Fallen Angels

Chapter 21 (16)

“Let's consider what we know or might assume so far.”

With magically levitated chalk, Twilight scrawled in capital letters across the top left of a large chalk board, “ADULT SEX.” In three chairs, facing the board, sat her friends and captive audience.

Despite Twilight's worry for the couple, Rarity's need for time had been a relief to the new princess. She'd had time to polish her presentation, taken the opportunity to focus her preparation more on Rarity's unanswered question from the last meeting, and taken the chance to try and change the stiff atmosphere—in her view, anyway—of sitting across one another at the table to more of a classroom setting instead. The chance now to instruct was one Twilight managed to relish, even despite the obvious tension of her students.

“Sweetie Belle, why don't you start us off, please?” Twilight deferred to the pony with the most recent experience in classroom participation. “What is one of the consequences of sex between adults?” she quizzed.

Sweetie recalled her studies over the course of the first couple weeks of her relationship with Fluttershy. “You want just one?” The last syllable cracked.

Twilight was pleased with the response. “Alright then. Please list as many as you can think of.”

Sweetie raised a hoof to her chin. “Well,” she drew out the word thoughtfully, “a mare can get pregnant with a stallion.” Sweetie watched Twilight write 'pregnancy' below the title. “There's the chance of getting an STD. There's feeling closer to your special somepony, comforted, making each other happy, feeling more confident.” She tapped her chin, trying to recall more. “There's the risk one pony or both ponies might not feel satisfied, might accidentally get hurt if they're not careful, or have other problems. And sex changes your relationships outside of your marriage too, like what others think of you and how much time you spend with other friends,” Sweetie finished.

Twilight listed illness, intimacy, comfort, approval, confidence, dissatisfaction, injury/health worries, reputation change, and priorities change. “Very good!” Twilight praised. “Any more, Rarity?”

Rarity was dumbstruck for a moment at the foal's impressive list. She cleared her head, shaking it, before thinking. “Very good indeed, little sister! Perhaps, I'd add, it's a bit of a risky business emotionally, even with a spouse. ... There can be guilty feelings, regret. ... A pony can feel they may have made a terrible mistake, entering into something too soon.”

Twilight listed guilt, regret, and alienation.

“Thank you, Rarity. Fluttershy?” Twilight addressed the yellow mare last.

The pegasus sat to Rarity's left, separated from Sweetie Belle. In an effort to appear in good form, she'd kept to her usual grooming standards, but the bags beneath her eyes and subtle wobbling in her neck betrayed her prolonged lack of a good night's sleep.

“Mm ... does 'guilt' include feeling ... like you might be going against what you believe in? And also, maybe ... it can, um, be something you feel you should do, so ... the opposite of guilt.”

Fluttershy managed to make Twilight pause while she decided how best to simplify into key words for the list's sake.

“No need to worry about duplicate or similar items,” Twilight answered.

After a moment, she wrote “ethical/value conflicts” and “fulfillment.”

“That looks like a good list,” Twilight affirmed. “Anything else?”

Three ponies sat blinking and staring.

“Oh! I think I remember one more,” Twilight added.

At the bottom of the list, Twilight wrote, “improved health.”

“Ponies who engage in coitus regularly experience improved reflexes, weight management (both on the upper and lower), cardiovascular health, more energy, and—oh right! Another I almost forgot—” Twilight added still more to the list, “energy and more diligent hygiene for one's partner not only mean improved health, but also greater charisma. That can mean more success professionally and greater rewards in other relationships—a bit of overlap with what Sweetie mentioned, though unrelated to whether or not others actually know a pony is in a relationship.”

The words “charisma” and “success” appeared on the board.

“That's also not to be confused with improved self-image or confidence, also as Sweetie mentioned.” Twilight smiled proudly at her youngest pupil.

With a “Hmm ...” Twilight wordlessly added “drive change” to the bottom, reaching the lower edge of the chalk board.

“If we look carefully, consider carefully ... we find out a couple of important things about the items on this list.”

Twilight drew two vertical lines to separate three empty columns on the empty half of the board, set the chalk down, and focused. Enveloped in her magic, the listed items on the board began to peel and lift gently then move in a way that reminded Sweetie Belle of Miss Cheerilee adjusting cut-outs on a felt board, Twilight arranged some into small groups while leaving others apart by themselves. Finally, group by group, Twilight placed the words within the columns.

pregnancy

intimacy alienation

approval

comfort dissatisfaction

confidence regret

improved health injury/health worries

reputation change

priorities change

fulfillment ethical/value conflicts guilt

charisma

success

motivation

“To put it simply, many of these can be both good and bad for us, or are two sides of the same issue,” Twilight explained.

With the chalk again, the purple mare added new titles to each column, “Positive | Neutral | Negative.” Three pupils seemed interested, even if one of them was very tired.

“We can even start to see issues we missed if we consider that, in fact, every item here has a potential positive and negative side. For example,” Twilight began to fill in some blanks, “it's just as possible, if we're not careful, to make our sexual partner unhappy, garnering disapproval. Disapproval and regret can cause a pony to value herself less, take worse care of herself, and have less will to succeed, thus turning charisma and success into, well ... unattractiveness and failure.” She couldn't think of a more delicate way to put it, but quickly decided it didn't matter.

“We can also expand the neutral items into positive and negative or summarize two opposites into a neutral item.” Twilight quickly filled in the rest of the table and made various tweaks to preexisting items.

Positive Neutral Negative

family pregnancy disownment/adoption

intimacy emotional distance alienation

approval partner's attitude disapproval

comfort/satisfaction well-being dissatisfaction/discomfort

confidence/peace contentment regret/doubt

improved health health injury/health worries

popularity reputation ostracism

good adjustment priorities maladjustment

fulfillment ethical/value conflicts guilt

charisma appearances unattractiveness

success goal attainment failure

trying harder motivation giving up

The lavender librarian stepped back to inspect her work for a moment before continuing.

