> Mine Tonight
>  by Pacifika
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Mine Tonight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

She opened her eyes as the last notes settled across the dim, crowded nightclub. A sea of tables stretched out before her as server Ponies weaved their way around the room, taking orders and clearing drinks. Hooves and claws slammed together as they applauded her.

She smiled and crossed a hoof in front of her chest, bowing deeply. “Thank you! Thank you so much! I hope everyone is having a great time tonight.”

More applause and whistles. A stallion stood up from his chair at the far end of the room. “I love you Sweetie Belle!”

“I love you too Wheelie. Just don’t tell your wife.” The regular crowd laughed as the mare next to his side rolled her eyes and winked at Sweetie Belle. The skit was something the three of them had been doing off and on for years.

“It was my pleasure performing for all of you tonight. We’ll be taking a short break and after that we’ll be kicking things up a notch with Ponyville’s very own mix-master, Vinyl Scratch!”

There were more cheers as a few staff ponies appeared out of nowhere and started clearing the area in front of the stage. Others started bringing in and assembling pieces of a removable dance floor.

“Again, it was my pleasure! Enjoy the rest of your night here at the Crystal Tree Lounge! Good night everycreature!”

She bowed again and the stage curtain closed in front of her as she turned and walked to the stage rear. 

“Great show tonight Sweetie Belle! As usual!” She looked up to see a middle aged pegasus stallion fluttering around the lights and speakers as he changed the equipment for the next show.

“Thanks Rigger! How’s the wing?”

“Better. You were right. A day at the spa took care of it. Those twins are something else! You hanging around tonight?”

 “For a bit. Figured I’d have a drink or two.” And hopefully a bit more than that.

He winked at her. “Good plan. Stay safe, ok!”

She smiled up at him. “Will do.”

She made her way past him and through the piles of stage equipment, crates of liquor and stacks of chairs that clogged up the backstage. Tacked to the wall above a stack of kegs was the bar's original sign. She could remember the days when the place was little more than the local Ponyville watering hole. It was the Perfect Pour in those days. Just a sleepy corner bar at the intersection between Twilight’s library and her sister's boutique. Mrs. Berryshine and her husband kept bar back then. 

In the years after Twilight brought international fame to the town, they handed it over to their son who promptly renamed the business after Ponyville’s most famous landmark. It wasn’t long before he expanded the building and it’s scope of business. The place operated now as a mix between a cocktail lounge during the early evening and a full on nightclub thereafter. Because of the upgrades, space was often hard to find and things had to be placed wherever they would fit.

She exited the back from a door next to the stage and started making her way towards the bar. 

A voice called out from the dark. “Sweetie Belle!”

She turned to see a freckled, red haired mare waving at her from a table across the restaurant.

“TWIST!”

The bespectacled pony grinned. “Loved the show!”

“Give me a few and I’ll come say hi!”

“Can’t wait!”

She weaved between tables, accepting accolades the entire way before arriving at the bar and jumping up on one of the stools at the far end. Creatures stood around the bar, making small talk and throwing alcohol back as they put the glasses back down for refills. A deep red coated stallion flitted around the bar, seamlessly pouring drinks, taking orders and orchestrating the mob. At the far end a yak sat on the floor, it’s face stuck entirely in a massive bucket that was on the bartop. Foam bubbled up around the yak's mane as it just sat with its head in the pail. 

She looked over to the bartender who walked right past the creature without batting an eye.

She stared at him for a while longer. Is he….ok?”

She jerked back when suddenly the creature ripped it’s foam covered face out of the bucket and exclaimed “BEER GOOD! TAKE BEER TO PONY FRIENDS” before picking the bucket up in it’s mouth and stomping off to the other side of the lounge.

She chuckled and shook her head. Celestia help them. She could only imagine the insanity that was about to unfold for whatever ponies were accompanying their enormous northern visitor.

After a bit the bartender made his way over to her. The tuxedoed red unicorn gave her a warm smile. “Great show tonight Sweetie.”

“Thanks Burgundy.”

“Always happy when you can make it. What can I get you?”

“Double dirty gin martini. Extra dirty. Bleu cheese olives please.”

He raised an eyebrow. “One of those nights?”

She sighed. “Is it that obvious?”

“Only when you order martinis.”

She shrugged. “It is what it is.”

“No judgment here. How many olives?”

“Four.”

“Coming right up.”

“Thank you Burgundy.”

Named for his coat and his mothers favorite wine, she watched as he attended to her drink. She’d known Burgundy Shine since they were both foals.. No one was surprised when the news made it through town that he was taking over his parents' bar. He came by the trade naturally. 

She turned on the stool and scanned the lounge. I wonder if anyone else is here. 

She always made it a habit to look the place over after she performed. The stage lights made it hard to see who was in the crowd while she was performing. 

Looks like it’s just Twist tonight.

While Ponyville had grown dramatically since she was a filly, it still wasn’t uncommon for her to see any number of old schoolmates or friends when she was performing. The lounge often provided a great way for her to reconnect with friends she hadn’t seen in years. 

Burgundy returned with her drink.  “Double gin martini, extra dirty. With FOUR Blue Cheese olives for the lovely mare.”

“Thank you Burgundy.”

He nodded and drifted on to the next customer. This was an old routine for her. She was almost always the opening act and would retreat to the bar after her set. Beyond her pay, the drinks were always on the house. Sitting and nursing a couple martinis gave her a chance to scratch an occasional itch.

She used her magic to bring the glass to her lips and relished the salty, ice cold fire as it moved to her belly.

Now. Let’s see what’s out there.

She sipped her drink and scanned the room again. Couples giggled and conversed in the dark as servers meandered among them and deposited whatever the night's medicine was going to be. In one corner she could make out a table of stallions doing their best to survive their yak friends' drunken bear hug. In another corner two pegasi royal guards were engaged in a heated wing wrestling contest as their drunken friends cheered them on. She couldn’t help but notice how well they filled out their golden armor.

A voice filled her head. They’re cute. Guards are often single.

