> Dinky Puts Button in a Daze > by mr lovecolt > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The Chapter In Which Two Stallions Tremble Like Pine Trees in a Hurricane > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Oh, come on!” Button Mash shouted as he slammed the empty shot glass upside onto the table. “You cannot sit there and tell me that the costumes they design for stallion comic book superheroes aren't pointless!” Dinky Doo sighed and shook her head as she nursed her third Headless Horse. She smirked and tossed the shot back. The moment the glass hit the table, she glanced at the stallion in front of her. “Comic books are a visual medium,” she replied. “Because of that, they have to be able to capture their target audience. Teenage fillies and young adult mares simply make up for the vast majority of comic book consumption, and the artists know that.” “But there are so many comic books out there that don’t—” “You two need another round?” Button Mash and Dinky Doo glanced up at the older stallion, who was busy placing the empty shot glasses onto a tray. The young couple noticed that other ponies were glancing towards them, some of them just snickering to themselves as the argument continued on. “Maybe just a couple more,” Dinky Doo replied as she levitated another pair of bits onto the tray. “I had the feeling,” Morty said. Morty set four more drinks on the table. He nodded his head and turned away, leaving the two to continue with their argument. The two grabbed a shot glass and continued on, not caring what the ponies around them thought. “You really took to those Headless Horses,” Button Mash said. “You got me started on them,” she replied as she held the refreshment. “Now where was I—right. I mean look at the full body leotards on Zapp and Mistress Mare-velous. How are those possibly useful?” “Oh, and I suppose having Scarlet Shaman in nothing but a black thong and tiny boots is useful?” “Scarlet Shaman doesn’t need armor because Discord mutated him at birth to let him control chaos magic,” Dinky Doo said before downing the shot. “There is literally nothing that can harm him unless he’s tired or over-hexing.” Button Mash took a slow sip from his shot. He hesitated, then finished it before setting it gently on the table. “I dunno,” he mumbled. “It just sets a really unrealistic expectation for how mares see stallions, I guess.” Dinky Doo cocked her head in confusion before she noticed Button Mash rub his stomach. She leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Mashy, you know you’re my Scarlet Shaman, right?” Button Mash chuckled before returning the peck on his cheek with one of his own. “So that makes you my love interest, the robot Fantasm?” He snuggled against Dinky. “My little synthezoid.” The two rest against one another for a moment and breathed one another in. In the corner of the bar, they heard the beginning of a song play from the jukebox. “Oh, I love this song!” Dinky Doo said. Button Mash snickered as his growingly intoxicated marefriend started to sing a few words off-key. “Born to be wi-i-i-ld…” Dinky Doo rest her head on Button Mash’s neck. “I love Timberwolf.” Button Mash glanced around the room as Dinky Doo, thanks to the liquid courage running through her system, started rubbing her forelegs on his barrel, much to the chagrin of the other patrons. He blushed and slowly took hold of Dinky Doo, who looked down at the final pair of shots. “You know, Mashy” Dinky Doo said. “We’ve been going out for a while now, and I was hoping we could talk about… stuff… tonight.” “Stuff?” Button Mash asked. A pair of eavesdropping stallions nearby started laughing, and his ears fell flat against his head. “L-like what?” “We haven’t talked about… our kinks… you know?” Dinky Doo reached forward and pressed her hoof against his muzzle. She leaned forward until she was inches from his ear. “Fantasies.” Button Mash’s ears burned as hot as his cheeks. Dinky Doo leaned back and pushed one of the shots towards him as she levitated the other one with her magic. “So here’s what we’re gonna do,” she continued, though Button Mash could tell she was having trouble with her words. “A… contest…” Dinky Doo waved her hoof towards Morty. He came by and Dinky Doo whispered into the stallion’s ear. Morty glanced over at Button Mash and chuckled before trotting away. By this time, a few of the patrons had noticed the mare’s peculiar behavior and had stopped their conversations in order to glance at the young, intoxicated couple. A few moments later, Morty reappeared with two beers in large mugs. Dinky Doo threw a wicked smile Button Mash’s way, and he couldn’t help but feel as though the mare had gone from loving Timberwolf to becoming one herself. “Whoever finishes their drink first gets to fulfill a fantasy of theirs.” “Dinky, I don’t know if—” “One time deal, Mashy,” she replied. “Can’t we… you know… discuss our fantasies first?” Button Mash felt his voice tighten with each word. “Tick tock, Mashy,” Dinky Doo said as she reached down beneath and table and stroked Button Mash’s leg. “Deal!” Button Mash shouted as his leg started to tremble. When Dinky Doo let go of his leg, he brushed the fresh beads of sweat from his brow. “So… how does this work?” Dinky Doo set the two shots in front of him and placed the two beers in front of herself. “I have to drink these two beers in the time you finish those two shots.” “Are you sure you wanna do this?” Button asked, only to be shushed by the mare. “But there are two rules.” Dinky Doo held up a hoof. “One: I can’t touch your glasses, and you can’t touch mine.” “Something about this seems awfully familiar,” Button Mash replied as he rubbed his chin. “Come on, Mashy,” Dinky Doo said as she leaned forward and pecked the stallion on the muzzle. “Any fantasy.” Button Mash glanced around at the crowd that had formed around them. The same alcohol flowing through his marefriend swam through his own veins, slowly giving him a much needed boost of confidence that he knew he needed in order to go ahead with this contest. His mind flew back to the stash of magazines hidden beneath his bed. One image in particular stuck with him—the cover of last month’s Moanin’ Mares, complete with a pair of unicorn mares licking one another’s horns. Button Mash