T-t-t-t-titanic!

Chapters

The First Taste
Gorging and Growing
A New Day, a New Body
Rest and Relief

The First Taste

Tender Taps was, as his name implied, not the hardest sort. An Earth pony dancer with a soft orange coat and a purple mane and tail that made ponies think he was related to a certain local pegasus speedster, he'd never been bulky or muscular. Granted, he had his innate Earth pony strength, and as firm a chin as any colt could ask for, but he wasn't a jock.

And he liked it that way. A dancer had no need for swollen, hard muscles, after all, and doing a forward split was difficult enough without any added mass encumbering him. Still, he wondered sometimes, particularly when it came to his new friend.

"Howdie, Tender!" Apple Bloom greeted as he walked to his dance school.

Their dance school, now. Apple Bloom had signed up officially after her disastrous first performance, the one she'd done with him that had gotten him his cutie mark. Apple Bloom was a local legend, a farm girl the likes of which he'd never dreamed would want to consort with him. A strong girl, who was already old enough to help out on her family farm, kicking apples down from trees and whatnot. Tender wasn't sure if he could even make a tree wobble, let alone drop its juicy bounty. He could almost feel her eyes on his flank, checking him out. He couldn't wait to get dressed again in his loose attire.

"Hey, Apple Bloom."

"What's the matter?" she asked.

He sighed. That girl really didn't need much to read his mood for some reason. "Nothing's the matter. Why would anything be the matter?"

"Well, you're lookin' a tad greyer than usual, is all." She looked more closely at his arms and legs. "And you ain't got the same hop in your step you usually do. So what gives?"

He rolled his eyes as the school building came into view. From school to school to home, that was his routine. His old routine, at least. "It's nothing. Just been a little too t-t-t-tense the past couple of days, having trouble sleeping," he said. "My muscles get too stiff when I'm nervous, and the doctor said it's better if I don't try to fix that with pills, so she said I just need to go get a massage after practice for a couple of days. I've had it before, when I had that awful stage fright. No biggie."

"Oh. Well, gosh, it's nothin' serious, is it?"

"No, of course not. It's just to be safe, make sure my muscles don't lock up, and make sure they grow properly. And to make sure I don't get sick. I've been feeling really warm lately for some reason, my mom thinks it's a growth spurt waiting to happen."

She bumped her rump against his. "Want any help with that, then?"

He quirked an eyebrow. "Umm, I'm already getting a massage at the parlour, so..."

"Not like that. I mean with the sickness. Here, I got these bon bons." She ruffled through her bag and gave him a hoofful of treats. "Made'em for potion practice, mostly it's mint and some roots. It's a herbal treat."

That eyebrow quirked up even further. "Herbal treat?"

"Yeah, herbal treat. My family used to be pioneers, you see, they had to keep their medicine handy all the time. It's an old recipe: mint, some Heart's Desire, couple of mountain herbs, helps keep the fever at bay. It's mostly for little foals, especially when they're due for a growth spurt, so they don't get sore or nothin'. It's totally harmless."

Mountain herbs and something to help cardiac problems certainly sounded good. "Have you taken any, then?"

"Well, no, but I'm not feelin' hot for no real reason, and I'm not due for a growth spurt, either. If you think you might be getting sick, it'd help. What do you think? Wanna try some?"

He carefully took one of the green treats and eyed it, before turning to the entrance to school. "How does it work?"

"You take one every day, just one, when you’re feeling too warm. It's supposed to, ah, facilitate your metabolism to its optimal state, like, is what the book said, helps against growing pains. I reckon it's kinda like a magic diet pill, only not really."

"Wouldn't this count as cheating?"

"Cheating at what? It's not gonna make you grow; just make sure you don't get hurt when you grow. Plus, it keeps down fevers, if you've got the flu or anything like that. It's just a bon bon that makes growing less awkward and keeps you cool. If you don't want it, it's fine."

He needed no further encouragement than that. He gulped down the first treat, as any gentlecolt would when presented with a kindness from the girl that got him his cutie mark and, more importantly, had helped him clear the biggest hurdle to his dreams. "I'll take your word for it, then. But this had better not turn me into a monster. I don't wanna be a t-t-t-terrible snowpony or anything." He mentally slapped himself. After all his training, he still stuttered, but only for certain words, it drove him crazy sometimes.

Apple Bloom paid no heed to it and patted him on the back, before giving him a bag with enough treats to last a week. "Just let me know how you feel after practice. I promise, it'll help."

To be fair, Tender was feeling tired and sore, but not completely wrecked after practice. The treat Apple Bloom had given him had left a sweet and minty taste in his mouth, with herbal-y undertones, and it stuck with him even now. Maybe it needed more time to kick in. Or maybe it was just regular candy, and Apple Bloom was pulling the old 'magic feather' trick on him.

He had a spring in his step again as he trotted over to Ponyville spa. He hadn't even shed his clothes, but then he usually didn't. Everypony knew he was a dancer, anyway, and it's not like he smelled bad. After all the twirling, the jumping, the running on walls, or even just the constant, relentless rhythmic tapping with his hooves, he hardly smelled at all.

Part of him nagged at the back of his head about that, that he must not be working hard enough. Ponies like Apple Bloom's brother, Big Macintosh, they sweated.

Good boys smell. Big boys sweat good.

Where did that come from?

"Hey there, little tapping guy! What's the hap?"

Tender Taps smiled up at the white, blonde-maned mountain of muscle that greeted him. "Hey there, Bulk Biceps. Nothing much, just here to get the soreness out again."

A pink pony with a blue mane and tail waved the boy over. "Ah, Mister Tender, come right this way. And take off your clothes, you know you do not need them here."

Tender Taps eagerly trotted over to a back room and took off his shirt and pants, before flopping on Aloe's table.

"You seem perkier than usual," she said. "Good practice today? Been impressing the fillies, I should hope?"

"Sort of," Tender replied. "Well, not exactly. I told Apple Bloom about my problems, and she gave me this minty bon bon. She said it would help keep down fevers and stop any growing pains. I think it did."

"Oh, isn't that nice?" Aloe cooed as she started rubbing up and down his back, a gentle warm-up to the session. "You should make sure to thank her properly for that. Now, where do you need my attention today?"

"Err..." Before he could reply, he felt the mare's hooves press into the muscles of his butt. "Umm, there, yeah, right there. That's t-t-tight."

He felt, more than saw, the smile on her face. "I thought as much. Must take good care of your legs, after all."

He blushed, as the tender caresses made him feel warm all over, especially between his hind legs. Something throbbed there, and he suspected the treat was finally kicking in.

A shuffle behind him, and the noise of baths and steam in the background faded. Aloe had closed the door, giving them some privacy.

"Uhuh. That's why I'm here," he said. He was so tired all of a sudden, but he couldn’t think why. Aloe was good at her job like that.

"Exactly. Lie back and relax, Tender. You seem to be a bit... well, tender today."

He sighed contently and nodded. Soft, gentle pressure kneaded him, his soft muscles giving way like dough, warming up, unwinding after a long practice session. The memory was still fresh in his mind: everyone looking at him in anticipation, his hooves moving lightly across the floor, the ooh's and ah's of a captive audience.

His flank tingled at the thought.

Then that tingling moved to his loins again. He wriggled to make sure it was still hidden. It wouldn't be proper, even if it wasn't his fault.

"Falling asleep again, Tender?" Aloe asked.

"Huh? Nuh-no. I'm awake, Miss Aloe. What do you want to talk about?"

"Hmm..." Her hooves moved to his scalp. "If you need a nap, you should sleep. Do not worry, I know exactly what to do. I do not mind, you know that."

"Huh? But I-" His eyes fluttered open and shut as that pressure built up in his head. "Okay... just a little nap, then."

“There you go. Just let go of all that tension for me. You’ll feel much better afterwards, I promise. If you ever feel uncomfortable, you can tell me, okay?”

He nodded numbly. “Okay.”

That sweet minty taste in his mouth was still there. He could feel it churning in his stomach, fighting the burning in his veins.

As she let his head back down, he closed his eyes completely and let go. His legs were stroked and kneaded, squishy little boy muscles being warmed and treated to some relief, before more attention was brought to his butt. His hind quarters were always tense, but it didn't take much effort to unwind that. Up and down, his cheeks were stroked and tended to, hard-working fibres being eased into a more comfortable state.

Then his back, the only part that had a little bit of bona fide firmness to it, if only because every pony had a hard back. Lastly, his arms, little fleshy tubes didn't have much fight in them as strokes and kneadings got all the tension out.

The little boy could never keep track of how long he was there. This was his third session now, his first to follow right after a class, but he kept forgetting how long this took. What he did know was that once the tapping began, it was time to wake up.

A round of slapping and tapping from his neck to his hind hooves to back up his neck wrapped up his session.

"There, all done. It shouldn’t take long for your troubles to dissipate now, especially if Apple Bloom is feeding you."

"You really think so?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Of course. Applejack's little sister has a way with potions, you know. I'm sure whatever she gives you to help, will be very effective indeed."

"I hope so." With that, he hopped off the table and got dressed again, absent-minded. He wanted to smell his own smell again, not the fruity aromas of the spa. "See you tomorrow."

"Until tomorrow, Tender Taps. Rest well."

Tender felt sensitive all over, as he changed into his dancing clothes. He picked up the skintight white nylon shirt and wriggled his arms through, then pulled up his golden tights, blushing as he did. His cock was swelling again, giving him a nice little package up front. The fabric hugged him, accentuating his round belly and every little curve of his soft young body.

He let out a snort as the final piece came on: his shoes. Red dancing shoes, shined up to the point he could see himself in them. He shuddered with delight when he put on the one on his right hind leg. His cock twitched when the left was wrapped in the same shiny redness, making him stop to rub over his tender fabric-coated fur. His head pounded, he gulped as warmth spread through his body.

He couldn't dally. Good boys came when they had to.

With his hind hooves tended to, he slipped the final two shoes on his front hooves and went into the class.

The smell hit his nose like an anvil, and his body twitched again, especially his cock. He could feel that meat rising below, rubbing up tantalisingly against the fabric. He looked up and left at the clock, right above the window looking out on Ponyville. Five o'clock in the afternoon, plenty of sunlight left, perfect.

Then, he danced.

His hooves lifted up on their own accord, sending him into a flurry of movement. He gasped, he panted, he stared at his reflection, dumbly dancing with no music or teacher to guide him.

Good boys didn't need music or teachers to do what they had to.

Good boys listened to their bodies.

So he went on and on, going over his tap dancing routine like a machine. He ran up to the wall and did a backflip, barely stopping long enough to hold a pose before doing it again. He did a forward split, practically humping the ground with his legs spread, then didn't even flinch when he jumped up and did it again, pushing that soft, welcoming fabric against his tender flesh.

What's going on? Why can't I stop?

He was sweating like crazy now, his body taken over by the need to move. He looked up at the clock again.

Four in the morning. Darkness had fallen. He'd been dancing for over ten hours straight. But that was impossible.

Right on cue, fatigue caught up with him, and he collapsed. His breath came in ragged, his legs refused to move, he was sure he'd be cramping in agony in just a few seconds. But that was a good thing, because good boys like him didn't need to move when they did their duty. Other ponies would take care of him.

How did he know that, though? Where were all these strange new thoughts coming from? Had he learned about all this in school? He would have remembered taking notes on that sort of thing, surely? Maybe it was a lecture he hadn't been paying attention to? But he was a good boy; he always paid attention, didn't he?

With a lustful moan, he managed to bite on the edge of the shoe of his right front hoof and pull it off. His cock twitched again, and something in his bum clenched. With renewed energy, he shed the left front shoe, and almost cried out when he felt the air on the frog of that hoof.