	As she pulled her eyes from their broad shoulders and toned flanks, her eyes snapped to their decidedly coltish faces. She sighed. They’ve got to be twenty years younger than you. She wasn’t desperate enough tonight to guide some overeager stallion-child as he thrusted chaotically behind her. The afterglow would inevitably consist of him either preening and inwardly congratulating himself on bagging an older mare or staring at her with hormone induced puppy eyes as if she were some combination of mother and newfound crush.

No thank you.

	A quick scan of the bar didn’t reveal any better results. Couples gabbed on drunkenly as Burgundy did his best to peddle them alcohol as fast as he could. There were a few tables of exclusively mares but that wasn’t a road she trotted down very often. Times like these were when she envied her sisters raging innate bisexuality.

She floated an olive into her mouth. Guess I’m sleeping alone tonight.

	Burgundy meandered back over to her and scanned the club. “Any prospects?” He was long familiar with her routine.

She shook her head. “Not in the mood for one of the frat boys over there and I’m not sure the ponies with that yak are going to survive the night.”

He chuckled. “Well the night is young.”

She rubbed a hoof on the rim of her glass. “True.”

He leaned across the bar. “You ok?”

She shrugged. “Yeah. Just…..I never really pictured this is how it would be you know?”

“How what would be?”

She gestured around the bar. “Life. Sitting here in my late 30’s, trolling for a piece of plot back in my hometown.”

Concern took over his face. “I know it hasn’t been that long since the divorce but….” He trailed off uncomfortably.

“Have I tried actually dating?”

He nodded.

She sighed. “Yes and no.”

He shot her a dry look.

“Fine. Mostly no.”

“Just not ready?”

She shrugged. “Partly. I haven’t had a lot of time either. That was part of why we split. Work eats up most of my time.”

“You mentioned he wanted foals right?”

She nodded. 

He swept a couple of drinks off the bar. “May I make an assumption?”

She nodded.

“Right now you’re wondering to yourself if focusing on your career was the right choice. Picturing the married mare with a few kids and a happy household somewhere? Wondering if all this was worth it?”

She chuckled. “That’s about the gist of it. Yes. Thanks for summing up all of my drama so nicely Burg.”

He winked at her. “Part of my job.” He reached out and squeezed her hoof. “Remember you might be more unhappy if you’d have given up your career. Family life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Trust me.”

She nodded. “I know.”

“It’ll all work out.” He winked. “Trust me.”

She smiled and nodded as he returned to his work.

She sat back resigned herself to watching the bar clientele and finishing her drink. After a while the stage curtain reopened and a silver haired mare in red sunglasses took her place behind a DJ booth. Before long the lounge was alive with ponies and other creatures bounding around the dance floor. In the center the yak smashed around on his hind legs while his friends begged for help from between his front legs.

Before long she was staring at the bottom of her glass. She didn’t really feel like another. I should probably get back to the Boutique. I have shit to do tomorrow.

	She was about to get up from her seat when a brown stallion walked up next to her. She tried to keep her side eyed glance under control.

He’s cute. She didn’t remember seeing him before.

After a moment Burgundy made his way over to her neighbor.

“What can I get for you?” 

“Anything on special?”

She felt herself staring at him out of the corner of her eye. Something about him made the back of her brain itch.

That voice.

	“Not this late.”

“What’s on draft?”

She turned her head as if she was staring back behind them and ran her eyes across his flank. A Cutie Mark of jack’s pieces adorned the brown coat. 

No fucking way.

“Stallion Adams Winter. Clyde's Ale, Dos Pegasus….”

“Tall Dos Pegasus. Extra lime please.”‘

The voice. It was the same. Deeper of course. Aged. But still had the same nasal quality as all those years ago.

Burgundy swiveled to her. “Another?”

She nodded absent mindedly as the unicorn attended to his drink making duties.

As her neighbor stared down the bar, she swallowed, turned and took a good look at him. Vermillion eyes offset a reddish brown coat and red, sparsely salted mane. An equally flecked goatee did it’s best to age an otherwise lean and youthful face. Memories of a colt in a propeller beanie bouncing off his mothers living room walls bubbled up from somewhere in her memory. 

“Button?”

He turned and stared at her for a moment before his eyes went wide.

“Sweetie Belle?”

She nodded excitedly.

He grinned excitedly. “Holy shit! Hi!”

She shook her head in disbelief. “I….wow….hi!”

He leaned down to give her a hug. “How have you been?!” 

She had to stretch up to wrap a front leg around him. Was he this tall when we graduated? She wasn’t the tallest mare but she remembered him being significantly smaller than her the last time she saw him.

“I’m good. You?”

Burgundy returned with his beer. “I’m good.” He gestured at the chair next to her. “May I sit down?”

She nodded as he jumped into the chair next to her. Now that they were at an even level he positively towered over her. He reminded her a lot of Mr. Cake in frame. “I cannot believe I ran into you!”

They clinked glasses and drank. “I can’t either. I heard you moved to Manehattan.”

He nodded. “I did. Pretty much as soon as we graduated. I spent the summer with my Dad and decided to stay. I own a toy shop up there now.”

She glanced down at his flank. “I remember playing as foals. You always loved your toys so much.”

He chuckled. “I still do, honestly.” He looked her over. “What about you? I heard you’re a professor at Princess Twilight’s school? Is the CMC still together?”

She nodded. “We are. We split our time between there and helping our families.”

“Oh really? How so?”

“After Rarity and Applejack got married they started spending most of their time bouncing between Rarity’s businesses and the other Apple family farms. Apple Bloom runs Sweet Apple Acres now.”

“Does she really? How’s she doing?”

“Really well. She and Rumble got married.”

He nearly spat his beer out. “Rumble? Tiny, Cutie Mark hating Rumble?”

“One in the same. They have five kids.”

He blinked at her a few times. “Five?”

She chuckled. “Five. He took to farm life pretty well.”

“Apparently. Shit. Wow.” He took another drink. “What about Scootaloo?”

“Test pilot. Did you hear about that mare who built that airplane?”

He nodded. “I read about it in the paper. That was her?!”

She nodded.

“That’s AWESOME! Fuck me. She got to fly!”

Sweetie beamed up at him. “Yup. She and Twilight are working on a model now that might make it across the Luna Bay.”

He shook his head. “Wow. Just wow. Dear Celestia it sounds like they’re doing great.” 

“They are.”

