legs go numb as his mind struggled to reacquaint itself with the sight of the interior. The midday light of the sun poured in through the windows and glowed over the light blue wood of the living room, giving it a cool and breezy atmosphere. To the left was the space with the decorative sofas kept neat and tidy for guests. It was also the same space used for the  Hearth’s Warming tree and the presents he and Twilight tore open every year near the end of winter. And just half a yard away was his father’s makeshift workstation, kept in its usual state of clutter, piles and piles of papers and folders scattered about in a manner only he could manage efficiently. Letting his bags down by his side, Shining stood still as he soaked in the familiar sight, his mother closing the door behind her as she entered. 

“What do you think sweetheart?” Velvet asked, sidling up to him. “Happy to see it again?”
Shining Armor shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah. I guess so.” He replied, still looking about the place and drinking in the ambiance he’d missed for so long. 

As he looked about, Velvet reached over and took hold of his hand within hers. “I’m glad. I think it’s happy to have you back as well.”
Shining felt a warm tingle sprout in his palm as he felt Velvet’s nurturing grasp upon it. Not only had he missed his home, but his mother as well. He’d proved over his sixteen weeks that he was indeed a stallion among stallion’s, more than capable of being self-reliant when he needed to be. But old habits were hard to shake completely. He was still a mama’s colt, so to speak. Feeling her hold his hand made him feel less tense. It helped bring his mind away from camp, and back to the safe haven he’d left behind what seemed ages ago. 
He wondered though: did the connection they’d held before he left still exist? Part of him felt hesitant that the distance might lost what they’d once held, and they’d have to work to find them again, if they could be found at all. 

Shining gently squeezed Velvet’s hand, relishing in the safety it provided. Velvet drew herself closer to him, her head resting against the side of his chest. He felt her breathe against him slowly, and he began to find a soothing rhythm with her respirations. He turned himself more toward her and draped an arm around her back, allowing her closer to his chest. He could feel her tremble just a bit, and her head rubbed up against his sturdy chest. Feeling her shiver evoked him to rub her back, in an effort to help her settle. It seemed to work after a moment, as Velvet’s body ceased its trembling, though she remained fastened to him closely. 

A few seconds passed, and Velvet lifted her ice blue eyes, shimmering with a layer of moisture, and looked upon the handsome face of her son. The two ponies stared into one another’s gaze a moment, feeling their spirits reconnect again after being apart for so long. Velvet lifted a hand to Shining’s neck, and the two leaned in toward one another. 

Their lips met softly. The only sound that broke the silence of the air was the light smack of their lips pulling away from each other. Their eyes met each other once again briefly, to assess if they should keep going. Detecting no hesitance from the other, their lips touched again, more firmly this time. And the two of them felt their hearts swell with a warmth and passion they’d missed for so long, it hurt them to think about how much they’d needed it. It had been so long since Shining had tasted the sweet flavor of his mother’s lips, the movement of her tongue against his as they tilted their heads to connect even more so. He moved his hands down past her wrist, and across her elbows. Velvet gasped in his mouth as his hands traveled across her body. Feeling her son touch her in such a way ignited a passion within her that she’d been ignoring for more than she’d been comfortable with. Her gray and purple tail swished excitedly. His hand found its way to her back, and he drew his fingernails across its surface. 

The ticklish feeling made Velvet’s back arch, and she pushed her chest up against her darling boy. Shining could feel his mother’s nipples, erect and poking through her blouse, up against his chest. Feeling her rub up against him caused a stirring within his loins, and summoned his erection against the confines of his jeans. In his fervor, he stepped toward Velvet and lightly pinned her against the wall of their home. Velvet let out a playful squeal, and giggled as her back hit the wall. The two ceased kissing for a moment to catch their breath. Panting, mother and son stared at one another, both their cheeks flushed as the excitement of the situation built up within them. Keeping his legs intertwined with Velvet’s, Shining pulled the mare’s lower body toward his and thrust into her. Though their clothing stood in the way, Velvet could feel his erection pushing up against both of their jeans, pulsing with a lust that he wanted her to satisfy. He buried his muzzle into the side of her neck, and kissed her firmly. 

“Ohhh!” Velvet gasped, feeling his lips against her light gray coat. His lips gently tugged at her, and sent a tempo of pleasure beating throughout her form. It collected between her thighs, making her clitoris swell just as Shining’s rod was stiff. She felt a bit of wetness build up in her underwear, though she hardly paid it any mind. Whether he rushed to pull her pants down and rut her in the living room, or continue to dry hump her for eternity, she didn’t care. She was just so happy to have her son back home, and feel him up against her, knowing he wanted her just as much as she wanted him. 

As he kept his lower body grinding up against his mother’s groin, Shining Armor let his hand continue to explore Velvet’s torso. Feeling sneaky, he managed to slip his fingers up her blouse, and pushed her bra up over her breast. With the round mass free, he let his palm overcome its form and squeezed it firmly. His mother let out another lustful gasp as he squeezed her, and she involuntarily pushed her lower body against his to match the rhythm of his thrusts. 

“Oh, sweetheart…” Velvet gasped, as Shining’s lips traveled up past her head and rested just behind her ear. She felt his tongue poke out and dance behind it as it twitched, and she practically melted within his hold. She was ready, more than ready, to resume her duty as his mother and let her son depend on her just the way he’d done so many times in the past. 

Just as Shining’s hand began to move again, a different sound rang out between them. A low growling noise emitted from Shining’s stomach. Though his loins hungered for his mother’s body, it seemed his stomach was just plain hungry. Shining winced as the sound caused his mother to freeze on a dime. The motions of her body ceased, as did the lustful moans. Though he wasn’t looking at her directly, he knew the look she had on her face at the moment. A stone look of disapproval, one that he’d received many times in the past. It was the same look she’d give him if he and Twilight stole cookies from the cookie jar when they were looking for more than their allowed share. Or when they’d decided to try their hands at art, along the wall of the living room. The look that told Shining Armor that she and her father had raised him to know better. 

“Shining Armor,” Velvet began flatly, the lust in her voice gone without a trace.  She moved her hand to the interior of his elbow, and pushed it down, forcing his hand away from her breast and out of her blouse. “Did you eat breakfast this morning?”

“I did!” He replied hastily, pulling his head back to look at her properly. Just as he’d anticipated, his mother wore that disapproving glare on her face: the corners of her mouth in a downward curl, her eyes half-lidded, and her face not budging an inch. “Recruit protocol doesn’t let us skip meals, we have to eat breakfast; same meal, same time, every day.” Velvet raised an eyebrow as he plead his case to her. 

“Seriously!”

Velvet’s eyes scanned his face vigorously. It was a ritual they’d undergone many times in the past, so often that Shining and his little sister had even given it a nickname: their mother was now in what they called “lie-detector” mode. She was studying the features of his face, processing the tone of voice he’d use, perhaps even detecting his heartbeat with a keen sense of hearing she didn’t let on that she had. Though her son had never made a habit out of being a liar, a mother still couldn’t be too careful, and had to insure he hadn’t had a change of heart all of a sudden. After a moment of scanning him, she’d deduced that he was indeed being honest with her, just as he’d always been. 

“Alright, fair enough.” She replied less harshly, Shining Armor letting out a sigh of relief. “But you’re still hungry. You may be a royal guard now, but you’re still a growing stallion, and you need to keep up your strength with proper meals. If you think you’re going to get frisky with me on an empty stomach, you’ve got another thing coming, young man.” Shining Armor’s gaze traveled to the floor, and swept across the wall, ceiling and to the adjacent wall in one swift motion. Just as his mother gasped, he realized his fatal mistake. 

