Chapter Fifty-Eight: A Steamy Encounter
Fluttering over to the red-scaled reptilian, Fluttershy placed a hoof on his shoulder and scanned the crayfish that were still stubbornly clinging onto him. She hadn’t even noticed the macaw chasing after Rainbow Dash again -- though, this time Twilight Sparkle was now in pursuit of it as well to try and drive it away.
“Um, excuse me, Mr. Crayfish?” she addressed the largest one. “I don’t mean to be a bother, but could you and your friends leave Smokey alone, please? We’ll get out of the water if we’re bothering you.”
The small number of crustaceans didn’t seemed to be the least bit vexed. In fact, they appeared to enjoy being swung around by the dragon as he shook his head and tail, but after they were politely asked to leave him be, they complied, dropping into the water simultaneously.
Smokey exhaled a sigh of relief and flashed his yellow-pelted friend a grateful smile.
“Thank you, Miss Fluttershy.”
“It’s not a problem,” she said, her eyes wide with a smile as she proceeded to inspect him where the crawdads had pinched him. “You’re not hurt too terribly, are you?”
“It still hurts a little on my ear frills. Are they bleeding?” he queried, lifting his hands to rub his thumbs, index fingers, and middle fingers over the imprints on his frills.
Fluttershy carried herself a little higher to look over his ear frills once he dropped his hands, examining them from a couple of angles.
“No, I don’t see any blood,” she responded, before she leaned in to plant a few kisses on his ear frills. Backing up, she gave him a maternal smile. “There. Does it hurt anywhere else?”
Cheeks stained with a rosy pink, he slowly shook his head, the pain dying down to tolerable belying currents.
“N-not as much.”
“Good.”
Drifting down to the water to settle into it, she surveyed the surface of the water to peer into the blue depths below to see if she could spot any more of the wildlife.
“Ah didn’t know crawfish were in these waters…” Applejack stated.
“Where did Miss Rainbow and Princess Twilight go?” Smokey wondered, finally realizing they were no longer present.
“Ummm…”
Fluttershy blinked in confusion, looking around.
“There they are! Up there!” Pinkie Pie cried out, pointing a hoof nearly straight up. Following her gaze, Fluttershy gasped as Applejack and Spike now took their turns belly laughing. Twilight Sparkle was desperately attempting to help Rainbow Dash remove the rainbow macaw -- which had not only caught up to her, was looking as it were trying to shag the back of her head and neck.
“GET THIS CRAZY BIRD OFF ME!!” Rainbow Dash bellowed as she shook her head wildly.
Finding everyone else’s laughter infectious, Chenoa began laughing just as hard. Even Smokey, eyes on the cyan pegasus, burst with laughter. The sight of the Catalina macaw attempting to mate with the back of her head was just too humorous.
“Oh, dear.”
Fluttershy, by this point, was the only one not laughing -- aside from Rainbow Dash, that was. Twilight Sparkle was -- though she was desperately trying NOT to, however, both her desire to try not to laugh as well as the desire to neither hurt Rainbow Dash nor the bird (especially since Fluttershy was present) prevented her from simply grabbing him with her magic and yanking it off.
To the alicorn’s great relief, Fluttershy flew up to meet them. Her hooves extended out to the bird and the back of Rainbow Dash’s head, the motherly yellow flyer began to sternly admonish him.
The feathery creature glanced up at Fluttershy, not really seeming to care what it was doing was bad or not. It was only following his basic instincts and had found Rainbow Dash attractive. He clung to the light blue pony’s neck, reluctant to let go.
“Now, now. Rainbow Dash may have feathers, and can fly, and has nice hair, but she’s not a macaw. Come on, Mr. Macaw, we’ll find a nice mate for you. One that will…” She risked a glance at Rainbow Dash. “… more readily accept your advances.”
The macaw shook his head and turned it away from Fluttershy in a display of refusal.
“Oh, I was afraid of this,” Twilight Sparkle sighed. “But I guess we don’t have much of a choice!”
“Wait, what are you saying?” Fluttershy questioned.
“Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, I’m really sorry, to the both of you.” Horn glowing, Twilight Sparkle enveloped the avian in a magenta aura. “Dash, you might wanna grit your teeth. This may hurt a bit.”
“What? Twilight, no!” Fluttershy protested, though she spoke too late as the princess utilized her magic to yank the bird off of Rainbow Dash.
The macaw squawked in complaint as he was removed from the prism-haired pegasus. Trapped in Twilight Sparkle’s magic, he continued to screech, flapping his wings rapidly.
Rainbow Dash had winced when the bird was pulled off. His sharp claws had left three scratches on each side of her neck. They were leaking a tiny amount of blood, but it was nothing a few band-aids couldn’t take care of.
“Whew… Thanks, Twilight. Did his claws leave anything?”
Fluttershy threw a sharp glare -- one that the alicorn responded to with a nervous smile -- but, the yellow pegasus merely sighed and closed in to examine Rainbow Dash’s neck.
“Just a few minor scratches. Nothing serious. Some antiseptic and band-aids and you’ll be just fine.”
“That’s it?” Rainbow Dash grinned with a look of relief. “I guess I should go do that. It’s about time for a nap anyway. I’ll see ya later, guys!”
With that, she zipped off. The remains of the group waited until she was out of sight, then Twilight Sparkle hovered the bird closer.
“Alright, you, what are we going to do with you? We can’t have you harassing our friend.”
“I’ll go get a free bird cage from my cottage. We’ll need something to keep that macaw in,” said Fluttershy.
“Yes, please hurry -- he’s feisty!”
“Need any help, Miss Fluttershy?” Smokey called over as he took Chenoa from Spike.
“I should be fine.”
The winged mare smiled at him as she fluttered off. She returned several minutes later with a gilded cage that was large enough for the Catalina macaw. Twilight Sparkle encompassed the cage within the field of her magic to shove in the bird and promptly fork it over to the pegasus.
“There we go,” Fluttershy cooed. “You’ll be nice and safe in there until you calm down.”
The macaw let out a shriek, biting and pounding his wings against the bars of the cage. He continued making a ruckus as he remained inside, not used to being contained.
“He looks really unhappy,” Smokey pointed out.
“I know.” Fluttershy frowned immensely, looking heartbroken as the bird screamed and beat and bit the bars. “But if we let him out, all he will do is fly off after Rainbow Dash again.”
“Not unless we let him out indoors,” Twilight said. “Assuming we keep him in a closed room with enough space for him to fly around.”
“I’ll take him back home and let him out indoors,” the yellow equine offered. “Hopefully he won’t mind being cooped up TOO much. It’s just for a short while…”
“It’s almost Chenoa’s naptime anyway. Perhaps we should go now,” the older dragon suggested, smiling down at the chick as she released a squeaky yawn.
“True.” The mare nodded and pressed her nose to the bird’s cage. “Don’t worry, Mr. Macaw. We’ll let you out soon. I promise.”
Turning to the rest, Smokey offered a smile.
“Thank you all for the party. Promise you’ll come by later to help clean up?”
“Sure thing, sugarcube!” Applejack affirmed.
“Okie-dokie-loki!” Pinkie Pie followed.
“But of course!” came Rarity’s reply.
“Sure! Me and Spike will certainly be there,” Twilight Sparkle confirmed.
“Wha?” Spike turned his attention to his surrogate sister with a look of surprise. “But I was gonna meet Snips and Snails--” He cut himself off as he received a piercing glare. “Alright, alright, I’ll be there!”
Fluttershy chuckled, a wide smile pulling at her features.
“Thank you, everypony.”
“Chenoa should be done with her nap in a few hours. You all enjoy yourselves until then.”
Thanking them one last time, Fluttershy and Smokey, with Chenoa in his arms, departed and traversed back to the cottage.
It did not take long for Fluttershy and Smokey to take Chenoa upstairs and lay her down in her cradle. Making sure she was comfortable, the pair sang to the griffon until she fell asleep. Making sure she was fast asleep, they quietly exited the room, the dragon closing the door behind them.
“I’m going to take a shower,” said Fluttershy, then paused as she turned to Smokey. “Unless, you want to take one first.”
