Motherhood, Mayhem and the Mane-iac's Return

Chapters

Segment Two: Once Upon A Time
Segment Three: The Arrivals
Segment Four: Date Night- Iron Willie
Segment Five: Date Night- Diamond Dong
Segment Six: What used to be
Segment Seven: Interlude
Segment Eight: Inter-lewd
Segment Nine: Wedding Belle's Blues
Segment Ten: The Conclusion
Introduction
Segment One: Jocks and Nerds

Segment Two: Once Upon A Time

The inside of Power Ponies HQ had all the amenities that could be desired in a building, and more. On the roof, off center, there was huge greenhouse, which more resembled a classical estate garden. Matter-horn had rigged it up with automated watering and feeding, as well as a way to let in and let out a few beneficial insects. No matter the season it was always warm, comforting, lush and beautiful.

Mistress Mare-velous was walking along the path going around the perimeter, blushing deeply. She was out of her uniform, only wearing a checkered gingham bandana, and was pressed up against Jo, who strolled around in some small bit of awe. The burly donkey's dark brown coat was curried to perfection, while the puff of lighter brown between his ears and at the end of his tail was brushed out nicely. His cream muzzle end was pulled into a smile. “Marvy... this here's even better than th' country roads back home.”

“Ah know it is, Jo. There ain't much in the way of greenery here in Maretropolis, but Matter-horn rigged up this here greenhouse, 'cause ah kinda said it might be nice ta have some plants and not have ta run out to the park all the time,” Mare-velous replied.

“Ah wondered how ya managed ta live out here. Ah know... well, ah don't wanna be too familiar. Ain't mah place,” Jo said.

“No, no, Jo. It's yer place ta say anythin' ya like. We're engaged now! If ya can't be honest with me, there ain't gonna be much of a marriage,” Mare-velous said.

“Well, ah jes never figgered ya the kind ta run off to the big city. Ya loved the country. Loved everythin' about it. Ya was always so happy...” Jo said, kissing over Mare-velous' snout.

“Ah was happy, Jo. Ah was so happy...” Mare-velous said, kissing back at Jo's lips, capturing them and holding the kiss tight for a while. She pulled back with a deep blush and nuzzled at his throat. “But ya know, ah found out ah had these powers, got mah rope an' the hoofarangs from ma's kin. Ah had ta come to the city. Had ta help out. But...”

“But?” Jo inquired, nuzzling at Mare-velous' ears.

“Nothin' was holdin' me on that farm, Jo. It was easy as pie ta pull up mah roots an' make mah way here ta Maretropolis. Weren't nothin' there fer me no more,” Mare-velous said, kissing and nibbling up and down Jo's throat.

“Yer kinfolk, yer friends there, all them genteel country types with their mint juleps, that beautiful land, it was so perfect. There was plenty fer ya there, and ya always seemed so happy,” Jo whispered, sliding his strong muzzle down the side of Mare-velous' neck, moving slowly down her strong body.

Mare-velous shivered as her strong fiance brushed down her body, and gave a soft gasp when he dipped uncer her belly to kiss one milk-fattened teat, and add a hot, firm slurp of his tongue. “Ah was so happy, Jo... so happy until ya left...”

Jo didn't respond for a moment, focused on licking the plump teat, adding a lipping nibble on the nipple. “Ya know... ah told ya when we met again but ah can't say it enough. Marvy, when ah was workin' on yer family's spread ah couldn't have been happier, even if ah'd been made Prince.”

Soft, hot, shuddering breaths panted out of Mare-velous' mouth, her right front hoof scraping on the ground a few times while her toned form quivered. Her left rear leg lifted up just slightly, spreading out and back to give Jo unrestricted access to her milky teats. “Jo... maybe ah should have said. Ah loved ya, even back then. Why did ya leave Jo?”

“Ah know ya loved me, Marvy... and ah loved ya. Ah loved ya with all mah heart...” Jo whispered, licking his way between the two teats, letting the hot, heavy mounds of flesh rest firmly against his face.

“Then why, Jo? Why did ya leave me?” Mare-velous groaned out, head dipping and teeth gritting for a moment as the pleasure slowly radiated through her. “Ya were there, keepin' me on the spread, makin' sure ah was happy. Why... why did ya have ta go? Why, Jo?” She spasmed through her whole figure and lost herself in the memory of pleasure from long before.

Marvy dashed quickly through the main area of her family farm, the sun warming her late-teenaged body with a bright coat and her wheat-blonde mane. She was already starting to perspire, but she couldn't stop. She needed to be in place before it was too later. She hadn't meant to be so late but her family was always finding new ways to annoy her.

She zipped into the barn and used her powerful legs to leap her way up stacks of wood and equipment to reach the unused loft space. She had made it. She moved aside some of the dusty blankets to reveal a few plastic trash bags. Opening them up she pulled out a heavy bedroll, a thick and squishy pillow, as well as a set of old, dented opera glasses. The bedroll and pillow were settled at the edge of the window of the loft, and the glasses came up to her eyes.

Marvy dragged her trembling tongue across her dry lips as she scanned the farmyard. Chickens pecking, pigs rooting but not what she wanted. She scowled slightly. He was always punctual, always on time for his job. She swept the glasses around one more time and smiled when she laid eyes on what she wanted.

Jo was out, trotting slow and steady. He had been out for hours. He was up before the sun and worked until it was down. He might not have been the only employee but he was certainly the most dedicated. There were always so many things to do, and he kept his eye out for more.

“C-c'mon, Jo...” Marvy whispered, while shivering in pure delight. Ever since the day he had arrived she had been focused on the handsome donkey. He was her age, he was as hard a worker as any other she had ever seen and he was the finest male in the county, maybe the whole nation. “Ya see the cart... ya know what it means...”

Jo's head slowly turned when he noticed a large, wooden cart placed near the barn. He looked toward the barn, keeping his gaze low enough that he didn't see Marvy in the loft. “Guess it's time fer another load ta go out...” He said with a nod of his head, slow-walking his way into the barn.

Marvy shivered, as she imagined what she was going to see in a short amount of time. He kept the glasses up against her eyes with one hoof, while the other drifted down her body. It traced along the curve of her chest, and between the modest peaks of her teats. She hesitated as she circled around her soft mound, remembering the sharp admonitions from her grandmothers and her aunts about how inappropriate it was to touch that area. But she always pushed past the warnings.

Her hoof gingerly slid along her already-moist slit, the rough flesh of her work-toughened frog mashing the outer lips, and working over her engorged clit. She stifled a moan and fought to keep her eyes open. She pulled her hoof back just a little bit, just leaving the tip of her hoof's nail at the top of her clit's hood, in position to stimulate it when the time came.

Jo trundled his way out of the barn a moment later and stole Marvy's breath away. His back was loaded own with bales of hay, which he not only balanced perfectly, but carried without showing signs of stress. Marvy had lifted them in there, and knew they were pretty awkward and heavy. Jo's strength and grace were just...

Her hoof nail vigorously and almost violently frigged her throbbing clit, her breath huffing out with soft whines strangled down to keep Jo from noticing her. Her teeth gritted and her own muscles almost seemed to strain, contorting her body, responding to Jo. He was straining, his muscles flexed, his veins standing out powerfully. Sweat just started to bead on his whole body, and just barely sparkle in the sun.

Jo heaved the bales into the cart with a soft grunt, all of them landing with heavy thuds in just the right places. The show of skill, done not for notice but just because he was that good, made Marvy masturbate herself more eagerly. He was magnificent. Every inch of him, perfect. He was the ideal vision of a farmer.

Marvy's hoof slowed to a stop and she practically stopped breathing as Jo entered the barn again, to gather more bales onto his back. He was doing the work of two or three ponies, by himself. He was doing it that way because he wanted to, not because they wouldn't give him help. He saved the family money and made the place run perfectly.

She caught her gasp in her throat as Jo came out again, balancing one more bale than before. His muscles bulged mightily, a testament to his great power, but his unperturbed steps spoke of his great fortitude. This jack was the kind of male most farm fillies only dreamed of, and never thought actually existed in flesh and blood. The sweat was really starting to sheen his coat, and even after dropping the next load of bales his muscles looked like they were flexed and bulged.

Jo's gaze went a little higher than it had before, and some part of it may have seen up into the hayloft. Marvy stopped, cold, the glasses up to her eyes, focused on Jo's handsome face, while her breathing stopped entirely. The blood pounded in her ears, while pleasure coursed through her. That moment, that potential discovery made every muscle in her sex clench down hard, and made a squirt of her copious juice splatter onto the floor of the loft.

It was only a moment, however. Jo apparently didn't notice her up there. He just wiped his brow, stretched out, and went back for more hay. Marvy took the chance to start sucking in short breaths, curling up into a ball just a little as the constant light flicking of her clit, combined with her intense feelings for Jo and all he could do, drove her higher and higher.

Had she been truly alone she would have allowed herself a moan, or a mewl or something of the sort. When the house was silent and she knew no one could hear her she would moan his name deep into her pillow and work herself into a sweating frenzy. All she could manage was a bitten lip and soft huffs through her nostrils.

Sweat, honest-earned work sweat, rolled in thin beads down Jo's form as he hauled out the next load of hay. He threw it in the cart with the rest, and took the time to adjust it. That entailed rising on his hind legs, and that got Marvy's attention. She lustfully cast the glasses over Jo's flexing, mobile muscles, each little motion making the fire within her burn brighter and hotter.

She looked over his handsome, calm face, watching his eyes trail over the bales to ensure they were set up right. She traced the muscles of his neck down to his broad shoulders, which could carry any load in the world. She briefly looked along the smooth, slight curve of his back, but chose to focus on his visible thigh, each movement up, down, forward or back making the thing flex wonderfully. That glance also let her, accidentally, see his sheath. Or rather, his dropped organ.

She could have cum right then and there, but her hoof went still, rather than attacking her sex with desire. She just stared at the thick, robust rod, a darker brown than even his coat, with grand and clear medial ring, and a generous mushroom crown. He was erect and ready but so dedicated he ignored it to do his job. “H-hard work gets him hard...” Marvy gasped out, rubbing the rough flesh of her frog down over her clit and her spread lips, smearing the musky honey around.

A man like that, at the end of the day, would come in, smelling of hay and hard work, glistening with sweat, take a shower, eat his dinner and ride his wife three or four times. Marvy pictured herself in that position, a hard-working farm wife, with a man who loved to work as much as he loved her. She was teetering on the edge, perspiration damping her orange coat and making her wheat-blonde hair stick in odd bunches.

During the brief reverie Jo had hitched himself up to the cart, and looked ready to go. Marvy's glasses-enhanced gaze happened to look down as Jo pulled forward. His sweaty donkey body bulged with all his muscular might as he got the heavy load moving, his tufted tail flicking up suddenly, inadvertently revealing the pucker of his anus and the low, heavy, full hang of his over-stuffed testicles. Like a dark brown pouch filled with grapefruits.

That was it. The show of sheer strength, the sight of someone working hard, and the view of very intimate areas, including a show of potency, drove Marvy over the edge. She bit down harder on her lip until it almost bled, muffling the sound of her moan as best she could. Nothing, however, could muffle her thrashing and bumping; it was just her good fortune Jo was too far away and concentrating too hard to hear it. Her body twisted and contorted as her hoof worked her folds and clit while her juices squirted once, then came in a slow, oozing flow. Her whole body was on fire, a pleasant warmth that touched every inch of her, and made her want to shudder every time the softest breeze blew across her form.

Her lust-fogged eyes barely saw Jo slowly making his way off the farm, effortlessly hauling the heavy wagon of hay. She'd need to do some work around the yard to justify he sweat that clung to her coat, and avoid the eyes of her family as much as possible until then. She groaned as she rolled onto her hooves, flanks trembling a little as little aftershocks of bliss coursed through her. She wanted to just lay out and rest, but the farm rolled on.

“Ah can tell ya the truth now, Jo...” Mare-velous huffed, as Jo nosed at her teats and occasionally took a deep, heavy suck on one, gulping up huge mouthfuls of her mare milk. “It ain't proper, it ain't right but it's the truth. Ah worked mahself inta indelicacy over you more times than ah can count, cause you were the perfect man, the perfect farm man.”

“Not the perfect farm man, a decent one,” Jo countered, tickling his tongue over one milk-dripping breast before rubbing his face against it. “Ah know ya did it, Marvy. Trouble was... yer family knew ya did it too.”

Mare-velous blushed even more deeply, the rising heat of pleasure momentarily washed by the hold grip of embarrassment. “B-but ah... ah was so careful...”

“We ain't ever careful enough. Folk know things. They always seem to know,” Jo said sadly, lipping at the nipple before moving to the other one. “And that was the problem. They said ah was distracting ya from yer work, makin' ya disorganized. Ah had ta leave or else... well, at least yer momma's momma was honest.”

“They... they made ya go just 'cause ah was masturbatin' in the loft lookin' at all them muscles ya was packin'? Ain't no sense in that! Fer a good man on the farm that's what ya need! They shoulda been offerin' ya pure gold ta stay an' take care-a the place. Ah'd sure as shootin' never left, even with powers...” Mare-velous huffed, her super-powered body trembling under the gentle ministrations.

“It weren't nothin' 'bout any of that. That was a lie they made up ta save their reputations. Yer momma's momma said it out. Weren't about a good farm man. It was about a good farm stallion. The family wasn't 'bout to let some brayin' longears snap up, 'The choicest morsel in the county,' as she put it. They paid me double and sent me off. They almost didn't care that ya worked yerself over; some thought it was a phase. Then ah had ta be honest. They didn't care ya loved me. They cared ah loved ya back,” Jo said, taking a long, slow draw on Mare-velous' teat, his throat bobbing as he took a few slow swallows of luscious, warm milk.

Mare-velous dropped her head and gave a long, shuddering moan as her milk reserves were pleasurably drained. “S-save a drop fer th' one that really needs it...” She groaned out. Once the wave of pleasure had passed she shook her head and contemplated her family. “Ah shouldda known. Best worker they ever had, an' they didn't so much as growl that ya walked off. They shouldda been at yer hooves offerin' money and land an'... me to ya. Ah left cause once ah had powers there weren't nothin' holdin' me to that farm. Ah never knew ah shoudda left sooner'n that...”

“They're yer kin. They just want the best fer ya. Even if they're strange about it, they do,” Jo noted, licking his way down from the teats to swipe his broad, powerful tongue over Mare-velous' warm, wet and winked sex.

“Sounds like they wanted jes ta toss me ta any stallion with some land. Ah knew what was best fer me. Ah know it and it's y- ah!” Mare-velous shuddered strongly as the muscular tongue spread and flattered her outer folds and mashed at her engorged clit, with the added pleasure of the rough texture of Jo's tongue. “J-Jo! Ah'm shocked! Y-y'can't do it. Not like this, not when we...”

“Shh...” Jo whispered, swiping his tongue a few more times over Mare-velous' folds. “Calm down, Marvy. It's me. Ya know ah'm trustworthy. Ah ain't like these fool city folk that'll jes stick it in. Ah remember. Good country mares get it from a mouth, or give it the same. Gotta save this fer marriage. An' even if we're engaged, the rule stands.”

Mare-velous allowed herself to savor the oral pleasure, the unpracticed but eager and game passion of Jo's tongue digging past her folds to boldly stuff the strong muscle into her passage, while also digging his strong chin against her clit. “Jo... even after what them nasty henchmen did ta me, even after havin' a child, and feelin' there's nothin' in there ta save... that ya remember... that yer doin' it like this, like it outta be done... that's why, Jo. That's why ah'm marryin' ya.”

“Marvy... it don't matter what happened in the past. Ya love me now...” Jo said softly.

“Always did love ya, thought of ya even when... they weren't nothin' compared ta what ah'd see while ya were workin'. Twigs. Toothpicks. An' little shriveled grapes,” Mare-velous noted, pushing her rear back needfully, knowing that she could be safe in doing it. She'd only be eaten.

“Loved me then and now. That's what matters most ta me, Marvy,” Jo said, digging his broad muzzle against her snatch, chin still working over her nub, velvety cream-colored lips stretching and nibbling around in the hot honeypot. He dug his tongue in deep and hard, feeling and flicking at every fold in the clutching, juicy passage.

Mare-velous ground her teeth and shook her rear end a bit. “Ah should... should tend ta ya, Jo. 'S only polite after all...”

“No need, Marvy. Ah know a better way,” Jo casually said, pulling his sticky face from in Mare-velous' snatch and licking up some of the sticky strands of musky juice that dripped from his muzzle. He then pushed his face back in between her rear legs, but higher, masking himself between her tight, muscular asscheeks. Unlike Zapp's slim and toned glutes Mare-velous had actual muscular definition, as well as some meat on them from a love of sweets and fried foods.

Jo's mouth unleashed a hot, moaning breath as he rubbed Mare-velous' own honey against her rear, and snuffled in the scent of it once more. His tongue slipped out, trailing a copious load of saliva, which he sloppily splattered against the puckered and pushed ring of her anus. The saliva blob was quickly followed by the hard push of his strong tongue, rubbing over the opening, pushing the spit into the tightly clenched hole.

Mare-velous jumped a little bit, her unwrapped tail flagging high and her flanks giving a tremble. “J-Jo... ah can't ask ya fer that. It ain't right tat jes get it there without...”

“Ya ain't askin'. Ah'm offerin ta plow yer back forty, outta the goodness of mah heart,” Jo answered, swirling his tongue in a lazy loop around the wrinkled flesh of Mare-velous' back door. He was drooling up a storm, and making sure it was all spit or slathered and smeared over the twitching ring, some of it even shoved inside with particularly strong licks or thrusts against the very center, which threatened to actually penetrate the anus.

“But ya don't hafta... lick mah back porch like that. It's one thing ta give the barn door a fresh coat-a paint but the back... it ain't respectful ta ya. And ah wish it didn't feel so darn good...” Mare-velous groaned, panting as the pleasure of her rimming made her front end lower, sending her ass to a higher angle.

“Good! Ah hope it feels fantastic! Ya deserve all the good feelin's ah can give ya. Now that we're together again, ah need ta make up fer time. Plus, if ah can be a little big-headed, this is fer me too. The more ah spit-shine yer backside the easier it'll be ta slide in mah lil mule-maker,” Jo said with a deep chuckle.

“'Lil mule-maker' ain't the way ah remember that. Ya couldda stood it up by the silo and we'd never tell the difference. Yer right, though. Gotta ease the way. Jes... hurry... now ah really need ta feel ya...” Mare-velous panted, her uplifted hind end quivering in need and anticipation.

“Anythin' fer you,” Jo said gallantly, giving one last hard, long slurp over the spit-lubed ring before he rose up and reared. He hadn't lost any muscle, or any endowment size, since the last time Mare-velous had seen him hard at work. He hopped forward and came down, looking like he would crush his beloved mare, but his deftness was also the same, and he managed to hook his legs under her rear legs and pull up on his muscular body, slowing himself enough that his heavy chest just lightly bumped on her back.

His throbbing organ tip rested against the tightly clenched face of Mare-velous' ass, thick mushroom grinding hard against it, the spitting precum adding another layer of lubricant for the ambitious action. “Don't hesitate,” Mare-velous moaned out. “Ah'm a Power Pony, mah body's tough as steel. Jes come right in and see how far ya get.”

“Gonna need ya ta cooperate, Marvy,” Jo grunted, his hips rolling and thrusting, driving his donkey dick against her back door over and over, but not making an impression beyond mashing the wrinkly, pouting flesh. “It surely is like tryin' ta puncture steel...”

“Oh Sisters... sorry, Jo! Lemmee...” Mare-velous concentrated hard, letting a long, slow, calming breath pour out of her mouth while her eyes closed. Her body relaxed, her trembling stopped, and her anal ring finally parted before Jo's powerful strokes. The fat, blunt crown of his cock pulled it open wide, wider than anything she had ever felt before, the muscles squeezing back down just a touch, and wrapping securely around the shaft once they passed the widest part of the head. “It's... yer really... we're... oh ah love ya, Jo...”

“Ah love ya, Marvy!” Jo bellowed out, ending the cry with a loud, pleasured bray that was thankfully contained by the soundproof greenhouse. His powerful farmer's muscles work against the occasional clench of Mare-velous' insides, each smooth roll and jab driving in another thick, throbbing inch. He reached the medial ring in short order and quite boldly used a single, hard jab to force it through, sinking his rod deep into Mare-velous' guts.

Mare-velous cried out in some discomfort but more pelasure. Being a Power Pony had certain advantages, some measure of invulnerability being one of them. But she could still feel the physical effect of the monster meat pole stretching out the seldom-touched ring of her ass. A normal pony would have been helplessly groaning on the ground; even a tough farm pony would have been having a hard time. But she could savor the feel of it. The titanic girth; the heavy, pulsing throb that ran along it with every beat of Jo's heart; the copious gets of runny, hot precum that warmed her insides and, on harder squirts, could have equaled a lesser male's orgasmic issue.

More and more flesh drove smooth and steady deep into Mare-velous, invading her intestines and warming her with the jets of preseed. Jo drove on as far as she allowed him, which was down to the hilt. His hips bumped the muscular, plush-covered bubble of Mare-velous' butt, and his heavy, ovular seed-sacs knocked hard against her licked and dripping sex.

The thump of the heavy balls forced a sharp cry of pleasure from Mare-velous and sent her ass shoving back against Jo. Her new superheroine strength was much in evidence as her unfiltered shove sent the robust donkey back a little bit. “That's it, Jo! Yer good an' deep and ah feel ya all the way down. K-keep knockin' yer stones down there. It feels like... like nothin' else ever could!”

“Ya... got it... Marvy..!” Jo hissed out between tightly clenched teeth. His thick and pulsing length felt like it was being strangled. Every hot inch of Mare-velous' rear passage was clamping down, rolling and massaging on his pole to give him a sensation like none he had felt. It was almost painfully strong, but he pushed through it. He only needed enough liberty to pull back and ram in again, as requested, to sink his shaft good and deep, and slap his heavy sac almost directly on Mare-velous' engorged and winked clit.

The greenhouse rang with the sounds of passionate sex, Mare-velous' husky grunts and groans of pleasure mixing with Jo's deeper, louder moans and the occasional light bray, all backed by the regular slapping thump of his hips meeting her padded ass, along with the off-beat wet slap of his balls hitting her pussy, spattering her fluid around.

“Big 'n' heavy... big 'n' heavy... good 'n' fertile... Jo! Ah'm gonna... gonna... Ah!” Mare-velous threw her head back and gave a high, sustained cry of pleasure as her peak struck. The physical feel of the full donkey nuts thwacking off her sex, combined with the perversely delightful thought of all the potency those two huge testes carried shoved her over the edge. She fell into the pit of climax with powerful shivers, another shove of her strong rear and a hot squirt of her musky juice over Jo's sac, like an approving anointing.

Jo didn't have the time or ability to tell Mare-velous he was going to peak. The sudden hard clamping around his tool, and the hot squirt of honey across his sac was enough to tear a loud, near-deafening bray out of his throat. His head was tilted all the way back and his forelegs gripped Mare-velous' super-powered body tightly as his cock throbbed, pulsed and unleashed huge blob after huge blob of his donkey cream in a sticky geyser deep in her guts. The flood of semen washed over every part it could manage, considering the cum was like glue and the muscular clenching turned the unloading dick into a perfect plug.

It took Jo a moment to regain himself. He sucked in huge lungfuls of air and moaned, muttering out bits of nothing that mostly seemed to concern love. His head finally dipped back down, and his body slumped, resting even more heavily on Mare-velous' back. He just remained there, spent, slightly lathered, hips making twitching little trusts as the last dregs of his semen spurted out, or a twinge of pleasure drove a miniscule thrust.

Mare-velous groaned softly, feeling like she had eaten a full Hearth's Warming eve dinner and gone back for seconds. Even with her superpowered robustness she could still tell her belly was a little bit bloated by the voluminous load that had been shot into her. One hoof came up to gingerly massage the swell in her stomach. It reminded her of her prior pregnancy, and what would happen after marriage. “Jo... can't wait 'til we're hitched...”

“Gonna be a dream come true...” Jo sighed as he cuddled Mare-velous tight, still rock hard and buried deep in her ass.

Back at the abandoned building on the outskirts of Maretropolis the two shadowy figures were gathering up various bits of gear as well as burning small bits of paper and other traces. The wavering light of the fires briefly illuminated a set of horns on one and a hooded robe on the other.

“The client wanted us in the city tonight, said there was something to handle that the advance fee would cover, then we could get on with what's in the sealed orders,” The horned one said.

“This seems a little sketchy, doesn't it? This isn't a war zone, not even the gang kind. There are already supers in the city, famous ones. It's why we're here after all,” The hooded one said.

“Money takes a little of the sketchiness out of it. We gotta live, gotta eat. We don't have to understand, we've gotta do it. Come on, it's a city. We can have fun with that,” the horned one said confidently.

“It's been a long time since I was in a city that wasn't full of crime. I just worry about the sealed orders. They could say anything...” the hooded muttered.

“They say money to me. I hate it too but it's what we do,” the horned one said.

“I know. But it's times like this when I question it,” the hooded one huffed.

“Ask all the questions you want, but make sure we pick up the check at the end of the day,” the horned one stated.

“Of course, of course...” The hooded one sighed, putting out the last of the fires with a press of a large hand.

Segment Three: The Arrivals

An explosion rocked the city of Maretropolis, sending citizens screaming from the source. A small army of pony-sized toy soldiers marched through the streets, occasionally firing a cannon that shattered walls and set out huge streamers of confetti. Marching behind the soldiers, and dancing wildly while doing so, was a crazed-looking unicorn stallion. His natural coat color was lost in a motley of painted-on shades, further disguised by white face paint and a jagged, painted on smile. He wore a tattered outfit that looked like several different types of clown attire had been cut apart and stitched together without regard for style or size.

“Happy day, Maretropolis! Happy day! I'm back! That musty old prison wasn't fun enough for me. The only thing worth celebrating in prison are the days when you don't drop the soap! And look! All my toys were still where I hid them!” The crazed unicorn let out a titanic laugh, and used his magic to wrap several fleeing ponies in the cannon's confetti. “I need to reload this and fire again. Looks like I'll have extra passengers!”

Across town at Power Pony HQ the alarms were already blaring and the mares were on their way out by their various methods. “How did the Trickster manage to escape?” Matter-horn asked through the rush of wind.

“The guards say they have no idea. I wanna know where he got the toys. We smashed those things!” Zapp shouted back, coasting beside Matter-horn.

“We suspected the uncouth fellow had more hidden away. If only we had known where,” Radiance said, conveying herself along on a flying couch.

“We have to get there before any... thing...” Matter-horn's serious look fell to shocked disbelief as the mares reached the scene and found utter devastation.

The cannon had been soundly smashed, and the ponies freed from the grip of the confetti. The innocent ponies had been shuffled off to safer zones and protected from potential harm, while two hulking bipeds crushed their way through the toy soldiers. One looked to be a huge minotaur covered in metal plates, which occasionally bulged as he swung a fist or a hoof to break another giant toy. The other was a hunched and cloaked figure, the disguise obscuring all the details but he looked to be a Diamond Dog, who was similarly smashing through the robotic minions.

With the small army defeated the Trickster could only back away, still smiling his insane smile. “Very well... perhaps that was a bit much. I'll be more subtle next time. I'll bomb three buildings, but only tell two of them, but lie about one of them. I'll offer you a series of clues each more puzzling than the last to tell you wh-”

A single punch from the big metal bovine silence the Trickster, while the Dog followed up with a solid punch to his gut. “Shut your word hole, you madcap miscreant!” The minotaur shouted.

“You me-” The Dog caught himself in the middle of a word and considered it, “You mad monster! What kind of creature does this?” He had a very minor accent, just the last dregs of someone that trained themselves out of another language.

“I'm here to educate you on how stupid love is and that life is pain and things blowing up for the sake of blowing up!” The Trickster said, getting a bovine hoof to the gut for his troubles.

“Like Tartarus it is! Life's about living and being safe. If someone tried to deny, you make them cry!” The minotaur bellowed, slapping the Trickster across the face.

“That was a stupid plan anyway. You were the proximate cause of all the explosions. You may as well just blow up three buildings and not bother. It makes no sense you empty-minded waste of skin,” the Dog noted, securing chaining the Trickster while he groaned.

The painted smile on the stallion's face was smeared up, and couldn't hide his wincing and sucking gasps. He spit out a blob of blood and a tooth while looking fearfully at the two who had caught him. “Th-this is wrong! You're supposed to give me a chance to escape and hurt others! You can't just beat me up! I'm an important villain!”

“Good! We get paid extra then. Money on your head, alive or dead,” The minotaur growled out, shaking a huge fist at the cringing clown. “We caught you alive but you don't need to stay that way. Sounds like it would be better if you didn't.”

“Leave the poor sociopath alone. He can rot away in prison forever, if they imprison him right. Weld him in the cell and never let him see the light of day. He doesn't deserve it,” The Dog said with a nod. “You give clowns a bad name. You give villains a bad name. Say, what did they call these kinds of fake philosophers back where you were from, that made things up and pretended they were clever and trying to teach a lesson about something that doesn't really exist?”

“Mouth-shitters,” The bull responded. “It sounds better in the original language. But, let's get him in and get paid.”

“Hold it right there!” Matter-horn shouted, slowly drifting to the ground on her mechanical wings, joined in short order by the rest of the Power Ponies. “Who are you?”

“Don't mind us. We saw an opportunity and took it,” The Dog said, nodding reflexively to each mare in turn, just shy of a bow each time.

“My... manners...” Radiance whispered softly, tilting her head and attempting to see under the hood of the Dog.

“Yeah? Well ya took it in our city!” Zapp shouted. “And we don't like things getting taken in our city!”

“What? You want us to let him go? We were here, we did the job and we protected all those ponies. All the gain, no pain. So why make a fuss?” The bull asked.

Matter-horn looked over at the ponies, who were coming out of the impromptu shelters. They looked perfectly fine. The shelters were actually a very good touch, the kind of thing that could protect civilians in war, at least as a temporary measure. “Please forgive Zapp, she's a little territorial. I think we all are. We're the ones that protect Maretropolis, with full sanction, subsidy and support. But, the important thing is that the bystanders were protected and the villain defeated. He looks a little, um, worse for wear. More than usual, really...”

“We... felt it was necessary to subdue him. So we had to apply reasonable force to restrain him,” The Dog explained, rubbing lightly at the back of his hooded head..

“And so well-spoken...” Radiance whispered again.

“I think they broke my funny bone. And several actual bones. And organs I probably use. And my teeth!” The Trickster cried, rattling his chains and looking pleadingly up at the Power Ponies.

“You shouldn't have been hurting those ponies! He was going to fire them out of a cannon, without safety gear. Wear the gear 'cause life is dear!” The bull shouted in the Trickster's face. “Life matters, and is the most important thing there is. Remember that or I'll squish your head like a grape.”

“He seems so caring,” Saddle Rager whispered across to Radiance, a smile on her face as she watched the bull threaten the Trickster with head-squishing.

“While there is a certain brutishness about him he does seem to care about life, much as you do,” Radiance whispered back. “But that mysterious fellow intrigues me more. He had good manners and a fine intellect.”

“We can escort you to the prison, and help get the Trickster settled where he belongs,” Matter-horn said diplomatically, flapping her artificial wings to put her in the air.

“And what of our pay?” The Dog asked.

“'Pay'? What do you mean? Like a reward?” Matter-horn asked.

“Reward, fee, pay, bounty. Whatever you call it. It's how we make a living,” The bull said. “We're mercenary heroes. Getting a check is how this usually ends up.”

“Oh! Mercenaries! That explains how you settled the bystanders in shelters so quickly and well. You've been in war zones,” Matter-horn said.

“They've been in war? Well what're y'all doin' here? Ain't no wars in this city,” Mare-velous asked.

“It's what we do, not what we like,” the Dog clarified quickly.

“We've been peacekeeping, paid to settle conflicts before there was too much death and destruction. Supers are ideal for that. But it's a hard life. We thought we'd go somewhere safe, where they appreciate life,” The bull added.

“And then we found this guy destroying things,” The Dog said, lightly cuffing the Trickster on the ear.

“So, we figured... chances are, someone this destructive is worth some money in chains. And of not, hey, pro bono work is good advertising,” the bull said with a thumbs up, wink and click of his tongue that by chance happened to all look aimed at Saddle Rager.

“He really cares,” Saddle said with a blush, her head turning down but her eyes remaining on the smiling bull.

“Well, come on. I'm sure the mayor will pay some reward for the capture of the Trickster. There's usually a reward anyhow, it just takes a while to print the posters,” Matter-horn said with a motion of her head.

“Allow me,” Radiance said, trapping the Trickster in an energy construct that looked like a wrought iron birdcage and sliding up to the Dog, who almost seemed to shrink down and turn away. “This is so much easier.”

“Thank you. I didn't like the idea of him bleeding on me the whole way,” The Dog said, affecting a stronger tone than he had before.

“So, um, what are your names?” Saddle asked, taking up the pace beside the huge bull.

“Well, my name's Iron Willie!” Iron stated proudly, pumping his fist. Up closer, his outfit seemed to be a bodysuit of a material similar to what the Power Ponies wore, with metal plates attached with very little consideration for style.

“Yes, and my name is Diamond Dong,” Diamond said, throat catching ever so slightly on the name, while he stood proudly. Beneath the heavy cloak he, too, looked to be in a bodysuit, that covered every inch of him.

“My... what, er... interesting names you have,” Radiance said, a blush darkening her cheeks.

“We're mercenaries. Gotta expect that out of us. Bold, forward, and just a little bad,” Iron laughed, throwing a winning smile down at Saddle.

“O-oh my...” Saddle whispered, a blush nearly taking over her whole face.

“I can't believe we're actually helping them!” Zapp hissed aside at Matter-horn as they glided above the others, keeping in view to lead the newcomers along.

“What did you want to do, fight them?” Matter-horn queried, scowling slightly.

“I could take them. Just a minotaur and... I guess that's a Diamond Dog. Hiding in a big cloak. Coward...” Zapp said with a grumble.

“Maybe we could take them on, maybe not. We shouldn't antagonize newcomers, especially those who are also on the side of justice,” Matter-horn said.

“They're mercenaries! And while that's cool they're on the side of money,” Zapp countered.

“Mercenary heroes,” Matter-horn corrected. “They do the right thing, but they also pick up a paycheck. Not all supers are like us, Zapp. They can't all be lucky enough to have sanction, a headquarters and a secure job defending a whole city. Reality makes some things necessary.”

“But this is our city, we don't need mercenaries in it,” Zapp grumbled.

“They stopped the Trickster and saved civilian lives in the process. They did a good thing. They deserve some reward. And they even got him to quiet down,” Matter-horn noted.

“Yeah, I'll give 'em that. I've wanted to smack that idiot more than a few times. Fine, I’ll be okay with them, but remember, this is our city, not theirs,” Zapp said firmly.

“Yes, I know. It's ours. Just don't urinate all over the city to prove a point,” Matter-horn said with a roll of her eyes.

A large, metal cart, which had only a single barred window and a door at the back to prevent it from being completely sealed, rolled down the streets of Maretropolis. It was marked with indicia from The Lovecraft Memorial Asylum for the Magically Overpowered. It was pulled along by four police officers, while four more galloped along at the back. The whole procession stopped in front of the Power Ponies HQ building, where there was already a more casual enclosed carriage that had marking indicating it was from Foals' Services.

Hum Drum dashed out of the front door of the imposing granite edifice, eagerly standing between the two conveyances. The four following officers carefully opened the back of their transport, backing away as Mane-iac, who was nude save for the unobtainium bands clamped tightly on her mane and tail, slowly stepped out.

Hum Drum made his way over to her and ran a hand over the spines on his head. “Hey there, Mane-iac. It's really great to have you here. I made sure...”

“Where is Sassy?” Mane-iac snapped, looking down on Hum Drum with a mix of anger and desperation.

“Th-the Foals' Services folks have her. They're waiting for you, and waiting for me to kind of sign off on you,” Hum Drum said, pointing to the other carriage.

“Good. Remember, this is about Sassy... and... you...” Mane-iac said with a something of a sigh. “I don't have much but I do have luggage. They graciously let me have some paper bags at the nuthatch. Get them down for me.”

“Right away!” Hum Drum called out in a chipper tone, leaping into the prison transport and hopping back out again a short while later with two large paper grocery bags that had been rolled closed at the top. “What did you bring with you?”

“My psychological reports, my discharge papers, a bunch of stupid pamphlets on stress and therapy they demanded I take, my old outfit... and the picture of me holding Sassy right after she was born,” Mane-iac said, her tone moving from grumbling to happy.

Hum Drum strolled up to the Foals' Services carriage, where he was met by a unicorn mare in a sharp business suit. “Mister Hum Drum, my name is Happy Home, and I'm your caseworker for this new phase in custody. We've completed our inspections and found that while there are some questionable safety issues, overall this location is suitable for a foal, and the usual occupants are acceptable. We've also received the reports on your... partner's mental state and found them acceptable. I need you to sign some papers agreed to by Foals' Services and the Department of Rehabilitation.”

“I'll sigh anything! As long as I get to have Sassy and her mother living here with me,” Hum Drum said, setting the bags aside and reaching up for the papers.

“I wish all parents were as dedicated and happy about their children as you,” Happy said, using her magic to pull a clipboard and a pen from her vehicle. “Sign and date the bottom of each page and be sure you read and consider them carefully before you do so. It's mostly standard boilerplate; you agree to regular inspections, you agree to certain requirements in terms of medical care, you accept responsibility for both your daughter and her mother, you agree that violations or certain observations could result in one or both being removed from the premises.”

“I know, I know, our lawyer told me about this already,” Hum Drum grumbled, rapidly signing every page and handing the clipboard back.

Happy looked over the documents and floated the clipboard back into her carriage, another floating out and to Mane-iac. “Now you. This is a similar set of agreements, but yours requires you undergo drug tests, medical exams and a regular mental health screening. You will also need to see a parole officer with regularity, you cannot move off of these premises, and you will be required to attend parenting classes two hours a day three days a week.”

“Yes, yes, they told me at the asylum, and the angry guy from Rehabilitation gave me the score. I know...” Mane-iac grabbed the clipboard form the air and angrily sighed all the pots required of her before all but tossing it back at Happy. “Now let me see my daughter!”

