> Morning Glory
>  by Jade Ring
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1- Sleeping Beauty
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

She slept peacefully next to him, and for the thousandth time he found himself wondering exactly what it was he had done to deserve her.

He marvelled at her. Even in the dark he could clearly see the shine of her white coat. Her violet mane, even tusseled by sleep and the last night's activities, lay about her like some beautiful aura. Her chest rose and fell beneath the covers, the little breaths exhaled by her perfect little slightly opened mouth. Dear Celestia, even her teeth were perfect. 

The sun began to rise, the light slowly creeping over the floor towards the bed. His arm cramped and he shifted, pulling the covers from her ever-so-slightly. She let out a little whine and pouted in her sleep, tugging at the blankets. He snuggled closer to her, letting his fiery core warm her. A small smile crossed her lips as she snuggled up to the new heat source. He couldn't supress his own smile, nor his urge to kiss those perfect lips. He leaned over and gently brushed his mouth over hers, tasting the sweetness of her breath. 

Well, as sweet as morning breath can be.

Her lips puckered out, trying to capture his. Failing, she pouted again. Her eyes opened the barest inch, then widened when she saw him staring at her. "Goodness. What time is it?"

"No idea. Early though. Sun's just coming up."

A hoof rubbed the sleep from her eye. "How long have you been awake?"

"An hour or so."

"And you've just been... watching me all this time?"

"Yeah. You're really pretty when you sleep."

She smiled at that and brushed his scaled cheek. "You never run out of compliments do you, Spike?"

The adolescent dragon grinned sheepishly, baring his ever-growing fangs. "I hope not." His grin faded and he looked away from her gaze. "Rarity, last night..."

"...was incredible." She finished, grabbing his chin and forcing him back up to eye level. "I've never felt so close to anypony in my entire life."

Spike felt his grin returning, but he quickly shook his head and cleared his thoughts. "No, that's not what I meant."

Rarity's mouth began to drop into her famous pout. "So... you didn't enjoy last night?"

Spike shook his head quickly and kissed her forehead, just beneath her horn. "No, that's what I meant either. Last night was probably the best thing, uh, ever. I never dreamed anything could feel so good."

Her pout instantly returned to a smile. "What is it then?"

"Rarity... has it crossed your mind that we might get in trouble for what we did?"

"For doing what exactly? Oh, do you mean that third position? I told you that it would be a strain on your back and all the blood did rush to my head..."

"No...but that one was a little strange."

Rarity's smile grew wicked. "What can I say? I've never had the pleasure of a teenage dragon's company before. It was just a little... exper-i-men-tat-ion." She dragged out the last few syllables, playing with them on her tongue.

Spike gulped and continued. "That's what I'm talking about, Rarity. You're a unicorn. I'm a dragon. I'm not terribly sure we're supposed to... do what we did."

Rarity huffed. "Oh please, darling. I shouldn't think there's a problem so long as the... mmm, parts... are compatible."

Spike chuckled and stroked her cheek lightly with a claw. "No doubt that they're compatible. But I'm not sure what the rules are when it comes to inter-spieces relations. Or relationships, for that matter.” He added at the end, his tone slightly hopeful.

"Well, that's something we're just going to have to figure that out, won't we?"

"And then there's the others. What about Twilight? How's she gonna feel if she finds out about this?"

Rarity stiffened. "You don't mean you've... not with Twilight...?"

Spike threw his hands before him defensively. "No, of course not. She's like my big sister. You were my first."

"Oh. Well, I don't suppose there'll be a problem there either. Spike..."

"Rarity, I guess I'm just trying to get at that I don't want this to be a one night thing. I've..."

"Spike." She stopped him firmly, her hoof over his mouth. "Please listen, because once I start saying this I don't want to stop. If you stop me, I shall simply die of embarassment. Is that clear?"

Spike could only nod.

She inhaled deeply and started talking. "I'm supposed to be the most generous pony in all of Equestria. As such, I have to forgo many things that many ponies take for granted. One of those things is, for lack of a better term, love. I am doomed to forever give my love to all who need it, but never keep any for myself. That's where you come in, Spike. You never expected anything from me. You just... love me. For some cosmic and unfathomable reason, you love me. You've always loved me, haven't you?"

Spike nodded. "Since the day we met."

"And I was so horrible to you those first weeks. Using you as a pin cushion, evading you by any means necessary, using you to find jewels... I was so wrapped up in the needs of others that it never occured to me that you were trying to give me your heart and not trying to win mine. I learned the truth the day you gave me that ruby."

"My birthday? But not too long after that I nearly killed you, remember?"

"That came afterwards. I saw your true intentions the moment you handed me that jewel. That was the moment I fell in love with you."

Spike looked incredulous. "But that was years ago. Why'd you wait so long to act on it, or even tell me?"

"Spike, you were just a baby in dragon years. I had to wait for your body to catch up with the rest of you."

Spike chuckled. “Thank Twilight and that spell she found.” He remembered how excited he’d been when Twilight had stumbled across the charm in one of her oldest books. It allowed him to grow in size by gathering a small hoard but also reeled in the driving greed that came with it. The wedding had been the perfect opportunity to debut his new form. “There’s more to it than that, isn’t there?”

Rarity shrugged and ran her hoof in circles on the blanket. “You know… you know I have intimacy issues…”

“Sweetie Belle’s father?”

She sighed and nodded.

Spike took his hoof in his hand. “You know I would never do anything like that. I never could do anything like that.”

“I know.” She kissed his cheek. “I know.”

"So… why last night?"

"Well, with all the partying going on during the reception, I figured that no one would notice if we slipped away."

"How'd you know I'd give in to your feminine wiles?"

"I just had to trust that not even you could resist my powers of seduction."

"You naughty little mare." Spike smirked.

Rarity returned it. "You should know by now that I can be naughty about all sorts of things."

Spike inched his face closer. "Refresh my memory."

Rarity rubbed her nose against his. "Have you forgotten so quickly? That's a shame. I suppose I'll just have to reteach you everything."

Spike's claws lashed out and held her head in place just inches away from his own. "Rarity, before this goes any further, I need to..."

"I love you, Spike." She said it in a single breath, her eyes sparkling like no earthly jewel ever could. 

Spike smiled. "I love you, Rarity."

Their lips met in perfect unity, hair upon scales, white upon purple. Her hooves wrapped around him, caressing the growing spines on his back. His own claws became tangled in her messy mane. Rarity's eyes shot open when she felt her locks being played with and gasped against Spike's mouth. Misunderstanding her intentions, Spike snaked his long tongue into her mouth. For just a moment, she surrendered to his minstrations. Her fashion sense prevailed seconds later and she pulled away entirely. 

"Sweet Celestia, Spike, I'm a mess! Just look at my mane! And I haven't even brushed my teeth yet... oh, my breath must be horrid!"

"I don't mind." Spike whispered huskily, nuzzling her neck. "So long as you don't mind mine."

Rarity let out a giggle that became a moan as he nibbled her neck. "Normally 'dragon breath' is one of my pet peeves. But if I'm going to be waking up to this every morning, I suppose... OH! Careful, with the teeth, dear... I suppose I'm going to have to get used to it, aren't I?"

"Every morning?" Spike hissed, his tongue flicking out and tasting her gathering persperation.

"Well, I suppose not every morning. Twilight would get suspicious, I'm sure. I suppose I can figure out some... ooooooooh, right there, do that again... some excuse to keep you over a few nights a week... ah! Oh, enough of this."

Spike found himself on his back, his alabaster goddess above him. Their mouths melded together in harmony, their tongues waging war pleasurable war. 

She squeaked in surprise as he rolled them over. He broke the kiss and looked down at her. Her chest was now rising and falling at a faster pace than before and her eyes were hooded with arousal.

"How long do we have before everyone starts to wake up?"

She moved her back left hoof down the length of his tail. "An hour, at least. Though the Apples are early risers."

"You think even today? That party last night got really crazy."

"Just in case, we're going to have to be very… quiet." She finished in a throaty whisper.

His claw trailed down and rubbed her flank, right across her Cutie Mark. "You can try."

She hissed in pleasure and pulled his face to hers again. This time they only came apart to cry out each other's names.

Afterwards, he held her and stroked her mane absent-mindedly. "You okay?" He asked.

She looked up at him hungrily. "Whether this is wrong or not, I don't think you've quite experienced making love until you've done it with a dragon."

Spike laughed. "Well, I guess you..." He couldn’t finish. She was on him again.
> Chapter 2- About Last Night...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

If the pounding in her head was any indication, Applejack was going to have to drastically cut back on the hard cider at the next family shin-dig.

Judging by the light shining through the window, it must've been half past seven already...a whole hour and a half later than her usual wake-up time. Cursing under her breath, she wiped her eyes clear with a hoof and sat up to scan her surroundings. Her room didn't seem more messy than usual. Her hat sat in it's usual spot, hanging off the bed-post.

Okay, so she was in her bed; good sign.

There was a warm breathing mass next to her; bad sign.

'Oh, dear.' She thought, starting to panic. Slowly, she turned her head and saw the shape of the body under her hand-made quilt. Whoever it was, they were pony-sized. They also appeared to be sleeping quite soundly.

She racked her brain, scanning her memory for any clue as to who might be residing under the quilt beside her. Caramel? No. He'd been making out with Pinkie Pie on the dessert table. That Doctor fella that Derpy had brought along? No. He'd kept disappearing and reappearing all night long. If it'd been him, then he probably wouldn't have stayed the night. 

She gulped as her mind wandered towards less savory options. Mr. Cake? He'd been real flirty all night with or without Mrs. Cake there. Or what if it was Braeburn? Oh no, not her own cousin...?

The gently breathing mass shifted, but not enough to pull down the quilt.

Applejack breathed deep and reached for the covers. Maybe she was panicking for no good reason. Maybe she hadn't even done the deed, and was just sharing her bed for the evening.

Yeah, and maybe Winona would sprout wings and fly off with the other Bird-Dogs.

She swallowed hard, held her breath, and pulled down the quilt. 

Laying next to her was an electric blue pegasus she knew all too well.

Applejack started to feel that panicky feeling again.

Rainbow Dash shifted, reaching for the quilt. When she couldn't find it, she grunted in disappointment and opened her eyes. She blinked twice and smiled. "Hey."

