With Their Traditions

Outside the closed door a lavender ear strained and twitched at the soft sobbing now emanating from within.

Silken Sash felt her heartstrings ache with the sound. To feel for one’s children was the sign of a good mother. The fact that she was responsible for her daughter’s pain, it gnawed at her deeply. She had to keep reminding herself that Diamond Tiara had brought this on herself in many ways. Yet to hear the whimpers from behind the closed door of her only foal’s bedroom …

Silken wiped a tear from the corner of her eye with the back of a hoof as she stepped lightly away from Diamond Tiara’s bedroom over to the linen closet to retrieve the fresh white sheets required for later.

Laying the white sheets across her back, Silken thought back to her own deflowering. It had been in the 'Princess Suite' of the Lucky Clover Inn right here in Ponyville. She and Filthy had still been slightly tipsy from the reception on fortified cider from Sweet Apple Acres. Her last few cups and Filthy’s had been laced with Andalusian Fly, to ‘heighten the passion’, not that it really was necessary.

They had been young and in love, totally committed, and willing. Silken remembered how the room had smelled from the field flowers and fresh cut hay stacked about, the teasing care that they had taken in slowly undressing each other. She remembered the touch of his lips as he had used them to pull down her sodden panties before stuffing his nose in her folds and guiding her to the bed.

She, in some ways, hated herself and her husband for imposing the stud contract on Diamond Tiara. Where she’d had love, willingness, and a veritable ocean of passion to drown the discomfort of her husband’s slightly clumsy first mounting, the only thing Diamond had was a parchment that compelled her to yield herself to another.

Silken had known of the traditions of the stud contract when she and her husband had discussed them with Rich’s friends Apple Ridge, his wife Orange Bloom, and Ridge’s mother Granny Smith when the contract was originally drawn up. Back when many earth ponies traveled about in family caravans exploring and settling the new land of Equestria the stud contract had been used as a type of arranged marriage to guard against inbreeding inside the family based caravans.

The contracts were drawn up when two different clans met at some settlement or just at a common camp along the winding cart trails that ran between. The two chosen ponies may not ever know to whom they were promised until the time the contract was to be observed. But back in the day ponies with few choices for partners in a caravan oft made willing bedfellows to those they had. Many strong families had grown out of these practices Granny Smith had explained. The old mare had happily added that her own late husband had been a contract stud, arranged for when she was a small filly, and whom had grown to love dearly, and had missed every day since his passing.

With the growth of earth pony settlements and fewer roving caravans the stud contract had taken a different use. They’d become a traditional option of sorts. Larger communities meant more ponies to possibly pair with and no real need for the traditional contracts. Still, traditions were sort of that, traditional, and families often negotiated the contracts as an in-case-of option.

That’s what Diamond’s contract had been, a tradition made standby. The terms that had been finalized provided an escape clause that allowed the couple to separate after two foals, one per family, had been born. McIntosh had dropped the maintenance annuity by half in compensation, which actually put a bigger strain on the big red pony, but it was his choice.

The contract also included placing Diamond and the foals under his care until the chosen foal reached majority. Then there was still the option of clause thirteen: that by mutual agreement of the sire and dam the contract be laid aside in full union.

Silken Sash sighed. She and Rich had always talked about one day being able to walk their daughter down the aisle and watch her exchange vows of love and hope with the colt of her dreams. She stopped and looked at a picture hanging on the wall, her wedding picture. It was a small group shot of her, her husband, and the young colt who was Rich’s blanket bearer that day, a little gangly red colt that was now about to become the father of her grandfoals.

Diamond Tiara had dashed her parents’ hopes for a romantic wedding when she’d not once, but twice gotten involved in interpersonal manipulations during two separate executive apprenticeships with colleagues of Filthy’s. She’d gotten caught red-hoofed both times. The legal reparations had totaled over 35,000 bits - a significant part of two quarters revenue for Barnyard Bargains - and sullied Diamond’s name in the process.

Thankfully, Silken found, her daughter had not been sexually compromised despite some of the implications of the machinations. Diamond Tiara was a virgin still, though innocent might not be strictly applicable.

In any case, Silken had to agree with her husband, Diamond Tiara was a total liability to the financial well being of the family and its business legacy. Fortunately for Sweet Apple Acres, its collective nature allowed no access to power beyond what she might be granted when required, and Silken knew from her husband that McIntosh kept a tight reign on the farm’s finances.

Linens across her back, Silken trotted down the stairs to the main foyer of the house. Reaching the bottom she spotted her husband in the study with McIntosh.

