Author's Note

Warning: This chapter contains....

Ahh screw it. It's chapter 20. You know what's going on.

Chapter 20

Scootaloo waited until her best friend was snoring softly before she left for Mason's room. She had been doing this for a while mostly because it seemed to make Apple Bloom feel better about the situation, like she wasn't being left behind. Heck, Apple Bloom already knew every little detail about what her and Mason had been up to anyways and it's not like everypony didn't know about them... or at least she secretly hoped they did. The idea of others seeing her attached to somepony else in a special relationship made her feel good inside, like she belonged somehow.

After the gathering that evening welcoming Applejack home, Apple Bloom and her returned to the room upstairs that she could now call home. She was happy that things had finally gotten to where she could accept this idea. The fear of her father's interference had kept her from accepting it before, even though she longed to be free from his influence. She really did like being here and now her and Apple Bloom could start planning out how to put things in the room.

Ever since she could remember, she always felt like she was the oddball pony of any group. Nopony she knew of had the problems she did and she desperately tried to hide it from the world. She did so because her biggest fear was to be treated 'special'. She didn't want to be 'special'... she just wanted to be a normal pony like everypony else. For so long she felt alone in her own world, even with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle always around she never told them anything about what her father and her home was really like... even when she desperately wanted to. Finally, that had all changed for her and she felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her back... because of Mason.

Her thoughts kept returning to him while she waited for Apple Bloom to fall asleep. She had guessed she was probably obsessed considering the near constant desire to be around him and to receive the attention he gave her. The affection he shared was an antidote to the bitter, sour feeling that had been festering at the core of her heart as long as she could remember. What happened last night still filled her with warm, tingly sensations of feeling connected like they had been. She was glad she had done it even though she had been scared and nervous to take him inside her, afraid she'd do it wrong somehow.

"Did it hurt?" Apple Bloom had asked her earlier in the day as they sat with unread comic books in their hooves before Applejack returned. Apple Bloom figured out they did something... she had gone in to try and wake them up, after all and it's not like either of them were decent that morning.

"Naw! I just had to breath and relax a bit and then it went right in! Apple Bloom... it was amazing!" Scootaloo told her friend. "It was so warm and tingly... it felt like I was full in a place I never knew I was hungry!"

She told her friend in detail about the whole experience. The two of them had talked about this stuff openly since Apple Bloom had stormed in on her and Mason that day. Her best friend was eager to hear all about it and kept asking all sorts of questions until Scootaloo asked out of frustration.

"Jeeze, Apple Bloom... do ya wanna watch next time or something?" she joked.

"Umm... what about Mason? Won't he feel weird about me bein' there?" Apple Bloom had replied with complete sincerity. Scootaloo hadn't expected this answer, but now that she though about it she found the concept wasn't too crazy for her. They were the Cutie Mark Crusaders after all... in it together forever. She was more than willing to show everypony how cool the thing was she had between Mason and herself. Sweetie Belle didn't know yet, but she was sure to find out sooner or later.

"I dunno.. you really wanna watch??"

"He is kinda cute..." Apple Bloom reddened at the face.

"You should see him when his wings pop out!"

This had sent the two of them into fits of laughter.

It was late in the night by the time Apple Bloom had turned off the light and said good night. Mason, Rainbow Dash and Applejack had stayed downstairs when they moved up to Apple Bloom's room. She had heard Mason go to bed a while ago and was eager to join him. She had been sore... yes. But it had faded to a pleasant achy, empty feeling that beckoned for renewal that she intended to fill. His smell still tingled her nose even after the shower and the day's events. She had even scrubbed the patch of thick orange hair extra good down there.

When her friend's snores finally reached her ears, she felt it was time to go. Once again, she crept out of the room silently and closed the door behind her. Turning to Mason's room, she stopped.

She was really thirsty.

A drink of cold water from the pump in the kitchen sounded delicious before she crawled into bed next to her new lover and woke him up with any number of devious ways that jumped around her mind. It felt so exciting that she was somewhere in her life where she could feel this way about somepony else. Even if it was being a bit naughty. She moved as quietly down the steps as she could, but pony hooves and wood were just meant to make sound together. A soft thump and some rustling noises reached her ears when she neared the bottom step.

