Changeling Therapyby MarmaladeDreamChaptersThe RunawayDinner With A FriendIntegrationNew BeginningsThe RunawayChapter One - The Runaway No matter how many times she was in her presence, Fluttershy always felt a few lingering trembles of nervousness whenever she was around Princess Celestia. Standing under the stained glass expanse of the throne room hall, she saw how the sun cluttered the mighty volume with dazzling rays of light. Each great glass pane was backlit fully, displaying the range of great ponies and deeds remembered on their face, including the mane six adorned with The Elements Of Harmony. Fluttershy turned to face Twilight and cocked her head to one side with a quizzical look. “Do you know what this about Twilight?” She asked politely, suppressing her voice into a little hush as though she were in a library. “I’m honestly not sure Fluttershy.” The alicorn replied, pressing a hoof to her snout momentarily then settling it back down again with a firm clop which echoed around the walls. The Mane 6 as well as Spike and a few of their friends had been staying in Canterlot all week after the most recent Grand Galloping Gala. This year the event had, uncharacteristically progressed without too much of a ruckus: much to Twilight's relief and much to Celestia’s chagrin: who had commented later as a joke that she had been so bored she considered inviting Tirek to the party. Rather than leave immediately after the affair the Mane 6 decided to spend a week in Canterlot as a holiday, with a little business on the side for Rarity of course. Halfway through their stay Twilight and Fluttershy had both received an urgent summons to come to the palace immediately. Usually when this happened, from all their previous recollections, it was most commonly not good news. “I’m sure it’s nothing we can’t handle.” Twilight remarked, giving Fluttershy a little broadside nudge with her flank. “At least let’s hear first what the princess has to say first.” “I always still get a little nervous, I can’t help it.” Fluttershy replied, a little meekly, but only a little. After all her self confidence and assertiveness had been one of the challenges she’d overcome with the help of her friends. “Oh Fluttershy you’re not nervous around me and I’m a princess.” Twilight pointed out, and Fluttershy felt obliged to return a small nod of agreement. Whatever else they might have said was never to be as Princess Luna and Princess Celestia entered the hall, flanked by the clattering of the iron clad Royal Guard. Twilight smiled for a moment and began to canter forward in preparation to greet her friend and mentor when she suddenly froze, her eyes widening. Fluttershy let out breathy squeal and pointed forward with the base of her hoof, shooting her foreleg out like a salute. Between Luna and Celestia there stood, almost like a spiny silhouette, the unmistakable chitinous form of a Changeling, one of Queen Chrysalis’s minions. “Celestia there’s a….” Twilight began, spreading her wings in preparation for any imminent trouble. “I know Twilight…” Celestia hastily interrupted, attempting to mollify Twilight before she hastened to action prematurely. “There is no cause for alarm. The changeling here is exactly the matter for which I brought you to me.” Twilight and Fluttershy exchanged quizzical stares and then faced forward once more, staying quiet as they sensed Celestia was poised to deliver some much needed exposition. “My dear friends, please allow me to introduce Iridis.” She motioned to the changeling who stood between them, a slightly nervous looking expression on his face, something Twilight and Fluttershy had not expected to see. He stood about the height of a grown mare, looking Equestrian in form but shiny beetle black, his pliable and slightly soft carapace hugging his body like armour. His eyes were insectoid in appearance, reflective and opaque, with no discernable pupils. Characteristic holes dotted and mottled the extremities of his legs, while two semi transparent bug-like wings were folded across his back. Iridis raised his gaze and managed to meet Twilight’s for only a moment. “Iridis has defected from the Chrysalis Swarm.” Princess Celestia explained. “We found him wandering the outskirts of Canterlot a few weeks ago and although initially we thought his intentions were hostile - we are convinced he genuinely wishes to escape Queen Chrysalis’s tyranny and learn about friendship.” She saw Twilight and Fluttershy’s skepticism and so continued. “He has willingly chosen to wear an inhibitive collar.” She motioned to a platinum looking ring around his neck. “As you well know Changelings feed on the love of others, choosing forms to elicit those feelings and then taking advantage of them. For Iridis to live safely amongst other beings he needs to be able to feed enough to survive, but not so much as to harm those around him - the urge to feed is hard to resist and this artifact will help reduce his cravings. It also prevents him being able to shapeshift. Which as you can understand is quite a sacrifice.” “I can understand that perhaps…” Fluttershy piped up, suddenly feeling a burst of kinship as she looked at the slightly sad looking face of the Changeling. “When I was Flutterbat…. I was so hungry I didn’t care who I hurt as long as I could feed. Though I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Princess Celestia and Luna both smiled as Twilight skeptically cocked her head and narrowed her eyes just a little. “And that Fluttershy is exactly why I must ask for your help once again…” Princess Celestia continued, a warm and respectful look in her eye. “You are kind and empathetic Fluttershy, able to see the good in everypony. Just look at the wonderful job you did helping to reform Discord.” “What are you asking, umm, your highness?” Fluttershy piped up. “I want you, if you are willing, to take this Changeling back to PonyVille with you, to help him learn about himself, friendship and integrate into the society there.” Twilight and Fluttershy swapped glances once again and turned away slightly, facing from the royal ensemble and forming a little conspiratorial huddle. Twilight learnt close to whisper to her friend. “I’m not quite sure what to say Fluttershy. I’m sorry you seem to have been put on the spot.” She shot a glance over briefly at Iridis who appeared to avert his gaze, an impenetrable expression painted on his face. “ I trust Celestia though, she wouldn’t ask without a good reason, but what do you want to do? I’m here for you whatever you decide.” Fluttershy swallowed a little, controlled her nervousness and doubt then replied to Twilight. “I think I know what to do Twi…” She replied, turning back and raising her neck out a little proudly so she could easily be heard. “May I address Iridis, princess?” She asked to Celestia, who smiled knowingly and stepped aside a little to bring the changeling into focus. He looked diminutive next to the voluminous bodies of the Celestial and Luna alicorns - vulnerable, perhaps even slightly afraid. “Of course you may Fluttershy.” The yellow Pegasus stepped up, climbing one or two of the steps at the hall’s end, and looking into the eyes of Iridis. “Hello Iridis. It’s nice to meet you. I’m sure you’ve been through a lot, but I want to ask you… Is this what you want, to come back to Ponyville with us, to learn about friendship?” Iridis paused for a moment and looked up briefly to Luna who nodded with her habitual serious expression. “I can’t go back.” He replied, quietly, shifting his neck momentarily and grimacing as though the inhibiting carcanet was both heavy and irritating. “But do you want to move forward?” Fluttershy asked, instinctively probing but without seeming to be too demanding or forceful. Iridis remained quiet, his expression giving the appearance of contemplation and pain yet remaining almost paradoxically unreadable. He slowly nodded his head. “He’s been through a very difficult time.” Luna explained. “I feel a kinship with him for… obvious reasons. He was the one who came to us.” “I’ll do it. I’ll do what I can to help you.” Fluttershy decided, a ring of determination in her voice. She could see Twilight nodding approvingly despite her own concerns, this was after all, a dance they had done before with Discord - Fluttershy having shown to everyone that even the most antagonistic of beings were capable of change. Even if Discord had attempted to send one of Fluttershy’s friends to another dimension in the not too distant past (an incident Celestia still continued to giggle about). Iridis’s face twitched a moment, and Fluttershy fancied she saw the briefest and most ephemeral of smiles slowly adorn his cheeks and then vanish just as suddenly. It was Twilight though who next spoke up. “Is there anything you need me to help with Princess? I’m sure that collar requires some kind of maintenence, is that why you called me here?” “Indeed my former pupil, I can fill you in on the details later if you wish. The upkeep is relatively simple, but if anything goes wrong you may need to take action to control Iridis. I say this not to be cruel towards him, it is he that requested this. He doesn’t want….” “I would rather die than go back to the hunger, to being a slave…” Iridis suddenly snarled and it was plain for all to see the anguish contorting the even the firmness of his smooth, shiny and chitinous face. It was of a slightly softer consistency though than a beetle carapace, enough for some flexural movement. “It won’t come to that… I promise.” Fluttershy interjected, immediately, instinctively - feeling a rush of sympathy for her soon to be charge. Twilight took a deep breath. “I think it’s settled then. I suppose there probably are some arrangements. I should make a list perhaps?” “This would be a good time for some lists Twilight.” Celestia replied, smiling at Twilight’s compulsive record keeping. “Let me fill you in on the particulars..” Dinner With A FriendChapter Two - Dinner With A Friend “You’re going to do WHAT?” Was the predictable reaction from Rainbow Dash when Twilight and Fluttershy were able to return and convey the news to an assembly of the Mane Six; spike present of course. Eventually, after some heated debate, it was Fluttershy who persuaded Rainbow Dash that “Sonic rainbooming the changeling back to where he came from” was not in the spirit of friendship. The pegasus had sulked for a few hours, but had then come to realise that this was indeed true and had grudgingly accepted the proposition. AppleJack and Spike were more on the suspicious side, Rarity had been a little more willing to agree to the idea but Pinkie Pie was too distracted making silly faces into the shiny flower vase to seem too concerned - she did however eventually contribute by suggesting throwing an extravagant ‘Welcome To Ponyville - No Longer An Evil Changeling” party. Fluttershy suggested that Iridis was not quite ‘ready’ yet for that much ‘excitement’. Eventually all the Mane 6 were on board - at least more or less - and it was decided they would return to Ponyville without Fluttershy for a week or two. She was to stay with Iridis to spend some time to get to know him a little better. She had thought ahead to how difficult it would be for him to walk into PonyVille and having to endure what she knew would be fearful and suspicious reactions. To that end her friends would talk to the mayor about trying to