Living in Equestria

Spike burned.

Not the same kind of burning he knew came from the flames that lived in his belly that he summoned to send letters to Celestia, no. This was a much different kind of fire that lived in his veins he could feel coursing through his small green body with every waking moment now.

He first noticed it shortly after Lord Tirek had come and gone but it had been just a small tickling then, occasionally distracting him from his daily routines and disappearing as quickly as it had come. Over the course of several cycles though, it had grown to take over parts of him while leaving the young dragon confused and worried that something might be wrong. That funny part hidden under his scales on his lower body would sometimes get large now, poking out and becoming visible for no apparent reason at all for long periods of time and at first he thought it was because he'd forgotten how to go the bathroom again.

He'd never admit it to anypony... but sometimes he forgot things like that.

When forcing himself to use the grass box didn't work at all, he'd taken to wearing his apron around the newly rebuilt library to hide it from anypony who might see it. When Twilight had thrown the apron in the wash one day without him knowing, he'd been forced to simply stand in a corner, scared to turn around despite her insistence to do so.

Her face had gone all funny when she first saw his problem, like when she'd tried to explain how he'd gotten in the egg he'd hatched from in the first place. Twilight had eventually reassured him that it was perfectly natural and to just behave normally when it got that way, quickly shuffling him off to the back room to dust the top shelves of books there. Because Twilight knew everything... of course he was set at ease and tried his best to ignore those times when the tube of pointy flesh swelled up to an alarming size and shape, jutting out from his underbelly like a red poker between his scales.

More cycles passed and soon Twilight began to complain about it seeing it all the time, scolding Spike about getting himself under control when he had no idea what it meant to do so. It seemed to happen at random times, but could always be counted on to make an appearance if he thought about Rarity too long... especially when he imagined her kissing him. It wasn't too much of a stretch for the little dragon to connect the dots between that and the physical act of mating that was described in some of Twilight's books with exquisite, clinical detail.

The first time he'd read Masterful & Johanson's Guide To Equestrian Reproduction late one night by a candle in the back room while Twilight slept, that tube of flesh had practically jumped out of his scales and throbbed alarmingly as he read the descriptions of a mare's sex organs and what they were designed to do. It was that night that he'd finally come to the knowledge that it was his own reproductive gland that was causing him such distress... but nothing in the book eluded to as to what to do about it.

He's searched Twilight's library for anything relating to dragons or dragon reproduction but found nothing. She'd always complained about how little there was documented about his species and for the first time since the dragon migration... he understood why. If he wanted to know how a pony foal was made, he had all the instructions in the world at his disposal but there was not one sentence in any book he read about how dragons mated. In the meantime... the urge to understand and the tickling in his blood grew in strength.

He tried asking a few of the colts he knew around ponyville, but he had been met with either laughter or cryptic descriptions of something that sounded like it would kill him if it ever happened. It was with this frustration that he turned to the only other male he knew that might have any helpful tips.

Mason.

He'd left the orchard that day excited and anxious to try out what he'd learned from the newcomer. Mason was a stud as far he was concerned and he'd secretly admired his ability to not only befriend the coolest filly he knew, Scootaloo... but then become special someponies with her and her two friends somehow. He'd locked himself in the bathroom as soon as he'd got home, letting his mind wander about Rarity in the privacy of the cool darkened room while following Mason's advice carefully.

Thirty seconds later, something happened that knocked him to his tail and felt like his whole body had been turned inside out in an electric shock of incredible pleasure. At first he'd thought he was going to pee and he'd stepped awkwardly over to the grass box just in case. But then the sensation had changed dramatically. He couldn't describe it exactly, but whatever it was... it was like the biggest sneeze multiplied by a thousand times and mixed with a throbby feeling from his head to his toes. Something came out of his body down there, but his eyes were closed and he didn't see exactly what it was or where it went. By the time he'd recovered, he could care less. The thing on his lower body had shrank up and he could think clearly again!