Just a little more. He had to take his clothes off, relieve that pressure down below. He struggled to move his sore and tired muscles, but he finally managed to get a clumsy grip on his hind hoof shoes and get them off.

When they were free, he collapsed back onto the hard wood of the dance floor.

He lay there, feeling a drip coming from his cock. The clothes he still had on throbbed along with the rest of him, and he could almost swear there was a tube forming around his cock, something to suck and gulp down that icky mess.

He reached down to the hem of his shirt, and the tights.

"Just gotta pull it off..."

His hooves couldn't find any traction. The nylon was stuck.

He'd been cocooned. His suit was a part of him now.

Breathing in and out, it was almost like it was getting tighter, hugging him closer like a corset. The thing moved up towards his neck and down to wrap around his arms and hooves, pulsing, throbbing, stroking.

It was sealing him away. And it felt wonderful.

His cock throbbed harder, sending waves of pleasure through his little body.

Good boys are soft. Good boys are sensitive.

"W-what the..."

His tugging turned into rubbing, gentle touches going over his now nylon skin. Every touch sent ripples of joy through him, and made his cock drip in encouragement. Something inside him, close to his butt, clenched hard and it made him moan.

Good boys listen to their body.

"Please... I wanna..."

Tender is a good boy.

Tender Taps gasped, and put a hoof to his chest. His heart was trying to burst out of his chest, it was beating so hard. Every fibre of his being felt like it boiled. He barely registered his other hoof was on his boyhood, and getting quite slick in the process.

"Ow, my head." He wiped his brow, and only half noticed that was just getting some of the slickness on his forehead. He must have been really sweaty, to get so sticky. No matter, his mane covered that up most of the time, anyway.

Looking at his arm as he reached up, he was struck with confusion. He could have sworn his arms were usually thicker. His belly felt off, too, like someone had pressed down on him and taken away his healthy round pony belly. In its place, they'd left a deflated piece of fur, from the looks of it.

After a long minute of taking stock of himself, he finally had the presence of mind to switch off his alarm clock. He got out of bed and plodded downstairs, tucking in his boyhood as best he could.

"What a weird dream."

Author's Note

Hoo, boy, this one. This the most rushed thing I've written yet, and that's keeping in mind stories I've cranked out in a single weekend. The editing had to happen fast for the deadline, so there may be some hiccups here and there. Normally I'd have done two or three more edits before publishing, but hey, shouldn't be too bad.

Anyway, why write this? Primarily for the signal boosting (obviously), but also because, as regular readers may know, I already have a muscular colt OC who will be the main character in my next big story. I need the practice in describing him as well as the mental imagery involved in stimulating muscle growth. The dream sequences in this story are all inspired by hypnotherapy, specifically hypnotic imagery. I also needed to practise writing borderline behaviour in adults, which is where Aloe's gentle but entirely professional touches come in.

Plus, muscle foalcon. What? I'm a chaoist: my religion demands I write stuff like this from time to time, look it up. It's in Muhuly Book.

Gorging and Growing

The day went by in a hot haze for Tender Taps. He had breakfast, took a bonbon to cool down, went to school, ate another bon bon during recess so he wouldn’t get a fever during class, lunch, another bon bon for dessert before he was getting sweaty around noon, then another bon bon when he left school so he'd be safe during dance class. He'd forgotten to shower, but he'd woken up wet with sweat before, he was fine.

School was the same as always, with one exception: the breezes. Tender Taps' seat was right next to a window. Normally he didn't notice the weather outside, but for some reason he kept shivering when a breeze hit his shoulders. It wasn't the sort of shivering with cold, either, but a shudder that ran through his whole body, for the tip of his ears to his loins.

His loins. That was definitely different. At least three times in class today, he'd had to bite his lips and cross his legs because his thing started poking out. Every chance he could get, he would run to the bathroom and wipe an odd dripping liquid off of it, almost like a nectar, but muskier. It only happened when he felt warm, though, and Apple Bloom's treat did help keep his temperature down.

Unfortunately, with all the emergencies he'd had in the day, he'd gone through the whole bag of treats by the time the final bell rang. Still, as strange as the day had been, he looked forward to returning to his natural habitat: the dance floor.

He could practically feel his clothes on him again, wrapping him up in their comfy grip, caressing his fur, showing off his body for all the pretty girls and boys in class.

Good boys show off. Good boys listen to their bodies. Good boys use their bodies.

He suppressed a moan. Why couldn't he stop thinking like that?

"Whoa."

Tender turned and smiled. Like yesterday, Apple Bloom had caught him on the way to the dance studio. And she looked impressed by what she saw, though worried as well.

"What?" he asked.

"You don't look so good, Tender. Are ya feeling okay?"

He chuckled nervously. "Err, yeah, actually. I'm not as tired as before, just, umm, rough night, been a little dizzy all day. Why do you ask?"

Her eyes widened. "What do you mean, why do I ask? Ain't you noticed anything different?"

"Like what?"

She tapped his ribcage and rubbed down, going over his ribs and belly. He shivered again at the gentle touch, like a good boy would. Stars, he hoped he wasn't getting slick again. "You're so thin all of a sudden. Are you eating well? Did you throw up or anything?"

That was a good question, and one he had no real answer to. Had he thrown up in the night? He might have, with that strange dream. He had so much of that mint treat's taste in his mouth, he couldn't really tell. Thinking about it, he might have simply sweated out a few pounds in the night.

"No, I feel fine. Just a little bit t-t-t-tight all over, is all."

Something tingled in his boy bits, another gentle stroke going over his colthood's tip. He blinked, and he realised it was Apple Bloom, touching his forehead. That was, likewise, definitely new; his fur, his skin, was so sensitive, so responsive, he felt her touch all the way down there. He gulped. What if that terrible, scary, tight, smooth, teasing, hot, wonderful suit from his dream was still on him, and he just didn't know it? Was that even possible? "What are you doing?"

"Checking you for a fever, of course." Without any further warning, she pressed her lips to his forehead.

He froze, and the tingling intensified. He tried to hold it in, but despite his best efforts, he felt his thing poking out, the tip exposed to the cool air. He clenched his jaw and silently prayed he wouldn't drip like he did last night. Had he even remembered to wash off the stickiness on his forehead?

Apple Bloom withdrew and sniffed the air, before licking her lips. She tasted something gross, he was sure of it. She was going to throw up, get angry, she'd never want to speak to him again. The sheer panic was enough to make his bits withdraw.

To his surprise, though, she smiled. "No fever, that's good. Have you been eating my bon bons?"

"Yup, just like you said." He gave her the now empty bag.

She looked down and winced. "You ate all of them? That was a week's worth."

"Eheh, yeah. I kinda went a little overboard, I think."

She smiled with a mix of pride and concern. "Don't worry about it, they're good for you. In fact, I thought you might be needin' something stronger today." She reached back into her saddlebags and gave him another paper bag. "So I made these. They're more concentrated, keep that temperature under control."

He squinted. "Are you sure this is okay?"

"Well, I certainly don't want you to get sick, or overheated. Maybe it's a breed thing: you did say your family moved here from up North. Ponies from them parts aren't used to Ponyville sunshine, you might just be, umm, acclimatisin' or something. I mean, you don't have to take my treats if you don't want to, but-"

He took the bag and downed one of the treats, just like that. "It's okay. I trust you."

"Good. I mean, don't get me wrong, you don't look sick yet, but you do smell kinda funny, Tender. Are you..." She scrunched her nose, and for a second there, Tender thought she might faint with the wobble that went through her hooves. Maybe she was catching whatever it was he had?

"Am I... what?"

She shook her head hard enough to make it rattle. "N-never mind, it's nothing. It's a nice smell, don't worry about it. It suits you." She resumed her walk and nudged his hip with hers, rubbing their cutie marks together again.

The boy shuddered. Her flesh felt so soft, so inviting. Maybe if he just got a little closer, he might relieve some pressure. His body told him to stick close, to hug her from behind. And good boys did listen to their bodies.

Good boys are modest. Good boys don't draw crowds for the girls.

Good boys know when the time is right.

He shook his head to clear it and followed her. "Thanks, Apple Bloom. I'm sure I'll feel better after class. I just hope this t-t-tightness doesn't get any worse." He mentally slapped himself for stuttering again. "I look like I've been on a diet for some reason."

"I'll say," she replied, looking at his now flatter belly and his ribcage showing actual ribs. "You look mighty lean today, you know. Just be careful when you lift those girls, alright? And let me know if any of'em get, ah..."

He quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Interested," she finished, before rubbing her nose and shaking her head again. "Wouldn't want ya to make a fool of yourself in front of the fillies."

"Okay, will do."

They went inside the studio. Tender went right, to the boys' changing room, Apple Bloom went left.

"Good luck," Apple Bloom said. "Or break a leg. You know what I mean."

"You too," Tender replied. "You know, in the noobie class."

"Will do. Say, would you like to come over to Sweet Apple Acres afterwards?"

"I can't. I still need to get my massage at the spa, remember?"

She shrugged. "You can come afterwards, if you like. I can come find you when you're done. I got my own little section of the orchard now, I could show you some tree-bucking. Get some raw strength in those muscles. Might help you sleep better. It always works for me."

Tree bucking with an Apple? Well, he could hardly say no to that, could he? "Okay. I'll see you later, then."

Tender turned and went inside, expecting Apple Bloom to do the same.

She waited, though. Her eyes fell on his rump, now decorated by that lovely top hat and spotlight. His tail swished at just the right time to reveal his rump.

And underneath that, she almost swore she saw the bulge of his package.

She licked her lips in anticipation, then went in.

"Once more, from the top!" Missus Split called out.

Tender Taps followed the directions like a pro, a step left, a lunge, backing up, a spin, it all came naturally to the boy.

The looks the others were giving him, however, did not.

The local dance class, as most dance classes did, had a mirror on one end of the room so students and teachers could keep track of their movements. At the moment, Tender was too busy keeping track of how he looked to really mind his movements.

As he raised up his right leg to make an elegant pose, his mind wandered to when he'd been punished that one time, for refusing to perform in public. He still felt the sting of humiliation at that, not to mention that being when he'd met Apple Bloom, right when he was at his lowest.

It felt so distant, yet so familiar.

He could practically hear Apple Bloom barging in, asking to join the class for no reason other than to try something new, make new friends. She never had anything to lose. She was completely shameless.

He envied her for that.

Good boys have no shame. Good boys are proud.

While his leg hung there, at his teacher's command, he was forced to stare at himself in the mirror. Apple Bloom was right: he was leaner all of a sudden. His collarbone showed under his shirt, his legs were taut enough to show sinew where his shorts didn't cover them, and he was sure his belly used to rub up against the fabric.

More than that, though, he was irritated. The normally comfortable loose fabric flopped this way and that as he tapped and stepped and jumped along with the other boys and girls. It felt like he was being tortured with feathers.

Maybe it had something to do with his dream last night. He'd felt every move, every grueling, exhausting step, like it was real. But he couldn't have burned off that much fat in just one night, could he? His loins stirred again, making him whimper under his breath. Without a round belly to cover it up, his cock was taking every chance it could to pop out.

Maybe if he put some ice on it, it would stay down. How did the other stallions in town keep theirs under control?

"Tender Taps!"

"Huh?" With a start, he broke his pose. Oddly, he didn't even feel stiff.

"You're lagging," Missus Split said. "Keep your attention where it belongs."

He sighed. "Will do."

Behind him, he heard the girls whispering, giggling. He could swear he heard one of them remark on his buns or something. What a silly thing to say; he was a dancer, not a baker. Typical of girls to let their attention wander.