give PonyVille’s denizens a little warning, perhaps easing Iridis’s introduction. During the few weeks’ time they had remaining in Canterlot, helped by aides and with their own guards: Fluttershy started to get to know Iridis a little better. He was remarkably withdrawn and quiet for the first week, not venturing far from the room they were both staying in, but with a little coaxing and tenderness she eventually persuaded him to at least take a walk with her on the ramparts, far from any prying eyes below. Standing in the afternoon sun, looking across the jutting precipices of the mountain, PonyVille glimmered just slightly in the very distance. “You know I nearly helped destroy all of this....” He said, suddenly and Fluttershy turned to him quietly, waiting to see if he wanted to say more. Iridis lowered his head slightly sighed then continued. “I was here some time ago. Helping to invade this place. I didn’t… I didn’t see what I was doing. The ponies here they were just ‘food’ to me. It didn’t occur to me for a moment that, you were like us, that you could have feelings in the way we did.” “Do other changelings have feelings too?” Fluttershy asked, gently probing. “We all do.” Iridis replied, both melancholy and thoughtful. “But we don’t feel love the way I think you do. For us it’s something we need to survive, something to feed on. The way I see you Ponies treat each other, being so kind: that’s something we don’t really have among changelings. It makes me sick that I can’t feel it the way you do.” He tugged for a moment at the inhibiting necklace which emitted an angry hum and glowed with blue runes before settling back to its shiny platinum sheen. “Go on.” Fluttershy encouraged, her voice soft and inviting, like warm honey. Iridis felt the concern and tenderness in her voice and it coaxed a little more out of him. “I… I did what Changelings do. I impersonated other ponies and drained them of their love. But one time… I tried to make a pony love me just for me. I found a mare, one I was supposed to take back for the Extracting Chamber deep in the Hive.. but I didn’t. I impersonated a stallion and became friends with her… but no matter what I did I couldn’t make her love me and in the end she grew tired and abandoned me, wished never to see me again.” Iridis finally trailed off and gave the appearance of crying even though his anatomy prevented him from shedding any tears. “I’m glad you told me this Iridis.” Fluttershy replied, soothingly placing a foreleg over his shoulder and applying gentle and affectionate pressure. “But I’m afraid you can’t just ‘make’ anypony love you. That’s true for anypony, not just for you. May I ask though, if I can be so bold, why was it you chose to do this?” Iridis seemed to reflect for a moment as though he was unsure himself. “I think….” He said at great length. “I saw her and… I couldn’t bring myself to take her to the hive. I couldn’t. She was…. I can’t explain it. I just couldn’t.” Fluttershy pondered this for a moment and then gently replied. “I think you’re not as much of a stranger to how we feel love as you think Iridis. But I do know that you can’t ‘make’ somepony love you. It’s something that happens between two ponies, or being I guess, when you feel the same way about each other. And there’s more than one type of love too…” Iridis looked up. “Yes Twilight sent me a list of them for me to study, there are many more than I thought.” Fluttershy giggled a little and a few strands of her deeply pink mane fluttered in the breeze. “Well Twilight does like her lists… I honestly don’t know them all to be honest but I’m sure she tried to explain them to be once a long time ago.” “She told me…” Iridis pondered. “That one of things she most admired about you was that you had abundance of the love known as Agape. Or a love for everyone.” The pegasus blushed very deeply. “Well I don’t know I love ‘everyone’, but I do find I see the best in most ponies.” “Even in a creature like me?” He asked, almost rhetorically, with an edge of frustration and sadness glazing his words. “Yes. I do.” She replied, noticing how he was beginning to look very tired, she nudged him gently with her hoof. “It’s time for you to have something to eat Iridis, you look hungry and tired.” He turned away a little and snorted. “I hate that we need to do this.” “I don’t mind. Truly.” Fluttershy reassured. “Come on, let’s go somewhere more private.” Iridis followed him. “I hate my body for needing this...” Fluttershy turned slightly and shushed him gently with a mumming hoof clasped firmly over the tip of his mouth. “Oh Iridis you can’t help the way you are… now not another word, just let me help you.” Once the pair had found somewhere private and secluded Fluttershy turned and motioned for Iridis to relax down onto his haunches: dutifully he folded his punctured legs under his body and waited, patiently. When Fluttershy had first agreed to take on her new charge, Celestia had explained how there would be a difficult and intimate task she would need to be willing to perform. For as a changeling Iridis could not survive without feeding on love, more specifically love directed at him. As she had done a number of times now, Fluttershy moved in close and rested the weight of her head on his shoulder, allowing the cherry-blossom waterfall of her mane to cascade over his back. Iridis was always polite, repressed and silent during this ritual, but he found a jolt always ran up his back as he felt the closeness of her breathing, and the softness of her scent. Fluttershy closed her eyes gently and concentrated, thinking about Iridis, only about him and of nothing else. Summoning within her all the affection, empathy and sympathetic love she could: she let it collect in her as a well of feeling, letting him sense the fullness of her emotions. Iridis reached around his friend with a hoof and pulled her slightly closer, then lowering his head slowly he began to let himself feed - the inhibiting collar seeming to wax like the moon, glowing a brilliant blue as it prevented him from hurting her by drawing too much at once. Fluttershy gasped a little, as always, at the strange sensation, it felt like a long sigh but with little pinpricks of electricity that made her short coat bristle and strand proud. At first it had felt unusual to her, unpleasant even. But after the first few times she began to realise the sensation was quite enjoyable; infact very pleasureable. Both their breathing became heavy and laboured, the rhythms of their chests reaching a synchronised cadence as Fluttershy could not suppress a few tiny gasps and ‘ooofs’ of pleasure as the feeding continued. She moved her rear hooves a little, occasionally stamping gently from tiny involuntary spasms. Her cheeks were soon painted in the rosy tint of a deep satisfied blush as she resisted the urge to hold Iridis too tight. Easy Fluttershy.. She said to herself. Remember this is about him, not you, try to stay focussed. If only it didn’t feel so good though…………. For Iridis too the ‘procedure’, if one could call it that, was a confusing melange of feelings. On the one hand the hunger he had felt as a changeling was something he’d wanted to leave behind him, to deny about himself. On the other hand Fluttershy seemed genuinely unbothered in performing this intimate rite with him. The love coming from her was like nothing he’d ever tasted before, not as torrid or as unpredictable as lust, or heavy like romantic attachment - it was instead constant, deep and gentle. It had overtones of other feelings, hidden things he couldn’t discern like gazing into the abyss of an ocean trench. There was something else he was feeling too. He felt towards Fluttershy something like he’d felt towards that mare he’d refused to capture. It was alien to him and hard to articulate, much less comprehend. Part of it frightened him, and part of it gave him hope. A little later, once Iridis was finally sated, the two collapsed a little, both slightly exhausted; Fluttershy more so. He opened his mouth to say something but she cut in before he could get the words out. “Please Iridis, don’t apologise for what you are.” IntegrationChapter Three - Integration “Dear Princess Celestia…” Began Twilight’s weekly missive where she reported on Iridis’s integration. “It’s been a month now and Iridis is actually settling in very well considering. I think the first few weeks, as I mentioned, were the hardest. In general I think the citizens of PonyVille have been very welcoming, with some even making an outstanding effort. The CMC have been particularly helpful and have been getting Iridis to try ‘certain’ activities to try to get him his cutie mark. I don’t know if Changelings can have one or not, but it hasn’t stopped them trying. Some of the attempts have been problematic but it’s all under control. Lately Iridis’s moods have been fluctuating somewhat. Fluttershy says that now he’s starting to make friends and learn about different types of love he’s having a little trouble with some of the new feelings he’s having. For example, he laughed at a joke for the first time and thought something was wrong with him: apparently the only kind of laughter he’d experienced before was either through impersonation or in a villainous way. Turns out he’s got quite a dry sense of humour and he can be quite funny at times. I think the next few months will probably be very critical for him but I am confident in Fluttershy’s abilities. She doesn’t seem to have any ill effects from helping to feed him, far from it she seems to be glowing - she’s such a wonderful nurturing friend, seems like Iridis is really bringing out the best in her. I got the opinion of Dr Horse who been helping Fluttershy deal with Iridis’s medical needs. He says the lack of emotional development is quite similar to some of the cases where he’s seen young ponies grow up without love, or having experienced abuse. He’s optimistic though and is impressed with the progress made so far. I will keep you posted on any further developments, Princess Twilight Sparkle” The purple alicorn passed the letter to Spike who dispatched it post haste with a characteristic plume of dragon fire. …….. Later on that day Fluttershy was returning home after having run a few errands, trotting back with an airy bounce in her step, head held high. She had been glowing like a filly with a high school crush ever since she had started taking care of Iridis. She had wondered if her own feelings were perhaps getting out of hand and wasn’t even completely sure exactly what their nature was. However she had made a conscious decision to avoid answering those questions right now, perhaps selfishly as she was enjoying the experience of discovering her own feelings about love all over again - much in the way that Iridis was but in a sense for the first time. Fluttershy had dropped Iridis off at Ponyville’s Spa earlier in the day for the third time. It had been Rarity’s idea and the plan was quite a sound one. Iridis was still a little uncomfortable being touched by anyone but Fluttershy and physical contact was clearly something that he was going to have to get used to, so the idea was to introduce him to it through something relaxing and sensuous delivered professionally by one of the staff. There had been an interesting discussion between Rarity, Fluttershy and Lotus Blossom about what kind of treatment was