Pine’s eyes fluttered open and he yawned, which for anypony who might look probably wasn’t a very handsome look since his jaw always unhinges whenever Pine yawns. He was still in the cave, good... oh wait he’d passed out that meant Lemon was still in here... probably cowering in the corner. Pine hugged the thick coil he was resting against, he was covered in her sweet scent but it no longer had the appeal as a meal, at least for the moment

“She smelt so nice.” Pine blinked when he felt hairs tickle his nose.

Lemon lay beside Pine and he was hugging her like a large teddy bear, she looked at peace and was even smiling in her sleep

“...Oh this is too good to pass up.” Pine leaned close and gently kissed the sleeping Lemon, she returned the kiss and Pine let his tongue enter Lemon’s mouth as it hung open smiling in her sleep

“Sweet dreams.” Lemon thought wrapping his tongue around Lemon’s. Lemon wrapped her front hooves around Pine and he mimicked her, she was such a cute shade of red in her sleep. It hurt Pine’s heart to know she’d leave him once she woke up

“One last taste of your lips... one last feel of your warmth against my cold body and I’ll let you go without resistance.” Pine thought sadly, closing his eyes and tried to enjoy the kiss he was still locked into as much as he could.

Lemon’s eyes fluttered open slowly, awakening to the feeling of Pine’s slender tongue exploring her mouth. She was going to push him off, but she herself couldn’t deny that her new friend was an amazing kisser. The way his tongue wrapped around hers, the way it would flick and tickle the inside of her cheek, it was all simply divine. Slowly she began to get involved in the kiss herself, slowly slipping her tongue into Pine’s own mouth. Lemon revelled in his taste, the whole cave silent except for the soft sucking sounds of the kiss. Once she had her fill, she slowly broke the kiss, ending with a quick lick on Pine’s lips; she stared deeply into his eyes, sucking up his remorse

“You certainly are something, Piney.” She whispered with a slight smile.

‘Piney’ what a cute nickname, Pine felt his ears burning red and he chuckled softly

“I hope that’s a good thing,” he said then glanced around the cave before standing up pulling Lemon with him

“Come on, that other Lamia should have gotten bored by now.” Pine said sliding over to the boulder and pushing it out of the way again, Pine breathed in the fresh air

“I think I developed claustrophobia last night.” Pine mumbled. He glanced back

“What’s up Lemon?” he asked looking at what she was staring at, the purple glowing plants that had provided both air and dim lighting for them in their hideout

“What Lemon they’re just plants.” Pine said sliding besides her again; she looked like she’d seen a ghost.

“Are these the plants you were after?” Pine asked Lemon didn’t respond and Pine shrugged “Doesn’t matter come on Lemon I think you need to clear your head a bit,” Pine whispered taking her hoof with his own and pulled her away “I wonder if you’ve got post hypnotic effects or something,” Pine mumbled “Your acting all dazed.” Pine let Lemon sit down and held her face in his hooves tilting her head inspecting her eyes

“Do you want me to hypnotise you again or something you’re... looking at me funny... Lemon... Lemon, hello are you listening?” Pine waved his hoof in front of the dazed mares face as it began to fall downwards in thought.

The realisation came crashing down on Lemon, she’d come all this way and she hadn’t even noticed what she’d come for when it was next to her

“Eh heheh, of course, those have to be the Ether violets I was looking for.” She pre-emptively glanced at Pine who was chuckling “Shut up, the book didn’t have any pictures!” She said blushing. She slowly trotted back to the massive plants, or tiny trees. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine them to be this big, she had expected some sort of tiny rose like plant. Gingerly, Lemon plucked some of the broad leaves off with her mouth, the yellow mare then turned back to her host

“Wow, what luck!” she said, her voice muffled through the leaves in her mouth. The mare leaped for Pine and gave the stallion a big hug giggling.

“Really a book with no reference pictures?” Pine asked mockingly then immediately shut up as Lemon collided with him in a hug

“I take it I’m forgiven for the cave incident then?” he asked returning the hug and spinning around so he’d have a coiled around her, Lemon squeaked he’d wrapped the coil across her flank and Lemon had turned bright red. On Reflex Pine’s pony half backed off

“I’m sorry that was an accident.” He said blushing

“She has a soft...”