“There are potentially many more things we could add here, but this should be adequate for now.” Twilight turned back to her friends. “Are there any questions so far?”

Sweetie Belle raised her hoof just as Rarity opened her mouth to speak. Noticing her sister's superior classroom etiquette, Rarity stopped in time to save herself from embarrassment, and slowly raised her own hoof as well. It had been too long since she'd attended any scholastic event, Rarity decided.

“Yes, Sweetie Belle?” Twilight went with who'd raised her hoof first.

“What does ostracism mean?” Sweetie asked.

“Thank you for asking. Ostracism means being outcast, shunned, or excluded by other ponies.”

Sweetie Belle nodded and thought of Zecora. She'd guessed the word's meaning by the context, but figured it couldn't hurt to make sure. Twilight, like Miss Cheerilee, usually praised her for asking questions, so she never hesitated to do so.

“Yes, Rarity?” Twilight turned to the mare.

“If it's no trouble, Dear, would you mind offering an example of the last set? Trying harder and giving up at what exactly, in this case?”

“Well,” Twilight paused, smiling, “in the case of two average ponies, one or both may feel more driven, based on the quality of their relationship and the sex itself, in any number of endeavors pertaining to repeating a rewarding sexual experience or avoiding an unpleasant one. On the other end, they may also lose part or all of their will to maintain or improve their sexual experience.”

Twilight's matter-of-fact expression faltered and her ears flattened seeing three sets of confused stares. “This is, umm ... more a consequence of relationship often, but sexual experience is never independent of relationship, after all, and vice versa,” Twilight added, compelled to be thorough even if they didn't seem to understand. “Of course, you asked for an example, and I'm very glad you did, because there's a phenomenal one on either side of you right now.”

Twilight looked between Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle, and Rarity followed her gaze, confused still, but intrigued.

“I want to explain what I mean, but let me ask you first—all three of you—do you think anything on this table,” she indicated the board, “might change if I were to change 'adult.'” Twilight erased the word from the original title, “to 'foal?'” and wrote the new word in its place.

The title “FOAL SEX” struck Rarity harshly, and she cringed.

“Must it be so crudely stated?” Even as Rarity objected, she felt she knew the answer.

“I'm sorry, Rarity. I think we both know there's no sense in skirting the matter.” Twilight sounded apologetic despite her answer.

Rarity sighed with a grimace.

Sweetie Belle already had her hoof raised again.

“Yes, Sweetie Belle,” Twilight acknowledged.

“I think we should add, um ... breaking the law,” the filly suggested.

“Excellent!”

Twilight wrote, “approbation | legal | conviction,” at the bottom of the table.

“Although it's been many, many years since foal sexual relationships were allowed, there was a time in pre-Equestrian history. In other cultures, it's not inconceivable or even uncommon today for parents to give permission for certain foal marriages. In the case of adult sexual relationships, there are both positive and negative legal consequences as well, depending on where you live, but, generally, they're not as remarkable as in the case of foal relations. Approbation,” Twilight anticipated Sweetie's vocabulary questions, “means to support something officially, in this case by law, or make it legal. Conviction, in this case, means to find somepony guilty of breaking the law.”

Rarity remembered to raise her hoof before her next comment.

“Yes, Rarity.”

“Even if it were legal, could there really be the same positive side to ... foal sex,” the term exited with difficulty from the white mare's lips, “as there is to adult sex?”

At this, Twilight smiled, pleased that the segue she'd planned had come so perfectly. “That is exactly the question I struggled with the most when I first started to investigate the issue. It's also the question that, I'm very pleased to say, I've had a recent breakthrough in answering.”

Fluttershy, who, until that moment, had struggled to focus, suddenly perked hopefully, her interest piqued. She hadn't helped Twilight with research since the Summer Sun Celebration, but, as far as she could remember, there hadn't been much in the way of research supporting the relationship she and Sweetie Belle yearned for. Now that she thought about it, Fluttershy did recall Twilight mentioning she'd found something that would help not long after the celebration, but she hadn't asked what, and Twilight hadn't elaborated. Between her anxiety about confessing to Rarity and the harrowing aftermath, Fluttershy had forgotten until just then, despite the purple pony's attempts to reassure her the past week.

Twilight noticed the change in the quiet pony and went on to explain. “Most of my research on the topic, up until the Summer Sun Celebration, consisted of ordering books and journals from the Canterlot Archives. I've made many valuable discoveries, however I've had to be very careful only to order materials that are publicly accessible, or else only tangentially related to the topic of adult/foal relations, since anypony might suspect that I, and not some other patron, could be researching the topic so intensely. If, say, the head at the Canterlot Archives saw several orders for books about foal sex abuse that only I had authority to request, or even just one directly-related order, in light of the number of public orders from Golden Oaks Library for similar literature, it might have started rumors.

“I had the chance, however, shortly after the celebration, to visit the restricted sections of the archives myself directly, leaving no record of what I'd accessed. What I found was a veritable Celestial grail of information and a leap forward in support of Sweetie and Fluttershy's physical relationship.”

Sweetie brightened at this.

“I'll save you the details of how difficult this was to find, even with direct royal access to the restricted sections.” A look of self-satisfaction played across Twilight's features. “In any case, it flies in the face of assumptions made throughout most of the plethora of other modern academic and philosophical sources that I've studied.”

Rarity appeared stoic.

“Before I go over my findings, though, I'll need to give you all a brief history lesson.” The faithful former student flashed a toothy grin.

Twilight flipped the chalk board horizontally by its rotating frame and drew a long horizontal line across the middle of the blank side. “From the earliest literature I've found related to foal sexual relationships, the law and public opinion have been mixed. Both the Pegathenian and Pegasan Empires commonly practiced sexual relationships with foals—Pegathenians throughout their entire population and Pegasans most commonly among the wealthy and intellectual elite, but also somewhat among the lower classes. Where the relationships took place outside of wedlock, Pegasan law restricted penetrative acts for freepony foals, but that left room for frottage, um ... a kind of sexual rubbing.”

