The menacing figure who had chased me all over my house was gone, replaced by a warm, friendly, and altogether cuddly hunk of a gentleman. He wore a semi-formal light gray suit with matching pants and a burgundy vest that matched my mane and cutie mark. How thoughtful of him! “You clean up well, monster.”

I proffered a steel shoe-capped hoof which he kissed, his eyes never leaving sight of mine. “I can be quite civilized when I want to be, though, in the presence of such a lovely mare, my work is cut out for me.”

I briefly contemplated just taking him right there — the bed being only six feet away from us — but I declined. Lyra told me that men were accustomed to pursuing mares, the way I pursued stallions. If we both did the pursuing then we would never leave the bedroom. “You will have your prize later, Stuntman, after we’ve had a chance to see this lovely town.” I gave his right arm an affectionate nuzzle and brushed my tail along his flank to let him know he was not being punished.

“Yes ma’am!” he responded earnestly, placing his right hand on my withers and leading me out into the warm, breezy night.

I was surprised to see the activity level on the streets had only increased since nightfall; in Ponyville, it’s the exact opposite with activity nearly grinding to a halt, but here, many bars and vendors were just opening for business, serviced by red and black open-roof carriages pulled by earth ponies with prop bat wings.

Hollow Shades is not subtle about their theme, are they?

I heard the rustling of wings overhead, but couldn’t see who they belonged to. I disregarded it as my imagination at first, but after the fourth or fifth time I heard it, I started to get a little nervous — most pegasi didn’t fly at night. I looked up at Stuntman who seemed completely unperturbed. “Stuntman, did you hear that sound? There’s somepony flying around out here!”

He ran his fingers through the coat of my neck absent-mindedly. “It’s nothing to worry about. Just the local thestrals going about their business.”

“Eep!” I crouched low to the ground and covered my head with my forehooves, shivering. “There are bat ponies here?” I suddenly felt much less safe.

Stuntman gave a hearty laugh. “Rose, they’re not going to hurt you! I come here every now and then to go flying with them. They’re good folk, they just keep to themselves.”

I looked up at Stuntman, confused. “You… fly with them?”

The handsome gentleman chuckled, coaxing me out of hiding and lifting me back to my hooves. “I’ve been flying for much of my life. Here in Equestria, I’ve made a lot of friends with the pegasi, griffins, and even a few thestrals. It’s been a dream come true for me to be able to sail across the sky without an airplane.”

I stood up and dusted myself off trying to make heads or tails of what I’d just been told. “I have so many questions.”

He laughed that good-natured laugh of his once more. “We’ve got all night, Rose. What would you like to know?”

“How do you go flying here in Equestria without wings?”

“Mostly, by strapping myself to a team of pegasi with ropes and harnesses. The griffins are a lot of fun too since they go out of their way to try to make you puke. I’ve been up in the air with thestrals too, but only a couple times. They don’t have the best of reputations with other ponies and tend to only fly at night when I’m at work.” Stuntman looked momentarily glum, but it passed quickly, and he was all smiles once more. “The pegasi though are always up for flying, and I spend most of my time off sailing through the air like Bellerophon…”

“The man who rode the pegasus!” I cut in, proud of my knowledge of obscure human trivia.

“No way! You know about him?” He looked at me skeptically. “He’s considered obscure even amongst humanity and he’s one of our legends!

“Well, it’s a joke between me and my best friend. Her boyfriend, Sam, told her about the man who rode the pegasus,” I explained.

Stuntman went quiet for a moment, “Sam… McNamara?”

I had to think about that one for the moment, still unfamiliar with human surnames. They were so… non-descriptive! “I think so. He’s a guitar player who started seeing Lyra shortly after the humans first arrived in Ponyville. I read about her in the papers and thought she had completely lost her mind!”

“I see you’ve changed your opinion on the matter.” Stuntman wiggled his eyebrows at me suggestively, making me giggle.

“Oh I still think she’s insane, but she’s a sweetheart and I wouldn’t have her any other way. I did, initially, find the idea of... relations... with humans somewhat horrifying though I must admit,” I confessed.

“I still think your way of dealing with your fear was pretty awesome. You’re a remarkable mare, Roseluck; I’ll have you jumping out of airplanes in no time!”

I seized on that unfamiliar word, remembering what Lyra had told me about them. “Airplane is a flying machine, right?”

“Yep. We use them for everything from fighting to simple transportation. I used to parachute drop supplies out of a C-130 Hercules for The United States Air Force — our military in the air. Think of me as your friendly neighborhood pegasus mailman.” He gave me a sweeping bow.

“I hope you didn’t break everything! Is that why you had to come to Equestria, you got the bill for breaking it all?” I grinned at him wryly.