“In a strange way I wish we had more parents like you, too. You're going through a lot just to see your child and in a sense it's admirable...” Happy said, opening the carriage door and levitating out a pink-colored bassinet. Resting withing was Sassy, all swaddled in pink blankets. She resembled a scaled pony foal, with a more squarish and draconic muzzle. Her mane was composed of flexible scales that wavered slightly, though not like the tendrils that her mother had. A small yawn revealed tiny fangs, and her open eyes showed slitted pupils and bright green eyes. Her color was that of her parents, coat the green of Mane-iac's mane and scale-mane the purple of Hum Drum's own body.

Mane-iac eagerly took hold of the bassinet and nuzzles down at Sassy. A huge, sincere smile spread across her face. “Sassy... my little Sassy... I finally have you...”

“And now we can be a family,” Hum Drum chimed, with pride in his voice as she stood up beside Mane-iac.

“Yes... a family...” Mane-iac said, her smile dropping a little, but not going away as she nuzzled at her daughter's plump little belly and draconic talons. “Let's get settled in. At least moving like this is less involved than setting up a new hideout.”

“That phase of your life is over, or should be. Remember your agreements...” Happy began.

“I know, I know. Walk the line or Sassy gets taken away and I go back to the puzzle factory. I know. I'll never lose her again...” Mane-iac said softly, planting a kiss on the end of Sassy's snout.

The asylum transport and carriage from Foals' Services both took off, leaving Hum Drum and Mane-iac standing in front of Power Pony HQ. Hum Drum broke the awkward stillness with a cough and the taking up of Mane-iac's bags. “Come on, I'll show you to my room... our room. This is our family home now.”

“Yes, I know. My new home...” Mane-iac said with a hidden smile.

Hum Drum led Mane-iac through the twisting corridors of the place, the décor changing from neoclassical to futuristic industrial, with a lot of polished metal and cameras. “Don't mind how it was decorated. Matter-horn had final say on how the inside would look. Radiance was really upset but this is supposed to make for a more serious work environment.”

“Reminds me of the asylum, but with nicer materials and no bodily fluids on the walls and floor,” Mane-iac noted, blandly, as she trotted along on three legs, Sassy's bassinet held in her right front leg.

“Don't... go near Zapp's room with a black light. Or Fili-second's,” Hum Drum said with a blush and light rub at the back of his head.

He led her on through the building until they reached a sliding metal door. It had been painted green and purple, and had a sign on it which read, 'Hum Drum's Quarters. No Unauthorized Entry. This means you, Fili. Stop stealing my candy and soda.' Sliding the door open revealed a rather ordinary square room, deep and tall enough to be comfortable, with provided shelving and a closet. The walls were plastered with posters of the Power Ponies, news clippings (including the ones about both times Hum Drum defeated Mane-iac) and various pinups and glossies of beautiful mares. A large table held some action figures and half-built models, along with a framed photograph, which Mane-iac was drawn to.

The frame was rather nice, pure silver with a small wavering band of gold. It showed Mane-iac in the prison infirmary, her mane clamped down in the unobtainium bands, sweat all over her body, and a look of tired happiness on her face. She was holding Sassy and looking down at her, while Hum Drum was beside her, on the verge of tears, with a giant smile on his face. “This picture... you... you have it too? You keep it out?”

“Well... yeah...” Hum Drum blushed a little. He had ducked into the closet where he changed out of most of his attire. He came out in a casual red robe, his mask still on. “I show everyone.”

“You honestly show them that... you were with me?” Mane-iac opened one of her paper bags and dug out her own copy of the photograph. Hum Drum was folded back but she often saw him when the photograph unfolded itself. The happiest day of her life, no matter how it had come about.

“I am with you. I've been telling everyone you were coming. The girls got sick of me talking about it. I told grocery clerks, pizza guys, the dry cleaners, everybody I met,” Hum Drum said with pride, strolling up to Mane-iac. “You can put Sassy in the crib I bought for her. There's one here and in the playroom when it's naptime. L-let me get it!”

Mane-iac had to consider what he had said. As Hum Drum dug the crib box out from the closet she had to scowl. How common, how domestic, how unlike anything she had chosen. She was a supervillainess. She was mentioned in the same breath as the great ones like the Trickster and the Ghoul. Yet... she was roundly mocked in the press and by others. She was defeated as often as the others, and by the Power Ponies. But she had been defeated by a sidekick. Twice!

She was also mocked for her crimes, the hair-related capers and her styled-up minions looking like salon workers and all the hair-care themes of her equipment. She did her best, but her focus was on the formative influence in her life, and that was what had happened to her mane. It wasn't her fault that was where the fixation had settled. She had been doing her best. Then the capture of the Power Ponies, the impregnation and... her impregnation.

She wanted to be bitter and hateful about it, but she couldn't, not with Sassy being the outcome. The very moment she had held the sweet dragon-pony she was taken. All her brightest and happiest moments paled before holding Sassy close to her. Sassy was a connection to the insufferable sidekick that had defeated her but she still had some connection to him. Sassy seemed to like him very well, and keeping her happy was the most important thing.

During her reverie Hum Drum had managed to knock together the crib, with only a few instances of having it fall apart on him. He gave it a kick to test its solidity and stood proudly beside it. “Here you go. There's plenty of blankets and baby clothes. I got them specially made for kirin. Extra durable to survive the claws and gnawing.”

“Such an odd term... I know that is the name in the dragon lands, but I always thought of her as a dragon-pony,” Mane-iac said. She looked down to the cooing and smiling bundle in the bassinet and regarded her draconic features. “But it's her heritage. I can call her a kirin too.”

Hum Drum smiled, then tried to affect his most 'suave' pose by the closet door. “So... the girls are going to be out for a while, and they never open my door without knocking... we've been apart for a while...”

Mane-iac wanted to be disgusted by the proposition, but she had to confess... even when she had been dominating him she had been enjoying herself. He was so good at pleasing her he had reversed the situation. It had been delicious, and she had been without for a while. With no tendrils she had been forced to try and masturbate with the clumsy unresponsiveness of her hoof. Though born an earth pony she had grown attached to the pleasure of tendril-stimulation. “With our daughter here? You should know better.”

“Matter-horn told me babies don't start forming memories for a while, and the oldest ones are the most indistinct. I don't know why she told me that, or knew that. I think it was just in case she got lucky while her kid was in her room and I was going to complain about it, but... it's good to know.”

Mane-iac looked down at Hum Drum with a lifted brow. He was so earnest, so eager. He had probably been dreaming about having her back. He certainly wasn't bad looking. And the happier she made him, the easier it would be to get around his notice. She slowly set Sassy down in the crib and strolled over to Hum Drum, caressing his head with a hoof. “I'll be honest... it will take some time for a more serious relationship to form. But I think we both have needs and both know where we want to go...”

Hum Drum looked momentarily stunned. He hadn't figured on it being so easy or immediate. “Uh, um, yeah! Th-that's right! No, I get it! We can't just zip into a relationship but we can get to the other stuff. Um... so I guess...”

Mane-iac's smile grew more coy. Such an inexperienced fellow. She had probably been his first. His innocent eagerness suddenly made sense. She leaned down to test her guess by planting a kiss on his lips. The press was slack and unresponsive at first, but grew harder as he leaned forward. His technique was nonexistent, merely mashing his smoothly pebbled lips to her mouth, occasionally opening to let his thin and agile tongue out for a few licks at her lips and teeth. She broke the kiss with a soft sigh and winked at him. “So what should we do?”

Hum Drum looked paralyzed. His eyes had grown wide and his mouth hung slightly slack. His brain had seemingly ground to a halt shifting gears from the kiss to planning sexual escapades. “Uh, let's... let's try... well we go to the bed then I could...”

Mane-iac placed a hoof gently over Hum Drum's lips, silencing him. He seemed to be a chronic chatterer. She'd need to do something about that. “I know where this is going. It leaves me potentially pregnant again, not such a bad thought in the end, but it also leaves me bloated and sore.”

“Yeah... sorry about that...” Hum Drum said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. “Dragons start out with a copious issue, because it maximizes the chance. And lady dragons are, well, tougher than non-scaled women.”

“I somewhat suspected as much...” Mane-iac said, a hoof instinctively rubbing her belly, remembering her distention, the fullness of her womb and the rather embarrassing trot to prison.

“I promise I won't do that to you again. We can... wait until it's safe for you to do that, just so you don't get pregnant,” Hum Drum suggested.

“That is a possibility as well...” Mane-iac said. “But I'd still swell up.”

“Well, you know...” Hum Drum blushed terribly and turned his head away. “Y-you looked really pretty with the big belly. I didn't mean to do it but it felt nice and you were enjoying it... weren't you?”

Mane-iac huffed but nodded. “It was... interesting. Dragon magic must be subtle but powerful. I was distended and yet I did not feel any discomfort. It was no more annoying than when I was pregnant. The stretching simply... happened,” Mane-iac noted.

“It's how we can do that without hurting our partners. It makes the body able to contain all the issue. Or at least that's what Matter-horn told me,” Hum Drum said.

“In hind sight I will admit the experience was new. In a different time, a different place, without the crushing sting of defeat and degradation before the world... it might have been fun,” Mane-iac said. “But perhaps... not as a first time with you here. That should be saved.”

“Right, right, no that's totally for special occasions,” Hum Drum said, the front of his robe already tenting out.

Mane-iac didn't miss the tenting of the fabric, remembering the dark puce pole with the pebbly bumps, so thick and long it almost looked pasted on to the earnest but diminutive dragon. “Maybe... something else...”

“What kind of so- whoa!” Hum Drum's question was cut off as Mane-iac deftly brought her hooves over to untie the belt of the robe and part the front, letting the half-hard rod out into the open. It had slipped from Hum Drum's slit, as had his generous, scaled sac. The outsized organ was on track once more to be the soupcan-thick monstrosity that had been brought to bear against her before. The bulbous glans below the vaguely pointed tip, the smooth pebble-like bumps to provide a textured ride. All the familiar elements.

Mane-iac slowly let her tongue trace across the tip and over the glance, licking and lapping along the ring that was there. It was an inviting experience, since Hum Drum bathed regularly. His natural spicy dragon musk was cut with the scent and flavor of flowery cleansing products. Her lips pursed and wrapped snugly around the head, the puffy pillows pushing down and loosening again, while she added a gentle suction. Her tongue continued to flick and lap along the flesh caught in her mouth, washing over the various textured portions.

Her head pushed lower, a soft moan emerging from her as her lips were gently rubbed by the smooth bumps along the shaft of the thick tool. Her mouth had to stretch out, to the edge of her comfort, to take her down past the crown. She was managing but it was an effort. A hoof reached back between her legs, to clumsily grind and flick at her button and work her folds as best she could. The thought of how girthy and long it was cut through all the memories she had of defeat. She could take the opportunity to savor it.

Hum Drum was transported in bliss, his hands twitching and held out to his sides, his eyes rolled up in his head while his mouth hung slack, nearly drooling. He was still such a virgin, even after having had his experience with Mane-iac before. Once again, she was providing a brand new experience. The softness of her lips and the smooth sucking got his hips to roll, smooth and slow in gentle, lazy thrusts.

His cockhead was already drooling out a dribble of warm and musky precum, which came out in a flow comparable to the copiousness of his cum. It was a lot to swallow my Mane-iac did. It wasn't unpleasant at all, and actually warmed her belly as she sucked it down. Her hoof worked at her folds with greater eagerness but no better control or technique. She was wet and on edge but could only slide the fluid around. She groaned softly in frustration, the vibration running down Hum Drum's length.

The new sensation, the sudden vibrating hum, made Hum Drum gasp and snap his eyes open. He looked down on Mane-iac and had the sudden realization, he was really doing this. He was with Mane-iac again, and he was free. She was willingly wrapping her lips around his rod, letting her tongue wash across his draconic flesh. He let out a titanic, shuddering moan, and stroked his hands down her head, caressing the restrained, fleshy tendrils of her mane.

His lust-fogged eyes cleared enough for his to see Mane-iac's long, slender leg down between her legs, rubbing and tapping away. Another frustrated groan buzzed his pole and he seized up in pleasure. But once it had passed he started to understand. His hips pulled slowly back, drawing the textured length out of Mane-iac's mouth with loud, lewd slurp and a pop as the tip pulled from her lips. “H-hey, you know this feels good but... it looks like... we may have to do it the other way.”

Mane-iac's mouth hung open for a bit before she closed it with a snap and a small snarl. “I'm loathe to admit you're right. But you are. I've had these tendrils for so long I lost my earth pony skills. I had to learn how to use utensils by hoof again at the asylum. And my technique is... unpolished. Getting off never used to be a problem...”

Memories of the prior encounter came flooding back. The tendril sodomy, the drilling of his mouth, Mane-iac's gloriously full, beautiful, smooth, rounded rump pressing like soft pillows of tender flesh around his face. Hum Drum's cock gave a jump and a sudden heavy squirt of precum as the memory washed over him. “Wh-why not let me help? Um, you sort of... sat on my face before. And I was taking care of you. Y-you said you liked it. I could even spank you, just a little, like you said you wanted but never got.”

Mane-iac had to lift a brow as she considered Hum Drum. He might have been virginal but he had a mind like a very perverse guy. The face-sitting had been to humiliate him, but he had been affected by it. In truth, she had never felt so much pure pleasure before. The sting of the spanking, the audacity of her rear slapped so casually, the feel of her sex grinding on his scaled face while his mouth and tongue worked at her heated lips, ate her like no male had ever done, and probably never could.

Her sex dripped, hoof still over the wet passage as her honey flowed across her nail and frog. She had lost because of that, but until the moment she lost, she felt like a triumphant winner, and felt a delight that still resonated in her. “I may just be flexible enough to keep on treating you to a good suckle while you tend to me. It would be a good compromise.”

“Sure! Compromise. That's what it is. Let me just...” Hum Drum grabbed a pillow off of his bed, and then dashed to a clear wall. He settled himself down on the floor and leaned back, with the pillow behind his head and his erection bobbing before him, throbbing and spitting precum in time with his heartbeat. “There we go, just right.”

Mane-iac was conflicted, to say the least. She still had plenty of reasons to despise him. Yet with him sitting down his implausible shaft looked all the bigger, and his gaze was so... eager yet uncertain. He wanted everything to go right. She just strolled casually along to him, stepping over him, swinging a rear leg over his head just so he could get a good look at her milk-swollen teats before she settled her large, padded, generous butt over his head.

She hovered the pair of bulbous bubbles over Hum Drum's face for a silent, significant moment, his look changing to one of pure happiness as he contemplated the titanic tush. His world reduced to the size of the ample ass as it came closer, filling his vision with the cleft, the puckered anus, the spread and dripping slit. It was all coming for his face. The first contact brought a moan from his mouth, which was muffled as the fattened cooch slowly pressed down around his snout, just like it did back when.

Mane-iac hissed softly, the smooth scales gliding wonderfully across her heated flesh, followed by the penetration of the snout and the sudden, eager motions of Hum Drum's mouth. He opened and closed it quickly as he nibbled in her sex, his scaled shin rubbing across her clit while his long, strong tongue swirls and flicked around against the lips. She settled back and down more, making the facesitting literal and proper, just like she had the last time, and just like Hum Drum had said he wanted.

Hum Drum couldn't breathe, but had sucked in a good, deep breath of musky and delicious air. His lungs were filled with the scent of Mane-iac. It made his cock throb all the more powerfully and stand taller. He had missed the scent of a lustful mare, one that was getting hot over what he was doing. He nuzzled his snout around in her slit, twisting and rubbing his scales around on the sensitive flesh. He still had no idea what he was doing, but he had read some things and was just trying out whatever he thought might work.

Mane-iac cried out in delight as the pleasure rose, her eyes squeezed tight and her lips pulled back, exposing her teeth entirely, looking like a rictus of pain, but she was in no kind of pain. It was pure pleasure that was surging through her form as Hum Drum used all his passion to work at her. She mashed back a bit more, settling her weight on Hum Drum's face more, but just a hair from being impossible to escape.

She looked down and was reminded of the source of her willingness to follow through, and her agreement. The thick pole of dragon flesh spat precum up towards her face like a geyser, the strength of the jets making the liquid almost reach her. She dipped her head down with some uncertainty, the slow nature of the move allowing her face to be splashed with more than a few thick, heavy shots of the musky and slippery fluid. Her tongue traced a trembling path along her lips, licking up the salty, spicy precum and shivering over the flavor. She loved it, everything about it.

Mane-iac wrapped her lips around the bulbous head again and took long, loud swallows of the precum that surged into her maw. Her tongue swiped across the surface of the cock, while she focused on keeping her position. She had bent nearly in half to keep her ass on Hum Drum's face and her head bobbing over his raging erection. She had to see-saw herself along, gulping down the jaw-stretching pole and pulling her ass away from Hum Drum's face, if only a bit, then mashing the fat bottom down onto his face once more, rubbing herself on his scaled and taking his snout into her.

It was beyond pleasure for Hum Drum. He was getting more than he had imagined from his first time being with Mane-iac again. The delightful squish of the fattened cheeks around his face seemed even cushier than before. Even prison and asylum food couldn't halt the arrival of pregnancy weight. He breathed in quick gulps when she pulled away, each held breath released with a tremendous moan from the scent of her femininity which permeated his senses. Adding to it all Mane-iac's mouth was like magic, a sensual melange of puffy lips and silken tongue, rumbling moans and cooling puffs of breath from her nose as she panted.

His hips jerked upwards, stuffing an extra inch of his length into her stretched mouth and yanking it back that much more. He almost forgot the other part of his promise to her, lost in pleasure as he was. His hands reached up and laid a few heavy slaps across the soft and wobbling cheeks that were pressing on either side of his face. He didn't have much strength to speak of, but he had no trouble smacking at several places at many angles, such that he never hit the same place twice, liberally covering her thick backside with sharp, warming swats.

Mane-iac choked lightly on Hum Drum's rod when the strikes started raining down on her ass. She had tried a few smacks on herself, and found that hooves were worse for spankings than they were for masturbation when out of practice. He was so eager, and without great strength each strike felt just right, raising no welts or bruises but making her backside glow with the wide spread of the impacts. She bobbed her head faster in appreciation, with the added effect of working her sex faster on Hum Drum's face.

The increase in speed, as well as the priming of anticipation and previous sucking set Hum Drum off. He gave a shuddering thrust that held up, moaning and nearly growling against Mane-iac's sex as he unleashed. The first heavy shot of cum splattered against the back of her throat and made her gag loudly. She was flooded with thick shots of seed before her head could pull back. The thick and heavy globs of seed fulled her mouth, swelling her cheeks and filling her throat.

Mane-iac avoided a belly-swelling but yanking her head up and off of the jetting cock, the bursts so thick and heavy there was an almost constant flow of cum between each heavy squirt. She gasped loudly and gave a loud, moan, her eyes rolled up in her head from the feel of the hot cream sliding down her throat, the taste, and the grind of her ass on Hum Drum's face while her roared against her sex. She didn't even care that cream was bubbling out of her nose, and that the high arcs of semen were all splattering over her head. It was just fortunate that they were far away from Sassy's crib.

Hum Drum ground and shook his face against Mane-iac's slit, roaring, moaning and licking hard wherever he could. His actions in the throes of his orgasm touched off hers. He knew it when he heard her give a wet, gurgling moan and cry, as well as felt a hot squirt of hot honey across his face, right into his open mouth. He swallowed that lucky shot with a snarling moan, and set his tongue to lashing between her lips to gather more delicious nectar.

Mane-iac groaned out loudly, her head slumping forward while her ass wiggled softly against Hum Drum's head as he licked her through the aftermath of her climax. She sucked in a huge breath and let it out as a sigh. “And even after all that... well, you remember that I can do this more than once. That I did.”

“So I've heard. Zapp can go like, five times. Fili is the one that only goes once, which is weird...” Hum Drum mumbled out against Mane-iac's backside. “But, well... I was saving that one up. So... yeah...”

“You can rest there, that works for me,” Mane-iac said.

“Here...” Hum Drum moved away from Mane-iac's backside and slipped his robe completely off, completely exposing his body. He set the pillow down on the floor and carefully laid himself out on it, while his organ slowly slipped back into his slit. Laying out on the pillow allowed the smooth fins on his back to be exposed. “As long as you're going to sit on me, you can rub all over something that feels nice.”

Mane-iac actually considered it, and idly wiped at the seed covering her face. “I don't believe that you actually like that... but it... seems appealing.”

“You're soft, it's warm, and we're together. Now come on, if you want to,” Hum Drum mumbled, face-down on the pillow and looking completely relaxed.

Mane-iac trotted over and once more straddled Hum Drum's body. She slowly lowered her ample backside and settled herself on one of the fins just behind his neck. The smooth and rigid fin slid between her lips and teased at her flesh, making her shiver just a bit. She slowly dragged her body down, sliding up and off the fin, only to meet the next one against her clit, which she slowly dragged over the face of the smooth surface. A shivering moan dripped from her lips and a hoof slid along her mutated mane.

As the second fin ground on her flesh she noted just a slight motion of the unobtainium bands holding her mane's tendrils in their immobile state. The shots of dragon cum had gotten all over the restrained mane and made the bands move, if only a tiny bit. As she worked herself on the agreeable Hum Drum's back a plan began to form. She had another plot in the works but this could also work. With enough treatments spread out over time no one would notice until she worked the bands off. And given how eager and happy he had been, Hum Drum would gladly provide the means of her escape.

Mane-iac's smile pulled even wider. Her pleasure had just gotten all the more delightful.

Author's Note

Yes: That is an Ozy and Millie reference.

What is? Guess. If you guess you get a virtual cookie.

Segment Four: Date Night- Iron Willie

Radiance's room at Power Ponies HQ was like most others in size, but not in features. She had had her walls pushed back to allow for the installation of cabinets and wardrobes and armoires, but still allowing her to have all the same floor space, which was largely taken up by the grand antique canopy bed.

She also had demanded that her bathroom be modified from a simple sanitary facility (while the showers were communal) into a small spa. The place was covered in painted, gilt-edged tiles, with a marble hot tub tucked into the corner, a massage table beside that, and a large, wide makeup table along the opposite wall, lights all around the edge of a huge mirror to provide optimal lighting.

Because it was such a nice place, the other Power Ponies often took advantage of it if they had a need to primp and preen. She was in there, brushing her own hair a week after the first encounter with the mercenaries. Sitting at the table with her was Saddle Rager, who was not generally known for her serious attention to her looks. She always looked nice and pleasant but was not often given to making herself up for any reason.

“R-radiance...” Saddle mumbled softly, “This doesn't... I mean... I want to look nice but I don't know if I should be so made-up.”

“Oh but darling, that handsome bovine took the time to ask you out properly. Flowers, candy, a humble nod. Why he was nearly as formally proper and charming as my own date. So charming and polite when he asked to escort me around town. You should reward the effort, if only a bit,” Radiance said with a high, cheerful voice.

“But I don't know how to make myself up, not for a date. I never go on them,” Saddle squeaked.

“Fret not, for I know how this works. I may not be as base and carnally hungry as Zapp and Fili, but I do see the odd stallion now and again. Just allow me to do a little work,” Radiance said, her magic picking up various tools and cosmetics.

“I-if you like...” Saddle mumbled before the collection of things practically attacked her face, leaving her barely able to 'yeep' and tremble.

The brushes, combs, and assortment of makeup went after her in a powdery blur. Thanks to Radiance's great skill it took only a moment to complete her work. “Et voila! Observe your new look! Worry not, it is only temporary. Just to make that big bull swoon over you as I know you can.”

Saddle regarded herself in the mirror, hooves reaching up to stroke at her features. She had opted to keep her mask on for her date, but her eyelashes had been fluffed and enhanced, making them long and luscious. Her long mane no longer waved behind her, but curled to the sides, framing her face in almost a heart shape, while a single bundle fell down the middle, which could provide a place behind which she could hide if she needed. Her thin and small lips looked plump and full, a small liner line surrounding them while dark red lipstick enhanced them to the fullest. Powder rouge, a shade darker than her natural coat color, gave her cheeks a coquettish and alluring blush. Aside from that she had nothing else on but her butterfly pendant bead bracelets and her flower-clasped frilled scarf. “Oh... I look... oh...”

Radiance laughed musically and turned back to the mirror. “Perfect. Now go! Do not keep your bovine beau waiting for you. Sadly, I must delay my Dog. It takes a great deal of time to provide perfection to such a genteel fellow. Please do have a good time, Saddle dear.”

Saddle blushed a little bit, the action showing through the artificial blush. She reached out to give Radiance a small, careful hug. “Th-thank you. And you too! I hope your date goes well.”

“As long as he maintains his gentility I am certain it will go swimmingly,” Radiance said, squeezing Saddle gently. She then turned focus back to the mirror as Saddle walked out.

Saddle slowly trotted her way through the interior of HQ and out into the large, plush waiting area. Like any modern organization the Power Ponies maintained a lobby to allow non-emergency visitors to wait for service. The space was as neoclassical as the exterior, with carved columns in the corners, smooth marble floors, and frescoes of the Power Ponies in action on the walls. The décor was slightly more modern, including a desk with automated secretary software to process arrivals and transfer calls automatically, and soft cushions and chairs provided for waiting, along with some magazines on tables set between the seating spaces.

Iron Willie and Diamond Dog were both seated in plush chairs, talking quietly and almost engaged in some kind of argument. On Saddle's arrival Iron leaped to his hooves, creating a tremendous clattering on the stone floor. “Well hey there. You look fantastic! Did my friend's date help you out with that?”

Saddle blushed again and partially hid her eyes behind the hanging strand of mane. “Y-yes... how did you know?”

“She's the makeup kind of mare, I know it. You looked good like you were. Not that I'm complaining about this! You really do look nice...” Iron said, strolling up. Every move seemed to flex the muscles hidden by his odd metal-covered attire.

“Thank you very much. S-shall we get going now?” Saddle asked quietly, nudging at one of Iron's hands with her snout.

“Of course! I got myself a guidebook for the city and I know just the place to go to have one fantastic time!” Iron bellowed, getting into a pose with such casual ease it seemed like a natural tic.

Saddle ducked a little bit but pressed back up against Iron's side. “Sounds, um, nice...” She looked over at Diamond Dong, who was observing them from within his shadowed hood. “Radiance might be a little bit. She doesn't leave anything in her look to chance. She wants you to be really impressed.”

“I'm very certain I'll be impressed by her,” Diamond said with a nod. He casually reached aside for a magazine and started reading.

“Let's get going. It's not too far to the place, and a walk's great exercise,” Iron said, holding open the front door for Saddle. “Not that I mind hanging around your place. The architecture and art really... uh, well it's really... good,” he finished, lamely, holding up a thumb and delivering what could only be a flop-sweat smile.

“I wish the deeper parts of the building looked like that. But Matter-horn wanted it to be more... scientific or something. I don't remember. It's... nice. But I prefer the greenhouse on the roof. Mare-velous and I both enjoy taking walks up there. It's closer than the park and always clean and bright,” Saddle said.

“You're lucky you have a greenhouse. Or a sciency-looking HQ. Or even a dark and dirty park. Means you've got a city to take care of you,” Iron noted. He took long strides at first, until he noticed Saddle had to trot to keep up. He cut his pace in half and got to a much better pace for her.

“Oh! I'm sorry. I forgot. You're a mercenary. You don't have all the sanction and support we do. It must be a hard life...” Saddle whispered.

“It's not so bad. We get to travel a lot, we meet all kinds of new folks and see all kinds of creatures. Then we usually punch one or the other. Save endangered species from some group that wants to take it, or save endangered folks from some species that wants to eat them. Unless there's a conflict going on,” Iron said, keeping his tone light and amused.

Saddle nodded slowly, shivering a little at the talk of violence, and of armed conflicts, but enjoying the idea of saving others from danger. “It's very good of you to help folks, and save creatures.”

“It pays the bills and keeps us alive. But you know, I might anyhow. I really do like little creatures. I even like big creatures. I used to have my own pet orthrus as a kid. I wanted a cerberus but that didn't happen. It wasn't that bad. An orthrus is a good pet, just as good as a cerberus. And with one less head there's less in-fighting,” Iron said with a nod.

“Oh my, you had an orthrus? That's wonderful. I've seen orthri and cerberi at pet expos but never had one of my own. It's such a hassle to import one from Hellas. Does that mean you were actually born in Hellas?” Saddle asked.

“That's me. Genuine calf of the homeland. Not in one of the immigrant communities but back in the old grounds, land of mazes and temples,” Iron said with some pride.

“That's quite interesting. And you speak Equestrian so well...” Saddle said, gasping after and looking up at Iron with some fear. “Oh goodness! I'm sorry, I didn't mean...”

Iron laughed it off and waved a hand. “No problem! I know what you meant. I learned a bunch of languages being a mercenary, but I'm best at Equestrian. Everyone knows Equestrian, it's important for getting along.”

“Still...” Saddle pressed against Iron again and thought for a while as she walked along. “Um... if you're a Hellene, and you're proud of it, why do you have that strange suit? And why don't you have a Hellenic name?”

Iron didn't answer for a moment. He looked somewhere between surprised and concerned. He finally turned his eyes to the side and said, “Well, I've gotten used to the look and it's a signature now. Besides I have to think about multiple, uh, engagement areas and I need to be broadly appealing, and... hey, we're there!” He pointed to a building that they were about to reach and dashed ahead.

Saddle galloped as fast as she could, eventually reaching the place he had indicated. Her eyes lit up when she realized where they had come. Had she not been distracted by the walk and conversation should would have recognized the route. She was standing in front of 'Cheerful Chip's Indoor Petting Zoo.' Other than the greenhouse it was her favorite spot in the entire city. Iron held the door open for her and even bowed a little as he let her in.

It was just as it ever was. Hay bales were piled up by the entrance, creating a kind of sweet-smelling tunnel that led into a huge warehouse-like building. The high ceilings kept the environment open and fresh, as did numerous vents and fans. Picket fences, painted in many bright colors, cordoned off the various animal areas. There were small ones for the bunnies, larger ones for chickens, potbellied pigs and goats, big ones for the alpacas and llamas, and screened in ones for the various types of butterflies and colorful beetles.

“You... brought me to 'Cheerful Chip's'?” Saddle asked, her voice high, bright and strong.

“I looked through that city guide twice and this seemed like the place,” Iron said with a smile.

“Oh but surely... surely a big, powerful mercenary like you would want to go somewhere more... bullish,” Saddle said, leaning over into the bunny enclosure to nuzzle at their silken fur.

Iron shook his head sharply, putting a coin into a feed machine and getting himself a handful. He walked over to the goat enclosure and offered the feed to one of the caprine creatures. “Nope. Like I said. I like creatures. Oh I'll go wading into a battle full-on and do my job. But I really, really do like nicer things too.” He stroked the head of the placidly munching goat, smiling as he regarded the odd, horizontal pupils.

“That's a surprise. Oh, but such a nice one,” Saddle said, giggling a little as the bunnies nuzzled and snuffled at her head, some of them coming away with smears of rouge and lipstick. That got her to pull her head away with a sheepish expression. “I really like kind folks.”

“I know...” Iron said, seeming distracted as more goats came over to be fed and stroked. He dropped the feed in a panic and quickly said, “I mean, I figured. You seem like a gentle, sweet, wonderful mare.”

Saddle tilted her head over that and seemed just a little confused. But she shrugged, and went over to give some corn and strokes to the chickens. “And you're even nicer and more caring than I thought. Just to take me here... well, this is a perfect date. I don't think anyone in Maretropolis would have done that.”

“I try to be different than the average guy. I have the reputation of being the best. And when you're the best you never rest,” Iron said firmly, the goats bleating in what seemed like agreement. “I have a lot to uphold, after all. Reputation and all that.”

“Of course. And, if I can say... you're really nice,” Saddle said with a dark blush.

“Just you wait until dinner...” Iron said with a thumbs up.

“Oh... dinner...” Saddle said with some deflated enthusiasm. She thought of the pressure and hassle of a restaurant and did not look forward to it.

“This isn't at all what I expected!” Saddle said with a joyful flap of her wings. She was seated at the table in the Power Ponies HQ dining hall, listening to Iron bumping around the kitchen. “B-but that's good! I didn't want to have all the pressure and stress of going to a restaurant.”

“No, I get it completely. Who wants that headache? Not me,” Iron said, arranging several bowls, utensils and other objects on the counter. “I planned for this. That brainy friend of yours, she helped to arrange things, got some provisions brought in just so I could cook for you.”

“Oh... Matter-horn is so nice. She didn't have to do that for me. But I'm so glad she helped you,” Saddle said with a smile.

“Don't be too impressed. Remember, this isn't a taverna. I don't have everything and I don't want to keep you waiting too long,” Iron said, deftly taking up a knife and quite rapidly reducing a few tomatoes and a red onion into pieces.

“I don't mind waiting at all! I'm a patient pony. Especially when what I'm waiting for matters. I'll wait weeks watching chrysalises to see butterflies come out. Waiting for food won't be bad at all,” Saddle said cheerily.

Iron checked on the temperature of the oven and looked in on a few pans slowly heating on the stove. “Just how spicy do you like your food?” he asked.

“Um, well, I don't really like spicy foods. I can eat some curry but mild ones. The restaurants know what kind of sauce to give me,” Saddle confessed.

“I read you loud and clear,” Iron said. He had been preparing to chop up a pile of small peppers. He pushed the majority to the side and finely chopped just one, dropping the pieces into a pan of bubbling tomato sauce, along with a shower of basil.

“This actually seems like a lot of effort for two. Shouldn't we have the girls in to help and to eat it too?” Saddle asked.

“Nah! Diamond's got your fancy friend out at a classy restaurant, and the others agreed to go out to eat with that dragon, the crazy mare and the donkey. I think they really wanted this to go well,” Iron said, dropping some boiled lima beans into the tomato sauce, before turning to grab a plate of pita pieces which he stuffed into the oven.

Saddle was momentarily overcome with emotion, a blush darkening her cheeks. “Th-that's so nice of them. They really care about me.”

“It's really nice having friends like that. I know Diamond's got my back, so I understand. Like you, we've been through combat together,” Iron noted. He began to pour corn starch and sugar into a bowl, mixing it with small sprinkles of cream of tartar and water.

“We've fought bad guys and criminals but never to the point of a... a war...” Saddle said with growing softness, tripping over the uncomfortable final word.

“It's all the same in the end. You put order and peace back where they should be. Only difference is when you're finished to might get a parade, or maybe some fan mail. They cut me a check and we move on,” Iron said. He separated the gooey, starchy mixture into two sugar-dusted bowls, sprinkling generous helpings of rosewater onto one and lemon extract onto the other.

“But I hate to imagine all the violence. Here we deal with it very quickly. Out there...” Saddle shivered.

“It's why I love soft, cuddly animals, and shop with a wicker basket,” Iron said, tossing together the tomatoes and onions with some green olives, feta cubes and a drizzle of oil.

“You're so different from how you seemed. But I knew that when I heard you talking about life. Like really is precious. Since I had my foal I know it better than ever,” Saddle said with a big smile.

“That's one thing I wondered about. Can you leave your foal for this? All of you are out...” Iron said with some concern.

“I may not like some of the designs that Matter-horn put in the HQ, but her scientific skills are amazing. If there is any distress there are automated systems to tend to the foals. And if there are more serious matters an alarm will go off. I wouldn't be surprised if they took them out with them. Mane-iac practically never lets go of Sassy. She may be a supervillainess but so far she's been a wonderful mother,” Saddle said.

“They say that even bad guys love their mothers. I guess it works in reverse, somehow...” Iron said, putting on a quizzical expression as he ran the grammar math.

Saddle stifled a laugh behind a hoof and inhaled deeply. “It's all smelling so good...”

“And there are three courses for us,” Iron said, bearing out several plates and setting them on the table before going back for more. He pointed to the various foods as he described them. “Horiatiki, country salad. The olive oil dressing has fennel in it to give it a big burst of flavor. Baked pita and feta squares, both as an appetizer. Main dish is a plate of gigandes plaki, lima beans in tomato sauce with basil and just a hint of pepper. For dessert I'll cut you some fresh squares of loukoumi, in rosewater and lemon flavors, as well as a bowl of yogurt and honey.”

Saddle stared, wide eyed at the presented repast, devouring it with her gaze. “Goodness! I didn't think you'd go to all the trouble...”

“Trouble comes later when I make you my famous spanakopita. You'll never look at spinach the same again,” Iron said with a gruff laugh. He poured out a glass of ice water for Saddle, and then popped the cork on a bottle of thick, clear liquid for himself. Immediately a strong anise scent wafted through the room.

Saddle regarded the bottle curiously. “What's that?”

“Ouzo. Anise liqueur, with a kick. It's strong stuff to those that never had it. But I drink this like water,” Iron said, taking a long pull on the bottle by way of example.

“I hope that you don't... overindulge. N-not that I think you will...” Saddle noted, quickly stuffing her face with the salad to silence herself.

“It takes two bottles to get me light-headed. Four makes me sing and play a bouzouki badly. Around six is when I might fall on my snout,” Iron said with a hearty laugh, more sedately tucking into his salad.

The pair settled into a peaceful silence, focusing on the food before them. It was all new to Saddle, who gave looks of bliss and appreciation each time she tried something new. She savored every last thing, right down to taking dainty, and appreciative, nibbles of both flavors of loukoumi. “This was really amazing...”

“Well, I tried my best. I was hoping for 'passable' but I'll take amazing,” Iron said, rubbing the back of his head lightly.

“I've had so much fun, it's almost a shame it has to end...” Saddle said, a blush tinting her cheeks as she added what she thought was a subtle suggestiveness to the statement.

Iron caught it loud and clear, and gave a charming, if somewhat lecherous, smile. “Well, you know, it doesn't have to end-end. We can move on to something else. That hotel room will still be there for me no matter what time I stumble in.”

“If you really want to, f-follow me to my room...” Saddle said, rising up and primly making her way out of the dining hall.

“I'll just say it here and hope this doesn't change anything, but I'm surprised that you'd be agreeable to this. You seem so shy and quiet...” Iron said as he followed along.