appropriate. At some point Rainbow dash had suggested the steam room, joking about how Iridis would cook like a lobster. Fluttershy had scolded her gently about this insensitivity but in fairness she had giggled about it in private later on. Iridis’s body was covered in a kind of exoskeleton of a pliable yet protective chitin like material, however unlike an insect he did have an internal skeleton and joints much like the other ponies, although the composition of the ‘bones’ was of a similar material to his coat. Given that it wasn’t really that easy to massage and work on the muscles, Lotus Blossom had the idea of applying a joint manipulation therapy, using rotation and pressure to see if she could ease any tension. Iridis had been a little reluctant at first in a display not too dissimilar from Rainbow Dash’s first ill fated Hooficure. However after a little while he began to relax and enjoy the experience. When Fluttershy arrived back home she expected the house to be empty and with the animals all out for the day so she was quite surprised to find Iridis sitting there on the sofa looking confused and pensive. “Iridis are you ok?” She asked softly, closing the door and gently trotting over to him. “Did something happen at the spa?” He didn’t answer for a little bit and she was sure he was averting his gaze in some sense, even though he had no discernable pupils. She approached him quietly and softly from the side and placed a hoof gently on his shoulder, feeling him spasm slightly and pull away just a little. “Talk to me Iridis, what happened…” He turned his head, finally to look her in the eye, there was something in his expression halfway between anger and guilt. “I don’t think the Spa is for me anymore.” He eventually announced, cryptically and with an edge of bitterness she had not heard for some time. Fluttershy decided to probe a little further and moved to sit next to him on the sofa, softly settling into the fat velvety cushions. The room was very quiet and sunlight cut thick lines across the floating moats - a delicate scent of flowers wafted around the still air. “Please Iridis, you know you can tell me anything.” The Changeling let out a long sigh, full of confusion “I felt something that scared me today, at the spa.” “Go on.” She encouraged. “It’s only we two here. Open up to me like you did before Iridis, I’ll listen.” “I feel like you might, be ashamed of me.. Somehow.” He replied, a little sheepishly rubbing the tips of his porous hooves together in little nervous circles. “I would never be ashamed of you, please, I think you need to get this off your chest, whatever it is.” She encouraged once more and her voice was soft, gentle and reassuring. Iridis took a very deep and long breath, his chest rising then falling. Fluttershy couldn’t help noticing how handsome he looked now the Spa ponies had helped him file and smooth over his coat. It was almost now as though he wore a smart formal uniform, looking neat, groomed and trim. The porous holes in his hooves had been cleaned and polished. Even the inhibiting collar seems to suit his appearance. “Today at the spa I was having… my usual session… with Lotus. It was ok I guess but then… ummm…” Fluttershy thought she saw him blush somehow. “I umm, when she turned away to get a little more hot water, I couldn’t help looking at… I was looking at….” “Her backside?” Fluttershy interjected, sensitively, trying to spare him as much embarrassment as possible. “Yes.” Iridis finally admitted. “I’m sorry.” “Why would you be sorry?” Fluttershy asked him, moving a little closer on the sofa, letting a few soft hair strands decorate Iridis’s shoulder, standing out from from his deep matte black. “Because when I was staring at her I felt something like the hunger that makes me need to feed. I felt for a moment it was like I wanted something more than anything. I don’t want to be like that again. I’ve taken too much…” He sighed, looking despondent and melancholy. “I’ve taken too much from other ponies.” Fluttershy looked down sympathetically at Iridis. He’d almost seemingly made progress too quickly and she could see he was being catapulted into feelings he was ill equipped to handle. She pondered for a moment how to handle this situation wondering if perhaps giving him some time to cool off away from physical contact was the best option. But there was another voice inside her that was speaking too. Something inside told her that if he didn’t face the ambiguity of his own emotions soon and learn a way through it might be something he could never face. He was at his own crossroads at a twilight of desire and confusion. She knew as well, more than ever that she finally had to admit she was attracted to him, very very attracted to him. The quiet nights where she held him, smiling inwardly as he pleasantly fed on her love were something she had started to look forward to intensely. It wasn’t now like the first few weeks where he could accidentally draw too fast and hurt her - his conduct was controlled, disciplined and gentlemanly. She made a decision. “Iridis.” She said, in a slightly commanding tone. “Yes Fluttershy.” He replied, taken aback the slight change in the tone of voice. “It’s OK to feel need and hunger Iridis.” She started, sliding off the sofa and standing to face him. “There’s nothing wrong with being attracted to other ponies, even feeling lust. That’s part of how we all are. You can’t think that by just trying to switch off a part of yourself that you’ll somehow come to happiness, you won’t. Real emotions, real love is messy, difficult, wonderful, frightening, selfish as well as selfless.” “I don’t understand…” Iridis said, but something in her tone had struck a deep hidden chord on buried feelings he didn’t know he had. “Don’t try to. Now Iridis, whatever I do next, whatever happens you have to make me a promise?” “OK…” Iridis replied, his heart starting to beat a little faster. “Whatever I do, I don’t want you to apologise, I don’t want you to feel guilty and whatever you feel I don’t want you to stop, I want you to see it through to the end. Do I have your word?” She asked. After a little pause Iridis nodded slowly. “OK Fluttershy I promise.” She took a deep breath and steadied herself as though when she finally exhaled things could never be the same, and they wouldn’t be. Fluttershy sighed softly and let her cheeks erupt into a beautiful rose tint as she daintily trotted in a smooth tight circle, finally presenting the soft horizon of her plot to Iridis. Her tail lazily flicked for a moment as she looked back affectionately towards him. “No” Iridis exclaimed. “No Fluttershy I…..” “You promised.” She stated, gently moving her backside like a pendulum knowing full well the effect it would have on her transfixed companion as his hooves shot involuntarily to his groin. He was clearly attempting to cover up what she knew was the burgeoning indications of his arousal. “Don’t be afraid Iridis.” She reassured, her breathing heavy and soft now. “You can move your hooves, just let it happen, just let it go.” She backed up slightly until the waterfall of her soft delicate tail was flicking between his legs, sending jolts of longing up Iridis’s body. With a bit of reluctance he sank back into the sofa and spread out his fore-legs, feeling a tickling glow and hot wellspring of arousal pool and grow near his sheath. He took a deep breath and found himself enveloped in Fluttershy’s scent, a delicate comforting scent like the one he enjoyed when she held him close during their feeding sessions. This time though it was different, he was barely a foot away from his friend’s plot and there were overtones of female arousal that he hadn’t ever smelled before. It was like aromatic coffee, or the feeling of intense olfactory delight that overpowers the nose when one first enters a spice shop. He took a few deep breaths as his member throbbed deep within him and after one or two bouts of swelling a hot and slightly wet section of his aroused flesh popped out of his sheath. It drooped only momentarily, then with a delighted gasp the next wave of blood rushed in like a tide. It continued in delightful little spasms until his length was hard and proud, standing stiff and twitching. The feelings felt like they would overwhelm him, but he remembered his promise and resisted the urge to flee or to panic. “How do you feel?” Fluttershy asked gently, backing up a little to make contact with him, preventing him from closing his legs. Iridis shivered as her thick butt pushed into the insides of his thighs. His answer surprised her though. “I want to know how you feel…” Iridis asked, flushed and breathless, his gaze moving between Fluttershy’s soft bedroom eyes and the the apex of her tail. “You can see me staring at you… wanting you, is that ok?” “It’s more than ok.” She cooed seductively. “It’s wonderful. See, you’re not the only one who feels hunger Iridis. I want this too. Now do you want to see more? “Yes, yes I do.” He said. Fluttershy smiled back kindly at him, reassuring him that this was what she wanted. Then she slowly lifting her tail, letting the curve of pink her arc up as she tugged and pulled the plume to the side, revealing everything in clear detail. “Ffffff.” Iridis purred breathlessly, incoherently, as Fluttershy’s swollen plump swell came into view. Finally tail raised high, stiffly and invitingly she made sure that he could see everything, including the sunken pink of her soft tailhole which was winking every so slightly now that it kissed the still warm air. The feelings that had made Iridis flee the spa earlier were now so intense and strong that he could barely focus. Some of the fear was still there, little doubts at the edges of his awareness as though voices from past were trying to discourage him. “You’ll only hurt her.” “It’s wrong to want her.” “It was simpler when they were just your food.” There was a self-indulgent temptation to listen to them, to take flight and leave it all behind but realised that Fluttershy was right. If he didn’t face this now then he would only have to come back to face it later. “I think….” He began. “I love you.” “And I love you too.” Fluttershy replied, sinking into her own feverish haze, so happy to have finally been able to say those words. “Do you want to be inside?” She asked, with a low, needy and seductive voice that will still laced with the soft gentle affection that was considered her defining trait. “Yes. I do…” Iridis answered, the collar around his neck suddenly erupting into a brilliant display of cyanic runes. He was glad of it, for he felt that for what was to happen next it would be too much for him without it. “I’ve never, done this before… I don’t know what to do…” “Shhhhh.” She replied, raising a hoof to her mouth as she softly shushed him. “It’s ok, I’ll help you.” She reached back with her front hoof and used it to tug aside one of her plump cheeks, stretching the folds of her sex to give him an intimate view. For the first time Iridis caught a glimpse of her wetness, proof of her imminent need, seeing it paint little specular strokes across the valleys and peaks of her flushed petals. “See there, that’s where you need to aim for.” She blushed. The exposure hit Iridis’s nostrils with a wave of scent more intense than anything he’d experienced before. Fluttershy slowly and slightly awkwardly climbed backwards onto the couch, lifting