"Hey." Applejack returned, doing her best to smile back.

"Some party last night, huh?"

"Yeah. Hey, Dash, silly question. What's the last thing you remember?"

Rainbow Dash scrunched her face in thought. "It's kinda blurry, to be honest. I think I hit that hard cider a bit too much."

"Yeah, I think I know what you mean." Applejack chucked nervously.

"Um, let's see. I remember Granny Smith dancing on the table. Oh, and Pinkie Pie totally hitting on Caramel hardcore, which was hilarious by the way. And wasn't Twilight looking for Spike at some point? Did she ever find him?"

"No idea."

"But, after all that, nothing. I'm drawing a complete blank." The rainbow-maned flyer shrugged her shoulders and looked around for the first time. "I must've been really messed up. Especially if I had to crash in you guy's guest room."

"Uh... Dash? This isn't our guest room."

"Who's room is it?"

In response, Applejack tilted her head at the familiar hat perched on the bed-post. 

"Oh." The sleep-dulled cogs in Rainbow Dash's head began to turn faster as her gaze went from the hat, to the bed, to the tussled sheets, and finally to the pony-tailed farmer sitting next to her. "Oh."

"Yeah."

"So... did we...?"

"Yes. Yes, I think we did."

"Whoa." Dash's eyes widened and she cast them towards the ceiling. "Uh... wow. This is awkward."

"Tell me about it."

They sat in silence for a little while more, refusing to make eye contact. "Do you... remember anything?" Dash asked.

"Nope. Not a thing."

"Damn it!" Dash blurted, pounding her hoof into the mattress and making Applejack jump. "My first time with another mare and I don't even know if I was any good or not."

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Beg pardon? You wanted to sleep with another mare?"

Dash shook her head sadly. "Not really just any mare. But I have always kind of wondered what it would be like with... a certain pony I know."

"Oh." Applejack looked away. "I'm sorry your first time happened like this. I won't mention it to anypony. I swear."

Rainbow Dash looked incredulous. "Um... AJ? I'm pretty sure she already knows."

It took Applejack all of five seconds to connect the dots. "Wait just an apple-buckin' minute here. You mean...?" She felt a sly smile growing against her better judgment. "Why, Rainbow Dash. Are you saying that you have a crush on me."

Dash laughed again. "Yeah. Crush. Let's use that word." She grabbed a nearby pillow and buried her face in it. "And this is not how I wanted you to find out."

Applejack shook her head and patted her friend on the head. "Come on now, Dash. It's not all that bad."

"Yes it is." Came the muffled reply. "It's very, very bad."

"To be honest with you, I'm kinda glad you have a crush on me."

"What?" Dash lowered the pillow from her face, temporarily suspending her plans for self-suffocation. "Why?"

"Because... I've kinda had a crush on you for a while now, too."

The silence that followed was palpable, but not awkward. 

For the first time since their revelation, Dash looked Applejack in the eyes. "Are you serious?"

"Yep." 

"You mean you're not just saying this to make me feel better about last night?"

"That's right."

“So… the Pegasus you mentioned in that letter…?”

“Yep.”

"Oh." Dash felt her own smile growing. "Well, I guess that changes things a bit."

They both laughed to break the silence and started talking about the things they could remember from the party; how beautiful the bride was, how crazy the other ponies had gotten once they hit the hard cider, even how Twilight was thoroughly convinced that she was still sober when she had been farther gone than anypony else at the reception.

It seemed they could remember just about everything except the events leading up to their coupling.

"If I keep thinking about this, it's going to drive me crazy!" Dash exclaimed, throwing her hooves in the air.

"Same here." Applejack responded, laying back onto the pillows. "The only thing I can figure is that we accidently got some of Granny Smith's Secret Honeymoon Cider."

"Secret Honey-what now?"

"It's an Apple family tradition. A special batch is made to celebrate the newest Apple wedding."

"What is it?" 

"That's a family secret. But what it does is help things along on the honeymoon. Y'know, lowering inhibitions and all that."

"Ah. That would make sense, especially considering who the bride is. Any idea how we wound up with some?"

"Just that Granny Smith is getting up there in years. Or Applebloom decided to play a little trick on us." She paused and took a deep breath. "Okay, how's this sound. What if we just chalk last night up as one of those things that just... happens sometimes?"

"You mean pretend it never happened?"

"Right."

Dash looked apprehensive. "I... don't think I can do that, AJ." She closed her eyes and looked away. "I meant what I said. I've really liked you for a long time. I mean, you're so brave and honest and beautiful, how could I not? All those competitions we used to have only made me want to be with you more. And now, this happened and all my feelings are just... just... out there. I don't think I can just go back and..."

Applejack's soft lips on her cheek silenced her.

Rainbow Dash hurridly wiped her eyes and stared in awe at the pony now looking into her eyes. There was something in those eyes she'd never seen before.

"I think you misunderstood my meanin', sugar-cube. I meant that we should ignore what happened last night and just start things off right, right now."

"You mean...?"

Applejack melodramatically cleared her throat and spoke in an exaggerated monotone. "Miss Rainbow Dash, would you do the honor of going out with me?" She chuckled. "Did I do that right?"

Dash laughed and straightened up, flexing out her wings for added effect. "The honor would very much be mine, Miss Applejack." They both laughed and collapsed back onto the bed.

Applejack rolled over onto an elbow. "You really think I'm beautiful?"

"Is that so hard to believe?"

"That someone as amazing as you could possibly think all that about me? Just a little."

Dash laughed. "So... you doing anything this Friday?"

Applejack crinkled her brow in mock concentration. "I'll have to check my schedule. What did you have in mind?"

"Dinner. Maybe a walk in the park."

Applejack smiled. "It's a date. Pick me up at seven?"

Dash smiled back. "Seven it is." She reclined back onto the pillows and looked out the window. "Shouldn't everypony be getting up by now?"

Applejack stretched and reached for her hat. "Normally, yes. But since things went so late last night, I guess everypony's sleeping in."

Dash narrowed her eyes as she looked up at the orange earth pony. "Well, if you don't feel like getting out of bed just yet..."

Applejack froze halfway to her hat. She quickly rounded on her bed-mate. "Whoa there, lover girl. Fresh start, remember? And I'm not that easy... last night excluded." She added at the end sheepishly.

Dash rolled her eyes. "Pssh, duh! I was just thinking we could stay in bed a little longer. I could use a nap."

"Oh." Applejack looked back at her hat, shrugged, and lay back down next to Rainbow Dash. "A nap does sound nice. I don't often get to sleep in."

"...AJ?"

"Yeah?"

"Could I maybe... hold you?"

Applejack snorted in irritation. "Not today. Try again on Friday."

Dash's smile faded and she rolled over. She had just closed her eyes when she felt the young farmer's strong arms encircle her. The covers returned and she snuggled deeper into Applejack's heat. "Change your mind?"

Applejack nestled her nose into Dash's mane, breathing in the smell that was uniquely and distinctly hers. "Nope. But I get to hold you first, seein' as this is my room."

The new couple began to drift off to sleep, but one thought kept tugging Rainbow Dash out of a potential slumber. "Hey AJ?"

"Hm?" Came the sleepy reply.

"Did you imply that we'd be sleeping in the same bed this Friday?"

Applejack chuckled and held tighter. "I'm not easy, sugar-cube. But I ain't impossible neither."
> Chapter 3- To Have and To Hold
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Big Macintosh's bed had always been, well, big. It was necessary. After all, he was easily the largest resident of Ponyville. Years of hard labor on the farm had built a mass of muscle that made jaws drop wherever he went. His size afforded him all sorts of amenities, from the personal to the professional. His large bed was just one of those. It had been a gift from the townsfolk after a particularly well off harvest. At the time, he’d disparaged the gift, saying it was too big for just one pony.

He’d been right. But now he saw it was going to be just right for two.

His new bride slept, snoring softly, on his chest. He could barely suppress a grin as he watched her rise and fall with every breath he took. Her entire body fit comfortably sprawled across him, so much so that her hooves barely reached the bed itself. Her mane, vibrant pink, covered half of her peaceful face. Her wings lay on either side of her, the feathers twitching reflexively as she dreamed. The newly christened Fluttershy Apple slept on, lulled by the steady beat of her lover's heart.

Macintosh reached out and stroked her mane as softly as he could, not intending to wake her just yet. She was beautiful, an angel complete with her own set of butter-colored wings. He loved her more than he could possible vocalize, especially with his slightly limited vocabulary.

His memory drifted back, months ago, when he’d first properly made the lady’s acquaintance.

“HEADS UP!”
Scootaloo’s warning came too late as the rubber ball she’d kicked slammed into the side Big Macintosh’s head. Stars floated around the large stallion’s eyes as he hit the ground, his mass causing it to shake.

“Dag-nabbit, Scootaloo! You hit my brother! Fluttershy, could you check on him?”

“Not a problem, Applebloom.”

“Thanks. Sweetie Belle, you go get the ball.”

“Why me? Scootaloo knocked it out of bounds!”

The voices were distant, and he opened his eyes groggily. There she was, surrounded by a halo of light. She had to be an angel, no question. He was dead as a doornail and at the pearly gates. There was no way that a creature of such divine beauty could exist on the mortal plane.

“Are you okay?”

He blinked his eyes rapidly and his vision cleared. Okay, so she wasn’t technically an angel. It didn’t detract from her beauty a bit.

“Eeyup. He groaned, staggering to his feet.

“I’m so sorry. The girls were arguing about the tournament this weekend and I guess they just weren’t paying attention.”

He waved her off, fixing his collar. “You’re Applejack’s friend, right? Doesn’t she realize that Applebloom’s too old for a foal sitter?”

“Ah!” She squeaked, trying to hide behind her own wings. “Um…I mean yes. But I’m not foal sitting. I came to check on Winona. Applejack said she was feeling a bit under the weather.”

“That she has. Forgive me, but I can’t seem to recall your name. It’s rare that happens with a mare as pretty as you.”

Blushing furiously at his compliment, she averted her eyes and whispered the answer. 
He heard it clear as a bell. “Fluttershy. That’s a very pretty name.”

She’d been surprised that he’d heard her the first time. Not a whole lot of ponies could say that.