smiled, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Dinky Doo staring back at him expectantly. “Do we have a deal?” she asked. “S-sure,” the stallion whispered. “Oh yeah,” Dinky Doo added. “Rule number two: do be a gentlecolt and let me at least finish one beer first?” Button Mash glanced down at the two shots and then over to the towering mugs before his marefriend. He knew not to take advantage of a drunk mare in any fashion. Button Mash wondered for a moment if maybe Dinky Doo knew his fantasies and wanted to do her part to help him live them out. He sighed as he thought of how wonderful of a marefriend he had managed to snag. “Of course,” he replied. He sat back and watched as Dinky Doo slowly lifted up the first mug and began to sip delicately at her beer. Button Mash wondered if he should go slowly on the shots so as not to finish too quickly. All around him, he heard the sound of stallions chuckling. Button Mash wondered what was so funny until the moment Dinky Doo finished her beer and slowly lowered it onto the table, where it came to rest upside down directly on top of one of his shot glasses. His eyes widened as the bar burst into laughter. “No!” Button Mash shouted as he cradled his head in his hooves. “That’s the oldest trick in the book!” Morty shouted. Button Mash watched in horror as Dinky Doo lifted the second beer and drained it in a matter of seconds. Defeated, Button Mash slowly lifted one of the shots from the table and threw it back. He glanced back at his marefriend; this same marefriend who, moments ago, he had felt guilty for even thinking of taking advantage of. Still, through all of it, he at least took comfort knowing that he would get to learn one of Dinky Doo’s fantasies. “All right, you got me,” Button Mash said. “Tell me about your fantasy.” “I started thinking about it a while ago when I got some Neighponese manga,” Dinky Doo snickered. The mare leaned in and whispered into Button Mash’s ear, his eyes widening as she whispered her secret fantasy to him. It feels like so long since I’ve been out, Shady Daze thought as he trotted through the doorway of The Toad in the Hole. The stallion stopped for a moment to take it all in—there was the familiar sight of Berry Punch, sitting in the corner, nursing a glass of red wine. Shady Daze’s nostrils flared, and he smelled the pungent scent of sweat, musk, and, if he focused hard enough, the acrid aroma of dried vomit. A loud burst of laughter erupted from the other side of the bar, and as Shady Daze squinted, he saw Button Mash and Dinky Doo, sitting at a table. Dinky Doo, clearly intoxicated, had leaned in to whisper something in Button Mash’s ear. From the way the stallion’s ears perked and his eyes widened, Shady Daze could clearly tell that the mare must have whispered something dirty to him. That mare is not what I was expecting, Shady Daze thought as he pulled out his pack of Red Apple cigarettes and tugged at the nearest one with his muzzle. She’s been good to him, he thought as he lit his the end in breathed in the fresh smoke. Shady Daze started to make his way to the bar, but then he saw Button Mash’s eyes dart towards him and Dinky Doo’s head spin around so fast that her mane flipped back and forth for a moment before settling back down on her neck. As the mare’s smile grew, Shady Daze almost felt the need to turn back to the door and run away. He then glanced back to the row of liquor on the shelf next to him. Almost, he thought. “Shady!” As Dinky Doo called out to him, Shady Daze sighed. Guess the drink will have to wait, he thought as he turned back to the couple. As he made his way towards them, however, he couldn’t help but feel as though numerous pairs of eyes were settling on him. Still, he quickly trotted over to the table and nodded his head. “Hey there, buddy,” Shady Daze said as he reached out to give Button Mash a hug. He then turned to Dinky Doo. “Is there a reason you felt the need to keep me from my daily dosage of Hoe-Carten?” “Oh, Shady-san,” Dinky Doo giggled. “We were just talking about you.” Every other word Dinky said was slurred. Yes, Shady Daze thought, definitely has had a bit to drink. “H-hey, Shady,” Button Mash said, his nervousness apparent. Okay, Shady Daze thought as he gazed back and forth between the couple. To his side, he could see a pair of stallions glance in his direction, whispering to one another occasionally, wrapping a hoof against the table and breaking into a contest of snickers. “Shady-san,” Dinky Doo continued. “Whose eyes sparkle azure like the ice in the Crystal Empire on a winter’s day. Your mane, wild and mischievous, like Poison Joke blooming in the Everfree.” Shady Daze did a double take. He pointed at the mare, whom he felt was obviously suffering mid-stroke, and gave a look of concern to Button Mash. “What in Tartarus is wrong with her?” he asked. “She’s…” Button Mash sighed. “She’s speaking weaboo.” “Okay, glad we cleared that up,” Shady Daze shook his head. “Wait… isn’t that what you call your Neighponese comics and—” “Manga!” Dinky Doo shouted loud enough for the entire bar to hear. “All right then,” Shady Daze said as he took a step back. “It’s going to look like I’m backing away. But you know, that liquor won’t drink itself.” “No, wait, Shady-san!” Dinky Doo wailed as she grabbed his foreleg. “Mashy-kun has something to say to you.” “Dinky, don’t you think that should be—” “Mashy-kun?” Dinky Doo replied, batting her eyelashes. Her eyes glistened as she stared into the stallion’s eyes. Button Mash closed his eyes and sighed, and when he reopened them, he turned to Shady Daze. “Oh, Dinky-chan, your confidence matches that of the great Sea Dragon.” Button Mash shook his head. “…Shady-chan, whose fur is reminiscent of the lone grey cloud in an otherwise blue sky, join us so that we may enjoy your company.” “Are you guys being threatened or something,” Shady Daze said before he inhaled a deep puff of his cigarette. “Is there a reason you two can’t speak normally?” “Mashy-kun!” Dinky Doo said. “Don’t let your uke get away.” “Oh, for the love of—” Button Mash replied as he facehoofed. “Look, Shady, there is a reasonable explanation for—” “Shady-chan!” “Right…” Button Mash glanced around the room, his blush apparent even in the dim light of the