Sweetie slowly lowered a raised hoof, curious but too timid to ask for more detail.

Rarity turned a shade of green, looking from the corner of her eye as her sister blushed. “Twilight,” Rarity interrupted politely, drawing the purple mare's gaze. “Would it be too much to ask that, until I understand the value of this sort of thing to Sweetie Belle, she either be excluded from the lesson or you censor yourself? I mean no disrespect, but I'm still quite uncomfortable with the notion that somepony so young should be so exposed, even to descriptions of sexual acts, whether or not she may have some ... experience already.” Sweetie looked mortified at whatever inferences she'd made from her sister's reaction.

Twilight nodded in acknowledgment, having anticipated it might arise as an issue. “I'm glad you brought this up, Rarity. Thank you. ... Sweetie Belle,” Twilight addressed the foal whose gaze shifted from Rarity to her. “Does talking about sex with me and your sister make you uncomfortable?”

“N—” she hesitated “—y-yes, a little,” she admitted, though she didn't want to. Twilight was grateful she'd been honest.

“Do you still want to talk about it with us?” Twilight queried.

“Yes,” she answered immediately.

“Why do you want to talk about it, if it makes you uncomfortable?”

Sweetie paused for a moment. “Well, I really just want to ... be ready, but also, um,” the filly became slightly embarrassed, “it's interesting ... I guess.”

“Thank you, Sweetie. That's fine,” Twilight tried to reassure her.

“Rarity, can you relate at all? As a younger filly, were you just a tiny bit curious?”

“W-well,” the answer was written on her face, and Rarity made no effort to deny, “isn't that beside the point, Twilight? As long as any of us aren't mature enough, entertaining our curiosity may only be a hindrance, even if we really want to know.”

Fluttershy shrank quietly, too subtly for anypony but Twilight, in clear view, to notice. Twilight thought silently for a moment.

“Maybe you're right, but ... could you be wrong?” Twilight asked as agreeably as she could.

“Yes,” Rarity admitted rationally, “I suppose so, but is it worth the risk?”

A ghost of something passed over Twilight's expression, sorrow maybe.

“That's a good question.” Twilight looked at Fluttershy, who, noticing, in spite of how interesting the floor seemed, looked back. Twilight's eyes conveyed both pity and pleading. “Would you, Fluttershy, feel alright telling us ... how your curiosity about sex started, when you were little?”

“Mm ...” The pegasus's trembled utterance, contracting pupils, darting eyes, and now fully-shrunken form made it clear how she felt about sharing that with Rarity. “A-are you sure it's a good idea to talk about ... that, Twilight?” She didn't say no. Twilight took it as a good sign.

“Not everything, Fluttershy,” Twilight tried to reassure her, “just tell us, if you don't mind too much, for starters, when did you first discover that you had sexual feelings?”

The yellow mare relaxed slightly, realizing that a full account wasn't being requested.

“W-well ... I ...” Fluttershy's glance went sideways to see Rarity focused on her, and she swallowed nervously. “I ...” her voice trembled again.

“Oh!” The off-white mare shut her eyes, reigning back her impatience. “Come now!”

Fluttershy flinched initially, but, quickly realizing Rarity's outburst was pleading, meant in no way to scorn her by either tone or expression, the pegasus was confused.

“You—you look at me like I'm going to attack you!” There was hurt and a slight bit of frustration, but it melted into sorrow even as Rarity completed the sentence. “I care for you, Darling, yet you sit leaning away and trembling. Ohh!” Rarity's eyes glistened and she stopped, shutting them again, not certain what to say and trying not to let emotions get the better of her so early.

Fluttershy's tension abated and remorse took its place, realizing her fear was only hurting her friend. “Rarity,” she spoke the name emotionally, “I'm sorry ... really.” Her friend looked at her again, still hurt. “I ... I thought you might stay angry with me longer, after everything that's happened.”

Rarity breathed in calmingly, and breathed out her pain. “I ... can understand why you'd think that, but the past week has given me time enough to realize that, were I in your position, whether or not I'd have acted the same, it would have been very difficult for me to confess as you've done, and ... I still love you as a friend, no matter how shocked or uncertain I may feel about any of this ... I promise.” She hoped to regain her friend's trust.

Rarity took a handkerchief preemptively and dabbed at the corners of her eyes. Fluttershy, unwilling to see her friend's sorrow without doing something, stood, crossed the gap between them, and hugged her. The two rested in each other's embrace, and, as each felt reassured, her hold loosened and she let go. Fluttershy stepped back and looked at Rarity with a mixture of worry and regret.

“I'm just,” Fluttershy sighed, and her eyes watered. “I'm not really normal, and I keep feeling like, at any moment, it might be ... too much for our friendship to handle ... but I don't want to lose you as a friend ... I promise.”

Rarity smiled with sympathetic eyes and shook her head. “I won't abandon you, Darling. After all, we are going to be sisters some day, maybe soon.” Rarity let the statement hang between them significantly.

Still frowning, Fluttershy's mouth hung open slightly and her focus became distant as she took in the full meaning. Sisters? Several moments later, the pegasus smiled back, and sorrow fled from her eyes. Rarity was right, and it was something to be immensely happy about. Why hadn't she realized it before? If not for the circumstances and how absolutely tired she felt, Fluttershy might have burst into squeals of celebratory delight, yet at least a hundred other worries still weighed on her. Instead, Fluttershy hugged the elegant unicorn once again, relieved that Rarity truly meant it when she said she loved her.

“You're right.” Fluttershy conceded happily. “Oh, thank you so much, Rarity!” As stressed as she'd been, and in spite of her remaining doubts, Fluttershy grasped desperately at the friend's open acceptance of her as a future sister.

