> Little Dusk Shine’s Big Adventure
>  by Typist Gray
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1: A Mission to Ponyville
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dusk Shine had his nose buried in a book, as per usual. Most ponies in the library merely needed cushions to sit on, but this purple unicorn needed a stool. This wasn’t unusual, given that he was a stallion. And because he was a stallion, despite being the same age as most of the ponies in Canterlot’s Royal Library, Dusk stood roughly at the same height as most of his quadrupedal peers’ shoulders, putting him slightly below average for one his age. For some of the taller ponies, he only had to duck his head a little to walk beneath them without notice.

However, there were a couple unusual things about Dusk that caught ponies’ eyes. The first wasn’t merely that he was a stallion, but a stallion in such a prestigious institution. While he’d long ago learned to tune out most gossip, his flicking ears occasionally picked up ponies questioning why a male was here. He clearly had a cutie mark, marking him as an adult, so he likely wasn’t a foal waiting for anyone to pick him up. Ponies unfamiliar with him openly wondered why he wasn’t at home, taking care of the household chores and, most importantly, attending to his mares. The more brazen among them questioned what the colt-looking stallion’s butt tasted like and how big his penis might be. Luckily, ponies that gossiped too loudly were promptly silenced by the second unusual thing about the purple pony.

Barb was a slightly lighter shade of purple than Dusk’s fur, with green spines along her scaly back and a soft green underbelly. Being a female, she naturally stood taller than the average male, except she stood out more for being nearly twice as tall as most mares when on all fours, and even taller if she reared up on her back legs. Sporting such an intimidating height with a bulk to match, she wasn’t afraid of using the ignorance of others to her advantage by facing anyone whose words annoyed her and curling her lip up in a soft snarl. That either shut ponies up or sent them outright running in fear, much to her amusement.

“You shouldn’t do that,” Dusk chided, never tearing his nose from the book that so engrossed his attention.

“Do what? It’s called a smile, bookworm,” Barb shot back, her tail curling protectively around the little stallion’s stool. “Ya know, it’s that thing you do when you find a book that you haven’t reread six times already.”

“You’re scaring them,” Dusk rebuked.

Barb’s draconic expression scrunched in a scowl. “Since when do you care what losers like them think?”

“I don’t, but it gets annoying when I say hi to someone, only for them to run away when they see you.” Another unusual, but less obvious detail about Dusk was how he used non-species-specific pronouns. He said it wasn’t for Barb’s sake, but merely a disagreement with language vernacular being needlessly specific. However, few believed him, especially not the young drake. “That makes it super hard to negotiate for the stuff I need.”

Barb rolled her eyes and chuckled as a clawed hand gently patted Dusk’s back. Their size difference was painfully apparent, as the drake’s talons could effortlessly scoop up the little pony and carry him off to who-knows-where whenever she liked, which had been necessary on a few occasions. “Of course, ever the pragmatic one,” she sighed, somewhat disappointed. Dusk was an oddball. Even among stallions who aspired to be more than mere house-husbands, he had numerous idiosyncrasies that put most ponies off, leading to few relationships that could be called positive, let alone friendships. It worried Barb that the precious creature she so valued might never connect with other ponies.

“Hmm, the Elements of Harmony?” Dusk pondered aloud, finally looking up as he scratched his chin. “Where have I heard that before?”

Seeing a look of determination don on her master’s face, Barb closed the comic she’d been reading and stood on all fours, ready to run. Sure enough, the moment Dusk closed the book with his magic, the little stallion took off with a gallop, his drake familiar in hot pursuit. Barb’s legs were longer, and she had no issue keeping pace, so she ran a little ahead as a deterrent for any pedestrians to clear the path. There were advantages to being the biggest, baddest babe on castle grounds, second only to the one who wore a crown. However, there were yet those bold enough to stand against the miniature stampede, forcing the pair to skid to a halt.

“There you are, Dusk,” greeted Precision Pen with an almost convincingly warm grin. Her mane was shades of black and gray, her fur was silver, and her cutie mark was an inkwell pen. She was flanked by her three flunkies, whose names Dusk couldn’t remember, but their smiles were far more strained as they kept wary eyes on Barb. “I just wanted to double-check and make sure you were coming to my party this afternoon.”

Dusk blinked up at the mare as his ears folded back before his eyes fell to the ground. “I-I never said I w-was c-coming.” He flinched when Precision’s squad snickered.

“Well, I had assumed you would. After all, it’s not like you had any other plans,” Precision countered, head held high with the confidence befitting her family lineage.

“I-I had plans,” Dusk stammered. “B-but that’s ch-changed. I-I have to—”

“Reading by yourself is hardly what most ponies would call a plan, little one,” Precision said with maximum condescension. “Just look at you, shivering like a homeless peasant in winter. You’d be so much more confident if you had a few strapping mares to take care of you, you know.”

“I-I can t-take care of m-myself.”

Precision snorted a laugh. “A stallion by himself? Such silly ideas you have, little one.”

“I take care of him,” Barb intoned, her voice deepening to dangerous levels as her head fell to just above a pouncing posture.

Precision’s nose wrinkled as though detecting an offensive smell, never sparing a glance at Barb. “My point, exactly, little Dusk. You can’t even properly train your familiar, so how can you expect to look after yourself?”

“I heard he’s still a virgin,” said the red mare to Precision’s left.

The blue mare on Precision’s right added, “I wouldn’t believe it if it were anypony but Dusk. He’s such a cutie; it’s all I can do to hold myself ba—” She suddenly stopped herself when she noticed Barb’s razor gaze trying to set the hapless pony on fire with her mind.

“Which just further proves that you need mares in your life to look after and protect you,” Precision continued, not noticing that she had one less flunky to back her up. “No pony would proposition you or try to feel you up if they knew you’d already been claimed, especially by a pony of such high standing as myself.” She put a hoof to her chest like she was giving a speech after winning an award.

Dusk muttered something almost inaudible, with only his resentful tone being clear.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that,” Precision inquired, her patience slipping.

“I said, ‘If you were so great, how come you don’t have one of these?’” Dusk reached into his saddle bags and extracted a golden badge that shined with magical light, though he kept his eyes down the entire time.

Precision’s eye twitched, yet her smile held. “Yes, it’s true; you have some impressive magical potency for coming from such a minor house. However, wouldn’t it be better if, instead of wasting time with dusty old books, you applied that aptitude to something important?” She turned her body sideways and wiggled her rump in what was meant to be an enticing manner. “For example, servicing your mares as stallions are meant to. It’s not like you’re good for anything else.”

Unable to take it anymore at seeing Dusk’s eyes water, Barb reared on her hind legs and mightily loomed at her full height, casting an all-encompassing shadow on the three mares. She then fell forward, colliding thunderously with the ground as her head snapped forward like a striking snake, and unleashed a devastating roar that blasted back the mares’ manes. This roar lasted for several terrifying seconds before Barb snapped her jaw shut to behold two dead-eyed, comatose mares where a pair of bitches used to be. The third spot was filled with open air as the last one fled, leaving a trail of urine in her way.

Barb snorted in satisfaction at her work before craning her long neck to face Dusk as her tail curled around him in a protective wall. “You okay?”

Dusk sniffled a second before wiping his eyes. They were still a little puffy, but he’d always been quick to recover from moments like these. So, now that the strangers were effectively absent, the little stallion forced himself to stand tall before his drake, slipped the badge back in his bags, and said, “W-we have work to do.” And he marched forward, slowly, to not leave the drake behind.

Of course, Barb was quick to follow, knowing that he needed her to finish his recovery. Although she accidentally knocked over the unconscious yet still-standing mares, to which Dusk gave no comment. Eventually, they arrived at the old observatory that had been converted into Dusk’s private room, a privilege shared by no other student. There were also advantages to being the queen’s favorite.

Dusk quickly began sifting through the walls of shelves in search of his target, with Barb only learning what that was from listening to the colt-looking stallion’s mutterings. Dusk muttered more things about Nightmare Moon, which Barb dismissed as an old fairytale, but the purple stallion remained determined. He was convinced that this legendary monster’s return was imminent, and demanded that Barb take a letter. The drake wore saddlebags loaded with parchment and quills for precisely these occasions, after all. Dusk dictated the letter, which Barb sent directly to the queen through her green dragon fire. However, the wind was knocked from the little pony’s sails almost immediately upon reading the unusually prompt response.

***

Later, Dusk was in maximum sulk mode as he and Barb rode in a pegasus-driven chariot out of Canterlot.

“My dearest Dusk, there is more to a young pony’s life than studying. So, I’m sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year’s location, Ponyville. And I have an even more critical task for you to complete. Make some friends,” Barb read for the third time, trying to coax Dusk out of his funk. “She’s right, you know. As the Royal Protégé, she was due to send you on another errand like this eventually.”

“Ugh, there’s no time for errands when I’m right, and Nightmare Moon’s return is imminent!” Dusk whined as the chariot descended through the clouds and the small town of thatched rooves neared.

“Well, at least you’ll be staying in a library,” Barb pointed out.

“Ugh, fine. I’ll check on the preparations as fast as I can, and then resume my research to prove to Celestia that I’m right and Nightmare Moon is returning.”

“And?” Barb added, waving her clawed hand leadingly.

“I’ll do my duty with the preparations, but the fate of Equestria does not depend on me making friends,” Dusk whined, only to catch his drake quirking an eyebrow at him. “What’s that look for?”

“You just jinxed it. You realize that, right?”

Dusk’s eye twitched. “Bookworm’s Theory of Improbability was never proven with concrete evidence, only coincidences that were highly circumstantial.”

“Yeah, but weren’t most of those with ponies on important magical quests?” Barb reminded as she helped Dusk out of the carriage before tipping the flyers as they departed. Ponies of all sorts milled about with their miscellaneous errands, predominantly mares, as per usual, with many sporting large, pregnant-looking bellies. As expected, most paused to at least side-eye the dragon the size of a small food cart and her pony companion. “Ya know, quests like stopping the return of an ancient evil?”

“Ugh, you are insufferable when you get like this,” Dusk whined as he trotted beside Barb, craning his neck to look up at her triangular face.

“What? So convinced that I’m right that I won’t listen to anyone else? Man, it must suck for anyone who has to deal with that,” Barb retorted with a wry grin. “Then again, maybe you’re just too scared to face the one challenge you’ve never overcome. Social activity~” she said in a wobbly, spooky tone. “This isn’t Canterlot, so you ought to at least give these new ponies a shot.”

“Oh, fine! If it’ll shut you up, I’ll try.” Dusk then saw a pony heading in their general direction. She had a curly mane and tail that, when combined with her fur, radiated with almost blinding pink energy. Determined to prove his point, Dusk swallowed his anxiety, puffed out his chest in a show of boldness, and extended his hoof. “H-h-helll-o m-m-misss,” he stammered.

“Smooth,” Barb muttered.

Gasping so hard that she sucked in enough air to attain lift, the pink mare stared in horror at the pair before suddenly zipping off to parts unseen with sufficient speed to knock Dusk off his hooves and into his drake’s claws.

Dusk could practically see the gears grinding in Barb’s brain as she guiltily averted her gaze. No doubt, she blamed herself for intimidating this stranger, even if unintentionally. Sure, they’d both written off most ponies in Canterlot as being jerks, but the young drake clearly hated the idea of isolating the purple pony. So, after righting himself, Dusk summoned the authoritative dignity befitting his birthright and said, “Stupid country bumpkins. They see a grown stallion outside the house, and they freak the buck out.” Huffing, he marched ahead a few steps before stopping to face Barb. “Well, are you coming?”

Grinning, Barb nodded and followed, her leg ‘accidentally’ nudging Dusk almost enough to be suspicious. The drake then read from the letter directing them to start with the mayor’s office. The building was easy enough to find, and, as expected, a stallion and a drake waiting in the lobby were an eye-catching sight, to say nothing of when Dusk flashed his golden badge. At least they didn’t have to wait long to enter the mayor’s office.

“Greetings, uh… S-Sir Royal Protégé?” the pony behind the desk questioningly greeted. She had tan fur with a white and gray mane that made her look older than she was. The label on the desk read Mayor Mare, and she took a second glance at the badge to confirm its authenticity before glancing at the parties wielding it. Adjusting her glasses, she said, “I-I beg your forgiveness, Sir Royal Protégé, but when I got word that the queen was sending such an important pony to inspect our town, I was expecting a… you know…”

“A mare,” Dusk flatly finished, his social awkwardness consumed by protocol and duty. “And you can just call me Dusk. It’s less of a mouthful.”

“I… yes, Sir Dusk,” Mayor Mare replied, hoping she didn’t look as awkward as she felt and forcing herself to not look at the drake. “So, uh, y-you’re here by yourself?”

Barb cleared her throat, reminding all that a creature larger than most furniture was in the room.

“I-I mean, you know, n-no escort?” Mayor Mare asked, sweating bullets as she stressed to find the right words to avoid causing any more offense.

“I don’t need a mare to walk around and hold my hoof all day,” Dusk huffed. “I’m a grown-assed stallion, an adult, and Barbara, my bodyguard, is the only help I need. However, have you made arrangements for where I’ll be staying during my… stay?”

“Y-yes. We got word only an hour ago, but we’re still setting up the Ponyville library for you. We call it the treebrary,” the mayor laughed weakly. “Here are the directions, and everything should be ready in another hour or so.”

Dusk nodded. “Good. Now, give me the lists of ponies and locations of interest,” Dusk demanded, holding out his hoof.

Glad for a way out of this conversation, the mayor handed over the relevant documentation and wished the pair well before making an excuse to be anywhere else.

“Well, that could have gone better,” Barb said as they headed down the dirt road to their first destination.

“It could have also gone worse,” Dusk countered. “At least she didn’t talk down to me or point at her belly. I hate that.”

“You don’t hate it when your moms or I do it,” Barb reminded, nosing Dusk’s side.

“That’s different. You guys don’t talk down to me like I’m somehow broken just because I like stretching my legs outside, or that I’m not married yet.”

