2.5 - School Hard 2 - School Harder

“Raid?” Wildfire had lunged for her phone and by the second ring she’d got it on loud speaker on the coffee table in front of her favourite purple seating pad. “Are you alright?” She asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice. It was currently six in the evening, and she hadn’t heard anything from her marefriend since noon that day when she’d been carted off by the police.

“Wily, I’m fine, don’t you worry about me.” Just hearing Air Raid’s voice on the other end of the line had a calming effect on the yellow mare. “How was the rest of school?”

“Fine, I spent it in detention in the library.”

Air Raid giggled down the phone, “And I thought it was supposed to be a punishment,” She laughed, picturing her Wily sticking her tongue out at the phone. “Bet you were really cut up to spend the afternoon among all those dusty boring old books.”

“Hey!” Wildfire pouted, sticking her tongue out at her phone. “Books are not boring, petrol head! Um…how long, y’know…will they um…be keeping you?” Wildfire then bit her lip, unable to keep the quaver from her voice as she asked the question she didn’t want to. ‘Please don’t be long, please don’t be long…’ she thought as she awaited her reply.

“Oh, not long. Just overnight at the station…” The lime green mare could practically feel Wildfire’s sigh of relief down the phone. “I’ve got a hearing at eleven tomorrow morning…no, it’s not necessary for you to come, it’s just a formality.”

“I…I…” Wildfire trailed off as tears began to stream down her face, matting her yellow fur and leaving tracks as they splashed onto the coffee table. “I thought…I wouldn’t ever…see you again!”

“Wily…hey, baby look its fine, really. They’ve charged me with Equestrian Trespass, Wilful Destruction of Government Property and Endangerment to Minors. The solicitor says it’ll be a fifteen thousand bit fine and maybe some community service at the most.”

“You…you’re not being locked away?” Wildfire asked, utterly failing to keep the relief from her voice.

“Nah sweetflanks.” Air Raid taunted her playfully; “I’ll be home tomorrow night, so enjoy the bed to yourself while you have the chance.”

“A whole night of not hearing you snore?” Wildfire sniggered, picturing the look on Raid’s face. “Can’t you get arrested more often?”

“Hey! I’ll get you for that!” Air Raid chuckled as the police pony tapped her shoulder and mouthed ‘five minutes’. “Hey…Wily…” Her voice got all serious, “Why didn’t you tell them about your useless dad beating you up?”

“Because…” Wildfire didn’t have to think before she started to answer. “Because he’s still my dad, and I love him. Just like you love your mum even after she neglects you. Thanks for letting me stay here babes.”

“Hey, you’re my pretty little mare, I can’t be seen with you on the street with a bruise over your cute face can I?”

“Thanks Raid.”

“I mean it, I need you just perfect, that way when we go out you make me look better!” Air Raid nodded to the police pony, “Look I have to go Wily, I’m out of time. I’ll see you at home, so don’t worry…”

“Okay Raid, I…” Wildfire started before the line went dead, “…love you…” Wildfire clicked her phone off, ignoring the several unanswered texts and calls from her dad. Instead she trotted over to the sofa and snuggled up to her Princess Octavia plushie that her marefriend had won her at the fun fair last week. She knew she was only going to be alone for the night, but that was still one night too many.

~ ~ ~

Friday afternoon.

Four twenty five pm.

Cyclone looked at the clock on the wall of the art class for what felt like the millionth time in the last ten minutes. To be perfectly fair it probably was. If the black pegasus was honest she’d admit she wasn’t the slightest bit interested in Water Colour’s class. She’d tried for the last half hour to paint this still life set up in the middle of the room. How in the world was she supposed to concentrate on bananas, a wine bottle and a bunch of flowers when she was so close to spending her first weekend as a foal?

Four twenty seven pm.

She stomped a hoof in frustration. ‘Three more minutes…’ She thought as she looked around the class, Dusk and Brightstar were applying the finishing touches to what was undoubtedly a masterpiece whereas she’d barely put paint to paper.

Four twenty nine pm.

Cyclone was so eager to leave she’d got her saddlebags on already, her stuff long packed away.  When the Vice Principal finally dismissed the class at four thirty dead Cyclone was the first out of the door, like a greyhound out of a trap. Lost in her fantasies of a whole weekend of nappies, her booted onesie and a bottle of milk she didn’t notice her friends catching her up.

“Cyclone, hey Cy!” Dusk tapped her on her shoulder with his hoof as he caught up with her, making the mare almost jump out of her skin.

“Dusk!” She gave him a good natured shove with her hoof as she scowled at him for interrupting her little daydream, and for making her squeak like a filly, “You annoying pegasus, what do you want?”

“Alright, Crankypants, don’t get your nappy in a bunch,” he giggled as Cyclone’s scowl became an outraged pout, “Just wondered what you were doing for the weekend Cy, that’s all.”

“Yeah Cy,” Brightstar grinned as he sidled up to her other side as they approached the main doors, the blue unicorn held them open for his friends, “Got anything fun planned?”

Cyclone blushed a little as she thought about her foal supplies at home; “Well, as it happens,” she said as she trotted through the doors to the freedom of the afternoon sun, “I do have plans.”

“Like what?” Brightstar asked as he held the door for Dusk, who nodded his thanks.

“If you must know,” She said as her two friends caught her up outside, “I’m spending the weekend as a foal. Got me some nappies, a really cute onesie with booties and some toys.”

“Damn Cy…” Brightstar shifted uncomfortably on his hooves, his mind wandering back to the fun fair when he’d sat opposite his black furred friend in the tea cup; “I so wish I could come watch…” The voyeur absent mindedly licked his lips at the thought.

“Well, what’s stopping you?” Cyclone asked with a wink, the tea cup ride in her mind too, “I can leave the door unlocked if you fancy a sneaky peek.”

“I would, but me and Darkie are in Las Pegasus next week, we leave on the overnight express in about four hours.” Brightstar seemed genuinely upset as he explained, “You know how she’s the best dancer in her class right,” Dusk and Cyclone both nodded, “Well Professor Quick Step’s arranged for her to have an audition to join the Sapphire Shores Performing Arts Academy in Las Pegasus, and as our parents are off in Prance for their anniversary I’m her chaperone.”

“Oh yeah!” Dusk facehooved. What with the plans he’d made for his own weekend he’d quite forgotten about his friend. “Let us know how that goes, and tell Darkie we’ll keep our hooves crossed for her.”

“Will do D,” Brightstar sniggered at his friend’s reaction. “What about you, what you got on?”

“Oh, um…well,” Dusk stammered, “Vocal’s coming over for the weekend, we um…he er…wants to play puppy in the Royal Gardens, and well I…” He trailed off, not finishing his sentence.

“And you what?” Cyclone asked with a smile, “You don’t know what to do without a questionnaire to help you?”

Dusk blushed a very deep crimson, and shook his head as he deeply wished his mom hadn’t told all his friends about that.

“What you do, you adorkable little Prince, is get that collar on your pup, walk him proudly through the castle into the gardens and throw him a stick or a ball as hard as you can and have some fun!” Cyclone nudged Dusk’s shoulder with a grin, “It’s easy really D.”

“But what if somepony sees us?”

“What if they do? You aren’t murdering anypony!” Cyclone exclaimed, “We all have kinks Dusk! Vocal Chord’s chosen to share his with you. He obviously wants you to be a part of it, so embrace it and have fun. And come on, he went and got you a collar the colour of your fur. You know what that means.”

Dusk nodded, “You’re right Cy, thanks hun.”

“Anytime,” She smiled and gave him a wink, “Oh hey, Brighty, if you’d like I’ll send you a few selfies over the weekend?”

Brightstar merely forced his hindlegs together, squeezing his sheath and breathing through his nose, “I’d like that very much, thanks Cy.”  The stallion managed to squeak out as the three friends bumped hooves and went their separate ways.

~ ~ ~

By the time Cyclone had reached her apartment building in the upper east Residential District she was practically dancing on her hooves with excitement. Each step up the stairs to her third floor apartment bought a fresh swarm of butterflies to her belly.

Dusk would’ve said she was nervoucited.

She’d been preparing for this weekend since the night of the fun fair. Her friends had dared her to wear the nappy in public, and, having almost no inhibitions, she had been happy to do so.

That was just a silly dare. Getting Brightstar going because of it had been a bonus. Then she had done something she didn’t think she would. She had peed in it. She had to admit, that had felt good. Really good.

Really, really good.

These past two weeks the black mare had got everything ready for this weekend. A visit to the boutique in the Market District had gotten her measured up for a booted candy pink onesie decorated with little tornadoes. Cyclone had been giddy with excitement when she’d collected it, by a long way it was the best three thousand bits she’d ever spent.

Next a quick search of the internet had left her with a steady supply of adult sized nappies, again also pink, for a reasonable price. Her latest batch had come yesterday, just in time for this weekend. She’d been halfway out of her door to go to university when the mail mare had stopped her in the hall. Taking the delivery from her she’d bolted back inside and ripped the packaging off with her teeth. Breathing in the fresh nappy smell Cyclone hadn’t been able to resist slipping one into her saddlebag and carrying it around with her all day.

