Foal's Play

by Dusk Melody

Rating: mature
Tags: Slice of Life, Sex, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other, Romance, Drama, Original Character, Fetish
Length: 128201

Tuesday started like an ordinary working day for Cyclone. Little was she to know that a chance meeting with an old friend would not only change her life, but giver a new lease on it. Is Manehatten ready for Cyclone?

In search for the ultimate play date for her desires, Cyclone suffered severe unintended consequences.

Banished from her home town of Canterlot, the pegasus tried her best to keep a foal-like attitude.

Due to her dead-end job and isolation, along with being in a location that constantly confronted her fear of heights, she was fast losing hope. Then, unexpectedly, an old friend she thought long lost offered her an opportunity of a lifetime.

An opportunity that would go way beyond her desires to fulfil her needs.

~ ~ ~

A spin off book to Wildfire 4: The Heart of the Flame, Foal's Play tells Cyclone's story. it contains; F/F sex, AB/DL, nappy wearing, nappy usage, consensual age play, and possibly other things as well.

Published 2017-09-07 23:40:06 UTC
Last updated 2017-11-16 16:29:08 UTC

Chapter 2 - A Mare's Wish

As soon as Bluefeather was inside her three storey cloudominium, the mid grey pegasus wasted no time at all in trotting up her stairs to the third floor, where the bedrooms were. More importantly, it was where the foal room was, a nursery converted from a bedroom that was as big as her own.

The first thing Cyclone noticed when they got inside was the bright primary colours that were everywhere. Every surface was blues, reds and yellows. Every so often there was green and pink, but always bright colours. The large adult sized pink crib drew her eyes though, with its white details and pink hearts.

Cyclone longed to be in that crib, with its fluffy pillows and comfortable looking mattress. Before she could entertain that though, Bluefeather pulled out a blue changing mat from its place underneath the crib and she lowered herself down towards the padded floor so her charge could get off without hurting herself.

“I'm an adult...” Cyclone said the moment her black hooves touched the soft padded floor, though she almost didn’t. There was a very big part of her that wanted to play with the soft toys and the building blocks she saw stacked in the corner. Still, she needed changing, so, first things first. “Th-Thank you for carrying me up here, Blue.”

Bluefeather smiled that smile of hers, the one she had perfected by long experience of caring for big foals. “No problem at all, Cy.” Playfully, even though she was now an adult, she tousled her turquoise mane. It was just so soft! “I want to keep you safe, and for now, on your back so I can get you dry.”

Immediately, not needing to be told twice, especially as her wet behind was starting to get cold and clammy against her fur, Cyclone rolled over onto her back on the changing mat and lifted up her hind legs for her marefriend. “I’m okay now we're inside somewhere,” she started, looking up into Bluefeather’ eyes, “I can't see the 'high',” she said, blushing so intently it showed even against her black coat.

“It is actually kind of cute.” Bluefeather said, in between expertly using her mouth to unfasten first the cover and then the nappy itself. Once that was done, she used a couple of foal wipes to make sure Cyclone was all dry around her marehood. The last thing she did was to liberally apply talcum powder all over her crotch, with a wingtip assist to make sure she got everywhere. Making sure the new, dry, clean nappy that she took from the package under the crib was nice and snug around Cyclone’s dock, she fastened it with her mouth before refastening the cover. “There you are,” she said with a smile, rolling up the wet nappy, “You’re all dry again, and, being an adult now…” she finished that sentence with a very deep kiss.

Just as eagerly, Cyclone returned the deep passionate kiss, she wrapped her forelegs around Bluefeather’s neck for a very tight hug. “Cute?” she questioned, her blush still in full effect, “whoever heard of a pegasus terrified of heights, anyway?”

Bluefeather giggled in the hug, her muzzle mere inches away from Cyclone’s own. “As roleplay material, it is cute, but my darling Cy, it is the differences that makes ponies interesting.” She gave her another, more delicate kiss. “How are you at cooking?”

“Darling?” Cyclone smiled, though her eyebrow was raised. “That’s a new one. But cooking? I'm ok-ish.”

Bluefeather’s giggle became bright sparkling laughter. “I can cook, but I wasn't sure if I should let a foal loose in the kitchen.” She said, though she did notice Cyclone’s raised eyebrow at the use of ‘darling’. “Do you have a preferred pet name?”

“Well...” Cyclone shook her head, “not really. Skydancer wasn't one for 'darling' and pet names.” She grinned, though she didn’t really feel it. Skydancer was one for throwing you against the wall and pinning you there while she bucked you stupid. Skydancer bucked you, she didn’t make love. “I'd like you to give me one, Blue.”

“Something to think about while I make you dinner.” Bluefeather smiled as she got up, giving her tentative lover some semblance of personal space once more.

‘Dinner?’ Cyclone thought, not willing yet to move from the changing mat. Skydancer never changed her, or cooked her dinner. “Well, there was one thing...I used to be called at home, years and years ago.”

Turning around, Bluefeather took up the soiled nappy under her wing and trotted downstairs to the first floor and her kitchen where the waste disposal was. “Oh,” she asked with a curious smile as Cyclone at last rolled off of the mat and started to follow her, “What was that?”

“Well,” Cyclone began to explain as Bluefeather, in the kitchen, started to prepare a fresh flower salad for them to eat, “when I was younger, a lot younger, my mum called me Squall. That was about as affectionate as she got.”

Bluefeather paused, cold water that she was using to rinse the flowers splashing off her hooves as her attention was distracted momentarily. “Is Squall good or bad memories?”

“Mostly good,” Cyclone replied with a shrug of her shoulders, “so let’s go with that.”

“Hmm…” Bluefeather mused, going back to rinsing the bluebells, daffodils, and the other assorted fresh flowers that she had growing on the little cloud garden outside her house. “Is it okay if I only use that when you’re a foal? It will help to separate our play time from our adult time.”

Cyclone watched her lover wash and prepare the salad, her mouth watering when she saw the daisies and sunflowers. “Yeah, okay, I suppose saying Squall is better than announcing 'I'm a foal' or 'I'm an adult', every time.”

After a few minutes, Bluefeather finished prepping the fresh flowers and she arranged them out equally on two plates from the upper cupboards of her spotlessly clean, modern looking kitchen. “Are there any foods you don't care for?” she asked curiously as she carried the plates over to a table in the kitchen.

“Well,” Cyclone tapped her chin thoughtfully as she sat at the kitchen table, “all kinds of flowers are cool, although I'm not too keen on oats or pasta.”

“Good,” Bluefeather giggled, sitting opposite Cyclone and starting to eat, “there is a particularly nice oats and whey foal food I can get for you.” She paused, taking another bite of her flowers. “For now, you will get to experience my asparagus and mushroom casserole.”

“YUM!” Cyclone squeaked delightedly, spitting a couple of flower petals from her mouth back onto her plate, which she quickly tried to hide. Alas, she wasn’t quick enough to not be noticed by her older lover, who giggled behind her hoof. “I'm so there for the casserole!” she tried to over compensate and bounced enthusiastically on her seating pad.

Comfortingly, Bluefeather reached over the kitchen table and squeezed Cyclone’s foreleg with her hoof. “Cy, you're not going to screw this up.” She said delicately, kindly. “You can be yourself when you're not a foal. You can test my limits like all foals do when you are.” To add emphasis, she leant over the table and kissed her lips.

Smiling, the jet black mare returned the kiss. “Oh, you wouldn't believe what I can screw up,” she said, thinking back to Canterlot, to Cinabelle, to Skydancer in Cloudsdale. “But, I really don't want to blow it this time, not with you.”

“Here,” Bluefeather said a few minutes later once they had eaten the fresh flowers, “You can clean and cut the asparagus in three inch sections.” Without another word, the mid grey pegasus got up and, carrying the empty plates to the sink, pushed the tray of uncut asparagus in Cyclone’s direction, along with a knife. “I really want the real you, Cy. Screw up and all. I'd hate for this to end badly because you've kept something inside for too long.”

“You got it, Blue.” Cyclone smiled and, as Bluefeather cleaned the plates, she got up and took the asparagus over to the second sink in the large well equipped kitchen and gave it a wash. “How about you?” she asked, as curious about her lover as she was about her. “How'd you get to like being a caretaker?”

Bluefeather sighed, pausing in drying the plates. “The how is less than happy. I was ten and twelve years older than my two brothers when my mother died. Dad had to work harder to make up for the lost income and the foals became my responsibility. Dad never married again. I stayed home when I went to university to get the colts up and running on their own.”

“So, what, you were like mom mark two?”

“Yeah,” Bluefeather sighed, this time it was a longer sigh, one born from a lot of angst. “At first I resented it as it took my time away from doing stupid teenager stuff. I love my brothers though so I did my best. It was in Uni that I came across an underground group of adult baby diaper lovers that I found my niche. I could be a mom without a lot of strings attached.”

“I realised that I like being a mom,” Bluefeather continued as she brushed the mushrooms clean, “and not having to deal with birth. After Uni I worked in a day care for four years, but it wasn't the same as the ABDL group. I did my advance work in weather management and here I am today.”

Shaking the freshly rinsed asparagus dry, Cyclone giggled. “Your Uni was more fun than mine, although the professors did let me wear my nappy in my final year there.”

“How risqué, none of my group actually did it in class.” Bluefeather commented as she began chopping up the mushrooms. “My last adult foal was a stallion. He left three years ago now, when he was promoted. He works in the Crystal Empire now, so we've lost touch with each other.”

“I told you, Blue, confidence isn't an issue.” Cyclone grinned, taking up the knife in her hoof to chop the asparagus, “I'm the exhibitionist in my little group of friends.”

“I like that,” and Bluefeather did, too. It was one of the more sexy things about her new lover. “I'm more the not-too-concerned-what-others-think-of-my-activities-as-long-as-they-don't-interfere types. “No questions that my last foal was a stallion?”

“I was going to ask, actually.” Cyclone started, though she didn’t look up from what she was doing. The last thing she wanted was bits of her white wall in with the chopped asparagus. “You go for mares and stallions hun? To be fair, I'm more concerned it was three years ago. That's a long time to go between plays.”

“Yes, I'm bi, but I'm also loyal.” Bluefeather stated in a tone that didn’t broke any argument, “Three years isn't that long to wait for somepony worth caring for.”

“No...no, I guess you're right there, hun. You said your mum was dead, do you visit her often?” Cyclone asked, “I'd like to meet her if you'll introduce us.” She said, finishing with the asparagus and passing the perfectly chopped three inch sticks back to Bluefeather. The fact her mum was dead didn’t bother her in the slightest, as she had met Wildfire’s mum many, many times.

Bluefeather smiled sadly as she took the asparagus and added it to the mushrooms in the pot. “Have you been in the rain yet while you’ve been here?”

“The rain?” Cyclone asked, puzzlement all over her face, “No, I've been lucky with the weather so far.”

“That is the only way to meet her.” Bluefeather explained, “She was cremated and seeded to the clouds. I can take you to meet dad if you like, or my brothers.”

Now Cyclone was surprised at that, not in the least because Canterlot didn’t hold much with the ancient pegasi death tradition. “Oh wow...that's, that's actually really cool; cuz like when it rains to make plants and stuff grow it’s like she's here helping.”

“It is what she wanted, mother always did adore the old ways.” Bluefeather said, sliding the casserole into the oven, which was a spotless and modern as the rest of her kitchen. “It does seem a very romantic way to go now you mention it. Now, while the casserole is baking, do you drink alcohol?”

Cyclone let out a happy little giggle, “I do, more than I really should, but only when I'm old enough.”

“I have a variety of wines in stock,” Bluefeather commented to that, pointing her wing through to the open plan living room and the very impressive liquor cabinet which, ironically, contained no such drinks. “There’s no hard liquor or beer though. Of course, there’s water and lemonade.”

“Wine is just fine, hun.” Cyclone replied. “And, I'd love to meet your dad.”

“You have any plans for Saturday?”

“Tomorrow? Nopes, not at all.” Cyclone shook her head as Bluefeather made her way through to the living room and came back with a rather large, rather expensive looking bottle of red wine and two glasses. “Apart from transferring over from Cloudsdale...” she trailed off, her legendary confidence faltering momentarily. “Um, if you'll have me?”

“Hmmm, that’s a good question.” Bluefeather giggled before setting down the two glasses on the kitchen table, closely followed by the wine. “How about we test drive each other tonight, and email Cloudsdale with the results tomorrow?”

“He he…y-yeah,” Cyclone smiled nervously, her nappy crinkling as she moved on the seating pad. “Sounds like a plan, hun.”

Bluefeather paused, wine bottle halfway to filling one of the glasses, blue tinted grey wings fluttering dangerously. “My dear, it would be best to tell me what you fear now, rather than I find out later.”

Watching the level of the liquid rise in the glass, Cyclone sighed. She knew she’d have to tell her new lover this sooner or later, she just hoped she’d still be her lover after this revelation. “There's...an incident, from Canterlot, that won't leave me alone.”

Carefully, Bluefeather filled first Cyclone’s glass then her own. “I think they call it 'our past'.” She said cautiously. She had no idea what was haunting her young mare, but whatever it was, was clearly an issue for her. “I'm looking to build our future, but I know our past got us here. Do you think it will affect me?”

“I know we all have one, a past I mean...” hesitantly, the jet black pegasus took a sip of the offered wine and decided that it tasted as expensive as it looked. “But, you should know mine. I hadn't long been into the whole adult foal thing, maybe six or seven months. I was...experimenting…”

“You play a good foal,” Bluefeather cut across her, believing that was the problem. “So it seems you've learned from your experiments.” However, when Cyclone’s face didn’t smile, she knew it was something else. “I have seen relationship go sour over this, but it seems you seem to have something worse to report, no?”

Cyclone took another mouthful of wine. For nerves. “There's this zebra in Ponyville, Zecora.” When she saw Bluefeather’s questioning look and hoof motions that said ‘go on’, she did. “She does potions. All sorts of potions. I went to her and got a couple from her; one that gave me the mind of a foal, say about two years old-ish, and another potion that altered my bowel control and motor co-ordination to that of a foal.”

Now, that certainly did get Bluefeather’s undivided attention, if she didn’t have it before. “Do they still effect you?”

“Not mentally, no, though I'm a little 'loose', y’know, down there, like incontinent.” Already, Cyclone was regretting this. “The thing is, it went fine for the first few times. I went to Raid's house and play, or she'd come to mine. It was perfect. Then, the last time I went, I'd taken a larger than normal dose and Raid had to go out.”

“Raid?”

“Air Raid.” Cyclone explained morosely, “She was my caretaker, my nanna.”

Looking Cyclone over as she took a delicate little sip of her wine. “Is she the one you're leaving in Cloudsdale?”

“No, Air Raid lived in Canterlot with my friend Darkstar.” Cyclone took her wine glass and swirled the wine around, watching the liquid move up the sides of the glass. “Raid used to date Wildfire. That's how we got to know her, friend of a friend. Skydancer is the mare I was with in Cloudsdale, until she left me last year. She um...never cared for the nappy loving.” Truth be told, she never cared about anypony, but that was a story for later, if there was a later.

“Okay, Wildfire is how I got your contact.” Bluefeather began to add things up. “Starting to come together. Did you keep your nappy wearing hidden from this, Skydancer?”

“Nopes. Not at all.” Cyclone shook her head. I was as upfront with her as I am with you. It was this next thing I kept from her…” she trailed off a second time as Bluefeather took another quiet sip of her wine.

Sighing deeply, Cyclone continued. “Well...as I said, Raid had to go out. She had to take me with her. I don't recall where we went but on the way back there was a park. She took me cuz I'd been a good filly. I was playing in the sandbox when a colt and a filly joined me. Raid took her eyes away for a second, the filly said I was pretty, I hugged her and gave her the tiniest kiss on the cheek. She started crying. The next thing I knew big ponies were yelling stuff I didn't understand and getting very angry…”

“Were you charged with molestation?”

“I was charged and arrested,” Cyclone said in a very tiny, almost inaudible voice as she recalled the police dragging her from Air Raid’s house, “but the charges were dropped before it got to court.”

“Why were they dropped?” Bluefeather asked, “It is a rather serious offense, after all.”

“I honestly don't know.” Cyclone said. She had no idea in the world that Luna, at the behest of Dusk, had negotiated with the police to drop the charges in favour of exile from Canterlot. “There was never an explanation, just that I had to leave the area straight away and I wasn’t allowed to return.”

Bluefeather took this all in. Technically, very, very technically, Cyclone was a foal-fooler, but she knew just from seeing her today that wasn’t the case. “So, do you still have an arrest record with no conviction, or was the arrest dropped too?”

Cyclone shrugged. “As far as I know, the record of the arrest stands.”

Somewhat relieved, and thankful for Cyclone’s honesty, Bluefeather giggled. “I'm shacked up with a criminal!” When the jet black mare’s blue eyes went very wide, she placed a tender loving kiss on her lips to silence her. “You behaved very well today with all the foals at the park. It was a test, if you didn't know.”

Cyclone didn’t dare to believe that she might actually be alright, here. “I kinda guessed it was,” she smiled, returning the kiss to her lover. “That's one of the reasons I ended up in Cloudsdale. There was months of rehab, for the potions and I got a job there with the weather factory.”

“Yes,” Bluefeather nodded, “it took me a moment to remember you from the convention. You do have a unique look. Of course, your nappy play bit you in the behind there too, hmm?”

“I wear the nappies all the time. They’re like second nature now.” She took a third gulp of her wine, swallowing it straight down without savouring it. “But...I kept Canterlot to myself, I didn't tell anypony. I rose up through the weather factory jobs till I got quite high. Until the convention, that is. “Some reporter pony from the press recognised me, dug a little, you can guess the rest.”

Bluefeather squeezed her foreleg gently. “And you know it will eventually happen again here, either in Cloudhatten or Manehatten.”

“Yeah, I know.” Cyclone looked miserably down to the floor of Bluefeather’s cloudominium, “it’s gonna follow me about like a timberwolf with a wasp up its ass.”

Bluefeather blinked at that, trying to visualise the metaphor in her head. Thankfully, she’d only ever seen a timberwolf in a book. “I'm…well, I’m sure that is an image of some sort,” she said finally, “To ease your mind, I couldn’t care less what they try to dig up. As far as I’m concerned, there is no conviction, so you were not found guilty of any wrongdoing.”

“R-Really?” Cyclone looked up, not daring to believe what her ears were telling her. “You really mean that?”

“Yes Cy, I really mean that.” Bluefeather smiled sweetly, for she could see the relief visible on Cyclone’s face, like a literal weight had been removed from her shoulders. “Manehatten is not the perfect place, but it is more open to odd ideas than other places. What you did was serious though, getting banished from Canterlot is not a light punishment. I think you've learned that lesson though, yes?”

Cyclone, feeling a thousand tons lighter, nodded her head furiously. “Yes! Yes I have! I haven't touched those potions since. After I graduated from the rehab in Cloudsdale, I've been clean for just over four years.”

“Did anything happen to the zebra,” Bluefeather asked as she emptied her wine and poured herself another glass, “or do you owe her anything that might haunt you?”

“No and no.” Cyclone replied quickly. The wine she drank this time tasted a whole lot better than the sips she had swallowed before. She knew why, and didn’t object when her lover offered her a refill. “I admitted where I got them from. Zecora was investigated but everything was legal and above board. She had all her licences and potion certificates up to date. And, I paid in full so I don't owe her anything.”

“Good, then I won't have to get Caffeinated involved. Speaking of which, he told me you did very well at the party with the foals and another adult foal.”

Cyclone smiled at that. Now, last night was a very happy memory indeed. The first of many she hoped to make in Manehatten. “Yeah, that was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed that. Even my boss ringing me didn't spoil it.”

Just then, there was a ding from the large oven, alerting Bluefeather to the fact that dinner was ready. “Our casserole is ready, Cy.” She set her wine glass down and trotted over to the ultra-modern chef grade oven to fetch the mushroom and asparagus casserole. “Smells wonderful, doesn’t it?”

Cyclone’s mouth was watering by the time she had set the baking tray down on the kitchen table. Helpfully, the jet black mare had retrieved the cleaned plates from beside the sink. “Hmm, that really does Blue!”

“So,” Bluefeather asked as she dished out some of the casserole onto each plate, “What is the next item on your worry list?”

Cyclone grinned, almost feeling like a new mare now that the weight was visibly removed from her young shoulders. “How do you know I have a list?”

“If I have a list, I shouldn't be the only one.”

“Very good point, hun.” Cyclone commented, though her blue eyes didn’t leave the now full plate that was pushed in front of her. “I only have two more, then I want to hear all yours.”

“We shall trade.” Bluefeather said with a smile as she took a forkful of her casserole, making sure to get a bit of everything. “This isn't a big worry, but I do think of it when I find a new partner. I'm the manager of the Cloudhatten weather factory. I get paid a very nice salary.” Now, she looked Cyclone straight in the eyes. “You're only in it for what bits you can get from me.”

“Well,” said Cyclone with a smile, putting her fork down and holding her hooves up you in the air, “You caught me. Your bits are very nice, although they can't change and feed me like you do, so I'd rather have you.”

Bluefeather laughed brightly, taking Cyclone at her word. “I'm sure there is some way to get these bits,” she pointed to her breasts, “to lactate. Your turn.”

Cyclone licked her lips, staring at the mid grey pegasus’s breasts now instead of her casserole. “I’m ah, I'm sure there is...ahem...my dad has a thoroughly embarrassing job.” When Bluefeather gave her a questioning look, she elaborated. “He's the chief exec for Playcolt.”

“Really‽ One moment!” hearing that, Bluefeather dropped her fork, which clattered onto her half empty plate, and she dashed off to an unexplored area of her three storey house and, in the space of a few seconds, she returned, carrying with her a couple of magazines. A 'Playcolt' and 'Playfilly'. “You know how it is when both attract your eye,” she said unashamedly. “Does your dad like stallions or is it just a job?” she asked, opening the Playcolt to the byline page. “Point out his name.”

“There he is,” Cyclone said with a facehoof as she, reluctantly, set down her fork. “Tropical Storm.” She pointed her hoof to her dad’s name at the top of the page. “He likes both as well.”

“You think he will sign this?” Bluefeather asked, eager to get another autograph for her collection. “Oh, Is his byline in Playfilly too?”

Cyclone shook her head, resisting as she did so the urge to bury her hoof in her face. “Yes it is, and yes he will...you um...haven't got many old ones of these, have you?” she asked, shifting uncomfortably on her seating pad.

“First, my next worry, then I will answer that question.” Bluefeather said as she closed up the magazine. “I'm forty. You are twenty five. How long will you stay with me?”

“What's age got to do with it?” Cyclone answered with a shrug, “as long as we have fun, who cares? And, I don't just want you for the adult foal play either, I really like you too. So I'm yours.”

That satisfied Bluefeather, especially as Cyclone was as easy to read as the magazine under her hoof. “I started subscribing to both of these fifteen years ago when I realised I liked both sexes. I have them in the annual binders they sell.”

Cyclone had been dreading that. “So um...you have the September 2025 one?”

“I do, should I bring it out for the two of us to examine?”

“Why not? You'll want the centrefold and the pages around it.”

“My curiosity is piqued!” Bluefeather once more vanished from the kitchen, taking with her the two magazines and, just as quickly as before, she returned with a binder labelled ‘Playcolt 2025’. “Now, for the big reveal!” eagerly, not quite sure what she would find, she opened the binder to September to look at the cover mare, and then she opened it to the centerold.

What Bluefeather saw on the centrefold, was Cyclone. This was Cyclone at age nineteen, all babied up in various photos. In all of them she wore a puffy pink nappy, in some she was wearing a pink onesie with yellow butterflies on it, in some she was sucking on a pacifier, some she was wearing booties, playing with toys, in a crib. One that drew Bluefeather’s eyes was the one with the nappy front yellowed, Cyclone having wet herself and she was sucking on her hoof.

Quietly, the weather manager stared at the pages. She stared long enough to make Cyclone think there was a problem. Then, after long quiet minutes, she turned to her. “You will sign this now!”