one rear hoof, then the other as she settled some of the weight of her backside onto Iridis’s lap. During her slightly clumsy maneuvers she unwittingly rubbed his length across the expanse of her two cheeks, the bobbing member dipping deliciously in and out of contact, settling for a tantalising moment with the head nestled under the base of her tail before moving to one side again. Once she had scuffled her way into just the right spot she turned back to look at him once more. “Ready?” She asked, barely able to speak. “Yes.” He answered, from what she imagined was a very distant place, hearing him whisper as though in awe, awash with feelings she knew he didn’t fully understand yet. “Ok.” Fluttershy whispered, beginning to back up a little and raise herself up incrementally. She could tell Iridis had the right idea as the tip of his stiff penis drew awkward lines around the velvety mark, not able to quite find the right angle. “A little lower, hold it there…” She whispered, slipping his swollen head briefly downwards into her puffy folds, before pressing back and guiding the tip into the welcoming kiss of her opening. There was a brief moment of tightness that elicited a sharp intake of breath through Iridis’s clenched teeth, but as she pressed harder and he began to worry the head would never make progress, he felt the barrier give way. “Ok, ok… ohhhhhhhhhhh..” He moaned quietly as he felt the smooth easy passage unfold before his eyes. It was true he’d touched himself before and had experienced one or two orgasms of his own. But this was different, as he spread his front hooves out in near disbelief it began to dawn that a part of him was inside another being. Not just that but a being he had come to realise he cared about so very very much. Finally the two foot or so of his entry was complete, the delightful pressure of tender Fluttershy’s quivering plot now resting gently on his thighs. She sighed as she finally sank onto him, fully impaled, blushing and proud, knowing he was experiencing this for the first time. He rested his hooves instinctively on the roundness of her plot, kneading there somewhat, as though the motion encouraged his own reflection. “This is…… so good.” He eventually managed. “I feel… so close to you… I don’t feel ashamed. Oh Fluttershy…” He exhaled in a long satisfied sigh, both overwhelmed and yet feeling more comfortable with himself than he had ever before. “Help me move.” She said to him, simply and distantly, and began to rock her hips back and forth slowly, using the lever of her rear legs to sooth herself into a steady and constant rhythm. Sensing her intentions Iridis began to assist in their mutual rocking, pushing the wall of her plot to help her rise before moaning quietly on the sumptuous complementary motion as she fell back down. The fat of her backside enveloped and kissed his lap on each smack and it felt delicious. “Oh…” She sighed, starting to slowly propel her tongue forth involuntarily from the wet redness of her lips, it hung out instinctively as she lost herself to the moment, as though she were baying for more. “Fluttershy…” Iridis whispered. “I… I think I’m feeding on this.. On what we’re doing… But it doesn’t feel like I’m just taking... “ “Yes.. yes it feels like you’re giving as much as you’re taking, somehow… OOOoOoh!” She moaned, realising why she was panting so profusely. Iridis was indeed feeding, and she could detect the familiar sighing sucking sensation she had felt before, but this time it was as though he gave back more than he took, filling them both to the brim with an overwhelming symbiosis of pleasure and love. Their sex had been wonderful enough already as it was, but this was too much. She raised her head and lost all semblance of cognition, small beads of saliva raining from her quivering mouth as her body quaked under the typhoon of ecstacy- wings shooting out to the sides and beginning to flap in stupid incoherent beats. It was no different for Iridis, perhaps even more intense given the novelty of the situation for him. The two of them could no longer talk and started to grind, rock and buck with pure unrestrained feral animal lust. So much was their over excitement that they lost their rhythm, but it returned soon enough as their manic scuffling drove Iridis’s long hot penis repeatedly into the depths of Fluttershy. The restraining collar was glowing so brightly that it filled the entire cottage with a deep brilliant blue haze, its magical constructs struggling to restrain the intensity of the hot love that the two were now sharing. Before too long, the burning in Iridis had grown to a peak that could no longer be contained and he leaned over to rest himself somewhat on Fluttershy’s back, between the twitching of her wings. The sensation of his own eruption was so intense, so continuous and so overwhelming that he had trouble discerning the exact moment of release. The two lovers relished their mutual closeness, wetting and heating where they touched with the union of their mutual cream, rutting out the final intense spasms of their near simultaneous climax until they were spent, and Iridis felt the artifacts of their love splash his thighs like hot milk as he pulled out and sank back. He cried out once. Leaned back. Exhaled. And when it was finally done he would never be the same again. New BeginningsChapter 4 - New Beginnings It was a little while later that Fluttershy and Iridis slowly awoke, having fallen asleep in a rather comical and awkward position. The pegasus was slumped half on the sofa - half on the floor, her head turned to one side on the carpet. It rested amid the clutter of her hair, strewn haphazardly from the turbulence of their passion. Iridis had fallen asleep on top of her, hunched over her plot like his companion were a writing desk, though he was more the raven, dark and contrasting above the yellow coat of his mate. It took a little before either of the pair could speak or move, but then finally they slowly righted themselves until they were both sitting up on the sofa. Their bodies felt heavy with the memory of what had just passed. Both exchanged a mutual glance and Fluttershy blushed. “Iridis you’re smiling.” She proclaimed, smiling herself. “I suppose I must be…” He said, actually grinning. “I hope I did the right thing…” She pondered out loud. “I mean, I was a little reluctant at first… I didn’t know that you were…” He interrupted her with a slow kiss then drew back looking into her eyes. “You did do the right thing. There was a wall in my head Fluttershy, but you’ve taught me it’s ok to want you, it’s ok to be hungry for you as long as you want it too. I can feel tender for you, and affectionate and lustful all at the same time. They’re all part of the same whole. You did want it didn’t you?” He asked with a small hint of residual doubt. “Of course….” She said. “Oh Iridis… This wasn’t just some kind of ‘therapy’ session.. I’m in love with you Iridis. I was for a long time.” “I feel the same.” He smiled, tilting his head down slightly as he saw her eyes moisten with tears. “I’m sure there is much more I have to learn, but I know that we can learn it together.” “I think you might have taught me a thing or two yourself. I have to admit…” She blushed profusely, blinking out the stubborn half tears that had welled up in her eyes. “That when you ‘feed’ on me, it’s really quite, well, quite nice. And then when we, you know, at the same time…” “It was quite something wasn’t it.” He agreed, smiling again and sighing out loud. Fluttershy was about to make another remark of some kind when she suddenly shot bolt upright eyes widening in surprise. She pointed with her hoof to where Iridis was sitting. “Iridis! Look!” She cried with such intensity that for a moment she had her companion very worried. He followed her gaze and the line of her hoof to where she pointed, a location on the side of his plot. “What in the name of…” He exclaimed, as aghast as Fluttershy at what he saw. Sure enough her surprise was justified as now, proudly adorning Iridis’s flank was the most unexpected accolade they could imagine. Iridis had a cutie mark. Well, not quite, something like a cutie mark, but it looked incomplete. There were three circles adorning his flank now, two of which were empty and one of which was filled with the same symbol that formed Fluttershy’s own cutie mark. “I……” Fluttershy gasped. “What does it mean?” “I don’t know….” Iridis said, checking the other side of his flank to find a symmetrical token there too. He rubbed it a few time quizzically. “So, umm, we had sex and one of them was filled, if we have sex again do I get another?” Fluttershy looked at him blankly for a moment and then saw his face break into a grin, they both laughed together, heartily, more so than they had ever done. “Well..” She began. “I’m sure if anyone would have a better idea it would be Twilight. Just umm, promise me Iridis that you won’t umm, try to fill the others with you know, other mares.” “It’s ok my sweet.” He replied. “You are the one I want, I know it now.” They hugged each other tight as the warm afternoon slowly rolled on into evening. “You did WHAT?” Was the predictable response from Rainbow Dash upon learning that Fluttershy and Iridis were now a permanent item. The situation had been uncomfortable but Iridis had soothed it with some of his new found wit. “That’s right Rainbow first I conquer Fluttershy, then all of Equestria!” He had announced, and after a small pause, where everypony present had tried to decide how serious he was, Rainbow let out a little chuckle. After that the two started to get on pretty well. In the end Pinkie Pie did get to throw her ‘Welcome To Ponyville - No Longer An Evil Changeling’ party, and Twilight Sparkle spent quite some time studying Iridis’s new cutie mark, sending back letters to canterlot where there was much academic interest. Iridis never stopped learning and after a little while he was ready to start living without the inhibiting collar which had started to take quite a beating and was looking worse for wear. It meant he could change form once again but he chose not too most of the time, feeling now comfortable and accepted enough that he could wander freely about Ponyville, his body fully on display. The only exception was for humorous purposes. Iridis delighted in tormenting Twilight while she was studying his cutie mark, sometimes changing into one of her friends and the then scolding her for staring at his ass. The final straw was was when he took on the form of Shining Armour and made some deeply inappropriate comment with a perfect imitation of his voice. After the ensuing ruckus had died down, and the damage had been repaired, he decided it was time to perhaps quit while he was ahead. Fluttershy and Iridis didn’t know when the other remaining spaces on his Proto Cutie Mark would be filled or indeed what any of it meant. But they did know they were so happy together. Just under a year later when they were visiting the Grand Galloping Gala together they took a walk out to the battlements, the same spot they had stood so long ago. Where Iridis had been so confused and pensive about his future. Hoof in hoof, nestled together in the evening they took in the distant shimmering lights of a sleepy Ponyville and it was so plain to them just how far they had both come. Iridis turned to his lover and looked deep into her eyes. “I’m so glad I ran away.” The End.