He might have to remind them who was best in class sometime, who was in charge.

Good boys show off.

He pushed that thought away, if only because it triggered more irritation, this time in his crotch. As if the feeling of fabric on fur wasn't annoying enough, he now had to contend with his boy bits fully dangling out inside his shorts. And to add further insult to injury, said shorts kept sagging, even dropping. How did he get that thin in one night? It had to be some sort of trick, or a mistake.

"Partners, everypony."

He looked to the side. One of the fillies, the pink one who'd commented on his buns, approached him to dance in a pair.

He didn't say a word as he started. Even as they went through the motions, a skip here, double tap, a step there, a dip, he didn't speak. He followed directions, he danced, like a good boy.

Good boys do as they're told.

He picked the girl up from her dip and harshly pressed her against his body. Her nose curled. His boy bits were dripping again, and he dearly hoped they wouldn't stain his shorts or make a puddle on the floor. He'd never live down the embarrassment.

The girl shivered, before smiling at him. He kept his bulge, still pointing down in his shorts’ right leg, pressed close against her, so it'd be hidden. And, much to his relief, she didn't do anything about it. In fact, she hardly did anything at all as they went through the routine. Her muscles just turned to jelly as he guided her. He went through the whole routine, waving her this way and that, and she moved automatically, akin to a dancer in a music box, one whose key had been found and turned so easily by the boy.

Feeling his cheeks flush, and seeing his teacher check up on the rest, he risked letting a hoof drop and touch her behind. He pressed into the girl's firm haunches, but all she did was gasp slightly and smile. Her eyes looked slightly off, though, almost glazed over somehow. Maybe she was wearing new contact lenses, he couldn’t tell. He reached down lower, to the edge of her leotard, and stroked over her tights-covered hips. Still she didn't so much as give a peep. Finally, he flicked his tail and when no one saw, he thrust his hips into her, giving her a very good idea of the length he had under his shorts.

She didn't react. She didn't even blink. She was his.

I wonder what else I could do while she's like this?

He decided against testing his luck. After all, it was still a fairly new class, he didn't even know this girl's name yet. He'd much rather hang out with Apple Bloom.

Tender's body warmed up again as the class drew to a close. He went down to all fours as soon as the teacher called the last dance to a stop, desperate to hide his prodding thing. He drew in a few quick gulps of air to try and cool down, but it didn't take. A quick trip to the changing rooms, and he'd have to down some more bon bons to keep the fever at bay.

No biggie. I can make it through today just fine.

"Sorry I'm late," Tender said as he trotted into the backroom. "I had to go to the bathroom after class." He didn't lie, per se. He really did need to use the bathroom; but mostly to try and tuck his thing back in. A splash of cold water did the trick, for a while.

Aloe tilted her head at the boy while he undressed. "Are you feeling well, Tender Taps?"

"Huh?" He quickly gulped down another one of Apple Bloom's minty bon bons to stay cool. "Yeah, I'm fine. I've lost some weight, is all."

"I can see that. More bad dreams?"

He bit his lip and nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Nothing grievous, I imagine. Bad dreams can happen to anypony, and a loss of weight is to be expected for some boys your age." She patted the table and he hopped on, belly first. "Now, same as before?"

"Um, maybe something different," he replied. "I'm meeting Apple Bloom later, so I need to be fit. She's showing me apple bucking today."

Aloe chuckled as gave his hind hooves a vigorous rubbing. "That's so sweet. I'll be sure to get the blood flowing by the time we're done, then. Now, where does it hurt?"

He bit his lip as those touches, those carresses, ran over the tender frogs of his hooves. It sent tingles up his spine, and made his thing pulse again. He could almost feel those red shoes driving him again, forcing him to dance, controlling his performance, making him show off. Why couldn't he wear those red shoes in front of a crowd? He could be such a good boy if he had something to let go to, to stop thinking and just move. He squinted to try and stop that train of thought. "Umm, n-nowhere in particular. Just a full-body rub should be fine."

The mare, however, did not buy it. "Are you sure?" She moved up and started working on his calves, kneading the muscles like bread. Unlike yesterday, though, his doughy flesh didn't give that much. "You're awfully tense today. And it's not just from the loss of weight, I imagine. Is something the matter?"

He gulped. "I-I..."

"I cannot help you if you do not tell me, Tender Taps,” Aloe insisted. “I'm a professional. You can trust me, really. You trust me enough to touch your body, and you do not regret that, do you?"

He let out a quiet moan as his thighs were kneaded, stroked, relaxed. "No. I am pretty t-t-t-tense all over. It feels good to get a rub." He cursed himself for stuttering again.

"I should hope so." Aloe lingered on his upper legs, even as his tail flicked back and forth.

"But that's the thing. That's what's bugging me. I feel good, but that feels wrong."

"Do you want me to stop? Would you prefer a simple oil rub?"

"No, not like that. I've been feeling weird. Like there's a pressure. Swelling."

Aloe gasped. "Oh, dear. That's not good. That's not good at all. Tell me where it is, I'll do some deep tissue work." She started rubbing his hind quarters, getting the tension out like yesterday.

A wave of fatigue washed over him. He sighed. "Right there. That's where I'm t-t-t-tense."

"You usually are, as are most dancers," Aloe remarked. "That's a good sign, though, little Tender. Is the swelling going down?"

He moaned under his breath, and whimpered. Under his belly, his thing was poking out again, and dripping onto the table. He had to say something, he was going to make stains. "No. It's getting worse."

"Where do you need me to attend to, then?"

"It's, umm, it's on my, you know..."

"Your... what? Your tailbase? That's easily remedied."

"No."

"Your frogs? They would be swollen, from tap-dancing. And I can imagine the sweat can cause a bit of an odour problem."

"Promise you won't tell anyone?"

She finally stopped working on his butt and proceeded to his lower back instead. "I promise. Tell me what is wrong with you, what needs remedying, and I'll happily fix it for you. That's why you're here. That's why your mother trusts me with you. We work discretely here."

"You won't tell anyone? Not even my mom?" He looked up at her in fear. "Please?"

"No one will know, not a soul. Relax, Tender. Let go of your stress and worries. A fine young colt such as you doesn't need to worry about silly things like shame." She gently patted him on the head, and a wave of calm washed over him.

Good boys have no shame. Apple Bloom doesn't, and she's not even a boy.

I wish I could be that good.

He sighed and closed his eyes. "It's my thing."

He felt Aloe's hooves stop as she pondered. "Your thing?"

"My, umm..."

"Your..."

"My boy bits. You know."

She gasped. "Oooh. Gracious, what's the matter, then? If it is something severe, you should tell your parents, and a doctor."

"No, no, please. It's not like I'm sick or anything, I just, I started, umm, dripping. It smells weird, and I think it's making ponies act funny around me."

Aloe hummed to herself. "Ponies, or just girls?"

He thought that over for a second. "I guess ponies? Mostly girls, though."

The touch that followed was different from the others. Over his upper back, Aloe didn't knead or press. She simply roamed and stroked the fur, starting at his spine and then working her way out towards the sides. "And this dripping, it's not urine, then, I presume? Is it... well, milky white, per chance?"

"No, at least I don't think so. It's clear, and thicker than normal, and it smells really weird. Like, I don't know, musky? It’s really slick, it’s gross."

Aloe gave him a gentle chuckle. "Oh, then that's nothing to worry about, silly boy. Some stallions have a strong scent; it's how they communicate." With that scare done, she resumed her kneading and pressing, unwinding all the muscles along his back. "Just like how strong ponies look big and muscular, so too do healthy ponies smell strong and healthy. It's perfectly natural."

"But it's indecent. My thing keeps... popping out." He cringed when he felt a hoof cup his nether region. For the briefest moment, everything in his eyes went white. He couldn't even gasp.

"This thing?" Aloe asked. "It is a part of your body, Tender, a part with a very definite and very respectable function. It will come out when it feels ready. If it has been coming out, one can only assume it was because it was ready."

He finally managed to catch his breath. "Ready for what?"

"Ready for... its purpose. Your body is simply preparing for the future, nothing more. And in order for that particular part of your body to prepare, it needs to, you know, make itself ready from time to time. And that involves it coming out, growing harder, and producing a preparatory fluid to make it slick."

"But I don't want it to be ready, or out, or slick. It's not right, it's not fair!"

She withdrew her hoof. "I know, Tender, I know, and I apologise, that was too forward of me. But the fact of the matter is that what you describe is perfectly natural for a healthy colt such as yourself. In fact, it's a good sign: when a pony gets sick, such, ah, bodily functions are usually the first thing to grind to a halt. If it is increasing in you now, that means you are becoming fitter, healthier, especially if girls are starting to notice. Why, when Bulk Biceps was your age, he had the very same problem. Poor thing couldn't keep it in when he wanted, kept dripping at the most awkward times, and his smell tended to draw quite a bit of attention, too."

"So how did he manage?"

"Oh, my sister and I helped him out, after we got our cutie marks. These sorts of... functions, they're all about bloodflow, you see. Get too much blood flowing down below, you swell. Get too nervous, and your heart starts pumping that blood faster, and harder." She reached over to a spot above his ears, going in small circles with the tips of her hooves. "Is that what you would like today, then? A treatment for this swelling?"

The pressure in his crotch built up. He was sure that if he sat up, his cock would be standing to full length.

Cock? Wasn't it my thing?

"If my card is good for it, yes. Yes, please. I really don't want to embarrass myself with my thing."

"Of course you don't. Do not worry, this is a standard procedure, we do it here all the time. Relax, then, Tender Taps, and let me take that stress off of you." A pair of pink hooves found their way to his temples, and started rubbing in circles.

Like a switch had gone off in his head, he felt his body go limp. "Whoa." He tried to lift his arms, his legs, but nothing worked. "I can't..."

"Close your eyes, little boy," she cooed. "I’ll take care of you. I’ll take care of everything. Nothing to worry about."

His tail twitched. He wanted to move his arms and legs, but he couldn't even figure out where they were now.

"I think I'm a lot more tired than I thought," he slurred.

"Clearly. You just lie back and leave everything to me."

As he nodded off, he caught sight of dreamcatchers hanging all around: woven wicker circles with web-like rope patterns and beads inside, and feathers dangling from underneath. A whole circle of them hung around the room, to guard against bad dreams, supposedly. Whether they were genuine magical items or just decoration, he couldn’t tell, because he wasn’t a unicorn.

But real or not, maybe they'd catch him a nice dream while he napped.

"Okay, Tender Taps, pay attention!"

Tender blinked. He only vaguely remembered getting up after his massage, being collected by Apple Bloom, and going to Sweet Apple Acres. Something was definitely off.

"You okay?" Apple Bloom asked.

The boy looked left and right, in front and behind him. As far as the eye could see, apple trees littered the hills, except where the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse stood. But in between the trees, right in front of him, was Apple Bloom. His friend. His girl friend.

Good boys show off.

Tender reached up to feel his head. "Uh, I think so? I'm just having a little..."

"Headrush?"

He shook his head in confusion. "No, actually. I just don't remember getting here. What are we doing again?"

Apple Bloom walked up to him and patted him on the back, gently pushing him towards a tree. "Aloe said you might be out of it for a little while. She did some special massage thing for ya, said it was supposed to get your bloodflow in order, but it might have taken a little too much blood away from your brain. You looked fine when I came to get you, though. You really don't remember me picking you up? You don’t remember talkin’ to me, what I asked, what you said?”

He winced. "No, nothing. That's bad, right?"

Without further warning, she brushed his mane back and kissed his forehead, slowly, her tongue flicking out to lick up whatever it was she liked about that spot. "You are feeling warm, but just a smidgen."

