Dinner was a modest meal of daffodil sandwiches and homemade hay-fries. The investigative siblings ate in silence for the most part, Twilight’s nose stuck in one of the books she’d brought with her and Shining Armor reviewing the meager case file on the disappearance of young Sweetie Belle.

When Mr. Cake entered and gathered their empty plates, Shining Armor looked up to say a polite thank you for the meal. His eyes were instead drawn to something on the wall; a row of framed photographs. There were dozens of them, but they each held the same subject; a young filly standing on a cart filled with all manner of fresh produce. “Mr. Cake?”

“Yes? Was the dinner alright?”

“Yes, thank you." The white stallion gave an appreciative nod. "What are those photographs?”

Mr. Cake looked at the wall of photos and smiled. “Oh, we take one of those at the end of every Summer Sun Celebration. The filly you see there is the lucky little pony chosen to be our Queen of the Summer for the duration of the celebration.”

“And what little filly has been chosen this year?”

The baker shrugged. “No idea. Applejack won’t name her until the day of the actual celebration.”

Twilight looked up from her book. That was the second time she'd heard that name tonight. “And who is this Applejack?”

“She’s the current head of Sweet Apple Acres. The Apples made Ponyville what it is today. Not a thing goes on in this village without their say-so.”

Shining Armor nodded at a blank space on the wall. “Where’s last year’s photograph?”

Mr. Cake scratched his chin. “You know, I’m not sure. I'll have to ask Pinkie later." He shrugged. "I suppose it got broken.”

“With how rowdy things get in here, I’m not surprised.” Twilight looked back to her book.

Carrot Cake only smiled before bowing out of the room.

Shining Armor looked at his sister reproachfully. “What’s got your tail in a twist?”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Sorry. It’s this village. Everything’s all… messed up. Weird. It’s got me on edge.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Shining Armor though back to the raucous and impromptu sing-a-long. The party on the other side of the wall had died down considerably with the lateness of the hour. The villagers that remained spoke in lowered tones, the once lively fiddle now playing low and quietly. “But that’s still no excuse for rudeness. Didn’t her Majesty command you to convert as many as you could?”

“Yes.”

“Well, how are you planning on doing that when you wear your disgust for their practices as plain as the nose on your face?”

Twilight looked up with a raised eyebrow. “You mean you aren’t disgusted with how things are here? No church services? No sense of traditional roles for elected officials? Mares kissing mares in public?”

“Her Majesty has never come out against those who choose to love those of the same gender.”

“It’s in the subtext!” Twilight snapped. “The True Faith states that stallion shall lie with mare, and only for the purposes of procreation. Therefore, anything else is an… an… an abomination!”

“I grew up in the same household you did, Twily. I don’t need you to explain the True Faith to me.” Shining Armor sipped his water and eyed her levelly. The sibling's father was a high ranking minister in the True Faith, and the pair had grown up hearing more sermons at home than they did in church. “But if you plan on converting anypony, you’re going to have to at least try to be polite.”

Twilight was nonplussed. “They’re blasphemers, Shining Armor!”

“I know that!” Now Shining Armor was getting irritated. “But you can’t tell them that! Look at it this way, Twily; one of your classmates comes up to you and calls you an idiot for following the True Faith as faithfully as you do. What’s your reaction? You’d be angry, wouldn’t you?”

Twilight pouted. “…yes.”

“Exactly. You have to show these villagers the light... Her Light... with tact and kindness. Only then can they join us on the path to the Reward Eternal.”

Twilight considered her brothers words carefully before sighing. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Of course I am.” The stallion reached across the table and patted his little sister on her head, laughing when she pushed his hoof away. “Now, here’s another question for you; based on what Mr. Cake said, what position do you think this Applejack holds in the village?”

Twilight considered the question. “Well, she’s the head of the farm that produces Ponyville’s most profitable crop. Her family helped establish the town. Nothing gets done without her say-so…” A light bulb went off in her mind and she smiled at her older brother. “She’s the one actually in charge!”

“Exactly. And why would she be the one to choose this ‘Queen of the Summer?’”

Twilight grinned in victory. “Because she’s their spiritual leader as well.”

“Right again.” Shining Armor patted the case file with his hoof. “We can cover both of our objectives if we split up tomorrow. I’ll go to the school-house and find out what I can about this missing filly. Why don’t you go to Sweet Apple Acres?”

Twilight smirked as she went back to her book. “Converting the village would be much easier if I managed to convert their leader first, I suppose.”

Shining Armor chuckled. “That’s the spirit.” He went to take another sip of water, but his eyes focused instead on the book his sister was reading so intently. “What are you reading, anyway? That from the local library?”

“This?” Twilight held it up to show him. The book was ancient, practically falling apart. “It’s an old spell-book from the time of Starswirl the Bearded. It’s really quite fascinating, if a bit archaic. Some of the pages have been ripped out, but Flash said it’s because his little brother got hold of it a few years ago." She tilted the book towards him. "See, this spell would theoretically allow a pony to temporarily change into a pony from a different tribe and… what’s wrong?”