“Filthy Rich,” she let her Kenbucky aristocratic upbringing come to the fore, “what in Celestia’s name are you and McIntosh doing here? I thought you were going to go fishing with Magnum? The girls will be here soon and you need to be out of here!”

“Well boy,” Filthy said turning to Mac, “I believe we’ve been given our first and final warning on that. Guess we should be heeding it, hmm?”

“Eeyup,” the scarlet stallion nodded his concurrence.

“Good,” Silken breathed, not abating her ire until compliance was had, and the stallions were out of the house.

“Not before I give my little filly one last kiss though.” Filthy grinned as Diamond Tiara slipped up next to her mother.

Silken hadn’t heard Diamond even come down the stairs, but she was there and stretched out her head towards her sire to receive a kiss on each of her cheeks. Diamond then tilted her head, politely offering her left cheek only to McIntosh, who chastely gave it a light peck.

“Good gracious,” A new voice cut in with a gasp, “no, no, No!”

It was Rarity, the town’s resident couturista and society mare entering from the direction of the rear patio.

“Diamond Tiara dear, you simply cannot wear something like that.”

Silken could see that the white with ever-so-subtle silver undertones unicorn mare was speaking of Diamond’s choice of dress saddle, with its short flanchard pleats on the sides and long croupier skirt. The short lace veil under Diamond’s trademark tiara was a nice touch as were the long fore-stockings she wore.

“You need something higher off the dock and we still have to braid the upper part of your tail. Quickly, upstairs my dear, your guests will be arriving soon and you must look magnifique!” the unicorn mare injected her presence between Diamond and the two males as she spoke.

“And you two,” the amethyst maned mare swung her attention to the stallions, “I’m sure my father is waiting by the bait shop for you. This is no place for stallions right now. So off with you.”

The haughty unicorn telekinetically opened the front to allow the chastised pair to vacate before closing with a slam behind them.

* * * * *

Her Royal Highness Princess Twilight Sparkle trotted along in the sunshine on her way across Ponyville. The weather captain had been good enough to keep the clouds to a minimum and the breeze to a pleasant almost coy tease, perfect weather for a garden party.

The young mulberry-purple alicorn gave an involuntary shake under her dress. Over time she’d become more at ease with her royal regalia. Her crown was no longer so much a burden itself as just a physical representation of the true responsibilities she’d come to accept that, unlike the crown, could not be laid aside at the end of a day.

The dress was a Carousel Couture original, short enough for light duty, such as a garden party, but with enough presence to accentuate Twilight’s heightened stature, both socially and physically. The young mare now stood not quite as tall as her pegasister-in-law, Cadence, but she still held almost a hoof at the withers on her closest friends.

“… then there is the Crystal Fair at the end of the month. The Prince and Princess would very much like you to attend, along with Princesses Celestia and Luna, as it would be the first opportunity for all five* princesses to be present for a portrait. Then there is the matter of your parents' attendance …”

“Silver,” Twilight spoke with a calming serenity that was modeled on her beloved teacher, Celestia. It still required some work at times, but for now it served to break the silver-grey near-mare-grown filly that was trotting along beside her from her monologue, which had been a near non-stop running agenda that had begun last night with Silver Spoon’s arrival from the train station. “Your best friend is having her bridal shower this afternoon and you haven’t ceased talking about the Crystal Empire’s upcoming social schedule since breakfast. You’ve been up in the Crystal Empire for a full moon’s turn, aren’t you even the slightest bit happy for Diamond Tiara, or at least want to see her?”

The silver maned pony dressed in complimenting darker grey business collar and turquoise beads that matched the frames of her glasses didn’t miss a step, as she pushed those self same glasses back up the bridge of her muzzle slightly before addressing Twilight.

“Your highness, …”

Twilight cut Silver off with a raised wing. “How many times have I told you that we can dispense with the formalities Silver?”

“Including this instance, ninety-seven, your highness. However, I must point out that you are attending an event for which a formal invitation was issued, and therefore are attending in a formal capacity, and protocol should be observed. Also it is a maiden fete, your highness, not a bridal shower, there is a difference.”

“There is?” Twilight cocked her head at Silver Spoon’s revelation. Normally, Twilight would have poured through her books on earth-pony traditions after receiving the invitation, but her royal itinerary had not permitted her the time to do more than cover the little regarding her upcoming role in the ceremony tomorrow, which was thankfully rather small, if central.

“Yes, your highness, there is.” Silver Spoon shifted up her posture as she prepared to brief Twilight on the differences between the two types of events.

It was Silver’s near eidetic memory, love of history, and implacable attention to detail and protocol that had convinced Twilight to accept the young pony into a diplomatic apprenticeship. Silver had been exemplary in her attentions to duty, very much reminding Twilight of another young pony several years ago.