Only too happy to oblige, Cyclone smiled. “Do you have a pen?”

Almost from thin air, Bluefeather produced a red marker and passed it to her young lover. “Here you go. Since I was caring for a stallion at the time, I was looking more at my Playfilly, or I would have definitely remembered seeing this.”

“I needed the money.” Cyclone explained as she signed the centrefold with a flourish. Still, she looked justly proud of her work, though. “Damn I looked good!”

“You still do, hun.” Bluefeather smiled, taking back the marker pen. “Well, that’s another treasured centrefold signature!” she gave Cyclone an appreciative kiss. “Thank you.”

Taking the kiss, Cyclone giggled, “You're welcome hun, and I can always recreate this for you, if you wanted.”

“I'm sure you could,” Bluefeather replied carefully, “but I'm not so sure it would be the right thing to do. I try to keep foal play and adult play separate.”

“You're quite right hun. So, who's the other signature you have?”

Bluefeather giggled behind her hoof, “You imply that I only have one other. Hmmm, there’s none but yours in this book. As for the class of 2015, I have all the stallions and mares. I did a lot of traveling when I was younger.”

Cyclone grinned as she took another forkful of her casserole, “so you're like, dad's number one fan, huh?”

Likewise, Bluefeather took some of her dinner and mulled that over in her mind. “He seems to find some very nice eye candy. Was your centrefold pic the third reveal you have for me?”

“Yup.” Cyclone responded, taking a long sip of her wine. “That's all I'm concerned about, cuz y'know, not everypony likes Playcolt. My mum doesn't bother me anymore.”

“And here, I was hoping your mom was in an issue too.” Bluefeather giggled before she continued. “So, the last thing on my list, that can cause an issue. I'm also an exhibitionist, but with my adult play. I enjoy doing things in public places. Low clouds, for example. If I’m on the ground, behind the bush that is behind the park seating pad.” She studied Cyclone for any reaction, good or bad, “I love the thrill of being caught.”

The moment she heard the word ‘exhibitionist’, Cyclone’s ears perked up and her eyes shone. “Really?”

“Yes,” Bluefeather nodded, cautiously, slowly, eating a bite of her casserole, “and not all my partners wanted that risk. Playing the foal in public was one thing, but intimacy as an adult was quite another.”

“The risk is half the fun, babe.”

‘No way!’ Bluefeather didn’t dare to get her hopes up any higher, but by Celestia’s fetlock was Cyclone perfect! “When you said you were an exhibitionist earlier,” she started, kissing her young lover’s lips, “I wasn't sure if that was only with your foal play.”

Eagerly, Cyclone returned the casserole flavoured kiss. “Oh no, not at all. Kinda why I wear the nappy almost all the time. I just love showing off. And, having somepony to show off for.”

Quietly, Bluefeather returned to eating, not wanting her dinner to go cold. “So, are you feeling a bit more comfortable about all this now?”

“I am,” Cyclone smiled with relief, “even boundless confidence gives way to nerves.”

“Uncertainty can be nerve racking,” Bluefeather said wisely, “Eat up so we can move onto dessert.”

“You got it, Blue!” Cyclone began eating what was left of her casserole with a vengeance. “I’m afraid I can't introduce you to my mom. Her and dad divorced way back when I was little, she left us when I was six.”

Bluefeather nodded at that. “A sad part of life. You've lost touch with her, then?”

“Yup.” Then, Cyclone’s tone took on a hurt, resentful edge to it that her lover didn’t much like. “I’m guessing she saw 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Canterlot' and decided to use it as a lifestyle guide. She divorced dad, took a hunk of his bits and is sleeping her way around Equestria, one town at a time.”

Bluefeather giggled, “Oh, I’m sorry for that. I was thinking that Thespian really enjoyed playing that part in the theatre. I think she still has the outfit. Does it bother you, what your mother did?”

Cyclone shook her head. “No, not in the slightest. She's a big mare, so am I. And, I'd love to see you in something like that.”

“Alas,” Bluefeather swooned playfully, “nothing so fancy or flashy in my wardrobe. Uniforms and formals for events.”

“Good. That means I have scope to buy you presents!”

Again, Bluefeather giggled, it was hard not to, what with Cyclone’s enthusiasm. She knew that here, right here, was a mare that she could be young with for a long time to come. “Yes you do, and I will have to go shopping for Squall, too.”

“My mum called me that.” Cyclone sniffed in an effort to be derisive, but it wasn’t working. “She said when I tried to fly higher than ten feet, I cried like a squall.”

Lovingly, Bluefeather placed a tender kiss on Cyclone’s lips. “Well, if I need my foal to go over ten feet I'll be sure she is safe on my back first, how does that sound?”

Cyclone thought it sounded excellent, and certainly the only way she would ever get that high up. “I'll be sure to hold on really tight too!” she giggled, finishing off her casserole and kissing her lover’s lips.

“Good,” Bluefeather smiled as she picked up the empty dirty plates and deposited them in the nearest sink to her. “Of course, if you leave the house for Manehatten at least I'll know what that high pitched sound is I hear from my office!” she finished, just barely, devolving into giggles.

“Oh ha, ha.” Cyclone deadpanned, “if you don't carry me I'll take a cab - with my eyes closed and the windows shut,” she insisted, making Bluefeather giggle all the harder. “You laugh, go on!” she stuck her tongue out, “every time we go out it means you have a wet nappy to change.”

Bluefeather, having controlled her giggles, finally, smiled. “Sorry, you’ll get no complaints from me on that. What is your favourite dessert? There is a small chance I'll have it.”

Cyclone considered that for a brief moment, tapping her chin with her hoof. “Well, I inherited a deep love of chocolate from Wily, so as long as it's something chocolatey, perhaps with vanilla ice cream too, we're fine, hun.”

Bluefeather clapped her hooves together in sheer delight. “Well chocolate is universal! I have chocolate dipped strawberries. As for ice cream, I have that Neapolitan mix of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.”

“I love you,” said Cyclone, buzzing her black wings excitedly.

“I like what foals like.” Bluefeather giggled, “help me put this stuff away and we can move on to dessert.”

“You got it, sweetie.”

When Cyclone got up from her seating pad, Bluefeather helped her young lover clear the table. What was left of the casserole was covered up with tin foil and placed in the fridge. The cutlery was washed and put away and, while the mid grey mare retrieved bowls from her cupboard, she pointed with her wing to the fridge. “The strawberries are in the bottom left of the fridge and the ice cream is in the freezer.”

“Hehe! Chocolate, here I come!” hunting in the fridge, Cyclone soon located the strawberries, and the ice cream was easily found soon afterwards. “Success!” she declared loudly, pulling a heroic pose on her hind legs, holding the strawberries and the ice cream in her hooves. “I have hunted and gathered!”

As Cyclone hovered over to the kitchen table, carrying the dessert things in her hooves, Bluefeather said, just loud enough to be heard, “I will not fear for need with my trusted hunter to provide for me.”

“I fear no fridge!” Cyclone snickered, “nor shall I fear the icy wastes of the freezer!”

“As long as it is on eye level, at least.” Bluefeather snickered, laying a kiss on Cyclone’s lips as she carried the bowls to the kitchen table. “Special dessert rule for tonight only. You can't feed yourself.”

At the table, Cyclone rolled her eyes and set the strawberries and ice cream down. “Hmm...I think that should be a permanent rule, don’t you?”

“Sorry dear,” Bluefeather gently booped her lover’s nose. “It’s special occasions only, like this, not that we can't have a lot like this.”

Giggling, Cyclone kissed Bluefeather’s mid grey nose. “Sounds good to me, sexy.”

Taking the ice cream scoop that she had bought with her in her hoof, Bluefeather put a large scoop of the ice cream in one of the bowls, making sure to plough through all three flavours in one go. “I like all three, but if you want, Cy, I'll only feed you vanilla.”

“I like them all too, can I have the vanilla first though?” There was, after all, a right way and a wrong way to go about this. Nodding, Bluefeather giggled and, taking a strawberry that had been already dipped in dark chocolate by the green between her teeth, she raised it to Cyclone’s mouth, who opened wide to receive.

With her partner’s mouth open, Bluefeather placed the strawberry in, and once her lips closed around it, she let go and, using her mouth, she scooped up some vanilla only with a spoon and it soon followed the strawberry into Cyclone’s mouth. “Hmmm...” the jet black mare shivered happily and chewed. “Best delivery system ever!”

“Now you have a goal to achieve, then.” said Bluefeather and, as Cyclone smiled, she got a chocolate strawberry for her older lover in her mouth. Ready to receive, Bluefeather opened her mouth in anticipation. She didn’t have long to wait though, and Cyclone placed it delicately in her mouth, making sure to kiss her lips in the process.

Bluefeather closed on the strawberry and she didn’t pull away. Cyclone pulled away to get her a scoop of vanilla to put in her mouth, and the mid grey pegasus exposed the un-chewed strawberry as she took the ice cream from the spoon and then her jaws moved ever so slowly as she looked at her young lover with half lidded eyes.

Returning the gesture, Cyclone looked at Bluefeather in a very similar way, passionately kissing her ice cream filled mouth.

Swallowing the strawberry, and almost swallowing Cyclone’s tongue, Bluefeather repeated the process with her tongue helping the strawberry into her lover’s mouth. “MMmm…” Cyclone moaned, scooping the strawberry from her tongue and starting to suck on it gently. Extracting her tongue, Bluefeather soon replaced it with a spoonful of strawberry ice cream. “Mmm...” Cyclone made that noise again as she sucked the ice cream from the scoop and kissed her lips.

Bluefeather smiled, “I'm glad you're enjoying this as much as I am.”

Cyclone gave her lover her best bedroom eyes. “I almost don’t want the strawberries. I'm having much more fun kissing you.”

Bluefeather giggled brightly, feeling very, very young indeed. “Have you had your fill of strawberries yet, Cy?”

“Yeah...think I need something sweeter.” Although, it wasn’t a decision that Cyclone made easily.

Bluefeather treated Cyclone to the same bedroom eyes that she herself had been given. “I can think of a fine wine that is well aged,” she said with a sexy purr.

“Say...oh, about forty years old?”

“I do think you’re right on that one,” Bluefeather grinned, especially as a very sexy idea came to mind. A wonderfully hot, sexy idea. “Of course, such a vintage should only be enjoyed outside under the stars. I think buildings inhibit all the true flavours.”

“I agree.” In fact, Cyclone couldn’t agree quickly enough. “I'd love to drink such a well-cared for wine outside.”

“As it happens, there are a few well-placed clouds below the flight path to Manehatten that are very comfortable.”

“Then, I think we should make use of one.”

Smiling, Bluefeather picked up and put away the few remaining strawberries and the dirty bowls in the sink. “Would you like a ponyback ride, Cy?” she asked seriously, well aware now of her young lover’s fear of heights.

Cyclone smiled, “I’d love one hun, please.” When Bluefeather led the way to the front door, she crouched down low after she opened it to the now darkened night sky. Following closely, the jet black pegasus climbed up on her back, holding her legs tightly around her neck and her barrel.

Taking off on a slow upwards glide, Bluefeather glanced over her shoulder as she levelled off and saw that, adorably, Cyclone had her pretty blue eyes scrunched shut tight. “Don't look down hun, but look straight ahead. The city is beautiful at night under Luna's moon. It would be a shame if you missed it.”

Chancing it, Cyclone cracked open her eyes and she looked dead ahead like her neck was held in a vice. “Uh huh...hun it really is…” she smiled, though the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Relax Cy, I will keep you safe.” Bluefeather said reassuringly, “It is like looking at the TV. Just look with me and nowhere else, okay?”

“Oh, oh ok...that I can do. TV is good. I like TV…” that said, she still looked dead ahead, entirely missing the beauty of the metropolis of Manehatten at night, the bright lights shining like a million stars that mirrored the actual stars painted on the night canvas above.

Seeing this, Bluefeather nuzzled the back of her head against Cyclone’s cheek. “I want to enjoy this with you, Cy.”

Smiling nervously, Cyclone flicked her blue eyes downwards for just a second and sighed once she saw the beauty of the city. “I am enjoying this Blue, really I am.”

“I'm glad to hear that,” Bluefeather smiled as she flew straight and level, “but now it is time to close your eyes again and hold me tight.”

With a very unnatural amount of bravery, born of the trust she had in Bluefeather’s abilities both as a lover and a nanna, Cyclone summoned her nerve and shook her head. “A-Actually I…I'm gonna try it with my eyes open...just um, wh-what are you gonna do?”

“I'm going to bank and dive to our snuggle cloud.”

With a very audible gulp, and before her nerve abandoned her entirely, Cyclone nodded. “O-Okay...g-go for it!” *keeps her eyes open*

As Cyclone forced herself to keep her eyes wide open, Bluefeather executed a long, slow sweeping bank and dive. The shimmering, scintillating lights of the city below left her view to be replaced with the inky blackness of the night sky, illuminated by millions of stars and the sliver light of the moon until a small cloud came into view and rapidly approached.

“Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!” On Bluefeather’s back, Cyclone squealed like a little filly, until she began to level off and fly straight towards the cloud. “Oh wow...wow...I actually had my eyes open...th-that was so cool!”

As Bluefeather came in for a landing on the little cloud with a wide swoop, she flared her wings at the last moment, giving a very soft touchdown. Once she was safely down, she guided Cyclone to look up at the floating sprawling city of Cloudhatten, the lights of the cloud city partly obscured by the very cloud it rested on. “Behind and below us is Manehatten. Above us is the main glide path between the two cities.”

“Oh…oh my...” when Cyclone actually summoned the courage to look over the edge of the little cloud, peeking like a scared little filly, she saw what her lover was showing her. “It's really beautiful Blue...like, it’s properly nice!” as she said that, she saw a pair of pegasi fly over and one waved at them, and Bluefeather waved back. “Friends of yours?”

“Friends no, friendly, yes.” Bluefeather clarified with a giggle. “Everypony around here knows what these snuggle clouds are used for.”

Cyclone giggled, for she could see where this little escapade was going, and she liked it. “I like theses clouds already. But...you did a flying thing and I had my eyes open!”

“You are a big filly now, Cy.” Bluefeather smiled affectionately as she lowered herself down to the cloud surface so that Cyclone could dismount.

Carefully, very carefully indeed – she was very much focussed on the fact that this was a tiny little cloud and not a huge cloud city – Cyclone slid off of her lover’s back. “I am...I am a big filly! I didn't pee myself or anything!”

Turning to face her, Bluefeather gave Cyclone a very deep kiss. “Time to get you out of your nappy, anyways.”

Eagerly, Cyclone returned the kiss. “Now you mention it, it is getting a little hot. I think you should take it off. Slowly. With your teeth.”

Smiling, Bluefeather did indeed use just her teeth. She took her time to very slowly, as slowly and sensuously as she could, she removed the dry nappy that Cyclone was wearing with far more caressing than was strictly necessary or needed. Once the nappy was removed, the mid grey pegasus slid her hoof between Cyclone’s rear cheeks, raising it up to her nose. “I just love the scent of powder.”

“Y-Yeah...” Cyclone smiled, “powder smells cool!”

“Yes it does.” Bluefeather smiled and, holding out her hoof, she ‘hmm’d’ when Cyclone gave it a lick. Kissing her black mare’s lips, Bluefeather rolled her gently onto her back. “This is a soft bed, wouldn't you agree?” she asked as three outbound pegasi passed overhead, one of them looked down and tapped a second, pointing at them. That one said something they couldn’t hear, and all three flew on, laughing.

“I love it Blue...” Cyclone replied honestly. Looking up at the beautiful blanket of stars above her, as well as the moon, unobscured by the harsh glare of city lights, it was easy to forget how high up they were. “I really do love it. The stars are almost as beautiful as you are.”

Bluefeather couldn’t help but smile at that. “Don't let the Goddess of the Night hear you say that,” she said, kissing her young lover, a kiss which she trailed slowly all the way down her neck.

Cyclone let out a giggle which turned into a low pleasured moan, “I think she can take the criticism, babe.”

“Have you met her?” Bluefeather asked, her kisses trailing delicately over her right shoulder.

“Y-Yeah,” Cyclone squirmed, each tender kiss sending sparks flying through her body which nestled in her core, setting her alight, “Oooh…hmmm…a-a few times. A little…hmmm…while back, I was round the palace all the time.”

Bluefeather wasn’t quite sure if she believed that or not. “I'm sure it was your centrefold shot that drew her attention…” she purred silkily as she kissed her way down near Cyclone’s right wing joint.

Immediately, Cyclone’s wings sprang out from her body with an audible *poomf*, forming a very impressive wingboner on the cloud surface. “Aaah...I'm uh...sure it was Blue...that and we were friends with her hmmm....her son.”

Now, Bluefeather was sure her old hind legs were being pulled, still, it was a harmless fib, so she decided to make nothing of it. She was more concerned with Cyclone and her wings. “Oh, very nice spread, my love.” With that, she deeply nuzzled her secondary feathers. “Prince Dusk is a friend?” Like Tartarus, he was, but she decided to play along. “That would make life interesting…” she started a slow sensual preen, just as a pegasus hovered overhead and clapped his hooves before flying on wherever he was going.

“H-He was...aaaah...we drifted apart....hmm...now we're tight again...” Cyclone moaned and cooed with pleasure as Bluefeather started her preen. Since she had a mouthful of feathers, she had stopped talking, one hoof though continued to play with her flight muscles. “AAaaAAAH damn that's good!”

That gave Bluefeather cause for a brief pause. “Of course it is, hun,” she giggled and continued with her preen. This time though, she allowed her rear leg to drift over Cyclone’s and to lie between them.

“Aaahn...” Cyclone gasped, spreading her hind legs and, in the process, she wetted Bluefeather’s leg that was between her own.

Before she reached Cyclone’s primary feathers, Bluefeather paused. “How long has it been, Cy?” she asked gently as she gave each primary feather a slow lick from the base up to the tip. Overhead, several pegasi slowed down their flight to look before moving on.

“Well...'Dancer hmmm...sh-she left me a year and a bit after the conference demotion thing, so...hmmm....yeah...” Cyclone didn’t get to finish her sentence. The moment she heard the ‘year and a bit’, Bluefeather upped the sensuality of her preening. Her leg stayed firmly pressed on Cyclone’s upper thigh and tantalisingly over one breast. “Ga-Gaaah...ooooh... B-Blue!” she moaned, her juices starting to leak out into the cloud.

Thoroughly enjoying her work, Bluefeather kept up her pace until she heard a stallion shout from above. “Need any help there, Blue?”

Pausing for a moment, Bluefeather looked up into the night sky and saw a familiar friendly face illuminated in the moonlight. “I have this under control, Tinsel. Watch all you want though.” She said, quickly going back to work on Cyclone’s wing before she could stop panting. The stallion, a brown pegasus with a flowing white mane, lands nearby.

“Hmm...” Cyclone was getting properly into the preen, she found she was getting really turned on now that she had an audience.

The stallion, Tinsel, sat back on the cloud with a forehoof between his hind legs as Bluefeather finished Cyclone’s right wing and she proceeded to kiss / nibble her way along the bone structure back to her chest. Once she was at her lover’s barrel, she kissed across over to the secondary feathers of Cyclone’s left wing. Her other hind leg was still high on her thigh and draped over the other breast.

As Bluefeather preened her secondary feathers, Cyclone bent her neck and slowly kisses up and down her lover’s neck, her forelegs exploring around her body. She was getting into it when she heard an unknown mare’s voice. “Need some help there, Tinsel?”

Tinsel, sporting a rather impressive erection, grinned. “I’d love some, Trips.” With that, a sky blue mare with a yellow mane landed and ducked her muzzle under Tinsel while he was busy watching Bluefeather and her new playmate.

“He-Hey Blue...” Cyclone murmured as she kissed her way down Bluefeather’s neck to her wing, “we should put on a really good show, huh?”

“You're the centrefold, and I'd expect no less.”

“I'm an awesome centrefold, babes.” Cyclone whispered as she nibbled on Bluefeather’s right wing. While she was working, Cyclone noted that her lover’s wings were spread wide like her own, as was the stallion’s, but the mare under him had full wing control.

A few feet above her, she saw another pair of pegasi stallions form the ‘pony with two heads’, while next to them, in flight, another stallion mounted his mare with his legs wrapped around her to help keep her wings in check. She saw his wings holding them both in the air, not an easy manoeuvre at all, but they pulled it off.

Smiling up at Bluefeather, Cyclone nibble-kissed her way along the leading edge of her wing, while Bluefeather busied herself with nibbling Cyclone’s left primaries. A short distance away from them, Tinsel began to snort, thanks in no small part to Trips deep throating his cock in her well-trained throat. The pair of stallions above them moved out of sight to another nearby cloud. “Aaahn...” Cyclone cooed as Bluefeather expertly nibbled on her feathers, her own nibbling moving to her lover’s outer leading edge as her forehoof wandered down her front.

Soon, Bluefeather finished up her preening of Cyclone’s left wing and she moved along the flesh back to her heaving chest and up her neck for a very deep kiss. Cyclone kissed the older mid grey mare deeply in return, sliding her tongue into her mouth, rubbing her breasts over her lover’s. “Time to my lover squeal.” Bluefeather said, trailing fresh kisses and nibbles all the way down Cyclone’s neck, chest, and belly.

“NAaaah!” very obediently, the jet black mare squealed loudly, more of her juices leaking out as Bluefeather reached her breasts.

Next to them on the cloud, Tinsel snorted, grunted and, he had a look of sheer bliss all over his face as he came deep in Trips’s throat. After a long, long moment, she came up licking her lips having not spilt a drop. Moving past Cyclone’s breasts, she dived in between her hind legs with no preamble. “Enjoy that?” Trips asked, savouring the taste on her tongue.

Tinsel, breathing heavily, nodded at his mate. “Oh yeah, you know it.”

“So, return the favour and do that to me.”

“Oh, yeah!” As Trips flopped onto her back on the cloud, her sky blue wings popped out from her sides while Tinsel went down on his mate. A few more pegasi, flying overhead, saw what they were up to and made a slow circle, cheering them on before they moved on.

“Aaah...oooh Blue just there...hmm yeeeeeees!” Cyclone sighed happily as Bluefeather’s tongue and muzzle delved ever deeper into her sopping wet marehood. Wasting no time, the mid grey mare was going at it with a passion. As Cyclone arched her back, she could hear Trips squealing with joy. Holding Bluefeather’s blue mane, Cyclone started bucking her hips up into her face, riding her muzzle hard. “AAAH yeeees!”

With very little effort at all, Bluefeather brought Cyclone over the top of her orgasmic bliss and built her up again, her goal to get three out of her. “Ooooh MYYYY!” Cyclone shrieked like a mare possessed as she came for the second and third times, her juices drenching Bluefeather’s mouth and muzzle, her hooves scratching behind her lover’s ears.

Once she was satisfied, Bluefeather relented. Having reached her own orgasm, Trips was cuddling with Tinsel under the stars. “Very refreshing, my love.” She giggled, “Seems you have wet the cloud without your nappy though.”

“Y-Yeah...I MMMmmm I h-have a real problem with that…” Cyclone didn’t really care, she was in utter bliss.

Situated between Cyclone’s hind legs, Bluefeather gave her lover’s dripping wet snatch one more long slow lap straight up the middle before moving up alongside her on the cloud. “I seem to have a bit of wing issue,” she purred in her ear, “can you fix that for me?”

“Yes!” Cyclone squeaked once she had her breath back, which didn’t take long at all. “I'm a great fixer of wing issues. Gimme!” with that, she sat up and scooted around behind Bluefeather and she ran her hooves along the leading edges of both of the mid grey pegasus’s wings.

As Trips and Tinsel both took off from the cloud, heading back up to Cloudhatten, Cyclone giggled, the jet black mare taking her sweet time licking and nibbling all along the edge of Bluefeather’s left wing while her forehooves gently and tenderly caressed the primary feathers of both wings.

When Cyclone’s hooves reached the blue tinted parts of her feathers that gave the mid grey pegasus her name, Bluefeather giggled. “Hmm…Cy, that tickles!”