“The girls all think I'm some fragile porcelain figure, or just too afraid, or don't even like sex. I like sex as much as they all do. I really enjoy picking up Zapp's discarded stallion magazines, and I kind of understand why Mare-velous likes watching Jo work out. But I don't go out much because I never meet good guys. The stallions I see just want to talk about themselves, or date a Power Pony, and they never want to pet animals or anything. Plus... well... I worry about what my powers could do in the middle of sex...” Saddle said, keeping her head forward to hide her massive blush.

“You do have some amazing powers,” Iron said with a nod. “But don't you have them under control?”

“Not perfectly. The best I can do is stay calm, and sometimes I can call it on my own. But usually I just get angry and things get unpleasant. It works out most times, but I have to be really, really careful,” Saddle confessed.

“I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm tough. I can handle things,” Iron said with a thump of his chest.

Saddle slid open a metal door and slowly stepped into her room after flicking on the light. Her room was as modest and understated as she was. The metal walls were painted a calming blue color, hung with posters and paintings of animals and nature scenes. The drawers, the visible bed frame and a small desk were all painted blue and were all made of metal. There were also a number of large cushions and colorful blankets scattered around. “I hope it's alright...”

Iron stepped inside and nodded as the door slid shut behind him. He knocked on the walls and the desk. “Unobtainium. They wanted to make sure things were secure.”

“Phlebonium was cheaper and works just as well, but it degrades when unobtainium is charged nearby, and Matter-horn keeps the HQ washed in a field to keep her wings and other things charged,” Saddle explained.

Iron walked over to Saddle and slowly stroked a hand along her cheek. “So... you're the one who picks the pace for this. How are we going to to get to it?”

Saddle sighed as the strong hand brushed over her blushing cheek, her head tilting to the side just a bit to rub at it. “I... I think we should just be together. Could you, maybe... undress for me?”

Iron got a little shifty, looking side-to-side and fidgeting his fingers a bit as the drifted across Saddle's face. 'Well I'd be glad to strip down and snuggle!” He bellowed suddenly. “Just gotta use your facilities to go do that.”

“You're not going to strip in front of me?” Saddle asked, disappointed. “I thought guys liked to make a big production out of that... at least the guys in the magazines and movies do.”

“Oh, I'm not very... showy...” Iron said, working his way to the bathroom door. “I guess I'm just a little... shy.” the door shut solidly, leaving Saddle looking confused.

“My... he didn't seem shy. He was very bold. But maybe that's another secret. He does like goats and he can cook...” Saddle said softly.

A short time later Iron emerged from the bathroom, completely bare, flexing his considerable muscles. His cobalt coat looked surprisingly well-cared-for, as did the darker and shaggier fur of his legs. Every muscle on his body was cut and sculpted to chiseled perfection. Saddle's wings sprang up involuntarily at the sight, and she covered her mouth with a hoof. She shivered a bit as her gaze dragged lower, between the shaggy thighs. His testicles hung down, low and full and ovular, standing out in the bare, fleshy blue sac. His penis flopped over the top of it, a darker blue tone with a smooth shaft and rounded crown, with a foreskin fold over the top. “First time seeing a minotaur?” Iron asked with a wink.

“O-oh. Yes... I only ever saw stallions. And a jack. Zapp likes stallions and gets magazines about them, and Jo gets, um, excited when he works out, which is what Mare-velous likes. I never... oh...” Saddle continued to stare at the dark blue flesh, which had begun to twitch and plump little by little.

“Don't worry... I can be gentle...” Iron rumbled. He reached down to slowly stroke the smooth, glossy length of flesh, groaning softly as his size surged, each beat of his heart sending the spire higher and higher. It finally stood up proud against the defined bulges of his abs, thick, long and faintly pulsing with power. It almost looked as burly and muscular as the rest of his body.

“I... um...” Saddle's mouth went dry and her eyes went wide. She slowly stepped forward and pressed her cheek in against the tall, throbbing shaft. She rubbed the soft and smooth muddle section, feeling the throbbing twitches, the large cum-channel on the underside which gave a light surge before a thick gush of precum arced up and splattered on her face.

“Heh, sorry about that. Sometimes my member has a mind of its own...” Iron said, reaching down to wipe the smear from her cheek. “Let me work you over a little bit before we get to... well, you know...”

“W-work me? You mean like, licking me? I've seen- ah!” Saddle squeaked. Her tail, wings and head both shot up straight and stiff. Iron's free hand had sneakily snaked around behind to her tight, pert rear and reached under tail. His fingers, strong and surprisingly deft, danced over the silky folds of her sex, rubbing the outer lips, reaching down to gently grind over her winked clit.

“One thing minotaurs have got... hands...” Iron roughly whispered, leaning down so he could be heard. He managed to bend far enough to have his hot breath tickle across Saddle's ear. His thick rod bobbled softly, throbbing in desire as he rubbed it gently against the soft fur of her face. His fingers carefully traced around the flushed, trembling lips and lightly wiggled her stiff button.

“Ha-hands seem very... useful...” Saddle squealed out, panting lightly and quivering under the new sensation. She had been worked over by the henchponies, and had worked on herself to relieve the pressure. But never had she felt anything as unique as the deft, strong capabilities of fingers. Every rub that touched two separate places, every little pinch and wiggle of her nub just felt so unique and new. She was in a different world of delight.

Iron grunted lightly as his throbbing erection slid along Saddle's pretty face, smearing his hot, musky precum over her cheeks and along her lips when she dipped in to give soft kisses. He pulled his hand away from her rear at last and brought the sticky digits up to his lips. His long, bovine tongue licked up the hanging strands of mare juice, a smile crossing his face. “Even more delicious than dessert...”

“Th-thank you...” Saddle whispered, unsure how to respond to sexy talk in the middle of an encounter. “Um, now... can you... I mean, if you want to...”

“You want me to mount you, right?” Iron rumble softly, stroking Saddle's cheek and giving her a friendly, reassuring smile.

Saddle sighed happily. No weird terms or boasting. Just a simple statement. It was very nice. “Y-yes. But only if you really want to. I don't want to force you or anything.”

Iron gave a deep chuckle, and clopped his way around Saddle's body. “No force at all. I just want to make sure you're fine with this.” He reached her backside and slowly stroked a hand along it, sliding between her cheeks to stroke his fingers over her moist and parted slit once more.

Saddle went stiff for a moment, coming out of it with a soft shudder and a moan of delight. She looked over her shoulder to see the huge rod of bull meat being lowered, and squeaked as the rounded, uniquely designed head mashed up against her folds. “Y-yes. Yes! I'm fine with this and I want you to, um, mount me. Please.”

Iron needed no more encouragement than that, right hand resting on Saddle's flank, while his left hand gently cupped her cheek. He looked deeply into her eyes, to keep her focused and calm, while his hips gave a soft roll. The shape of his head helped, by and large. The rounded crown opened the tight passage up and allowed the veiny shaft to plunge deep and slow into Saddle's clutching depths.

Saddle gasped loudly, her wings stiffening and fluttering in some discomfort. She hadn't felt that before. Iron was bigger than the stallions that had taken her before, and his gentleness meant she could actually feel every inch, experience the pulsing length as each bit slid deep into the wet and rolling passage. It just made him seem that much bigger, every little bit feeling like twice the length.

A loud snort emerged from Iron's snout, and his lips pulled back as he dipped his dick deeper into Saddle's squeezing tunnel. It almost felt like the rolling contractions were sucking him in, massaging the generous flesh that he pushed into her. He'd been with mares before, but none were so tenderly uncertain, or as snug around his tool. A hissing moan seethed from between his teeth as his rolling hips gave a sudden, unintended jerk, spearing more of that throbbing length than he had intended.

Saddle yelped loudly at the hip-jerk and sudden infusion of thick minotaur meat. The girthy pole was deep into her passage, sure to reach her cervix before it was all snugly contained within. “C-careful...” she squeaked out, looking at Iron with heavily lidded eyes. “I don't... think you... can get... it all in...”

“Shhh...” Iron whispered, rubbing under Saddle's chin comfortingly, leaning in to give the end of her snout a soft kiss. “I know when it's too much. If it doesn't fit, it's fine to quit. It doesn't all need to go in.”

“Th-thank you. That's... so kind...” Saddle sighed out, her eyes finally drifting all the way closed to focus on the feeling of the hefty pole reaching deep into her body. She finally felt it, the tap of the rounded head against her cervix.

Iron stopped, holding himself as deep as he could, and feeling proud of his accomplishment. He pulled slowly back, hand coming from from Saddle's face to take hold of her other flank. He drew out a decent portion of his meat, groaning deeply at the feeling of the tight walls trembling and clutching around him. He thrust back in, pulling his hips right before the maximum depth, a pleasured bellow leaving his lips.

Saddle was rocked by the powerful thrust, body shaking and eyes snapping open. A high-pitched squeal of delight left her and her walls clenched down hard, trembling in delight. 'Oh my! It's... oh! H-how can you be so forceful and gentle?”

Iron huffed out a laugh, giving a few more firm thrusts. “It's a gift,” he chuckled out, thoughtlessly lifting his right hand and giving Saddle's ass a light slap.

Saddle's head shot up and she let out a cry that wasn't delighted at all. She looked back at Iron with a peeved light glowing in her eyes. “How could you? I thought you were gentle and tender but you're just like all the stallions I see. Nothing but a mean, arrogant cad!” The last word rumbled through the air as her voice deepened and her body started to tremble.

Iron knew his automatic action had been a mistake. Less classy mares, those who were looser and more unrestrained didn't care about a flank-slap. But he should have known it was wrong for such a classy lass. He pulled out of Saddle immediately and stumbled for the bathroom. He didn't have too much time.

Saddle wasn't aware of anything going on. Power surged through her body, muscles swelling, bones expanding, every part of her growing larger and more impressive. She let out a roar of rage as the transformation took full hold of her, and hammered on the metal walls. “Where are you?!”

Iron stepped out of the bathroom, wearing an odd assortment of items. From the top down, etched gold bands were set on the bases of his horns; a circlet made of jade carved to look like laurel leaves rested on his brow; iron bands were on his upper arms while bronze bands etched with complex patterns and studded with gems were on his wrists; a belt of what looked like gold wool wrapped around his midsection; high thighs were covered in silver armor, while his legs above his hooves were protected with more bronze bands, etched and studded with gems. “Here! I'm sorry for what I did. It was wrong of me. I should never have hurt a good, kind mare like you!”

“You lied to me the whole time. I'll bet you don't even like goats!” Saddle roared, her rage sapping her rational mind and sending her on the attack.

Iron met the attack with a grunt, his hands grabbing at Saddle's hooves while his own hooves sought purchase on the metal ground. He let out a bellow and concentrated. At first it looked like his muscles were merely flexing harder, but it soon became clear they were actually expanding. The great slabs of powerful and sculpted muscle surged outwards, making him bulkier and more defined by the minute, and bringing him more in line with Saddle's rage-inflated size. “Believe... me... I didn't lie...”

Saddle shook her head a little, the unexpected growth catching her by surprise and knocking a little of the thoughtless anger out of her. “Wh-what is this?”

“I do have super powers. Usually I only need to inflate the muscles of one arm to punch through metal or hold up a building. But I can do it all over. It's the only way I could keep you from really laying into me,” Iron explained, his body bulked up tremendously, top and bottom.

Saddle struggled against Iron for a moment more, roaring and grunting, but finding herself equally matched with the new, inflated bulk. She finally ceased struggling and dropped down to the ground. “You really were telling the truth?”

“I only did it because my hand has a mind of its own sometimes,” Iron explained. “Other mares have liked it so... but that's no excuse. I was wrong to do it and I apologize.”

“It's very good of you to apologize. I'm sorry I ruined this part of the date. I'll go back to normal in a while. I could, uh, get myself off to go back, if you don't mind watching. We could try again then,” Saddle said, a blush tinting her giant cheeks.

“My powers aren't only practical. They're also entertaining,” Iron said with a wink. He concentrated again and thrust his immensely muscular hips forward. His organ and stone had maintained their original size during his muscle expansion. With concentration they began to surge and swell. His balls ballooned out and hung heavier against the densely muscled thighs. His erection fattened, and lengthened, swelling against his hard eight-pack and sliding against the granite-like slabs of his grandly swollen pectorals. Though his body was still the same height, his muscles and erection regained their proportion in comparison to Saddle's prior size. “That should do it.”

“I don't think you should. Matter-horn tested my... strength... there. She used a machine used to test industrial things... and I broke it. She thinks that any part of a male put in me would be crushed,” Saddle said with a deep, embarrassed blush.

“This isn't a brag, this is true. There's a reason I call myself Iron Willie. I'm nearly impervious to damage. I can take the pressure,” Iron said with a thumbs up and a smile, though it was hard to see as his head was a bit reduced in notability on his muscular shoulders.

“If you want to try...” Saddle said, turning and lifting her enlarged rear, and revealing her monster-sized slit, still sopping wet and spread from the prior action. Her clit winked at Iron and she backed up close to him.

It was the matter of a moment to direct Saddle's ass down, and for Iron to position his extra-large erection at the entrance of the super-sized-slit. His hips moved with great delicacy, pushing the expanded crown through the squeezing muscles and back into the wet and clutching passage. He let out a pleasured low of delight and placed his hands gingerly on Saddle's flanks once again.

Saddle tensed up, almost fearing another slap was coming to her. But it never came. She only felt the exceeding pleasure of the veiny shaft sliding over her bulbous and expanded clit, plunging back into her depths. Iron was moving faster, pushing down to the deepest part with a sense of purpose. He reached her cervix and stopped, rubbing the internal barrier slowly.

Iron held there, huffing and savoring the powerful muscles crushing in around his invulnerable cock. It was a massaging pleasure he hadn't felt before. A superheroine working on him, one with great strength. It was attractive to find such power is such a gentle package. She was like him, strong but kind. The thought lingered in his mind as he drew his hips back and slid them slowly forward again. He didn't want to have another accident. He just held on tight and thrust with a slow, easy passion.

The fire in Saddle's loins grew, stoked along by the caring, gentle, regular pump of Iron's rod. It was so much nicer than the uncaring lustfulness of the stallions that had gotten her pregnant, and was even nicer than the activity in the movies she had watched. She could feel how much Iron cared about working her, how much he wanted to show his gentleness.

The slow speed of the sex did not affect the ultimate outcome. Iron knew he was getting into a marathon, not a sprint, and he allowed himself to feel the pleasurable pull and various hard squeezes of the hot tunnel pulled tight around his magically engorged length. He lowed and panted hotly, leaning his tremendous muscles over Saddle's bulked-up body, to feel her beneath him and let her feel him.

Saddle was groaning in delight, panting and squeaking as she slowly climbed towards a peak. She was in no hurry, yet it seemed like only a second between feeling the moment approaching and the sharp snap of a pleasure cascade. A simple quiet moan turned into a roaring scream thanks to her size and state, shaking the metal walls of the room as she clenched her mighty sex down with a force that had, previously, crushed a missile.

Iron bellowed in time with Saddle, pushing forward through the punishing squeeze. His great and invulnerable rod got a workout as he slid along the pouring flow of spicy-scented mare juice. He buried himself deep and unleashed a heavy, sloppy shot of seed form his bloated balls. The thick slime splattered across Saddle's cervix and filled her squeezing, massaging passage. More heavy shots of white hit, taking what little space there was; the cavernous passage was well filled and could hardly hold the issue. It soon squirted out with a wet splurt, and spattered heavily on the floor.

The squirts of seed continued, until there was not enough pressure to make it shoot. Then it became a mere dribble of pearlescent cum, splattering on the floor beneath the two. The flood done, Iron concentrated once more, his muscles slowly shrinking back down, genitals going with them. He made sure to stagger back, out of Saddle's clutching hold, a small smile crossing his face as the gaping lips squeezed back down, to hold in the sticky load that had been deposited.

Saddle had been savoring an extended orgasm. Her peak was carried along by Iron's unloading. The feel of thick, heavy wads of rich bull cum filling her as nothing ever had kept the climax coasting along, until Iron pulled from her. She was finally able to catch her breath and dropped down a bit, feeling wonderfully spent. Her rage-inflated body pulled back, muscle and bone returning to their usual, dainty state.

Neither one of them spoke for a time, as both were panting and groaning softly, smiling in delight. “I... hope you forgive me...” Iron said at last, coming up to give Saddle an apologetic stroke along the spike.

“Mm, I do. I'm sorry I overreacted. I don't like being lied to,” Saddle said quietly.

“It's alright. Nobody does,” Iron chuckled, going down to a knee to hug Saddle tight.

Saddle returned the hug, but pulled back a bit. “Was all that stuff on under that suit you were wearing? Did you want want me to see it?”

Iron sighed a bit, but nodded slowly. “It's a long story. And I promise I'll tell you on our next date.”

Segment Five: Date Night- Diamond Dong

Radiance had been anticipating her date with the enigmatic but unfailingly charming Diamond Dong, who followed the more blustering and outspoken Iron Willie, almost seeming to act as the voice of reason and restraint. She liked a male who could hold back more brutish impulses and be a proper fellow. She was eager to see how well-mannered he actually was. And perhaps see under the mysterious robes.

She had scheduled her date for the same night that Saddle Rager would have hers. The other Power ponies would take the children out, and keep an eye on Mane-iac. They did not quite trust the madmare, regardless of what her therapist might have written about breakthroughs. But Hum Drum seemed convinced, and she did seem an excellent mother. So it was no great stretch to entrust her with the care of the foals.

Sharing a date night meant that she and Saddle also shared preparations. She had expended some small bit of energy to help Saddle prepare, but knew she was not near done.

Saddle blushed a little bit, the action showing through the artificial blush. She reached out to give Radiance a small, careful hug. “Th-thank you. And you too! I hope your date goes well.”

“As long as he maintains his gentility I am certain it will go swimmingly,” Radiance said, squeezing Saddle gently. She then turned focus back to her preparation as Saddle walked out.

For all the jokes that Zapp and Fili made about her need for makeup and preparation, Radiance did not slather on layer on layer of makeup. What took so much time was the proper application of makeup. The subtle touches, the important decisions about how long to fluff her lashes or how best to twist her mane to achieve the desired results. Even choosing a perfume was an ordeal, striking the balance between spicy and sweet.

At the base, she had chosen how to go about. Like Saddle, Radiance had opted to leave on her mask. She was also wearing her bracelet, in case some power was necessary. She left the gems studded in her mane and tail, because they flashed so beautifully when she turned right, and even left on her jeweled bracelets. Beyond that her body was a blank canvas.

She brushed out her lashes with a bit of mascara but did not take them all the way. A more muted look would suit a mysterious suitor. She lined her eyes to emphasize the almond shape, because she knew that was a trait that some liked a great deal. She powdered her face to enhance its color, and dabbed on just a touch of blush, as she was not as inclined to actually blush as Saddle was.

The palette of lipsticks came next. She had every color of the rainbow and every shade between. Some she would never use, some she could not help using. She agonized over the decision before resolutely picking up a tube with her magic and sliding the glossy tube across her lips. Red. Bright, passionate red, which could not be missed. The eyes were for subtlety. Her lips wanted to send an unmistakable message. She blew a kiss at the mirror and winked.

Her perfumes came out next, all manner of cut crystal bottles filled with fragrant fluid. Several of them passed under her nose, sweet ones that she quickly pushed aside as too cloying. Despite her desire to not 'oversell' her sensuality, she found herself in the spicy perfumes, redolent with herbs and the bite of musk. Dark, heavy, suggestive, seductive. She sprayed her body a few times and stood up. She looked and smelled like a mare that knew what she desired.

Properly made, Radiance trotted slowly and casually out into the Power Ponies HQ lobby, to find Diamond Dong casually reading a magazine. He stood up as soon as he heard Radiance approaching and gave a small bow. “Good evening. I'm here to escort you out for a wonderful time. I... hope. I'm not very experienced with this but I'll try my best,” he said.

Radiance waved a hoof dismissively and smiled. “I am certain that you will be wonderful. You're E-cubed."

"E-cubed?" he asked, "What's that?"

"The three E's, darling," Radiance said, "Eager, earnest and educated. That alone assures me we will be well.”

Diamond motioned to the front door. “Well then, let us be off. I was planning to call a taxi to take us...”

Radiance interrupted him with a laugh, forming a couch with her bracelet. She casually and daintily took a seat on it, patting the free side. “Darling, we do not need other conveyances when I am available. Just tell me where we need to go. I know the city well.”

Diamond awkwardly scrambled up onto the couch and pulled a city guide from inside his robe. “I have reservations at The Black Forest.”

“'The Black Forest'? My word! You truly do have good taste. I dine at many establishments in the city but that is one of my favorites!” Radiance snuggled close against Diamond's side as the magic couch floated out the front doors of HQ. “You really are quite astute...”

Diamond settled down a bit more comfortably as Radiance pressed to his side, a bodysuit-covered hand resting on her back. “It was just a lucky guess. They all looked nice but something about the description of food and décor made me think it would suit you best.”

“This date shall be marvelous...” Radiance sighed as the couch flew up over the city streets.

The magical construct deposited Radiance and Diamond in front of a tall, stylish building of metal and glass, with a tasteful sign announcing, The Black Forest. There was a small knot of ponies standing at the doors, though they all parted when Radiance and her mysterious companion passed them and entered the restaurant.

Inside the space was much more warm and intimate, with darkly stained wood walls, dark carpets and tables covered in dark gray cloths. Diamond walked up to the station at the front, where the host, a light dun unicorn stallion in a vest, was talking on the phone. “Yes, hello, reser-”

The unicorn held up a hoof and absentmindedly said, “Einen Augenblick, bitte.” He also pointed to the phone to indicate his distraction.

“How rude...” Radiance fumed, starting to stroll up, only to be stopped by Diamond's hand. "What?"

Diamond whispered, "He's busy. Just a minute..." He cleared his throat softly and waved. “Entschuldigen Sie bitte...” He said, with perfect pronunciation.

The host spoke into the phone, “Beliben Sie dran, bitte.” He put the call on hold and looked at Diamond with a head tilt. “Sprechen Sie..?”

“Ja. Mm, nur ein bißchen,” Diamond answered, indicating a small amount with his fingers while laughing.

The host laughed at that and nodded a bit. “Woher kommen Sie?”

“Ich komme aus den DiamantHundland,” Diamond responded, with a bit of pride.

The host happened to look aside and finally noticed Radiance standing there. He cleared his throat and gave a curt bow. “My apologies. I did not mean to delay you. You have the reservations, ja?”

“Made for this evening, under Radiance. They should be there,” Diamond said, winking back at Radiance.

The host scanned down the list and nodded. “Ahh yes, here. There is a star by the name, indicating there was some doubt as to its authenticity. But you cannot fake that lovely face. Come, I take you to your table now.”

“Danke,” Diamond said, motioning for Radiance to follow.

“Keine Ursache,” the host said, levitating out two menus and leading the pair into the dining area.

“You speak Deutsch? I had no idea you were so worldly,” Radiance said, pressing against Diamond's side.

“A consequence of being around the world,” Diamond said, with some humility. “I have to know a lot of languages, at least enough to say, 'on the ground', 'don't move', and 'where's my money?'”

Radiance laughed musically as they arrived at a table. She settled herself down on a thick, dark-colored cushion while a chair was brought for Diamond. “The waiter will be by momentarily. Guten appetit,” the host said, giving a crisp bow and returning to his podium.

“Reservations under my name?” Radiance asked, fixing Diamond with a serious gaze.

“Yes, well... your name obviously would carry some weight in this city. Mine wouldn't even carry a tune,” Diamond answered with a soft laugh. “I thought they would be more likely to take it with your name.”

Radiance gazed on him for a moment longer before she broke out in a wide smile. “Clever and resourceful. I do like that in a companion.” Radiance opened her menu and scanned over it briefly. “I know what I will be having. I have a set order. But what of you?”

Diamond looked over the selection with care, tracing a covered finger over the offerings. “I think something draconic. Baked chicken with roasted vegetables, amethyst and garnet.”

“You seem to eat like our Hum Drum. Not that that is a bad thing! For all his frivolity he has excellent taste. I don't know how any of that is flavored, I can eat neither meat nor gems, but all the magazines speak highly of such for the carnivorous and geophagic,” Radiance said.

“Gem flavor is subtle, and depends a lot on inclusions. You sort gems like you might a fruit or a vegetable. You judge the impurities and intruding minerals, pair them according to composition and then have the gems with food that doesn't overpower the taste of the gem,” Diamond explained, leaning back in his chair in a comfortable posture.

Radiance allowed herself a relaxed slump, smiling a little as she dropped some stiff formality. “Absolutely fascinating! Please do tell me more...”

Dinner was a casual affair, with Radiance having her usual ratatouille, stuffed squash and steamed spinach. They capped it by sharing a slice of rich and decadent black forest gateau, at Diamond's suggestion. Radiance proclaimed it to be one of the best things she had ever eaten.

From the restaurant Radiance transported them to the Maretropolis Opera House. Diamond produced two tickets for the performance from in his robe. “I suspected you would want a cultured evening. And this is the height of that.”

“Perceptive, charming, well-mannered, and, well, you have excellent taste,” Radiance said with a wink, “In all things. Let us... take our seats. I do hope it won't run too late.”

“Don't worry, I took care of the timing,” Diamond said, nodding to the pony usher as he and Radiance stepped into the theater. Like any other the inside had a muted brightness to it, with white walls and faux columns, and hanging chandeliers. They trod on a red carpet up the stairs to the private boxes. Diamond bowed as he offered a thick, red cushion to Radiance, and took a seat on an identical one right beside it.

“Wouldn't they provide you with a chair?” Radiance asked.

“They were available, but I wanted to sit as you did. Get a feel for life from your perspective and posture,” Diamond answered.

“How gallant,” Radiance said, leaning her head against Diamond. “What are we to see tonight?”

“Coltner,” Diamond answered. “Tristan und Isolde. A very powerful work. They will show translations above the stage, but if I think any are lacking impact or don't have the right tone I can give you better ones.”

Radiance rubbed lightly at Diamond's cloaked shoulder and smiled. “Very kind of you.”

Diamond stroked Radiance's back. “But I feel... strange about Coltner. He made some... very unfortunate comments about the Eweish folk...”

“Did he? I only know of his artistic work. I concentrate on the creation. The creator hardly makes an impression,” Radiance said.

“Well, that makes sense,” Diamond said, a trifle absently. He looked down to the stage and sighed lightly as the lights went down and the orchestra began.

After the opera Radiance bore them both home, noting that Diamond seemed to be lost in a contemplative state. She invited him to her room for a nightcap. “A small nip of something, just to end the night well.”

“I drink in less formal settings, but never really enjoy it. Now I think I will,” Diamond said with some emotion back in his voice.

“I do not normally indulge but I always have some for company. Or I say that. Primarily I am hiding the good alcohol used for guests from the ever-thirsty throat of Zapp. We could hardly receive guests and dignitaries and find our cabinets bare and Zapp stumbling around, insensate,” Radiance huffed.

Diamond chuckled softly. “Iron is the same, but it takes a lot to get him there. He usually empties his drinking budget by the 'sing badly and fail to play the bouzouki' stage.”

Radiance laughed softly, pouring out two snifters of apricot brandy. “Something special that you might enjoy. This should prove a unique experience, something different from the usual grape-made variety.”

Diamond took his shifter and slowly swirled it in his hold, holding the mouth of the glass inside his hood to sniff softly at it. “A very good bouquet. Heady and rich.”

“I beg your forgiveness... but you are so much more cultured than I would have imagined, your being a mercenary who travels through very unstable areas,” Radiance said, using her magic to swirl her own snifter.

Diamond took a slow sip before he answered. “I understand completely. With my name and image, well... I got into this because I'm good at it. But I had a life before it.”

“It must be quite the story. There are many stories I would dearly love to hear. For example... your attire. You not only wear that robe but I can see you have a bodysuit. And you never took it off, not even for dinner,” Radiance observed, sipping from her own glass.

“It's... it's a look that I have,” Diamond said, with a shifty look. “I have a uniform, just like you.”

“Well... perhaps so, but even I stripped myself down for a date. It would not be too much to ask that I at least see beneath that mysterious robe, would it?” Radiance asked, giving Diamond a pouty look.

Diamond looked on Radiance's face for a moment before he hung his head. “No, it wouldn't. I can show you that much.”

Radiance clapped her hooves together lightly and set her snifter aside, beside Diamond's. “Oh excellent! I do so enjoy the solving of a mystery, especially one that has vexed me so greatly.”

Diamond slowly opened his robe and slipped it off of his form, dropping it to the ground. As could be implied from what had been seen before his body was entirely covered in a dark black suit, made of the same material as the Power Ponies' uniforms. It even included a mask portion for his face, leaving his muzzle, flopped ears and eyes visible. What could be seen of his face showed him to have a blocky muzzle, with coloration very like a rottweiler. “There... isn't much to see, you see...”

Radiance's face fell slightly as the mystery was solved, only to reveal a deeper mystery. “I... do hope that that is not a perpetual garment...”

“I have one for every day of the week, plus an extra. Like others, it keeps dirt off of me and prevents the growth of bacteria. You know what it's like to wear one,” Diamond said, somewhat defensively.

“Yes, I am familiar with the material. It breathes well, reduces the need for deep cleaning of my coat and prevents uncouth odors, much to Zapp's frustration. But... why do you continue to wear it? What are you hiding?” Radiance asked, staring intently into Diamond's yellowish eyes with blue pupils.

“It may surprise you but I'm... a bit uncertain about my body,” Diamond said, looking aside.

“Oh darling... you have nothing to fear. This room holds no judgment. I cannot imagine that anything of you could be terrible enough to hide away,” Radiance said, placing a reassuring hoof on Diamond's shoulder.

Diamond continued to look away, fingers fidgeting a bit. “I... can't show you my body. But I can show you my power. That should be just as good.”

Radiance tilted her head. “Your power? I thought you had the same kind of super strength and invulnerability that your compatriot does.”

“We both have different levels of both, and get it through different means. I'm a lot more robust, with a lower level of super strength. Because of this...” Diamond closed his eyes and concentrated hard. A bright flash emerged from beneath his suit, the visible parts of his body turning into clear, perfect diamond.

Radiance was quite caught off guard by the change. Her jaw dropped and her eyes grew wide. “D-diamond... diamond! Your... your flesh is diamond!”

“My power is to convert my body into living diamond. I increase in strength, and become nearly indestructible. And my claws become even more powerful, though I keep them capped under this suit. I don't want to accidentally cause any serious damage,” Diamond said.

Radiance nodded absently, staring intently as the diamond moved so naturally. “Amazing. And so... attractive...” she said with awe and some desire. “I admire your dedication to not causing undue harm. It is another sign of your propriety.”

“Thank you...” Diamond said, giving a small bow. “So I take it you like this ability of mine.”

“I am quite stunned and amazed by this capability. Tell me... you said you convert your body. Do you mean... your entire body is converted? Every part?” Radiance asked, with some lust in her voice, her eyes quite blatantly looking down to the crotch of Diamond's suit.

A small smile crossed Diamond's face and he nodded a little bit. “Yes. A complete conversion.”

“I, ah, would dearly love to see that...” Radiance breathed, her mind suddenly filled with the delicious idea of a male organ made entirely of living diamond.

Diamond opened two catches hidden in the lines of the material and opened a panel in the crotch of his bodysuit, letting his diamond genitals flop into the open air. His testicles hung freely, a good size and shape. Hanging over them was his male organ, made with a rounded head, whose glans was exposed, and a smooth shaft. Every bit was clear, and looked very smooth. “Don't worry. The living enchantment makes it move like flesh but feel like diamond, and I don't have angled facets down there, so there's no risk of being cut.”

Radiance was struck dumb for a long while. She couldn't move, she could barely breathe. She had seen large diamonds in her time. One testicle simply dwarfed any she had seen before, dwarfed several put together. And even flaccid the penis was an impressive sight. She judged he would reach a size greater than others she had experienced. Her tongue unashamedly ran over her painted lips, leaving them even glossier and starting a tiny dribble of drool down the side of her mouth. “May I... taste your jeweled genitals?”

“All you want...” Diamond said. He spread his legs out wide, settled himself against the wall and slipped a hand behind his balls, lifting sac and shaft at once and giving them a suggestive shake.

Radiance had to control herself, and not rush immediately for the prize. She walked, rubber-legged, to Diamond, her breath panting lightly as she reached the offered organ. She breathed in deeply, taking in the scent of male musk, which filled her senses with its uniqueness. She had smelled stallions, but never a Diamond Dog. It was new, and it was enticing. So different, but that was what made it all the more delicious.

Her mouth pressed down, a kiss landing on the bottom of Diamond's scrotum. She kissed right between both stones and pulled away slightly, to see the blatant lipstick mark left on the diamond sac. Her tongue followed her lips, licking the slight dip between the two ample balls. She dropped a sighing moan as her moist muscle ran along the surface of the sac. It moved beneath her lick, yet as she pressed to it it did indeed feel like licking a diamond. The largest diamond she had ever been near.

A shudder ran through Radiance's body as she licked the monumental jewels and inhaled the rich and heavy scent of male Diamond Dog. It was a fragrance she wished she could bottle. It would make a fortune, even if she only sold it to herself. Another moan warbled out of her mouth and washed the slightly moist scrotum with a wave of hot breath. She wrapped her lips around the right nut and sucked it slowly into her mouth, tongue almost reverently stroking it, up and down, side to side, in slow swirls around the heavy thing.

Diamond wurfed pleasantly, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. He leaned back a bit more heavily against the wall for support as his legs became a little weak. His covered hands slowly released his genitals and moved to hover just behind Radiance's head, not wanting to do anything untoward or uncouth, but knowing it would be the most natural place to have them. He rolled his hips slowly and lazily, pushing his testes right against Radiance's mouth, as though encouraging her to go for both.

Radiance hardly needed encouragement or new ideas. She had planned on it from the start. Her mouth slowly opened wider, sticky strings of saliva hanging onto the sucked nut as she cradled it on her tongue, like a royal treasure on a pink silk pillow. Her gaping maw settled against the second stone and slowly worked it in, with some help from her writhing tongue. Small drips of drool fell from her lower lips, spattering to the floor. She didn't care. She only wanted to feel both diamond stones in her mouth.

With a soft bit of sucking and a touch more tongue-work her mouth finally closed, plump lips gingerly pulling tight around the base of the ample scrotum. Her cheeks, marked with a huge and natural blush, pulled in, going hollow as she strongly sucked on the slightly salty pouch. She shivered again, one hoof daintily pressing between her thighs to softly tease at her button and spread the heated lips of her sex.

Diamond had been panting hard through the whole process, but as soon as he felt the hot mouth wrapped over his whole sac, and saw radiance teasing her moist sex he let out a quivering moan of delight and gently stroked his hands over the back of her head. He didn't press, he just stroked and caressed, allowing her to pull away if she wanted.

His penis had also started reacting to the immense pleasure of having a beautiful mare wantonly wrap her mouth around his gem-pouch. The diamond pole thickened, swelled and began to stand. It rose up slowly, catching the light in different ways as magic surged through it. It did, indeed, act like flesh growing stiff, rising up until it became a diamond spire, practically glowing as the room's lights shone through its curves.

Radiance's eyes grew huge once more as she stared in wonder at the throbbing pole of pure diamond. The precum beading at the tip drew her gaze, and she watched as it slowly cascaded down, rolling over the smooth surface. Her mouth opened once again, with a soft pop, and she pulled back until the soaked sac rested on her slightly parted lips. She noted with some pleasure that a lipstick mark was blatantly clear around the base of the sac.

“I feel rather ashamed asking this...” Radiance panted out, looking up with big, liquid eyes at Diamond. “But is there any way I could plant a kiss on your... rear passage? I confess... I have the drive to at least plant my lips upon the spot, so that my partner will know just how thorough my adoration is.”

“That's... new...” Diamond huffed, reaching back to open another concealed flap. “But it couldn't hurt...”

Radiance gleefully squirmed her way around behind Diamond and noted there wasn't much of an opening, just a split below his diamond tail that only exposed the pouty pucker of his anus. Just as with everything else, the wrinkled ring was composed of pure, smooth diamond. Her tongue tested the folds, running over them slowly. No cuts, just a bumpy massage of her tongue tip. Her head pressed in, snout stuffing a bit too eagerly beneath the wagging diamond tail while her lips pressed in firmly, delivering a full kiss.

She pulled away after holding her smooch for a good deal of time, satisfied by the contact and greatly pleased by the proud and clear kiss mark left on the twitching sphincter. She moved back around to the front and quite openly pressed her soft snout against the base of Diamond's length, letting her tongue tease around at the point where it met his sac. “Thank you for your indulgence...”

Diamond was getting a little foggy-headed, but snapped out of it at the word 'indulgence.' He barked softly and stepped away from Radiance's mouth. “This is terribly unfair of me. I'm taking all the pleasure and not giving you your fair share.”

“Darling... this is a shaft made of pure diamond,” Radiance said with a thick seductiveness. “Your family jewels are literally jewels. Your entire body is a gem worth more than the products of entire nations. I am experiencing a pleasure that I never knew could exist.”

“I think your pleasure could be a little more physical. It's only gentledogly of me. And I've tried to be such all evening...” Diamond said softly, dropping to all fours and stalking his way around to radiance's rear. His blunt and blocky diamond snout probed under Radiance's hiked tail, his nose snorting and snuffling at her perfumed pucker for a moment before he slid his snout down, to grind his smooth gemmed face against her puffy slit.

Radiance had had some notion of what he was planning but the actual feel of it, the doggish sniffing and rubbing, the smooth warmth of living diamond, his hot breath puffing over her sensitive, fevered flesh was something else. Anticipation gave way to reality, and the reality sent tingles through her whole body. She gave an unladylike moan of pure lust and pushed her rear end back rather forcefully. She ground and smeared her oozing sex all over the hard, smooth diamond snout, flicking her own clit off of Diamond's snorting nose. Each wave of breath was like a tiny lighting bolt of pleasure.

Diamond kept calm as Radiance almost seemed to try to smother him with her generous, but not overly large, rear end. He let her work herself over on his face, biding his time until her slit was in just the right spot. Once it was properly in reach his tongue slapped out firmly, dragging its hard, smooth surface across the outer petals. Her slurped a few times, leaving his saliva behind, and spreading the lips with the side of his tongue.