“Hi There!”

Twilight reared back wings flaring in surprise as Pinkie Pie burst into her field of view from nowhere, or maybe she just hadn’t been paying enough attention to the fact that Silver Spoon and herself had arrived at the home of Diamond Tiara’s parents.

“May I ask for your invitation?” The pink party pony was dressed in a tuxedo vest with her normally poufy mane somehow combed nearly straight, ending in a heavy rolled curl that hung to one side just above withers height. Also, Pinkie was missing the disturbed look in her eyes associated with her straight-haired self, as she addressed Twilight and Silver Spoon.

“Pinkie, it’s me Twilight.”

“Hmm,” the pink pony withdrew a list from her vest pocket and gave it a once over, “nope, no Twilight on the list …”

“Ahem,” Silver Spoon spoke up, “Her Royal Highness Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

“Oh, of course your majesty, we cannot be too careful with royalty such as your self in attendance.”

Twilight rolled her eyes in a very un-royal manner. There were times she would swear on her grandmother’s horn that Silver Spoon enlisted Pinkie Pie’s assistance to stage these instances, just to try to test her ‘royal composure’.

Pinkie pie stepped aside and allowed the pair to enter the stately back gardens of the Rich residence. Only to moments later hear the blare of a crystal flugel horn.

“Announcing Her Royal Highness Princess Twilight Sparkle, Element of Harmony, OC**” Pinkie Pie called out from behind her. The gathered ponies in the garden bowed to Twilight, who had to repress the urge to facehoof. Instead she beckoned the gathered mares and fillies to continue as they were with a wave of a gold clad hoof, as she trotted off to locate her other friends and a cup of aged apple cider.

“Your Highness,” Silver Spoon’s voice drew Twilight to a stop.

“Silver Spoon, do you remember what I told you after your first month under my direction? After you’d stayed up nearly every night studying all the royal histories, protocols and diplomatic briefs you could lay your hooves on?”

“Yes, your Highness.”

“And that was …?” Twilight looked at the burgeoning young mare beside her, a stern compassion in her demeanor.

“Silver Spoon, you really must quit reading those dusty old books and make some friends.” Silver replied confidently.

“Exactly, my little pony, now I need to speak to some ponies about tomorrow, and you have a good friend who is having a very special day now, and you should go and be with her and wish her well.”

My little pony, … thought Twilight as Silver Spoon headed off to greet Diamond Tiara who was sitting among of a group of other young fillies and mares on the grass under a large shady tree, when did I start saying stuff like that?

* * * * *

TMI. TMI. TMI.

Apple Bloom stepped out of the kitchen of the Rich home; her head was swimming from the conversation that she had gotten trapped in the middle of as she looked over the garden. There were easily forty or fifty ponies present about the garden green, all mares and some older fillies. Given that it was a maiden fete, younger fillies were not present, due to the nature of the event.

The strawberry maned, olive-blonde pony had been talking alone with her sister Applejack about what was to come later on when Twilight had arrived. Applejack had insisted on giving the purple princess a peek at the post ceremony cake. From the look on Twilight’s face it was obvious that the young alicorn had not expected the apple-jelly-roll-cake to look quite like it had. That was to say, the cake, which was comprised of a line of apple-jelly rolls laid end-to-end and covered in cherry glaze icing, had been made to look like a stallion’s colt-hood.

Applejack had been quite proud of her efforts. The cake even included a heart shaped banana-nut loaf at the base end that was made up to look like, well, the stallions nut-sack. And that’s when Twilight, the Princess-Royale de Naiveté, had asked the question that had started the conversation.

“Ah, Applejack, why is the cake shaped like a penis?”

Well one thing had lead to another and soon the discussion had somehow managed to include the presence of Rarity and Rainbow Dash, in addition to Applejack and Twilight, with Apple Bloom trapped in the middle of the kitchen with them. In the ensuing fifteen-or-so minutes Twilight had learned what an earth pony maiden fete was, as opposed to a bridal shower, and why the event was sometimes referred to as a ‘cherry pop party’.

The rest of the conversation had entailed the four older mares exchanging their views on the subjects of sex, stud contracts, and unicorn arranged marriages, which Twilight referred to as ‘sworn betrothals’, and had stated she was glad her parents had never involved her in one. Apple Bloom had also come into the knowledge that unicorns traditionally prized virginity, and that on the wedding night the stallion used his horn to break the mare’s maiden-head, as it was thought to bind his magic to her by the blood.