“Hmhmm…” Cyclone murmured, kissing her way up to the outer edge of Bluefeather’s left wing and she started to delicately suck on the largest primary feather, taking the blue edge in her mouth.

Bluefeather was surprised. Pleasantly so. For such a young mare, the way she ran her tongue along her feathers was nothing short of world beating. “Your skill belies your age, my dear Cy.” She rolled her head back, her tongue hanging out as she panted, “Oh, yessss, yessssss!”

“I am good, aren't I?” Cyclone giggled with no trace of ego at all as she used her muzzle to thoroughly explore the depths of Bluefeather’s outstretched grey wing, delving deftly to run her tongue slowly along each feather in turn as her right hoof snaked its way around her so she could gently rub circles around her breasts.

“Y-You are a most attentive lover, kind, and tender.” Bluefeather breathed heavily, her marehood dripping wet and her nipples rock hard. “I'm putty in your wonderful hooves,” she said, making a kissing noise into the air.

“And lucky you gets to have this all day, every day...” Cyclone smiled, whispering deep into her lover’s ear as she made a start preening her secondary feathers, her hoof gently flicking over her nipples.

“Everyday?” Bluefeather questioned, though right then and there she was hardly in a position to argue. Not that she wanted to, at all. “You seek to slay me through ecstasy alone.

Cyclone spoke, though her voice was muffled by the feathers she was sucking on. “Every.” She teased the feather straight with her teeth, “single.” She rubbed both nipples with her hooves now, “day.”

“S-So my OooOOOH…my only hope for escape is to put you in the time out corner?” she asked with a smile, though she was literally on cloud nine from the amazingly sensual and erotic preening she was receiving.

“Hmhmm!” Cyclone moaned, licking her way along a tertiary feather while her forehooves traced slow sensual circles around her breasts and nipples, “only if you don't want jumping on the moment you get home from work.”

Bluefeather laughed at that, “Good thing you're not an earth pony then, hmm?”

Cyclone slowly, very slowly, kissed her way across Bluefeather’s grey back to start on her other wing, taking care as she went to nibble at the wing joints, both her hooves working both nipples as she went. “If I was an earth pony, you'd still get this every day.”

As the young black mare passed over her wing joints, Bluefeather shuddered involuntarily, electric jolts of pleasure shooting all through her body, setting all her pleasure points on fire. “But, my dear, my back would be a bit sorer with you jumping me each day.”

“Ihen I'd be gentle,” Cyclone said with a giggle as she slowly dragged her tongue up the length of the longest primary on the right wing. “Like this.”

“Yes,” Bluefeather moaned, “so gentle, I may melt though this cloud.”

“If you did, I'd catch you in my hooves.” While Cyclone preened her lover’s wing, her left hoof wandered a little lower, down to pay close attention to her marehood as she nibbled and sucked on another primary feather.

“Ohhhh that is good,” Bluefeather moaned in sheer pleasure, feeling a sky-shattering climax fast approaching thanks to her young lover’s ministrations. “Mmmmmhhhmmm, to know you'd catch me as we fall thousands of feet and save me from my doom…” she said slyly, one eye half open looking at Cyclone’s reaction, the other closed.

“Wh-What…th-thousands...of f-feet...” Cyclone hesitated ever so slightly in her licking of Bluefeather’s feathers, her hoof poised at her clitoral hood. That certainly gave her pause, for she had managed, up until now, to shut out the fact that they were indeed thousands of feet in the air, nothing below them and the night sky above. “F-For you...I-I'd f-fall....th-th-thousands of fe-feet…”

Stopping the preening, just for a moment, Bluefeather turned around and hugged Cyclone tightly to her. She could tell the fear and terror in her voice, but she could also tell she was telling the truth. “For that, I thank you, and pledge my love to you. Now, kiss me and get back to preening.” Quickly, Cyclone kissed her lips and, as the older mare turned back around, the jet black pegasus returned to her preening, her left hoof now making contact with her hard clitoris.

Bluefeather shook and shivered, her hind legs quivering with the force of her burgeoning climax. “N-Now AaaaaAAH…th-that is pr-preening of the highest order!”

“Enjoy, my love...” Cyclone purred, stroking her lover’s hard clit with her hoof. Several rubs later and Bluefeather screamed Cyclone’s name loudly into the night, earning her generous applause from the neighbouring clouds.

“Did you enjoy the audience?” Bluefeather asked, ten minutes later, laid on the cloud next to Cyclone when she finally had her breath back.

“Yuppers...” Cyclone trailed off and grinned, in spite of the cuddle-fest she was enjoying. Little spoon suited her just fine. “Damn you Wily, yes Blue, yes I did, babes. The audience was amazingly hot.”

Behind her, Bluefeather tilted her head curiously. “And why would you damn a sweet little blind pegasus all the way to Tartarus?”

Cyclone smiled, “she says 'yuppers' all the time, it’s kinda her thing.”

“You've lost me, you silly filly.”

Turning around in the cuddle, Cyclone kissed her older lover’s lips. “It’s just a thing she says, that she's always said. I guess being around her again, it’s kinda rubbed off,” she placed a second kiss, this time on her nose, “don’t worry about it.”

Bluefeather kissed her back. “Okay, I can do that, but I'll be looking for your little quirks, missy.”

“I don't have quirks, I have lovable whimsies.”

“Riiiiight…” Bluefeather snickered, wholly believing her on that score. “Time to get you back in your nappy for the ride home. You do want a ride, right, Cy?”

Quickly, very quickly indeed, Cyclone nodded her head, fear in her voice once more. “Yes babes, very much yes!” there was no way in the universe she was flying home on her own.

“On your back then, little filly.” Before she finished her sentence, Cyclone had rolled over onto her back, lifting her hind legs up to assume the position. As she had many years of practise, Bluefeather had her lover’s pink nappy back around her waist in short order and with little fuss. “You are so cute in that!”

“Oh, I know,” Cyclone leant up and stole a quick cheeky kiss from the older mare’s lips, “you're pretty cute too!”

“I know that, too!” Bluefeather giggled as she lowered herself down to the cloud. “C’mon, climb on.”

As she crawled up onto the older mare’s back and held tight, Cyclone giggled, “I meant what I said Blue, if you fell, I'd catch you.”

“I know you would hun, and I'd have to change your nappy afterwards.”

“That goes without saying!”

Bluefeather chuckled, an idea forming in her head. “Direct route, or scenic route?”

Seeing as she was already up here, there really was only one answer, wasn’t there? “The scenic route, please, I'll try to keep my eyes open.”

“Then look with me and see the beauty of the night.” Bluefeather smiled and, very gently, she took off into the fresh inky blackness of the night sky, the powerful strokes of her grey wings allowing them to climb steadily as she turned to face the large silver orb of the moon.

“Wow...it’s beautiful up here - scary, but beautiful - just think...” she breathed, her voice full of fascinated awe as she stared up at the moon’s surface, every crater clearly visible, “Princess Luna was up there...”

Bluefeather smiled as she flew as slowly as she could without stalling, in order to prolong the tour. “Forgive me if I don't want to visit her old digs. Clear skies like this is what made me want to be a weather pony. Wait till I get some cloud between us and Cloudhatten.”

Cyclone sniggered, “I don't think she's letting it out as a vacation spot,” she laughed, then she had a very sexy thought indeed, “hey...Blue...do you think she'd send us there for like an hour or so?”

“Who knows what royalty might do, but then you've met her.” Bluefeather replied, though she still wasn’t wholly convinced on that. “I only heard second hoof about her last visit to Manehatten, the other week. Nothing like when Princess Celestia visited. So much prep work with her!”

Cyclone giggled, so relaxed was she that her death-grip around her lover’s neck wasn’t as tight as it was before. “Yeah, that sounds like Luna. Spur of the moment alright. No...see, I was thinking...I'm an exhibitionist, so are you, and well...”

“You just want to moon Equestria from the moon, don't you?”

At that, Cyclone blushed, a blush so intense that Bluefeather felt its heat on the back of her neck. “Just imagine making out with a hot sexy mare and the whole world can see you...hmmm!” she finished by biting her lip, very aroused at the thoughts in her head.

“If they have some powerful telescope like Princess Twilight has, then maybe.” Bluefeather surprised herself by actually entertaining the notion. “We could paint ourselves in dayglow colours, to make sure we stand out.”

“That sounds awesome!”

“I'll leave you to work out the details.” Bluefeather chuckled as she landed on another cloud that she had been aiming for. “Here’s my cloud.”

When her ride landed, Cyclone quickly crawled off of her back and onto the latest rest stop. “Assuming I could swing it, would you be up for it?”

‘She’s really serious, isn’t she?’ Bluefeather didn’t know what to make of that, at all. ‘Has she been telling the truth? Does she really know the Prince and the Princess?’ “With you, my little dare devil, I'm up for anything.” When she rolled onto her back, she faced away from the moon. “Now, look at the sky with no moon to hinder our view and no lights from below.”

When Cyclone rolled onto her back, she scooched in very close to Bluefeather’s side, putting a foreleg around her neck. “Just…look at those stars!” she breathed, staring up at the twinkling lights hanging high above them.

“This is my personal cloud. It’s one of my favourite places to relax.”

“Yeah...I like it...” Cyclone held her lover tight, her blue eyes never leaving the sight of the stars. “You know...” she said as Bluefeather nuzzled her, “Dusk taught us a poem about how Luna makes the night sky.”

“You sure he wasn't pulling your leg at his mom's expense?” she asked, deciding to at last believe her. She fancied herself a good reader of character, and Cyclone didn’t seem like she was lying.

“Nopes. She taught it him like Celestia taught it to her. Do you want to hear it?”

“Of course I do.”

“Oh, hang on,” Cyclone tapped her chin with her hoof, casting her mind way back to her many nights spent in Dusk’s suite at Canterlot palace. “I'll see if I remember it all...”

“Suddenly before my eyes
Hues of indigo arise
With them how my spirit sighs
Paint the sky with stars

Only night will ever know
Why the heavens never show
All the dreams there are to know
Paint the sky with stars

Who has placed the midnight sky
So a spirit has to fly?
As the heavens seem so far now,
Who will paint the midnight star?

Night has brought to those who sleep
Only dreams they cannot keep
I have legends in the deep
Paint the sky with stars

Who has placed the midnight sky
So a spirit has to fly?
As the heavens seem so far now,
Who will paint the midnight star?

Place a name upon the night
One to set your heart alight
And to make the darkness bright
Paint the sky with stars.”

“Which star is the Midnight Star?” Bluefeather asked with genuine curiosity as she scanned the beautiful night sky. She was ashamed to say they all seemed rather alike. “As for me, I quite like that red one there.”

Cyclone glanced up, searching the sky until she found what she was looking for. “Do you see that really bright belt of five stars shining brighter than the rest, over there?” she asked, pointing with her hoof.

“Yes.”

“Those are the Midnight Stars,” Cyclone explained, once more having to remember the stories that Dusk told her years ago. “There’s one for every lover Luna ever had or has.”

Bluefeather was impressed. “Wow, that is quite a tribute. Which one is Lady Octavia’s star?”

Again, Cyclone pointed to the belt of five stars. “Octavia’s is the large one in the centre of the belt. The one to the left of that one is for a mare called Sky Dive. I’m afraid I don’t know who the other three are for. They were created way before the Princess’s banishment.”

Bluefeather flicked her ears at the name ‘Sky Dive’. “Oh, I heard that name back in history class. There is a bronze statue of her in the Manehatten Museum of Art.”

“Is there really?” Cyclone asked, never one for fine art. “I'd like to see that. We, my friends and I, all knew the marble one back in the Canterlot royal gardens.” She laughed, remembering the time Air Raid got very, very drunk and passed out on her statue. “Luna was with Sky Dive when she was banished.”

“That makes sense,” Bluefeather commented, “since history says that Sky Dive was the one that turned her over to Celestia for punishment.”

“Yeah...she loved Luna with all her heart, she um, she couldn't handle what she became when the Nightmare took her.”

“That has to be tough, when your lover turns on you like that.”

“I bet,” Cyclone nodded solemnly, staring up at the Midnight Stars. “According to Dusk, Sky Dive stood by her side right up until she started killing innocents, then she alerted Celestia, that lead to the showdown in the Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree Forest.”

“That is in the past and now, Princess Luna is back.” Bluefeather stated, though there was a hint of a sigh in her tone. “Some in this town would like to see her take a more active role in the running of things.”

“Truth be told, I would too. Canterlot needs a shake-up.”

“I do try to avoid politics where I can,” the older mare grinned, “but with a friend like Caffy, that can be difficult.”

“I get that, zebras were, are, Luna's best supporters, from what I remember of history from Uni.”

“You just have to listen to his aunt to get an earful of that.” Bluefeather said, laughing out loud, before she went very serious indeed. “Cyclone,” she started quietly, almost nervously, “will you be my marefriend?”

“Bluefeather,” the jet black mare answered, being just as serious as her partner was, “I would be honoured indeed to be your marefriend.”

“Squall, will you let me be your nanna and take care of you?”

“Yes nanna!”

When Bluefeather hugged Cyclone this time, somehow the beauteous majesty of the stars in the night sky didn’t seem to matter anymore. All she was focussed on was the mare held in her legs. “I have the best of both worlds, then.”

Cyclone returned the hug, like her lover, all she could see were the older mare’s shining eyes. “Speaking for Squall, will you let her be your filly, pushing you just a little?”

“What are your limits on discipline?”

That was a good question, and Cyclone gave it the consideration it deserved. “Well, I like a sound spanking, that's about the limit, I don’t really care for being hurt too much.”

‘Aw! She is go preciously girly!’ Bluefeather thought to herself with a wide smile all over her face. “Is it okay if done in public?”

Cyclone’s eyes lit up, all sparkly and big. “Do you promise?”

Bluefeather’s heart couldn’t melt anymore at how cute and adorable Cyclone was. “Keep your misbehaviour age appropriate and I think you'll be very pleased.”

“I will do sweetie,” Cyclone kissed Bluefeather’s cheek, adding an affectionate nuzzle for good measure. “There, that's my inner filly happy, now...as for me, I'm gonna need a job, aren’t I?”

“Come, let’s go home.” Bluefeather nuzzled Cyclone’s cheek and her neck. “Job can wait the weekend till Monday.” She said definitely, rolling over onto her belly on the little cloud so that Cyclone could mount her for a ride home.

Straightaway, Cyclone crawled over the cloud surface and onto Bluefeather’s waiting back. “I do love your pony rides, sexy.”

As soon as her marefriend was on her back, with her familiar hold gripping around her neck, the mid grey weather manager lifted off from her personal cloud and she dived over the edge, flying straight for Cloudhatten and her home. “Your first night,” she said over her shoulder, impressed that Cyclone had her eyes open. “My bed or the crib?”

“Hmm that's a toughie...can I go in the crib?” Cyclone answered after a few minutes of intense contemplation. “Please?”

Bluefeather giggled, “I do own one for a reason, you know.” Smiling, she flew straight down to her three storey house and landed at the back deck that lead to the bedroom and walked inside. Trotting past her large bedroom into the hall, she was soon back in the brightly coloured foal room.

Trotting through the room, she opened a door at the other end and carried Cyclone through to the bedroom with an adult sized crib, a foal monitor, mobile of pegasi, griffons, and even wendigoes. The jet black mare noticed that there were no blankets or pillows in the bright pink crib.

Bluefeather at once mentally kicked herself, although in her defence it had been a couple of years since she had cared for a foal. Still, it was easily remedied. “I have bedding in blue, pink, black, and white. Do you have any preference?”

“Pink please babes,” Cyclone answered quickly. Pink was always her favourite colour, adult or foal. “Squall is quite a girly filly, and besides which, you wouldn't see me against black.”

“I think I can find what matters,” Bluefeather commented with a smile as she trotted over to the closet and pulled out the pink bed set. “That being your cute little black flank,” she giggled as she set the sheets on the thick mattress in the crib.

Cyclone giggled, watching her new marefriend work preparing the crib. “Just look for the tornado on my butt, you’ll find me.”

“I like the way your butt twists and turns.” Bluefeather giggled as she finished making the crib up. “You need a nappy change?”

“I mean, seriously, my name's Cyclone and I get a tornado cutie mark‽” Cyclone exclaimed with a good natured giggle. She did however check herself, just in case and found that between the cloud and here she had peed in her nappy and she’d never realised it. “Yes please hun, a change would be wise.”

Nodding, Bluefeather led her marefriend over to a nearby as yet unused low changing table and she patted it with her hoof. Obediently, Cyclone hopped up onto the changing table. As soon as her mare lifted up her hind legs, Bluefeather deftly removed the very wet nappy.

Working quickly with well-practised hooves, Bluefeather wiped Cyclone clean and, once this was done, she re-powdered her black behind. Reaching under the changing table, she pulled out and applied a fresh, clean, dry nappy before going back to the closet. Cyclone laid on the changing table, watching her lover walk, her eyes on her flank. “This should fit you,” she said, returning with a bright pink onesie decorated with yellow sunflowers.

Cyclone’s blue eyes went wide, “that's so adorable! Um...don't tell anypony else it has flowers, please…”

“Really, we shall see.” Bluefeather adeptly fitted the onesie on her marefriend. She was very pleased to discover that it fitted her really rather well. Beaming with pride, she pinched Cyclone’s cheek with her hoof. “You are just the cutest pegasus around! Now, let’s get you off to bed.”

Cyclone clapped her now onesie covered hooves together, utterly delighted. “It’s like it was made for me!”

Bluefeather carried Cyclone over to the crib and pulled down the safety rail. Hugging her older marefriend, Cyclone gave the back of her neck a delicate little kiss before she climbed up into the crib. “In you go, Cy.” She beamed proudly as she watched her onesied mare wriggle about and get comfy. As soon as she was laid down, Bluefeather pulled up the bright pink blanket and tucked her in. “Bedtime story?”

Laying in the crib, all tucked in with her head on the soft pillow, Cyclone looked up at Bluefeather with big wide eyes. “Pwease nanna?”

“How about Good night Luna?”

“I'd love it, thank you!” again, Cyclone clapped her onesie covered hooves. She loved that book.

Taking the thick cardboard book from a low shelf full of other similar foal stories and books. Sitting down, she began to read, “Good night light, and the red balloon. Good night bears. Good night chairs…” as she read the story, Cyclone yawned a very deep yawn and, rolling on her side, she faced Bluefeather with her eyes heavy.

Reading, Bluefeather soon finished the story, “In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little filly. Good night room, Good night Luna. Keep my dreams safe this night.” Closing the book she was pleased to see Cyclone asleep, a smile on her face.

Standing up, Bluefeather leaned over the side of the crib, she kissed Cyclone’s forehead. “Good night my precious little filly.” She quietly raised up the safety rail of the crib and she made sure the night light was on before leaving the room. Snoring happily, Cyclone rolled over, pulling the comforter around her in a soft warm pink cocoon.

Chapter 3 - More Than Role Play

Saturday morning rolled around and, with the warm summer sun shining through the open window of her bedroom, Bluefeather rolled over on her very comfortable cloud mattress and felt a mass beside her that wasn’t there the night before. With her eyes still closed, the forty year old mare’s first thought was that she’d gotten lucky. Her second thought, as she opened her eyes and saw Cyclone snoring next to her in her bright pink onesie with the yellow butterflies, was that she had gotten lucky.

Using her blue tinted wing to shield her eyes from the intrusive sunlight that had woken her, Bluefeather nestled in tight to her new marefriend and, with her muzzle close to her ear, whispered, “You'd think I'd learn by now that the foal should be in the crib, hmm?”

Feeling the vibrations in her ear, as well as her lover’s voice, Cyclone woke up, squinting against the light that shone into her eyes. “He-Hey...” she smiled, “I know I should, but I might've had a nightmare, in the night, and I wanted a cuddle, and you were all cuddly and warm, so I stayed here.”

Bluefeather really couldn’t argue with that, could she? And, besides, it was nice waking up to a cuddle for once. “Then I can cuddle you till you feel safe again, can’t I?” she asked, placing a kiss to Cyclone’s lips. “Still, you know you don't have to be a foal all the time, but I can live with that too.”

Quickly, for she too had wanted a mare to wake up to in the morning instead of her Radiance plush toy, Cyclone returned the kiss. “I don't fancy it all the time,” she started, rubbing their noses together, “'tis a fun game to play though.” With another kiss, she paused and smiled as she felt the sudden strong urine smell coming from her pink nappy. “That has to stay on, though, no matter what.”

“I think somepony, not a thousand miles away, could use a nappy change.” Bluefeather giggled behind her hoof, “Wait right there.”

Stretching her legs in her pink onesie, Cyclone smiled. “Why thanks, sexy.”

Hopping out of her large cloud bed, Bluefeather trotted over to a nearby chest of drawers and retrieved the fluffy padded changing mat from the top, as well as a pink nappy decorated with white bunnies. While it had been a while since her last foal, it never hurt to keep supplies to hoof.

Laying out the changing mat on the floor beside the bed, she carefully moved Cyclone on top of it. “At least mares are easier to change than stallions,” Bluefeather mused out loud.

Looking up at her marefriend and her nanna, Cyclone couldn’t help but giggle. “We are? How?”

‘You’re far more adorable, for one thing,’ Bluefeather thought to herself as she skilfully removed Cyclone’s sopping wet nappy. “As soon as I do that on a stallion they pee! Goes everywhere. For mares I just need to be careful of bladder infection.” She explained, taking out a wipe and making sure Cyclone was clean and dry.

“Ha!” Cyclone laughed, a little dribble of pee leaking from her that she didn’t notice and that her marefriend cleaned up, “oh I see...hmmm…” she squirmed a little as she was wiped clean, “MMmm you're thorough with that, aren’t you?”

Bluefeather just smiled that well-practised ‘nanna’ smile as she made sure that Cyclone’s back side was also clean. “Does my little filly want to try using the potty?”

“Oh!” Cyclone gasped, her blue eyes going very wide almost the exact same moment her marefriend asked, she felt a familiar lurch in her gut. “Ooh yes! Yes I need to go, unless you want the other to clean up!” she rolled over to her jet black hooves, rear end unprotected, and danced in place.

“Want is not the right word.” Bluefeather corrected her young marefriend as she got up quickly and led her through to the adjacent bathroom. She recognised the urgent ‘toilet dance’, and knew time was short. “Willing is. I'm proud of my filly for using the toilet, but I understand you can't always do so.”

“I'm glad I'm black,” Cyclone said as she followed Bluefeather through to the bathroom, “It means you can't see my blush. I do try and control it, but it's not always doable, y’know?”

“What I'm here for, my dear little one.” As Bluefeather placed an adult sized foal board over the toilet - which did very little to change things – she resolved to do something about that, both with the zebra in Ponyville and Cyclone’s apparent reluctance to go back to her. “There it is, all safe for you to use.”

Very eagerly, for she felt the painful cramps in her guts lurch all the harder, Cyclone bounced up onto the foal board with a very grateful smile all over her face. “That’s just one of the reasons why I love you so much, Blue.”

“Remember to lift your pretty little tail out of the way. I love you, too.”

“Oh!” mentally facehooving, Cyclone lifted her turquoise tail just in time as her bowels opened up and she took care of her very smelly, very messy business, her waste thundering into the toilet below her. “Aaah...ooh yeah, that was close!”

“I'm sure you'll do better and better,” Bluefeather asserted, particularly as she was determined to talk her marefriend into going back to Ponyville. “I'm very pound of you, now let me wipe you clean.”

“Um...o-okay…” standing on the pan, Cyclone turned around and, keeping her tail well up and out of the way, she presented her messy behind to her lover.

‘She is just the most adorable thing!’ “You don't have to move dear, I can get around a little filly, though I do appreciate the effort.” Taking up the toilet paper, Bluefeather went in for a quick and expert job of cleaning Cyclone’s messy behind and dropped the used tissue in the toilet. “Do you want to flush?”

“Yeps!” Cyclone brightened up immediately, her embarrassment vanishing as fast as it appeared and she pulled down the flush. “I did it!”

