The wagon wasn't heavy, but it was a constant struggle: a load that rewarded every step Rainbow Dash took with more strain. Despite the drudgery of pulling a wagon, Rainbow felt good, relaxed and every other happy emotion her mind could dredge up. It was a bright sunny day, the metal tracks at her side were one companion, but the blue unicorn at her other side was infinitely more talkative and a much better friend.

Trixie Lulamoon had forsaken her hat and cape for the day, enjoying a quiet walk with Rainbow Dash—her best friend. Quiet, of course, was completely subjective. "… and then use the fireworks blast to hide Shade turning back into a pony. It will work great. And then Trixie will jump out from behind the false back of the stage and make it look like she cast a spell that transformed the Shadowbolt into a Wonderbolt!"

Every day was something new. A new hill to pull the wagon over. A new town to put a show on for. I remember when I would spend a whole day snoozing just because of how boring it was. Rainbow Dash nodded to Trixie. "If we can get the timing right it will look amazing. Shocked and confused will be the look I use. Of course I can barely remember being the monster and…" Rainbow suddenly realized what it would mean. "That would 'out' me." There wasn't any panic there, but there was some mild surprise that she wasn't too freaked out at the idea.

Her heart beating faster, Trixie drew up all her ego, all her self confidence. "Trixie wants the world to know who her best friend is and…" she mumbled some words quickly, so fast and quiet that Rainbow didn't hear.

"What was that?" Rainbow didn't stop pulling the wagon, she knew it took ten times more effort to get it rolling than to keep it going.

"Doyouwanttogoonadate." Trixie spoke the words so fast they lost all meaning. She closed her eyes, tried to calm down. "The Great and Powerful Trixie," she took refuge in her ever-present persona, "wants to know if her Great and Powerful Assistant would like to go on a…" The last word was almost impossible to get out. Trixie looked away from Rainbow, not able to even think the word while looking at her friend. "...date."

The wagon stopped. Trixie just asked me on a date. The wagon pushed against Rainbow a little, momentum making the actual stopping more of a stumble. The afternoon breeze was the only noise either mare heard for a full minute.

She hates Trixie! Oh no, this will ruin Trixie's biggest friendship… Too scared to panic, Trixie turned to look at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash felt the moment of silence draw on, growing longer by the moment. Okay. Sure. Sounds cool. Whatever. Yes. Ugh, what is the best way to say I do? She turned and looked at Trixie, seeing the terrified mare holding everything inside; three months together, during the Wonderbolts off-season, had taught Rainbow a lot about the Trixie under all the Great and Powerfulness. "I would love to."

Trixie's blood ran alternately ice cold and burning hot. She spun back to look at Rainbow Dash, eyes wide in incomprehension. "Yes?" Every fiber of her being trembled with panic, until Rainbow nodded.

"First night is preparation, as usual. Second is our show." Rainbow watched Trixie nod, and got the feeling that she would have nodded to whatever Rainbow said right then. "So third night in town is our date."

Trixie snapped out of her shock and nodded again. "The Great and Powerful Trixie will have to come up with something super-special." She tried to hide her sigh, and failed. "This will be the last performance of this tour."

The words stung in Rainbow's ears. She leaned forward, started the wagon moving with effort, and worked back into a constant walk. "Last performance? What's up?" Following the tracks of the Friendship Express rail line meant that the ground was mostly even, so the low hill ahead, and forest on her right, surprised Rainbow a little.

"Rainbow doesn't recognize where she is?" Trixie blinked in surprise at her friend's ignorance. "Rainbow Dash should know her home turf; the Great and Powerful Trixie's next show is in Ponyville." Again the wagon stopped, and again Rainbow looked shocked.

"We have to make this awesome…" Rainbow's eyes glazed over. "Just the entrance has to be amazing, let alone the show. Oh my gosh, we are so going to go with that idea. I want my friends to know!" She reached over and pulled Trixie into a hug, the realization that soon hugs might mean something more causing her to blush a little. "Oh, oh! I know! Get my outfit, the bridle and all; this is going to be so cool!"

Trixie knew inspiration when she saw it, and trusted Rainbow Dash's distinctiveness when it came to showing off. As well as fetching the outfit, she grabbed her hat and robe. Returning from her wagon, she held up the outfit for Rainbow.