Tender Taps got out another treat and downed it, without even stopping to think. "It'll pass."

Good boys listen to their bodies.

His nether regions warmed up while the rest of him cooled down. To make matters worse, Apple Bloom just happened to choose that moment to turn her back on him. That soft, pretty flank, with a cutie mark that just popped out with its colours...

"Good. Anyway, as I was saying, today I'm gonna show you apple bucking. It's a simple thing to do, but it's got a complicated theory behind it, so pay attention. To start with, you gotta wind up your kick with a wriggle, like so. Then..."

Tender Taps kept his eyes on Apple Bloom's hind quarters. The way her red bushy tail swayed, her haunches flexed, her cute yellow hoovesies stroked over the ground, and those deep orange eyes. He was so warm down there, and part of him knew she had places she could be warm, too.

What am I thinking? She's my friend.

But good boys listen to their bodies, and I'm a good boy.

I don't want to hurt my friend, but I can't disobey my body, either.

"... so don't forget that, unless you like oatmeal, in which case you’re fine. Any questions?"

"Huh?"

Apple Bloom let out a nervous chuckle and blushed. "Maybe it's easier if I just show you." She nodded towards a nearby tree, and he followed her. She got into position, flashing that adorable, inviting flank towards him again.

"You wind up, focus on your hind hooves, aaand kick!" She gave the tree a firm blow, and a single apple fell out, right in her extended front hoof.

"Wow. That's amazing."

"That's basic Earth pony stuff. You try."

He cringed, but he walked into position, regardless. He just hoped she wouldn't see his cock hanging out again.

"Okay, here goes. Wind up, focus, aaand kick!"

Tender Taps was an average student, and he hadn't had advanced physics yet, but he got a decent idea of two of the laws of the universe then. First, every action has a reaction: the shock he delivered to the tree was nothing compared the impact that reverberated back into his body. Second, gravity had a sense of humour: the apple he managed to knock from the tree conked him right on the head.

"Ow!"

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. You didn't hurt your legs, did ya?" She immediately grabbed his face in her hooves and looked into his eyes. "You're not feeling concussed? Nothing's sprained, nothing's broken?"

Tender sat back with a smile. "Nothing's sprained, nothing's broken. I've kicked stuff before, when I wrestled."

This caught Apple Bloom by surprise. "You wrestled?"

"Sure, I used to be on my school team, before I started doing recitals. I'm fine. I'm not injured."

Apple Bloom still kept up her inspection.

Tender Taps reached up and put her hooves down. "You didn't injure me, Apple Bloom. Honest. I've had worse. I do splits, remember?"

Reluctantly, she nodded. Then her head got stuck on the down part of the nod.

Oh, no.

Only now did Tender realise he was sitting with his legs open, and his swelling cock on full display. Apple Bloom's response was a confused tilt of the head. "Hey, uh, speaking of splits, you got a little something poking out between your legs there. Or a big something, I reckon."

Tender tried to get up so he could have some decency. "It's nothing, it's just a reflex, I don't know what's going on."

Apple Bloom, however, kept him sitting down with a gentle push. "I can tell ya what that is. That's a distraction, and a mighty annoying one at that."

Tender gulped. "Can't we go back to bucking apples?"

"Not just yet. We gotta clean you up first. Look at you, you're dripping and smelling." She licked her lips and bent down. "No wonder you can't put any power behind your kick; you're all riled up for somethin' else entirely."

"What are you doing?"

"Relax." Without another word, she wrapped her lips around the cock's tip, letting her tongue play around in circles, lapping up that strange liquid that had been bugging him.

Tender Taps gasped and started to push her away, but that only made her push down harder, take more of his length into her warm mouth.

Good boys obey. Good boys listen to their bodies.

My body wants this.

Do I?

He thrust his hips into her maw as she suckled and licked. A pressure built up in his head, and was soon followed by a similar pressure in his cock.

Then it eased up. His body became hot as the Sun, but he could relax again. With a final lick and a kiss on his tip, Apple Bloom withdrew. She licked her lips and smiled dopily at him. "How was that? Better now?"

"Yeah... lots. But you shouldn't have done that, Apple Bloom."

She tilted her head and swayed on her hooves. "Why not? Wasn't it bothering you?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"And didn't you want me to help you?" Her front hooves buckled, and she almost fell sideways.

"I guess, but-"

"What's the matter, then?"

Tender gulped. "I think something's wrong. You should get yourself checked out, you're not acting like yourself."

"Neither are you." She licked off the last of his nectar on her lips. "If you're not feeling well, you should say so. Are you not feeling well? Are you too hot?"

"Uhuh." Just like that, he took another treat, and the heat subsided.

"Then why should I let you be bothered by it?"

"It's my problem. I have to fix it. And I don't want you to catch whatever it is I've got."

She patted him on the shoulder and then gently slapped his rump to get him on all fours. "I don't see what the big deal is, Tender. You needed cleaning up, so I cleaned you up. That's what friends do. You'd do the same for me, wouldn't you?"

He froze. Would he do something like that if she asked?

Yes. Because that's what good boys do.

No, that's what bad boys do, gross boys.

Or was it big boys?

No, it's what good boys do. Must be.

"I guess I would. Just the thought of having to touch somepony down there is, um, t-t-t-terrifying."

She winced in sympathy when he stuttered. "I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have done that. I got a little carried away by the smell, I guess, it’s really strong.”

“Really?”

“Really.” She sniffed and shook her head. “I’m gettin’ dizzy just thinking about it, honestly. But I’ll manage. Consider that an accident. I won't do that again, I promise. But you should cover that up until you get it under control. Other girls might get a little crazier than me."

An accident. Just his smell getting to her. Like Aloe said, some ponies had a strong smell. And Apple Bloom was a farm pony, she probably had a different level of sensitivity to it than most girls. He could live with that. Just an accident, no biggie. Not her fault, not his, not anyone’s.

"It's okay. It's not like anything happened, it’s just a lick. I won't tell anyone."

"Thanks. Now, come on, if you can keep your head in the game, you might just learn how to do a proper buck before sundown."

“I’d like that.”

The orange colt stood in the doorway of Sugarcube Corner, looking around.

"Hello?" he called out.

No response. Looking back, the town was deserted. It reminded him of one of those visits from the witch from the Everfree Forest. If he wanted to be safe, he'd better get indoors.

Tender Taps walked in carefully, sniffing the air. For once, he didn't smell his own musk, which he was thankful for. Instead, the smell of bread and dough hung in the air.

Then he caught a whiff of the sweet scent of apple. Walking further back into the shop, towards the kitchen, he found himself face to face with a chocolate cake, a brownie. Or rather, a large and uncooked brownie. A mass of dark dough lay on the counter, waiting, rising. He quirked an eyebrow at it, and if he didn't know any better, he'd have sworn it was... breathing?

"Hello? Is anypony here?"

No pony replied, but the dough did. It pulsed and writhed like a swelling ocean, before forming what looked like arms. It stood up and faced him, two black chunks of dark chocolate where its eyes should be.

"Uh, hi," Tender said, slowly backing away. "Do you know where everypony is?"

The thing growled, or gurgled, it was hard to tell. Chocolate sauce oozed from the hole where its mouth would have been.

"Eheh, well, err, you're obviously a very busy Mister Dough Monster, so I... think I'll be going now, bye!" Tender quickly turned tail.

Before he could even bolt, the thing was upon him. The mass of dough knocked the air clean out of him, turned him around so he'd be on his back and pinned his arms and legs down in molten chocolate. Then it raised up an arm oozing with blackness, ready to strike.

"Wait, don't-" Tender’s cries were cut off by warm dough and chocolate being forced down his mouth. The boy struggled under the weight, trying desperately to push the thing off, but the dough was stuck to the ground and with that weight on him, so was he.

His throat was distended as chocolate goo and dough got pumped directly into him. Tender moaned and gagged. Within mere seconds, the taste of chocolate was everywhere, pounding in his belly and his head. The pressure holding him down was becoming tighter and tighter as his belly swelled.

He couldn't move. He couldn't fight. He was covered, he was restrained, and before long, he was full. His arms went limp beside him, his legs stopped kicking, his very flesh was being turned to chocolatey dough as far as he knew.

Like a rat in a snake's embrace, he was beaten. He couldn't struggle anymore. He just lay there underneath the dough monster, barely breathing.

"Uhn..." He gagged when the arm finally withdrew, leaving his lifeless body free and dripping chocolate goo over his face. The dough stood up, but Tender couldn't find the energy to flee anymore. Chocolate was everywhere: in his swollen belly, in his head, in his veins. He only vaguely realised he was so fat now he couldn't even see his cock anymore. Not that his belly needed to be too big for that, because his cock was now as limp and lifeless as the rest of him.

I didn't want this.

Something moved. He was dragged over the floor, towards someplace hot.

The oven.

He was being turned into a chocolate brownie. And he was going to get baked.

"No..." He tried to flex, to move, but his body wouldn't budge.

"No..." More power, and he could feel his hooves responding again, his stomach churning.

"No!" With a firm kick, he landed the thing in the oven, before forcing himself to stand and closing the lid. He didn't bother checking how high he set the oven before he turned it on. Let it melt and burn, for all he cared.

Tender Taps wobbled towards the kitchen's back door. He caught his reflection in the oven window by chance.

He was bloated. His face was a wet mess, his lips were brown from all the chocolate dough that arm had pressed into him, his arms were pudgy and saggy, and that belly that had been flattened last night was now a balloon with wrinkles. His once clean, well-groomed fur was matted with dark stains, and his limbs were too weak to carry his weight, let alone jump. If he tried to so much as tap, he would collapse.

Blackness crept up at the edges of his vision. He'd fainted once or twice before, after dancing for too long on an empty stomach because he'd forgotten to pack a snack, and after ignoring the warnings from his teacher and dancing with a bump on his head. He knew he wasn't going to be standing long.

He didn't want to stand like this, anyway, not with his eyes locked on this sorry excuse of a reflection.

He was fat, and ugly, and sad.

He collapsed and let the tears fall freely.

He sobbed. His belly jiggled, much to his shame. "Please... I don't want to be fat. I wanna dance. I worked so hard. Please, I don't want to be like this."

Silence answered him. The only sound in the kitchen was the monster in the oven.

"Please? Help me, someone. Something. This isn't how it's supposed to go. I was finally doing well. I was finally t-t-t..." Another tear ran down his cheek. "Terrific."

Whatever was still there to listen apparently heard him, because his thighs started burning at his appeal.

His cutie mark.

A blazing light bled out from his mark and into his veins, purging it from the fat and the weakness that had been so cruelly forced upon him. Looking down at himself, he saw his belly deflate like a balloon. He could see his cock again, and it was already getting harder. Was it bigger than before, though?

"Wait a second-" Another wave of light washed through him, this time settling in his flesh, he swelled again, but not with fat or disgusting chocolate. It was raw, hard, lean muscle.

Tender was petrified as his body put on lean bulk, throbs and pulses coursing through his already exhausted body. He closed his eyes and opened his mouth in a wordless cry, powerless to stop it.

But it was his cutie mark doing it. Clearly whatever this was was his destiny. Why would he even want to stop it?

Good boys embrace their bodies.

Good boys take care of their bodies.

Good boys show off their bodies.

Good boys make girls happy.

That last thought got stuck in his head. Part of him realised that wasn't his thinking. He was dreaming, he had to be. But why? Why would he have nightmares like this? He never fantasised about being lean or muscular, he was happy the way he was.

Wasn’t he?

From the corner of his eye, through the window, he saw a dark figure walking through Ponyville. A mare, with black fur and a dark blue mane, but that might have been a trick of the light.

"Nightmare Moon?" he asked.

