Days at the Magic Academy in Canterlot were filled with studying, learning. practicing magic and more studying. It was only the elite students that were allowed to study there, namely those with great magical ability, great magical potential or those with a suitably noble or noted lineage. Twyla Sparkle was one of these students in that she was one of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria, had the potential to go even further then she already was and her mother was one of the current holders of the Elements of Harmony. A lot of the students, not to mention the instructors, were intimidated by such a powerful unicorn in their midst. How could they not be? Her mother was the pony who had saved the world, her father wasn't a pony at all and had saved Princess Celestia and she was the first pony in recorded history to turn down being Princess Celestia's personal pupil.
Most ponies avoided her out of respect, fear or thinking that anypony that important would have to be the most stuck up filly in the world. In reality, Twyla was like any other young mare. She craved attention from her peers, wanted to join gossip sessions with the other fillies, wanted a young, strong stallion to cuddle with on those long winter nights and thought that such a thing would never happen to her. In short, she was lonely and her forced isolation from the other students didn't help matters. She withdrew into herself and found a certain comfort and solace in her books which only helped to increase the distance between her and her fellow students.
After a few months of this, the young mare finally had enough and if she couldn't find friends here in the academy, she'd make them. One Friday night, when everypony had finished classes for the week, most first year students gathered in one of the campus pubs known as the "Prancing Pony". Here, fueled by alcohol, youth and being truly on their own for the first time in their lives the students would get down and get crazy. Stallions checked out the fillies, the fillies would pretend not to notice and the dance of courtship would begin. It was into this world that Twyla found herself going to more and more often. She learned the rules very quickly, after all she was very clever and soon her status as being an unapproachable mare changed and ponies were vying for her attention.
Soon she became a bit of a serial dater. She’d hook up with a stallion or filly as her mood dictated and then a week later moved on to her next conquest. Her studies suffered a bit, but she was popular and for the first time since coming here was truly enjoying herself even if she felt like something was missing.
It was here, that she met up with Floral Field. She was a young mare who had managed to get into the Magic Academy for her skill in botany and the ability to not only make plants grow but create viable hybrids of existing plants. Floral Field was part of a typical herd, that being a herd composed of two stallions and four other mares. They had lost a recent member when she had quit school, moved to Manehattan and set herself up as a mime in Central Park and were looking to fill the void she had left.
Floral Field had found Twyla sitting at a table reading a book with a mug of cider by her side. She sidled up to the young mare and decided to make her pitch.
"Hey Twyla, how you doing today?" she said giving the other mare a friendly nuzzle.
"Hi Floral, sorry I was busy and didn't see you come in, " Twyla said giving her friend a nuzzle in return.
"So what you reading?"
"Oh, just a little light reading. It's Professor Lighting Flash's treatise on the current state of interspecies relationships and how they're affecting Equestrian society for the better. I know it's controversial, but I've got a bit of a personal stake in this."
Floral thought about this for a moment before it dawned on her that Twyla's sire was the mysterious human. She filed that away for future reference and decided to get to the reason she was here to see Twyla specifically.
"I've got a question for you Twyla, have you ever considered joining a family group?"
"What do you mean a herd?"
"That's what some ponies call it, but we prefer 'family group' it matches more how we all feel for each other."
"I don't know about that Floral. I mean my family is weird in that I come from a long line of serial monogamists. My grandparents on both sides only had each other, my Dad always wanted to be exclusive to my Mom and I never really considered a herd in my future."
"But it's so much better Twyla. Instead of just having one pony to be with, you have seven. You'll have your choice of two stallions when you want one and they actually care about us. Blazing Steel will actually lick your plot, " she said conspiratorially. Twyla reacted as if such a thing was unheard of and most of the time it was. That was just something that only mares did to each other, but to have a stallion to it was something special. "And on those nights that you want something a little more close to home there are five other fillies who would be more than happy to share your bed." Floral Field blushed slightly after saying that. It was after all her idea to get Twyla to join them in part because she was an attractive filly but also with her magic and her connections it could really benefit the herd.
"So is it just for sex? I mean I can get that whenever I want."
"Nonono... okay yes, sex plays a big part in it but that's not the only reason we're together. We love each other and that means spending time, laughing, playing, eating and all the other things a family do. We think you would really enjoy it and could benefit yourself and us at the same time."
"Oh, I don't know Floral. I mean I like you and you're pretty cute too and the idea of a stallion doing mare things is pretty kinky but I'd have to think about it."
"Tell you what. Why don't you come back with me, we'll have dinner tonight and it's going to be good because I'm the one cooking and Lunar Spell will be helping out. She's really good in the kitchen although she places too much emphasis on fish and seafood. She's from Maresailles and that's how they eat out there."