The suit of tight magic-woven fabric was tight on Rainbow, tighter than when she had first gotten into it. She slid a leg at a time into the fabric, felt the tension just like her Wonderbolts uniform. Pulling a wagon for three months had added a little more tone to her legs, and it showed in the outfit.

Pulling the suit up and over Rainbow Dash, Trixie struggled to seal it up. "Trixie believes that while she and Rainbow are in Ponyville, she might have to get Rarity to adjust Shade's costume a bit."

"Are you saying I'm fat?" Rainbow looked over her shoulder, a grin on her face that took any hurt in her question and replaced it with humor. "Not going to lie, I feel better than I have in years. Remember how I was when we started?"

Trixie tugged the suit up, bound it and tucked it carefully around Rainbow Dash's wings. "Rainbow Dash pulled the wagon for two hours and nearly passed out. Trixie remembers. All dash and no stamina." She worked Rainbow's mane through the hood and pulled it up and over her friend's head. "What is Shade's plan?"

With the suit on, squeezing in all the right places, Rainbow Dash felt Shade in the back of her mind. Not yet, I need to tell her what we are going to do. You are the pony who gets to do it. The thoughts calmed the wild side of Rainbow, letting her turn her head to get the metal bridle fitted. Without a second thought, she stepped back into the hitch of the wagon. "My thought is that you don't roll into Ponyville at all. You ride your wagon, pulled by a wild and monstrous Shadowbolt. I am pretty sure I can pull this." She lifted her chin, letting Trixie lock the bridle into place. "You can use the whip, and the reins, make it look really awesome."

The description was perfect. Trixie almost bounced in place at the idea. "Trixie can make a huge cloud of dark smoke pour off the back of the wagon." She clipped the reins to the bridle, trailing them back to the wagon's normally-unused front seat.

Rainbow felt Shade lean forward, and she didn't fight the wild animal, the side of herself that needed an owner. Shade spread her wings and stretched. She started to move, then felt the weight of the wagon behind her. Growling a little, she squirmed around in the tack.

"Trixie thinks Shade is back." Without further thought, Trixie imbued the enchanted costume to its full Shadowbolt glory. Dark smoke billowed with Shade's mane and tail, poured off her fetlocks. Her wings appeared to be shadows, even in bright daylight. Walking up before Shade, Trixie leaned forward to accept the licks she knew were coming.

Shade nuzzled and licked at Trixie, snouting and rubbing cheeks with her again and again. She wagged her tail in excitement, knowing just what was coming. Her ears perked forward, straining to hear Trixie's words.

"Listen, Shade." Trixie didn't pull back, but she felt Shade stop nuzzling and listen. "Shade is a good girl. Shade is Trixie's pet," the words earned a lick to her cheek, almost making Trixie giggle, "but she only is while she wants to be. The moment Shade, or Rainbow Dash, doesn't want to be Trixie's pet, they aren't."

The words were different every time, Shade had to focus on them, let them sink in. She gazed into Trixie's eyes, the words an expression of her owner's will and love for Shade.

"If Trixie's pet thinks anypony is in danger, or at risk of injury, she will not be Trixie's pet. If Trixie tells her pet 'Show's over,' or Trixie's pet curls her wing tips, just so," Trixie used her magic to curl Shade's feathers just enough that was noticeable, "Shade is no longer Trixie's pet. If Trixie's pet barks, she may refuse a command, any command, and will still be Trixie's wonderful pet."

I love this feeling, Shade. She is the best owner ever. Shade quirked an ear, and nodded to the thought that came from her more civilized self. Leaning forward, she expressed her feelings with a big lick, starting at Trixie's mouth, and ending at the base of her horn.

"Ugh!" Trixie pulled back. "Stop it! Shade!" She lifted a hoof to wipe off the slobber that she knew was dribbling down her face. "Shade is the most incorrigible pet Trixie has ever had." Walking around Shade, Trixie made sure the reins were neat and not going to foul her wings. At last, she climbed up on the seat of her wagon.

Shade faced forward, studying the sky and terrain ahead. When Trixie took up the reins, Shade felt anticipation rush through her. Pushing forward, she set her own body weight against the wagon's hitch.

The wagon tugged a little, but Trixie held the reins steady. "Yah!" She snapped the exclamation out and flicked the reins. Trixie's eyes snapped wide in shock when Shade lifted and pumped her wings. "Aahh!" She didn't sound like a mare with her pet under control, not one bit. Holding the reins for dear life as the wagon shot into the air, Trixie levitated the whip out and cracked it beside Shade. "Shade will keep to a normal," she squealed as the whip drove her pet to fly faster, "PACE!"

