Author's Note

Okay, I lied about the one month wait. Actually, I tried, but I just couldn't keep away from this one. So yeah, this story has a ways to go still. I daresay, it's just started to be a story. Enjoy!

On a side note, this featured for two full hours back on 5/9/2015 which accounts for the huge spike in dislikes. I guess the HiE haters finally got around to vandalizing my story. Oh well!

5/22/18: Grammarly edit.

The Second Great Disaster™

While my interruption may have come as something of a surprise to Lily, it did nothing to stifle her fecundity. The two of them were back at it within hours and so was I. Oh, my bed was going to be a wreck, but the shop was closed tomorrow; I was sure I’d find time in my day to clean up. After repeating the process of waking up to clop shamelessly to my roommate no less than three times, I finally got up very late around nine. No waking up at Rose o’clock this time since I was already awake. That’s one way to beat the system!

As usual, Lily had woke up first and beat me to the bathroom to wash up. Daisy still wasn’t home yet, so I brewed up some coffee and sat down to cold oats and milk. Awake fully from the stimulating effects of fresh coffee, I felt a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach began to surface as I considered my humbled state: busted in dramatic fashion getting off to my virginal friend and co-worker’s first time out of the gate. Truly, this is rock bottom; I imagined the gates of tartarus opening to receive me, unwashed and covered in my own love stains.

Why does it always have to be Lily Valley? I sighed, forehooves behind my head, and stared down at the dregs of my breakfast — the shame of it all indelibly hitched to my subconscious — wondering what to say to her and Golden Harvest when they finished. With the only bathroom in the house taken and needing it myself, I suffered in silence.

I didn’t have long to wait. Golden Harvest greeted me with a cheshire smile, while Lily Valley busied herself with looking anywhere but at me. Oh, I’ve been there, sister! I hoped she felt at least half as awkward as I did.

“Top o’ the morning to yeh, Rosie!” Golden Harvest greeted me, her imposing, orange mane tamed down with numerous curlers.

I wasn’t about to meet my fate in this condition. “Hold that thought, Rosie needs a bath now!” I launched myself at full speed into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I heard voices behind me and paid them no mind. I was going to scrub, lather, rinse, and detangle every glorious inch of my body before I spoke another word to anypony.

Alone with my thoughts, a new unpleasant visitor took up residence in my subconscious, guilt, to join my companions shame and loneliness. Caught in-between the barrage of negative emotions, I’d be forced to bargain with them.

What’s wrong with Lily Valley? Sure the mare can be unpleasant, but she’s awfully cute. Not to mention the sheer hotness of being forced to listen to her release over two decades worth of loneliness in the sexiest way imaginable. Surely, there’s no reason to be ashamed of such a display of empathy on my part… right?

My guilt responded forcefully — I’d stolen from her. Taken one of the most precious moments of her life, and used it in the cheapest way imaginable.

Tears began to spill freely down my muzzle, my sobs drowned out by the crashing water of the shower. What must other ponies think of me seeing me go to pieces after a couple weeks without Richard, and what does this mean for our long-distance relationship? Am I just too bent to ever give myself to one stallion? Will I be a damaged mare doomed to chase down cheap flings until I’m no longer beautiful enough to win a stallion for the night?

Am I some kind of a freak? Perhaps the reason Lily has been so reluctant to make friends has been worrying that she’ll turn into me: a sex-crazed filly without any self-control. A needy pang from my nethers seemed to cast its vote in the affirmative.

I was skeptical about that; the truth is she’s probably been guilty of avoiding others long before coming to Ponyville. It would be vain to suggest that I had so much influence over her life. In the end, the decision to give another pony a chance was hers and hers alone.

Still, I couldn’t take back what I did. This felt even worse than what I did in her bed, knowing what I’d done could not be replaced as easily as a couple of sheets; but even if I am the lowest form of pony life for what I did, I had to, at the very least, acknowledge what I’d done. I turned off the shower, dried off — refusing to so much as glance at the full-length mirror in disgust — to try to make things right. I knew it was impossible, but I owed her that at least.

*****

The two of them were eating cereal when I came out. Golden Harvest was no longer smiling but fixed me with a look of concern. Lily seemed to be in a daze, still refusing to look at me.

“Rosie, yeh look terrible. Are your heat spells usually this awful?” Golden Harvest scooped up some ice from the icebox, put it in a bucket and slid it over to me to sit on. It was a different means of ‘cooling off’ from a heat, but one that could help temporarily.

