Chapter 6: Concluding Epilogue

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Button Mash separated from Vinyl Scratch and Cheerilee at their home. He had to face this next part alone. His merry footsteps turned to plodding. He continued along the road through Ponyville. The street lights obscured his view of Luna’s lovely night sky. The hour was not too late, so there were still ponies out and about, but only a few, owing to Ponyville's lack of nightlife.

Button turned left onto a path that lead to an unremarkable apartment complex. He climbed up to the stairs and then headed for home. He stood just in front of the white door, 545 nailed to it in large, brass numbers. He breathed deeply. His mother would get the whole story. At least she was understanding, usually…

He opened the door and stepped inside. Milano was sitting in the living room, sipping a glass of red wine and watching tv. She turned it off and looked at him. “Hey, where’ve you been, Button?”

He stood behind the couch and replied, “At the beach, Mom.”

A twinkle entered her eyes. “Been enjoying yourself?” He nodded. She sniffed the air. “You’ve been having sex, haven’t you?”

Boom! He stubbed his toe against the wall in surprise. Button blushed, jolted, and stuttered, “H-H-H-how can you tell?!?”

She chuckled gaily, “Because you just told me. Besides, you stink like you’ve been in some pretty hot action.” Her son watched, his jaw crashing right through the floor and embedding itself in the foundations of the building. She patted the cushion beside her. “Well, grab a beer from the fridge and tell me all about it.” He was too flabbergasted to refuse.

Silence passed, during which Button Mash got himself a beer, poured it into a glass, brought it over, and drank some of it. The cool liquid washed over his tongue to cool his body and mind. The slight carbonation and bitterness scrubbed the last of the salty taste of the seaside, and the sweaty, fleshy tastes of the mares, from his tongue. Putting it down, he licked the bubbles from the foamy head off his upper lip. It was a good beer – probably some sort of lager from Zebricy. His mother and Cheerilee had made sure that he’d gotten his education when it came to booze. Corrupting influences indeed, but what was wrong with a little corruption? It certainly made life more interesting.

Milano and Button sat facing one another. She was wearing her trademark yellow and blue robe, and exhibiting her usual disregard for neatness and decorum, as she was slouching back in her chair, legs parted lazily, the top part of her robe almost spilling open with her appreciable breasts, though nothing was visible, not that he wished or looked; she wasn’t that slovenly. To Button, this was hardly worthy of comment; his mother worked hard, and it was her business how she chose to unwind. And there he was in nothing but swim trunks. They were family; they could not see each other as sexual objects, just like the tide could not defy the influence of the moon’s gravity. To suggest that their relationship was anything other than that of mother and son, was perverse lunacy.

Milano broke the silence. “So, tell me, how was it?”

Button blushed and searched his mind for the right words. “Wet.”

She chortled, “The sea or the sex?”

“Mom!” He quenched his shame with a swig of beer. "Both."

“Couldn’t resist.” She flashed white teeth.

“Should’ve known you’d pull something like this. Only you…”

“You know me.”

“This is why everypony thinks you’re some kind of memetic sex goddess.”

“Well I am, aren’t I?”

This were about to get weird. Button sighed, “If you say so, but it’s not always a good thing. Ponies go on about you and how they’d like to bed you. I don’t like seeing them hungering after you like a piece of meat.”

His mother took a small sip of wine. “Like I don’t know about all that. I’m flattered; I like the attention. For a single mare my age, who’s been through a divorce, had a foal… I’m still a mare, and I like feeling sexy – desirable.” Her son nodded. She continued, “And why shouldn’t I? I’m not old. And if they’re up for some fun, I’m game. Although you wouldn’t believe how hard it can be to get a stallion; they’re afraid of rejection, or they assume I’m taken, simply because I’m hot.”

“What about finding a good stallion for more than just a one night stand? Or at least one who isn’t going to jump at the chance to say I banged your mom?”

She sighed, “I wish I knew. Guys are everywhere. Good lays aren’t hard to find. Nice guys take a bit of tracking. But finding a gentlecolt who’s good in bed is like finding a needle in a haystack. And then finding one who has the nerve to approach me…” Her ears drooped.

“I’m sure you’ll find somepony, mom,” replied Button, smiling.

She made eye contact and reciprocated, nodding and answering, “Thanks. I’ll find somepony. Just need time…” Her ears perked up. Button sat at attention. She locked eyes with him. He took another swig to brace himself. “So, did you know her?”

“Who? What?”

“The mare who took your virginity, did you know her, or did you just meet her?” Button had that deer in the headlights look. Milano smirked, adding, “Or, perhaps… was it a stallion? Were you top or bottom? I thought you were walking a bit funny-”

PFTHBTCHR! Button spat out his beer, sputtering, “M-M-MMOM!!”

“A-HA HA MWAHA HA! I’m kidding!” With a flourish, Milano finished off her wine. “No more for me,” she said to no one in particular. “So, for real, who was it?”

The mother smirked as the son blushed. He gulped down the remaining three quarters of his beer. He reminded himself that his mom was just curious. The truth had to come out sooner or later. “Derpy.”

“No shit, really? You got free, enthusiastic, clear, verbal consent, right?” Milano Mash leaned forwards.

Button Mash nodded. “Yes, I always got consent before I did anything. They also got my consent, too.”

“Good. Don't forget, only yes means yes. So, who made the first move?”

