//------------------------------//
// The Treehouse 
// Story: Innocence, Equestria 
// by Quantum Trip 
//------------------------------//

The treehouse was within visual distance of the village, just beyond the treeline. A large wooden ramp led to a small platform about twenty hooves away from what appeared to be a raised drawbridge with a target set on the top. On the platform rested a wooden bow and a quarrel of suction-cup arrows.

Amber Vision held the bow in her teeth and braced it against the platform, then nocked an arrow with one hoof and shot it square into the center of the target. The drawbridge fell down onto the edge of the platform, and Role walked across it and opened the door into the treehouse.

"Wow!" said Softhoof. "That is so cool!"

Button Mash just stared in wonder. These kids really were cool, yet here they were, letting him join their club. It felt too good to be true.

The inside of the treehouse was nearly half as large as Button's cabin, and it was filled with a bunch of games, recliners, and a large couch. "This place is enormous," said Button. "How long did it take the adults here to build it?"

"It took almost as much time as a cabin," said Grey Space.

"Eh, it wasn't even a thing," said Role Reversal. "I've got the adults in this village wrapped around my little ergot." She lifted her hoof backwards, flashing a bump beneath her fetlock, then winked at Button.

In part to distract himself, Button unscrewed the cola and held it toward his lips for a drink.

"Hay, you wouldn't mind sharing, would you?" asked Amber. "We don't get soda here very often."

"Oh, sure! Heh, you caught me just in time. I almost put it on my lips," said Button.

"We don't care about that," said Shoe Drop. "How else are we gonna share it?"

"You don't have any cups? But... all our lips are going to touch it, and there's backwash..." Button looked nervously left and right at the other kids.

Role chuckled. "Look, Button. You need to get over that fear of 'cooties' right now. We're close here."

"Yeah, there ain't no such thing as cooties," said little Softhoof. "It'll be okay!"

"I've never done this before..." said Button, but he hoofed the soda to Role. "Okay, there's a first for everything. You can have the first sip."

"I guess you don't mind getting cooties from one pony," said Grey Space.

"Hay! I have a special somepony already," said Button Mash. "Well... she's almost a special somepony, but I was gonna ask her soon, and I want her to move out here."

"That can be arranged," said Role Reversal, taking a small swig of soda and passing it to Softhoof. "Like I said, kid, don't worry. I'm not gonna get in the way of your romance."

"Sorry," said Grey Space, taking the soda from Softhoof once he'd had a sip, and taking one himself. "I didn't mean to tease you." He handed the soda back to Button Mash.

"It's okay," said Button Mash. "I shouldn't be so uptight about... stuff." He stared down at the used soda, closed his eyes tightly, and took a sip.

It was just like every other sip of soda he'd had in his life. "Hay, this isn't so bad," he said, and passed the cola to Amber, who drank some and passed it to Shoe Drop.

"New experiences are something to celebrate," said Amber with a gentle smile on her muzzle.

"New experiences... Oh! Um... Role, could I do the thing?" asked Shoe Drop, as the soda made a second round. "That would help to... reduce some tension."

"Maybe when we got some tension to reduce, sure. I got an idea first," she said. Button Mash took the soda which was close to empty, and winced as he took a sip, trying not to think about backwash.

"It's no different than the spit from your own mouth," said Grey Space. "We don't have any diseases."

"What's the idea, Role?" said Softhoof, as Amber and Shoe polished off the soda.

"Well, I figure since Button doesn't formally have a special somepony yet, he could use some practice for when he needs to kiss Sweetie Belle for the first time," said Role Reversal, with an evil-looking grin on her face. "So let's practice that."

Softhoof giggled, but Button Mash blushed like fire. "Um, w-wait. I... I want the first filly I kiss to b-be Sweetie Belle," he said, breathing a sigh of relief at the excuse.

"It doesn't need to be a girl. You can practice with one of the boys," said Amber. "It feels exactly the same."

"Yeah, see? said Grey Space, leaning down to briefly kiss Shoe Drop on the lips. Shoe blushed but kissed back.

