Standing the Heat

Splash!

Richard yelled out in shock as he hit the water, all of his concern about his heat gone in a flash. For a moment he was disorientated as his head went underneath the water, but he recovered quickly as he hit the bottom. Sitting up and taking a deep breath, he looked around and saw Twilight sitting in the fountain next to him, her mane plastered over her face. A flash of anger flared up within him before he felt her hoof on his arm.

"Are you okay, Richard?" she asked as she used her other hoof to brush her mane out of her eyes.

"Yes, don't worry, I'm okay." he replied warmly, placing a hand on her hoof and rubbing the fetlock with his thumb. "But why did you do that?"

"I'm sorry," she frowned, "But I didn't want you to lose the bet."

Richard looked at her confused.

"Why not?"

"Because I care about you too much to make you go through that," Twilight looked away from him. "The idea of turning you into a mare for a week. Stripping you of your identity, even for such a short period, it's wrong."

"But I'd deserve it," said Richard causing Twilight to glare at him.

"No you don't," Twilight growled. "Not as the result of a silly bet. So don't you dare suggest you do."

Richard looked at her thoughtfully for a second, before leaning forward and kissing her cheek, causing her to blush brightly.

"Thanks."

'Just don't make me regret it,' Twilight thought to herself.

"So, how about we get out of here and head back up to the party?" Twilight said.

"I dunno," Richard sighed. "Even if we weren't soaking wet, I think I made a pretty big fool of myself up there."

"Well, I can solve at least one of the issues," Said Twilight leading the way out of the fountain, Richard following quickly behind her. "Just watch."

Closing her eyes in concentration, a glow to began to pulse from Twilight's horn and Richard felt the sensation similar to a warm wind blowing over him as both he and Twilight began to steam. Within seconds both of them were completely dry."

"Wow," Richard whistled in appreciation. "Is there anything magic can't do?"

"Well," Twilight whispered, "It can't do this." Twilight leaned up and kissed him on the lips once more, leaving him staring at her as she stepped back.

"So, shall we head back up to the party?" she asked, turning towards the palace.

"What about me making a fool of myself?"

"Do you trust me?" Twilight smiled mischievously.

"Yes?" Richard replied unsure of himself.

"Then I promise you, no one will care about before."

Richard nervously walked into the palace with Twilight following close behind. As he did so, he noticed the music stop and felt a hush go over the room.

Sensing the tension, Richard noticed Pinkie Pie turning around and smiling brightly at him.

"Oh goodie, you came back." Pinkie bounced over to him. "I was worried you'd left for the night, after all, a party isn't a party without the birthday boy."

"Thanks, Pinkie," said Richard. "Though I wouldn't have come back if it wasn't for Twilight."

"Wow, she must be a miracle maker," Smirked Rainbow. "If I did anything as embarrassing as kissing a princess you wouldn't be able to drag me back here with Applejack's lasso."

"Well, darling, not everyone is so emotionally stunted as to let one incident ruin a perfectly good evening of fun."

"It's not emotionally stunted to be embarrassed for kissing somepony who didn't want to be kissed."

"Oh, really?" Twilight asked with a grin. "That's what you think?"

Rainbow Dash could only stare silently as Twilight lit up her horn and pulled a surprised Richard down into a passionate embrace. A large whoop and stamp of applause filling the room in response, the sound of a single glass breaking lost in the crowd.

"All right," Cheered Pinkie. "How about we get this party started?!"

Another loud cheer filled the room as music started back up.

An hour later, and Richard was feeling incredibly happy that Twilight had talked him into coming back to the party. She had been right, no one cared that he had kissed her. In fact many had seemed almost enthusiastic at the prospect of him and Twilight swapping spit. Several ponies had even come up to him to congratulate him and offer him a drink. Though Richard was beginning to feel tired with both the heat and party weighing on him.

Richard was just taking a sip of a cider somepony had given him moments before when he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to find Pinkie standing there.

"Hey, Pinkie, nice party."

"Thanks, Richard, but you've not seen anything yet. Ready for the party to be kicked up a notch?"

"There's more than this?" He weaved his arms at the room around him. "Good music, good food and drink, what more can there be?"

"Do humans have karaoke back where you come from?"

"Alcohol and bad singing? Of course we do."

"Well, would you be up for some?" asked Pinkie excitedly.

"Sure, why not? Though I'm not sure why you're asking me? You planned all this."

"Because you're the birthday boy, silly." Pinkie leaned up and poked his nose with the frog of her hoof. "It wouldn't be fun if you didn't enjoy it."

Richard smiled appreciatively at the bouncing pink ball of energy.

"Well, anyway, I'd be happy to see some karaoke. It'd be nice to experience more pony culture."

"Yay!" Pinkie yelled excitedly before sprinting over to a stage that stood in the center of the room.

"Can I have your attention everypony?" she spoke into a microphone, her voice filling the room. "I hope you're all enjoying the party?" There was a loud stamping of approval. "But how about we get some karaoke going?" There was another loud stamping of approval. "Alrighty then, how about we start off by inviting the birthday boy up here to kick us off?"

There was a loud stamping of approval as a spotlight came from nowhere to blind Richard. He was in a daze, him singing was not something he had expected to be requested.

"I can't possibly," he protested, "I don't know any Equestrian songs."

"Don't worry," said a familiar voice over the speakers. "I'm sure you'll know this song. I edited it together myself."

"Vinyl?" Richard said.

"The one and only," Vinyl replied. "So no more protesting, it's time to show us all what you can do."

Richard wanted to protest more, but he felt a presence next to him and turned to see Twilight, who looked a little worse for wear.