bar. “Shady-chan,” Button Mash said as he wrapped his hoof around Shady Daze’s shoulders. “Let me have the privilege of buying your first drink of the evening.” Shady Daze knew he wasn’t exactly a buff stallion, but he knew he was taller than Button Mash, which made the way the intoxicated stallion pressed his foreleg down on his own shoulder cause him to wonder what exactly was happening. “Dude,” Button Mash whispered. “Just play along for a second. Help me out.” Button Mash stared into Shady Daze’s eyes. “Please?” “Fine…” he replied. There is something seriously off. His eyes widened and he feigned excitement. “Oh, Button… kun?” “Sama!” Dinky Doo shouted. “In the name of Celestia—” It’s all right, Shady Daze thought, whatever in Tartarus these two are playing, you get a free drink out of it. “It would make me pleased for you to buy me a drink.” As the two stallions trotted away from the table, Shady Daze continued to smile, but spoke to Button Mash through gritted teeth. “Button, what the shit is going on?” he asked. “Let me buy you a drink first,” button Mash whispered back as he turned back and waved at Dinky Doo. “I’ll even get you that top shelf Cosmarepolitan you love.” “Button,” Shady Daze asked, his tone dark. “What did you do?” “Well…” Button Mash chuckled, “Maybe you should go outside so you can have another cigarette while I tell you?” The stallions had been gone for a few minutes before Dinky Doo began to wonder where the two had run off to. Suddenly, a shriek pierced the air. It was a shriek that, as Dinky Doo thought about it, must have been very uncomfortable for a stallion to make. “What!?!” The entire bar turned towards the closed doors leading to the back porch. The moment Dinky Doo heard Shady Daze’s shrill shriek coming from outside, she smiled to herself and finished the last Headless Horse left on the table. Beside her, the pair of stallions bellowed in laughter and chugged another Lo-Brau. Shady Daze paced back and forth, his hooves thundering on the wooden porch. He lifted a trembling hoof to his muzzle and took in a deep inhale of a freshly lit cigarette. If you really do give me cancer, Shady Daze thought, then so help me, you best take me now. He threw the half-smoked butt into a nearby ashtray and grabbed the half-empty Cosmarepolitan. “Uh, Shady?” Button Mash asked quietly. Shady Daze held out a hoof and pointed it directly at the stallion in front of him and he polished off the martini glass and held it in his grasp. “Would you care to… repeat… what you just told me?” Shady Daze growled as he finished his drink. Button Mash crouched back and stood behind an empty table. He watched as the stallion paced back and forth in front of him. For some reason, it brought back a memory of when his mom had taken him to the Manehattan zoo, where he saw a rare Chimera, pacing back and forth in her cage. Luna’s teats, Button Mash thought, it’s like I can see all three animals in him. The moment Shady Daze’s eyes settled onto him once more, Button Mash gasped and lowered his head so that only his eyes and mane were visible from the tabletop. “It’s… really funny… when you think about it…” Button Mash replied, chuckling nervously every other word. “Right?” Button Mash tried to smile, but when he saw the empty martini glass fly towards his muzzle, he squeaked and ducked completely beneath the table. “Funny?” Shady Daze shouted as his nostrils flared once more. “Funny? I’d expect something awful like this from Rumble, but from you, I—” “Hey!” Morty shouted as he opened the door. “You gotta pay for that!” “Oh don’t worry” Shady Daze snarled. “My seamy will take care of that.” “Uh, it’s pronounced seme.” “Oh my fucking—” Shady threw his head back and slammed the door in Morty’s muzzle. Button Mash watched his friend from a safe distance as the now enraged stallion held his hoof against the door, his shoulders trembling. He heard his friend take a few deep breaths before turning to face him. “I—I honestly don’t know what to say,” Shady Daze said as his shoulders slumped. “I knew that Rumble liked to treat me this way. Discord’s Spiked-Tiger Fucking Dick, I expected it from him.” Shady Daze chuckled softly as he pulled out yet another cigarette from his pack and lit it. He turned his head slightly as the sound of ponies inside laughing caught his attention. Button Mash whimpered and reached out, only to have Shady Daze pull back and trot towards the edge of the porch. “I know everypony else in this shithole town thinks of me as a sideshow, but I honestly never expected you to think of me as one, too.” “Shady, I—” “And here I was, hoping I could finally come out and just enjoy one fucking drink…” Shady Daze shook his head and set a hoof on a nearby table. “After everything that happened on your birthday. After what Rumble—” Shady Daze slammed his head against the tabletop. As Button Mash watched Shady Daze’s withers heave in and out, he slowly approached the stallion and gently pressed a hoof on his mane. “Shady, I’m not good at this stuff,” Button Mash said. “I know there’s gotta be a right way to do this, so please, just listen, okay?” “This isn’t one of your Harmony-cursed video games, Button!” Shady Daze shouted as he yanked his head up. “You don’t just hit a fucking reset on this shit!” Button Mash leaped back, just narrowly avoiding the spittle that flew from Shady Daze’s muzzle. “What the fuck were you thinking?” “Dinky got me thinking about it and it got me curious, all right?” The moment Button Mash shouted those words, both stallions jerked away from each other. Before he knew it, Button Mash’s chest was heaving. Shady Daze, on the other hoof, had managed to remain frozen in place. “What did you say?” Shady Daze finally asked as his eyes narrowed. “Everything you did that night,” Button Mash started as he felt his cheeks flush. “Everything… from telling me how to talk to Dinky, to you distracting Brolly from Rumble. Fuck, man, you even carted Brolly to the hospital in a cart after what he did to you.” “So?” Shady Daze asked. Button Mash swallowed the lump in his throat. For some reason, the alcohol in his body made him more much willing to say what he was saying. He could think of no other reason for his ability to say such things out loud. Above them, the single porch light