The great room was bathed in flickering candle light from two large wicks burning on the brick base of the large fireplace. They cast their dancing, wavering shadows in yellow light giving the room a dim, surreal atmosphere. On the floor in front of the long row of cushions sat Applejack and Rainbow Dash next to each other. The two were sitting up straight and rigid as if they were expecting her with wide eyes and closed muzzles. Applejack's hat was on the couch, her blonde hair loose and untied giving her a very free flowing and relaxed look as the lengths of hair cascaded around her face. Rainbow Dash quickly wiped a hoof across her muzzle and spoke up.

"Heya Squirt! Whatcha doin up?" Rainbow asked her.

"Just gettin a drink. What are you ponies up to?" She looked around "And why are ya burning candles? It's not hearth's warming..."

"Ah... well..." Applejack stumbled. "We just didn't feel like bein in the bright light while we...uh... talked. Ya know?"

"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash added. "Don't you ever just wanna... watch candles burn? I do all the time, it's sooo cool!"

"Ohh..." Scootaloo replied warily. Something was off about them, but she'd learned her lesson with Big Mac. Sometimes it's just better not to know. "Well I'm gonna get some water..." and moved to the kitchen.

After quenching her thirst, she moved back through the great room. The two ponies had yet to move or make a sound and continued to watch Scootaloo as she walked by. A scent hit her nose this time when she passed them. A sweet and musky smell that pulled at her recent memory but remained just out of reach. It was like sweat but different...

"Good night!" Scootaloo said, quickly hitting the stairs and glad to be out of that awkward situation. What in Equestria are those two doing down there?

Finally, she crawled into bed with Mason. He was on his back... and awake.

"Hey..." he said to her warmly. "I thought you'd never get here."

"Sorry... Apple Bloom and I were up talking bout stuff."

"Mmm... what kind of stuff" his hand brushed her side under the blanket and gave her an electrified feeling of excitement.

She thought about telling him what Apple Bloom wanted to do, but decided to wait instead, choosing to initiate the contact she was already excited for. The moon shining in the window gave plenty of light for her to see his dark hair and blue eyes looking at her. He wasn't a pony... but his features made her heart melt more than any stallion or colt ever had.

"Nuthin... just filly stuff..." she said and kissed him deeply, sparking off the warm, buttery feeling in her tummy that made her feel happy inside.

The act was different this night. She felt his touch and kisses loaded with an emotional passion, stripped away of the nervous and awkward excitement that overshadowed last night. His penis was a hard exclamation point when she felt it with her hoof, already naked and exposed to the light of the moon when she pulled the cover down. The rounded end, so unlike the flat disc she had been taught to expect, throbbed and danced with his heartbeat as he moved over her. She did her best to spread her hind legs, hoping it would be enough to give him access to the now melting core of her desire. She felt her heart racing in anticipation as he pushed, missed... and then she guided him.

He entered her slowly, the warm hard part of him sliding inside between her legs with a steady, deliberate pressure that her body yielded to willingly. That feeling of being full overcame her again and she went with it, closing her eyes and giving herself over to the experience with joy. Almost immediately she felt her belly start to tighten from the little jolts of electricity sparking out from where they were joined together. He rocked the middle of his body against her gently, thrusting and withdrawing that full warm feeling with each movement while he held his weight off her small body with his arms. His movements were so full of tenderness and love she almost began to cry from how happy she felt to be with him. To give him this intimate closeness... and to receive it in return.

Her front legs came up to his sides and felt his wings extended, stiff and sticking straight out to either side. Her own were throbbing for release and she arched her back to let them free. When she did, Mason pushed forward hard and reached deep inside to a new place that triggered a sudden and intense orgasm, catching her by surprise. She cried out at it's arrival, clutching onto her lover above. That place where they were connected throbbed and clamped down on the part of his body caressing her insides while she rocked with him through her roller coaster flight of ecstasy.

As the waves passed, she felt him thicken and press against her inner walls. Harder and faster he moved his hips, his breath fast and heavy before giving one final push and holding it. He gave a primal groan when his body stiffened and she knew this must be his special moment. The part of him inside her swelled and then began to throb, sending that hot, splashing feeling up to a place inside that even his deepest thrust could not reach. He collapsed in hunching convulsions, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace as the throbbing feeling down below continued. Scootaloo felt a mad rush of power that she could make him feel this way. It liberated another part of her pent up self esteem with an intense love for Mason at his willingness to give her this chance.

Scootaloo didn't move, she wanted to stay locked together as long as possible, sharing the intimate moment of being this close. She felt that full feeling between her legs start to fade and then disappear completely when he finally withdrew himself. Tickling sensations of something wet running down to her tail caused a shiver of delight while he settled in on the other side of the bed on his back. She turned to lay half on his body, running a hoof gently over his chest in relaxed contentment listening to him breathe and feeling his chest rise and fall slowly.