“Don’t you roll your eyes at me, mister!” She scolded him, stepping away from the wall and staring daggers at him. “I am your mother, and I will NOT have that kind of disrespect displayed toward me; do you understand?”

Shining had to resist another urge to roll his eyes. He’d already spent sixteens weeks getting yelled at every day, and yearning to come back home to get away from it all. After finally coming back home, he hadn’t been in the door even five minutes before somepony else was chewing him out all the same. Though he at least counted his blessings that the one lashing out at him was certainly more attractive than Sgt. Hardy Gaskin. While she lectured him, he took in the alluring sight of her purple mane with light gray streaks, curled up toward her neck. Her breasts, the size of cantaloupes, firm and perky as any mare half her age, underneath her blouse and still somewhat erect. And though she was facing him at the moment, he could still see the sides of her posterior, round and ample as ever. She was a beautiful mare, one that his father was lucky to have married, and that Shining himself was just as lucky to have been birthed from her own womb. If he had to suffer another lecture, he was glad that it was from her of all ponies. 

“And what exactly are you smiling about, hm?” She asked sternly, placing her hands on her hips. 

“Just how pretty you are.” Shining armor replied smoothly. Her nose wrinkled a bit in frustration.

“Don’t try to flatter your way out of this, young man!” She blared, while her cheeks resumed a touch of the scarlet they’d worn a moment ago. Irritated that her son was still chuckling, Velvet crossed her arms in disapproval. “Shining, I want you to take me seriously when I tell you something. I’m still your mother and I don’t appreciate you dismissing me like that. Do you understand me?”

“Yes ma’am.” Shining replied, not wanting to patronize the mare any further. Her eyes widening, Velvet let out a sigh as she let the frustration that had built up so suddenly wash away from her. She stood in silence as she looked up at Shining’s face, and shook her head as she smiled. 

“I can’t believe I have to look up at you to scold you now.” She said, sounding slightly defeated. She lifted her hand up to his chest, a little lower than her eye level. “I miss the days when you were this tall, and I was telling you that you’d have to go to your room if you kept giving me lip.” Keeping her focus upward at him, she beamed with joy as she stood on her tip-toes and kissed his chin. “Come on sweetheart. Let’s get you something in your tummy before you starve, okay?”

Velvet pretended not to see Shining roll his eyes yet again as she walked toward the kitchen with him in tow. Though she’d had to re-assert her authority over him, she realized he’d been through quite enough torment at camp so far away from home. She did want him to actually be glad that he was back home after all, and she couldn’t do that by harping on him for every little mistake he made. And though she’d fought her urges to keep going, she knew she it wouldn’t last forever. Before the day was over, she’d feel his body against her, unclothed and bare for one another to admire. If the wetness she felt between her thighs as she walked was any indication, it had been too long since they’d  felt each other’s touch. They’d push each other to the point of exhaustion and embrace one another in the comfort of a post-orgasmic bliss, just as they’d done so many times when he was growing up. She’d missed that special bond they’d kept alight regularly, and felt desperate to reignite it once again. 

Before that moment came, her maternal instincts couldn’t let her first-born child go hungry for too long. Entering the kitchen, she opened the refrigerator and bent over, peering her head into the chilly depths. Her back made a straight line toward the wall behind her, her grayish purple tail draping over her posterior as she looked through the contents of her fridge. “How about a sandwich, Shining?” She asked as she looked toward the bottom shelf. “Something light and quick to eat?”

Shining Armor watched his mother from behind, his gaze drawn to her buttocks. Still confined to the tight capri pants she was wearing, he wondered how she was able to fit in them without making them split. 

“Sure mom.” Shining Armor replied, taking steps toward his unsuspecting mother. 

“Hay, or oats?” She asked, unaware of his approach.

“Hay sounds good.”

“Cheese?”

“Sure. Swiss, if you have it.”

“How about some toma-yyy!” Velvet’s voice trailed off when Shining Armor grabbed his mother’s tail and yanked it upwards from behind. The motion seemed to pull an invisible string within her loins, sending out a pleasurable shockwave as a result. She felt a slight touch of annoyance, but it was hidden underneath the playful arousal that swelled through her body. She flexed her rump and pushed it toward his hips, while his unoccupied hand traveled across her waistline.

“Mm… how about some tomatoes, sweetheart?” she asked, her voice low and sultry as she looked over her shoulder at him.

“M hm.” Shining brought both his hands down below her waist, and rubbed them in sync with one another across her buttocks. 

“Mustard?” Velvet pushed her rump against his lap again, where she could feel his erection throbbing through his jeans. 

“And avacado. Just the way I like it.” Shining trailed his hand across her hips and found the space between her thighs. He could feel a bit of dampness through her pants as she involuntarily flexed into his grasp.

Velvet’s tongue trailed out past her lips as she savored the feel of her son’s fingers against her wanting body. Though her soaking pussy couldn’t quite feel their direct contact, the pressure was gratifying all the same. She wondered if she put her mind to it, would even that be enough to push her over the edge? Let that fountain of tension spill out, even with her pants still on, just giving in for the sake of a gratifying release? 

Her resolve won out, and with a light thrust, she pulled her buttocks in. With the same force, she drove them back, bumping her son off of her.

“Ah ah ah,” she playfully chided him. “No more molesting mommy until you’ve got something in your tummy, okay sweetheart? Now go sit down while I fix your sandwich”

Shining Armor gagged for theatrical effect, but finally resigned himself to his fate. Before he left, he delivered a lighthearted swat of his palm against her butt. The unexpected slap sent another pleasant jolt through Velvet’s body, so spontaneous they were that she had to force her mouth to keep shut to avoid crying out in a lustful moan. 

Ooh, he’s gonna get it later. She thought to herself as she contracted her muscles to keep her vagina from winking so erratically. Shining took his seat at the dining room table, his blue tail hanging off the side of the iron chair. Velvet’s horn lit up with a magical aura, levitating the items to prepare her son’s sandwich. 

A few minutes of cutting and spreading went by, and Velvet brought her son a sandwich on wheat bread, cut down the middle, with a helping of chips poured over it. She hovered a glass of tea to the table as well, all of it landing in front of the stallion who looked on eagerly. 
“Thanks mom.” He said, grabbing one half of the sandwich and taking a hearty bite. It wasn’t until his tongue tasted the juice of the tomato mingled with hay that his stomach spasmed slightly. He’d not realized how hungry he’d been throughout the ceremony until that point. As he ate his meal feverishly, Velvet took her seat adjacent to him, watching her boy eat with the same appetite he’d had for years, ever since he’d started going through the big change all colts did when they reached that crucial age. 

“Tell me about bootcamp, sweetheart.” She said, hoping to slow his pace down before he choked himself. “How awful were those instructors to you? I want to know everything.”

Shining Armor looked up at his mother, staring at him earnestly as he chewed his food. His thoughts returned to the days when he was one of several young stallions being yelled at by their new officers, he and the rest of them wondering what exactly they’d gotten themselves into. 

“First week was awful.” He replied, taking an additional bite of his sandwich. “I got a chance to talk with another stallion whose father had done it when he was younger: said the first week was called Nightmare Week. Basically, they show us where we’re gonna live, how to take orders, who’s gonna be in charge of that, you know, crash course of how life’s gonna be for a while. And all of it drilled into our heads by somepony screaming at the top of their lungs just a foot away from us.” 

Velvet winced slightly at his response. “Were you scared, honey?”

“Nah.” He responded casually. Though Velvet made no effort to object, her face showed the slightest bit of doubt at what he’d told her. 

“Alright, I was a little nervous. When Sgt. Gaskin was chewing somepony out, I could feel my stomach drop to my toes hoping I’d never be the one he was angry at. But that’s all just part of the process. Even though the royal guard’s a ceremonial job, they still try to train us as if we’re going to war. And if you can’t take getting yelled at, then you don’t really have any place on the battlefield, right?”