Radiance tossed her head back in sudden delight, a squeal of shocked pleasure ringing around the room. “O-oh! Oh my! I feel so... so decadent! Ah....” she stepped her rear legs out just a bit more, letting her tail arc over her back as she pushed her rear out, offering her honeypot for all the licking that Diamond wanted to give.

Diamond was in heaven. Radiance tasted spicy, like no woman he had tasted before. Other mares had enjoyed him but he'd never enjoyed a mare like her. His tongue slathered across the puffy lips, languidly dragging along like the strokes of a lazy painter. He parted her and dipped his firm tongue into her heated depths, twisting his muscle around, swirling his licks to touch as much of the fluttering, clutching flesh as he could.

His tongue swirled and twisted, drilling and stirring deep into Radiance. His canine tongue plunged and flicked at the accordion-like walls, prying the passage open. He flicked his diamond tongue down as far as he could reach, until his nose was rubbing and huffing hot breath just under her pouting anus, and his chin was rubbing firmly on her engorged clit.

Radiance cooed and sighed in delight, beyond more base exclamations of pleasure. She was being licked by a long, deft diamond tongue, one whose design was just subtly different, yet enough that it made the whole thing more delightful. She shivered and trembled, her legs locked, her head back. The chin smoothly rubbing over her button was beyond amazing, fire blazing through her veins and glowing hotter and hotter as her depths were plumbed. An amusing thought gave her an extra thrill, that of course a Diamond Dog would be an expert at delving deep.

That deep licking and talented digging of his chin sent Radiance shrieking to her climax. The hot blaze working through her exploded like a star, sending fiery tingles through her limbs and through her mind. She could express her orgasmic glee with a most uncouth, but warranted, squealing scream that warbled as her body shook and trembled in the throes of her ecstasy.

Diamond continued to lick her through her climax, greedily drinking down the hot squirts of spicy, musky honey that slid down his tongue and into his mouth. Her drew his tongue from her slowly and lapped around her clit to cool her down, his hands tenderly caressing her thighs. He pulled his head away entirely and sat back in an all-fours posture with a soft wurf.

Radiance panted, hot and deep, head having fallen after her peak passed. She groaned lightly in the aftermath, hot tingles burning themselves out like embers in every corner of her being. “Amazing...” she gasped out. Her eyes slowly opened and she looked back at Diamond. “But there is one more thing we must do...”

Diamond had been busy licking his chops, his diamond eyes looking over to her. Strangely, there was a blue magical glow in there, keeping them looking like his eyes. “One more thing..?”

Radiance shook her rear end a little bit, slowly winking one medium-lashed eye and giving Diamond an air-kiss. “You need your pleasure... but I am not so above it all to admit... I cannot get enough of your diamond form. You are a precious jewel... in more than literal ways...” she said with a delighted shiver. “I can only imagine the bliss of being mounted by such a treasure as you...”

Diamond barked happily and stood up again, thrusting his hips forward to blatantly display his precum-smeared diamond rod, with the smear of lipstick down by the base. “Glad to!” He practically leaped forward and thumped the stiff pole between Radiance's cheeks while spreading them wide. He slid the pulsing, dripping length between the cushy buns a few times, dropping his hips more and more each time until he was slowly grinding the bare glans against her licked and dripping slit.

Radiance cooed and sighed as her post-orgasmic petals were teased and tickled by the rounded crown of diamond. She could feel the ample precum dripping slowly down and off of her engorged cit, warming it even more. “Y-you even have fluids...” She panted out.

“Magic works in many ways. My body still makes many kinds of fluid. I presume I will have to remove myself before I finish,” Diamond said, pulling his tip away a bit.

Radiance pushed her rear end back firmly, gasping as she parted her own lips around the head of that pole, leaving Diamond a thrust away from being inside her properly. “No! No, do not pull away. Seed spilled from a diamond depositor... that is a buried treasure worth having. C-come then! Thrust, darling, thrust!”

Diamond placed his hands gently on Radiance's flanks once more, caressing them carefully and lovingly, before giving a quick, solid jerk of his hips and plunging the head of his shaft into the waiting passage. He let out a surprised bark as the warm walls surrounded his stiff rod, writhing and squeezing over the bit of himself that was inside. He'd never felt such eagerness and adoration.

He did more than he intended, stuffing himself down father and further with just a few quick and desperate thrusts. He wanted to feel more, he needed to have those rolling and milking walls pressing in all around him, touching every part of his maleness. He pushed down until he was properly buried, sunk down to his base, the tip of his shaft just a hair behind Radiance's cervix. Every spurt of precum washed over it like an anointing.

Radiance had anticipated a slow and gentle entrance. She got one instance of that, before Diamond simply took her. It was a surprise, but not unwanted. She had tasted his gentility and manners during their evening. But in the depths of night and wrapped safe in the comfort of her room she could save his powerful need. She inspired it, she made it rise within him. Now she would reap the benefits of priming the passion inside of him. “Don't be afraid to move!” She cried, breathily. “Give me your heat, your need, your love! Your seed!”

Diamond's hips moved as though on automatic. He was being asked to take off his restraints, to give her the full measure of his desire. He smacked his solid diamond thighs against the plushness of Radiance's backside, delivering up a solid spanking that could have come of her laid over his knee. His heavy, lipstick-marked gem pouch thumped firmly on her clit, sending huge spikes of pleasure through her at the peak of every thrust into her.

The sharp slap of diamond-on-flesh rang through the room, as did the sucking squelch of Radiance's tightly squeezing sex attempting to hold on to the smooth diamond rod each time it slowly withdrew from within her. Her moans and cried of wanton desire likewise bounced off the walls, drowning out Diamond's yaps and groans of similar pleasure. She was a refined lady, but she knew when it was necessary to vocalize, to let her partner know he was doing just what she needed. It might have sounded uncouth, base and sluttish but she couldn't deny he was magnificent.

Diamond hunched over, arching his back to almost looming over Radiance's back. His hands remained firmly pressed to her flanks, her own suerperheroine fortitude keeping the tight grip from causing harm. He pulled her back into his punishing thrusts, her pristine white ass saved from anything more notable than a slight pinkening beneath the fur by that same fortitude. Everything was so much better, making love to Radiance. He had seldom used his changed form, and could never unleash the full potential on ordinary women who would be hurt by it.

Radiance's body cried for more, for the full potential of a super-powered lover, and Diamond would not hold back a thing, would not hesitate to deliver it to her. He upped his pace, slapping against her backside faster, thumping on her clit more regularly. He was nearly bent in half, mouth right behind her neck. His lips had pulled back, showing off a snarl. His rottweiler features looked savage and frightening, pulled as they were into a rictus of pleasure. He looked like he was ready to bite the back of her neck, like a simple beast.

His mouth made contact with the back of Radiance's neck, pointed fangs brushing against the velvety coat, gliding against the tender pony flesh beneath. His lips suddenly pursed, and he planted a kiss, right at the base of her neck. A heavy, lustful groan rumbled against her spine as he, in defiance of his savage and bestial appearance, kissed her neck with heat and desire. He wasn't going to risk hurting her with his diamond fangs, the only uncapped facets on his body. He wanted her to feel both desire, and adoration.

The rush of sensations, from the firm spanking hips to the jolt of diamond bouncing off of her clit to the feel of a pure jeweled organ rammed deep into her passage, all drive Radiance back towards another climax. Feeling the diamond fangs on the back of her neck sent a shudder through her, a mix of lust and uncertainty, which was replaced with delighted shock as the solid lips pressed down on her. Love, lust and propriety, all mixed into one glorious touch.

Her head dropped and her ass went up, slapping back against one hard thrust as she hit her second orgasm. A delighted squeal poured from her lips, hissed through her tightly clenched teeth. Her passage trembled and clamped down, desperately trying to hold the diamond shaft that plunged through the muscular walls.

Diamond howled weakly against Radiance's neck, the sound interrupted with moans and gasps. He gave a final deep thrust and trembled as he shot his wads within. Thick blobs of Diamond Dog cream spattered heavily against Radiance's cervix, and flowed slowly around the tight squeeze of her passage to dribble from her opening. He 'stirred' his hips to gather up the viscous fluid and keep it within, but it still dripped lightly onto the ground.

Both of them remained in that position, upright, panting, moaning, each giving small quivers as a spike of pleasure came from their dwindling climaxes. Diamond licked the spot he had kissed, repeatedly wetting Radiance's neck and panting across it. Radiance sighed, looking quite content and pleased with herself and the world. “It was not what I had envisioned. It was beyond what I could have imagined,” she said.

“I'm just glad you liked it. It got a little rough...” Diamond said softly.

“But it was rough with my approval. You did not need to tie me down,” Radiance replied. “Your powerful strength was not too much for me. It even felt appropriate.”

“I don't use this form very often, and no woman could take me letting loose. I'm so happy that I didn't hurt you,” Diamond whispered, kissing radiance's neck again.

“Oh, no, darling, I'm not hurt at all. I am... invigorated! Energized! I've never felt so powerful and alive. You had all your gentledogly nature, unleashed passion freely and matched my strength with your own. It was something I don't think I could have foreseen,” Radiance said, a blush coloring her cheeks.

Diamond softly patted one of Radiance's flanks and gave a happy yap. “I'm so glad you feel that way. I was hoping this night would make you happy.”

“'Happy' is too small a statement. But...” Radiance slowly pulled herself forward, shuddering in bliss as the semi-stiff diamond organ slipped from within her and bounced slightly in freedom. Her spread slit still had a trace of semen peeking from it, which dripped slowly off of her clit. “I think we should end the night properly, in bed, holding one another, and speaking of a future encounter, of a romantic nature.”

Diamond shook his head a bit and concentrated, his diamond parts flashing and turning to flesh once again. He closed his suit once more and made his way to the bed, pulling back the silk sheets and gallantly motioning for Radiance to enter first.

“And that is one reason this is not a singular encounter,” Radiance said with a touch of mirth. She stroked her tail across Diamond's suit-covered belly and slid languidly into the bed, dropping a soft sigh as she sank into the mattress. “Come... come here and settle with me.”

Diamond climbed onto the bed with some difficulty, trying to position himself so he didn't bump or jostle Radiance. Only after he had settled down on the cozy mattress did he reach out and draw Radiance in for a warm snuggle. “This is... glorious! I've been sleeping on motel beds, bedrolls, hay piles... nothing like this...”

“Do get used to it, darling,” Radiance cooed, settling her snout under Diamond's chin. “I think you will be enjoying this comfort with some regularity. Now... do indulge me. Speak to me in your tongue. Say something sweet about me. Ask me to dinner again. Please.” She looked up at him with large, pleading eyes.

Diamond looked down on those eyes and smiled brightly. He kissed the tip of her snout and whispered, “Du siehst schön aus...” He nibbled at an ear tip and licked softly at it. “Hast Du morgen Abend zeit? Ich möchte Dich zum Abendessen einladen...”

“Yes...” Radiance breathed. “To whatever you said yes. And thank you...” She pressed herself more tightly against Diamond's suit-covered body and closed her eyes. After another kiss on the snout he did the same. "But... what did you say?"

Diamond chuckled softly. "I said you're beautiful, and I asked if you were free for dinner. I guess you still approve..."

"Of course, darling, of course..." Radiance said softly.

They rested against one another, warm and content, breathing slowly and evenly. Radiance cracked an eye to see if Diamond was out. When she saw his eyes closed she activated the magic of her bracelet. She made a very stylish pair of pinking shears out of magical force and brought them down towards his suit. Before they could touch the material, his hand came up and blocked them, one eye opening.

“I don't need much. But let me have this. If you actually care about me, leave it alone,” Diamond said, with a soft, pleading tone.

Radiance dissolved the magical shears and slowly nodded. “A-alright, darling. If that is how it must be, I will let this mystery go.” She settled her head against his chest, rubbing against the material of the suit. She drifted off to a fitful sleep, more mystified than ever. Beneath the robe was a deeper mystery. She needed to know. She had to know the truth. She would find it out. One way or another she would know.

Segment Six: What used to be

Iron Willie grunted loudly, muscles bulging a bit larger as he huffed and pumped his rod. His minotaur member had been expanded until it reached just over his pecs, which themselves had swelled to immense proportions. His erection was growing larger, precum practically bubbling out of the head as he stroked his organ. He could practically lick it up as the tip passed his neck.

“O-oh my... that's impressive...” Saddle Rager whispered as she looked up in awe and adoration at the giant cock. She was sitting in her bath tub, completely nude, as Iron inflated his muscles and maleness for her enjoyment. “A-are you going to... to climax soon?”

“Surprised I haven't already, babe,” Iron grunted deeply, leaning in to give his massive erection a quick lick, shivering as he slurped the throbbing flesh and caught a taste of his own precum. He never got tired of being able to lick his own rod. His long bovine tongue slapped and slathered across the dark blue surface.

Saddle squeaked softly. Iron was turned in such a way that she could watch the lustful and unashamed self-licking and adoration of the huge erection that she, too, had come to enjoy greatly. Her hoof was tucked between her rear legs, furiously grinding over her slim mound, nail flicking and wiggling across her clit. A heated huff left her mouth, and her eyes dragged down to Iron's greatly-expanded nuts, hanging towards the ground. “Amazing...”

“I've got the power, and you deserve it,” Iron moaned, squeezing the thick length harder and pumping while thrusting his hips to jab his trembling spite through the squeeze of his precum-lubed hands. A slow low rumbled from him as he jerked his hips, the precum flung out to spatter on the wall, and over Saddle's form.

Saddle let out a surprised squeal, a tiny, shy moan following as the hot and musky precum splashed on her chest and face. The thin fluid slowly dripped off of her snout and slid in thin rivulets down her coat. Her tongue timidly came out and licked slowly over the salty, spicy liquid that was clinging to her lips and chin. Her moaning grew deeper, while her hoof moved faster, flicking at her clit faster and grinding at her lips more firmly.

More and more precum burbled up from Iron's giant pole, the thing held up mostly by the work of his magically enlarged muscles. Her flexed and grunted, hips pumping faster to keep his slick length sliding smoothly through his hands. “W-want some more, babe or are you ready for the big shot?”

Saddle tucked her head down behind a stand of mane and frigged herself a little faster, hiding the action with her upper body. She licked at the last little traces of salty precum that were in reach, then squeaked as another huge squirt splattered over her head and across her snout. “P-please don't hold back. It's not polite of me to make you...”

Iron scarcely happened to hear Saddle, but he did hear her. He snorted hard, breath practically steaming as he reached the peak of his pleasure. He let out a gargantuan, wall-ringing bellow of climax, pulling his dick and thrusting his hips up.

His climax literally hit the ceiling, spattering like heavy wads of glue. The second shot had barely any delay after the first. The issue was so heavy and thick that it quivered there, hanging down and dangling like long strands of cerberus slobber. They were pushed back up by the next shot, but spread the messy smear of seed across the ceiling. The huge hanging puddle of slime started to dangle down, and finally began to fall, like gooey rain, on Saddle.

The first hard splash made her squeak loudly and moan out, her hoof working at her sex like mad. More and more hot semen fell on her head, and back, pouring over her face and mane in a sticky, near-steaming cascade. Her face was coated with it, and her mouth opened to let out a shuddering moan and whimper. A bit of the salty, spicy issue slid into her mouth, and her tongue smeared it across her lips.

The quivering rain continued to fall thickly on Saddle's head, and were soon joined by Iron slowly stroking his pulsing, twitching length to get out the last dregs of his orgasmic issue. He was able to trace the huge crown across Saddle's lips and snout, covering her face with one last little spit of cum.

That last little spit of cum made Saddle squeak loudly and pull inward, her passage fluttering and her hoof pulling away. She tended not to express her climaxes in her normal form. She just gave low, muted moans and very lightly flicked the edge of her hoof along the very smallest bit of her clit, working herself through her climax, still savoring being pasted with dripping semen.

Iron groaned loudly in the afterglow of his orgasm, his body slowly starting to shrink back from the hyper-muscled state, and his genitals slowly coming back down to a more normal size, dick growing flaccid as he went. “Ahhh, that was great, babe. Glad you suggested that.”

Saddle's climax-born blush grew larger and redder, her eyes remaining lowered, barely able to be opened, as they were still covered with a thick impasto of minotaur cream. She licked at her semen-smeared lips and shivered as she flicked her sensitive nub again. “I just wondered... you can do it at will. And I wanted to see someone who could control their change. And, well... this seemed nice, Fun. It's so warm and comfortable. But why the ceiling?”

“Did that for you, babe,” Iron said, his muscles back down to his normal chiseled form, his soft cock resting against his balls, both back to their usual above-average size. “If I hit you straight on it would have hurt. Probably a lot. And that's the last thing I want.”

Saddle looked up with a bright smile, wiping her eyes off with a hoof. Even covered in a thick, clinging, quivering, slowly flowing coating of seed she manage to look innocently adorable. “You're so sweet! You always think of others first, and I I really appreciate it. It was so good of you.”

Iron actually blushed himself, waving a hand a little. “Just doing what's right. You serve me being good to you,” Iron said, unashamedly reaching down to caress over Saddle's slime-coated face. “Now the hard job. I've gotta clean all this gunk off your walls, and ceiling and bathtub and you...”

Saddle giggled softly and licked at her right front hoof. Gathering up a whole mouthful of the glue-thick seed barely made a dent in the coating. She swallowed it with a long, loud action, opening her mouth to gasp softly, showing of sticky strings of seed all over the inside of her maw. “I'll help you as much as I can.”

“Well ain't you sweet?” Iron said with a deep chuckle and another stroke across her face. “But you'll get a tummy ache licking it up like that. Just leave it to me. It's no trouble at all.” He turned on the faucet, both knobs at full blast, splashing the warm water all over the sticky tub, over the walls, and lightly onto Saddle's body. He pulled out a bottle of her favorite conditioning wash and just poured a generous helping over her head.

Saddle squeaked loudly and laughed up a storm. “H-hey now... Radiance warned me not to over-treat my coat if I wanted it to stay glossy and soft.”

“Special circumstances. We've gotta do heavy saturation to get this mess cleaned up,” Iron said with a laugh, his thick, strong fingers slowly and gently rubbing and massaging over Saddle's dainty body, rubbing and caressing her lovingly. A huge cloud of suds almost immediately sprang up over her figure, hiding everything but her eyes from view.

A few blinks expressed Saddle's surprise, then she let out a giggle and a squeak as Iron pulled the faucet plug and turned on the shower, washing the sudsy mass from off of her. “I understand. I guess it should be fine.”

It took them a little while, but the sticky, musky mess was finally cleaned from Saddle and the bathroom. Both of them toweled off, after Iron took a shower to get himself clean of all the sweat and semen off of his body. Then they laid down, both slightly moist, in her bed, Iron on his back, with Saddle comfortably curled up on his muscular body.

“You know...” Saddle said with a thoughtful look, “You promised me back on our first date that you would tell me the story about the magical things you wear, and why you have to hide them under that outfit.”

Iron sighed softly and touched one of the bands around his horn bases. “You're right. I did promise you. If a promise you shirk you're just a big jerk. And I'm not. I suppose I owe it to you. No one knows the story except Diamond. I sort of never intended anyone to know, except the folks back home.”

Saddle nosed against Iron's throat, giving it a soft kiss and shy lick. “I don't want to force you... if it's painful or embarrassing or makes you look bad...”

“It only makes me look bad because... I ran away from my place. But... alright. It started years ago. Back home. Back in Hellas before I even thought of being a mercenary, or a hero...” Iron said, caressing saddle's back as he recalled.

“Back in those days I wasn't anything like a hero. I was a tough guy, but that's about it. I made my living doing a lot of different things. Wrestler, laborer, goatherd, but mostly a motivational philosopher. It was my job to talk a good game and try to get other bulls and cows to feel inspired. I wasn't bad at it but I wasn't exactly Socrates. I also didn't go by... this name. I was Sidero Goulielmakis, but went under the philosopher name of Thelisi, will.”

“You have to let the power flow from within you!” Thelisi shouted into the audience, solidly thumping his chest with a meaty fist. He was standing at the center of a small theater, everything composed of white marble, painted in rather bright colors. He was standing on a raised dais, in a brief toga which showed off his muscular legs, bulging arms and one thick pec. His audience was a motley collection of variously colored minotaur cows and bulls, most watching with muted interest, a few raptly intent, and a few more on the border between bored and dismissive. “You need to feel it deep inside, let it come up with power and force!”

“Like a belch!” One of the bored bulls shouted, raising a tittering laugh from the audience.

“Who said that? Think you can interrupt me? You interrupt and I disrupt!” Thelisi bellowed at the crowd, silencing the lot of them.

From within the silent collection came the voice again. “Don't quit your day job, Homer!”

Thelisi bellowed again and pointed a meaty finger at the crowd, sweeping it across all the faces. “So! A coward. Afraid to face me, but still enough of a fake-balled little nothing to yell out when I can't teach you a real lesson in life!”

Most of the members in the audience started to look uncomfortable with the situation. A few stood up and walked away. Two bulls, both of them white in color and wearing togas edged in red, nodded to one another and watched intently. The heckler yelled out again, “At least I have balls! You bellow like you got gelded!”

Thelisi flicked his ears, looking around with narrowed eyes. His gaze finally settled on a bright green bull with a decent figure, who was looking away from the dais. He rushed forward and grabbed the other bull by the neck, lifting him up before the shocked audience. “I'm not just some babbling mouth-shitter!”

“'Mouth-shitter'? Oh, that's not nice. What does that mean?” Saddle asked.

“Heh. It's our term for an empty-headed philosopher that babbles on about pure garbage and tries to get others to think they're profound. It sounds better in Hellene,”Iron answered. “Now, as I was yelling...”

“I'm trying to impart important lessons on life and being true to yourself! I'm teaching folks how to be strong, to love the world and to appreciate this wonderful life! And if you can't let me do that, then I'll snap your head off! Here's a poem for you. If you give me sass, I'll break your ass!”

The green bull grabbed at Thelisi's thick arm, squeezing and beating it desperately as he gasped and choked. His hooves kicked out and slammed into Thelisi's thick abs beneath the toga. Neither left much of an impact. “H-how did... you know..?”

“I have ears!” Thelisi roared in the green bull's face, drawing him in close. “I just needed to listen. Now...” He opened his hand and dropped the squirming heckler. “Go to a maze and get lost, before I break off your horns and shove 'em up your ass.”

The green bull scampered away, blubbering and gasping for breath. The other minotaurs just stared, shocked, before they broke out into lowing cheers and applause. Drachmas flew to Thelisi's hooves and he started to bow and flex as they praised him. While most of them filed out the two white bulls approached. One nodded to Thelisi and smiled. “Well, you handled that with great skill.”

“That's how I do everything,” Thelisi said, flexing a bicep, still on a high from the applause.

“You have great confidence as well. That's quite good,” the second bull said.

Thelisi started scooping the dropped drachmas, putting them into a cloth drawstring bag. “Gotta have confidence. It's the cornerstone of my message. If someone tries to block, show 'em you rock!”

The first bull nodded slightly. “That's what we've heard. We've been watching you. My name is Praktoras Ogdonta. This is my associate Praktoras Exi.” The second bull nodded in response.

Thelisi lifted a brow, slowly rising up and drawing the pouch closed. “'Practoras... am I in violation of the Vasilias' command?”

“What does that mean? 'Practoras' and Vasilias'?” Saddle asked.

“'Practoras' is the word for 'agent' like an investigator for the government. 'Vasilias' is the title of the king. I think it's still Vasilias Ptolemy the fifth. I don't keep up with Hellenic politics much anymore. Anyhow...” Iron said.

“Not at all. His highness has actually been seeking a bull for a very special project,” Ogdonta said.

“We've been seeking a bull with strength, a reverence for life, some measure of combat skill and genuine intellect,” Exi said.

“The kind of combination of philosopher, warrior and pastoral peacekeeper that is hard to find. But I think we've found him at last...” Ogdonta noted, looking Thelisi up and down.

Thelisi smiled proudly and struck an heroic pose. “That's me! Philosopher, wrestler, goatherd. You can't find a better specimen in all of Hellas and the near islands.”

“I hope you're right. You are to come with us to a secret location,” Ogdonta said, he and Exi leading Thelisi out of the small viewing area and off into the agora crowd.

“So, they led me out of there, and by chariot to a subterranean maze, that was really well-guarded. They took me down into the central chamber where a bunch of sciencey types were. Like your friend Matter-horn. That kind. They also had some artifacts there on a big stone slab,” Iron said.

“This is who you bring. He doesn't look like much. I told you, we could have used one of the scholars. It would work out the same,” one of the weak-looking and bespectacled bulls said, as he looked over Thelisi with some disdain.

“Not much? I could probably break you in half by staring hard enough!” Thelisi bellowed. “But I won't. Gotta have restraint. Life's more important than a petty bit of revenge.”

The scholar snorted and turned to the slab. “He seems acceptable. In any event, here they are. We finally brought them all from the excavations. May the dead in Elysium, and Tartarus, forgive us for stealing from the honored and the disdained, but we brought what we required.”

Thelisi looked over the collection of artifacts. Two bands of gold etched with faintly glowing letters and symbols that seemed sized for horns. A circlet of a single piece purest, greenest jade carved to look like laurel leaves. Two unassuming iron bands with similar etching. Two bronze bracers cut with complex patterns and studded with glowing gems. A belt made of what appeared to be gold wool. Plates of silver sculpted for the thighs. Lastly, two more bronze bands, like the bracers, similarly decorated with glowing etchings and gems. “Well, what are these?”

“What the gods would not provide, the ancient heroes and tyrants found for themselves. In reading the ancient scrolls we learned the ancients really did have power. No mere myths and legends they were only the inflation of the real story,” The scholar explained. “We dug into ash pits and mausoleums and catacombs, seeking out the legendary artifacts of the early age. They had them. But none had ever thought to bring them all together.”

Thelisi looked on the collection with a new appreciation. He could almost feel the great magical power that pulsed through the set of objects. “But why find someone like me? Why not just give them to Vasilias Ptolemy and let him be empowered by them?”

“The vasilias knows better than to do anything but rule,” Ogdonta said. “There is danger in this.”

“Danger?” Thelisi asked, turning a serious eye on the scholar.

“These objects were never combined before. There's no telling what may happen. As well, some were used for evil. That may be inherent in the object. We just don't know,” The scholar responded.

“That's why we needed someone from outside,” Exi said. “Someone who was strong and could use this power effectively, but also wise, with respect for life and an understanding of simpler, more wholesome ideas.”

“Then if there was evil they would feel it infecting their nature and be able to take the object off or warn us of a problem,” Ogdonta added.

“Huh... so what do all these things actually do? I mean, if I'm going to use them I might as well know...” Thelisi said, giving the artifacts a dubious glance.

The scholar picked up a pointer and started to indicate the objects. “The gold rings make horns keep their keenness and resist shattering. The circlet keeps the mind pure; that seems to mean that it keeps out intrusive thoughts from those who can push their will like sirens and psychics. The iron bands apparently allow for an increase in strength and muscularity. The bronze bracers are enchanted to be indestructible, and can resist any weapon. That also goes for the ones that go above the hooves, which protect a critical tendon. The golden fleece band makes your muscles like iron, so they will not tear or separate. In practical terms, you could lift anything your muscles would allow without a hernia. Finally, the silver armor gives you unfailing leg strength, so you could march for weeks, hold up the pillars of the world, or anything like it and never have your legs falter.”

“Impressive collection...” Thelisi said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Seems fine...”

“We need you to sign this...” Ogdonta said, unrolling a scroll written near to blackness with fine letters.

“Am I buying a farm or a used chariot now?” Thelisi asked with a mirthless laugh.

“The vasilias demands protection. You do this of your own free will, any harm came by your choice, and if you do accept this you agree to obey his command and to serve Hellas using your powers,” Ogdonta explained, holding up a grease pencil.

Thelisi took only a moment to consider it before signing his name at the bottom. “Now what?”

“Put them on and tell us what happens,” the scholar said.

“Here goes nothing...” Thelisi said with a nervous chuckle. He carefully picked up the gold rings and slid them down his horns. The magic became apparent immediately, as they subtly reshaped themselves to fit over his horns. Knocking his knuckles against the horns gave a metallic ring, like knocking on a piece of iron.

The circlet slid smoothly against his head and settled comfortably. No amount of shaking caused it to dislodge. Next came the iron bands, and the bronze bracers. They, too, adjusted to fit his body, and settled on securely. A flex showed that the iron bands even moved and adjusted with his flexing.

He secured the silver thigh armor and admired how it molded to the flexing muscles of his thighs. Finally he slipped on the bronze leg bracers and kicked them against the stone slab. The sound of metal rang out but he didn't feel a thing.

“How do you feel?” The scholar asked.

“Strong, confident, powerful. Same as usual,” Thelisi laughed, giving a flex. A sudden inspiration made him focus on the muscle, which swelled larger and larger, much to the surprise of all.

“So, this is what they meant. You can grow stronger by making your muscles larger. Impressive. And you need not use it on your whole body. Just a single part...” the scholar said, scribbling down notes.

“Whoa. That's a serious muscle. This is a pretty good deal...” Thelisi said, letting his arm shrink back to normal.

“They changed my name after that,” Iron said, petting his hands slowly down Saddle's back. “They called me Minos Hellas. 'Minos' was an ancient word that meant king, and then my homeland. King Hellas. A national superhero. They dressed me up in a fancy purple-ridged toga, threw on a golden mask and set me out there to make speeches, appear at official functions and fight crime.”

Saddle, at that point, was laying on her belly atop Iron's body, looking up at him in rapt attention. “It sounds nice. You had what we had. More! You were the hero for a nation!”

“I was the figurehead for a nation,” Iron grumbled darkly. “I was shaking hands and meeting dignitaries. Every so often they sent me out to patrol with actual hoplites but it never meant anything. I was there to make them look powerful, not fight crime or stop evil or protect the beauty that is life.”

“So... you felt... useless?” Saddle asked, timidly.

“Worse than useless. Used. Squandered by my king and country. I could have done so much more. That's why I left. I knew they couldn't stop me. Half the army supported my leaving and the other was afraid I'd throw bounders on top of them. I tried mercenary work as myself for a while, and the philosophical speechifying too. I meant Diamond before he was Diamond like that. We both had no luck because no one outside our own lands really took us seriously as mercenaries,” Iron said with a sigh.

“But you both have powers. Um, Radiance told me a little about his power, and that's impressive too. Why wouldn't they respect you or him?” Saddle asked.

“I won't tell things about him he doesn't want told, but his name meant something in his own land, like mine did. It meant something to our folk but was everything from quaint to laughable to others. We found out, mercenaries had to be wild, crazy, and slightly dirty. Suggestive names, intimidating looks, drinking, being perverse, all of that. It was either do it, or starve...” Iron said with a sigh.

Saddle crawled up and gave Iron a nuzzle along his cheeks, kissing him sweetly. “You don't need to hide that from us. I promise we'll understand. You know... Maretropolis is a big city. We could share the city. Or...”

“Or?” Iron asked.

“You could... join us, and not just leave,” Saddle mumbled, looking away shyly.

Iron quivered a little bit and looked away himself. He rested one hand on her back and sighed. “You know, it's times like this I wish I didn't do this for money.”

“I understand you have to work. But you don't need to make as much if you live here,” Saddle said pleadingly.

“I'll think about it. And talk to Diamond later...” Iron whispered, resting his head back and closing his eyes.

Diamond Dong sighed softly, in perfect bliss. He was sans robe again, resting his his body suit on Radiance's bed. The Power Pony had fallen asleep a short time before, and he felt inclined to do the same. He hadn't felt so loved and delighted in a long while, certainly not with the flighty mares he usually had. Even if they did nothing by snuggle they did it with great emotion and enjoyment.

Diamond was just on the verge of sleep, convinced he was dreaming, when he felt a draft blow along his fur, over his chest and belly. His eyes snapped open to see Radiance awake and using her magical talisman to form shears and tweezers. They had been brought against his body suit and opened the front wide to reveal his secret.

His chest and belly were a mass of scars. Intentional scars. The lines of furless flesh formed letters in the Eweish alphabet, across his chest, over his abdomen and seemingly other places as well. “I asked you not to...” Diamond whined, some accent coming into his voice. “Why didn't you listen? Why did you have to pry?”

Radiance's tools dissolved and she staggered back off the bed, stunned. “I... I... I can't abide a mystery. I had to know. I had to see what...”

“Now you know,” Diamond said with some venom, casting his eyes to the ground as he removed his bodysuit completely and revealed his form. The rottweiler coloration went all over, black and tan and cream. Tan hands and paws, cream belly and throat, black over most of his back. But the scars went everywhere too. Arms, legs, hands, back, even on his forehead. He was covered in Eweish writing. “You see the truth. I hope you're happy. I used to be.”

“What are you talking about? Now that I know, well, the mystery is over and...” Radiance started.

“Now you can turn me away,” Diamond said sadly. “I liked being with you. I loved holding you tight, even if I couldn't really feel you. I loved your touch. Now...”

“What? What do you think will happen?” Radiance asked, with a quirked brow.

“You're a pony, aren't you? You revere their majesties in Canterlot,” Diamond said.

“Well of course, but what does that..?” Radiance tried to ask.

“Mares have always hated when they see under the suit. When they know me. Know what I really am. They have no love for someone that won't bow down to the Princesses. They hate me for being Eweish,” Diamond growled.

Radiance tilted her head slightly, and brought a shaking hoof up to touch one of the scars. “That's what it is...” She whispered, pulling her hoof back as Diamond pulled away. “But... I mean... you... you don't look Eweish.”

Diamond laughed, some of the tension dropping from him as he ran his fingers over some of the letters. “You seems sincere in not knowing. I thought a cosmopolitan mare like you would at least recognize the alphabet.”

“Sadly my education was very focused, and I suppose a trifle dull. I had no idea you were of the flocks,” Radiance said, stepping up and pressing her head against Diamond's naked frame. “You hid this because you assumed I would hate you?”

“It was a good gamble, if past experience has taught me anything,” Diamond said, a trifle confused. “I... really didn't quite expect you to touch me after you saw this. I expected you to throw me out.”

“Psh! How silly,” Radiance said with some pique. “As you noted yourself, I am a cosmopolitan mare! I have a more enlightened mind than others you might have met. I have no quarrel with Eweish folk. Quite honestly, I am far more curious about how this came to pass. Is this the source of your powers?”

Diamond placed a quivering hand on Radiance's back sighing as he actually touched her for the first time. “Yes. This is from where my power comes. A blessing from the Mother and Architect of us all. I am touched by the hoof of Faust.”

Radiance looked up at Diamond with large, pleading eye and a coy smile. “Oh do tell! Tell me of how a Diamond Dog came to be Eweish, and how this blessing from the long-silent Architect came to be.”

Diamond slowly reached down to lift Radiance Up and pulled her onto the bed, so they were both snuggled together. “One story is short, the other is brief. I don't want to steal too much of your time.”

“I was born in a deep Colony in DiamantHundland. That was true what I told the pony at the restaurant. But we were different. Generations before we had taken in some traveling Eweish folk. Their stories of Faust the Architect of the Universe and All-Loving Mother resonated with us. Dogs are, of course, natural builders and artisans, and we rely on our close community love to survive beneath the stone. We could see the Architect as right to praise and honor, when we had never... thought much of the Princesses... I am sorry...” Diamond apologized.

“It's perfectly alright. Many non-ponies acknowledge the power and majesty of the princesses without reverence. It is the way of the world,” Radiance said, comfortingly.

“So, those of my Colony converted to Eweism and became quite devout, and strong in the ways of Faust. Back then, in my hot-blooded young adulthood I was adherent but never particularly devout. Then came the day...” Diamond said.

“Quickly! Quickly! Bring everydog to the synagogue! Hurry!” Rabbi Konig Goldschmidt shouted. The old Dog had the appearance of a doberman, with his wiry, thin frame under his black clothes, though his muzzle was as thick as any other Dog, it was long like a doberman's was. He had on his white yarmulke and tallit, and seemed to have been interrupted in the middle of prayer, as he still wore his tefillin, tied on with black bands.

“I am sorry to interrupt, but... I do not quite understand the references,” Radiance said.

“Sorry. I grew up with that. The yarmulke is the round cap most Eweish folk wear; my hood and bodysuit hood cover my head so I don't need one. The tallit is a tasseled shawl men wear, and the tefillin are two boxes worn on the head and arm during particular prayers. I... have not kept that tradition, though I should,” Diamond said. “Continuing...”

Dogs of all shapes, sizes and ages poured in through the entrance to the synagogue, pressing against its metal walls. The heavy brass doors were shut and barred, sealing out a tremendous roar and the sound of destruction. Rabbi Goldschmidt pressed a hand to the doors and sighed. “It finally happened. For ages we have lived in fear but it has come. Being offset from the other Colonial cores we knew we might be victims. It is here. The tatzlwurm has come up from the depths.”

“Another interruption so soon but... what is a tatzlwurm?” Radiance asked.

“A hideous monster from the depths of the earth. It has skin of armored scales along its length, a red frill that stands up when it attacks, sharp as a razor. Then a mouth with three parts, each with soulless eyes on the outside and fangs within, while numerous ropy tendrils emerge from its cavernous throat,” Diamond replied, with a dark tone.

“Goodness... d-do go on,” Radiance insisted.

The huddled crowd of Dogs buzzed with conversation, weeping, soft assurances to pups and questions. One of the women came forward and asked, “Rabbi, are we safe in here?”

“The metal walls of the synagogue are just enough to stay the monster but our homes will be destroyed. The colony will be in ruins. We must fight the beast,” Rabbi Goldschmidt said sternly.

“Rabbi, this is impossible. Even if we all took up weapons we might not prevail, and so many would be killed!” A large dig Dog cried.

“We have one hope, and one hope alone. We may call on the strength of the Architect, for the power we need. We must choose a Shtarker...” The Rabbi intoned solemnly.

“A what?” Radiance asked.

“A shtarker,” Diamond said. “From the word 'stark' or 'shtark' depending on dialect. It means 'strong.' A Shtarker is a semi-legendary strong warrior made by painting certain verses from our holy writings on the body of a willing warrior and begging Faust for the strength to do valiantly in her name.”