“Of course, Fluttershy, Darling.”

The two nuzzled against each other's cheek before Fluttershy pulled back again and looked at Sweetie Belle. The filly was full of the same happiness she felt, moved by the exchange, and relieved to see her fiancée smile for the first time since she'd last seen her. It was, in fact, the first time Fluttershy had felt truly happy since their last meeting.

Sweetie held onto her seat with her hooves to keep from embracing the sunshine she'd missed so much. Fluttershy, with some effort, turned to go back to her seat, but her happiness remained. She couldn't hold Sweetie yet, but she would eventually, maybe sooner than she'd dared to hope, if what Rarity had said was any indication.

“Darling,” Rarity addressed Fluttershy again as soon as she'd returned to her seat. “Don't hold back. Sisters should tell important secrets to each other.”

Still smiling, Rarity turned her head momentarily to look at Sweetie Belle who returned a small grin. Twilight, meanwhile, looked happy and relieved as well.

“Alright.” Fluttershy spoke with determination. “I'll do my best. ... Um, Twilight. Could you repeat the question, please?”

“Of course,” Twilight had renewed enthusiasm in her tone. “Um,” she had to think a moment to recover her train of thought. “Oh, right. When did you first start having sexual feelings?”

Fluttershy shut her eyes and focused, thinking back to what she was going to answer before her nerves got the better of her. After clearing her voice, she responded. “I was … about one year old, though it's sort of impossible to remember for certain. I don't think I was two yet, though.”

Rarity went wide-eyed. “You—that early?” Rarity was surprised.

Fluttershy nodded seriously.

“How can you even remember anything from that age?” Rarity was amazed.

“I ... I don't know, really, but I'm sure it happened.” Fluttershy confirmed.

“Infantile amnesia, the loss of memories from an early age, persists as late as three and a half years old.” Twilight stated matter-of-factly. “However, there are exceptions. In Fluttershy's case, the event seems to have been of sufficient importance to her early foalhood and adolescent self that she replayed the memory enough to recall it after years, even over a decade and a half, had passed. Many details may have been lost, but her memory, or memory of the memory, more accurately, may still be, um ... accurate.”

“It is,” Fluttershy insisted softly.

“Oh, yes. I don't mean to place doubt on your claim.” Twilight excused. “Just speaking generally, such an early memory may be accurate, and where the pony recalling it is certain, well, depending on how certain she is, it's more likely to be trustworthy.”

Fluttershy nodded. “I understand. Yes, I'm convinced it happened because of the memory of what happened after.”

“Well then ... what was it?” Rarity interjected curiously.

Sweetie Belle looked across at Fluttershy, equally curious. “Tell me, too!” the filly urged.

Suddenly Rarity bit her lip, realizing the risk she'd taken of exposing her sister yet again to information best suited for a mature audience.

“I-it was nothing, well ... nothing big, except to me, at that age. I ... I was just having my diaper changed. I remember being changed quite a number of times, especially since I, um ... I potty trained kind of late, but this time was different, and I can't remember other times from that age and younger. It stood out to me because I felt something strange and new, and I wanted to feel it again. Because of that feeling, I asked my mom about it, but, the details about what she said are fuzzy. ... That's all that really happened, and, actually, I only came to assume it meant I was ... a-aroused much later, when I was closer to Sweetie's age.

“And if that assumption means it's not believable,” Fluttershy continued, now feeling more comfortable about opening up, “then I guess the next time I can remember asking my mom about feeling aroused, was, um ... well, I guess about three years old when I wanted to know why the shower water felt funny, wh—w-well ... you get the idea.”

“I ... don't get the idea,” Sweetie interjected. “What was happening in the shower?”

Fluttershy and Twilight both turned to Rarity who wasn't sure what to say.

“Maybe it would be better if we waited—” Twilight began.

“It's alright,” Rarity interrupted. “Sweetie has proven to be responsible, and, I admit, maybe I am a bit over-protective. Just for now, I'll fill in some of the gaps for Sweetie Belle, and, until I understand that she might need more direct information, I do appreciate that you let me be her filter.” Rarity looked to both of her mature friends with a small smile who, understanding, smiled back nodding.

Sweetie looked sardonically at her sister, not sure exactly what she meant by being her filter, but not liking the sound of it.

As she turned to address the foal, Rarity noticed Sweetie's irritated expression. “What's the matter, Sweetie Belle?”

“What do you mean, 'fill in some of the gaps,' and being my filter?”

“I mean that I'll explain things to you, as I feel it appropriate,” she clarified patiently for the little filly.

“So, you get to decide what I know and don't know?” Sweetie failed to hide her indignation.

“Well, don't think of it as a bad thing,” Rarity attempted to persuade her younger sibling, and would have said more, but, with a sigh, Sweetie submitted.

“Fine.” She crossed her forelegs grumpily and bit back what she was thinking. Important secrets. Hah!

“There now. Let's see, where were we? Ah, yes. ... S-showers. ... L-let's see, then. Ah ... you see, Sweetie Belle, if a filly gets sprayed between the back legs with a shower, i-it, well ...”

“She gets aroused. I got it. It's not a big deal.” Sweetie finished abruptly as soon as she understood, rolling her eyes, forelegs still crossed.

Rarity looked slightly miffed at the foal's attitude, but took it in stride. “Yes. Well ... let's move on, then.”

Rarity turned her attention back to Twilight who chose not to comment on the matter, but cleared her throat and continued her interview with Fluttershy. “So, Fluttershy. As a foal, what do you remember your mother, or anypony else, telling you about sex?”

The pegasus was thoughtful. “Well, not much. I guess Mom told me where foals come from really early on, but she didn't explain more than the basics. I think she told me what the act of sex was—that it happens between married ponies and what goes into where, and she maybe even said it feels good, and that was fine for me then, but, honestly, I don't remember the details any more, except that I know I must have known it.