This last week Cyclone had become very good friends with the checkout mare at the Mothercare store in the mall. Almost every day after finishing university she had gone and bought supplies. For her new niece, of course. Her store cupboard was now fully stocked with foal wipes, talcum powder and skin oil. Next to that was a few tubs of powdered foal milk, and the several large bottles.

In her kitchen was her steriliser, her fridge held a few pre-made bottles, all ready for her to use. Her favourite purchases so far had been a large collapsible play pen, a bag of blocks with letters and numbers, and her set of Princess plushies.

Reaching her door Cyclone was so giddy with excitement it took her several attempts with her key to open it and let herself in. Shrugging off her saddlebag she left her textbooks where they fell in her hall and flew straight to her bathroom. She’d planned this for days, and now she was finally acting it out it was all she could do not to prance on all hooves.

‘Don’t rush it Cy,’ She thought with a smile, ‘You’ve waited two weeks, get a bath, get clean, then you can play…’ The pegasus struggled to contain herself as she ran the hot water and got her favourite bubble bath.

A quick trot to her kitchen and Cyclone had three bottles in her play pen warming up to room temperature while she had her bath. Returning to the bathroom she placed a clean fresh nappy on the closed lid of her toilet and hung her pink onesie on the door.

Smiling to herself in anticipation of the weekend ahead of her Cyclone slid into the hot steamy bubbles she felt the stress of the week seep out of her open pores like air released from a balloon. She hissed with pleasure as she settled herself in the bath, and started to hoof the bubbly water over herself. Cyclone took a deep breath and submerged herself for a few moments before re-emerging, her long turquoise mane slick to her neck and forehead.

The black mare laid back and closed her blue eyes, breathing in the hot steam. As she breathed deep, the stresses of the week evaporated with each exhalation. Dusk and Blitzwing’s silly feud, her History scores, the three late days she had…everything just seemed to float away on the tendrils of steam.

When she deemed herself properly relaxed she drained and climbed out of her bath, reaching a hoof for her towel, drying herself off before tying her mane in a ponytail, just like her mum used to when she was a little filly.

She placed the nappy on the floor, and positioning her rump over the middle she sat herself down, reaching a hoof for the talcum powder and sprinkling it on and around her marehood and upper thighs. Having made sure she was sufficiently powdered up Cyclone pulled up both sides of her nappy and after a few moments secured them around her waist.

Cyclone looked herself over, admiring her nappied rump, her turquoise tail sticking through the hole. Giggling, she bounced on the bathroom floor, relishing the soft crinkly padding of her nappy.

Smiling she reached up and pulled her pink onesie off of its hook, holding it open to slide the hooves of her hindlegs down to the bootied ends. She felt behind her for the holes for her forelegs and inserted them both together until her forehooves came through the elasticated ends, shrugging the onesie around her shoulders and feeling for the zipper.

Once she’d zipped up the onesie Cyclone stood and took a few seconds to look herself over. The black pegasus couldn’t help the feeling of sheer joy she felt as she took in her thick padded rump bulging out the pink garment. It was as if there was a pony in her head jumping up and down with pure happiness.

As she left her bathroom Cyclone pranced back to her living room, all the nervous butterflies in her belly erupting to sheer bliss as she turned on her telly, selecting her favourite cable cartoon channel.

Fluttering her wings Cyclone hovered herself into her playpen and cuddled her Mistress Marevelous plushie as she reached for her full bottle. She took the nipple of the bottle in her mouth and started to suckle, drinking the formula milk, gurgling happily as she watched the Power Ponies once again beat the Mane-iac’s evil scheme.

Cyclone finished her bottle as the cartoon finished, she cheered like the little filly she was as the day was saved once again by the heroic Power Ponies. The black mare swapped her empty bottle for her pink pacifier, suckling the nipple as she reached for her Radiance plushie.

Cyclone’s blue eyes started to droop with fatigue as the next episode started, her head nodding forward as she started to fall asleep. The babied pegasus flopped to her side, her head hitting her little pillow. She suckled the pacifier and snuggled up to her two favourite plushies as she continued her drift towards sleep, ignoring the slight pressure of her full bladder. Even if she wanted to get up to use her toilet, which she didn’t, she was now so wonderfully comfortable and content that the thought of moving was laughable.

A few moments later her eyes closed for the last time that evening, and soon little snores could be heard around the pacifier.

~ ~ ~

"Who's a cute little foal?" Air Raid smiled as she leant over the side of the playpen and stroked her friends turquoise mane away from her closed eyes, earning her a cute little whimper as the morning sunlight hit Cyclone’s eyelids.

Sufficiently disturbed from her peaceful slumber Cyclone cracked open an eye and noted, in her half asleep state, her friend stood over her. “Oh…hey Raid…” She murmured with a smile as she closed her eye again.

It took her slumbering brain a few seconds to catch up and process that little snippet. ‘That was Air Raid…Raid is here…in your apartment…stroking your mane…she called you a cute foal…’ Cyclone’s blue eyes shot open in shock and she sat bolt upright in her playpen, a faint blush thankfully hidden by her black fur. “H-hey, Raid…”

“Morning Cy!” Air Raid smiled as she took her seat on the sofa next to the playpen and took a sip of the coffee she’d made. “Take it you had fun last night?”

“Um…yeah, yeah I did…” Cyclone rubbed her hooves across her eyes and yawned herself fully awake, as a question popped into her head; “Don’t think I’m getting at you, but what the hay are you doing in my apartment?”

“Oh, right, sorry.” Air Raid smiled sheepishly, holding up a DVD case for her friend to see. “Wily wanted me to return this to you.” She explained, putting the copy of ‘Power Ponies the Movie 2, Return of the Mane-iac’ back on the coffee table.

“I see,” Cyclone grumbled as she reached for a full bottle in the corner of her playpen, “And you couldn’t wait till later?” She raised an eyebrow at her friend’s questioning look, “What? I’m hungry…ugh…” Cyclone winced as an unpleasant smell reached her nostrils, and to her dismay she found out it was her.

“Well, we would’ve come later, but Wily’s gonna be ‘tied up’ all day,” Air Raid giggled, as she raised an eyebrow at her friend’s breakfast choice, “And I used the key you gave me to let myself in. Y’know Cy,” The lime green mare smiled a genuine smile, “You do make a pretty cute foal.”

Cyclone put her bottle down and shifted uncomfortably in her waste, her soiled nappy bulging as she moved her rump. “Uh huh…well right now I’m a stinky foal.”

“So I smell…” Air Raid grinned, covering her nose with a hoof. “You finally got your head around using them then?”

“I was comfy.” Cyclone pouted as she stood on her hooves, her full nappy sagging in her onesie. “Didn’t want to move.”

“Hey Cy…do you um, y’know…want some help with that?” Air Raid asked with a blush on her face, pointing a hoof towards her friend’s smelly rump.

“E – excuse me?” Cyclone paused, her forehooves up on the top of the playpen.

“Well, you need changing, right? Her friend nodded, so Air Raid continued; “And foals can’t change themselves, right?”

“Right…so?”

“So…do you want Nana Raid to get you out of that stinky nappy and feed you that bottle?”

Cyclone found herself considering it. She certainly wasn’t embarrassed doing what she was doing, nor did it worry her she’d been caught, Raid did have a key after all, and they were friends. Good friends. Very good friends. And if she was honest with herself, having a caretaker look after her would take her fantasy to another level.

“Nana!” Cyclone held her hooves up to Air Raid, her mind made up.

Air Raid smiled, and hooked her hooves under her friend’s forelegs, and with a little surreptitious help from Cyclone’s wings, she gently lifted her out of the playpen and laid her on the changing mat.

A quick glance around the living room later and Air Raid had a clean nappy, talcum powder, foal wipes, a refuse bag and the pacifier ready at hoof. Pulling down the zipper of the onesie she freed her friend’s hind legs and lifted them up, raising her rump so she could unfasten the nappy.

“Air Raid…why?” Cyclone asked, breaking her character for a moment.

The lime green pegasus considered her answer very briefly; “Why not?” She asked in turn. “Remember Wily’s birthday? When she was called to the fire who played Mistress and had me crawling on the floor to suck your hooves? You did. You didn’t judge or criticise, you made sure we had fun.” Air Raid explained as she picked up the pacifier and placed it in her friend’s mouth, “So, if this is what gets you off, or what you like doing, the least I can do is help, right?”

Cyclone was almost moved to tears as Air Raid stopped speaking and held her breath while she opened up the nappy and got a hoof full of foal wipes and started to clean her waste from her fur. ‘This was more than I’d hoped for!’ She thought as she suckled on the pacifier, allowing her friend, no her Nana to change her.

"All done!" Air Raid gave her a warm smile as she bundled up the dirty nappy in the refuse sack and put Cyclone’s hind legs, complete with clean nappy, back in her onesie and zipped it back up. “Still hungry?” She asked, placing her foal on the sofa.