The whole of the congregation mumbled together, some looking ready to step forward, but getting held back by others, while some shrank away from notice. One young rottweiler-looking Dog stepped up and thumped his chest solidly. “Choose me, Rabbi. I will do this.”

Rabbi Goldschmidt eyed the young adult and barked dismissively. “You? You, Jarl Diamantstein? I scarcely see you for temple, you never wear the tallit and you hardly ever make all your daily prayers.”

“But this is my home!” Jarl shouted. “Whatever my relationship with the Architect and however my fidelity may be, this is my home and this is what must be done to save it!”

“You have hot blood, as the young do. You are wild, too eager, too ready to leap to your death,” Rabbi Goldschmidt said. Then he sighed. “But you are willing. And it must be so that the Shtarker be willing. Come with me, then. Come and let me do what must be done. Then I will lead you out to face the beast. And, if it is Her will, to live to speak of it.”

Jarl and the Rabbi made their way into the depths of the synagogue, to a private chamber hung with numerous scrolls of mystical import. Jarl looked over the collection of things with some curiosity. “And the ponies think no others have magic.”

“You do ill to our pony friends. The Architect is a pony, after all. The ponies know that other races have magic. But they believe that because others lack unicorns that they lack powerful magic. There are only different kinds. Come, shed your garments and let me work. It must be done in accordance with strict procedures,” Rabbi Goldschmidt said, motioning towards a stone slab.

Jarl divested himself and laid out on the slab, face down. Letters were carefully inked onto his body, using a vaguely glowing mixture of crushed enchanted gems and subterranean fungi. The thick liquid was allowed to dry before he rolled onto his back and allowed the front of his body to be similarly marked. “How will I know if this worked, Rabbi?”

“That you must ask the question shows it will not,” Rabbi Goldschmidt responded sadly. “This is not magic as ponies know it. We appeal to the Architect and beg Her for strength. You must be devout and devoted to become the Shtarker.”

Jarl snarled softly and nodded. “Then... let me beg. Give me the chance.”

“Very well. When you think you have found the strength going through the second door on the left in the corridor will lead you to another exit, to face the beast. And here...” Rabbi Goldschmidt pulled a cloth off of an old spear, with a glowing diamond for a head. “It may serve, it may not. But it can't hurt.”

Jarl took the spear and nodded, dropping down to his knees and bowing his head. “I will be quick.”

“Be slow, but be true,” Rabbi Goldschmidt said, leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

Jarl looked down to the ground, his mind blank, and his muscles aching to move. “Faust, our Mother, Architect of all we know, shaper of sky and soil and sea, maker of our bodies and engineer of our minds, please. He was right. I am only young and hot-blooded. I want to act. But this is my home. We are your faithful. We are your pack in the flocks. We do not look like you, but we are of you. Please, Mother and Architect. Please show me your power. Show me the strength. Give me the blessing of your will.”

The room was silent for a long, heavy moment before the spear fell down, the age making the head snap off and slide across the ground to rest by Jarl's right hand. The tip was wickedly sharp, as sharp as the day is had first been cut and enchanted. It could slice easily through most anything, flesh included.

He knew it was wrong. It was unclean to cut the body of the living. But it was unclean to cut it for the dead. He needed to do something, anything, to serve the living. He took up the diamond head and stabbed into an inked letter, barking sharply and hissing as he drew the jewel along. The pain burned through his body as he stabbed and cut into every letter he could see, his blood not flowing as much as he would have thought.

When he reached the letters on his back Jarl had to painfully move himself to a small mirror, and carefully slice through his flesh while reaching behind. He was a bloody mess by the time he finally cut into the letters on his forehead. They didn't bleed at all. He stopped feeling pain. There was only the rush of heat in his veins and a sudden flash of light from his markings.

Out in the synagogue proper Rabbi Goldschmidt was leading prayer, all of them begging for the success of Jarl as the Shtarker. The sound of ringing metal echoed from deep inside the building and the Rabbi halted. “He has left. He is fighting the beast.”

Most of the Dogs ducked their heads lower and prayed louder, but some could not resist, they broke and ran for the door, sliding back the bars and opening them just enough to try and see the fight. The stone-and-metal buildings of the colony were in shambles, and there was little light as many of the light sources had been destroyed or eaten by the tatzlwurm. The silhouette of the huge monster surged in the darkness, and a small figure contended with it. “There! Jarl fights with the beast!”

“Come back here and shut that door!” Rabbi Goldschmidt shouted. “You will lead it here and make Jarl's work harder.

“He is fighting with his claws,” One of the Dogs breathlessly reported. “He is slashing and slashing that armored hide. I hope the Architect gave him strength.”

“He is climbing the great monster!” Another shouted. “He stabs and slashes so greatly at... no!”

“What is wrong? What is happening?” Rabbi Goldschmidt shouted, running to the door.

“The tatzlwurm... it flung Jarl into the air, and though he tore at the tendrils that held him... it consumed him, Rabbi...” The Dog said sadly.

“No... no... Faust, Mother, Architect... why? Why one so young? Was his lack of devoutness really worth such a price? Your will is law, but... please give us answers...” Rabbi Goldschmidt whimpered, falling to his knees.

“It comes!” A Dog screamed, pointing to the surging body of the huge creature.

Before the tatzlwurm could reach the synagogue it stopped. The roaring monstrosity had gone oddly hoarse, almost making curious noises. It gave a sound like choking and gagging, mouthparts flapping, remaining tendrils failing about wildly. The huge thing started to thrashing, twisting and writhing in what appeared to be agony. New screams, pained screams, emerged from its titanic maw, along with globs of its ichorous blood. The tatzlwurm thrashed about for a short time more before curling slightly at the middle and falling down with a tremendous thud, going entirely still.

The Dogs inside the synagogue mumbled to one another, pointing at the beast and motioning for others to examine it. It was Rabbi Goldschmidt who finally passed the doors to approach the fallen monster. “We sacrifice when the need is great. Those who care, those who are willing and bold will give all they must. The victory is here, but it cost... wait...” The Rabbi peered at the side of the creature, to a part that was bulging out. “What is that?”

The side of the tatzlwurm bulged more and more, stretching the armored hide until it finally burst. From within the shower of ichorous gore there emerged the figure of Jarl, coated in the vile stuff. He coughed and gagged as he crawled along, half-blinded by the clinging gobbets of beast. He wiped his eyes and pulled himself towards the gathered crowd. “It... it was unpleasant work. But it is done.”

Thunderous applause and howls of delight greeted his ears, while Rabbi Goldschmidt barked happily. “Water! Bring water to wash the poor Dog off. He is our Shtarker, and he must be clean to be honored for his great work.”

Several Dogs came to Jarl with huge stone pitchers of water, splashing him with it. The cheers and howls turned to screams, shocked gasps and murmuring questions when the water revealed him. Head to toe his body had become pure diamond, the low light shining through the curves and rolls of his body. The letters were still visible on him, perfectly and smoothly etched into his jeweled form.

Rabbi Goldschmidt came forward quickly, looking him over with shock and anger. “Jarl... what did you do? What have..? You... you dared to do this? To make yourself unclean in the name of our Mother?”

“She told me to do this,” Jarl said simply. “I begged her for strength. She made the old spear fall and break its tip. The diamond was able to cut into me, to make the words permanent. To show I was devoted. She wanted me to do this for Her. She gave me strength in a way that served us, that saved us.”

“How can you know, Jarl? How can you know it was right? This violates the law, this is a transgression...” Rabbi Goldschmidt wailed.

“I know because I did valiantly in Her name. I saved these lives. And I think she forgave me my transgression, for following Her will,” Jarl said softly, a flash shining from the letters. His body had returned to flesh and blood, the carved letters already scarred over.

The whole gathering stood, amazed at the sight. Rabbi Goldschmidt sighed softly and put a hand on Jarl's shoulder. “Come then. We have much to discuss. If this is Her will, then it must be used in a proper fashion...”

Radiance slowly traced a hoof along one scarred letter, looking at Diamond with some awe. “To think you defeated such a monster as that... what did you do with it?”

“Its flesh was bitter and putrid. We burned it and its fat for light. The few bones were used to make repairs, as was much of the armored hide. The fangs were made into tools, and the frill as well. Some of the hide was made into a robe that I never wore. It would have reminded me of being inside the thing again,” Diamond said with a laugh.

Radiance laughed a bit herself. “What happened after that?”

“I was more than what Rabbi Goldschmidt had intended. I was given a new name. Golem. It is the name of a creature of legend, formed from clay, animated by the words of Faust, to protect the Eweish folk in their need. I did as I had pledged, to do valiantly in Faust's name. I fought crimes, protected others from danger and went to other Colonies as our emissary,” Diamond said.

“Then why are you here?” Radiance asked with a quirked brow. “Why be among ponies, under a name that... well, it is very... uncouth...”

Diamond sighed. “I did as I was told. But it never felt like enough. The other Colonies had troubles but never much. We were too sheltered, and too peaceful. I felt that to honor Faust I had to leave, to truly fulfill my fate. None of them wanted me to leave, but the Rabbi knew it was only right to go. He told me to remain devout, that the blessing would remain with me. So I left the earth, to walk in the lands above.”

“And... your name..?” Radiance queried.

“In the Colonies, I had respect. My name was a normal name. Those who were not Eweish respected us, even if we honored a pony goddess, because of what She represents. My new name had meaning to my folk, and I was one of them, another Diamond Dog, so it had meaning to strangers as well. Above the ground I was lost. As you said, I don't look Eweish. My scars seemed questionable at best. And when I did meet those who didn't care, my name and my tongue were ridiculous to them,” Diamond explained, absently rubbing his hand down Radiance's back.

Radiance stretched out languidly and sighed. “So you changed your name for the sake of rude ponies. Sometimes I feel like the world has lots all of its manners.”

“I met someone who didn't. Iron used to have another name too. I won't tell, that's private and personal. But, he did. I wanted to serve, to do good, and he did as well. We started drinking one night... I forget which of us reached the conclusion. Appearances. This world is about appearances,” Diamond said.

“I hope you are not speaking ill of looking nice. It's one of my specialties, and surely it doesn't hurt anyone to have a proper appearance. It shows respect for those who look upon you,” Radiance said, somewhat defensively.

“I mean, the first appearance means everything. How you seem is more important than how you are. There we were, him cheery on ouzo and me with a belly full of dark beer, and we came to a conclusion. Mercenaries had to appear to be tough, dangerous, and perhaps a bit dirty. We chose embarrassing, but passable, names, adopted appearances that hid our origins and found some measure of success in our chosen path,” Diamond said with some wistfulness.

Radiance was quiet for a while, still stroking along one of the scarred letters. “I wish you had told me sooner. You know... you've insulted me, perhaps without thinking.”

Diamond looked down on Radiance with a curious quirk of his brow. “What do you mean?”

“You assumed, quite presumptuously, that I would despise you for being Eweish. You thought I would be like those hateful ponies that forced you to hide who you were. I should ask you to remove yourself,” Radiance said with a scolding tone.

“I think I deserve it,” Diamond rumbled, starting to rise from the bed. A set of energy-construct bands held him down.

“I didn't say I would. I understand you were afraid. Once bitten and all that. I wish you had trusted me. I don't care if you're Ewish, just like I didn't care you are a Diamond Dog. You have good manners and a quick mind. That's all that has ever mattered to me,” Radiance stated firmly.

Diamond wagged his tail against the bed and chuckled lightly. “I probably should have asked. So I’ll ask this now, want to have some fun tonight? You can watch the change.”

“I think I would care to enjoy you, as you say. But not with the transformation,” Radiance declared.

“But.. you really love it. You seem to enjoy letting me live up to this ridiculous mercenary name I'm using,” Diamond said with confusion.

“I confess, fornication with a living diamond is delightful. But now that I know this, now that I may touch your whole body, I want a chance to be with you, Jarl Diamantstein,” Radiance said, pronouncing his name as best she could.

A smile smile spread on Diamond's face as Radiance said his name. He gathered her up in a warm hug, his fleshy tan cock twitching at his crotch, and his black-furred balls swinging heavily beneath. “This will be unusual for both of us... but I want to look you in the face while I make love to you.”

Radiance nuzzled up at Diamond's face and gasped softly as she was deposited on the bed. She rolled over onto her back, head resting against a pillow, forelegs pulled up against her chest, rear legs pressed demurely together, crossed at the ankles. “I would be greatly pleased. But you must... open this treasure. I wish to feel the real you, bottom to top.”

Diamond slid his muscular bulk onto the bed, sighing as he felt the silk sheets gliding against his velveteen coat and letter scars. “Who am I to say no?” His hands reached out and gingerly took Radiance's hooves, but rather that prying her legs apart he leaned in to nuzzle at the soft and well-maintained frogs at the bottoms of her hooves. Because she favored the flying couch and other forms of magical transport she hardly ever walked, and with the care regimen for all of her body her flesh was smooth and scented like lilacs.

His tongue slithered ticklishly out across the heart-shaped pad of flesh, flicking softly in the dainty cleft, and up to the rounded tip. He licked across the hooficured nail's back side, very gently bringing his teeth to bear on the nail, just letting them slide and clatter across the keratin surface.

“Ah! Oh m-my! Do be careful. The hooficure was pricey... but... I do enjoy getting them. And it would be no harm to sustain a bit of damage in the pursuit of delight,” Radiance cooed, wiggling lightly on the bed as her very gently moved her other rear hoof out of Diamond's grip and slowly stroked it against his face.

“I am very gentle. My jaws are like the softest eiderdown, and my teeth could carry an egg. I'll bite through gems but not even leave a scratch on this pretty hoof,” Diamond rumbled, licking over the frog and nail of the hoof with one huge slurp, rattling his fangs against the nail and popping his tan brows.

“Powerful enough to slay a monster of nightmares, and gentle enough to not scratch a hoof,” Radiance sighed, her free leg stretching out and trembling a little bit. “I did not know I could find such a wonderful combination.”

Diamond rumbled pleasantly deep in his broad chest, a few last licks passing over the hoof before his tongue lapped up the inside of her leg. His hand gently spread both legs out, holding her at her hocks and rubbing the dainty protrusions. He slurped and lapped up the milk-white inner thigh, panting and softly moaning the whole way.

His hot breath washed across Radiance's moist, flushed sex, her head flopping around on the pillow as she let out a demure, trembling moan. Diamond panted across the warm lips several times, tongue hanging out just a hair from the warm tunnel. He inhaled the hot and musky scent of her arousal, cold nose pressing down firmly over her stiffened clit while his tongue mashed powerfully against her petals.

Radiance squealed suddenly, head thrashing madly on the pillow, forelegs kicking about wildly, rear legs trembling in Diamond's tight hold. “P-please, more! Please lick and rub as you desire! I must feel you!”

Diamond's tongue twisted and shoved firmly between Radiance's lips, plunging into the spicy, clutching passage. The walls seemed to flutter and tremble over the delving muscle, the flow of mare honey growing as her clit was ground by Diamond's nose. He drove down deep and loudly slurped his tongue back into his mouth. He continued that, licking like any canine, but with longer, slower strokes designed to tickle and pleasure as much of the rippled inner flesh as he could reach.

Radiance's forehooves stretched down to settle themselves on the back of Diamond's head, just behind his floppy black ears. Her hips bucked, grinding her crotch against Diamond's face, wordlessly begging for more attention, more licking. Her walls pulled on the tongue, rolling along it, massaging over the twisting and mobile muscle.

Diamond looked supremely relaxed and very pleased with the world. His hips slowly ground his pulsing erection against the silk sheets, rather shamelessly smearing his heady precum against the classy, quality bedclothes. He frotted himself on the bed while he lovingly, firmly, ate Radiance with a mind to what she liked. The particular twists of his tongue, the flick at the end of a deep thrust, the occasional sustained nasal breath across her clit as he pushed on it.

The casual licking, tailored to her needs, and the feel of Diamond's real flesh made Radiance's loins tingle beautifully. She moaned softly, groaning deep each time the pleasure spiked, flipping her head side-to-side on the pillow. A sheen of sweat glowed on her white coat, and a blush burned bright on her cheeks. Her breath huffed out hard, growing quicker and quicker as the tailored treatment went on.

Radiance's huffing, shuddering breath drew to a panting crescendo that was finished with a keening wail. It wasn't the hard and shocking orgasm of a thoughtless and automatic hammering. She was led there, lick by lick, rub by rub. The guiding made her climax like the crest of a gentle wave, making her inside clench and quiver over Diamond's lapping and digging tongue. The slow crest also meant she was slow to come back down. Her post-orgasmic settling had her sighing and shivering, lashes fluttering delightedly.

Diamond slowly drew his tongue out of Radiance's depths, with out loud and obvious slurp as he pulled it back into his mouth. He took a few last licks of the heady honey and slowly crawled up Radiance's body, looming over her svelte and slight form. He lowered himself down against her, strong chest to her slender one.

Radiance's forehooves slipped up under Diamond's arms, taking hold of his strong form. The smooth, sensitive frogs of her hooves stroked over his back, feeling more of the scarred letters. She shivered as she felt his precum-dripping tool sliding along her licked slit, the throbbing shaft pulsing against her lips and clit. “Please... mate me like this. I can look into your face, and enjoy your appearance.”

Diamond laid both broad hands on the bed, on either side of the pillow. He dipped his head down nice and close, breath wafting across Radiance's mouth. “And I can enjoy you...” His lips met hers, their tongues slowly sliding against one another. Radiance could taste her own juices on his lips and tongues, musky and strange. She dug her tongue deep into his maw, flicking around inside the blunt and blocky muzzle, lapping at his canine fangs.

He moaned deeply into her mouth, eyes open, watching her delicate features, and staring into her huge, bright eyes, which we looking back into his blue pupils and bright yellow sclerae. He pulled back further, until his rounded and fleshy tip was nestling against the ready passage. A gentle roll of his hips pushed the thick pole into Radiance's waiting tunnel. He used slowly pumps, rather than sharp thrusts, to ease himself down as he continued the kiss and lapped at Radiance's cheeks and teeth.

That slow motion continued, his hips rolling smoothly back and then forward again, pulling a few inches of flesh out of Radiance sex and pushing it back in gently, her tunnel seeming unwilling to let the length of real flesh go. Diamond remained slow and gentle, even as he broke the kiss to unleash a hot, rumbling groan and a small howl of delight. He tucked his head down and panted, eyes squeezing tight.

Radiance's forelegs squeezed Diamond's upper body tighter, while her rear legs raised, hooves to the ceiling. They pointed, trembling, for a moment before she bent them, hooking her legs around his hips. Her head lifted, eyes rolling up into her head as her lids fluttered closed. She squeezed her limbs tight on Diamond and moaned out, “Ah... I love you, Jarl Diamantstein...”

Diamond's hips faltered for a moment, before he went back to a slow, gentle pumping. His eyes squeezed tighter and his lips curled. A small growl rumbled in his throat, followed by a small sob. He rolled on, fingers digging into the bed, claws slicing into the sheets.

Segment Seven: Interlude

“Does something about this seem... wrong?” Matter-horn asked. She was with the other Power Ponies in the nursery area, having some shared playtime with their foals. She had asked the question while looking to Mane-iac, who was cooing and nuzzling down at her giggling daughter.

“It certainly does seem to be... unusual,” Radiance said. She was lightly bouncing her pegasus colt in an elegant energy construct harness, while Diamond Dong, back in his robes, looked on while stroking Radiance's back.

“Come on, somepony say it! This is all your fault, you crazy mutant!” Zapp shouted, pointing at Mane-iac. Her own little earth filly laughed as her mother yelled, while all the other foals started crying.

Saddle Rager started to huff and snarl, a leg curling protectively around her unicorn filly. “You don't yell around babies...” she growled. Iron Willie's gentle stroke made her blink. She looked around at all the crying foals, took a deep breath and regained her composure.

“Saddle's right. Ya don't yell 'round yong'uns,” Mare-velous said, turning her head for a moment to coo to her gold-toned mule filly. The small child was being lovingly cradled by Jo. “But ah gotta be honest, Zapp ain't wrong. Matter-horn either. It's really all on her head and this is powerful odd.”

“Well, is that what you really think? Well, I could easily say that this...” Mane-iac held up her daughter, who was being bounced softly to stop her crying, “Was his fault,” and she pointed down to Hum Drum, who looked a little sheepish. “But she is not a 'fault' or a consequence. She's Sassy Soon and she's my daughter. And here I thought you power ponies embodied love and care. I guess you're really just horrible parents who hate your children, and think of them as as burdens.”

Zapp snarled loudly, and pulled her daughter closer against her chest. She kissed the giggling filly and whispered, “Don't you believe it, kid. I'm proud of you. Really glad to know ya.”

“As unusual as it may be to say, I believe our resident miscreant is correct,” Radiance said, leaning in to nuzzle at her colt, shushing him softly.

“Yeah, Zapp. Our little foals are just sweet as candy,” Fili-second said. She gave her fluffy-maned little pegasus a sniff and zipped quickly to the changing table. Even with super speed the process lasted long enough to bring a rather disgusted look to her face and a scrunch to her snout. “They don't smell like candy but still...”

“Don't rightly matter much how they got here. Point is they're here now. And we're pleased as pomade they're here,” Mare-velous said, leaning her head against Jo's, both of them comforting the sniffling mule he was holding.

Mane-iac gave a superior little sniff and settled Sassy down in Hum Drum's arms. “I suppose there are things you can learn from, what was it? A 'crazy mutant.'”

“Don't talk about her like that, Zapp! She's doing great in therapy, and she loves Sassy as much as I do, and she's been...” Hum Drum trailed off, his cheeks growing dark. He turned all his focus to his daughter and tickled under her scaled chin.

Zapp rolled her eyes and gave her daughter a quick bounce. “Whatever. Just keep her occupied. Keep boning her or... letting her pee on you or whatever gets you two off...”

“That's enough-a that, missy,” Mare-velous said, mentally commanding her lasso to wrap around Zapp's snout. “Ah'm not sure ah thought ah'd say this but, sorry there, Miss Mane-iac.”

“It's perfectly understandable. Perversion is part and parcel with villainy, or so it seems. We just aren't afraid to admit it,” Mane-iac said, with a continued air of smug superiority. “But rest assured, I'm keeping up with the program, refraining from villainy, larceny, profligacy, misappropriation, barratry, bribery, outside licentiousness, and general mayhem.”

The Power Ponies looked with some amazed confusion on Mane-iac. “That... was an impressive declaration,” Matter-horn said. “From where did you matriculate?”

“The Maretropolis School of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Aesthetic Dermatology. I'm licensed for manes, tails, non-flight feathers, non-magical horns and the chemical treatment of the same. I'm not an egghead. That's on my parole agreement, and they made me memorize it before I got out,” Mane-iac said.

“Yes, that's right. You were once a highly respected stylist,” Radiance said, stroking her chin. “As long as you are living here perhaps you could tend to our styling needs.”

“You don't want me doing it. My hooves are like clubs now. I've lost my ability to use them well thanks to my tendrils. But it's no matter. I could direct you in a few techniques. Your attachment to the advancement of beauty means you likely have the dedication and aptitude,” Mane-iac said to Radiance.

“Oh how delightful!” Radiance chirped with a large smile. She paused after a moment and blinked a few times. “Well now... I would say let us never speak of this again but I need to arrange some period of tutelage.”

“Ah gotta be honest... ya seem alright. We don't pull no words out in the country, and ya see like a good mother, and a good sport. Ya ain't so bad. And yer a real good lass ta be so good ta Hum Drum. We're all kindly, of course but... heh, well, we all had our reasons ta not get as close as ya did,” Mare-velous said with a soft chuckle and a soft nuzzle up at Jo.

“I admit, I was bitter. Exceptionally bitter. I had been humiliated, twice. Pushed into prison, bloated and impregnated, utterly defeated, shamed. I had my child in prison, and went to an asylum...” Mane-iac seethed, before taking a calming breath and sighing. “But therapy has helped me to make peace with it. I'm still upset. But I love Sassy. She's about the best thing in my life since the accident. And he loves her too. So he's alright by me.”

Hum Drum puffed his chest out proudly and tickled Sassy's belly, making her laugh softly. “Yup! She's my little girl. And this is my big girl.” He placed a hand on Mane-iac's flank and smiled up at her. She initially rolled her eyes, but put a smile on her face and leaned down to kiss him.

“Leastways, ya got somebody there ta help ya, that wants ta get involved. Ah'm thankin' the princesses every day Jo stayed 'round, even after he saw me all swoled up with a bun in the oven,” Mare-velous said with a smile.

“Shoot, ain't right ta just up and leave a gal ya been pinin' after yer whole life, no matter how pregnant she might be. Ah'd been hopin' ah might see her again after she turned inta a big shot. Now... well, the weddin' speaks fer itself,” Jo said with a bit of pride.

“All of your minions are still incarcerated, but even if they weren't we'd have no use for them. Sires they might have been but they couldn't, in any sense, be 'fathers' like Hum Drum or Jo,” Matter-horn noted.

“While it is not strictly necessary to have a partner to successfully raise a child, there is much to recommend it when the option is available,” Radiance cooed, working her body a little closer to Diamond's form.

“It's certainly better than peacekeeping or mopping up at the end of a conflict,” Diamond said, tentatively stroking the colt in Radiance's hold, getting a smile and coo for his trouble.

“This is how you respect the beauty and purity that is life. You help what's living to grow big and strong,” Iron said, patting Saddle's little filly on the belly and heartily chuckling when she let out a burp.

“Ugh. Why don't we pull out some dolls, a tea set and start braiding each others' manes? When did this turn into a sleepover? Even the guys could probably wear frilly dresses,” Zapp groaned, nuzzling down at her daughter.

“This is a playgroup and fellowshipping session. Cordial and convivial conversation is a natural part of that,” Matter-horn noted.

“We can fellowship with awesomeness, ain't that right, muscles?” Zapp asked to Iron. “I'll bet you got all 'cordelia' and 'conbibulous' with other guys by beating their heads in.”

“Heh, well I...” Iron shook his head and looked around shiftily. “I did some, uh, bar brawling. But, that wasn't very friendly. Diamond and I, we talk about stuff over a few drinks.” Saddle looked up at Iron, and slowly shook her head.

“Well, come on... why don't we do something more interesting? Let's have a strong foal competition!” Zap suggested.

“But... wouldn't Matter-horn's foal win that? Or Mare-velous'?” Fili asked of Zapp.

“What? No way! Madeline is way stronger than either of them! I'll bet she could bench all of us,” Zapp asserted strongly.

“I'm not getting into this pointless contest with you. It is meaningless how strong a foal is at this stage in development... and no real contest. Bright has more robust muscle attachments and they are grouped for lifting capacity rather than for speed like your Madeline. You're strong and quick but that doesn't translate to lifting,” Matter-horn said with a small huff.

“Oh really? Is that what you think? Well then put your foal where your mouth his. Madeline will wipe the floor with Bright!” Zapp asserted strongly.

“Thanks fer not puttin' Honeysuckle in the middle of this,” Jo whispered to Mare-velous.

“Them two'll butt heads fer a bit, make some noise and nothin'll come of it. Ain't no sense in botherin' Honeysuckle with that nonsense. Besides, ah don't wanna hurt their feelins by havin' her make 'em both look bad,” Mare-velous whispered back to Jo with a small, smug grin on her face.

“Why won't you tell anyone about... you?” Saddle quietly asked Iron.

“That's a lot to explain. Besides, my reputation and all that,” Iron answered, somewhat lamely.

“Are you certain you won't tell them your past?” Radiance asked of Diamond. “Just so you may go about as you, and to hold Starry in your arms outside of my room.”

“No, no...” Diamond whispered, pulling his hood up further over his face. “The explanation is long, and there are questions about how honest I am since I do not look the way they think I ought. And the scars are... grim...”

“Is this how heroic mares act? Sniping, snide comments, posturing, preening, ego and secrets? I could have stayed at the nuthatch and gotten all of this for free. It's not so different,” Mane-iac whispered to Hum Drum.

“Aw, that's just how they are. They sorta get into it, chatter, pose... then they make up, hug, and go get dessert. Which reminds me, we should totally get a dessert. That Diamond guy turned me on to this thing, it's called a black forest gateau, and it's like a chocolate orgasm in your mouth,” Hum Drum said with a lick of his lips.

Despite herself, Mane-iac actually turned up the corners of her mouth into a small smile. The suggestion was not objectionable, and the manner in which he stated it was... modestly charming. It was a strange thing to admit but it was true. His enthusiasm and positive energy had a kind of charm, even outside of how it translated into excellent care for Sassy. “It sounds quite... suggestively delicious. It also sounds like you're trying to keep me fat. And I thought only villains dealt in nefarious schemes. I like this side of you. It's wicked.”

Hum Drum blushed a bit, turning his head away from Mane-iac. “I-it's totally not that, I swear. I just, you know, think you might like it. We don't even need to go out to a restaurant like Radiance did. We get some, we have it in the dining hall, with something like some wine or champagne and, um, we just... make a date out of it.”

Mane-iac had been expecting something very like it. It was wholly in his character. And yet actually hearing it stated, actually hearing someone ask her out on a date, a real date, still threw her for a bit of a loop. She took a moment to just think about it for a time. “I... well... that wouldn't be so bad. But...” She shook her head some and turned her attention down to Sassy. “Sassy has to come along too. And we can't get too drunk.”

“Oh no, of course not! We'd be really light about it. It's... a family outing! Yeah... I mean, after all, we're a family. You and me and Sassy... and the others, of course,” Hum Drum said, hugging Sassy and putting an arm around Mane-iac to hug her as well.

Mane-iac looked out on the Power ponies, and their male companions. The quiet whispering between some of them, Zapp and Matter-horn arguing with one another, Fili simply playing peekaboo with her foal. A dark look passed over her features for just a moment before she responded, in a husky whisper, “Yes. A family...”

Segment Eight: Inter-lewd

Mane-iac moaned lewdly as she licked her tongue slowly up Hum Drum's mammoth organ, weaving around the fleshy knobs studding it. She planted a warm, plush kiss on his tip and swirled her tongue rapidly over the little bit of the head that was pushed just slightly in her mouth.

She slurped up a fat drop of precum and opened her mouth wide, showing off the sticky strands of saliva hanging all over her mouth, and the slow undulation of her tongue. Her head came in slowly, the stiff erection breaking several of the sticky strings. She kept her mouth open wide as the heavy pole settled on the rippling tongue, letting Hum Drum watch as she cupped and caressed his length.

Hum Drum shivered, grabbing at the wall behind him as the warm, soft tongue bounced and curled under and around his thick, needy dragon cock. His breath huffed out in literally heated pants, small plumes of green smoke emerging with each breath. His small, wide hips thrust up at Mane-iac's mouth, jabbing his length deep into her maw and getting the tip rubbed against her throat.

Mane-iac held her mouth open, allowing her draconic lover to watch his meat's kindly treatment, until his eyes finally fluttered shut. As they closed her mouth did too, soft lips rubbing and pulling on the heated flesh, her tongue slowly swirling around the pulsing pole.

Her cheeks hollowed as she sucked firmly on the thick rod. Her tongue bulged against her own hollowed cheeks as she slathered her slippery tongue around Hum Drum's maleness. Her head moved slowly, taking him down until his tip was tickling the inside of her throat, then pulling back until she was just suckling on the pointed knob.

“Uuugh... s-shouldn't I be, you know... licking you or rubbing you or something?” Hum drum huffed out, one eye barely pulled open and looking down on Mane-iac.

Mane-iac responded by pushing her head down onto the pulsing, pre-spitting shaft, gulping loudly and adding some soft gags as she swallowed the big meat. She held, and choked lightly, for a moment before pulling back and letting out a spray of saliva from the speed of her withdrawal. She slowly licked the saliva from her lips and gave Hum Drum a smoldering look. Her hoof came up to gently massage his balls, and his belly. “No... just relax... let me be good to you...”

A big, somewhat-dopey, smile spread across Hum Drum's face, his hands hanging limply at his sides, his tail swaying slowly in delight. His hips gave a small thrust and bobbled the thick organ in Mane-iac's face. She took it back into her mouth and slurped on it loudly, tongue twirling around it as much as possible.

She bobbed her head and made the most raunchy and obscene noises as she sucked the fat dragon shaft. She made sure to choke and gag extra loud as she swallowed nearly down to the base, only exaggerating a slight bit, and ensure that each time her lips passed over one of the rounded knobs on his length her lips slipped and a slurp sounded.

Washed in the sloppy, salacious symphony of sucking Hum Drum had no choice but to ram his hips at the generous mouth, grunting a bit with each thrust. He also reached his peak even faster, pure pleasure tingling his his shaft and nuts, sending the precum out in fitful spits. With a last thrust he pushed his rod into Mane-iac's mouth and unloaded, hot, heavy splatters of semen almost slapping against her throat and cheeks.

Mane-iac pulled her head back and gasped loudly, with a thick undertone as she breathed past a load of dragon cum. She pushed her hooves onto the shaft and directed the geysering spray all over her panting, happy face and over her head. She allowed herself to be pasted in thick whiteness, moaning and sighing all the while.

Hum Drum slumped back and gave a low, satisfied groan as he slid down the wall, watching with lustful, clouded eyes as Mane-iac showered herself in his seed. “W-wow... you sure... sure love all that stuff. I mean, it's great that you like it but... I always end up making a mess of you... wouldn't swallowing be cleaner?”

“Are you kidding?” Mane-iac asked incredulously. “You bloated my belly by keeping this in the other side. If I swallowed your load I'd have to get my stomach pumped. Or I'd just be spitting it out for a year.”

“Heh, good point. We dragons do make plenty of it... just as long as you're happy,” Hum Drum said, his eyes closing and his breath calming to a slow, warm panting.

Mane-iac worked the dragon sperm into her tendrils, the restricted things writhing and squirming desperately against the bands holding them together. She felt the bands slipping more and more, losing the solidity of their hold. She was so close. Soon. “Oh, Hum Dum. I'm happy. Very happy,” she whispered, with a cunning smile on her face. Soon...

In the Power Ponies HQ kitchen Diamond Dong was whistling a sporty tune from his home colony while he chopped and seasoned some glowing fungi. He had a delicate touch, and cut them into numerous small, fine pieces. He also occasionally kneaded a bowl of dough, wearing plastic gloves over his usual bodysuit's gloves to keep things sanitary.

Iron Willie strolled into the kitchen and looked in on the scene for a moment. “Why don't you ever cook like that when we're on regular assignments?”

“Because I'm not having sex with you, and I don't want to,” Diamond laughed, chopping the fungi even finer, reducing the pile nearly to fleshy dust.

“Fair enough,” Iron laughed. “What have you got going here anyhow?”

“Kreplach. One of the versions bubbe taught me, so I wouldn't eat like a bachelor forever. It's a version without meat, using some imported fungi I managed to get. Then I can boil them in some vegetable broth I made,” Diamond said, starting to pull little pieces of dough from the bigger ball.

“I had female relatives teaching me how not to eat like a bachelor too,” Iron said with a nod. “Saddle seems to like it. She says my spanakopita is wonderful. And she's not just being demure.”

“Radiance has embraced all things Eweish, besides just me,” Diamond said with a laugh, pressing the seasoned fungus into the small portions of dough and sealing them off. “She's learning my language, learning my customs, and wants to try out all the cuisine she can. I'm making her kugel after this.”

“Well, she'll have a lot of nice parting gifts when we take off,” Iron said, with a sudden frown.

“Right...” Diamond's fingers fumbled as he worked the dough around the fungus. “You know... why are we even doing this?”

“We need to live. Gotta eat, gotta have a roof over our heads...” Iron said, without passion.

“We're not starving or freezing in here,” Diamond noted.

“We took the money, we took the orders. We sealed the deal and both honor and reputation demand...” Iron began.

“'Honor and reputation'?” Diamond interrupted, in an incredulous voice. “Honor and reputation have nothing to do with this, not a thing.”

“Like it or not they do!” Iron shouted.

“They do not! This is a farce, a shameful action on both our parts! I promised I would do valiantly, and I have kept my word. Oh I've found our work questionable in some situations but never... I was never plainly disgusted,” Diamond said.

“We don't have the luxury of being disgusted right now. We took the money, we follow the orders. It's too late to think about being put off by the sketchy nature of the assignment,” Iron said, sternly.

“No name, no identity, no questions allowed... I should have made you ask a few questions at least. But I was so ready to come to a city, so ready to be somewhere nice. I just wanted something easy. But it was too easy right from the start,” Diamond sighed.

“You know we can't break this contract,” Iron mumbled.

“This wasn't technically part of it. We were to integrate ourselves, not...” Diamond looked down to his kreplach, his fingers having worked on automatic to make more and more of the little dumplings.

“Technicalities, huh? I know why you're worried. Do you think the goddess is going to let you out of a vow because of a technicality?” Iron asked, staring hard at Diamond.

Diamond shivered, his hands mangling the dumpling he had been forming. One thick fist slammed into the counter and he snarled. “If I do this I am sure She will take away my blessing. She will not tolerate what it is I do. I cannot just say to her, 'Forgive me, my Mother, for this. But... this transgressor is also suffering while violating your law. Surely that is enough?' She forgave my trespass before because she ordained it. I have no right to do it like this... but to break a promise after I swore to something using Her name, and by pledging my powers I did... I am trapped.”

“And for me, I've got nothing but reputation left. If I can't work the only option open to me is to march back to Hellas. Every hoplite in the nation will be there at the border to try and take me down. And eventually they will. They can take my fancy things back and throw my body in a ditch,” Iron said with a sigh.

Diamond finished with his dumplings, fingers fidgeting while tears just barely stood at the corners of his eyes. “So... what do we do?”

“What do we do? Well... you boil your little dumplings, make your dessert and feed that mare that's going to be crushed when you leave. And as for me, I'm going to go rub Saddle's back again, because she likes it. And because... however long or short my life ends up, however far away I have to be, I want that feeling burned into my memory, so I can remember it perfectly,” Iron said, with a surprisingly neutral tone, before he lumbered out of the kitchen, leaving Diamond alone, and softly weeping.

Over in Zapp's room the situation was much more cordial. She was down to her necklace and her headband, and was sitting at a flimsy card table. She was attempting to stare down a long, lanky earth pony in a red bow tie. He also wore a red vest, thick black-rimmed glasses, and a green visor. His coat was a dull beige and his mane a wan taupe. He was dealing out cards to himself and Zapp. On the table sat all of Zapp's uniform, as well as some chips.