“Well, maybe this next place can be a chance to fix the second one,” Barb suggested as they arrived at the gate to Sweet Apple Acres. “The list says this place is handling food. It couldn’t hurt to find a mare who can cook.”

Dusk sighed and hung his head. “Let’s just get this over with.” Entering the property, the red barn in the distance was almost entirely eclipsed by the fields of apple trees. Most had been stripped bare of any fruit, but the closer they got to the farmhouse, the more apples they found. Finally, hearing a disturbance, Dusk spied a pony. She was an orange earth mare in a Stetson hat with three apples for cutie marks. She ran right up to a tree, bucked it with her back legs, and sent every last apple tumbling into the wooden buckets below. As she did, Dusk found himself studying the contours of her body. This mare had remarkable muscle definition, especially around her backside, and the way she delivered each kick without damaging the trees showed an even more impressive level of control.

It was Barb’s turn to use her years of learning Dusk’s mannerisms to look into her compatriot’s mind. Although, that was hardly necessary, as the male’s involuntary physical response to watching the mare work was enough for her to guess what was on his mind and smirk. “She’s cute.”

“Sh-shut up,” Dusk grumbled. Stepping away from Barb and toward the farmer, he got into his authoritative headspace, held out his badge, and said, “Greetings, miss. My name is Dusk Shine, and—”

“Well, howdy do, li’l fella,” the mare warmly said while shaking the smaller pony’s hoof with a level of strength Dusk wasn’t used to, not noticing how Barb’s spines bristled and her eyes narrowed into slits. “Mah name’s Apple Jack, ‘n it’s a pleasure ta make yer acquaintance. We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure do love makin’ new friends, especially li’l cuties like you.”

“F-friends?” Dusk questioned, his authoritative mask faltering as Barb assumed a more relaxed stance.

“Absolutely.” Apple Jack stepped back, her smile faltering when she noticed Barb, and whistled. “Boy, howdy, Ah bet you’ve got an appetite.”

Barb blinked. For as much as she lectured Dusk about needing to socialize, she was unaccustomed to being addressed so directly by a stranger. “Uh, sure, I guess.”

Dusk cleared his throat. “Ahem. Excuse me, but I’m on royal business,” he said while presenting his badge. “Specifically, I’m here to inspect the food for the Summer Sun Celebration.”

Apple Jack whistled again. “That’s an impressive lookin’ badge.”

Dusk braced himself for the mare to say ‘for a stallion,’ but it didn’t come.

“Ah assume ya’ll wanna sample the food.”

“Uh, sure, that’d be great,” Dusk agreed, noting his lack of stutter. Also, his hoof had an unusual, somewhat earthy stink on it. He assumed it was the earth mare’s sweat and, much to his confusion, sniffed a second time with greater force. He then realized both Barb and Apple Jack watched him do so and blushed, forcing himself to not run behind the drake to hide.

Suddenly, Apple Jack ran to a nearby assembly of benches and rang a triangle. “Soup’s on, everypony!” she called, her summons bringing forth a small army of apple-flanked ponies. They then grabbed the purple pony and drake, plopping them on a recently set picnic table before filling it with a small mountain of food, Apple Jack announcing their names as they did.

While Dusk missed most of the names, what caught his attention was the number of males out in the open, almost all of whom were taller than him. Granted, just about every stallion wore a collar with his wives’ cutie marks, but even the colts were allowed out in the open. And even if they didn’t stray too far from the mares and fillies, the sight still struck Dusk as remarkably forward-thinking. However, even seeing so many enlightened ponies wasn’t enough to quell the purple stallion’s growing nerves from having so many strangers smiling at him.

“W-well, it, uh, l-looks like you have everything handled here,” Dusk said, stepping away from the table. “B-but I really m-must be going. Barb and I—Barb! What the buck!?” Dusk snapped upon seeing his drake companion’s head buried in the pile of apple-themed foods, ravenously devouring everything in her long neck’s reach. She looked up and smiled apologetically, sharp teeth riddled with mutilated pastries.

“Hoo-wee! Ah like a gal with a big appetite!” Apple Jack cheered. “What about you, li’l guy? If ya take care ‘f yerself, ya’ll might grow up big ‘n strong like mah big brother, Big Macintosh.” She gestured at a red stallion with his orange mane and tail cut short. He was only a few inches shorter than Apple Jack, a remarkable size for a stallion, to say nothing of his earth pony bulk. Similar to Dusk’s eldest brother, this guy almost looked like a genuine adult, instead of a colt with a cutie mark. The resemblance to the much taller Apple Jack was uncanny, but not as much as the guy’s lack of a collar.

Dusk stared in awe, needing a second to process how another stallion his brother’s age had gone unmarried. Then he slapped himself, sensible. “A-anyway, w-we really should be going. We’ve got—”

“Ain’t ya’ll gonna stay fer brunch?” Big Mac asked, his puppy-dog eyes shimmering as his lips puffed in an adorable pout. It was a cheap trick that males of any age liked to employ to manipulate others.

Dusk always found this act degrading, as it played into the stereotype of all stallions being nothing but taller foals in need of coddling. However, for as much as he hated it, between the red stallion’s adorable performance, everyone else’s disappointment upon hearing him wanting to go, the food’s enticingly sweet-smelling aroma, and the orange mare’s come-hither eyes, the purple unicorn’s resolve faltered. “Well, m-maybe j-just a bite.”

The Apple family cheered, and the guests from Canterlot ate.
> Chapter 2: Meeting the Mares of Ponyville
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Uuugh, pie,” Dusk groaned as he slowly walked, head hung low. His stomach bulge was even greater than Barb’s, proportionally speaking, of course.

“I don’t know why you’re so glum. That was great!” Barb cheered. Prancing in circles around Dusk, her tremendous tummy wobbled with every hop. “Those ponies were so friendly. Not one of them looked afraid of me. Also, that orange mare was pretty cute, huh?”

Dusk sighed and rolled his eyes, ignoring his stomach pains. “They were just being nice because of the badge, Barb. Granted, it’s commendable that they put politics and making connections over prejudice, but I wouldn’t go overestimating a bunch of small-town yokels.”

“Not even ones with flanks strong enough to crush boulders?” Barb pressed, turning Dusk’s facial fur from purple to crimson. Barb merely laughed and pulled out the mayor’s parchment. “Deny it all you want, but I can tell. Anyway, the next thing on the list is the clouds. Hmm, a pony named Rainbowdash is supposed to keep things clear, but just look at that.” She gestured up at the abundance of white obscuring the blue sky.

“Oh, goodie,” Dusk grumbled. “Now I have to deal with some lazy-assed good-for-nothing who can’t even—Gah!” A rainbow blur came out of nowhere and impacted the purple unicorn’s side, knocking him into a mud puddle. Blowing bubbles in the muck, Dusk looked at what had hit him, finding a cyan pegasus mare with a raggedy rainbow mane lying on his back. Sure enough, once the mare realized she was on top of a stallion, her forelegs wrapped around his barrel.

“Hehe, sorry, little guy. I guess I didn’t see ya,” the mare said, almost gyrating as she cuddled the smaller pony against her. Her teats meshed against his backside as she buried her nose in his mane. Only the mud stopped her from licking his cheek as she inhaled his aroma and began grinding her hips. “You must be new around town. I don’t remember cuddling you be—”

“GRRR!”

“… oh.” The mare finally noticed the third wheel, and her tail reflexively tucked between her legs.

Barb was in full attack mode, spines bristling, slit eyes almost red with rage, and teeth bared as she fell into a pouncing stance. “Let. Him. GO!”

“Whoa!” The muddy mare shot several feet in the air, hooves held high in surrender. “Easy there, big girl. I didn’t mean anything by it. It was just an accident, and, ya know, once a mare gets ahold of a cutie like that, we do what comes naturally.” When this well-reasoned and fact-based argument failed to quell the drake’s anger, the mare tried another approach. “Here, let me fix it.” She promptly retrieved a cloud heavy with water, positioned it over the purple unicorn, and bounced atop it until she triggered enough of a shower to wash off the mud. Then, moving too quick for the drake to strike, she formed a twister to instantly dry the stallion. “There ya go, my patented Rain-blow dry. No-no, don’t thank me. You’re quite welcome.”

Still growling, Barb positioned herself between Dusk and the new mare, never tearing her eyes off the rainbow pattern. “You alright, Dusk?” she asked out of the corner of her mouth.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine. It’s nothing that hasn’t happened before,” Dusk sighed in surrender. This was just what happened when mares got ahold of unattended stallions. While annoying and somewhat socially discouraged, it was far from illegal. However, while brushing himself off, Dusk was particularly perturbed by how the mare stared at him with watering eyes. “What’s that look for?”

Without warning, the cyan mare fell over backward, laughing hysterically. Things got worse when Barb glanced back to see what the issue was. Her draconic wrath instantly evaporated, starting with a cheek-puffing chuckle and then morphing into full-on guffaws. Bobbing his head a little, Dusk found his mane and tail had become obscenely poofy and deepened his scowl at those laughing at his expense.

“Let me guess. You’re Rainbow Dash,” Dusk dryly inquired.

The mare instantly recovered from her laughing fit to strike a pose. “The one and only. Why? You’ve heard of me? Interested in a date? Well, I’m not saying I’m not interested, but I’m a little busy with the Summer Sun Celebration and all.”

“Busy, huh?” Dusk remarked, sighed, and adopted a more diplomatic approach. “My name is Dusk Shine, and I’m here to oversee preparations for the Celebration. That includes ensuring the skies are clear, which I see has been neglected.”

“You?” Rainbow incredulously asked.

“Yes, me. Got a problem with that?”

Rainbow shrugged. “Eh, whatever. Anyway, I’m busy practicing. I’ll do the clouds later.”

“Excuse me? What could you be practicing for that’s even remotely as important as—?”

“The Wonderbolts!” Rainbow cheered, going off on a long, excited rant about how she planned to show off for them tomorrow.

Thusly, finding his adversary’s weakness, Dusk adopted a mischievous grin. “Oh, please. I doubt THE Wonderbolts would be interested in a pegasus that couldn’t even keep the skies clear for one day.”

Rainbow regarded Dusk with a’ the-fuck-you-say?’ expression. “Hey, I could clear this sky in ten seconds flat.”

Dusk smirked as Barb did the same. “Prove it.”

Challenge thoroughly accepted, Rainbow lived up to her boast, kicking clouds into disintegration almost too quickly for Dusk to track. As she did, the stallion once again found himself enthralled with the mare’s technique. Like Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash demonstrated an impressive blend of precision and power, but also speed. Dusk thought back to the mare holding his back and nuzzling his mane, only to realize that he wasn’t as upset as he usually was when mares breached Barb’s protection and invaded his personal space. Rainbow’s touching felt a lot gentler than most mares, and something about the way she cuddled him made his loins twitch as he watched the last cloud disappear. ‘Why do so many mares in this town seem to have a talent for hitting things in their sweet spots?’

“What’d I say?” boasted Rainbow as she hovered before Dusk, her task complete. “Ten. Seconds. Flat. I’d never keep Ponyville hanging.” Seeing how the stallion and the drake’s jaws had dropped in awe of the amazingness that was Rainbow Dash, the mare chuckled. “Haha, you should see the looks on your faces. I can’t wait to hang out more.” However, just when she was about to fly off, she stopped, spun around, and pointed at Barb. “Hey, sorry, but I didn’t catch your name.”

“It’s Barb.”

“Barb. Cool. I’ll remember that. You’re a tough-looking gal. I wouldn’t mind wrestling you sometime, if ya know what I mean.” Rainbow winked before flying off, leaving the guests from Canterlot utterly flummoxed.

“D-did she just make a pass at me?” Barb wondered aloud. “Huh, that’s different.”

Dusk eventually blinked back down to earth and regarded the drake. “You looked ready to kill her a second ago.”

“Yeah, but, like she said, it was an accident. Also, I think she was into me,” Barb explained in a mild state of shock at the revelation. Then she snickered. “Sorry, but you seriously need a comb or something.”

Dusk rolled his eyes and marched ahead, biting back the urge to argue that Rainbow had really been interested in him. “What’s next on the list?”

“Decorations in the Assembly Hall, which is apparently distinct from Town Hall. Weird,” Barb answered.

“I’ll bet it’s just the rec center that they renamed to sound fancy,” Dusk postulated as Barb pushed open the building’s doors to behold a sea of ribbons, artistic tapestries, and a tasteful amount of royal imagery.

“Yes, I’d say the decor is coming along nicely,” Dusk appraised.

“Beautiful,” Barb said in awe.

“Indeed. The banners are—”

“Not the banners,” Barb cut in and gestured ahead. “Her.”

The unicorn sorting through ribbons on the stage was sheet-white, her royal violet mane done up in a quaff that screamed refinement, as did everything else about her. Her posture, makeup, and even her feminine hums as she worked were the very picture of regal grace. Being from Canterlot, Dusk and Barb were used to ponies presenting themselves as important for big shindigs and other such events. However, this mare had yet to notice them, and with no one else in the vicinity, she clearly wasn’t doing this for an audience. The only conclusion was that this was just how she was; a refreshing change of pace from the try-hards back in the capitol.

Feeling his mouth go dry, Dusk cleared his throat to get the mare’s attention. “Excuse me, miss.”

“Not right now. I’m in the zone,” she dismissed, barely paying the stallion a fleeting glance.

While Dusk was used to being ignored, he could at least appreciate a mare too preoccupied with work to bother with trivial socializations. Now this was an attitude he could get behind, and not just because her behind had such a splendid and round shape that—Whack! Dusk slapped himself, sensible, and looked anywhere else, only to catch Barb looking as hypnotized as he’d been. But, alas, the stallion could not bring himself to scold his familiar for falling into the same trap as him.

Finally, the mare selected the perfect ribbon, muttering, “Rarity, you are a talent.” Then, facing the newcomers, she said, “Now, how can I help yo—AHH! Goodness, darling, whatever happened to your mane!?”

“Oh, this? It’s a long story,” Dusk dismissed. “I’m just here to check on the decorations and get out of your hair.”