Shining Armor regretted what he’d said the minute the words left his mouth. Even though his mother had genuinely wanted to know what her boy had been busy with while he’d been gone for so long, she clearly wasn’t ready to hear what he’d had to say. She hated the thought of somepony she didn’t know yelling at her precious little stallion. It didn’t help that he’d also planted the idea of him going to war in her head, even if it was a very unlikely possibility. 

“Anyway, the next few weeks got a little better.” He continued in an effort to ease her mind. “It was mostly PT day in and day out. First few days were pretty tough, I thought I was gonna puke. But I got used to it real quick. Didn’t realize I could mount such a high wall so fast, even with weights on.” Shining placed a handful of chips into his mouth as he noticed his mother’s expression change. She smiled a little more satisfied as she heard of his pride in his accomplishments. “Week five was weapons training. Swords, spears, crossbows.”

“Crossbows?” Velvet asked inquisitively. “I figured they’d teach you how to use the weapons that you’d hold at your post, but never thought they’d teach you firearms.”

“Yup. Like I said, they don’t just want entrance decorations: they want soldiers. They had us do some target practice, even did some sparring with the melee weapons. I kicked some flank in the ring.”

“Really?” Velvet’s face lit up with excitement. “I’m shocked! You’ve always been a tough stallion, but I never took you to be a weapons master.”

“Boot camp offers a lot of surprises. You learn you’re capable of a lot of things when you’re pushed harder than you’ve ever been pushed in your life. Last few weeks was post training, where they had us do what the job pretty much entails: standing still for a really long time.” He said with a smirk, eliciting a giggle from Velvet. “They had us stand at a post for hours on end, they’d get the other recruits to move around and talk to us, try to get us to move. The tricky one was when they left us alone for an hour, then snuck up on us and yelled as loud as they could.”


“Did they get you?”

“Almost.” Shining said, taking a drink of his tea to wash down the food in his mouth. “I remember I was standing outside the castle, sweating like crazy, wondering to myself if Princess Celestia had any control over how hot the sun was. Then out of nowhere I hear ‘YOU SCRAWNY LITTLE EXCUSE FOR A PONY, I’LL BET YOU COULDN’T BUCK YOUR WAY OUT OF A PINATA!’ and I just feel my whole throat close up for a few seconds. Then Sgt. Gaskin steps in front of me and starts looking me over. I don’t know if he noticed I was shivering, or if he decided to go easy on me, but he left me after a bit. I guess it was good enough for him. After that was just graduation rehearsal, nothing worth mentioning there.”

Velvet’s face beamed with admiration for her newly graduated son. “Sweetheart, I’m so proud of you. I’m glad you proved that you could face such hardships all by yourself, and come out okay. You’re growing into a fine young stallion.”

Shining Armor averted his eyes, humbled by her praise. “What about you, mom?” He asked in return, taking the last bite of his sandwich, his plate now filled mostly with crumbs. “How’ve you and dad been without me and Twilight here?”

Velvet’s eyes looked up to the ceiling, recalling how she’d occupied herself during the past two months. “Oh, it’s been quiet around here, Shining. Just when you’d gone to camp, your sister went and got picked up by Princess Celestia. After that, the light bulb factory has been keeping your father away from home more than usual. They’re undergoing some new energy efficient redesign, and they’ve been needing his expertise on the matter for all of their departments. When he gets home at night, he’s usually so exhausted he’s hardly in any mind to stay up and be any company.”

Shining felt dismayed as he heard about his father’s work causing some stress on he and his mother. “Dad’s just not in the mood?”
“His mood hasn’t changed at all; he wants to spend time with me even when he gets home. He just doesn’t have the energy. So with you, he and Twilight all gone, I’ve been mulling around the house, looking for things to do. Sometimes I’ll do a bit of writing, or try out a new recipe in the kitchen. If I’m sick of looking at the house, I’ll go for a stroll in the park, watch a show at the outdoor theater.” Velvet let out a demoralized sigh out her nose. 

Shining stared at Velvet worriedly. Throughout his life, she’d been the image of a strong mother, rarely showing weakness or faltering in her resolve to stay firm for her children. Seeing her in such a state brought his spirits down, making his chest hurt just a bit. Taking note of his uneasiness, Velvet paused a moment to recompose herself. 

“Don’t worry Shining sweetie, it’s nothing to be too concerned over.” She assured him, bringing back her cheerful demeanor. “I’m feeling a lot better now that you’re finally home.”

Shining allowed himself to smile in return. Though he took no delight in the anguish his mother had put up with in his absence, he was at least glad that his return had brought an end to her troubles. The two found their eyes locked for a moment, before Shining looked down at his empty plate and cleared his throat. 

“Thanks for lunch, mom.” He said gratefully, raising his arms as he stretched himself fully. “So…”

“Yes, sweetheart?” Velvet asked, her fixed intently on him.

“Well, you said dad’s not really had enough energy to keep you company at night’s.”

“I did say that.” She replied, her excitement making itself apparent, despite her efforts to appear playfully negligent of the direction her son was steering toward. 

“I thought maybe… I could keep you keep you company in his stead?” he asked, feeling his face warm up as he eagerly awaited her response. 

Velvet watched her son’s face turn a lovely shade of pink as he wrestled with his emotions. Aside from the playful antics they’d engaged in moments before, he still felt humbled flat out asking for her to lay with him. He was a gentlecolt in every sense of the term, an example she felt other stallions his age ought to follow. Her upper teeth pushed down on her bottom lip, and her thighs squeezed together in anticipation.

“Oh, that’s so sweet of you dear.” She replied in a low, passionate tone of voice. She sat up and stepped toward her handsome son. Before he could stand up, she placed her hand on his chest, her palm sliding over the center and up toward his chin. Standing behind him as he breathed in deeply, she lowered her mouth toward his head and kissed him gently on his cheek. Feeling his mother’s lips drew out an involuntary shiver from the stallion. Velvet giggled in delight and drew her mouth toward his ear. 

“Come on then, sweetheart.” She whispered, making his ear twitch from the feel of her warm breath. She moved her hand down and grasped his hand in hers, prompting him to stand. And he followed her out of the kitchen, still holding her hand, as she led him toward her bedroom. Her heart fluttered as she felt his hand grip her, just like when he was a little colt. Holding onto her, completely dependent on her support, letting her lead the way for him. Though their minds were brimming with carnal thoughts for one another, their hearts still carried the purest form of love between a mother and son.


> Chapter 3: New Appearance, Familiar Motions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Up a flight of stairs and round the corner, mother and son passed Twilight’s bedroom. Shining wondered how much of her room was left, since she had left for Celestia’s tutelage. The thought left his mind however, once he and his mother entered his own bedroom. It appeared just how he’d left it months ago: papers and drawings littered about the floor, as well as a bin of action figures collecting dust. A poster of a battle damaged canterlot guard adorned the oat colored wallpaper across from him. In bold print underneath the soldier were the words “Never Back Down. Keep Marching Forward.” The only thing changed was his bedspread, neat and tidy for once, its sheets no doubt washed ahead of time to anticipate his arrival. Seeing his room in its familiar state assured him that Twilight’s room was most likely the same: unchanged, waiting for her return. 

