Chapter 1: Hot Rain

The soft patter of rain on her bedroom window woke Raindrops up one late spring morning. The scheduled drizzle was set up the previous evening and was meant to go on all morning, to be cleared up by the time afternoon lunch rush rolled around. Raindrops wasn’t concerned with that, however, as she rolled out of bed and stretched her sleek jasmine coated body, starting her day with a few warm up exercises to get the blood flowing. Today was her day off and the rain outside was the perfect companion to her mood which was surging with growing excitement.

She worked out just enough to get a sweat going before hitting the shower, whistling happily to herself as she began to wash her teal mane and tail. Usually on her days off she might simply laze around the house, curled up with one of her guilty pleasures, the romance novels she kept tucked away in one drawer of her room. But today she had plans. Plans with her... marefriend.

Marefriend. Just thinking it made Raindrops grin to herself. It’d been unexpected, this development in her life, but Raindrops couldn’t have been happier to be exploring this new relationship. A relationship with Trixie Lulamoon, Representative of the Night court of Princess Luna.

It was hard to think that just a year ago Raindrops hadn’t even met Trixie, yet so much had happened since the bombastic, loud mouthed, at times downright neurotic, unicorn had arrived in Ponyville. At first Raindrops had had trouble getting along with, let alone understanding, Trixie. She’d gotten on Raindrops bad side more than once with thoughtless action and a penchant for manipulation. Yet Raindrops had also come to realize there were few mares more dedicated to her friends than Trixie, a dedication so strong it’d taken her and five other mares from Ponyville, Raindrops included, to face down the Tyrant Sun itself.

Time and again Trixie had shown a willingness to place herself in danger for her friends, and despite an unfortunate ego Raindrops had gradually discovered that beneath the self-important exterior there was a good, honest, fun loving mare who was often so scared of losing the few friends she’d managed to make that Trixie would move the stars and moon to keep them safe and close.

In Raindrops’ case, very close.

Well, mostly close. There were certain quirks to Trixie that meant Raindrops may have been close to Trixie since they’d started dating, but not close to Trixie. As it turned out Trixie was rather skittish when it came to the matter of physical intimacy. More than skittish, actually. Even talking about sex tended to make the unicorn extremely uncomfortable.

In fact it was because of that trait of Trixie’s that Raindrops had come to realize how much she was actually fond of the other mare and had ended up taking the chance on starting a relationship. Six months ago Trixie had gone into heat, the first time she’d done so since moving to Ponyville. Trixie’s heat were unusually strong, and it had snuck up on her this year.

Raindrops still keenly felt the memory of that event. How she’d tried to help Trixie with keeping her mind off her heat through their exercise routine they’d gotten used to doing out in Whitetail Wood. How things had led from one point to another and she and Trixie had shared a kiss, one that Raindrops had felt terrible about because she’d been certain she’d taken advantage of her friend’s heat. Trixie, however, in her usual over the top manner, had made it clear that Raindrops’ hadn’t taken advantage at all, and that Trixie wanted more than ever to see where the feelings sparked during that time might lead.

So far it had led to four months of enjoyable dates, late night cuddling, and a whole lot of good natured joking among their friends. Cheerilee was particularly insufferable, though in a very supportive manner. All their friends had been supportive of the new couple in their midst. Raindrops appreciated it, but at times she got the feeling their friends started treading on eggshells when around her and Trixie, as if afraid the pair might burst like a bubble ir prodded the wrong way.

No matter, Raindrops had been having the time of her life for half a year, getting closer to Trixie.

Just not that close. Not that final closeness. Which was fine. Raindrops was fine with that. She’d understood that when she’d decided to start dating Trixie that there were lines that couldn’t be crossed, at least not without a lot of consideration for Trixie’s feelings on the matter. Light touching, cuddling, a few simple kisses, these were all alright. Trixie seemed fine with physical contact that was affectionate, just not... sexual. Which was fine! It was! Raindrops had to make it be fine, no matter...

Raindrops was satisfied with just the slight brushes of her wings on her marefriend’s shoulders, or along the elegant, smooth blue curve of Trixie’s back. She was fine with the soft kisses that sent shocks down her spine, Trixie’s lips pressed into hers as Trixie’s scent filled Raindrops’ senses. She was fine with just cuddling, spooning her body around Trixie’s warm, plush azure form, nuzzling the curve of Trixie’s neck and feeling the silky caress of her marefriend’s mane on her face.

