Chapter 4: Moriarty

First human to engage in and then consummate an interspecies relationship, eh?

Mom must be so proud...

Did you know that ponies are even more prone to gossiping than humans? Well I learned that little factoid the hard way...

I believe the path of the story led from patient zero (My erstwhile companion and now partner, Ms Heartstrings), to her best friend Bon Bon, and then I believe a whisper was caught by Ponyville’s most famous fashionista Rarity…

From there on the spread became nigh unstoppable.

I had initially expected the response from the locals to be nothing short of utter outrage and disgust, followed quickly by an old-timey lynching in the town square.
Mild intrigue and curiosity was not the response I had been expecting. No, It turns out that interspecies mingling (for lack of a more polite term) isn't that big of a deal round these parts. And while the concept of one between a human and pony was obviously new, and may indeed have been startling briefly to some ponies, after the initial shock it appeared there was little other direction for them to go to than outright curiosity.

When it comes to things like this, Humans normally start at the 'Really?' stage, then go through their various stages of disgust and intolerance, before finally realizing they were actually being pretty douchey about the whole thing and settling on the acceptance stage. With ponies though it seems to start out with that same 'Really?' stage and then catapults right past acceptance before crashing headlong into the whispered 'So what was it like?' stage.

Did I mention how I was really starting to like this place?

The Twitter response had been interesting. Ironically, the first response to my initial selfie with Lyra had been the predictable:

@JazzyOne639 @MusicMan3142 I’d hit it…

It shocks me how that reply got almost as many favorites as the initial image.

Bluntness was often a good friend of mine, so I felt that the revelation should come like pulling off a band-aid.

@MusicMan3142 @Jazzyone639 Too late. #wherenomanhasgonebefore

Just like that.

@MoonPrismPrincess favorited one of your tweets.

Oh, and it turned out Princess Luna was indeed following me.

Flattering, when one takes into account that she currently holds the world record for most Twitter followers. That’s ahead of, I believe, Katy Perry, Barack Obama and her sister Celestia, who was known by her handle-

@GoodMorningStarshine favorited one of your tweets.

-Yeah, that…

But that was a while ago. Things had since settled down to a simmer. There had however been some…minor changes in my living arrangements. Needless to say, there was no further need for me to stay at the local inn.

I was sat up in bed that particular morning, phone propped up in my hands to answer an SMS alert.

Jim: So how’s the accommodation?

I cocked my head and glanced about the cottage. Lyra had a very cosy sense of decoration that fit in well with the town’s overall atmosphere.

Me: Not bad @ all. Vry rustic.

I felt my brow clench into a frown at that point.

Me: U don’t do social texting. Skip 2 it.

Jim: Charmer. I just wished to know what your plans were for further down the line.

I leaned back slightly to regard the screen with suspicion.

Me: Bit early 4 that. Not been here long. Why r u asking?

Jim: You're dodging the question.

Me: Ur dodging my question ABUOT ur question.

Jim: About* And I asked first.

Damn.

Me: Assume I just sighed concedingly and that u won that 1. What do u mean by ‘plans?’

Jim: Based on impressions thus far, do you want to go back?

I rolled my eyes and pressed a few buttons and brought the phone up to my ear. We’d reached what we like to call the ’ten text rule’.

It was now a conversation.

“Well?” came Jim’s voice.

I was conscious of a weight across my chest. I glanced down and then up towards the opposite wall, studying a non-descript painting of a park scene as I spoke, “It’s been such a whirlwind since I arrived that I’ve never even given it a second’s thought.”

“I see. And how is…Ms Heartstrings, wasn’t it?”

“You know fine well.” The weight shifted slightly, “And she’s fine.”

“That's good to hear. At least she'll be well out of heat by now.”

I almost flinched at that, and he made me pause for a moment longer than I’d have liked, mainly because it took a second for me to stop myself from uttering the words 'How did you know about that?' on reflex.

A picture began forming in my head, and a lot of pieces were suddenly falling into place. He didn’t prompt for a response. Bastard was actually waiting for me to work it out. I finally responded, “This was you, wasn’t it?”

“Me?” he queried mildly, “Why, whatever could you be implying?”

“That I’ve been stalked for years by a creepy thin man in a business suit who eventually drove me insane enough to let him lure me into another world, wrapped in his invisible tentacles…”

“Ah…” came the response, “I’m Slender Man now. I like it.”

“You’re just going to keep playing innocent, aren’t you?”

“Oh, Sam. I’m never anything but.”

He could probably hear my teeth grinding down the line.

He let out a weary sigh and I heard the tell-tale squeak of him idly twirling in his chair, “But then what a monster I must be: luring my best friend, a young, lonely man, into a world free from war and famine, giving him a six month free vacation with all expenses paid and, supposedly, luring him into getting laid…repeatedly. And even getting him an actual job.”

He stalled me there, “Umm…”

“What a bastard I am.”

“You are a bastard,” I grumbled, “I’m just not sure what kind yet.”

“Magnificent?” he offered.

“Or insidious. Either way you deserve a slap.”

“What for?” he asked with mock surprise.

“I don’t know.” I groaned, pausing to massage the bridge of my nose, “Hell, I’ve forgotten why I was even mad at you to begin with. How do you do that to people?”

“All part of the job, my friend…”

“And what’s that you said about an actual job? At the moment I’m pretty much just mooching off the system.”

“Just a little something I’ve got on the backburner. I may have a supervisor position for you lined up in the new Ponyville branch of Human Immigration Affairs.”

“Never heard of it.”