Rainbow Dash had added to the discussion, stating that while pegasi ponies were not concerned with virginity, and often enjoyed their sexual openness, a pegasi marriage was special. It was a contract signed in ink mixed from the pair’s blood, and the quills used were feathers plucked from the other’s wing at the moment of signing. The vows so sworn were considered to be binding beyond death.

Apple Bloom sucked in a deep breath like her brother had taught her to help calm her nervousness as she glanced at the garden sundial. The time of the ceremony was nearly upon them and Apple Bloom was a nervous as a worm in an apple on cider making day.

A chuckle from a nearby divan drew her attention as she stepped from the laid stone of the raised patio onto the grass of the garden proper. Granny Smith and Diamond Tiara’s mother, Silken Sash, were sitting in the shade of a bank of cedars looking at one of Granny’s photo albums.

“Oh, look at this one,” Silken quietly exclaimed as one picture caught her attention, “McIntosh looks so cute sitting there in the basket sucking his back hoof.”

Apple Bloom knew instantly the picture Diamond Tiara’s mother was likely looking at. It was one of her brother as a skinny little foal only a few months old sitting inside a bushel basket on its side, apparently sucking on his back hoof. McIntosh was eternally embarrassed about that picture for good reason.

“Look again Silky,” the old Apple matriarch chortled mirthfully as if anticipating the punch line to a favorite joke.

“Oh?” Silken puzzled softly, then her voice lifted in surprise as the younger mare blushed heavily as she realized what she was looking at, “oh, … OH!”

Apple Bloom knew the joke as Granny Smith chuckled merrily.

“And those ain’t no pair of red galas ‘twix his hind quarters neither.” The old green farm mare guffawed proudly, patting Diamond’s mother on the withers as the society mare stared wide-eyed and blushing at the photo.

Better hope Diamond Tiara doesn’t see that picture before tomorrow night, Apple Bloom thought to herself.

“Hey there Half-pint,” the matriarch caught sight of her granddaughter, “y’r sister jus’ ‘bout finished? It’s getting’ on time f’r the main event here, an’ then we c’n get this party started.”

Apple Bloom swallowed hard as she nodded to the affirmative.

“Did somepony say party?” Pinkie Pie popped out excitedly from between of the cedars, before looking at the open photo album, “and why is Big Mac sitting in a basket with his pmmph …”

Silken Sash cut off the energetic pony’s sentence with a hoof abruptly placed in the pink pony’s mouth, before getting up and addressing the other three ponies present. “I’ll let Diamond Tiara know. Hard to believe it’s been three weeks already, seems like we just set the contract yesterday.”

Apple Bloom watched as Silken Sash walked with a summoned poise to an open area near the middle of the garden.

“Mares and fillies,” the lavender mare addressed the whole of the gathering as Apple Bloom noticed her sister and her friends trotting out from the house, “it is my pleasure to welcome you all here to celebrate my daughter’s upcoming union with our very close friends the Apple Family by their son, Big McIntosh.”

There was a round of polite applause at the announcement.

“But first,” Silken continued, “in the traditions laid out by our dams before us, we must first remove the final barrier to this relationship. Diamond would you join me please.”

Apple Bloom watched as Diamond Tiara detached herself from a knot of other ponies that included Silver Spoon, Twist, and Fluttershy, and walked up to where her mother stood. The pink pony wore a small dress saddle with long flanchards that tied off under her barrel, and a long croupier skirt, with long white forestockings.

At the same time Rarity and Applejack moved to join them. Rarity laid out a folded white cloth on the ground as Silken directed Diamond Tiara to stand over it. Applejack then placed a white wrapped package on the grass behind Diamond and stepped back.

Rarity and Silken next proceeded to remove the long over-skirt from Diamond’s dress saddle revealing a short dock length ruffle that left Diamond’s flanks and hind bare. Diamond’s tail had been braided from the base to about a third of the way down and secured with a light blue ribbon matching the pink pony’s eyes. A pair of narrow lacy underpants, which were not retained for long, completed the ensemble.

Apple Bloom recognized the style of garment as emulating something Sweetie Belle had shown her from one of Rarity’s fashion magazines. It was something called a ‘baby doll’ or a ‘teddy’, Apple Bloom couldn’t recall which, and considering the way her stomach was turning, it didn’t matter.

“Now,” Applejack’s voice announced, “it is traditional that the dam of the stud-to-be perform the next part of the rite, however since my mother, Orange Bloom, is at rest with my Pa in Elysium, that privilege would normally fall to me. But I’ve chosen not to, and instead allow my mother’s namesake to take up our mother’s duty.”