It was like a new lease on life for a short time, but to his dismay it only lasted about a day before he felt the urge to do it again. This time, however... that urge was accompanied by a massive uptick in that old tickling feeling in his veins only now it was a strong burning, enough to physically annoy him with from it's intense presence. He'd found that doing it again calmed the sensation for a little while and he'd quickly fallen into a repetitive cycle, making that electric, throbby feeling come whenever he got the urge no matter where he was... provided nopony was around to see him.

Spike never bothered to consider the thick, white fluid that shot from his body with amazing velocity at the end. Heck, half the time he didn't even know where it all went and only made perfunctory attempts at cleaning the few drops he could find afterwards. It was part of him after all... wasn't he entitled to leave his mark on the place that he called home? When Twilight had tried to talk to him about it, her clumsy and roundabout way had only served to make him mad because it had come across more like she was imposing her will on his personal enjoyment rather than a consideration of simple decency.

By the time Mason and Scootaloo had stopped by, things had gotten completely out of hand. Twilight had luckily been out of the library most of the that morning and he'd been able to quell the fire a few times since he'd woken up. Twice in his bed and then again in the main room of the library when the sudden urge hit him with overwhelming intensity shortly after cleaning up Owlicious's perch. He'd been mortified that Mason had taken Twilight's side of things, but was really wounded when Scootaloo had brought up the subject of Rarity. How could they? he thought as he sunk into the bath they'd made him take. They can't tell me what I need... they aren't even dragons! They don't know what it's like at all... he'd thought.

He did his best to hide it after that, driven by the bonds of love he had for Twilight to ultimately respect her wishes as his caretaker. He found that he could control it to a certain extent provided he was careful about what he thought about. His five or six times dropped down to two or three times each day... each one carefully planned out whenever the fire in his veins became unbearable and completed only in the privacy of the bathroom upstairs. For a while... probably ten or fifteen sun rises... Spike managed it.

But then the voices started.

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"FASTER!" Scootaloo yelled from below me as we soared up together through the clouds. I was trying to gain enough altitude to do the big dive she loved so much and when I'd reached the point where the landscape beneath seemed impossibly small, I angled my body downwards and started the intense rush towards death.

The little pegasus screamed at the top of her lungs at the excitement of going somewhere around mach twelve by my estimate. Her frail wings were a buzzing blur the air between her back and my chest even though my own where folded in tightly, only extending again automatically when I commanded the magic to pull us out of the dive just in time to avoid smashing into the rocks below by mere inches, causing a rush adrenaline for both of us.

We would do this two or three times... and then she would want to make love on a cloud somewhere. It had become our routine in the last couple of weeks since Rarity had left us the harness I'd requested the day before we announced Scootaloo's pregnancy. We'd had to get it adjusted a couple of times to get her weight centered correctly, but overall it had worked out amazingly well. I was flying Scootaloo and fulfilling a promise I'd made to her long ago in the whispered conversations during our early nights together.

Scootaloo hung underneath me at arms length by a single, heavy strap that connected us at my sternum with a metal clasp on my end that could be unhooked from her half to let us walk around independently without the need to remove the harness completely. On some days, we wore it all day long just... well just because. Each half even complimented our coloring according to Rarity, her part was a brilliant red and mine was grayish slate green color that she insisted went well with my wing and leg color.

Today was no different than the last few and soon she was pointing urgently towards a far off wisp of white, looking up at me with a playful smile. We settled there, me on my back and unhooking her harness to let her straddle me across the hips... I was already hard and she tugged at my shorts to get access at what she wanted in a frantic pawing of hands and hooves driven by pure, excited lust. She slid me inside her tight, steaming body and sighed as she rode my shaft slowly, her purple eyes blazing with love above cheeks that still showed signs of the recent windburn and exhilaration.

Scootaloo's teats had begun to swell slightly, finally becoming noticeable on her pale underbelly and she loved it when I felt them now, occasionally dipping my thumb down below to give a flick of the hard, slick bean right above the spot we were connected together in this other kind of intimate flight that we shared with each other.

It was always fast up here, neither of us lasting very long from the earlier thrill ride's foreplay and soon her stiff wings began to beat weakly against the air just before her back arched and locked, her eyes rolling up in her head and fluttering shut. Her body clamping down on the part of me buried inside sent me over the edge and I followed moments later, filling her already wet tunnel with my own mix of fluids. When it was over... we held each other for a long while, her muzzle flat on my chest with a peaceful smile. My hand buried in her soft, purple mane, slowly scratching the top of her head between her ears while she blinked at me in the bright sunlight from above.