“Derpy.”

Milano’s lip curled and she snorted, “Heh, no kidding. Not bad. So how’d it happen?”

Button explained, “Derpy, Vinyl, and Cheerilee were in heat at the beach-”

Her eyes widened. “Did you do it with them, too?” Button nodded bemusedly. He hadn’t expected her to take it this well.

“Yeah…”

“Touche, kiddo. How do you feel?” Her expression was unreadable.

“About the same, I guess,” said he. “I mean, the sex felt really good and we had a lot of fun, but I don’t feel like I’ve suddenly changed as a person. I don’t think I’m suddenly a stallion, now.”

His mom slowed down and nodded. “Did you use protection?”

“Does Vinyl casting a contraceptive spell on me count?”

Her eyes narrowed. “No, it doesn’t. I did tell you to bring condoms for a reason,” she growled. “And here’s why: Magic’s convenient and doesn’t mess with sensations or get in the way like condoms, but you’re trusting that the unicorn’s magic skills are good enough to stop pregnancy and diseases, and that she’s being honest. And if you get or give something, or knock her up, it’s your damn problem. With rubbers, you’re in control -- taking much lower risks; shit can still happen, but it’s less likely, and it’s more obvious if it does. It’s your health; I just hope that I taught you to make good choices.”

“You did, mom.”

"So do. Did anything come out of today?”

He scratched his head. “I’m unsure. Derpy Hooves said she wouldn’t mind doing more sexy stuff together, so I’ll take her up on her offer. But I did get offered a threesome relationship with Vinyl Scratch and Cheerille.”

“You what?” Milano’s eyebrows raised. She strummed her fingers.

Button repeated, “Cheers and Vine invited me to form a threesome with them.”

“Well, did you?” Her neck craned forwards.

“No, mom. I didn’t.” He sounded oddly triumphant.

Milano demanded, “Why not!?”

“Because I didn’t think I was ready or the right fit for it.”

She stared. “Go on…”

“I’ve never had a marefriend before, so I have no real experience with real, adult relationships. I don’t know how I’d react or how to handle them. Yeah, I’m physically mature enough to have sex, but I’m not mentally ready for all the other stuff, and that’s just in a monogamous relationship; I’m even less prepared for a complicated, polyamorous one.” His mother said nothing, but kept nodding slightly, encouraging him. “Also, I really want to be with Cheerilee, but she’s in a committed relationship with Vinyl, who’s lesbian. Essentially, I’d be getting in their way and interfering while always only ever being a periphery – it wouldn’t be good for anyone. That’s why I refused, even though I really wanted it, and they were trying pretty hard to talk me into it.”

His mother beamed broadly. “It takes maturity to know that you're immature and not quite ready yet. So, how did they take it?”

The stallion smiled back at the mare as he said, “Pretty well. They didn’t make any promises, but they said that my answer shows I’m conscientious and thoughtful enough to maybe one day join them. They wouldn’t let me yet, anyway. We’re just friends for now. I know I need to grow up and get my life on track before I get serious. And, really, I’m okay with that. Cheerilee, Derpy, Vinyl… I don’t know if anything will happen, but I’m not fussed.”

“That’s good. You're not quiet a stallion yet, Button; you're getting there, but still got a ways to go.” She gave him a half-lidded stare – bedroom eyes. “Y’know, you got what I’m looking for…”

“MOM!”

“Oh, fine,” she laughed, standing up before yawning, “I’m off to bed. Night, Button.”

Button rose and hugged her. “Night, mom.”

"Don't rush things." She went upstairs while he washed the glasses. He beat Devil Mare Cry 4 before turning in for the night. He did not sleep easily. He lay awake for hours pondering over if he was really a stallion, over what to do next, would the night have consequences, and over what his mother's words meant. Sleep finally found him just as the first birdsongs began to tweet in the early morning darkness of the first day of the rest of his life.

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Hot Button Beach Day

End

Author's Note

It's done for real now. Thank you all for reading. Say whatever you'd like.

Now, I would like to say a couple things.

Firstly, at this point, it is unlikely that I will write a sequel. I wrote this fic just for fun, and I'd hate for it to turn into a chore. I also have minimal interest in writing a slice of life romance story. I'd likely be terrible at it, and I really just don't have any draw to the genre, It's not the sort of thing that appeals to me. I also don't want to start on a big, ambitious project, get everybody so hyped up and excited about it, and then be unable to carry it through to completion. Thirdly, what happens in the future is up to your interpretation.

Secondly, before I write any more new stories. I am first going to wrap up loose ends in my ongoing story, Racer and the Geek, which I hope to have finished by the end of the year. Other than that, I have a short trilogy of non-pony short stories, as well as a brief oneshot, I have written for class in university. I am waiting for until after the course concludes to edit, ponify, and post those stories. The trio will be posted as individual stories due to each of them being considerably different from the other two.

Thirdly, here is a word about what I am planning to write next. I plan to write an action adventure story, possibly in the vein of something like S.T.A.L.K.E.R.. The oneshot will give a taste of what's to come, so don't miss it.

Fourthly, thank you again so much for reading this story. It means a lot to me that you read my works, let alone like or comment on them. None of this would be possible without any of you, my readers and editors. Thank you.

Fifthly, I have many other stories uploaded for viewing. Go ahead and look at any which grab your fancy.

Keep calm and brony on,

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Kalash93