Bluefeather wrapped Cyclone up in a very tight hug. “Very good!” with that done, she led her young lover out of the bathroom and back to her cloud bed, where she helped her up. “Now, I know you're a big filly, but I want to put the nappy on you, just in case you can't wait, okay sweetie?”

Cyclone nodded eagerly, “you should, just in case this big filly can't wait.” The very, very last thing she wanted to do was mess anywhere in her new marefriend’s expensive and obviously well-kept home. Yes, she had done it in her own place, but her house was a cloud-quake magnet that she didn’t care about. This was different.

Applying the talcum powder generously all over Cyclone’s upturned ass, Bluefeather quickly had the pink nappy with the white bunnies strapped around her waist. “There! All ready to face the world!” she declared, giving her a lingering kiss. “Now, Cyclone, there are some things we need to talk about.”

Rolling over, with a wide smile on her face, Cyclone said, “I didn't do it.”

Bluefeather simply raised an eyebrow. “Did you enjoy yesterday?”

“Yep!” Cyclone was still smiling, though she recognised the serious tone in her marefriend’s voice. “I had a great time at the park, it was nice meeting your friends; Singer and Prance. Would’ve been nice to meet Rimshot and Vine, but they were playing in the sandbox, and no offense, I’m not going near a sandbox.”

“Do you think I'm a proper caretaker?”

“Sure I do, you've taken care of me well enough,” Cyclone answered with a nod of her head. In her opinion Bluefeather was, as Wildfire would’ve no doubt said, ‘properly awesomes’.

“Do you want me to be more?”

If she answered quickly before, this time Cyclone didn’t hesitate to nod her head so fast she almost gave herself whiplash. “Yes! Yes I would!”

That was just what Bluefeather wanted to hear. True, she had asked Cyclone to be her marefriend last night, but the forty year old mare wanted to be sure. “Well then, we need to get your stuff, don’t we?” when the jet black mare gave her a curious look, she giggled, “So you can move in here. I do have the weekend free.”

Cyclone tapped her hooves together uncertainly, “I mean, if you'll have me, I um, well, I mean I know there's an age gap between us, and, and...” she paused when she realised that one, she was rambling, and two, Bluefeather’s words finally sank in. “We, we do, need to move in?”

Bluefeather laughed, a laugh that got louder when Cyclone had finished rambling and realised finally what she was saying to her. “We do, I can't have you ride the train alone, can I? Too much paperwork.”

“Oh um,” Cyclone smiled sheepishly, “well, I don't have all that much to bring really, just a few boxes…”

That settled it, for Bluefeather, anyway. Her place was more than big enough for a few boxes. “I thought a train trip would be nice and the next one leaves at nine a.m. and, seeing as it is the express train, it will be there in Canterlot by eleven p.m. tonight. You can put me up for the night, yes?”

“Of course Blue!” Cyclone jumped up on the bed and kissed her marefriend’s nose, “there's plenty of room over at my old place!” Well, plenty of room was pushing it a bit, but Cyclone would deal with that technicality later.

“Good,” Bluefeather smiled, “There is a slower return at noon on Sunday will have us back before five a.m. Monday morning. I really want to see what is in your 'few' boxes of stuff.”

“Oh...” Cyclone giggled, waving her hoof in the air as she thought of her Avengers figurines, Power Pony figures, Buffy figures, and her small mountain of comics. “There’s just stuff, um, DVDs, photos, foal stuff and some collectible…stuff.”

“I'm sure,” Bluefeather smiled sweetly, “but maybe you're a naughty little filly and I might find something of special interest…” she whispered silkily in her ear, “I can't have you hiding those, can I?”

“Well...” Cyclone flustered on her marefriend’s bed, “my toys aren't just restricted to Power Ponies, you know. I do have some naughty adult pictures you might like.”

Bluefeather tapped her chin with her hoof, pretending to think it over. “Interesting, maybe after we return I can show some of mine, hmm?”

“I'd really like that,” Cyclone started, then she paused when a thought occurred to her. “Oh hey, you remember the Playcolt spread? I totally got that blown up and framed on my wall!”

Now, Bluefeather was very interested in that. She had an idea, an idea centred around her empty office wall and that Playcolt spread. “Such a pretty filly you still are. Do you want to ride in a fresh onesie?”

“Yes please hun!”

“Hmm, I don't have a lot of choices for pegasi…” she mused out loud, more to herself than to Cyclone as she ran through the options in her head, “Anything is good with your fur, of course, but the mane. Hmmm, does my filly want purple or emerald green?”

“Purple please!” Cyclone squeaked, though as she was sat idly, out of habit she absent mindedly started to suck on her hoof.

Grinning, Bluefeather quickly prepared a foal bag, this didn’t take too long as she had the things close to hoof. She was a little distracted by the cuteness overload that was Cyclone sucking her hoof. Once her bag was packed with all the things she thought she’d need, she got her marefriend dressed for the trip. As soon as the purple onesie was on her, she put on herself a vest to hold some items she thought they may need. “I have colouring books and colours. Is there a book you'd like me to read?”

Seeing as they were going on a train, Cyclone knew just the books to ask her older lover for. “Oh! Have you got the Friendship Express and Friends railway stories, please?”

Bluefeather chuckled, patting Cyclone’s turquoise mane. “As it happens, I do have the Friendship Express series. Would you like one of those?”

“Ooh yes! Yes please! I love the Friendship Express! Can you do the voices? Please‽”

“Calm down my little filly.” Bluefeather pulled down two of the Friendship Express books and she even packed a second set of clothes for her lover. “I will on the train, I promise.” She then packed a conservative dress for herself.

“You will?” Cyclone pumped the air with her hoof and her smile lit up the room. “Aw sweet!”

“Would you like a bottle or some mash for breakfast, sweetie?” Bluefeather asked once her foal travel bag was all packed and they were both dressed.

“Ooh,” Cyclone replied quickly, for her head was as always ruled by her empty belly, which rumbled its opinion, “can I have some mash now and a bottle for the train?”

“Of course you can,” Bluefeather said, leading her eager marefriend out of the bedroom and down the stairs to the spotlessly clean kitchen. “Let me help you up into your high seat.” She lifted up her giggling filly, who – helpfully – held up her forehooves for the ‘upsies’.

Once Bluefeather had her situated and secured in the high chair, she placed a white and pink bib around her neck, complete with a yellow cartoon train. “I have cauliflower, sweet pea, and pumpkin.”

“Yay!” Cyclone clapped her onesie covered hooves, once again so easily getting into character. This for her was more than just role play. “I like those...um...pumpkin, please!”

As she prepared the mash, Bluefeather smiled, impressed at how easily and with such enthusiasm her marefriend assumed her role. “I may have to go shopping for more flavours.” She said, placing the full bowl in front of the adult foal. “You want to try to use the spoon?”

“Yep!” Cyclone squeaked, banging her hooves on the high chair board, “I'm a big filly you see!” wanting to make a good impression, she picked up the spoon, fighting her urge to plant her face in the mash, and lifted up a bite-sized portion to her mouth.

Ever ready with a napkin held in her blue-tinted wingtip, Bluefeather cheered her on. “You're doing great, Cy!”

“I am?” Cyclone asked, swallowing her mash and fumbling a little with the plastic spoon.

“You are!” Bluefeather beamed happily. “You are such a big filly!”

Cyclone veritably glowed with the praise she had been given, her black wings fluttering with pride. “I can get the Express in the tunnel, watch!” with that, she made a very big show of getting the spoon in her mouth, even adding a loud, “Choo! Choo!” for extra effect.

“Toot! Toot!” Bluefeather joined in with the train whistle and Cyclone, unable to stop her giggles in time, spilled some of the pumpkin mash down her chin, which the older mare quickly dabbed up with the napkin. “Must be some bumpy track,” she commented, kissing her nose.

“The choo choo giggled!” Cyclone protested playfully.

“Choo choo’s don't giggle, they go…” Bluefeather paused as she took up a glass of water, “chuga chuga chuga!” she drank the water in one, winking at Cyclone in the high chair.

Watching her nanna’s antics, Cyclone laughed out loud, clapping her hooves happily, “you're funny!”

“Thank you, thank you.” Bluefeather made an exaggeratedly low bow to her appreciative audience, “I do a show a day, twice on Sunday.” She smiled, and her smile broadened as Cyclone pulled her left foreleg from inside the onesie and dipped her hoof in the pumpkin mash, licking it clean.

With the risk of her heart melting at just how cute and adorable her filly was being, Bluefeather nodded. “I’ll let you use your hoof, you did do a good job trying the spoon. Finish up and I'm going to get breakfast too.”

“It was hard, nanna.” Cyclone said dismissively as she dipped her hoof into her bowl once more.

“It will take practice dear, so don't be too discouraged.” Bluefeather smiled as she poured herself a bowl of crispy oats and added some milkmare milk to it. “It took me a long time to master a spoon!” she sat herself down at the kitchen table opposite her filly and ate her cereal while she watched Cyclone hoof feed herself.

“Yeah but you're all big…” Cyclone licked her hoof clean of the mash, “and clever.”

“Yes, but guess what comes with that?” when Cyclone gave her a blank look and a shrug, Bluefeather giggled. “Bills, and not the ones that are on birds.”

“Boo...bills are boring!” Cyclone passed her carefully assessed opinion on bills as she licked her hoof again. Smiling, Bluefeather just nodded and ate her cereal. The jet black mare carefully ran her hoof around the bowl to get the last of the mash up. “I like playing with you, Blue.” She said in a voice that was her own.

Bluefeather considered that, noting it was Cyclone who spoke, not Squall. “I liked yesterday, last night, and this morning is off to a good start.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Cyclone smiled, her muzzle all over her hoof. “I dunno, it just 'feels' right, y’know?”

“I've been doing this scene for many years,” Bluefeather said as she ate her cereal, “I've loved every foal I've taken care of, but I know that sometimes they grow up and leave the stable. Just so you know, if you do grow up, you don't have to leave.”

Cyclone looked down at her empty bowl and her tongue-washed hoof. She liked this, a lot. “I...I don't think I'll grow up, but it's nice to know we have both. It's cool having a nanna and a marefriend all in one.”

Bluefeather nodded, “As long as we keep the two separated.”

“We will!” Cyclone squeaked as she gave up on her hoof and licked her bowl clean with a filly-ish giggle. “All gone!” as proof, she held up her bowl like it was a trophy.

A few moments later and Bluefeather finished her cereal and, with a motherly smile, used the napkin on Cyclone’s face before helping her down from the high chair. “I have a very lovely stroller for you and we can catch a sky taxi to the station, how does that sound?” she asked, quickly washing the two bowls in the nearest sink to her.

“Yay!” Cyclone had slotted her hoof back into her onesie and she bounced on her marefriend’s kitchen floor. “Taxi's are way cool!”

“I'm ready, are you?”

“I ready nanna!” still bouncing, Cyclone buzzed her wings happily.

After Bluefeather had finished ordering the sky taxi on her phone, she turned to the bouncing filly and put her hoof on her head to stop her. “Has my little Cy…Squall, ridden on a train before?” she asked, very serious.

Cyclone shook her head. She had been on a train, of course, but not as Squall, she hadn’t. “No nanna, they like the story book trains?” she asked, buzzing her wings hopefully.

“Yes they are my little filly,” Bluefeather replied as she went into the downstairs storage room and retrieved the stroller, “but unlike story books, the trains we go on can be dangerous. I want you to be safe. Do you want to be safe?”

Cyclone nodded. Playing Squall she might be, but she knew when to pay attention. “Yes nanna, I wanna be safe!”

“Good, then never put your head or legs out of a window.” Bluefeather explained gently but firmly, “The trees can grow very close to the tracks and it isn't much fun for me to care for only half a filly.”

“Eew...that hurt, and be messy!”

“Yes it would, but it is fun to look out the window.” Bluefeather busied herself with checking over the foal bag she had packed, pleased to see she had everything she would need. “Just stay in the train. There will be a lot of ponies on the train so don't run off without me.”

Nodding, Cyclone nuzzled her nanna’s leg. “I'll be a good filly, I promise.”

Fifteen minutes later, fifteen minutes in which they had played ‘Tickle The Filly’ on the kitchen floor, Cyclone heard the toot of a horn outside, heralding the arrival of the taxi. “Okay,” Bluefeather said, breathless from their game, “It’s time to go.” Standing up, she put the overnight foal bag in the stroller and she held the door open for her filly.

“Yay! We goin' on a train!” Cyclone, all excited and eager, bolted for the open door, while Bluefeather followed and made sure to lock up behind her. Then, pushing the stroller to the back of the sky taxi, the mid grey pegasus off loaded the bag and folded up the stroller for storage. “C'mon nanna!” Cyclone squealed, bouncing on the cloud near the taxi's door.

Once the stuff was all securely put away, Bluefeather moved to open the door for her filly. “No jumping on the seat.” As soon as the door was opened however, Cyclone rushed inside, all excited and immediately she got up to bounce on the seat. Bluefeather, taking her seat, frowned at her filly. “Cy?” she said in a dangerous tone.

Cyclone, caught in mid-bounce, used her wings to lower herself to the seat. “I sowwy nanna.”

‘Celestia’s sainted hooves she is so cute!’ Bluefeather just smiled at her filly, and to the driver, she said, “Manehatten Grand Central Station, please driver.”

“Yes ma'am.”

“You can look out the window or you can rest your head on my flank.”

“Yay!” with that, Cyclone jumped up to look out of the window, before she saw just how high up they were and remembered, thanks to the many thousands of feet of height, that she was scared of heights.

“EEEEEEP!” she squealed and, changing her mind, she dived for Bluefeather’s sexy flank instead. “Hmmm…much better!” she smiled, though she was still shivering a little as she nestled into the older mare’s side. Affectionately, Bluefeather ran a tender caring hoof through Cyclone’s turquoise mane to comfort her. “Was too high nanna.”

Thankfully, in the sky taxi, the ride of fifty miles didn't take too long. After just forty five minutes, time spent with Cyclone nervously nuzzling her marefriend’s hind leg, the taxi landed on the roof level parking area of the large train station. Smiling, Bluefeather leant in and kissed her filly’s forehead. “We're here. I'm going to put you in the stroller so you stay with me, okay, Squall?”

“’Kay nanna!” Cyclone got out of the sky taxi once it was all parked up and stationary. The moment her black onesie covered hooves touched the roof of the train station, she did a four hooved happy dance, so glad was she to be on something solid.

As soon as she was out, Bluefeather had the stroller out of the sky taxi’s storage compartment and, with a practised flick of her hooves, had it unfolded and set up with the back hooked to the front. She quickly dropped the back down to allow her filly to climb in. “Okay Squall, you'll need to back into the stroller, please.”

“’Kay!” Cyclone giggled, and obediently, like a good little filly, she backed in and got comfortable laying on the seating pad. “Ooh I like, nanna!”

Paying the patiently waiting cabbie, Bluefeather raised up the back of the stroller and left the top down. Straightaway, her filly poked her head over the sides. “Such a pretty day, don’t you think, Squall?” she asked, pushing the stroller and its precious contents from the rooftop inside the train station to the elevator.

Laid in the stroller, Cyclone was well in her element. ‘I should've got me one of these ages ago, these are lush!’ she thought to herself as she was pushed through the station. A few ponies stopped to look, curious to see who was being pushed, a few of them laughed – good naturedly - but unlike Canterlot, there were no negative comments.

In the stroller, Cyclone really didn’t care, she was by now totally comfy in the stroller and at eye level with Bluefeather’s breasts, which weren’t covered by the shirt she was wearing thanks to her walking only on her hind legs. “Nanna...I hungry.” She squeaked, her blue eyes zeroed in on the swaying teats.

Smiling, Bluefeather pushed Cyclone through the busy station and over to the ticket counter and, once she had purchased the tickets, she gave her filly her attention. “Does my hungry little filly want her bottle?”

Cyclone however wasn’t really hungry. She just wanted an excuse to get her lips on those swaying teats. “Can drink from nanna?” she asked hopefully, fluttering her black wings and giving her the big eyes.

‘Sweet Luna above she can’t get any cuter!’ Bluefeather thought with a smile, though she was sure she could. “I fear I don't have any milk, but you can nurse from me, if you like.” With that, she dropped the front of the stroller down under the bar she was pushing with and shuffled forward to stand closer to the stroller. “Can you reach, sweetie?”

“Can reach, nanna!” Cyclone inched herself forward on the pad inside the stroller and, finding her prize, she wrapped her lips around Bluefeather’s left nipple and started to suck on it like she was determined to draw milk from it. ‘This is so awesome!’

“Would my little Squall like me to have milk for her?” Bluefeather asked gently as she pushed the stroller from the ticket counter onto the platform.

‘Oh sweet Celestia yes!’ Cyclone thought, and when she pulled off the now hardened nipple, she answered, “Yes nanna, I'd like that, totally really.”

Selecting a spot out of the way, Bluefeather parked the stroller on the platform to await the train. “I can pick something up in Cloudsdale to start the flow. Takes about three to five days. Till then you'll just have to pretend, okay?”

Breaking character for just a moment, Cyclone looked up at her marefriend with a smile and a wink. “I'm good at pretend.”

“Mmmm,” Bluefeather moaned lustily as Cyclone went back to sucking hard on her nipple, “Oh yes you are, my little filly.”

At her lover’s teats, Cyclone giggled and went over to the right nipple, giving it a gentle suck, not at all concerned in the slightest about the other ponies on the platform that were now watching intently. She especially didn’t care when a sky blue earth pony mare walked up and looked in the stroller and snorted loudly before turning and walking off with her nose in the air. “Sorry love,” Bluefeather snickered, “I don't have enough to share.”

Cyclone looked over at the departing mare, with her nose in the air, and giggled, for she was reminded very much of Canterlot. “Prissy mare…” she snorted derisively before turning her attention back to something more deserving, that being Bluefeather’s teats. Teats that she wished were full of milk.

Bluefeather glanced down at her filly with a frown. “Is your mouth looking for a soap bath, Squall?”

Cyclone shivered, not at the threat but at the frown she was being given. It didn’t suit her caretaker at all, she decided. “N-No nanna...I sowwy…”

“Good little filly,” Bluefeather sighed as she lightly patted Cyclone’s turquoise mane. “My good filly.” Her lips were good too, especially on her nipples like they were. “We have another fifteen minutes till the train arrives, sweetness.”

Cyclone cooed as her mane was patted. “I like you milk, nanna…” she slurred without removing her lips from her nipples.

“I'm happy you do, my dear little one.”

“I love all of you, nanna!” Cyclone adjusted her position and nuzzled Bluefeather’s left breast again, licking around her rock hard nipple.

Standing at the stroller, leaning heavily on the push bar, Bluefeather was in sheer and utter bliss, sighing and moaning her way through the fifteen minutes until the whistle of the approaching Friendship Express broke her trance. “It…aaaah, it is time to get on board,” she said quite reluctantly, “I have gotten us a sleeping compartment.”

“Yay!” Cyclone squeaked as, reluctantly, she stopped sucking on her marefriend’s teats and looked at the multi coloured steam train that had just pulled into the station. “Train! Nanna is big, look!”

“Yes, and loud!” Bluefeather agreed as she pushed the stroller past the many ponies embarking and disembarking and up to the front where the locomotive was blowing off steam. “Would you like to say hi to the engineer?” she asked, knowing full well the effect this would have on her filly.

“Can I?” Cyclone thought all her Hearths Warmings had come at once. “Pwease! Pwease! Pwease!” she bounced in the stroller, looking in awe the Express. “Is as big as Gordon from the books, look, nanna, look!”

“We can and we will.” Bluefeather stated as she reached the billowing steam engine, where there were some ponies; the driver, the stoker, the guard and the conductor, standing around talking while their train took on fresh water. “Greetings,” she spoke up, getting the attention of the stallion who was the driver. “My little filly would like to meet the ponies that drive Gordon the Friendship Engine.”

“What?” the driver asked, hastily sliding his salt lick back into the pocket of his dirty overalls.

Another stallion, the stoker, nudged his friend, leaving a large fresh coal smudge on his already dirty overalls. “From the book, Steamer, remember?”

“Oh!” Steamer shook his head and walked over to the stroller, expecting to see an excited young filly. He wasn’t expecting to see a fully grown pegasus dressed in a purple onesie with an obvious nappy under it around her behind clapping her hooves excitedly. “Is this a joke?” he asked, a scowl on his face.

“Steamer...” the stoker said warningly, as he had seen the warning look on Bluefeather’s face.

“What, oh, yeah, ah...” Steamer foundered, not really knowing where to look or what to do.

Thankfully, the second stallion, the stoker, stepped in and skilfully covered for his friend. “Hello there, I'm Breakshoe, what is your name, little filly?”

“Hi!” Cyclone waved her hoof, “my name is Cy! I pweased to meet you!” she clapped her hooves, joy all over her face. “You make Gordon go?”

By this point, Steamer had recovered his composure and decided it couldn’t hurt to play along, after all they weren’t hurting anypony. “Ah, yeah that is my job, to help Gordon pull the train.”

When he looked at the older mid grey pegasus, she deigned to introduce herself, pleased indeed that the scowl had left his face. She would have hated to have to complain to the railway operators. “I'm Bluefeather and it is a joy to meet you both. You've made my filly very happy.”

Breakshoe beamed, “Would she like to see inside the cab of the engine?”

Now, Cyclone was sure all her Hearths Warmings had come at once. “Pwease! Pwease! Yes nanna pwease!”

Bluefeather placed a restraining hoof on her filly’s shoulder. “Will you not touch any of the controls, Cy?” she asked in that motherly tone.

“Pwomise I won't!” Cyclone would have promised anything to see inside the locomotive’s cab, as a filly or as an adult.

“Okay then we can give a quick tour before we need to get ready to leave.” Steamer said as Bluefeather dropped the back of the stroller so that her filly could get out.

“I gonna see the cab!” Cyclone chanted as she got herself out, barely containing her enthusiasm. “I gonna see the cab!”

Steamer lead the way inside the locomotive’s cab and showed off all the different controls that he had to operate. “Here are the controls that lets Gordon know which way to go and how fast.”

Breakshoe joined them, smiling at the ‘filly’s’ open-mouthed stare. “This is the coal we feed Gordon. I would not recommend you eat it though. It is really hard.”

Cyclone’s blue eyes were wide as saucers as she looked at the bewildering array of levers, switches and all the dials and things. She didn’t know where to look first. “Wow!” under the circumstances, she thought ‘wow’, just about covered it. “Wow...is there one that makes Gordon whistle?”

“There is,” Brakeshoe explained, happy to play along, “but when Gordon whistles we have to do something, so Gordon can't whistle right now.”

Steamer continued, “You will hear Gordon whistle just before the train moves though, to let everypony know.”

Standing on the floor of the cab, Cyclone bounced, she couldn’t stop herself. “This is sooo cool!”

Picking up the excited mare in his hooves, Steamer helped Cyclone up so she could sit on his seat and look out of his driver’s window. “This is the view I have when Gordon is charging down the tracks,” he explained to her, though now the view was of the busy station and the bustling ponies milling around.

“My seat is on this side so we both have a good view.” Brakeshoe added, pointing to his own well-worn seat.

“Toot toot!” Cyclone squeaked happily as she looked out of the window. In her mind’s eye she was seeing herself in the cartoon as the driver, with Gordon thundering down the main line. In a passable voice from the show, she said, “hurry, hurry little Thomas!” Though she didn’t mean to, her hoof straying towards a thingamajig in front of her.

“Well, that ends the tour!” Steamer announced quickly, helping the big filly off of the pad before she could touch anything.

Brakeshoe nodded, thankful that Steamer had caught the black pegasus before she had – inadvertently perhaps – pulled and released the brake lever to start the train into motion. “We need to get Gordon ready to go. Enjoy the ride. How far are you going?”

“All the way to Canterlot.” Bluefeather replied with a grateful smile, picking Cyclone up and depositing her back in her stroller, where she could keep an eye on her.

“Is long way.” Cyclone added helpfully.

