Waking up in Equestria

Silence descended on Scootaloo and I, still locked in a tight embrace on the cold floor of the chamber. That wonderful vibrating feeling that had taken over my senses had gone and I was left with a warm glow inside from the pleasant sensations it had given me. My eyes were still closed and my face still buried in Scootaloo's soft, warm hair, but I could feel myself smiling. We were still alive.

"Scoots? Mason?" I heard Apple Bloom say close by. "You ponies all right?"

"Yeah..." I said, pulling my face away from the warm nook it was in.

"What happened?" Scootaloo asked, blinking into the torchlight. "Where's Quickfire?"

"Gone." I heard Twilight say from behind me. "He has been banished to Tartarus, where his hatred of land ponies can never again hurt anyone."

I rolled to my feet, helping Scootaloo to hers before turning around to look at Twilight. What I saw took my breath away. All six of my friends were gathered together, but they looked very different. Their manes and bodies shimmered with highlights and patterns that accentuated the natural colors they possessed. Intricate patters blossomed out from their cutie marks to cover their whole body that glowed in the auras of gold, yellow, pink and blue radiating around each of them, crackling with power that raised the hairs on my arms. Twilight looked every bit the royal pony that she was and then some. I was struck by an irresistible urge to kneel before her, so great was her majestic appearance.

"You..." my words failed me.

"It is the power of The Elements of Harmony, Mason... something that we have you to thank for right now." she smiled at me with grateful purple rimmed eyes. "The love that you and Scootaloo share is what broke the power of The Element of Hate that Quickfire had found, giving us the opportunity to defeat it once and for all."

She moved towards the two of us. Scootaloo pressed against me and I put a hand on the back of her neck in comfort and affection. As she advanced, the aura around her shimmered and then faded, taking the majestic appearance with it and leaving behind the humble and plain colors behind. When she spoke, her voice was tender and kind.

"I'm sorry I questioned you before, Mason. I should have trusted that humans could love just as much as ponies could." she gave me an apologetic smile. "I was just so worried that with everything going on, Scootaloo was going to just get in more trouble by falling in love with a pon- A human... we didn't know very well."

"What are you talkin about?" Scootaloo asked with a confused look on her face. "I can take care of myself!"

Twilight gave her a sisterly jab on the shoulder and a smile. "I know, Scoot... but sometimes we gotta look out for our friends, even when the don't think they need it."

"Well at least ya picked one with wings, squirt..." Rainbow Dash said with a smirk on her face. "Even if he's terrible with them!"

"Hey!" I bristled.

"I'm just kiddin!" she dismissed, waving a hoof in the air. "Quickfire was on track to be a Wonderbolt, I'm impressed ya lasted that long. Yer just lucky I came along when I did." she winked.

"Thanks for that, Dash. Really. He was gonna nail me for sure." I felt my skinned arm as a reminder.

"That's the second time I've saved your tail, human. Don't you forget it!"

Rarity began hopping from side to side with an anxious face "Look, I'm thrilled that Mason and Scootaloo are true special someponies and all that, and I really am curious as to why my little sister didn't tell me...." she shot a glare at Sweetie Belle who stood next to her with a sheepish look under her big sister's scorn. "... but I'm cold, dirty and want to get back to Ponyville!"

"I'm with ya, sister!" Applejack chimed in. "I've had just about enough o this nonsense for a whole growing season. Let's get a move on!"

"Wait!" Twilight stopped us as we gathered to move towards the far door. She turned to the red box still standing on the pedestal. "This box contained The Element of Hate for centuries. It holds it's own horrible power all by itself... I can feel it. We can't just leave it here for somepony to find."

"Well I'm not touching that thing! Look at those garish colors!" Rarity turned her nose up at it.

"Me either!" Applejack added

"Oooo! Is there a pop up snake inside?!" Pinky Pie asked with genuine enthusiasm, giving a little hop.

"I don't think so, Pinky." Twilight chuckled at the irrepressible party pony. "I think this is what he was using to convert ponies to those shadow creatures that brought us here."

"Oh..." she shrank back disappointed.

"Yeah, who'd be crazy enough to walk around with that box in their hooves?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Ahem!" a loud voice cleared it's throat in the dark and we all turned towards the source. Discord stepped into the light of the torches, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

"Allow me the pleasure of taking that trinket off your hands. I know just what to do with it!" he smiled greedily, rubbing his two mismatched hands together.

"As if, Discord!" Applejack narrowed her eyes. "Why in Equestria would we let you take something like this?"

"Applejack.. please!" again he played the wounded victim. "How many times do I have to save your pony hides before you believe my intentions are well meaning?"

"Save our hides? SAVE OUR HIDES!?" she took a few menacing steps toward the lanky figure, lowering her head and widening her stance. "All you've ever dun is get us in a heap o trouble!"

Fluttershy jumped in front of the bristling farm pony. "Now Applejack... hear him out. If it wasn't for Discord, we would never have known what Quickfire was up to, isn't that right Twilight?" she looked to the Alicorn for help.

"She does have a point, AJ..." Twilight shrugged in agreement.