The RunawayChapter One - The Runaway No matter how many times she was in her presence, Fluttershy always felt a few lingering trembles of nervousness whenever she was around Princess Celestia. Standing under the stained glass expanse of the throne room hall, she saw how the sun cluttered the mighty volume with dazzling rays of light. Each great glass pane was backlit fully, displaying the range of great ponies and deeds remembered on their face, including the mane six adorned with The Elements Of Harmony. Fluttershy turned to face Twilight and cocked her head to one side with a quizzical look. “Do you know what this about Twilight?” She asked politely, suppressing her voice into a little hush as though she were in a library. “I’m honestly not sure Fluttershy.” The alicorn replied, pressing a hoof to her snout momentarily then settling it back down again with a firm clop which echoed around the walls. The Mane 6 as well as Spike and a few of their friends had been staying in Canterlot all week after the most recent Grand Galloping Gala. This year the event had, uncharacteristically progressed without too much of a ruckus: much to Twilight's relief and much to Celestia’s chagrin: who had commented later as a joke that she had been so bored she considered inviting Tirek to the party. Rather than leave immediately after the affair the Mane 6 decided to spend a week in Canterlot as a holiday, with a little business on the side for Rarity of course. Halfway through their stay Twilight and Fluttershy had both received an urgent summons to come to the palace immediately. Usually when this happened, from all their previous recollections, it was most commonly not good news. “I’m sure it’s nothing we can’t handle.” Twilight remarked, giving Fluttershy a little broadside nudge with her flank. “At least let’s hear first what the princess has to say first.” “I always still get a little nervous, I can’t help it.” Fluttershy replied, a little meekly, but only a little. After all her self confidence and assertiveness had been one of the challenges she’d overcome with the help of her friends. “Oh Fluttershy you’re not nervous around me and I’m a princess.” Twilight pointed out, and Fluttershy felt obliged to return a small nod of agreement. Whatever else they might have said was never to be as Princess Luna and Princess Celestia entered the hall, flanked by the clattering of the iron clad Royal Guard. Twilight smiled for a moment and began to canter forward in preparation to greet her friend and mentor when she suddenly froze, her eyes widening. Fluttershy let out breathy squeal and pointed forward with the base of her hoof, shooting her foreleg out like a salute. Between Luna and Celestia there stood, almost like a spiny silhouette, the unmistakable chitinous form of a Changeling, one of Queen Chrysalis’s minions. “Celestia there’s a….” Twilight began, spreading her wings in preparation for any imminent trouble. “I know Twilight…” Celestia hastily interrupted, attempting to mollify Twilight before she hastened to action prematurely. “There is no cause for alarm. The changeling here is exactly the matter for which I brought you to me.” Twilight and Fluttershy exchanged quizzical stares and then faced forward once more, staying quiet as they sensed Celestia was poised to deliver some much needed exposition. “My dear friends, please allow me to introduce Iridis.” She motioned to the changeling who stood between them, a slightly nervous looking expression on his face, something Twilight and Fluttershy had not expected to see. He stood about the height of a grown mare, looking Equestrian in form but shiny beetle black, his pliable and slightly soft carapace hugging his body like armour. His eyes were insectoid in appearance, reflective and opaque, with no discernable pupils. Characteristic holes dotted and mottled the extremities of his legs, while two semi transparent bug-like wings were folded across his back. Iridis raised his gaze and managed to meet Twilight’s for only a moment. “Iridis has defected from the Chrysalis Swarm.” Princess Celestia explained. “We found him wandering the outskirts of Canterlot a few weeks ago and although initially we thought his intentions were hostile - we are convinced he genuinely wishes to escape Queen Chrysalis’s tyranny and learn about friendship.” She saw Twilight and Fluttershy’s skepticism and so continued. “He has willingly chosen to wear an inhibitive collar.” She motioned to a platinum looking ring around his neck. “As you well know Changelings feed on the love of others, choosing forms to elicit those feelings and then taking advantage of them. For Iridis to live safely amongst other beings he needs to be able to feed enough to survive, but not so much as to harm those around him - the urge to feed is hard to resist and this artifact will help reduce his cravings. It also prevents him being able to shapeshift. Which as you can understand is quite a sacrifice.” “I can understand that perhaps…” Fluttershy piped up, suddenly feeling a burst of kinship as she looked at the slightly sad looking face of the Changeling. “When I was Flutterbat…. I was so hungry I didn’t care who I hurt as long as I could feed. Though I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Princess Celestia and Luna both smiled as Twilight skeptically cocked her head and narrowed her eyes just a little. “And that Fluttershy is exactly why I must ask for your help once again…” Princess Celestia continued, a warm and respectful look in her eye. “You are kind and empathetic Fluttershy, able to see the good in everypony. Just look at the wonderful job you did helping to reform Discord.” “What are you asking, umm, your highness?” Fluttershy piped up. “I want you, if you are willing, to take this Changeling back to PonyVille with you, to help him learn about himself, friendship and integrate into the society there.” Twilight and Fluttershy swapped glances once again and turned away slightly, facing from the royal ensemble and forming a little conspiratorial huddle. Twilight learnt close to whisper to her friend. “I’m not quite sure what to say Fluttershy. I’m sorry you seem to have been put on the spot.” She shot a glance over briefly at Iridis who appeared to avert his gaze, an impenetrable expression painted on his face. “ I trust Celestia though, she wouldn’t ask without a good reason, but what do you want to do? I’m here for you whatever you decide.” Fluttershy swallowed a little, controlled her nervousness and doubt then replied to Twilight. “I think I know what to do Twi…” She replied, turning back and raising her neck out a little proudly so she could easily be heard. “May I address Iridis, princess?” She asked to Celestia, who smiled knowingly and stepped aside a little to bring the changeling into focus. He looked diminutive next to the voluminous bodies of the Celestial and Luna alicorns - vulnerable, perhaps even slightly afraid. “Of course you may Fluttershy.” The yellow Pegasus stepped up, climbing one or two of the steps at the hall’s end, and looking into the eyes of Iridis. “Hello Iridis. It’s nice to meet you. I’m sure you’ve been through a lot, but I want to ask you… Is this what you want, to come back to Ponyville with us, to learn about friendship?” Iridis paused for a moment and looked up briefly to Luna who nodded with her habitual serious expression. “I can’t go back.” He replied, quietly, shifting his neck momentarily and grimacing as though the inhibiting carcanet was both heavy and irritating. “But do you want to move forward?” Fluttershy asked, instinctively probing but without seeming to be too demanding or forceful. Iridis remained quiet, his expression giving the appearance of contemplation and pain yet remaining almost paradoxically unreadable. He slowly nodded his head. “He’s been through a very difficult time.” Luna explained. “I feel a kinship with him for… obvious reasons. He was the one who came to us.” “I’ll do it. I’ll do what I can to help you.” Fluttershy decided, a ring of determination in her voice. She could see Twilight nodding approvingly despite her own concerns, this was after all, a dance they had done before with Discord - Fluttershy having shown to everyone that even the most antagonistic of beings were capable of change. Even if Discord had attempted to send one of Fluttershy’s friends to another dimension in the not too distant past (an incident Celestia still continued to giggle about). Iridis’s face twitched a moment, and Fluttershy fancied she saw the briefest and most ephemeral of smiles slowly adorn his cheeks and then vanish just as suddenly. It was Twilight though who next spoke up. “Is there anything you need me to help with Princess? I’m sure that collar requires some kind of maintenence, is that why you called me here?” “Indeed my former pupil, I can fill you in on the details later if you wish. The upkeep is relatively simple, but if anything goes wrong you may need to take action to control Iridis. I say this not to be cruel towards him, it is he that requested this. He doesn’t want….” “I would rather die than go back to the hunger, to being a slave…” Iridis suddenly snarled and it was plain for all to see the anguish contorting the even the firmness of his smooth, shiny and chitinous face. It was of a slightly softer consistency though than a beetle carapace, enough for some flexural movement. “It won’t come to that… I promise.” Fluttershy interjected, immediately, instinctively - feeling a rush of sympathy for her soon to be charge. Twilight took a deep breath. “I think it’s settled then. I suppose there probably are some arrangements. I should make a list perhaps?” “This would be a good time for some lists Twilight.” Celestia replied, smiling at Twilight’s compulsive record keeping. “Let me fill you in on the particulars..”