“That’s because it doesn’t exist yet. Groundwork’s still being laid but it should all be ready by the time your six months are up. Let me know your decision. It won’t be music, but it’ll still pay very handsomely. Plus, you can of course still…exercise your art outside of work.”

I was silent for another long moment, and my tone was extremely wary when I spoke again, “What are you planning, James?”

That got a pause out of him this time, and I realized quickly that I’d accidentally used his full first name, an inadvertent show of genuine caution on my part. His tone was far more open when he spoke again, “Nothing, as you say, ‘insidious’. I’m just trying to do my bit to make the world a happier place. And yes, I know how supervillainish that sounds, but I am actually trying to do something good here.”

“If you say so…” I murmured, choosing to let it drop for now.

“Have fun with your marefriend.”

I scowled, but then smiled, “Give Luna my regards.”

“Meaning what?”

“Nothing, nothing…” I replied, and promptly terminated the call. Proud that I’d swiped the last word. It always irritated him when I did that.

@Musicman3142 I sometimes wond-

A rustle of the covers interrupted my musings and drew my attention downwards. I felt a soft furry shape brush up the length of my form.

Lyra poked her head out from under the sheets, her chin resting on my torso. She smiled up at me, her honey coloured eyes gleaming, “Whatcha doing?” she asked, shifting cheekily against me, obviously with the intent of teasing a certain sensitive part of my anatomy with the gentle back and forth shifting of the fur on her chest.

It was annoyingly effective...

Plus, it was morning after all. I suspect Lyra had taken notice of that certain male tendency of mine too, and she wasn’t even close to being above taking advantage of it.

I rolled my eyes and reached down to gently rub the top of her head around the base of her horn, “Just talking at the world.”

She wriggled her way quickly up until she was propped in my lap and looking down at my smartphone display, “Is it about me? Is it, is it?” she asked, her usual rapt enthusiasm for all things otherworldly in full swing.

I dropped the handset on the nightstand as Lyra settled herself down again to rest her chin on my bare chest, “Nah, just rambling…” I said, and I felt a low, pleasured hum vibrate up my body from Lyra’s chest as I idly trailed my fingertips up and down the length of her horn.

She grinned and then leaned quickly up to peck me on the lips, “Hmm, think I’m feeling a bit tense this morning. Think maybe I might be starting to-“

“-You’re not in heat, Lyra.” I cut in with a weary smirk, “And Bon Bon told me that you were faking it for three full days after the fact. I know how to tell now. Not in the least because she helped me plot out your estrous cycle on my calendar app.”

She bopped me on the nose with the pad of her hoof, “You’re no fun.”

I narrowed my gaze at her and then snapped my teeth playfully in her face. She flinched back, her ears flattening on reflex against her head. Her face had screwed up into a rather adorable pout.

Being accused of being a tease I could deal with, but for some reason I could never allow myself to get accused of being dull and then just let it stand.

There was only one thing for it...

“Someone’s been a naughty mare though…" I said, "Getting this rowdy in the morning.”

She responded by rubbing herself once more up against my still annoyingly clear arousal, “Says the one who seems to get into a bit of heat himself every single time he wakes up.“

I narrowed my gaze down upon her, fixing her with my best fake-evil stare , “I see you have discovered my secret, young mare. Clearly you have seen too much...”

Lyra gave out a loud squeak as I pounced on her, which turned into a shrill giggle as she did her best to wrestle with me while I tickled her sides, “Help!” she called between giggles, wriggling in my arms, “I’m under attack!” she let out another squeak as I nibbled down on the base of her horn.

I gave her my best evil laugh as I shifted, taking her squirming form in my arms. I then nibbled gently on her ear, “I have you now…” I whispered.

“D-don’t! N-ngh!” Her cry escalated into a shocked gasp of pleasure at that point. Her entire frame then tensed, her back arching. I felt her rear press up against my groin, her tail dancing rapidly over my thighs.

Her mouth was hanging open now in soundless gasps as I gently nibbled lighter and harder on her ear, my thumb circling on that perfect sweet spot near the base of her tail. Her chest was heaving in the small of my arm as her rate of breathing increased. I then opted to switch to gently running my tongue up and down her horn while my hand slipped under to gently tease her engorged nipples.

I knew she was held firm more by her instinctive and quivering desire to present herself to the lover mounted over her rather than any physical grip I happened to have on her. I could see her eyes were moist as she glanced pleadingly back at me. I never quite held back until she actually cried though, but I’ll admit I have come close to letting her.

“P-please…” she whimpered, her rear twitching back reflexively against me. I felt the searing heat of her marehood as she left a trail of moisture up and down the length of my manhood. She was moaning openly and despairingly at the teasing contact against her vulva.

“Well now…” came a weary sigh. I felt Lyra flinch under me and her body temperature shot up even further, if such a thing were possible, “Somepony seems to be in a bit of a state…”

Yes, the one other alteration in my living arrangements: the fact that Lyra did not in fact live alone. It turned out that she had a housemate, and while she and Lyra were never 'that way' inclined towards each other as a rule, there had been more than a few instances apparently where they’d been forced to ‘help each other out’, for lack of a better term.

I would almost go so far as to say that she came as a package deal with the unicorn. Although she did, I came to quickly realize, have a much firmer grasp of her self-control than Lyra. Despite that, I suspect her devious streak may have been more than a little longer than her housemate’s.

Bon Bon, of course, was the earth mare’s name.

It had all started with her asking Lyra if it would be okay for her to find out what my ‘finger things’ that she kept bragging on about were like. Lyra had been more than happy to the point of beaming when she’d asked me to help her friend (and my new housemate) to relieve some stress using what I would class as a pretty basic massage.