flickered on and off, and Button Mash watched as the light flickered in Shady Daze’s eyes. “It-it’s not fair,” Button Mash replied as he fell onto his haunches. “There were so many times I could have stopped what was happening that night.” He stared down at his hooves. “I-I know you aren’t happy, Shady.” Button Mash clenched his eyes shut, but he continued anyway. At this point, he honestly didn’t care whether or not his friend thought he was playing a trick on him. Even with the alcohol coursing through his veins, however, he couldn’t muster up the courage to look at his friend as he rambled on. “I remember how happy you were at the beginning” he said. “But everything that happened to you just made you sadder… and angrier.” “Button,” Shady Daze replied as he lowered his head once more. “Please, just stop.” “No!” Button Mash shouted. “I know I did this wrong, and I know that this came up because Dinky says it’s her fantasy. You aren’t happy, Shady… I want to see you happy.” Button Mash stood up and made his way to Shady Daze. He took another deep breath before continuing. As his friend’s shoulder trembled, he got a feeling in the pit of his stomach that weighed him down more heavily than any amount of liquor could. “You remember that one time you caught me having my… alone time… with a copy of Filly Fanny Fun?” Although Shady Daze didn’t lift his head from the table, Button Mash could tell that the stallion was curious because he at least stopped trembling. “There was a picture of a mare… she was… touching herself, you know?” Button Mash paused. “So?” Shady Daze asked. “Promise you won’t tell Rumble about this?” “Why the fuck would you give two shits about what he thinks, Button?” “Please?” Button Mash asked. “… fine.” “The scene was that she touched herself as she watched two stallions… fucking,” he continued. “There was a story—and yes, Shady, I do read the articles, too. The story was that the mare wanted her coltfriend to show her how caring he was.” Button Mash laughed even more nervously as he contemplated what he was saying to the, by this time, rather sensitive stallion in front of him. “It really was like the yaoi manga Dinky likes.” Button Mash found himself trailing his hoof along Shady Daze’s mane. As he pressed down further, he could feel the stallion’s breathing become slow and steady. His mane feels like soft hay, Button Mash thought to himself. “W-why?” Shady Daze whispered as he finally lifted his head off of the table, his eyes now red. “Why are you telling me this now?” “A seme wants to do everything in his power to make an uke happy,” Button Mash replied. “In Equish,” Shady Daze said. “I…” Button Mash began, trying to find the right words to say. “I saw the picture in the magazine and was curious, I guess?” Shady Daze scoffed and started towards the door. “No, hear me out,” Button Mash said as he held the stallion back. “I… know… you like the idea of… experimenting.” Shady Daze quirked an eyebrow. Button Mash backed away and covered his head with his hooves as though shielding from a potential attack. “This isn’t about being gay or straight or anything, Shady,” Button Mash said. “I-I just want you to feel like you matter, you know?” He rubbed his hoof against his muzzle and sniffled. “‘Cause you do… to me, at least.” “Button…” Shady Daze replied softly. “You don’t have to—” “Why am I even saying this?” Button Mash muttered. “You think I’m just drunk and dumb and I don’t know what I’m saying and you’ll probably tell me that Dinky’s made me stupider and—” Button Mash felt a hoof press against his muzzle. He looked up and saw a pair of bloodshot eyes staring back at him. Button Mash felt the hoof pull away from his lips, and before he knew it, the hoof was replaced by Shady Daze’s lips on his own. As they pressed together, Button Mash felt Shady Daze’s mouth open. Button Mash leaned forward and stuck his tongue through the newly formed opening. As his tongue brushed against Shady Daze’s teeth, he heard the stallion moan softly, the sound vibrating all the way down his own throat. And just like that, the kiss was done. Shady Daze pulled back and turned away. Button Mash watched his friend’s lip quiver as the stallion stood up and trotted towards the railing. As Shady Daze reached up to leap over, Button Mash stopped him. “Where are you going?” he asked. “If… and this is a really big if…” Shady Daze shook his head, as though immediately regretting was he knew he needed to say. “As in “last level of Thirst For Blood IV” if… you get one chance, one life.” “Whaddaya mean?” Button Mash asked. “Well, doesn’t a seme need to prove himself to his ookie?” “Uke.” “…right… then prove it to me,” Shady Daze smirked. “Seduce me. If Dinky really wants this, and if you really want to do this, then make me want it.” “What?” Button Mash asked, his eyes widening. “You heard me,” Shady Daze replied as he tried to leap over the railing. “Now help me over. There’s no way in Tartarus I’m going back in there.” Button Mash nodded and lowered his head to help lift Shady Daze off of the ground. As the stallion pulled himself up over the railing, however, Button Mash couldn’t help but notice that Shady Daze’s cock had emerged from its sheath and was now pressed against the back of his neck. A light, salty aroma filled his nostrils, and he instinctively breathed deeply as Shady Daze finally leaped over the railing and landed on the other side. The moment Button Mash realized what he did, however, he backed away and shook his head. “Uh… tomorrow night, I guess?” Button Mash asked as Shady Daze regained his bearings. “At my place?” When Shady Daze stood up straight again, he turned back to Button Mash. Before he could say anything, however, Shady Daze glanced over to the door and froze. He frowned, nodded his head to Button Mash, and retreated into the shadows. Button Mash turned to the door and saw Dinky Doo standing in the doorway, her cheeks flushed. “Sweet Celestia…” Dinky Doo gasped. “That was… so beautiful.” Button Mash tried to laugh, but he couldn’t find it within him to. Instead, he turned back to where he last saw his friend, only to see that where Shady Daze once stood, there was now only darkness. The light from the setting sun pierced through the blinds at Button Mash’s house and settled onto