Dinner With A FriendChapter Two - Dinner With A Friend “You’re going to do WHAT?” Was the predictable reaction from Rainbow Dash when Twilight and Fluttershy were able to return and convey the news to an assembly of the Mane Six; spike present of course. Eventually, after some heated debate, it was Fluttershy who persuaded Rainbow Dash that “Sonic rainbooming the changeling back to where he came from” was not in the spirit of friendship. The pegasus had sulked for a few hours, but had then come to realise that this was indeed true and had grudgingly accepted the proposition. AppleJack and Spike were more on the suspicious side, Rarity had been a little more willing to agree to the idea but Pinkie Pie was too distracted making silly faces into the shiny flower vase to seem too concerned - she did however eventually contribute by suggesting throwing an extravagant ‘Welcome To Ponyville - No Longer An Evil Changeling” party. Fluttershy suggested that Iridis was not quite ‘ready’ yet for that much ‘excitement’. Eventually all the Mane 6 were on board - at least more or less - and it was decided they would return to Ponyville without Fluttershy for a week or two. She was to stay with Iridis to spend some time to get to know him a little better. She had thought ahead to how difficult it would be for him to walk into PonyVille and having to endure what she knew would be fearful and suspicious reactions. To that end her friends would talk to the mayor about trying to give PonyVille’s denizens a little warning, perhaps easing Iridis’s introduction. During the few weeks’ time they had remaining in Canterlot, helped by aides and with their own guards: Fluttershy started to get to know Iridis a little better. He was remarkably withdrawn and quiet for the first week, not venturing far from the room they were both staying in, but with a little coaxing and tenderness she eventually persuaded him to at least take a walk with her on the ramparts, far from any prying eyes below. Standing in the afternoon sun, looking across the jutting precipices of the mountain, PonyVille glimmered just slightly in the very distance. “You know I nearly helped destroy all of this....” He said, suddenly and Fluttershy turned to him quietly, waiting to see if he wanted to say more. Iridis lowered his head slightly sighed then continued. “I was here some time ago. Helping to invade this place. I didn’t… I didn’t see what I was doing. The ponies here they were just ‘food’ to me. It didn’t occur to me for a moment that, you were like us, that you could have feelings in the way we did.” “Do other changelings have feelings too?” Fluttershy asked, gently probing. “We all do.” Iridis replied, both melancholy and thoughtful. “But we don’t feel love the way I think you do. For us it’s something we need to survive, something to feed on. The way I see you Ponies treat each other, being so kind: that’s something we don’t really have among changelings. It makes me sick that I can’t feel it the way you do.” He tugged for a moment at the inhibiting necklace which emitted an angry hum and glowed with blue runes before settling back to its shiny platinum sheen. “Go on.” Fluttershy encouraged, her voice soft and inviting, like warm honey. Iridis felt the concern and tenderness in her voice and it coaxed a little more out of him. “I… I did what Changelings do. I impersonated other ponies and drained them of their love. But one time… I tried to make a pony love me just for me. I found a mare, one I was supposed to take back for the Extracting Chamber deep in the Hive.. but I didn’t. I impersonated a stallion and became friends with her… but no matter what I did I couldn’t make her love me and in the end she grew tired and abandoned me, wished never to see me again.” Iridis finally trailed off and gave the appearance of crying even though his anatomy prevented him from shedding any tears. “I’m glad you told me this Iridis.” Fluttershy replied, soothingly placing a foreleg over his shoulder and applying gentle and affectionate pressure. “But I’m afraid you can’t just ‘make’ anypony love you. That’s true for anypony, not just for you. May I ask though, if I can be so bold, why was it you chose to do this?” Iridis seemed to reflect for a moment as though he was unsure himself. “I think….” He said at great length. “I saw her and… I couldn’t bring myself to take her to the hive. I couldn’t. She was…. I can’t explain it. I just couldn’t.” Fluttershy pondered this for a moment and then gently replied. “I think you’re not as much of a stranger to how we feel love as you think Iridis. But I do know that you can’t ‘make’ somepony love you. It’s something that happens between two ponies, or being I guess, when you feel the same way about each other. And there’s more than one type of love too…” Iridis looked up. “Yes Twilight sent me a list of them for me to study, there are many more than I thought.” Fluttershy giggled a little and a few strands of her deeply pink mane fluttered in the breeze. “Well Twilight does like her lists… I honestly don’t know them all to be honest but I’m sure she tried to explain them to be once a long time ago.” “She told me…” Iridis pondered. “That one of things she most admired about you was that you had abundance of the love known as Agape. Or a love for everyone.” The pegasus blushed very deeply. “Well I don’t know I love ‘everyone’, but I do find I see the best in most ponies.” “Even in a creature like me?” He asked, almost rhetorically, with an edge of frustration and sadness glazing his words. “Yes. I do.” She replied, noticing how he was beginning to look very tired, she nudged him gently with her hoof. “It’s time for you to have something to eat Iridis, you look hungry and tired.” He turned away a little and snorted. “I hate that we need to do this.” “I don’t mind. Truly.” Fluttershy reassured. “Come on, let’s go somewhere more private.” Iridis followed him. “I hate my body for needing this...” Fluttershy turned slightly and shushed him gently with a mumming hoof clasped firmly over the tip of his mouth. “Oh Iridis you can’t help the way you are… now not another word, just let me help you.” Once the pair had found somewhere private and secluded Fluttershy turned and motioned for Iridis to relax down onto his haunches: dutifully he folded his punctured legs under his body and waited, patiently. When Fluttershy had first agreed to take on her new charge, Celestia had explained how there would be a difficult and intimate task she would need to be willing to perform. For as a changeling Iridis could not survive without feeding on love, more specifically love directed at him. As she had done a number of times now, Fluttershy moved in close and rested the weight of her head on his shoulder, allowing the cherry-blossom waterfall of her mane to cascade over his back. Iridis was always polite, repressed and silent during this ritual, but he found a jolt always ran up his back as he felt the closeness of her breathing, and the softness of her scent. Fluttershy closed her eyes gently and concentrated, thinking about Iridis, only about him and of nothing else. Summoning within her all the affection, empathy and sympathetic love she could: she let it collect in her as a well of feeling, letting him sense the fullness of her emotions. Iridis reached around his friend with a hoof and pulled her slightly closer, then lowering his head slowly he began to let himself feed - the inhibiting collar seeming to wax like the moon, glowing a brilliant blue as it prevented him from hurting her by drawing too much at once. Fluttershy gasped a little, as always, at the strange sensation, it felt like a long sigh but with little pinpricks of electricity that made her short coat bristle and strand proud. At first it had felt unusual to her, unpleasant even. But after the first few times she began to realise the sensation was quite enjoyable; infact very pleasureable. Both their breathing became heavy and laboured, the rhythms of their chests reaching a synchronised cadence as Fluttershy could not suppress a few tiny gasps and ‘ooofs’ of pleasure as the feeding continued. She moved her rear hooves a little, occasionally stamping gently from tiny involuntary spasms. Her cheeks were soon painted in the rosy tint of a deep satisfied blush as she resisted the urge to hold Iridis too tight. Easy Fluttershy.. She said to herself. Remember this is about him, not you, try to stay focussed. If only it didn’t feel so good though…………. For Iridis too the ‘procedure’, if one could call it that, was a confusing melange of feelings. On the one hand the hunger he had felt as a changeling was something he’d wanted to leave behind him, to deny about himself. On the other hand Fluttershy seemed genuinely unbothered in performing this intimate rite with him. The love coming from her was like nothing he’d ever tasted before, not as torrid or as unpredictable as lust, or heavy like romantic attachment - it was instead constant, deep and gentle. It had overtones of other feelings, hidden things he couldn’t discern like gazing into the abyss of an ocean trench. There was something else he was feeling too. He felt towards Fluttershy something like he’d felt towards that mare he’d refused to capture. It was alien to him and hard to articulate, much less comprehend. Part of it frightened him, and part of it gave him hope. A little later, once Iridis was finally sated, the two collapsed a little, both slightly exhausted; Fluttershy more so. He opened his mouth to say something but she cut in before he could get the words out. “Please Iridis, don’t apologise for what you are.”
IntegrationChapter Three - Integration “Dear Princess Celestia…” Began Twilight’s weekly missive where she reported on Iridis’s integration. “It’s been a month now and Iridis is actually settling in very well considering. I think the first few weeks, as I mentioned, were the hardest. In general I think the citizens of PonyVille have been very welcoming, with some even making an outstanding effort. The CMC have been particularly helpful and have been getting Iridis to try ‘certain’ activities to try to get him his cutie mark. I don’t know if Changelings can have one or not, but it hasn’t stopped them trying. Some of the attempts have been problematic but it’s all under control. Lately Iridis’s moods have been fluctuating somewhat. Fluttershy says that now he’s starting to make friends and learn about different types of love he’s having a little trouble with some of the new feelings he’s having. For example, he laughed at a joke for the first time and thought something was wrong with him: apparently the only kind of laughter he’d experienced before was either through impersonation or in a villainous way. Turns out he’s got quite a dry sense of humour and he can be quite funny at times. I think the next few months will probably be very critical for him but I am confident in Fluttershy’s abilities. She doesn’t seem to have any ill effects from helping to feed him, far from it she seems to be glowing - she’s such a wonderful nurturing friend, seems like Iridis is really bringing out the best in her. I got the opinion of Dr Horse who been helping Fluttershy deal with Iridis’s medical needs. He says the lack of emotional development is quite similar to some of the cases where he’s seen young ponies grow up without love, or having experienced abuse. He’s optimistic though and is impressed with the progress made so far. I will keep you posted on any further developments, Princess Twilight Sparkle” The purple alicorn passed the letter to Spike who dispatched it post haste with a characteristic plume of dragon fire. …….. Later on that day Fluttershy was returning home after having run a few errands, trotting back with an airy bounce in her step, head held high. She had been glowing like a filly with a high school crush ever since she had started taking care of Iridis. She had wondered if her own feelings were perhaps getting out of hand and wasn’t even completely sure exactly what their nature was. However she had made a conscious decision to avoid answering those questions right now, perhaps selfishly as she was enjoying the experience of discovering her own feelings about love all over again - much in the way that Iridis was but in a sense for the first time. Fluttershy had dropped Iridis off at Ponyville’s Spa earlier in the day for the third time. It had been Rarity’s idea and the plan was quite a sound one. Iridis was still a little uncomfortable being touched by anyone but Fluttershy and physical contact was clearly something that he was going to have to get used to, so the idea was to introduce him to it through something relaxing and sensuous delivered professionally by one of the staff. There had been an interesting discussion between Rarity, Fluttershy and Lotus Blossom about what kind of treatment was appropriate. At some point Rainbow dash had suggested