The figure stopped her walking and looked at him through the window. It wasn't Nightmare Moon; this one had a fuller snout, and her fur was lighter.

She was also, from the looks of it, not at all happy with his appearance.

"What is going on here?"

Ding!

The oven sounded. The dough monster was done baking.

Tender Taps shook his head in confusion.

Why are my ears ringing? Don't ovens only ding onc-

When he woke up, he had both front hooves on his cock, stroking the length and rubbing in circles along its tip. "Ugh..."

He barely felt the rest of his body now, but he could take a wild guess as to what had happened. He didn't want to see it. His longer cock was a big enough clue.

He reached up and wiped his forehead, checking his temperature. No change.

With a clumsy drop from his bed, he got up. Everything felt stiff and hard, even his cock.

Why do I keep calling my cock now? It was my thing before.

Because things are for shy little boys, not good big boys. Good boys have cocks, and big boys have big cocks that all the girls like.

Of course. That's why. Wow, these dreams are really taking it out of me.

With that silly train of thought resolved, Tender Taps gasped.

Oh, no. My cutie mark was burning, please tell me it's not-

Still there. His cutie mark was still where he'd left it, still a top hat in a spotlight. What strange dreams he'd been having, though. Good boys weren't supposed to get upset over such little things. Good boys had other things to worry about. He couldn't immediately think of what, but he knew they did. And Tender was a good boy, so he'd have to find a solution, quickly.

Maybe Apple Bloom will be able to help.

And maybe she'll let me return the favour.

Author's Note

And now Tender's mind starts slipping. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you: he's a good boy now. Why would that possibly be a bad thing?

This dream sequence was inspired by the principle of sensitisation: being made to focus on some substance so much it eventually becomes repugnant, or associating it with something repugnant. Again, one of the approaches in hypnotic therapy. It's also inspired by The Filth, written by Grant Morrisson. The idea is that by facing and confronting disgusting ideas, you can inoculate yourself against worse ones. In pony context, the cutie mark repels the sickness of the chocolate monster and develops hard muscles as a counter-measure. At least, that's what Tender thinks is happening.

So if you want to watch your weight and stick to a diet, read some force-feeding fiction.

As for the massages, I needed an adult influence in this, and there aren't a lot of angles to get a pony who can be talked to privately, repeatedly, and naturally. Tender's not mentally ill (yet), so he wouldn't see a therapist.

A New Day, a New Body

Tender had been trying to ignore the stares all day. His muscles had ballooned overnight, but that wasn't the worst of it. He kind of enjoyed that part, as good boys like him had no need for shame.

But his cock was out all the time now, and he most certainly was not comfortable with that yet. He couldn't tuck it in at all anymore, and with his dance clothes already irritating him as much as they did, he'd had no choice but to slip on his old wrestling costume. Smooth, soft lycra hugged his belly, back, and upper arms and legs, as well as keeping his package close to his body and comfortably pointing up instead of dangling all over the place. Some shorts and a shirt, and no one would notice the difference. They might notice the smell of the fabric, but better that than his musk. A well-mannered colt like him knew when to blend in, after all.

No one noticed anything while he was in class, and at least his mind was clearer now. He didn't get those silly thoughts about good boys this and good boys that anymore, he could just focus on what his teacher said now, like a good boy. He sat quietly all day, only answering when he had to, like a good boy. And he put up his best good boy smile anytime someone looked his way. It was so much easier now.

Much to his relief, he didn't have any indecent thoughts about the girls in class, either, just the normal things he'd always thought: she's looking nice, that girl's got nicely trimmed hooves, that one has a tempting rump. No more bad thoughts that didn't belong in his head. His cock twitched and grew at times, but that was normal for a good boy like him, he decided. He was a fit and healthy colt, after all, and he was growing up. No reason for concern. None of the ponies around him noticed, why should he?

Things were back to a routine again. He was back to his normal self. Mostly.

"Holy smokes! Tender Taps? What in tarnation happened to you?"

He winced. Apple Bloom sounded upset, and worried. He couldn't have that, not a good boy like him. He slowed down his trotting, which was now more of a heavy plodding with his body packing on mass as it had. "Umm, I think I may have had a growth spurt."

She chuckled nervously. "No kidding. Have you been feeling warm, still?"

"No, actually. I'm feeling okay now."

As had become her habit, she quickly leaned in and kissed his forehead. She pouted. "Oh, you don't feel okay to me. You're definitely getting warmer now. You should see a doctor. Here, I got some more treats to keep your temperature down."

Tender looked at the bag and squinted. "Apple Bloom, I know I keep asking this, but, umm, are you absolutely, positively, one hundred percent sure those treats are okay?"

"Sure I'm sure. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Think about it, Apple Bloom. You give me those treats, I start losing weight. You give me stronger ones, I... well, look at me. Don't you think that's kind of suspicious?"

Look at him, she did. His arms had swollen to hard tree trunks, as had his legs, and his neck was showing the slightest hint of veins underneath that muscular definition. Most of him was covered, though.

She sighed. "I'm only trying to help, Tender."

"Help me with what? Help me get huge and freakish?"

She took a step back. "Now hold on just a second. You do not look freakish. You look good, you look buff. You look awesome."

He grumbled. "So you did want me to bulk up. You only like big strong boys, is that it?" He winced. "You wouldn't have done what you did yesterday if I wasn't lean and fit?"

She flinched at that. "No. I mean, yeah, I do like strong boys, if I'm totally honest, but..."

"But nothing. You lied to me, Apple Bloom. You said those treats were just for fever."

"They are. They're not supposed to make you grow, Tender. Why would I feed you anything to grow in the first place?"

He shook his head as he tried to think. Apple Bloom was getting upset, and he couldn't let that happen. A good boy took care of his girl, and he was a good boy, and she was his girl. It was only logical he stopped pressing the matter. "Sorry. I don't know what came over me. It's just that I've been having these really weird dreams and..."

She smiled at him. "It's okay, I understand. Been havin’ nightmares, huh? The kind that feels so real, it’s like you’re awake all night?”

“Exactly.”

“So you're not mad at me, then? Just really, really tired?"

He smiled. "Not physically, but tired in my head, yes. I could never be mad at you."

She gave him another minty treat, which he took eagerly. "Here. You'll feel better when you've cooled down."

He sighed as he swallowed the bon bon. "What am I gonna do, though? I can't dance like this."

"Why not? If the rest of you is just as ripped as what's showing-"

"Which it is. Totally ripped." He looked away, blushing. "Like you wouldn't believe."

"Then that's all the more reason to keep dancing. Ponies already look at you with awe and admiration when you move. Think about how they'll look at you when you show off that body of yours. You wouldn't wanna hide all this and keep it to yourself, would you?"

His cock twitched at the thought. Good boys did show off their bodies. Maybe he'd enjoy it. Maybe he could be a little more shameless, like Apple Bloom was. His cock dripped in anticipation. Thankfully, for once, he was covered up enough so the smell wouldn't hit anypony else. "No. Thanks, Apple Bloom. You always know just what to say."

"That's what I'm here for, Tender." She bumped her rup against his, and his cutie mark tingled again, even with two layers of fabric separating them. "But, umm, if you don't mind me giving you some advice?"

"What?"

She gulped. "Don't hang around Ponyville for too long once you're done at the spa. Muscles only grow while you rest, and if you have been having nightmares that badly, chances are you need to catch up on sleep."

"So, you don't wanna try applebucking again?"

She shook her head. "I'd love to show you, but I don't think that's a smart idea, not if this can happen to you this quick. Not today."

He could have cried at that. She really did care about him. She wanted him to be big and buff and healthy.

He wasn't good enough to be her friend otherwise. He couldn't be a good boy if he was too little. But he wasn’t too little, not anymore.

As they walked into class, each turning their own way to the dressing rooms, Tender Taps smiled.

This is fine.

Nothing to worry about.

Dance class was pure bliss for the boy.

Two or three bon bons to keep his fever down, and he didn't even worry about getting stared at anymore. A smile settled on his face when he got into his dance clothes, still wearing the wrestling singlet underneath, and it didn't fade for hours.

Warming up was fun: lifting his firm legs up for all to see, doing the jumps that gave a satisfying 'thump' on the floor with the new weight behind it, and then the stretching.

He'd worried that morning if his new bulk would impede his flexibility, but it didn't; he could do a sideways split now, too, just like the girls! He didn't even worry about his cock bulging out in front of his shorts, or the girls inspecting said bulge.

Good boys show off, after all.

They took turns doing their tapdancing routine, and wrapped up with their own version of Countess Coloratura's 'Razzle Dazzle', with Tender and the rest of the boys doing background choreography while one of the girls did the lead act.

He moaned under his breath as the girls stared at him, and as he ground his hips in tune with the music, waving his big, broad arms around. His own eyes kept darting to the lead's hind quarters.

She has a really nice butt.

I should let her know sometime.

He gulped. His body was warming up again, he could feel it.

It finally dawned on him, thinking about all the other girls he knew: Apple Bloom only wanted him because he was buff now. She wouldn't want to be his friend if he wasn't so ripped. Maybe he should try hanging out with other girls. It couldn't hurt. They might like him for more than just his abs or arms.

I wonder if she'd like my cock...

He didn't think on it long; he had to concentrate. He had to dance. He had to show off his body, like a good boy.

The orange colt was still lost in thought when he got to his spa appointment. What he walked in on, though, was pandemonium. Bulk Biceps stood surrounded by mares, all demanding variations of the same thing.

"But I simply must have my beauty cream!" a female voice cried out. "When is the next shipment coming?"

"Now, now, Missus Rich, we're doing the best we can."

"But what is the matter?" Rarity asked. "Has the stock run dry?"

"D'err, yeah, that's exactly it!” Bulk stammered. “We ran out of ingredients and we can't make any more.”

“Ugh, that's what you said last week.” Cheerilee said. "Are the supplies really that slow?"

"Ladies, ladies," Bulk Biceps said, holding out his hooves. "We're doing the best we can, but unfortunately I can't magically make more cream out of thin air. We're already looking into getting a bigger stock, you'll have what you need tomorrow, I promise.”

That, the herd took as the final answer.

"Very well, Bulk," Rarity said. "But I shall hold you to it. A proper stallion never goes back on his word."

"Don't have to tell me twice, Rarity. You'll get what you want."

With that, the crowd dispersed, and Tender Taps got to the middle of the spa.

"Whoa, little dude, look at you. Not looking so little all of a sudden. What have you been lifting?" Bulk asked.

Nothing, that's the weird part. Well, aside from girls, maybe, but even that...

"Err... it's a long story. Is Aloe in? I'm here for my appointment."

"The girls are making more cream and lip balm for tomorrow. Can't keep track of demand. Lots of mares wanna feel and smell nice, you know." He winked.

Tender chuckled. "I guess." He looked back, still thinking about Apple Bloom.

"Something on your mind, little big guy?"

The boy bit his lip before turning to the giant mass of white pegasus muscle. He noticed Bulk's cock wasn't out, which he took as a good sign that this awkward phase was just that: a phase. "Sort of. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, shoot."

"Have you ever gotten the feeling ponies just like you because of how you look?"

The red-eyed stallion tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"Like... somepony you think is your friend, but then you find out they only like certain kinds of ponies. Ponies that look a certain way, or are strong, or fast. And they wouldn't like you if you weren't like that."

"Heheh, of course, Tender. That's just friendship. Everypony does that." Bulk shrugged.

This was news to the boy, and coming from a resident of the same town as the Princess of Friendship, that was saying something. "Really? I thought friends liked each other, no matter what."

"Nah, that's just namby pamby stuff they tell little kids. Look, you dance, right?"

"Right."