It turned out Bon Bon didn't class it as such. And things had…escalated from there.

I’m still not sure if just three can be classed as a ‘herd’ though, which was apparently what we were now, the pair had informed me.

Life is strange...

But I digress. Something that always amuses me is how embarrassed Lyra seems to get whilst being ’watched’. Conversely, Bon Bon seemed to get a naughty thrill out of watching, if only because she seemed to enjoy watching Lyra get flustered almost as much as I did.

“Nuh...Nooo….” moaned Lyra, biting her lower lip, her eyes clenching closed. She knew the teasing would reach excruciating levels now that there were the two of us with her.

Despite her embarrassment, Lyra still couldn’t stop herself from continuing to rub herself off against my member right there in front of her house slash herdmate. I guess Lyra had just plain forgotten that Bon Bon was only working a sunrise to mid-morning shift that day.

Bon Bon nuzzled Lyra in passing as she hopped up onto the bed, and I tensed a little too as she ran the pad of her hoof up the bare side of my torso as she looked down on Lyra by my side.

The earth mare did however pause to ‘break character’ just long enough to briefly nuzzle me in greeting with a quick hug, just like she did every time she came home with both of us, although she did go a bit further and opt to steal a kiss in the process before going right back to business. For ponies I’d known for so short a time, it shocked me how much love they had to offer someone so new in their lives.

Humanity could learn a thing or two…though I suppose that was the general idea.

Bon Bon was grinning down on Lyra as she hooked her forehooves about my midsection, “Hmm, looks like somepony else has gotten all hot and bothered too…” she cooed, and I stifled a gasp as she ran the soft part of one hoof up the underside of my member and gently encircled and began massaging the tip with the other.

She arched up on her rear legs to whisper softly, her hoofs moving in a firm, yet still gentle caress, “Perhaps I should just get you off right here…”

I heard Lyra whimper slightly. She could probably never tell when Bon Bon was just teasing, and as her pace picked up and she slowly began to grind against me, I was starting to empathize.

Bon Bon stopped suddenly though and I felt her lean harder over me, her chin resting on my shoulder, forcing me down and up against the unicorn once more “Did you say something, Lyra?” she whispered. I didn’t move as I felt her adjust herself, pressing me down until she’d nestled the engorged tip of my manhood between Lyra’s searing hot outer lips. The earth mare was moving me now, circling the taut velvety opening of Lyra's marehood and using her bodyweight to apply threatening pressure, but never quite enough to make her actually yield to me.

Lyra for her part was a visibly quivering mess by this point. Stallions often didn’t make a habit of teasing during copulation. It was often a very swift affair, and never did they hold their mare in wait, since that obviously meant keeping their own pleasure at bay too.

The concept had apparently been alien to Bon Bon too, but she had obviously come to embrace it with gleeful abandon, and I had to admit:
the earth mare’s games did add an even greater spice to the proceedings.

I knew that Bon Bon couldn’t have been too comfortable in her current position, so I hooked an arm under her flank, supporting her rear with the palm of one hand. I noticed a bit of the strain on her face vanish, and her devilish grin gave way to a relieved smile for just the briefest of instances before going right back to business. I also wasn’t shocked to find out that, despite her calm demeanour, Bon Bon was obviously a lot more excited than she was letting on.

I gently caressed the moistness of Bon Bon's marehood with just the tips of two fingers for now to test her waters. She rewarded me with an eager wriggle of her hips, going so far as to inadvertently impale herself completely on my exploring digits, sinking both deep within her hot core.

I decided to show a bit of enthusiasm with our third since she was, after all, stuck at the back orchestrating. And so I buried my two fingers in her up to the second knuckle and applied vigorous pressure against the roof of her sex, thumbing the nicely exposed nub of her clit in the process. It didn't take me long to find the perfect rhythm either.

Bon Bon’s entire body jerked and she bit almost painfully down into my shoulder as I relentlessly massaged her internals. She gave an ecstatic thrust of her hips against me, forcing the tip of my member past Lyra’s tight opening and several inches inside of her.

Lyra let out a sobbing groan of relief and pleasure as she reflexively thrust back until her rear was meshed perfectly up against my groin, burying me completely within her searingly hot and undulating marehood.

Even as I started slowly working myself back and forth inside of the mare’s tight canal, Bon Bon had seized my wrist in a virtual death grip with her rear legs and was desperately working herself off against the fingers inside her. I suddenly realized then that I’d gone from two on one to one on two.

But then any good musician should always be well versed in the art of multitasking during a live performance.

Bon Bon collapsed against me in full when a third finger went into the mix. This had the effect of forcing Lyra face-down into the bed sheets and the earth mare ended up crouched up against me once more from behind. That at least gave me slightly better access to work at her and eventually I fell back into a gentle rhythm to slowly build her up to her peak.

Lyra was getting progressively tighter around me too. Her walls were now spasming almost nonstop, as if she were trying to milk me dry at the end of each repeated thrust into her. The sharper angle we were at now gave me the added benifit of permitting me reach even deeper into her than before.

Lyra was panting with each successive stroke and her teeth were gritted together. She forced herself up slightly as her back began to arch, “Close…” she squealed out, “So close…!”

I knew the feeling. I could feel the oncoming rush as I swelled harder within Lyra. I pushed down harder, stroking down as firmly and rapidly as I could on the same spot that I was working away at in Bon Bon. The unicorn’s next groan caught in her throat as she teetered on the edge and her eyes flicked open in surprise. I braced my knees to free my left hand and brought it up. I then reached over and gently coiled my fingers about her horn, circling the tip with my thumb.