“I think you made Gordon smile,” Brakeshoe whispered to Cyclone once they were out of the locomotive’s cab and in the first carriage. “He likes visitors.”

“I did? He does?” Cyclone buzzed her black wings excitedly. “I met Gordon! You're the best, nanna!”

In the carriage, as she pushed the stroller through the train to their carriage and their compartment, Bluefeather nodded her head, a knowing look on her face. “I'm glad you think so dear, and I'm also glad the stoker ended things before you pulled that lever.”

“Um...” Cyclone wanted to hide behind her wings. She realised she had been caught red hooved. “I didn't mean to...I-I was just playing, nanna.”

“What did I tell you not to do in there?”

“Not to touch…”

“Did you touch anything?”

Cyclone thought about that. She had certainly been about to touch the lever, though she had no idea what it did or what the consequences of her actions might have been, but she hadn’t actually touched it. “Um…well, no nanna.”

Leaning down over the push bar, Bluefeather kissed her filly’s forehead. “Then everything is good, yes?” she asserted as she walked through the train until the conductor helped show her to their cabin. “Can I get a foal guard for the bed please?” she asked the smartly dressed unicorn conductor.

The conductor, a beige stallion resplendent in his pristine uniform, nodded to Bluefeather. “Of course ma'am, I'll get you one immediately.” He said with a polite bow as Cyclone buzzed her wings and hovered up out of the stroller. Landing on the seating pad, she looked out of the window at the busy platform while Bluefeather sat next to her.

Almost the instant Cyclone landed on the seat, she started to bounce with barely contained excitement. “We ridin' Gordon! Nanna, we ridin' Gordon!” A few moments later and she heard the steam train’s whistle, signifying they were about to get underway. “He whistled! Nanna he whistled! Did you hear?”

“I did hear the whistle!” Bluefeather replied to her little filly. ‘I wonder if she’s genuinely excited, or is this part of her foal play?’ she thought to herself. As the Friendship Express jolted forward into motion, Bluefeather instinctively placed her hoof on Cyclone’s back to keep her from falling off the pad.

“Wohoo!” Cyclone buzzed her wings excitedly, “we goin! Tooooot!” lost in the moment, she reached out of the open window and she started to wave at the slowly departing station as it slid past them.

“Hoof inside the window, now!” Bluefeather ordered sharply, for the speed had started to pick up, the station going past the window faster and faster until after a few seconds it was gone altogether.

Faster than a scalded rat, Cyclone pulled her hoof back. “Sowwy…” Literally a second later a mail post shot past at in a blur of speed. The jet black mare had visions of it taking her foreleg off. “I sowwy!”

Just then, the beige unicorn conductor entered their compartment, after a polite knock, with the foal bed guard held in his teal magical aura. Working quickly, he helped Bluefeather set up the eight inch high guard before leaving them to it. “I think it is your nap time, as you are getting forgetful.” Said Bluefeather once they were alone.

“I sowwy nanna…” Cyclone pouted a little. It wasn’t that she was forgetful, more that she was too much into her character. “Um…can I has my Radiance?”

“You can, and I'll even read you a story.”

Immediately, the pouting filly perked up. “A twain one, pwease?”

Bluefeather nodded, reaching into the foal bag in the storage compartment underneath the stroller. She realised it was a losing battle staying cross with her filly, she was just too damn cute! ‘Besides, I can’t be angry she’s playing her part so well, that’s what I want, after all…’ “I thought I'd start with 'The Three Railway Engines', would you like that one?”

“Yes pwease nanna!” Cyclone squeaked as she settled down on the fold down bed. Once Bluefeather has passed her the Radiance plush, she tucked her in and started to read the story book. Cuddling her beloved soft toy that meant more to her in all the world, it didn’t take long before she started to snooze.

It also didn’t take long for Bluefeather to fall asleep next to her snoozing filly, especially with the rocking motion of the speeding steam train.

In her sleep, Cyclone rolled over against the bed guard and, feeling the weight beside her, reached out a hoof for her, cuddling her nanna in her sleep. “Mmmm…MMmmm…” she snored, a contented smile on her face as she filled her nappy in her sleep. After forty five minutes of high speed travel, the steam train came to a stop in Fillydelphia, waking Bluefeather up.

As the train lurched to a halt, Cyclone stirred slightly, but the warmth of the waste in her nappy lulled her back to her slumber. Beside her, however, Bluefeather was up and awake, especially as the strong smell that was emanating from her filly’s rear end was reminding her of a small sewage plant. “I do believe I have a very stinky little filly.” She said loudly in Cyclone’s upturned ear.

“HMM?” Cyclone snorted as she opened an eye, still in her half awake, half dreamlike state. “Power Ponies Assemble!” A moment later though she blinked herself properly awake. “Huh...” she sat up, looking around and sniffed, feeling her waste move around her rear inside the nappy. “Oooh, I be stinky!”

“I have the cure for that!” Bluefeather cried as she reached for the foal bag and her travel supplies.

Stretching a little, Cyclone yawned. “I sowwy, nanna.”

Smiling broadly, Bluefeather laid Cyclone on her back and lifted up her hind legs. True to her word, there was no such thing as too messy for her. “Okay, my little filly, let’s get you cleaned up and then we can go to the club car.” She said as Cyclone pulled her legs up even further for her nanna.

When the older mid grey pegasus had the purple onesie pulled open, and the nappy off however, the sheer stench made her eyes water. “My, my, what have you been eating, Squall?” she asked with a giggle as she worked quickly with a foal wipe to clean up the mess, ensuring her black fur was clean.

Cyclone wriggled and giggled as her rear end was given very close intimate attention. She could feel herself get cleaner as her waste was removed. “Pumpkin mash, nanna!”

“Oh yes, I'll have to rethink that one, won’t I?” she asked rhetorically with a giggle as she liberally applied talcum powder. “Now for a fresh nappy for your fresh bottom.”

“Aaaww!” Cyclone wiggled her legs and her ass with a delighted little giggle. She loved that mash, but the end result was a little…smelly. “Mash is nummy tho, nanna.”

Bluefeather smiled as she deftly secured the clean fresh nappy around her filly’s waist. “Well, I didn't say I'd rule it out, you little stinker. Okay, now you're ready to face the world, or at least the club car.”

About to argue, Cyclone’s tummy gave a particularly loud rumble. “I a stinker!” rolling over to her front, she buzzed her wings and bounced happily on the bed.

“Would Squall like an ice cream?”

“Yes pwease nanna! I wanna ice cream!”

“Okay,” Bluefeather said as she deposited the soiled nappy in the trash, “we will have to walk so don't wander off.”

“I won'! I'm a good filly!” as she got off of the bed, Cyclone took her Radiance plush under her wing and held Bluefeather’s hoof with her own. Walking side by side, the older pegasus took her filly and her plush through another sleeper carriage, the dining car and into the club car which served drinks and snacks on the lower level. As they walked along, Cyclone pulled at her nanna’s hoof to try and get her to walk faster. “C'mon nanna! Radiance wants ice cream!”

“Okay, we can make sure Radiance has some ice cream,” Bluefeather smiled wryly, knowing just how to get her filly to walk properly. “But you don't want any?”

“I want some nanna,” she thought as she stopped pulling and walked properly, “pwease!”

“Okay, so three ice creams,” Bluefeather smiled a victorious smiled and nudged the black wing that carried the Power Pony plush. “You be careful, Miss Radiance, and don't get any on your pretty dress.”

Cyclone giggled and, in a very squeaky voice indeed, said, “I won't!”

Standing at the ice cream counter in the club car, Bluefeather surveyed the selection of ice creams on offer. “Squall, they have chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. You can have one scoop, which do you want, sweetie?”

“Stawberry pwease!” Cyclone answered straightaway, “and, um, Rady likes 'nilla.”

“Thank you for asking her for me.” Bluefeather really didn’t think things could get any cuter. “Hmm, do you think it would be easier if I put both of those scoops in just one cup for the two of you to share?”

Cyclone took a moment to whisper to her plush toy. “Rady says that a good idea, nanna.”

“Okay then,” then she bent down and whispered back, “Not all ponies like strawnilla!” she giggled and stood up to address the patiently waiting stallion. “I'll have a cup with two scoops of strawberry and another cup with a scoop of vanilla and a scoop of strawberry please.”

“Right away, ma'am.”

Cyclone giggled as she watched the serving stallion prep her nanna’s order. “Stawnilla is cool!” she explained, “Rady had it in the movie!”

Bluefeather of course had no idea what Cyclone was talking about, though she had an idea that she would be ‘educated’ in all things Power Pony before very long. “Take Radiance and sit at that table. I'll bring the cups over.”

“A cute little filly you have there, ma'am.” The ice cream stallion smiled as Cyclone happily trotted off to the nearest empty table, her Radiance plush held tight under her wing.

“Thank you,” Bluefeather smiled proudly, “she is trying very hard to be good, so it is an ice cream treat.”

“Here you go ma'am,” the stallion said with a smile as he set the ice creams on a tray. “That’ll be forty bits.” When the mid grey pegasus paid up, he waved her off to the table and to the waiting Cyclone with a practised smile. “Okay, you two share nicely now.”

Cyclone beamed brightly and clapped her hooves as Bluefeather set the tray down on the table. “We will!” struggling with the spoon, she fed herself, getting a good dollop of ice cream on her nose. “Here Rady!” Cyclone offered her toy a spoonful of ice cream to her plush but pulled it away. “Nanna, Rady says the lady is watchin her figure, so she don't want any.”

“I can understand that, but maybe she’d like just a taste.” Bluefeather smiled as she ate her own ice cream.

“Okay nanna, I give her a taste!” Cyclone pushed the spoon to the plush's lips, leaving a small smudge in its wake. “Yuuuum! See? Told you she likes it!”

“Use this,” Bluefeather said, pushing a napkin towards her filly. “Or,” she whispered, “a kiss would help to clean her lips.”

“Rady likes kisses!” Cyclone squeaked, ignoring the napkin, she kissed her plush and took away the ice cream smudge. “Yes Rady, I think so too…” she said as if the soft toy had spoken to her. Smiling, she dipped Radiance’s muzzle into the ice cream and offered the plushie to Bluefeather. “She wants a kiss!”

Bluefeather raised her eyebrow. “Are you sure, Squall?”

“I sure, nanna. Rady likes you.”

Smiling, the mid grey pegasus leaned over the table and gave her filly’s plush an exaggerated kiss to clean off the ice cream. “You are a very good kisser, Radiance.”

Cyclone lifted up her toy to her ear and nodded. “Rady says you're better!”

Bluefeather nodded. “My, that is very sweet of her, then she does have sweet lips.”

Leaning over the table, Cyclone whispered behind her hoof so that Radiance wouldn’t hear her. “I think you're better too, but then again, I didn't say that…” with a wink, she went back to eating her ice cream.

Ten minutes later, once the ice cream was all finished and Bluefeather had made sure her filly and Radiance were all cleaned up, she got up from the table. “We can go up top, to the observation deck, and watch the scenery. You'll be able to see Gordon working hard from up there too.”

“Yay!” Cyclone clapped her hooves excitedly, instantly loving that idea a lot. “Rady, we can go see Gordon!” taking her nanna’s hoof again, like a good little filly, she followed Bluefeather up the steps and, once they were on the observation deck, they found a spot at the forward window.

“Whooo!” Cyclone squealed in sheer delight and ran up to the window, pressing herself and her Radiance against the glass.

Taking a seat near her filly, Bluefeather smiled at her foal-like antics. Again, she was very much impressed with how well she played her part. “Now Rady...” she heard Cyclone talk to her plush, “you keep you hoof in da window, 'kay?”

Cyclone turned away from the window with a proud smile on her face. “Rady says she be careful, nanna!”

Bluefeather gave her a very nonplussed deadpan look. “I hope that Rady's advice is used by you too, Squall.”

“Yes nanna, it will.” With a very sheepish look all over her face, Cyclone sat beside her marefriend, content to look out the window from where she was.

Protectively, Bluefeather draped her wing over her filly and held her close to her. “We can relax here for a bit, and when you want we can go back to our stateroom. I have colours and stuff there for you to play with.”

“It's nice up here,” Cyclone responded in a voice that wasn’t entirely Squall’s. “It’s not too high up, and I'm with you.” As the steam train rolled along the track, Bluefeather took the time to point out some of the sights that they passed by. The scenery between Manehatten and Baltimare certainly was pretty.

After thirty minutes, the Friendship Express entered Baltimare station five minutes ahead of schedule. As they slowed down, the unicorn conductor made an announcement on the loud speaker. “Baltimare, this is Baltimare. We will have a thirty minute stop, but please don't wander too far.”

As the steam train slowed to a halt, Cyclone was still snuggling close to Bluefeather’s side, nestled deep in her winged embrace. “Baltimare…I've not been here before.” She mused more to herself than to her partner.

An idea came to Bluefeather as they snuggled, especially from her vantage point on the observation deck where she could see the many shops on the platform. “We can look around the station, but first…” she clipped a foal leash to her filly’s purple onesie, letting her know they were still playing. “Ready?”

The fact that they were still playing suited Cyclone just fine. Standing up, she made sure she had her Radiance plush under her left wing where she belonged. “I ready nanna!”

Smiling, with the leash held firmly in her wing, Bluefeather led them both down the steps and out of the closest exit to them onto the platform. “Welcome to Baltimare, Squall.”

All excited, Cyclone sniffed the air. Straightaway she detected the salty sea smell in the air. “Smells nice, nanna,” she said after a few minutes, passing her judgement.

“It’s a port city, like Manehatten.” Bluefeather explained as she led her young filly over to one of several souvenir shops that occupied the station and, now that they were away from the bustling crowds of the platform, she unclipped the foal leash. “No running and don't touch things,” she said warningly, “but let me know if you see something you like.”

The moment she set her onesie covered hooves inside the souvenir store, Cyclone quite forgot about being interested in the new town’s smell, or anything else, for that matter. Like a good filly though, she did not run off. Instead she made a beeline for the Railway Series plush toys on the lowest shelf.

Seeing as how she already had all the Power Pony plushes at her home in Cloudsdale, including the super rare Mane-iac with the wrong coloured mane, she went straight past them and investigated the trains. These she didn’t have. “Nanna!” she squeaked excitedly, making some of the other shop patrons look her way, “nanna! Engine plushies!”

Bluefeather, who was of course unaccustomed to the world of collectibles, was taken aback by the volume on offer. “My, there are so many…” she scanned the characters, “There’s Thomas, and the three from the book I read, Edward, Henry, and Gordon. Plus so many more. I didn't know there were so many!”

Cyclone knew perfectly well how many there were. “There is nanna! There's lots and lots!” she pointed her hoof to the only red engine there, and then to a small light green one. “There’s James, and Percy…” then, her attention was taken by a dark green engine. “Ooh I like Emily!” she buzzed her black wings and, in all the excitement, she dropped her beloved Radiance plush toy and hoofed it under the shelf with the train plushies.

This – very large – accident went unnoticed by Bluefeather who was still trying to learn the Railway character’s names. “I think your allowance will get you two of them if you like, or just one and you can see if there is something else that will catch your eye.”

“Oooh...um...” Cyclone tapped her hoof to her chin, deep in thought. Thomas, James and Edward she already had, but there were two she really wanted that were there in front of her. “Can I has um...Gordon and Emily, pwease nanna, pwease‽”

‘How can you say no to that bundle of cute?’ the older mare thought, “Yes you can, sweetie.” She pulled Gordon from the shelf, as she recognised him from the book. “Ah, which one is Emily?”

“She's Emily, nanna!” Cyclone pointed her hoof to the dark green engine with a big central wheel in the middle and the number eight on the tender.

Gathering that one as well as the blue Gordon, Bluefeather led her filly over to the cash register. After she had paid for the two soft toys, she turned to a very excited Cyclone and gave her a very hard choice indeed. “You want to carry both or just one for now?”

After a long pause, she made her mind up, finally. “Can I carry Emily?” she asked, extending her left wing for the toy.

Not noticing that the Radiance wasn’t there, Bluefeather carefully placed the Emily plush under her outstretched wing. “Let's head back to the train, hmm?” she asked, clipping the leash back on for good measure. “With two trains, you and Radiance can each play with one.” She said, moving out of the store with her filly in tow.

“Yep!” Cyclone squeaked happily, wholly unaware that she was leaving her precious Radiance toy behind in the store. Yep we can nanna! Ta for my trains!” With about ten minutes or so to spare, Bluefeather took the long route back so that Cyclone could wave at the engineers, this she duly did, and got a wave back.

Brakeshoe was the first of the train crew to notice the happy filly and he waved back, though not before he nudged Steamer, who again slid his salt lick out of sight and waved as well before getting back to his work. “We'll go back to our stateroom and you can play till lunch, okay sweetie?” Bluefeather asked.

“Yes nanna!” Cyclone bounced happily as she trotted along the platform to the steaming train. Everything was right in her little world at that moment in time. “This gonna be so cool!”

As they entered the train at their sleeper carriage, which happened to be a bright purple carriage with yellow flowers and butterflies on it, Bluefeather unclipped her filly’s leash from her onesie. “Third door on the left is ours.”

“Yaaay!” the very instant she was released, Cyclone galloped off down the carriage like she was trying to win the Running of the Leaves, though she did run so fast that she missed the door and had to go back to it. Her little detour however allowed her nanna to get there first and open the door for her. “Ta nanna!” she squeaked, trotting in sheepishly through the now open compartment door.

Once they were inside and sat down, Bluefeather delved into the foal bag and pulled out the colouring books and the colours. “Now, all of you can colour together!” she beamed, setting up Gordon on the table next to the books.

“Yep!” Cyclone pulled the Emily toy on the table next to Gordon in front of her colouring book. “There! They look cool...I know! They need a pony to ride them…” with that idea for a cute scene in mind, she reached under her wing to get her Radiance plush.

Except, Radiance wasn’t there.

“Rady!” Cyclone squealed, instantly in a near panic as she looked under both wings, “Radiance!”

“Don't yell, sweetie,” Bluefeather said, not realising what the problem was.

“Nanna, my Rady's gone!” Cyclone cried, very, very genuine panic and distress evident on her face.

‘Damn it!’ Bluefeather thought to herself, though she did a deep breath. It was clear from her partner’s reaction that this was more than a role play problem. She could also tell that the plush meant more than just a plush. “Did you take her from the train?” she asked.

“I think so!” again, Cyclone looked fruitlessly under her wings and on the seating pads. “She wanted to come, now she's gone! She’s gone!”

Sighing to herself, Bluefeather opened the compartment door. “Conductor, when do we leave?”

The beige unicorn looked his schedule and back to the mid grey pegasus. “Three minutes on the nose, ma'am, three minutes.”

Straightaway, Bluefeather made her mind up, urged on by the desperate look on Cyclone’s face. She determined, when this was done, to find out what was so important about this plush. “Squall…Cy, I need you to stay right here, please. If I'm not back before the train leaves, I'll need you to grow up. Understand?”

Cyclone glanced up at the emergency stop cord and nodded. “I understand, nanna.” She just wanted her plush. She needed that plush. To her, it was the most important, most valuable thing in the world. It was more than ‘just’ a plush.

“Conductor, I left something at the gift shop, I'll be right back.” Very quickly, Bluefeather took off down the aisle of the train carriage and out of the car on to the platform. As she was a weather pony, she was a strong flyer in her own right. Going back the way they had come, she traced the route past the steam engine to the souvenir gift shop. “Hello,” she breathed to the shop attendant that had served her just moments before, “my filly dropped a medium sized Radiance plush. Has anypony turned it in?”

The serving pony shook his head. “Sorry, but no ma'am.”

Searching through the store, Bluefeather was pleased it wasn’t a big outlet or she could be here for hours. Thankfully, she remembered the aisle that had captured her filly’s attention so much. Moving to the Railway Series display, she soon found Cyclone’s Radiance. It was, thank Celestia, too large to be wedged under the shelf. “Silly filly. Found it.” Picking up the well-loved toy, she showed the attendant that it wasn’t the size they sold and, with a nod from the pony at the register, she took to her wings and flew out of the shop as the train whistle blew.

Cyclone, still in their compartment on the train, busy with her colouring book, looked up in panic as she heard the Friendship Express signal that it was about to leave. ‘Oh no!’ She thought, ‘that's the whistle!’ shaking her head quickly, she left the train carriage and pulled the cord to stop the train. “No! Can’t go! My nanna’s not back yet!”

Many things happened at once then. The beige unicorn stallion that was the conductor lit his horn to prevent the cord from being properly pulled, as he was holding the door open for the rapidly approaching Bluefeather. “Hurry up, ma’am!” He called, urging her on.

Cyclone again, fruitlessly, tried to pull the cord, panic threatening to overwhelm her as the train jolted forwards.

Bluefeather dived through the open door just as the conductor released it, the mid grey mare skidding to a halt in the aisle of their carriage as Cyclone was performing a panicked dance on all four onesie covered hooves, her blue eyes wide as saucers thinking she had lost both her nanna and her plush. “Wh-Why are you out of the room, Cy?” She panted, picking herself up from the floor.

Looking at the angry glare on Bluefeather’s face, Cyclone knew that not only had she stepped in the proverbial dog muck, she had walked it all the way inside the house too. “Um…the um, the ah…um, th-the train started to move. I tried to grow up so I could stop it for you, Blue.”

Breathing through her nose, Bluefeather let out a long, slow sigh that carried her frustrations with it as the train began to set off properly. “Thank you conductor, I'll take care of the filly.”

The beige unicorn nodded to Bluefeather, smoothing down his uniform as the steam train got underway. “No problem ma'am, no harm done.”

“Back to the room, Cy, now.” The older pegasus didn’t spare her partner a look as she trotted smartly back into their room and took her vacant seating pad by the window.

“Yes nanna…” despondently, Cyclone trotted straight back into the room and she sat on her haunches next to her half started picture of Gordon, Emily, Radiance, Bluefeather and herself.

After a long, long moment spent in silence, with nothing but the clickety-clack of the train in the background, Bluefeather trusted herself to speak. “I found Radiance crying. She thinks you love engines more than her.” Now that her anger, which was born more out of worry than actual ire, had subsided, she held out the plush to her filly. “I think somepony needs some cuddling right now.”

Cyclone’s bottom lip wobbled as she took her treasured plush back into her forehooves. “I don't!” she cried, cuddling her Power Pony close to her chest. “I love my Radiance! I love her!” As she squeezed her toy, she really started crying genuine tears that had nothing whatsoever to do with acting like a foal.

Studying her marefriend closely, Bluefeather could tell that these tears were the real deal. She could see the genuine distress on the younger pegasus’s face as she cried her heart out. She decided that they had had enough playtime for today. In as calm a voice as she could manage, she said, “Cyclone, I love age play and I really love doing it with you. I love you and would like to spend our time together as your nanna and your lover, but I don't think I explained something very clearly.”

Reaching over the table, she squeezed Cyclone’s hoof. “You say ‘I'm an adult’ and the play ends and if I don't get it by your actions you can say ‘I'm a foal’ and play begins, but when I say grow up, that doesn't mean you pretend to be a grown up. It means the role play has ended, do you understand?”

Snivelling, her black cheeks covered in the tracks of her hot salty tears, Cyclone lifted her reddened eyes to her partner, hiccuping back a fresh load of sobs. “Y-Yeah…” She nodded her head miserably, unable to feel any more wretched had she been back in the sandbox in Canterlot. “Yeah, I understand, Bluefeather. I’m sorry I let you down.”

“Good, and I don't think Radiance is the only pony needing cuddles, is she?” she asked, very gently getting off of her seating pad and pulling Cyclone into a very tight hug on the floor of their compartment. “Love you, Cy, and I don't expect everything to be perfect. Life isn't that way.” Holding her sobbing marefriend tight, she rocked back and forth with the motion of the train, to help soothe her.

Weeping still, Cyclone cuddled into her marefriend as tightly as she could. “I-I tried to do what you said babe, I really did, but I was scared, for you and for her…” she hugged her plush to her so tightly she risked tearing it. “I thought I'd not see her again.”