Their courtship had begun the next day, at least it had for him. The first time he’d worked up the nerve to ask her out on a date, she’d made that frightened squeak again and flew off. She did the same thing the next few times, and eventually he resigned himself to the fact that she just wasn’t interested in him.

The day after that revelation, she had come to the farm and asked him out herself, persuaded by a waiting-in-the-wings Applejack.

Months went by like days. After those first few awkward dates getting to know each other better, they had become inseparable. They based their schedules around each other and never went anywhere unless the other was with them. Some days she would help with his chores, tapping into a hidden strength that had shocked him the first time he’d seen it. Some days he would walk her through the forest, providing care and love to the animals too nervous or afraid to come to her cottage. Whatever they did, they did it together.

And somewhere along the line, they had fallen in love.

“You seem kinda nervous, big bunny. Is everything okay?”

“Fine, little wing. Everything’s just fine.” Macintosh replied, sweating bullets. 

They walked together through the Everfree Forest, giving little nods to all the creatures they met. The animals were used to seeing them now. Fluttershy’s fears and insecurities had always kept her from venturing too far into the forest. With Macintosh by her side, she finally felt safe enough to aid all the animals that needed help. Today wasn’t a vet day, though. Today was her and Macintosh’s weekly picnic. 

They hiked for miles, taking in the flora and fauna, finally reaching their usual picnic spot under the large oak near the center of the woods just after two in the afternoon. Fluttershy set her saddle bag down and started setting everything up. 

Macintosh looked around to make sure the coast was clear before reaching for his own saddlebag. 

“Uh… little wing?”

“Mmhmm?”

“Know what today is?”

“Of course I do, silly. It’s Wednesday.”

“It’s also six months to the day we met.”

“OH!” She dropped the picnic basket. It spilled its contents out on the grass. “I’m so sorry, big bunny. I completely forgot!” She sounded distraught and was close to tears. 

“Nothing to be sorry about, honey. Just thought it was as good a day as any to do this.” He pulled the box from his saddlebag and opened it with a flick of his neck muscles.

The shining bauble glinted in the sun.

Fluttershy’s jaw dropped. “Mac…Macintosh… I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes, Fluttershy. Say yes and I’ll be by your side for the rest of your life. I’ll protect you, and hold you, and keep you safe from any harm that’ll come to you. I’ll provide for you and love you until the day that we di…”

Her kiss silenced him, and they collapsed onto the soft grass.

They parted, and he looked into her eyes. “Is that a yes?”

She grinned, a different kind of tears streaming down her face. “Eeyup.”

His recollections were interrupted when he felt a familiar tickle in his throat. ‘Oh no, not now!’ He tried too late to stifle the cough, and his chest shook, waking the angel.

"Oh, I'm sorry big bunny. I didn't mean to bother you." She yawned cutely and made to slide off. "I'll move."

"Don’t you dare, little wing." He responded, wrapping his arms around her. He squeezed, not too tightly though. He didn't want to crush her.

Big bunny... little wing... neither of them was quite sure where the pet names had begun. It was towards the beginning of their courtship, that was all that was certain.

She smiled at him and his heart melted. "So, I guess it's official then. I'm your... wife."

"Eeyup."

"And you're my... husband."

"Eeyup."

"...wow."

He chuckled and kissed her. "It feels weird, huh? After so long, to finally say that?"

She nodded and snuggled deeper into his embrace. "Mmmmm, do we have to get up yet? I'm really comfy."

He shook his head. "Not just yet. S’pose I can put off the chores just this once. Pretty soon, though. Our train leaves at noon, remember?"

She sighed. "I can't believe we're actually going to Manehatten."

"The best honeymoon possible for my little wing." They lay in silence for a while until he reached down and tilted her face up to his. "Honey, last night..."

With an audible POMF, Fluttershy's wings exploded outward on either side, fully extended and erect. She squeaked in embarrassed horror and hastily made to pull them back down.

Macintosh couldn't help it; he began to laugh heartily. He regretted it an instant later as tears began to pool in her eyes.

"Why… why are you laughing? That's not funny, b…big bunny. That's not funny at all..."

Macintosh shushed her and wiped the tears away before they could fall. "Hush now, little wing. I didn't mean nothin' mean by it. Honest."

She rubbed her cheek against his hoof. "Sorry. It's just a little embarrassing. Last night was so... unlike me."

Macintosh chuckled again. "Part of me hopes that's not true."

She playfully tapped him on the chest. "Stop that. I knew what that special Honeymoon Cider would do; I just didn't think it would be so strong."

"Me neither. That's why I was gonna ask if you were okay."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well... sometimes I don't know my own strength..."

This time she shushed him. "Shhhhhh. You were a perfect gentlecolt." She smiled at him demurely. "It was even better than I ever imagined."

"And just what did you imagine?" He raised an eyebrow, feeling a familiar stirring down below.

She laughed that light and airy laugh that had always enraptured him. "Stop being so naughty, big bunny." She looked at him with hooded eyes. "There'll be plenty of time for that later." 

"Fluttershy Apple, I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I like it."

“If I’m not being too vulgar, I think you know exactly what's gotten into me.”

They both laughed at their lame attempts at dirty talk and again lapsed into comfortable silence. Fluttershy sighed dreamily. “Fluttershy Apple… It sounds…”

“Right?”

“Mmm-hmm.” 

Macintosh closed his eyes and felt the threat of sleep again coming for him. Against his better wishes, he forced his eyes open again... finding Fluttershy staring at him intently.

"Uh oh. Did I do something wrong? Am I getting a taste of the famous Fluttershy Stare?" 

"Nope." She kissed him. "Not today, anyway. I was just thinking; do you remember what Zecora said after the ceremony?"

His brow furrowed. "Kinda. I always have trouble remembering those rhymes of hers."

Fluttershy cleared her throat. "'While this truly is a blessed day, there still remains one thing to say. Later tonight, you two become one, but something else will rise with the sun. You set down the road, together in life...'"

"'...but only once wake together as new husband and wife.'" Macintosh finished for her.

"She meant to savor this moment, Macintosh. Because no matter how long our life together may be, this is the only morning where we'll be husband and wife for the very first time."

"I love you, Fluttershy."

“I love you too, Macintosh.”

She kissed him more deeply than before, and when they parted she began trail small kisses down his neck.

"Whoa there, little wing.” He laughed. “I thought you said there'd be plenty of time for this later."

She kissed lower. "Maybe I changed my mind."

"Or maybe you've still got some of Granny Smith’s cider in your system."

"Are you complaining?"

He shrugged and surrendered to her energetic ministrations. "Nope."

Later, she was again lying on his chest. She listened as their hearts raced together and it thrilled her that she had this much power over somepony for the first time in her life.

"Little wing?"

"Yes, big bunny?"

"I think we need to take some of that cider to Manehatten with us."

She slid upwards until her face was by his ear. "Wanna know a secret?" She whispered, her breath tickling his skin.

"What?" He looked and caught the mischievous glint in her eye.

"I never drank the cider."

//////////////////////////////////////////////

Special Note: The pet-names 'Big Bunny' and 'Little Wing' are not of my creation, but are taken from the fanfic 'Windfall' by WarrenHutch. That was the fic that convinced me to start writing, so the use of the pet names is my little tribute. Seek out the story, you will not regret it.
> MicroChapter- A Storm is Coming
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

He found her in the barn, the color of her mane almost blending in amongst the hay she was using as a bed. He shook his head and smiled as she snored loudly. “Derpy?” he whispered.

No response.

“Derpy?” He asked, raising his voice just slightly.

Nothing.

He sighed and prodded her side gently. She grunted and tried to roll over. He leaned closer and whispered in her ear. “Derpy, it’s time to wake up.”

His voice, tinged with the accent only he seemed to have, jolted her awake and her eyelids slid open. One eye settled on his face, while the other remained focused on the barn floor. “Hey Doc.” She yawned, speaking in her slow voice. “You vanished last night, so I got sleepy and decided to wait for you here.”

He chuckled and nuzzled her. “Sorry I had to leave so early. Guild business, you know.”

She nodded, starting to get up. “What time is it?”

“About a quarter past eight.”

“I better get moving, then. I left Dinky with Roseluck, and she probably has stuff to do today.” She looked at him sideways. “You wanna come with me? Maybe say hi? She misses you.”

Time Turner sighed. “I know. I miss the little muffin, too. It’s just…things have been so busy lately… we’ve got a new recruit, TP’s been giving me a hard time…” He trailed off as watched as she shook the hay from her body and felt the pull he always seemed to feel around her. He shook his head to clear it and steadied himself for what he was about to say. “Derpy?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m… I’m afraid I’m not going to see you for a while.”

Derpy froze. When she turned her wall-eyed gaze to him, tears were beginning to pool. “Did I do something wrong?” She lowered her eyes. “I’m not surprised. I always do something wrong…”

“No! You’ve done nothing wrong.” He nuzzled her again. “It’s just…” He stopped himself. Colgate hadn’t specified exactly how much he was allowed to tell. 

“It’s just what? Another mare?” She started to pull away. “I bet she’s not tied down with a foal…”

“Derpy, no…”

“I bet she doesn’t’ talk funny like I do.”

He took her face in his hooves and did his best to look into both of her eyes. “You know you’re the only mare for me, Derpy Hooves.” He took a deep breath. “I can’t tell you everything right now, though I wish to Celestia herself that I could. I need you to trust me. And I need you to promise me something, Derpy. Promise me that you’ll stay safe. And promise me that you’ll keep Dinky safe.”

She was taken aback by the seriousness in his voice. “What are you…?”

“Promise me!” Desperation tinged his voice, but he quickly reeled it back in.

“I promise, okay?” She was getting scared now. “Just calm down and tell me what’s going on.”

He looked at the barn wall, seemed to look past the barn wall. “Something bad is going to happen, love. Really bad. The reason I’m so worried is because the Guild has forbidden me from interfering.”

“Why?”

“I honestly have no idea. In fact, I’m not terribly sure what I’m allowed to tell you and what I’m not. All I know I can tell you is this; a storm is coming, and you and Dinky will have an important role to play before it’s over.”

“A storm?”

“I can’t tell you anymore. You’ll just have to trust me.” He shuffled his hooves in embarrassment. “Even though I’ve never really given you a reason to trust me.”