Apple Bloom moved forward, her stomach twisted and her heart seemed to stop as she did. Rarity and Silken Sash finished positioning Diamond Tiara over the folded white sheet, one rear hoof on each end of the narrow folded fabric in a comfortable straddle. The two older mares then sandwiched the younger, flank-to-shoulder as Applejack unwrapped the parcel on the ground.

It was called a ‘maiden key’, it was a polished, wax sealed, peg of apple-wood about two and-a-half hoof-widths long with a flattened T-handle at one end and a knob on the other shaped like a large egg. Applejack had taken her into the kitchen slightly before Twilight had arrived, shown her the ‘key’ and told Apple Bloom that she was going to let her ‘do the honours’ for Diamond Tiara.

It was only three weeks ago that Filthy Rich had brought the stud contract to Sweet Apple Acres to see if Big Mac would endorse the agreement. Now Apple Bloom was about to pop Diamond Tiara’s cherry so it would be easier for her brother to get Diamond with foal, as the old tradition held.

Applejack smiled warmly at her as Apple Bloom reached down to grip the key by the top of the ‘T’ as Silken Sash gripped her daughter’s tail near the end of the braid and drew it aside, baring Diamond’s ‘intimate gate’ to Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom pulled another deep breath in through her nose as she raised the maiden key into position, letting the small tip of the egg-like knob end rest against the plump folds of her long-time rival’s mare-hood. An ocean of emotion nearly drowned Apple Bloom as she stood there in a place her mother should have been. A mother she could barely remember, who had died when Apple Bloom was only a month and-a-half old.

Apple Bloom swallowed and calmed herself, taking another deep breath as she did. A gentle breeze played with her hair-bow, tickling her ear. She willed herself forward, to jam the white apple-wood ‘key’ into Diamond Tiara’s body. She didn’t move. She recollected her self and again tried to make her self move forward to pierce Diamond’s folds and sunder her hymen. The breeze whispered in her ear making it twitch … and she heard a voice in the softness of the breeze.

Apple Bloom laid the maiden key back on the cloth and looked at her sister with teary eyes, “Applejack, I can’t.”

A small gasp went up from the assembled ponies as Apple Bloom sullenly began to walk away. She could see the faces of Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, one uncomprehending, the other sympathetic, both disappointed.

“Perhaps your Highness would care to bless my daughter’s union by opening her maiden vault?”

Apple Bloom barely heard Diamond Tiara’s mother make the offer to Twilight, the murmur of approval from the assembled ponies, nor the round of applause from the princess’s acceptance. Her heart wasn’t in it; it was with the voice she’d heard in her head, a voice she couldn’t remember in real life, her mother’s. The whisper had barely been a syllable but Apple Bloom knew what to do, and she did it.

“What,” Diamond Tiara’s haughty voice cut knifelike into Apple Bloom’s calm, “to scared to be a mare about things. If it were up to me I’d jam you so hard you’d cry like when you were a little Blank Flank.”

That cut it …

Apple Bloom whirled around on Diamond Tiara and marched right up to her accuser’s face as Princess Twilight Sparkle stood behind the snobby young pony and lifted the maiden key in her magic.

“I don’t care what you’d do,” Apple Bloom looked Diamond Tiara right in her crystal blue eyes as she spoke, “after tomorrow your going to be almost like family, and the foals you have with my brother will be. I don’t want to start our relationship as family by hurting you, that’s not what family is supposed to do.”

Apple Bloom saw the flash of pain cross in Diamond Tiara’s eyes, and she would swear she’d heard the soft ‘pop’ as the vestigial membrane had split as the purple alicorn telekinetically shoved the ‘key’ into Diamond Tiara’s tight maiden lock. In a rush of sudden movement Apple Bloom threw her front legs around Diamond Tiara’s neck, covering Diamond’s face into her mane.

“Family isn’t suppose t’ hurt you.” Apple Bloom hugged Diamond Tiara hard, and whispered into the pained pony’s pink ear as Twilight gave the ‘key’ a quarter turn and then pulled it free with a soft popping sound, before holding it high in her magenta magical grip for the other ponies to see, “family is supposed t’ be there to hold you when your hurting.”

Apple Bloom could feel the tears on her neck.

Author's Note

* Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Twilight, and Cadence and Shining Armor's daughter

** OC = Order of Celestia

General note: when breeding a maiden filly or mare it is recommendable to breach the hymen 24 hours prior to having her covered by the stallion. It reduces the discomfort of the mare/filly and is said to improve the chances of conception, as equine blood supposedly has spermicidal characteristics in relation to equine semen.

Don't look at me like that, I told you Diamond Tiara was going to get her cherry popped, I just didn't say how or by whom.

Anyway, next up the handover, the reception, and teasing the stallion.