He gestured at her. “What about you?”

She took a long drink and shrugged. “Oh I’m fine. I split my time between helping my sister run her businesses and teaching at the school.”

“How many stores does she have now?”

“Four. The one here, two in Manehattan and one in Las Pegasus.”

“Wow. I remember when it was just the two.” Something caught his eye and he turned and looked back down the bar.

“Is that….Burgundy Shine?”

She glanced over at the bartender and back to Button. “Yeah, why?”

“I guess he works for his Mom now?”

She stared up at him. “Button…how long has it been since you were in Ponyville?”

He looked away, thinking, “Ummm…..last time I was here was when I helped Mom move up to Manehattan so……fifteen years?”

She gawked at him. “Are you serious?”

He nodded. “Hell the last time I saw you was at our graduation.”

That was over twenty years ago. “Time flies.” She took a sip of her drink. “Why are you in Ponyville anyway?”

“I’m actually on my way to Canterlot. Looking at possible locations to open a second shop. I figured while I was in the area I’d stop and see the old stomping grounds.”

She elbowed him. “Well look at you! You're an entrepreneur!”

He blushed. “Hopefully. Nothing like your sister. The margins on toys isn’t quite the same as bespoke dresses.”

She snorted. “You have no idea. It’s obscene what some ponies will pay for some fabric.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like you didn’t catch the fashion bug?”

She shrugged. “Not really. I’ve learned enough to make half competent recommendations for customers when they come in if I’m running the shop. I can mend things or make VERY slight adjustments but beyond that, I largely just watch the stores and make sure no one steals anything.”

“Makes sense. I just got into town. I caught the last train and haven’t really had a chance to look around. Figured I’d stop in for a beer before heading for the lodge.” He looked around the bar. “I never came in here as a colt. This looks bigger than I thought it’d be.”

She pointed a hoof towards the bartender. “It is. Mr and Mrs Shine gave it to Burgundy a few years ago. He took it over and expanded it.”

“Ahhhh. Makes sense.” He looked around again. “I wonder what else has changed.”

“Quite a bit. The town’s a lot bigger now.”

“I saw that. What’s in the castle now? I read that Princess Twilight moved her seat of power to Canterlot a few years ago.”

“It’s a museum now. Holds a lot of the crap my sister and her friends found over the years. Exhibits dedicated to their adventures. Giant murals and stained glass windows of them and the other Princesses blah blah blah.”

He chuckled. “You don’t sound too impressed.”

She rolled her eyes and drank. “Harder to be impressed when you’re related to two of them. The Element of Generosity loses some of her luster after you’ve held her mane back as she pukes on her wedding night.”

He laughed. “I can only imagine. So what are you doing here? Just having some drinks?”

She shifted in her seat as she fought back a blush. Among other things.

 “I performed tonight. Did you not see the show?”

His eyes went wide. “No. I got here as they were setting up the stage. Wait…..you performed? Publicly?”

She nodded.

“I….what? You used to hate singing in public!”

“That was a long time ago. I still don’t like giant crowds but I’m ok with something like this.”

He held his glass out. “Wow. I’m proud of you Sweetie.”

They toasted again and he wiped beer foam off of his goatee. “Seriously. I’m really proud of you. It always made me sad you hated performing in front of other creatures. You have such a beautiful voice.”

She felt warmth spread across her cheeks. “I perform at a small club in Manehattan when I’m up there. I could let you know the next time I’m in town.”

“I would LOVE that. I’m disappointed I missed you tonight.”

The warmth in her cheeks started spreading across her body. She looked back up at him. The memory of that hyperactive colt kept fading as she stared up at him. He’s actually pretty cute. 

	He cleared his throat and gave a glance from her to the stool he was sitting in. “So…are you here alone?”

She nodded. “Yup. Why?”

He shrugged. “Just curious why you aren’t here with…whatever his name was.”

“Borealis. It…it didn’t work out.”

“Oh. Sorry to hear that.”

“It was amicable. We just had different goals in life. Got married too early. That kind of thing.”

He shook his head. “Always sad to hear that. Happens way too often.”	

“So what about you? Has it just been the toy store? Any mares in your life?”

He shrugged. “Been a few off and on. Nothing too permanent. Just haven’t found the one I guess.”

He held his mostly empty drink out to her. “Well….here’s to being single!”

She laughed and they toasted before draining their drinks. She felt decidedly pleased he was single. For all their years apart, talking to him felt…warm. Comfortable.

“So..how…”

She cut herself off as Burgundy made his way over to them. “Another round for you two?”

Button turned to him and held a leg out. “Burgundy Shine. I haven’t seen you in ages.”

The maroon stallion smiled and they bumped hooves. “Same Button. I figured that was you as soon as you walked in. I overheard some of your conversation.” He jerked his chin towards the top of Button’s head. “Gotta say you look better without the propeller beanie.”

Button snorted and shook his head. “Thanks for the reminder. Can’t believe I used to wear that stupid hat.”

Sweetie chuckled. “It was your thing!”

Button rolled his eyes. “Yeah. My thing.”

Burgundy laughed. “We all did weird shit as kids.” He gestured towards Button’s glass. “Another round? They’re on the house. Classmate discount.”

Button slid his glass across the bar. “Well hell, I can hardly argue with those prices can I?”

Burgundy grinned and went to make their drinks as Sweetie looked back up at Button. He seems so much more comfortable with himself. “I actually kind of thought that hat was cute.”

Button turned. “You did what in the who now?”

She shrugged. “I liked it! It fit you. Went with the toy thing.”

She swore she saw his eye twitch a few times before he burst out laughing.

She stared at him in confusion. “What’s so funny?”

“Uh huh.”

She felt herself flush again. “What?” He was laughing how creatures did when you were the butt of a joke but didn’t know it.

He took a deep breath to calm himself. “You didn’t think it was cute back then.”

She shook her head. “What do you mean?”

He took a few more breaths. “Ok. Sorry.” He settled and took a deep drink of his beer. “All right. Promise you won’t get mad?”

She leaned back skeptically. “What?”

“Just…look. Just a bit of a blunt story. No offense intended. Figured you’d want to know why I was laughing. Promise?”