She smiled a little smile that made his heart swell. “You’ve also never given me a reason not to.”

He smiled back and kissed her. “I’ll be back just as soon as I’m allowed.”

“I know. I'll be waiting.”

He kissed her forehead, took her in one more time, and then bolted out the door. A flash of light, the smell of ozone… and he was gone.

Derpy walked out of the barn slowly and cast an eye skyward. “A storm…” she muttered. As part of the Weather Team, she knew a thing or two about storms. They were usually good, bringing rain, bringing life. Most, if not all, storms were controlled by the Weather Team themselves. Only the Weather Team Captain, Rainbow Dash, had keys to the Storm Cloud Production room.

The last unregulated storm had resulted in the death of two Ponies. Two prominent, well-respected, and loved ponies.

If the Doctor and his Guild were worried enough that they would leave Equestria, then this would be a serious storm indeed. 

She thought back to the chestnut stallion and his tender words. She thought of his gentle caresses under the moon and the way Dinky loved to ride on her ‘Uncle Doc’s’ back. She even thought about the wedding the night before, and how it had 
made her think about an entirely new level to take her and the Doctor’s relationship.

In the other hoof, she was having these thoughts about a stallion who wouldn't even tell her his real name.

“I promise... we’ll stay safe. Just come back to us.” She whispered, pretending her mysterious lover could hear her, wherever he was. She stretched her tired wings and took flight.

It was going to be difficult explaining this to Dinky.
> Chapter 4- Just Dessert
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caramel woke to the familiar scent of chocolate.

‘Must’ve passed out in a slice of cake.’ He thought, inhaling the sweet scent. After how wild and crazy the party last night had gotten, he wasn’t surprised. He couldn’t quite remember eating cake though. In fact, the last thing he could remember was…

Caramel’s eyes flashed open to reveal the ceiling high above him. The hard surface against his back was obviously a table.

The dessert table, if he had to wager a guess.

Upon which he was not alone.

Slowly, Caramel turned his head to find a pink-coated mare gently snoring by his side, her legs wrapped around one of his like a stuffed toy. Her body and mane were splotched with chocolate and sugar. The two were surrounded by dozens of half devoured pastries and other confectionary treats.

Very carefully, the groom’s cousin began to pull his leg free.

Pinkie Pie whimpered in protest and opened her eyes. “Go back to sleep. I’m comfy.”

“As nice as that sounds,” he whispered, “I gotta say that this table is makin’ my back mighty stiff.”

“That’s not all that’s stiff, from the looks of things.” Pinkie’s giggle faded into a yawn as Caramel awkwardly tried to cover himself. “Relax. It’s not like I’ve never seen one before.”

Caramel stopped struggling and looked seriously at the baker’s apprentice. “Miss Pie…”

“Pinkie. After last night, I’m pretty sure you can call me Pinkie.”

“Miss… Pinkie, did we…” He gestured at the table and their position on it.

“No… unfortunately.” She added at the end in a disappointed tone. “I wanted to, and you looked like you did too, but you passed out mid-make-out.”

“Sorry, I guess.”

Pinkie smiled at him. “No worries. We were both more than a little tipsy after all.”

Caramel felt himself returning the smile despite the awkwardness of the situation. “Yeah. That was one wild party all right.” He pushed himself up into a sitting position and gazed around the room. There were passed out ponies all around. They were draped over furniture, slumped along the walls, and some just face-flat on the floor.

That definitely looked like Thunderlane slowly spinning in circles, suspended from the ceiling fan by a knot tied in his tail.

He looked around some more. “I don’t see Applejack anywhere. Last I saw she was dancin’ with some mare. Guess she finally made it to bed.”

Pinkie giggled again. “Not alone either, if I had anything to do with it.”

Caramel looked over at her. “What do you mean ‘had anything to do with it?’”

Pinkie put her hooves behind her head and grinned at the ceiling. “Maybe I got tired of AJ and Dashie doing nothing about the fact that they totally have the hots for each other. Maybe I conspired with Fluttershy to sneak me some of that Secret Apple Family Honey-whatsits.”

“Secret Apple Family Honeymoon Cider.” Caramel corrected her, holding back laughter. “So you gave my cousin and the object of her affections a special brew that would lower their inhibitions?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Pinkie noted proudly. “Trust me Caramel; if you were in my place, you would have done it too. Those two are so into each other it’s not even funny. Now that the hard part’s out of the way, maybe they’ll actually do something about it.”

Caramel’s belly was shaking. “So yer big goal last night was basically just to get my cousin laid?”

Pinkie’s smile faltered. “Well, I kinda had plans to give somepony else a little something sweet, but… he passed out before I had the chance.”

Caramel’s laughter died in his throat and he found himself hurriedly trying to cover himself again. “Uh, it’s not that I’m not flattered, uh, Pinkie. It’s just… I’m out in Apploosa helping Braeburn with some things, and I’ve never really been a one–time thing kind of pony…”

Pinkie giggled and nuzzled the crook of his neck. “Such a gentle-colt. That’s okay.” She noted the chocolate matted in her fur. “Hmmm…” She gave one of the splotches the smallest of licks and let a wide grin spread across her face.  “Yum!” She began to lick the sweet stuff from her coat in slow, languid strokes, savoring each little taste. “Mmmmm…”

Caramel watched the plump pink mare before start to clean herself and was only dimly aware of the bit of drool dripping from his mouth. Suddenly, Braeburn and Apploosa didn’t matter so much. Being a gentle-colt didn’t matter so much.

All that mattered was the fact that he now how had one hell of a sweet tooth.

“WHOA!” Pinkie cried in actual surprise as Caramel lunged at her, lapping almost desperately at the sugar on her neck. “What happened to not being a… ah…. a one-time thing kind of pony?”

Caramel drew back only slightly to meet her gaze and lick his lips. “I’d be more than happy to be your one-time thing kind of pony.” He resumed his cleaning attack. “Or maybe a two-time thing kind of pony?”

Pinkie was beside herself. “Two-time thing kind of pony sounds… ooo… nice.” She jumped a little as she hit a particularly tingly spot. “Come to think of it, you could be a three-time thing kind of pony…” She gasped as his wandering tongue found its way all the way up to her ear. “Or four-time. Five-times would be good for me too.”

“Care to make it six?” He whispered in the ear he’d just licked.

Pinkie couldn’t take it anymore. “Caramel, when does your train leave?”

“Half past noon. Why?”

“C’mon.” She jumped off the table and began to head for the house’s front door.

Caramel followed her, his head cocked in confusion. “Where’re we going?”

Pinkie looked back at him with hooded eyes. “The Cakes probably won’t be back ‘til eleven. That gives us just three hours, plus a little extra time for some lunch before we get you to the train station.”

Caramel fought through the rampaging lust and tore his eyes away from the swaying flank before him before making one last impassioned plea. “Pinkie, I’m still not…”

“Can I be your special somepony, Caramel? Will that make you feel better about this?”

Caramel was slightly taken aback. “This is… sudden. I like you, Pinkie, but we only just met last night and all.”

Pinkie trotted up to him and kissed him, not a kiss of lust but of genuine affection. “Sometimes a girl just knows, Caramel. Now answer the question. Special somepony; yes or no?”

Caramel caught that same smell of chocolate and sugar he’d woken up to. It wasn’t possible. He’d cleaned almost all the sweets from her head and face…

Unless that was just her natural scent.

He kissed her this time, and when they parted, he put his forehead to hers. “It would be nice having a special somepony to come back to.”

Pinkie smiled and bounced happily to the door. “Good. Now come on. You’re gonna be in that big lonely desert for a while, so I’m going to give you eight sweet memories to help you along ‘til you make it back.”

Caramel followed her out the door, trying to figure out something she’d just said. “Eight? You’re counting lunch, right?”

Pinkie paused for a moment, deep in thought, before she looked back and smiled wider. “My bad. I forgot lunch. Better make that nine sweet memories.”

Caramel felt his jaw start to drop. “So we… eight times…?”

Pinkie Pie bounced back to him and kissed his cheek. “Yep. And I’m gonna add one for every minute we’re not in my bedroom.”

As Caramel watched her bounce away, he made a mental note to purposefully drag his feet all the way to Sugarcube Corner.

He would just have to catch a later train.
> Chapter 5- Twilight Cubed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Princess Twilight Sparkle awoke to the familiar scent of clean mane all around her. It reminded her of the days from her filly-hood when many a late night study session with Princess Celestia ended with the purple unicorn snug, warm, and quite sleepy in the ever-flowing tail of Equestria's immortal monarch. The memory brought a smile to her face and she slowly slid open one sand-encrusted eye. 

The sunlight blasted into her retinas and turned the dull ache in her head into a full force earthquake. 

Her pained scream came out as an irritated groan instead and she desperately tried to roll away from the offensive light source. 

Something impeded her progress. 

Something warm, breathing, and latched onto her midsection. 

The obvious answer was that Spike had crawled into bed with her after the reception and was snuggling with her from force of habit.

But Spike didn't have fur.

Dreading what she might find, Twilight cracked her eye open just enough to confirm her suspicions.

This was not her bed.

This was not her room.

That was definitely not Spike holding her like a teddy bear.

It was, to her dawning horror, the magician who called herself the Great and Powerful Trixie.

Twilight's mouth fell open in shock at the sight of her one time rival holding her close with what looked like genuine affection. Even in sleep, there was a cat-like look of satisfaction on the show-pony's face. Her mane was a tangled mess and her coat had several areas where the fur seemed to be standing straight up, almost like it had been licked...

Twilight's eye twitched as the possibility crossed her mind that she was the one responsible for both the matted fur and pleased expression.

What the buck had happened last night?

Honestly, she could barely remember. The last thing she could clearly recall was being goaded by Rainbow Dash into sampling some of the reception's hard cider. No, not just Dash. Somepony else was there, egging her on. She concentrated hard and almost saw the white mare who had put her in this situation...

“You should really learn to lighten up, my most faithful stu...”

The white noise washed the hazy memory away and Twilight rubbed her temples with an anguished moan.

Whoever was responsible was unimportant. Right now, she needed to wake up Trixie and convince her to never tell another soul about this incredibly awkward situation. She took a breath to steel herself and lifted a hoof to shake the blue unicorn awake.

