Living in Equestria

We made the edge of town shortly after Derpy left us standing with the realization that she was a part of Scootaloo's circle of friends that could take benefit from the herding magic. Even Scoots herself was a bit shocked by this and she told me so as we walked towards the southern edge of town.

"....I mean... I just never though of her as that close a friend, ya know?" she shook her head.

"Maybe you just didn't realize that you cared for her that much?" I suggested. She didn't reply at first.

"I guess. She is really nice and tries to help everypony. It's not her fault she's so... Derpy." she gave a chuckle.

The sun had risen high and our sexual sidetrack at Rarity's boutique, followed by her cautionary tale had put us behind schedule. We had planned on getting back to the farm by midday but now that wasn't going to happen. Hopefully Pinkie and Twilight had made their way there to start helping Applejack by now. We passed by another storefront on the right, a sporting goods type of business from what I could tell. My eyes drifted to the items on display casually and then stopped when I noticed something that caught my interest. Before I could investigate it further, Scootaloo spoke up again.

"You don't have to, you know..." she said without looking up.

"What?"

"Derpy... you don't have too. I don't know how I know but... I can feel it. We both have to agree... I don't think I'd be mad if you never wanted to with somepony."

"But I thought that was the whole reason for the magic?"

"Yeah... I dunno. I wish I could talk to Luna again. This is getting confusing."

I spent the last of the walk out of town contemplating what I'd do if Derpy suddenly appeared asking for help. To be honest, I didn't know myself and only that nagging inner presence was firmly affixed on doing it. It was a strange conversation taking place between the part of me that was myself and this new personality that had developed.

We finally cleared the southern edge of town and set out on the wide dirt track that would take us to the crossroads on the eastern side of the bridge leading to Sweet Apple Acres. This was a direct and straight route that got us there much faster than the road we had taken around the west side of town to get here earlier in the morning. We took the T intersection to the left and set off towards Fluttershy's cottage.

Scootlaoo surprised me with a question. "How's your shoulder?" she gave me a coy smile.

"Still hurts..." I frowned back at her. Sweetie Belle had bit me damn hard there as well as on my chest. But her teeth had found better purchase on the top of my right collar bone.

"That was crazy... I've never seen her act like that before."

I gave her my own sarcastic smile. "Oh? you've seen her get rutted all the time, have you?"

"Shut up!" she cried and made a move to stomp on my foot that I dodged. "You know what I mean!"

"I'm just saying! It's always the shy and quiet ones you gotta watch out for... at least that what they say in my world."

"Watch out for like how?" came her confused reply.

"In bed! They're usually the ones who turn into freaks."

Scootaloo pondered this silently before we moved on to talking about other things while we walked. I asked her about what The Summer Sun Festival was and then listened to her explain the history behind it. Ahead and to our right, the cluster of houses she once lived in came into view, bringing back bad memories of what had taken place there not too long ago. I noticed she also gazed at them with a queer expression.

"You alright?"

"Yeah... It's just weird, ya know?" She didn't have to explain. Her dark and hidden life there was gone but the memories of it would always remain, I'm sure.

Fluttershy's cottage finally came into view on the other side of a grove of trees that hugged the southern edge of the road on our right. It was a peculiar dwelling, low and squat with a grass roof that gave the appearance it was part of the ground itself. A small creek ran in front through a smattering of trees festooned with many bird houses and feeders that swarmed with various small birds. Scootaloo and I crossed over the small stone bridge that spanned the creek and stepped into Fluttershy's lawn.

A rustling sound came from a low bush beside me and a white rabbit poked it's head out, regarding us with a menacing look... something I didn't think possible from a rabbit.

"Angel Bunny!" Scootaloo smiled at it. "Where's Fluttershy?"

The little creature let off a string of irritated chittering noises at us and then vanished into the bush again.

"Seems friendly..." I commented.

Scootaloo paid no mind to the bunny and continued towards the closed door of Fluttershy's house. Birds flew near us and inspected our passage with small beady eyes, chirping amongst themselves in a conversation that sounded musical to my ears. If you took the crotchety bunny out of the picture... this place was incredibly peaceful.