"Trust me, I'm fine with seafood. My Dad's a great cook and he makes it all the time."
"That's right, your father is the human." She leaned in conspiratorially and asked, "is it true that he eats meat?" Her face was a mixture of fascination and horror at the concept.
"Yes he does, it's a human thing and when I'm over there I do as well, " Floral pulled back slightly and went pale. "Don't worry, the animals over there are dumb and the idea of eating something intelligent or sentient is nauseating so you don't need to worry about me trying to eat you when we're alone." Twyla gave Floral a saucy look and added, "but maybe I could be convinced to do so if you asked nicely."
Floral looked a little confused at this before blushing when the implication of Twyla's words hit her. Feeling emboldened by the violet unicorn's admission, Floral leaned forward and placed her hoof on top of Twyla's. When Twyla didn't pull away she asked, "so does that mean you want to join us?"
"Let's just say that I'm not averse to the idea and would love to meet the rest of this family group of yours." Twyla leaned forward and gave Floral a light kiss on the muzzle before draining the rest of her cider and saying, "ready whenever you are."
The two fillies chatted pleasantly as they walked, flirting occasionally and playfully rubbing shoulders. It didn't take long before they came to a cute little cottage just off the Academy grounds. It wasn't large by any sense of the word but it had a charming & cozy quality about it. Floral walked in, followed immediately by Twyla.
"Everypony, I'm home and I brought a guest!" Floral called. There was a fluttering of wings from upstairs as a pegasus flew down to greet the new arrival. She was about to introduce herself when a self-important voice came from the direction of the kitchen.
"It's about time you got back, Lunar Spell was about to start making dinner without you, " a dusky rose unicorn with a lavender mane said coming in from the kitchen.
"Lunar Spell, this is Twyla... " Floral started to say before Lunar Spell cut her off.
"Yes yes, the one that wants to fill in the gap that Silent Laughter left. Lunar Spell can't help to think she will have a hard time doing so. Come Floral, I've already prepared everything and I'm sure our guest will be hungry soon, " the unicorn said before heading back into the kitchen.
"Is she always like that?" Twyla asked.
"Yes, just go with it. Her mother was a showmare in Maresailles and it was something that she picked up from her. She's really nice once you get to know her."
"Floral! Lunar Spell is waiting!"
"I need to leave, but I'll leave you in the capable hooves of Swift Wind here, " Floral said motioning to the orange coloured pegasus who was hovering above head. "She can introduce you to everypony else.
"As Floral said, don't worry about Lunar. She's a real sweetheart once she warms up to you and judging from how you look, that shouldn't be a problem, " Swift Wind said with a cheeky smile. "C'mon I'll introduce you to the others."
She brought Twyla upstairs to meet the other fillies. "Girls? This is Twyla Sparkle, I'm sure you're aware of her lineage and Floral has brought her home tonight to maybe join our herd. This here is Velvet Orchid, " she indicated a mauve earth pony with a yellow and black mane which resembled the colouring of a the tropical flower. "And over there is Sunny Skies, " she pointed to another earth pony with a light blue colouring and a poofy white mane that reminded Twyla of her aunt Pinkie Pie.
The two fillies greeted her warmly and there were many questions that almost rivaled that of a job interview but in the end they seemed satisfied with their newest recruit. In truth they didn't have much of a word in the final decision as Floral Fields was the head mare and she would be the one to accept or deny Twyla. Floral would of course listen to her herdmates and whether or not the stallions wanted Twyla to join.
There was some noise downstairs and Sunny's face lit up with a smile. "The boys are back!" and she rushed downstairs to say hello to them.
Swift Wind facehoofed at her herdmate's actions. Turning to Twyla she said, "Sunny's a little stallion happy and she's always trying to attract their attention in any way possible. Don't worry, she doesn't mind getting together with one of the fillies but she's a lot more interested in them than in us.
"That's okay. Stallions have their use, but sometimes they get a little too needy and think they own you after your first time with them, " Twyla said. This earned a knowing look between Swift Wind and Velvet Orchid as if it mirrored what they thought as well.
"I think you'll get on just fine here, " Velvet Orchid said before leading Twyla downstairs to meet the two stallions.
Sunny Skies was currently bouncing around the two stallions, one unicorn and one earth pony, in a way that made Twyla think back again to Pinkie Pie. "What is it with earth ponies being a little weird?" she thought to herself. True she was half earth pony by birth but her father was a strange one as well so the whole thing really fit.
"Hey there, " the earth pony with a rock as his cutie mark said. "You must be Twyla. I'm Rolling Rock, and this here is Blazing Steel, " he said indicating the unicorn next to him.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, " Blazing Steel said with a half bow towards her.