That did the trick...

The sheets already stretched taut under Lyra’s front hooves seemed to tear as she let out a long sobbing cry of pleasure as her climax rocked her frame, the walls of her marehood going into overdrive as I worked her even through that.

To my surprise, just before I hit my peak too, Bon Bon tugged me back and I collapsed onto my backside. Lyra glanced back with a shocked, “huh?” still mid-climax, her eyes glazed over.

“Change of plans…” whispered Bon Bon, moving swiftly between us, and Lyra could do nothing to stop her from wrapping her forleges about her flank and burying her face in her marehood.

Lyra’s eyes flew wide as the mare’s tongue flicked over her clit before burying itself deep inside her. She would then dip out, tease that nub again and sink back in, her muzzle all but molding itself to the unicorn’s twitching sex.

Lyra thrashed about, shaking her head as she was forced to stay at her orgasmic peak while Bon Bon held her there in perfect restraint. As spasms wracked the unicorn's form, the earth mare settled herself back into my lap, gyrating slightly as she worked her friend over. I took her cue and I leaned upwards. There was little to no resistance as her outer lips yielded and I sank deep within her. The vibration of her sudden groan of satisfaction triggered another yelp of shock from Lyra.

I gripped Bon Bon’s flanks. I could feel she was close as it was, and so I began thrusting deeply and without abandon, matching the lust with which she went about keeping Lyra at her peak.

Bon Bon’s muffled grunts matched mine as I brought her up to the peak again, all the while she stabbed her hips back against me, seeking her finish too and not wanting to risk me escaping the depths of her marehood until I was good and done also.

A few hard stokes more pushed her over the edge and I thrust myself as deep as I could in and let the damn finally break for both of us. My groans matched Bon Bon’s muffled ones in time as I release jet after thick jet of seed deep into her marehood while she hungrily sapped away at the now shaking and sobbing Lyra in the midst of her lustful haze. Bon Bon held me firm and tightly within, her walls relentlessly clenching and releasing me as she climaxed, forcing me to yield all I had to her.

I crashed forwards onto the bed a moment later, gasping for air. Bon Bon came away too at that point, collapsing onto her side against me. Her muzzle was liberally coated with her friend’s juices as she instinctively nestled back up against me.

Lyra had been reduced to little more than a twitching mess, collapsed flat on her chest with her legs sprawled out around her. Her eyes were vacant and her breaths came as little more than quiet, whimpering squeaks.

I heaved out another gasp and reached tentatively over to stroke the unicorn’s side. Her fur was matted with sweat and I felt her entire frame shiver at the subtle contact under my fingertips.

I couldn’t help but smile, “Think we went a little hard on her?” I asked, basking in the deepest part of my afterglow.

Bon Bon’s hoof came up and gently rubbed the Unicorn's side alongside my own hand, “She’ll be fine…” she whispered fondly. She then arched her head back to look up at me, “And what was that thing you did with your fingers back there?”

“What, that?” I asked, shuffling about to sit up cross-legged, “Canon in D major. Sounds much better on the guitar, I assure you.”

“Huh?”

I couldn’t help but smile tiredly and then gently rustle her matted blue and pink mane, “Nothing.”

I shuffled about to Lyra’s side as Bon Bon pushed herself up, “You sure you’re okay?” I whispered down tenderly upon the prone unicorn.

Lyra's eyes were glazed and she was staring ahead with a dreamy expression on her face. Her ears gave a brief flick though, “I’m…happy.”

I blinked, “Lyra?”

Her eyes seemed to moisten slightly and her bottom lip began to tremble a little, “I’m…so...very happy.”

My own eyes widened a fraction and I turned to glance at Bon Bon. Her expression seemed to soften as she sank down alongside me.

I smiled gently and ran my fingertips through Lyra’s tousled mane, whispering “You silly mare you…”

I felt my mind drifting as I looked down upon the unicorn whilst Bon Bon made herself comfortable up against my side. I let my other hand come to rest on the earth mare’s head as she closed her eyes to doze off.

I wasn’t sure how deep my feelings for Lyra and Bon Bon ran, love for both equally certainly was the minimum, but I knew I was just scratching the surface at the moment. The rest could take time. How much time I'm not sure. Heck, I was unsure right then if all the time in the world would be enough.

There was only one thing that was certain: what was left of those six months most certainly wouldn’t be enough…

And so, as the weight of defeat began settling gently within me, I found my eyes being drawn to the phone on the nightstand.

‘I Suppose I can let Jim be right about just this one thing…’

Jim’s eyes seemed to gleam as he read the message that blinked to life on his blackberry.

Sammy: I’ll take the job.

"Atta boy, Sam…” he murmured under his breath with a smirk, and it buzzed again before he could even turn it partially away.

Sammy: Stop gloating.

Jim couldn’t help but chuckle slightly as he pocketed the device once more and then turned to look out upon the distant sunset. He glanced downwards also to take in Canterlot as it too prepared to turn in for the night.

A serene, satisfied smile graced Jim’s pale features, “Celestia’s in her castle. All’s right with the world…”

“Excuse me?” came the polite query from the other side of the office. The mare lounging on the couch was no longer draped in shadow and was instead now letting the sunset she basked in cast her into a soft golden hue.

Jim smiled dismissively, “Nothing. Just…lamenting on a job well done.”

“How is your friend?”

James glanced back at her over one shoulder, “Curious?”

She cocked her head, the ghost of a smile gracing her elegant features, “If you like.”