"And it was me who unlocked your cages!" he whined "Do you have any idea how hard it is to move lock tumblers when you're the size of a firefly?! Why... look at the state I'm in! I broke three talons on this arm alone." Pouting, Discord held out his clawed hand and studied it with despair.

"What do ya want with the thing, anyways?" Applejack backed down some, but not much. Her face was still a mask of apprehension.

"It would look lovely next to my souvenir Tatarus looking glass and chaos crystal shard on my mantle. You know I am quite the collector of odd things" he looked longingly at the box.

"Discord, you've been a good friend to us lately. Take the box..." Twilight changed her expression from kind to stern before adding "...and please don't make us regret it!"

"Oh thank you Twilight!" his features lit up in a sincere show of gratitude that I actually believed this time. "I can't wait to get it home!" he scooped up the box from the stand and held it lovingly in his arms. "This will make such a nice addition..." He vanished with an eager giggle.

"Can we puh-lease get out of here now!" Rarity was completely out of patience, looking with pleading eyes at Twilight.

"Yeah, lets go everypony!" The alicorn lead the way as we filed down the long flagstone isle, Pinkie Pie blowing out the torches behind us with a laugh as she bounced along.

________________________________________________

We walked for sometime through the darkened woods, Twilight and Rarity's horn lighting the way for us and keeping us on the narrow path through the underbrush. Apple Bloom had fallen asleep on her sister's back long ago and Sweetie Belle soon begged Rarity for the same treatment. Scootaloo, who was obviously in the same shape as her two friends, had tried to tough it out as long as she could but lagged behind, eventually sleepwalking into a tree with with a startled "Oof!"

We halted while she sat on the ground, rubbing her snout painfully and generally looking miserable. I moved to pick her up with the intention of carrying her but Twilight stopped me.

"I'll take her, Mason. I think ponies are better equipped to carry things on their back, anyways." she said warmly. She was correct, of course. I don't know how long I could have hiked with her weight in my arms.

Despite her groggy protests, Scoot allowed herself to be picked up with Twilight's magic and be placed comfortably between her wings, immediately resting her head against the soft dark blue hair of her mane, snoring softly moments later.

"Poor thing..." Fluttershy looked at Scootaloo with concern and sadness. "Her whole family..."

We resumed the march, only to stop after an uneventful time later when we arrived at a large clearing. It was a campsite who's rough shaped fire pit had been very recently used. A few bundles lay around nearby and several blankets were already laid out on the ground, as if it's last occupants left in a hurry leaving their belongings behind.

"Ah feel like ah just left this place..." Applejack said. "Thank Celestia all our stuff's still here" she moved to a thick quilt that had a few leaves and twigs on it next to the cold fire pit. After brushing the debris away, she gently slid Apple Bloom down and got her settled on the blanket to sleep.

"This is your guy's stuff?" I asked.

"Yessiree, We was just winding down ta go to sleep when we were set on by those... whatever ya call its"

"Mason, Dash... can you guys find us some firewood?" Scootaloo was gently plucked from Twilight's back as she asked us. "I'd like to get one going before we sleep again."

"Sure" I said moving to the camp's edge, happy to help out for once. Applejack stopped me before I got very far.

"Here, Ya'll are gonna need this." She rummaged in the bundle nearby, pulling out an old style lantern that she shook vigorously in her muzzle before trotting over to me. A handful of large fireflies sprung to life at the agitation, glowing bright and steady to cast a good amount of light to see with. I thanked her, then moved out into the brush with Rainbow Dash at my side. The pegasus spoke up once we were out of sight of the camp.

"So... That thing that happened back there with you and Scootaloo... pretty cool, huh?" I'd never known Dash to make small talk.

"Yeah, I guess. Don't really remember much of it." I admitted.

"Must really be into each other for that kinda thing to happen..." she trailed off, grabbing a suitable piece of wood with her muzzle and tucking it under her wing.

"Yep." I bent down, grabbing my own piece I had spied in the pale light of the lantern.

"Enough to have spent the night with her?" she asked nonchalantly. I finally got where this was going... I never claimed to be a smart man.

"Uh... Why are you asking?" I stopped, looking at the pegasus who was only a couple feet away from me at the edge of the lantern's glow. Her large eyes reflected the pale light back at me in twin globes that blinked curiously.

"Look, It's just that Scoots is like my little sister. I took her under my wing and I gotta at least know what she's up to these days. We don't spend as much time together as we used to... aaaannd that's probably my fault." Dash looked regretful at this. "But I want to know if she's... you know... doing that kind of stuff now. Just curious, that's all."

I blinked at Dash a few times, processing what she was saying. I guessed she meant well, but what a weird conversation to be having with the generally plucky and tomboyish pony. A thought occurred to me, a rare logical flash of brilliance in my personal opinion.

"What makes you think a human could even be with a pony like that?" I asked her, feeling suddenly giddy at cornering Rainbow Dash.

"Ha!" she surprised me by shrugging off the question with genuine amusement. "Mister, you were out cold long enough for Twilight to document every square inch of your body in her research books. You don't think she's showed us all a hundred times!?" she laughed. "And what's with that goofy knob at the top? It like a pasty white candle with a red tip!"