“Out of my hair?” Rarity asked. “What about your hair? No-no-no, this simply won’t do.” Approaching the pair, she caught them off-guard by addressing Barb first. “My, but aren’t you a fine specimen. I take it you’re the keeper of this strapping young lad, Ms…?”

“Hmm? Oh, uh, Barbara. B-but friends call me Barb.”

“Barbara, like those lovely spines of yours? Oh-ho-ho. Graceful yet deadly, like the thorns of a rose. I love it! Anyway, my name is Rarity, and your stallion is in a dreadful state. Might I make him look as presentable as he deserves?”

“Uh, y-yes, by all means,” Barb allowed with a goofy laugh. Since stallions seldom went out alone, it was common manners to address their accompanying mares and ask permission before getting too involved. Most ponies overlooked Barb for being a drake, so to be regarded as Dusk’s rightful guardian by such a lovely mare was not only a pleasant detraction from the norm, but it left her giggling like a schoolgirl.

Before Dusk knew it, he’d been herded off to Rarity’s shop, Carousel Boutique. It was a clothing store with garments as refined as their tailor, who was presently focused on cleaning her fellow unicorn while finding just the right outfit for him. Much to Dusk’s relief, this impromptu game of dress-up avoided anything undignified, such as overtly foalish attire or worse. Even the act of putting Dusk in the various outfits only had slightly more touching than was absolutely necessary. All things considered, the ponies of Ponyville were remarkably well-mannered if nothing else. Then, at one point, Dusk mentioned that he was from Canterlot.

“Canterlot!?” Rarity exclaimed. “Oh, I’m so envious. The glamor. The sophistication. I’ve always wanted to live there. You simply must tell me all about it. Oh, we’re going to be the best of friends, you and I,” she finished by throwing a leg over the stallion’s side and nuzzling his cheek.

Thinking back as hard as he could, Dusk couldn’t recall ever showing Rarity his badge. She seemed to have no idea who he was or his (undesired) importance in the royal court, so she wasn’t trying to make a political connection. Come to think of it, Apple Jack had the same casual friendliness during their interaction. Did none of these ponies intend to use Dusk in their twisted political schemes? Did they even have political schemes? Had he not been overtly disrespected for being a stallion since meeting the mayor? And, more importantly, why did the mares around here smell so pretty? Dusk glanced at Barb to silently beg for help, but the drake appeared utterly smitten with the fashionista’s grace.

Noticing this, Rarity batted her eyelashes at the deadly creature smiling at her with predatory teeth, and she said, “That goes for you too, Barbie-Warby. Perhaps I can take you both out for dinner sometime? Hmm, I’ll need to find a perfect outfit for the occasion, though. Wait here. I’ll be right back.” And she disappeared into another room.

“Quick, let’s get out of here while we can,” Dusk said, grabbing Barb’s tail as he attempted to run, getting nowhere fast. “Barb? Barb! Snap out of it!” When Barb failed to snap out of it, Dusk used his magic to manifest a paddle, with which he delivered a single swift swipe upon the drake’s derriere.

Barb whirled around, teeth bared and ready to help her assailant find out after they’d fucked around. However, all she found was Dusk, utterly devoid of fear and causing her wrath to almost instantly fizzle into confusion.

“Good, you’re awake. Now, hurry up before she tries dying my fur a new color.” Dusk once again tried pulling the drake’s tail to no avail. Instead, the annoyed drake whipped the small pony onto her back and trotted out of the store, looking back with forlorn eyes.

“What is with you today?” Dusk demanded as he rode atop the drake to the town’s scenic outskirts.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. Suddenly, you’re going all googly-eyed at every mare that smiles at you.”

“Oh, like you haven’t?” Barb shot back. “Rarity’s wasn’t the only plot I caught you staring at.”

Dusk blushed while shaking. “Well, excuse me for being short. I can’t help looking at what’s on my level.”

“Then why get so defensive?” Barb asked with a wry grin. “I’m not ashamed of where my eyes have been wandering. Although, if you want an excuse, try admitting you’ve got stallion urges.”

Dusk crossed his forelegs and turned away in a huff. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I don’t? So, that’s not a boner rubbing on my back?” Barb queried, laughing when Dusk hurriedly tried adjusting himself and nearly fell over. “Come on, just admit it.”

“Admit what? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Admit that you’ve finally met some mares that aren’t self-absorbed bitches, and you like it.”

Dusk grumbled a second before conceding. “Okay, fine. Have most of the ponies we’ve met in this town been unusually nice and polite to me? Yes. Do I appreciate this refreshing change of pace? Absolutely. But that doesn’t—”

“You’ve also barely stuttered any.”

Dusk blinked several times as his brain rebooted. “Come again?”

“These girls keep flustering you out of your formal voice, but you’ve hardly stuttered any,” Barb elaborated, her grin broadening. “Dusk, you’re actually talking to ponies!”

Dusk was rendered silent, unable to think of an argument. It was true. He’d actually held semi-casual, non-work-related conversations with ponies who weren’t family or part of Celestia’s inner circle. That hadn’t happened since, well, Barb’s egg hatched, and Celestia took an interest in him. While others had been rightly intimidated by the regal alicorn, Dusk had found her surprisingly easy to talk to, and the same went for three of the last five ponies he’d encountered in this nowhere town. “What’s happening in this place?”

Then, as if in answer, the pair caught wind of an elegant and harmonious bird choir. One look from Dusk told Barb to check the list, which she showed to the stallion some called her master, but she’d always thought of as a companion. Sure enough, music was next, so the pair snuck into some nearby bushes to observe without being seen. The pegasus had a long pink mane with butter-yellow fur. Her voice was positively angelic and even more melodious than the birds she tenderly instructed. Also, she had a pretty great butt, the kind that neither of the two would mind sitting on their faces.

Suddenly, Barb decided to test her hypothesis and threw Dusk out of the bushes, inadvertently frightening off the birds.

At the drake’s urging, Dusk resigned himself to abide by Barb’s whims, figuring she wanted to test his stutter or something. “Um, hello,” Dusk greeted as gently as possible. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle your choir. I just wanted to say they sounded beautiful.” So far, so good. He was using full words. However, the yellow mare averted her gaze and scratched her hoof at the ground, making Dusk’s heart flutter from a cuteness overload. “My name is Dusk Shine, and you are?”

The mare muttered something inaudible.

“Sorry, what was that?”

The mare muttered something inaudible again, backing up a little.

“Didn’t quite catch that.”

The mare squeaked and backed up further.

Dusk’s heart and legs melted into jelly as he felt for this mare. He saw in her eyes the same apprehension that beguiled him whenever he was forced to interact with strangers. He’d never imagined meeting a kindred spirit in a mare of all things. The stallion just wanted to take this mare somewhere secluded and quiet where they could talk about their inability to talk with others. He didn’t even mind the inherent paradoxical nature of his desire. Dusk just wanted to sit with the mare, connect with someone who really got him, maybe touch her mane, and possibly feel her hot breath pelting his face as she—WHACK! Dusk smacked himself, startling and confusing the pretty mare, leaving a sizable bruise on his cheek.

“Well, uh, I s-see your birds are back.” Dusk gestured awkwardly at the tree. “So I guess everything’s in order. Keep up the good work.”

Not looking the little guy in the eye, the mare squeaked appreciatively. Then her eyes widened when she saw the drake’s serpentine head poke out from behind the bushes to congratulate Dusk. “A baby dragon!” she exclaimed in joy, dashing past Dusk in a blur before skidding to a halt before Barb. “Goodness, I haven’t seen a baby dragon in years! Oh, and you’re so big, but still so cute,” she cooed.

Barb blinked, blushing as she was taken aback by the mare’s words. “Uh, no one’s called me cute in a long time, but why’d you call me a baby?”

“Well, it’s rather obvious,” chuckled the yellow mare, low-key bragging. “Firstly, your snout is quite short despite your size, a common characteristic across numerous species to distinguish the youths. Secondly, dragons don’t grow wings until they’ve reached adolescence. Hmm. Your calm behavior suggests this isn’t a greed-induced growth.” She touched her hoof to her chin in deep thought before finally looking Dusk in the eye, and her expression lit up again. “Oh, I see. It’s not traditional greed. You’ve just grown big enough to protect your hoard,” she concluded, pointing at the purple pony.

Dusk blinked, just as shocked as Barb, but with an added blush. “H-how did you figure that out so fast?”

The mare shrugged. “Well, I’m a bit of an animal expert, and I’ve read all I can about all the amazing creatures of the world, but dragons have always been especially fascinating. They’re naturally greedy beings prone to acquiring whatever they value in a hoard, which doesn’t necessarily have to be gold and jewels. Dragons have also been known to hoard books, pillows, clocks, and mates. Although, I’m guessing you’re more like family than a mate.”

“Dusk hatched me, but his parents helped raise me, so he’s kinda like my older brother,” Barb confirmed.

“Oh, that’s so precious,” gushed the mare. “And you grew out of love and the need to protect your precious family. It’s just like something out of a fairytale. Oh, I’m sorry, but I didn’t introduce myself yet. My name’s Fluttershy. What’s yours?” she asked the drake.

“Me? Oh, ahem,” Barb cleared her throat. “I-I’m Barbara, but most call me Barb. Ya know.” She turned her body sideways and bristled her back spines, showing off rather than in aggression. “Cuz of these.”

“Hehe, that’s too precious,” Fluttershy tittered as her examination continued. “Hmm, and you look so healthy, too. Such exquisitely full flanks. I can tell you’ve been eating well,” she added while side-eyeing Dusk. She stepped closer to the drake and conspiratorially whispered, “Tell me, just between us girls, do you like him going in the… other way?”

Barb and Dusk blushed, making Fluttershy giggle some more. Sharing a look, it was clear they were both awed and a little frightened by how much this mare had figured out so quickly. However, fearing what else this beautiful and intelligent mare might discern, Dusk ran around to Barb’s side, giving Fluttershy a wide berth. “S-sorry, Ms. Fluttershy, but we—”

“Oh, you can just call me Fluttershy,” she intoned while batting her eyelashes seductively at the odd pair.

Dusk slapped a hoof to his chest when it felt like his heart had briefly stopped, only to go wide-eyed when Barb reacted similarly. ‘This mare is going to kill us with cuteness!’ he thought. “Yes, Fluttershy, good. You’ve been very nice, and I think you’re very pretty, but—”

Fluttershy’s encroachment finally ceased as she backed up and averted her gaze, her long pink mane partially concealing her face as her prior shyness returned. “Oh, um, y-you think I’m pretty?”

‘Too much cuteness!’ Dusk internally screamed as he hopped on Barb’s back, scaled up her neck, and pressed his face between her eyes. “We have to get out of here before the cuteness overwhelms us!”

Seeing Dusk’s panic snapped Barb back to her senses as she nodded and took off, leaving the heart-stopper behind. They didn’t stop until they’d reached Ponyville’s tree-shaped library near sunset, both panting from Barb’s sprint and Dusk hanging on for dear life. The pair then collapsed in exhaustion near the door, taking a moment to recompose themselves.

“S-see what I mean,” Barb said between gasps. “Th-these ponies can be nice.”

Dusk huffed dismissively. “Y-you’re just saying that because her encyclopedic knowledge of dragons rivals mine, and that turns you on,” he accused.

“Oh, hello, Pot. Kettle called. He said you’re a damned hypocrite,” Barb playfully shot back.

“Wh-whatever,” Dusk grunted, finally getting back on his wobbly legs. “Sh-she wanted me to go in the… o-other way,” he stammered, his blush returning with a vengeance.

“You don’t sound too upset about it,” Barb observed, nosing the pony’s side so that her snout grazed his hanging erection. “You’re little stallion must be so happy. It never gets to come out this much.”

Dusk’s face scrunched in impotent rage as he couldn’t think of a proper argument. “Sh-shut up,” he groaned as he staggered past the drake and opened the door into the dark abode. “It doesn’t matter. Nightmare Moon is returning, and we can’t afford to let ourselves get distracted by—yipe!” he winced as Barb roughly yanked him back by the tail. “What was that f—?” he tried demanding, only for the drake to slap a large claw over his mouth.

“I smell you,” Barb called into the darkness, lips curled and teeth bared. “There’s no point trying to sneak up on us.”

Dusk sat still in the drake’s large claws, unconcerned that such sharp talons could easily rend his flesh from his bones if Barb so desired. Such a thought never entered his mind, as he was too focused on staring into the same darkness. Sure enough, he saw movement in the shadows. Had a rival house sent someone to this backwater town to abduct him? It wouldn’t be the first time. Although to ensure things went differently from last time, Dusk lit his horn so Barb couldn’t hog all the fun to herself.

“Ah, pooh,” whined a mare as the lights suddenly came on, revealing the library was filled to the brim with ponies as confetti and balloons fell from the ceiling. Standing center-stage was the pink poof from earlier, looking a tad glum. “Note to self. Dragons make throwing surprise parties difficult. Anyway, surpriiise!” she cheered, unleashing her high spirits at full force. “I threw this surprise party just for you two. The surprise part didn’t pan out—great nose, by the way—but I hope you’ll enjoy the festivities. When I saw you, I realized you were new in town and probably didn’t have any friends. So, I went around to all the ponies in town, asking if they wanted to meet the stunning new bachelor and his smoking hot dragon babe sidekick. Speaking of which,” the pink mare nodded to Barb. “The name’s Pinkie Pie. May I invite you and your stallion to my little soiree?”

Barb pursed her draconic lips as her aggressive posture relaxed, and she set Dusk on his hooves, though the little introvert kept close. “Uh, I don’t have a problem with it.”

“That’s great! You two looked just so glum when you showed up. I couldn’t stand it.” Pinkie then lowered her head to Dusk’s level as her eyes grew focused. “Although, now that I get a better look at you, you strike me as more of the introverted type.”

Dusk was taken aback. “Y-you can tell that?”

Pinkie proudly nodded. “Sure can, so don’t feel obligated to mingle too much. I know how exhausting that can be for you guys. My sister, Maud, is the same way. She’s the bookish type, so I think you’d like her since you’re the bookish type, too. I mean, how could you not be. You’re living in a library, for crying out loud! Hehe!”