Jim crossed over and dropped onto the couch by her side, smiling, “I think Sam’s going to be just fine. He played his part better than I could’ve hoped, and he got his reward on top of that.”

“Good for him…”

Jim arched his head about and nodded towards the window, “And what’s the word out there on the street? How are we doing?”

The unicorn mare looked off at the landscape outside, “Couldn’t be better. Ms Heartstrings really knows how to embellish your friend’s…articulations. Bon Bon appears to have been inadvertently spreading the good word also. I tell you, some of the rumors the mares at the salon are spreading about humans and their…abilities..." she paused to shake her head with a smile, "the amusing thing is: quite a lot of them are actually true, so at least there won’t be any disappointed customers in that regard.”

Jim nodded slowly, “And so the consumer demand should be at the perfect level by the time you’re ready to...open shop, so to speak.”

“Precisely. How did the meeting with Celestia go?”

Jim drummed his fingers idly off his lap, his left hand moving to idly massage the tension from the mare’s side, causing her to let out a pleasured sigh and settle down against him, “As we thought: there was no legal issue with their relationship, and I’ve presented the idea as planned.”

Though she didn’t shift, Jim felt the muscles in her neck tighten slightly. That was one of the reasons he liked to get so tactile with her; she could be difficult to read from expression alone, “And?” she finally asked.

“The prospect…intrigued her. The idea of mares being able to find companionship and satisfaction when there are no stallions around, and without risking a rise in the population to boot? The concept of such a service had clearly never even occurred to her before.”

The mare shifted and stood up now. Jim made no move to follow as she began idly pacing before the window, “Human females don’t know the luck they have, James: a virtual fifty-fifty gender distribution; never feeling that searing, inescapable burning in your core on a regular basis…nor the crushing loneliness and despair of there just being nopony there in the dark moments, when just one night of having somepony in your hooves might make all the difference. And then there are all the foals born of that desperation.”

“I’m sure we have that issue too…” commented Jim.

“And how often do you think human females have that problem simply because there are literally no available partners around in a geographical sense?” Her eyes turned intense at that point, and Jim wondered if she was speaking from experience, “There are few pains more terrible than to know that you need someone, anyone, and that there is simply nothing you can do about it.”

James inclined his head, “Valid point…”

She rounded about at that, her hoof raised in a sweeping motion. “I will take that pain away, James! I will change Equestria and bring about a new, brighter age for mares everywhere!”

“As well as make a mountain of bits on the side…” observed James dryly.

Her hoof froze mid-swing. She cocked her head acceptingly, “That too…” she said, “But the point still stands: Mares will be happier; Stallions will not be as pressured, nor will they need to feel as obligated as before to let a lonely mare that they have no genuine interest in into their herd just out of pity, nor the guilt when that arrangement comes crashing inevitably down.”

“I wonder if Celestia knew that too…” mused Jim, stroking his chin idly in thought.

That caught her attention once more and she sauntered slowly back over to settle into the chair once more, “What did she say exactly?”

Jim shrugged, “That if such a business did indeed request approval to begin operation that she would indeed consider allowing its formation, at the very least on a trial basis. That is, if somepony were to ask such a thing.” He glanced at her then with a small smile, “She knew.”

The unicorn’s brow furrowed, “Knew?”

“She knew I was fronting for someone. I could see it in her eyes and hear it in the way she spoke; addressing me as if I were merely a messenger and not someone presenting a hypothetical scenario. I was also quoting her directly when I said ‘if somepony were to ask’, she didn’t say somebody.”

“You think she’s aware of my intentions already?”

Jim laced his fingers together and frowned in thought, dwelling on how best to phrase his reply, “I think she knows you’re far more than just a ‘market liaison’ here to represent Equestrian financial interests during the negotiation period.”

“And yet she said nothing…” observed Silver with a frown.

Jim’s smile turned wry, “That alone should tell you all you need to hear,” he said, “You have your green light, Silver."

Her chin rose up at that, as if some new energy was starting to swell from within, “Then it’s time…”

Then, to Jim’s slight surprise, she turned her attention fully towards him. She regarded him in quiet for a moment, as if reluctant to speak, “What will you do now?” she finally asked.

Jim blinked. He didn’t catch that it had actually been a personal question. After all, Silver never got sentimental… “I’ll move onto the next phase, just as planned. I’ve got the proposal for the immigration department all laid out, its approval is now an inevitability. From there it’s a simple matter of getting myself transferred and set up as departmental head.”

Silver averted her eyes slightly, nodding slowly. Back to business it was, but then that’s what she’d wanted him for in the first place after all, “You need to oversee this yourself?” she asked.

He inclined his head, “The system will of course work by the old ‘points’ method on paper. That means that those with valued skills and trades get priority. However, there will need to be people in that system ready to spot, -even in the most innocuous desk jockey or delivery man- that certain…something. Finding people who can spot that will of course be where I come in…”

“So that’s what you were talking to your friend about.”

“But of course. Knowing Sam, he’ll empathize with just the kind of people we need. He doesn’t have to know that every time he overrides the system that it all gets passed back to me so a…referral can be done for prospective employment in an attempt to help the newcomer ‘earn their citizenship’, but I’m sure I’ll end up breaking it to him at some further point down the line.

“From there, once everything is all moving and running on its own steam, I’ll just release control to an appropriate successor and move on.”

“But will they let you just take this new position as department head?”

Jim cocked his head, acknowledging the point, “They’ll wonder why I’m effectively demoting myself, surely, but they won’t fight it. But then only my role is changing; my goal remains the same.”