"So you mostly hang out with other dancers, then?"

"Not just dancers, but..."

"But would you hang out with somepony who hated dancing and hated you for being a dancer?"

His stomach knotted at the thought. "No."

"Would you make them hang out with you?"

"No, of course not."

“There you go. Ponies like to find ponies who are like them. Friends like you for who you are, and if you're not you, then they don't like you. Can’t argue with that.”

That got a pout out of him. "So... if some pony likes me because they think I look good, but they only like muscular and buff ponies, they're not really my friend?"

Bulk raised an eyebrow at the boy. "Umm, but you are muscular and buff. So they would like you, obviously."

"But what if I wasn't? How do you deal with knowing ponies just want to treat you like..."

"A dumb stud?"

Tender sighed. “Sorry, Bulk.”

“It's okay, I get that a lot. To tell you the truth, it sounds to me like you should ask that friend of yours, then. Especially if it's a girl. Some girls like buff boys like you and me. That doesn't mean they don't like what's underneath the muscle.”

“But how do I know?”

“Same way you learn anything, big guy: you gotta ask.”

“Ah, there you are,” Aloe said, coming up out of the basement with her sister. “Tender Taps, I am dreadfully sorry for the delay, but it seems everypony has run out of beauty cream at the same time and we simply cannot keep up.”

“That's okay, Miss Aloe. It's not urgent today.”

The pink mare led him to the same back room he always went to, and he flopped on her table.

“You are looking much more buff than usual, Tender,” Aloe noted. “You're not using steroids, I hope?”

"No, I'm not. At least, I think I'm not." He sighed and looked up. Still the same ceiling, still the same dreamcatchers hanging around. Maybe he could catch up on some sleep now.

“Two more sessions to go, Tender. Another invigorating massage today, to prepare for tree bucking?”

"No. I'm not going tree bucking today. I think I'm getting sick."

“Well, if what you have is contagious, I think you'll be finding a lot of boys trying to get infected,” she joked.

“Maybe. I still can't sleep very well. Every time I close my eyes, I have these weird dreams. It's not just scary nightmares, it's like I'm wide awake. I can sleep, but I can't rest.”

“That's all I need to know.” Aloe started rubbing along the sides of his skull, causing his eyes to flutter. “A relaxing massage it is, then.”

"Yes... relaxing. Something to help me sleep. I'm gonna call it an early night tonight, just do my homework, eat dinner, wuh-" he slurred when a particularly soft spot made his body go numb. “Wash up, read a little, then bed. I've gotta get some sleep. Some normal sleep. I don't think I can take another night like before.”

“Close your eyes, then, Tender Taps. You won't get any nightmares here.”

He moaned slightly, and didn't even object when his clothes were removed. Aloe didn't remark on his cock being out and dripping. He didn't say a word.

Just sleep. Rest.

Good boys listen to their bodies.

This body needs to rest.

Tender Taps sighed as he went to bed. His cock was still out -- flaccid, thankfully -- but his skin was so sensitive everything felt like a gentle stroke from a loving girl.

He wriggled in his peejays and rested his head on his pillow.

"Please no bad dreams tonight," he whispered. "Please? I don't think I can take any more. Just let it stop now, please? I’m a good boy, I don’t deserve this." He clutched his pillow tightly. “Please? I’ll be good. Just let me get some rest, please.”

He waited, his muscular body unwinding like a spring, and sleep overtook him.

The trees of Sweet Apple Acres looked inviting. He licked his lips at the sight of the juicy striped prize waiting for him.

His stomach growled.

Good boys listen to their bodies.

His body was hungry, so he did the only thing a clever and healthy Earth pony would do: he bucked the tree for an apple.

With a firm kick, he got the tree shaking. No recoil, no shakiness on his part, Apple Bloom would be proud. But no apples, either. He squinted, thinking, before pulling his hind hooves back for another kick.

"Oof!" He fell down, face first. His hooves were stuck in sap of some sort.

"What the..."

He pulled, but the sap pulled back, even reaching out to coat his muscular legs.

"Oh, no, not again. Help! Somepony help!"

No answer came. The tree trunk crunched as it split open in the middle, and the vertical slit spit out more golden sap that got a hold of his back. He was yanked back against the wood and stuck to the tree.

He pushed against the coating, trying to wriggle his way free. "No! I won't let you do this, not again!"

He was so busy he didn't notice his muscles straining under the pressure he put on them. Little veins started popping out under his fur as he burned what little fat he had left.

When he didn't have any fight left in him, a vine came down in front of face.

Good boys listen to their bodies.

"No. You're not real. You're just a dream. Something's trying to... to change me, I just know it. All this good boy stuff, it’s fake. This isn’t me. This is just Apple Bloom's treats talking, something's wrong with them. You’re making me forget it’s wrong, but it’s still wrong! Go away!" He shouted at the flower.

If it understood, it didn't care. The blossom, white with a yellow centre, lowered itself down as the sap holding him hardened. Sparks started flying through the orchard, and only now did it dawn on Tender Taps that the apple he'd been trying to buck down didn't look normal.

Apples don't have rainbow colouring. What is that, a Zap Apple?

His lapse in attention was brief, as the plant snapped over his cock and wrapped its petals tightly over its flared tip. He gasped, then almost choked.

Lightning surged through his body, settling on his cock. Crackles played over his fur, every nerve ending he had was fried, and when it finally stopped, everything ached. His body had already been sensitive, but now even the air on him was pure suffering.

"Haa... that hurt..."

This feels good.

“No...”

Another surge, and every muscle in his body flexed impotently while his cock grew harder and harder, throbbing to the point he thought it would burst. The flower swallowed his fluid and sucked it up through the vine.

This is what good boys want.

This is what good boys live for.

"No... it hurts..."

Another shock, and all he could do was moan. His cock’s skin felt so soft now, so sensitive. His head hung limply, and he could see he was dripping again.

Pre. That's pre. It's pre-cum. It's what you make before you cum. It's what makes you slick and smooth, what makes girls smile when you enter them. It’s what they taste to test you. It’s what separates the boys from the good boys.

"I can't... I don't wanna go inside a girl... I wouldn't even fit."

Good boys listen to their bodies.

"Please stop. I can't..."

Then don't. Don't fight it. Good boys don't have to fight who they are.

Good boys can enjoy themselves.

The next jolt that went through him was pure bliss. More pre escaped the suckling flower's grip despite its frantic pumping of his fluids.

Will you be a good boy?

"Please..."

All you need to do is give in. She will like you for it. She will love you. Don't you want her to be happy?

His eyes shot open. "Apple Bloom?"

"Enough!"

A female voice cut through both his own whimpering protests and the voices in his head. A dark, cold wind swept over Sweet Apple Acres and made all its trees wither in an instant. The sap that held Tender fast cracked and dropped him.

His cock was still rock hard, and he was pretty sure whatever that plant had done had made it even bigger. Checking his arms, the veins were clearly visible now. There was a throbbing itch on his neck that didn't bode well, either.

But he was free. It was over.

He looked up to see the same mare who'd spotted him the previous night. "Princess Luna?"

She shook her head as she landed, her jaw agape. "What happened to you, child? How long has this been happening?"

He panted for air, and he had to force himself not to touch his tortured cock. "Third night, Your Highness."

She reached out a hoof towards him, but thought the better of it once she noticed how sensitive he was. "What has been happening to you? Do you remember your name? Your past? Have your memories been tampered with?"

"My name's Tender Taps." He bit his lip. "I live in Ponyville. I'm a dancer. I remember."

She let out a sigh of relief. "Good."

"I don't know what's going on. I keep having these weird dreams and waking up, the changes are all real."

"Yes, I know. It's not a commonly known form of magic, but it still happens. Tender Taps, this must end now. Something has been causing you to have these dreams. Something is directly making you like this."

He closed his eyes and whimpered.

Luna took stock of where she was. "I heard you call out a name. Apple Bloom, yes? You are, ah, friends with her, I take it?"

"Yes," he whispered.

"Has she been feeding you anything?"

He gulped. Tears ran down his cheeks. "She said it was to keep my fever down. She told me it was fine."

Luna smiled sympathetically at him. "I'm sure she did." She leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss on his forehead, before touching it with her horn. "But she may have made an error in judgement. I'll go and sort this out, Tender Taps, rest assured. She will not be giving you any bad dreams in the future."

"Please don't be too harsh on her? I don't think she did it on purpose."

"I know your friend, Tender. I know she wouldn't. But look where we are. She did do this, she is responsible, and she should be told as much, lest she make the same mistake again." Luna walked through some sort of glass wall that bent reality around it, some kind of portal, perhaps. "Your mind and body cannot take much more abuse. And I'll not sit idly by while she does the same to another. But I will be gentle, I promise you that. In the meantime, you need to recover. Rest up, Tender. Leave everything to me."

He sighed, and next thing he knew, he was at the dance recital again, dressed in tight clothes that hugged his still hard and dripping cock close to his body, doing what he liked to do.

He performed to an adoring audience, tapping a happy rhythm while the special effects crew made a fake rain come down.

Finally, some relief.

The dream carried him away, and his thoughts went still.

Then the sunrise hit his eyes, and he groaned.

"No... couple more hours... please..."

Author's Note

One of the considerations as to whether to have a child as a victim in your story is how cruel you want to be, and how overt the cruelty should be. An adult is expected to match their opposition as an equal, and physical abuse doesn't have the same impact because, obviously, an adult can still throw a punch back. A child cannot.

So, yeah, this is where things get blurry for poor Tender. He only knows he's being changed in his dreams, while his waking mind can't tell one from the other. And the dreams are keeping his mind active, not letting his thoughts rest. That'll take it out of anypony, poor thing.

Funny thing to wonder about Princess Luna, by the way: if a pony runs into her in their dreams, how would they know it's the actual Princess Luna, and not a figment of their imagination? Food for thought.

Rest and Relief

Apple Bloom came running to Tender Taps on the way to dance class that afternoon. His day had been a mixed bag: on one hoof, he was covered up again with tight fabric underneath some day clothes, so his sensitive fur and skin weren't bothering him too much.

On the other hoof, he'd been getting hard and slick all day. Every little thing set him off: a flick of the tail from the girl sitting in front of him, a quiet 'Hmm' during lunch when one of his classmates ate something really tasty, apparently, even the smell of the soap the girls used was enough to make his pants bulge. He kept having to reach in and tuck his cock up properly, so it would point up and not out. At least it went down normally.

The pre was the worst of it. Every single recess, he'd dashed off to the restroom and dabbed his tip with some toilet paper, desperate to get the dripping to stop. It only worked for so long, though; he was a bottomless well now.

Apple Bloom's eyes widened when she saw him. She smiled at first, but when she saw him glaring accusingly at her, she bit her lip. "Hey, Tender."

"Hello, Apple Bloom. Notice anything different today?"

She flinched. "This is my fault, isn't it?"

He snorted. "You told me it was safe. You told me it wouldn't make me grow."

The girl clenched her eyes shut and wiped away some dirt that was definitely not a tear. "I thought it was, I didn't mean for this to happen. I can't tell you how sorry I am, Tender, I didn't mean for you to get like this. I think my ingredients might have gotten contaminated with Poison Joke."

"Wait, you poisoned me?"

"No, no, Poison Joke ain't actual poison. It's a magical plant, and it pulls pranks. It does different things to different ponies. I guess it made you big and buff for some reason."

"You knew those treats might have been doing this. You wanted me to get this... this big and freakish." He pouted.

She sighed. "I guess maybe I did, a little bit. But it's okay, there's antidotes to Poison Joke. You can get it at the spa, it happens all the time."

He looked down at the ground. His loins stirred again. "So was this really an accident, then, or was it on purpose?"