‘Wow…” Bluefeather thought, ‘that must be some plush!’ “We were lucky this time, Cy, but if I hadn't found her I'd still be back for you. Then Radiance would have an adventure till she got back home.” Smiling, she kissed her now adult marefriend’s forehead comfortingly. “When you're a foal I expect foolish things, but if you're an adult, that is what I expect from you. So my little filly, are you an adult or foal right now?”

Cyclone snivelled back a tear, wiping her eyes with the back of her foreleg. “I wanna be an adult just a bit longer.” Setting the plush own, she hugged Bluefeather tight, so tight she made the older mare gasp for breath. She had to make her see what the soft toy meant to her. “I want to thank you for returning her to me,” she leant up and kissed Bluefeather’s lips. “She's more than just a plushie. She’s more than Squall’s toy. That's the last one my mom got me before she left.”

Now it all made sense. Now, Bluefeather understood. Now it was clear why Cyclone wanted that plush back so much. A soft toy it might be, but to one particular pony it was absolutely priceless. “Well then, Cy, I could use some adult cuddling and this bed is narrow, but there is room enough for two,” she said, punctuating her thought with a deep kiss.

“Mmm...” Cyclone almost purred, returning the kiss just as deep as it was given, her hoof straying up to Bluefeather’s blue mane.

The older mare allowed her ears to be fondled twice before she got up from the floor and took Cyclone by the hoof. “I'd like to get you out of the onesie if you don't mind.”

“Sure thing, hun!” Cyclone smiled, noting the half lidded lust-filled stare she was being given. “I really don't mind at all…” she cooed when Bluefeather used her teeth to undo all the snaps holding the purple onesie fastened. As she was undressed, Cyclone shivered, giggling a little as her muzzle brushed against her fur. “Lemme help,” she said, wriggling herself out of the onesie once it was on her legs.

As soon as Cyclone stepped out of the onesie, Bluefeather slipped around her marefriend’s back and she unfastened the nappy. “Use the restroom if you need to,” she breathed, “but I want all of you, right now.”

“N-No...I'm good, hun.” Thankfully, the nappy was still clean and dry. She shook it off with a wiggle of her ass, turning arounf and draping her forelegs around her marefriend’s shoulders.

Rolling onto the narrow bed, the mid grey mare pulled Cyclone down on top of her. “You don't mind an audience, I assume?” she whispered into her lover’s ear as out of the corner of her eye she saw the conductor and a couple of unknown ponies watching them. Delivering her answer, Cyclone grinned and gave her mare a long deep kiss which Bluefeather returned with interest, her hooves wandering to her feathers.

“Hmm...I don't mind at all, hun…” Cyclone purred, her black wings trembling at the delicate touch of the hooves, and she started to deliver flowery little kisses down Bluefeather’s neck. Smiling, on the verge of bliss, Bluefeather laid there with her roaming hooves but she was more than happy to let her young mare take the lead.

Cyclone was more than happy to lead, as she was kissing and nibbling her way down to Bluefeather’s collar bone, gently nipping and sucking along it. “Take me, love.” She moaned, “Take me all the way.”

“Oh trust me, I will, sexy…” Cyclone whispered, the audience outside the compartment loving the show as she left the collar bone and she kissed her way slowly and deliberately down to Bluefeather’s breasts. Once there she began to lick delicate little circles around the hardening left nipple.

Bluefeather arched her back, moving with the motion of the train as it thundered along the line. “I love the feel when they are full as long as somepony can empty them for me.”

“I'd better get in practise then, hun.” Taking the initiative, Cyclone wrapped her lips around the hard nubbin and sucked on it gently but firmly, her right hoof wandering down to her older lover’s marehood. As she was now unable to reach her black wings, Bluefeather instead played with her turquoise mane.

“My wings miss your hooves, Blue.” Cyclone said after a moment and, getting up from her breasts with a slow drag of her left forehoof over her lover’s dripping wet labia, she swung her hind leg over Bluefeather’s belly, straddling the older pegasus in a classic sixty-nine position. Once in place, she lowered her head down to breath on her wet slit. Admiring the view, Bluefeather pulled Cyclone’s rear back so she could get a lick in and she moved her hoof forward into her lover’s wing.

“Oooh!” Cyclone shivered, “even better!” the crowd certainly thought so, and she went back to sucking on Bluefeather’s nipple while her hoof got busy stroking circles around her labia. At the other end, on her back, the mid grey mare was enjoying the scent of talcum powder and how the nappy had compressed her black fur. Flicking her tongue out, she tasted the wipes she used until that taste was removed leaving only the flavour of her young lover. “Aaaah...” Cyclone moaned and, spurred on now, she dipped her head forward and took a long slow lick down the middle of Bluefeather’s wet opening.

“Ohh, oooooh yesssss that is the spot! A bit deeper though, my love.” Bluefeather spread her hind legs wide apart and demonstrated what she wanted by shoving her whole muzzle straight up Cyclone’s own sopping wet snatch, fully extending her tongue as she did so.

“Yo-Yowsers!” her blue eyes wide, Cyclone took the hint and slid her tongue deep inside her older lover’s accommodating tunnel, swirling her organ around her muscular walls, intent on tasting every last inch of her. Several thrusting licks later and Bluefeather’s thighs clenched around her head and her hoof became erratic in Cyclone’s wing. Smiling to herself, Cyclone lowered her hind quarters a little as she swirled her tongue deep inside Bluefeather’s wet muscular tunnel, black wings fully erect.

With Cyclone’s wings erect, Bluefeather contented herself with hoofing her just where the wing met her barrel with soft well-placed caresses. Feeling her own peak fast approaching, Bluefeather accelerated her tongue action as well as her muzzle work, earning herself a muffled, “AAaaAAH!” from her young mare’s trapped head. Cyclone’s turquoise tail started to flag as she clenched her hind legs. Nearing her climax, Cyclone removed her tongue and started to flick little licks around the mid grey mare’s hard throbbing clitoris.

Several short moments of this close attention later, and a muffled scream from Bluefeather that Cyclone felt deep inside her core let her know that her older had achieved her climax. That, and the torrent of cum that squirted all over her trapped black face, let her know too.

That did it for Cyclone, and a last delving lick had her screaming, “Luuuuna!” deep inside her lover’s dripping marehood as she too came, set off by her muffled screams. While she squirted a little, there was nowhere near as much as she got from Bluefeather.

As the watching crowd gave their appreciative applause, Bluefeather finally loosened the iron hard grip with her thighs as she slowed down the work of her tongue. While she was panting hard underneath her, Cyclone rose up a little, also breathing deeply. “He-Hey sexy...you wanna go again?”

“Ah…the stamina of youth…” Bluefeather gave her young lover one last slow lick and giggled as the crowd dispersed. “Preen me, please, Cy.”

“My lady, it would be my pleasure.” Cyclone replied, swinging her hind leg off of the mid grey mare so that she could get up. “You have better wing control than me,” she said, noticing that Bluefeather’s wings had remained folded away throughout their fun times.

“Practice, my little filly, and having to work in adverse weather conditions.” Bluefeather replied as she sat up, kissing her mare’s lips she rolled out of the bed and to the middle of the room where she extended one wing, her left, which was all the space allowed.

Giggling behind her hoof, Bluefeather whispered to the Radiance plush while Cyclone got herself into position. “You liked that show, wait till you watch this one.”

Cyclone giggled at that, once she was in position behind her marefriend’s extended left wing. “Oh, she's seen a lot like that, don’t worry.” Behind her, Cyclone ran her muzzle the wrong way along her wing bone and then back again, this time licking to smooth out the feathers as she went, causing Bluefeather to relax and let loose a sigh of contentment.

Going into the wing, Cyclone gently and as delicately as possible, licked along the edges of each blue tinted feather she came across, whether it needs the attention or not. While she was enjoying the preen, Bluefeather waited for her to pay attention to a particular blue primary. “Stop with the one in your mouth.” She said, abruptly halting the preening. “Pull it, for I wish to give that feather to you.”

The primary feather in question, that Cyclone held between her teeth, was a healthy and young primary. ‘Really?’ she questioned silently to herself, ‘but…it'll bleed, I know it will…’ still, she had been given a request. “MMmmmkay,” lowering her teeth right down to the base of the feather, she gave it a sharp tug, pulling the bottom-most primary out in one smooth motion.

Bluefeather gave a little grunt, the only sign of her evident discomfort. “I only give my best, my love.”

“I'll treasure it, babes, I mean it.” Cyclone took the feather and, after placing it next to her Radiance, she licked the little resulting wound clean and began to lick along the secondaries, straightening them out with her teeth.

“Mmmmm yes,” Bluefeather’s head lolled backwards, her chest heaving with the sensations of the wonderful preen she was being treated to. “I'm glad to see you know how to preen a wing.” She said, folding the finished wing and then extending the other. “I think this will take us up to lunch.”
Cyclone giggled, “Does that mean I'm a keeper, hun?” she asked, starting a slow and sensuous preen on her marefriend’s right wing.

Bluefeather sniffed noncommittally as she was preened, “I still haven't seen your apartment yet, my 'centrefold mare'.”

“Um...” Cyclone paused, a primary feather in her mouth, “there was a cloud quake...before I left...”

“Yeeesss,” Bluefeather hissed in sheer pleasure when Cyclone reached her secondary feathers and teased them into alignment with her lips, “I've heard that is a problem in Cloudsdale. More the reason to move to Cloudhatten, hmm?”

Playfully, Cyclone nibbled on a feather. “And um...aftershocks, y'know...they’re nasty things…”

“Of course,” Bluefeather agreed, “There may have been dozens, no, hundreds of quakes since you left, too.”

“Exactly!” Cyclone giggled, sending very pleasurable vibrations through the feathers of her lover’s right wing.

“Of course,” Bluefeather sighed happily, “it is probably a good thing I didn't take you in as a house keeper, hmm?”

“Okay, alright,” Cyclone playfully licked along the longest primary feather, “So I'm not the tidiest of ponies.”

Bluefeather giggled behind her hoof, “I can tell that by the way you filled that nappy during your nap.” She turned to face her young mare once she felt the preening be finished. “Tidy is not a foal requirement, nor one I expect of my lover. I think I can do a fine job at tidy as you saw from my place.”

“You make a good point, at least about the nappy.” Cyclone giggled, thought she thought Bluefeather’s place was more OCD clean than ‘normal’ clean. Then again, her place was ‘Cyclone’ clean. “It's not like my place is a bear pit or anything, it's just that most things tend to end up on the floor…”

In all seriousness, Bluefeather nodded. “That may be wise, so a cloud quake doesn't cause things to fall off of shelves.” She had heard of Cloudsdale’s quakes, especially in the ‘cheaper’ areas of the city.

“You see?” Cyclone asked, kissing Bluefeather’s nose, “I is a smart pony!”

“You are, but that may be some of Radiance’s influence.”

“I think you're right hun, it's certainly nopony else’s.”

“Mmmmmm,” Bluefeather shook her expertly preened wings, feeling every single feather in perfect alignment with its neighbour. “That does feel nice. Maybe I'll return the favour after lunch?”

“I'll hold you to that, sexy.”

“Do that, please.”

Cyclone gave her older lover her best half-lidded bedroom eyes as she kissed her cheek and her nose. “Who knows? I might even hold you against the wall, or the bed, or the window…” she ended, kissing her way up her ear.

“My,” Bluefeather smiled, “you're such a rambunctious filly. Is my virginity in peril?”

Now at her ear, Cyclone nibbled and licked its tip. “Only from endless loving.”

“Worth the risk I think,” Bluefeather said considerately, “yes, well worth the risk.”

“I’m glad you think so, sweetie…” Cyclone purred as she licked her marefriend’s other ear.

“As much fun as this is,” Bluefeather said with a flick of both of her mid grey ears, “I could really use some food to rebuild my stamina.”

“Hmm, good point.” Cyclone grinned, “Can you pop me a nappy on, just in case of any accidents?”

“Of course, and I think, a nice sundress to go with it.” With that, the older pegasus picked up the still clean nappy that she removed from her marefriend at the start of their sexcapade. With it held in her hoof, she rummaged in the bag she had bought with her and retrieved a plain but attractive sky blue dress.

Cyclone had to admit the dress was a beauty, though blue wasn’t necessarily her first choice. It did of course go with her fur, then again, everything did. “Oooh what a lovely dress! It's beautiful!”

In short order, Bluefeather got her young marefriend dressed, first in the nappy and then in the sky blue sundress. With Cyclone suitably attired, she quickly donned a white sundress for herself that showed off her flank and was just transparent enough to display her cutie mark of six blue raindrops. Ordinarily, she would’ve been happy to drag out the dressing up process, but right now she was hungry. “To lunch!” she declared, pointing a hoof to the compartment door.

Smiling, Cyclone held out her hoof to her lover. “Bluefeather, may I have the honour of your hoof, my love?”

Nodding, Bluefeather took her hoof, “You may, my good squire.”

~ ~ ~

“I think somepony is looking for dessert, hmm?” Bluefeather snickered over her empty plate. Those hayfries and the oatburger had been just the thing to fill her back up, and seeing as how Cyclone was giving her a weapons grade half-lidded stare in the dining car, it had been for her, too.

Using a hayfry, Cyclone winked seductively as she mopped up the last of her very hot hotsauce dip. “That depends, will I find it?”

“I'm sure you'll find it,” Bluefeather responded with bedroom eyes of her own, licking her lips, “but will you find it here, or back in our room?”

Swallowing her hotsauce coated hayfry – Cyclone had to have hotsauce on almost every adult thing she ate. As a foal, the food was tasty but bland as Celestia’s flank. Hotsauce gave things that extra kick to keep things interesting – the jet black mare grinned. “I can look for it here,” she said, not bothering to look to see if the rest of the car was empty or not, “if my Princess will let me.”

“Youth,” Bluefeather shook her head, a wry smile playing over her lips. She waited until Cyclone had drunk her milk, thus killing the heat of the hotsauce, before she kissed her eager young mare. “Unless you're looking for cobbler or apple pie, we are leaving.”

Cyclone took the kiss and returned it in kind. “You're as young as the pony you feel, young lady.”

“True,” Bluefeather considered that, “but I'm at that age where I don't look for trouble pretending to be an alicorn.” Smiling, the mid grey mare moved out from the table and down the car towards their sleeper carriage. Quickly, Cyclone hopped off of her seating pad and trotted after her, thoroughly enjoying the view as Bluefeather decided to add some tail swishing action to her sensuous swagger.

Cyclone licked her lips. ‘Damn, but that's a fine butt…’ she thought to herself as she followed her lover. She was trying very hard to concentrate on the swaying ass in front of her, but she couldn’t help but think of the time that she had strapped a paper cone to her forehead and tried to enter Celestia’s School For Gifted Unicorns, claiming to be the newly crowned Alicorn of Shadows.

That had been fun afternoon.

As she sashayed along the train to the next carriage and on to their compartment, Bluefeather couldn’t help but giggle as Cyclone followed her inside like an obedient puppy. Once they were inside the room however, the black pegasus reached out and took her blue tail in her mouth with a very loud 'nom'. “So, you've chosen the pie then?”

“Too tempting to resist, babes.” Cyclone slurred, her mouth full of tail.

‘Youth indeed…’ Bluefeather thought, though she didn’t object this time. “Help me out of this dress, please.”

“You got it, love.” Using her hooves, Cyclone slowly removed the white dress that her lover was wearing, savouring the undressing as if she was unwrapping a Hearths Warming present. It did take a few minutes to accomplish, as she was neither helped not hindered by Bluefeather herself. “There...even prettier now…” although, when the mid grey mare posed for her, Cyclone felt a little drool leak from her mouth. “I am the luckiest mare in the world!”

Bluefeather giggled. “I will just have to agree, won’t I?” she asked rhetorically as Cyclone lowered her head and snuffled her muzzle under her blue tail, delicately kissing up and down her upper thighs. Smiling, she rolled away from her and laid on her back on the bed, beckoning Cyclone to her. “It seems lunch has restored my energy.”

“I can tell,” Cyclone grinned, answering the summons and slowly getting up on the bed next to her lover.

Bluefeather stared into Cyclone’s clear blue eyes. “Ravish me.”

Cyclone smiled, “Now, how can I refuse my Princess?” she asked, lowering her muzzle to Bluefeather’s already moist marehood and delivering a very wet, very slow lick all the way up its centre.

“Yesssss…” Bluefeather hissed in sheer bliss, arching her back as the steam train rocketed at high speed along the tracks.

Always willing to oblige, Cyclone gave her writhing marefriend several more slow licks before an idea for some proper fun came to her. “I-I wanna try this with you, love.” Lifting up Bluefeather’s mid grey hind leg, Cyclone made to scissor herself with her, pressing their crotches together.

In her haste, though, Cyclone forgot to remove her nappy. Underneath her, Bluefeather had to stuff a hoof into her mouth to not laugh out loud. “Hehe...um...just a sec, hun…” Blushing so hard that it showed even on her black fur, she got up from her scissored position and she pulled off the slightly damp nappy, throwing it to the floor of the train compartment. “Now, um...where were we?”

Even with her hoof stuffed in her mouth, Bluefeather couldn’t help but giggle, her chest heaving with suppressed laughter. “Y-You are so-soooooo cute!”

“Uh huh, cute, that’s me,” Cyclone smiled, recovering quickly from her blunder, she returned to her prior position, sliding her dripping marehood slowly, torturously slowly, over Bluefeather’s own wet entrance. “Ready, sexy?”

Bluefeather nodded, already panting with anticipation. By Luna’s moon was she ready, and extremely willing for whatever Cyclone wanted to do to her. ‘Sometimes,’ she thought as she was being taken up to a blissful high, ‘it was nice to not be in charge…’

Chapter 4 - More Than Obsession

“While we’re here, do you want to visit anypony?” Bluefeather asked, stepping out of the Friendship Express and onto the main platform at the very ornately decorated Canterlot Station. Thanks to the sheer speed of the express steam train, and a clear line all the way from Baltimare, they had made excellent time and arrived just under two hours ahead of their scheduled time of eleven p.m.

“Nah, Blue,” Cyclone shook her head as she too disembarked the train along with all the other passengers to whom Canterlot was their destination. She looked around the well-lit station, expecting to be arrested at any moment, seeing as her banishment from the capital city still stood. “Everypony that matters to me is now in or around Manehatten...” she paused and thought of her dad holed up in the Playcolt towers. “There's nopony here.”

Bluefeather laid a tender, understanding hoof on her lover’s shoulder. “Okay,” she smiled, trying to keep the mood light and loose, “let’s put this stuff away in a locker and fly to your home in the clouds.”

Cyclone smiled at the touch of her marefriend’s hoof. As they had discussed, at great length on the train, the jet black mare was very much an adult in Canterlot. There was no question about it, really. Any shenanigans and she risked being arrested by the Guard, let alone the police. As such, she wore her sky blue sundress – to hide her cutie mark, and a hat, just in case – while they navigated the platform to the storage lockers. “That sounds like a plan, sexy.”

Giggling, Bluefeather stored the stroller and the foal bag in one of the rentable storage lockers on the train platform. She wanted to be quick, she knew not to dally in Canterlot with her marefriend, disguised as she was. “Let's fly,” she said as she paid the few bits into the automatic locker and took the key, “I want to assess the cloud quake damage.”

“Hey uh...Blue?” Cyclone asked, fidgeting her hooves together nervously as a thought occurred to her. She wanted to be in the air sharpish, due to the law and being banished, but she didn’t, because she was scared of heights.

“Yes love?” Bluefeather asked curiously, checking her watch and compass, turning to face Cloudsdale’s current direction, ready to be in the air.

Cyclone took a deep breath and summoned her nerve, knowing she’d have to take off at some point sooner or later. “If um...I um...you hold my hoof, can I uh...fly, next to you, maybe?”

Bluefeather chuckled at that, not at her marefriend, but at the cute request. ‘Oh…you’re adorable when you try to be brave!’ she thought with a smile up at the night sky. “Cy, it is a bit awkward to fly and hold hooves,” she pointed out, flaring her wings and demonstrating that their wingspan was greater than their leg length, “but you are more than welcome to ride on my back, all the way.”

“That’s ah, that’s a very good point.” Cyclone tried very hard and failed to not feel stupid. She did know however that as a weather pony, Bluefeather was more than strong enough to take a passenger. “I'll be riding you then, babes.”

“Hop on, Crinkle Butt!”

“That's not funny!” Cyclone wanted to pout, but she ended up grinning as she got up on the older pegasus’s back. Once she had a firm enough grip around her neck, and had smoothed out her sky blue dress, Bluefeather took off on a long, slow upward glide into the starry night sky and to Cloudsdale. Although she started off just fine, as soon as they passed fifty feet Cyclone gripped harder and let out a scared, “Eeeep!”

“You know I won't drop you,” Bluefeather said in her best reassuring tone, thankful as they passed the Canterlot City walls that the dark night masked the true distance to the ground over six thousand feet below. “But you can press your face in my mane or just look up over my head. Like standing on the ground looking at clouds.”

“I...I k-know Blue...” still, knowing that didn’t help the fact that they were now beyond the city limits, which meant they were really high up. “I tr-trust you, I do…” she trailed off, looking up over her lover’s head.

“I like carrying you too.” Bluefeather smiled, leaving Canterlot behind them, she gazed down over the dark landscape and saw the twinkling lights of Ponyville, the little suburb not far away at all. “My little foal full of trust.”

Cyclone’s grip tightened on reflex when she felt turbulence under Bluefeather’s left wing. “With my life, babes.”

Smiling, in a split second she was on the turbulence, quelling it more from instinct than trained skill, though there was that too. After the – very – brief scare, she made sure to read the air currents better. She kept a slow steady climb, since this was rather an easy flight for her.

After twenty five minutes of flight, almost nine thirty p.m. on the dot, the two pegasi neared the truly gargantuan floating city of Cloudsdale. As they neared the huge floating edifice, both mares were reminded exactly why it was the capital of all the cloud cities in Equestria. “Directions please.” Bluefeather asked once they had flown over the outer boundary layer. She had to admit she didn’t know the city very well, beyond the weather factory.

“Fly towards the weather factory,” Cyclone replied quickly, giving her lover the instructions to get to her house. She couldn’t shake the ‘edge’ to her voice as she spoke, she knew full well she was sending her to the very lowest end of the city, but it was all she could afford. “Then, you want to take a left onto Feather Lane. Fly down there for five blocks until you come to Cumulus Drive. My place is number seven.”

“Gothca, Cy.” Bluefeather adjusted her course to fly towards the monumental weather factory, clearly visible even at night thanks to the many lights around it and the stars above.

Cyclone, as ever on Bluefeather’s back, began to relax considerably with the illusion of a close 'ground'. Underneath her. “You can't miss it,” she said, more than a little subdued at the thought of taking her new marefriend to her house. “Cumulus Drive isn't the most upmarket suburb of Cloudsdale. The cloud houses there are very…let’s say, ‘basic’.”

Forging ahead, flying over the sprawling city past the weather factory, Bluefeather shook her head. She understood Cyclone’s reticence, but it didn’t bother her in the slightest. “Been there, done that, before you were born,” she commented as she flew onto Feather Lane.

“Yeah…” was all Cyclone said, the jet black mare went a little quiet as they neared her home.

Mere moments later and Bluefeather turned off of Feather Lane and she flew up Cumulus Drive. Slowing her flight to a hover in front of number seven, she had to confess herself disappointed. Of the fifteen cloud houses in the drive, five stood empty, three were in a derelict state of disrepair, one had collapsed altogether into rubble. The remaining six, of which Cyclone’s was one, looked to have been maintained by their owners with varying degrees of skill and success. “Standard cookie cutter cloud homes.” She passed her judgement.

“Uh huh. Nothing special.” Cyclone said dismissively as she slid off of the mid grey mare’s back and trotted on up to the door, opening it with her keys to let Bluefeather enter first. “I know it's not much.”

‘Not much’, as it turned out, was quite accurate, as far as Bluefeather could see. Cyclone’s abode was a two bedroom house, with kitchen and living room downstairs. When she walked in, she saw that the living room did indeed look like a minor quake had happened, followed by a hurricane shortly thereafter.