Stuntman clutched his chest as if mortally wounded, “You insult my dignity as a loadmaster! I will see to it you never get your mail on time again!” He gave me a wink and my neck a gentle squeeze.

I couldn’t help but laugh at his histrionics. Who knew my monster was such a silly man when he wasn’t preying on defenseless me? “You’re cute! I’m still confused as to how the things you drop don’t break when they hit the ground; I didn’t think humans had magic.”

He nodded approvingly in my direction. “Correct. We strap a parachute onto it to deploy and slow its rate of descent. It’s basically a huge balloon that’s open on one end once opened. We fit them to ourselves and jump out of the planes as well sometimes; alas, it wasn’t to be for me until I left the military and had to do it on my own dime.”

I stood on both legs my eyes widened in shock as I gazed up at him. “You couldn’t! You could get hurt!”

“You might,” he replied matter-of-factly, “but if you know what you’re doing, it’s actually quite safe.”

I question his definition of safe. Such strange folk these humans can be! “I don’t know how your mares, er, women put up with you!”

“Believe me, they’re wondering the same thing!” He gestured to a small, moody-looking building across the street that was lit by red and gold lights; the sign above the doorway read, Arbor Shades Restaurant. “Shall we have a bite to eat before the Parade of Lights?”

“I wasn’t aware there was an event in town tonight. Sounds like a plan!” Ever the gentleman, Stuntman held the door open for me and allowed me to enter first.

He wasn’t kidding about the thestrals. Oh, how Lily would freak if she saw this! It seems the thestrals here made up nearly half the population of the town. Half pony and half bat, they could fly just as well as the pegasi but didn’t need to be able to see where they’re going. Looking around the dimly-lit room, I noticed all of them were eating fruit-based meals around tables with hay bale seats. I felt silly for worrying about them earlier, but they’re just so spooky!

“Good evening,” spoke a deep, velvety voice.

I only jumped in my seat a little. Looking up, I acknowledged the thestral speaking to me. Her mane and tail were dark purple, as were her bat-like wings; but the eyes were what really startled me — glowing yellow with oval pupils. “Sorry! You surprised me is all.”

“No need to be sorry, dear. You sound like you’re from out of town. Are you here for The Parade of Lights?” she asked politely, showing off a delicate set of pointed fangs as she spoke.

“I’m afraid not. I was just in town to visit with my friend.” I reached my hoof across the table and felt his warm hand close around it. I turned back to look at him and saw him deep in thought as he beheld the thestral.

Stuntman scratched his chin before having made up his mind. “I have the strangest feeling I’ve seen you before in Las Pegasus; you were performing in Nightmare of the Opera house.”

She gave a haunting laugh that, I hoped, bore us no ill-will. “I get that all the time! That was my sister, Ember Iris. Such a beautiful voice she has; she had no choice but to be famous! I am Moonlight Blossom, and I am much more comfortable in the kitchen than on stage.”

To prove it, she showed us her cutie mark, a crossed three-pronged fork and bottle I took to represent cooking sherry or maybe she just likes to get good and lit while she’s cooking. I made a mental note to ask Daisy how this whole cooking thing works someday…

“What can you tell me about this ‘Parade of Lights’ you’re having in town?” I asked politely, setting aside all thoughts of cooking for the time being.

“Well, to give you the history behind it we must go back to around the time after the fall of Nightmare Moon. You may be familiar with the events from your history books, but less-well-known in pony circles was the persecution of the thestrals which followed. While some of our ancestors did serve the corrupted Princess of the Night, the majority of us followed neither side. Despite this, we faced scorn from the ponies of the day and were even attacked on sight — it wasn’t pretty.”

“I’m terribly sorry to hear that Moonlight.” I felt a pang of guilt having made a similar misplaced judgment about humans.

“Not your fault, sweetie. Anyway, many of us grew fed up with the constant fear and harassment and our founder, Night Wish, lead a group of thestrals here to Shady Forest, under a canopy of firefly lit lamps carried by watchponies to serve as a beacon for others to join us in freedom from the hatred of our daylight-loving kinfolk. The magic of the forest suppresses the light from the sun, making it a perfect place to hide and build our own thestral colony to preserve our way of life. Every year, on this day, we celebrate our ancestors founding with our own precession of lights, and keep to the traditions of the original settlers.”

Moonlight Blossom gestured to the modern if pale, yellow lights, and kitchen behind the counter. “Well, we bent the rules a bit here and there.” She gave us a wink and a smile. “We’re happy to be enjoying much better relations with the outside these days, since Nightmare Moon’s defeat, though still for thestrals living on the outside, there is still the occasional bigot who can’t accept us being one of them.”