The unicorn was quiet for a moment before speaking again, her tone this time was one of almost reluctant, yet still genuine curiosity, “May I ask you a question?”

Jim almost appeared curious too. He nodded.

“Why did you agree to help me?”

“Silver?”

“I offered you no reimbursement for your trouble; no financial benefit or political power; you even rejected my…advances in lieu of payment.” She said, adding the last part with an uncomfortable shift of her hooves.

His smile seemed to soften then, “Because I was just doing my job.”

She blinked, “Your job?”

“I’m not a businessman, Silver, I’m a diplomat. My methods are rarely conventional, but my goal is always the same.”

“And what might that be?”

His smile tugged a bit, “Why, to bring people together, of course. That is the reason for everything I do.

"You wanted to change Equestria for the better, albeit with the additional goal of financial gain in mind, and so did I. Our goals were compatible. I've learned there are far more effective ways of uniting people than making them sit opposite one another at a table. Sometimes you’ve just got to get behind the lines to do it though.”

“And you thought uniting people and pony together in a…literal sense was a way of doing that?”

He chuckled, “Crude, perhaps, but as I said: very effective. Once those kinds of barriers are out of the way, you’d be shocked by how easily things can move on from there. Sam was just the first. From here, we upscale. When that’s finished, only then will my job be done. Then I’ll be free to move onto fighting my next battle.”

“Funny, I thought stopping them was your forte.”

“Oh how very droll,” he said, though he couldn’t help but smile as he said it, “But I suppose I’ll only be involved with your little operation in the most indirect of senses now, but then I always did prefer the subtle touch.”

“I know you do…” she whispered.

“Silver…” he intoned tiredly.

“I...suppose, since this is the end of our direct partnership, I would not mind if you referred to me by name.”

“Are you sure? You were the one with the fondness for this cloak and dagger melodrama. You do realize though that all those Earth spy movies you watched aren’t really how these back room things normally work?”

She gave a slight 'hmph' and looked away, “You were the one who agreed to play along.”

“What can I say?” he asked with a slight shrug, “I do like my games.”

She sighed at that point, “I really should’ve given you an alias too, I suppose…”

“The idea of smartly dressed men with call signs appeals to you, does it?”

She glanced off to one side, as if considering something, “It does now…”

Jim stood up and extended a hand at that point, “It was a pleasure working with you, Silver,” he said, using her alias just one last time.

Platinum raised her hoof up and allowed him to shake it, “The pleasure was mine…Slender Man.”

Jim flushed slightly and shook his head even as he turned to walk away, “Please don’t ever let Sam know I let you call me that.

"I’d best be off. At this rate I’ll be late for my evening tea with Luna.”

“I’ll most likely be gone by the time you return.”

Jim paused and turned back to her, “I suppose that’s for the best.”

She narrowed her gaze at him and sauntered forward a few steps, her hips swaying slightly with each step, “One…final question.”

“Ask away.”

She looked up at him with slightly lidded eyes, “Did I never once…tempt you?”

His expression softened slightly, “More than I’d have liked…”

Platinum smiled, “Good answer. You always were the perfect Gentleman…”

He flourished a quick bow, “I aim to please. Still…if you ever have need of my services again…” he said, opening the door, “You have my card.”

And then he was gone.

Platinum stood in silence for a moment, realizing that she actually felt rather…irked. Not because Jim had resisted her charms so thoroughly, (although that may have been a slight contributing factor), but because she never quite got to reward him properly. And if there was one thing Platinum Corona hated, it was having unpaid debts hanging over her.

A quick rap on the door sounded and Platinum looked up just as a certain mare poked her head inside.

And just like that, Platinum knew precisely what she could do to repay the favor...

The guards shifted out the way of Luna’s chamber door in preparation, nodding politely as James approached.

Jim inclined his head curtly back in response, “Is Her Majesty present?”

The guard nodded his head down the corridor, “Her Highness went out to meet you a little while ago, sir. Think she wanted to meet you en route. You must have missed her.”

Jim blinked and looked back the way he came, “Oh? Well I’d…best go hunt her down then.”

“No need,” came the unmistakable voice from within the room behind them. The guards snapped to attention.

The large wooden doors opened with the magical shimmer of Luna’s aura.

The Princess was waiting within. Jim waited on the threshold for her nod of permission before entering.

As often was the case during Jim’s visits, Luna was curled up on her large, star-flecked midnight blue cushion. Its position by the open balcony gave her a magnificent view of the mountain range and countryside outside.

Always with a smile she would be waiting. It was on his first visit that Jim had seen what she normally did during the night hours, curled up there: Her eyes had been pools of pure moonlight as she stared vacantly out into the night, her consciousness drifting between the dreams of ponies everywhere as she watched over and guarded their minds while they slept.

It was strange, Jim had noted at the time, that while she may have been at one with the sleeping minds of so many in her court of dreams, Luna still appeared so very lonely at times.

He had proposed the idea of their evening tea sessions the very next day, and as such she had swiftly become the closest thing Jim had to a real friend in all of Canterlot.

The second the doors slammed shut behind him, Luna’s smile flicked instantly from its calm regality to an unrestrained, toothy grin. Jim noted that the people really didn’t seem to grasp just how bubbly she could be when not performing her royal duties, even if she did occasionally slip back into her royal old-timey speech patterns whenever she got particularly excitable.

“Sorry, Luna.” Said Jim as he peeled off his jacket and tossed it casually over the back of a nearby chest, “I had to take a shortcut to get here on time. I really didn't think I'd end up forcing you to teleport back just to meet me.”