"Glad to meet you as well, " Twyla responded with a slight blush. Such wonderful manners from Blazing Steel and if he'd do the things that Floral Fields said then maybe she was wrong about stallions and this one might be different.
The two boys unloaded their saddlebags and Sunny Skies immediately grabbed the bags and taking them upstairs while the boys walked into the main room off to the side. Velvet Orchid noticed Twyla looking a little strangely at the blue earth pony's enthusiasm and said conspiratorially, "she's like this all the time. She wants to get first crack at one of them tonight. But if they vote yes, you're the party favour for one of them, possibly both if you're up for it."
"What? At the same time?" Twyla said with a growing smile on her face.
"It's happened, but that's usually reserved for special occasions. And the good thing when that happens is it leaves an uneven number of mares without a partner so we like to get together as well, " Swift Wind said with a grin.
Still smiling, Twyla followed the boys into the parlour to answer whatever questions that had for her.
Dinner went off without a hitch, everypony enjoyed it and since Twyla was the one they were trying to recruit she was the centre of attention which suited her just fine. Eventually they retired to the main room which was large enough for all of them to sit. Floral Fields and the two stallions conversed in the corner quickly before asking the other members of the herd over one at a time. Each member gave their opinion and from the smile Floral Fields kept giving Twyla it was clear that things were going well.
In the end, it was unanimous and all ponies agreed on Twyla being accepted into their family group. Blazing Steel and Rolling Rock stood aside, seemingly discussing which of them would be the one to truly induct Twyla tonight. Twyla hoped it was Blazing Steel. Any stallion that would use his tongue to please a mare was something special. And to her great delight not only was he the one to choose her, but it was the best she ever had... from a stallion.
As they lay there at night, comfortably warm and satisfied, Twyla did think that while he was good and must have had a lot of practice, he still couldn't beat some of the fillies she had had. But she had to admit that he had talent.
In the days and weeks that followed, the novelty of herd life started to fade. That's not to say she was getting bored or wanted to leave. No, it just meant that it became a part of her daily life. She had chores to do according to a schedule that had been set. Every few days she and one of the others would make the evening meal and in the in-between times she learned more about her herdmates both inside and outside the bedroom.
It was during one of these outside the bedroom sessions when Lunar Spell and Twyla were out shopping that Twyla finally broached a subject that had been on her mind for a while.
"Lunar Spell? Do you mind if I ask you something?"
"Please my dear herdmate. Ask Lunar Spell whatever it is you wish."
"That's just it right there. Why do you insist on using your full name instead of using some more personal pronouns?"
"What can be more personal than using one's own name?" Lunar Spell said without a trace of irony.
"That's not what I meant and you know it, " Twyla said archly.
Lunar Spell laughed at her little joke. "If we may speak frankly? Lunar Sp..., " she paused for a moment as if needing to change gears and strangely enough she slipped into a more common way of speaking. "I mean you know my mother was a famous showmare a long time ago. 'The Great and Powerful Trixie' she called herself. She was a travelling magician who travelled from town to town and performed for vast crowds of ponies. She always referred to herself using her name or her full title when she felt the need for it. Then around the last time Discord showed up she arrived in Maresailles having been attacked and her cutie mark had been literally burned away."
Twyla couldn't help but gasp at such a terrible thing. A pony's cutie mark was everything to them. Without a cutie mark they were no better than donkeys or cows or any other animals that roamed Equestria.
"She doesn't like to talk about that time and I understand why. A lot of ponies went through hard times but to have that happen is just such a blow to a pony's identity. But I do know that while it was very hard for her, my father helped her get well. He's a doctor there. He healed her body and her spirit. It wasn't long after that they got married. She helped him out in the hospital by taking care of the foals and doing magic for them. She's now the resident hospital magician and I've been following in her hoofsteps, I was her assistant when I was younger and took on her way of speaking."
"You don't need to stop on my account, " Twyla said with a slight blush. "I kinda like it. It makes you different."
"Lunar Spell thanks you, " she said before both fillies dissolved into girlish giggles.
Twyla felt good. This was what she had been missing for so long. She now belonged to something greater than herself and her family. She had herdmates that loved and cared for her and she did the same in response. For the first time since coming to Canterlot to study she felt complete. On impulse she leaned over and kissed her herdmate on the lips.
Lunar Spell reacted with a little surprise, but gave Twyla a smile before asking, "not that Lunar Spell is complaining, but was there a reason for that unexpected kiss my little pony?"
"I just felt like it."
"Works for me, " Lunar Spell said in response before kissing her back and taking her breath away.
"Definitely worth it, " Twyla said enigmatically once she had caught her breath.
"Worth what?"
"Joining the herd. Now c'mon you. We have dinner to prepare tonight." Both fillies raced home with joy in their hearts and looking forward to spending some time with the rest of their family.