the couch, where Dinky Doo was currently sitting, engrossed in her manga. The cover of said manga featured two stallions: the larger of the two, a dark blue pegasus, had a wing wrapped around the smaller stallion, a tan earth pony with a fiery red mane. The title, Blitzkrieg’s Ascension, burned in bright blue letters across the cover. Dinky Doo moaned to herself as she read through. As her eyes darted from scene to scene, she sighed as the familiar sight of Blitzkrieg’s red mane appeared from box to box like the fire of desire that grew within herself. Oh Ascension, you bring light into my life like the hunter’s moon across a rice paddy. Blitzkrieg, you lift me higher than the cirrostratus that I am tasked with bringing to the dawn’s horizon. Dinky Doo snickered. Oh Blitzkrieg, you big idiot, she thought to herself as she flipped the page, just accept that every stallion finds you adorable. A sudden knock at the front door shook Dinky Doo from her reading. She groaned in frustration, tossed the book onto the coffee table, and lit her horn. The door flew open, and when she saw Shady Daze standing there, one hoof over the other and biting his lip, her frustration immediately gave way to excitement. “Oh, Shady!” she shouted as she leaped from the couch. “You decided to come after all!” Shady Daze smiled weakly at her and walked into the living room. He glanced around at the cleanliness of it—the way all of the cushions were spotless and in order, the lack of hoof-shaped indentations on the walls, how the entire room smelled faintly of lemon cleaner—and his smile faded. “I’m always amazed at how clean Button’s house is,” he mumbled. “Missus Mash isn’t here, if you’re worried about that,” Dinky Doo replied. “She’s at a tech conference in Tall Tale until tomorrow.” “Right,” Shady Daze said as he sat down on the couch. He glanced at the coffee table and chuckled. “I take it this is your… inspiration?” he asked as he took hold of the book, ignoring the way the mare’s blush took hold. “Y-yeah…” she muttered. “You’re actually okay with the thought of this?” Shady Daze asked. “You guys have only been going out for like a month, have you… you know?” The last question was spoken at a near whisper. “You mean have we fucked?” she asked, unfazed by the stallion’s widened eyes. “Sure. We’ve done lots of things, actually.” “Oh,” he said. “So then… where is the stud this evening?” “He’s downstairs,” Dinky Doo said with a sigh. “Was I really drunk last night?” “You were toasted worse than the first time you tried a teleportation spell, Dinky.” Dinky Doo took a seat next to Shady Daze and glanced over at him as he flipped casually through the manga. As the stallion looked at the images left to right and flipped the pages backwards, Dinky Doo fought the urge to correct him, though she was unable to stop her eye from twitching. “I don’t get it,” the stallion said as he tossed the book aside. Dinky Doo nodded sympathetically, even as the word baka ran repeatedly through her thoughts. However, as Shady Daze continued to stare at the now closed book, Dinky Doo noticed that the stallion had started to shake. “Why am I really here?” Shady Daze asked. “Well,” Dinky Doo replied. “Mashy and I sort of made a bet—” “I got that part,” Shady Daze interrupted as he got to his hooves. “Button’s my friend. You’re my friend. You two are dating.” He spoke quickly as he paced back and forth, turning as he finished each sentence. “Why me?” “You were the first stallion to come to mind,” Dinky Doo said as she motioned for the stallion to follow her into the kitchen. Her horn glowed and a pair of wine glasses and bottle floated onto the table. She smirked as the cork popped off. “For both of us, actually.” As she filled the two glasses, she laughed. “Turns out, we both have a similar fantasy. And before you have to ask, had he won, it would have been Sweetie Belle.” “You two seem really confident that this plan of yours will work,” Shady Daze said as he lifted the glass. “Well, you’re here, aren’t you?” The stallion froze at the realization that Dinky Doo was right. I am here, he thought to himself, mother of Celestia, I didn’t even put up that much resistance. “You two think I’m easy,” Shady Daze said. “What?” Dinky Doo asked, shocked. “Shady, no. We don’t think that—honest. We just thought it’d be fun.” The mare sipped her wine. “Beneath his goofy surface, Mashy is actually really charming, in his own way.” Dinky Doo turned her head towards the stairs leading to the basement. Shady Daze’s glance followed hers, but didn’t see anything. “He talks about you, Shady,” Dinky Doo continued after another sip. “He says that if it weren’t for you, he wouldn’t be where he is today.” She sighed. “He loves you, in a sense. He just wants to find a nice way to show it.” “A card would work, too, you know.” “Ah, but you’ll get a lot more out of this than you would a card,” the mare said. “Like, a lot more.” The two stared at one another before breaking into laughter. Shady Daze finally felt himself loosening up as he continued to drink as he remembered all of the times he broke in on Button Mash’s alone time. “I take it you’ll be trying to watch,” Shady Daze asked with a raised eyebrow. “I’ll find a way,” Dinky Doo replied. “I’ve done stranger things,” the stallion said. “He’s been down there for a while. Do you think he’s all right?” “Why don’t you go on down and check on him?” Dinky Doo asked. Shady Daze blushed as he glanced towards the front door. If you’re going to back out, do it now. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” he said. “Are you?” she replied. Shady Daze tossed back the rest of the wine and walked out of the kitchen. He stood in front of the stairs, his gaze darting from the front door to the door leading to the basement. He took a deep breath and made his way downstairs. If you’re going to do this, he thought, do it with confidence. Button Mash galloped around the room and lit the last of the candles. He glanced around the room to make sure everything else was in order. On the dresser was a record player with the needle balanced precariously on the edge, ready to start playing music at a moment’s notice. A small bouquet of roses sat in a vase on the nightstand. As he looked around the room, he made a mental checklist. Bed made, dirty magazines hidden, Braystation 4 out of harm’s way. There was a knock at the door. Button Mash gulped as he took a few hesitant steps forward. This is it, he thought as he opened the door. “Wow,” Shady Daze said in wonder. “This is the first time that I’ve knocked on your door and you weren’t jacking it.” Normally, such a comment would result in a sarcastic reply. Given the circumstances, however, Button Mash bit his tongue. He smiled weakly at the stallion and beckoned him inside. Shady Daze glanced around the room and whistled. “And look at this, Button,” he said. “You do know how to clean.” Shady Daze looked at all of the candles flickering in the room, the light casting shadows that danced on the walls. “Are they apple scented?” he asked, taking a deep inhale. “Uh, yeah,” Button Mash replied. “‘Cause you like those cigarettes, you know?” “Oh, that’s—” Shady Daze pondered for a moment. “Really sweet, actually.” he glanced over at the nightstand. “Roses?” Button Mash rubbed the back of his neck and took a step back. “Yeah, well,” he replied. “I thought you’d like a snack.” Shady Daze felt his brave veneer finally showing signs of cracking. He glanced over at Button Mash, who stood next to the record player, and noted how his amber coat looked in the candlelight. Shady Daze knew better than to bother lying to himself at this point—he honestly did find his friend attractive. Button Mash wasn’t beefed up like Rumble, nor was he slender like himself. He looks… soft, Shady Daze thought to himself as his eyes trailed lower down the stallion’s body. I wonder if he’s ticklish. “This is like literally galloping into a romance novel, Button,” Shady Daze said as Button Mash started to lower the needle onto the record. “The only thing that would make this more stereotypical is if the record played Colton John or some-” There’s a calm surrender… To the rush of day… Shady Daze facehoofed. A moment later, the music stopped with a screech of the needle. He looked up and saw that Button Mash was now blushing furiously. Shady Daze lifted his hoof to his muzzle to hide the cheeky grin and soft snicker that he couldn’t force away. The moment he saw Button Mash frown, however, he stopped. “Sorry,” Button Mash said. Shady Daze looked around the room and took everything in again. The combined aroma of roses and apple filled his nostrils. The multitude of candles began to heat up the room. Then again, maybe the heat was coming from inside of him. As he looked at everything Button Mash had done, he felt the last vestiges of his confidence slip away. Dinky’s really lucky, he thought as he felt his shoulders droop. He heard the bed creak and saw that Button Mash was sitting right next to him. “Don’t be sorry,” Shady Daze replied as he adjusted himself. “Knowing you, I expected nothing less.” Button Mash scraped a hoof back and forth on the sheets. “We could look in your mom’s room to see if there is more appropriate music,” Shady Daze suggested. Both stallions yelped when a record popped into existence in between them and landed on the bed. The moment Shady Daze picked it up, he rolled his eyes. “Land of Make Believe, by Buck Pongione,” he mumbled, shaking his head. “Thank you, Dinky,” Button Mash called out. The two waited to hear if the peeping mare would reveal where she was. When nothing came, Button Mash grabbed the record and set up the music. As the sound of a flugelhorn filled the room, he rejoined Shady Daze back on the bed. “What I mean to say is that you’re sweet, Button,” Shady added before biting his lip. “And no matter what anypony says, you are attractive.” “You think so?” Button Mash asked. “Yeah,” he replied, noticing how the stallion seemed to puff up a little at the statement. “You look… stallion-y, you know? Not all muscly and stuff like those stupid comic books you read. Totally unrealistic.” He waved a hoof around the room. “And then you do stuff like this?” “Well, this is kind of what I do sometimes for Dinky,” Button Mash replied. “So I just sort of figured that you’d like it, too.” Shady Daze smirked. Button Mash’s eyes widened. “I don’t mean that I think of you as a mare, I just—” Shady Daze leaned forward, pressing his muzzle against Button Mash’s, and sighed. Just like the night before, he opened his mouth and was rewarded with the other stallion’s tongue gently pressing forward. He pushed back slightly with his own tongue, and he felt Button Mash’s tongue push back with more force. Button Mash pulled back, and Shady Daze groaned when he felt the emptiness once more. As Shady Daze felt his cock stir in its sheath, he pushed back to the headboard. “Button,”Shady Daze whispered, “You… you promise you aren’t imagining me as a mare or anything?” Shady Daze pressed his hooves together and whimpered at what he just said. He squeaked when he felt his tail being yanked towards the middle of the bed. As soon as he realized what had happened, Button Mash let go of the stallion’s tail that he had just pulled towards him using his teeth. Shady Daze saw Button Mash’s eyes, dark and smouldering like the embers of a just finished fire, and couldn’t help but tremble. “Huh uh,” Button Mash growled. “I’m definitely imagining you.” Shady Daze felt his cock emerge and land on his stomach, a tiny bead of precum dripping down from the head and landing on his fur. “Why?” Shady Daze asked. “Promise you won’t laugh?” Shady Daze nodded. “Well, you’re small,” Button Mash said as he played with the stallion’s mane. “I like that. And you don’t walk—you always do this saunter-thing. It’s cute.” “Where’ve you been hiding all of this confidence?” Shady Daze said without thinking. “You were the one who helped me find it, Shady,” Button Mash replied as his hoof pressed against Shady Daze’s barrel, smirking when the smaller stallion giggled. “You and Dinky.” Shady Daze felt Button Mash separate his legs and gasped when he felt the stallion’s dick join his own. The moment he looked down, he immediately blushed at the size difference. “Well,” Shady Daze said. “You do have a lot to be confident about, with that fifth leg of yours.” Button Mash pushed his hips forward, and his dick moved up and down Shady Daze’s shaft, dripping a small trail of stickiness along the way. Shady Daze felt the stallion’s hefty