//------------------------------//
// Beyond Awkward 
// Story: Pinkie Pie's Perilously Problematic Pornography Predicament 
// by LegendaryHumanLeatherHat 
//------------------------------//

Pinkie sat still for a good few minutes. Telling one of your best friends that you've not only secretly been fapping while looking at pictures of her wet steamy body, but that you've also developed a problematic addiction to it is sure to be at least a little bit awkward. Twilight understood how Pinkie was feeling and didn't feel the need to rush her, but she was starting to get impatient. She wanted to help her so badly, but in order to do that she had to be as kind and accepting as possible. "Pinkie?" Twilight asked calmly with a small voice. Pinkie looked up to Twilight, guilt evident in her eyes. "Pinkie, it's okay. I'm here for you and I promise I'll help you get through this but in order for me to do that, you have to tell me everything... Please."

Pinkie looked back down at the floor. "Twilight, you wouldn't judge me, would you?" The question stung Twilight.

Twilight pulled Pinkie into another hug. "Pinkie, I know how difficult overcoming addiction can be. I assure you that it's not your fault."

Pinkie was clearly confused. "It... It's not my fault? How could it not be my fault."

Twilight had a little difficulty thinking of a way to explain how Pinkie was the victim here. "Because... Because ingesting chemicals has an effect on your brain that makes it crave more on a regular basis. It's a psychological dependence. It's completely believable that you feel like you always need to get more, but you have to try, and you won't be alone. I really mean it. I can research therapy options that we can practice and I'll be with you the whole time." 

One of Pinkie's eyebrows raised. "Ingesting chemicals... What?" She thought. Her eyes opened. "Ohhh, Twilight thinks I'm addicted to drugs! To be honest, that would probably be less embarrassing than the truth. She once again looked into Twilight's eyes. "Umm... Twilight? I think there might have been a little bit of a miscommunication on my part."

Twilight had the same reaction to Pinkie's statement as Pinkie had to hers. "Miscommunication?" She pondered this for a moment. "What kind of miscommunication?" A blush creeped up on Pinkie's face as she thought about how close she was getting to revealing the truth.

"I didn't really tell you what it was exactly I'm addicted to." Twilight leaned her head back, clearly confused. She then realized that she made a few assumptions based on Pinkie's choice of words.

"Are you telling me that your addiction doesn't involve narcotics?" Pinkie nodded. This opened up a lot of different possibilities. If it's not drugs, what could possibly be the source of all Pinkie's suffering. Pinkie's squirming has increased in frequency.

"It's really embarrassing." Pinkie whimpered.

"Is it alcohol? That still technically counts as a drug since it has the same effects."

"No... I hate the taste of alcohol, you know that."

"Is it gambling?" Twilight inquired.

"No, that's a huge waste of money. I wouldn't be able to afford all the parties I throw."

"Than what is it?" Twilight was starting to get frustrated, but she dared not show it. The last thing she wanted was for Pinkie to think that she's mad at her.

Pinkie started sweating profusely. "It's... It's really, really embarrassing."

"Pinkie, I promised I won't judge you. Please just tell me already!" Twilight immediately felt guilty as soon as the last sentence exited her mouth. Pinkie started to hyperventilate. Twilight mentally facehooved for possibly ruining all the progress they made. "Pinkie, it's okay... It's okay." She waited for a few seconds before asking again. "What are you addicted to?" Pinkie's confidence came back faster than Twilight expected.

Pinkie heaved one large sigh before closing her eyes and facing in the direction of the coffee table. "I've developed a chronic addiction to... Pornography." When she finally let this loose, she felt a lot better, but this conversation still has yet to become personal. Twilight's face became a deep jam color as she blushed.

"Por... Pornography? You mean like...?" Pinkie curled up into a ball and her face became a shade of scarlet.

"I... I said it was really embarrassing." Pinkie whispered, sounding almost like Fluttershy.

Twilight was perplexed. She sat there silently thinking this information over. "Pornography? Like those magazines that stallions use for visual sexual stimulation? That can't be right. Pinkie is the most innocent pony I know. I didn't know she had a sex drive. I didn't know that she even knew where foals came from." Twilight started to sweat as well. This was really awkward for both of them. Twilight finally decided to speak. "When you say pornography, do you mean like...?"

Pinkie nervously interrupted her. "Like... Um... Pictures of ponies in... Really... Compromising positions." Pinkie's heart was racing. This was the most embarrassing thing she experienced since the time she asked Mrs. Cake what BDSM was. The amount of long awkward silences that keep recurring was killing them both.

"And this is what what you've been doing everyday for so long? Just looking at these... Pictures?" Twilight's concern was starting to disappear. Maybe this wasn't such a huge problem after all. Although she knew that pornography addiction was a thing that existed, she was sure that this was probably just some weird phase Pinkie was going through.

Pinkie spoke again. "I know it sounds really weird, but this has become a serious problem for me and I want to stop. I feel so dirty and ashamed of myself." Pinkie began outright crying for the first time. Twilight's previous concern came back just as quickly as it left. She didn't understand how pornography addiction worked but she assumed it worked the same way as any other addiction would, and as strange as it was, it kind of made sense. She just never imagined it could happen to a mare. Specifically one so innocent and cute. She seems so torn up by it too.

"Pinkie, I don't think this is as big of a deal as you're making it out to be. Everyone has needs, you're probably just experiencing some delayed effects of puberty or something. I'm sure you'll get over it." Both ponies were starting to feel a little more comfortable about this. The awkwardness was dissipating and Pinkie stopped shuffling in her chair. "I think the first thing we should do is get rid of these pictures you have and focus on other things you enjoy doing."

Pinkie smiled for the first time in a while. "Thanks Twilight. I was worried that you would think I was a weirdo or something." Twilight laughed anxiously. "Well, it is a little bit weird, but it makes sense scientifically. Everyone needs a little bit of... Um... Relief now and again. You just got a little carried away. Now, where did you get these pictures? I didn't even know that people were selling pornographic material in Ponyville."

Pinkie's sadness was completely gone now. "I got them from you're massive library that Discord gave you. I created them myself using the search function device thingy."

Twilight made her way to the door. "Well, the first thing we should do is get rid of the pictures you already have. Let's go!"

Pinkie happily bounded off her chair and followed Twilight out the door, completely forgetting that most of her pictures were of her friends.