Velvet closed the door behind Shining Armor as he took in the sight of his room. The click of the latch stirred him from his thoughts, and back toward his mother. She stepped toward him with her hands outstretched toward his face. With his chin in her hands, Shining dipped his head down and pressed his lips against hers once again. He lifted his hands to her arms, rubbing her elbows with his thumbs,  up to her shoulders and then all the way down to her hips. Their embrace was more controlled than earlier, when they’d first stepped through the door. It had been a moment where they’d let their emotions overcome them, and acted on their instinctual want for one another. Now, in his bedroom, they acted with more tact, knowing they had the entire evening to themselves. They would take things slow, enjoying every moment for as long as they could. Though they acted with more tact, their embrace was no less passionate. Their hearts burned for one another, as did their bodies. 

Shining Armor gently turned Velvet around, continuing to hold her close. He kissed the side of her neck, evoking her to lean back and hum her enjoyment through her lips. His hands moved to the front of her hips, his fingers fumbling over the zipper of her pants. He pulled it down and unbuttoned her fly, then slipped one hand down across the crotch of her panties. At the bottom of the soft bit of fabric, he could feel a damp warmth between her thighs. His mother gasped and backed up against him as he touched her. Her arousal expanded through her  chest as she felt her son touch her vulva, soaking wet with her  excitement. Each push against her made her heart leap, relishing in the exquisite feeling Shining provided her. He knew just how to tease her without rushing things, make her want for him increase bit by bit. 
Just as her heartbeat quickened, Shining pulled his hands back to the waist of her pants. His thumbs moved underneath the waistline of her panties, and pushed downward. Velvet was left with her lower body naked, feeling a rush overtake her as her wet lips met the open air of Shining’s room.  Feeling Shining’s hands moved down behind her, she realized what her son was after. She grinned in recognition at his familiar habits, taking solace that some things never changed. 

Shining crouched down to his knees, face level with his mother’s backside. He stared in wonder at the large, round mass in front of him, cupping both sides from underneath with his palms. Feeling her plush cheeks against his face again made his heart swell with jubilation. Since he was a young teenager, he’d been fascinated with his mother’s rump. Always staring at it when she bent over to pull something out of the oven, or tying her shoe when she wasn’t in a mood to kneel. Ever since he'd turned eighteen, she'd granted him the pleasure of exploring her ample cheeks more thoroughly. It had been too long since he’d been able to look at those blue stars imprinted on her gray buttocks. 

Shining moved his left hand over her tail, and lifted it out of the way across her hip. He leaned in, turning his face sideways and leaning his cheek across the crack of her ass. Its cushiony texture sent a rush from his chest down to his shaft. He could feel it throbbing against his jeans, wanting to feel the sensation he was treating his face to at the moment. He involuntarily flexed his rod against his pants, accelerating the feeling momentarily, before easing back to keep himself under control. 

Though they had undergone this ritual more times than she could count, Velvet still found it heartwarming. Looking back at him, she reached down and rubbed her hand across his smooth mane. Shining turned his head forward, moving his lips to her right glute. He took in a mouthful of the cheek, sucking on it as if drawing nourishment from its mass. The sensation tickled Velvet and made her giggle. 

“After all these years, you still love playing with mommy’s bottom, don’t you?” Velvet asked him soothingly. Hearing her whispers made him smile. He nodded, before planting sweet kisses across various spots on her bottom. “Mm, what a sweet little boy.” she whispered, continuing to stroke his mane. His left hand moved across the adjacent cheek. With his palm against the soft coat of her behind, he gave it a slow, loving squeeze. Feeling his grip on coaxed a lustful gasp from Velvet, and her marehood winked in response. 

Shining stood back to his feet, and his mother turned to face him properly. Velvet traced a finger down the front of his shirt, all the way to the crotch of his jeans. Even with the thick material keeping it concealed, she could feel his erection poking against his pants. She gave it a gentle squeeze, knowing full well how desperate it must have felt from the lack of space. Glancing downward, she undid the fly on his jeans and pulled his pants down to his thighs, along with his underwear. Velvet’s heart skipped a beat and her face lit up as she took in the sight she’d been missing for so long. 

An impressive eight inches of charcoal gray flesh jutted out from between Shining Armor’s legs. Wide as Velvet’s fist, and with a subtle vein just above the medial ring, his length bobbed up periodically as she watched it with wonder. Just the sight of it made her clitoris throb in sync with his erection. She was tempted to give into her lust, pounce him and thrust her moist vulva over his length once again. She squeezed her thighs together, bracing herself and riding out the temptatious wave of pleasure threatening to take control of her. And after a moment, she regained control of herself once again.

Velvet slid her hand underneath Shining’s testicles, cupping one of them in her palm. Big as  softballs, she felt it rise a bit as his shaft pulsed with his arousal. She watched her son’s face twist as his lust for her grew. His face turned slightly pink and his mouth hung open slightly. Velvet allowed herself to drift towards him and kiss his mouth once again, sharing in the lust building between them. Even though she fully intended to tease him and build him up as much as possible, she had to reassure him that she wouldn’t leave him hanging. The kiss between them settled his nerves, preventing him from getting too antsy before the time was right. Their mouths remained locked against one another, while her hand traveled upwards and tickled the underside of his shaft. 

Breaking their kiss after a moment, Shining Armor reached for the bottom of Velvet’s shirt and gently lifted it up. She let go of his length and lifted her arms, allowing it to slip past her chin, and fall to the floor. Fully exposed, Shining let his eyes wander over the sight of his mother’s naked body. Her hips stretched a bit wider than her shoulders, her gray coat smooth and soft to the touch. Her breasts, despite years of breastfeeding him and his sister, remained big as grapefruits and perky as ever. She had a stunning figure, one that put mares of her own age and even those younger than her to shame. Shining had seen pictures of her from years before he’d been born in the family album. She was attractive then, but only become more beautiful with age. He considered himself lucky that he had such a pretty mother, more than willing to share her body with him in such a way. 

While Shining lost himself in gazing at his mom’s body, her movements along his stomach snapped him from his daze. Velvet’s hands lifted his shirt up over his face, at a pace just a bit faster than his had been on her. He wondered if she was more antsy to get a good look at him after being alone at home for so long. 

It took a moment for things to click, but Velvet’s eyes blinked in succession as her mind processed what she was in front of her. With her hands on his chest, she pulled her head back to ensure what she saw was real. 

Shining Armor’s chest had grown in size, mostly apparent in his pecs. They appeared sturdy yet flat, no flab to be found whatsoever. Underneath, on the way toward his stomach, she could see four very round and very prominent abdominal muscles underneath his white coat. But most notable of all was the size of his arms. His biceps had grown to the size of footballs now, with his forearms big enough to even them out. Taking a second look at his lower half, his thighs on either side of his erection looked just as beefy, a result of so much running and climbing he’d been put through. Though she’d never seen her son as scrawny even before he’d left for camp, his figure now made his past self seem like a string bean by comparison. 

“Shining Armor…” Velvet murmured, struggling to comprehend if this was indeed her son. “What did they do to you, sweetheart?”

“Heh, was wondering if you’d notice.” Shining replied bashfully. “You like it?”

“L-l-like it?” Velvet asked, her naked body shivering as an ecstatic smile formed on her face. “I… I love it.” 

Shining grinned ear to ear, having trouble keeping his ego suppressed from his mother’s praise. With his erection still strong, he pulled his fists up to his chest and flexed his muscles for her in a rather comical pose. Though he’d meant it in jest, Velvet’s eyes lit up in awe. 
Oh my goodness. She thought to herself, raising her hands up to her cheeks. He’s stronger than his father now! A pulsing throb from her loins caused Velvet to shake her behind in excitement, her tail swinging along behind her knees. A hefty drip of fluid from her winking lips trickled down her thigh. 

And her control broke for a moment. She quickly leapt toward him, jumping off the floor and onto her son with all of her weight bearing on him.