“You go ahead,” he insisted as he headed towards the supply closet. “I will start cleaning up.”
“Oh… okay.”
The mare clopped into the bathroom and stepped into the shower. She took her time scrubbing her fur, wings, mane, and tail -- even after the dip in the lake, she wanted to make sure all of the soda was off her body. After drying off, she trotted out, her wings spread out and her wet mane glistening in the light.
“All yours,” she called as she descended down the staircase, in a breathy, almost singsong, voice.
Glancing up from the floor he was scrubbing, Smokey lifted himself off his hands and knees and set the sudsy brush aside.
“Alright.”
Striding past her, he gave her a quick smile and headed upstairs. The bathroom was a little warm and stuffy from when his friend showered, but he didn’t mind in the least. Stepping into the shower, he fiddled with the tabs to set the water at his desired temperature and promptly washed off his scales with the Spring Rain body wash he kept with Fluttershy’s shampoos for days when he spent the night.
Back in the foyer, the Catalina macaw pounded his wings against the cage bars again, demanding to be let out.
Once Fluttershy heard the water running, she turned her attention to the macaw. Frowning lightly, she left momentarily to make sure every window in the cottage was both closed and locked tight, along with the front door. Certain the macaw wouldn’t be able to escape her home, she gingerly opened the cage door to free him.
“There you go, you poor thing. I’m sorry for doing this, but we can’t have you harassing Rainbow Dash.”
Shooting out of the cage, the bird crashed into Fluttershy’s face before flying around the room in an outraged frenzy. It was a good thing there was currently nothing breakable in the room, otherwise he would have knocked it over and accidentally destroyed it. Landing on the window still behind the couch after ten minutes, the macaw hammered his wings against the glass, managing to hurt one of them in the process. A few specks of blood dripped from his small wound, and he finally ceased all movement as he realized what he had done.
Fluttershy let out a yelp as the macaw smashed into her. Dazed, stunned, but otherwise unhurt, she sprang back to her hooves and rushed over to the bird as it was desperately trying to leave and pursue his paramour once again.
“Oh, no! Mr. Macaw! Please don’t!” she attempted to plead, her usual hesitance towards actual physical action -- plus the thrashings of the macaw -- preventing her from getting to close. Once the bird had stopped, she got closer, only to notice the blood. “Oh, dear! You’re hurt! Hang on, let me get you a bandage.”
Turning around, she hurried back upstairs towards the bathroom. She hesitated, only for a moment as Smokey was still inside -- it was the only place she kept bandages. Determined to slip in and slip right back out, she pushed the door open.
The very instant Fluttershy entered, Smokey stepped out of the shower, his scaly hide dripping and glistening. His eyes went wide and an embarrassed shade of pink bloomed on his cheeks. For a few moments, he just stood there on the tiled floor, his drippings creating a small puddle.
Just when he took a step forward, he slipped and landed hard on his back with a grunt.
Gasping, she turned away from the medicine cabinet and was immediately at Smokey’s side.
“Oh, my goodness! Smokey, are you all right?!”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine.”
Pulling himself to his feet, he managed to slip again, this time falling onto Fluttershy. Recovering his bearings, the dragon stared down at the pegasus, and lifted himself off of her. Drawing back to sit on his haunches, he gently grasped onto her hooves to pull her into a comforting hug with a quick apology, thinking that he might have hurt her.
Fluttershy sighed a bit, only to cry out as Smokey landed on top of her. Again, dazed, but unhurt, she laid there on the wet floor, wings extended and staring up into his eyes. Their bodies were pressed together, she realized, and she felt her face go hot with an intense blush. Seconds that felt like hours passed by as he sat up and pulled her up with him.
Feeling his arms wrap around her body, she sank into his embrace, still blushing.
“… I’m… I’m fine,” she whispered out. She wasn’t hurt, though she was rather stunned and mortified at the entire ordeal.
The winged reptile breathed a sigh, knowing his dear friend wasn’t harmed. Inhaling, his nostrils quivered as he detected strawberries and cream wafting from her fur and mane. The smell mixed with her natural scent was intoxicating. Purring softly and nuzzling her cheek, he lifted one hand from her waist to smooth his fingers through her pink locks.