“That’s, um, v-very considerate of you,” Dusk replied after finally catching the pink mare between breaths. Her mouth ran a mile a minute as she excitedly bounced around, following him and Barb while other ponies mingled, but kept a respectful distance. As an earth pony, Pinkie had a fuller figure than most. However, unlike Apple Jack’s muscle, the thickness in this mare’s flanks was more of a pudge, not that there was anything wrong with that. Pudge was soft and pillowy, perfect for resting your head after an exhausting day. Not that Dusk had ever done so, of course! He just heard what other ponies said. Regardless, the more this one talked and bounced, the more the stallion’s eyes were drawn to her bubbly backside, perhaps the biggest and juiciest he’d ever seen, at least, for a pony that didn’t have an arguable god-like status. However, amidst the chatter of the ponies in the background, Dusk eventually realized that Pinkie had stopped talking at some point, and he caught her catching him staring.

“Like what you see?” Pinkie asked, enticingly shaking her balloon-emblazoned rump at the purple pony. “You can touch it if you want. I don’t mind. Of course, if we get started, I can’t promise I’ll be able to stop. You’re just too adorable, like an innocent, bookworm virgin whose naïve about the ways of the world, and in need of a mare’s gentle guidance.”

“Gentle? Ha!” crowed a familiar rainbow-maned mare as she hovered overhead. “Sex is like getting in a cold pool. Best to just jump in and get through the hard part all at once. Then you can have all the fun you want,” she added while suggestively wiggling her eyebrows.

“My, such crassness is unbecoming of such a fine gentlecolt,” added Rarity as she stepped into the scene.

“Oh yeah? And how would you do it?” Rainbow Dash challenged.

“Firstly, I’d inform the stallion’s guardian of my intentions,” Rarity replied, fearlessly walking under Barb’s arched neck, only to gently flick the drake’s nose with her perfumed tail, rendering the powerful female momentarily dizzy. “Obviously, I’d ask her to join if she so desired. While the size difference may be tricky, I must admit, I find the challenge rather enticing.” Then her gaze fell upon Dusk. “Of course, then I’d properly woo the stallion, turning him to putty in my hooves. We’d have a nice dinner, get to know each other, and then…” Rarity suggestively licked her lips while batting her eyelashes.

“Good call on invitin’ Barb inta the mix, but we ain’t talkin’ a proper courtin’,” Apple Jack interjected, coming up behind Dusk and startling him. “Sorry ‘bout that, li’l fella, but that jus’ proves mah point. Yer a bundle ‘f nerves. Best cure fer that is a ride in the hay, ‘n’ Ah got the sturdiest ride in town, not ta mention the softest lips.” She emphasized with kissy faces that made Dusk’s knees weak. “No need ta tie yerself in knots with plannin’ anythin’ beyond that.”

“Oh, are we talking about getting it on with the cute new guy?” Pinkie asked, literally jumping in. “Oh, boy! Well, he’s an inexperienced virgin, so the mare will have to take the lead, which is okay. I’m good at helping stallions get where they need to go. Mares too. Just anypony, really. Although, this big dragon body is giving me ideas. Just look at that long neck, those sharp teeth, strong legs, and, of course, the booty that’s almost bigger than me.” She then turned around and frowned at her own butt. “Sorry, girl, but it looks like we’re no longer the biggest in town. Don’t worry, though. I promise I’ll make it up to you by discovering what a dragon’s tongue feels like. Oh, a dragon and a stallion would be double the fun!”

“Um, ex-excuse me,” Fluttershy inquired, keeping her head low as she approached Barb, her volume much softer with so many eyes upon her. “Ms. Barb, could I ask you something?”

Barb lowered her head to Fluttershy’s level, grateful to finally be addressed directly while the horny ponies made her hips grind to stifle the building heat. “Sure, ask away.”

“W-well, since dragons have many of the same instincts as ponies, and with you being so close with Dusk, I-I was wondering if you, um, kn-knew what would make him happy?” Fluttershy’s straightforward question caused the bickering mares in the immediate vicinity to go quiet.

“Shoot, Ah should’ve thought ‘f that.” AJ face-hooved as the others made similar responses. “Course, the sister would know a thing or two.”

Barb scratched the back of her neck and averted her gaze, blushing at being called Dusk’s sister. “I-I don’t know. I’ve, ya know, never really talked about this kind of thing outside the family. Although, I guess I should set the record straight and say I’m Dusk’s familiar, not his sister, and he isn’t a virgin.”

“Tsk-tsk,” Rarity politely tutted. “Begging your pardon, Barbie-Warby, but everypony knows it doesn’t count within the family.”

“Yeah, that’s just practice for the big time!” Rainbow hooted.

Barb simply stared. She’d heard that line before, but never paid it much mind. However, if it was truly the standard that sex didn’t count within the family, then how did she fit into this?

“Speakin’ ‘f big, where’d the li’l guy go?” Apple Jack inquired, prompting the others to look around, but there was no purple stallion to be found.
> Chapter 3: Dusk Shine and Barbara (Clop)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“DUSK!” Barb leaped into the air, callously barreling through ponies as she tracked his scent to find a closed door. Even over the party’s clamor, the drake heard a faint squeak from inside, so she gingerly pushed the door open before hurriedly closing it behind her. After ascending the stairs, as expected, upon the bed sat a shivering lump beneath the covers. “It’s me,” Barb quietly informed as she approached. Climbing atop the mattress, the drake curled around the quivering bulge and relaxed. They’d endured this before, and she knew to simply be patient and wait for Dusk to calm down.

“Sorry,” Barb quietly said as the noise beyond the door continued. “I should have guessed you’d have issues when even I got overwhelmed. These ponies just don’t know when to quit.”

“Why didn’t you roar at them?” Dusk asked beneath the covers, shaking a little less now that he felt Barb’s familiar warmth.

“Excuse me?”

“Like earlier today. You roared at Precision. Why didn’t you scare these ponies away, too?”

Barb needed a second to think about that, as roaring at unwelcome bitches was kind of her thing. “Huh. Um, I guess I didn’t sense any aggression from this bunch.”

“Aggression?”

“Yeah. Precision looked like she was about to do something stupid before I stepped in. But these girls…” Barb trailed off in thought. “Call me crazy, but I think they were genuinely interested in you… us. That’s still weird to think about.”

“R-really?” Dusk softly chuckled. “You never thought about getting intimate with other ponies before?”

“Not really. I don’t think my sex drive is as strong as a pony’s. Though, now that I’m thinking about it, Rarity’s idea of a dinner date doesn’t sound half bad.” Barb nosed the lump under the covers and asked, “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Which sounds best?”

Dusk finally emerged from beneath the covers. “I think it would be best if we get some rest. Studying is clearly out, so we might as well clear our heads so we can talk to the queen when she gets here.”

“Good idea. I need to ask her if there’s some kind of surgery for removing that stick up your butt.”

Dusk frowned up at the drake’s shit-eating grin. “That wasn’t funny the first fourteen hundred times, and it’s not funny now.”

“Agree to disagree. But, if this is what you want, then shut up and close your eyes,” Barb gently instructed as she rested her head near the small stallion.

Dusk, however, just kept staring at his companion. “Um, I-I’m better now, so, i-if you wanted to go back and j-join the party…”

“It wouldn’t be any fun without you,” Barb dismissed, eyes still closed.

“But what about Rarity?”

“I get the feeling she’s the persistent type. They all are, so they’ll still be here tomorrow. We can try again then.”

Dusk’s ears splayed in shame as he looked upon the large drake, quietly hating himself for holding her back from what she wanted because he was too much of a weirdo. Barb did so much for him, and he couldn’t help but feel the need to repay his debt. “Ya know, Fluttershy’s not the only one with an encyclopedic knowledge about dragons.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. For example, your spines usually quiver when you’re mad. However, I know they only move that way when you’re horny,” Dusk informed while pointing, grinning a little anxiously when his familiar opened her eyes, and her head ascended above him.

“So you noticed?”

“Now that I can think straight, yeah,” Dusk confirmed, tossing the covers aside to expose himself. “A lot of mares flirted with you today. You must be so worked up.”

Barb extended a claw and gently knocked the sitting pony onto his back, revealing an erection as long as his leg. “I’m not the only one,” she said, her face descending as she nosed where the base of his dark purple cock met his heavy-hanging balls. Inhaling his masculine scent, she added, “Yeah, that’s the stuff.”

Dusk blushed, forelegs pulled against his belly as Barb shifted around him. Her body was like a wall that blocked everything beyond, rendering Dusk’s whole world as nothing but the drake. Of course, wielding such power over one so small and precious turned her on immensely. The drake’s mighty jaws parted, and her long, slippery tongue extended to encircle the phallus. Dusk moaned and reflexively arched his back to buck his hips as the hot and slippery oral appendage constricted and massaged his length.

Barb hummed appreciatively as Dusk’s flavor spilled across her tongue. While she’d seldom discussed the matter with others, the drake had always found ponies delicious. Male or female, everything from their tight little puckers to their perky little snoots was utterly scrumptious. She could spend hours cuddling with her adopted mothers, father, or pseudo-siblings, holding them close and licking them like a mother cat. Of course, like most predators, she preferred their softer bits. And while she enjoyed licking pussies more than cocks overall, none held a candle to the sweet candy now pulsing in her grasp. Dusk made the cutest noises, and she knew how to press all his buttons. For example, her twining tongue slithered south to the stallion’s tight pucker. Simply touching the ponut was enough to make Dusk’s body jerk, but the sounds he made when she penetrated him were like music to her ears.

***

“Yup, they’re doing it,” Pinkie confirmed, holding the oddly-shaped horn in her ear up to the door. Behind her stood a mere four ponies, with the rest having departed once it became clear the guest of honor wasn’t attending.

“This is highly uncouth and a breach of privacy,” Rarity huffed as she turned away, only to keep one eye trained on the pink mare shamelessly touching herself. “However, since I suspect no pony is leaving anytime soon, might you, pray tell…?”

“It sounds like she’s starting with some oral action,” assessed Pinkie, licking her lips. “Oh, and I think she’s doing a rim job, too. Stallions don’t usually make that noise unless you do stuff with their butts.”

“Dragon tongues are quite long and dexterous,” Fluttershy added. “She, uh, c-could do a lot.”

“No way her tongue’s better than mine,” Rainbow boasted. “Of course, the only way we could be sure is a good old-fashioned cunnilingus death match. First to make the other cum, wins Dusk.”

“That ain’t how it works, sugar cube,” Apple Jack chided. “He belongs ta his moms ‘til he puts on a collar. Course, with them ain’t here, Ah think Barb’s got the main claim as his familiar… sister… whatever. At best, ya can do what ya wanted fer a day, but when that dragon comes askin’ fer him back, Ah hope ya do the smart thing ‘n’ jus’ let it happen.”

“She’s right, Rainbow,” Fluttershy agreed. “Dragons are very protective of what they hold precious, and there’s no telling what she might do if she feels he’s sufficiently threatened.”

“So, from what you’re saying, it sounds like these two are a packaged deal?” inquired Pinkie, the horn still in her ear. “I can live with that. Hehe, it might be fun to be the little spoon for a change.”

“Not so fast, darling. What makes you think you should get them?” asked Rarity. “I have just as much right to them as you do.”

Pinkie looked at the white mare like she’d grown a second head and started speaking in tongues. “Well, duh! I never said I’d get them exclusively, just eventually. It’s obvious we all want a piece of the action, so why don’t we just share and take turns?”

The other mares exchanged ponderous looks. Clearly, none had considered this route, for which they were embarrassed. They’d all been around town and knew each other well enough. While their relationships with one another ranged from casual to much more, mares coming together over a stallion was hardly original.

“Well, we shouldn’t get too far ahead ‘f ourselves, now,” Apple Jack cautioned. “The li’l fella ain’t exactly said yes ta any ‘f us.”

“Perhaps, but surely, it’s only a matter of ti~hime,” Rarity countered in a sing-song voice. “After all, how could any stallion resist this for long?” she questioned while striking a pose.

“Mah brother has. It ain’t impossible,” Apple Jack reminded, smirking when Rarity shot her a death glare.

“That doesn’t count. I’ve never used the full force of my charms on your brother. Don’t get me wrong, Big Mac is quite the handsome stallion, and he’ll make some lucky mares very happy someday. However,  somepony his size is not my preference.”

“When you say size, I hope you don’t mean dick,” Pinkie added. “Cuz I got a peak at Dusk’s fifth leg, and yeah, fifth leg is pretty accurate,” she explained to the other mares’ elation, with Rainbow even pumping her hoof in victory. “Though I think he’s a tad smaller than Big Mac, but that’s still pretty big. Oh, wait. Quiet, I think they’re doing something different.”

***

Barb was too enthralled with her task to notice the change in sound and smell from beyond the door below. Dusk’s cock throbbed, looking like it might explode at any second as the poor guy whimpered. He needed release, but he trusted Barb to do her thing. Wielding such responsibility, the drake reared up to her full height. Looming tall and intimidating to most, her hind legs scooted forward until her torso hovered directly over the stallion’s spire. Then her groin scales split, revealing her pink slit and unleashing a gust of aromatic pheromones. With a grin that sometimes sent small children screaming, Barb carefully lowered herself onto the shaft. It breached her soft and squishy flesh with wet squelches, and she had to bite her bottom lip to avoid moaning too loudly. Finally, she reached the base, positioned on her knees to avoid crushing her little lover. “It’s in,” she whispered. Ponies might debate over whether this counted as real sex, but the two of them needed release, and that’s all that mattered.

“S-so hooot!” Dusk groaned. He tried sitting up to start moving, but a claw half as big as him pinned him to the mattress. The stallion could do nothing but stare in anxious anticipation at the looming master of his fate.