balls rub up against his own and he moaned once more. “Don’t act surprised,” Button Mash said. “It’s not the first time you’ve seen it. How many times have you walked in on me in the middle of me jerking it?” Shady Daze didn’t say anything, but when he felt Button Mash’s hoof press his stomach, he started giggling. “Tell me, Shady,” Button Mash commanded. “How many times?” “A… a lot…” Shady Daze replied between laughs. He took a deep breath the moment Button Mash set him free again. “And no, it wasn’t on purpose.” He instinctively snickered when he saw the stallion’s hoof inches away from him. “Okay, maybe once or twice.” “Shady?” Button Mash asked. as he pushed himself up the stallion’s body. “Would you…” “Would I what?” “Do you wanna…” he paused as a blush crept across his muzzle. “Lick it?” Shady Daze stared down at Button Mash’s cock that was now inches from his muzzle. He craned his neck forward and traced his tongue around the flat head, causing the stallion on top to moan in delight. His eyes narrowed as he suckled lightly around Button Mash’s dick hole. Shady Daze groaned as the scent of Button Mash’s musk became stronger. As Button Mash climbed forward, Shady Daze grabbed the stallion’s thighs with his hooves and positioned himself to take more of Button Mash’s girth into his mouth, humming to himself as the wide cock slid down his throat. He moved his hooves back and forth, massaging Button Mash’s thighs as the stallion pushed ahead, inch by inch. Shady Daze felt Button Mash’s balls press against his chin. He reveled in the feeling as Button Mash slowly started to rock his hips back and forth, the familiar salty taste of precum dancing on his tastebuds. Shady Daze felt his own dick get even harder as Button Mash’s legs tightened around his withers, effectively trapping the smaller stallion in that position. It’s been too long since I’ve had this, Shady Daze thought to himself as he began to suck greedily on his friend’s dick, his tongue twisting around the shaft. “S-Shady,” Button Mash growled. “Yes, keep doing that. Damn, that tongue is so good.” Shady Daze happily obliged, and soon he felt Button Mash’s thrusts grow even more forceful. I could cum just from this, Shady Daze thought as Button Mash shoved his cock down his throat. He felt the grip on his withers loosen, however, and groaned as Button Mash placed a hoof on his cheek and slowly started to pull out. As Shady Daze gasped for air, he glared at the stallion as he got up from the bed. “Why’d you stop?” Shady Daze panted, yelping again as Button Mash pulled him to the side of the bed. “I wanna fuck you,” Button Mash replied as he rubbed his hooves along Shady Daze’s flanks. “Let me rut you,” he whispered. Shady Daze shook on the bed, but managed to nod his head in approval. He heard the sound of the nightstand drawer opening, followed by the sound of a bottle opening. He gasped when he felt a dollop of cold lube drip onto his asshole, and he moaned when he felt Button Mash’s hoof press against his opening and rub around it, pushing inside of him just slightly. The bottle landed next to Shady Daze, and he looked up to see Button Mash staring at him, his cock at full mast, throbbing and leaking more precum. He glanced over at the bottle and then back to Button Mash’s dick. “You want me to… prepare you?” Shady Daze asked delicately. Button Mash leaned forward and gripped Shady Daze’s ear. “I want you to slick my dick so I can fuck you.” Shady Daze trembled as he coated his hoof with lube. “You feel really smooth,” he said with a smile the stroked Button Mash's dick. “Imagine how smooth my dick feels when it’s in you,” Button Mash replied. Shady Daze closed his eyes and smiled. Button Mash’s hooves trailed down his withers and chest, down to his barrel, and then finally coming to rest on the stallion’s flanks just over his cutie marks. As Button Mash’s hooves explored Shady Daze’s body, his tongue followed suit, snaking down the center of his body until it touched the tip of his pulsing cock. “Button,” Shady Daze gasped. “Y-you don’t have to do that.” He blushed and turned his head away, as if afraid to watch his friend go down on him. “It’s fine.” Shady Daze moaned over the sounds of the crashing music as he felt Button Mash’s mouth cover the head of his dick. He felt the stallion’s tongue press gently on the vein in his cock, and a shiver ran up his spine. He could feel himself already getting close. He felt his inside heat up, as though a tiny spark had ignited at the base of his tail. Suddenly, a blast of air met his dick as Button Mash pulled back. “But it’s fun,” Button Mash replied. Dammit, Button,” Shady Daze said as he panted. “Why do you have to be so sweet?” Shady Daze felt his eyes burn as Button Mash continued to massage his flanks. Just as quickly, he heard the sound of the bed creak as Button Mash leaped forward and planted another firm kiss on his lips, thrusting his tongue in and out of the stallion’s mouth. When the kiss stopped, Button Mash cradled Shady Daze’s head in his hooves and looked into his eyes. “You are sweet, Shady,” Button Mash said. “And such a good pony. I know that after what Rumble did—” “Don’t…” Shady Daze glared at Button Mash. “Don’t ruin this by talking about him.” Button Mash’s lips quivered. He closed his eyes and kissed Shady Daze again. Shady Daze’s hind legs shook violently and his hips thrust upward as the kiss grew deeper. Finally, Button Mash pulled back and positioned himself behind him. Shady Daze watched as Button Mash pressed his hooves between the stallion’s legs and spread them open. As his own cock bounced on his stomach, Shady Daze couldn’t help but feel completely exposed to his friend. Finally, Shady Daze felt the familiar yet still foreign sensation of the cock pressing against his entrance. Button Mash wiggled back and forth, and Shady Daze held his breath as he felt the head of Button Mash’s cock begin to surge through. “S-Shady,” Button Mash said as he gritted his teeth. “Are you ready? Please tell me you’re ready.” Shady Daze bit his lip and nodded his head, and within a moment, he felt the cockhead push itself inside him. He felt the muscles of his anus tighten around the cock, securing it snugly within . “Ah!” he shouted as Button Mash continued to push