the steam room, joking about how Iridis would cook like a lobster. Fluttershy had scolded her gently about this insensitivity but in fairness she had giggled about it in private later on. Iridis’s body was covered in a kind of exoskeleton of a pliable yet protective chitin like material, however unlike an insect he did have an internal skeleton and joints much like the other ponies, although the composition of the ‘bones’ was of a similar material to his coat. Given that it wasn’t really that easy to massage and work on the muscles, Lotus Blossom had the idea of applying a joint manipulation therapy, using rotation and pressure to see if she could ease any tension. Iridis had been a little reluctant at first in a display not too dissimilar from Rainbow Dash’s first ill fated Hooficure. However after a little while he began to relax and enjoy the experience. When Fluttershy arrived back home she expected the house to be empty and with the animals all out for the day so she was quite surprised to find Iridis sitting there on the sofa looking confused and pensive. “Iridis are you ok?” She asked softly, closing the door and gently trotting over to him. “Did something happen at the spa?” He didn’t answer for a little bit and she was sure he was averting his gaze in some sense, even though he had no discernable pupils. She approached him quietly and softly from the side and placed a hoof gently on his shoulder, feeling him spasm slightly and pull away just a little. “Talk to me Iridis, what happened…” He turned his head, finally to look her in the eye, there was something in his expression halfway between anger and guilt. “I don’t think the Spa is for me anymore.” He eventually announced, cryptically and with an edge of bitterness she had not heard for some time. Fluttershy decided to probe a little further and moved to sit next to him on the sofa, softly settling into the fat velvety cushions. The room was very quiet and sunlight cut thick lines across the floating moats - a delicate scent of flowers wafted around the still air. “Please Iridis, you know you can tell me anything.” The Changeling let out a long sigh, full of confusion “I felt something that scared me today, at the spa.” “Go on.” She encouraged. “It’s only we two here. Open up to me like you did before Iridis, I’ll listen.” “I feel like you might, be ashamed of me.. Somehow.” He replied, a little sheepishly rubbing the tips of his porous hooves together in little nervous circles. “I would never be ashamed of you, please, I think you need to get this off your chest, whatever it is.” She encouraged once more and her voice was soft, gentle and reassuring. Iridis took a very deep and long breath, his chest rising then falling. Fluttershy couldn’t help noticing how handsome he looked now the Spa ponies had helped him file and smooth over his coat. It was almost now as though he wore a smart formal uniform, looking neat, groomed and trim. The porous holes in his hooves had been cleaned and polished. Even the inhibiting collar seems to suit his appearance. “Today at the spa I was having… my usual session… with Lotus. It was ok I guess but then… ummm…” Fluttershy thought she saw him blush somehow. “I umm, when she turned away to get a little more hot water, I couldn’t help looking at… I was looking at….” “Her backside?” Fluttershy interjected, sensitively, trying to spare him as much embarrassment as possible. “Yes.” Iridis finally admitted. “I’m sorry.” “Why would you be sorry?” Fluttershy asked him, moving a little closer on the sofa, letting a few soft hair strands decorate Iridis’s shoulder, standing out from from his deep matte black. “Because when I was staring at her I felt something like the hunger that makes me need to feed. I felt for a moment it was like I wanted something more than anything. I don’t want to be like that again. I’ve taken too much…” He sighed, looking despondent and melancholy. “I’ve taken too much from other ponies.” Fluttershy looked down sympathetically at Iridis. He’d almost seemingly made progress too quickly and she could see he was being catapulted into feelings he was ill equipped to handle. She pondered for a moment how to handle this situation wondering if perhaps giving him some time to cool off away from physical contact was the best option. But there was another voice inside her that was speaking too. Something inside told her that if he didn’t face the ambiguity of his own emotions soon and learn a way through it might be something he could never face. He was at his own crossroads at a twilight of desire and confusion. She knew as well, more than ever that she finally had to admit she was attracted to him, very very attracted to him. The quiet nights where she held him, smiling inwardly as he pleasantly fed on her love were something she had started to look forward to intensely. It wasn’t now like the first few weeks where he could accidentally draw too fast and hurt her - his conduct was controlled, disciplined and gentlemanly. She made a decision. “Iridis.” She said, in a slightly commanding tone. “Yes Fluttershy.” He replied, taken aback the slight change in the tone of voice. “It’s OK to feel need and hunger Iridis.” She started, sliding off the sofa and standing to face him. “There’s nothing wrong with being attracted to other ponies, even feeling lust. That’s part of how we all are. You can’t think that by just trying to switch off a part of yourself that you’ll somehow come to happiness, you won’t. Real emotions, real love is messy, difficult, wonderful, frightening, selfish as well as selfless.” “I don’t understand…” Iridis said, but something in her tone had struck a deep hidden chord on buried feelings he didn’t know he had. “Don’t try to. Now Iridis, whatever I do next, whatever happens you have to make me a promise?” “OK…” Iridis replied, his heart starting to beat a little faster. “Whatever I do, I don’t want you to apologise, I don’t want you to feel guilty and whatever you feel I don’t want you to stop, I want you to see it through to the end. Do I have your word?” She asked. After a little pause Iridis nodded slowly. “OK Fluttershy I promise.” She took a deep breath and steadied herself as though when she finally exhaled things could never be the same, and they wouldn’t be. Fluttershy sighed softly and let her cheeks erupt into a beautiful rose tint as she daintily trotted in a smooth tight circle, finally presenting the soft horizon of her plot to Iridis. Her tail lazily flicked for a moment as she looked back affectionately towards him. “No” Iridis exclaimed. “No Fluttershy I…..” “You promised.” She stated, gently moving her backside like a pendulum knowing full well the effect it would have on her transfixed companion as his hooves shot involuntarily to his groin. He was clearly attempting to cover up what she knew was the burgeoning indications of his arousal. “Don’t be afraid Iridis.” She reassured, her breathing heavy and soft now. “You can move your hooves, just let it happen, just let it go.” She backed up slightly until the waterfall of her soft delicate tail was flicking between his legs, sending jolts of longing up Iridis’s body. With a bit of reluctance he sank back into the sofa and spread out his fore-legs, feeling a tickling glow and hot wellspring of arousal pool and grow near his sheath. He took a deep breath and found himself enveloped in Fluttershy’s scent, a delicate comforting scent like the one he enjoyed when she held him close during their feeding sessions. This time though it was different, he was barely a foot away from his friend’s plot and there were overtones of female arousal that he hadn’t ever smelled before. It was like aromatic coffee, or the feeling of intense olfactory delight that overpowers the nose when one first enters a spice shop. He took a few deep breaths as his member throbbed deep within him and after one or two bouts of swelling a hot and slightly wet section of his aroused flesh popped out of his sheath. It drooped only momentarily, then with a delighted gasp the next wave of blood rushed in like a tide. It continued in delightful little spasms until his length was hard and proud, standing stiff and twitching. The feelings felt like they would overwhelm him, but he remembered his promise and resisted the urge to flee or to panic. “How do you feel?” Fluttershy asked gently, backing up a little to make contact with him, preventing him from closing his legs. Iridis shivered as her thick butt pushed into the insides of his thighs. His answer surprised her though. “I want to know how you feel…” Iridis asked, flushed and breathless, his gaze moving between Fluttershy’s soft bedroom eyes and the the apex of her tail. “You can see me staring at you… wanting you, is that ok?” “It’s more than ok.” She cooed seductively. “It’s wonderful. See, you’re not the only one who feels hunger Iridis. I want this too. Now do you want to see more? “Yes, yes I do.” He said. Fluttershy smiled back kindly at him, reassuring him that this was what she wanted. Then she slowly lifting her tail, letting the curve of pink her arc up as she tugged and pulled the plume to the side, revealing everything in clear detail. “Ffffff.” Iridis purred breathlessly, incoherently, as Fluttershy’s swollen plump swell came into view. Finally tail raised high, stiffly and invitingly she made sure that he could see everything, including the sunken pink of her soft tailhole which was winking every so slightly now that it kissed the still warm air. The feelings that had made Iridis flee the spa earlier were now so intense and strong that he could barely focus. Some of the fear was still there, little doubts at the edges of his awareness as though voices from past were trying to discourage him. “You’ll only hurt her.” “It’s wrong to want her.” “It was simpler when they were just your food.” There was a self-indulgent temptation to listen to them, to take flight and leave it all behind but realised that Fluttershy was right. If he didn’t face this now then he would only have to come back to face it later. “I think….” He began. “I love you.” “And I love you too.” Fluttershy replied, sinking into her own feverish haze, so happy to have finally been able to say those words. “Do you want to be inside?” She asked, with a low, needy and seductive voice that will still laced with the soft gentle affection that was considered her defining trait. “Yes. I do…” Iridis answered, the collar around his neck suddenly erupting into a brilliant display of cyanic runes. He was glad of it, for he felt that for what was to happen next it would be too much for him without it. “I’ve never, done this before… I don’t know what to do…” “Shhhhh.” She replied, raising a hoof to her mouth as she softly shushed him. “It’s ok, I’ll help you.” She reached back with her front hoof and used it to tug aside one of her plump cheeks, stretching the folds of her sex to give him an intimate view. For the first time Iridis caught a glimpse of her wetness, proof of her imminent need, seeing it paint little specular strokes across the valleys and peaks of her flushed petals. “See there, that’s where you need to aim for.” She blushed. The exposure hit Iridis’s nostrils with a wave of scent more intense than anything he’d experienced before. Fluttershy slowly and slightly awkwardly climbed backwards onto the couch, lifting one rear hoof, then the other as she settled