Damn. I felt my face burn red at her amused giggles while she continued to describe my junk. I opened my mouth to retort, but closed it again when I couldn't think of anything.

"Bah hahahaha! You should see your face! You look like a fish out of water!!" she smacked a hoof on forehead, eyes closed and a huge smile on her face. She got herself under control before continuing. "Don't get all worked up about it, human. What's the big deal, anyways? It's just a body part! Heck, colts and stallions walk around with theirs showing every time they get near a mare in heat and nopony cares... well not much, anyways."

"I'm.... What's your point?" I stammered. I was completely unable to think of a response other than this.

"My point is..." she came close, craning up so her eyes were inches from my own with a devious smile on her muzzle. "I wanna know if you and Scoots have done it yet..."

"Jesus!" I dropped the firewood that was in my hand, stepping back from her with surprise. "What is it with you ponies and sex?! It's like you all don't care about privacy!"

"What's the big deal!?" she threw a hoof in the air. "Don't you humans share the good things that happen to you? Jeeze, you act like it's a secret or something. Most ponies I know want to share when something incredible happens to them!" her eyes rolled in the lantern's light.

"Well... not really... I mean..." I was out of corners to hide in. "Shit Dash, it's not like I have a lot of experience elsewhere!" I blurted out, frustrated with the way the conversation was going.

"Aww..." her face scrunched up into a pinched ball of cute mockery. "Was she your first??" she said in a high, squealing voice.

I sighed, resigning myself to her line of questioning. I didn't want to make her mad by stonewalling it either. "Yes..." I tried to say with as much dignity as that single word admission would allow. "Yes she was...So what!"

"Ha!" She reared up and threw a chummy hoof around my neck this time. Standing on her hind legs, her head was even with mine. I could smell her scent now, a vibrant warm odor that wasn't offensive in the slightest. She socked her other front hoof into my gut with probably more force than she realized.

"Don't worry, human. You'll find out how we ponies work eventually. Is she talking about herding yet? You seem like a couple that would, what with all that business back there."

"Herding??" I asked. The term didn't mean anything to me at all.

"Yeah, herding! Don't tell me you don't do that either! What are you guys, some repressed society? No wonder you say your world sucks" she frowned at me.

"I don't even know what you're talking about!" I flung my hands up in frustration.

"Look, a mare's natural reaction to finding the one true special somepony in her life is to share it with her closest friends." she explained to me. Her tone was sisterly now, like she really thought this was important to explain properly.

"It's like having the most wonderful thing in your life happening and wanting your best friends to be right there with you for it. The squirt may be a little on the young side and they didn't teach that part in mating class when I took it. But it's just kinda something you know when the time is right. It's like it's instinct or something... maybe even magic. Everypony does it... or at least wishes they could. Sometimes even her friends know before she does!"

I thought about Scoot's idea with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. If what Dash was saying is true, then stuff like that must happen all the time. But it didn't remove the nagging feeling I had about the whole group finding out. What would Applejack say? Or Rarity for that matter? How would they treat me if they found out I'd messed around with their little sisters?

"Huh..." Dash studied me and then renewed her excitement. "That look on your face tells me everything! Lemmi guess... it's Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, isn't it? They're inseparable! I can't imagine Scoot choosing anypony else! Has it happened yet? Who brought it up first?"

Dash was all over the situation like she could read my mind. "No! I haven't touched em!" I backed away, putting my hands up innocently. I hoped Sweetie's horn didn't count.

"Hey, don't get all defensive on me now! I think it's awesome! I'm so happy the little dodo's finally growing up! I mean... getting the herding urge with your first is a major deal! It's like finding out you won the Equestria Games of love on your first event!"

"Hey ya'll! Ya get lost out there!" came Applejack's voice drifting in from camp. I realized then that Dash and I had been talking this whole time and not gathering wood. I bent over and began gathering what I could find in a hurry.

"Scootaloo wants Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to... well, You know... " I confessed to her, finding it easier to admit when I wasn't looking at her inquisitive, excited face. "I think Apple Bloom brought it up first."

"Ha! I knew it! Way to go Scoot... and way to go Mason! Apple Bloom eh? I wouldn't have thought that..." she bent down to gather her own now, apparently content with her answers.

As we walked back together each with a good bundle for the night's fire, I still had so many questions about the subject that I was desperate to know. Stallions are always cool with this? What about the families of everypony involved? What if the stallion doesn't like his special somepony's friends? Doesn't anypony get jealous? The questions just kept forming in my mind as I thought about it.

It struck me to ask her something suddenly. "Dash... don't say anything, please? Call me a stupid human if you want... but I just need some more time to figure this out before everypony knows, alright... Please?"

Dash, without breaking stride next to me, gave a small hop to plant a quick, wet lick against my cheek. Then she smiled and said "You're cute, you know that? I'm gonna call you a stupid human regardless."

"Dash!" I pleaded with her for an answer. But she just turned her flank to me and walked briskly into camp with her firewood, swishing her tail the whole time.