“Whoa-!” was all that Shining could get out, before his mother’s mouth mashed against his forcefully. With her legs wrapped around his waist, he raced to get his hands underneath her plump rear and keep her supported. Though his strength had increased enough to lift another pony if need be, Shining could only hold them for so long before he began to falter. He made a step toward the indigo sheets on the bed in front of him, only to remember that his ankles were still confined by his pants. With his mother unloading a barrage of kisses on him, Shining struggled to step out of his pants and move toward the bed. He’d managed to get one foot free, but the other seemed resolved to stay affixed to his foot, so much so that it wanted to take him down before giving up.

“Mmph!” Shining yelped with his mouth still suppressed by his mother’s lips. In a last minute effort, he managed to turn himself around, letting his back hit the bed. He landed with such a force that the springs creaked sharply, so much that he feared they might give out. They surprised him with their resolve, and held their weight just fine. Shaking his foot free of the persistent pant leg, he brought his attention back to Velvet, working to keep up with her frantic pace on him. 

Velvet pushed her breasts against Shining, her rigid nipples rubbing against his sturdy chest. She sucked against his mouth forcefully, while her hands moved frantically across his neck and shoulders. He in turn moved his hands across her back, his fingernails rubbing through her coat until he reached her buttocks. His palms rubbed them vigorously, followed by his right palm lifting up, and delivering a swift smack across her rump. The sudden force made Velvet jolt, and whimper in lust as their lips remained locked. 

Velvet had been told that those who joined the royal guard went into training as colts, and came out as stallions. She hadn’t expected such a radical transformation on his body though. Feeling Shining’s rock hard body support her weight, and his beefy arms fondle her kept her in a frenzy for him. Her marehood lips winked so vigorously, she wondered if they were flooding her son’s lap underneath. 

Moments passed, and Velvet noticed something rigid and warm poking against her thigh. She pulled her mouth back from Shining with a wet smack, and looked down to see his erection throbbing against her leg. Both of them panting, Velvet was reminded that she wasn’t the only one whose loins needed release. 

“Mm, what’s this?” Velvet asked playfully, sliding her hand down his stomach, her palm taking extra time to feel every inch of his new abdominal muscles. Her fingers danced lightly around the base of his cock, making it point toward the ceiling. “I wonder… have you gone the whole time at camp without cumming? Or were you careful enough to sneak a quiet one late at night?”

While his hips flexed instinctively to her touch, Shining breathed slowly through gritted teeth. “Heh, nope.” He replied as he winced. “Kind of tough to do that with open bunks, and twenty guys all in the same roo- ooooh!” Shining tilted his head back and moaned as his mother traced her fingers underneath his cock.

Velvet shook her head and tutted in disapproval. “You poor thing. Stuck in a camp full of mean sweaty stallions, who won’t let you have any release when you need it.” With her hand still around his length, she leaned in toward his ear. “Why, I’ll bet you won’t even last two minutes if we went at it full force, would you?” Shining fumbled for a response, but as his mother gave his erection a loving squeeze, words escaped his mind. “Not even two minutes, and then you’d cum all over inside mommy’s pussy, wouldn’t you honey?”

“Ffff- mmm!” Shining whimpered, his deep voice ascending an octave as he thrusted through her grip. “Ah… I-I dunno…”

“Mmm hm, that’s what I thought.” She taunted him jovially. “That’s alright sweetheart. We’ll just have to get the first one out of the way. That way you won’t be as sensitive the next time around.”

“S-sorry, mom.” Shining replied, sounding a touch defeated. His tone of voice brought a twinge of pain to Velvet’s conscience. 

“Oh no, sweetheart, it’s okay!” she assured him, her maternal instincts taking over and pushing her to be supportive. “I’m not upset with you. I’m just teasing.” She let go of his length, and brought her arms around his shoulders, pulling his head into her chest. “I like that you’re sensitive. It means you’re more respectable than those big, mean stallions who want nothing to do with their mother’s.” She ran his hand along his blue mane as she coddled him. 

Feeling her breasts against his head and her hand coursing through his hair brought Shining Armor a sense of security. Though it wasn’t something he’d tell everypony he knew, he loved it when she nurtured and pampered him. It felt like she was taking a bit of weight off his shoulders for the moment. Feeling her love him the way she did made him feel at ease, and he looked up at her with admiration in his eyes. 

“There’s my happy boy.” Velvet said, kissing him lightly on the lips, before setting his head free. She began to move down toward the end of the bed, slipping off to the floor and sitting on her knees. “Come on, up and at’em” She said, patting the foot of the bed. “Let’s get the first one out of the way. Then, when you’re ready, we’ll see if you can last a little longer inside me, okay sweetheart?”

Shining Armor nodded, before scooting himself down towards her. He let his muscular legs hang off the end of his indigo bedsheets, his knees on either side of his mother’s breasts. Velvet sat on her knees, her round bottom resting on the heels of her feet, and her blue and gray tail draped across the floor in the shape of a crescent. Her fingers traced up his thighs, working toward his groin. His twitching cock was pointed toward her horn, and a few inches away from her face. The round tip remained unflared and round, even as it stood rigid and throbbing incessantly. As much as she wanted to feel its width stretch her soaking pussy open, her patience as a mother of two helped keep her own desires at bay for a little bit longer. She would get plenty of enjoyment fondling her son’s cock for now. 

Breaking the momentary tension, Velvet slid her hand sideways and grasped Shining’s cock, her thumb resting on the underside of his length. She let her hand glide upward, toward the rounded head until her thumb met her index finger at the top.  She brought it back down, slowly, letting Shining savor the feeling of his rod pushing through the opening her hand provided. Shining felt a tingling sensation travel from his groin and up to his head, as he reveled in his mother’s skillful touch on him. She was no stranger to a stallion’s pride: she knew how to keep her grip relaxed enough to move up and down with ease, while providing just enough friction to light up the sensitive nerves all along his cock. 

He kept his eyes on her the entire time she stroked him. He still felt a twinge of embarrassment burn at his cheeks, that he was reduced to such a feeble state when she had a hold of him. As she locked onto her blue eyes, the feeling of safety won out over his bashfulness. He loved that his mother knew his body so well, and that she’d never be repulsed by the sounds he made or how his body responded to her. She loved him more than anything in the world, just as she did his little sister. As long as he was happy, she was happy as well. 

“Mm, even though you’ve become such a big strong stallion…” Velvet voiced as her hand moved up and down. “You still make the cutest faces when I play with your cock.” Shining realized that his teeth were biting down on his lower lip as she teased him, and he closed his eyes. “Aw, don’t be ashamed sweetheart.” She giggled. “You still think mommy’s pretty, after all these years?”

“M hm!” Shining nodded in a higher octave, feeling the pressure in his length rising exponentially. 

“You’re such a dear, Shining. I think playing with my big, handsome stallion is what keeps me young.” Shining’s eyes remained closed, as his face tightened even more. 

Velvet shifted on her knees to gain better leverage on him. moving her head underneath his length. She poked her tongue against the base, drawing it up toward the head. The soft, wet surface pulled gently against his tender flesh, making Shining’s hips twitch even more. Her lips moved around his twitching head. She pushed her mouth downward, stroking his length and coating it with her warm saliva. She could only take it halfway before it touched her throat; impressed as she was with her son’s size, it made it impossible for it to travel any further. Wet with her spit, she let her mouth slide up and down Shining’s rod, enjoying the taste of his flesh against her tongue.

Shining was stunned by his mother’s technique. For a mare who’d claimed to have been bored at home for months, she was certainly still in practice. Her tongue and lips hugged his shaft so snuggly. And her hands did well to squeeze and caress the bit of his length that her mouth couldn’t accommodate. He opened his eyes a moment to look at her. He felt his arousal jump intensely as he got another eyeful of her, her own eyes closed, lost in the ministrations she provided him. Her neck bounced up and down rather quickly as her mouth glided effortlessly over his throbbing shaft. 