“NOPE! NOT THINKING THAT SHUT UP BRAIN!” Pine thought to himself face hoofing to knock the thought out of his head, unaware that the coil was still around Lemon who was staring at his reaction.

“Well, I suppose... to be honest being eaten wasn’t THAT bad once I realised I was safe. It was certainly an adrenaline rush, though.” Lemon said. The leaves fell from her mouth when she felt Pine’s coil pinch her butt. She gasped at first, then felt her face burn. The smooth scales felt strangely heavenly against her soft flank, and after seeing Pine’s embarrassed expression, Lemon leaned into the coil smiling seductively

“T-though,” she stammered still a little embarrassed about pressing her flank against Pine’s tail “It did make me realise how powerless I am around you. Earth ponies have huge strength, but you beat me out easily with those massive coils. It’ll take a while to get used to it.” She said. Lemon tilted her head down, and her confident voice faded into a murmur

“U-unless you hypnotised me to feel comfortable around you...” she whispered blushing taking a few nervous steps forward, locking eyes with Pine.

“I don’t know if you’re inviting me to hypnotise you but...” Pine smirked “I’m not going to change anything in that pretty little head,” Pine said tapping Lemon’s forehead gently, he grinned mischievously when he lowered his hoof “But I’m still taking that invitation whether it exists or not.” Pine whispered his eyes about to light up. Pine was unaware of a second mare behind him braced upon the oak tree the pair had previously sheltered under. The mare appeared to be completely caked in mud. She made a silent shushing gesture with her left hoof before raising a jet black spear aiming at Pine

“Just relax Lemon.” Pine whispered letting the colours start lazily so Lemon could look away if she didn’t want to be hypnotised again after all.

Lemon immediately felt the calming hypnotic waves begin to dull her mind, welcoming them. Or at least, she would have if she didn’t notice this mysterious assailant creep up on the duo

“P-Pine! Watch out behind you” Lemon said forcefully tearing herself from the hypnotic spell. She shook her head, causing what spirals had appeared to fade and once more being on a metal high-alert. Lemon looked to the assailant who had lowered her spear slightly in surprise to Lemon warning Pine. But she raised it again as Pine began to turn around.

Pine turned around and had about a second to raise his tail as a shield. The spear bounced harmlessly of his thick scales and the mare jumped down from the oak landing on all hooves braced to charge

“Monster be gone from this world!” the mare cried, Pine’s eyes widened upon hearing the voice then contracted in anger

“YOU!” Pine bellowed retreating to a more primitive, predatory state “IT’S NOT ENOUGH I LET YOU GO! NOW YOU’RE HERE TO MURDER ME!?” Pine leaped forward, the mare stepped sideways and Pine felt a searing pain in the centre of his chest as he landed next to the mare, stopping abruptly.

Pine looked down at the handle of the sword, attached to the mud covered mare’s hoof, sticking through his body

“For kidnapping and imprisoning two mares, one of which has escaped and brought justice, I.E. me, and eating any other ponies between the point I escaped and returned, I sentence you to death!” the mare said clearly as if reading from an old fashion death sentence for the gallows, she let go of the sword and Pine fell down slightly continuing to stare at the sword in disbelief

“I let you go... and Lemon has had every opportunity to leave,” Pine whispered “You know as well as I the tunnel is just one way.” Pine said falling sideways holding onto the handle and made strange choking noises attempting to breath. The mud covered mare approached Lemon

“Follow me, before any more of his kind are attracted here by his blood!” she said.

Tears welled in Lemon’s eyes and her mouth hung agape in shock. The sheer disbelief suddenly gave way to a furious uncontrollable rage

“How could you!” Lemon yelled venom in her eyes. Without warning, Lemon quickly turned and bucked the mysterious assailant’s face as hard as she could, hoping she’d knock her out

“Nopony deserves death! HOW COULD YOU!?” Lemon repeated, still in shock. She had known Pine for only a short time, but had already started to feel a connection to him. Besides the mare’s act wasn’t justice, it was cold revenge. Utterly despicable, and Lemon used that rage to fuel her bucking.

The mare backed up rubbing her face with a front hoof

“So, he’s put some post hypnotic effect on you huh... sorry but since you won’t see reason you’re no better than he is at the moment. A walking slave of Pine’s.” The mare hissed and threw a curved blade towards Lemon whose eyes widened in fear. It never reached its mark.