Smoke billowed out behind Shade, the crack of the whip sent her into a furious pace that no other pony with such a load behind them could hope to match. A tug on the left rein had her head turn, her flight arcing to follow. A tug on the right brought her back around to the other side. Shade opened her muzzle and shouted incoherently at the sky.

Slowly getting used to the terror that was Shade's flying, Trixie settled down on the seat a little. "Wait, Trixie lost her hat!" Looking around, she saw it fluttering in the breeze behind them. "Shade, Trixie needs her hat!" She jerked on the right rein and cracked the whip. Swapping the whip to her hoof, she held onto the reins as they practically spun in place and shot after her hat. Streaking like a missile, she had only a brief moment to grab her hat in her magic. "Yes!"

A rush of happiness poured through Shade, hearing her owner so happy drove her to want to show off for Trixie. Pulling up hard, she spun through a barrel roll. No rainbows trailed behind her, instead she poured out the thick black smoke of the enchantment.

Turning an unflattering shade of green, Trixie clung to her seat, her hat, and the reins for dear life. The world spun upside down during the roll, but when she curled back up the right way at the end of the maneuver she found herself yelling in glee. "Wooo! Go Shade! Oh right, Trixie needs to cast the last illusion…" Illusions were literally her forte, and she lit up the back of the wagon with smoke, lightning bolts, and repeated cracks of thunder. In the distance she could see Twilight Sparkle's Castle of Friendship, and decided on her target. "Right there, Shade!" She cracked the whip low to aim Shade down, tugging the reins until they were aimed right at the huge crystal fortress.

With a downwards angle of attack, each flap brought more speed to Shade. She pumped her wings with furious strokes to gain even more. There was a shrieking sound as she dived to the side of the castle. The wheels of the wagon spun fast as Shade dumped speed circling around the castle. By the time they reached the first balcony, they were down to a normal flight speed. Shade ignored her reins and dove, aiming to land to the side and out a little from the front doors of the castle.

Trixie was sure she had left her sense of balance on the other side of town, and she knew her stomach was no longer present. Jumping from her seat, she aimed for the solid ground and almost missed. Stumbling a little, she got her hooves under her and cracked the whip in the air. "Behold! The Great and Powerful Trixie is… is…" Her stomach was back, and it was not happy.

Shade pawed at the ground with one hoof, striking pose after pose to keep the crowd's attention of her owner. She spotted the purple alicorn approach before the crowd had even finished parting for her.

"Ra… Shade." Twilight tripped over Rainbow Dash's wilder-self's name. "Where is—"

"The Great and Powerful Trixie has returned!" Trixie's voice dropped to a whisper. "Minus her lunch." She trotted over to Shade and unfastened the hitch from her. "Behold! A wild Shadowbolt! Beware her dark magics and fierce gaze, for she is a wild thing that cannot be tamed!"

Even with Twilight standing in front of her, even with a captured glimpse of Fluttershy in the crowd, Shade had to put on her show. She roared loudly, the enchantment elevating it to a wild blast of sound. She flared her wings wide and up, casting a shadow forward. And when her owner jerked on the reins, Shade knew she should fight the restraint, digging her hooves in, trying to charge forward and attack the crowd. This is so cool.

"Trixie, call off your pet." Twilight's voice was flat, deadpan. She looked at Trixie, posturing as if she were really straining to restrain Shade, and then at Shade herself, nearly two feet away and salivating and snarling like a monster. "Both of you calm down!" She watched as both Shade and Trixie folded their ears back and settled. "That's better." Twilight turned. "I am sure Trixie and her wild Shadowbolt will put on a fine show, but I promise her wild pet will not be allowed to run loose in town."

With the excited crowd dispersing—with a princess on the job there would certainly be no rampaging—Trixie finished freeing Shade of even the reins, and walked to Twilight. "Thank you for covering. The Great and Powerf—"

Trixie was rolling away, a Shadowbolt having pounced on her with great speed. Licking and nuzzling Trixie's face, Shade made happy little whines under her breath.

"Oh my, are they a creature from the Everfree Forest?" The owner of the soft voice stepped from the crowd and approached Shade. Fluttershy had her saddlebags on, having just done her shopping in town when the excitement started. "A Shadowbolt? I thought those were the monsters that… that…" She was suddenly a lot less sure of herself.