"No, it was an accident, I swear! I'd never do something like this to you. You're my friend. I like you." She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing that hard muscle and the thobbing veins underneath. "I wouldn't lie to you, or trick you like that. And the truth is, I do like you the way you are now. But I liked you the way you were before, too. I'm sorry for turning you into this without givin' you a choice, Tender, and I'm even more sorry for making you think I wouldn't like you otherwise. But you can get this fixed, now that we know what it is." She backed up and let him go. "Besides, you don't look half bad. Lots of ponies wear clothes all the time, and now you can really show off your, umm, assets."

Tender felt her eyes wander to the bulge between his legs again. He'd been trying to keep it in all day, silly thing. He'd only put on his wrestling gear because the air on his bits was driving him nuts, even with clothes on. But her look filled him with something besides that insistent tingling that had plagued him the past few days. He didn't just feel warm inside, he felt happy.

He looked good, to her. She liked him.

He was a good boy now. A big boy. For her.

"I guess it could be worse. Ponies are gonna stare at me when I dance now."

"In a good way, though," she replied.

"Yeah. It's not that terrible."

Apple Bloom chuckled.

"What?"

"Say that again." Apple Bloom curiously stroked a vein that had popped up on his neck.

He blushed and shivered, his cock bulging enough that he had to quickly adjust it for the umpteenth time that day. "What? Ponies are gonna stare at me?"

"The other part."

"It's not that terrible."

Apple Bloom almost cried at that. Tender Taps didn't even realise it. When he finally did, his heart skipped a beat.

"Terrible, terrifying, tragic," he tried. "Tipping, tight, huh?"

Apple Bloom shook her head and backed up. "Tender?"

"Terrible, terrified... my stutter's gone! How did that happen?"

The filly shrugged. "I guess whatever clicked in your body's given your mind a click, too."

"Must be. Wow. This is kinda weird. But it's nice, too. So what happens now?"

She looked away. "Now, I think you'd better lay off the bon bons. And ask the spa ponies about Poison Joke antidote, before it decides to pull another prank on ya. Who knows, maybe they can get it out of your system and still keep you a little buff."

He flexed his arms and groaned in pleasure. He could feel the dampness on his wrestling singlet as another droplet of that slick liquid crept out, hidden by his loose shorts.

Apple Bloom licked her lips. "And, umm, you know, if you do stay buff like that, if you want to, I mean, I wouldn't mind letting you show off sometime. Get some more practice on the farm, work those firm haunches. You could practise your lifts with me. I ain't like those featherweight dancing gals, you'd get a good workout with me. Like, say, maybe this afternoon?"

"I'd like that. But not too much, okay? I might still be getting sick."

She wiped his mane up and kissed his forehead again. He felt her tongue lap over his scalp as she did, and he idly wondered if maybe he should get a manecut. He was sure he'd been rubbing something over his forehead in his sleep, but he couldn't think of what.

"You are a little hotter than before. I'm sorry, Tender, I think you'd better just let whatever is bothering you happen and sick it out. It's probably just a flu or something. I shouldn't have meddled."

He leaned forward and nuzzled her, before resting a tree trunk of an arm on her. She practically melted under him, her nose curling as she caught a better whiff of his scent.

"You were just looking out for me. That's what friends do. Speaking of which, friends don't let friends be late." Before he even realised what he was doing, he slapped her on her butt.

She jumped and resumed her pace. "Oh, hey, don't get too frisky, Mister. Somepony might see."

Right. Good boys show off their bodies, but only to the right ponies.

Wait. Is that me thinking or is that the treats?

Good boys listen to their bodies.

But is this my body talking or me?

"Looks like it's closed for the day."

He shook his head and checked the notice on the front door of the studio. "Closed due to sickness."

"Guess whatever you've got is goin' around," Apple Bloom said. "I've been feeling a little toastier than usual myself."

"Are you sure you want to practise bucking with me, then?"

"Sure I'm sure. I'd rather have somepony I trust close by, and I don't wanna bug my sister when she's busy. Why don't you go and get your massage appointment a little early, and we'll meet up at Sweet Apple Acres, back at my clubhouse. Get your blood flowing right again before we do any heavy bucking."

Good boys do as they're told.

"Okay. I'm sure Aloe won't mind. I'll see you in a little bit, then."

Tender trudged through the doors of the spa, trying not to draw any unwanted attention.

Aloe was behind the counter, waiting for him. "Tender Taps. You are early."

"Yeah, dance class was cancelled. Something's been going around, I guess."

"Oh, I'm sure it's nothing." She led the way to the back room again, where all the dreamcatchers hung. She patted the table and he hopped on. "Now, what would you like today?"

"Err... I've got one more session on my card, right?"

"Yes, you do."

"Umm, Apple Bloom told me she might have accidentally given me Poison Joke, and you have the antidote to it. Could I have that, please?"

Aloe tilted her head at him. "You wish to be rid of this physique? You do not like it?"

He gulped. "It's not that I don't like it, it's just not me. It's not right for me. I want to be myself again." He winced as his cock pulsed again.

Aloe smiled and nodded. "Take your clothes off and lie on your belly, I will take care of everything."

He took off his T-shirt and shorts, then unzipped his sports gear. "So you can fix me?"

Aloe nodded again, fetching a machine from the corner. It looked like a box with a tube attached, one that ended in a hard plastic case that was open on one side. "I know exactly what to do. Just lie back."

He turned to lie on his belly, and his cock was pressed between his body and the table.

Then the touch to his temples came, and he was lost.

Good boys obey.

"Whoa, I dun... I feel weak."

"Hmm, must be my healing touch kicking in again. You are one strong-willed boy, you know that?"

He blinked furiously, trying to wriggle his body to no avail. "Wait. What are you going to do?"

Aloe hummed. "Finish what I began, of course: complete your treatment. Make you into a good boy. A big boy."

His heart started pounding in his chest. He couldn't move, he couldn't get up. "Y-you? You did this to me?"

"Of course, silly boy. You didn't think a simple candy could cause such a magnificent growth, did you? I'm surprised you even managed to worry, with all the thoughts dancing around in your head." More strokes and rubs around his ears, and he felt a pressure building.

"N-no, stop..."

"Ah-ah, Tender. We've come too far now. Tell me, are you a good boy?"

He bit his lip and shuddered all over. His cock dripped, but he couldn't move. He was tied down by chains that didn't exist outside his own head.

"I'm a good boy."

"And what do good boys do?"

He wanted to struggle, to fight, to cry out, but all he could do was listen to himself reciting the rules that seemed so obvious before, but now seemed so obviously wrong.

"Good boys listen to their bodies. Good boys take care of their bodies. Good boys show off. Good boys make girls happy."

"Very good. And now, today, we can carry on with your final lesson: good boys get rewards."

He whimpered, his ears flattened against his head as he felt a movement underneath him. "Why? Why would you do this?"

The machine was hooked to his cocktip and secured. Before long, he felt the suction, and Aloe stroked his back to try and stop that shivering. "Your friend is not the only pony who needs good ingredients. It takes a strong stallion to produce what we need for our stocks, and dear Bulk simply cannot keep up with the demand on his own. The mares in this town really like their beauty cream, turns out. Though between you and me, I suspect they're using it for, ah, recreational purposes, mostly. Would explain why they use it up so quickly, I suppose."

His eyes widened and his mouth opened in a soundless moan. Every gentle suckle, every weak buck from his hips, more pre was harvested, milked out of him.

Aloe chuckled and patted him on the back. "Do not worry, Tender. You'll feel better after the extraction. And look on the bright side: you have a fine body now, perfect for performing. I'll wager any girl in town would want to have some fun with you once you're done. You certainly will." She tapped the tube as his pre flowed freely through it. "We can't have any contamination in our machines, unfortunately, so you'll have to look at other avenues for actual relief. Bulk has his regular customers from Canterlot, but you're a little young to be marketed like that. And we don't want the Royal Guard finding out, do we?"

"You can't do this." He finally caught enough of his breath to moan as that infernal machine pumped and sucked his aching cock dry.

"I already have. That little head of yours won't be putting up much of a fight after today." She tapped the back of his skull. "Though I will admit, you are more difficult to treat than Bulk was. Poor thing, he never quite got all his wits back after that infection spread to his brain. But you're a smart and healthy boy, and I intend to keep you that way. You'll not have to worry about that."

He managed to arch his back into the milking machine. "Somepony will notice."

The pink mare chuckled at that. "Notice what? Your sudden and extreme growth? Please. Your best friend is an apprentice potion maker, your cutie mark is in performing. Bulking up is the least a boy like you could do. Besides, this is Ponyville. A castle bursts out of the ground and it's considered normal. A little boy getting big? This town gets a fresh delivery of gossip and drama every Saturday morning. You'll blend right in."

He cried. His cock was being drained, milked of pre, and his head pounded with pleasure, but he still couldn't find any relief.

"Oh, don't look so glum, Tender Taps. This is for the spa, and it's good for you. You wouldn't want me and my sister to lose business, would you?"

He gasped as the pumping started to make his throbbing cock hurt. "This is wrong. I can't... I don't want to..."

"Oh, but you can, and you will." She knelt down in front of him and held his head in her hooves. The pain eased up, just like that.

He tensed. "Somepony will find out."

"Not from you, they won't."

Everything in his eyesight went white. His body was wracked with spasms, then went still.

"Relax, Tender Taps. You should feel honoured; not many ponies get to witness Earth pony magic used on flesh instead of soil."

Good boys listen to their bodies.

"Thaaaat's it. Let go. You poor thing, you're so tired and weak. You can't keep this up."

Good boys show off.

"No more retorts? Do you not have the strength to fight back?"

Good boys make girls happy.

"Or do you not want to fight back anymore?"

I'm a good boy.

He moaned. "Humma... good..."

Aloe smiled and pressed the tip of her hoof to his forehead. He felt a heat building in it, bleeding over through his skull into his brain. "Close enough. Now, let's move on to your final lesson, shall we? And no more objections or distractions."

"Please..." he whimpered. "Don't... I'm so tired. My head..."

She smiled at him as the warmth pushed through her hoof. "Well, I suppose you don't absolutely need to be awake for this. Rest up, little boy. When you wake, all will be well."

Tender Taps found himself naked again, at Sweet Apple Acres, rushing towards Apple Bloom in the back of the orchard, near the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse. How he'd gotten there, he didn't know, but he was relieved to have made it out of the spa with his mind and body intact, at least.

"How'd the massage go, Tender?" Apple Bloom asked as he galloped towards her.

It was terrible! Aloe's the one who did this to me, she's been messing with my head.

"It went okay," Tender replied as he reached her.

Wait. I didn't mean to say that. Apple Bloom?

"Nice and limber for bucking practice, then?" She led the way to some trees, he followed obediently.

Apple Bloom, listen to me. Something's going on at the spa. It's got something to do with me and Bulk. I'm not sure what it is, but it's bad, you have to get help.

"You bet. Gotta make sure these big new muscles stay nice and taut, right?"

She chuckled and blushed. "Exactly right. Now, remember: wind up your kick before you go, make sure your front hooves are steady." She took her position, presenting her rump to him.

His body moaned and bit his lip at the sight, and his cock poked out again.

Wait, no. Apple Bloom, you need to get help! I have to tell you! It's Aloe, she must have crossed some wires in my head, I can't talk anymore. Apple Bloom!

He turned his tail end on the tree and bucked at the same time she did, managing to land an apple right in front of him.

She smiled proudly at him. "Just like that."

He felt his mouth curl up in an even prouder smile. He was a good boy, and he impressed her. That's all he wanted in life, really. He bucked again, taking turns with her. His breath jerked, he wanted to laugh out loud with pure joy.