“I figure that's true because she once reminded me of the sex talk we'd had after I'd grown up a bit, and she asked if I had any more questions. I was only about eight then, so the first talk she gave me must have been much younger, or maybe I didn't pay close attention. ... I can't think of anything else, but I know there were some fillies during slumber parties and at flight camp that would tell stories and off-color jokes, and I got some ideas and information there.”

Twilight nodded. “When do you remember starting masturbation?”

Fluttershy turned red. If not for Twilight already knowing, Rarity's trustworthiness, and knowing that it had to be important to whatever point Twilight was trying to make, the timid mare wouldn't have divulged the information so easily. “About ... two and a half years old,” she stated bravely.

Rarity was silently baffled.

“And you asked your mom about what you'd discovered?” Twilight helped the history along.

“Yes. ... She didn't really explain it to me. I think she seemed uncomfortable about it, or maybe I'm just remembering other times, but I do know that I couldn't explain myself to her well, and I didn't know what had happened, and I repeated it later, because it felt good.”

“When did you come to fully understand what masturbation was?”

“Well, I ... I guess that depends on what you mean by fully understand. ... I knew the moral consequences last, when I was about fourteen, after I'd looked up the meaning of the word in a dictionary, because I heard a pony warn about it by that name in a youth sermon, but I'd thought it—m-masturbation—had to do with sex ever since I started experimenting in grade school.

“Even before then, I knew, though I'm not sure when, that it was something to keep private. I think it was shortly after I started kindergarten because, I guess, I got caught, um, doing some things—” Fluttershy skirted the issue initially, but forced out the full truth “—playing with myself, and the teachers told my mother to explain it to me.” Fluttershy pressed on through the embarrassment. “I remember my mom telling me not to touch myself when I'm around other ponies, and I guess that may have been when I learned to hide fondling, but ... but masturbation, to orgasm I mean, actually was something I always did w-without ... touching myself, and I didn't really get caught, so that took me longer to learn to hide. ... Like I said, I'm still not sure when that happened.”

In spite of feeling bad for her fillyfriend's embarrassment, Sweetie wanted to ask how she managed to masturbate without touching herself. Fearing Rarity might be the one to answer or that she might simply deny her an answer, however, Sweetie remained silent. Rarity listened with interest, reluctant to believe how young the pegasus had been, but not left any reason to doubt.

“Thank you for being so open, Fluttershy. And thank you, Rarity and Sweetie, for your patience and attention. I just have one more question.” She addressed the pegasus. “Do you, Fluttershy, feel it would have helped you as a younger foal if somepony had patiently, without shame, explained exactly what your sexual feelings and masturbation were?”

“Shame?” Rarity interjected, unsure about, but uncomfortable with the implication she felt attacking her standards.

Twilight held up a hoof. “Please, Rarity. I'm not talking about you necessarily, and this is important.” Twilight was apologetic, but insistent.

Rarity held her tongue.

Fluttershy took a deep breath. “I guess, honestly, I'll never know.” She looked from Twilight to the floor. “I do know what it's like to have those questions ignored, though ... and worse. ... If I had to guess, I'd say—” Fluttershy hesitated, and, in spite of herself, she couldn't help but look ever so briefly askance at Rarity “—I'd say it would have saved me from a lot of self-doubt.” She began to swallow her self-pity, but caught herself, and, thinking of Sweetie, she pressed on. “I'd have known better that I was loved.” Her voice trembled slightly.

Fluttershy looked to see she'd left the impression she'd hoped on Rarity and, barely in time, managed to press back and lock away the hurt once more. The elegant mare was caught off guard by what Fluttershy had said, but appeared even more distressed for the fact that she'd looked at her as she'd said it—at least, as much as Fluttershy looks at anypony while nervous.

“Thank you again.” Twilight responded. “Rarity,” Twilight addressed the mare seriously. “I have no doubt ... and I think we all agree, you truly love Sweetie Belle. You only want what's best for her.”

Rarity nodded and looked worriedly at the filly to her right. Sweetie smiled at her apologetically, sorry for having been short with her; Rarity returned a concerned smile.

“It's natural to be concerned about risks, psychological, moral, and others, when it comes to ponies you care about so deeply.” Twilight reassured.

Rarity saw, from the corner of her eye, Fluttershy's nod at her, and felt slightly better, knowing her friends didn't misunderstand her concern.

“I'm going to do my best to explain what research shows about the risks to underage ponies as far as sex goes,” Twilight continued, “but, I admit, it's not perfect. If you feel the risk is greater for her to know the history and findings firsthoof than not to, then, by all means ... she's your precious little sister, and you're responsible for her. You have a difficult choice,” Twilight acknowledged.

“Now that you've heard another perspective, I'd like to ask you what you asked me. ... I'll support whatever you decide.” Twilight assured her, “Is it worth the risk?”

There was a tense pause as Rarity considered.

“I ... see your point.” Rarity looked grievingly at Fluttershy and wondered what all the pegasus had been through. “I'll take this into consideration, then, but I still reserve the right to censor if I feel compelled. ... I admit ... it seems Sweetie should know, and I can't teach her everything. ... I just never imagined any foal would need to know so much so young.”

Rarity looked worriedly at Sweetie yet again, and Sweetie wasn't sure how to feel about it any more. It was clear that Rarity saw her for her youth still, but she also seemed to recognize that that shouldn't stop her from learning and growing at her own pace, even if it seemed fast.

“Proceed then, if you will, Twilight.” Rarity turned her gaze downward, hoping she wouldn't regret the decision. “I won't stop you as you describe the more ... mature details, unless I feel strongly. ... I feel like you have a better handle on explaining than I do, anyway.” She looked up almost sheepishly at the studious mare.