She stared at him incredulously for a moment. Fuck it. “Sure. Promise.”

“Do you remember the last time we ACTUALLY talked to each other? Anything more than hi or bye?”

She sat back and ran through ancient memories of their school years. “Sometime in high school right?”

He shook his head. “Nope. High school was pretty superficial.”

She shook her head in confusion. “Then when?”

“I asked you to dance at our ninth grade homecoming.”

She stared at him blankly for a few seconds before her brain vomited up a long forgotten memory. Her standing in the middle of a dance floor as creatures bounced around them. A young, acne covered colt meekly tugging on the back of her dress to get her attention. Staring down at him as he blushingly fell over the words coming out of his mouth. 

“Oh….no.”

She cringed as she remembered having the immaturity to feel embarrassed about the entire exchange. Him meekly nodding as he retreated back to the edges of the dance. She remembered assuaging her guilt by reminding herself she wasn’t interested in him. 

“I could hear you talking to Applebloom as I walked away. Guess you were yelling cause of the music. You said you’d always see me as the colt in the beanie. Like a little brother.”

 Fuck me. She facehoofed “I really did that, didn’t I?”

He nodded.

She sighed. Button..I…I’m so sorry. I was…not a good Pony in those days.”

He shrugged. “I just thought the comment about the beanie was funny in hindsight.”

Burgundy deposited their fresh drinks and Button took a sip of his beer. “Besides. Everyone’s kind of an asshole at that age.”

She grabbed her martini. The warmth from the first cocktail was spreading across her nicely. “You weren’t.”

He winced. “Well………..”

“Well what?”

“I…might have said some mean things about you in high school.”

She knew it wouldn’t be right to get irritated. He clearly regretted it. Still, she felt it best to feign offense.

“Button!”

He grimaced. “Sorry! Sorry. I was…kinda mad about the dance thing.”

She pulled out every bit of acting skills she had to try and channel her sister's haughty, offended act.

“And what exactly did you say about me?”

“I…might have convinced my friends you were….”

“I was….what?”

He sighed. “Dumb.”

It took everything she had not to burst out laughing. There were far worse things an adolescent with a grudge could convince their friends of. She still wanted to make him squirm a bit though.

“I am not dumb! I was 21st in our class!”

He winced. “I know! I know!”

She decided to twist the screw just a little more. “And who all did we broadcast this to?”

“Well…my immediate friends.”

Not that bad.

	“And….the chess club.”

Ok.

	“Academic team. Geography team. That after school animal care group Fluttershy ran..”

“BUTTON ELIJAH MASH!”

Another wince. “I know! Like I said, I’m sorry!”

She gave him the best ‘harrumph’ she could possibly manage before looking away.

They sat in silence for a moment before she felt him put a hoof on her back. “Sweetie? Seriously, I am sorry.”

She tilted her head a bit to glance at him side-eyed from over her shoulder. “I really only have one thing to say.”

“Sure.”

“I guess we’re even.”

He stared confused as she turned back around grinning.

“Gotcha.”

He groaned and shook his head. “Really?”

She giggled. “Was I convincing?”

“You’re a hell of an actress.”

She held her glass out. “To teenage assholes.”

He hoisted his. “To teenage assholes.”

They drank and he chuckled. “It’s all probably for the best. We’d have made a terrible couple.”

She set her glass back down. “Huh?”

“We wouldn’t have made it six months. Maybe not six weeks.”

“Why do you say that?”

He stared at her like she had just told him the sky was green.

Something about his certainty set off her defensive streak. “What? “We might have had a chance. We WERE friends. Best friends!” She wasn’t sure why she was defending a twenty five year old hypothetical adolescent relationship. 

He shrugged. “We WERE best friends. That’s true. But by then we were just very different Ponies. My entire life was my toys. Coming up with new ideas. Designing games. Thinking about my future shop. Getting beaten up by bigger stallions! My friends were all the same. We spent all of our time playing Ogres and Oubliettes. The geeks of Ponyville High School. You were……

Burgundy glanced at her from across the bar and pointed a hoof at their drinks. She nodded and turned back to Button. She leaned in as he looked for the word. “I was what?” 

He looked her up and down and held his hooves out. “Fuck I don’t know. You were like….one of the Princesses of the damn school. You’re fucking Sweetie Belle. One of the CMC.”

She stared up at him for a moment before it was her turn to burst out laughing. He stuck his tongue out. “What’s so funny?”

She took a deep breath. “Princess. Right.”

He rolled his eyes. “Sweetie Belle. You three were EASILY the most popular ponies in our school. Hell, you were the most popular Ponies of our age in EQUESTRIA.”

She finished chuckling and sighed. “Button…I know I had my snobby moments in those days but do you really think it was that glamorous? Endlessly helping ponies find their purpose? Just never ending popularity and a luxurious trot into marehood? At the other end was some stallion to sweep me off my hooves and live happily ever after?”

It was his turn to look uncomfortable. “That’s not what I meant. I just……..”

“Do you have any idea what it was like? Being Rarity’s sister? My sister is a literal..fucking…legend. She will go down in actual history books. For all the good the girls and I do, I could never live up to what my sister has done. To this day I have to ask myself if creatures that seem to want to be my friend really just want to meet her. It’s always fun telling Ponies I can’t introduce them to Twilight or Celestia or Luna or………pick your famous fucking creature here and they almost immediately lost interest.”

His stared down at the counter. “I can imagine that’s hard.”

She shrugged. “I can handle it now but…high school was hard. Imagine trying to do that and still be part of the CMC. Nothing like trying to do an assload of homework till the middle of the night because you spent most of the day trying to find somepony their literal destiny.'' She looked past him at the club patrons. “I spent a lot of time in those days wishing I was just a regular Pony like anyone else. Like you.”

“I….” He took a drink of his beer and gave a sad chuckle.

“What?”

“It’s just….funny right? How wrong we are about other creatures. Especially in hindsight?”

She shrugged and took a deep breath. She exhaled slowly, forcing the stress from the memories away with her breath. Burgundy dropped their drinks off and she grabbed hers before smiling over at Button. “Guess we never stop growing up do we?”

“No. I guess we don’t.”

They sat quietly for a moment before he spoke back up. “I really am so happy I ran into you.”