“Mmmmm... keep doing that...”

Willing herself not to scream, Twilight craned her neck back to find the source of the very familiar voice. The magenta mare was back to back with the alicorn and was shifting around in her sleep, obviously in the midst of a very pleasurable dream. 

“I can do things, y'know...” Cheerilee muttered in her slumber. “Things that little wife of yours has never dreamed of...”

Twilight's eyes flicked back and forth between the two mares beneath the sheets with her. Despite her best attempts, the old familiar panic was beginning to break through as the situation became more and more clear.

She'd gotten very drunk at the reception... and apparently bedded both Ponyville's former dictator and beloved school teacher. 

At the same time.

She could hear Spike's voice in her head. “Niiiiiiice.”

Her mind reeled. What else had happened last night? Was there more she wasn't seeing? Was somepony like Spitfire about to stroll in and regale her with how spectacular their interracial four way had been?

At that moment the white noise in Twilight's head vanished and she realized that it hadn't been white noise at all.

It had been a running shower.

The door across from the bed slowly opened. A cloud of shower mist billowed forth, obscuring the identity of her fourth bed mate... but not their wings.

As her sanity began to slip, the crazy thought entered Twilight's mind that maybe she'd been transported into some sort of spicy romance novella.

The pegasus stepped into the room.

He was not Spitfire.

He was...

He was...

...she knew exactly who this stallion was.

And somehow that made the situation worse.

Flash Sentry saw her open eyes and smiled. “Good morning, your majesty.”

His voice made her other bed mates stir. Cheerilee and Trixie both stretched, groggily opened their eyes... and promptly screamed.

“Okay, good. We're all on the same page then.” Twilight dead-panned. 

“W-what are you two doing in the Great and Powerful Trixie's motel room?” Trixie stammered as she quickly pulled her hooves back from the alicorn princess' body.

“So we're in the Ponyville Motel. There's my next question answered.”

Cheerilee, already retreated to the foot of the bed, coughed harshly. A purple feather flew from her mouth and fluttered to the messy bedspread. “My life is over.” She whispered in horror.

“Calm down, Cheerilee.” Twilight found that now that she was now able to address her bed-mates, her grasp on the situation at hoof was getting stronger. “Nopony outside of this room is ever going to hear anything about this.”

“Trixie should certainly hope not.” Trixie sniffed the air haughtily. “The very idea that the Great and Powerful Trixie would debase herself by falling into bed with her greatest rival! It's absurd.” Her eyes flicked to Twilight's twitching wings. “Even if that rival is now a princess.”

Twilight ignored her and looked instead to the royal guard. “Let's just focus on figuring out how we all got here. Flash, why are you in Ponyville? Aren't you supposed to be in the Empire?”

Flash shuffled his hooves. “Yes ma'am. But Princess Celestia requested me specifically as one of her escorts to last night's wedding.”

“So you were at the wedding. So was I, obviously. And Cheerilee, you were there. That still doesn't explain why Trixie...”

“...s at the wedding...”

Twilight's ears perked up. “What was that?”

Trixie looked away and spoke a bit louder. “Trixie was at the wedding. Or, rather, the reception.” She sighed. “Trixie was hired to entertain the foals with magic tricks.”

“...so, do you remember what happened?”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie did not hang around longer than was necessary.” She scoffed. “Trixie collected her payment and retreated to the bar downstairs to drown her sorrows and hopefully find something to keep Trixie occupied.” She looked at Flash Sentry with approving eyes. “Trixie apparently succeeded.”

“Right back at ya, ma'am.” Flash returned with a smirk.

“Flash!” Twilight snapped. “I wouldn't be so okay with this if I were you. You could be in serious trouble.”

Flash raised an eyebrow. “Trouble?”

“You had your way with three drunken mares, one of whom is a princess and the sister-in-law of the monarchs to whom you have been assigned!” 

“With all due respect, ma'am, I didn't 'have my way' with anypony. If anything, it was Miss Trixie and Miss Cheerilee who had their way with me.”

Twilight's resolve faltered. “You mean we... we didn't...?”

“Not for my lack of trying, ma'am. And we did make out a fair bit.” Flash blushed and looked away. “Everytime I tried to do anything more, you stopped me. You assured me that it was nothing personal, just that I reminded you too much of someone else.”

“You mean somepony else.” Cheerilee muttered, her teaching side fighting through her pounding head.

“No ma'am. She specifically said someone.”

Twilight blushed furiously. “Never mind that. You seem to remember last night very well, Flash.”

Flash's chest puffed out despite himself. “We Royal Guards have to have a high tolerance for alcohol, your majesty.”

“So kindly explain how this all came to be.”

Flash cleared his throat. “I'm not sure of the whole thing, your majesty. Trixie and I were doing shots when you and Miss Cheerilee showed up, already fairly blitzed. You saw me, joined us, and we headed upstairs when the bar closed a few hours later.”

Cheerilee looked at the other two mares and then at the pegasus. “So... you and I...?”

Flash nodded. 

Cheerilee gave the guard a once over, her initial panic fading quickly. “Well, I've certainly ended up with worse hook-ups, especially back in my college days.” She shrugged. “I learned back then that alcohol and I don't exactly mix.”

Trixie raised an eyebrow. “Then why...?”

“You were drowning your sorrows, so was I.” Cheerilee shot her a look full of daggers. “Kindly drop it.”

Trixie's mouth snapped shut.

Twilight ignored them both and remained focused on the increasingly flustered guard. “Okay, so we headed upstairs. Did anything else happen aside from you three becoming intimately familiar with each others reproductive organs?”

“...I don't understand the question.”

“She wants to know if you remember her getting any tail from one of us.” Trixie responded, rolling her eyes as she did so.

“Oh.” Flash smiled guiltily. “Uh... yeah. You three got into it pretty heavy.” He looked down and muttered something that sounded like, “ItmighthavebeenthehottestthingI'veeverseen...”

Twilight rubbed her forehead with a hoof. “Great. Just great...” 

Cheerilee reached out and patted the alicorn on the back. “These things happen, Twilight. If I had a bit for every time I stumbled drunkenly into bed with one of my friends, I could retire from teaching.”

“That's a little bit of information I didn't need, but I suppose you're right.” Twilight sighed as she jumped from bed and headed for the door. “Can I at least be a decent one night stand and walk you home?”

Cheerilee nodded and joined her.

Flash looked to her, slightly panicked. “Your majesty, I'm sorry about all this. You're not going to tell Princess Celestia about this, are you?”

Twilight smiled and shook her head. “All things considered, Flash, you appeared to have been a perfect gentlecolt. Seeing as how you had the good sense to stop when I asked you to... Cheerilee? Do you have any complaints?”

The school teacher waved her hoof in a dismissive fashion.

“Then you're in the clear. Enjoy the rest of your time in Ponyville, Lieutenant Sentry.” She leaned close and whispered into his ear. “Of course, if any of this leaves this room, then I will see to it you have a very long assignment in the Bad Lands. Understood?”

Flash gulped and nodded.

“Good.” She glanced over at Trixie, the lone mare still on the bed. “And, uh, do what you can to ensure that Trixie has some happy memories when she leaves this time.”

Flash saluted her as she pulled away. “Yes ma'am.” After the two mares had left and the door had closed behind them, he turned his attention back to the magician on the bed. “Do you really not remember anything from last night?” 

Trixie scoffed and laid back on the pillows. “Don't be stupid. The Great and Powerful Trixie is many things... but a school-filly who cannot handle her alcohol is not one of them. I remember it all perfectly.”

“Then why the act?”

“A bit of fun at Twilight Sparkle's expense. Trixie enjoyed seeing her flustered. Almost as much as Trixie enjoyed having the newest alicorn princess between Trixie's...”

“I... uh... enjoyed that as well.” 

Trixie looked at him with hooded eyes. “Yes. Trixie knows.”

Flash crossed the room and joined her on the bed. “Did I happen to tell you last night how hot it is that you talk like that?”

Trixie scooted close and ran a hoof down his spine. “You might have mentioned it. How long until you have to leave?”

“This afternoon. Totally free until then.”

“Good.” Trixie kissed him and traced a circle on his forehead with her horn. “Are there any other fantasies the Great and Powerful Trixie can help you realize before you return to the frozen north?”

“Well, there is one.” He looked over at the clothes that had been thrown to the floor. “It's... kinda weird though.”

Trixie cocked her head. “Trixie is intrigued.”

Flash smirked and leaned in to lick her ear. “Put on your robe and wizard hat.”
> MicroChapter- The Walk of Shame
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

They spent most of the walk in silence, just letting the crisp morning air clear their heads.

When they neared Cheerilee's house, it was Twilight who broke the silence. “I hope last night doesn't make you think any less of me.”

Cheerilee laughed and shook her head. “You're my friend, Twilight, and one drunken roll in the hay isn't going to change that. If we do it again, though, I insist you buy me dinner first.”

They both laughed and kept walking. 

Twilight looked over at the teacher, one last question buzzing about in her head. “Cheerilee... this morning...”

“Hmmm?”

“You, uh, talked in your sleep a little.”

A flash of panic crossed Cheerilee's face but it vanished just as quick. “Did I?”

“Yeah. And I recall you saying that you drank so much at the reception to 'drown your sorrows.'”

“And the point you're trying to make is...?”

“Cheerilee, I'm not dumb. Or blind.” She offered a sympathetic smile. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Cheerilee sighed and shook her head. “There's nothing to talk about. The better mare won.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “I wasn't aware you two were competing.”

“That's the thing about the game of love, Twilight; you never know there's somepony else playing until it's too late.” They had finally reached the door to Cheerilee's house and the teacher gave Twilight  a sad smile. “I'm happy for her. And for him. It just... it just wasn't meant to be.”

“Cheerilee...”

Cheerilee held a hoof up. “I'm a big mare, Twilight. I'll get over it, believe me.” She offered a stern, teacher's stare. “Far be it from me to order a princess around, but I must ask you...”

“I won't say anything. To Mac or Fluttershy.” 

“Or?”

“Or anypony else.”

“Promise?”

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Twilight intoned, going through the Pinkie Promise's motions as though they were muscle memory. 

