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.