It was still more than I deserved, but I couldn’t complain about any display of goodwill given the circumstances. “Thanks,” I shuddered as the chill hit me, followed by a deep soothing sensation. “I needed that. Lily, Golden Harvest, I need to answer for what I did back there…”

“Not to me, Rosie. I can smell your heat all over the house. You were cooking alive last night weren’tcha?”

“Still am, actually.” I adjusted my seating position, gasping as the biting cold worked its way into uncharted regions. “That’s still no excuse though. Lily, I can’t even explain myself; I’m so sorry for what I’ve done — both of you. I’m such a pervert!” I couldn’t contain the tears with my temporary dam any longer. I sobbed into my two front hooves as I sat on my bucket, cursing my drive to constantly mate, just wishing I could be a normal mare. Lily doesn’t deserve this; to be saddled with such an awful roommate.

I felt the tickle of a shaggy hoof stroking my back and looked up into Golden Harvest’s green eyes which were now focused on her marefriend. “Lily, I cannae condemn a mare for wanting what we had between us last night.”

Lily sighed, shaking her head. “It’s always me! I can’t get away from Rose and her…” Lily swallowed hard and faced me, a look of anxiety mixed with determination etched into her face, “... insatiable lust for sex, even when she doesn’t like mares! It’s as if the stars are conspiring to remind me of how I used to have a crush on her.”

Even in my miserable state, I couldn’t help but feel proud for her courage; the old Lily would never have confessed this to anypony preferring to stay locked up inside her own head. “Lily, you didn’t have to admit that. I’m so sorry for everything! All I can say is I didn’t plan on thinking about you last night. I was alone and needed to… relieve myself, when you both came home. I-I couldn’t help it!” There I go again, trying to pass the blame. I cringed internally, and added, “n-not that it’s your fault or anything. I just heard the sound of your moaning and I…”

“I see…” Golden Harvest cut me off mercifully, giving my mane another ruffle. “Yeh poor thing, Lily’s told me about yer coltfriend being away. I have to admit though... I’ve never thought you to be the type for worrying about long-term relationships, let alone getting into one.”

What remained of my pride now seeped to the bottom of my ice bucket. My inability to keep a stallion was apparently the stuff of conversation around Ponyville. I didn’t know why this had such a powerful effect on me to hear, as mares were bound to be jealous of me, but hearing it spoken so plainly cut me to the bone. “I n-never thought it either. And believe me, I didn’t mean to fall for him, but I have. I will not betray him!” I recovered some resolve at the memory of Richard’s face.

Golden Harvest smiled and gave me an affectionate nuzzle. “Yeh keep in that frame of mind, and yeh’ll be known as an honorable mare to the end of yer days, Rosie.”

Lily got out of her seat and approaching me, extended a hoof in peace. “I’ll never know how I ended up getting stuck with you, but I can’t say I haven’t thought of you during heat, so... I guess we’re even,” she offered with a wan grin and slight blush.

I was going to need a bigger ice bucket to deal with the sudden news that Lily had been clopping to me, but I settled for returning the friendly gesture. It’s like talking to a brand-new Lily! “Neither of you hate me for what I did? Lily, it was your first…”

“Yeah, well, I like to think Goldie and I will get the chance to try again.” Lily looked at her marefriend with hooded eyes, “Right, Goldie?” she added in a seductive tone of voice I’d never heard from her before, one that set fire to my nethers all over again.

The carrot farmer replied nuzzling Lily’s ear, evoking a gentle moan from the latter. I could almost hear the cubes beneath me sizzling. I may never know why Lily has such an effect on me, but I’d sleep better knowing the two of them didn’t despise me — even if I still despised myself. “I don’t deserve as forgiving a friend as you, Lily.” My tears began flowing again.

“Rose…” Lily frowned at me.

“Yeh know, Rosie, there’s no shame in asking fer help with your estrus. If yer friend knows anything about mares, then he knows we’re always there for another mare in heat.” Golden Harvest said confidently, bringing one hoof to her chest.

“H-help?” My eyes darted over at Lily; That wasn’t the kind of ‘help’ I needed right now.

Golden Harvest gave Lily’s ear another gentle nuzzle. “Let’s help her, Lily.”

My blood began to both freeze and overheat as I considered the implications. Lily and I, with a cooler, her hooves touching my body, the sound of her moaning in my ear...

“Oh no! I-I can’t have you do that!” I stood up, backing away several steps, unbelieving what I just heard and the reaction it was causing within me. “I can’t! It wouldn’t be proper. Besides, I-I’m not really into m-mares and…” I cursed both the trembling of my voice and the inexplicable, appreciative tingling of my marehood.