Her face darkened as his claws ran through her hair. Her head partially tilting into his soft caress, her own muzzle quivered from the enticing Spring Rain scent from his scales. It was like he had just stepped in from an April shower, and, scales still shimmering with water, he looked the part.
She idly licked her lips -- partially due to nervousness and a quickly drying mouth, and partially due to attraction. She was aware she was feeling warm -- and not just because of her face or the fact that the room was steamy.
He purred again to the mare as he nuzzled her, this time a bit harder. Curling and uncurling her locks of mane, his other hand kneaded the fur underneath her wing. His dull claws lightly scratched the soft patch under the feathery extremity with another purr. Right now, he wasn’t even aware of his own body rising in temperature. He was lost in a world of his own.
Fluttershy sighed, closing her eyes, especially as she felt his claws scratch her underneath her wing. Leaning in to nuzzle him back, she felt her heartbeat quicken and thump against her chest. Resting against him, she nuzzled him again, running a hoof over his strong torso, softly palpating the muscles as she turned her head to press her cheek against his chest with another sigh.
The dragon’s heart melted and fluttered away in his ribcage. Removing his fingers from her hair, he ghosted them down her neck and rested them against her side. He lowered his head to meet hers, rubbing his chin against her cheek more fervently.
Nickering, the pegasus returned the affectionate nuzzle with one of her own. She didn’t seem to realize what she was doing, nor did she really seem to care. She was in the strong arms of a dear friend -- one of the dearest that she cared for the most. She was safe, she was warm, and she was content.
All was right in the world.
The blush on Smokey’s cheeks intensified as his body heat rose even higher, beads of perspiration beginning to dot his scales. As his purr took on a more amorous note, he nuzzled her cheek passionately and pressed his torso against her body while his hands explored her body.
She couldn’t help but shiver, her heart thundering as she allowed his hands to roam. Noticing he was still quite gentlepony-like. He hadn’t been too eager or forceful and he wasn’t crossing any boundaries, remaining on her back, near her wings, and stomach. His fingers not only felt strong, but his touch was… exquisite. Magical. Amazing.
Her eyes slowly opened as she felt a yearning, almost a desire for him TO be a bit more bold. It was then she realized she was feeling an emotion she had never felt before. Confused, frightened, but most of all, curious and unusually willing, she lifted her eyes up to his face.
“Smokey…?” she breathed, as if coming from a dream.
The addressed dragon drew back his head to meet her eyes. Like her, he too, was feeling an alien desire. Wings stiffening and unfurling a small degree, he leaned in to give her cheek a quick lick. He was scared and nervous of what he was feeling for his friend, but that didn’t stop him from leaning in once again -- this time, aiming to kiss her, his head swimming and disconnected from reality.
Fluttershy had been about to ask something, though upon receiving the lick, her train of thought was derailed. Staring up at him with a distant, almost detached but blissful expression, she was driven to meet him halfway.
Just when they were about to kiss, something pulled back Fluttershy’s head by the mane. Snapping out of his transfixed state, Smokey followed the length of the mare’s mane and found Angel, his paws firmly grasped onto the end of her hair.
“Angel? What are you…?”
Before he could finish his sentence, the realization of what he and Fluttershy have been doing finally sank in. Blushing heavily, he let her go and slid back, his eyes wide in bewilderment.
Fluttershy gasped, not in pain, but more in surprise. Eyes snapping open fully now, she turned to the rabbit.
“Angel? Wuh…”
In unison with Smokey, she too, came to the exact revelation and nearly jumped back, her entire face now a deep scarlet. A squawking from downstairs reminded her of the reason she came into the bathroom in the first place, and, without a word, quickly fluttered to the medicine cabinet to gather a few bandages and left to focus on applying first aid to the rainbow macaw -- now even further embarrassed for having completely forgotten about him.
After Fluttershy left, Smokey glanced down at the rabbit, wondering why he had pulled on her mane like that. Once Angel shot an icy glare at him, pointing two fingers at his eyes then to him, he had an inkling.