Shining Armor’s ears were flattened, a look of growing anger on his face. “Flash? As in Flash Sentry?”

“Um, yes? He mentioned that he's one of your privates...”

“Yes he is. He's a private pain in my flanks." He shook his head in disbelief. "What have you been doing hanging out with Flash Sentry of all ponies?”

Twilight blushed and hid behind her book. “He’s... a very nice stallion. Quite charming, actually.”

Shining Armor’s eyes narrowed. “Twilight… you haven’t… Not with Flash…?”

Twilight slammed the book shut and stared at her brother in anger and surprise. “Shining Armor! How dare you imply something like that!”

“I wasn’t implying anything!" Shining Armor raised his hooves in defense. "But Flash is a soldier, and I know how soldiers think!”

“You're a soldier too! How would you feel if I just assumed you were sleeping with Princess Cadance already?” When Shining Armor did not immediately reply, she continued. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no; Flash has never tried anything untoward. He respects me... apparently more than you do.”

“Twily…”

“Don’t ‘Twily’ me! I’m a grown mare. I like Flash and what I do with him is between him, me, and Princess Celestia.” She stood huffily, her nose in the air. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”

Shining Armor watched her storm away. Once he was alone, he sighed and went limp in his chair. “Well, I guess I could’ve handled that better.”

“I’ll say.”

Shining Armor watched as Pinkie Pie walked in, a concerned look on her face. “How much of that did you hear?”

She shrugged. “Not much. Papa always taught me that eavesdropping was rude. I heard enough though.” The pink mare smiled gently. “And, for what it’s worth, I wish I had a big brother who cared about me as much as you care about her.”

Shining Armor returned the smile. “I do care about her. And I actually do trust her." He snorted irritably. "It’s other stallions I don’t trust.”

“Aw, not all stallions are bad.” Pinkie Pie carried a pitcher to the table and refilled his glass. “You seem pretty nice, anyway. Your very special somepony is a lucky gal.”

The thought of Cadance made Shining Armor’s smile grow. “Fiancée, actually.”

“Oh! Congratulations!” Pinkie leaned over the table and propped her head up on her hooves. “What’s she like?”

“She’s amazing. She’s smart and pretty…”

“Well, duh. I meant what does she look like?”

“Well, she’s taller than other ponies.” Shining Armor’s eyes glazed over as he pictured the mare he loved. “And she’s the most wonderful shade of pink…”

“So… do you like pink mares in particular?” She asked, her eyes slightly hooded.

“Of course. I’ve always been attracted to pink ma...” Shining Armor covered his mouth. “Uh, excuse that last comment.”

Pinkie Pie giggled. “You’re cute. Want anything special for dessert?”

Shining Armor considered. “Something simple. I'd hate to abuse you and your father's hospitality. Apple pie, maybe?”

Pinkie’s smile faded a little. “Uh, no apples. Sorry.”

“No apples?” Shining Armor repeated, more than a little surprised. “In Ponyville?”

“I expect they’ve all been shipped out for the season." She began to bounce slightly. "...Do you like crumb cake?”

Shining Armor, remembering Rarity's advice from earlier, nodded. "I really was hoping to try some fresh Ponyville pie...

“Aw, don’t be so disappointed.” Quick as a flash, she shot out and kissed his cheek. “Food isn’t everything in life, y’know? And who knows?” She leaned in close to his ear. "If you play your cards right, you may get some Ponyville pie before you leave town."

Shining Armor watched as she turned and headed for the kitchen, her tail swinging this way and that. His eyes remained fixed on her swaying rump.

He made a mental note to say a few extra prayers before bed.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Twilight made her way down the darkened streets of Ponyville, the villagers asleep in the buildings around her. Already she was regretting how her conversation with Shining Armor had gone. Perhaps the day’s events had gotten to her more than she realized. Of course he was going to be overprotective. He was her big brother, and more than that he was Flash’s boss. Perhaps she needed to discuss things with Flash when she got home…

Thoughts of Flash made bolts of warmth shoot through her. She smiled when she pictured him and remembered their quiet afternoons in the library. He had brought up the idea of going on an actual date only a few days ago, and the thought both thrilled and terrified her. An actual date would mean the start of an actual courtship which could eventually become an actual relationship. Flash was the first stallion to ever show an interest in her, and the first she’d ever been interested in herself. Well, besides…

She paused just long enough to keep her mind from wandering down that particular road.

Her thoughts drifted to Princess Celestia and the promise of a new position. Could she take such a position if she was… unclean? Would she have to make the choice between a future with Flash and taking the Sacred Vows that all the Most Faithful had to adhere to?

Twilight yawned. It was too late for such conundrums. Tomorrow was a big day, and she needed to be rested.