She blushed slightly. “I’m glad I recognized you. You don’t look anything like I remember.”

He gave her a teasing smile. “Is that a good thing?”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “Not falling for that.”

He smiled. “For what it’s worth I’m sorry I didn’t see you. I wasn’t paying attention.”

She shrugged. “I don’t look the same either.”

He looked her up and down. “Are you kidding? I don’t think you’ve aged a day.”

She blew what might have been Equestrias longest raspberry. Her mind immediately shot to how her flanks looked in the mirror these days. Despite her best efforts she had inherited more than her fair share of her mother’s ample physique. All the running in Equestria couldn’t seem to keep her rear from slowly inflating over the years.

She gave him a dry look. “Uh-huh.”

“I’m serious! Look at you! You’re still fucking gorgeous!”

The beer must have been taking effect. It became immediately clear he hadn’t intended to give her such an honest compliment. Red blossomed across his face as he realized everycreature in a 20 foot radius had probably heard him. She watched as a few other creatures looked over at them and smiled.

“I need to use the restroom.” With that he jumped off his stool and wandered off in the general direction of the bathrooms.

She sat there as a blissful warmth spread across her. The sweet honesty of the comment made her stomach flip. He’s adorable. She wasn’t unaccustomed to compliments on her looks. She had enough confidence to know she was attractive in her own right and drunks were usually more than happy to lavish her with praise. Still…it had been a long time since an honest remark on her looks had made her feel this way. 

“So who’s your friend?”

She jumped as a voice whispered in her ear. She whirled on her seat to see Twist beaming at her from behind her signature glasses.

“You scared the shit out of me.”

Twist giggled. “Sorry. So who’s the stallion?”

“You are never going to believe this.”

“Oh?”

“That’s Button.”

The bespectacled mare looked from his chair to the bathroom and back a few times. 

“No fucking way!”

Sweetie nodded. “It is.”

“Sweet Celestia. I’d have never guessed!”

“It took me a second too.”

“He uh…he’s def not that same colt.

Sweetie felt herself blushing again. “No. No he isn’t.”

Twist shook her head. “Wow.” She stared back at the bathroom for a second. “So are y’all gonna…?”

“Are we what?”

Twist turned and gave her a disbelieving glare. “Really?”

The innuendo finally clicked. “No! I mean…I don’t know! I barely know him! We haven’t talked in twenty years.”

The glare was joined by a raised eyebrow. “Says the mare who was blushing like a school filly when I trotted over.”

“Is it that obvious?”

Twist’s face turned almost mischievous. “You’ve been looking him up and down all night. I assume he’s single?”

Sweetie nodded.

“Then what are you waiting for?”

Button emerged from the bathroom and Twist elbowed her friend before turning around and trotting back to her table.“Do what you need to girl. I always kinda shipped you two!”

Sweetie arced around and frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”

Twist just winked at her over one shoulder and ran back to her table.

Cute. Button made his way back across the club and jumped back up on his seat next to her. He ran a hoof through his mane sheepishly. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make things weird.”

She was about to look away in embarrassment but forced herself to settle her gaze on her glass. “Thank you.”

He looked up at her. “What?”

She forced herself to look him in the eyes. “For telling me I’m..” She grinned. “Fucking gorgeous?”

He gave her a goofy, honest grin. “You’re welcome.” He turned as red as she felt. “I do mean it. I always thought you were beautiful. You still are.”

Her heart bounded violently around her chest as she gave up all attempts at hiding her blush. As far as she could tell she was probably glowing at this point.

He locked eyes with her. “So…..would……?” He tripped over his next words but the look on his face told her exactly what he wanted to say.

She broke away for a moment as her heart pounded and heat radiated through her. It had been a long, long time since she’d been this nervous with a stallion. Fuck it.

He turned and looked back down at the counter. “Sorry! Sorry. It’s way too….

She reached out and in one motion turned his head towards her and locked her lips with his. His breath left him as she watched him through a half lidded gaze. His eyes went as big as saucers before he finally caught up with what was happening. After a few seconds he closed his eyes and leaned into the kiss. She had to fight back a giggle. He’s fucking adorable. Their tongues touched briefly before they parted.

She pulled back and stared up at him through the best bedroom eyes she could manage. They looked at each other before he leaned forward and gave her another, much gentler kiss. As they pulled apart again he gave her what could charitably be described as the biggest smile she had ever seen.

“That was fun.”

She leaned closer. “I wouldn’t mind another.”

“Neither would I.” He tilted his head towards the door. “Do you……”

She drained what was left of her martini and slammed it back on the counter. “Yes.”

She nodded and jumped off her stool. Burgundy and Twist both gave her wide, supportive grins as they made their way out the door. She pulled the two of them out of the club and towards her sister's boutique. They fell through the front door in a pile of grasping limbs and giggling. 

She found herself straddling him as he reached both of his front hooves around and planted them on her flanks. She felt him take a breath as he grasped her. She watched his eyes flicker from hers to her body as she settled on top of him. He bit his lip as his hooves buried themselves firmly into her ass.

She wiggled her bottom. “Well hello there.”

“Mmmmph. Hi.”

She squeezed her bottom legs around him and relished the feeling of sinewy muscle pushing back against her. He was skinny for his kind but the workhorse was still in there somewhere. He IS an Earth Pony after all. Now that she was this close it was obvious his height helped mask how broad he really was. She watched the muscle of his chest move as he breathed underneath her.

He really became quite the stallion.

	He squeezed again and smiled down at him. “Enjoying yourself?”

He nodded enthusiastically. “I am. Your ass is….”

“Huge?”

He snorted and shook his head. “I was going to say perfect.”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Perfect would be a few sizes smaller. I’m starting to look like my Mom.”

“Nuh uh. He pulled tightly against her, grinning like a madpony. “I wouldn’t change a thing. Besides I like…bigger plots.”

She giggled. “Chubby chaser are we?”

He shrugged. “I just prefer my mares to look like mares.”

He rubbed her for a few moments longer. “Shall I leave you two alone? I can get a book or something?”

“Sorry. Sorry.” He pulled his hooves away and laughed gently.

“What’s so funny?”

“Want to know what was going through my head?”