"Mason... I love you." she whispered to him.

"I love you too, Scoot" he answered.

She lay awake in the warm wonderful afterglow she felt radiating from inside. It blocked out all her bad memories and sad feelings that had been so common place behind the tough shell she had built around her. She finally did feel like a normal pony.

It wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep, still smiling.

________________________________________________

When she awoke the next morning, Mason was still fast asleep. Even in her foggy morning mind she was eagerly anticipating what was in store that day. Applejack had said they could go get her stuff out of her old house and she wanted to get started! She couldn't wait to get her things out of that dingy old house and start her new life. There wasn't much, but the things she did have were precious to her. Her old stuffed bear, (she hasn't slept with it for a few years now but couldn't stand the thought of getting rid of it), her helmet and scooter, a few signed Rainbow Dash cards she received for her birthdays, and her homemade cape from the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They were going to also bring her bed and this had caused both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom to discuss at great length who was on what side of the room last night.

She rushed everypony through breakfast. Rainbow Dash was still there but Scootaloo made no mention of her strange visit to the common room last night. She had bigger things on her mind and half listened while her and Mason discussed when she would give him flying lessons. Not even the thought of Dash spending time with somepony else to teach them how to fly bothered her. Her wings and the lifelong struggles she had with basic pegasus living seemed a million miles away right now while her and Apple Bloom continued the negations regarding the living space.

"I told ya I wanted to be on the side with tha door! It was my room first, ya know!" Apple Bloom argued when she had brought up the sensitive topic.

"But Apple Bloom! Think of how neat it is by the window! The morning sun... the night time views!" Scootaloo tried to sell her on the idea with everything she had. The reality of it was she wanted the door so she could sneak out easier.

"Tell ya what, fillies. Why don't we flip a coin fer it!" Applejack provided helpfully.

"NO!" they both said in unison.

The sun had began to make it's way towards the high point of the day by the time everypony was ready to go. Scootaloo had spent most of the time between breakfast and then chasing behind anyone who was walking a bit too slow or not getting ready fast enough for her liking. Finally, they set off down the path from the farm in the already hot summer air. Insects buzzed the grass that waved in the slight breeze that did little to cool off the travelers as they made their way east.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack walked behind Big Mac who had hooked up the trusty cart once again and trundled along in front with the still injured Apple Bloom along for the ride. Herself and Mason followed a distance back.

"Mason?" She asked as they walked.

"Yeah?"

"Do you like Apple Bloom?" Now that she was faced with it, she found it was hard to figure out how to start the conversation.

"Huh? Of course I do, Scoots" Mason said. "What makes you think I don't?"

"No... it's not that. I mean..." she found herself unable to move forward. The words just didn't seem to want to come out of her mouth.

"Just spit it out, puffball!" She blushed at the new nickname he had given her. It was in reference to the way her tail had looked after the night they had become special someponies.

"Apple Bloom... well she's kinda... curious"

"Abooouut what?" he prompted her.

"About what it's like to have a special somepony"

"Aww" he said sweetly. "I'm sure she'll find somepony when it's right."

"Yeah..." Scootaloo trailed off. She lost her courage to take this any further and dropped it. The idea of having Apple Bloom with them didn't bother her at all now. But trying to talk to Mason about it did, for some reason. It frustrated her to no end that she was being so wishy-washy about it. She should just spit it out! She was still spinning the question of how to ask him when she noticed Big Mac had stopped.

She walked with Mason to join with the others and stopped when she saw the tall figure standing on the bridge leading to the houses to the east. It was a lean figure standing upright on two legs... well she thought legs but really it was a combination of a brown cloven hoof and green dragon's talon. The body snaked up in a thin line to equally mismatched arms of a skinny chicken and what she always thought of as a tiger's paw... but was never sure. The head was a chaotic mix of a goat and pony with two horns. One of a reindeer and the other a twisted mockery of a unicorn. It's uneven yellow and red eyes regarded them with mischievous glee as it moved suddenly, closing the distance between the group and itself in a matter of seconds to slither up directly in front of Mason.

It regarded him with an eager stare, smiling widely from less that a hoof's distance away from Mason's nose. He took a step back with fear in his eyes. She wanted to yell... scream... do something. But she couldn't find enough air to make a sound with. Her heart beat wildly in the pregnant pause before the creature spoke in a surprisingly pleasant, articulate and conversational tone.

"Hello, Human" Discord said.