Fluttershy was home and quickly agreed in her soft voice to leave for the farm as soon as she'd finished up some things around her house. Aside from Twilight, it was the only stop we'd made that hadn't been eventful. We turned around and began the walk back to the farm. We were both hungry by now and hopped that Granny had lunch there for us when we arrived.

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"Get outta the way! Here it comes!!" I yelled down at ground below me. The Cutie Mark Crusaders scattered, giving me a clear spot to let the heavy dead branch fall from the apple tree I was in. Giving it the final pass with the small saw in my hand, it fell with a solid thud on the ground below.

"Alright!" I called out and watched as the three worked together to hitch it up to Apple Bloom's yolk and help her haul it to the woodpile.

Myself, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had been steadily working our way through this stretch of orchard all afternoon, cutting out the dead branches in the trees while Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle would work below us to haul the wood away to the large pile near the edge of the barn's clearing. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were teamed up using the two pony saw and I was alone using the curiously designed hoof saw on my own. Twilight had done an amazing job using her magic on my hurt wing, flying was possible again for me and the three of us flitted quickly from tree to tree.

Applejack had taken Rarity to the Carrot field, utilizing her magic to speed up the weeding there and Pinke Pie was with Granny Smith, prepping the stuff needed for canning the hundreds of Apple Jam jars they would need. All of this was orchestrated by Twilight Sparkle who patrolled each group with ruthless efficiency. I had to admit, she was good at planning and organizing things. By putting us on tasks that fit our talents best, we had already accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. Even Big Mac and Spike were given their own duties by the purple alicorn.

By the time the sun had set, half of the list Twilight had made from the haphazard notes given to her by Apple Bloom and Applejack were finished. Right on schedule according to her and it wasn't long before we were all gathered around a bright campfire in the clearing near the barn, all of us tired but proud of what we had accomplished together. Even the irrepressible Pinkie Pie was sapped of her usual bubbly personality, opting instead to lounge lethargically with us instead of breaking out her party favors. She was just too tired and frankly... none of us minded one bit.

Scootaloo lay on my left side with her head in my lap, my hand brushing her neck and mane tenderly while Apple Bloom's flank was pressed against my right hip. Sweetie Belle lay on her side near my ankles and it was clear all of this was noticed by the seven others who completed the circle around the fire. There was a noticeable tension in the group, like a white elephant was sitting there with us.

I already knew what it was. It wasn't hard to figure out considering the three younger ponies had followed me around all day, slipping a quick display of affection in whenever they could. It was all done in plain view of everypony at some point and there was no question in my mind that beyond Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity... the rest of the group had thoughts... especially Twilight. When the first uncomfortable silence descended on us, she broke it by going right to the heart of the matter, plowing into it with only slight hesitation in her words.

"OK... this has... gotten a bit awkward and I think we should just talk about it like the mature ponies we are." she said, looking at the four of us. "There no reason to be shy about what has happened."

Rainbow Dash gave a slight groan. "Twilight, you're the only pony I know who would want to hold a conference on talking about herds! It's not weird for me at all!"

"Speak fer yerself, Rainbow Dash... I'm still gettin used ta the idea." Applejack shot a glance at Apple Bloom.

"Applejack! I thought we were over all that..." Apple Bloom said dejectedly.

"Aww... we are, sugarcube. But it's just a bit... I dunno... strange ta see ya actually sittin together like that. I'll get used ta it, I suppose."

"Well... at least you've had a couple days to wrap your hooves around it!" Rarity said. "I only just found just out this morning my Sweetie Belle is involved! And in the most shocking way possible..." her eyes met mine briefly.

"Wait... will somepony tell me what we're talking about?" Spike asked.

All eyes of the circle turned to Scootaloo. She noticed this and sat up quickly in embarrassment. I could feel her rising panic at having to talk in front of everypony she admired roll off her in waves and I slid my arm around her back to comfort. To be honest, I was a bit nervous as well. This was the revealing moment to them all.

"Wha... why are you all looking at me?!" she glanced around the circle. "Why do I..." she started, but then a look of resignation came over her features. It was her herd after all... she's the leader in this.