“Hungry Nana!” Air Raid’s heart melted as Cyclone gave her an adorable little pout and pointed to her bottle in the playpen. A thought came to her as she leant over to pick up the bottle, and she scooped up the two Power Pony plushies she’d seen her friend sleeping with. Sitting back on the sofa Air Raid gently pulled her foal across her lap so her head was resting at the elbow of her left foreleg.

“Want these?” Air Raid smiled, waving the two plushies a few inches away from Cyclone’s hooves.

“Want!” Cyclone strained to reach the plushies, “Mistress! Radiance! Me want, Nana!”

“Here you go then Cy, here’s your Power Ponies,” Air Raid giggled as she watched Cyclone snatch them both in a tight cuddle. “You know,” she said with a mischievous grin as she guided the nipple of the bottle into her foal’s mouth, “Masked Matter-Horn’s best…”

“Nu huh!” Cyclone exclaimed with adorable indignation, “Radiance!” Further comment was halted at that point as Air Raid re-inserted the bottle of milk, and Cyclone’s attention was fully diverted to drinking, happy and safe in her Nana’s legs.

~ ~ ~

Canterlot. Capital city of Equestria. Considered by most ponies to be the crown jewel of the land. If that was the case then those same ponies would’ve considered the royal castle, with all the luxury that came with it, to be the shining jewel of all. These were the ponies that ate up the daily news of political intrigue and court gossip as if they were actual sustenance.

Dusk Melody didn’t care for any of that. His favourite part of the castle had always been the grounds, specifically the royal gardens. As a colt he’d loved playing there with his parents, discovering the many statues, or exploring the menagerie.

It contained a wide variety of plants and animals that were carefully transplanted from their native lands all across Equestria. Phoenixes and Roks called this large expanse of greenery their home, chirping in the bushes and tall trees. The air contained fragrances from rare, colourful flowers. The tranquil atmosphere was free of any offending torrents of wind thanks to the high walls of ivy and hedge bordering the outer edge of the grounds.

During a special social event, such as the Grand Galloping Gala, the place would be overflowing with ponies, every one of them enjoying the scenery of the gardens as they spilled from the luxurious ball rooms. However, on quieter weekend where nothing was planned, the gardens were a much quieter place.

Dusk much preferred these quieter occasions. Occasions like this Friday evening, when he and his coltfriend Vocal Chord entered the gardens from one of the many side entrances from the castle itself.

Vocal had his head held high as he allowed Dusk to lead him around the large crystal blue waters of the lake. Dusk had his leash wrapped around his foreleg, every so often giving his pup a gentle tug to keep up the pace.

There were few ponies in gardens this time of the day, which Dusk was grateful for. While Vocal was perfectly happy being his puppy, if he was honest Dusk was having a harder time adjusting, despite Cyclone’s advice. Still, to those ponies who passed them by he gave a friendly nod, a courteous "hello", and walked past without another thought.

Eventually the two stallions found a nice patch of green grass to sit down on with a strong tree to tie Vocal up if the situation presented itself. The shade of the large oak tree kept the two cool from the heat of the evening sun.

"Look what I have for you, pup," Dusk smiled as he fished something out of his saddle bags. He pulled out a tennis ball and hovered it in front of Vocal's face for a few moments. He tossed the ball up in the air a couple times, getting Vocal’s attention.

Vocal crouched and wagged his dark blue tail excitedly as Dusk waved the ball in front of his muzzle, his pale green eyes focused on the ball. Without warning the pegasus threw it across the field, and with an excited yelp the little pup turned and galloped after it.

“Good pup!” Dusk reached down and scratched behind Vocal’s ear as the light grey unicorn dropped the ball at his caretaker’s hooves and danced around, whining for Dusk to throw it again.

“Woof!” Vocal Chord barked happily and ran after the ball as Dusk threw it a second time, a little further than before. Dusk couldn’t help but giggle as he watched his pup reach the ball, pick it up in his mouth and trot back with it, waiting expectantly for his ear to be scratched.

“Get it boy!” Dusk yelled as he waved the ball to the right before quickly throwing it left. He laughed as his pup went the wrong way before turning and galloping off after his prize. Vocal was so focused on chasing the ball he didn’t realise it was sailing through the air towards the lake. Dusk realised it a split second too late as his pup leapt through the air, neatly catching the ball in his mouth as the unicorn landed fifteen feet into the clear water.

Dusk couldn’t help a giggle as Vocal pulled himself from the cold lake water, looking somewhat like a drowned rat with his light grey fur clinging to his lithe body. Unfortunately he chose that moment to do what any pup would do, and shook himself violently to rid himself of the excess water. That in itself would’ve been cute. What was unfortunate was the water happened to spray over a noble looking stallion who was walking the edge of the lake.

“Wh – what in the world is the meaning of this attack?” The stallion spluttered, his monocle hanging from its chain as Vocal continued to wet his expensive looking suit. “Cease at once I say!”

Vocal then compounded the issue by jumping up at him, leaving two muddy hoofprints on the double breasted blazer.

“How dare you assault a pony of noble bearing in such a manner?” The stallion stomped an angry hoof at the unicorn, who shrank to the grass, his tail between his legs at being shouted at. “I shall summon a guard!”

Dusk facehooved and ran over, neatly inserting himself between the outraged pony and his cowering coltfriend; “I assure you Sir that won’t be necessary!”

“Prince Dusk?” The stallion took a step backwards as he eyed the Prince. “What is the meaning of this your Highness?”

“Sir my coltfriend meant you no harm, he was just, um…well he was just, being a puppy…” Dusk’s voice trailed off as a fierce blush of embarrassment coloured his cheeks.

“A puppy!?” The noble exclaimed indignantly, “What foolish nonsense is this your Highness? I have been insulted and my suit ruined by this…this ruffian! I demand you summon a guard immediately!”

“Or, or,” Dusk thought quickly, “You can take your suit to the castle housekeeping staff and I’ll make sure they dry clean your suit as fast as they can, how’s that?”

The noble stallion looked down his muzzle at the Prince, a sneer on his face. “That takes care of the suit, now what about the insult?”

“Very well,” Princess Luna chose that moment to calmly trot from behind the nearby marble statue of a rearing pegasus, “You’re a pathetic excuse for a noblepony whose head is so far up your plot your breath smells of manure.” Luna stopped a few feet from the stunned stallion, the merest ghost of a smile on her muzzle.

“P – P – Princess L – Luna!” The stallion stammered fearfully, immediately dropping to a low bow, getting more mud on the legs of his suit from the lake’s edge.

“Rise.” Luna surveyed him coldly as he stood up, not amused in the slightest. “I believe my son has made you a very generous offer to have your suit cleaned, correct?”

“Y – Yes, P – Princess!” The noblepony squeaked, all his bravado evaporated in the face of the alicorn.

“Then I suggest you thank him and take advantage of his kind offer before I send you on your way.”

"Y – Yes Princess,” The stallion turned to Dusk, “Prince Dusk, th – thank you, your Highness.”

Luna chuckled as the noblepony turned and galloped away towards the castle. Once he was out of sight the Lunar Princess turned to Vocal, who had spent the last few minutes whining as he cowed on the grass. “Hey…” Dusk watched as his mom lifted a shoed hoof and delicately scratched his coltfriend’s ear, his tail immediately starting to wag happily. “You’re just a precious little pup, aren’t you?”

“Thanks mom…”

“My pleasure Dusk.” Luna used her magic to stroke Vocal’s back and flanks as she moved her hoof to pet his mane, eliciting a series of happy little whimpers from the unicorn. “You have an adorable little pet here Dusk, don’t you ever be embarrassed of him, alright?” She shook her head at her son, who rolled his eyes in response.

“Yes mom…” Dusk joined his mother in petting Vocal, scratching his ear with his hoof. “What’re you doing out here?”

“Oh…” Luna smiled as she continued to stroke Vocal’s back, “Octavia’s busy with her duties so I thought I’d visit Sky Dive before I have to raise the moon.” She nodded over to the statue of the rearing pegasus as she flashed Dusk a mischievous smile, “If that’s alright with you, of course.”

“Well, yeah of course it’s alright…”

Luna sniggered, “Are you sure?” The alicorn’s sides shook as she tried really hard to hold in her giggles as she continued; “I can get you a questionnaire if you aren’t sure…” Luna’s giggles turned to outright peals of laughter as Dusk pouted at her.

“Go away mother,” Dusk rolled his eyes and gave a huge pout as he reached for the tennis ball. “I’m sure Sky will love a visit from a royal hyena.”

Princess Luna carried on laughing fit to burst as she trotted over to the statue and laid a hoof upon it, leaving Dusk to play with his pet.

As their playtime continued into the late evening Vocal panted happily in anticipation as Dusk teased him with the ball. His dark blue tail wagged as his eyes focused solely on the ball and not much else. Quite skilfully he even managed to leap up and catch the ball in his mouth without it touching the ground.

By the end of a few hours playing fetch, Vocal was out of breath, his hooves aching as he carried the slobber covered ball back to his caretaker. After depositing the ball close to Dusk, he plopped down next to him, still catching his breath.

