//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The Only Human // by BigD //------------------------------// “Now, tell us again, Twilight dear; how exactly did this “event“ go down?” said Rarity, taking a sip of her tea, then fixing Twilight with a steady gaze, drawing a blush to the purple unicorn’s cheeks. “Oh for Celestia’s sake, Rarity! Weren‘t you listening the first time?” she said as she looked down, pawing at her stool as she tried to avoid looking back at the seamstress. “Well, Egghead, ya can’t blame us for being curious,” retorted Rainbow Dash, taking a big bite out of her hay sandwich, the winged pony never letting anything get in the way of her appetite. Hey, being the top athlete in Ponyville required a lot of calories! “She’s got a point, Twi‘. Can’t blame us for wondering what the first human in Equestria is packing under all them duds he always has on. We‘re all mares after all,” added Applejack with a chuckle, ignoring the scoff this drew from Rarity. “Ah don’t think there’s anything wrong with us being curious…and although ya found out in a rather comical way…you’re currently the only gal among us who’s seen it,” she explained, the mention of her method making Twilight’s blush deepen. “About that, dear…did you have to do…what you did?” asked Rarity, giving the unicorn a slight glare. “I mean, I know you’re doing research for Celestia, but I don’t think that’s an excuse to forget respect for one’s personal space,” she said, ever the queen of the manner police. True, she had had Mark strip for his fittings, but it had been politely requested, not forced, and she allowed him to keep his privacy through it all. “Yeah, no fair that you got a private party with Markie-pie…though do you think he might go to my parties if I did what you did, Twilight?” chirped Pinkie Pie, drawing an even deeper blush from Twilight, as well as making Rarity cough into her tea and Applejack and Rainbow snicker. After a few nervous chuckles from both Rarity and Twilight, the purple unicorn recovered, saying “Well…” as she began to explain YET AGAIN… Mark wasn’t sure how long he’d been out, but it was apparently long enough. The first thing he’d noticed when he woke up, aside from a bump on the head, was the fact that he was bound, spread-eagled on what felt like a cold metal table. The second…was that he was completely nude, his body on full display for all to see. Fortunately for him, “all to see” currently only applied to a certain purple mare, who gazed down at him with a small, polite smile, looking just as nervous as he was. “Twilight, I don’t know how everything works here in Equestria…but on my world, if you want to have a relationship with a guy, it’s usually customary to ASK first,” he said, his voice a growl of annoyance, though slightly tempered by embarrassment. He struggled with his bonds, trying to use his new muscle to get free, only to see them glowing with a purple light. ‘Magic,’ he thought bitterly, though the bottom of his stomach started to drop as well. What did the unicorn have planned for him that required her to use such apparently strong bindings? Well, first things first: Identify situation and figure out best way to deal with it. Believe it or not, this wasn’t the first time he’d been bound by Twilight, the mare having been somewhat skittish of him when she’d done her first examination. Heck, even the fact he was nude wasn’t new; when Twilight wanted to examine everything about him, she meant EVERYTHING. So, let’s see: Body nude, check Limbs bound, check Various wires and the like hooked up here and there on his body via suction cups, check. Manhood wrapped up in some strange device, ch-waaaaait a minute! “Twilight, what the hell are you planning?” he said, trying to growl, but unable to stop a slight quiver from entering his voice, the device on his manhood looking none too friendly. It was clamped rather tightly around his privates, covered in strange buttons and wires, and was connected to what looked like some kind of bag device. “Well…eh heh, I’ve taken samples from just about everything I can…but there’s one last thing I need,” said the purple unicorn, looking as nervous as Mark was, though she clearly had the advantage. “I really am sorry about this, but I have to give Princess Celestia as much information as I can…and this is the only way to get the last bit,” she said, surprising Mark by looking extremely embarrassed by what she was talking about, even as she explained it to him so calmly. She moved over to what appeared to be some kind of steam punk machine, one piece of it spitting out yard after yard of parchment with data on it. After hitting a few buttons here and there with her magic, she turned and made her way back over to him, Mark cringing a little as he tried to brace himself for whatever the machine was about to do. “Oh for Celestia’s sake, Mark, quit that. You know I’d never do anything that would hurt you,” she grumbled, shaking her head as she moved down to his groin, perching up onto the table and looking intently at his manhood. “Besides…I was of the opinion males enjoyed this,” she said, her horn lighting up, her purple magic coating the device and its contents. The cries could be heard almost all over Ponyville. Twilight had faced many dangers in her time in Ponyville. She’d faced evil magical mares, Chaos itself, wild animals, the complete turning upside down of her reality, and numerous threats to her friends…and she’d rather face all of them once more than have to look at the faces her friends were now giving her. Rarity was frowning with obvious displeasure, her normally warm blue eyes narrowed slightly. Fluttershy looked scandalized, shaking her head as if to try and empty it of the