Scootaloo swallowed hard, her orange neck working and then began, choosing her words carefully. "The four of us are a herd. Luna gave us the magic... You guys are..." she struggled with how to say this part. "...all welcome to sh-share in it if you need to." her cheeks burned red as she tried to look them all in the eyes.

One by one, the circle of eyes moved from Scootaloo to me. Each pony searching my own for signs of agreement with her words. My own cheeks became hot under the pressure and I didn't know what to say at first. But then that inner presence filled my mouth with the right words that I was looking to say all along.

"She's right..." I said. "I understand what it means and I'm willing to help any of you... should you ask it. You're all my friends."

The silence that descended was only broken by the crackling logs on the fire, sending occasional sparks up to glow in the darkness above us. Pinkie Pie's head had raised up and her eyes fixed on me intently, like she was studying me in the most focused way that I'd ever seen her do anything. Spike, however, still looked confused.

"I don't get it... help us how?" one side of his face scrunched up.

"Spike..." Twilight began, taking her eyes off of mine to look at her small green companion. "I'll tell you later." she said in a tone that left no room for argument.

"Man... I don't know why I have to be the last one to know everything..." he grumbled and poked at the ground with the small stick he was holding.

"I still need some time to get used to this, I'm afraid." Rarity shook her head. "I still can't believe my little sister is part of a true herd!"

"It will be an adjustment for all of us, I'm sure..." Twilight remarked. "But we should remember that a true herd is something to be celebrated, not feared. Celestia and Luna chose them for a reason, I'm sure of it. We all have to realize that Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle have grown up some... they're young mares now. Just because they still haven't found their cutie marks, and maybe some of us still think of them as little fillies, the truth is Luna wouldn't have used the magic on them if they were too young...they're old enough to know what they're doing, right girls?"

All three had habitually slid their tails over their blank flanks when their cutie marks were brought up, but they nodded intently at Twilight's question.

The alicorn brightened then, her eyes sparkling as she continued. "There's very little written about the inner workings of herds... If it's alright, I'd like to document everything I can about it and finally get a good understanding for future generations!" she spoke with increasing excitement at the idea of the research.

Another groan came from Dash who this time gave a resounding facehoof at her words. "Sweet thunderclaps, Twilight! Only you..."

"Dash! This is a very old and fascinating magic that nopony has ever truly studied! It's a once in a lifetime chance to document one of the spells crafted by the great ponies of old!"

"You gonna do that before or after you spend the night with him on your next heat?" Dash gave Twilight a coy sideways smirk. The alicorn realized the implications of both her declaration and Dash's comment with a start, turning bright red shrinking down into her neck to stare at the fire, not meeting my eyes anymore. A round of quiet laughter went around the group at this exchange, it lifted the tense feeling in the air greatly.

But I felt my own flash of embarrassment at Dash's remark because of what it ultimately meant for me. In time...I may know every one of these ponies intimately at some point... and I found that I liked that idea just fine. Rainbow Dash had been quite nice to spend the day with.

"Well I think it's wonderful that Scootaloo is a part of something that special. A herd is the closest bond you can share with your special somepony and your friends. Good for you, Scoot! It couldn't have happened to a more deserving pony!" Fluttershy smiled at her. Scootaloo returned it with a thanks and then leaned into me for a hug.

"Well.. now that it's out in the open, Sweetie Belle... It's your choice... but I'd rather you stay with me at the boutique. It would get awfully lonely if you left me there by myself..." Rarity looked at her sister with thinly veiled desperation.

"Aww sis!" Sweetie got up and moved to her sister, embracing her. "I wouldn't wanna leave you ever! Just 'cause a all this it's not like I'm gonna move here and forget about you. We'll figure it out, won't we guys?" Sweetie looked at Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and I.

"I don't think leaving your house is a good idea either, Sweetie. Your sister needs you." I smiled at Rarity and we shared a moment of understanding between us that was reflected in a silent thank you she mouthed to me behind her sister's head.

"See?!" Sweetie turned back and then sat by Rarity's side.