Dusk reached a hoof over to his coltfriend and scratched his pup’s ear playfully, eliciting a cute little whine of happiness from the collared unicorn. Secretly Dusk was glad Vocal was so into this. It helped calm his own nerves.

Dusk lowered his hoof and rubbed Vocal's soft tummy fur as he rolled over, his head in Dusk’s lap. "Such a good boy! Yes you are! Yes you are!" He smiled at his unicorn, ashamed with himself that he’d ever been embarrassed to share this with his partner. Like Cyclone had said, they weren’t hurting anypony else. After a few more rubs, Dusk gave Vocal's warm belly a couple pats and pulled his hoof away.

They lazed away the next few hours under the shady tree and watched as the sun was lowered and the moon raised. Vocal rested his head on Dusk's lap as Dusk read a few pages of the book he brought with him by the light of the newly risen moon and the fireflies that darted about.

Dusk couldn’t help but laugh as he watched his pup chase the little flying insects, he never caught any, but the pegasus supposed that wasn’t the point of the game. He clapped his hooves and cheered as Vocal narrowly missed a leap through a group of fireflies, the insects narrowly darting aside in time to avoid the prancing unicorn.

Dusk closed his book as a raindrop splashed on the page. Standing to his hooves the pegasus called his pup back to him and clipped his leash onto the dark blue collar; “It's time to head back in," Dusk silenced Vocal’s whine of protest with a sharp tug of the leash and started to lead him back to the castle and his suite. “There’s always tomorrow pup, we have all weekend.”

As he started to trot at Dusk’s side, Vocal noticed how messy he had gotten from their late afternoon and evening in the gardens. Grass clippings clung to his grey coat as the fur around his hooves were tinted brown from the muddy ground. Small twigs and leaves had found themselves twisted in his dark blue tail.

Dusk gave Vocal a surreptitious look as he lead him back to the castle. He noted the amount of dirt that covered his pup's fur. "I think a cute little pup’s gonna need a bath," Dusk smiled at his pet as he gently tugged the leash.

Vocal merely gave him a lacklustre wag of his tail as he wearily trotted beside the pegasus. He loved his baths, but between playing fetch and chasing fireflies the unicorn was ready for his little bed. His ears pricked up, he had been a good pup, so maybe Dusk would allow him on the bed?

By Dusk’s lead, Vocal was guided back down the now familiar halls and into their suite where they made a beeline to the bathroom. Water was run and the tub's drain was plugged.

As the bath was prepared, Vocal sat on the cool tiled floor obediently, not moving an inch unless his master said so. Meanwhile, Dusk pulled some dry towels, pet shampoo, and a couple washcloths for scrubbing from the nearby closet. He stacked each item on the counter for easy access.

Once the water was turned off and the warm bath drawn, Vocal sat in the tub patiently, allowing his master to scrub him clean. He would occasionally move a hoof up to be cleaned, but for most of the bath he behaved himself and remained still.

Dusk reached behind Vocal’s neck and unbuckled the collar, laying it on the floor beside the bath, signifying he wanted to talk, and for Vocal Chord to answer, not the puppy. "Did you have a lot of fun playing fetch today?" Dusk asked, washing some shampoo off with a splash of water.

Vocal blinked a few times, coming back to himself, then nodded eagerly, "Yeah! You’re a natural throwing that ball. Hey, um…thanks for the bath Dusky."

“Well, can’t have you on my bed all covered in most of the gardens, can we?” Dusk replied, scrubbing some mud clumps out of Vocal's fetlocks.

"Really?" Vocal’s eyes twinkled as Dusk finished his bath, “I get to sleep with you?” He asked, stifling a yawn.

“I think so. You’ve been a really, really good pup Vocal” as he climbed out of the bath Dusk pulled him into a long slow kiss before reaching for the collar and slipping it back around the unicorn’s neck. Vocal was quickly pulled out and wrapped up in fluffy towels. Dusk took his time drying his puppy nice and thoroughly, making sure everywhere was rubbed, resulting in fluffing up Vocal's dark blue mane.

Once he was nice and dry, the two stallions trotted through the suite to the bedroom, where Dusk climbed onto the huge bed. Easily large enough to accommodate several ponies Dusk immediately found the middle and starfished his legs and wings out, relishing the soft warm comforter. Obediently Vocal sat beside the bed, awaiting Dusk’s invite to join him. Jumping up too soon was a sure fire way to earn his doggie bed back for the night, and that was the last thing he wanted, when he was so close to finally sharing his coltfriend’s bed.

After a few moments Vocal put his left forehoof up to the bed and let out a frustrated little whine.

Sitting up on the bed Dusk offered his pup an apologetic smile; “Oh…sorry pup,” He giggled, patting the bed with his hoof, “Up you come boy!”

Vocal let out a happy bark as he leapt up onto the bed, giving his Dusk a playful nuzzle before curling up next to him, head on his hooves as Dusk in turn snuggled up to him, laying a strong midnight blue wing over his stallion as they both drifted off to sleep.

~ ~ ~

Wildfire took a deep breath to steady her nerves as she stood in front of the class room door. She sighed as she rested a hoof on the door handle. So far her second day of school had gone quite well, although the classes hadn’t started yet.

She hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Blitzwing or Boudicca as she entered the main university building. This was a promising sign. Wildfire was certain they’d be waiting for her so they could pick up where they’d left off two weeks ago.

Trotting through the halls towards her Monday morning Math class she had smiled as she passed Cyclone and Darkstar having one of their gossip meetings as they leant against the lockers. Darkie was filling the pegasus in on her audition in Las Pegasus, and Cyclone was detailing her second weekend as a foal. Wildfire gave them both a nod as she trotted to Calculus’s class. As she had been there when Raid had looked after Cy she didn’t feel the need to revisit the scene.

At the class room door she checked her watch, it read fifteen minutes to the start of the lesson. Early enough, she hoped, that there wouldn’t be many ponies inside already. Another deep breath and she hoofed open the door she was at once relieved there were only two stallions inside, happy to see Brightstar again, and dismayed that Blitzwing was stood by Calculus’s desk, running a wingtip over the spot where she had pleasured Air Raid.

Blitzwing looked up from the desk with a sly grin as the yellow pegasus trotted through the door. “Professor Calculus has the shiniest desk in the school, but she won't tell us what she uses for a polish. Do you know what it is Wildfire?” He casually remarked as she made her way to her desk beside Brightstar at the back of the room.

Wildfire glanced over at the desk as she took her seat, her heart falling as the door opened and Boudicca entered, giving her a knowing smirk as she took her own desk. She could feel the heat of a deep crimson blush spread over her cheeks, “Um...it's...nothing alright?”

Brightstar gave the dark grey stallion a sour look, disappointed but not surprised that the enmity between them had started straight away. “You never heard of wood polish Blitz?”

Blitzwing left the Professor’s desk and trotted over to his own, his gaze never leaving the yellow mare, “Yes, but I understand this was a very special and hard to 'come' by polish.” He relished Wildfire’s uncomfortable little squirm, it appeared his source was correct, now to press his advantage. “Still it is nice to see you back Wildfire, you have fully recovered from your injuries?”

“Huh?” Wildfire dropped her saddlebag on her desk and spared Blitzwing a thoroughly confused look, “What injuries Blitzwing? What are you droning on about?”

He smiled as he mentally moved his rook to challenge Wildfire’s king. “Maybe I was mistaken. I heard it was splinters in your ass.” ‘Check…’ He thought as Boudicca barked out laughing.

Wildfire tried to ignore him as she got her textbook, notebook and pen out of her bag, but try as she might the taunting image wouldn’t leave her mind. She knew from the innuendos that somepony had told him, but only her friends and the Professors knew…  “Alright Blitz, who the Tartarus told you?”

Blitzwing saw the pieces of his little game move about on his mental chessboard as the door opened and in trotted Cyclone, Darkstar and the one pony he hated above all others, Prince Dusk. Truth be told he had no real issue with Wildfire or any of the others, apart from her being gay, but she kept her abhorrence generally to herself.

No, the goal was to bully and wind up Dusk, the insufferable offspring of that bitch Princess, and the best way to do that was get to his friends.

Darkstar was about to take her seating pad when Blitzwing moved his bishop to position. He looked the white unicorn straight in her yellow eyes, “Darkstar was kind enough to inform me.”

Darkstar froze, halfway between sitting and standing, “I never said buck all to you! Wily I didn't!”

Wildfire couldn’t believe it. She knew somepony, one of her friends, had to have told Blitzwing, but of all ponies she couldn’t believe it was Darkstar. “Darkie! What the Tartarus?”

Darkstar completed her sitting motion on the verge of tears as Wildfire turned her angry outraged face to her “Wily I didn't I swear!”

Blitzwing turned and took his own seating pad with a self-congratulatory smile, ‘check mate…’ he thought as he watched the fallout. Wildfire was so easy to play it almost took the fun out of it. Almost.

Wildfire was stood up, pointing an accusatory hoof from Darkstar to Blitzwing; “You blabbed to him? Why?”