There was no reason at all to fantasize about Trixie’s lips going elsewhere, exploring Raindrops’ body with gentle, eager pecks. No reason to think of Trixie’s tongue affectionately flicking out to tickle Raindrops’ sensitive spots, causing low eager moans to escape Raindrops’ throat as Trixie worked further and further down her body, until finally, reaching that one space, that one place that was for Trixie alone to explore, tongue pushing deep into-

“Mmm-” Raindrops eyes snapped open as she realized what she was doing in the shower and she nearly took the curtains down as she yanked her hoof away from her nethers, “Gah! What the... huh?”

Her heart was beating fast in her chest and she was still... feeling eager, back there, her fantasy of Trixie still fresh in her mind and not so small portion of her wanting to continue.

No... no can’t get myself riled up today, Raindrops thought as she forced herself to breath slowly and push aside the excitement that’d built up in her. She was going out with Trixie today to have a nice romantic picnic in Whitetail Wood, just the two of them enjoying lunch and watching the rainbows come out after the morning shower had ended. Raindrops didn’t want to ruin that with getting herself randy and ending up doing anything that’d make Trixie uncomfortable. Raindrops could just imagine the discomfort in Trixie’s eyes if Raindrops even smelled too much of sex.

Raindrops could easily see it, Trixie’s two huge lavender eyes swimming with worry and disgust at the simplest mention of sex. If only those eyes would become lidded with desire. Trixie’s beautifully angled features would complement bedroom eyes so well and Raindrops could just see Trixie wearing a lacy set of socks and underwear, giving her sultry looks as she stretched herself across the picnic blanket. Raindrops would go to her, taking Trixie up in her strong hooves and kiss her deeply, and be the one to take her turn exploring Trixie’s body, giving her the love and affection she deserved by slowly nibbling at-

“Ugh, what is with me today?” Raindrops asked, shaking her head. It was like Trixie was stuck in her brain this morning. And that feeling of excitement wasn’t going away. it was a steady heat building up in her...

...heat...

“Oh no... no no no, not today! Not bucking today!” Raindrops snapped as she slammed a hoof into the wall of the shower.

“Honey? You okay in there?” asked her mother from outside the bathroom door.

“Oh, uh, yeah, I’m fine!” said Raindrops, blowing out a sigh as she glared at nothing in particular. But her glare soon turned to a shamed look of despair as she let the shower water fall over her head, wishing the hot water could wash away the heat that was now undeniably growing inside her.

She kept track of it, but there was never any guarantees when it comes to this kind of thing, and there was now one undeniable fact starring Raindrops in the face.

She was in heat, and it’d had not only arrived early, Raindrops could tell it was going to be rough

My little pony, My little pony
Ahh ahh ahh ahhh...
My little pony
Friendship never meant that much to me
My little pony
But you're all here and now I can see
Stormy weather; Lots to share
A musical bond; With love and care
Teaching laughter; It's an easy feat,
And magic makes it all complete!
You have my little ponies
How'd I ever make so many true friends?

Trixie flew through her paperwork that morning with a fervor quite unlike herself. Not that she was lazy when it came to the neverending series of mundane tasks required of a Representative of Princess Luna’s Night Court, but she wasn’t exactly the most eager to tackle the mind mulching stacks of papers that often graced her desk. Today, however, she hit them with energy, a inner fire making her quill pen sweep over the papers with speedy flourishes.

“Really going at it there.”

Trixie nearly snapped her pen at the sudden comment, but she recovered fast, frowning at her somewhat fudged signature and making a fast alteration to make it look better before glancing up at the pony who’d addressed her. Pokey Pierce, her assistant, was looking at her with his eyes brimming with sarcastic bemusement, his own horn glowing as it levitated a fresh stack of envelopes to Trixie’s desk.

“I’m not going at it, I’m working at a normal, medium pace,” said Trixie as she glanced over the new envelopes. Only a dozen or so, probably all minor petitions or requests for local matters to be forwarded to the appropriate channels in the Night Court in Canterlot. She’d need to read them, sign them, then send them on their way so ponies on a higher pay tier than hers could actually debate over what to do about them.