images Twilight’s story had not doubt put in it. Rainbow Dash seemed to be trying and failing to suppress laughter. Pinkie Pie actually looked jealous, though Twilight was certain it was because she still thought of what she had done to Mark was a “private party”. And Applejack… She seemed to be staring off into space, eyes a bit glazed, a small smile on her muzzle…and a light blush on her cheeks. “Really Twilight, I must say I’m rather disappointed in you. I would think you of all ponies would understand the importance of respecting one’s personal space and privacy,” said Rarity, sipping her tea rather calmly…but keeping that glare fixed on Twilight. “Wow, who knew the egghead was secretly a dom in bed,” quipped Rainbow Dash, finally failing to suppress her laughter, actually falling back out of her chair and rolling on the ground as she guffawed. “Did you have a dominatrix outfit on while you did this?” she teased, regaining her composure somewhat and getting back into her seat. The fact that Rarity hadn’t rebuked the cyan pony told Twilight how cross she was with her. “Oh come on, girls. It was RESEARCH, nothing more. Hay, I bet Fluttershy does the same thing now and then when she’s taking care of her animals,” she gripped, the yellow Pegasus squeaking and looking down with crimson cheeks on being put on the spot. “Um…yes…I do…but I try and…get permission first,” she said softly, her pink hair drifting over her face. “Animals can be hurt if you…frighten them badly,” she added. Rarity nodded as well, saying “And Mark is certainly no animal anyway, so that’s no excuse at all. He’s our friend and a guest of Equestria, and we must treat him with respect.” She turned to Applejack, figuring that the farmer pony would agree with her, seeing as she spent the most time with the human. “Am I right, Applejack?” she said, not really noticing that she was still seemingly in a trance. “How big was he?” she said suddenly. “My thoughts exactly. I…what!?” squawked Rarity, turning back to Applejack with her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. Surely she hadn’t heard correctly! “Er, Ah said, how bad was he? Yah know, after yah had yer…uh…fun, Twi,” stammered the farm pony, her cheeks flushing lightly, a forced grin on her face as she looked from Twilight to Rarity. The former was blushing more than she was, but seemed rather thankful that the subject could be avoided. Rarity…Rarity was giving the farm pony a coy smirk that made her wish she was somewhere else. “Well, he didn’t seem too bad after we finished…but he didn’t talk to me before he left, so I just don’t know. Anypony know where he is now?” she asked, it suddenly dawning on all of them that they hadn’t seen Mark since the incident. “Wait a sec. I think I saw him going back to AJ’s barn while I was resting,” said Rainbow Dash, having finally regained her full composure. “He didn’t seem too bad,” she said, glancing in the direction of Applejack’s farm. “Maybe we ought to go check on him?” she suggested, getting nods from everypony but Twilight, who looked like she was being told to go to the principal’s office. “Yes, we really must check and make sure he’s alright…shouldn’t we,” said Rarity, giving Twilight a firm glare that brooked no discussion on the matter. All six got up from the table and, after cleaning it off, went on their way. The six ponies slowly approached the barn, all ears perked and all eyes peeled. There was no sound coming from inside, nothing suggesting a traumatized human was inside. “Maybe…maybe he’s asleep? Perhaps we can come back later?” squeaked Twilight, backing away…only to find herself aglow with Rarity’s magic and gently but firmly pushed forward to the door. Deciding there was no way out of this, the purple pony rapped on the door with her hoof. “Uh…Mark…it’s me, Twilight. You okay in there?” The door slowly opened, Mark visible through the crack. After a few moments hesitation, he slowly pushed the door open more, sliding out quietly. He didn’t seem too worse for wear, though he kept one eye on Twilight as the two of them slowly went to join the others. “Er…howdy, Mark. Twilight here was just telling us ‘bout yer little…examination, and we’ll just want to make sure yer okay,” said Applejack, all five of them looking over the human, checking for any signs of…well…anything. Again, Mark seemed just fine, if a bit more quieter than usual. “Yes darling, we wish to apologize for what Twilight did…and so does she,” said the seamstress pony, fixing Twilight with that glare again, the bookworm turning to Mark and looking down a bit, rubbing one front leg with the other. “I’m sorry, Mark. It wasn’t right, what I did, even if I didn’t mean any harm by it. Do you forgive me?” she asked, looking up at his eyes, trying to read his expression. She started to cringe, the beginnings of tears forming in her eyes…when Mark suddenly put a hand on her cheek, leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Twilight’s eyes widened in surprise, yet she made no move to pull away, even as she heard the girls behind her gasping…and giggling in Pinkie Pie’s case. Her lips tingled into the kiss, and she found her eyes closing half-way and her lips returning the kiss. After what felt like an eternity, Mark pulled away, giving her that warm smile he could always pull out. “It’s all good, Twilight. Just next time…ask first,” he said, ruffling her mane before turning and disappearing back into the barn. With a small sigh, Twilight turned…and found her friends suddenly in her face, their mouths all hanging open in shock. “What the hay was that all about!” squawked Applejack, looking…jealous? “I…miiiiight have left some details out,” said Twilight demurely, giving a shy giggle.