Calculus paused outside her door, the sounds of an argument coming from within. She wasn’t in the slightest bit surprised to hear Wildfire’s voice, the mare’s temper was as hot as the blazes she helped extinguish. What did surprise her was the other voice. Calculus would’ve put her last bit on it being either Blitzwing or Boudicca, and, had she been a gambling pony she’d now be bankrupt. Hoofing open her door she entered as Darkstar of all ponies yelled out an outraged “I said I never!”

“Welcome back Ms. Wildfire, I'm glad to see you arguing with someone other than Mr. Blitzwing.” The earth pony said coolly as she took her pad behind her desk. Casting a glance at the unicorn she asked; “What did she do Ms. Darkstar?”

“Professor Calculus, Ma'am,” Darkstar stood and blinked away the tears at the corners of her eyes, “I've been accused of doing something I haven't done, Ma’am.”

“Yeah says you, traitor!” Wildfire spat from her desk.

Professor Calculus shook her head and raised a hoof to her temple. It was going to be one of ‘those’ lectures, she could tell. “That is quite enough Ms. Wildfire. You can settle your differences outside my class room! Please, sit down.”

Wildfire wanted nothing more than to tell the chocolate mare where should shove her class and continue yelling at her ‘friend’, but as it was her first day back, she really couldn’t afford any more grief, she instead gritted her teeth and forced out a “Y-yes Ma'am,” and retook her pad at her desk.

Blitzwing opened his textbook to the page Calculus indicated, ‘Modular Fractions’, and found he wasn’t really listening as the Professor started her class on the ‘Multiplicative Inverses of Modular Arithmetic’, he was more concerned in patting himself on the back for sowing the seeds of dissention amongst Dusk’s friends. He idly doodled in his notebook, resolving to see how far he could push it.

Dusk leant over from his desk beside Wildfire and quietly asked, “Wily, what's that all about? You know Darkie wouldn't ever...”

Wildfire interrupted her best friend as she tried to keep up with what Calculus was saying, her irritation only building as she was starting to get lost already. “Oh get lost D,” she hissed under her breath, “You heard him, and nopony else knows!”

After Calculus had concluded her class Blitzwing made sure he held back as the other students began to file out into the hall, on their way to their next class or their free period. The dark grey stallion made his move as Wildfire watched her friends leave the room and stood to leave herself.

Sidling up behind her just outside the door he asked in a low voice; “So, how much for that special polish?”

Wildfire rounded on the pegasus, rearing up as she shoved him into the lockers with both forelegs thrust to his chest. “More than you've got!” She yelled in his mocking face as her temper got the better of her, tears starting to stream down her cheeks. “Why don’t you ask Darkstar!"

Darkstar decided she’d had enough, and as her name came out of Wildfire’s mouth she took hold of her shoulder with a white hoof and spun the yellow pegasus to face her. “I told you already I didn't say nothing!”

Faced with the fuming look of her friends face scant inches from her own Wildfire entirely forgot about Blitzwing, who quickly waved off his diamond dog friend and quietly trotted away from the scene he had created as Wildfire raised her voice again at her friend. “Yeah,  well unlike you I can keep my mouth shut!”

Darkstar snarled, her own temper flushing her white cheeks, “One more crack Wily and you can ask somepony else to help you next time!”

Wildfire jabbed a hoof at her friend, “I wish I had, you gobby mare!”

“Hey now…” Brightstar interjected himself between Wildfire and his sister, holding her shoulder while he shot a look of pure venom at the angry pegasus. “We're leaving for Rosetta's class. Don't sit near us.

Dusk had watched the altercation dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe in the space of just over an hour three of his friends had imploded like this. “Guys! C’mon this is stupid, why're you fighting?”

“Ask her!” Darkstar spat over her shoulder, not bothering to hide her tears as she let her brother walk her away to their next class.

Before Dusk could even phrase the question however Wildfire had turned on him, “Don't you even start with me, Dusk, I'm not in the mood!” With that the yellow mare stomped off without a backwards glance, leaving a stunned Dusk sat in the middle of the hall as the other students trotted around him.

~ ~ ~

Blitzwing laid his pen down and chuckled, loud enough for Dusk to hear him at his desk next to him, but not too loud that he interrupted Rosetta’s lecture. “You're a lot like your mother Prince Dusk, surrounded by bad advisors.”

Dusk sighed, and paused in his notes on the Zebran language, and cast Blitzwing a sideways glance. “Well Blitz,” He replied, making a show of looking around, “I don't see them around now, do you? They're a lot like your wealth like that.”

Blitzwing couldn’t help but smile, he must really under Dusk’s fur for him to retort like that, usually his jibes went ignored. Excellent. “Yes, well when the abomination that she is today took control if did cost us everything, then it cost her our loyalty. At least what wealth I have today wasn't stolen off the backs of the ponies like yours.”

Dusk snarled, the fur of his neck rising, not many things annoyed him, but attacks on his friends and family did it. “So, your wealth was stolen then, from whom? You should be grateful mom let your family live, she doesn't like turncoats, sends her all…Nightmary.”

Professor Rosetta’s lecture was all but forgotten at this point, and it was a good thing both stallions were sat at the back of the class. A mare near the front put up her hoof to ask a question as the dark grey stallion jabbed the air between him and Dusk. “Turncoats! You're the turncoat. My family dedicated their lives to Princess Luna. It was the nightmare that changed that. You and your ilk dared to challenge the Sun Goddess and paid the price. A price I intend on you paying still.”

“You're delusional Blitz!” Dusk muttered, ignoring the hoof that was pointed at him as he tried to calm himself, “Keep that up you'll be in Canterlot asylum with the other ** Revisionists.”

Blitzwing was loving this. His plan was working far better than he’d ever suspected. It was all he could do to not clap his hooves at how much he was under Dusk’s fur right now. With any luck Dusk would hit him. The publicity would be priceless. “Yes I've read about the 'asylum's the Nightmare keeps. Places of torture to break the will of anyone that supports Princess Celestia as the true ruler of Equestria.”

Dusk actually laughed out loud, drawing Rosetta’s attention as he apologised for interrupting her lecture he hissed a reply. “You truly are stupid. “Your family lost their money not their brains. Torture was outlawed by Aunt Tia three hundred years ago!”

“Laugh all you want Prince Charming. Princess Celestia did, but the Nightmare doesn't think any rule her sister makes applies to her, and I'm sure you follow in her evil hoofsteps.”

Dusk leant in close so there was no chance that Blitzwing missed what he said next. “Keep on insulting my family and you might find out, pauper.”

Blitzwing chuckled at Dusk’s attempts to get back at him. The dumb Prince just didn’t get it, not at all. “Better poor and free than rich and enslaved. We will break you and your ill-gotten wealth will go to those that deserve if for their loyalty to the true crown.”

Dusk scoffed in the dark grey stallion’s face. “Well good luck with that. Mom's seen off bigger threats than an impoverished family of noponies in her sleep!” Dusk lowered his tone, as threatening as he could manage, “I don't know how you found out about Wily's suspension, but lay off Blitz.”

Blitzwing turned his attention away from the infuriated Prince, content that he’d stoked the fires of dissention. All he had to do now was keep them kindled. “I told everypony how I found out.” He smiled, not bothering to look at Dusk as he answered him. “I don't think I need to say any more about it.”

Dusk stared at him, long and hard as Rosetta began to wind up the class. “Darkstar never said anything to you and you know it.”

Blitzwing straightened his papers, putting them in his folder and raised a hoof to his chin, deep in thought. “Did I say she told me directly? I may have misspoke.” He snickered at the look on Dusk’s face, “Darkstar and Cyclone should be careful where they gossip. Anypony could overhear…”

“You bastard...y'know...Aunt Tia doesn't look too kindly on underhooved ponies like you.”

The stallion sniggered as he packed away his things. “Your 'Aunt' must have a pretty low opinion of you then. I can think of no one more underhooved. Too bad you don't have a real royal’s lineage, like Prince Blueblood.”

“Oh really?” Dusk grinned as he started to put his own things in his saddlebag, “You really think you're in Celestia's good graces? You think she looks upon your family favourably?” Dusk flashed him a nasty dangerous smile, “I might just have to change that.”

Blitzwing paused for a split second as he opened his bag. The thought of losing Celestia’s support sent chills through his being. Recovering quickly he decided to front it out. “Big talk from a small prince. I'm sure that Princess Celestia will not fall for your lies or deceit.”

Dusk caught the momentary pause and pushed a little harder; “Oh no? Sure about that are we? "Tickle us, do we not laugh? Prick us, do we not bleed? Wrong us...do we not revenge? All it'll take is a few little words from me...”

Blitzwing recovered his composure after a little mental kick to himself, and proceeded to roll his eyes at the Prince. “Dusk, I grow wearing of your droning and would have liked to have listened to Professor Rosetta. Are you happy you ruined her lecture?”

Dusk smiled as he finished packing his things away and Blitzwing did the same. “That's what I thought. Leave my friends alone or I’ll make sure Celestia exiles your whole bloodline.”

~ ~ ~

Lunch time rolled around much quicker than everypony was expecting that day. Blitzwing entered the school cafeteria and scanned the tables for his new best friend. He found Darkstar sitting alone a few tables away, Wildfire sat alone at the next table over and Dusk was with Cyclone at the far end of the row of tables.