“Thank you.” Cheerilee turned and looked under the mat for her key. “Twilight?”

“Yes?”

“Flash said that you kept saying he reminded you too much of someone else. The specificity of that implies that whoever this lucky fellow is that Flash reminds you of, he's not technically a pony...” There was a flash of light in the corner of her eye and she spun in time to see the hazy image of the newest alicorn princess fade into nothingness as she winked away. She smiled and shook her head. “Guess I'm not the only one with a secret.” She spared a glance down the lane at the distant silhouette of Sweet Apple Acres. She sighed, turned away, and headed into the house.

Sweet Apple Acres, home of the stallion she'd fallen for and now lost forever to another, vanished from her sight with the closing of a door.
> Special Guest Chapter- Secret Rendezvous by The Princess Rarity 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun was a bit of an enemy, almost forcing Braeburn to awake from his very peaceful slumber. He tried keeping his eyes shut, but the light was too harsh to ignore. He turned over to face away from it, but found himself colliding with an obstacle and also realizing that this was not his bed at home in Appleloosa.

Instead of a nice, fluffy firm mattress, he was resting on wooden boards and haybales. It was comfortable, in a tolerable sort of way, but not one’s ideal choice of a place to rest for the night.

Then again, the obstacle he bumped into made it worthwhile.

Silky soft feathers that matched the color of the sky tickled Braeburn and an unexpectedly loud snore suddenly echoed through the barn. Trying to stifle a chuckle, he nudged the figure, who made no effort at all to even stir in the slightest bit. Braeburn pursed his lips in thought and poked his companion once again, but alas nothing.

Ah, well, desperate times call for desperate measures.

“Soarin, wake up, there’s breakfast downstairs,” Braeburn whispered.

Oddly enough, there was nothing. That was strange, it usually did the trick.

“I made pancakes,” he added.

“Wha?” Soarin mumbled, as he fluttered his eyes open and looked around. Once he became aware of his surroundings, he let out a huff. “You’re cruel, Brae.”

Braeburn laughed and gave a shrug. “Well, unless ya can think of another way for me to wake you up, that’s gonna have to stick for now,” he teased.

With an unamused roll of his eyes, Soarin let out a groan as he stretched himself out.

“Ugh, what time is it?” he muttered.

“Judging by the sun, I’m gonna say mid morning,” Braeburn mused. “From what I’m seein’, it’s not too late, but probably not early either.” He let out a yawn and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. The rustling of hay was heard for a moment, and he looked up, slightly entertained at what he saw. “Now what in the world are you doin’?”

Sticking his tongue out like the child he was, Soarin was now wearing Braeburn’s hat.

“Well? How do I look?” he said, with his usual goofy chuckle.

“Like a darn fool,” Braeburn replied, smirking slightly. “Now give it ‘ere, mister.”

“Nuh-uh, no way,” Soarin argued. “I’m keeping this hat.”

“And what makes ya think you can do that?” Braeburn murmured, as he suddenly lunged forward in a dash to grab his accessory… but he failed and ended up falling on top of Soarin.

An second of odd silence passed, only before they both erupted into laughter.

“You gotta be the biggest featherbrain I ev’r met,” Braeburn declared.

He snatched his hat back and placed it on his head. He rolled off of Soarin, who sat up and nuzzled the other stallion next to him. They shared a grin, and Braeburn boldly kissed his lover, who was more than happy to return the embrace. It was sweet, sincere, with a touch of silliness and awkward feeling - sort of like their whole relationship, mixed into one.

“If I’m the featherbrain, then you’re the hick,” Soarin playfully shot back.

“Why do I put up with you?” Braeburn sighed, as he shook his head - but his smile never wore off.

Soarin opened his mouth to reply, however, the sound of nearby muffled chatter from not that far away was soon heard, thus interrupting him. Braeburn’s expression looked alarmed for a moment, and he peered over the edge of the hayloft, noticing two ponies -- a stallion and a mare -- standing in the doorway of the barn.

He had seen them around the reception once or twice, but what with the way the stallion kept running off and disappearing, Braeburn figured the couple hadn’t stayed the night.

Now, from the looks of it, the two ponies were arguing for a moment. He winced as the mare backed away, almost as if she was hurt, and the two of them began bickering some more, but when the stallion pulled her in for a kiss, it seemed that all was well for them again.

“Aww,” Soarin said, with a stupid, sappy grin. “They’re cute, aren’t they?”

Braeburn clamped a hoof over the pegasus’s mouth and shot him a glare. “Will ya can it?!” he harshly whispered. “They might hear ya!”

Soarin’s green eyes went wide, in alarm, and he grunted as he was pushed back.

“Gee, Brae, that was kinda cruel, don’t you think?” he muttered. “I mean, you know I like it rough but--”

“--very funny, featherbrain,” Braeburn mumbled, crawling away from the edge of the hayloft.

“Seriously, though,” Soarin whispered. “What the hay was that for?”

A loud, breathy sigh escaped Braeburn and he hesitated. He crossed his forehooves and bit his lip, mulling over his thoughts for a moment. “I just… y’know, don’t want anypony knowin’ about us,” he admitted.

“Oh,” was the only thing that could slip past Soarin’s lips.

He fell silent, and stared up the ceiling of the barn.

The two stallions lay side-by-side, thinking hard about the same things, as strange as it were. Braeburn’s worry sure wasn’t odd. Lots of ponies didn’t agree with coltcuddlers or fillyfoolers -- in fact, entire cities had banned them from marrying and a few hate crimes still sprung up from time to time. Coming out of the closet was sometimes a risk for a couple of ponies in that sort of community, and yet here Braeburn and Soarin were, happily in love, with a slight worry in their hearts.

Granted, they had visited Ponyville more than a few times: and they could tell that this small town was so peaceful for a reason. More accepting and loving than other communities. They would have no problem being open in this area, but Appleloosa and Cloudsdale, on the other hoof…

...just a few weeks back, it was banned in Cloudsdale for same-sex couples to adopt foals, and a fillyfooler had been assaulted. One could perfectly well understand how much strength it really took to come out, no matter where they lived.

“Hey,” Soarin murmured, as he reached out and took Braeburn’s hoof into his own. “I get it.”

“Ya do?” Braeburn said, with a quaver in his voice.

“Totally,” Soarin replied. “I mean, I grew up in a household that kicked me out ‘cause I liked colts. Then again, becoming famous was the best sorta revenge. But you don’t wanna go through that, so you wanna keep our relationship hidden. I don’t really like going through with it, but if it makes ya happy, well… I guess we could keep at it.”

Braeburn let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and he managed the most bittersweet of smiles.

He snuggled up to Soarin, enjoying the silky embrace of feathers.

“I don’t wanna hide, but I ain’t too sure if my folks and family are alright with it, s’all,” he admitted. “I want ‘em to meet ya, I really do, I just don’t know if we should try it.”

Soarin placed a kiss on Braeburn’s forehead. “We’ll wait as long as you need,” he murmured.

Braeburn instantly felt his anxiousness melt away, and he smiled a real, true sort of smile.

“I love ya, you crazy featherbrain,” Braeburn muttered, with a playful punch on Soarin’s foreleg.

“Love you too, you stupid hick,” Soarin teased, releasing his typical goofy laugh.

The past, when they had met, was pure awkwardness and memories they loved looking back and poking fun at. The present, now, was contentment and swelling hearts of anticipation. The future was undecided, but ultimately full of hope.

But then, a sudden flash in the background alerted the two stallions out of their tranquility.

“Brae, dude, what was that?” Soarin spoke up. “Did you see--”

“--kinda cloudy outside. Coulda been lightning,” Braeburn muttered. There was a nagging unease in the back of his mind as he watched the clouds move in front of the sun. "Looks like there might be a storm..."
> Chapter 6- It Gets Better With Age
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Do you remember the day we started dating?"

Cup Cake smiled and snuggled deeper into her husband's embrace. "The Homecoming Bonfire."

"That's right." Carrot Cake breathed in the smell of his wife's mane and kissed her scalp. "How long had we been friends?"

"At that point? Three years."

"And to think that neither of us had ever considered dating the other."

Cup looked back at him. "Speak for yourself. I'd had my eyes on you from the very beginning." 

Carrot was incredulous. "Why, for pony's sake? I was just some beanpole with a special talent for baking."

She rubbed her foreleg along his, wrapped around her belly. "You were cute, charming, and funny. What wasn't to like?"

He shrugged and tightened his grip on her plump form. "Do you remember how surprised I was the first time you kissed me?"

Cup saw the first beams of sunlight peek through the window and grinned as she remembered that lovely twilight. "Starstruck and Jammy were egging us on, and you raised my hoof and kissed it." She mimicked the past action on his hoof. "It was adorable how much of a gentle colt you were. You still are."

"I try." The morning's first bird song reached Carrot's ears. "That's why I was so shocked when you yanked me close and kissed me."

She rolled until they were face to face. "You didn't complain. Not then." Her eyes narrowed. "Or later. After the dance."

Carrot rolled his eyes. "You always take such great pleasure in this part of the story. Excuse me for not expecting my new mare-friend to yank me into some dark archway and jump me."

"You squeaked."

Carrot's jaw dropped. "I did no such thing."

“You squeaked the first time.” 

“But not the second. Or the third.”

The pair laughed and nuzzled each other. “Do you remember what we were fighting about last night?” Cup asked, kissing the tip of his nose.

"You don't?"

"It's kind of... blurry."

“You accused me of hitting on Applejack. And Derpy.”

“Oh ye…”

“And Cheerilee.”

“You were flirting with Cheerilee.” Cup narrowed her eyes in a half-joking manner.

“Discussing our children’s educational future with the town teacher is not flirting, gummy bear.” 

“Staring at the teacher’s rump is.”

Carrot’s mouth slapped shut and he looked away slyly. “So after nearly fifteen years of marriage, you’re still not comfortable enough with my fidelity to let me glance at another mare’s rump now and then?”

Cup rolled her eyes. “Is my rump not good enough for you anymore, string bean? Or has it gotten too thick for you these days?”

Carrot grinned as his hooves traveled down her back and playfully squeezed the soft flesh they found there. “Nonsense. I love your thickness.”

Cup laughed airily as she enjoyed the massage her posterior was receiving. “Good, because I’m rather fond of your thickness too.”