"Eww," said Softhoof. "Boys are gross."

"You don't think we're gross, do you?" asked Shoe Drop.

"Well... I guess not. I guess it's okay then," said Softhoof.

"I d-don't like boys enough to do that," said Button Mash.

"We can solve that too," said Role. "Come over here." In the corner behind the couch rested a pile of dresses. "We've even got one in short stuff's size."

"New experiences," said Amber, placing a hoof on Button's withers. "Don't worry so much about it."

Button swallowed a mouthful of air. "Ohmygosh."

"Since Button's the only one who seems to have issues, we only need to dress up Softhoof," said Grey Space.

Softhoof's ears lay back against his head. "This isn't gonna turn me into a girl, is it? I like bein' a colt."

"Nah, it doesn't mean anything," said Shoe. "It's just practice."

Amber walked over and pulled an outdated-looking dress onto Softhoof. "He almost looks like a filly already," she observed.

"Make sure you use the special lipstick," said Role Reversal.

Shoe Drop rummaged through a small basket while Softhoof blushed. "But... I don't mind new stuff but I don't wanna wear lipstick," he complained.

"It's not lipstick," said Amber. "It's lip balm. It's mostly to retain moisture, with only a little bit of color."

"Oh, well that's different," said Softhoof, and his tail began to bounce.

Button Mash began to rapidly tap one hooftip repeatedly against the floor. "I'm, um, a little nervous about kissing a boy, guys. I don't mind new experiences either, but are you sure this is a good idea? I don't like colts this way."

"It'll be just like kissing a girl once we're done with her," said Role. "Besides, you're both straight boys, so it's okay for you to both kiss each other. That way it isn't gay or anything."

Shoe Drop walked over and put the lip balm on Softhoof. It wasn't very brightly colored, but there was a definite pink sheen on his lips. Softhoof stepped back and smacked his lips together. "W-wow. This feels really nice," he said. "It's kinda relaxing."

"Alright Button, give her a kiss," said Role, pushing Button Mash forwards toward the little colt.

"I'm still a boy," countered Softhoof. "But I'm ready for a kiss!"

It's just a kiss, thought Button. It'll be over and done in a second, even faster than the soda thing.

Button closed his eyes and leaned down, wondering how he could have gotten himself into this predicament. Something gripped the back of his head and held him in place as Softhoof's moist lips mashed up against his own. The moment they made contact, Button felt something electric in his muzzle. Somehow, the lipstick really did feel nice. It was relaxing him, and the sensation distracted him as the kiss continued. He barely noticed that several seconds had passed with his own lips quivering in place. The grip left his neck, and he backed up, breaking the kiss.

"That was awesome!" said Softhoof. "It's like I'm a big kid, and everything. And it's okay because Button Mash is awesome too."

"Y-yeah. I didn't expect it to feel weird like that," said Button, as he noticed his lips were still tingling. After a few moments, he wiped them off against a fetlock, leaving a tiny trail of shiny pink against the fur. His lips still felt warm.

Grey Space clopped his forehooves together. "That was one Tartarus of a kiss," he said. "Nice one."

"We can do it again if you want," said Softhoof, batting his eyes.

"I think once is enough for today," said Button Mash, gasping for breath. "It was nice, though. So can we do something else now?" Something inside his tummy was stirring, and despite the gentle sensations from the kiss, he was starting to feel very uncomfortable inside.

"Thanks for trying something new," said Amber. "You guys are pretty cool."

Softhoof beamed, and Button smiled slightly.

"I take it you haven't hit puberty yet?" Shoe Drop said to Softhoof.

"I dunno," he said and shrugged. "How would I know?"

"Well, belly-slapping it feels ten times better, for one," said Grey Space.

"Eww. I'll never do that, ever," said Button Mash. "I don't even want to talk about it."

"I used to do that when I was only six years old," said Shoe Drop. "But it got a lot better last year when I finally hit puberty."

"It seems weird and gross to me," said Softhoof. "I guess you get older and you start wanting to do it."

"I'm past puberty, and I'm never doing it," said Button. "Never, period."