Still grinning, Barb twisted her hips to the side, making Dusk gasp as the friction sent rapturous pleasure through her core. It was like hot coals in her pussy set off fireworks that shot into her brain, making it hard to think of anything but carnal bliss. Her hips rose slowly to savor the withdrawal’s friction, hovered a second, and came smashing down upon the pony atop the soft mattress. “Buck, you’re hotter than usual!” she grunted in a deep, guttural growl.

“S-same to y-you,” Dusk huffed back, still trying to thrust his hips to match his lover’s actions. “Th-those girls must’ve g-gotten to you.”

“Damn right, they did!” Barb crowed as she bounced, no longer caring who might hear as the bed creaked. “I want them, Dusk. I want them and you in my clutches. All the sexy mares and my favorite stallion to screw silly. I’ll shove Rainbow’s face in my ass and make Rarity eat me out. Fluttershy looks like she’d make sounds as cute as yours if I use my tongue, so I’ll sample her first, and I think I’ll train Apple Jack to massage my joints to keep me limber through the orgy.”

“A-and what ab-about m-me?” Dusk huffed as mighty drake hips repeatedly slammed into his pelvis, each time sending his cock to her deepest depths and nearly wiping his mind of all but sexual euphoria.

“Don’t forget Pinkie,” Barb reminded. “She looks like she’s got the best ass, so that’s where you’ll be. I wanna see you mount her like a stallion and hug that butt so she doesn’t throw you off. Ngh! It’ll be like bucking a cotton candy glob!”

“Hnnngh!” Dusk moaned as he came, shooting a torrent of white seed straight into Barb’s cervix. She’d sat down on him as soon as she felt him start, ensuring every last drop went inside her. The drake flexed her vaginal muscles when she felt the stallion’s climax start petering out, wanting to milk him for all he had. Dusk never stopped groaning as his body writhed under pleasurable pressure. This lasted almost a minute before the stallion was spent. The colt-looking stallion fell limply against his sheets, unable to even turn his head.

Seeing such helpless prey lie before her, Barb’s draconic instincts drove her to salivate as her head descended. Her lover wreaked of sex and sweat, tickling her nostrils and stoking her appetite. Parting her jaws, a gust of hot breath escaped as she pondered taking the next step. Dusk always tasted good, but he’d feel even better sliding down her throat and curling up in her tummy. It would be so easy, too. The little guy was so out of it that he probably wouldn’t notice until he was halfway down her gullet. Yes, it would be so easy, and no one could stop her.

“N-Nightm-mare,” Dusk groaned, barely half-conscious. “G-gotta stop N-Nightmarrre.”

Barb’s dripping jaws closed as she snorted in a disappointed huff. Even post-orgasm, Dusk had never stopped thinking about his mission. This troublesome stallion had no shortage of annoyances, even if she admired his determination. Imagining how much he’d whine if he woke up in her tummy, Barb reasoned that it wasn’t worth the trouble, and decided to not eat the little guy tonight. Instead, she curled back around his small form so they both had their sleep aids. And as she laid her head beside him, Barb almost hoped that Nightmare Moon really would come back, if only to avoid disappointing her favorite pony.

***

“Did she do it?” Apple Jack asked on behalf of the mares without listening horns all packed together around the pink one, her hips grinding as she bit her bottom lip and awaited the narrator’s announcement.

“Uuuh, nuh-uh,” Pinkie answered, which was not what her audience wanted to hear.

“What!?” snapped Rainbow, only for the others to hurriedly seal her mouth shut. A brief tussle ensued, followed by the speedster coming up for air and demanding in a more library-appropriate volume, “What gives? It sounded like she was totally building up to that.”

“Yeah, I thought so, too,” Pinkie agreed in resignation. “But Dusk muttered something I couldn’t really hear, and then Barb stopped. It sucks, but that’s how it goes sometimes. On the plus side, at least we know that Barb is totally on board for an orgy.”

“Yer jus’ sayin’ that cuz ya’ll get Dusk first.”

“Yeah, but dragon butt sounds like a pretty decent runner-up prize,” Rainbow countered. “Not that you’d know, little miss masseuse.”

“Well, I can certainly appreciate that she can identify my oral skills,” Rarity said while fluffing her mane. “I shan’t shirk my duties.”

“I’m just glad to be included,” Fluttershy muttered, pretending no pony had noticed the puddle beneath her dripping marehood as she couldn’t stop imagining Barb’s draconic tongue at work. For only she knew what the fire-breather was capable of.

Pinkie grinned as she observed the mares who may soon become her new wives. “Oh, yeah. This is gonna be good.”
> Chapter 4: The Nightmare Has Returned
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The alarm on the nightstand blared, though it was still dark out, and both Dusk and Barb shot up, remarkably well-rested despite their recent activities that had stained the bedding. After a quick wash, the pair hurried to the Assembly Hall, where ponies of all sorts had gathered. Surprisingly, there were an impressive number of visible males of all ages, with relatively few pot-bellied mares. Dusk smiled, glad that no one would look at him weirdly for wanting to be on his own four hooves to see the thing that everyone had gathered to see.

Then Pinkie ran up. “I’m so excited! Are you excited? I’ve never been so excited! Except for that time, I saw you walking into town, and I went,” she inhaled in a deep gasp as her eyes darted between the stallion and drake. “But, I mean, really, what can top that?”

While Barb was put off by this blatant disregard for her reptilian enormity, she didn’t hate it, so she let the pink one chatter away.

Fluttershy’s birds sang their introductory song as the mayor gave her speech. However, Dusk tuned them all out as his eyes and ears swiveled on high alert. Everything seemed fine, yet his anxiety grew by the second, making his horn itch. Unfortunately, while scratching, Dusk saw that he wasn’t the only one. Although all eyes focused on where Celestia was to appear on the second-floor balcony, every unicorn in the room began scratching their horns with increasing agitation, no one noticing that something was off. Dusk snapped up to spy the moon through the upper window, noting the absence of the familiar craters shaped like a long-horned mare. “… buck.”

Catching Dusk’s whisper, Barb followed his line of sight and winced. “Oh, that’s not good, is it?”

Then, at the crescendo of the mayor’s presentation, the curtains revealed… nothing, causing all in attendance to gasp in horror, save for two.

“Nope,” Dusk confirmed, only to flinch when he felt a stabbing pain in his horn. He’d never been a drinker, but the burning sensation piercing his brain reminded him of descriptions of a hangover. This time, everyone noticed the unicorns doubling over in pain, with even some pegasi and earth ponies wincing.

All saw the cause when a mass of starry indigo aura manifested on the upper stage where Celestia was meant to appear. The mass swirled and congealed like a novice learning a new spell, finally finding a shape that sent another wave of gasps through the crowd. The mare’s fur was pitch-black, yet her helmet and regalia were a lighter shade of blue than her billowing, starry mane. Blue-green eyes with slit pupils bore menacingly down on the audience while a tremendously long horn left most unicorns feeling inadequate, and large black wings did the same for the pegasi. Her cutie mark, as only Dusk knew, was a white crescent moon.

“Oh, our beloved subjects,” greeted the black mare in a voice that sounded sweet, but was laced with venom that made most buttholes pucker. “It’s been so long since We’ve seen thine precious little sun-loving faces,” she said as though it were a curse.

“What did you do with our queen?” Rainbow demanded, almost charging headlong into a fight before Apple Jack caught her tail, recognizing this was not a fight a regular pony could win alone.

“My, are We not royal enough for thee?” questioned the black mare, her voice still dripping with venomous honey. “Doth thou not know who We are? Does Our crown no longer count now that We’ve been imprisoned for a thousand years? Didst thou not recall the legend? Didst thou not see the signs?” she asked with growing frustration at the lack of recognition.

“I did!” Dusk declared as he stepped forward, his stance bold despite his missing drake. The other ponies gave him a wide berth as all attention fell on him, including the threatening mare. “And I know who you are. You’re the mare in the moon. Nightmare Moon,” he announced to another round of gasps.

“Well-well-well, somepony who remembers us,” Nightmare Moon said, genuinely pleased as her eyes crawled appraisingly over this brave little stallion, noting his tail fidgeting to not tuck between his legs. “Then thou also knowest why We’re—”

“Someone,” Dusk cut in.

“… Say what?”

“Someone. In this context, you meant to say I’m someONE who remembers you, not somepony,” Dusk explained, satisfying his itch to correct others who were so blatantly wrong.

Nightmare blinked at the little stallion’s audacity. “Wh-what difference dost that make?”

Dusk smirked as he forced himself to look Nightmare in the eye and not let his gaze deviate to the form gearing to pounce behind her. “Well, it’s rather insensitive to those of us present who aren’t ponies.”

Nightmare blinked, her confusion morphing into understanding as she sensed the new presence, and smirked. “Nice try.” Her horn suddenly lit, casting a light that nearly blinded most ponies. However, the light was more than just the byproduct of her spell. It was innately magical in nature, meant to be seen only by those with a high magical proficiency. As expected, most unicorns winced, with the audacious little stallion covering his eyes and crying in pain. Five other ponies had similarly strong reactions, effectively outing themselves as the biggest threats in the room. Additionally, the drake behind her also flinched, leaving her open to the spell. The mighty beast tried charging despite her blinded state, unleashing a billowing roar, only for Nightmare’s magic to flip her would-be assailant, sending the drake barreling over the railing and crashing onto the floor.

“Barb!” Dusk cried, his brave mask dropped as he ran to his unresponsive companion. “Barb. Barb, answer me!” he begged in a growing panic.

“Fear not, oh clever colt,” Nightmare taunted. “Thy familiar is unharmed. She merely rests in a beautiful dream, a gift for thy bold plan. But oh, how thine knees doth quake without thy familiar’s protection.” Her lips split in a predatory, sharp-toothed grin.

Dusk did nothing to stop the tears rolling down his cheeks. He’d heard every word, but that did little to quell his panic as he fervently shook Barb.

“Mwa-ha-ha-ha!” Nightmare cackled maniacally. “Remember this day, Our little ponies… and drake. For it will be thine last. Henceforth, the night… will last… FOREVER!” And lightning struck to set the perfect tone.

Utter chaos followed as the mayor assumed authority and ordered the guards to attack Nightmare Moon, only for the obvious to happen. Upon seeing the well-trained soldiers so easily dispatched by such an overwhelming magical force, most ponies scattered in a screaming panic. When Nightmare transformed back into a mass of magic to escape, only Rainbow pursued. That just left four ponies who’d kept their heads enough to notice Dusk still weeping over Barb. Luckily, between the four of them, but mostly Apple Jack, they were easily able to carry Barb back to the treebrary, with Fluttershy escorting the distraught stallion.

Dusk watched the mares work, setting up a makeshift bed on the ground floor since carrying the drake upstairs wasn’t going to happen. As he sniffled, not minding the yellow mare’s consoling hoof on his back, the normally neutral stallion’s mind began running faster than Pinkie’s mouth. Without saying a word, he wiped his runny nose, faced away from his beloved companion, and ran at the nearest bookshelf while his magic grabbed their contents, tossing them aside in uncharacteristic disregard as he read, muttering, “Elements. Elements. How can I stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?”

“And just what are the Elements of Harmony?” demanded Rainbow; having caught up to the others, she put her face so close to Dusk’s that she saw his nostril hairs. “And how did you know about Nightmare Moon?” she demanded again, pushing forward as the small stallion backed away from her intimidating aura, ears splayed and tail tucked between his legs. “Are you a spy? Gah!” she yelped when the orange mare grabbed her tail and pulled her back.

“Simmer down, sally,” Apple Jack consoled. “He ain’t no spy, but he sure knows what’s goin’ on. Don’t cha, Dusk?” she added in accusation as she and the other mares expectantly faced the small stallion.

It had been ages since Dusk faced a wall of intensely staring mares by himself. Being alone with a bunch of mares demanding something from him was basically his biggest nightmare. Glancing at Barb in some vain hope for help, he found her merely snoring. However, in seeing her unresponsive state, Dusk found new resolve to do what needed to be done, and faced the familiar mares without quaking legs. “I read about the prediction of Nightmare Moon’s return, which mentioned some mysterious objects called the Elements of Harmony. Those are the only things that can stop her, but I don’t know where to find them or what they do.”

“Elements of Harmony, a Reference Guide,” Pinkie read while staring at one of the few books left on the shelf.

Dusk ran into the pink mare’s side, unable to knock her over, given their considerable size difference. “How did you find that?”

“It was under E~,” Pinkie cheerfully sang.

Pursing his lips, Dusk extracted the book and quickly found the relevant portion. “There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known. Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty,” he read aloud, only to look around in confusion, swearing that he just heard five tings as he listed the Elements, but dismissed it as he resumed reading. “The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said that the last known location of the Elements is the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, situated in what is now”—Dusk gulped—“th-th-the E-Everfree F-Forest?” Dusk sighed, taking the time to shelve this book and all others to calm himself.

“So, whatcha gonna do?” Apple Jack asked.

“I’m gonna save Barb.”

“WHAT!?” demanded the mares in unison as they listed off the horrors of that dangerous place. Wild magic flowed like water, enabling the plants, animals, and even weather to conduct themselves without pony help. Legend had it that such magic was born of a terrible hatred for ponies, and any who entered would face certain doom from the resentful flora and fauna. Also, there was the obvious thing.

“We can’t let a li’l fella like yawl go somewhere so dangerous alone,” asserted Apple Jack.

“Yeah, who knows what kind of nasty monsters are lurking around every corner, waiting to do unspeakable things to a helplessly cute little guy like you,” Pinkie added.

“About eight that are active at this time of night,” Fluttershy stated. “Although, with Nightmare Moon stirring things up with her powerful magic, a safer estimate is probably eighteen, including plants.”

Rarity nodded. “Indeed. Can’t we, perhaps, send word to Canterlot and summon more guards?”

“Chh. Fat lot of good those shmucks were,” Rainbow dismissed before putting a hoof on Dusk’s shoulder. “Besides, I’m not letting an out-of-towner show me up,” she said with a reassuring smile.

Dusk was caught off guard. “Uh, what?”

“You heard me. You’re doing this for your family, and I get that,” Rainbow informed. “Besides, AJ’s right. We can’t let you do this by yourself.”