"Go, on," she said. "Don't be a party pooper."

"Fine, Twilight, for you." he relented and started making his way towards the stage. He could feel all eyes on him as he climbed the stairs of the platform and sweat began to form on his brow.

'Oh not now,' he thought to himself.

Taking a deep breath he steadied himself and approached Pinkie who was still standing at the microphone, at her feet he could see there was a small screen nearby to display the words of the song to whoever was singing. She turned to look at him and fixed him with a big smile.

"So, are you ready?"

"What song am I singing?" Richard asked.

"Don't worry about it," replied Pinkie. "You'll know in a second."

Richard sighed as a giddy Pinkie turned back to face the microphone.

"Well, without further ado, fillies and gentlecolts, I give you Richard."

The room erupted into the loudest roar of applause and stamping yet as Pinkie jumped away and Richard approached the mic. Sweat poured from his brow as he waited nervously for the music to start. There was a moment of quiet as the applause died down and then the first few notes began.

'You've got to be kidding me,' he thought to himself.

He looked to the screen as the words flashed up and he got ready to start singing.

Can't take my eyes off you

Richard finished the song to another round of applause but he couldn't hear it, all he could notice was the fact Twilight had walked off mid song so he pushed through the crowd to try and find her. It took several minutes and he had to ask several ponies, but eventually one pointed him towards the bar where he found Twilight sipping on a cider.

"Twilight?" Richard placed his hand on her shoulder, "Are you okay?"

"Never better," she replied with a hiccup, and Richard fixed her with a look of concern.

"Then why did you run off during the song?"

"I didn't run off," she said, taking a step towards him and almost falling backwards, Richard quickly stepping forwards to steady her. "I just needed to get a drink."

"Which I think you've had enough off," Richard took the mug from her magical grip and placed it back on the bar.

"Oh, you're no fun," Twilight pouted before reaching for the mug and accidently knocking it over with a clumsy grab. "Oopsie." Twilight giggled.

"Okay, Twilight," Richard sighed, picking Twilight up. "I think it's time for you to call it a night. Lets get you off to bed."

"Ooh, Richard," Twilight giggled, wrapping her hooves around his neck and leaning close to his ear. "I knew you liked me, but couldn't you wait until at least the first date before trying to get into my bed?"

The heat pounded in Richard's veins as he felt her hot breath against his ear and he had to grit his teeth as he ignored her taunt.

"Which way?" he simply asked.

"Over there," Twilight pointed towards the empty back of the room where there was a large door that lead deeper into the palace. "Through there and up the stairs to the third floor."

Thankfully Richard was able to extract him and Twilight from the party with little more than some giggles and whistles from ponies as he passed and soon they left the sound of party far behind. As he walked, he noticed Twilight had grown quiet and still and as he looked down at her, he could see that she was looking off into the distance. He was just about to ask her if anything was wrong when she spoke.

"Is that how you really feel about me?" she asked in a hushed tone.

"What do you mean?" asked Richard.

"The song? Do you really think I'm 'too good to be true?'"

"Is that why you ran off?" Richard whispered causing Twilight to nod in response. "Why?"

"No one has ever thought that about me before," Twilight turned to look at him. "It was a lot to take in."

"Well, I didn't choose the song. I assume Pinkie worked with Vinyl to choose it as some..." Richard paused trying to think of the correct word to use. "I guess Pinkie way to get us together."

"So, you don't think that?" Twilight asked, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Of course I do," Richard smiled, leaning his head down to kiss Twilight on the forehead, causing her to blush and giggle drunkenly. "You're a beautiful, magical talking alicorn. Back where I come from you'd be a myth."

"That's not what I mean," Twilight smacked him playfully before looking at him hopefully.

"I know," Richard said, struggling to look away from Twilights gaze as he began to hear his pulse race in his ears. "We're at the third floor." He said, trying to change the subject.

"Oh," Twilight whispered. "Fifth door on the left."

Richard walked in silence until he reached the correct door, which Twilight unlocked with her magic, the sudden flash of light causing Richard to blink. Crossing the threshold, Richard paused for a few seconds to get his sight back before walking over and placing Twilight down on her bed. He tried to get up to quickly leave before the silence got too awkward but Twilight kept her hooves locked around his neck.

"Thanks," she said, breaking the silence before pulling him down and kissing him and quickly pulling back. It was short, barely a touch of the lips, but Richard could taste the alcohol on her breath. For a moment they stayed like that, staring at each other, before they drew together and Richard found himself making out with Twilight on her bed.

The heat pounded through Richard's system and as they separated for a breath a painfully hard part of his anatomy drew his attention enough to snap him back to the reality of the situation.

"Twilight," he said, extracting himself out of her grasp and standing up to leave. "I think I should go."

"Stay," It was barely more than a whisper, but it filled the empty room like a thunderous orchestra. "Please?"

Richard paused.

The neediness in her voice was clear, and Richard had no doubt what would happen should he stay. Every fibre of his being wanted to do little more than jump onto the bed and spend the night with him, and his painfully hard erection was yelling loudly at him to listen to her, but in the back of his head he heard a loud and clear voice telling him he had to leave.

"I'm sorry, but I can't." Richard gritted his teeth and turned away from Twilight and towards the door. "It wouldn't be right."

"Oh..." The pain and hurt in that sound cut through Richard like a knife.

"Twilight?" Richard turned back towards to Twilight to see she had turned her back.

"Just go."

Richard opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything there was a blinding light and he felt an overwhelming force throw him out of the room. He barely managed to pick himself up from the floor as the door slammed shut, the sound echoing around the dark silent corridor.

"Sleep well, Twilight," Richard whispered before turning to leave.