“Well, whatever you want to call it, I’d say this is the furthest along in your morning work I’ve seen you get this early in awhile,” said Pokey as he began to collect the papers Trixie had already gone over so he could take them to the post office. He smirked slightly, “Special occasion? Or perhaps a special somepony?”

Trixie rolled her eyes. She hadn’t once felt a single twinge of regret in pursuing a relationship with Raindrops, but certainly she was getting tired of the teasing from her friends. She made a shooing motion with her hoof, “Away with you. You’re not getting any gossip from this mare. My personal affairs are not anypony’s business but mine.”

“And Raindrops’,” said Pokey, his smirk widening as he ducked Trixie’s quill pen, which flew at him in her magic aura like a little buzzing bee.

“Git! Vous tromper gênant!” Trixie said, only half serious as she dove into her rich Neigh Orleans accent.

“Okay, okay! I’m going. You two crazy fillies enjoy your day and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” chimed Pokey as he left her office, leaving Trixie to blow out a sigh and get back to work.

She finished in record time, well before she expected Raindrops to show up at her door. That was partially the point. Trixie wanted time to make herself ‘presentable’. She and Raindrops hadn’t had as much opportunities as Trixie would have liked to have actual dates, and when they did manage to get their schedules to align Trixie enjoyed going that extra mile to look good for her marefriend.

Trixie hummed a giddy tune as she got ready for going out with Raindrops. It might have just been a fairly typical picnic get together, but it was special because of who it was with, not what they’d be doing, specifically. Besides, when one goes on a picnic with Trixie, there’s no such thing as typical. Her outfit for the excursion wasn’t her usual star speckled violet magician hat and cape, but instead she’d gotten a slimmer, dark blue dress that had a long train and a deep v-cut in the back. It had a matching set of socks, a concept that Trixie found a tad odd but Cheerilee had assured her it was a appropriately alluring style. Cheerilee was the closest among her circle of friends Trixie could claim had much experience in the dating scene. Through most of Cheerilee’s information was a number of years out of date Trixie still trusted it.

She rarely ever applied makeup as well, but she considered Raindrops more than worth the effort. Nothing extensive or fancy, just a little eye shadow and lipstick. She took some time to ensure her mane and tail were thoroughly combed to silky smooth perfection, and she applied a dab or two of perfume while she listened to the rain of the morning begin to slack off. That meant that Raindrops should be on her way! Trixie happily put the finishing touch on her ensemble, a small white lily she slipped into her mane just above her right ear. She knew it was a favorite of Raindrops’, and looked forward to seeing the pegasus’ reaction to Trixie wearing one.

Raindrops was in charge of the food this time, through Trixie was supplying the drinks. Nothing too hard, just some good champagne from Canterlot, Fillecarte Salmonte. Trixie wasn’t too familiar with champagne but it’d come recommended, this time from Lyra, who’d apparently used the brand for her last anniversary with Bon Bon. Trixie had the opaque green champagne bottle set in a little bucket of ice covered with a blue cloth (actually one of the cloths she used for some of her magic shows). The ice was conjured and hit with a simple temperature preservation spell Trixie had learned from Twilight a few weeks ago. It was strange to think of the once fugitive mare now being Ponyville’s resident librarian, but Trixie had grown accustomed to having Twilight around rather quickly and had struck up enough of a friendship that it wasn’t unusual for the pair to talk magic once or twice a week.

There was a knock at the door, rapid and a tad frantic, which caused Trixie to raise an eyebrow. It was a heavy knock, very much sounding like the way Raindrops tended to pound a bit harder than needed, but that quick, frantic nature of it caused an unpleasant coil of worry to worm its way into Trixie’s heart. She did not want an emergency today. Whether it be attacking phoenixes, rampant golems, natural disaster, magical curses, or Corona herself lighting the town on fire, Trixie was in no mood to have her picnic with Raindrops interrupted by anything.

Mustering her courage around herself like she would her magician’s cloak Trixie trotted to her front door and swung it open, determined to face whatever was coming with a winning smile.

Trixie had to duck a hoof that had been still trying to knock as she opened the door, Raindrop’s belated, frantic gesture almost giving her marefriend a minor concussion. Raindrops pulled back almost as if her hoof had struck fire instead of empty air, her eyes gem-carved saucers as she almost, but not quite, jumped back.