Stuntman nodded his head solemnly.

I suddenly felt like a bit of a rube not realizing that outside Ponyville, thestrals were actually living in cities with other ponies. Stuntman for one seemed to know this fact, and I couldn’t help but wonder what else was going on out there that I didn’t know about.

Moonlight Blossom turned out to be a very good waitress and kept us entertained with details about the area generally not found on travel brochures — “My friends and I used to cool off at a pond within an orchard half a mile east of here were the fireflies rest so thick on the trees, they are constantly glowing!” — and even tried her hoof at singing, which she did exceptionally well at by my reckoning. She insisted her sister was not only better than she but could handle the bright lights and strange city types that sometimes follow you around.

“I’m perfectly happy living nowhere near Las Pegasus, and hope to keep it that way,” the thestral said definitively, rapping her hoof on the table for emphasis.

Stuntman asked about the humble life of the Ponyville florist, and frankly showed far more interest in it than I do. He asked questions from the mundane — “How do you arrange all the different-colored flowers to fit the pattern you’re going for?" — to the esoteric — “How does earth pony magic interact with growing flowers? Do you ever get giant-sized daffodils?”

“Only the occasional giant-sized human coming to rut me senseless on my roommate's bed!” I whispered to him.

“It would be a real shame if you decided to blackmail me with that someday, Rose.” He said huskily, his gray, lust-filled eyes staring hungrily into mine.

“Think of the terrible consequences, Stuntman: why you might just be stuck with me forever.” I leaned forward across the table to give him a better look at me. Behind me, I felt my tail flag involuntarily; my dress maintaining my modesty for those seated behind me, and a challenge for the merciless predator who was resolved to storm my austere castle, and claim the innermost works.

He fired the first shot, brushing his warm, but slightly calloused hands over my neck, fingers gently brushing at my coat and he drew me into a slow and passionate kiss — a direct hit that left me wanting more, but now was not the time. He could spare no others to witness his craft, and after paying for our meal and leaving a generous tip for our good service, we departed.

*****

The thestral’s Parade of Lights was no mere street demonstration, but a multi-level airborne display with glowing, red, gold, and purple-uniformed, thestrals flying in formations above the parade ground over a similarly lit caravan. Some of the carts, replicas of the ones used by the colonists, were pulled by as many as six thestrals who lacked the strength of earth ponies and had to rely on numbers. Thestral archers fitted with leg-mounted crossbows marched alongside the caravan and looked out into the crowd lining the road. I noticed with interest that only their faces and abdomen were protected by armor. Spear-carriers were paired off with them that were identically armored; they marched in groups of four, two of each.

“Why aren’t they covered from the front if they’re supposed to be watching the road?” I asked Stuntman, thinking about the Canterlot Guard with their full body armor.

“The thestrals fight very similarly to the pegasi but with an even more limited carrying capacity,” Stuntman explained. “Griffons have it the best as far as being able to bear heavy loads and still fight, but thestral wings can only support armor protection of their most vulnerable points. They compensate by using rough terrain and the advantage of their peerless night vision to decimate their foes from a defensive stand. They’re paired off like the old Spanish tercio — a sort of army formation on earth used hundreds of years ago — so that the archer can be protected while he reloads.”

I raised an eyebrow at him.

“Some folks would call me a dweeb for knowing that, but I’ve always been interested in military tactics, and especially aerial combat. I’ve studied each of Equestria’s flying races tactics and histories. I have a reputation as an airman to uphold, after all.” He smiled and teased my ear with his fingers.

“Point taken,” I replied, letting out a quiet gasp as he caught the sweet spot between my head and ear. I felt myself begin to heat up again...

Some of the thestrals bore lanterns identical to the ones that lit the street, signaling for others which joined the throng from out of the darkness and took up positions in the procession. It was like watching history happen, but my concentration had begun to slip after the first hour; I felt my need overtake me. “Stuntman, I think we should scout out the woods for our gracious hosts to make sure they’re safe. Perhaps we should start at that lovely place Midnight told us about hmm?”

Stuntman gave me a knowing smile. “Would be a shame to leave them unprepared for the enemy. Let's go!

*****

Once out of sight of the crowds watching the parade, we made our way through the forest along the trail we’d been told about. It felt nice to be able to walk into the woods and not have to worry about monsters or diamond dogs. Our only companions were fireflies and the chirping of crickets around us. The area was bathed in moonlight, unaffected by the magic which muted the sun.

“The area seems to be clear of danger.” The gentleman said suggestively.

“Not entirely, monster. There’s still you!” I winked at him and gave him a smack on the rump with my tail and bolted off along the path with Stuntman in hot pursuit.