Smiling to himself at how easily he’d managed to drive a wedge between Dusk’s supporters he trotted to the vending machine and goy himself a foul coffee. Making his way over to Darkstar’s table he briefly reflected that no matter how advanced technology became, vending machine coffee would always be awful. Blitzwing blamed the Zebras.

“May I sit here?” The dark grey stallion slid onto the seating pad as Darkstar looked up and nodded. As long she was able to eat her sandwich she didn’t care where he sat. “Darkstar, I want to thank you for keeping me in the loop. You are a true friend.” Blitzwing raised his coffee in a mock toast to the white mare.

Darkstar swallowed her mouthful of daisy and sunflower sandwich, not really listening to the pegasus opposite her; “Huh?” She asked, wondering what his game was now, “Whaddya mean now Blitz?”

Wildfire spat out her own daisy sandwich. The fact that Blitzwing had said it loud to be heard on purpose didn’t enter her head. Nor did she stop to consider her actions as she got up from her pad and stomped over to her friend. “Tell me I didn't just hear that?” She asked, spinning the unicorn to face her.

If this wasn’t so easy Blitzwing would’ve suggested ‘Wildfire Baiting’ as a sport for the next Equestria Games. “Can you leave us in peace Wildfire? You're not wanted here.” He smirked, taking a sip of his awful coffee.

“Wily, I dunno what...”

“You wanna pal around with him? Fine, ‘Darkstar’.” Wildfire interrupted her friend, spitting her name with as much venom as she could muster.

Blitzwing merely sat back and watched the implosion happen in front of him with a wide smile, mouthing the word ‘shoo’ as he made a shooing motion to Wildfire with his hoof.

Darkstar shot a look to the two pegasi, utterly confused, “Look, Wily…”

“You don't call me WILY!” The yellow mare cut across her friend again, yelling as she shoved her hard with her forehoof, so hard the skin turned red under her white fur. “Shoo me again Blitz, I'll knock you out!”

Blitzwing just sat there and laughed in her face as Cyclone appeared at Wildfire’s side, laying a black hoof on her shoulder, “Cool it Wily, he's playing you!”

“Mind your own Cy!” Wildfire angrily shook her friend’s hoof away from her and turned her attention back to the stallion, who ignored her and addressed the poor unicorn again.

“Of course Darkstar, you and your brother are welcome round anytime.”

“What the Tartarus are you on about?” Darkstar hissed as Blitzwing took another drink of his coffee, relishing his little floor show.

“Oh you're besties now? Thanks!” Wildfire yelled in her friend’s face as she reared up to her hindlegs and shoved both forehooves to the white mares chest, almost knocking her off her pad.

Darkstar recovered herself with an audible ‘oof!’ and leapt to her hooves, her muzzle inches from her friend’s, teeth bared in a rare snarl; “Shove me again Wildfire and you can shove your friendship up your ass!”

“I'll just leave you two fillies to sort it out.” Blitzwing grinned as he got up and moved away.

Wildfire watched him leave, her chest heaving as she breathed heavy, her temper boiling in her veins, “You gonna say sorry then, or what?”

Darkstar was stunned to be asked for an apology now, and her own temper rose, colouring her white fur a faint red; “What for?” She reared up and shoved Wildfire back as hard she could, “I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING YOU DUMB BITCH!” She screamed, finally drawing the attention of every other pony in the cafeteria.

Wildfire stumbled back a few steps, looking at the spot where Darkstar had shoved her. She didn’t care the slightest about the growing crowd of students, her temper finally snapped; “YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID!” Wildfire screamed back as she pulled her left foreleg back and landed a hard punch to her friends’ chest, staggering her backwards and causing her to trip over her seating pad.

“OOW!” Darkstar exclaimed as she hit the floor hard.

“Stop this now!” Wildfire paused, snorting angered breaths through her nose as Professor Claves pushed his way through the crowd of students, the ponies parting and scattering to watch from their tables.

“You're Wildfire, aren't you?” The music teacher asked the yellow pegasus, taking in the scene before him. “Get your flank to Principal Legacy's office.”

Wildfire turned and stomped off without a second glance to her friend, shooting scowling looks to everypony who dared to get in her way. As her black tail disappeared through the doors Professor Claves addressed the mare pulling herself to her hooves; “Who are you?”

“I'm...D - Darkstar, Sir,” She stuttered, dusting herself down.

“To Vice Principal Colour's office if you please.”

Darkstar couldn’t believe this…not only had Wildfire snapped and attacked her for totally no reason, now she was being sent to the Vice Principal’s office. In four years she’d not seen the inside of that room. “But...but Sir,” She whimpered as tears started leaking tracks down her cheeks, “I haven't DONE anything!”

Professor Claves was unconvinced, “Save your tears for somepony else. I saw you shove Ms. Wildfire, and I saw her shove you harder.”

“F - Fine...Sir…” Darkstar slumped her shoulders in defeat and slouched off towards Water Colour’s office, her tail between her legs.

Cyclone watched her leave the cafeteria before retaking her seating pad opposite Dusk, a disbelieving look on her face. “What the buck just happened?”

~ ~ ~

Water Colour looked up from his paperwork as he heard the knock at his door. Of all the students at the university he never thought he’d be seeing this particular pony in his office. “Enter.”

The Vice Principal looked the unicorn over as Darkstar entered, shaking from her ears to her hooves and with tears streaming from her eyes. She looked as stunned to be there as he was to see her. “Ms. Darkstar I wish we were meeting under better circumstances,” He opened with a kind reassuring tone, “Professor Claves informs me you were seen shoving Ms. Wildfire in the cafeteria. I know that Ms. Wildfire has a bit of a temper, so why did you do this?”

Darkstar stumbled over her hooves to the seating pad offered to her and sat down before she fell down; “W - Wily accused me of something I haven't done, Sir. She's been accusing me all day!”

Water Colour smiled, “And what accusation is that?” He asked, hoofing over a box of tissues to the weeping unicorn.

Darkstar took a tissue in her yellow magical grasp and dabbed her eyes, “She...she accused me of telling Blitzwing why Wily was suspended, Sir.”

“Why am I not surprised that Mr. Blitzwing’s name involved.” Water Colour sighed before he continued, “In an earlier session with Ms Wildfire she told me you were one of her dearest friends.”

The unicorn sniffed, and wiped her moistening eyes again with a clean tissue. “I...I thought I was, Sir.”

“Violence will solve nothing, but Ms. Wildfire easily forgets that lesson.” The Vice Principal smiled, motioning for her to stand, “Try to refrain from shoving students. You are dismissed Ms. Darkstar.”

“Yes Sir...thank you Sir,” Darkstar got up to leave, and turned as she paused at the door, “I am sorry, Professor Colour.”

~ ~ ~

Wildfire muttered to herself as she stomped along to the Principals office, occasionally kicking the floor with the toe of her hoof. She was still seething when she approached Last Legacy’s door, outraged that it had been Darkstar of all her friends that had betrayed her. Grinding her teeth she knocked twice on the door, hard.

“Enter.”

Wildfire hoofed open the door with a stronger than necessary kick, and stomped into the Principal’s office, not waiting to be invited to do so before she threw herself on the pad, mashing it to get comfy.

Last Legacy watched this little drama show with a bemused expression. “Good afternoon Ms. Wildfire,” he said after he was sure the pegasus was comfortable. “Welcome to your second day of school, and your second visit with me.”

Wildfire looked all around the office, except at the unicorn sat in front of her. “Good afternoon...Sir.” The resentful mare just remembered her manners in time.

Last Legacy spared her the barest of nods as he read over the report Claves had emailed him from the cafeteria; “The report is that Ms. Darkstar shoved you first. Is that true?”

“Yeah! She...she...” Wildfire started hotly, her temper still bristling…but, she trailed off. No matter how upset she was she knew it wasn’t true. And she might’ve been many things, but a liar wasn’t one of them. “N - No, no it's…not true, Sir.”

“So,” the unicorn asked as he placed the report on his desk, “Did something happen before Professor Claves saw Ms. Darkstar shove you?”

Wildfire looked down at the floor, her voice all sullen. “Yes Sir, it did.”

“Explain please.”

Wildfire considered what had happened that morning up to the lunch break. A horrible sinking feeling settled in her gut as she realised she had been played. “This morning Blitzwing said Darkie told him why I'd been suspended. She denied it, but only she and my friends knew! We've been arguing all morning about it. Then in the cafeteria Blitz was making out like they're the best of buddies, I...I went over and I um...confronted her. I shoved Darkie twice before she shoved me, Sir.”

“After she did shove you did you knock her off her hooves?” Last Legacy asked when Wildfire paused for breath.

Wildfire nodded, sitting up on her haunches, the yellow mare finally saw the trap that Blitzwing had set up, the one she’d blundered blindly into. “Y - Yes Sir, I, I shoved her to the floor, Sir.”

“Well, this is the first incident with Ms. Darkstar so I'm sure that Professor Colour will be lenient on her. Does that bother you?”