“My thickness? I thought I was strin… oh.”

They laughed again until their lips came together once more, interlocking as perfectly as they had so many years ago. After all this time, they still knew each other’s little buttons to press. As bakers, they both had very sensitive tongues, something they both used to their mutual advantage. The slow and loving kiss soon became a bit more heated than anticipated. 

“Mmm… keep that up, licorice lips, and you may find yourself in a sticky situation.” Cup moaned in between kisses as her husband’s wandering hooves found a sensitive spot.

“What can I say, gumdrop; I’ve got to make sure the oven is nice and preheated.” Carrot grinned against her lips. 

Cup giggled and gave his chest a gentle shove. “Save that energy for later. We have to go get Pumpkin and Pound. Rose is going to kill us as it is.”

Groaning in disappointment, Carrot reluctantly pulled himself from his wife’s warmth and stood, shaking off the blanket they’d found in the shack’s corner. “Do you think she regrets offering to take all the foals home by herself?”

Cup stood and adjusted her messy mane. “With all the bits she’s just made from this impromptu baby-sitting session? Not a chance.” She located the dress she’d been wearing and began pulling it on. “We should still make her a thank-you cake, though.”

Carrot nodded, adjusting his hat. “Of course. I can see the frosting now; ‘Dear Roseluck: Thank You for the Whoopee. The Cakes.’”

Cup laughed and tossed her purse at him. “You are incorrigible.”

He caught the purse in his mouth and carried it back to her, dropping it by her side. “In all seriousness… I am sorry about embarrassing you last night. Maybe you were right with all that ‘mid-life crisis’ talk.”

She shook her head and kissed him. “I’m sorry too. I overreacted a little. I know that no mare could pull you away from me.”

“My love, a team of wild horses couldn't drag me from your side.”

Together, they swung the door to the wooden structure open and looked at the bright blue sky. “Lovely morning.” Cup offered.

“Shame to waste a morning as pretty as this just going and grabbing the twins.” He turned to her and motioned at a path that lead into the woods. “How about a walk, with a side of fresh-picked apples for breakfast?” 

“Sounds heavenly.” Cup took a step and almost toppled over when she felt a brief moment of nothingness before her hoof hit wood again. “What in the name of Celestia…” She saw, and she laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Carrot had remembered to go back and refold the blanket they’d used the night before.

“Didn't you wonder where we ended up spending the night?” Cup hiccuped, her laughter barely contained. 

Carrot took in the wooden walls and ceiling, the sparse furniture, and the faded items on the wall. There appeared to be a calendar, some drawings, a map of Ponyville…

Carrot’s eyes widened in realization and he stamped his hoof on the floor experimentally. 

It rang hollow, like there was not ground beneath.

He joined his chortling wife outside and looked down, past the slatted wood ramps to the ground a few feet below.

They’d spend the night in the club-house of the (now former) Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Carrot looked at his wife, and the look on his face made her lose control completely. Tears streamed down her face as she held her belly and shook with the sort of laughter one would not expect from a middle-aged mother of two.

She laughed like a school-filly.

Carrot loved that laugh. He loved it more that morning, in that single moment, than the first time he’d heard it in high school. He loved it because it sounded of youth, but it also rang of experience, of motherhood, and of love. It was a laugh that had gotten better with age, like some fine wine.

He couldn’t help it. He started laughing too. 

Maybe it was his wife’s laughter. Maybe it was the beautiful morning. Maybe he was still buzzed from the copious alcohol consumption and extracurricular activities of the night before.

Whatever it was, for some reason, he felt… young.

“Age isn't how old you are but how old you feel.” 

― Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez
> Chapter 7- Sweet Music
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bon Bon awoke to the smell of apples.

Her eyes inched open to find the morning’s light filtered through the high branches of some of the surely hundreds of apple trees one would find on Sweet Apple Acres. She stretched and squirmed, feeding her tired muscles and enjoying the feel of the soft grass on her fur. The pleasurable sensation almost made the pounding in her head go away.

Almost.

After a particularly long stretch, she rolled to her side in hopes of feeling more of the glorious grass on her body.

She found herself staring into the smiling face of her ex-marefriend.

Bon Bon’s good mood was instantly ruined. “Not again…”

“That’s not what you were saying last night.” Lyra chuckled.

Bon Bon rolled in the other direction huffily. “I knew coming to the wedding alone was a bad idea.”

Lyra laughed. “I dunno. Worked out pretty well for me.” She started to wrap her forelegs about Bon Bon’s body. “I came to score some tail…”

Bon Bon angrily shook off the unicorn’s embrace and stood on still-sleepy hooves. “We can’t keep doing this, Lyra. Ex-marefriends shouldn’t get drunk and wind up sleeping together once a month.”

“Technically, the last time this happened was less than a week ago, after we ran into each other at the Chez Gallop.” Lyra sat up, a bit of grass tucked contentedly in the corner of her mouth. “It’s not my fault you’re such a lush, Bonnie.”

“I’m not a lush, Lyra!” Bon Bon snapped. “I’m strictly a social drinker.”

Lyra snorted. “Is that the popular term for it these days?”

“You make it sound like I’m as bad as… as… I don’t know, Berry Punch.”

“Berry would slap the horn right off my head if I ever had the gall to call her anything less than a barely functioning alcoholic, and you know it.”

Bon Bon laughed despite herself and sat heavily on the grass. “You always know how to make me laugh, don’t you?”

Lyra sat up, happy to be in her favorite sitting position, and stretched. “It’s a gift.” 

A stray thought popped into Bon Bon’s head. “Why were you even at the wedding? You’re terrified of weddings.”

Lyra scoffed. “You try not getting nervous around weddings when you’ve been mind-controlled by a shape-shifting queen, tossed down a shaft into the bowels of a mountain, and menaced by a monster that seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once.” She shivered as she remembered the beast advancing on her and her fellow bridesmaids. “If Princess Luna hadn’t shown up when she had…”

“I know. You’ve told me that story a hundred times. So why were you at this wedding?”

“There was a pretty mare I had my eye on.” When Bon Bon said nothing in return, Lyra focused her gaze on the cream-colored mare’s back. “Bon Bon?”

“Hmm?”

“Why did you break up with me?”

Bon Bon exhaled loudly. “How long were we together?”

Lyra thought about it. “…five years? Give or take a day.”

Bon Bon nodded, still not looking back. “And how long did we live together?”

“As roommates or…”

“You know what I mean.”

“Three years, two months, sixteen days. You took out your last box at about half past noon.”

“You reme…” Bon Bon cut off her surprise with a well-timed cough. “When did I last bring up the subject of marriage?” She smiled, smugly and bitterly, sure that Lyra would have no…

“Four days before you broke up with me. At dinner. You had cooked that pasta I liked so much, the stuff you usually save for my birthday.” A pause. “You were trying to butter me up.”

Bon Bon frowned. This was bringing her not even the grimmest of satisfactions. “And what did you tell me?”

There was a heaviness in the unicorn’s voice when next she spoke. “That if we got married, there was no way we were gonna stay together.”

Bon Bon turned at last so Lyra could see the pain in her eyes. “So why would I stay with a mare that I knew would never marry me?”

“Bon Bon…” Lyra had to break from her gaze. “You don’t understand…”

“So what?” Bon Bon’s voice sounded harsh, even to her own ears. “There’s already so much about you I don’t understand, what harm could a little more do?”

“I’ve never seen a marriage work out.”

“What?”

“My parents, my friends in Canterlot, my cousins… they all got married. And for a few years, things were great for them. But… in the end…” She looked back at the love of her life with tears streaming down her cheeks. “In the end, it always went wrong. Separations, divorce… every marriage ended, usually with the ponies involved hating each other’s guts.”

“Lyra…”

“I couldn’t figure it out. How? How could you say you love somepony so much that you want to be one with them forever, and then suddenly stop loving them?” She shrugged. “I guess I just came to the conclusion that it was the marriage itself doing the damage. Something about getting married put a timer on the relationship. I just… I didn’t want that to happen to us.”

Bon Bon sat in stunned silence. 

“I love you so much, Bonnie. I didn’t leave the house for days after you left, and when I finally did walk out the door I swore I was not going to rest until I had you back. The first time you showed up at the door late at night, I was so happy. I was sure that you’d forgiven me, sure that you’d decided to come back.” Lyra lowered her eyes. “But then I saw you were drunk. But you weren’t, y’know, ‘Berry Punch’ drunk. You went on and on about how much you missed me and how much you loved me… how was I supposed to resist you pulling me upstairs?”

Bon Bon opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

“I needed you, Bon Bon. I was still searching for that thing that would make us okay again, but I still physically ached to be close to you in the meantime. I realized that when you got tipsy, you forgot about all the bad things and… and you remembered that you loved me. So I made sure I was close by anytime I knew you would be somewhere and alcohol would be involved.”

Bon Bon narrowed her eyes. “You selfish...”

“Huh?”

“How dare you take advantage of me like that? How dare you?”

Lyra’s head hung lower. “Being apart from you for too long physically hurt me, Bonnie. You’re my other half, my everything. I just… I needed you.”

Bon Bon sniffed and stood. “Well congratulations, you got me. I’m sure you’ll get me again at the next party I go to.” She turned and began to walk away. “And to think; all it took to get you over your phobia of weddings was the promise of a little candy…”

“Bon Bon! Stop!”

Bon Bon spun and found Lyra also on her hooves, a blaze of determination in her eyes. “What?”

“I didn’t come to the wedding hoping that you’d drag me into the broom closet. I came because I finally found my answer.” She took a deep breath. “Being at that ceremony, feeling all the love in the air, seeing Mac and Fluttershy standing there… I finally got it.”

“Got what?”

“Why those other marriages I had seen failed. All those marriages I had seen fall apart… they were aristocrats and high society types. They thought what they had was love, but to them it was just another step in status, a place you’re expected to go by society at large. But a marriage is more than that; marriage is a step in life, not social status. You marry someone not just because you find them beautiful, or smart, or how good their job is.” Lyra offered a small smile. “You marry someone because there are challenges in life you can’t face on your own, and the pony you marry is the one you know can face those challenges with you.”

Bon Bon’s angry façade faded. “What are you saying?”