"And tamorrow ya'll are gonna have to pick a room!" Applejack chimed in sharpy. "No sense in ya'll taken up two of em if'n one ain't nothin but storage. I'd rather have the guest bed opened up again if it's all the same."

"Great... now we have to figure out tha room all over again, Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom threw a hoof in the air in exasperation.

"I still want to be closest to the door!" Scoots narrowed her eyes at her in challenge and a whole new round of quiet arguing began between the two.

Talking about it had cleared the air and allowed us all to move on. There were no secrets anymore, no hiding it. All the ponies involved knew about the herd and have accepted the idea. We soon began to talk of other things and I relaxed into the log behind me, Scootaloo settling down again with her head on my lap and my hand once more stroked her soft fur along her neck, my other resting on Apple Bloom's back. I noticed that Pinkie Pie was still looking at me from her flopped position by the fire. She had been very uncharacteristically quiet all day, actually. I wondered if she was feeling alright.

All of us were in no shape to stay up late that night by the fire. We had worked hard and had another day of it ahead of us. Twilight assured everypony that according to her checklist, we would be done before sundown tomorrow with getting the farm caught up again so that it would be ready for The Summer Sun festival. We let the fire die, and then moved to the barn for the night.

The visiting ponies would sleep in the great room, Granny Smith had already covered the floor there in layers of soft quilts and pillows for them to use. I walked with trepidation down the hall, realizing that all three of the young ponies were following me. The bed was too small for all four of us to sleep in.

"I don't know how this is going to work..." I said, pulling my shirt off as I sat on the edge of the bed to remove my shoes. "There's not enough space I don't think."

The three looked at each other and then back at me. The look on their faces told me they knew it was true also but Apple Bloom surprised me with her bold suggestion.

"Kin I ... have a night alone with him, Scootaloo?" she scrapped her hoof on the floor shyly. "It's just that... well... I haven't gotten to yet... If that's ahlright with you and Mason..." she looked up at me with, her large orange eyes looking for an answer.

Scootaloo look to me and I shrugged. "I don't see why not..." I smiled. "Scoot?"

"Heh... Just don't bite him, kay? He's already had enough of that for one day." she elbowed Sweetie Belle who didn't look pleased at the jab.

Scootaloo came to me and stood, placing her two front hooves on either side of me on the bed. She brought her head close and we pressed our foreheads together. "We'll sleep next door tonight..." she gave me a warm smile. "You alright with it?"

"Yeah... I'll keep Apple Bloom company tonight."

"Kay..." she whispered and then gave me a long kiss before getting back down and moving to the door. Sweetie Belle gave me a nuzzle of her own and when the orange and white ponies passed by Apple Bloom on the way out, the red haired girl gave them a shy but sincere thanks. Scoots closed the door, and I was alone with Apple Bloom who was looking at me nervously.

My own heart began to beat faster when I felt the tension between us, knowing what we were about to do. Unlike the experience with Sweetie Belle or Rainbow Dash, this didn't have the driving primal urge behind it. This felt like a nervous first time experience all over again, and I suppose for Apple Bloom... that was the case in the truest sense of the word. The bond with her had been formed differently.

"I... I don't know why ahm all nervous all of a sudden... " her voice trembled.

"I can tell..." I smiled at her. Again that bond was letting me feel her emotions to an extent. She felt like a flighty bird in my head.

"Sorry." she gave me a sheepish smile. "I'm prolly not gonna be very good at it."

"It's not about that..."

"You sure?" her questioning eyes gazed up at me.

"Yeah..."

Apple Bloom slowly walked around the bed and climbed in beside me. When she had settled, I stood up and removed the rest of my clothes before sliding in beside her. Apple Bloom's eyes watched me closely, looking over my nude form as I moved. Once under the covers, we met and I gathered her to me, pressing together in a tight embrace along the length of our bodies so much so that I could feel her pulse racing in several places. Her front hooves trembled when she wrapped them around my neck as I rolled on top of her. There was no foreplay... no touching or caressing this time. I could sense her desire was to feel me in the only way she had yet to experience.