some of the weight of her backside onto Iridis’s lap. During her slightly clumsy maneuvers she unwittingly rubbed his length across the expanse of her two cheeks, the bobbing member dipping deliciously in and out of contact, settling for a tantalising moment with the head nestled under the base of her tail before moving to one side again. Once she had scuffled her way into just the right spot she turned back to look at him once more. “Ready?” She asked, barely able to speak. “Yes.” He answered, from what she imagined was a very distant place, hearing him whisper as though in awe, awash with feelings she knew he didn’t fully understand yet. “Ok.” Fluttershy whispered, beginning to back up a little and raise herself up incrementally. She could tell Iridis had the right idea as the tip of his stiff penis drew awkward lines around the velvety mark, not able to quite find the right angle. “A little lower, hold it there…” She whispered, slipping his swollen head briefly downwards into her puffy folds, before pressing back and guiding the tip into the welcoming kiss of her opening. There was a brief moment of tightness that elicited a sharp intake of breath through Iridis’s clenched teeth, but as she pressed harder and he began to worry the head would never make progress, he felt the barrier give way. “Ok, ok… ohhhhhhhhhhh..” He moaned quietly as he felt the smooth easy passage unfold before his eyes. It was true he’d touched himself before and had experienced one or two orgasms of his own. But this was different, as he spread his front hooves out in near disbelief it began to dawn that a part of him was inside another being. Not just that but a being he had come to realise he cared about so very very much. Finally the two foot or so of his entry was complete, the delightful pressure of tender Fluttershy’s quivering plot now resting gently on his thighs. She sighed as she finally sank onto him, fully impaled, blushing and proud, knowing he was experiencing this for the first time. He rested his hooves instinctively on the roundness of her plot, kneading there somewhat, as though the motion encouraged his own reflection. “This is…… so good.” He eventually managed. “I feel… so close to you… I don’t feel ashamed. Oh Fluttershy…” He exhaled in a long satisfied sigh, both overwhelmed and yet feeling more comfortable with himself than he had ever before. “Help me move.” She said to him, simply and distantly, and began to rock her hips back and forth slowly, using the lever of her rear legs to sooth herself into a steady and constant rhythm. Sensing her intentions Iridis began to assist in their mutual rocking, pushing the wall of her plot to help her rise before moaning quietly on the sumptuous complementary motion as she fell back down. The fat of her backside enveloped and kissed his lap on each smack and it felt delicious. “Oh…” She sighed, starting to slowly propel her tongue forth involuntarily from the wet redness of her lips, it hung out instinctively as she lost herself to the moment, as though she were baying for more. “Fluttershy…” Iridis whispered. “I… I think I’m feeding on this.. On what we’re doing… But it doesn’t feel like I’m just taking... “ “Yes.. yes it feels like you’re giving as much as you’re taking, somehow… OOOoOoh!” She moaned, realising why she was panting so profusely. Iridis was indeed feeding, and she could detect the familiar sighing sucking sensation she had felt before, but this time it was as though he gave back more than he took, filling them both to the brim with an overwhelming symbiosis of pleasure and love. Their sex had been wonderful enough already as it was, but this was too much. She raised her head and lost all semblance of cognition, small beads of saliva raining from her quivering mouth as her body quaked under the typhoon of ecstacy- wings shooting out to the sides and beginning to flap in stupid incoherent beats. It was no different for Iridis, perhaps even more intense given the novelty of the situation for him. The two of them could no longer talk and started to grind, rock and buck with pure unrestrained feral animal lust. So much was their over excitement that they lost their rhythm, but it returned soon enough as their manic scuffling drove Iridis’s long hot penis repeatedly into the depths of Fluttershy. The restraining collar was glowing so brightly that it filled the entire cottage with a deep brilliant blue haze, its magical constructs struggling to restrain the intensity of the hot love that the two were now sharing. Before too long, the burning in Iridis had grown to a peak that could no longer be contained and he leaned over to rest himself somewhat on Fluttershy’s back, between the twitching of her wings. The sensation of his own eruption was so intense, so continuous and so overwhelming that he had trouble discerning the exact moment of release. The two lovers relished their mutual closeness, wetting and heating where they touched with the union of their mutual cream, rutting out the final intense spasms of their near simultaneous climax until they were spent, and Iridis felt the artifacts of their love splash his thighs like hot milk as he pulled out and sank back. He cried out once. Leaned back. Exhaled. And when it was finally done he would never be the same again.
New BeginningsChapter 4 - New Beginnings It was a little while later that Fluttershy and Iridis slowly awoke, having fallen asleep in a rather comical and awkward position. The pegasus was slumped half on the sofa - half on the floor, her head turned to one side on the carpet. It rested amid the clutter of her hair, strewn haphazardly from the turbulence of their passion. Iridis had fallen asleep on top of her, hunched over her plot like his companion were a writing desk, though he was more the raven, dark and contrasting above the yellow coat of his mate. It took a little before either of the pair could speak or move, but then finally they slowly righted themselves until they were both sitting up on the sofa. Their bodies felt heavy with the memory of what had just passed. Both exchanged a mutual glance and Fluttershy blushed. “Iridis you’re smiling.” She proclaimed, smiling herself. “I suppose I must be…” He said, actually grinning. “I hope I did the right thing…” She pondered out loud. “I mean, I was a little reluctant at first… I didn’t know that you were…” He interrupted her with a slow kiss then drew back looking into her eyes. “You did do the right thing. There was a wall in my head Fluttershy, but you’ve taught me it’s ok to want you, it’s ok to be hungry for you as long as you want it too. I can feel tender for you, and affectionate and lustful all at the same time. They’re all part of the same whole. You did want it didn’t you?” He asked with a small hint of residual doubt. “Of course….” She said. “Oh Iridis… This wasn’t just some kind of ‘therapy’ session.. I’m in love with you Iridis. I was for a long time.” “I feel the same.” He smiled, tilting his head down slightly as he saw her eyes moisten with tears. “I’m sure there is much more I have to learn, but I know that we can learn it together.” “I think you might have taught me a thing or two yourself. I have to admit…” She blushed profusely, blinking out the stubborn half tears that had welled up in her eyes. “That when you ‘feed’ on me, it’s really quite, well, quite nice. And then when we, you know, at the same time…” “It was quite something wasn’t it.” He agreed, smiling again and sighing out loud. Fluttershy was about to make another remark of some kind when she suddenly shot bolt upright eyes widening in surprise. She pointed with her hoof to where Iridis was sitting. “Iridis! Look!” She cried with such intensity that for a moment she had her companion very worried. He followed her gaze and the line of her hoof to where she pointed, a location on the side of his plot. “What in the name of…” He exclaimed, as aghast as Fluttershy at what he saw. Sure enough her surprise was justified as now, proudly adorning Iridis’s flank was the most unexpected accolade they could imagine. Iridis had a cutie mark. Well, not quite, something like a cutie mark, but it looked incomplete. There were three circles adorning his flank now, two of which were empty and one of which was filled with the same symbol that formed Fluttershy’s own cutie mark. “I……” Fluttershy gasped. “What does it mean?” “I don’t know….” Iridis said, checking the other side of his flank to find a symmetrical token there too. He rubbed it a few time quizzically. “So, umm, we had sex and one of them was filled, if we have sex again do I get another?” Fluttershy looked at him blankly for a moment and then saw his face break into a grin, they both laughed together, heartily, more so than they had ever done. “Well..” She began. “I’m sure if anyone would have a better idea it would be Twilight. Just umm, promise me Iridis that you won’t umm, try to fill the others with you know, other mares.” “It’s ok my sweet.” He replied. “You are the one I want, I know it now.” They hugged each other tight as the warm afternoon slowly rolled on into evening. “You did WHAT?” Was the predictable response from Rainbow Dash upon learning that Fluttershy and Iridis were now a permanent item. The situation had been uncomfortable but Iridis had soothed it with some of his new found wit. “That’s right Rainbow first I conquer Fluttershy, then all of Equestria!” He had announced, and after a small pause, where everypony present had tried to decide how serious he was, Rainbow let out a little chuckle. After that the two started to get on pretty well. In the end Pinkie Pie did get to throw her ‘Welcome To Ponyville - No Longer An Evil Changeling’ party, and Twilight Sparkle spent quite some time studying Iridis’s new cutie mark, sending back letters to canterlot where there was much academic interest. Iridis never stopped learning and after a little while he was ready to start living without the inhibiting collar which had started to take quite a beating and was looking worse for wear. It meant he could change form once again but he chose not too most of the time, feeling now comfortable and accepted enough that he could wander freely about Ponyville, his body fully on display. The only exception was for humorous purposes. Iridis delighted in tormenting Twilight while she was studying his cutie mark, sometimes changing into one of her friends and the then scolding her for staring at his ass. The final straw was was when he took on the form of Shining Armour and made some deeply inappropriate comment with a perfect imitation of his voice. After the ensuing ruckus had died down, and the damage had been repaired, he decided it was time to perhaps quit while he was ahead. Fluttershy and Iridis didn’t know when the other remaining spaces on his Proto Cutie Mark would be filled or indeed what any of it meant. But they did know they were so happy together. Just under a year later when they were visiting the Grand Galloping Gala together they took a walk out to the battlements, the same spot they had stood so long ago. Where Iridis had been so confused and pensive about his future. Hoof in hoof, nestled together in the evening they took in the distant shimmering lights of a sleepy Ponyville and it was so plain to them just how far they had both come. Iridis turned to his lover and looked deep into her eyes. “I’m so glad I ran away.” The End.