“Oh! Trixie, I’m so sorry! Are you all right?”

“Perfectly fine,” Trixie said, keeping her tone in that nice, calm, neutral tenor that she reserved for diplomatic situations or reassuring panicking marefriends. Why was her marefriend panicking? Raindrops’ hair was a tad disheveled, not unusual, but Trixie could see the fresh wetness of a shower that was too heavy for the light rain to have accomplished. Raindrops wasn’t dressed, again not unusual, but save for the simple fact that this was a date day and Raindrops, romantic streak that she had, enjoyed dressing up a bit as much as Trixie did. The rapid breathing was the heaviest clue. Raindrops usually didn’t breath that hard outside of a long exercise set.

Trixie’s mind did a few mental checks, adding the twos and twos. Raindrops had rushed here, no prep for date. Something had happened. It was making Raindrops distressed. Trixie didn’t like things that made Raindrops distressed. Time to go into damage control mode, starting with recon.

“Raindrops, take a breath, come inside, I’ll get some tea on,” Trixie said, stepping back from the door and tilting her head to gesture Raindrops inside. Trixie would have gone for coffee but she’d become gradually more aware over the past months of Raindrops’ own preference for certain teas and had a small and ready stock in the kitchen ready to go.

Trixie frowned deep and long as Raindrops didn’t enter but remained agitated at the door.

“I, uh, sorry Trixie, but it'd probably be better if I don’t,” Raindrops said, voice dripping, practically soaked, with apology, her eyes taking Trixie in with a jaw that didn’t seem to quite want to close, “You’re wearing socks...”

Trixie coughed, suddenly self conscious, though not entirely displeased at the appreciative awe in Raindrops’ voice, through worried about the tremor in it. What was wrong? Raindrops looked as much scared as appreciative of Trixie’s ensemble.

“You like them?” Trixie asked, stretching one leg out.

Raindrops looked like she’d been splashed with hot water, actually stepping back from Trixie, “No. Yes! Yes you look... stunning. Beyond stunning. Just, uh, today’s not the best day to look stunning. I’m... sorry, but, uh, I might have to cancel today. Take a, heh, raincheck?”

Raindrops let out a nervous laugh and Trixie knew whatever it was it had t be bad, if Raindrops was going for bad humor to try and cover... fear? Was Raindrops afraid? Trixie might not have noticed, once, but she knew Raindrops well enough now to see the signs. The faint tremble in the eyes, the way Raindrops kept bouncing slightly on her hooves as if shifting in preparation to fly. It was not an encouraging sight.

“Raindrops, amore,” Trixie stepped forward, a slip of her Neigh Orleans slipping into her voice as her own worries bubbled up, “What’s wrong?”

For Trixie’s step forward Raindrops had taken a step back, almost as if she was worried about being too close, “Nothing! Nothing!... Okay, something, but not something that’s a big deal or anything. I’m just going to be out of, umm... touch, for a bit. Couple of days. Maybe a week?”

Trixie was herself now starting to feel the unpleasant pinch of rising panic, but she pushed it down with the two-hit combo of logic and reason. First of all, Raindrops wouldn’t be acting this way without good, sensible reason. Second of all, it could be literally any mundane reason from a sudden crunch of work at the weather station to some kind of family emergency. Trixie’s only concern to the contrary was the way Raindrops wsa trying to keep distance between them. Trixie had taken another step, right past the threshold of her front door, and Raindrops had danced back like Trixie was on fire.

“Raindrops can you just calm down and tell me what has you acting like I’ve contracted a horrible disease?”

Raindrops had been in the middle of taking another step back but stopped so sharply it was like she’d hit an invisible wall. The pegasus’ face went through a bewildering series of twinges as she rapid fire looked guilty, terrified, and then stoic in the span of a few seconds. From the sudden rigid posture and hard monotone Trixie could tell Raindrops was literally forcing herself to spit out the words, even as they came spilling like a verbal waterfall.

“I’m in heat. Sorry. You look amazing. Keep the socks. Bye!”