“Hnnng” Shining Armor felt his toes curl along with the swelling feeling in his loins. His feeble whimper prompted Velvet to pull her mouth off of him.

“Are you gonna cum, sweetheart?” She asked, feeling his cock throb between her hands more rapidly than before.  Shining nodded again, and his hips began to bounce. Though his control was slipping, he still did well to keep himself from thrusting violently. Velvet admired how considerate he was, despite holding back sixteen weeks of chastity. She moved her open mouth just in front of his cock, her tongue hanging out and waiting for delivery. With her son seconds away from blowing, she moved her hand up and down in rapid succession. The movement on her part pushed his nerves even more, and Shining could feel his posterior tighten as his body prepared to release the feeling he’d been holding back. 

“Ahhh! M-mom!” Shining whimpered, as he hunched over in tune with the interior pull on his groin. With no more reserve left, Shining let the dam burst. The head of his cock flared like a flower in front of Velvet’s open mouth. Along with a high-pitched moan of ecstasy  from the stallion, a heavy, concentrated rope of his white load flew from within, straight into his mother’s open mouth. Another spasm, and another thinner rope of his cum ejected from the tip of his length. Shining gripped the bedsheets tensely as his body writhed from the overwhelming pleasure moving through his body. 

Velvet managed to catch the majority of his semen in her mouth, only a bit of it dribbling down her chin and onto her chest. She was caught off guard by how thick the fluid was in her mouth. Only a handful of times had his seed been so concentrated; they’d regularly explored each other’s bodies and given each other release to the point that Shining’s release was relatively thin and liquidy. It took more effort than she was used to, but Velvet was able to swallow it all. She noticed he was a bit saltier than usual, most likely from his change in diet from camp. 

The unfamiliar taste of her son’s cum was forgotten quickly as she watched her son writhe on the bed, a result of the blissful orgasm she’d helped him achieve. He continued to whimper like a puppy, his head moving back and forth over the sheets, as if he were trying to sink as deep as possible within the comfort they provided. She moved her hands over his lap, picking herself up off the floor and crawling over to his chest. Noticing her finger moving along his pecs, Shining managed to open his eyes, looking up at the beautiful gray mare looking down at him. 

“Just as good as ever, sweetheart?” she asked, poking her fingernails against his chest. 

“Y-yeah, ahhh” Shining moaned again, as her fingernails sprawled out around his nipple, and she gave his pectoral a firm grope. “That… oh, man that felt good.”

Velvet beamed down at her son’s smiling face. She leaned down, with her mane draping past his face, and kissed him, her lips still wet from his cum. Shining wasn’t bothered by the taste at all: he’d been curious when he was younger, wondering what his mother had tasted from him and his father so many times. He’d sampled his own load quite a few times, and wasn’t bothered by it even slightly. His eyes shimmered with satisfaction as she rose back up from his face.

“I’ll bet it did. I’m so glad I could help you unwind, after being cooped up at that big mean camp you were trapped in.” Velvet sat over him and ran her palm over Shining’s blue mane, her tail laid over his right leg. “You’re safe now hon. You’re back home, in your very own room. And you can just relax, and let mommy take care of you for a while. Does that sound nice, sweetie?” Shining nodded loyally, leaning his head against her knee with a content smile on his face. 

Velvet looked her son over as she rubbed his mane, and wondered if maybe she’d done too good of a job on him. She’d only meant to give him enough of an orgasm to get it out of the way, so that he could have a second one while he helped her achieve her first. She wasn’t too broken up about it though. Shining would be home for quite some time. She would have plenty of chances to enjoy his body again, and perhaps experience the same bliss he was feeling at the moment. 

“You look tired sweetheart.” Velvet noted as she rubbed his ear. “How about you take a quick nap? I’m sure your father will be home, and I’ll have dinner ready by the time you wake up.”

“Tired? No way.” Shining Armor said confidently. “I still wanna get you off too.”

Velvet felt her clitoris throb momentarily. “S-shining, don’t worry about me!” She assured him. “I don’t want you to exhaust yourself for me. I don’t have to have an orgasm every time; it’s plenty for me to watch you enjoy yourself.”

“But mom, I’m seriously not tired. They had us running, climbing and jumping from sunrise to sundown over at camp. I could keep this up all day if I need to.”

Velvet was surprised. She was so used to he and Night Light dozing off after they’d climaxed; it was expected of most stallions after all. This new vitality from her son was something she’d not expected at all. She was touched that he was more than willing to keep going for her. 

“Thank you, Shining.” Velvet said, laying down with her breasts laid against his chest. “That’s very sweet of you.” Shining Armor reached for his mother's chin and prompted her to crawl up closer to his face. Their lips met again in a soft kiss, the stallion still recuperating from his release. Gentle smacks of moist lips filled the air around them, pulling apart and joining again as mother and son took pauses to look into each other’s eyes before diving in for another kiss. 

Shining Armor moved his hands down from Velvet’s chin, and across her chest. He kneaded the soft flesh of her nipples between his finger and thumb. Velvet’s body pushed into Shining’s, before her chest melted into his hands. She hummed into his mouth as their lips remained connected, though her mouth seemed to loose its grip on his. Keeping her eyes closed, she panted softly as she lost herself in the intricate movement of his fingers. Every pinch, pull or tweak felt electric on her body. It felt as if he were tickling her clitoris all the way through her chest. Her mare pussy winked furiously, dripping out the edges of its puffy vulva and onto her son’s lap.

“Hey, mom?” Shining whispered into Velvet’s ear. She hummed again, still somewhat lost in his hands, but awaiting a follow up question nonetheless. “Do you think you could, uh, do something for me?”

“Mm, what is it sweetheart?” Velvet asked, opening her eyes and looking into his more attentively.

“You think you could do that… thing, you usually do?” He asked, his voice becoming a little less confident than it had been since he’d gotten home. A mischievous grin spread over Velvet’s face as she stared down the blue maned stallion underneath her. She recognized those bashful mannerisms of his, and knew full well what he wanted. Her sense of playfulness however had only become stronger as she had grown older. She was going to have some fun with him before she gave him what he wanted. 

“Shining, I think I taught you a little better than that.” She said, moving her hands down to grab his. She gently pulled them away from her breasts, and groped his wrists gingerly within her palms. “If you want somepony to give you something, you can’t be bashful and hope they give it to you. You have to be more assertive to get the things you want in life.” Shining gulped, and then forced himself to speak. 

“Can you, uh… sit on my face, mom?” he blurted out, his ears flopping down against his head as his face turned a crimson red.

Velvet beamed with a toothy smile, her tail swishing excitedly across the indigo sheets. “Of course, darling!” She replied enthusiastically. “I love sitting on my son’s handsome face.” she continued, holding his face within her hands, before planting a firm kiss on his cheek. The flaccid bit of flesh between his thighs sprang to life, though it was only at a third of its potential at the moment. Velvet pulled herself up from Shining’s chest, wearing a sultry expression of confidence. She kept her eyes on him, even as she turned herself around. She looked over her shoulder, as her left leg lifted up and moved over Shining’s left arm. She lowered her head, feeling her mane brush up against his cock, bobbing up and down as he looked up at his prize. 