Goldie saw my suddenly flush cheeks and laughed, even Lily actually giggled. “Rosie... you’re not worried yeh might enjoy it too much are yeh?” she gave me a sidewise, knowing grin.

Her words struck home with deadly accuracy, and I began to panic. My dear Richard, gone for only a couple of weeks, and I find myself inexplicably aroused by my longtime roommate and her new fillyfriend. Am I going crazy? What am I supposed to tell him when he asks how I’ve been doing? Sorry, but you’ve been away too long and now I’m into mares? I couldn’t allow this to continue...

“Th-thanks but… no. Daisy will be back soon, and I may not have set the house on fire, but I’ve done enough damage for one day. I need to go clean up my room and get some air. It was a pleasure to meet you again, Golden Harvest —” I cringed slightly at my unintentional double entendre “ — but I hope you’ll visit us again. I-I have to go now.”

Lily looked at me miserably, her ears flat against the side of her head. “Rose, don’t be silly; Goldie only wants to help. I’m not so sure it’s a good idea if I do it though…”

“It’s okay, Lily.” Golden Harvest ran a hoof soothingly over her back. “I could do it myself if that makes yeh more comfortable...”

“No! No! It’s —” I backed up into the wall against the stairs, my heart beating a mile a minute, my body shaking and nethers now on fire again, the ice no longer having any effect. What’s happening to me!? I clutched my head like Lily always did.

Golden Harvest sighed heavily like she’d seen this song and dance before. “Rose... I know what yer goin’ through right now. I cannae help you with it unless you let me, but just know that whatever we do or don’t do, we’ll still be your friends on the other side of this.”

“Thanks,” I muttered miserably, dreading the moment that I would have to face Richard and forcing it to the back of my mind. As I turned to them one last time, climbing the stairs to my heavily soiled bedroom; I noted the look of sorrow on Lily’s face with confusion. Why was she wearing a sad look? Isn’t she glad I’m out of her mane now?

*****

I didn’t find peace with myself that day, but after a couple frantic clop sessions with me and my cooler to take the edge off again, trying, not always successfully, to think of anything but Lily and ‘Goldie’, I did spend a few hours worth of cleaning, and went to see Lyra for the first time in weeks, listening as her boyfriend, Sam, taught her how to play a stringed instrument he called a ‘guitar.’ Naturally, the musically-inclined mare was a quick study, already having used her magic to manipulate the strings of her lyre.

We hung out for several hours and I told her all about Richard. It occurred to me to ask her why I was suddenly transforming into a shameless filly-fooler despite him, seeing as she’s enjoyed her fair share of mares — she was really into Minuette back in school — but the opportunity never presented itself. Still, she did give me some time away from the house and Lily, which I needed badly at that point.

The days began to drag at work, which is incredible given how scared I was to see Richard. My experience with dread has always made the days go faster. Lily and I seemed to have reversed roles in the aftermath of The Second Great Disaster™; I stalked the rows of plants in the greenhouse under a cloud, brooding, while Lily occupied the stall outside, enjoying the last days of summer. Suddenly she was the center of attention instead of me, even drawing a few whistles and catcalls from the stallions, men, and even mares. Though it was often just Golden Harvest who’d be passing by and just trying to cheer up the anxious mare facing the gauntlet of customers.

To solidify my new status as the next Lily Valley, it was I, not her, that looked away when our eyes met. For Lily’s part, she held to her usual meek personality, despite her time in the spotlight, and didn’t try to confront me until the day before Richard’s arrival. She came inside the greenhouse, as usual, to get some flowers for a customer she didn’t have on display.

As I busied myself watering the plants, she surprised me by addressing me directly. “Rose, I just want you to know that the same thing happened to me all those years ago, and you’ll get through this.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied, my face turned away from her so she couldn’t see my face scrunch up — I’m not a great liar.

I heard Lily sigh. “Goldie’s right about you.”

“Well, good for her!” I snapped, fuming at the reminder that ponies were whispering about the madmare of the greenhouse again. “Listen, unless you have something you need from me, I really need to get back to work.” I poured so much water into the pot I was working on, it spilled over the sides, making me if possible, even angrier.

“Fine,” I heard Lily’s hoof clops heading toward the door when they stopped. “You really should be happy to have somepony to talk about this, you know. I had nopony but myself back then, and it nearly drove me insane! We’re all on your side, Rose, you don’t have to confront this alone.”