"Do you want a boy or a girl?" she asked me finally.

"I... I dunno. I can't decide."

Her smile widened a bit and she gave me squeeze. "Me either. Mason?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

We could have stayed that way for hours probably, at least until we got hungry or something but we couldn't spend too much longer here. Today was the baby shower at Sugarcube Corner that Pinkie had been meticulously planning. We nuzzled each other for a few more minutes before getting Scoots turned around and hooked back in, ready for the trip to the ground.

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Sugarcube corner had been completely transformed by the time we arrived. The interior was festooned with large balloons attached to every available anchor point with pink and blue streamers crisscrossing in a diamond pattern overhead. There was a large banner that spelled out It's a baby! hanging from the back wall over a massive table filled with cupcakes, cookies and other treats that I'd never seen before. Another nearby table was piled with boxes that were wrapped carefully with bows and cards attached, presumably for us. It was a strange feeling for me... I'd never been involved in anything like this.

As things worked out, we were the last ones to arrive and the large group of ponies, some I knew and some I didn't, all gave a rousing welcome when we entered the store. I quickly picked out the smiling faces of all our friends, including Wilson, along with Sweetie and Apple Bloom who rushed over to greet us before Pinkie kicked things into gear.

"LET THE PARTY BEGIN!" her cheery voice rang in the rafters and dance music flared to life from somewhere nearby. Scootaloo was swept up by a tide of hooves and carried off, surrounded by excited faces and I had my own welcoming committee that ushered me along with her towards a large device that resembled a roulette wheel stood on it's end. The alternating sections were pink and blue with different descriptions on each one.

"Alright!" Pinkie cried out, quieting the voices momentarily. "The first game is The Wheel of Destiny!" she intoned with a silly, mystical voice. "Spin the wheel to find out what your baby's gonna be! Normally I just put boy or girl on it but because Mason is kinda only half pony, I had to get creative!" she smiled proudly at her work.

Each section of the wheel was an alternating combination of boy or girl coupled with either 'Pegasus', 'Human' or a series of question marks. I thought the question mark option was a bit tacky but then again... Scootaloo and I having a kid was a bit tacky when I really thought about it. Pinkie motioned for Scoots to step up to the wheel and the little pegasus eagerly stood on her back legs to get a good grip before throwing her whole weight behind it, grinning from ear to ear.

The crowd cheered as the wheel took off, the different colored sections blurring by the pointer at the top before starting to slow and then eventually stop, landing on Girl, ??? The audience gave an exaggerated gasp at what the wheel said before they broke out in an honest laugh and some cheers.

"Your turn Mason!" Pinkie beckoned me over.

I stepped up to the wheel and took hold of the pegs on the side, giving it an experimental test of it's weight. When I was satisfied I wasn't going to spin the thing off of whatever hub it was on, I reared up to put my back into it. Just before I came down, a loud, commanding voice of a stallion broke the mood.

"Attention, Please!" it said and the whole place froze after turning towards the door. The music continued for a moment before somepony cut it off.

In the doorway of Sugarcube Corner was a group of six large pegasi, each in official looking, silver armor complete with helmets. Their faces were grim and unsmiling, looking very out of place in this happy gathering that Pinkie had put together for us. It was Twilight who spoke in the awkward silence that had settled on the party.

"Can we help you, officers?" she stepped towards them in a warm greeting.

The largest one of the bunch stepped forward and gave her a stern look before speaking. "By the order of Judge Fink, we are here to take the following ponies into custody for the act of Breaking and Entering, Assault, and Use of Magical Force against Whipwind the Pegasus, resident of Cloudsdale. All acts are in violation of Cloudsdale laws and they are to appear before Judge Fink to answer for their crimes."

A stunned silence flattened the air inside Sugarcube corner. When there was no immediate challenge to his statement, he continued.