“You know one more loss and...” The stallion started.

“I made the deal, I know what it means,” Zapp shouted, tapping the table so hard that she nearly brought it down. “Now get to the cards! I need to get my winning-train a-rolling!”

The stallion, named Slim Chance, nodded and adjusted his cards in his hoof. “Well, then show me what you have.”

Zapp threw down her cards and laughed. The most prominent thing in the cards was three fives. “Ha! Three of a kind! At least now I get the outfit back...”

Slim wagged a hoof at Zapp and showed what he had. Two sevens and three nines. “Full house.”

Zapp goggled at the result, completely boggled by the outcome. “Wh-what? I lost? How could I lose? I... I've been playing cards since I was little.”

“You took the risk. I may be an accountant, but I'm also banned from every casino in Las Pegasus that doesn't employ me,” Slim said smugly, stepping out from behind the table. His dark beige cock had dropped from his sheath, and it thump solidly against his belly. It was of a decent size, the flattened crown already shining with precum. “And I can take care of this. It's been up since we started.”

Zapp huffed and stood up, turning her ass around to Slim. Her heated pussy winked at him, shining with her juice through the unintended influence of her nature-centric necklace. The toned cheeks flexed a bit as her legs stepped out. “I saw. It's not that great, but I always pay my debts.”

Slim slipped up to the superheroine rear end, nudging his muzzle across the firm cheeks and rubbing his soft lips against the turgid clit. “Not as boney as I would have thought. That's good.”

“Boney?!” Zapp screamed, shaking her tightly muscular ass at Slim's face, pushing back and grinding her pussy against his mouth and snout. “That is all hard-toned gym-made muscle back there. I keep it packed!” She smacked a hoof off of her hard ass and snorted. “Boney... you want me to break off this agreement?”

Slim just grinned and whacked his own hoof off of the hard flank, with less force than Zapp herself had used. “You sound like that mare on the skyball team. She'd always ask me for math tutoring but she never wanted to do it.” He leaped up onto Zapp's back, clinging tightly to her sides, cock bobbing as his hips wildly thrust towards her rear.

“That explains it. You still wanna fuck her. Guess this'll be better, huh?” Zapp asked, dropping her front end and pushing her ass out more blatantly, half-directed by her necklace, and half into what was going on.

“I already did that. I helped her with her taxes, we went out, I finally got some,” Slim grunted out. His throbbing dick slid between the strong cheeks, sliding between them, the passage eased along by a coating of precum. He ground and rubbed his medial ring over Zapp's sex, flicking the bulbous ring off of her turgid clit.

Zapp grunted herself, teeth grinding hard for a moment. The influence of her necklace made her feel the throb and rub of the stallion meat all the more powerfully. She dropped her upper body all the more, bouncing her powerful rear legs to slide her cheeks up and down in staggered time with Slim's thrusts. “C-come on, nerd! Do it already! I wanna pay up!”

Slim cried out loud as he pulled his hips back and mashed the fat crown of his cock against Zapp's sloppy entrance. Her eager thrust back was responsible for the penetration, showing just how much she wanted it. Slim followed through with a moan and firm pump of his hips. “Yeah! You want it, don't you! You want it hard!”

“Ngh! I'm just paying up!” Zapp cried, smothering down a powerful moan. She couldn't stop her own sex, however. The passage squeezed and trembled on Slim's fair-sized dick, rolling over it, milking it, trembling with each shot of hot precum that splashed across the folded flesh.

Slim used what little muscle he had to force his dick into the welcoming, needful pussy, hips hitting the steely buns and balls thudding on Zapp's clit. He wasn't shy about moaning, throwing his head back, squeezing her sides tighter and trying his best to hammer his hips, though he was mostly at the mercy of Zapp's squeezing, clutching insides.

“Fuck!” Zapp screamed out, her head flicking back and her wings whipping open as Slim's nuts smacked her bulbous clit and sent a shock of pleasure up her spine. She unleashed a shuddering moan as her wings trembled in their rigid and inadvertent extension. “F-fuck! Damn it, why does this nerd's dick feel so good..?” She pushed her ass back and asked for more with a shake of her hips.

Matter-horn was in her room, also with a stallion that was not her match. She, too, was naked except for her goggles, and with an additional sweatband around her forehead. She was down on all fours, artificial wings removed, rear legs stretched back, and her front limbs desperately trying to push her up from the flood. Her voice trembled as she counted off. “Twenty-one... t-twenty-two... twenty... ungh... three...”

Standing over her was a burly earth stallion, all crossed with bulging muscles. His coat was bright white, while his mane was a dirty blond, cut in a short buzz. “Come on! Two more! Two more!”

Matter-horn groaned loudly, but pushed on, to make it to twenty-five. She collapsed onto the floor, panting hard, sweat glistening on her coat. “I... have certainly neglected my physicality. Th-thank you for your assistance, Coach Buck.”

Buck Bulk, coach of the Maretropolis Supers hoofball team, shook his head a little. “Glad I could help. I'm always ready to help the Power Ponies with anything they need.”

Matter-horn lifted herself from the floor slowly, making her way over to Buck. “Anything? That's very generous of you, coach. You're a good stallion.” She leaned up and in, softly pressing her lips against his.

Buck looked a little surprised, but slowly closed his eyes and just accepted the press of lips onto his. He gave a choked gasp as Matter-horn suddenly made the kiss stronger, her head twisting, mouth opening to slap her tongue over Buck's lips.

His own lips parted and took the mare's tongue into his mouth. His own strong, sloppy muscle slid into Matter-horn's mouth and lapping around. Her bulged out her cheeks, lapped over the back of her throat, tickled her uvula and rubbed along her teeth.

Matter-horn gurgled pleasantly, feeling confident about her awkward and obvious seduction. Her forward kiss and increase in passion seemed to be drawing the coach to keeping the smooching going. She gasped herself, however, when Buck's head pushed forward and made her look up at him. His mouth opened a little bit, tongue jabbing out and stirring lewdly in her mouth.

Hot spatters of saliva fell onto Matter-horn's face, as Buck waggled and stirred his tongue around inside of her mouth. It was not what she had expected, or was used to. It was a fairly crude and sloppy thing to do. But that was why she had brought the coach in, to experience the lewdness of an unashamed jock. Her mouth just closed tight around the tongue and sucked on it.

Buck pumped Matter-horn's mouth for a bit more before he withdrew his tongue with a loud, wet slurp. “Guess you want something else.”

Matter-horn awkwardly and a little stiffly dipped her head to kiss Buck's throat. She licked her way up and over his chin, copying something she had seen before. “Well, you're very handsome. Your muscular construction is extremely impressive and I would imagine you excel at the physical arts, particularly the carnal.”

Buck looked on Matter-horn for a moment, a blank look on his features. “Do you want to fuck or not?”

“Yes! Yes...” Matter-horn nodded eagerly, coughing into a hoof to regain her composure. “You're well-sculpted and I want to make use of that. I needed a quintessential jock and you fit the bill.”

“Let's see what else I can fit,” Buck said with a sly smile.

“A stallion of action, I see, just like a proper jock,” Matter-horn said with a grin and wink.

“Well, yeah, been a jock all my life. I knew girls like you, but I didn't think...” Buck started, before Matter-horn silenced him with a hoof.

“Not thinking is half the reason I want to see what you're like at this,” Matter-horn said with a grin and a wink. She turned around and showed her slim ass to Buck. She wasn't sculpted like Zapp, she just ate sensible meals and had genes to make a body with a slender overall figure. Her sex was quite moist, framed by the thighs that glistened with unaccustomed sweat.

Buck clopped closer to Matter-horn, heavy, dropped dick slapping meatily against his belly. The sound rang around the room, as did his grunts. He leans down to shove his blocky snout against Matter-horn's juicy sex, his tongue sliding out to lap over it. He took a few long, hard swiped, rubbing his lips and teeth against the heated folds every few licks. “I can do it without thinking. That's easy.”

“Mount me! Ignore any doubts, questions and concerns and mount me,” Matter-horn cried, shaking her rear a little against Buck's face. She considered something for a moment and added, “I'm clean! Don't worry about that.”

Buck slurped a few more times over Matter-horn's lips, concluding with a lip-press on her clit. “Alright. But if you collapse you asked for it.” He reared up and landed on top of Matter-horn. Or would have had his thick front legs not touched the floor. Her lowered front end and general small stature meant Buck was capable of mounting without resting on her back. His hips swung strongly, stabbing his blunt-topped pole at the air, and occasionally hitting Matter-horn's backside with the strength of a spank.

Matter-horn cried out, in a combination of surprise and lust. Her front half went down more while her rear pushed up more. Her rear legs stepped out even more, to give her the ideal tripod stance. “H-hook your legs, grab me. Even if you do collapse me you can hold me up with your hind legs.”

Buck thumped and spanked Matter-horn with his rigid pole a few more times before he made contact with her sopping passage. The fat crown was quite outsized compared to the space it wanted to enter. But his burly hips worked with hard thrusts, forcing the blunt mushroom through the constricting opening.

Matter-horn thrust her ass back, hard, adding another inch of penetration all on her own while she gave a high, delighted squeal. Her snug passage clamped down, pulling and squeezing the thick cock, intent on drawing it deeper into the warm tunnel. “I'm a super!” She gasped out. “Hammer me! I won't get hurt, just feel sore in the morning!”

Buck responded with a deep grunt, forelegs curling up to take a firm hold of Matter-horn's sides. He pulled back slightly, lifting her a little as he shifted his weight to his rear legs. Each thrust of his hips pounded another bit of his length into Matter-horn's packed pussy, while jostling her body hard. He used his forelegs as extra muscle, dragging down on Matter-horn to stuff himself in good and hard.

Matter moaned loud and high, head thrown about in delight. Her walls were stretched, and squeezed down on the throbbing length out of a natural tightness as well as concentrated compression. “Yes! Ride me! Ride me like the muscle-minded jock you are! This is what you missed in math class! Give me all your strength!”

Buck didn't take issue with the descriptor. He liked an eager mare, and his muscles were a point of pride. He showed just what kind of muscles he had by squeezing down on Matter-horn's sides all the harder, and working his forelegs to pull and push her body off and on his turgid tool. He rammed her down to the base of his pole then yanked her up to the tip, making sure his medial ring loudly slurped as it passed through her entrance.

Matter-horn's eyes rolled up in her head and her mouth hung open, tongue all but flopped out. The brainless lust of Buck's fucking was fresh and exciting. He was delivering every ounce of strength he had, drilling away at her clenching tunnel like he was trying to strike oil. His grip, and the rock-solid thump of his hips, would have bruised a normal mare, but her superpowered robustness ensured she was not feeling the effects. They just added to the hard, unthinking rutting. “Harder! Stop holding back! Show me your muscles!”

Buck wordlessly obliged, his lust-clouded brain on auto-pilot and responding only to cues that were easy to understand. He pushed his body forward, hard, resting on Matter-horn's back and freeing his legs from the duty of support. His put all his strength into thrusts, muscles working like coiled springs. He drew back and slammed forward again, hammering into her, loudly slapping his hips off of her slender ass. His heavy and long-hanging nuts swung low, momentum and size carrying them to her belly, where them thumped firmly against Matter-horn's modest, milk-swollen teats.

Matter-horn's legs trembled as she carried Buck's lustfully thrusting form, screams and squeals of utter delight pouring from her mouth as she got a mindless rutting. Buck was like an instinct-driven animal, and all his unrestrained strength was being used to great effect, giving her the hammering of her life.

Fili-second, for her part, was making her way down the corridors of the HQ, talking to herself. She was moving at what was, for her, a very glacial pace. “Between Jo and Mare-velous getting married, Matter-horn and Zapp having sex, Mane-iac and the new arrivals... there's just no focus available for a cheery party nut.”

She entered a large meeting room with a metal oval table and walls of dark computer screens. In that room were six males of toned and strong construction. Three midnight blue stallions, a unicorn, a pegasus and an earth pony; a tall-bodied puce Dimaond Dog; a darkly furred buffalo bull; and a light gray donkey. All six were clothed in matching yellow bodysuits. The earth pony stood up when Fili entered and smiled. “Well hello. So you're the liaison?”

Fili giggled at that and waved a hoof. “That's so... formal! And stuffy. Zapp hired you but she's a little busy right now, she lost at poker and has to have unprotected sex with an accountant. Matter-horn's the wedding planner and could help but she hired a personal trainer so she could have sex with him. I'm the only one not going through character development or raunchy sex right now.”

The casual statement left the whole crew looking quite nonplussed. The earth pony shook his head and continued. “Well... at least we're working with someone with a good sense of humor. I'm Rock. My associates, Rail, Rush, Rex, Rumble and Rod.” The named ones nodded in turn, unicorn, pegasus, Dog, buffalo and donkey. “And we're Big Shots. I guess we're up for consideration for a party?”

“Yupyupyup!” Fili chirped, rushing around the six males to get a look from all angles. “Zapp's in charge of Mare-velous' bachelorette party. It was a tough choice but she wanted it raunchy rather than crazy. I do cray-cray, she does way-hey!”

The men all laughed and winked at one another, nudging each other and nodding some. “Well now, that's our specialty. We give the bride a little show and her friends get to be completely shameless for a night,” Rock said.

“See, I would have just rented a club, hired two DJs and loaded us up on booze and frosted things. Zapp is the one that knows where to get the best eye-candy. I'm kind of surprised that she thought to get you!” Fili said.

“And, uh, why is that, exactly?” Rush asked.

“Because this is the kind of brilliant thing that Matter-horn would do, not Zapp. Thanks to local conditions this is a perfect group. Mare-velous is marrying a donkey, Radiance is seeing a Diamond Dog, Saddle is seeing a minotaur, which is a kind of bovine, and then three ponies for me, Matter-horn and Zapp! It's all our personal tastes!” Fili squeaked out, rushing around the group again to admire their bodies in the tight outfits.

“We're diverse, to suit every taste. Looks like we fit it just right,” Rock said with a confident sweep of his dark mane.

“You just need a dragon. Mane-iac is all cuckoo for Hum Drum, rather than just regular cuckoo like she used to be. But six out of seven is super! I think you might get the job,” Fili said with a big smile.

“'Might'? You just said we were perfect,” Rod said with some incredulity.

“Oh, well you look good and you're probably very talented, but since I get to pick I'll judge my own way,” Fili said. She once more zipped to the six men but ran amongst them rather than around them. While fractions of a second passed for them, her super-sped senses registered some rather languid moments. She found and worked the catches on their bodysuits, peeling them open and as far off as she could get without forcibly manipulating their limbs. She also stripped her own outfit off, letting her whole mane bounce free and liberating her sweets-fattened flanks. Her metabolism may have been a superpowered blur, but her fat deposits were genetic. She returned to her position, naked and with a serious case of bedroom eyes. “The fun way.”

The men all gave a blink from the rush of air and the blur that was Fili. They looked down at themselves on seeing Fili was nude, and saw all of their outfits were wide open. They were professionals about it, shrugging off their bodysuits and leaving them in simple, bright yellow, extremely bulged thongs. Rock struck a pose, the others following suit. “Gotta do a casting couch for this job, eh? Sounds good.”

Fili zipped over to Rex and pushed her face up solidly against his crotch, letting the bulging posing pouch bounce and bobble against her grinning face. “Mmm, I've never been done by a Dog before. This feels good...” Her thick tongue dragged slowly over the lycra attire, tracing over the curved tube and the large ovoid nuts behind it.

Rex was about to put his hands on the back of Fili's head, but he found her gone. She had stuffed herself beneath Rumble and was rubbing the bridge of her snout over the generous, hanging yellow pouch. Her tongue slurped slowly over that as well, in the rear, tracing along the cleft between the two heavy stones. With another blur she was gone again, coming back into view with her tongue sliding along Rod's yellow thong. Before her tongue had even finished sliding up the tube of his sheath she was away licking at Rock's, then then Rush's and Rail's.

“I think we should cut to the chase,” Rex said, his undergarment already starting to plump up and bulge. He hooked his thumbs into the strings, pulling forward and down, in a smooth and practiced motion. The half-stiff Dog dick bounced into view, his dark puce nuts resting against his thighs.

The other men followed suit in their own ways. Rumble flexed his muscles in a particular way and stomped his rear legs, the thong sliding off on its own. Rod did a similar bit of flexing and moving, then heaved a double-leg kick at the air, sending his thong flying off. Rail used his magic to make the material simply vanish and reappear on Fili's snout. Rush did a flip and roll in the air, using a hoof to whip off his thong and toss it at Fili as he landed.

Rock stood on his hind legs, and hopped his way forward, making the bulging pouch wobble and shake around wildly. He approached Fili, who was standing still for the moment. He got right up in her face, thrusting himself at her, showing off his swelling length, which had risen past the top of the material. “Peel it down with your teeth,” he grunted out.

Fili didn't even bother to take the discarded thongs off of her face as she complied. Her pearly whites gripped the top of the thong, while her snout pressed firmly against the plumping, swelling pony pole. Her excited breath puffed hotly over the semi-soft shaft, and she rubbed it up and down a little bit.

She followed through eventually, however. She dragged the stretchy material down slowly, her velvety snout following through. She gave a quick nuzzle to the base of his shaft, right at the point where balls met sheath. She also snuffled directly over his testicles when she passed them, warming them with her breath and sucking in big lungfuls of musky air.

Her teeth released as the thong reached Rock's legs, and slipped smoothly down to the ground. She buried her face in his crotch again, and moaned as she filled her scenes with the scent of arousal. Her open mouth wrapped around his testicles, the cavernous pie-hole able to draw in both heavy spheres and suckle strongly while she ground her snout on his flesh and had her eyes rolling back into her head.

No words were needed for the coordination of a gang bang. The guys knew how to work together. Rex was already behind Fili, one hand holding her tail base, the other grinding his strong fingers between her thighs. His knuckles ground at the dewy folds of her sex, and the rounded, blunt nubs of his claws flicked teasingly at the eager bulge of her clit.

A few passes of knuckles and claws and his head leaned in. His tongue bathed her backside in warmth, and pressed in with a surprising strength. Sex and sphincter were washed in the slick saliva, the firm and flexible muscle offering her puffy ring a flick before focusing on the real prize. He lavished attention on the hot slit, practically slapping his tongue down hard on the plump muff.

He parted the sticky petals and roughly stuffed his questing tongue down into Fili's depths, earning a ball-muffled squeal of pleasure from her. He pulled her tail higher, without hurting her, and placed a hand on a fattened flank to steady himself. His nose ground against the slick space below her ass, huffing out hot breaths to tease the saliva he had left with his licking.

The oral attention from behind made Fili slurp loud and lewd over the nuts in her mouth, her improbably broad tongue sliding around them over and over, rubbing slowly. She pulled her head back to release them with an audible 'pop', giving them a parting lick to gather up some of of the saliva left behind. She didn't miss a beat, but slipped the wide tongue up Rock's pole, sliding around his mushroom crown when she reached the top and planting a kiss on it.

Her soft, plump, pillow-like lips wrapped securely around the flared head of the cock, and she once more began to suckle strongly, while sending her tongue to bathe over the flesh. She ground the tip of her tongue against his cum-channel, groaning through her nose as the first fitful spit of salty precum spattered over her tastebuds. She sucked harder for a moment, rewarded with a throaty groan from Rock and another, more substantial, squirt of musky precum over her teasing tongue.

Rex drew his tongue from Fili with a slow deliberateness, and lapped once more up and over her anus. He rose up to a squat, slapping his heavy erection up against her clit, bouncing off of her button and getting another squeal. He didn't tease after that, just mashed his rounded cockhead against the freshly licked lips and slammed forward, driving in half his length with a singly hard thrust.

Fili responded by clapping down with all her might, walls constricting over the thick piece of Dog meat. She also thrust her head downward, gagging on purpose as Rock's head made contact with her throat. Her fat, flattish tongue slithered from her mouth and swirled around the throbbing flesh, her puffy lips meeting his medial ring in a lewd kiss, broken by sudden, needy thrusts from Rock.

She see-sawed herself between the two horny men, both of whom had lost themselves in moans and grunts of pleasure and effort. She choked down the plump pony pole, working her way down towards the bottom, while Rex rammed and reamed her pulling passage. She drew the Dog dick deep, until his muscular hips were slapping solidly off of her thick butt. Her milky teats bounced and jostled under her, a little liquid dripping from the nipples.

As Fili worked the two horndogs up into a frenzy she briefly looked past Rock, when she could, to the others eagerly waiting their turn. If she worked them right she could probably get off at least once, maybe twice, before she rendered them too sore and exhausted to move. Then she'd hire them. It wasn't much, but it was at least a little attention.

Segment Nine: Wedding Belle's Blues

The day that everyone in Power Ponies HQ had been waiting for had finally arrived. With Zapp's bachelorette party done, and with a few days of recovery time, the time had come to test the effectiveness of Matter-horn and her ability to plan a wedding.

Given that it was the Power Ponies, the biggest deal in Maretropolis, it was the social event of the year, possibly the decade. The streets bristled with cops keeping the paparazzi in line, both the local reporters and stringers, and the out-of-towners who rushed in to snap photos and talk to anyone that would speak into a microphone. The local prison and asylum were reinforced with military personnel, to prevent escapes or riots that might ruin the affair.

The ceremony was being held at the Temple of the Great Sisters, which Matter-horn managed to swing through clout and confidence in equal amounts. The grand temple sat at the heart of the oldest and most affluent part of the city. It was a grand edifice that merged the icons and style of the sisters, dark basalt twining with the polished marble. Golden sun motifs merged into silver moons.

Inside, the unity continued. Rather than dividing the space into separate spaces for the sisters the artwork, from frescoes to stained glass, was about both of them. The pews were all padded stone seats, alternating basalt and marble. The carpet down the middle was a merging of swirled gold and silver, which led to a large altar composed of marble and basalt, set with candles. Behind it on the wall was the classic national image of the sisters dancing around one another.

The entry of folk was being tightly controlled. It consequently made the crowd within very small, looking even smaller in the titanic temple. The Power Ponies, minus Mare-velous, were standing at the head of the aisle, all in matching peach-colored gowns. Hum Drum, Iron Willie and Diamond Dong were on the opposite side of the aisle, wearing tuxedos over their normal attire. Mane-iac was sitting in the audience, with Sassy sitting beside her in a baby carrier. The other children were also there, tended to by primly dressed hired help. Also in the audience were several country-looking earth ponies, who occasionally scowled across the aisle at several donkeys.

“So... boring...” Zapp said, feigning weariness.

“Zapp, show some decorum!” Radiance hissed, sotto voce. “We are here for our dear friend.”

“Oh come on. You might be into this junk, but I was just in it for the strippers. Damn that was good,” Zapp said, grinning lecherously, licking her lips at the memory.

“Well... at the very least now you see the appeal of Diamond Dogs,” Radiance said with a teasing voice. “And all of that without him taking off his thong. There are many advantages...”

“I'm still all about ponies... maybe zebras and donkeys too. That dude last night was awesome. Mare-velous is lucky I didn't try to jump Jo...” Zapp said

“Zapp!” Matter-horn hissed. “You don't talk about wishing you had seduced your best friend's fiance when you're standing there as a bridesmaid at her wedding!”

“Chillax, I'm just horny and hot. Still feelin' that buffalo bucking me around on his back. That guy was really built. And he could really move,” Zapp said, continuing to grin.

“Ugh, Zapp... you're such a jock...” Matter-horn muttered.

“I would say 'uncouth' but I suppose that suffices,” Radiance said with a sniff. “You don't see the groomsmen acting in such a manner.”

“Of course not! They're all soft and sensitive. They cook, and open doors, and talk about feelings and junk. I'm amazed they can even fuck...” Zapp said with a shake of her head.

“I rise in defense of J- in defense of Diamond! Saddle, forgive me for speaking out of turn and for you, but I would suspect that Iron is quite a lover if he is even half as... passionate as Diamond is,” Radiance said, with a small blush tinting her cheeks.

“He, um... he's very nice. He's very... strong...” Saddle said, blushing quite deeply.

“Okay, fine, they can screw, but I'll bet they still did something lame. Hum Drum was the one in charge, after all. I like the guy, but he's a lightweight. And the rest of them, even Jo, would go along with it,” Zapp said.

Several Days Earlier...

Hum Drum, Diamond, Iron and Jo all stood, transfixed in delight. They were in Cheerful Chip's Indoor Petting Zoo. They had tossed some feed to the goats and were watching as the odd-eyed creatures munched on it. All four then moved over to the rabbits, who wiggled their noses up at the four males.

Hum Drum, Diamond and Iron reached down to each pick up a rabbit, while Jo just leaned his head down to nuzzle at one of them. They seemed transported in bliss, snuggling and stroking the fluffy creatures, who seemed shocked at seeing the various big men acting so kindly towards them.

“I would imagine this seems strange. Other people probably think it's wrong that big, burly guys have a great love for bunnies and other soft, adorable creatures,” Iron said as he stroked his hand over the little white rabbit.

“History will prove those folks to be heartless bastards,” Diamond said, softly tickling his bunny's belly.

“Ain't that the truth?” Jo asked, gently nudging a sleepy rabbit. “There ain't nothing wrong with lovin' a cute lil critter. Ah mean, ain't love supposed ta be grand?”

“He's right, but he's a little biased. He's getting hitched,” Hum Drum said, snuggling the bunny in his arms.

“Yeah... that sure does make the world all bright an' purdy...” Jo said with a dreamy expression.

“It's a nice change of pace from what mercs are expected to do. I'd much rather do this than hang out in a dirty bar with deafening music,” Diamond said.

“It's a perfect fit fer mah mood. Jes walkin' on a cloud, waitin' ta marry Marvy and live happily ever after,” Jo said with a happy sigh.

“And this night is just beginning. After we settle up with Chip we can head out to get extra-thick chocolate milkshakes and some grub,” Hum Drum said.

The suggestion was met with general hoots and cheers of delight.

“That was some party,” Hum Drum said, shaking his head. “Fuzzy animals and milkshakes. I wish I could do that more often.”

“No reason you can't. It's not that far to Chip's. I've taken Saddle there a few times, just walking,” Iron said softly.

“It's not as much fun alone. It's not even as much fun with the girls, or Mane-iac. I dunno if this makes sense, but sometimes it's nice hanging out with some guys who get me. I mean, maybe you two and Jo can join me for some guys' nights. You're going to be around a lot,” Hum Drum noted.

“What makes you say that?” Diamond asked, looking suddenly worried.

“Oh come on. Saddle and Radiance as super happy now. And you two can barely stop smiling. We have extra rooms we can convert for you or, well, look at this. You'd probably leap at the chance to marry them,” Hum Drum said.

“I would if I could...” Diamond mumbled softly, taking a jab in the ribs from Iron.

“It's a tough decision. And it takes a while to get that all figured out. You're not engaged to Mane-iac yet, are you?” Iron asked gruffly.

“No,” Hum Drum sighed, looking to Mane-iac in the audience. “She keeps saying things aren't right yet and that she needs more time to think about everything. But, she loves Sassy, she likes the other girls and... she likes sex with me, so it might happen someday. Maybe sooner than I think.”

“I'm certain something will happen sooner than you think...” Diamond muttered, getting another jab from Iron.

“Really? Right here?” Iron hissed softly to Diamond.

“Don't be so cold-hearted! I'm going to... we're both going to pay a price beyond any amount of money. Let me be maudlin for a minute,” Diamond hissed back.

“If I let you, you won't go through with it,” Iron noted.

“And what about you? I thought you were the one fixed on life and love and happiness,” Diamond said with some venom.

“When I have the luxury to be concerned about that, I will be, wholeheartedly. For now, I have other problems,” Iron replied.

“Weddings are such a drag. It's why I'm never getting married,” Zapp said, rather smugly.

Matter-horn rolled her eyes shook her head. “Right, Zapp. That's why you're not getting married. It's not your arrogant attitude, your pushy nature, your frequent malapropisms, your boasting, your drinking or the fact that you'll have sex with anyone that can get that necklace to get you wet. It's because you think weddings are boring.”

“I know! Isn't it a shame no guy will ever experience that awesomeness, just because weddings have to be so dull?” Zapp asked, with a smug pose.

“I-I don't... this is a new depth, even for Zapp...” Matter-horn said, hanging her head in defeat.

“When is it going to start?” Saddle asked Radiance in a whisper.

“It shouldn't be long at all...” Radiance started to respond, her ears perking as an organ started to play. “Ah! There we are! That music indicates Jo should be up momentarily.”

All eyes went to the back of the temple, watching as Jo entered the room. His coat was practically glowing, being well brushed and conditioned. He was wearing a tuxedo that looked very odd on his bulky and muscular form. He still did his best to look calm and natural, strolling up the central aisle as the music played around him.

He slowly climbed his way to the altar, standing a short distance from his groomsmen. “Well, fellers, this this it. Me 'n' Marvy... getting' hitched.”

“It's been a long time coming, from what you've said,” Diamond said, a strained smile pulling on his features beneath the hood. “I hope you enjoy it.”

“It's Marvy. Ah'm gonna love it,” Jo said confidently.

“It's gonna be good having you around HQ. I was just telling these two we can go out to Chip's, and then for milkshakes. We can have guys' nights when the girls get busy,” Hum Drum said.

“Nothing was set in stone. It's not a bad idea but it's just not that certain,” Iron said, giving a thumbs up and smiling nervously.

“Gonna be a pleasure ta hang out with some fellers that know how ta have a real good time without getting' drunk 'r gawkin' at women,” Jo noted.

The music changed, and once more all eyes were drawn to the back of the temple. Mare-velous was looking completely different. While she still had her hood, her face was further covered by a white satin veil. She had on a white dress, that was not too puffy, but well beyond her usual. The sleeves were modestly puffed, the silken midsection was strung with pearls in artistic patterns, and the bell portion was hanging taffeta. As she walked, formal white heels would be seen on her rear hooves, while the front hooves were bare.

Mare-velous slowly made her way up the aisle, smiling happily behind her veil. She shot a sharp glance to her family, the collection of them looking down guiltily. She snorted softly in their direction then turned a smile on her friends, and Jo.

A pegasus priest of the Sisters had stepped up to the altar, and was adjusting his vestment, made of merged gold and silver threads, depicting the state symbol. He opened his copy of the Harmonious Scriptures and spread his wings in benediction. “Welcome, to all of you, to this most wonderful happening. We are here, as you know well, to join in harmonious union this mare and this jack. This is a very special event, being that she is one of the Power Ponies, who protect this fair city. To join in union one so strong and dedicated is truly...”

“Ah don't mean ta be a bother, preacher, but this here is mah day, and ah've been separated from th' one an' only jack in the world ah can love for years. Ah ain't too inclined ta wait much more,” Mare-velous said, with a bit sternness.

The priest cleared his throat and flipped through his book quickly. “Very well then, let us get to this ceremony. I understand you have written your own vows. Please recite them now.”

“Ugh, and now sappy vows,” Zapp grumbled.

“Wow... even I know why you're not getting married,” Fili-second said with a glance aside at Zapp.

“Jo... when ya left the farm it was like mah heart left with ya. The sun didn't shine so bright and the stars didn't sparkle so nice when ah laid in bed and cried over yer leavin'. Ah left 'cause nothin' was holdin' me there. Then ah came here and still loved ya, more than ah had when ah was on the farm. Now that ah know it was mah family that made ya go, ah look back an' see ah was never meant ta be there. Ah was always supposed ta come here, get famous and find ya again. Jo, ah promise that ah'll love ya extra hard, ta make up fer lost time. Ah'll love ya, be with ya, stand with ya, fer as long as we live. Sick or well, rich or poor, nothin's takin' ya from me again,” Mare-velous said, looking to Jo with love.

“Marvy... when yer kin told me ta leave ah knew why. When ah had ta leave ya mah heart cracked ta pieces. Ah never felt anythin' like ah did fer you. Mah life weren't none too bright when ah lost ya. But ah never fergot ya. When ah saw ya getting' famous an' fightin' crime ah cheered. Ah told everyone ah met ah used ta work on yer family farm. But ah stayed away. Ah figgered ya had moved on ta better folk, that ya had some rich and handsome feller givin' ya all ya ever wanted. When ya called me... ya gave me back mah heart, Marvy. And ah wanna be there fer ya. Even if we get poor or sick, ah'll be there. 'Cause when we're together, ain't nothing too bad we can't take it,” Jo said, eyes shining with barely suppressed tears.

The priest smiled brightly and nodded. “Now, do you, Mistress Mare-velous...”

“Jes call me 'Marvy', preacher. It's good enough fer Jo, it's good enough fer everyone,” Mare-velous said with a blush.

The priest cleared his throat and nodded. “Do you, Marvy, take Jo to be your lawfully and harmoniously married husband?”

“Ah do,” Mare-velous replied.

“And do you, Jo, take Mis- Er, Marvy, to be your lawfully and harmoniously married bride?” The priest asked.

“Ah surely do,” Jo answered.

The priest smiled and nodded. “If anyone should know why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

“I know of no specific reasons, though she does have a child out of wedlock,” Mane-iac said, rising from the pew. “But I have a reason for stealing the smile off their faces. All of their faces.” She pointed to the Power Ponies with a trembling hoof. “I'll rain on your parade...”

“Uhh... Hum Drum? What's up with your batscat marefriend?” Zapp asked.

“C-come on... just sit down. I promise, even if Matter-horn arranged the reception the food'll be good. And free champagne. I mean, I don't drink much but I guess you'll like it...” Hum Drum said, walking forward towards Mane-iac. As he moved, Iron and Diamond moved as well, going to Radiance and Saddle.

“Oh be quiet you simpering dragon! I know you believe your kindness will reach me, and that you're nice to Sassy and you love her and love me... no! I said be quiet! I had been plotting revenge since I was released! Now is my chance to do it! I will destroy this day, just as you destroyed so many of my days!” Mane-iac screamed.

“You're pure evil ya crazy mutant!” Zapp screamed, leaping into the air and flapping her wings.

“You're also restrained,” Matter-horn noted with a sage nod. “I don't think you'll be ruining any days, as premarital sex isn't grounds for halting a marriage.”

“Funny story...” Mane-iac whipped her mane and tail around, the unobtainium bands sliding off and clanging loudly on the ground. “Seems that dragon semen and these have a strange reaction. They got looser the more I worked in. I could have struck days ago but I wanted to wait for this perfect moment!”

“You helped her get out?! What is wrong with you?” Zapp shouted at Hum Drum.

“I-I didn't know! I thought she just liked having sex with me!” Hum Drum stammered, looking fearfully at the loosed tendrils.

“I'm big enough to confess, it was delicious. You enjoyed when I sat on your face or your back, and even if I never let you finish anywhere but over me you know how to work a mare. It's a pity it has to end,” Mane-iac cackled, rising up on her tendrils.

The crowd in the pews panicked, both families rising up and running, screaming from the temple. The caretakers of the foals likewise cut and run, leaving the babies crying loudly. Sassy, too, started to cry, but a simple tendril-stroke from Mane-iac made her calm down at least a small bit.

“That will not be- wait! What is this?!” Radiance started to activate her bracelet, hidden under her bridesmaid dress, when Diamond grabbed it and pulled it from around her leg. “J-jarl..?”

Diamond gritted his teeth and pulled at his attire, tearing both his robe and body suit partly away. “The name is Diamond Dong. And I'm just a mercenary... in the employ of a client named the Mane-iac...”

“No. You can't be...” Radiance sobbed, looking at Diamond with huge eyes.

“Sidero... no...” Saddle turned her head to Iron, who had similarly removed his plated bodysuit.

“We took the money. We took the contract. And I promise when I have the luxury I'll hate myself,” Iron said, muscles bulging and swelling.

“You lied to me. I... hate... liars!” Saddle screamed, her powers activating. She thrashed about as her muscles swelled, the rage of betrayal surging through her. She leaped at Iron as soon as she had finished growing, battering and rubbing against him. He staggered back but did not seem unduly affected.

“We've beaten you up when you had way more minions,” Zapp said, a storm cloud surging overhead. “Down boy!” She screamed at Diamond, sending a lightning bolt at him.

Diamond's body flashed with brilliant light and the bolt crackled against him, without a trace of harm. “I'm an insulator. A giant block of magical carbon,” he said, standing proudly in the aftermath of the hit.

Matter-horn charged up her horn and fired off a beam at Diamond. “Then take this!”

The beam struck Diamond's body and seemed to be absorbed by it. It looked to be bouncing around through his insides, slightly slower than it had been moving when fired. “That may be magic, but it's also light. I know where all my internal reflectors are...” He stretched out his hand towards Zapp and adjusted his stance. The beam bounced up his arm and out his palm, striking at Zapp's chest and knocking her to the ground.

“Zapp!” Matter-horn cried, rushing to her fallen friend. “S-stop them, Fili!”

“I'm on it!” Fili zipped off quickly, attacking Iron with rapid kicks and stomps, moving over his expanded body as he grappled with the enraged Saddle. During one assault on his arm he flicked the limb quickly, sending Fili flying off to slam into a wall, leaving her dazed.

“I paid them to come in and earn your trust. I never expected they would get so... close. Isn't it delicious? The betrayal, the pain. Taste my pain, Power Ponies!” Mane-iac screamed, whipping her tendrils around to crack the pews and snap in the air. “Those tears you're going to shed are mine! This is your reward!”

Matter-horn rose up and charged a beam. “What are you talking about? This is beyond anything sensible, this goes well past any rivalry and competition! This is... evil! You've never been this monstrous!”

“You forced me to do this, Power Ponies!” Mane-iac snarled, whipping a tendril out to attack Matter-horn.

Matter-horn dodged the attack and fired her beam. “How?!” Diamond stepped into the path of the beam, caught it with his diamond form and fired it back at Matter-horn, catching her in the chest and sending her tumbling.

“What in tarnation are ya talkin' about?” Mare-velous cried, standing protectively in front of Jo and reaching for hoofarangs that weren't there.

Mane-iac lashed out with her tendrils, ripping the dress of Mare-velous and wrapping the squirming tentacles around the other mare's legs. “I have been humiliated enough. Debased. Shamed. Now I'll teach you all what it feels like to lose so spectacularly!”