“Well I hope nothing but me but…sure?”

He winked up at her. “After all these years….I finally got to touch those fucking shields.”

She burst out laughing. “Oh Celestia you are a DORK!”

He grinned up at her. “Probably. But you don’t seem to mind.”

She leaned over and licked the tip of his snout. “Suppose I don’t.” She shimmied herself backwards slightly until her butt was pressing up against the hardness of his stallionhood. “You don’t seem to mind either.”  Her voice was little more than a purr.

He reached around and pulled her head to his. “Can’t say that I do.”

They kissed again before she saw him wince.

“You ok?”

He nodded.”I am but…do you think we could go upstairs? I’m not sure my back can handle fucking on a hardwood floor these days. Or my knees.”

“Are you saying we’re old Button?”

They stood up as he shook his head. “Not old. Mature.”

She laughed. “I’ll take that. Besides, my knees are going numb.” 

He gestured for her to lead the way. They started following her into the living area of the shop. They passed through the showroom and eventually reached the stairs that led up to her old bedroom. They were climbing the stairs when it occurred to her he was looking up at her behind as they went.

Might as well give him a show.

	She slowed her gait and lifted her tail up and away from her flanks. She knew full well after what they’d been doing that she was in full bloom.

After she climbed a few more steps she stopped and turned her head to look at him. He was standing a few steps behind her, staring at her marehood like it was his last meal.

“See something you like?” She flicked her tail invitingly.

He grinned slightly and licked his lips. “I do.” He took a few steps up the stairs. “If the lady is going to share…”

Before she could bring her tail back, he leaned forward and buried his snout in between her lips. She almost jumped as he took a deep breath and gave her a teasing lick before pulling away. A part of her really hadn’t expected him to be so bold, though the tingling in her nethers wouldn’t let her ignore that she’d enjoyed it. She did her best to put on the same haughty tone as before.

“And what do you think you’re doing?!” The smile on her face ruined the scene.

He stared smugly up at her and began climbing the stairs. As he reached her side he leaned over and whispered one husky word in her ear. “Yummy.”

She watched as he jumped past her and kept climbing the stairs. He wasn’t a few steps beyond her when she got a full-on look at what was descending from between his legs. She felt her marehood clench as he stopped and turned to look at her.

“See something you like?”

It took everything she had not to jump him then and there. He’s good. “Touche.”

	She shot past him and cantered down the hallway towards her room. She heard him right behind her as they leapt onto the bed in a flurry of limbs, bodies and flying linens. They kissed, grasped and moaned until she found herself on top of him again. She ground herself against the bulge between her legs and basked in the moan he produced.	

She lifted herself up slightly and scooted backwards until she was sitting on the bed just past his rear hooves. He was spread out on the bed before her, flat against the mattress save for one rock hard difference.

She leaned forward. Let’s have a closer look.

He wasn’t the largest stallion she had ever been with. That suited her just fine. She had been with a few stallions who were huge and it was always more uncomfortable than anything. She preferred an attractive and functional penis over a slab of meat she could barely fit inside her any day. Still, he was more than large enough. More importantly though, he was pretty. Perfectly straight and well veined with a full, thick ring. Heavy, defined testicles rested below the member.

She licked her lips. “Well hello there.”

She reached a hoof out and ran it up and down the rock hard staff. He twitched pleasingly against her as precum dripped from the tip. 

She smiled as Button leaned his head back and moaned. “I think he likes me.”

“Very much so.”

She rubbed up and down a few more times, basking in the control her very touch gave her over him.	

I wonder…

	She activated her horn and her aura sheathed him. She began gently pulling back and forth with her magic.

She felt him twitch and a small whimper escaped his lips as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. His hooves fell from her flanks.

“Fuuuuuck.”

She giggled. “Like that?”

He managed to nod before whimpering again. She gently increased the pressure as he squirmed under her.

“Ever had a unicorn before?”

“I…….hnnnnngg…..once……but……” 

She squeezed tighter. “But what?”

He grimaced as the words eked out between panting moans.

“She….didn’t…..wasn’t…good at…..”

A cocky grin spread across her face. “Not good with her horn? Shame.” She pulled herself forward, setting a hoof on either side of his chest and leaned down into his ear. She purred, “How many times did you imagine me doing this over the years?”.

He groaned. “What?”

She spread her magic down until it was enveloping his balls. Gentle, rhythmic pressure brought the moans to a new level.

“How many times did you rub one out in high school? Thinking about me. Thinking about those shields.”

He managed to give her a goofy smile before leaning his head back and moaning again.

“So…many.”

She grinned. “Oh?” 

He twisted in front of her. “Sweetie…..”	

I think that’s about enough teasing.

	She leaned down and gave his penis one long, thorough lick, drinking her salty reward. His penis jerked violently against her mouth.

Poor boy.
	
	She felt him shiver against her. “Fuuuuuuuck.”

She smiled gleefully before kissing slowly up and down his penis. As she went she made sure to massage his balls gently with her magic. As his pleasure increased, so too did her pride. 

Telekinesis and sex wasn’t the easiest of combinations for a unicorn to master. Magic took an extreme amount of concentration to make work even at the best of times. She took great pleasure in her practiced ability to work them in tandem.

She licked him up and down a few times more before finally indulging herself and shoving the whole of him into her mouth. 

This time it was her turn to moan. He tasted wonderful. He was a perfect size and the mixture of his musk and the taste of his precum was intoxicating. She basked in the way the fullness of him filled her mouth.

She knew he was close but she felt greedy. She wanted him as far as she could take him. She wasn’t sure how long they went. For a while it was just her going back and forth, drinking greedily from him as he thrashed before her.

He groaned again and she felt him swell inside her mouth and she knew he couldn’t take much more. She gave him one more long stroke before pulling her lips off of him with a popping sound..

	The river coming from his tip confirmed he was about at his limit. She slowed the tug of her magic and heard his breathing slowly calm. He panted heavily as she indulged in the view of him. Leaning forward, she stuck her snout against his balls and inhaled deeply. Fuck me he smells good. She could almost TASTE the musk coming off of him.

He moaned deeply again. “Sweetie……”

Everytime he said her name she felt herself get a little wetter. She let the last of her magic go and laid down next to him.