"The following are to step forward and come with us peacefully; Applejack of Sweet Apple Acres, Rarity of Ponyville, Rainbow Dash of Cloudsdale, and the Human known as Mason. Additionally, we are also here to take the pegasus Scootaloo into temporary custody pending the return to her mother's care."

In a heartbeat, chaos erupted in Sugarcube corner. Angry voices raised and all of my friends formed a protective half circle around Scootaloo and I. Sweetie Belle clutched at her big sister with worry and through the first wave of yelling, I couldn't hear what was said at all. All I could focus on was the look from Scootaloo's face, desperately searching my own for answers with fear in her eyes.

"HOLD ON!" Twilight's magically amplified voice broke through the din and quieted the crowd. "Ponyville is now a part of my kingdom, officers. I'm pretty sure you just can't come down here and arrest somepony without talking to me first, besides... this is crazy! Whipwind tried to kill Applejack and kidnapped Scootaloo!"

The lead officer's formal reply was flat and emotionally sterile. "Princess, with all due respect, this is a matter of Cloudsdale law. We have our orders signed by Judge Fink and if you have concerns, you can take it up with him through the proper channels."

"I know who Judge Fink is!" Rainbow Dash snarled. "Everypony knows he's as crooked as they come and he should have been kicked outta Cloudsdale long ago! Whipwind must have gotten his way with having the trial moved to his courtroom!"

"I'll ask you all one more time to surrender peacefully and avoid any conflict." the lead officer said, his eyes flicking around the room almost nervously. "I remind you that we're here with the full backing of a signed warrant for each of you!"

"Not on your life, buster..." Dash's eyes narrowed dangerously and she coiled in mid air above our friends, ready to pounce. "You can take that warrant and shove it under your tail, tin can!"

Applejack lowered her head defiantly. "Yeah, you think you kin just waltz in here at take us away like this, ya got another thing comin'... judge or no judge! We've protected ya'll time and time again from stuff that'd make ya turn yella and this is how you repay us!?"

"...and you ain't takin' Scootaloo nowhere!" Apple Bloom added, mimicking her sister's pose beside her. "She's a part of our family now and her mom's a big ol smelly asshole fer tryin!"

Applejack's head snapped up and she stared at the girl with an almost comical look of confusion at the word Apple Bloom had learned from Scootaloo and I. The red head smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "What? I'm just sayin'... she is!"

"Nopony ruins my parties!" Pinkie Pie, who was normally disturbed by any confrontation, seethed in rage and looked about ready to tear a pony limb from limb at the disruption to her carefully planned event. But everypony else's reactions paled in comparison to Rarity's. She didn't speak a word but her horn's red glow reflecting in her calm but dangerous eyes gave her a terrifying look that spoke of incredible power... enough to scare the shit out of anypony.

The six officers fanned out across front of the door with their leader in the middle, tensed and ready for confrontation against the obviously willing to fight group in front of them. They were large, well muscled and looked imposing as they crouched in their protective armor against the coming battle. Silence filled the air as the two groups stared each other down with Twilight stuck with rising panic in the middle.

"Mason... I can't go back there..." Scootaloo pressed against me with her eyes leaking tears. I could feel her trembling against my leg and with a broken heart, I saw the scared, wounded girl I hadn't seen for months was back... replacing the face of the happy, carefree pony who'd emerged free from her horrible past.

Something roared to life inside me. Something so powerful and dangerous that it frightened me in it's reckless desire to tear apart anything that could make her feel that way again, regardless of the danger to myself. My life didn't matter anymore... not when Scootaloo was threatened with being thrown back into the abusive neglect she'd suffered.

My head pounded with the force of angry blood rushing through my veins and red tinted the edges of my vision. Energized by some force beyond anything I'd ever experienced in my life, I spread my wings and took a place beside Rainbow Dash above my friends with my jaw locked in a grim, tight line, ready to fight for the life we had together. Scootaloo was not going back to her mother... not while I still lived.

Dash's eyes flicked to the side as I hovered beside her. The confidant, challenging smile she wore at the officers grew wider and without either of us looking away from the door, her hoof shot out sideways and I met it with my own fist in a hard smack that echoed flatly in the tense silence of Sugarcube corner.

"Lets do this..." she growled.