“At my cousin’s wedding a few years back, the bride and groom hardly looked at each other. They kept cutting eyes at the ponies around them, making sure they were paying attention to how nice the dress was or how beautiful the decorations were.” Lyra wiped her eyes as her smile grew. “Mac and Fluttershy didn’t do any of that. Their eyes never moved from each other, not even for an instant. They were each looking at the only thing in the world that mattered.” She shrugged. “And I saw us up there, doing the same thing.”

“…what?”

“I stopped looking for you at parties weeks ago, Bonnie. When we’ve gotten together since then, you’ve always come to me, so I know that at least part of you still loves me. And you know that I still love you, don’t you?”

Bon Bon nodded.

“I understand it all now… and I want to ask if you’ll marry me.”

For a moment the only sound was the bird-song, the only movement came from a breeze in the trees.

A loose apple fell to the ground with a thud.

Bon Bon tackled Lyra to the grass with a similar sound.

Laughing, Lyra kissed the top of Bon Bon’s head. “So… is that a yes?”

Bon Bon looked up at her love, her eyes full of tears and a wide grin on her face. “You stupid, stupid, stupid unicorn. I never stopped loving you, and I only drank so much so that I would have the courage to try and come back to you. I love you so much, you nincompoop. So yes, I’ll marry you.”

“So…” Lyra wiped the tears from her new fiancé’s eyes. “You weren’t really mad then?”

Bon Bon rolled her eyes. “Shut up and kiss me.”

She did, and there was no alcohol fueled courage, no questions, and no despair to be found in the joining of their lips. It was a kiss of resolution, of salvation, and of wholeness.

It was, pardon the cliché, the kiss of truest love.

They parted, and Bon Bon looked at her wife-to-be and felt the same butterflies in her stomach she’d felt on the first day they’d met. “Again?”

Lyra nuzzled her. “Again.”
> Epilogue- In the Sun's Warm Embrace
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I found him like this. I flew up and tried to undo the knot, but its way too tight. It looks like it was tied by magic.”

“I’ll take care of it Rumble. Applebloom, do you have a cushion or something for him to land on?”

“Just a sec.”

“That’s gotta be a pretty strong ceiling fan…”

“Thank you for your helpful input, Scootaloo.”

Thunderlane groggily opened his eyes to find his little brother and three fillies looking down at him from the ceiling. “Guys… I know I had a few last night, but answer one question for me; why are you all upside down?”

Applebloom returned with a cushion and carefully positioned it over his head. “Why’s the blood not rushin’ to his head?”

“Something to do with pegasi physiology, I think.” Rumble shrugged. “Same reason most of us don’t get motion sickness.”

Thunderlane shook his head. “Why would the blood rush to my head? You’re the ones on the ceiling.” He tried to move but failed. “And why does my tail hurt?”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes as her horn lit with a green glow. “Thunderlane, just hold still. And, uh, brace yourself.”

“Brace my…WHAAA!” The black pegasus suddenly found himself zooming towards the ceiling, the inevitable crash staved off by Applebloom’s well-placed cushion. 

“Nailed it.” Sweetie Belle sang, dousing her horn’s magic.

“You okay, bro?” Rumble asked, prodding his brother’s side.

Thunderlane nodded and rolled over. He sat up in a daze and took in his surroundings. The passed out occupants of the Apple Family’s living room were finally starting to wake up. The soothing smell of coffee emanated from the nearby kitchen and some already awake ponies were enjoying a cup and making small talk. Thunderlane’s gaze finally settled on his four rescuers. Not foals any longer, but on the cusp of their teenage years, Rumble, Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle offered him gentle smiles.

“You okay?” Scootaloo repeated Rumble’s question.

“Yeah. Yeah, I think so.” He looked upward and watched the slowly rotating ceiling fan. “How in Equestria did I wind up tied to that?”

“We were hoping you could answer that.” Applebloom motioned to the slowly stirring crowd. “When we left last night, the party was still in full swing.”

Thunderlane looked past the foursome and noticed their packs and what looked like a tent. “You guys camped?”

“Out in the orchard.” Scootaloo explained. 

“We were going to crash in the club-house…” Rumble started.

“…but we, uh, saw the Cakes got there first.” Sweetie Belle finished.

Scootaloo shuddered. “We’re going to have to disinfect that whole thing, aren’t we?”

Applebloom nodded. “At least ponies using our clubhouse as a love shack isn’t gonna be a regular thing.”

Laughter from the stairs caught all their attention as Rainbow Dash and Applejack descended and made for the kitchen. Their laughter at the recollections of other pony’s drunken exploits echoed after they had left the room.

“Huh, I guess Dash crashed in the guest room.” Applebloom murmured.

As though in response, Sweetie Belle heard a heavy crash outside. She peered out the nearby window in time to see Spike standing up and brushing off the dirt from where he’d fallen. He gave a look around, as though to ensure no one was watching, and motioned to somepony above.

Somepony in the Apple’s guest room.

Sweetie Belle’s eyes widened as Rarity fell into the dragon’s arms. He caught her like she weighed nothing and she snuggled into his chest. She looked around… and saw Sweetie Belle’s staring face. 

Mother and daughter shared a moment of frozen silence. 

Rarity finally mouthed a silent ‘You didn’t see anything.’

Sweetie Belle grinned. ‘Raise my allowance.’

Rarity pouted, then rolled her eyes. ‘Fine.’ She tapped Spike on the chest and they were gone from view as he took off running.

“Sweetie Belle.” Thunderlane’s voice called her back to the conversation at hand. “I never congratulated you or Applebloom on getting your Cutie Marks.”

Sweetie Belle and Applebloom smiled as they both peered back at the shining new marks on their flanks.

Applebloom’s was a crossed hammer and nail emblazoned on a blooming apple blossom. It had appeared after somepony in the crowd had mentioned how great the arch she had built for the wedding looked. Her celebrating had nearly interrupted Mac and Fluttershy’s vows.

Sweetie Belle’s hadn’t appeared until the reception, after she’d finished serenading the newlyweds during their first dance. The stylized eighth musical note had excited her so much that she had begun singing again. She was finally dragged off the stage two hours later.

Thunderlane offered Scootaloo a smile. “No luck, huh?”

Scootaloo waved it off. “Nah, it’s okay. I’ve waited this long, I can wait a little longer.”

Thunderlane patted her on the head and turned to his brother. “Ready to go?” 

Rumble nodded. “See you later, girls. And, uh, I’ll see you at Sugarcube Corner tomorrow, Applebloom.” He finished with a blush.

Applebloom nodded and kissed his cheek. “You bet, sugar.”

“Get it, Rumble!” Came the still inebriated voice of Berry Punch, her body still sprawled across the couch.

Laughing at his brother’s embarrassment, Thunderlane turned to leave.

“Hey Thunderlane? What’s that in your mane?”

He reached back and plucked out the object; a scroll.

A scroll with the royal seal.

Thunderlane stared and struggled to recall the previous night’s events. Try as he might, it was all a blur. There were bits and pieces, but not a single whole picture. He vaguely recalled a mane of flowing light…

His jaw dropped. “Did… did I hook up with Princess Celestia last night?”

The four preteens busted out laughing. “Princess Celestia?” Applebloom shook her head. “Thunderlane, it’s more likely that you wound up getting to know Granny Smith a bit more than you expected and yer tryin’ to block it out.”

The thought made Thunderlane queasy… up until he heard the harsh voice of the Apple Family matriarch echo from upstairs.

“Make yerselves useful and bring me some coffee. I’m gonna need my energy for this.”

All heads turned to the top of the stairs.

All jaws dropped when a disheveled Flim and Flam appeared there. “This… this is not what I planned for when I said ‘let’s go fool around with the Apple Family wedding.’” Flim muttered.

“Nor I, brother of mine.” Flam replied, equally shaken.

“I’m waitin’!” Granny Smith’s voice called. 

Flam straightened his hat and made for the door. “Thank you all for the lovely evening, but I’m afraid we have business to attend to in Neigh Orleans. After a very long, very hot, shower.” He paused when he saw Flim was not beside him. “Brother?”

Flim was halfway to the kitchen. “You, uh, go on ahead, brother of mine. I’ll be along.”

Flam’s eye twitched. “You mean...?”

Flim shrugged. “What can I say? There’s an opportunity in this community that, let’s face it, doesn’t happen to us very often.” He tipped his hat in his brother’s direction, grabbed two cups of steaming coffee in his magic, and headed back upstairs.

Flam shook his head, tipped his own hat to the ponies in attendance, and fled.

In the ensuing raucous laughter, Thunderlane finally opened the scroll and began to read.

Dear Thunderlane,

My apologies for the memory wipe spell. I am not… myself when I get too deep into the cups, and I am more comfortable knowing that you do not think of me as some floozy.

I’m also sorry about your tail. My sister can be quite prankish when she has too much cider.

For what it’s worth, Thunderlane, you provided a wonderful bit of stress relief and did your princess a great service. Several great services, if I recall. As a reward, rest assured that I will be speaking to Spitfire about you the next time a slot on the Wonderbolts opens up.

In the meantime, should you ever find yourself in Canterlot, perhaps we could become reacquainted. My private chambers are much more comfortable than any broom closet.

See you soon,

Princess C.

If Thunderlane’s grin were any wider, his head would have fallen in half. He snatched his still laughing brother and plopped him onto his back. “Time to bounce, little bro.”

“Why so quick?” Rumble asked as Thunderlane barreled out the door and sprang into the beautiful sky.

“We’ve gotta get you home. I’ve got some… business in Canterlot.”

/////////////////////////////////////////////

The Cutie Mark Crusaders watched the two pegasi leave. “Wonder what their hurry is?” Scootaloo wondered aloud.

They turned to the stairs again as the laughter became cheers and roars of approval. 

Mac and Fluttershy stood at the top of the stairs and smiled down at the party guests. They looked at each other, husband and wife, and kissed to further cheers.

“Think they’re gonna make it?” Sweetie Belle asked Applebloom.

Applebloom smiled and nodded, pleased as punch with her new sister-in-law. “Why not? It’s a brand new day, after all.”

//////////////////////////////////////////////////

The sun continued its long trek across the sky.

Another morning’s glory passed.

A new day began.


The End