Motherhood, Mayhem and the Mane-iac's Return

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.