Though not the swiftest runner in Ponyville, I could no doubt run circles around Richard at full gallop on level ground, and with a good view ahead of me. Tonight, all dressed up and in an unfamiliar forest, the slow human was able to keep up.

“Run my little pony!” he taunted playfully, slowly closing the gap between us.

Whenever I got a good lead on him, the trail would turn and I had to slow way down. I looked back and noticed how nimble the otherwise slow-moving biped was at maneuvering corners. Around about the third corner he was so close I could hear his breathing. I let out a playful shriek and bolted through at top speed.

I could notice the forest in front of me lighten; I must be getting close to the forest pond. After a fourth bend in the trail, it appeared right in front me and I skidded to a halt right in front of it. The trail dead-ended at the little pond surrounded by various fruit trees. Struck by an inspiration, I laid myself down on the trail behind a convenient tree root...

I heard him land just in front of the water’s edge, he whirled around and gave a triumphant cry.

I cursed myself silently for thinking that would work; I really thought I’d get one over on the wily predator just once. I stood up and faced him. “Cornered again like so many others. Was the last time not enough to slake your lust?" My head jerked over in the direction of the treeline at what sounded like the rustling of wings, worry growing inside me as I remembered the nocturnal nature of the forest's resident thestrals.

“Not for you, Rose!” he whispered in my ear before gently nibbling on the edge, my strange reaction unnoticed. “I promised you the hunt would never end.”

I felt his hands begin to unzip me from my dress, baring me with tantalizing slowness. I felt my legs begin to tremble and the need so long suppressed for over a week, burst forth from me anew. My hunter had come for me, and nothing would stop him. I rested my top half on the exposed root I had been hiding behind, my rear draped over the back with my back hooves hovering just above the ground where he stood. The flower of my marehood began to weep as he freed me from my silken fortress and laid me bare before his final assault.

“Oh! These are quite lovely.” He ran his fingers along the warm fabric of my panties. He inhaled deeply taking in my scent. “You are ready to receive your release?”

“Yes. By Celestia, yeeesss!” I screamed with mingled frustration and anticipation.

Hearing the urgency of my plea, he wasted no time in peeling away my last line of defense with his teeth and giving my entrance a few desultory licks to appreciate the devastating effect they had on me while kneading my rump with his powerful fingers. Suitably amused, he removed my back shoes and began to massage them while he licked greedily at my sensitive nub.

I whined, and I whimpered. I thought of the possibility of being watched by half the village from behind the trees with apprehension, but in the end, I could only throw my head to the starry sky and cry out in ecstasy as I came hard into his eager mouth. As the intense pleasure slowly withdrew, and my mind started to work again; I could feel the cool, night air on my sweat-covered coat.

“So young and fertile. I could rut you for days, and you would not grow weary!” He gently rubbed the fine hairs of my cutie mark and kissed it.

I turned myself around to face him.“Rut me for days or weeks if you must, but you will grow weary long before I do!” I boasted, and not without cause as somepony who’s actually gone for days on end.

“I might hold you to that, Rose,” he said with a grin, wiping his face clean.

My heart leaped. Do I really mean more to him than just one night? I couldn’t be entirely sure due to our circumstance, and I dreaded to ask him, but hope began to well up within me. I hopped down from the root and kneeled down on my front hooves facing the water. “Rut me Stuntman...hard!”

I heard him drop his pants and felt the rounded tip press up against my marehood. “Your wish is granted, my worthy prey.” He pressed into me slowly until I’d engulfed each delicious inch, before withdrawing and slamming into me again and again, before carrying us both over the edge.

He stayed hilted inside me, a prisoner of his own device, until I felt him go soft and withdraw. I zipped myself back into my dress, and looked out into the trees — somehow we’d gone unnoticed.

“We’ve got a long night ahead of us, Rose.” Stuntman said huskily, zipping himself back into his pants. His bulge telling me he was already prepared for another round.

“And Ihave a comfortable bed we can spend it in. If you can keep from feasting on me for that long, you ravening beast!” I gave him a good view of my prize with a flag of my tail.

“I make no promises, little pony!” He licked his lips and resumed the hunt, chasing me all the way back to the hotel. Well almost, he did catch me once when he found me hiding inside of an empty carriage. I prayed to Celestia it didn’t belong to one of Lily’s relatives…

Author's Note

Hey there aficionados, just to let you know, the next chapter hasn't been written yet so you'll have to wait a bit.

Finally got this thing featured I see — 3/28/2015 10:20 A.M. — It's the #10 slot, but I'm a no-name schmuck so that excites me.

5/22/2018: Grammarly edit.