“You gitcher tentacles off mah-!” Jo attempted to rush forward but was slapped across the mouth, the tendrils wrapping up his legs as well.

“You told me your little secrets. Your new shame. While you were just 'dishing' with the girls. You can't have sex properly until marriage, eh?” Mane-iac queried darkly. Her tendrils slithered up Mare-velous' rear legs, caressing them almost sensually.

“Whoa, nellie! Whatcha think yer doin' there?” Mare-velous cried out, struggling hard and squirming around as the tendrils caressed over her puffy sex, gathering up drops of fluid. It looked like she had been working herself over before the ceremony.

“How deliciously improper. You must have been watching him. You're really desperate for this. I think I'm doing you a favor...” Mane-iac cooed wickedly. She continued to slide and tickle her tendril tips along the winking slit, occasionally wrapping one around Mare-velous' clit and squeezing lightly. She started twisting two of the tentacles together, wrapping them around and around to get them knobby and thick.

The combined tentacles ground and squirmed against the heated, trembling slit, sliding up and down in the divot and seeming ready to enter. There came a pause and a sudden thrust, the twined tendrils mashing the fleshy, semi-pointed tip against Mare-velous' puffy pucker. The gathered mare honey helped ease things along as Mane-iac twisted and rammed the writhing tentacles into Mare-velous' well-used ass.

With Jo being a frequent user of her back door she wasn't incapable of taking something as modest as the two tendrils, but with her trying to fight it, every inch was a struggle and strain. Mare-velous huffed and groaned out loudly in frustration and subtle pain. “Get... outta... mah ass!” Mare-velous cried out, her muscular body squirming around as she attempted to break free of the restraining mutated mane and tail.

“This wouldn't hurt so much if you gave in. You've confessed just how often you've let your precious Jo ream your rear end! If that donkey's pole could fit in there I could probably fit my hoof in there. Just give in, it will make this much less of a struggle, for both of us,” Mane-iac laughed, twisting the pair of tendrils around and drilling away at Mare-velous' anus. It was a struggle, but she was managing little by little.

“And ta think ah was sayin' good things about ya at mah bachelor party!” Jo cried, tossing his body all over, using his muscular force to try and wrench himself out of the bindings. “Ah told that dragon he was mighty lucky ta have a lady that wanted ta be a good momma! But her jes a beast!”

“Are you upset because I forgot you? Oh don't worry, I could never forget about you. You're an important part of this plan...” Two more tendrils, having gathered up more of Mare-velous' dripping arousal, twisted around one another and snaked their way to Jo's rear. The intrusive tentacles briefly caressed and squeezed over his fat, dark-colored sac before slithering under his tail to prod and tickle his own tight and wrinkled sphincter.

“Wh-what? What're ya doin' to mah- Ahhh!” Jo let out a tremendous bray of surprise and pain as the merciless tentacles crammed themselves into his unprotected back door. Unlike Mare-velous he lacked super powered strength. His own muscles weren't enough to put up a good resistance to Mane-iac's twisting, insistent tentacles. The thick bundles pounded in deep, stimulating him as had never been done before.

“You guys never like to admit how much you enjoy this. Hum Drum seemed to, and now I see you do,” Mane-iac cooed, watching Jo's impressive donkey dick slip from its sheath and wag in the air for a moment. An involuntary twitch slapped it heavily against his belly, making it firm up a bit. Experimental twisting and grinding of the anal-invading tentacles showed Mane-iac how to force Jo to slap, getting his rock hard and groaning in forced pleasure in no time.

“What're ya doin' ta him? You let him alone! Yer fight's with me! You let Jo go!” Mare-velous screamed, redoubling her efforts to try and escape. Her closed-eyed, teeth-gritted focus was broken when she felt a hoof brush against her strong flank. She snapped open her eyes and saw Jo lifted above her back, his thick erection occasionally slapping against his belly, flinging precum all over himself and her. “Yer... yer gonna...”

“You are the one that confessed that it was improper. I'm just going to used that information. My little sexual puppets, you will know that my revenge is powerful,” Mane-iac whispered, heavily resting Jo's chest on Mare-velous' rear end, and sliding the heavy donkey forward.

“Ah'm so sorry, Marvy... this ain't mah doin'...” Jo said sadly, body squirming and struggling with all his might. He tossed his head and bulged his muscles in an attempt to break free. Nothing helped. He was drawn inexorably forward on Mare-velous' back.

“Ah know it ain't yer fault, Jo! Ah know, ah kn- ngh!” Mare-velous grunted sharply as Jo's cockhead pressed against her molested mound. The twitching of his hips made the rod bobble and swish around, missing the mark more often than not, and thumping the fat, flared crown against her sensitive clit more than a few times.

“You shouldn't keep her waiting. Hold still!” Mane-iac wrapped a tentacle around Jo's organ, right at the medial ring, squeezing it tightly and pulling on it to get it to hold still. With the bouncing shaft of flesh immobilized she dragged Jo forward again, making that thick tip mash against the wet and prepared folds. Another pull forced the tip in, the flesh squeezed down by Mare-velous' passage.

“Ah! M-marvy...” Jo groaned out, eyes squeezed tight, teeth grinding. “Marvy...”

“Oh yes, Marvy, remember, he's not in control. Squeeze too hard and you'll destroy this cock you've been wanting all your life,” Mane-iac whispered to Mare-velous, laughing as she pulled Jo further, getting a pained bray from the action.

“Curse yer mind, Mane-iac... ah'm sorry Jo...” Mare-velous grunted out. Her walls loosened, jut a bit. Just enough that Jo's dick could slide down, slow and smooth. There was some resistance, but there was more caressing. The passage rolled and pulled on the desired donkey dong. Despite herself, Mare-velous let out a long, low moan, and her fluid flowed all the more heavily.

The tendril around Jo's medial ring slowly untwined as the bump of flesh approached the juicy snatch. Another hard pull on both of them plunged the ridge through, more than half of the grand cock sunk deep inside the moaning and struggling mare. Jo grunted and huffed through his teeth, shaking his head and thrashing his body atop Mare-velous. Both of them were trying so hard to fight against the pleasure of the tentacles pumping and drilling at their rear passages, but their continued arousal showed it was a losing battle.

During the molestation of Jo and Mare-velous Iron and Diamond had been busy. They had snuck unobtainium bindings into the temple and quickly had the Power Ponies secured. Zapp's necklace was taken from her, and placed with Radiance's bracelet. Matter-horn was directed away from the action, to prevent a stray beam from interrupting. Saddle was restrained and still raging, her face twisted in a strange look that could not decide on anger or sorrow. Radiance had chosen early. She was crying, but not with the same sobbing and choking histrionics as she might normally.

“All this time... all this time you were with me you knew you would betray me...” Radiance said to Diamond, who was standing near her, still in diamond form.

He didn't reply for a time, doing his best to look like nothing more that a caryatid. He finally let slip a soft, and sorrowful, “Yes...”

Radiance was quiet herself, then exploded with cries of, “Gonif! Kadokhes! Momzer! Kelev! Kholerye!”

Diamond didn't even flinch. “You're being too kind. You should just say, 'a meesa mashee af deer' and be done with it. Don't bother with the petty insults.”

“Do I mean nothing to you?!” Radiance cried, the tears returning to her eyes.

“You mean enough that I wish I was dead, right now. It would be easier than this choice I was forced to make,” Diamond said, with an attempt to hold emotion out of his voice.

“Then why? Why Jarl?! Tell me why you did this to us... to me...” Radiance demanded.

“The moment we opened the sealed orders we knew we were in trouble. But we were only supposed to become your allies. We were never supposed to fall in love with any of you. But you were so kind. So polite and sweet and you cared about the real me, not the diamond-bodied creature... she wasn't even supposed to have her tendrils free. She brought us because she thought we could do... what we did,” Diamond said, his voice going flat at the end.

“All this just for money... you don't even want to do it but you're doing it,” Radiance weeped.

“I'm stuck. Doing evil means I may lose my powers. Pledging my powers means I swore on Faust, and debasing her name is a sin as well. I have no good way out. I half hoped that in my furious action and adherence to the contract one of you would kill me and free me to serve penance to Her. I don't want this to happen to any of you, least of all you, but you tell me how I can get out,” Diamond said, with increasing desperation.

“I... I don't know...” Radiance admitted, going quiet except for the occasional sob.

The battle between Iron and Saddle raged on for a while, both of them mostly matched in strength. Iron had a secret weapon, in the form of the bands. He managed to bring them out and restrain Saddle. “Please stop fighting...” He grunted out. “I don't want to hurt you but I could on accident.”

“Liar!” Saddle shouted, “You're a villain! And you want to hurt things! You probably punch goats and bunnies!”

“No! I promise you I was telling you the truth about everything. I just never said I was hired...” Iron started.

“She paid you to be nice to us! That's a worse lie than anything! I cared about you! I loved you!” Saddle screamed with tears falling from her eyes.

“Well I love you too!” Iron bellowed, securing the last of the bands and stepping away from Saddle's restrained form. “But I took the contract. It was stupid not to get information. But at least I got to know you.”

“Don't say that! You can't love me! Not if you do this! I knew you were a liar!” Saddle screamed, thrashing wildly and sobbing between her bellows of rage.

Hum Drum had run off towards the foals when the attack had happened. He had taken up his daughter and rushed to try and calm the rest of the wailing foals. 'S-stop it! You're scaring the foals! I thought you liked foals!”

“Be quiet! I'm exacting my vengeance!” Mane-iac screamed, forcing Jo to rut Mare-velous harder. She twisted and thrust her tentacles into their asses harder, tearing unwanted moans and cries form their mouths. She practically beat Mare-velous' ass with Jo's hips, and agonized him by forcing his balls to beat on Mare-velous' thighs and belly harder than he would have wanted.

“Jo! Ah don't mean ta hurt ya!” Mare-velous cried out. Her pussy fluttered and clenched down. It squeezed especially hard every few thrusts as she fought against the pleasure. But she knew each clench hurt Jo. Her pleasure rose against her will, because she really did want to enjoy it. It was Jo and he was hammering her. Even against his will it was what they both wanted so badly.

Jo couldn't reply. The combination of pleasure from having Mare-velous and the pain of his assault was clouding his mind. He wasn't sure what to think of any of it. He focused on the pleasure to block the pain from his mind, and to think only that his Marvy was getting pleasure. They were meant to be together like that. Their marriage had been going on. It wasn't bad.

His cock spat and trembled, warm precum spattering all over Mare-velous' insides. Both were in tune, the warm tingles of pleasure overpowering the sensation of force and the alien feeling of the tentacles hammering at their asses. Their screaming voices rose higher and higher, reaching towards a crescendo, Mare-velous whinnying and Jo braying as they came.

Mare-velous' sex clenched but not enough to hurt, while Jo unleashed a torrent of hot seed. Thick blobs smacked wetly against her cervix, and flooded her insides quickly. The hot flood fought past the tight clench, slowly oozing past the plug of Jo's flare and medial ring, to fall and hang in long, pearly strings. Even though both had climaxed Mane-iac continued to force Jo to pump Mare-velous.

“You... you had your revenge. You did... and now they have foals. We have a kirin,” Hum Drum said, looking to his daughter who seemed somewhat confused by the whole matter.

“No! That didn't count! I lost again! I lost to you again! A powerless little sidekick! I was bloated, impregnated and utterly humiliated! I've had it with being the laughingstock of the villains! I'm better than that! I'm better than that!” Mane-iac shrieked, her tendrils getting more erratic, the forced-fucked between Mare-velous and Jo losing any style.

Sassy began crying, fussing and tossing in Hum Drum's hold. Hum Drum slowly stroked his daughter's belly and caressed her cheek. “You're scaring Sassy. How could you do this in front of our daughter?”

“She's my daughter!” Mane-iac cried. “You may take care of her well and you may have sired her but she's mine! She's the only good thing that I've ever had in my life! And I want her to have a mother who's important! A big shot! I won't have her have a mother who can't beat a powerless sidekick! I will not let her look at me like a failure!”

“But you're not a failure!” Hum Drum insisted, slowly approaching Mane-iac. “You were doing good in therapy, you got along with the girls, you were being a great mother...”

“I'm an excellent mother,” Mane-iac said pridefully. “The best there is. Even with everything against me I still loved and cared for Sassy the best I could. But I am still regarded as a failure and I will not abide it!”

“Well then tell me how you're a failure because... I thought you were great...” Hum Drum said quietly. “Before you hurt our friends you were great...”

“'Friends'? Ha! I may have gotten close to them but they could never be my friends. The angry one never liked me anyhow, and the rest all had various levels of doubt. I was no more their friend than my hired goons were their lovers,” Mane-iac declared.

“Hey!” Iron and Diamond simultaneously shouted.

“They regarded me as a failure, too. Everyone does. Did... Everyone!” Mane-iac screeched. She yanked her tentacles out of Mare-velous and Jo, and released them, letting them fall in a sweaty, panting heap on the ground. She rose up on her tentacles and turned an imposing look on Hum Drum. “I saw the looks, heard the laughter. It didn't matter if it was the other villains in lockup or the loons in the nuthatch, they all mocked me!”

Hum Drum took a trembling step back, but largely held his ground. “I'm sorry I made you a laughingstock! I should have waited for the swelling to go down, I should have hidden what happened. But it happened. You shoved tentacles in my mouth and butt and then sat on my face until I almost passed out. You tried to kill me with your rear end, but I still get up every day with a smile.”

“You must be a weak-minded simpleton, then. There is no other explanation. You are known for your powerlessness, your weakness, you've been called useless! It's been haunting you all your career! How can you not boil over with rage and shame and exact a vengeance upon the world!?” Mane-iac screamed.

Hum Drum peered at Mane-iac's face, seeing the flaming rage in her eyes and the small dabs of tears hovering at the corners. “Please... tell me why you feel like this. I'll listen. I love our daughter... and I think I still love you.”

Mane-iac gritted her teeth harder and loomed higher over Hum Drum. She looked poised to strike but held herself back. He still had Sassy, and the little kirin's innocent face made her restrain herself. “Ever since the accident... no one has respected me. I sacrificed everything to become what I had been. Friends, love, my free time, everything. But I made it. I owned a major corporation, and I was a big shot. I was important! Ponies scraped and bowed to to me, they kissed up to me and wanted me to be around! And after the accident I lost everything, even most of my mind, but I still had the old ambition. I would do anything to be respected again. Anything...”

Hum Drum turned Sassy away from Mane-iac and stroked her softly. “We could respect you. Sassy loves you... I love you when you're not hurting everyone. Isn't that enough?”

“It cuts so much deeper, you poor, simple sidekick,” Mane-iac whispered. “Even as a villain I was mocked and derided. My power is a mutated mane? My schemes all involve hair? I was crazy and fixated but I still did it. And the other villains, from street criminals to the other supers, treated me like a pariah. There is more respect for that madpony the Trickster than there is for me. That's why when I heard he had a way to break out I had my mercenaries stop him, and rough him up. He laughed in my face. I hope he can still laugh minus a few teeth.”

“Yeah, not having any respect hurts. No one respected me either. Even you. You tried to make me believe the girls only had me here out of pity. But that's not true. They respect me for who I am and what I can do. Anyone who doesn't isn't worth noticing or listening to,” Hum Drum said, fearlessly approaching Mane-iac.

“I had to change my name, hide all that made me special and go around bellowing like a drunk idiot because I was afraid of how the one who hired me thought of me...” Iron rumbled, stroking his chin. “I just wanted to help, but it got to be all about the money. And like an idiot I just kept selling a fake me using my real powers. And I'm supposed to be a philosopher. I should have seen this a long time ago.”

“I feared the reputation my kind had, feared the response to seeing a Dog with these letters carved into him, speaking a language that supposedly wasn't his. Or if it was accepted what the ponies would think of me. But I do no good for Our Mother and Architect by being like this. I have been tasked to do valiantly in Her name, for Her and not for myself. I have been beaten into obedience by hateful folk who could not get past a name they did not recognize,” Diamond said, tearing at his outfit and ripping away more of it, to reveal the letters carved into his body. “Forgive my transgressions as you did before. I did not mean to take your name in vain.”

Iron wrapped Saddle's huge form in a tight embrace, and he started working at the bands binding her. “Whatever happens next, I'm sorry...”

“Hate me eternally, I deserve as much. I will be abandoned by Faust. But it hurts more to know I will be abandoned by you, too...” Diamond whispered to Radiance, setting her magic bracelet back around her leg.

“You were just... crazy,” Hum Drum said, softly stroking one of Mane-iac's tentacles. “I didn't know you before the accident. Sounds like you were like me. You needed respect. We all need respect. But you shouldn't just try to get it from a bunch of nameless, faceless folks. They don't really care about you. You need respect from those who really care about you, who love you and know you personally. Like... me...”

“I just... I wanted to be a brilliant supervillainess!” Mane-iac screamed, adding a hard sob. “I still wanted power, and recognition! They all know the Trickster and the Inquisitor and Pain and... they have their cults of personality and devoted normal ponies. Folks apologize for their crimes and endlessly defend them with an ocean of ink! No one has so much as written a card in defense of my crimes. Just mockery and comparisons to villains they thought were better and more amazing than me. They could justify all the crimes of the long-winded and insane monsters... but never mine...”

Hum Drum rubbed his cheek against one green tentacle, and gave it a little kiss. “Come on, stop this. I know what you're going through. And since... you know, the incident... I really know what you're going through. I mean, besides the pregnancy. But... Maybe some more time in the asylum will help you.”

Mane-iac slowly came down, to nuzzle at Sassy, who started to coo and laugh. “The therapy wasn't so bad...”

In the background Iron and Diamond had freed the other Power Ponies. The five mares rushed over to check on their foals, all of them holding and kissing the crying children. The two mercenaries, having made their choice, dropped to their knees, placed their hands behind their backs and slowly laid out on their stomachs, Iron's muscles slowly returning to normal, Diamond's body flashing to return him to flesh..

“I think in some sense I always knew eventually we'd discover we were used for evil. Who hires superpowered mercenaries?” Diamond asked across at Iron.

“Desperate folks who can't fight the big, bad guys. They need all the power they can get to sway the tide,” Iron answered.

“The bad guys have all the money,” Diamond noted.

“I always checked. I always checked before. I was sure we had a reputation for doing good. So I... got sloppy. And then this happened,” Iron said sadly.

“At least I met the love of my life. However brief... I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world...” Diamond sighed.

“I know the feeling. I met mine, too. At least we had that. At the end of the day, that won't go away,” Iron said, with a sad smile on his face.

“Thank Faust,” Diamond whispered, looking down at the ground. “Mother and Architect, you nurtured me and constructed the world to your will. I thank you that your rule and square saw fit to let me hold Radiance, if only for the blink of an eye...”

“Stand... up...” Radiance huffed firmly, shooting a glare down on Diamond, ignoring Iron completely. She had constructed a magical bassinet and had her child tucked safely in it. “I said stand up.”

Diamond quickly got to his feet and stood before Radiance. “I deserve everything I have coming.”

Radiance glared at him for a long, uncomfortable moment. “You held me in your arms, your bare, scarred arms. You have held my precious Starry Night, the light of my life, while knowing that you were destined to betray me. Why should I not throw you away and demand you never come back?”

“You should,” Diamond said, flatly. “I held your foal. Your foal. Like you said, I was a traitor in my mind. But I promise, never in my heart. I would never hurt your foal. And once I knew you, the real you, I wished the contract had been just a dream. You listened to my stories, you learned my language, you liked my kreplach. You were everything I ever hoped to find in a woman. I'm disgusted that I ruined that relationship.”

Radiance used a magically created scarf to pull Diamond's head down to her, planting her lips solidly on his. She held the kiss with some savagery, snorting loudly through her nostrils and mashing her plump lips against his trembling ones. She pulled back with a huff and soft pant. “You are going to prison.”

“Yes I am,” Diamond concurred.

“You will be known by all, who you are, what you are, in every detail,” Radiance continued.

“That is to be expected. I think I always knew it would happen,” Diamond said.

“And then you will be paroled. To my custody,” Radiance said, with a soft tone.

“I will be... what?” Diamond asked, looking up in confusion.

“Make no mistake, your betrayal was terrible, it stings and it burns at me. I should never have been treated in such a terrible way and I assure you you will make up for the pain you have caused,” Radiance said with a stern glare.

“All my life will be atonement, I promise you,” Diamond said.

“You are correct, though I will be a kind custodian. You will work but never toil. And you will teach me about your home and your faith and you will show Starry those ways as well. You will tell, often, how you did not betray your contract. You surrendered, an act of goodness, in accordance with Her laws. You kept your word, but also did right. I think She will forgive you. I... will take more work,” Radiance stated.

“Wait... you said... do you mean..?” Diamond started to ask.

“Yes. We will meet your Rabbi Goldschmidt. Talk about courage, a pony among Diamond Dogs daring to take up their religion, with a child not sired by you. But we will be one, whatever it takes,” Radiance said, pressing her head against Diamond's belly. “Because, I still love you, Jarl Diamantstein.”

Diamond placed his head on top of Radiance's and let his arms drift slowly around her. “And I will always love you, Radiance. And love Starry Night like my own flesh and blood.”

Saddle stood over Iron's form, cradling her foal and looking on him with a mix of anger and pity. “You know that I hate liars. And you were lying the whole time.”

“Time was, when I was Thelisi, I probably could have defended myself, said I hadn't really lied, that it was all for a higher purpose... dang, I was kind of a Mouth-Shitter back then. Guess I didn't even realize it,” Iron said.

Saddle tittered softly, then cleared her throat and glared down on Iron. “H-hey! I'm mad at you right now!”

“You got every right. I messed up bad. I regret everything...” Iron said, quickly fumbling over his words for a bit before adding, “E-everything about the assignment! I really don't regret meeting you.”

Saddle nodded firmly and gently patted Iron on the head. “But I don't know if I can believe you. You're apologizing but you could be lying. You already proved you do that.”

“This was not my finest assignment. I should have asked for all the details before taking the money. At least we beat up that Trickster guy. He's completely nuts,” Iron said.

“Well... that's true. You did a good thing by capturing him. But Mane-iac told you he'd be escaping,” Saddle noted.

“That's right... but she never paid us to stop him. The city did. We had a competing client! I should have voided the contract,” Iron grumbled.

Saddle shook her head a bit and gently urged Iron to his hooves. “See what happens when you let yourself be led around without thinking? It's why I control my anger. You control your growth but you can still be affected.”

“That's the truth. I should do a lecture around that. Might make for a good comeback tour. 'Don't be a fool, keep your cool.' But...” Iron looked down on Saddle with lopsided grin. “That'll wait a few years.”

Saddle shook her head and snuggled up against Iron's belly. “Maybe. I might want to keep you around. Maybe I'll bring you into my custody, and maybe I'll let you teach Velveteen things like cooking and rhetoric and wrestling someday. Maybe.”

“I really feel like I can trust that 'maybe.' I trust it more than most folks' 'promise.' And for you, I really, really promise, I love you,” Iron said, carefully leaning down to kiss Saddle's head.

Saddle blushed just a bit and returned Iron's kiss. “I think... I believe that.”

The other freed Power Ponies, once assured their foals were secure, got to work taking care of the situation. Fili did a quick cleanup of the temple, zipping around to gather up the rubble, while Zapp and Matter-horn re-banded Mane-iac's tendrils and used the bands with which they had been bound to secure her legs as well.

“I am... a failure,” Mane-iac said, as she stood bound beside Hum Drum. “I know you think I shouldn't think so but... it's hard to argue with the evidence.”

“You're not a failure!” Hum Drum insisted. “You're a good mother. And you're... you're good as a marefriend. You taught Radiance about styling manes and tails and I'm sure you can do more great things. You failed at things. So did I. But I'm not a failure. I just had to find what I did well. You do too. Maybe it's not evil.”

“It's all I know, really. Stylist without respect turned cold-hearted business mogul turned insane supervillainess. I don't have a very robust CV,” Mane-iac said with a half-hearted chuckle.

“Try being what you were like as a stylist,” Hum Drum suggested.

“I had no respect! No admiration! No fawning wealthy and powerful folk begging for my notice and approval!” Mane-iac cried.

“Okay, you didn't have all of that. But now you have a daughter you love and a dragon that is kinda freaked out but still loves you... when you're not trying to take over stuff,” Hum Drum said with a slight blush.

Mane-iac snorted softly but did eventually lean her head in to touch cheeks with Hum Drum. “I love Sassy. And you're not so bad. At least you take care of her properly. I'll try to pay more attention in therapy. Maybe I can stop thinking that mane-related crimes and sex are the answers to my problems.”

“Well... you know, don't get rid of all the sex...” Hum Drum mumbled, kicking his foot lightly.

“Fine, I'll keep sitting on your face and your back. And other things will be considered, and probably done too,” Mane-iac huffed.

“That's all I'm asking,” Hum Drum said happily, kissing Mane-iac on the lips. She hesitated for a moment, but eventually pressed forward some, to return a portion of the kiss.

Jo and Mare-velous were a bit dazed by the overload of forced pleasure, which included an extensive post-orgasmic session of anal and continued mounting. Jo had gone limp once he had been dropped, and Mare-velous was panting and groaning loudly when the Power Ponies finally got her up and somewhat back to a fit state. Both outfits were in tatters, and Radiance barely managed to get them closed an on in something approaching a proper fashion.

“Tarnation, ya crazy fool. Couldn't ya have waited 'til the preacher talked 'bout the power invested in him?” Mare-velous asked to Mane-iac. “Ah was apt ta jump Jo the minute we was legal. Gotta go spoilin' things...”

“I promise this will all come up in therapy. Maybe there's some new pills,” Mane-iac said with a surprisingly sheepish look on her face.

“Weren't quite the weddin' ah was expectin' but... ah'm here, Jo's here, y'all're here. Before we call up the law an' get this stuff sorted out we got one more thing ta do,” Mare-velous said. She dragged Jo over to the front of the altar again and set herself beside him. “Someone best go snag that preacher and haul him back in here! Ah said ah was getting' hitched today and consarnit ah am gettin' hitched today!”

Segment Ten: The Conclusion

Several months had passed since the defeat of the Mane-iac and the wedding of Mare-velous and Jo. They had been eventful months, packed with a flurry of activity. Trials, motion hearings, arguments. The Power Ponies had been very involved in the trials of Mane-iac, Iron Willie and Diamond Dong. The superheroines spoke passionately and forcefully about the three, talking about second chances, better understanding, and the power of forgiveness.

Iron and Diamond had been under special scrutiny. They were compelled to come to court without their disguises. Iron had had his magical artifacts displayed for all to see, while Diamond had to show his collection of scars, and answer the same ignorant question over and over from every reporter that questioned him. Their real names were splashed across the papers, as were images of Saddle Rager and Radiance, supporting them fully and spreading shame on those who asked stupid questions or made fun of their origins.

It was a lot of unusual legal maneuvering, but it ended with things as they had been intended. Mane-iac was returned to Lovecraft Memorial Asylum, but with a specified set of goals and required objectives to fulfill. At the completion of those she would be paroled into Hum Drum's custody again, on the condition she have regular inspection of her mane bands until such a time it was determined that she could be trusted with them removed.

Both Iron and Diamond, who had started going by their birth names of Sidero and Jarl, had spent some time in Maretropolis Maximum Security Prison, but had been paroled out into the custody of Saddle and Radiance. Sidero's attire had been put into storage and released to Saddle, with her being the one to make the determination of if or when he would get it back. Jarl had been slapped with an injunction against using his powers except in emergencies, with Radiance as the one keeping tabs on his adherence. The injunction would expire after a period of one year providing he followed it, and kept his record clean.

Mare-velous was well along her second pregnancy. By the calculations it had happened on the day of her wedding. But whether it came of the happening at the ceremony or the wedding night it was impossible to say. She just glossed over the whole matter by saying, “We're hitched. Don't need ta know more'n that. Don't rightly matter much. Ah got on a bracelet, he's got his, an' that's the end.”

Aside from the legal maneuvering things had become very quiet at Power Pony HQ, thought not entirely perfect, given what had happened. Plus, with the new revelations and the time to contemplate them, there were a lot of questions.

“Okay, let me try to wrap my head around this...” Zapp was in the dining room, with Radiance and Jarl. Without the need to conceal himself Jarl opted for a more modest attire of finely crafted black cotton pants, a modest black silk vest, an imported tallit and a yarmulke that Radiance had made herself. “You're... Eweish...”

“Yes. I think that has been well established,” Jarl said with a laugh.

“You're a Diamond Dog, and you speak Deutsch and you're Eweish?” Zapp queried, face still a mask of confusion.

“Right from the underground homeland. My little Colonial slice is called Ashkenaz, and we are the Ashkenazim. We call ourselves the pack among flocks. Or the Dogs that guard the sheep,” Jarl said, with some pride.

“So are you, like... half sheep? Or like, did you... fuck a sheep or-” Zapp began.

“Enough of that!” Radiance shouted. She cleared her throat and calmly adjusted her necklace. “Ahem. That is to say, Zapp, your questions betray a fundamental ignorance. Jarl's Colony converted. From the conversion onward they have been born and live as Eweish Dogs. I, too, will convert, and raise my child, and the children we plan to have, in the same fashion.”

Zapp scratched her head and shrugged. “Whatever. You've got chops. Blocking my lightning is a neat trick. I'll bet you could hold on in a tornado, too.”

“I could just dig under it. And flooding is no good, Dogs know how to make runoff passages,” Jarl explained.

“That's pretty cool. And redirecting that egghead's magic beams was an awesome trick. How did you learn you were reflexive?” Zapp asked.

“Refractive,” Jarl double-corrected. “Magical beams, or beams of many kinds, are moderately common in war. It's also how I figured out I'm lightning-proof. Pegasi love using that,” Jarl said.

“Buck yeah we do,” Zapp said with a nod, ignoring the correction. “So, you're built, and strong, and you can turn into a living pile of rocks. Wanna ditch Queen Prissy-Pussy there and get with a seriously strong mare?”

“Zapp! How... scandalous! Uncouth! If you intend to seduce the Dog I plan to wed at least wait until I am out of earshot! It's as bad as the wedding! Besides, I thought you said you were not 'into' Dogs,” Radiance huffed.

“Come on, you knew I would never try to sleep with Jo. If Mare-velous didn't take my head off Jo would've done it for her. Too uptight and country. But this guy was a mercenary. Probably screwed enough ladies to know what he likes. Gotta be someone like me, right? Nice and strong and toned?” Zapp licked her lips at Jarl and then turned to Radiance. “And by the way, that was a regular Diamond Dog. This guy has superpowers so his special.”

“They are a divine gift from our Mother and Architect. They're something a bit more noble and sublime than simple superpowers,” Radiance noted.

“And I really do know what I like,” Jarl noted, reaching you to grab Radiance up in a tight, strong hung, rubbing his rottweilerian snout against her face. “And it's her. I really like Queen Prissy-Pussy. She makes me feel complete. I was always missing something. Now I see, in some way, our Mother crafted my heart so I could never be better than that hot-blooded and restless Dog until I had her with me.”

Radiance blushed lightly, and planted a soft kiss on Jarl's cheek. “Truth to tell I never knew what sort of male I would be with. I enjoyed the shameless and uncouth dancers but I truly wanted more. You're certainly that.”

Zapp rolled her eyes and made a gagging noise. “Shoulda known. This is the same guy who thought an awesome bachelor party was a petting zoo and milkshakes. You're perfect for each other. You're both made out of sap.”

“Well, that is entirely our business. So long as we go well together there is no harm in a little warm tenderness,” Radiance said, lifting Jarl and herself up on her flying couch.

“I think we're going now. Glad to answer your questions!” Jarl shouted as he was flown out of sight.

“Not like I was gonna marry him. Just one little fuck. A beej or a teat-wank. Never done it with a diamond...” Zapp grumbled.

In another part of the headquarters Sidero and Saddle were engaged with Matter-horn. More specifically, they were in the library, with Matter-horn eagerly using her magic to grab books off the shelf. Sidero and Saddle just looked on, shocked by the pile of books she was accumulating.

“A Condensed History of Hellas, A Concise Compendium of Hellenic Tradition, Epics and Tales of the Hellenes. I've been meaning to read a lot of these but I never had a pressing reason before,” Matter-horn said.

“Well, that about covers it,” Sidero said with a deep chuckle.

“That's, um, a nice collection,” Saddle said softly. “But, shouldn't I be reading all of that? I'm the one who's dating Sidero and plan to marry him.”

“Well, there's no need for you to read them,” Matter-horn said, “You have a living, breathing primary source in your bed. You can ask any questions you want about the subject and get an answer. I have to study.”

“Uh, why?” Sidero asked.

“Because we have someone from a vastly different culture living under our roof, and I consider myself the ambassador for the group,” Matter-horn said with some pride. “I learned all about Dragon culture when Hum Drum came around. I've also been looking into Eweish beliefs. But I knew something about that already, and very little about Hellenes.”

Sidero scratched the back of his head, looking unsure about what to feel. “Well that's... flattering I suppose. But you could just ask me, too. I mean, I live here now.”

“Oh no, that's not my way,” Matter-horn said as she flipped though a book on culture and customs. “I always flip through books to find things out. I get answers more immediately. I was envisioning Saddle asking you relevant questions whenever curiosity strikes her, probably at night while you're embracing.”

“I don't know if I'll be able to talk much if it's nighttime and we're cuddling,” Sidero said with a suggestive smile.

Saddle blushed deeply and hid her face behind a wing. “O-oh my...”

“I can learn a lot of things,” Matter-horn noted. “Did you know that it's practically expected that a bull will continue to see other cows after his marriage?”

“What?” Saddle asked, looking up at Sidero in shock. For his part, he was rapidly shaking his head.

“Oh yes. It says, 'While fidelity and unity are promoted and spoken of often there is an understanding that men will continue to seek love from others. It is not strictly codified but codes of conduct exist, primarily focusing on how obvious to be. The general rule is to avoid bringing shame onto the household, avoid causing harm to calves and to not bring in any diseases,'” Matter-horn recited.

“A-are you... you going to do that?” Saddle sniffled, teary eyes shining at Sidero.

“No! I promise! I never wanted to do that, I always thought it was dumb!” Sidero insisted.

“It's culturally acceptable,” Matter-horn noted. “And if it was with, say, a close friend who could be discreet and liked muscles, that would be perfectly acceptable.”

Sidero picked up Saddle as her tears threatened to turn into rage. He cuddled her to his broad chest and turned a glare on Matter-horn. “Shame on you! When it's a friend the fantasies end! You don't try to sleep with your friend's bullfriend!”

“But... but you're really well-built. It only makes sense that you would need the occasional other lover. According to the book...” Matter-horn started.

“The book may be right but it's not how I work,” Sidero said sternly. “I never wanted to be that insincere. If I say I love someone I do. All the sexy posing and mouth-shitting about how it's just natural to stray doesn't hold any truth with me. Nothing will change that.”

Saddle smiled, looking much calmer as she rested her head against Sidero's chest. “I'm sorry I started to get mad. I should have known. And I can't blame Matter-horn. She doesn't have someone special. She and Zapp mostly just make bets about who can have the most sex with random stallions that match what they like.”

Matter-horn blushed lightly and stuck her face back into the book. “Th-that's a bit of an oversimplification. I have needs and I have a type. I can't just be a superheroine and mother. I deserve a chance to have fun, too. And if Zapp happens to think she's better than me I have the right to prove her wrong.”

“Whatever you say, Matter-horn,” Saddle said softly, winking up at Sidero, “Whatever you say...”

Fili-second happily hummed as she zipped between the cribs in the nursery. She had volunteered for nanny duty that day, as she tended to. She may have given off the aura of flighty irresponsibility but she was genuinely good at it. The super-speed helped.

She did what was necessary when it was necessary, from feeding the little ones with bottles of expressed teat-milk to burping to changing diapers. She even recorded the vital statistics form the side of the auto-creche in a journal that Matter-horn had left for her.

She was also pregnant again. Her belly was just about as swollen out as Mare-velous', meaning she was about as far along. The difference was, she didn't know exactly who the father was. Or what the father was. She had a guess but could only narrow it down to 'the strippers they had hired.'

She had been very thorough in her investigation of how they would do. She had to sample all of them. And plenty of that semen hadn't gone up her butt, down her throat or all over her face. She had had more diversity sloshing in her womb than a meeting of the Interspecies Relations Support Society.

She was far enough along that Matter-horn had offered to do a DNA test to determine the species of her child. She could be having a foal, but based on the numbers there was an even chance that it would be half pony and half something else. Maybe even a mule like Mare-velous had.

Fili gently rocked Honeysuckle, Mare-velous' little mule, to get her back to sleep after she had been fed. She yawned cutely before dropping off. That would be nice. But... a half-Dog or half-buffalo were also in the cards. No matter what, she would love the new foal just as much as her first.

Hum Drum walked steadily down a cold and spare corridor inside The Lovecraft Memorial Asylum for the Magically Overpowered. The gray-and-white checkered linoleum floor squeaked lightly beneath his boots, while the solid metal walls gave off a heavily institutional vibe.

He was flanked by two uniformed security unicorns, who occasionally jointly used magical pendants to open sliding metal doors. They did not speak, and barely looked at their charge, until they reached a final door marked with the words, Visitors' Area; a long list of rules was posted onto it, in tiny, faded type. “Here we are, sir,” One of them said, looking down at Hum drum with a serious expression. “You will be monitored and have a maximum of half an hour with the patient.”

The other inserted his pendant as the first one did, the door sliding slowly open. “Please use caution. Do not give any items to the patient, do not accept any times from the patient. Both of you will be screened after meeting. If you require assistance a scream or obvious indications of distress will bring a response. The duress word is 'obstreperous.'”

“I know, I know, I've done this before,” Hum Drum said, waving off the guards as he stepped into the room.

It was the same as ever. The carpet was soft and clean, in a cool and inviting blue color. The harshness of the metal walls had been mitigated by being painted a cheery pink color, with small insects depicted buzzing around. The overstuffed cloth couches were a homey touch, despite the huge bolts anchoring them to the floor. There were even a few loose cushions scattered around for those that preferred them.