AJ furrowed her brow and snorted. “Dang it, Rainbow. Ah was jus’ getting’ ta that, then ya had ta go ‘n steal mah thunder.” At Dusk’s confusion, she elaborated with a smile, “Well, obviously, we can’t let ya do this alone. How could we call ourselves mares if we left a stallion ta do all the dirty work?”

Dusk shook his head. “No, that isn’t necessary. I’m the Royal Protégé, so this is my responsibility. You’re all civilians, which means—”

“My guy, don’t bother,” Pinkie cut in. “I know these mares, and I know that when they set their mind on something, there’s not much that can stop them. So, since it looks like we’ve all decided to come along”—she paused to look around, waiting for the others to nod—“that’s what’s happening. So, you can either waste your time fighting us, or let us help. Personally, I’m kinda hoping for the former, cuz it means I get to sit on ya until you submit,” she finished with an ear-to-ear smile.

Dusk’s shoulders slumped in defeat, yet his ears did not splay. “Fine. I just—wha!” he yelped when the orange mare nosed under his butt and tossed him onto her back.

“Glad ya saw reason,” AJ said as she led the pack, smugly trotting out the door and down the road as she felt the others’ jealous gazes on her back. “So, anythin’ more ya can tell us ‘bout this Nightmare Moon?”

“I h-heard she has sh-sharp teeth for chewing up ponies,” Fluttershy admitted.

“My dad’s favorite swear is ‘colder than Nightmare’s cooch,’ which I think means your dick will freeze if you try bucking her,” Rainbow offered.

“As I recall, the moon holds sway over the tides, so might she have some water affinity?” Rarity inquired.

“Shoot, we should have brought some candy,” huffed Pinkie. “Maybe giving her some sweets will put her in a good mood. Ya know, a Nightmare Night offering.”

Dusk shook his head as he rode atop AJ’s back, appreciating the smooth surface compared to the coarse one he was used to. “I don’t know anything concrete about her abilities. Texts on the Elements were hard enough to find, and Nightmare Moon is just as obscure. The only thing I can say for certain is that she’s an alicorn, like Celestia, which means she’s powerful.”

As the Everfree came into view, Dusk hurriedly imparted the legend of the mare’s fall from Queen Luna, Celestia’s younger sister. The forest looked particularly menacing as strange sounds stirred beyond what the group could see. Unfortunately, Fluttershy’s theory was probably accurate. As such, the ponies packed tightly together in a defensive formation, with Dusk at the center.

“Speaking of obscure, h-has anyone here ever actually, ya know, been this deep in the forest?” Dusk asked, trying not to quake atop AJ’s back as he noticed all eyes fall on the yellow mare.

“W-well, I’ve read a little, b-but I’ve never gone deeper than the outskirts,” Fluttershy clarified as the path took them to a clearing by a cliff. “N-never go so far you can’t see the outer trees. Th-that’s the rule.”

Dusk nodded as he looked ahead. Seeing a suspiciously tall patch of foliage in the distance, he pointed and said, “I bet that’s it.” He then whirled on Rainbow and said, “Don’t go alone. Splitting the party will only put us at risk.”

Rainbow dismissed. “As if I’d do that.”

“Yawl’ve done that, like, every chance since this mess started,” AJ countered.

“Yeah, but that was just when it was me,” Rainbow argued. “There’s no way I’d leave you guys hanging. You’re my pals. Plus, I’m looking to get Dusk under my tail, and I don’t think abandoning him would win me any points.”

Dusk blinked. “Uh, I can hear you, ya know.”

Rainbow tilted her head in confusion at the small stallion. “What’s your point?”

Suddenly, the ground collapsed under their hooves, sending two-thirds of the group tumbling down the steep cliff. The pegasi reflexively took flight, but quickly dove in pursuit. Rainbow and Fluttershy saved Pinkie and Rarity, respectively, leaving AJ to catch herself on a root, while Dusk nearly fell off the edge of a sheer drop.

“Hold on, Ah’m a comin’,” AJ said as she slid down, finding Dusk hanging precariously from another root just out of reach. “Hang on there, sugar cube. Ah’m here. Jus’ reach yer hoof out, ‘n Ah’ll grab ya.”

“No-no-no!” Dusk violently shook his head as he desperately clung to the root. “No, this was stupid. I should have never come here!”

“Sugar cube?”

“I-I’m nothing without Barb!” Dusk confessed, unable to open his eyes. “Sh-she’s the only reason I can face anything, b-because I know she’ll protect me. Y-you were all right. I-I’m just a stallion. A short, miserable, worthless stallion. I can’t do anything by myself. If I’d just stayed home and got married like everyone told me, Barb wouldn’t have gotten hurt, and I wouldn’t—”

“Oy!” AJ cut in. “Ain’t no pony’s gonna badmouth mah friend like that. Try it again, ‘n Ah’ll slap the shit out ‘f ya.”

Still quaking in fear as he clung to the root, Dusk finally cracked an eye open to look up. No mare had ever threatened to hit him before, as such things simply weren’t done. More surprising than the mare’s words was her unexpectedly radiant smile.

“Dusk, yer one of the bravest stallions Ah’ve ever met. Ah can tell how scared ya are. Yawl’ve been shakin’ like a leaf since this trip started, but that’s why yer brave. Yer facin’ yer fear ta do what has ta be done. That’s the honest truth, ‘n if yawl don’t know that’s the literal definition ‘f bravery, then Ah’m gonna take yer bookworm card right after Ah’m done smackin’ ya. Hear me?”

*Ting*

Now wide-eyed as he stared at the orange mare, Dusk nodded as he stopped shaking while processing the mare’s mostly accurate words. However, while weighing the value of correcting her grammar, the purple stallion furrowed his brow when AJ retracted her helping hoof.

“Alright, girls, Ah think he’s good.”

Dusk looked around to find both pegasi hovering to either side. “Uh, how long have you two been there?”

“A little after the bravest stallion part,” Rainbow answered. “And don’t worry. I only checked out your butt a little, but I can’t speak for Fluttershy,” she said with a grin as the yellow mare blushed. “We’re gonna need to get some meat on your bones as soon as this is over.” She and her yellow friend then scooped Dusk up before setting him gently on the ground with the others, and on his own four hooves at that.

While pondering his newfound mobile independence, Dusk’s eyes tracked AJ descending the cliff side like a mountain goat to join the others in the ravine. Her words rang in his mind, and he muttered, “The honest truth.”

Suddenly, a vicious roar rumbled across the ravine as an enormous creature charged at the group. The manticore had a lion’s head and body, bat-like wings, and a scorpion’s tail, yet that did nothing to deter the ponies emboldened by AJ’s speech. Rarity went first, gathering up forest debris and hovering it around her to make herself look bigger, but the beast’s roar messed up her mane, and that was that. AJ jumped on the manticore’s back, riding it like a bull while Rainbow flew circles to disorient it. The thing just bucked the former off and casually swiped its tail at the latter. Even after that failure, five of the six formed a spear formation, with Dusk taking point, ready to show off his magic. However, before they could enact the final charge, the sixth pony stepped in.

“Waiiit!” Fluttershy cried, startling even the monster to stop and see where this might be going. The yellow mare approached the manticore without a trace of fear, no matter how much the thing postured at her. Such an unwavering approach made the beast shrink down a little, suddenly wondering what this stranger knew that it didn’t. Extending her hoof, Fluttershy said, “Come on, let me see.”

The others watched in slack-jawed awe as the manticore presented its paw for Fluttershy’s inspection, revealing a sizeable thorn. And while the group once more readied for action when the beast unleashed an even more powerful roar, several tripped over themselves when they witnessed the thing embrace and gratefully lick the yellow mare, purring like a kitten. The manticore then flew off into the distance, leaving the ponies with their other bravest member.

“It’s always the quiet ones,” Rainbow muttered.

“H-how did you know about the thorn?” Dusk asked.

“I didn’t,” Fluttershy casually replied as she fixed the mane that had been licked out of place before tossing the thorn aside. “Sometimes, we all need to be shown a little kindness.”

*Ting*

Dusk’s ear flicked as he looked around. “Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“Uh, nothing. We should get going,” he said, once more taking the lead into the darkest part of the forest yet.

“Ugh, my eyes could use a break from all this icky muck,” Rarity complained as they trekked through mud. Suddenly, the moon disappeared behind the canopy, casting the group in darkness. “Ugh, my eyes could use a break from all this lack of handsome, coltish stallions in sexy underwear!” she said more loudly than before and waited, only to putter her lips in disappointment.

“Eh, worth a shot,” consoled Pinkie.

“The ruins could be right in front of our faces, and we wouldn’t even know it,” Dusk added.

“Maybe yawl should get back on mah back where it’s safer,” AJ suggested.

“Yipe! Hey, now’s not the time for grab-ass,” Rainbow shot back.

“Whoops, sorry,” AJ apologized.

“Don’t be sorry. Just save that for later.”

“Aaah!” Fluttershy screamed.

“Oh, relax,” Rainbow dismissed. “It was just my—AAAHHH!” Her scream was almost deafening when she beheld the tree’s menacing face.

Suddenly, it appeared like every tree in the vicinity was in a nasty mood, the kind that usually preceded rending flesh from bone. Naturally, the ponies circled up for protection. Dusk found himself at the center, unintentionally wedged between four mare butts that threatened to suffocate him. This was hardly the first time the stallion had been in such a predicament, as it had been a favorite means of asserting dominance by his mothers, sisters, and even his former babysitter, yet more than two was something else. Dusk couldn’t help but notice the difference between each booty, with AJ and Rainbow having the most muscle, the latter being a little on the bony side, Fluttershy’s plot was the squishiest, leaving Rarity in a comfortable middle. Their smells were also distinct as a rich brew of odors delighted Dusk’s nose. It wasn’t overbearing, like the stink of mares in heat, but it still triggered an involuntary physical response.

All these distractions made it difficult for Dusk to throw spells at the monstrous trees. However, just as he’d found sufficient focus and was ready to finally cast, everyone caught Pinkie making faces at one of the particularly terrifying trees. They asked what her deal was, and before anyone knew it, they’d been pulled into a spontaneous song where laughing at the trees stripped them of all horrifying features. By the end, everyone was still laughing, but more out of relief than genuine humor, with Dusk barely noticing another ting.

Next, the group arrived at a stream with torrential rapids. However, before anyone could suggest letting the flyers carry them across, a large, serpentine tail whipped out from the water’s surface. This drew the group’s attention to a weeping sea serpent with a fabulous head of hair, an effeminate voice, and half a mustache?

“Oh, what a world, what a world!” wailed the serpent, his tail violently thrashing in a tantrum that the pegasi didn’t want to risk traversing.

So, Dusk did the obvious. “Excuse me, sir, why are you crying?” As per usual, the purple stallion tuned out most of the explanation, dismissing it as unimportant. However, he noted how the culprit of the serpent’s distress was a ‘tacky little cloud’ tearing off half his mustache. However, while most of the ponies scoffed at the seemingly petty reason, as before, one stepped up.

Rarity agreed wholeheartedly with the serpent, praising his scales and hair, much to his appreciation, only to bemoan the damaged mustache. Even more shockingly, the fashionista so obsessed with appearances suddenly grabbed an errant scale and sliced off her tail. She then embedded the severed hairs into the serpent’s draconic snout and dyed them to match, much to the effeminate reptile’s glee.

*Ting*

“Great thinking, Rarity,” Dusk praised. “But, what about your tail?”

“Oh, it’s not a problem, darling. Short tails are in this season,” Rarity assured while turning her body sideways and shaking her rump at Dusk. “Do you like it?”

Able to see everything, Dusk blinked like a deer caught in the headlights, once more silently acknowledging the ting.

“I don’t suppose we could take turns taking the lead?” Rarity daintily inquired. “Since I helped with the last obstacle, I think I’ve earned that privilege.”

“What d’ya say, Dusk? Think she’s earned it?” AJ offered.

“Er, I-I mean, I guess,” Dusk stammered.

“My, how considerate of you, darling. Thank you,” Rarity said to the orange earth mare.

“Don’t read too much into this,” AJ dismissed. “Dusk ain’t the only one wantin’ a peek,” she said with a suggestive eyebrow wiggled.

“Fair enough,” Rarity allowed. Seeing as the others seemed just as eager to see her goods, she turned her back to the bunch and marched with a swagger. What little modesty her shortened tail had afforded was wiped away by the broad sways of her wagging hips. The attention from such a desirable male was nice, but knowing that an additional four lovely mares also eyed her body with such naked lust only sweetened the experience.

Unfortunately, Rarity’s tenure as leader was short-lived when the castle came into view beyond a thick fog. The unfortunate part came when they approached a broken bridge.

Examining the wooden planks and rope, Dusk deduced, “Wow, this is a really strong bridge.”

“Uh, it’s broken, sugar cube.”

“I mean, besides that,” Dusk amended. “Supposedly, ponies haven’t been here for hundreds of years, yet everything looks in great shape. I can’t even detect any preservation spells. So, either they really don’t make them like they used to, or someone’s been doing maintenance out here,” he suggested. “Also, that looks more like a cut than a natural break.”

“Oh, goodness. What could have done this?” asked Fluttershy.

“Well, given the sea serpent guy said he was attacked by a cloud, and we saw Nightmare Moon turn into a cloud…” Dusk leadingly rolled his hoof at the others.

“Hmm, I thought that thorn looked a little odd,” Fluttershy pondered. Sensing the question, she elaborated, “I’m not sure, but it kind of felt like the thing was staring at me.”

Dusk nodded, only to wave the others in close and whisper. “The enemy’s been following us this whole time. This is probably another obstacle, but we shouldn’t let on that we’re aware.”

“Dude, I think you’re overthinking this,” Rainbow said as she flew down and grabbed the bridge’s end. She carried it to the other side and prepared to secure it, only for the fog to roll in and obscure the other ponies as eerie sounds echoed nearby.

“Raiiin~booow.”

Adopting an aggressive stance, Rainbow turned to face the source. “Hey, who’s there?”