"Why not?" asked Amber Vision. "It's normal and healthy. For you weird colts, anyway."

"I just don't want to. It's gross," said Button Mash.

"I think I know how you feel, Button," said Grey Space. "When I was younger, I used to tell people 'I don't belly slap' even though I did. It wasn't technically a lie because what I meant was 'starting now', as in 'I won't do it ever again', and I actually believed it when I said it. I got over that nonsense after I moved here."

"It's a silly thing to be embarrassed about," said Role Reversal. "You don't have to be ashamed of doing it, not with us."

"I'm not ashamed, I'm telling the truth. I've never done it and I never will, and I'd like to talk about something else now." Button frowned. Even thinking about it made him feel uncomfortable. That plus the kissing was stirring something deep inside him. "I... I think I need to leave and take a nap," he said.

"We're sorry, Button. You don't need to leave," said Role, stepping in front of him. "You can nap here if you want. I think we have something that can help you feel better, though. Do you trust me?"

Button's muzzle scrunched up in frustration. "I... I guess. I think only a nap is going to help me though."

"Nah, this'll be awesome," said Shoe Drop. "Both of you lie down on the couch."

"No more kissing," said Button Mash.

"Aww," said Softhoof. Grey Space quickly kissed Softhoof on the lips, making him giggle.

"No kissing or talking about anything gross," said Role Reversal. "This will feel just like a nap, and work ten times better."

Reluctantly, Button Mash lay down on the opposite side of the couch from Softhoof.

"What are we doing?" asked the little colt.

"I'm gonna hypnotize you both," said Shoe Drop.

"Wow. That does sound kinda cool," said Button. "Wait, you're not going to make us act like chickens or something?"

"Nah, that's not how it works," said Shoe. "It's just relaxing and fun. Both of you close your eyes. I'll do the induction and then we can work with you separately afterwards."

"I'll be helping out. I'm the one who taught Shoe Drop everything he knows," said Role Reversal.

"Heh, sure did. Okay, guys, just relax," began Shoe. "Feel your rear hooves, and imagine they're slowly filling with lead, getting numb and heavy. Slowly, the numbness is going up your legs..."

Several minutes passed as the induction proceeded. It was certainly pleasant. Button felt like every part of his body had turned to lead, and his entire pelt tingled gently.

"Now you're in a dark movie theater with only two chairs. You're sitting next to each other, but you don't know it, because you're focused only on the black screen in front of you. The number ten appears on the screen, glowing white, as the rest of the theater goes completely dark. Then you see it replaced by the number nine... then eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one... finally, zero... and then the word SLEEP—"

That was the last thing Button Mash remembered.





"...waking up, remembering only the induction. Five, four, three, two, one, and open your eyes," sounded Role Reversal's voice.

Button Mash opened his eyes groggily. It felt like he'd just woken from a nap, but something else had changed. All the tension within him was gone, just like that.

"Wow," he said, sitting up and shaking his head. "I... I can't believe it. I feel amazing," he said. "Seriously, I feel great. Thanks!"

Softhoof yawned and stretched, sitting up. "Yeah, it was okay I guess. It was fun going under, but I don't remember anything else."

"Button Mash was bound to get more out of the session because he had more... tension to take care of," said Amber Vision. Grey Space giggled.

"You'll experience more effects from it later, though," said Shoe Drop. "We put in some commands to help you relax more."

This seemed weird to Button, but he couldn't complain about the results. "Yeah, okay. This was great. You guys are really, really awesome," he said. "I was actually worried when we did the kiss thing that you were making fun of us..."

"Oh, we're not like that," said Shoe Drop. "We're your friends! There's only six of us kids in Innocence, and a couple of babies I guess, so we have to stick together."

"Yeah, that's cool," said Button Mash. "I gotta head home now, but can I come over again?"

"Well, duh! You're both welcome to the treehouse anytime," said Role Reversal, putting her face right up near Button Mash. Her breath smelled foul, but she had a disarming grin with those shiny braces.

Something about that seemed strange to him, but he couldn't quite remember what.