Luna slid up to sit on her hindquarters as Jim dropped down onto the smaller cushion opposite her, “It’s no problem, Jim.” She said, bowing her head down between them. She peered up at him, smiling still and nudging him with her horn twice.

Jim smiled tiredly and then reached over to gently rub her neck with one hand, teasing the muscles into relaxation with his fingertips until Luna’s eyes fluttered briefly closed and she let out a contented hum of pleasure. Her smile never shifted even as Jim pulled back again and she quickly nuzzled him in greeting.

“How are you this evening, Luna?” he asked as the princess levitated over the prepared tea set and put it down on the low table between them.

“I am fine. Thank you, Jim,” she said, and her ears immediately perked up “What would you like to do tonight?”

“After tea? I’ve not really thought of anything. Why don’t you pick this time.”

Luna leaned closer, visibly excited, “We shall play a coop game!”

“That’s...‘co-op’, Luna,” said Jim as he poured them a cup each, setting Luna’s carefully down in front of her. He took a calm sip of his own, “Which one did you have in mind?”

“The one with the magic puzzles and the machine that speaks cunning deception but still amuses me!”

Jim ran that through his internal Luna-English translator, “Okay, but please remember this time: GLaDOS can’t actually hear you, no matter how loud you scream at the laptop.”

Luna looked off to one side, murmuring under her breath, “She spoke falsehood about there being confection. One should not lie about such things…”

“Of course, Luna, of course…”

Silence fell for a moment and Luna looked off into the distance, shifting slightly as a blush began to form on her features, “Have you…given any thought to my proposal?”

Jim looked up from his cup, “Pardon?”

Luna rolled her mostly-empty cup between her hooves, “About accompanying me to the Gala this week. I…was wondering if you had thought about it.”

It was James’ turn to blush slightly and avert his gaze. He was genuinely fond of Luna, more so than was probably appropriate considering his position, but there were limits he had to place on himself. He had to remain detached…no matter how much it sometimes hurt.

“I…ah…”

Luna shook her head quickly, plastering her smile back into place, “N-never mind, y-you do not need to respond. T’was a silly thing to ask.”

“N-no, it’s fine…I just-“

“-So how was your day?” interjected Luna, obviously eager to change the subject and prevent an outright rejection coming out right there and then.

Jim’s frame seemed to visibly relax, “Not bad. Bit tiring. Not been getting enough sleep lately is my problem…”

“You should not push yourself too hard, Jim. Without proper rest none of us can do our duties to the best of our ability.”

“I suppose you’re right. I think things are going to get a lot easier soon though. I shouldn’t be suffering from a lack of energy for much longer.”

Again Luna’s ears flicked up, “Of course!” she said, pushing herself up before rushing off into the adjoining bedchamber with an excited flutter of her wings.

Jim’s brow furrowed, “Of course, what?” he called, leaning about to peer after her.

Luna bounded back into the room a moment later, “We have a present for you.” She said, setting down what looked like a crystal sherry glass before him.

“A present?” asked Jim, frowning at the glass, which seemed to contain a small amount of swirling gold liquid, “What is it?”

“A health tonic!” said Luna proudly, “Guaranteed to restore strength and stamina in humans. I have been informed it is very exclusive and extremely difficult to obtain.”

Jim cocked his head and picked up the glass, “Oh, well…I guess in that case…” he said, raising it up in salute before necking it in one.

The liquid had an oddly warming texture and pleasant taste that Jim could't quite put into words. It also seemed to radiate strength as it vanished hotly down his throat. He felt the sensation then begin to swiftly flood out into the rest of his body.

Luna was looking expectantly over at him, “Well?” she asked, “Is it good?”

Jim shook his head, coughing once, “Yeah. That is…very good stuff. I’m feeling more and more energetic with every second.”

Luna clapped her hooves together gleefully, “Huzzahs! We are so glad. I had of course used my magic to make sure it was not harmful beforehoof.”

Jim picked up his teacup to finish his serving and also to wash the residual buzz from his mouth. For some reason he was starting to feel…odd stirrings, “Where did you get that stuff anyways?” he asked, trying to take his mind off of it for now, “Never seen anything like it in the potion shops in town.” He drank the last mouthful of tea.

Luna was still smiling happily, “The mare in your office gave it to me.”

Jim swallowed his tea and frowned, “The mare in my office? But there shouldn’t have been anypony…” Jim’s words died in his mouth at that point, and he was sure his cheeks would’ve gone white were they not getting more and more flushed with every passing second.

His eyes were drawn down to the glass, then off to Luna’s room, then to the glass again, then finally up to Luna, who was still smiling as innocently as ever.

She tilted her head curiously.

“A mare…?” repeated Jim.

“Indeed.”

“A…unicorn mare?” he offered.

“Correct,” said Luna brightly, “She was most helpful.”

“And th-this…'tonic', it didn’t happen to come in a vial by any chance, did it?”

Luna nodded, “Indeed, but I felt that lacked the appropriate presentation.”

“And she told you specifically to give this to me, did she?”

“Yes. She said it would 'help you with your problem'.”

Jim tried to draw up a well of irritation towards Platinum Corona, but the only emotion he ended up in calling was an ocean of lust that was quickly filling him up to the brim.

Jim coughed, and then pushed himself up, staggering slightly, “I…I need to…”

Luna blinked and then pushed herself up, “James?” she asked, reaching over to him, concern clear on her face “What’s wrong?”

To Jim, Luna’s brief touch felt like an electrical surge adding further charge to his already aroused system. He had to get out of there before something bad happened.

“Go…best…go.” He stammered.