Twilight's answering smile was full of appreciation for the care and devotion she saw in the friend for her little sister. The regal mare would have understood, not held it against Rarity either way, but this, she thought, was the wiser choice. “Sweetie Belle, what do you think?” Twilight asked the filly. “Are you satisfied you'll have your questions answered, except if Rarity feels strongly about you waiting?”

Sweetie took a moment to consider the compromise.

“I'm satisfied,” she attempted her most mature sounding agreement, nodding at Rarity seriously, then smiling widely.

Rarity smiled back with trepidation, happy Sweetie finally seemed content, but ever ill at ease, regardless.

“Alright. I'll do my best to make it so you won't regret this, Rarity.”

The air in the room seemed to clear for all but the elder sister as Twilight picked up where she left off.

“I was saying ... Pegasan freepony foals, those born as citizens, were protected by law from penetrative and any other sex unwanted by the foal. The slave class wasn't so lucky. Much earlier in Pegathenia, the main restriction seemed to be against forced rape—pardon the pleonasm, er ... redundancy? Uhm ... excuse the seemingly unnecessary repetition in word choice.” Twilight managed to rephrase so that Sweetie's hoof finally lowered. “However,” she continued, but suddenly Sweetie's hoof shot up again. “Y-yes, Sweetie?”

“It's repetitive to say 'forced rape?'” Sweetie asked.

“That's right, most of the time. Yes,” Twilight responded.

“What about this time?” the filly questioned.

Twilight considered whether she could answer without yet another long digression. She decided to try for Sweetie's sake. “It has to do with how we define rape. Currently, under Equestrian law, any penetration of a foal for sexual gratification is technically considered rape—statutory rape, to be precise. Even when it's wanted by the foal, it's still considered rape, regardless. Here, I say forced rape, meaning unwanted sex, to separate it from what our law calls statutory rape, or, in other words, sex wanted by a foal but too young to legally give consent or agree to sex. Does that answer your question?”

Sweetie Belle thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Alright,” Twilight smiled. “I was saying, the Pegathenians allowed certain kinds of potentially painful penetrative sex, however there was more responsibility for the adult to take care of and educate the foal than for Pegasans. Whether in Roam or Pegathenia, of course, not all agreed that typical adult-foal relations were an asset to their culture.”

“While a preponderance of Pegathenians—the majority or most of them,” Twilight clarified for Sweetie, as unconcerned about continuing to use difficult words as she was about defining them on the fly, “thought that adult-foal relationships greatly helped their society, some, like the philosopher Plaithoof, believed that any unmarried relationship ought to remain nonsexual, something like sisterhood. This is actually where the term 'platonic love' originates.” Twilight squeed nerdily.

“Specifically, she wrote that erotic—sexual—love for a foal outside of marriage, ought to sublimate—refine, purify, and elevate itself—from admiration of a lover's virtues, instead, to a love of virtue itself. She didn't condemn foal sexual relationships necessarily, only those that took place out of wedlock. However, the only culturally-encouraged form of extramarital sexuality—sex outside of marriage—was the practice of adult-foal sexual relationships where both were citizens, for reasons I'll explain. In any case, Plaithoof proposed, no form of extramarital sexuality should exist in an ideal society. Does this make sense?” Twilight looked expectantly at the three ponies.

“So, um,” Fluttershy stopped herself and raised a hoof.

“Yes, Fluttershy.”

“Um, what you're saying is that some foal s-sexual relationships were married, and Plaithoof and everypony else thought those were okay, but most Pegathenians thought that sexual relationships with unmarried foals were okay too, as long as they were both citizens, and Plaithoof disagreed.”

Twilight nodded. “Yes.”

“But,” Fluttershy went on, “what difference did it make whether they were citizens?”

“Oh! Yes. I should have mentioned. Thanks for asking. Marriages between citizens and non-citizens supposedly happened, including foal marriages, but all records indicate that extramarital sexual relationships with non-citizen foals were looked down upon, unlike with citizen foals, not because they were foals or non-citizens per se, but because sexually willing non-citizen foals were almost all if not exclusively prostitutes. Additionally, no age limit seemed to apply, but, while it was fully legal to hire, say, a non-citizen eight-year old, or even younger, it was still looked down upon, especially for married ponies.”

“O-oh.” Fluttershy balked.

Sweetie Belle's hoof raised.

“Yes, Sweetie Belle.”

“What do you mean, hired? What's a ... a pro-sti-tute?”

Twilight looked to Rarity who nodded. “A prostitute is a pony who agrees to have sex in exchange for money or things. Today, it's illegal in Equestria for anypony to buy or sell sex,” Twilight added. “In fact, if an Equestrian pony is caught buying sex outside of Equestria, she can be arrested when she returns home.”

“O-oh.” Sweetie processed.

“Were there any other questions?” Twilight asked.

When nopony spoke, she continued. “From the opposite point of view, Pegathenians who supported extramarital foal relationships did so under the pretense of a very particular set of circumstances, namely, that such relationships happened no younger than 12 years old, penetration was exclusively non-vaginal, the adult lover was required to have the parents' permission, and the adult was afterward made fully responsible for the young pony's education and training.”

Sweetie's hoof was raised again, and Rarity, anticipating what she thought she might ask, looked slightly more uneasy than she already had.

“Yes,” Twilight addressed the foal.

“If it wasn't in the vagina, then where was it?” Sweetie asked.

Twilight looked again to Rarity who, biting her lip anxiously, though for a moment, and then nodded again.

“They had sex anally, inserted the penis, sometimes other things, into the anus of the foal.” Twilight explained patiently.

Sweetie wasn't sure what to think. In what she'd been given to read up to that point, there'd only been a single brief mention about rubbing the anus during masturbation.

“But ... I poop from there,” she objected with a crack, then, realizing she'd stated the obvious, she added, “Doesn't that ... hurt?”