Shade lifted her head and looked at Fluttershy. On one hoof she felt only good things looking at the mare, but on the other was Rainbow Dash beating at Shade's intended plan. No… not Fluttershy! She is our bestest friend ever, you can't— Shade was already in motion, leaping at the terrified Fluttershy.

Fluttershy had enough time to raise her wings in shock, and then the dark creature was upon her. She curled up in fear, trying to protect her face from its vicious, soft licking. Wait a second. She looked up at the monster standing over her, ignoring the tongue-bath her face was getting. "Aww, you're a big softie, aren't you?"

The nice pony started to dig her hooves into Shade's mane, rubbing her in places she didn't even know were good to be rubbed. She practically collapsed across Fluttershy's back legs, whining softly, gazing up at the big, kind eyes.

Twilight and Trixie both stared at Fluttershy as she completely disarmed the Shadowbolt with her hooves, rubbing tender spots until Shade was on her back, all her limbs spread out to the sides and tongue lolling from the side of a grinning snout. Fluttershy had found Shade's "off switch" and it involved belly rubs.

"Aren't you just a big softie? Yes you are." Fluttershy's wings were fluffed up while she worked, she wasn't afraid anymore, not of Shade. "What is your name I wonder? Snuggle-Muffin? Cutie-Drop? Nuzzle-Snuggle?"

"So," Twilight didn't want to consider what was happening in front of her, "how long are you two in town for?" She saw the relieved expression on Trixie's face as Trixie realized she had been given a reason to ignore Fluttershy and Shade.

"Well, Trixie and Shade have planned for at least three days, and Trixie believes her pet will be," Trixie waved a hoof, "parting company with her… with her…" Trixie blinked at how hard it was to finish the sentence. She tilted her head and thought a little more.

"Parting company?" Twilight blinked for a moment. "Oh! Oh yes!" She nodded. She completely missed the cue from Trixie that this was a matter of contention. "And I bet another pony will be getting back from their big trip." She lifted a hoof up and slowly tapped the end of her snout, implying a secret.

Fluttershy was so distracted with Shade that she didn't even notice the conversation going on. "Well, if nopony names you, I am going to call you Butterfly Breeze." She smiled and reached up to rub Shade's chin, earning a soft sigh from the target of her attentions. "Aww, do you like that, Butterfly?"

Shade's mind was completely zoned out. All the Shadowbolt knew was that the kindest pony in the entire world was being nice to her—being called Butterfly Breeze was a small price to pay. I don't even care, this is better than sleeping on a cloud. A single sound cut through everything, even the touch of Fluttershy's hoof to her ear. Shade jerked her head up and looked at Trixie.

Trixie hadn't even noticed she had whined softly at the thought of leaving again, but she was pulled from her conversation with Twilight when Shade pushed up and nuzzled her cheek. Confronted with the object of her fugue, Trixie leaned against Shade. "Trixie thinks maybe Shade wants to have something to eat?" It was a ruse, but she honestly just wanted to be with her friend, and not her pet.

"Well, you both could come to the castle for dinner. There is no reason you have to spend the night in your wagon when there are so many spare rooms in the castle." Twilight smiled widely, gesturing to her castle—which was after all right beside them—with a hoof.

Her head spinning with thoughts, Fluttershy stood in a daze. "But… um… I could take care of Butterfly?" Her voice was soft, too soft to be heard without her going closer, getting into the conversation. She gave a little peep and stood straighter, marching forward with all the positive intent of a timid squirrel. "Um, excuse me?"

A dark black wing wrapped up and over Trixie's side, pulling her against Shade. Despite Trixie's urge to get to somewhere private, she stopped to pay attention to Fluttershy. "Uh, Trixie was about to leave with her pet. What can she do for you?"

"Is… is her name Shade?" Fluttershy lifted up a hoof, tickling Shade under the chin. "She is really nice. Do you know much about Shadowbolts? I thought they were just monsters that Princess Luna—as Nightmare Moon of course—made up to tempt Rainbow Dash to join her. What does she eat? Is she housebroken? Is that smoke magical or is she breathing—"

Leaning up to Shade's ear, Trixie shielded her mouth from Fluttershy. "Trixie assumes it would be inappropriate to throw a smoke bomb and run?" She already knew it was, but Trixie couldn't resist asking. "Remembering back, Trixie is unsure. Maybe you could ask Rainbow Dash, when she returns from her holiday?"