Thanks. You can't imagine how good it feels to hear that from you. Wait, no, Apple Bloom, listen to me! There's something important I have to tell you! Come on, mouth, move! I have to tell her, I have to get help, before she gets my smell in her nose again.

She sniffed the air and looked down at his package, watching his cock dangle as he bucked and kicked like a true farm pony. She winced in sympathy. "Hey, uh, your thing is poking out again."

Yes. Good, that's not normal. You know that's not normal. Come on, you know me. I'm not shameless like you. I mean, I wanna be, but... wait, no, that's not right, either. You know I cover up, Apple Bloom, you know boys are supposed to cover up.

"Do you want me to go fetch some pants for you? I'm sure I've got some mountain pants that'd fit, they don't look girly or nothin'."

Tender's body sighed and let its head hang. "Thanks. But it'll go down on its own eventually. Nopony's going to find us here, right? Nopony will see. Unless... you mind it?" He bucked again, harvesting another apple all on his own. He felt the rush of happiness flow through his heart again, trying to cloud his mind. Aloe's work, no doubt.

Apple Bloom quirked an eyebrow at it. "Of course not, I've seen that sorta thing plenty of times. But maybe you should get that checked out. There aren't any other boys in town who have that kind of problem. And from the looks of it, Aloe didn't give you the Poison Joke antidote, did she?"

The boy bit his lip. "No. Not yet. Actually, about that, I've been thinking. Do you... like me this way?"

Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes. Wait, what am I thinking? No, say no!

"What kinda silly question is that? Of course I like you; you're my friend. I like you like this, and I liked you the other way, too."

A drop of pre leaked from his cock's tip.

No. No, don't smell it, Apple Bloom, you're gonna lose control again.

She leaned in closer and took a good whiff of his musk. "Hoo, Nelly. You really do have a strong smell, you know. You should wear some perfume or something; you're gonna drive girls totally nuts if you're not careful."

You can resist it now. Yes! Come on, you have to notice something's off.

"You're not gonna... you know..." he let that sentence trail off.

"Suck it up like last time? No, I can keep my wits about me now, thanks. Farm girl, remember? I've seen critters breeding before, the smells don't bother me that much. It just takes some gettin' used to, is all. Unless, of course, you want me to be bothered?"

What are you saying? Wait, no, Apple Bloom, don't! This isn't me!

He chuckled nervously. "Why would I want you to be bothered?"

"Well, I do owe you from last time. It was wrong of me to do... that. I do want to make it up to you, and all the other stuff." She smiled. "If you go see a doctor about your thing poking out all the time, you're gonna have to let your folks know. Your mom, your dad... you might not get to dance anymore if ponies find out you're getting stiff like that all the time, even if this is just a temporary thing."

No. I can't quit dancing, it's my whole life. But you don't understand, Apple Bloom, this is Aloe's doing! Why can't I tell you?!

"So what do you suggest?"

She looked away and dug a hoof into the ground, throwing her cutest, more heart-meltingly adorable pout at him. "Umm, I don't know. To tell you the truth, I think I might have caught the same thing you have. I've been feelin' a little off, you know, down below. Kinda wet and, umm, hollow. Like I'm hungry all the time, but I can't fix it with eating."

Oh, gosh, that sounds terrible. Is there anything I can do to help?

"If there's anything I can do to help, just ask. But I can't go and do... that," Tender said, before reaching up to this throbbing head. "There's something I'm supposed to tell you. Something important."

Yes, that's it. Tell her. Tell her about Aloe, tell her about the massages.

"What is it?"

Tell her!

"I... I can't remember. It's like I dreamed it, and I couldn't write it down after I woke up."

"Aww, I really made a mess of you, didn't I?" She stroked his cheek, then over his hard neck and down his bulging shoulders. "You're such a good boy, Tender Taps. You know that, right?"

He gulped. "Yeah, I'm a good boy. I just forget sometimes."

I really am a good boy, aren't I? I never realised how happy ponies could be, because of me. It feels so nice, being appreciated. Oh, Apple Bloom, why can't I tell you?

"I'm kind of jealous, you know," Tender's body said.

"Jealous about what?"

"You, being so fearless. I could never go out on stage knowing I'd make a fool of myself. I could never embarrass myself to help a friend, let alone somepony I've only known for a few hours. I don't think I can even walk across the street like this." He looked down at his rugged chest and washboard abs, and the proud cock that crowned it all. "But you can."

She wiped away a tear at that. "Don't start gettin' all sappy on me, Tender. You're gonna get me all blushing and flustered."

You say that like it's a bad thing. You look adorable when you blush.

"And is that a bad thing?"

She pouted and shook her head. "You really can’t keep that thing in, can you?"

His cock was dripping again now, even after being milked so thoroughly. His nose caught an inviting scent that made his ears perk. He wasn't the only one leaking, for a change. "Sorry. I didn't mean to. I forgot my clothes at the spa, I think."

She looked down at the ground in shame. "Would it really be that bad if we, you know..."

"If we what?"

"If we, umm, relieved some pressure together. I like you, you like me. I don’t think you’ve got a lot of options. Don’t you want to?"

More than you know. I want to pin you down and fuck you so bad... wasn't there something I had to say?

"I don't know, Apple Bloom. Something about this feels wrong."

Wrong? Why would it be wrong? I'm a good boy. Good boys listen to their bodies. This is what my body wants. Why is it backing out now? I don't have a chicken body, do I? It's what I came here for, isn't it? I'm sure it is.

Apple Bloom smiled and turned her back on him, raising her rump towards his face and looking back. "How about now?"

He shook his head and closed his eyes. "You're not acting like yourself, Apple Bloom. There's something I was supposed to tell you, about the spa. If I can just concentrate..."

She's so cute, so open, I'll bet she feels warm and velvety smooth inside. What was I gonna say?

She turned to lie on her back so she'd be facing him. "What about now?" She raised her hooves up in a begging position. "Is this better?"

His breath caught as he leaned over her, getting into position. She reached up and stroked over his rock hard neck, before going down over his ribcage. "That's it."

"Why are you doing this? You know we shouldn't."

"Because I want to," she whined. “And so do you. I don't wanna force you, but I don't wanna leave you hanging, either. Look at you: you're shaking. The only reason you don't want to is because you think that'd make you a bad boy. But it wouldn't. Nopony would hold it against you, least of all me."

Apple Bloom, wait. I think something's wrong with my brain. I don't know what thoughts are mine and what's Aloe's. I don't know who's talking anymore, even in my own head.

He reached down and kissed her on the muzzle, before wrapping his tree trunk arms around her and thrusting in.

She moaned as he breached her walls, slowly at first, then picking up the pace and driving his cock deeper into her. He was so slick, she barely offered any resistance. She fit him like a snug costume, hugging his most tender and private part.

"That's it. That's perfect," she said with a happy sigh. "Oh, Tender. That's so much better-Hng!"

He spread her and clenched her tightly against his hard abs and chest, his hips rocking back and forth to drive ever deeper into her welcoming body.

His mind was blank as he went, just acting on instinct and programming. She bucked against him and wrapped her arms and legs around his body while he pressed her against the ground, hard enough to bruise even her hard physique.

Time lost meaning. The sounds of their panting and moaning, and the wet slaps of his thrusts against her, became dim in his mind. The smells of apples faded away.

There was only warmth, and wetness.

Only her.

He was a good boy, for her.

"Ah!" With a gasp, she clenched around his cock.

Like any good boy, he came along with her, filling her up with seed that had been building up for days. Finally, he fulfilled his purpose. Finally, he had relief. His head pounded, his eyes clenched shut. His whole body finally felt right and relaxed.

He collapsed on her when he was done, cock still twitching within her. His head felt as heavy as the rest of his muscular body now.

"Wow," Apple Bloom said. "That was somethin' else."

He managed to chuckle softly and hugged her, tensing up his abs so her round belly would squish against them. His eyes fell closed again as fatigue caught up with him.

"Aloe was right," she added.

Aloe?

He lifted himself up enough to look her in the eyes. "Aloe? What about her?"

"She's been teachin' me some Earth pony magic, didn't she tell you? When I hurt my back a while ago, she helped fix me up. And since I kinda like herbs and potions and whatnot, she's been teaching me all kinds of stuff."

"Like what?"

"Just standard stuff, potion making, mostly. And how to be a good girl. She told me you might need some relief." She pressed her forehead against his. "I'm so glad you feel better now. I couldn't live with myself, knowing I'd given you those horrible nightmares."

It finally dawned on him. He knew what he was supposed to say.

"Aloe's been teaching me, too. That's what I meant to tell you."

"Oh. Well, you coulda fooled me. You must be a really good student."

"Yeah, thanks. I'm... I'm a good boy." He let out a tired sigh. "But, anyway, she said that, if I wanted to, I could come over to spa after dance class every day now. Help out and stuff."

"That's great. We can go together, then; I've been meaning to get back into potion practice. If, you know, it's not too awkward having me around."

"If you're coming, then I'm coming. It'll be nice."

She hugged his body tightly to her, and he thrust into her again for good measure.

"This'll be great. Aloe's so smart, I'm sure we'll learn lots of new things from her," Apple Bloom said.

"Yeah... she's a great teacher." He let his head rest on her.

She patted the back of his neck. "Rest up, Tender Taps. You've earned a break."

His eyelids dropped, and his body went limp.

His mind was silent as it drifted into a dreamless sleep, save for one tiny question that only managed to keep him up for a second or two.

Why was I even worried?

The End.

Author's Note

So that was it: muscle foalcon with a smattering of mind control. Rushed and not the usual fare, but good enough to publish.

Mind control stories are odd in their possible set-ups: you can have a dominant person enslaving a submissive person (standard corruption or enslavement story), you can have a submissive controlling a dominant story (revenge mind control, pushy subs, knocking down bosses) but then you can also have a third option: someone controlling both sides of a relationship and making them, well, mate.

Reasons can vary: the controller may be away and want his subjects to feel his presence through a proxy. They may want a slower corruption, and if the victim suspects the controller it can be useful to use a detour. Or, sex isn't the objective at all. Blackmail could happen, or sex is simply an afterthought to some form of exploitation, which is the case here. Tender's changes are purely business (though Aloe seems to be enjoying herself), but she doesn't want his seed. On the other hoof, if she doesn't make sure he gets relief, production might slow or even halt entirely.

Tender Taps doesn't stutter that much in his episode, but he does it once or twice, and only on certain words (I think it was only 'terrifying'). Him being cured of it because of the corruption seemed like a nice touch. Really hammer home that sick bitch feel for the ponies behind all of this.

As for the mechanism, we've seen Earth ponies use their hooves to tend the land and make it fertile. In other properties and cultures, there's the idea of a healing touch sending positive energy into the patient's body. It's not that big a stretch to combine those and extend it to 'other' applications.

Bulk Biceps, by the way, is left open to the reader's imagination. Aloe claims he's a bit fuzzy-headed because of an infection in his childhood, but whether that's true is left open. I wouldn't go so far as to say the spa ponies made him dumb, but if that's your thing, the elements are there. At any rate, there's no reason to risk blitzing Tender's brain more than she already has, so he'll be his usual smart and dancing self... and getting milked daily. But hey, he's got Apple Bloom to keep him company, so it's all good, right?

The final shift, in case it wasn't obvious, was supposed to show the line between Tender Taps' own thoughts and his programming fade. The major drive behind that is, of course, Apple Bloom wanting him to feel better and him not wanting to be rude to her. If either one had had the strength of will to try and hurt the other to break free, it wouldn't have happened. They are effectively snared by the affections they have for each other. Standard stuff.