With a smile, Bluefeather noted that the tidiest part of the room was an adult foal playpen set up in the corner near an old cathode ray TV. All around the room there were display cabinets with figurines from television shows and movies – she assumed they were, she really had no idea. On the largest wall, in pride of place was the framed Playcolt centrefold next to a signed Buffy The Vampony Slayer cast picture and a framed musical special CD.

Curious as to what everything was, obviously whatever the Tartarus they were, were important to her marefriend in some way.
Bluefeather decided to first inspect what was familiar and went to the playpen to see if she wanted it in her house. “I'm...sure you have a better one,” Cyclone said quietly, aware that her pink playpen was chipped, old and worn. Just like everything else in her house.

For Bluefeather, who was closely inspecting the playpen, that looked to be older than her, it wasn't about quality, but ascetics. She carefully looked at the items that were in the pen, notably the plushes, the bottles and other foal toys. “Are you comfortable with this one?”

Cyclone looked at the old playpen, bright pink paint chipping and faded, with the same fond smile that you’d give to a twenty year old family pet. “I play in it nearly every day.”

“It goes back with us.” Bluefeather stated in such a way that there wasn’t going to be any arguments. That first matter attended to, she proceeded to look around the rest of the living room for any soiled clothing that wasn’t in a hamper or soiled nappies not in the trash.

Smugly, Cyclone smiled at the full clothing hamper that stood by her playpen. “I'm a little behind in my laundry, but all my bins are empty. Any used nappies go out straight away.”

Bluefeather stood and took a longer, harder look around. While her lover wasn’t ‘tidy’, there was evidence all around the walls of actual cloud quake damage that had been inexpertly repaired, most likely by Cyclone herself. “How long since you've had a caretaker?”

“A dedicated one like you, I haven't, really.” Cyclone answered quickly, “Air Raid looked after me on and off now and then, though it was more off than on.”

“You really don't need me then,” Bluefeather smiled warmly, “but I'm glad you chose me. That…” she pointed her hoof towards the large framed centrefold picture hanging in pride of place on the wall, “is going in my office for as long as you're with me.”

Cyclone let out a happy little giggle, the first since they had been back here in her house. “Take it, from me to you with all the love in my heart.”

Next, in her inspection of her lover’s living room, Bluefeather carefully looked over Cyclone’s extensive figurine collection on the many glass display cases. Thankfully there were labels on everything so she knew what she was looking at. Avengers, X-Mares, Power Ponies, Fantastic Four, Deadpool, Spider-Mare, Buffy The Vampony Slayer, Knight Rider, The Neigh Team… they went on and on, shelf after shelf. Even though there were labels, she was still non the wiser. “Just a couple boxes,” she tapped her chin with her hoof, “hmmm, must be big boxes?”

“Well, who doesn't like Marvel and Buffy?” Cyclone asked defensively, trying to ignore the fact that there were a few thousand bits worth all tied up in her huge collection. “C’mon, don't tell me you've never seen X-Mares?”

Bluefeather giggled and shrugged her shoulders. “I tend to focus on the younger crowd entertainment,” she added, as Cyclone stripped off the sky blue dress, “We’ll need a moving company to get all this stuff out of here.”

Cyclone looked over her extensive collection. Even she didn’t know for sure how many bits had been devoted to it. “I guess there is more than I thought, huh?”

“There is.” Bluefeather said, going quickly into her organised ‘mother’ mode, drawing up a plan of action. “First, I'm starting the laundry. I'll not have dirty clothes moved. Second, you call the factory and set up an appointment for me to have you transferred. Third, I want you to pick a reputable moving company and I'll get them here today.”

“You got it, sexy.” Cyclone fluttered over and kissed Bluefeather squarely on the cheek and, rather skilfully, she dodged around the stacks of comic books scattered all around the floor, getting her phone out to dial Misty Morning, her boss at the Cloudsdale factory.

Now, very firmly ensconced in her ‘mom mode’ Bluefeather, happy that the laundry was at least in one spot, scooped it up and carried it through to the laundry room, getting that started. Next, she looked around the living room for stackable stuff to put on shelves for the movers while Cyclone growled at her phone. “C'mon Misty, pick up!”

An easy, obvious target, Bluefeather started on the seemingly endless pile of comic books. She shuddered, thinking if she sold them for three bits each, she’d make thousands here with just these. ‘And they’re the ones I can see…’ she thought as she placed them on an empty shelf.

Snickering, she had to moved the nicely spaced figurines, ‘crowding’ them to make room for the comics. As she moved them, she was struck by how heavy they were. ‘These are pewter, I’ll bet…’ whatever they were, she saw they were nicely made, well crafted and well painted. Whatever they were. “I'm going to make it as easy as I can for the movers for your important stuff.”

That said, with the washer working to clean the laundry, Bluefeather trotted through to Cyclone’s kitchen to see if there were any dirty dishes that needed to be done. She was pleasantly surprised, though it shouldn’t have really been a surprise, to discover there were no adult cutlery at all. What there were, were Power Pony plates, Avengers plates, foal style cutlery in assorted colours. Some were in the sink, though the majority were clean on the draining board. She also noted there were foal bottles clean in the steriliser.

“C’mon, answer the damn phone Misty!” Cyclone grumbled, sat on her couch that had seen better days before Luna had been banished, frustrated that her boss wasn’t answering her call. “It's the thing near you ringing!” Bluefeather, giggling at her dark mutterings, decided that she was happy with the state of the kitchen and, after cleaning the few dishes that needed it, she put them away. Once that was done she peeked in the fridge and cupboards to see what her lover liked food wise.

“Oh for Luna's sake it...Hi! Misty it's your bestest worker ever!” Cyclone was cut off mid-grumble by the fact that her boss actually answered his phone. “No, it’s not Clear Skies, it's Cyclone!” In kitchen, her head buried in the fridge, Bluefeather had to giggle at that, as she snooped and saw what Cyclone liked. In the door, there were various mashed up foods - pumpkin, mango, fruits and veggies, the lower down there were actual fruits, watermelons and apricots, as well as a half-eaten chocolate gateaux.

Taking a studious note of it all, the mid grey mare then moved on up to the bedrooms on the first floor, while Cyclone was talking. “Yeah...I need an appointment, for a Colonel Bluefeather to transfer me to the Manehatten Weather Factory…” As Bluefeather ascended the stairs, Cyclone’s voice diminished. She found that the largest bedroom had been converted to a nursery, there was no bed at all, but instead there was a pink crib filled with everything a foal could possibly need. She also saw there was an alarm clock and a closet. The smaller bedroom had a double bed and lots of posters on the walls.

Wondering if Cyclone went through a goth stage when she was younger, Bluefeather inspected both of the closets. The one in the foal room contained nothing but onesies, foal grows, booties and such like, almost all of them some violent shade of bright pink.

The closet in the smaller bedroom contained more adult wear. Weather uniforms, dresses, hats adorned the hangers here, though pride of place was given over to a long black faux leather coat. Next to the coat was an almost life sized Buffy The Vampony Slayer poster, featuring the titular mare posing next to what Bluefeather assumed was a vampony stallion with a bleached blonde mane wearing the coat in question.

Having assessed her marefriend’s taste in clothing and the cleanliness of the bedrooms – actually she had been impressed. But for the obvious cloud quake damage that was everywhere, Cyclone’s house was acceptable – Bluefeather trotted back down the stairs to the living room. “Any luck with that appointment?”

“Yep!” Cyclone smiled as she closed up her phone. “Misty Morning can see us, well, in the morning.”

“Tomorrow morning?” Bluefeather asked for clarification, realising the hour was almost ten p.m., and quite late, “or Monday morning?”

“Tomorrow, Sunday morning, at ten a.m. in his office.” Cyclone explained with a bit of a wry smile on her face, “Apparently he was really keen for me to go.”

Bluefeather giggled, “His loss. Okay, so, moving company?”

Cyclone snapped off a salute. “I'm on it.” She knew just who to call for that. “There's a company I used ages ago to get my stuff here from Canterlot, they’re pretty good.”

“Good,” Bluefeather nodded, still firmly in ‘mom’ mode. “We can do power of attorney so we don't have to be here. Call them to see if they are open, please, love.”

“It's a twenty four hour place,” Cyclone said with a smile as she again opened up her phone and got ready to dial, “called Rainboom Removals. 'Getting your things there before you leave', apparently.”

“Then, your next task is to get four boxes that fit in the playpen without being stacked.” Bluefeather continued, ticking off the list of things to do on her mental checklist. “One for your ‘must-not-be-lost-dolls and figures. One for important documents, one for foal clothing, and one for kitchen items. Any space left in any box can be filled with what you want.”

“Got it,” Cyclone said after she had gotten off the phone to the removal company. “To the Bat Cave!” she hollered, trotting over the living room to the utility closet.

Bluefeather shuddered involuntarily, “If a bat flies out of the closet I'm so going to scream.”

“The Bat Cave?” Cyclone giggled behind her hoof as she was about to open the closet door. “Y’know, as in Batmare?”

Bluefeather wanted to kick herself. She settled for facehooving. “Oh...”

“I so need to learn you up on comic books and cartoons,” Cyclone giggled, taking out four decent sized boxes from the closet that held her ironing board, cloud quake repair kit and a family of cloud spiders that were almost pets at this point.

“Food that you have that will spoil will need to be tossed or we can take it on the train to eat.” Bluefeather said, quickly recovering from her faux pas as she watched her marefriend pack. Moreover she studied what Cyclone chose first and the expressions on her face when she did so.

Somewhat predictably maybe, Cyclone went over to the display cases and she started packing up the figurines first, starting with the Power Ponies. As she wrapped each finely crafted pewter figure in layers of newspaper, she had a warm smile on her face. Once they were packed, she moved onto the Buffy set, laying each wrapped up figure in the box in the playpen like they were made of gold.

Bluefeather, watching this reverent behaviour, chose not to help with the task of packing the many, many collectibles. Not to be mean, or make Cyclone do all the work, more that she didn’t know how much help she’d be. Instead she opted to go and get something for them to drink.

As she once more investigated the fridge in the kitchen, she pulled out a carton of pineapple juice and filled two glasses, just as Cyclone saw her Buffy DVD’s and sighed happily. “Aaah... ‘Once more with Feeling’, she smiled at the CD special and started to sing the songs from the musical to herself as the DVD's got packed, then the Avengers dolls followed them.

“One box,” Bluefeather reminded her warningly when she saw the ‘collectible’ box was already dangerously almost full. “Only if there is room in the others can you pack more.”

“I got it, sexy!” Cyclone made a very good attempt at a pout, realising she had been caught red-hooved trying to slip a few of her figurines into the box earmarked for paperwork. As if she’d need that. Deciding not to argue, now that all her display figures were packed anyway, she flew upstairs to get the clothes she wanted to take.

Ten minutes later, the jet black mare hovered back down, carrying a stack of clothes so high she couldn't see over. On top of this pile was the black faux leather coat. There was absolutely no way in the universe she wasn’t taking that. It was a genuine Buffy The Vampony Slayer prop, as worn by Spike in the show. She had the photo and signature to prove it, and it had cost her a month’s pay to buy.

“Remember I have some laundry running if there was something you want now.” Bluefeather said as she watched the winged stack of clothing, consisting of pink onesies and dresses, hover over to the playpen. “Also, I said, just one box! Again, after you put some things in each you can add whatever else you want.”

“I got it, Blue, okay? I got it.” That said, she dumped the mountain of clothes into the box, only filling it three quarters of the way up with her onesies and dresses, making sure the black coat was on top. She then tapped her chin thoughtfully, “Um...there's a pink dress in the wash I really want…”

It was then that she finally looked at the stack of mail now built up behind her front door on her kitchen floor. “I better look through these I guess.” Cyclone hated mail. The post she got was always either bills or crap, both of which she could well do without.

“Yes,” Bluefeather giggled behind her hoof, confident that at last Cyclone had gotten the idea of packing. “You have a letter from Ed McStallion and you may have won the Publisher's Clearing House as well as the Reader’s Digest Draw.”

“I wish,” Cyclone muttered as she trotted over and picked up the mountain of mail. It had only been four days she had been away, and it felt like four trees had sacrificed their lives. Idly she flopped on her couch, wondering if their sacrifice had been in vain. “Let's see...ugh, bill, bill, crap, bill, crap...ooh one from dad?” The letter from her dad stopped her in her tracks, “hmm...dad never writes, I wonder what’s up?”

Bluefeather looked at the ‘bill’ pile and the much larger ‘crap’ pile and giggled. “Maybe he sent you a bill?”

Giggling, Cyclone turned the letter over in her hooves, but sadly the envelope gave away nothing of it’s possible contents, other than it had been sent by Dragon Mail, the fastest mail service in the land. “Huh, knowing my luck, yeah.” Seeing that there was nothing else for it, she tore open the letter.

Reading it quickly, the jet black mare’s facial expression went from curious to surprised to shocked and angry in the space of minutes. “Oh...” was all she said, before she read it a second time, her face making the same expressions. “Oh…” she said, scrunching up the letter and throwing away to a corner of her living room.

“I am here, and I am judging you.” Bluefeather said supportively at the end of the couch, her hoof ready at her marefriend’s shoulder, should it be needed. “Still, I'm not letting you go, so spill it.”

On her couch that had seen better days, Cyclone sighed. “Apparently my mom's in Whinnyapolis. She was working as a whore. She was picked up by the police the other night, passed out on the train station. A social worker gave her a train ticket to come home to Canterlot, and she called dad. Apparently they talked, once the drugs had left her system.”

Cyclone shrugged and carried on packing. “So…she’s coming home, huh?” again, she shrugged.

“It’s your decision on what to do,” Bluefeather said, supportive as ever, she understood what a momentous thing this was for the young pegasus. “I'm with you on whatever you decide.”

“I...I...I don't care!” Cyclone screamed, uncharacteristic anger flaring through her, stamping her hind hooves into her cloud floor as her wings flared out in sheer temper. “I don't...I don't care!” she had hot salty tears in her blue eyes as she picked up her ancient TV’s remote control and threw it across the room. “I don’t care!” Cyclone clenched her teeth as she sobbed, trying to work out how Monsoon had the nerve to call after all this time.

Immediately, Bluefeather moved from the end of the couch to sit by her lover’s side and she wrapped her up in an extremely tight hug. “Your heart disagrees with your words, but I'm still with you.” As she comforted her, the older mare sincerely wished that she didn’t want to bring the couch. It genuinely had seen better days.

Deep in her marefriend’s tight hug, Cyclone didn’t know what to do, she just cried, spilling her tears on Bluefeather’s coat, “I don’t care! Damn it...I shouldn't care!”

Bluefeather shook her head sadly, ‘mom’ mode coming back in full force. “Now, I find that a little hard to believe, Cy.”

“Blue...” Cyclone snivelled like a little filly who had just spilled her ice cream on the floor, “I haven't seen Monsoon since I was six years old!”

“You've had that Radiance plush for that long?” Bluefeather asked, her eyebrow raised. She wasn’t wholly surprised. For her, that confirmed that Cyclone loved her mother very much, in spite of whatever she might say to the contrary. “You've treated it very well.”

Cyclone was still sobbing, though it wasn’t too hard for Bluefeather to make out what she was saying. “It…it, it was the last thing she gave me before she decided to go screw every stallion in Equestria!” As she spoke, her sobs gave way to an anger and frustration that was almost two decades in the making. “Eighteen years Blue! No phone, no letter no buck all, and now I get this!”

“The letter wasn't from her.” Bluefeather sighed, trying to find an ‘in’ angle. While she understood Cyclone’s anger, she also understood that you only got one mother, and that mother, despite her failings, was trying to get in contact. “Maybe you should call the one that sent it, hmm?”

“Y-Yeah...” again, for the third time in the space of almost as many minutes, Cyclone reached for her phone the moment she was released from the feathery hug of her marefriend. “Hey, hang on...” she paused, her hoof touching her phone. “That letter was dated Thursday!”

Bluefeather processed that, ‘mom’ warring with ‘lover’ to see which side of her won for support of her young mare. “So, a lot could have changed over three days.”

“So, if Monsoon wanted to get in contact days ago, why isn’t she here already?” Cyclone asked, “You can get anywhere in Equestria in a day.”

“You going to call your photographer dad or not?” asked Bluefeather with a sigh that said she would do it soon if she didn’t.

“Yeah, sure...” with her phone in her hoof, Cyclone flipped through to her dad’s number. Her dad’s very seldom used number. “I hate her for this!” she exclaimed as she dialled Tropical Storm. She didn’t care it would be late where he was. “Luna damn it, eighteen years of nothing and now she wants to swan into our lives...” she grumbled, the dial tone not helping her mood.

“Less worry and more facts.”

Cyclone didn’t reply. “C'mon dad...answer it, will you‽”

“Cy?” Tropical Storm answered his phone on the seventh ring, just before it went to answer phone. The fifty year old stallion sounded as weary as he felt. “Where have you been?”

“Hey dad.” Cyclone replied, nonplussed at the less than cheery greeting. She was reminded again why she didn’t call very often. “I've been in Manehatten, catching up with Dusk and the old crowd. I just got back home, why?”

“I tried calling, I even went by your place.” Tropical Storm sighed, his pale blue hoof brushing his yellow mane out of his eyes. “I... Dragon Mailed you a letter, I take it you read it?”

“Yeah, yeah I read it. So what do we know, it just said she was ready to get in contact, that she was ‘working’ in Whinnyapolis and she had a prepaid train ticket to come home.”

Tropical Storm sighed and reached for his glasses. It was late and he was tired, but sleep was a long way off, thanks to recent events that had transpired. “I couldn't get a hold of you. Your work didn't know where you were, but enough of that. I was on my way to meet Monsoon when I sent the letter.”

“Right, so, how is Monsoon?” Cyclone asked through gritted teeth. The resentment she felt towards her mother, she didn’t want to give her the steam from a rice pudding, let alone the time of day.

Tropical Storm was dreading that question. He spent so long debating how to answer it that his daughter threatened to hang up. “Monsoon…your mother, she ah, she’s dead. It was an opium overdose. They found her body in a shed belonging to a motel she had been staying at. The stallion she was with has been charged in her death.”

“She...Monsoon...she what...” Cyclone’s anger evaporated in a microsecond. “M-Mommy...” when she saw Bluefeather’s confused questioning look, she put the speaker on. “Um, dad...say that again, what happened?”

“What part didn't you understand?” Tropical Storm sighed, not realising of course that the phone was no on speaker. “She was found dead in a motel shed. She’d been there a few days. It was opium overdose. I tried calling you.” He paused for breath, to marshal his thoughts.

“I stopped by your place on Thursday and when you weren’t there, I called Whinnyapolis, that is when the police told me they had arrested the stallion she was living with. He was a big time drug dealer. I'm having the body brought back to Canterlot. I wasn't going to bother with a viewing, just a burial on Tuesday. You can come if you like, but I can understand you not wanting to be there. She sort of abandoned us both.”

“No...I understood,” Cyclone shook her head. She understood just fine. It was believing she was having trouble with. ‘Mom, dead? She’s dead? As in, actually dead?’ “I ah, I just wanted Blue to hear it...my uh...my marefriend.”

“Oh,” Tropical Storm’s voice sounded considerably brighter at that. “So, are you still in Cloudsdale?”

“Yeah, listen I um...I wanna see her, dad, please?”

“Good, then, ah, she arrives at the Final Rest funeral home on Monday at three in the afternoon. Service will be Tuesday morning at nine at Canterlot Residential Cemetery.”

In a very low voice, having heard everything, Bluefeather whispered in her lover’s ear, “I can put Lance in charge, so I don't have to be back Monday.”

Cyclone was still struggling to process everything she had been told. Her brain was stuck on ‘mom’s dead’. “I'm...moving, to Cloudhatten, dad. To um...to live, with Bluefeather.” She covered the receiver of her phone with her hoof and looked to her marefriend. “I...hun I need you, right now.”

Bluefeather moved a little closer to Cyclone and her phone, her mind made up there and then. “We'll be there Monday and on Tuesday.”

The relief in Tropical Storm’s voice was palpable. “You're moving to Manehatten?”

“Yes dad. I'm transferring my job over there. My marefriend and I will be there for you Monday and Tuesday.”

“Okay, it’s just, maybe I can get a few gigs out that way and visit...” Tropical Storm started hesitantly, not knowing how to ask his next question. “Is it…okay, if I visit?”

While Cyclone was deliberating that, Bluefeather took the choice out of her lover’s hooves. “I'd be honoured if you were to visit. My home is in Cloudhatten.”

“Dad...” Cyclone relented with a little sigh, “of course you can visit, you don't need a reason, you're my dad.”

“I know but it is nice to hear it. I'll see you Monday then. The both of you.”

“Yeah, we'll see you soon daddy.” Cyclone said, hanging up her call and resting her phone down on the well-worn coffee table, hoping she wouldn’t need it again.

Bluefeather waited until Cyclone put her phone down before she reached for her own. “I’m just going to see what my number two thought he had planned.” Giggling, in order to lighten the somewhat sombre maudlin mood, she spoke once Lancer answered the call. “Good morning to you to Lance. You're pretty enough you don't need beauty sleep. I'm staying in Canterlot Monday and Tuesday so you have the helm… You can take that meeting and you know it… Sure, sure, I can do that. Okay, good bye.” Bluefeather was still giggling when she hung up.

“I do to take days off.” Bluefeather said confidently as she looked at Cyclone. “I do!” she squeaked when the black mare raised a sceptical eyebrow. “Honest, I really do. Maybe…”

Without warning, Cyclone tackle-hugged her marefriend as tight as she could. “Thank you Blue, thank you!”

“You are welcome, my love.” Bluefeather smiled a very motherly smile. “Now, you still have boxes to fill, but that is so the movers don't take a few moons to get them to us.” When an idea came to her, she released herself from the hug and got up from the couch that had seen better days. “I'll make us a late night snack and then we can watch some of those videos you call entertainment.”

In spite of her sudden down mood, Cyclone couldn’t help but giggle. Monsoon was one thing, but Buffy was a way of life. “You haven't lived until you've seen Buffy.” Reluctantly though, she went back over to the stack of paperwork and resumed packing.

“By the way,” Bluefeather looked over her shoulder, “I'm happy you packed that lovely black leather item. RawR!” with that, and a smile on her face, she headed off to the kitchen.

“That,” Cyclone said with a very prideful smile, “that is a genuine coat worn by the stallion that plays Spike the Vampony in the show. I have the certificate and everything. There was no way I was leaving that behind.”

Giggling, Bluefeather called out from the kitchen, “I can do other role play besides age play, you know!”

“Really?” Cyclone asked, pausing as she found an old family photo lodged in the papers she had been packing and set it down on the coffee table before scooting into the kitchen. “Cos I have a really sexy idea…” she purred, rearing up and hugging Bluefeather from behind.

“You're just full of sexy ideas. Do you need changing again?” Bluefeather giggled as she was preparing a mixed fruit salad. “I thought we could have this now and that gateaux for dessert.”

“Well, sexy ideas should be my job!” Cyclone giggled, for the moment putting her mother out of her mind. It just didn’t seem real, and if she didn’t think about it, then maybe it wasn’t true. “I do feel a little damp, but that's from looking at your flank.” She took a moment to admire the said flank. “And yeah, that sounds cool to eat.”

Smirking, Bluefeather wrapped her blue tail around Cyclone’s hind leg. “Packing, food, Buffy, then we can see what's next on the menu.” She tilted her head back to kiss her lover, “We’ve done the packing, now onto food.”

“Hmm...” Cyclone held the older mare in her forelegs and kissed her upturned lips. “That sounds like a plan.”

“I'll have this ready in a couple of minutes.”

Reluctantly Cyclone let go of her marefriend’s waist. While she really wanted – no, needed – to cuddle right now, she knew little would come from arguing or acting out. “Okay, then I'll go get the DVD ready. I've got the perfect 'entry' episode to tempt you with.”