Fluttershy blinked in incomprehension "But—"

She didn't use a smoke bomb, but Trixie did hustle her pet towards the castle. "Trixie suddenly feels very tired. If it isn't too much trouble, could she possibly have that room sooner rather than later?" It actually stung her a little, abandoning Fluttershy.

Realizing that Trixie was trying to get Shade away safely without having Fluttershy realize who is under the suit, Twilight worked to intercept. "Oh, uh, you can ask Spike inside. Fluttershy? Did you see that new species of star-spider that was found at the castle of the two sisters?"

Rainbow Dash was conflicted, she didn't want to get found out like this, but at the same time she didn't want to leave Fluttershy with the sad, wistful look on her face. Luckily, Rainbow wasn't in control of herself, a wild animal that looked like her was. Shade gave a little whine to Trixie and turned. Trotting over to Fluttershy, Shade smiled in a way she hoped didn't look too terrifying, and licked her newest friend from the side of one cheek all the way up to between her eyes. With a twinkling look, she spun back around and flew for the doors of the castle. You're the best, Shade.

Trixie and Shade slipped into the castle and closed the doors behind them. Both ponies breathed out a big sigh of relief. Shade stretched her wings out and gently curled the tips of her feathers.

A rushing sensation filled Rainbow's ears as she felt her wild side slip off like a hat. "Bucking wow. I have never pulled anything that huge through the air before. That was awesome!" She bounced in place, looking like the silliest Shadowbolt ever—discounting Shade's efforts with Fluttershy, of course.

"Trixie didn't know how to handle Rainbow Dash's friend. She just… Trixie panicked a little." Trixie scuffed a hoof against the floor. "Trixie didn't want anypony to find out about her pet, except on Rainbow's terms."

"She was going to find out, Shade was so out of it when she was rubbing our…" Rainbow's mind fuzzed a little, realizing her foalhood friend had been giving her a belly rub. "Well, she had Shade completely out of it until you whined." She reached up and pulled Trixie into a hug. "And thanks for that. I guess we can keep the big secret until tomorrow night, huh?"

Having a real friend meant a lot to Trixie, and she hugged Rainbow Dash tightly. "Trixie thinks that part is all up to her friend." The two dropped apart. "Should Trixie remove the enchantment?"

Rainbow looked down at herself and laughed. "Nah, this is pretty awesome, and if somepony barges in, or some emergency crops up, I am still hidden." She stretched, not wanting to admit how good it felt to wear the outfit. Just then, her belly gave a stern grumble, reminding Rainbow Dash that lunch was now a long way past. "Guess we better go see what Spike is making."

Spike was making a tossed salad for dinner, although it became extra-tossed when a scary Shadowbolt walked into the kitchen. "Argghhh!" The bowl of leafy-greens flew into the air. "Stand back! I, the great Sir Spike, will defend the… kitchen…" He shook his head and picked up a big salad spoon.

If Shade was in control, there would have been a mess and much craziness. With Rainbow Dash, however, something more was definitely in order. "Princess Twilight Sparkle bid me come here, Sir Spike," only Rainbow's training with Trixie kept her from cracking up laughing as she used a fake voice, "to be your noble steed!"

"R-Really?" Spike's eyes lit up as he stared at Rainbow Dash. He set down his weapon, ignored completely the bowl of salad hovering in light-magenta magic, and walked closer to Rainbow. "Wow…"

"No, not really you doofus." Rainbow reached up to her head and pushed the hood of the outfit back from her face; Rainbow Dash's head now poked out of the illusion of a Shadowbolt. "I couldn't resist!"

Spike froze, looking at Rainbow as realization dawned that he had just been the target of a prank. "Well, it's too late now. You said you were my steed!" He jumped and landed on Rainbow's back and grabbed a handful of mane. "Didn't you learn your lesson after all those cookies?"

"Hey, get off!" Rainbow was too busy laughing to really buck Spike off her back, and ended up giggling more than acting the part of rodeo bronco, giving him a ride around the dining room on a "wild Shadowbolt."

Not a complete slouch with food, Trixie juggled the salad back into shape and used her magic to finish off preparing it. When Rainbow circled around one last time, more trotting than bucking, she set off illusory fireworks. "Behold! The Gastric and Culinary Trixie has prepared a meal sensation that will defeat all other dishes!"