Luna gasped, “The potion! T'was poison!” she shouted, “Worry not, I shall summon the physician and guards immediately to thy aid!”

“No!” barked Jim, losing control for a brief instant and baring his teeth at her.

Luna recoiled back in shock, her ears flat against her head, “J-Jim?”

James clenched his eyes closed and leaned into Luna’s side to reclaim his balance. He could feel the heat from her body seeping into him like he were freezing to death and she were his only source of warmth. Her subtle lavender and nightshade perfume made his head swim on top of that. He bent closer still and murmured into Luna’s ear exactly what it was he just drank.

Luna nodded slowly as he mumbled. She then blinked, “Oh…”

He then confirmed to her exactly what it was doing to him.

Luna flinched in surprise, “Ah!” she said as James leaned back from her, “Y-you mean you are…” she nodded downwards.

James inclined his head,

Luna’s already present flush deepened, “So, I assume you will need to…relieve thyself.”

“For lack of a better term." grumbled Jim, "Now…if you would please teleport me elsewhere, I would be…eternally grateful.” He said, each word appearing to take a world of strain. And James’ mind was starting to become so clouded by lust and his battle against it that he wasn’t aware he was leaning up against Luna again until her hoof came about him and her face was inches from his.

He noticed then that a change come over her. Something in her eyes was different now, “We have done this to you…” she said in a low, imperious voice that bordered on a purr.

“Umm, Luna…”

“Worry not!” declared the princess, “We shall take responsibility for our action!” and in a quite staggering display of strength, Jim could only gasp as Luna literally scooped him up under one foreleg and stabbed the other triumphantly off into the distance, “TO THE BED CHAMBER!” she bellowed, her voice so loud that it was probably heard all over Canterlot.

Luna blinked and then smiled down at her captive human, “But first, a detour!”

Jim reared back, too stunned to object, “A detour?”

“Tradition!” was her only reply, and with a flash, the pair vanished, reappearing an instant later atop a soft and padded surface.

It was a bedroom, only Jim noted that it didn't appear to be Luna's. No, the decorum was too off for that...

Jim looked about himself and then up. His shock and lustful haze then briefly transformed into abject terror as he realized he was dangling upside down in Luna’s grip inches from Princess Celestia’s face.

She was awake, and regarding blankly the sister now standing triumphantly over her while she lay in bed, “Good news, Sister!”

“Well this takes me back…” muttered Celestia dryly before shifting her head sideways slightly. "Good evening, James."

"Your Majesty..."

“We are about to engage in coitus!" Declared Luna, "Be jealous and then notify the townsponies so that they may celebrate!” and just like that, Luna vanished again, leaving Celestia to stare up at her ceiling in quiet exasperation.

After a moment, the sun princess just smiled tiredly and then closed her eyes once more, “Took her long enough…”

Jim landed with a cough on what he was sure was Luna’s bed. The cheap tourist souvenirs she’d picked up while travelling the Earth that littered her shelves and anime wall scroll of a cat with a gold crescent moon on it's forehead kind of gave that away.

Luna was staring down at him from the end of the bed, her eyes lidded slightly. He was transfixed momentarily by those deep, blue/green pools along with the hypnotic swaying of her ethereal starlight mane.

He shook his head to try and hold off his arousal once more, “Luna…we really, really shouldn’t-“ he was cut off though as Luna’s horn glowed and his shirt vanished with a flash. It reappeared in a heap in the opposite corner of the room.

“Luna!” he gasped.

His shirt was followed in rapid succession by his shoes, then socks, and finally trousers, which he noted had vanished entirely.

The princess then prowled closer, slinking down onto the bed and up against Jim's side, “I am not stopping you from fleeing,” she whispered, her hoof trailing idly over his chest, her eyes drinking his prone form in. It was the first time she had seen it without all those layers. She found the sight...most pleasing.

“Luna,” Jim gulped as Luna leaned in closer, flicking her rear legs over him to straddle his hips. Her waving mane danced over his chest and he could feel the heat of her breath over his lips, “Where did my pants go?” he asked.

Needless to say, the booster had somewhat messed with his sense of priorities.

She nuzzled his neck, eliciting a pleasing shiver , “I banished them to the moon. You shan’t be needing them...”

Jim blinked, “You...sent my pants to the moon?”

Luna took the opportunity give the nape of his neck the ghost of a kiss, “If you want them back; if you want to...leave…” she whispered, her mouth hovering over his now, “Just…ask.”

Jim swallowed again, “Princess Luna, you’re trying to seduce me…”

And by God how Jim prayed Sam didn't ever find out he'd said that...

“This is not trying…” she breathed, and with that, she brought a hoof up to cup his chin and covered his lips with hers.

Jim’s hesitation evaporated in a lustful blaze as Luna’s tongue came into contact with his and he let out a long, relenting groan of pleasure as he felt his leg come up to hook about Luna’s form.

Even as his boxers went and he found himself swiftly buried deep inside the mare while their lips remained locked in their dance, Jim couldn’t help but admire the utter irony of the situation.

And so, not much later, as Luna let out a long, ecstatic scream of orgasm above him, James Moriarty Carrell felt a smirk pull at the side of his mouth.

He always did love karma…

fin…

Author's Note

Took a while this one (seriously) so I'm genuinely sorry about that. Probably should've put a Bon Bon tag on the story as well as a Luna one from the start, but I felt that might have been a spoiler. Again, just a bit of mindless fun that I hope you got at least a bit of enjoyment from. If you enjoyed this yarn, give the other tales set in the Gentlemanverse a glance, particularly the original. Until next time!