Shining Armor’s pupils shrank as he stared open-mouthed at the rump over his head. With her body bent over and her tail of gray and purple resting to the side, everything was put on perfect display. Under the dock of her tail was her anus, puckering slightly, but tight nonetheless, forming a tiny star at the center. Further down, the crease between her legs that had brought him and Twilight into this world. It was enlarged a bit more than its normal size, soaking wet and constantly moving opened and closed. Shining could even hear a slight squish in the air as the wet lips convulsed. And at the end of her lips was a swollen nub of sensitive flesh, her clitoris, inflated now about the size of his thumb. Shining wasn’t sure if he’d ever seen his mother so aroused before. And all of it smooshed between the two bubbly round globes that was her hefty posterior. 

“I know I should be used to it by now, but I just can’t believe how obsessed you are with my butt.” Velvet giggled seductively, waving her rump slowly from side to side. She watched in delight as her son’s eyes matched the movements of her tush, as if he was hypnotized by the globes of fat and muscle. “Do you like mommy’s bottom, sweetheart?” Shining nodded silently. “Do you want to feel mommy’s bottom pressed down on your face?” Shining nodded again, frantically. His voice was a bit needy, telling Velvet he couldn’t wait much longer.

Lifting her head from his lap, she slowly shifted the weight of her lower back downward. Though she felt that he’d suffered enough teasing, she knew for a fact that he enjoyed watching her tush slowly descend closer and closer to his face. He enjoyed getting an eyeful of what was about to plop down on him. Looking up from the bed, the entirety of Shining’s vision was filled with the sight of his mother’s smooth round posterior, moving closer and closer to his face. She paused for a moment, as her pussy flexed strongly. A strand of her vaginal juice squeezed out of her as she moaned, falling onto Shining’s face, just underneath his eye. Velvet let out a happy giggle, before her rump finished its descent, and overtook Shining’s face entirely. 

“Ahh…” Velvet let out a happy sigh as her meaty glutes nestled her son’s face. The underside of his horn rested at the top of her crack. The compacted orifice between her cheeks squished up against his nose, while her moist lips rested just above his mouth. He had to keep his breath slow and steady to avoid suffocation  something he’d grown used to over the many times they’d done this. Despite his limited air, he loved feeling his mother’s butt on his face. Even after he'd turned eighteen, if he’d ever had a nightmare, Velvet would rush in and cradle him in her arms, reassuring him that he was still safe. Once he’d regained his senses, she would pull her pants down and plop her tush on his face. It had been therapeutic in a way. He felt protected from the cold harsh world while Velvet sat on him, like a mother hen keeping her fragile egg safe and warm. 

Shining sniffed slowly, collectively, through his nose. His senses were flooded with the soothing, tart musk of his mother’s backside. He exhaled out through his mouth, his warm breath washing over the wet surface of Velvet’s folds. 

“Mm, you make such a comfortable seat, Shining.” Velvet encouraged him, as she gently wiggled her backside into his face more firmly. She felt his nose move around underneath her, tickling the rim of her anus. Another surge worked through her body, making her toes curl in delight. She reached her hand down to his lap, wrapping her fingers around his rigid cock. “Mommy’s favorite little cushion.”

Shining felt his shaft reach its full length with her touch. He was tempted to give in and let her build him up for another climax, but he knew his vitality would be spent if it happened again. Instead, he shifted his face underneath her. He pulled his mouth up for better leverage underneath her winking pussy. Pushing his tongue out, he began to lap at her soaking folds, and felt them pulse strongly against him.

Velvet gasped loudly, and her hand froze in place. Every muscle in her body locked in on the sudden pressure on her puffy vulva. Shining’s tongue traveled up and down the flexing crease above him. He pushed his way through the center, breaching her caverns. Velvet moaned, not even bothering to restrain her voice. While her son’s tongue moved about her inner walls, Velvet began to rock her hips to match its rhythm. It had taken quite a few tries in the past, but Shining had learned how to manipulate his mother’s pussy quite well. He knew when to pull back, push forward, up or down. He’d even managed to rub the inflated bit of flesh hidden in the depths of her vagina, behind her clitoris. The angle wasn’t right to put on all of the pressure it yearned for, but Velvet found it delightful nonetheless. 

After a minute of drilling her insides, Shining pulled his tongue out and moved it downward. He didn’t even need his eyes to find what he was looking for; her clitoris was so enlarged his tongue recognized it within a few seconds of searching. Brushing against it once made Velvet whimper. Shining swirled his tongue around the throbbing flesh button, making her bounce her hips and purr lustfully. His tongue froze at the center. Mimicking the waves of a violent ocean, his tongue applied a steady rhythm of pressure against her clitoris, knowing her arousal was nearing its peak. 

Velvet would have loved to hit her peak right then. It had happened a few times before; her son had been eating her out diligently, and hit all the right spots at exactly the right time. And she had unleashed a gush of her fluid all over his lips, which he’d lapped up without hesitance. Her legs tightened as she felt her excitement pool closer and closer to her lips, hungry for a strong finish. 

And yet it still wasn’t quite right. Velvet knew in the back of her mind that she could get a little bit more from Shining, a more perfect ending to their delightful afternoon. Something more raw, and traditional. The knowledge of such a possibility tugged at the back of her mind, and prevented her from the release she so desperately craved. 

“S-shining, honey?” Velvet stammered, her voice trembling.

“Mhm?” Shining asked, pulling himself away from her opening, his mouth covered in her fluids. “You gonna cum?”

“Getting there! I want you inside me, please!”

“You got it.” Velvet rolled off of Shining, allowing him to move toward the end of the bed. Velvet scampered to the position he’d been in just a moment ago, her back against the mattress and her head resting on a pillow. Velvet spread her legs open quickly, just as Shining had turned around, his erection bobbing with his movement. She felt herself shudder as she stared it down, pointing at her, ready to fire when the time was right. Shining’s knees stepped closer to her, and he lifted her legs up, propping her calves on his shoulders. He held the underside of his rod with one hand, and guided it toward her winking mare lips. 

“Hnn…” Velvet whimpered as the rounded head pushed against her wet surface. The width of the head made it a little troublesome to slide in easily. But after a few tries, its girth breached the surface. 

“Haaaah!” Velvet yelped and pushed her chest upward, the shock of his length pushing in and stretching her taking her by surprise. 

“You okay?” Shining asked, stopping his advance halfway through. Velvet nodded frantically, urging him to continue. A few more inches in, and Shining bottomed out, his firm hips pressed up against his mother's soft backside. 

Like a puzzle piece fitting into its proper groove, feeling Shining’s rock hard erection inside of her made her feel complete. Her inner walls recognized the familiar mass stretching them out, giving it a proper welcome back home. Shining felt a similar click as he remembered how her cavern pulled at his length when he was inside her, wanting it deep as he could possibly go. Her mouth hung open as she lost her inhibitions, laying back and letting her son take the reigns for the remainder of their session. 

With her legs still draped over his shoulders, Shining pulled his hips back, the tip of his length just inches from slipping out before he pushed back in. He’d been afraid he was hurting her in the past, but he’d learned that a mother’s child-bearing hips could take quite a pummeling, and enjoy it. He thrusted back and forth vigorously, his hips slapping against his mother’s backside with a loud smacking noise as their sweaty bodies mashed against one another. 

Velvet opened her eyes to look up at the stallion making love to her. Though his body had undergone quite a muscular transformation, she took solace in the familiar face looking back at her. His sapphire blue mane hanging over his beautiful cerulean eyes, shimmering with longing for her. Even after all this time apart, her dear son still yearned to feel her body against his. Knowing his feelings for her hadn’t deterred even slightly nurtured her soul in ways no other stallion might hope to match. 

“Shining… hold my hand, sweetheart.” Velvet gasped, feeling the tingle in her loins peak rapidly. 