Wildfire shifted uncomfortably on the seating pad, she hated that her friend had been punished because of her foolishness. “It...it bothers me she's been sent to the Vice Principal at all, Sir.”

The Principal gave her a long hard look. “Ms. Wildfire, shoving another pony will get you that. I'm happy to see you've made up with Mr. Blitzwing though instead of fighting with him. I do find it odd that Professor Colour would have gotten this report about you wrong though. He is usually quite reliable.”

“I haven't made up with him! I hate the homophobic plothole!” Wildfire stomped her hooves in frustration and anger, quite forgetting where she was at that point. “And as far as Darkie goes, I'm not a liar. I shoved her twice then she shoved me…” The young mare snorted, trying to get her breathing under control as she realised her omission; “Sir,” she added hastily.

Last Legacy regarded the pegasus carefully for a few moments as she regained control of her emotions. “Really, I thought Professor Colour had it wrong when he said you were best friends with Ms. Darkstar and antagonistic with Mr. Blitzwing since you believe Mr. Blitzwing and don't believe Ms. Darkstar, I thought the opposite was true.”

Wildfire looked away from her Principal, ashamed suddenly to meet his gaze. “We are...were, friends. I um…I dunno about now...I really don't…” She trailed off quietly as tears welled, stinging her brown eyes.

“Your penalty will be the same Professor Colour gave you two weeks ago. You will write a letter of apology to Ms. Darkstar and turn it into Professor Quill before the end of class. He will review it. You can refuse this with no penalty though as officially Ms. Darkstar started this incident.” Last Legacy rested his hooves on his desk as he thought for a moment. “I do believe you need to end it though.” He finished with a smile.

Wildfire dried her eyes with a hoof; “What do I do?”

The old unicorn sighed, rubbing his temples with his hooves. He swore he’d never understand the young, other than youth was wasted on it. “I do believe you need to decide who your true friends are Ms. Wildfire. But if you have never made a mistake, then maybe I can see why you can't forgive another. I recommend you write the letter. Professor Quill has told me the letter you wrote to Mr. Blitzwing was very professional.”

“I'm…” Wildfire sniffed back the last few tears as she dried her eyes, “I'm good with writing, Sir, and I have made mistakes, Hot Spot will tell you that, I'm scared I've blown it with Darkie.”

“It saddens me to see a friendship end over a misunderstanding. Still you can only do so much. The rest is up to Ms. Darkstar. Maybe you can still rally some mutual friends to support you. In the end it may be too late, then you need to make an effort to learn this lesson and not repeat it. Princess Twilight says that every pony should get a second chance before you declare them false.”

Wildfire nodded, finally managing a weak smile. “And we have been friends a long time. Thank you, Sir, thank you very much.” The yellow mare slid off her seating pad and began to trot to the office door.

“Ms. Wildfire,” Last Legacy stopped her as she had her hoof on the door handle. “One last piece of advice, no, I take that back. This is more a warning. While I would like conversation to be civil, I know that differing opinions can get heated, but I will not tolerate physical altercations. If you lay a hoof on Mr. Blitzwing for the rest of this semester not only will I suspend you for a month, but I will ensure you are escorted home. Do we understand each other Ms. Wildfire?”

Wildfire’s eyes went wide with fear at the very thought of being escorted home, to her dad especially. “No...no y - you can't escort me home...please Sir no!”

Last Legacy shook his head, there was something going on with his student and her dad. He made a mental note to follow it up at a future time. “Then heed my warning. Mr. Blitzwing is very good at politics and he has played you well. I will not have you taking revenge because of his actions. If anything you need to understand how easy it was for him to manipulate you.”

“I will, yes Sir, I'll mind your warning, just please…don't send me home!” Wildfire’s hoof trembled on the door handle at the very thought.

As the Principal scribbled out the pass for his student, he again made a note to check out her home situation. Whatever the case may be, nopony should be that scared to go home. “That choice is yours to make Ms. Wildfire. Here is your pass to the library, if you choose to write the letter, otherwise report back to your next class.”

Wildfire took the pass in a shaky hoof, “I'll write it Sir, I will.”

The unicorn got up and trotted round his desk to lay a reassuring hoof on his students shoulder. “You are dismissed and try to not pay me an official visit again today.”

“I won't, thank you Professor.”

~ ~ ~

“Wily, want a drink?” A voice whispered in her left ear.

Wildfire turned to answer, and found nopony there, just a glass of moonshine floating in a yellow aura. Smiling she took the glass in her hoof and turned back to the bar in Dusk’s suite. Without looking to her right she extended her wing and pulled the grinning unicorn into a hug. “Darkie…how long are you gonna keep this up?” She smiled, taking a sip of her drink, “I said sorry like, a thousand times already…”

“Oh I know you did, that wasn’t punishing you that was just for fun!” Darkstar grinned, lighting her horn again, and once more her voice sounded at Wildfire’s left ear. “You’re so easy to play you know…”

"Go away Darkie, before you make me regret spending the past week apologising to you.”

"You know you love me really…” Darkstar pulled herself from the feathery hug and sauntered away, swaying her hips as did turned to blow Wildfire a kiss over her shoulder.

“Git…” Wildfire muttered with a rueful smile and took another sip of her drink as she watched her friend flaunt her sexy hips while she trotted over to Dusk and played her trick again.

"Hey Wily!" Air raid yelled suddenly and without warning into her left ear.

“Whaaa!” The new unexpected voice to her left startled her once more, this time making her jump a clear three feet in the air, spilling some of the drink down her front. Hovering back to her pad at the bar she pouted at her marefriend. “Very funny Raid, is it bully Wily night or something?”

Air Raid sniggered, draining the last of her glass. “You’re only sore cos your pranks are rubbish.” Putting her glass back on the bar she leant forward and started to lick and suck the moonshine from Wildfire’s fur, causing the yellow mare to blush profusely as her other friends whooped and whistled.

“Raid…not here, in front of everypony!” Wildfire hissed as she tried to push the lime green mare off of her.

“Oh shush…” Air Raid giggled, licking her mare’s chest fur the wrong way and making it all stand up. “Nopony’s looking, except Brightstar. Right Brighty?” Air Raid raised her hoof to the watching unicorn as she kissed Wildfire’s nose.

“Right you are Raid, you carry on.” Brightstar nodded over to the two mares, the voyeuristic stallion crossed his hindlegs as he took a drink of his moonshine.

Over the other side of the room Darkstar decided to leave Dusk alone and trotted off to find a fresh victim, settling on Slingshot stood alone at the stereo, hoofing through a few cd’s. Lighting her horn she muffled her hooves and crept up behind the pink stallion, intent on pranking him next.

The white unicorn got to within a foot of her prey and was about to jump his flanks when… “Hey Darkie!” He turned and gave her a wink as he finished the beer he was holding in his hoof.

"What! How in Equestria did you hear me?” She stomped a hoof as she dissipated her yellow aura surrounding her hooves. “They were muffled!”

Slingshot sniggered as he put his empty beer bottle down. “You muffled your hooves but you forgot to muffle your giggles.” He chuckled, pointing to the cd he’d been holding, “And you were reflected in the cd.”

“Cheat…” Darkstar pouted playfully and reached a hoof to pull her escaped prank victim into a hug, wholly unaware of the stallion’s deep blush at the close contact.

“Dusk…what the buck is this?” Cyclone asked with a look of disgust on her face directed at the contents of her glass that Dusk had just poured for her.

“Well…” Dusk grinned at the black mare as she sat on her pad, the nappy on her rump crinkling and puffing under her weight. “Orange juice. Little foals love their juice Cy.” He giggled at the outraged pout on her muzzle.

“Nana Raid! Dusky’s being mean!”

Air Raid ceased in her licking of Wildfire’s fur to glance over at her friend being utterly adorable in her nappy. “It's alright D, the little filly can have one of whatever she wants, she’s been a good girl.”

“Beer please Dusky.” Cyclone stuck out her tongue as Dusk opened the drinks cabinet and proceeded to pour her her beer. “So…” She asked when her drink was placed in front of her a and finished off with her favourite pink straw, “What’s the occasion? Not that we’d refuse a party you understand…”

“Hmm? Oh…I dunno, this is Darkie’s thing, you’d have to ask her, hang on a sec,” Dusk got himself a moonshine from the keg on the bar as he raised his voice to the white unicorn, distracting her from her second attempt at pranking Slingshot. “Hey Darkie! What did you ask us here for?”

“Oh! Right! I never said did I?” Darkstar giggled as she put her moonshine down in her magical hold and trotted over to the far end of the suite, where a little stage had been prepared. “Right, well y’know how I tried out for the Sapphire Shores Dance school in Las Pegasus? I got a letter a few days ago saying I was down to the top fifteen candidates and they want me to dance again!”

Darkstar flushed happily as her friends gave her a round of whoops and whistles, mixed with a few hoof stomps and ‘alright’s’ and other encouragements. “So…I’ve developed a new routine, with a bit of a ‘twist’ I’ve added for good measure, and I want your honest opinions ‘kay?”