The moonlit window shined on her face to let me see her anxious expression that was inches from my nose and the yellow hair of her face tickled it slightly when I moved in to kiss her. It started timidly, but grew with a heat the longer it went on. The shuddering breaths she drew from her nose began to become deep and forceful just before I felt her lips part slightly to invite my tongue in where it met hers in a quick and fluttery dance of desire. I pulled back after some time and our eyes locked together, her mouth remained open and her hot breath washed over my nose.

By now my member was rock hard and wedged between us on her lower belly, my wings long since pushed the blanket over us down my waist to escape the confines. Bringing my knees up, I socked them against her flank and propped up on my arms above her. She placed one hoof on my chest while she looked up at me with those big, nervous eyes. "Slow..." she whispered.

With the fingers of one hand, I positioned myself at her entrance. Apple Bloom shut her eyes tightly and scrunched her face up in anticipation before nodding. I leaned forward, gently pushing into her moist folds and beyond to the tight, gripping ring of heat that slipped over the head of my cock. When she gave a squeak at the sensation, I stopped.

Her eyes opened and we looked at each other for a moment while she caught her breath. "Kay..."

We slowly became one body in this manner, me pushing forward gently until her hoof let me know to stop again. It took a long time, but I didn't mind... I wanted this to be at her pace, not mine. Finally my pubic bone was pressed against the warm furry area around her sex with my penis surrounded completely by her moist heat. She gave me a proud smile as we soaked together, my cock occasionally throbbing inside her from the sensation.

"There... We did it..." she said and then another look came over her face. "It feels different than I thought..."

"What did you think it would be?"

"I dunno..." she shook her head slightly. "but it feels nice." she relaxed into a smile. "Like ya hugging me from tha inside..."

We made love in a slow, gentle manner. My face inches from her own the whole time and our eyes searching each others for every sign of pleasure we were giving. I don't think she came, and I don't think she cared much either. This was about the experience of being together... not the height of orgasmic bliss. When my own passion began to build and my movements started to increase on their own, her two hooves pressed against my sides, asking me to stop again.

"What's... wrong?" I asked, my breath coming fast from climbing my ladder of climax.

She turned her head away from me with a reluctant look on her face.

"Apple Bloom?... if you want me to stop, I will..."

"No, it's not that..." she still wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Then what?"

"I dunno if it works tha same 'cuz yer human and all... but I don't wanna risk it. I'm sorry." she turned her head back and met my eyes again. "Gettin a foal would be bad with mah sister and all..."

"I understand."

"So you won't...?"

"No..."

She pulled me tight to her, pressing her hips up against me, causing me to lodge inside her deeper than I'd ever been before and eliciting a moan from her parted lips. I began to move again, pulling my hips back and then pushing forward. The spiraling arc of pleasure began to climb up, making every thrust inside better than the last. My pace quickened on it's own and the blood pounded in my veins when the clenching started at the base of my cock.

I didn't pull away, instead I pulled my hips back far enough to withdraw my penis from her with an audible schlicking sound and then pushed forward to thrust it between our bellies, trapping it between us for the final few moments before the first shot of cum squeezed out and slicked the path my cock was traveling in her fur. I locked my lips against hers as the wetness spread with each pulse to make a cummy, sticky patch that smeared into her hair and my own from my last few thrusts.

We lay together like that for a long while to bask in the close feeling of intimacy we'd shared. When both of our bodies had recovered, we didn't separate. We rolled to our sides and stayed that way, rearranging our legs so we were comfortable before we drifted off to sleep.

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Sometime in the middle of the night I awoke with a dull, throbbing pain in my penis. Apple Bloom and I had rolled apart at some point and I could feel the crusty skin of dried cum on my lower belly. Wincing, I reached under the blanket and wrapped my hand around the flaccid tube of flesh. It felt swollen and thick, but not from any arousal. The pain had subsided quickly and aside from the thickness of it, nothing seemed too out of place. I chalked it up to over use... I'd been having a lot of sex with ponies lately. My body was probably in shock, I thought. It made sense in the foggy haze I was in and I fell quickly back into the darkness of sleep.