No, not yet, Shade. Rainbow mentally nuzzled that other, wilder self; she fought the urge to just shove her snout in the big bowl and start munching, by just a whisker. "Smells good!" She followed Trixie to the main dining table. "Hi Twilight!"

"Hello Rainbow Dash, Trixie. Mmm, smells good, Spike." Twilight trotted over and took her place at the table, blinking a little as she realized Trixie was doing the serving. "Trixie, I didn't know you could cook."

"Trixie has many special talents, surviving alone on wild herbs and greens is one of her lesser-known ones, it is true." Trixie used the big salad forks to set out the meal on everypony’s plates.

With everypony settled down to eat, talk paused. The sounds of gastronomical delight were interrupted from time to time, when Spike kept poking Rainbow dash, having to keep reminding himself that her smoky parts were real.

Done with the bulk of the eating, each diner was getting to the end of their meal (pushing around that one unidentifiable leaf that they don't like the look of, mostly), when Twilight decided she needed to ask. "So, uh…" She got three sets of eyes focused on her, even if one set looked like they were covered in angry-looking goggles. "Rarity said you two were…"

"I'll do the dishes." Spike gave Twilight a smirk, his old squeamishness now replaced by the knowledge that three mares would not want a young male around while they chat about their relationship—a relationship Spike could see clear as day.

Once Spike was out of the room, Twilight tried to continue. "Are you two a couple, romantically." She tried to say it as fast as possible, in the strange assumption that the less time it took the lower the chance of actually causing offense.

"No."

"Yes"

Trixie looked at Rainbow, and Rainbow Trixie.

"Yes."

"No."

The two mares stared at each other some more, then both gave a nervous laugh. "It's complicated, Twi." Rainbow waved a smokey hoof. "What we have—the pet thing—is pretty special already, you know? We are friends, with some extra fun from time to time."

"Trixie really loves Shade, and knows that Rainbow Dash and Shade are two sides of one coin. She… Trixie wants to try for something more." Trixie gave a firm nod, looking Rainbow in the eyes.

"Me too. So we are going on a date." Rainbow looked into Trixie's eyes and had to fight not to lose herself. Just friends right now. No Shade, not yet. She closed her eyes a moment to hide from those dark violet eyes, and calm Shade down in her head.

"A date?" Twilight was a mixture of shocked, delighted, and happy for her friends—Pinkie would likely call it delappked. "That is great. Where are you going, and who will be organizing the night?"

The double question shocked both Trixie and Rainbow, both mares turning to look at each other, then to Twilight. "Trixie, Rainbow, and Shade got so much help last time from Your Highness, Twilight Sparkle. Could… could they get it again?"

"Aw no, Trixie…" Rainbow lifted a smoky hoof and bopped herself on the forehead. "Now she is going to make a—"

"List!" Twilight clopped her hooves together in excitement. "Now, one of you has to be in charge of what is happening, so who asked whom?" She looked between Trixie Lulamoon and Rainbow Dash, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement.

Rainbow Dash grinned at Trixie. "Trixie did, it was so awesome… we were just outside town, about to put on our grand entrance, when she…" Rainbow blushed hotly. "It was awesome." Looking away from Trixie, she watched as Twilight—having summoned a scroll—was apparently making some kind of list. Definitely egg-head stuff…

Author's Note

So I do this "Ask x" thing, x can be any pony within the story. You can ask them anything and ~~I~~ they will definitely hopefully reply. Keep the questions appropriate to the age-rating of the stories and of course, ~~I~~ they will answer the best question(s) in the author notes of the next chapter. The more votes a comment has the more likely I will get it to the right pony to answer, try and keep it to one answer per post! ~~I~~ They will pick one question per chapter.

Support me on Patreon or fuel my writing on Ko-Fi!

Join me on Discord. Warning, said chat may contain NSFW material and should be considered adult in nature.

Some editing on this chapter done with the help of Javarod.

Awesome ponies who are already helping to keep me in keyboards and rum:
A.P.O.N.I.
Boulder
Canary in the Coal Mine
Daremo
Dio-Drogynous
Ian
Javarod
Jeffh4
Mary Rowland
Mephia
Nils
Sirion123

And special thanks to the following, for careful eyes and friendly words:
Cross Lament
Jeffh4
Vutava