“Um…what kind of ‘twist’ Darkie?” Wildfire asked with her hoof in the air.

“It's an illusion spell Wily, called ‘Desire’. I’ll start the routine and cast the spell on you all. Then, if it works, you’ll stop seeing me and see the creature you most desire in the world dancing instead.”

“Well…that sounds interesting,” Dusk commented as he leant on the bar. “Need any music?”

Slingshot sniggered; “You offering Dusk?”

“Oh please,” Darkstar giggled, “Sorry Dusky your stuff’s nice and all, but unless you’ve got anything Vocal does, I’ll stick to my own cd. Bro, if you don’t mind?”

“Nah sis I got it.” Brightstar levitated a Republica cd out of his sister’s saddlebag and trotted over to the stereo system.

"Actually," Air Raid asked as she cracked open her third beer, “Speaking of Vocal, its Saturday, where is your little pooch?”

“Oh…mom decided she wanted to take him for his walkies tonight,” Dusk replied, a look of concern on his face, “Actually that was a few hours ago now, I should ring her, make sure they’re alright.” Dusk reached a hoof for his phone as Slingshot snickered at him.

“Yeah Dusk, I’m sure your mom is in real difficulty,” the pink stallion giggled at the thought, “Can you imagine a noblepony having the nerve to approach her and say ‘I say, Goddess of the Night and co-ruler of our land, do you mind awfully not walking that pony on a leash?’, she’d banish them to the sun!”

"You're right Shot, but even so I'll ring…” Dusk dialled his mom’s number as they all shared the joke and invented weird and wonderful punishments for all the nobles in Canterlot.

“Yes, son, what can I do you for?” Luna asked as she answered Dusk’s call, “You and your friends need more moonshine already?”

“No mom, we aren’t quite as bad as yourself and aunt Tia,” Dusk grinned, the images of his mom and aunt passed out for a couple of days in a drunken coma swam across his mind.

“Oh hush, Twi raised the sun and moon, nopony noticed, it's all good.” The pegasus could all but feel the giggle in his mom’s voice, “Whatever’s the matter then?”

"I just wondered where you and Vocal are, you've been gone ages."

“Walkies, dear.” Luna replied, and in answer to Dusk’s next question answered; “I admit I got carried away, and before we knew it we were down past the Residential District before your pup needed to relieve himself. Anyway we’ve been back about an hour, your mum saw him and wanted to play.”

Dusk felt mortified...they'd left the gardens and walked all the way to the Residential District... “Mom…you went where? Countless ponies must’ve seen you!”

“Oh…hundreds at least. Including this sweet little filly who came up and petted your pup while I chatted with her mother. I told you last week Dusk, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. Vocal enjoyed his walk. Anyway if you want your pet back I'm afraid he’s asleep, we did rather tire him out, the poor thing.”

“Alright mom, and thank you…” Dusk grumbled as he hung up his phone and turned to Air Raid. “Apparently Raid he’s all tired out over in mom’s suite.

“Aw…maybe next time you walk him to the Merchant District D?” The lime green mare sniggered as Dusk stuck his tongue out at her.

At that moment, Darkstar stepped out onto the little stage, and everypony’s mouth hung open, including Dusk’s. The white mare had donned her crimson socks with three black stars on them, a thin strip of crimson material that just about qualified as panties covered her rump and marehood, which it needed to as her tail had a knot at its base, lifting it up high. Faint purple eyeshadow completed her look.

Slingshot almost dropped his glass, “Sweet Celestia…”

“Y – Yeah…” Was all Dusk could manage in agreement.

Darkstar approached the pole in the middle of the stage and reared up to stand on her hindlegs. Taking the pole with a foreleg she started her routine, twirling around it as she danced for her assembled friends. A few seconds into her dance she flipped herself upside down, her body secured by her legs wrapped around the pole. As she spun she lit her horn and silently cast her spell.

Darkstar tried to gauge her friends reactions, trying to work out if her spell had worked or not. Nothing was different for a few moments, and as her heart started to sink she forced a smile and fell back on her practised routine.

It was around forty five second into her dance that Darkstar started to notice a change in her audience. Subtle at first, from the way they looked at her, the very way they stood or sat around the stage, the effect became more and more pronounced as she carried on her routine around the pole. By the time she was done they were all on their hooves, stomping and cheering, the three stallions were fully erect from their sheaths, and judging by the smell the mares were hot for her too.

Darkstar cancelled the Desire spell as the song and her dance ended. Out of breath she propped herself against the pole while she watched her friends slowly shake their heads as the effects of the illusion wore off.

“B…Bucking hell Darkie…” Air Raid whispered, her seating pad soaked wet through from her arousal.

“S – sis…sweet Celestia…” Brightstar didn’t bother trying to hide his erect member as he took several deep breaths.

“So…did it work?” Darkstar asked as she stepped down from the stage, her breathing finally under control. “Well, what did everypony see?” The showmare asked, levitating a beer to her in her magic. “I mean, I know it's a personal thing, I just wondered what I became for you all.”

Nopony answered straight away, they were too busy blushing and trying to hide the various signs of their excitement. Except Cyclone, who was panting fit to burst. “That, was, amazing!” The black mare enthused, her wings erect, as were the other pegasi’s, “I saw my old Nana, SugarBelle.”

"Really Cy? Your old Nana?” Brightstar sniggered.

“Well who did you see then, mr. ‘My sister gave me a raging boner?’

“A griffon female.” Brightstar admitted.

“I saw Vocal, in collar, leash and wearing a muzzle guard.” Dusk’s face erupted in a full crimson blush, and decided to deflect attention from himself, “How about you Wily?”

Wildfire shot him a nasty look as she cleared her throat, and tried to hide behind her wings, but they wouldn’t cooperate so she just squeaked out a name that nopony could hear.

“Squeak up Wily, we didn't quite hear that sweetie.” Air Raid sniggered next to her marefriend.

“I said I saw Calculus, alright?” Wildfire tried again without success to hide behind her wings. “With a crop, a blindfold and hoofcuffs…”

“Well…” Air Raid nudged her barrel as her friends laughed, “That’s given me a few ideas for later, but Calculus? Really? She’s like, fifty or something!”

“Oh shut up you…”

“I saw a Zebra mare, she was gorgeous!” Air Raid’s wings stiffened up again at the thought of the muscular stripy mare gyrating sensuously around the pole.

“What about you Shot?” Cyclone asked the pink stallion, aware that he hadn’t spoken up yet.

Slingshot didn’t answer. He drained his beer and reached for another, cracking it open and draining half of it.

“Hey…” Darkstar trotted over to the earth pony and laid a hoof on his shoulder, “It’s alright, you can tell us, whatever you saw can’t be worse than Wily’s new marefriend…” The unicorn gave an uncertain giggle, which silenced after Slingshot shook her hoof away.

“C’mon Shot, it's your turn, spill!” Air Raid called out, her wings finally under control.

“Will you all just leave it!?” Slingshot slammed his beer bottle down, “I saw Darkstar dancing alright? I watched her cast her spell, I saw her dance. Nothing changed. Nice prank Darkstar.”

“Wha…prank? No…no Shot it wasn’t a prank!” Darkstar’s hoof hovered in mid air, she wanted to comfort her friend, but she was mindful of the newly repaired friendship with Wildfire, and how that fallout had started. Instead she looked to Air Raid for help.

“Course it was a prank!” Slingshot stomped his hoof in frustration, “You’ve been trying to get me all night, well congratulations, Darkstar, you got me!”

“Don't be an idiot Shot, Darkie wouldn't get you like that, and we all saw something different, chill out!”

Slingshot snorted his derision and stomped towards the door of the suite. With the alcohol in his system he never even entertained the possibility that he’d seen Darkstar because she was what he actually desired. “I'm an idiot am I now?”

Darkstar followed him to the door, tears in her yellow eyes. “Slingshot, please! I'm sorry it didn’t work for you, come back please!”

"Get bucked, all of you..." Slingshot threw open the door, stomped through and slammed it shut behind him, leaving the other six ponies in a stunned silence.

The awkward pregnant silence continued for what felt like hours, the only sound was the ticking of the clock on the wall marking the passage of the seconds. Nopony seemed to even breathe.

Nopony heard Air Raid’s giggle break the silence, just as they didn’t really notice when she slid off the seating pad and slowly, hesitantly made her way over to the bar and help herself to another glass of moonshine.

The lime green mare turned and started to stagger back towards Wildfire and her wetted pad, when she passed behind Dusk and sniggered, rubbing his flanks with a wingtip.

“Raid…” Dusk flinched at the unexpected contact at his hindquarters, “What the hay?”

“Y’know Dusky,” Air Raid slurred as she used her wing to prop herself up on Dusk’s back, “I love…hic...how your moon shines...”

Dusk’s pink eyes went wide, the pupils dilating in panic; “W-Wait…I, I thought you liked mares?” The midnight blue pegasus stammered as his friends finally noticed what Air Raid had done and started whooping and whistling.

“Wh…what?” Air Raid shook her addled head, “Mares? Wait! I do! I…uh…I like your moonshine…is what I meant to say, that's what I said, meant to say…”