“It can, yes, if it's not done very slowly and with plenty of lubricant,” Twilight answered. “They likely used oils and ... other things as lubricant to protect the anus from tearing and make it more comfortable for both ponies.” Sweetie cringed at the mention of tearing. “Anal and oral sex were preferred despite any discomfort to keep what was considered a filly's primary virginity—vaginal virginity—for their future spouse. And colts, of course, had no other option when having sex with a stallion.” Twilight paused to let the information sink in.

“Okay,” Sweetie responded eventually, but continued to try and wrap her mind around everything.

“You know you can always ask me or Rarity if you have more questions,” Twilight assured.

Sweetie nodded, and, after a moment, Twilight moved on.

“Pegasans, on the other hoof, were less formal about relationships with foals, from simply abusing power—unfairly demanding sexual favors—to carrying on illicit romances with freepony foals. It's no wonder their culture saw a fair number fewer in such relationships. Their entire society appears to have seen far less of an up-side to it all without the obligation to mentor one's foal lover. Regardless, it's valuable for our purposes to observe how they, and others, operated under a different set of morals, especially in light of their reputation as supposedly great ancient civilizations.

“There are a number of other cultures known to have carried on foal relationships, some far more brutish than others, and few as gentle as the Pegasans or responsible as the Pegathenians, at least among their citizens.” Along the time line on the left half of the board, Twilight chalked the names and centuries of various empires so that the first part of the line was almost filled, then paused.

“The Unicornians, like the Pegathenians, based foal relationships on apprenticeship, but, whereas the Pegathenians extolled the quest for virtue through erotic love—believed they became better for loving and having sex with foals—even outside of preexisting marriages, the Unicornians,” Twilight indicated the kingdom on the time line, “rather, were more concerned with passing on property and status, naturally tied to faithful heterosexual monogamy—marriage to one partner with whom they hoped to bear heirs. Unicornian relationships were recorded as happening very young indeed to this end.”

“I feel I should mention, Rarity,” Twilight made an aside, “that, before the Summer Sun Celebration, Sweetie and I discussed the consequences of some of these, the more cruel ones, not in any great detail of course, only as an example of why current laws are what they are, to protect foals.”

Rarity glanced to her right, concerned as ever, but nodded. Sweetie nodded as well, frowning and a little anxious at the memory.

“That doesn't negate the fact—um, make it any less true—that many younger foal relationships were considered loving and helpful among Unicornian royalty, both before and after the establishment of a minimum age for marriage at 12. Of course, any sexual relationship outside of an existing marriage was illegal in that day, and, from then until today, records of romantic relationships with ponies younger than 12 are sparse except in more abusive cases where they were caught and brought to justice. Foal relationships have become more taboo with each generation since then.

“The formation of Equestria, for example, quickly saw the minimum age increase to full adulthood, at the time 16 years old, except with a parent's consent. This seems to have been because, before the union of the tribes, generally, there were fewer instances where parents and communities were displeased with a foal's selection of a mate, yet the gradual mingling of the races after the union meant breaking with traditions, seeking marriage more often for romance and less to please parents or pass on original culture.

“Later still, not long after the commencement of the Celestial monarchy, the princess decided to raise the age of legal adulthood to prevent younger ponies from enlisting in the E.U.P. Protective Pony Platoons. Though unintended, this led to the minimum age for marriage increasing yet again. Still, parents would be able to approve their foals' nuptials as early as age 14 for centuries after. Since we've had the benefit of a just ruler from that time, the law hasn't changed much more, or, rather, there hasn't been much public desire for change since Princess Celestia takes great care to protect the foals of Equestria, though there has been one very important additional force at play, which I'll get to shortly. Hold your guesses, please.” Twilight enthused momentarily, tempting her audience.

An exhausted Fluttershy, a distant Sweetie Belle, and a fretful Rarity stared silently at the lavender librarian. Seeing her audience didn't share her excitement, Twilight shrugged before marking, “adulthood 18 (21 C.M.),” closer to the modern end of the time line, then stepped back with a sigh of relief.

“So, in summary, much of our very own history, and that of others, has seen differing views about foal sexual relationships come and go. Most of these views have been more liberal up until about a millennium ago, whether or not they include foals quite as young or even younger than, well ... Sweetie Belle. ... Are there any more questions so far?”

Hearing her name, Sweetie Belle snapped back from thoughts of a snowy isolated clearing. Likewise, Fluttershy managed to refocus herself. Both tried to catch up by looking at the time line.

Rarity raised a hoof.

“Yes, Rarity?”

“About what Plaithoof said, did she mention any reason unwed ponies shouldn't be sexually intimate?” Rarity asked.

“Certainly. She writes contrasting views from her contemporaries—other philosophers of her day—and comments on these in her texts. In one text, she notes how uncontrolled erotic love stirs up civil strife, not a surprising conclusion since her mentor had a reputation for flirtatiousness and wound up executed, a philosophical martyr, for leading young ponies to oppose the democracy of that era—a system of government ruled by the common pony and not nobles or princesses,” Twilight explained.

“Plaithoof herself appeared to be obsessed with fillies and young mares, both clinging to and fleeing emotionally from her own sexuality after the execution of her mentor. She desired liaisons—forbidden sexual encounters—and acknowledged the power of erotic love like that of divine ecstasy or reaching out to Beauty itself,” Twilight extended a hoof, “but at the same time insisting that pleasure-seeking through sex was a lazy, slavish, ineffective way to actually obtain virtue,” she drew her hoof to her chest, “no matter how much a pony loved the virtues of her partner. The only way to really improve one's self, obtain virtue, and become more worthy of love, was by working hard at it, including exercising self-control. It goes back, as in many of Plaithoof's writings, to the love of wisdom and beauty. Uncontrolled erotic love is an enemy to these, according to her, because it draws desire away from actually doing good, becoming wise and beautiful, to simply admiring, or indulging in good, wise, and beautiful things, particularly one's sexual partner.”