“Oh, Rainbow Dash. It is such a pleasure to finally meet the greatest young flyer in all of Equestria,” said the spooky voice.

The cyan mare instantly relaxed and began smugly examining her hooves. “Well, I see you’ve got good taste. Although, who are you, anyway?”

“Why, we’re an up-and-coming group that will soon surpass the Wonderbolts.” Three ponies ran out of the fog and slid to a halt, showing off their dark and edgy flying suits. “We’re the greatest flyers in the Everfree Forest, the Shadowbolts! All we need to complete our team is the fastest, most magnificent, coolest pegasus to ever live.”

“Oh, stop, you’re making me blush. That sounds awesome, but I’m kinda in the middle of something. So, just give me a sec to tie this up, and we can start talking terms,” Rainbow reasoned, only for the Shadowbolts to suddenly block her path to the bridge.

“No!” said the leader. “It’s us or them.”

Rainbow nodded as she gave the matter its due thought, walked toward the trio, and extended her hoof to shake. “I choose you.”

“Excellent!” said the Shadowbolt leader, descending into maniacal laughter, only to be yanked forward by the rainbow-maned mare.

“To get your butts whooped!” Rainbow finished, swinging the leader like a flail and knocking her silent companions aside. Snickering as she finished setting the bridge while keeping an eye on the downed trio, the aspiring speedster said, “Man, you must think I’m an idiot to fall for that.” Deepening her voice in imitation of the leader, she added, “Choose the strangers you just met over helping your friends save the world. Ha! What a riot. And a secret team that’s been hiding out in the Everfree? Double ha! Okay, yeah, I think that’s good and tight. Now, let’s see about putting you bitches in your—where’d ya go?” She looked around, but the others had gone.

Finally, the others crossed the bridge.

“Rainbow, we heard everything,” Dusk said. “You really chose us?”

“I mean, it was kind of obvious it was a trap,” Rainbow admitted. “And even if it wasn’t, that would have been a lousy deal. Rainbow Dash don’t leave her friends hanging.”

*Ting*

Yet again, Dusk’s ear flicked. “There! I definitely heard it that time.”

“Heard what, darling?”

“A ting, like a little ringing bell. I’d heard five back in the library, but I thought it was my imagination. But then I heard another just now, and now that I think about it, there was one at each obstacle we faced,” Dusk explained.

“Whatcha thinkin’, sugar cube?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. It’s like there’s an idea just out of reach, but I can’t seem to grasp it.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Fluttershy asked.

“Well, Barb usually talks these things through with me. She notices things I don’t, so what have you guys noticed? Anything you feel like sharing?”

“Well, this might be a bit unrelated, darling, but there has, in fact, been something on my mind that I’ve been meaning to ask,” Rarity began as she approached Dusk. “You called yourself the Royal Protégé back in the Assembly Hall and the treebrary. I know I’ve heard that term before, but could you clarify on what it means?”

“It was on that fancy badge ya showed at the farm,” AJ added. “It seemed official enough, but Ah don’t know what that means either.”

Dusk stared at the five mares in wonder, finally confirming that none of them knew what he was. However, while this left him a tad reluctant to share, he recalled Pinkie’s words about these mares not being easily stopped, so he relented. “The Royal Protégé is the semi-official title given to the Queen’s… proxy.”

“In plain Ponish?” Rainbow requested.

“It means that I act as Queen Celestia’s agent. She sends me places to act on her behalf. This is my tenth mission, and my first outside Canterlot. Also, if Celestia is absent and there aren’t any other officials around, technically… I’m the highest authority in the room.” Dusk flinched as the mares stared blankly at him. “I, uh, I’m also her number one student, heh-heh.”

“So you’re, like, super important?” Rainbow inquired incredulously.

Dusk shrugged and noncommittally replied, “Kinda.”

Rarity smacked her hoof to her forehead. “That’s where I heard it! I was just a filly and a little preoccupied at the time, but I remember reading in the papers how the queen named a new Royal Protégé, the first stallion in nine centuries. That was you?”

“It is me, yes,” Dusk corrected, only to regret his action when everyone’s stares intensified. “P-please don’t be mad that I kept this from you.”

“Why would we be mad?” Pinkie asked. “It’s not like you’re the kind of jackass blowhard who starts every conversation with the reminder that you’re more important than everypony around you. It just didn’t come up,” she nonchalantly explained, to Dusk’s amazement.

“Which is dumb, if you ask me,” Rainbow added while dramatically posing with her hoof over her chest. “I, for one, believe greatness deserves to be recognized.”

“I’m not that great.”

“I’m sorry, but the first stallion in nine centuries sounds pretty great,” Fluttershy interjected.

“However, that entails a follow-up question,” Rarity continued. “How is a stallion such as yourself still single? Surely, you’ve had suitors.”

Dusk rolled his eyes. “I have. They’ve just never been, ya know, right for me.”

“Let me guess,” Pinkie began. “A bunch of stuck-up bitches who only wanted the title and didn’t give a damn about you, right?”

Dusk blinked. “Uh, yeah. How’d you guess?”

It was Pinkie’s turn to blink as she looked around. “Was that not obvious?”

Fluttershy gasped. “Goodness, how dreadful!”

“Follow-up question number two,” Rarity added. “This probably isn’t relevant, but why isn’t your title King Consort?” she asked, looking around as the others stared at her. “What? Dusk is powerful and charming. While I’m not defending any mare who rudely approaches a stallion, I still get the desire. Please don’t think less of me for saying this, but a mare would have to be crazy to let a prize like you go without trying. The queen can have any stallion she wants, so why didn’t she claim you?”

“I… don’t know,” Dusk admitted. “For a while, I thought I wasn’t her type, but then I snuck a peek at her harem, and there were four guys who looked almost exactly like me. So… I don’t know.”

“Maybe she’s been saving you for a special occasion,” Pinkie suggested, licking her lips. “Like the last cookie she doesn’t want anypony else to eat.”

Dusk frowned. “I’m well past the age most stallions are married. What occasion could she possibly be waiting for?”

“Well, we’re on an epic quest to stop Nightmare Moon and save Equestria,” Pinkie innocently observed. “That’s a thing.”

“And I wouldn’t have made it this far without all of you by my side,” Dusk realized as his gaze fell to the dirt. “I needed to be here, to be with you, to… to… Ugh, why can’t I get it?”

“Easy there, sugar cube,” AJ assured, pulling the shorter pony into a hug. “You’ll get there. ‘Til then, wanna go fer another ride?”

“I… sure,” Dusk conceded.

Finally, they arrived at the ruined castle. Ancient and dusty doors creaked open, revealing a peculiar apparatus in the entry hall that bore five spherical stones. Fluttershy and Rainbow helped get them down, openly wondering where the sixth might be. Dusk explained the sixth would only appear when revealed by a spark, whatever that meant. So, out of concern for the others’ safety, Dusk asked them to keep their distance while he experimented.

A second later, the obvious happened, and a dark cloud swooped in to scoop up both Dusk and the Elements, causing all to vanish, and leaving the five mares alone and afraid. Luckily, they weren’t dumb, and deduced their missing member was in the nearby tower with lights shining through the windows.
> Chapter 5: Saving the Day from… Idiots?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dusk awoke in a daze. His body ached as he stood, seeing Nightmare Moon in her great and terrible glory, now with the Elements orbiting in her grasp. As lightning clashed around the mare, the stallion lowered his head and scratched his hoof at the ground, seemingly preparing to charge.

Nightmare tilted her head in disbelief. “Thou must be kidding. Dost thou truly believe so strongly in thy abilities as to challenge us?”

“Not challenge. Bargain,” Dusk corrected. “You’re Queen Celestia’s sister, an alicorn, so I know I don’t stand a chance against you in terms of power.”

Nightmare narrowed her eyes. “Then what is thy game?”

“Politics,” Dusk answered. “I’m Celestia’s Royal Protégé, a title I earned after impressing her with my magic by hatching Barb, the dragon you knocked out,”—he endeavored, keeping his tone even and free of resentment—“something no one had ever done before. However, my friends made an interesting point a little bit ago. I’m nowhere near Celestia’s level, but I’m good enough to be her consort. However, since she’s not interested in claiming me, I’m free for any other interested parties.”

Nightmare blinked, taken aback by this turn of events. “Elaborate.”

“Power alone can’t rule a nation. You’ll need support and recognition of your legitimacy. As the Royal Protégé, I can give you that. Having me by your side will bolster your claim to the throne. Also, by common interpretation of the term, I’m technically a virgin.” Dusk then adopted a more submissive stance as he imitated the males he hated, turning his body to enticingly wiggle his rump at the much larger mare. He interpreted his adversary’s small bit of drool as a good sign. “Like you said, it’s been a thousand years since you’ve been with a stallion. I’m honestly a little curious how I compare.”

Nightmare Moon swallowed. “Well, ahem, W-We find thy form quite appealing, and We are most glad the spell continues holding strong.”

“Spell?” Dusk asked while turning his back and bending over.

“An enemy, Discord, cast one final spell before his defeat, rendering most stallions younger in appearance. It was little more than a prank in a last-ditch effort at spite. However, the spell backfired, as he likely did not expect how readily mares would take to their new stallions. Our sister and We agreed, so we bolstered the spell to ensure its reach and longevity would extend. Stallions in this state were not only more aesthetically pleasing, but they were easier to control. Coltish stallions were so much more agreeable, and they also seemed to appreciate the added attention from their female peers. ‘Tis what those in our day called a win-win.”

Dusk blinked as Nightmare so readily confessed one of the greatest mysteries in Equestrian history. The purple stallion had always favored the theory that an enemy monster had cursed the population, but even he’d laughed at those who suggested the queen was responsible, let alone her and her mostly forgotten sister. “A-and the swallowing?”

“An unintended, but welcome side effect to mingling alicorn magic with a spell interwoven with pony essence. Before, only the alicorns had sufficient magic to know the pleasures of swallowing a being whole and alive. However, as We saw upon our arrival, We art elated to learn that modern generations still indulge in our gift, though they know not to whom they must thank for this blessing.”

Abandoning all pretense of flirting, Dusk’s scholar switch had been flipped, and he sat down while facing Nightmare Moon like the dutiful student he was. “So, when you said your actions extended the original spell’s longevity, can I assume that meant the original would have eventually worn off, and stallions would be allowed to age normally?”

“Indeed. A sharp mind on thee, our future mate,” Nightmare reminded, licking her lips in anticipation as the orbiting Elements slowed. “Although, now We are curious. Has the spell waned in our absence?”

“Last I checked, the number of larger stallions has been steadily declining over the centuries. I’m slightly shorter than average,” Dusk informed.

Nightmare sat down and clapped her hooves. “Huzzah!”

“So, you permanently augmented an entire species to better fit your… inclinations,” Dusk pondered, gaining insight into the alicorn mindset.

“For thine benefit, of course,” Nightmare confirmed.

“Of course,” Dusk replied with a nod, now knowing that most of the frustrations in his life could be attributed to a couple of overpowered mares normalizing their fetishes upon a species. “But why just stallions, though? Why not have filly-looking mares, too?”

“We had discussed the matter with Tia many times. While We favored such an experiment, Tia refused. Miniaturizing a tenth of the population had been strenuous enough on the nation, meaning We needed every mare to pull her weight plowing the fields, repairing infrastructure, maintaining civic order, etc. Even a small percentage of mares becoming fillies would have been unsustainable, not to mention the complications of birthing from such small bodies. Alas, little one, a nation of adorable youngsters ripe for devouring shalt never be more than a lovely dream. Additionally, while the changes were generally accepted by the majority, there were still detractors who did not appreciate this alteration. So, We kept the secret and foisted all blame on Discord.”

“And altering the spell too much more, or even starting a new one, would have shifted suspicion back to you,” Dusk reasoned. 

“Goodness, thou art a clever one,” Nightmare moaned, her hoof moving dangerously close to her inner thigh as her desires became impossible to ignore or deny. Looking down at her lower half in shock at the glistening around her sex, she added. “Stars above! W-We had no idea our cravings had grown so strong.”

“I seem to have that effect on mares,” Dusk remarked with a slightly smug smirk. It was one thing being proposed by petty nobles who cared more for his title than him. However, seeing that he was successfully wooing an ancient alicorn of darkness with only his words was an ego boost he had not expected. “So, if making more ponies younger was out, did you ever try anything else?”

“Why doth thou ask?”

“Honestly, I’ve always kind of resented being so small and having mares push me around all the time,” Dusk admitted. “However, I’ve recently learned that mares can also lift you up, which is easier when they’re bigger. While the overall act of inflicting such a spell was, at best, ethically dubious, I can, at least, appreciate the practical thinking that keeps you all-powerful beings in check… sort of. Besides, while the spell was wrong on an objective level, subjectively, I was raised in this culture. I don’t hate the idea of mares dominating coltish stallions on principle. Honestly, I’ve always been secretly envious of such relationships when they seemed healthy and happy, such as my father and mothers. However, the more I think about it, the more the concepts grow intriguing as I separate them from any ethical constraints. Just picturing how these spells might actually work and thinking through the surrounding logistics is fascinating. It kinda makes me want to see if there are other spells that could be cast to make ponies’ lives better in ways neither you nor Celestia even considered.”

“Ngh!” Nightmare moaned as her hoof finally contacted her shiny, drooling marehood. “Th-thou art killing us.” Shifting as she sat, she added, “Wh-what spells didst thou have in mind?”

“Well, Celestia taught me this one for getting a dragon’s motor running.” Then, before elaborating, Dusk teleported behind Nightmare Moon, his magic concentrated in the shape of a golf club. As if in slow motion, the mare faced the stallion, locked eyes, and lit her horn to retaliate, but it was too late. “Fooour!” And he delivered his most devastating blow onto the big black booty, making it ripple as the mare was sent flying to the opposite wall. 