It was the sound she heard first. It sounded almost like the bakery once the ruckus had died down. She could hear quiet murmurs and… something else. Quiet cries and grunts, sounds of physical exertion. Curious, she continued on towards Town Square.

A strange smell came to her nostrils. A kind of tangy, yet strangely spicy aroma. It wasn’t exactly pleasant, but something about it made her stomach twist into knots and that lovely burning she felt when thinking about Flash focus almost entirely on her haunches.

She arrived at Town Square and stared in shock.

All around her were ponies. Young ponies, most barely stallions and mares. There had to be several dozen of them, all stretched out on blankets and sleeping bags.

They were all making love.

Their entwined bodies were blanketed only by the patches of darkness not illuminated by streetlamps. They moved and writhed together in every way imaginable. Some stallions and mares were paired off, one on top of the other and grinding ever-so-slowly. She spotted several groups of three and even one group of four. She saw mares tending to hard stallion-hoods with their tongues and quietly gasping as they were ridden or rode their chosen mates.

She saw the two older mares from the bar slumped together on a park bench. Their hooves rubbed at each other’s marehoods as they watched the younger ponies rutting each other beneath the moon.

She tried to look away, but every turn brought a new detail to her sight. Here were two young mares lying side by side on a blanket, their faces buried between the other’s hind-legs. One stallion gasped as his thick member sank into the mare beneath him. He gasped again as another stallion reared up behind him and pushed him down across the mare’s back. They kissed hungrily as the new stallion’s rod pushed into his friend’s welcoming body. They moved together like a well-oiled machine, their cries rising and falling in time with each other.

In the center of everything, seated on the rim of the bubbling fountain, was a pegasus colt. He strummed a cradled guitar, providing music for the outdoor orgy.

Her gaze settled on one young stallion near her who was also watching. He reclined on his blanket, his hooves carefully stroking his pride as he waited for somepony to join him.

He caught her staring and offered a welcoming hoof to her.

Twilight’s breath caught in her throat. She’d never seen a stallion’s… biology before. In the flesh, anyway. She examined the color of it, the smoothness. How it seemed to throb in time with his heart-beat. Her hooves began to carry her forward, the instincts in her body overwhelming the sense in her brain…

She regained control and ran away from the gathering as fast as she was able. She didn’t stop until she was in the library and the door was locked.

She doused the lights, hid beneath the covers on the bed, and prayed.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Later, past midnight, when the siblings had said their prayers and had at last drifted off to sleep, two ponies approached Sugarcube Corner from the darkness of the sleeping town. One, the taller, picked up a small pebble and threw it with practiced ease at one of the upstairs windows. The two watched as a light came on and a shape opened the window. “Good evenin,’ Pinkie Pie.” The mare called out softly.

Pinkie Pie rubbed the sleep from her eyes and, seeing who her visitor was, broke into a wide smile. “Hi, Applejack!”

The orange earth pony took the Stetson from her head and gave a small bow. “May I have the pleasure of introducing you to young Rumble.” She indicated the lanky older colt standing beside her. “Rumble, as of fifteen minutes ago, has come of age.”

“Has he now?” Pinkie Pie took stock of the younger pony and nodded approvingly. “Well come on up and get your birthday present, Rumble.”

Trembling with nervousness and arousal, Rumble flapped his wings and flew up to Pinkie’s open window.

She stepped back and allowed him to land in her bedroom. She gave him another once over and licked her lips. “Nervous?”

“A little.” Rumble lied. Truth be told he’d been both terrified and excited by the prospect of this night ever since he’d first found out about it a few years before.

“Don’t worry.” The older mare’s lips found his. She felt him following her lead and giggled into the kiss when he jolted at the feel of her tongue sliding into his mouth. She pulled it back, hoping that his own would follow. She moaned happily when it did.

When the kiss was over, Rumble’s nervousness was gone. He stared at Pinkie with wide, hungry eyes.

She saw his hardness between his legs and ran a hoof down the length, relishing his shudder. “I’ll take good care of you, just like I did your brother when he came of age. Pinkie Promise. Will you take care of me?”

He could only nod, his powers of speech forgotten at the moment.

“You know what to do.” She tilted her head towards her rear. As he made his way there, Pinkie looked outside and found Applejack smiling up at her. “Staying to watch?”

Applejack chuckled. “You know I love to watch you work, but there’s a lot of other work to tend to first.” She put her hat back on her head and tilted it slightly. “Enjoy yourself. And him. Just make sure yer ready for what's comin.' The day of death and rebirth rapidly approaches. The day of great joy… and of a somewhat more serious offering than tonight.”

“I’ll be ready.” Pinkie Pie bowed her head and when she raised it Applejack was gone, vanished into the night. She felt Rumble clambering up to mount her, felt his hot breath on the back of her neck. She sighed happily as he found his mark and sank into her. “That’s it.” She whispered encouragingly. “Gently, gently… we have all night, after all.”

Author's Note