Instead a large light bark brown tail made the blade bounce away like the spear, Pine stood between Lemon and the mud covered mare who starred in shock, the sword still in Pine’s chest, but he didn’t seem to be giving it any attention

“H-How are you alive!?” she cried Pine chuckled

“You think one little pony heart is enough to run my body?” Pine tapped his tail “Got a backup” he coughed “Plus... you missed.” Pine said trapping his heart to the left of his chest and up, not far from the sword, but far enough it didn’t kill him

“N-no I didn’t that always works!” the mare said backing up drawing another throwing knife.

Pine closed his tail in front of him and Lemon tensing his snake body

“You watch too many movies Lilly Petals,” Pine grumbled before leaping over his tail shield at the pony, Lilly threw the knife wildly in fear not even sending it high enough to hit Pine and he slammed into Lilly. Lilly screamed as the two rolled over, Lilly was coiled up to her neck within seconds. Pine climbed on top of Lilly, the handle of the sword dripping blood onto his tail, baring down on her, she whimpered then coughed. Pine was slowly squeezing his tail around her but not the way he’d ever done before. He kept the pressure on and continued to increase it, making it hard for Lilly to breath and more painful to hold air in.

Lilly struggled weakly gasping for air

“M-monster...” Lilly managed

“You still have the cheek to call me a monster? All I did was for love; you just had to guide me a bit, but NNNOOOOOO!” Pine tightened his tail more feeling Lilly’s bones bending “So you left me! Well fine! Not like I have feelings... but that wasn’t enough was it,” Pine hissed, literally, baring his forked tongue and snake like fangs “You had to come back just as another mare was helping me pick up the broken pieces and smack them back on the ground. AND THAT STILL WASN’T ENOGHT!” Pine cried Lilly was shivering barely able to get any air now whilst Pine worked himself up into a rage “YOU TRIED TO KILL HER, YOU TRIED TO KILL LEMON! WHY? BECASUE I CAN’T BE HAPPY, BECAUSE I HAVE A SNAKE TAIL INSTEAD OF REAR HOOVES!? Well sorry for being born this way Lilly!” Pine breathed heavily holding the handle of the sword

“I’ll see you in tartarus!” Pine grumbled.

Pine watched Lilly still weakly struggling for air. She’d faint in a minute then die, good riddance! She’d tried to kill Lemon, Pine gasped and glanced over at the mare, he’d forgotten she was there despite it all, she’d seen him like this, his predatory way when he got too mad.

Pine’s might was indeed truly terrifying, it was clear that this ‘Lilly’ started with a sneak attack because that’s the only thing that could have worked. Even though she was armed, a single mare stood no chance against the Lamia’s fury. Lemon gulped at seeing Pine constrict Lilly, she had felt him squeeze her, but only gently, nothing like this terrifying display. It was tough to watch; on one hoof nopony deserved death, but on the other this mare tried to kill not only Pine, but herself as well. If she was let go, she’d just try again. Lilly was covered in mud and heavily armed; her attack was not self-defence, but a pre-meditated thing that she had given a lot of thought to. Lemon doubted that she would be deterred with a simple apology; the pair would always be in danger if she lived. Lemon gulped and locked eyes with Pine when he turned towards her; as if in response to the question his action posed, Lemon gave a sad gentle nod.

Pine looked down at Lilly, she knew what he and Lemon had silently agreed on and she was clearly terrified. She’d likely be begging for mercy if she still had air to speak. The word ‘monster’ as she’d called Pine bounced around in his head, if he killed her she’d have been right and he’d have to live with not only that but his first loves blood on his hooves

“And you’ll aid Lemon into becoming a killer, self defence or not.” Pine thought. Actions, at the time, can later hurt more than one pony

“You can’t kill me with your little pointed sticks and knives, don’t even try! Leave and be thankful I’m not what you claim me to be.” Pine grumbled letting his tail relax so Lilly fell onto the floor gasping for air. Lilly, too scared to think, turned and galloped away as fast as she could.

Author's Note

Well we get to see a Lamia fight and totally OWN a mare... but now Pine is dying! D: Save him Lemon!