I briefly considered telling her that the both of them could shove their opinions up their own rears, but there wasn’t enough fight left in me to bother. Instead, I picked up my watering can and just kept working.

“Suit yourself, Rose. When you’re ready to stop being a royal pain in the rump and talk this out, we’ll be here.” Lily spat irritably before exiting the greenhouse, slamming the door.

And I’ll be here not caring, I didn’t say to her — the hoof holding the watering can, shaking. I spoke a silent prayer to Cadance to intervene on Richard’s behalf, only this way could I trust my heart would remain true to him. Confident nopony else was present, I began to cry until there no tears left to shed.

At the end of the day, I saw Golden Harvest show up, having completed her own shift at the carrot stand and greeted Lily with a hug and a kiss. I made myself turn away before I could have another episode. Before I could be bitter about this, I heard the door to the inside of the house open.

“Hey Rose, your special somepony is on the phone!” Daisy said in an annoying singsong voice.

Richard! I felt some of the tension melt away. I may not understand myself sometimes — and I was terrified to think of how my new coltfriend would react to my moment of weakness — but men and stallions are a known quantity I could handle. I rushed inside and thanked both sun and moon for the lifeline I’d been thrown.

“Hello, handsome,” I positively oozed, into the living room phone, provoking a sarcastic snort from Daisy. “Quiet, you!” I pointed at the offending mare with an outstretched hoof and covering the receiver with my hoof. I got another laugh in return. No respect!

“I’m coming for you, Rose!” came the voice of one Richard Eckhart, AKA Stuntman: Stalker of The Wild Mare.

“Save it for when it will do the most good, sexy!” I replied huskily.

“Ooo, touché!” He said playfully. “I’m ready to go to Ponyville right now, but there’s a delay heading out of Manehatten due to a huge thunderstorm the pegasi decided on at the last minute. I won’t be able to make it until almost midnight.”

“Should have gone with the train, you can always rely on the ground to be there for you,” I suggested.

“Subtle! Actually, I would have, but that would have cut into my time off. Couldn’t miss even a minute of hunting my finest prey, don’t you agree?” Richard teased, his voice a perfect mix of playful and menacing.

I could already feel the impact of his teasing as my blood rushed down to my nethers in preparation for another night of fun, this time, one I wanted! “Quite astute, my savage friend! You’re as efficient as you are deadly.”

“Years of practice, mia signora, but I haven’t much longer to speak; the storm finally let up and I’m heading your way. I’ve got an entire week off to spend with you, and it would be a shame to waste any of it.”

I wasn’t entirely sure what meeya seenyora meant, but I was betting it was something very sweet and schmoopy-whoopy much like my human friend himself. “I’ll be waiting, Richard. Fly safely, and get here soon.”

“Goodbye, little flower.”

“Goodbye.” I hung up, feeling a great wave of relief. At least I’d have him for another week, and I could still desire his company; neither Lily Valley or all the ponies in Equestria would change that.

*****

Everypony was asleep by the time he arrived at eleven that night — I’d been waiting by the window so he wouldn’t have to knock and wake them up. He looked tired, and travel-worn, but greeted me with a passionate kiss outside the door to the house. Oh, he wasn’t the dangerous man who’d greeted me with whip in hand so long ago, but the unmistakable gleam in his eye was still there. “Come, Richard, the hospitality of Ponyville, awaits…”

“Thanks for taking me in so late, Rose,” he whispered as we quietly walked upstairs with his luggage, which we loaded into my room.

“Don’t mention it. Care for a shower before bed?”

Richard yawned sleepily, “Actually, it’s been a long day for me, I need some rest. I’ve been on the phone for much of the day lining things up for us to do. You get all those deliveries lined up with your boss?”

“Every last one!” I proclaimed ever so quietly, “You, me and Canterlot for most of the week!”

“Excellent!” he bumped my hoof with his fist and we jumped into my bed, cuddling up against each other so that we could look into each other's eyes. It felt absolutely wonderful to be holding him again, to be held by his powerful arms and smell his musk. At peace with the world for the first time in a week, I felt my eyelids become heavy. “Richard…”

He moaned gently, acknowledging my voice.

In the silence that lingered between us, I thought of telling him everything right then and there: my every doubt and fear about myself, about how his presence was the most wonderful thing that’s ever happened to me — except for the fact that he’d fallen asleep. So, in the end, all I could say was... “I love you…”

I held him tightly and drifted off to sleep soon after.