She watched as he heaved, penis twitching into the sky.

She ran a hoof down his stomach fur. “You ok there big guy?”

He groaned. “That…wasn’t….fair.”

She giggled and pulled herself up next to him before leaning down and kissing him teasingly. “What wasn’t fair?”

He watched as his eyes bounced from her horn to her mouth. “Really?”

“Well what are you going to do about it.” 

He took a few more deep breaths and locked eyes with her. For a moment she almost wondered if he was going to say something serious before a predatory grin threatened to split his face.	

Oh fuck.

Without another word he lunged forward and landed on top of her. She was suddenly pressed down into the bed underneath the mass of him. Hooves pressed against her shoulders with strength greater than she’d have thought he was capable of, stopping her from retaliating. As she settled she opened her eyes and looked up to see the grin had faded into something purely predatory. Something primal. She felt marehood clench at the look on his face.

Oh…..fuck.

	Without a word of warning he leaned his head down and jammed his mouth against hers. She instinctively wrapped her front legs around him and pulled him down further into her. They wound around one another as their tongues danced. After a few moments they separated and he immediately began kissing and licking at the top of her neck, just below her jaw.

She moaned and quivered against him as he slowly made his way towards her ear.

“You like that?”

She moaned again. “I love having my ears kissed.”

“Good to know.”

He slowed his kissing and started tracing a path with his tongue along the rim and edge of her ears. Occasional licks and the sound of his breath in her ear made her clutch him to her even tighter. He pulled back from her ears and kissed her again before starting to trace his lips back down her neck and towards her shoulder and chest. Her breath quickened as he descended lower and lower until he was almost at the end of her barrel. She could feel the whispers of his breath on her pussy.

He looked up from her and they locked eyes before giving her an evil grin.“Your turn.”

Before she could even form a response he brought his muzzle down and gave her one long, slow lick across her slit. An immediate warmth blossomed in her nethers. She shivered and smiled as the feeling washed across her.

“Button………”

Another lick. Once again it was slow. Purposeful. She felt his tongue caress every part of her. The bloom of heat grew.

She felt him shifting between her legs. She looked down to see he had laid down on his stomach at the end of the bed. He reached his front legs forward and slipped them up and under her. She felt him lift her bottom up and pull her legs further apart in one gentle motion as his mouth returned to her. Again he licked with the same patient intent as before. He wasn’t lapping at her like an ice cream cone.

He knows what he’s doing.

	He slowly increased the speed and pressure of his ministrations. She could feel his tongue exploring her folds, like he was building a mental map of her. An occasional kiss to her clit broke up the rhythm in a wonderfully mind clearing way. The heat bloomed further as she felt herself instinctually arcing her nethers towards his mouth. 

She moaned. “Button…fuuuuck.”

She managed to look down at him. He was clearly completely dedicated to his work. Both eyes were closed and she never saw him break his rhythm. The sight of it made her moan again. She thought she saw something like a smile crease his brow before he pulled up harder with his front legs and pulled her pussy tighter against his mouth.

By now the heat was falling aside to the bloom of pleasure radiating out of her marehood. Her heart pounded in her chest as she reached down and clutched his head with both of her front hooves.

“Don’t….stop.”

She heard him chuckle gleefully. 

The wave continued to grow. Before long she could feel her canal tighten and she knew it wasn’t going to be long.

“Soon….” She managed to get the word out before another moan took her mouth over. She clutched his head even tighter. 

A few more licks and she felt herself jerk. She was close. Very close.

“Button…”

And with that she felt his legs pulling out from under her and his mouth retreat. Cold air rushed in like an avalanche where once there had been pure, warm, wet bliss.

She felt him shift at the end of the bed. She took a few deep breaths and opened her eyes to see him sitting next to her, exactly as she had done. He smiled down at her smugly. She could see his muzzle was damp with her juice. She felt the wave retreating as frustration burned at the edges of her.

“You ok there big girl?”

“Nnnnnnnnnnnghhhhh.” She thrashed her bottom slightly and mockingly glared up at him. “Asshole.”	

He raised an eyebrow and looked down from his re-swollen member to her. “Really?”

She giggled and held her front legs out. He leaned over and settled on top of her. She wrapped her legs around him and watched as he scanned her face affectionately.

He gave her a gentle kiss. “Ready?”

She nodded. He pulled himself back until he was back at her rear hooves. Before he could reach forward and separate her legs, she obediently pulled them open and exposed herself. She felt her heart thump as he took the sight of her in. The way he looked at her was not something she had seen in some time. This wasn’t just lust. It was affection.

He brought himself forward and used his front hooves to push her legs even further back. Slowly she watched and then felt his tip press against her and in short order, pass through her door.

She was far too old to gasp when a stallion entered her but she still couldn’t help but lean back, close her eyes and smile as she slowly felt him cure her emptiness. This wasn’t just the usual fullness. This was satisfying in a way she hadn’t felt in years. She heard him huff as his ring pushed into her. He continued until at long last she felt him hilt.

She opened an eye as she felt him back up and re-commit. The look of absolute lust on his face as he thrusted back forward made the action all the sweeter. She reveled in the feeling of him inside her as he found his rhythm. The warmth bloomed further and this time reached somewhere new. This time it was deeper, closer to her core.

In short order his pace quickened. The friction of him against her clit added another level of pressure to what was building inside her. She watched as he moved, enjoying the feeling of his force pressing against her everytime he thrusted. After a few moments she felt his front legs press harder against hers and she could see him grimace as he pulled back from her.

“Button?”

He stopped and looked up at her. A sheepishly cute grin washed across his face. “Can you….roll over?” She smiled as she realized why he had winced. Fucking face to face wasn’t the most comfortable thing for their species. She nodded and flipped over before settling on her legs and lifting her rear into the air. She swept her tail to the side and settled in as she felt him place his hooves on her flanks.

She felt him run his front hooves along her Cutie Marks before planting them on her ass and leaning against her. In moments he was back inside her and she moaned against the difference a position made. As much as she enjoyed looking at him, he could get far deeper this way. She bit her lip as he thrusted again.