Letting her left leg fall away, Shining reached over her lap and grasped her hand. With their palms embracing one another, Velvet squeezed him tightly as she neared her summit. A feeble smile spread across her lips, as he pounded into her at a quicker rate. She had raised a wonderful son. Caring, patient, strong and affectionate, he’d embodied what she thought every young stallion should strive to be. She hoped that he would never travel off to another bootcamp; maybe he could stay with the family forever and ever, keeping mommy happy for the rest of her days. 

“I love you Shining! Ahhhh!” Velvet’s entire body shook all at once. On cue, Shining kept his thrusts to a minimum, keeping the pressure steady and firm, deep inside of her. Their hands remained clasped, as Velvet screamed out in lust. “Mmmmm! Yes! Ahhh, yes!” The dam broke, and a rush of fluid washed over Shining’s still rigid length inside of her. Her chest expanded as she convulsed, riding out the overwhelming waves of pleasure her orgasm brought along. After a moment of seemingly endless spasms, Velvet began to settle, albeit slowly. She continued to writhe against the mattress, her vaginal walls still clasped around Shining’s length. 

If Velvet had opened her eyes, she might have noticed Shining leaning toward her. Still connected at the groin, he pressed his lips against her chin in a gentle kiss. He let his hand drop her other leg before moving it up to her chin, and his mouth moved up toward her ear, kissing the side of her face all the way. 

“I love you too, mom.”

Her heart raced at his show of affection, even when he was still erect and no doubt craving another release himself. He was more concerned with cuddling her while she was coming down off her orgasm. Velvet gasped again, her nerves quickly regaining the mounting pressure she’d released just a moment ago, as if it had never even happened. She wrapped her arms around his back, and instinctively began to hump his body. 

“Heh, again?” Shining Armor chuckled as his mother pushed against him.

“Yes please.” She replied in haste. “Just a quick one--ahh!” Shining kept his hands braced on the mattress, while he thrusted into her, more quickly than he had before. “Yes, yes, yes keep going! Good boy honey, good--ahh!”

Shining kept his quick pace up, an electrical feeling of his own building up within his length. He looked down at Velvet’s face, seeing her mouth hang open as he pushed her body to its limit. Her unconditional love had supported him all his life. He knew that he wasn’t obligated to repay the kindness she’d given him; he’d wanted to anyway, just to make her as happy as she’d made him. Knowing he’d brought his mother to this level of pleasure excited him greatly, and he kept himself pushed deep inside of her as the feeling rushed even more. The head of his cock flared with the rush, expanding in diameter. The sudden growth stretched Velvet’s insides and made her throw her head back as she screamed. 

“I’m gonna cum, mom.” Shining muttered, his voice in a higher octave than usual. 

“Good, good honey! Cum inside mommy!” Velvet squealed, her hips dancing as she waited for her son’s seed to paint her inner walls white. 

“Hnnn- gaaah!” Shining pushed himself inside her, his chest pressing up against her breasts. His dick shuddered as it shot a rope of semen inside his mother’s womb. His ejection didn’t last long, having spent a majority of it several minutes before. But the bliss of his second orgasm lasted plenty. Feeling exhausted, he rolled over on his side, keeping his hands around Velvet’s back, as she did to him. His shaft remained inside of her, even as it slowly deflated. 

The two ponies laid on their sides, gasping for air. With their bodies pressed so closely together, they could feel one another’s hearts pounding, having pushed each other to exhaustion. Tired as they were, they reveled in the comfort of post-orgasmic bliss. Drowsiness crept up on them slowly, but they fought it off temporarily. They wanted to remain awake, feeling the joy of the other’s presence. 

Catching their breath, the two looked upon one another, their faces wearing an identical glow of happiness. They leaned in for a soft kiss on the lips, then rubbed their foreheads against one another, their horns brushing sides as they moved. 

“Shining… I know I’ve said it before, but I’m gonna say it again.” Velvet began, admiring her son’s chiseled face. “I’m so proud of the stallion you’ve become.”

Shining grinned bashfully, accompanied by a chuckle. “Still feels kind of weird hearing that out loud. I still feel like a colt inside.”

“I know honey. Nopony’s ever ready to grow up. It just sort of happens.” Velvet explained, running her fingers through his mane. “Pretty soon, you’re gonna start your new job, and have your own income. Then… you’ll probably get your own house. Find a mare who loves you, marry her…” 

Velvet had meant to be encouraging for her son, but as she trailed on about the future of her growing son, her mood began to plummet. Though she and Shining shared a bond closer than most mothers did with their sons, she’d sometimes wondered if it could really last forever. When he had moved to boot camp, she’d hung on to the knowledge that he would be back home within a few months. What would happen when he had the means to live independently of his family? What about when he found a mare that he loved enough to marry? Would she lose the special bond she'd held with him for so long?

Velvet’s smile faltered as she dwelled on her thoughts. Her eyes sank, as did her heart. She remembered how lonely she’d felt with him gone for those few months. She wasn’t sure if she could bear that feeling again, especially if it would last indefinitely. 

“Hey, you okay?” Shining’s voice broke Velvet from her daze. Moving her eyes back to him, she felt her eyes beginning to sting. She sniffed through her nose and nodded.

“I’m fine, honey.” She replied, forcing herself to smile. Even if it would lead to more pain on her part, she knew she had to remain strong for him. It was her duty as his mother to support him as best as she could, even if he would cut ties with her some day. “Part of being a mother means worrying too much. It’s nothing you need to be concerned with.”

Shining wasn’t convinced. He knew something was troubling her. He’d seen her wear that face many times when he was younger, and had learned what it really meant. He also knew that it meant she wasn’t going to talk about it, no matter how much he prodded. Despite her reservations, Shining wasn’t going to sit by and let it fester. He had an idea of what her thoughts dwelled on, and a temporary remedy as well. 

“Hey mom? Can you lay on your back for a minute?” 

Velvet was caught a bit off guard with his request. She found it hard to believe that Shining would be ready to undergo yet another session with her; she could see that he was still spent from their last release. But as he picked himself up from his spot on the bed, Velvet found herself laying back, while Shining leaned his head over her chest. 

The stallion slowly dropped his head over her left breast, curling his lips around her nipple. He began to suck on her slowly, the suction of his mouth pulling at her in a gentle manner. Velvet felt a momentary rush to her loins upon first contact, but it quickly subsided once she realized Shining wasn’t going to push her any farther. The act itself had no scandalous intentions. 

Velvet watched as her son gently suckled at her breast. She had weaned Twilight more than a decade ago, and her milk had long since been dormant. Though her nipples yielded nothing to drink, the act provided a sense of nourishment for both of them all the same. It gave Shining a sense of security, latching onto her in such a way, like he had done when he was a little foal. For Velvet,  Shining’s mouth felt soothing on her chest as it pulled on her nipple. Though she knew he was growing up, the act gave her the same sense she’d delighted in for all of Shining’s young life, knowing that her little colt depended on her. She reached down and cradled his head, which she felt lean into her grasp as he kept his mouth on her. 

“Mm, still hungry as ever.” She whispered, brushing his ear between her fingers.  Shining let go of her nipple for a moment, looking up toward her face. 

“No matter how old we get, or where we go in life… you’re always gonna be my mom.” He assured her, his chin leaning against her chest. “Even if we’re separated for a while, I’m never gonna love you any less than I do now.”

Velvet felt her heart melt across the chest he leaned on. She was glad that as much as his training had hardened his body, he still remained as soft-hearted as he’d always been. 

“Thank you, sweetheart.” Velvet told him as she continued to rub his head. As Shining resumed sucking on her nipple, Velvet let out a tiny yawn and closed her eyes. She’d felt more content than she’d felt since she could remember, feeling her son’s weight on her chest. Even if he wasn’t always physically there in the future, she’d bear that weight for the rest of her life, and enjoy every minute of it, for as long as she lived.