Nightmare Moon hurriedly pulled herself out of the alicorn-shaped hole in the wall, only to find her infuriatingly clever adversary kneeling in the center of the five Elements, horn lit. She could scarcely believe how easily she’d dropped her guard and been bested. On top of physical age, the spell was supposed to make grown stallions as timid and controllable as their foal selves. It was part of the aesthetic. Regardless, despite claiming to be below average, this stallion, the one she’d overheard called Dusk Shine, had demonstrated a level of boldness that outmatched many of Equestria’s greatest heroes. Him being granted the title of Celestia’s Royal Protégé was more than a mere token, it seemed. And now that he was mere seconds away from sealing his victory over her, Nightmare Moon had one thing on her mind. She needed to claim this stallion!

Dusk had tuned out the rest of the world as he concentrated, his magic zapping between the spheres to trigger a reaction. He didn’t notice Nightmare Moon having teleported before him until it was too late. She knocked him back with a minor force spell that sent his small body flying, skipping over the broken tile floor like a stone across water. He looked back, heart swelling with hope as the spheres lit up, only for the light to fizzle and die. Then, as if to rub salt in the wound, Nightmare Moon cackled as she reared up and brought her hooves down, smashing the spheres into shards.

“Nooo!” Dusk wailed.

“Weep not, little stallion, for thine words and deeds have swayed us,” Nightmare Moon said as she stalked forward. “Thou shalt be our consort, but not a mere plaything to be used and thrown away in a toy box. Heavens, no. Thou art too valuable to waste on such trifles. Instead, thou shalt be our partner. Together, we shalt craft new spells that will forever change Equestria into a paradise. Further, thou shalt be awarded the title of stud. Thine cleverness must pass on to the next generation. However, perhaps that is thinking too far ahead,” she amended, calming her cadence. “In the more immediate, it is time that We claim our prize.” Now standing directly before Dusk, she licked her lips, ready to consummate their arrangement. Then, just as she’d pressed an armored hoof to the unicorn’s chest, ready to push him onto his back to make him watch as she asserted dominance, a clamor from the stairs behind him caught her attention. “Oh, come on!”

Finally, the five mares found their missing stallion, and upon seeing him in such a position, all looked ready for blood.

*Ting*

Feeling this last little sound in his head, Dusk turned a smirk up at Nightmare Moon as it finally clicked what he needed to do. “You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony that easily?”

Nightmare Moon shook her head in dread and disbelief. “… Nooo.”

“Well, you’re wrong, because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony—”

“No-no-no-nooo!” Nightmare Moon shook her head in denial, having been on the other end of these heroic speeches enough times to know where this was going.

“—are right heeere!” Dusk declared as he teleported back to rejoin his friends. “Apple Jack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of—”

“NO!” Nightmare Moon screamed as the stone shards began flying toward the five interlopers and her almost-husband. “No! No! No! Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit!” she screamed with increasing volume, drowning out Dusk’s speech. She just kept swearing and stomping her hooves in a tantrum as her adversaries ascended in the air, empowered by the ancient magic that congealed into fancy jewelry for the new wielders. So blinded by rage, was she, that the mare in the moon didn’t see the rainbow attack coming until it was too late to escape. An explosion of blinding magical light followed, enveloping the alicorn and sending the others flying back.

“Ugh, is everypony okay?” AJ asked as she dizzily climbed to her shaky hooves.

“Everyb-body,” Dusk woozily corrected.

“Dusk!” the mares cried in unison and rushed to embrace him, making sure to grab each other along the way for good measure.

“Well done, my little ponies,” announced an angelic voice as the sun finally poked over the horizon and cast the ancient castle in a brilliant light. Out from the glow emerged none other than Queen Celestia in all her radiant glory.

While five of the six heroes awkwardly separated from the group hug to bow, the smallest ran up. “Queen Celestia, it’s good to see you.”

“Dusk, my faithful student. I knew you could do it,” Celestia warmly replied.

“Uh-huh. Thought so.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Nightmare Moon told me all about you modifying Discord’s spell,” Dusk accused, amazed when Celestia’s ears splayed, and she rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment.

“Yes, well, ahem, th-that’s beside the point. I see you took my advice and made some friends,” Celestia added, pointing insistently at the mares behind her student in the hopes of changing the subject.

“Friends, huh?” Dusk skeptically parroted. “Cuz I’m pretty sure they already decided they were my fiancés,” he said to their elation before resuming facing Celestia. “However, now I’m wondering if maybe that’s what someone planned from the start.”

Celestia slumped her shoulders and sighed. “Clever, as always. Yes, I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return, and I knew that you’d be the one to defeat her. So, I told you what you needed to hear. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a long overdue appointment I must meet.” Long and graceful legs carried the white alicorn to where Nightmare Moon had stood. Amidst the debris of the villain’s armor lay an alicorn filly the size of a mare. “Luna,” she neutrally greeted.

The smaller mare blinked the sleep out of her eyes as she looked up at the larger alicorn. “Tia.”

An awkward silence followed as the six mares watched. They still recalled Dusk telling them the story of Luna’s fall to darkness, so all wondered how the situation would be resolved. Would Celestia forgive her sister? Did darkness yet linger in Luna’s heart? Would there be atonement?

“You just had to tell, didn’t you,” Celestia accused. “A thousand years, I kept the secret, and you go blabbing to the first doe-eyed stallion to flash his flanks at you.”

“Um, excusith mwa, but who just got back from being condemned to a thousand-year-long dry spell?” Luna shot back, sounding like a petulant child. “Can you blame me for being a little needy?”

“Did she lose her fancy talk in the blast?” Dusk wondered aloud.

“A little?” Celestia retorted. “You were ready to start reading from your old diary if Dusk didn’t act when he did!”

“Okay, first of all, I only told Dusk, so keep yammering as loud as you can until the rest of Equestria knows,” Luna retorted. “And second, if the plan was really to keep Dusk single so he could do what needed doing now, does that mean you’re done and I can have him? I wasn’t lying about turning him into a breeding stud.”

“Uh, pardon me, Yer Royal Highnesses,” AJ politely cut in. “But, uh, what the buck is goin’ on right now?” she asked, gesturing between the alicorns. “Ah thought yawl were taken over by darkness ‘r somethin’.”

“That’s just what I call it when Lulu gets into one of her moods,” Celestia dismissed. “She’s always been a drama queen before the queen of the night, so I have to put her in timeout from time to time until she mellows out. Although, this time wouldn’t have had to be such a doozy if somepony—”

“Someone,” Dusk quietly corrected.

“—didn’t merge with a freaking demon!”

Luna scoffed. “Typical, Tia. Always shoving my problems under the carpet and never doing anything to actually solve things that doesn’t involve blasting magic at it.”

“I didn’t hear you complaining when I got rid of your last fiancé,” Celestia reminded.

“Yes, Sombra was a pain, but you’re the one who took things too far and almost made me blab about another secret. Way to go, smart one.”

“Oh, choke on a sandpaper cock!” Celestia shot back.

“The queen is a lot less… regal than I imagined,” Pinkie whispered to Fluttershy.

“Though, I have to admit that maaaybe I took things too far this last time,” Celestia continued. “You were absolutely right. Your nights are damn pretty. The work you put into painting the skies without disrupting navigational constellations is a work of art, and you deserve to be credited as such.”

Luna blinked, not expecting Celestia to actually admit her wrongdoing so easily. “Oh, uh, well, better late than never, I guess.”

Smiling, Celestia lowered her long neck and nuzzled her sister’s face. “You smell like you haven’t had a bath in centuries,” she whispered.

“And you smell like you haven’t had an orgy in minutes,” Luna whispered back, both mares sharing mischievous grins.

“Wait-wait-wait, an orgy?” demanded Rainbow. “Is that where you’ve been this whole time?”

Celestia held her head high and replied, “I was where I needed to be to give Dusk the chance to shine.” And when Luna nodded insistently to Rainbow, Celestia added, “And you can’t prove otherwise.”

“Wai-buh-wha?” Rainbow stammered, having trouble making sense of this revelation.

Pinkie, by contrast, got it pretty easily when she wiped the sweat from her brow. “Phew. We were worried you’d been kidnapped and locked in the deepest, darkest dungeon or something. It’s such a relief to know it was just an orgy. Although, confidentially speaking, eh, anypony you wouldn’t mind sharing?”

Celestia shook her head. “I’m sorry, but there is no pony”—she locked eyes with Dusk to ensure he knew this was for him—“that I wish to share. Besides, as a recently betrothed mare, you really ought to focus on your new fiancés.”

“Hmm, good point,” Pinkie conceded and threw herself onto Fluttershy. “Hey, has anyone ever told you you’ve got a butt like an earth pony?”

“Um, a f-few times,” Fluttershy stammered as the plush pink mare pulled her into a warm and sweet-smelling embrace. It was actually a few hundred times, but who was counting? Pinkie, probably.

Rainbow whistled. “I like where this is going!” And she yanked AJ over by the tail with her teeth, grinning confidently the whole time. “Ya know, for as long as I’ve been in Ponyville, I considered myself the baddest, toughest mare in town with only one worthy rival. Wanna guess who that is?” she asked while rubbing a hoof over AJ’s flank, teasingly close to her cutie mark without actually touching.

“Heavens! Don’t tell me you lot are actually planning on doing the deed in a place like this,” Rarity gasped in horror. “Have you no shame?”

“Says the mare who went straight fer the stallion,” AJ accused, pointing at Dusk as he sat bewildered on Rarity’s back, his legs crossed as he stared at the other mares. “Ya know, it’s normally good manners ta start with each other ‘n build up ta bringing the stallion in,” AJ reminded as she closed around Rainbow’s other side and nuzzled the blue mare’s wing. “Keeps things fair, ‘n all.”

“Wait, that’s a rule?” Dusk wondered aloud, only to blush when the others started snickering at his naiveté.

“Goodness, you are a sheltered one,” Rarity cooed. “But yes, we mares can’t let our stallions think they’re the center of the universe. So, when dealing with larger groups, such as these, it’s customary for the mares to get each other started while the stallions watch.” She glanced down to where Dusk’s hooves covered and grinned. “And I see you’re not opposed to this custom. However, fear not, for I have no intention of taking your virginity in a place as drab as this.”

“You let him stay a virgin for how long?” Luna asked Celestia in disbelief, although they kept their voices low and backed away, wanting to watch without interfering.

“Aww, why ya gotta spoil all the fun, Rars?” Rainbow whined.

“Yeah, we was jus’ havin’ a li’l fun workin’ the li’l guy up,” agreed AJ.

“Speak for yourself. I’ve been itching to bite into this cake for years, and I ain’t missing this chance!” Pinkie declared, having hefted Fluttershy’s flanks in the air and buried her face between those butter-yellow cheeks. The cheeks’ owner could do nothing but cover her muzzle with her hooves to suppress her moans.

“So, out of curiosity, who would you rather be right now?” Rarity inquired as she pointed. “Pinkie or Fluttershy?”

Dusk stammered when he realized he was the question’s target. “I-um, uh, P-Pinkie, I guess?”

Rarity nodded. “Good answer. Fluttershy is such a dear. Her body is as divine as it looks, which is matched only by the succulence of her honey, not to mention her melodious voice when she climaxes.”

“You can say that again,” agreed Rainbow as she and AJ moved to either side of Rarity. “Seriously, she’s not a screamer, but a singer. It’s freaking hilarious,” she chuckled. “She’s my favorite go-to for whenever I’m feeling down, while Pinkie is more the type that needs some energy drinks before I dive in.”

“Ah can’t speak fer Fluttershy, but Rainbow ain’t lyin’ about energy drinks ‘n Pinkie. That girl has a real poor concept ‘f pacin’ once she gets into it,” warned AJ. “Though, while she ain’t been with mah brother, Ah have it on good authority that Rarity’s a good blend ‘f fun ‘n fancy. Expect rose petals ‘n ropes if she ever gets ya alone. Or, Ah guess Ah should say when she gets ya alone.”

“Oh, darling, you flatter me,” Rarity tittered. “However, you should not sell yourselves short. Pinkie isn’t the only mare who requires a little pre-gaming before bedding.”

“Hey, Ah ain’t that bad,” AJ countered. “… Usually.”

“I definitely am,” Rainbow confirmed and bounced her eyebrows at Dusk. “Don’t be fooled when you hear I’m the fastest mare in town. I am, but I know how to slow down when it counts.”

“Ain’t heard a peep out ‘f yawl in a while, li’l fella. What’s on yer mind?”

“J-just processing everything, I guess,” Dusk admitted, sounding winded. “The last 24 hours have been… a lot. I got engaged to five of the prettiest mares I’ve ever met, I think I saved Equestria, and I’m not sure which is more impressive.”

“Hey, flattery will get you everywhere,” Rainbow warned with a playful smirk.

“If it takes the pressure off, ain’t nothin’ official,” AJ reminded. “We ain’t even said the proper words yet. Far as anypony else is concerned, we’re jus’ six friends who’ve gone through a serious ordeal together, came out closer, ‘n are now takin’ a healthy interest in each other’s lives. No big deal.”

“And by healthy interest, you mean I want to hurry and jam his dick up my pussy so I can move onto seeing how it feels up my butt?” Rainbow eloquently inquired.

“Also, yes.”

Dusk swore he felt the warming in his cheeks start spreading, and was reasonably certain Rarity was just as aware.

“WaaaAAAhuuuHAAAaaAA!” Fluttershy sang, catching the others off-guard with a voice fit for stage, yet the crass cause made it difficult for the others to not burst out in laughter.

After lingering in the yellow mare’s butt for several more seconds, Pinkie finally pulled free, her long tongue cleaning her face of any lingering sex juices. “Oh, yeah. Worth the wait.” She then noticed the other four very distinctly not fondling one another with their hooves and mouths, asking, “No orgy?”

“Not now, sugar cube. Now that Dusk brought it up, it’s been a long night. Ah say we rest up so we can do things proper later.”

“Yeah, okay, whatever. You slowpokes can rest if you need it,” Pinkie said as she threw Fluttershy’s barely conscious body over her back. “I, for one, have some very important errands to run regarding a certain returning royal.” She fixed her gaze where the alicorns had cast an invisibility spell, staring as though she didn’t care for the petty excuse for a visible obstruction. “The party in Ponyville is starting soon. I recommend you not miss it.”