forward. “Are you all right?” “Y-yes,” Shady Daze gasped. “Just… give me a second.” “Damn, Shady, it feels really good.” “Sorry,” Shady Daze whispered. “It’s just that…” He reached up and placed a hoof on Shady Daze’s cheek. “You do know that you’re very big, right?” Button Mash blushed and shied away, but Shady Daze gripped tighter. The two looked into each other’s eyes. “Button,” Shady Daze asked as he finally became comfortable with the dick inside of him. “Would you mind looking at me when you… you know…” “Watch you while I fuck you?” he asked, not batting an eye. The burning sensation in Shady Daze’s eyes finally grew to the point where the tears fully formed and fell down his cheek, forcing him to close his eyes again. Button Mash leaned forward as more of his cock pressed further inside. Shady Daze felt Button Mash’s muzzle on his cheek. “Shady?” The stallion opened his eyes again and saw Button Mash staring at him. As the last of the tears fell, he saw the stallion’s eyes as they glistened behind the backdrop of lit candles. “Has anypony told you that your eyes are like those amber fossil things?” Shady Daze asked. “Ha,” Button Mash laughed. “Only every other day. They’re like the top of the staff the doctor has from that movie, Longma Park.” “Seriously?” Shady Daze asked with a smirk. “Nerding out now?” “Hey!” Button Mash growled as he pushed himself further inside of Shady Daze, smirking as the stallion moaned and threw his head back. “That’s what I thought.” Shady Daze felt Button Mash’s cock press against his prostate. Another wave of fire rushed through his body. He shook his head and looked into Button Mash’s eyes once more. “Button,” he whimpered. “Please… just…” “Say it,” Button Mash said as he leaned forward and nipped at Shady Daze’s ear. “I want you to say it.” “Keep going… inside me…” “That’s not it.” Button Mash finally pushed forward until he was buried at the hilt and his balls slammed into the stallions cheeks. Shady Daze gasped. “Fuck me!” Shady Daze shouted as he glared at the stallion. “Please, just fuck me!” Button Mash smiled and started to pull out, thrusting into Shady Daze with all of his might. Shady Daze’s chest heaved in and out as Button Mash continued his assault, every thrust rubbing against the stallion’s prostate. Shady Daze felt the familiar sensation of fire running through him--he knew that he would blow his load at any moment. With how large Button Mash was, he could feel each vein of his cock as it rocked back and forth against his inner walls, the stallion’s balls banging against him. The music reached a climax, the sounds of brass and woodwind mixing with the stallion’s grunting and groaning. Finally, Shady Daze watched as Button Mash’s eyes clenched shut. “Shady, I’m--I’m so close,” Button Mash shoved his body forward and tightened his forelegs against Shady Daze’s withers. “P-please,” Shady Daze cried. “Keep—keep going.” “Tell me where you want it.” “Button—” “Tell me!” Button Mash growled as he continued to pound Shady Daze’s ass. “Cum in me!” Shady Daze begged. “Please!” Button Mash’s lungs heaved and he threw his entire body onto Shady Daze’s chest. Shady Daze felt Button Mash’s cock throb as the stallion unloaded his seed into him. With one final thrust against his prostate, Shady Daze felt himself reach climax, his cock pulsing back and forth as it shot his own load into his muzzle, then his neck, then finally onto his stomach. He groaned as Button Mash sighed and collapsed onto him, mashing the sticky cum into his fur. Shady placed his hooves gently on Button Mash’s withers and pushed him up. As their cocks slowly retreated into their sheaths, Shady Daze trailed his hoof against Button Mash’s cheek. “Button,” Shady Daze said. “… thank you.” Button Mash grunted and lowered himself to give Shady Daze a sloppy kiss. “No, Shady,” he said. “You were awesome.” Shady Daze chuckled. “I mean, after everything’s that’s happened—” A lump began to form in his throat. Shady Daze closed his eyes and started to cry, only to feel Button Mash reach forward and cradle him in his forelegs. “Shady,” Button Mash replied. “Stop doing this to yourself. You are a great guy. Don’t ever let anypony tell you otherwise.” “Button, I—” Button Mash pressed him closer until Shady Daze could barely breath. “No!” he shouted. “Tell me that you believe me. How you were with Rumble, with Brolly—I’m tired of everypony being mean to you.” Shady Daze felt a warmth on his wither. He wondered what it was until he glanced over and saw that Button Mash was crying into his fur. “Please,” Button Mash whimpered. “Stop blaming yourself for everypony else being bastards.” Shady Daze’s eyes widened. He felt his body freeze in place. He couldn’t even breathe. As Button Mash continued to sob into the stallion’s withers, Shady Daze lifted a hesitant hoof onto his friend’s back. “Thank you, Button.” As the two stallions embraced, they took a moment to breathe one another in. Shady Daze inhaled and breathed in the scent of Button Mash’s mane. Button Mash could still smell Shady Daze’s cigarettes on his fur. Shady Daze wrapped his hooves around Button Mash’s stomach, chuckling to himself at how soft he felt. Button Mash brushed his muzzle against Shady Daze’s mane, chuckling at how it felt. “Has anypony told you your mane feels like hay?” “Ugh,” Shady Daze said. “No, it makes me hungry for you.” “Button, you are such a dork.” The two settled down into the bed. Shady Daze sighed gently into Button Mash’s chest. If only, he thought, allowing himself to smile again. The door to the bedroom flung open, and Dinky Doo tumbled into the room. A new scent erupted around them; it was the scent of a mare having just gone through a heat. “Emergency!” Dinky Doo shrieked. Dinky Doo galloped through the room, dove across the pair, and hid on the other side of the bed. Both stallions felt her sticky hoof as she tripped over them in an effort to find a place to hide. “Emergency?” Button Mash said as he looked up. “What do you—” Button Mash looked up to his bedroom door, and his eyes shot to pinpricks. “Oh…” Button Mash leaned over in a very poor attempt to cover Shady Daze’s comatose-from-fear body. He flashed a lopsided smile, his pulse racing and his lip twitching as he spoke. “How was the tech conference, mom?”