Raindrops was not a fast flyer, but she was a powerful one, and when she burst into the air and flew off it kicked up enough wind from those wide, beautiful, strong wings that Trixie was forced to cover her eyes with a hoof. By the time she blinked away dust she saw Raindrops had already put a painful amount of distance between them... and unmistakably in the air was the scent Trixie hadn’t noticed until then; a muggy, sweet spicy smell.

It took Trixie a good solid minute to fully register what had just happened, leaving her standing in her front lawn with a wide eyes, bewildered look.

Raindrops. In heat.

“...merde...”

“Okay, what got lit on fire this time?” asked Pokey as he trotted back from his errant to the post office, his look somewhere between amused and cautious, favoring the second as he got a closer look at her and his voice dropped to a more serious note, “Boss?”

Trixie blinked a few times, scattered mind remembering that the stallion in front of her was her assistant and he was asking her questions, but her mind was currently full of Raindrops and what to do about the current... predicament. She had to command her mind back into proper order, despite the way those thoughts wanted to go galloping down a dozen different thought processes at once. Was Raindrops going to avoid her for the entire time she was in heat? Did Raindrops want to be left left alone or be chased? If Trixie did do anything what would help? Could she help? Did help entail... things Trixie didn’t want to think about, but had to, because her marefriend was thinking about them? Perhaps she could get her hooves on some of that alchemic potion that negated those kinds of urges? Would Raindrops take it? Did she want to not be in heat? Should Trixie try talking about it or avoid talking about it? What about their friends?

“Boss?” Pokey asked again and Trixie frantically put pins in her running thoughts, even as they clamored for attention.

“Sorry. Thinking. Everything go well at the post office?”

Pokey had the art of the slightly raised eyebrow down pat and demonstrated his mastery of it, looking her in the eye, “Swimmingly. Nary a disaster in sight, the mail sent off to its proper purpose. So, you going to actually tell me why you look like you've just been punched between the eyes or is this a story I’m going to only hear long after the fact?”

Trixie cocked her head, but the concern undercutting his sarcasm softened Pokey’s words put her at ease. Well, somewhat more at ease. Her head was still a swirl, but a few ideas were aligning enough that she wasn’t paralyzed with thought process. Friends. She needed to get her friends together. Sort this out. Ask advice. Might as well start with Pokey.

When she was done telling him of Raindrop’s sudden visit and revelation of the pegasus’... condition, Pokey had grown a thoughtful look. Good, Trixie could use thoughtful.

“Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later,” Pokey said, sucking air in through his teeth and letting it out in a long, slow breath, “How do you feel about it?”

“I... have no idea what to feel about it,” Trixie answered honestly, then frowned, “Wait, not true. I do feel one thing, pretty solid. I want to help Raindrops. Somehow. I don’t want this to be like... like my last heat.”

“What, with you locking yourself in your house alone for a week?” asked Pokey.

“Yes. That. That isn’t going to work here. Whatever else might work I don’t know, but I know isolation isn’t it,” Trixie said firmly, her brain gradually working out plans. If nothing else she wasn’t planning on letting Raindrops deal with this situation alone. She fixed Pokey with a look that was probably just a step or two behind pleading.

“Do you mind doing me the favor of asking the girls to come over?”

Pokey nodded firmly, “Can do. Where will you be?”

“Finding my marefriend,” Trixie said.

“Sure that’s a good idea? Didn’t she just jet away from you at high speed?”

It was Trixie’s turn for a long breath, steadying, “I’m not going to drag her back here or anything. If she needs space I’ll give it, but I need to talk to her about this first. Pin her down... ugh, not that way!” she said at Pokey’s higher eyebrow raise, “I mean make sure I know where she’s at and that she knows I want to work this out. That’s all. Then I come back here and bounce ideas off of my friends until I do figure something out.”

“I’m shocked, that’s a sensible plan,” Pokey said, then ducked a ball of dirt that had been flung his way via Trixie’s telekinesis, “Hey, watch the mane! I work hard to make it look this good.”

Trixie brushed past him, following the trail she’d last seen her jasmine pegasus flying. It didn’t take her long to notice the path led to a spot that was extremely familiar to her. To her and Raindrops both. Whitetail Wood.

Author's Note

This idea has been cooking in my head ever since I read In the Heat of the Moment. I don't claim to have anywhere near RDD's talent for mixing romance and comedy, but I'm going to give it a go and hopefully entertain some folks along the way.