Hum Drum took a seat on one of the couches, sinking into the softness with a long sigh. It had been a long, long few months. Being a single dad could be a real problem, even with roommates who very often helped with the duties. It only made it worse knowing the mother of his daughter was cut off from seeing her. His heart went out to Mane-iac. She wanted to show how good of a mother she could be.

The other door slid open slowly, to reveal Mane-iac being led along by three orderlies and two guards, all of whom were looking stern, serious and set to subdue her should she become a problem. The watched with intense focus as she stepped into the room and swiftly shut the door behind her.

Mane-iac looked somewhat different from before. There was a loose, relaxed ease about her. Her eyes were clearer, more focused. Her mane and tail were once more securely locked down in the unobtainium bands, with double the number from before. She was wearing the asylum standard white jumpsuit and plush slipper-booties.

The pair stared across at each other, the heavy awkwardness of the scene increasing minute by minute. Hum Drum finally broke the ice by saying, “Y-you're looking nice.”

“Oh thank you,” Mane-iac said, with a calmer and kinder voice than she had had before. “This new drug cocktail is dealing with the megalomania, the monomania and the slight delusions. Most of those were self-inflicted, as if I had created conspiracy theories about myself. The therapy is taking care of that, along with my self-worth issues.”

“That's great!” Hum Drum cried, hopping out of the couch and coming forward to hug at one of Mane-iac's legs. “They tell me you're on course for release.”

“So I've been informed,” Mane-iac said with a shrug. “I feel sort of okay. But I want to feel really okay. I've doubled-up on my therapy sessions and been doing the exercises the shrink suggests. I have to stop feeling so negative about my defeat, because it was the right thing to have happen. I'm learning to accept that in all those times I felt like I was right where I should have been, I was wrong.”

“Sounds like progress to me,” Hum Drum said, taking a nuzzle at Mane-iac's leg. “Sassy misses her mommy. And I... miss my... marefriend?”

“I could have been better at both of those jobs. I should have been better,” Mane-iac said, rubbing a bootie-clad hoof over Hum Drum's head. “Sassy sure deserved it... and so did you.”

Hum Drum blushed a bit, waving a hand dismissively. “Aw, you're just being nice...”

“I mean it,” Mane-iac said, placing the hoof under Hum Drum's chin and turning his face up to look at her. “You were always kind to me. From the start. You visited me in the prison maternity ward. That was the one time I didn't feel alone... or scared.”

Hum Drum softly patted Mane-iac's shoulder. “It seemed like the right thing to do. We were both going to be parents...”

“Not ever male would think like that, you know,” Mane-iac said quickly. “The average immature guy would think that I was going to be a mother, that Sassy was my child and they were just there for the fringe benefits. You stepped up and took responsibility. You wanted to be a dad and wanted to be with me. That hasn't happened much.”

“It's just the right thing to do,” Hum Drum said. “Sassy couldn't just stay in foster care. And... well...”

“Yes, what is it?” Mane-iac asked, looked curiously down at Hum Drum.

“You know... even if you didn't mean it... it was nice being with you,” Hum Drum mumbled, a deep blush coloring his cheeks. “I liked what we did, even if you did it to try and escape.”

“I'll tell you the truth, largely because the shrink suggested I do it, I was actually loving it too,” Mane-iac said in a conspiratorial whisper. “There was so much... there. And you used it so well. I never knew you hadn't before.”

“A lot of that was copying what I saw in the movies and magazines the girls had on a lot,” Hum Drum confessed.

“However you did it, I liked it. And I'll keep liking when I finally get out,” Mane-iac said. She then paused and looked down, “If your roommates will let me come back.”

“It was a harder sell this time around, but Saddle and Radiance were on my side. Mare-velous isn't sure what to think, Jo either. Zapp wishes you were dead, but mostly because Di- I mean Jarl beat her. Fili is always willing to forgive but is a little miffed that you didn't really plan for her in your revenge. And Matter-horn is being cautious again. But I think she wants you as some kind of an experiment in rehabilitation, or maybe forgiveness, or something.”

“So long as they aren't actively calling for my head,” Mane-iac said with a shrug. “And so long as you are there to be with me, and Sassy is with us both.”

Hum Drum beamed happily, tightly hugging Mane-iac's leg. “We'll be there. We'll be there right out front waiting for you, to take you home to be a real family. Finally.”

Mane-iac leaned down, resting her head softly on the top of Hum Drum's head, stroking slowly along the ridges on his back, over his cape. “Finally. I'll have a family that wants me, that will keep wanting me. No more taking and taking and taking trying to get power. I can have a real life.”

Twilight slowly closed the huge comic book, her eyes huge and jaw just slightly dropped.

Spike could tell from the look on her face that Twilight was not pleased. “Uh, so... should I start running now?”

“I... I... I can't believe...” Twilight stammered. “Can't believe this was so deep and informative!”

Spike stared, nonplussed. After a silent moment of staring he softly whispered out, “What?”

“Well, yes, the erotic content was a bit... shocking,” Twilight said with a blush. “The fetishes were quite varied and I'm not even sure what to call some of them... but! It's important to focus not on the sexual asides but on the genuine story points.”

“The... what?” Spike looked at the cover and tried to figure out just how different that comic was from the first.

“There are a lot of very interesting things in here,” Twilight explained. “There is a modest, but accurate, exploration or different cultures, Hellene and Eweish, and the Eweish side explored in a non-sheep context. A fascinating look at conversion and non-conformance to expectations. There were also themes of cultural camouflage, hiding behind the generic in order to avoid ignorant stereotypes or ridicule based on origins. It's a tragedy and this explores that tragedy.”

Spike was boggling at the book. “It does?”

“Does it!” Twilight gushed. “And then themes of self-loathing and inadequacy, the accumulation of personal power and negative reputation to gain a sense of personal power and control over circumstances, the power of responsibility and the driving force of care and concern. Rehabilitation as a general positive when associated with love and a deep understanding of the one to be rehabilitated. It's quite a work.”

“Wow. They must have changed writers... they must have gotten a bunch of new ones...” Spike mumbled. He then snapped out of his surprise and looked hopefully up at twilight. “Does that mean I'm in the clear?”

“Oh no. Not at all. You're more than grounded. You're ultra-grounded,” Twilight said with a casual tone of voice. “Like I said, the fetish content is beyond scandalous. Even if they're portrayed positively, they are very shocking. It doesn't even matter they're not the focus of the story.”

“Well, ultra-grounded sounds... fair...” Spike said, slumped and looking defeated. “So, I guess you're going to destroy it.”

“Oh no, I'm not,” Twilight replied.

“But you just said-” Spike began.

“You bought it with your money. I might have to start looking more closely at how you spend your bits but they were your bits. I'm not just going to destroy your property. But I will confiscate it until your ultra-grounding is finished,” Twilight said.

“Wha-at?” Spike asked, jaw dropped.

“Like I said, there are some valuable lessons in this book. Things that you should read, just so you know. I'd prefer that you set aside the more... prurient parts. But we can compromise. When I give it back I'll provide a study guide and a series of multiple-choice, short essay and long essay questions. Just get those back to me in a timely fashion and we'll set aside this whole matter,” Twilight said.

The surprise turned into sarcasm, spike's eyes rolling. “Thanks for that...”

“I could keep it,” Twilight threatened, in a 'stern teacher' voice.

“Typed or claw-written?” Spike asked.

“Whichever is easiest. Response space will be provided, use additional sheets as needed,” Twilight said.

“Right... fine. Just let me spend my evening by myself,” Spike said, flopping into his basket.

“I suppose I owe you that much,” Twilight said with a nod. “Just move it back upstairs tomorrow morning.” With that Twilight walked out of the basement.

Spike waited for her hoofsteps to retreat, then reached deep into the basket and took out the first comic, frantically flipping through it to find his favorite parts.

“You know I'm going to want to see that one too sometime!” Twilight called from the top of the stairs.

Spike went stiff in the low light, eyes wide, staring through the splash page of Matter-horn painted with seed.

Introduction

Spike polished his claws on his chest as he stood by the post office counter. He had gotten the package notice at home and was there to pick up his new copy of erotic Power Pony goodness. He wasn't the twitchy, sweating mess he had been the last time, as Twilight had proven she would ignore his comic book habits, so he had no need to be worried.

“Here you are, Spike. From... 'Radio Factory Comix', which is spelled with a superfluous 'X'. Did this book even have an editor?” the postal counter clerk asked with a muted English accent. He was an older-than-middle-age pinkish unicorn with a tightly-cropped blue mane. His name tag read 'Candy Floss.'

“It's just a style choice. Makes it look more interesting,” Spike said with a grin, grabbing the package out of the air. “Thanks, man.”

“My pleasure. Ensuring the speedy processing of missives and parcels is the purpose of Princesses' Mail. See you when the next large comic book is published,” Candy Floss said with a smile and nod.

Spike gleefully giggled and hugged the thick package against his chest. He was practically skipping along the road of Ponyville, attracting strange looks and curious whispers, as he had before. But at least they were of a more positive variety, focused on potential romances.

“Twilight! I'm home!” Spike called as he arrived at the library.

“Ah, there you are. Where have you been?” Twilight asked as she came down from the upper part of the tree.

“Just at the post office, picking up another graphic novel. Don't worry, I swear I'm also reading that actual novel you gave me. I even have the quiz answers ready for you,” Spike said smoothly, heading towards the basement.

“That's good. I don't mean to harp on it, but you know how I feel about actual literature. Even Daring Do counts. And that's the very last Daring Do book, so it should be very exciting,” Twilight said, trotting along behind Spike.

“Uh, need something from down there? I can get it for you,” Spike said, with a curious look on his face.

“Oh no, I was going to pick up your quiz papers, check on some of my machines and have a look at your new book,” Twilight casually announced.

“W-wait. Look at the new comic? Why? It's a comic! You said that those weren't real literature. And you love literature,” Spike said, sweat breaking out across his brow.

“I reconsidered your statement and the designation 'graphic novel.' I conducted some informal studies and found there are some reasons to consider the idea that they may in fact be comparable to some of the early block-print-enhanced works like I Modo or even earlier illuminated books. A combination of words and pictures need not be for foals or foalish minds,” Twilight explained, with her usual didactic tone.

“Uh, well, this... this is foalish stuff. It's the Power Ponies. Very foalish stuff. I'll... balance it with the smarter Daring Do book. I promise. I'll get to it right now!” Spike cried, rushing into the basement and picking up his bookmarked copy of Daring Do and the Temple of Life.

“Oh Spike, I know you're at that age where you've found your 'thing' and you want it to be yours but I won't ruin it for you. I know there's a lot of... well, pseudoscience and pseudothaumatology in these books but as well there are complex story lines, interequine interaction, discussions of law and justice, and other things worth reading,” Twilight said with a soft laugh, her magic tugging on the package.

“But... but!” Spike was out of excuses, sweat pouring down his face, claws desperately digging into the package.

“Spike! Now you're just being selfish and that's very dangerous. You need to resist any selfish tendencies. Remember what happens when you act greedy? We don't want you turning into a monster again!” Twilight said firmly, increasing her magic and pulling the package away. “What has gotten into you?”

Spike's color drained slightly and his eyes went wide as Twilight carefully peeled open the large envelope and lifted the book out. “Twilight don't...” He pleaded.

“What is the... matter..?” Twilight asked, her voice trailing away as she saw the cover. The very top blared, Power Ponies: The Erotic Adventures. At the bottom were the words, Motherhood, Mayhem and the Mane-iac's Return. The cover art showed the Power Ponies and Hum Drum looking into cribs, while in the back loomed the shadow of Mane-iac, and two muscular bipedal figures standing behind Saddle Rager and Radiance. Down at the bottom in a small square was a bit of text. 'Warning! Contains Explicit Material. NSFBF. No Suitable For Blank Flanks. “Spike...”

“I swear, I was just curious! I wondered what it was all about! I like the Power ponies so much I didn't even notice that part!” Spike insisted, down on his knees and holding Twilight's right front leg.

“I plan to read this little 'erotic' production,” Twilight said firmly.

“I... what?” Spike went from pleading to utterly confused.

“As... prurient as it clearly appears to be, according to my research any work this large must necessarily contain some form of complex story and characterization. I want to see if this is so. I may need to restrict your comic book allowances...” Twilight said with a threatening tone.

Spike thought back to the original one, a single, madcap, incredibly base, perverse and debauched carnival of fetishes, attempted humiliation and rape. The color drained further from his face as he contemplated his life without comic books. “Are you sure you have to?” He squeaked.

“That you even need to ask me that tells me that I should have done this earlier,” Twilight said sternly. She flipped the phone-book-like thing open to the start and began to read.

Masked Matter-horn looked over a spread-out collection of various papers, her magical aura enveloping a pencil which was jotting down various numbers in boxes, and also holding an abacus whose beads were clattering madly back and forth in time with the furious scribbling.

Zapp came up behind Matter-horn, a quizzical look on her face. Her gaze moved between the complex series of interconnected boxes and numbers, the collection of papers and the clattering abacus. Her face fell from confused to sarcastic. “Really, egghead, really?”

“I can move abacus beads as fast as I push buttons, the calculation time is equal because my number memory extends to seven digits or seven decimal places, and I don't have to worry about clearing the screen each time I make a calculation or accidentally figuring two numbers together that shouldn't be put together,” Matter-horn explained calmly, never ceasing her activity.

“Yeah, that totally makes you sound less like a complete dork,” Zapp said, rolling her eyes. “You look like you're doing taxes for Maretropolis, or counting everypony in town.”

“Maretropolis is a city; it doesn't have an individual tax return, and bookkeeping for a city needs to be done by a small army of accountants, not one. Counting doesn't require a calculating device,” Matter-horn stated rather blandly.

“Wow. Wow,” Zapp said, shaking her head slowly. “You just reached the geek level of sweaty Neighponese costume fan-mare. I never knew you had it in you, egghead.”

“This is important and I intend to take it seriously even if no one else does!” Matter-horn shouted.

“Chillax! It's wedding planning, not rocket surgery!” Zapp shouted back. “I can't believe Mare-velous asked you.”

“She knows intellectual quality and efficiency when she sees it,” Matter-horn said smugly. “She knew I'd find the most cost-effective options without sacrificing quality. That's why I'm so carefully running these matrices to see how I can keep costs and conflicts down and ensure things will happen. I have the error bars for them all, as well as the possibility of failure to deliver. I'm trying to keep the probabilities as low as possible while maximizing the quality on the most efficient budget.”

Zapp had gone glassy-eyed in the middle of the explanation. By the end a small dribble of drool was at the corner of her mouth. She shook her head quickly and groaned. “How do you manage to say so much and not tell me anything? I totally could have planned Mare-velous' wedding better than you! Some chairs, some food from that sub sandwich place down the street, a judge, a bunch of flowers, done!”

“And that's why you're not doing it,” Matter-horn said with a tone of disdain. “Besides, she tapped you to do the bachelorette party. Even if it will be as basic as possible, it won't be an utter failure.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Zapp sneered. “Some stallions in thongs, some booze, done.”

“Radiance had stallions in thongs when Mane-iac captured us,” Matter-horn noted.

“So... no dancers?” Zapp asked.

“No, it's a good idea. Just prepare for her to be too into it,” Matter-horn said with a laugh and shake of her head.

Meanwhile, in a padded room, Mane-iac was plotting her vengeance. She had been moved out of the maximum security prison and into a more appropriate location, The Lovecraft Memorial Asylum for the Magically Overpowered. She still had her tendrils restrained by unobtainium bands, but was allowed more privacy, and didn't have to live in a hard, unforgiving plastic box.

She still resented all that had happened, from her defeat to her impregnation to having to give birth to the curiously cute dragon-pony... that had been acceptable. The rest, however weighed on her fevered mind. She saw her daughter, whom she had named Sassy Soon, in supervised intervals, while she was in foster care. She had been defeated in the middle of her greatest triumph. Even knowing she had gotten the Power Ponies pregnant wasn't as much fun when she got the same treatment.

She erased her plan, pressed into the cloth floor in a coded set of glyphs, and sighed. Nothing was working for her. Every possible plan suffered from the effect of some Power Pony or from the 'unknown factor' of Hum Drum's inadvertent interference. She was much more clear-headed and careful, thanks to the medication they had been giving her. She was less wild and crazed but still wanted her vengeance.

The sound of the cell door opening drew her attention. One of the uniformed guards and two orderlies were there in the doorway. “What? It's not time for therapy, pills or food. What do you want?” Mane-iac asked with a bit of anger in her voice.

“We're taking you to the visitor's area,” the guard said brusquely.

“What's the catch? Sassy's visiting time isn't for another day,” Mane-iac said as she trotted slowly out of the cell.

“Special request, straight from the Governor,” the guard replied, leading the procession along the corridors.

“'Governor'? How did that happen?” Mane-iac asked. When no response was forthcoming she snorted and walked quietly along.

The four ponies finally arrived at a metal door marked with 'Visitor's Area' along with a long list of rules and precautions. Through the door the bare, clinical, white environment turned into a more colorful space. The soft carpet was blue, while the walls were soft pink. There were soft, cloth couches, which were bolted down, as well as cushions spread out across the floor.

Hum Drum had been on one couch. When he saw Mane-iac he leaped up and approached. “H-hey there...”

“You! You....” Mane-iac ground her teeth, looking angry yet surprised. “What are you doing here? And what's this about the Governor? Trying to put me back in the prison nuthatch? Trying to take Sassy from me?!”

“Whoa! Whoa! Calm down!” Hum Drum said, motioning with both hands. “This is all about Sassy. And definitely not about sending you back to prison.”

Mane-iac looked on Hum Drum with a suspicious eye. “What are you talking about?”

“Look... I talked to a lot of folks. I'm a hero, so they listen to me a lot more than they used to. I talked to Foal's Services, I talked to the Department of Rehabilitation, and I even talked to the governor, who finally pulled it all together,” Hum Drum explained.

“Pulled what together?” Mane-iac asked, sounding more surprised that upset.

“If I agree to take responsibility for you, if I can promise that you'll stay in the unobtanium bands, and if I can promise a safe, stable and acceptable environment... Sassy will be allowed out of foster care into both of our care. As long as you pass the Foal's Services and Department of Rehabilitation checks you'll be allowed to stay out of prison, with me,” Hum Drum said, blushing just a touch.

Mane-iac was stricken speechless momentarily. She stared at Hum Drum in disbelief. “You... you have to be kidding me. There's no way that's possible.”

“It's possible. Sign some papers, listen to the details and in a week you and Sassy will be living with me at Power Ponies HQ,” Hum Drum said with an eager, hopeful smile.

Mane-iac thought about it. She would be there, in Power Ponies HQ, able to see all their secrets, to learn more of their weaknesses or their desires. She could do better at her plan, even though she already had some kind of preliminary plan in motion. It would only modify what she had in the nascent stages. “Fine. I'll do it. I don't know what to think of you, but I'll do anything to be with Sassy.”

As Hum Drum squealed in delight Mane-iac dropped a signal to one of the orderlies who responded with a nod. She'd get a message out, and prepare for her new plot.

Segment One: Jocks and Nerds

“I still can't believe that's your crib” Zapp said with great incredulity.

She and Matter-horn were standing in the nursery of Power ponies HQ, the former general-purpose room given a makeover. It had been converted from a place with metal walls and floors into a bright, plush space, the walls covered with wood panels painted a soft pastel pink, while the floor had been laid down with foam rubber puzzle pieces.

The place was loaded with baby toys, and seven cribs were resting against the walls. Five were fairly standard wood and plastic, one was an all-wood antique piece, and one was... something else entirely. It looked more like a biohazard containment unit, with clear plastic walls and a port on the side for access. The few concessions to the fact that it was for a foal were the cheerful animals painted on the inside, and the large number of plush dolls also inside, with the sleeping black earth colt.

Matter-horn rolled her eyes and groaned in frustration. “I'm so glad that it's soundproofed. Your voice, and constant comments, are both very annoying and would bother Bright if I let him hear you. Fortunately, he is blissfully slumbering to the sounds of orchestral pieces, with undertones of basic math and language.”

“Why not just give him that... whatever it is. The T-A-S or whatever test it was that got you into Canterlot School of Stick-up-the-assery,” Zapp said with a certain amount of venom. She pointed over to another crib, painted in her colors and hung with a mobile of soaring Wonderbolts. “Now that's a crib. It's made out of stuff I can pronounce, it works and Madeline can hear me talking to her.”

“It's called the S-A-T,” Matter-horn said, “And I did not attend the Royal Canterlot Univerisity, I was at a satellite campus. But I did graduate Magna Cum Laude.”

“'Magma Cum Loud'?” Zapp asked, mangling the words horribly. “Well buck me, egghead, I had no idea you pledged a sorority. That was the only thing that made college interesting. Which one was it? I was Kappa Kappa Sigma. We used to call it, 'Chug-a Chug-a Spank-me.' You think I can put 'em back, some of those girls drank like seaponies. And if you thought frat-stallions could paddle...”

“Please... stop... you're humiliating yourself,” Matter-horn said, rubbing the bridge of her snout. “I pledged Delta Alpha Tau. An academic sorority for high achievers. We didn't drink or... I don't even want to know,” she said with a suppressed shudder. “And 'Magna Cum Laude' means 'With Highest Honors.' It means I graduated with great distinction and am an honor to the school.”

“Whatever. We were awesome and had fun, which is more than you. You haven't lived until you've been in a Kappa Kappa Sigma toy circle. They had some crazy rubber stuff in that house,” Zapp said, a perverse smile crossing her face.

“Oh yes, I am so glad that Bright can't hear this,” Matter-horn said with a roll of her eyes. “You're nothing more than a base and crude creature with a giant flexed muscle where your brain should be.”

“Yea, really, really giant!” Zapp shouted, defensively. She considered the statement for a moment and said, “Wait a minute...”

“Well now, that was a new record for getting the point of a reference,” Matter-horn said with a smug grin. “I think I proved my point, muscle-head.”

“And what point is that, egghead?” Zapp asked, gruffly.

“A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Yours was beyond wasted by your chemical intoxicants, but it couldn't have been too impressive even before that. I've seen your transcripts,” Matter-horn said with a laugh.

“You're pushing me. Keep it up and I'll push back,” Zapp growled with a shake of her hoof. “And remember, I can push around storm clouds full of an entire thunderstorm's worth of water. You don't want me shoving at you. What's your deal anyhow?”

“My 'deal', as you say, is that the ancestry of your offspring is very clear. However much you may hold him in contempt that sire was a genius. It stands to reason, then, that your filly could hold very intelligent genes. It's vital that you do everything to nurture her potential. You know I offered to build an auto-creche just like mine,” Matter-horn said.

“I know she's got all sorts of nerd going on behind her. And sure, I hope she'll be really smart, but she's my daughter! She'll be fast and tough and completely awesome!” Zapp said firmly, stomping ineffectually on the rubber floor. “And what about you? Your kid's got a whole double-scoop of muscle-bound goon in him. Won't he end up being a total ignora-hole?”

“I won't even bother with that little vocabulary flub, but you're missing the point! Whatever his sire may have been he's my son too. So I can nurture his potential. I can avoid the pitfalls of bad parenting by ensuring that learning is foremost. In that way I can ensure that he does well academically,” Matter-horn replied.

“Are you saying I'm a bad parent?” Zapp growled, eyes narrowing.

“I'm saying you're an ignorant parent, which is almost as bad,” Matter-horn noted with a dismissive wave of her hoof.

“You... you..!” Zapp bulled her way against Matter-horn, shoving the weaker mare back towards the wall. “You annoying little nerd!”

“Stop it! Get away from me!” Matter-horn struggled against the push but found herself backed against the wall, shoulders rubbing against it. She pushed against Zapp with all her might, for all the good it did. “Empty-headed muscle-bound jock!”

The two mares snarled at one another for a moment before their lips locked in a passionate kiss. Their mouths opened a few times to show their tongues wrestling for supremacy, thick strands of drool connecting their mouths each time the were opened. Largely, the evidence of active tongues came as the kissed with mouths closed, their cheeks bulging and wiggling slightly as the writhing muscles poked about.

Their hooves stroked awkwardly at each other, tracing along the costume-covered contours of each others' bodies. Zapp had a very basic solution, her clumsy hooves pulling at Matter-horn's attire, peeling away what she could manage to reach, undoing the claps with fumbling flicks. Matter-horn herself was more direct, her magic opening every fastener on Zapp's costume and pulling it slowly down.

Matter-horn rubbed her hoof up and down over the tight muscles laying beneath Zapp's coarse fur. The egotistical jock wasn't too concerned about the details of her appearance and had never thought to use conditioner on her coat, or even give it a proper currying. Her muscle, however, had been sculpted with almost obsessive care, packed and pushed into tight bands, like metal cable. She was slim and quick but wonderfully strong.

Zapp's hoof was trembling over Matter-horn's soft and shiny coat. The carefully-tended surface was the result of time spent with Radiance, who wanted everypony to look their best. She had to be careful with the delicate nerd; her powerful hooves could probably have bruised her skin or broken something. She rubbed and stroked with all the care that she had gained petting Saddle Rager's bunnies. She had made the mistake of petting against the grain and learned really, really fast how to stroke delicate things...

The two parted with a soft gasp, looking at each other with passion shining in their eyes. “Should we be doing this where the kids could see us?” Zapp asked.

“Foals don't start forming permanent memories until later in development,” Matter-horn answered breathlessly. “Also, their eyesight isn't good enough to see us over here. The only danger is we might wake them up.”

“R-right. Development and memories... come on, let's just do this while we're still horny,” Zapp said, spreading her legs to reveal her cyan slit, lips already flushed and slightly parted, shining with her arousal.

“You have such a way with language,” Matter-horn said with a roll of her eyes. She winced slightly and spread her own legs. Her sex was just as puffy and aroused, oozing with her juice in as great an amount as Zapp. “But you're right.”

“Wanna trib it up again, or are you scared you can't take it?” Zapp boldly asked, turning herself slightly to aim her crotch between Matter-horn's legs.

“You've been using that question since our pregnancies. It means nothing. You know I have the same inviolable genitals you do. I can take your tribidism. It you're going to say sexual words, say them right,” Matter-horn insisted, adjusting her own position.

“Whatever it's called, it's hot. But don't get all uppity on me, egghead. You weren't so cool when it first happened...” Zapp noted, thinking back.

Zapp waddled her way along through Power Ponies HQ, large belly deforming her outfit. A scowl rested on her face and her wings flared angrily every few steps. “Everypony'd better stay out of my way! I'm not in the mood today.”

Matter-horn looked up from a set of blueprints and slowly lowered some tools as she saw Zapp in a snit. “What's the matter with you today? Too many kicks from the foal. I thought you'd be happy by demonstrations of mindless strength.”

“I have even less patience for you today!” Zapp snapped, turning her sour look on Matter-horn. “It's been months of annoyance, weird cravings and having to sleep on my back or side! I want this thing out of me now!”

“That 'thing' is a living foal. Your foal, Zapp. I'm in no better shape, but I at least care about my child...” Matter-horn said softly, rubbing a hoof over her distended midsection.

“You know what I mean. The kid's great and all, shows all the signs of being completely awesome. But I've had it up to here with the pregnancy,” Zapp groused, holding a hoof high above her head.

Matter-horn developed a smug look after a moment of consideration, and gave Zapp a sidelong glance. “So, looks like Miss Musclepony isn't as tough as she pretends. What's the matter, Zapp? Beaten by a little, unborn foal?”

Zapp snorted sharply, wings flaring a bit. “What was that? Are you really challenging me, nerd?”

“You must admit, I've taken this pregnancy with far greater grace and aplomb than you have. I still retain my good humor, even if I, too, must endure the physical consequences of fecundity,” Matter-horn stated with a haughty tone.

“I have no idea what that means but it sounds like a challenge to me,” Zapp snarled, getting right in Matter-horn's face. “Don't make me wreck you, I'm not in the habit of completely obliterating pregnant mares.”

“You're the violent sort, true, but never to your compatriots, so I know you're all bluster right now, reeling from hormones and lack of decent sleep. Still... I think I should challenge you. In this contest I come out on top, no question,” Matter-horn said.

“Why you...” Zapp pushed forward again, backing Matter-horn up. In the process both ended up on their hind hooves, large, gravid stomachs making contact through their uniforms. “Maybe you're better at hiding what you're feeling but you can't beat me. At anything.”

“Given enough time I could invent a way to beat you at anything. I'm a unicorn who can fly thanks to my artificial wings. I could make a way to run faster than you, lift more than you, and be you better than you. Science and dedication beat brute force every time,” Matter-horn declared smugly, pressing belly and snout against Zapp.

“Your fancy little toys may look neat but they're just a crutch. You're too weak and helpless without all of that. You need to rely on that because you've got nothing else,” Zapp retorted.

“I don't need anything else. My wisdom and skill will endure, even as your body fades. Jocks like you thought you were so great in school, but the real world took the wind out of your wings, now they're all making the pizzas I have delivered and desperately trying to make a living as a personal trainer,” Matter-horn said, her voice hard and bitter.

“And every time I call tech support because my computer stopped showing me photos of stallions, the other end of the line is probably some nerd I used to see wandering around in the halls in school,” Zapp said, grinding her belly and snout against Matter-horn.

“Idiot jock!” Matter-horn screamed.

“Pain-in-the-neck nerd!” Zapp screamed back

The two mares kissed, on some signal they could not understand. The kiss was brief, sloppy and awkward, saliva smearing over lips and cheeks, largely from Zapp's side of things. They intentionally rubbed the swells of their stomachs against one another, even if the material of their outfits muted most of the sensation. There was also some twisting, to press at least some part of one side of a teat against the teat of the other mare. Their limbs were all over the place, pushing, grabbing, caressing. It was confusion and desperation played out at once.

The impromptu kiss broke with a wet pop and a sticky strange of saliva remained connecting their mouths. Zapp was the first to speak, after shaking her head to clear it. “Okay, that totally happened.”

“I'm not sure why... maybe the increase of hormonal levels has had a consequent effect on natural desires,” Matter-horn panted out.

“What the buck does that mean?” Zapp questioned, leaning in to rub her stomach over Matter-horn's again.

“Our hormones are raging, and that can make some pregnant women extra sexually stimulated. We expressed passionate opinions at one another and well, here we are,” Matter-horn explained.

“We were yelling at each other, I was insulting you, so why do I want to fuck you raw?” Zapp asked.

“Anger is a passion. So is lust. The wires may be a little crossed since, well, we're all charged up and eager. I know I've been feeling that mechanical assistance is unsatisfying...” Matter-horn confessed.

“Ha! Told you! With all your buzzy, knobby, freakishly large toys, that I never, ever stole, you still can't take care of yourself!” Zapp said with smug triumph.

“So are you feeling sexually satisfied? You seem just as eager to get some equine interaction,” Matter-horn countered.

“Th-that's different! I'm a powerful jock. I'm naturally horny and I need to get off way more often. It takes more and I need it all the time. It has nothing to do with anything else,” Zapp asserted, a hoof drifting down between her legs to surreptitiously grind at her uniform-clad sex.

“And you think nerds aren't? We have so many higher thoughts, we deal in such complex concepts that our bodies are often neglected. We are filled with powerful needs and sometimes lament ever fulfilling them. You get pent up and eager and you just want to get with the captain of the hoofball team, or the swim team or that stallion that lifts weights but you can't because they don't like mares in glasses!” Matter-horn shouted.

“Truce!” Zapp shouted suddenly, pulling at her uniform and nearly tearing it off of her body. Her coarse coat glistened with a sheen of sweat, and her teats, when exposed, were weeping thin streams of milk. Her sex, stimulated by the prior rubbing, dripped with desire. “We can fight about this later. Right now we need to get it on.”

“Agreed,” Matter-horn said, more carefully using magic to remove her attire. Her own body was in a similar state, sheened with sweat, milk lightly gathering at the tips of her nipples, and her sex glistening with need. She gave a shiver as a flex of her muscles winked her clit, a hoof coming down to desperately grind and flick the spherical nerve bundle.

“Let me! Think you're such and egghead and you don't even know how...” Zapp's hoof reached under Matter-horn's large belly and knocked away the other hoof. She pushed the rough surface of her frog against the trembling button. Her hooves were the product of exercise and hard work, and they felt like it. Contact was rather basic, pushes and nudges, flicks with the tip of the nail. But the sensations were new; Zapp was stronger than Matter-horn and her hooves had never seen the inside of a spa. She worked the other mare over in a fashion she had never felt before.

“That's... ah! That's n-not a technique...” Matter-horn moaned out, reaching her hown dainty hoof down to feel over Zapp's sex. The area was sticky, sloppy and spread out. Years of eager sex, and self-stimulation, had given her a set of spread lips that exposed her passage just a little by default. Matter-horn's soft and well-cared-for frog slid along the flat, toned mound, over the outer lips, and along the clit which was exposed by a wink from Zapp. Matter-horn moved her hoof in certain patterns she knew, gliding over particularly sensitive areas, and nudging at the engorged bean with every few strokes, being rewarded with twitches and squirts of fluid.

Zapp grunted softly, not given to moaning in most cases. She almost seemed to wince as the soft and tender hoof worked over her well-used sex in ways she had never even imagined. She redoubled the efforts of her brute force frigging, flicking Matter-horn's clit freely, and spreading her lips out to expose her inner walls. The new, rough treatment seemed to resonate with the unicorn, if the increase in her honey dripping was any indication.

Matter-horn was shuddering in pleasure, her hoof growing less precise. Her motions stuttered, working the flesh with more hesitation as her body grew more and more suffused with the pleasure. She shook her head and activated her magic, using the fields of force to press and massage the points she had been working with her hoof, the hoof itself focused exclusively on rubbing and working Zapp's clit.

Zapp could feel Matter-horn's pussy fluttering beneath her touch, and knew by all the liquid against the bottom of her hoof that it was only a matter of time before she went off. Even though her own pleasure was rising, and she was having trouble hiding the shivers that came from it, she said, “Ha, you nerd girls are so weak. A good, hard rubbing from somepony like me and you get right off.”

Matter-horn responded by rapidly flickering Zapp's clit with her hoof and uses her magic to tweak her nipples while also spreading the pussy lips wide, a little force pushing in and pumping slowly. “But you jocks are so basic it's easy to know what gets you off. You love this...” The tweaks turned to twists and yanks, a rhythmic massaging of the milk-engorged teats. Long, thin squirts of milk flew up in lazy arcs and splattered, somewhat unintentionally, over Matter-horn's swollen stomach.

“Ah!' Zapp trembled at the sudden assault on her erogenous zones, her sex fluttering, and her wings snapping out suddenly. Her hoof was joined by the other, to apply extra attention to Matter-horn's crotch, and also to curve up and cup at her teats. Lacking telekinetic powers she had to use the underside of her hoof to tweak and tug the teats. But with her greater strength even a fumbling attempt was a symphony of stimulation.

Matter-horn's head lashed about, horn wavering in strength as her focus was compromised. She had only one recourse, dropping her head down to bury her muzzle against Zapp's musky crotch. Her tongue was out in an instant, performing a lot of undignified and rather chaotic flops and flicks. Her untrained nature made her simply do whatever she could, rubbing her face deep between the powerful legs, smearing the strongly scented honey all over her features, while rubbing the silken fur of her snout against the folds and the throbbing bulge of Zapp's clit.

“W-wanna go there? F-f-fine! I told you, I pledged a fun sorority!” Zapp screamed as she, too, pushed her head under Matter-horn's pregnant belly and forced her mouth against the soft-furred sex. Her lips nibbles in strong, regular patters along the outer folds, while her tongue, as muscular and trained as the rest of her, stabbed firmly into the hot and juicy depths. Zapp worked her agile tongue like a snake, twisting, thrusting, twirling around in time while her coarse chin ground against Matter-horn's clit.

The two desperate mares worked on each other with their oral skills, slurping and groaning loudly as taut, firm bellies pressed against their necks and chests. They intended to prove superiority by getting one off first, but all that happened was a unified peak. Tongues withdrew and heads pulled up in a sudden need to shout. Matter-horn gave a loud, high-pitched squeal while Zapp delivered a lower, husky rumble of a shout.

Matter-horn's orgasm was marked with a rapid winking of her clit as well as the uncontrollable trembling of her thighs as she 'humped' at where Zapp's face had been. Zapp's body reached orgasm with a sudden contortion of her powerful muscles, a wide spread of her legs and a copious squirt of her mare honey that splattered onto the floor.

Both mares wound up on the ground, limbs disentangled from one another, on their backs, panting hard and giving residual shudders as the peak of the orgasm passed and only the aftershocks remained. Zapp moaned out, “For the record, you came first...”

“It was simultaneous... I don't feel like fighting about this. Think what you want. I need to savor the afterglow,” Matter-horn said, closing her eyes.

“I win... again...” Zap huffed, trying to get back up and failing. She slumped down and closed her own eyes. “Go me...”

Back in the present Zapp and Matter-horn had come together in the posture they had started in, scissoring one another and roughly grinding their heated pussies together. Zapp was excelling that that particular activity, pushing on Matter-horn and moving her along the foam rubber floor. She ground her clit down hard and gave a triumphant, lustful cry. “Yeah! Take it! Take it! Being a jock so has all the advantages...”

Matter-horn didn't respond for a time, letting out panting moans and whines of pure delight. She finally broke her passivity by using her magic to surround Zapp's teats with domes of force, which pumped and squeezed on them rhythmically. Squirts of milk collected in the magical domes, and slocked aobut while Zapp let out surprised grunts of pure pleasure. “Not all of them. Being a nerd keeps things pretty interesting. Especially when I get creative.” Another tendril of magic pulled a device into view. It was two dildoes connected to what looked like a small cube covered in gears. A magical spark set the device to buzzing like a swarm of angry bees and put a wicked smile on Matter-horn's face.

On the outskirts of Maretropolis, in a small, abandoned building, two hulking figures looked over a map of the city. Several areas had been marked off, including the prison, the asylum, and Power Pony HQ. A well-folded sheet of paper rested beside the map, both of which were soon set on fire.

“Change of plans,” One said to the other. “Now we're supposed to just go in.”

“And then what? Just wander the streets?” The other asked.

“Do our thing. That was the order. Just do what we do and get noticed. Heh, I think we can get noticed, don't you?” The first asked with a deep chuckle.

“It's what we do these days...” The second said, dousing the last embers of the fire.