“Why, that's quite profound, Twilight, Dear. Thank you,” Rarity seemed adequately impressed to Twilight.

Fluttershy and Sweetie both appeared to ponder with new perspective.

“Real credit is due to the pony who suffered enough to learn it. I only studied her writings and delivered them, but ... you're welcome.”

Twilight smiled brightly at Rarity. Looking at Fluttershy, the smile became one of growing sympathy. Her friend, thought Twilight, was in much the same predicament as Plaithoof, except that Fluttershy had to fight on both sides. Rather than struggle with self-control alone, she was bound to fight society for the chance to exercise well-tempered erotic love at all.

Fluttershy, however, couldn't envy the Pegathenians. She already knew the histories and more from the help she'd given Twilight, but knowing only made her more grateful to live in Equestria. It was society that reined her back, made controlling herself possible, she felt, if only barely. If that weren't true, then, at least, her repression came with unprecedented freedom for other ponies and the suppression of foal prostitution, among many other unsavory things.

Still, Fluttershy pondered, maybe it would be better if a pony like her didn't exist in such a good, wise, and beautiful land. Here she was now, creating civil strife. Her filly companion supported her, just like the ten who'd supported Plaithoof's mentor, leading to her destruction and the mourning of those close to her. Fluttershy couldn't bear the thought.

“History and philosophy aren't the only place we can look for clues to what impact foal sexual relationships have on ponies and society, of course,” Twilight picked up. “We see many other cultures today that perform foal marriages, some do little to control foal prostitution, and a hoofful more simply have no restrictions on sex of any kind at all, as long as it's free of violence. You all remember the Saddle Arabian delegates who visited Ponyville not long ago, I trust. Their government, for example, has approved marriages as early as 9 years old. It's rare there, but it happens,” Twilight added, seeing Rarity's surprise.

“Also, Ponistan stands out as settling disputes by marrying foals between the ages of 4 and 14. However, my source tells me that less than 4% of foals married before age 19 had any say in who their spouse was, and more than half of all foals are married by age 16. You might think, at least half of the adults were once in the same boat. However, due to plural marriage—polygamy, being married to more than one pony at a time—half of all marriages currently in Ponistan include a pony younger than 18. This means that half the heads of family are likely taking a new foal spouse whenever their current partners are over 18.

“While each family is encouraged to confer together and all involved willingly take new spouses, this is unfortunately not the case in most instances. According to their tradition, only first-born foals are guaranteed the legal right to decide whom to marry. Other foals may be given the privilege by their head of family, but never more than half of a family's foals receive that privilege after the first.

“This is one of the more extreme examples, but, sadly, most other states within that region also disregard the wishes of non-head spouses and foals. Saddle Arabia stands out against these surrounding cultures for equally educating and granting nearly full rights to its secondary citizens—ponies who aren't selected as a head of house.

“Are there any questions?” Twilight checked.

Nopony seemed confused, and nopony raised their hoof, but the group's focus seemed dubious.

“Alrighty then!” Twilight sang, clearly in her element. “There's been a lot covered so far. I—” Twilight hesitated briefly “—prepared a pop-quiz, in case anypony would like to test their knowledge ...” Twilight received deadpan stares from both Rarity and Sweetie Belle while Fluttershy continued to look almost painfully tired, “buuut maybe we should skip right ahead to snack time.”

“Ooh! Snack time?” Sweetie Belle chirped.

Fluttershy and Rarity were caught a bit off guard by the sudden change.

“Yes! It's important to keep energy up when you're learning. I'll disable the shield in case anypony needs some fresh air. I have a bushel of apples picked fresh this morning, and Spike will be bringing us some orange slices and water.”

The thought brought a smile to Fluttershy's face. “I could use a pick-me-up, maybe,” the pegasus admitted.

“And I would appreciate a bit of fresh air,” Rarity commented, still clearly stressed about everything.

“Can I stay and eat with Fluttershy?” Sweetie asked Rarity eagerly with large sparkling eyes.

After a moment, Rarity decided there was no reason not to let her, but she sighed. “Yes, just—you know—keep it kosher,” Rarity allowed.

“No strange things in my mouth. Got it.” Sweetie quipped.

“Not helping,” Rarity looked mildly irritated, but sighed again and left.

The moment her sister was gone, Sweetie leapt to Fluttershy, wrapping her forelegs as tightly around her as she could manage. When the mare's momentary surprise passed, hesitantly, she wrapped one foreleg around the filly and closed her eyes. Sweetie's eyes watered freely. Fluttershy carefully controlled her breath to avoid getting choked up, but her eyes, too, became wet, regardless.

Twilight watched for a moment then summoned the aforementioned bushel. “You seem tired, Fluttershy. Would you like a reinvigorating enchantment ... or maybe one of Spike's mocha-cocoas?”

Fluttershy looked back at the kind purple pony. “No,” her voice trembled a little and she cleared it, “but thank you for the offer, Twilight. A drink of water and a snack is all I'll need, I think.”

“Of course. Feel free to change your mind any time, though. I'm going to send Spike up, now, and check to see if Rarity needs anything.” She looked at the couple thoughtfully. “Keep in mind the shield is down.”

She said no more before leaving the way Rarity had.

Author's Note

Last revised 12 February 2015
- for style, voice, and detail

Original Note:
Since I'm publishing this earlier than anticipated, I hope my editing isn't lacking in this chapter. I always miss things, so your comments are appreciated.

Y'all are the best! :heart:

Maybe I should also mention, the ancient Greeks on which I based the Pegathenians actually only condoned extramarital sexual relationships between men and boys 12 and older. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan today give full rights to all males and the "secondary citizens" Twilight mentions, in real life, are analogous to all female citizens in those countries.

I adjusted the culture and histories to be gender neutral because I felt like that fit FiM's universe better.

Edit (8/24/14) : Thanks to Setokaiva for proofreading.

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