The warmth built again as he began thrusting faster. She could feel where he was taking her. Where and when it was going to end. She felt him quicken and tense against her and knew he was close. She felt him shift forward against her.

“Mine.”

She jerked out of her reverie as his breath hit her ear. He thrusted harder and swelled again inside of her. It felt like he was getting bigger by the second.

What?”

His speed increased again. “Mine.” By now he was leaned all the way over her. She could feel his belly against her back and her ear twitched with every one of his breaths. He pounded again as the depths of her clenched in response.

Mine?

Her mind shot back to the beginning of the evening. His confessions to a high school crush. In a flash of lucidity she realized what this must feel like for him. He was literally living out a fantasy.

She bit her lip and did her best to turn and look over her shoulder at him. 

“Yours.”

This is what he wanted.

 He groaned and pounded harder.

 The idea of his fantasy pushed her even closer. He had to be right there with her. 

He deserves this.

He was far too preoccupied to notice the faint wisp of magic leave her horn. All she wanted right now was for him to finish last. A bit of additional pressure against her clit ensured she crested her wave before he did. Ripples made their way up and down her body as she shuddered.

“BUTTON!”

He gave one more huff and she felt him swell for the last time inside of her. He jerked violently and gave one final thrust.  Moans escaped him as his grip tightened one last time and his essence filled her. She relished the feeling as he jerked and slowly pulled away from her.

He tensed one last time before falling behind her, shivering. She panted as her own pleasure faded. She watched as a foreleg reached across her and pulled her back towards him. He laid his head against the top of hers.

“Mine.”

She smiled and settled back into the warmth of the moment.

‘Yours.”

	The next morning:

	A single eye opened to sunlight streaming through the windows of her bedroom. She blinked a few times as her mind came back from sleep. A few moments later she heard a gentle snoring next to her as something shifted.

Oh yeah.

She rolled over to see him sleeping on his side, facing away from her. Covers bunched against his bottom half as his barrel rose and fell with his breathing.

I should let him sleep.

	She settled back in and laid her head back on her pillow. Sleeping a little while longer didn’t sound bad for her either. A slight ache in her head told her she’d likely gone a bit too far with the martini’s.

She jerked awake by a leg crossing over her. At some point she had fallen back asleep and rolled away from him. She felt him slide up against her until she was spooned entirely against the length of him. He kissed her ear as he slid his chin over the top of her head.

“Good morning.”

She giggled and pushed herself back up against him.

“Good morning. Sleep well?”

“Mmm hmm. Like the dead.” He squeezed her. “Someone wore me out.”

She felt him lift his head up and could tell he was looking around the room.

“What are you looking for?”

“A clock. What time is it?”

“It’s on my night stand over here. It’s eight thirty.”

“Ok.” He set his head back down and settled into her.

“What time does your train leave?”

“Two.”

She reached a hoof up and started running it along the leg he had draped over her.

“Are you coming back through here on your way back?”

She felt him still for a moment before shaking his head.

“No. My train leaves Canterlot straight for Manehattan. I’m just looking at a property before heading back. I have orders I have to complete tomorrow.”

Damn.

He must have noticed her ears droop slightly. He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her. “I’m free next weekend though. How long are you here for?”

“A few more days. Heading to Zebra Country for a few weeks after that.”

“That’s pretty far flung.”

“The girls and I are giving a class on Friendship Dynamics to some Zebras who are looking at opening their own Friendship school.”

“Are you coming back here after?”

She shook her head. “No. Heading to Las Pegasus for two weeks to help Rarity with an upcoming fashion show and THEN heading back here to prep for the new semester at the school.”

He chuckled.

“What’s so funny?”

“We really are all grown up aren’t we?”

He pulled his leg back as she rolled over and laid her head back on the pillow. Red orange eyes scanned her as she scooted forward and nestled herself against his chest.

“Yeah.” She looked away for a moment. 

“Sweetie Belle? What’s wrong?”

She brought her gaze back to him. “Button…I…..” She sighed. “I had…a blast last night. I really did. I haven’t felt like this after an evening in a long, long time. But…..”

She stopped as he kissed the top of her head.“Sweetie. I get it. We’re both grown ups. We have shit to do. Lives to lead. I’m not some love struck colt.”

She nodded and looked down before sighing as the mix of relief at his maturity, the bliss of the morning after and sadness it might only be a one time thing swirled in her.

“Hey.”

She pulled her head back as he nuzzled his snout against hers. “I’m really….really happy you feel the way you do. I haven’t felt like this in forever either.”

He brought a hoof up and rested it against her cheek. “I think it’s pretty obvious we still care about each other.” She nodded. “And I think we…” He looked away as he searched for a word.

“We fucked well?”

His gaze snapped back to hers as a wide grin spread across her face. 

He chuckled. “I was gonna say we seem compatible but yes, we fucked well.” He gave her another long, gentle kiss. “I don’t know where this’ll go but…why don’t we play it by ear and see what happens? I can always come see you when you’re back from Las Pegasus. If you want.”

He pulled back as she stared at him a moment before blushing and nodding. “I’d like that.”

They re-embraced and she just laid there, head buried in his chest and enjoyed simply being next to him.

Suddenly she felt him start sliding one of his front hooves down her back.

What is he?”

The warm feelings faded as he rested his hooves squarely on her flank. “I can’t wait to tell my friends I finally got to bag Sweetie Belle.”

She blinked a few times before rearing back. “You wouldn’t!” Her protests were cut short at the epic grin threatening to break his face in half.

“Gotcha.” Her act the night before sprung forth in her mind.

She blew him a raspberry and put on her best fake pout. “Not funny! I’m not some trophy to be put up on the wall!”  She felt him clutch at her flank as he drew her closer to him. Lust descended on her as he brought his snout up to her ear. “You sure? I think you’d look good against the wall.”

“I said on the wall. Not against it.”

She shuddered in pleasure as he kissed her ear. “Are we sure there’s a difference?” He pulled his head back before looking her up and down.

She brought a hoof forward and rested against the growing bulge between his rear legs. “We have a few hours before your train leaves. Want to find out?”

She felt him twitch against her hoof.

“Absolutely.”

With that he rolled over and put the whole of him on top of her as she melted into the feeling of him as the sun of the morning beamed down on them.