At the kitchen worktop, hoof deep in prepping the fruit salad, Bluefeather giggled. “You said 'entry'.”

“I did, didn't I?” Cyclone smiled as she nibbled gently on Bluefeather’s neck. “Don't miss me, now.” Getting back to her hooves, the jet black mare trotted back through to the living room. Once there, Cyclone quickly had the DVD ready and waiting, especially as it was one she watched regularly. With a few seconds to spare, she even had herself laid as provocatively as she could manage on her couch that had seen better days.

Seconds later, and Bluefeather came out of the kitchen, carrying a loaded tray on her back that she set down on the coffee table. Two bowls of mixed summer fruit salad with some oats sprinkled liberally on top, and beers for them both to enjoy. “If you lay out like that, Crinkle Butt, you're going to leak.”

Playfully, Cyclone stuck out her tongue with a smile and a wink. “Are you ready for the best thing you'll ever see, besides me in a nappy, I mean?” She sat up, hoof poised on the remote control as Bluefeather arranged the food and drinks for them.

“I have my beer goggles ready!” the mid grey mare snuggled up next to her lover in such a way that she could still reach the food.

“Alrighty.” Cyclone pressed the remote to activate the TV of ancient times. “This episode is called 'Once More, With Feeling’. It is from season six, but it's a funny musical special that everypony loves.” After a moment of flickering, the TV from ancient times finally worked, and Cyclone snuggled deep into her lover’s side, turquoise tail wrapped around blue.

As the show started, Bluefeather watched, a little nonplussed as who she assumed to be the title character, Buffy, singing about going through the motions. She ate her salad and nursed her beer and, while she was watching she imagined what the actress would look like in a nappy. She was also watching Cyclone as much as she was the TV. She was aware her lover was still raw from the sad news she had received from her dad. “Ooh...I love this song, look Blue!” Cyclone pointed to the screen, where two mares, Willow and Tara, she thought they were called, were singing ‘Under Your Spell’.

Bluefeather took a decent slug of her beer. “Oh? Do I make you cum-plete?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Only when I feel you inside,” Cyclone giggled, “but yes, yes you do babes.”

Smiling, Bluefeather gave her young marefriend a light kiss as she returned to watching the show. To be honest she had no idea what was happening or why they were all singing. Something about a demon, that was as far as she got. “You see that stallion?” Cyclone asked, pointing to the TV as the stallion Bluefeather recognised as Spike started to sing ‘Rest In Peace’. “He's Spike the Vampony. That's his actual coat I've got…” she whispered, “don’t ask how much it was.”

“Are all of them this, aaaah, campy?” Bluefeather asked, giving her critique on the show she was watching.

Cyclone giggled, helping herself to some salad and her beer. “Well, kinda, yeah.” She kissed Bluefeather’s neck with a little flick of her tongue. “Don't let that bother you.”

Bluefeather snickered, “I got a theory, it must be bunnies!”

Cyclone snickered in response to that. “Anya's scared of bunnies,” she said, snuggling up real close to her marefriend when the whole cast started to sing 'Walk through the Fire’ and ‘Something to Sing About'. “These songs always make me cry,” she explained, making the older mare pause in her eating to hold her closer and nuzzle her ear.

“Hmmm....see...she died at the end of series five, but they resurrected her, and she feels out of place, so she needs something to sing about.” Cyclone had more than a few tears in her eyes, she hoped her lover would understand why.

“Sounds like Mare Grey,” Bluefeather commented thoughtfully, “she never seems to die either.”

When the DVD was all done, Cyclone turned it off with the remote as she really didn’t want to move. “Thanks, for watching that with me, sexy.” She said quietly, still snuggled up close and comfortable on her couch.

“Cheesy, but fun. Some interesting songs in there, but mostly it was cheesy fun.”

“Yeah.” Cyclone smiled, “in a few episodes time, Spike and Buffy have some really angry sex. So angry they demolish a house around them.”

Bluefeather gave her lover a pointed look. “I'm not having angry sex.”

Cyclone giggled. “It doesn't suit you, and I'm not demolishing this place. The owner would have a fit.” With that, she finished up her salad and beer and she went in for a deeper kiss. Allowing the kiss, Bluefeather laid Cyclone back on the couch that had seen better days.

Smirking, Bluefeather spread herself out on top of the younger pegasus. “I seem to have the advantage, hmm?”

Underneath her marefriend, Cyclone looked up with her very best half-lidded bedroom eyes. “Hmm, just the way I like it…Mmmph!” Bluefeather silenced her lover with a well placed deep kiss, sliding her tongue into her mouth as she used a hoof to play with her black wings. “Aaaah...” Cyclone moaned, arching her back underneath her.

Wrapping her forelegs around Bluefeather’s shoulders as her wings fluttered from the stimulus of her hooves, Cyclone moaned happily as the older mare planted soft little kisses all over her face and neck, nibbling and nipping her ears. “Mmm...B-Blue... Blue I want you!” Cyclone gasped, loving where the hoof was that was still playing with her wing.

“What will you do with me?” Bluefeather asked, her eyes half-lidded as Cyclone kissed her lips and cheek.

“I want you to take me, make me complete!” Cyclone begged, delivering soft little kisses along her partner’s neck.

“I can't make you anything,” Bluefeather said as gently and as lovingly as she could, “but I can help you achieve what you desire.” Smiling, she kissed her nose. “I will take you now. All of you, as you are.”

Spreading her hind legs, Cyclone kissed Bluefeather’s lips. “I love you.”

“First things first. Getting you undressed.” Bluefeather smiled, moving slowly down her young lover’s body she proceeded to remove the nappy with her teeth.

“Yeah...” she smiled, “we don't want a repeat of earlier on the train, do we?”

Bluefeather just giggled as she slowly pulled of the nappy, discarding it onto the coffee table. “I'm sure that will be repeated, my love.”

Smiling, Cyclone wriggled her way out of the nappy. “I’m sure it will sexy,” she said, just as Bluefeather moved her head and sniffed to see if her mare was only wet with excitement. “I haven't peed, I promise, hun.”

“No need to promise, my love. After this long I do have a nose for it.” Bluefeather grinned as Cyclone moved to her side, allowing her older lover to lick under her tail. “Hmm, clean under here.” She asserted, before rolling her back onto her back and delivering a long slow lick between her legs. “Clean here, too.”

“Mmm...aaah y-yeeeah that's clean!” Cyclone moaned, Bluefeather though kept one hoof pressed between her lover’s butt cheeks while the other played with her nipples, alternating from one to the other. “Ooh...oooh B-Bluuue!” Cyclone’s marehood was leaking, her hind legs were quivering. “J-Just there!”

Bluefeather didn't respond verbally, instead she pushed the toe of her hoof against Cyclone’s anal ring and, as she pulled at her nipples, she pushed a little harder the toe, probing the muscular sphincter. The jet black mare arched her back with the pleasure, particularly that against her anal ring. “Ooh...oooh d-do that...please!”

“That?” Bluefeather giggled and sat up. “I'm doing a lot of ‘that’s’.”

“Aah...aah I like your h-hoof...against my ass!” Cyclone moaned, just as Bluefeather returned to give Cyclone another lick. Then, she used her forelegs to roll her mare’s hind legs up and over her belly. That done, she moved down to liberate her puckered tail hole with her hot wet tongue. “YaaAAaa...yeees! Oooh I like that!”

Bluefeather spread Cyclone’s ass cheeks wide as she lapped the area just below the dock of her turquoise tail. “HmmMmm...” she purred in sheer pleasure, using her forehooves to hold her hind legs up high, her marehood leaking like a faucet as her lover licked her.

As well as her tongue, Bluefeather used the toe of her hoof to delve into the black mare’s tail hole, earning herself a “OOooOOH yes!” as Cyclone’s rump twitched and her muscular ring expanded easily to allow the entry.

“So, my dirty little filly likes anal, hmm?” It was a very rhetorical question, seeing as Cyclone was panting like she was in heat with the toe of her hoof buried in her accommodating asshole.

“Y-Yeees ma'am!” Cyclone confirmed, unnecessarily, seeing as the toe of her lover’s hoof was in her butt.

“You have toys?”

Quickly, Cyclone nodded, “Up-upstairs in the not-nursery bedroom, bottom drawer of the nightstand.”

“Stay there holding your legs.” Bluefeather ordered, giving Cyclone one more lick from her gaping tail hole straight up to her clitoris once she had removed her hoof. Sliding off of the couch, she trotted quickly up the stairs to the second, smaller bedroom, in search of adult toys to have fun with.

Cyclone whimpered on her back on her couch, holding her legs up high, her hind hooves almost behind her head. She was told not to move, and she wasn’t going to.

“My, my, my…” Bluefeather was impressed, very much impressed when she saw what Cyclone had in her toy drawer. There were; a string of five anal beads in increasing sizes, a butt plug tapered to a two inch base, large and small vibrators, an inflatable butt plug, strawberry and cherry lube and even a set of four hoof cuffs. “What a resourceful filly I have.”

Smiling, very lewd thoughts running through her head, Bluefeather took the hoof cuffs, both butt plugs, both vibrators, and the cherry lube. She sang on the way down the stairs. “We’re going to party tonight!”

On the couch that had seen better days, Cyclone was still holding her hind legs up, like a good filly. “Oh, all night long, sexy!”

Bluefeather approached, stalking across the living room like a tiger stalking her prey. She just adored the way Cyclone’s hind legs were almost behind her head like that, like a sexy pretzel. “Well, I do need my beauty sleep, but I'll see if I can put you out like a light…” she bent down and kissed her lips, “You're a good filly and you deserve a treat.”

Returning the deep kiss, Cyclone smiled up at her lover. “I'm a very good filly ma'am!” she squeaked, while Bluefeather moved her body in such a way as to block her sight as she squirted a liberal amount of cherry lube into her flexing tail hole and she used her tongue to apply it deep inside. “OooOH...”

As Cyclone moaned and wriggled with the cold lube in her hole, Bluefeather selected the smaller pink butt plug and, firmly pushing it inside, she rotated the base with her hoof. “Now,” she smiled, stroking the quivering mare’s legs, “let me help you with that.” Still smiling, she firmly cuffed Cyclone’s forelegs and hind legs together so that she no longer had to hold them up. “Do try not to roll off the couch.”

“Hmm...y-you found my old cuffs, huh?” Cyclone smiled, though all she could focus on was the plug buried in her asshole. ‘Oooh that feels so full in my butt!’

Bluefeather giggled, “I take it it’s been awhile?”

Cyclone nodded, “It has, since somepony else put them on me, anyway.”

Moving out of Cyclone’s sight again, Bluefeather this time took up the small vibrator and, turning it on, she pressed it against the base of the butt plug. The effects were immediate. “Oooh Blue! Yeeees!” she wriggled her black ass with the vibrations coursing through her as Bluefeather took the larger vibrator in her mouth, leaving it turned off, using it to tease her lover’s glistening labia.

“AaaAAH...m-ma-maaa'am...” Cyclone cooed, her marehood winking at Bluefeather as she teased her.

Smirking, Bluefeather turned on the vibrator while at the same time she used her other hoof to move it around, she alternated using her tongue on Cyclone’s love button and her breasts. “Mmm...Mmmm...AAAH!” the black pegasus trembled and quivered, her legs and crotch shaking with the pleasurable vibrations running through her body.

Delicately, the older mare nibbled and licked Cyclone’s hard nub as one hoof pressed against the plug with the small vibrator held in between which she could feel running up her leg. The other hoof allowed her to push out the large vibrator only to push it back in, effectively rutting her with it.

“GAAaaaAAH!” Cyclone screamed in sheer pleasure from all the stimulus, the vibrating butt plug and the vibrator rutting her sopping pussy doing the trick to get her off. Desperately, she tried to buck her hips upwards, but she struggled somewhat against the cuffs holding her legs up. “AaaAAH Blue I'm soooo clooose!”

A devilish smile spread wide over Bluefeather’s face as she hoofed the little vibrator away and pulled the other one out of her lover’s puffy dripping snatch. “Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that…”

Cyclone, who could almost hear the smile in her lover’s words, gave her a very loud pitiful whimper. “Blue I was so close! C'moooon, finish me off pleeeeease!” Laughing out loud, Bluefeather switched vibrators. The large one was now pressed fully against the base of the plug in her asshole while she slipped the small one under her clitoral hood and her tongue searched the wet tunnel in the middle.

That did it.

Cyclone couldn’t hold any longer.

“OOOOH SWEEEET LUUUNA!” Cyclone’s screams filled the living room of her cloud house as a couple of seconds later she came, and she came hard, all four legs shaking as she squirts a little, cumming harder than she had in a very long time.

At her crotch, Bluefeather was only too eager to lap it up, every last drop. Eventually, after two more orgasms, she set down the vibrators and she eased out the plug. She did have to admit she loved the way Cyclone’s asshole gaped like it did. A moment later, the mid grey mare then took the inflatable butt plug and, with no resistance at all, inserted it into the slowly closing hole.

Several squeezes of the pump later had the plug well inflated, to the point where Cyclone was groaning and it wasn’t coming out, at all. “There, that should hold back any messes, hmm?” Smirking, Bluefeather retrieved the still clean nappy from the coffee table and, after carefully placing the small vibrator to sit under Cyclone’s tail, she fastened the tabs securely around her waist. “I think that will do, for now.”

Cyclone wriggled in her bindings, squirming as the vibrator worked against the inflatable plug. “MMmmm...aah...ah...y-you're evil!”

“Mwahahahaha!” Bluefeather chuckled dramatically as she looked down at her ‘victim’. “You know, I know a pony that gets around just fine cuffed like you are now.”

Cyclone giggled, trying to ignore the vibrations in her tail, “s-so do I...I met h-her Thursday at the party.”

“I thought you'd know her since you’re friends with Airy.” Bluefeather said thoughtfully as she helped Cyclone up to her securely cuffed hooves. “You may use your wings, but only for balance. Now, I'm all for that chocolate dessert.”

“You evil pony!” Cyclone pouted playfully, just managing to balance on her hooves, “but I do love you.” With that, as Bluefeather took up the tray with the empty fruit salad bowls on it, the jet black mare began an ungainly bunny hop to the kitchen. “Nggh...Mmm!” she grunted as she reached the kitchen and the fridge. “Y'know...I bet Darkie can do this better than I can,” she giggled, opening the fridge with her wing.

“Why's that?”

“Darkie's a dancer,” Cyclone smiled and, taking out the chocolate dessert, she held the plate in her mouth, grinning as she started a slow and careful bunny hop back to the living room, once or twice having to use her wings for balance. Smirking, Bluefeather grabbed one spoon and followed her out. After a few moments, and some bounces, Cyclone made it to the coffee table and carefully set the gateaux down.

“You can keep standing. I'll feed you.”

“Yes ma'am.”

Bluefeather scooped up some of the dessert on the one spoon she had bought from the kitchen. “Open the tunnel so Gordon doesn't crash!” she cried, moving the loaded spoon towards Cyclone’s wide open mouth. She placed it inside and allowed her to close and clean it off.

“Nom!” Cyclone sucked the spoon clean and Bluefeather followed it up with a spoonful for herself. The jet black mare giggled, “so...this was the 'other' roleplay you were taking about?”

“Oh no,” Bluefeather shook her head, “this is still age play with me using the spoon like a choo choo!” she giggled, “You have to see Tempest dress up, she really gets into her role. Now, I could put on that back coat of yours and have you hop about to the local bar and that would be one form of role play, Mistress and Slave.” All the time she was talking, she fed Cyclone and herself, “Then you can dress up in the coat and I can dress up as a vampony and you can stalk me in the park.”

“Oooh...Mistress and Slave sounds fun!” Cyclone smiled, “I'm so glad I met you, again.”

“It was a roundabout way to meet,” Bluefeather agreed, “How many years after you first met me?”

“Well...as I recall that expo in Las Pegasus was something like four years ago?” Cyclone answered, ignoring the pleasurable vibrations in her ass as she looked down to the floor, melancholy threatening to return.

“Life happens and it happened to bring you to me.” Bluefeather said gently as she raised up her lover’s chin with her hoof. “Nothing to be ashamed of. Choo choo!” she smiled, another spoonful inbound to her mouth. Cyclone quickly perked up and opened her mouth as again, Bluefeather fed her and then herself.

“After all, if you really are a screw up I'll just have to fire you and find a job for you that doesn't violate the child labour laws, won’t I?” she asked with a smile.

Cyclone swallowed her mouthful of chocolate dessert and giggled. “You’ll have to talk to daddy, every few months he rings me up wanting me to work for him.”

At that, Bluefeather looked her over with a critical eye. “With that fur colour you do stand out against any backdrop.” She giggled, “Do you want a mare that is eighteen and looks thirteen or one that is thirteen and looks eighteen? I'd most likely kill those who want the latter.”

“The first option is definitely more preferable,” Cyclone agreed with a giggle. “I've always turned dad down, doesn't stop him asking every chance he gets though.”

Bluefeather kissed her marefriend very deeply, very aroused at the thought of seeing her lover in the glossy pages of Playcolt. “You'd certainly sell magazines. I'd bet he'd first want to do a retro spread of what you have framed on the wall. Choo choo!” she called out, and Cyclone opened her mouth with a faint wiggle as the toy in her was working away. “Do you have nappy rash?”

“No!” Cyclone swallowed her mouthful of dessert, “No, I have a tickle I can't reach!”

Thoughtfully, Bluefeather took a spoonful and mulled a thought over in her head. “Is that why he is hesitant to visit you?”

“One of the reasons, yes. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't considered it once or twice.” Cyclone admitted, “That's what I thought the letter was when I opened it.”

“Choo choo!” while the wriggling and squirming black mare was taking the dessert off of the spoon, she asked, “One of the reasons?”

“I blamed him, for the divorce.” Cyclone explained. “With Monsoon...I mean, mommy...gone, dad was the one I yelled at.”

“Cy, can I ask you a very personal and difficult question which you don't have to answer?”

“Go for it.”

Bluefeather took a deep breath, “Monsoon was just twenty four when you were born?”

Cyclone nodded, “yep, she was.”

Again, Bluefeather took a deep breath, to gather herself for what she was about to ask. “Did your parents plan to have you?”

“Um...no. No they didn't.”

“At least she was there for six years.” Bluefeather said, hugging her marefriend tightly without toppling her over as she was still bound up by her hooves, “In case you are thinking it, I have ended my relationships with an adult foal. It hasn't always been the other way.”

“Oh...Monsoon always let it be known that I was her accident.” Cyclone said as she nuzzled her lover, “And um...I wasn't thinking of ending it with you, Blue.”

“I didn't think you were, but...” and now, Bluefeather grew very serious, “It was close on the train coming here. I can do very well with ignorant foals, but I don't do so well with stupid adults.” She said, kissing her nose.

“I-I know hun, I know how close it was, and um, well, I'm glad you're here with me.”

“I just...” Bluefeather sighed, “I don't want you to think I'll be like your mom, but...I can't say I'll never end this. Life happens. When the foal ends it for any reason, I'm good as it is life. When I end it there will be a warning, but seldom do I give a second.” Smiling, she placed a second kiss on Cyclone’s nose. “Be yourself and I think we will live a long and happy life together.”

Cyclone returned the kiss, finding her lover’s lips with her own. “Blue, you're nothing like Monsoon. I get life happens.” She thought for a moment, “to be honest, before I went to Manehatten on Thursday, I was kinda tempted, y'know, on giving dad a call...um, taking him up on his offer to work with him.”

“Will you let me watch?” Bluefeather asked, managing to keep a straight face and her wings down.

“Huh?” Cyclone asked, slightly open mouthed, “y-you'd be ok with it, really?”

Oh, Bluefeather was okay with it alright. The voyeur in her was more than okay with watching her marefriend perform and be photographed. That part of her was fine with the rest of Equestria buying videos and watching her getting rutted by unknown stallions. “Will you still live with me? To be truthful, I do not want to move.”

“Of course I will babes!” Cyclone squeaked, unlike her lover, she was unable to keep her wings down. “No question about that!”

“Then, I think your dad is going to build up some frequent train miles.” She kissed her deeply, “Or maybe you will.”

“I love you so much!”

“That framed picture of you in the nappy is still going in my office.” Bluefeather smiled, loving the way Cyclone bounced and jiggled thanks to the toy buzzing in her nappy. “Your dad will have to get an updated one for the house.” She nuzzled her affectionately, “I love you too, you fill a part of my life that loves to nurture, and the part that burns with desire.”

Nuzzle over, Bluefeather pulled her lover into a hug and she lowered her gently down to the couch. “Ready to get out of the cuffs?”

“Yes ma'am.”

Deftly, Bluefeather unclipped and unbuckled the four hoof cuffs. “You may now wrap me up in a hug.” She said once Cyclone was freed.

“Mmm...such a commanding pony you are…” Cyclone purred, loving the very full feeling of the butt plug still inflated in her asshole, she duly wrapped her older marefriend up in a four legged hug. “I like it.”

Bluefeather kissed and nipped at her neck. “I'm loving it.”

“Me too…” Cyclone smiled, kissing her commanding mare’s lips.

“So, here we are in Cloudsdale and it is nearly midnight,” Bluefeather started, “What should we do for fun?”

Cyclone had an answer ready almost before the question had been asked. “I seem to recall a certain hot mare saying she'd wear my coat and lead me around the bar. There's a Trixie’s Place not far from here that's pretty easy going.”

That satisfied Bluefeather. She knew from Cloudhatten that Trixie’s Place was indeed an easy going place, a place catering to almost every kink and vice imaginable, as long as it was legal. “Well then, the cuffs go back on, but not bound together. Got any rope?”

“Second drawer down on the nightstand upstairs.” Cyclone replied, “There's a couple of different lengths and colours.”

“Don't sneak out of the house,” Bluefeather grinned wryly as she turned to the stairs, “and don't eat the rest of the dessert.”

Chapter 5 - The Doll House

“So, here we are in Cloudsdale and it is nearly midnight,” Bluefeather started, “What should we do for fun?”

Cyclone had an answer ready almost before the question had been asked. “I seem to recall a certain hot mare saying she'd wear my coat and lead me around the bar. There's a Trixie’s Place not far from here that's pretty easy going.”

That satisfied Bluefeather. She knew from Cloudhatten that Trixie’s Place was indeed an easy going place, a place catering to almost every kink and vice imaginable, as long as it was legal. “Well then, the cuffs go back on, but not bound together. Got any rope?”

“Second drawer down on the nightstand upstairs.” Cyclone replied, “There's a couple of different lengths and colours.”

“Don't sneak out of the house,” Bluefeather grinned wryly as she turned to the stairs, “and don't eat the rest of the dessert.”

Upstairs in the second, smaller bedroom, Bluefeather quickly, after a short investigation of the nightstand, found the rope that Cyclone had assured her was there. Taking up the length of red rope, she easily fashioned a bridle and a leash. That done, she trotted back down the stairs, holding her creation in her mouth. “Just something simple,” she said in response to her marefriend’s questioning look as she dropped it on the coffee table.

“Don't touch.” She ordered simply, her tone curt and fully expecting to be obeyed. The mid grey pegasus was secretly glad of her time that she had spent watching Mapper at work in Caffeinated’s ranch. Turning her back to the jet black mare laid on her back on the couch that had seen better days, she went over to the clothes box to get the long black coat while Cyclone obediently laid still on the couch. “Stand.” She ordered, carefully putting the coat on.

Now she was ordered, Cyclone slid off of the couch and she stood up on her hooves, appreciating just how sexy her lover looked wearing her coat. “Mmm, that looks good on you.”

“Silence.” Bluefeather gave Cyclone a very short, sharp look that shut her up at once. Standing quietly, her black wings fluttered with arousal while Bluefeather trotted off to the foals room looking for a pacifier and for any nappy cover that had somepony famous like the Princesses on it.

Her search was rewarded when she saw a Luna cover and several Power Pony sets, one for each character. Especially, she noted, Radiance. Filled with indecision, Bluefeather opted for the Luna nappy cover. Choice made, she trotted back down the stairs with them held under her wing. When she heard her coming back down the stairs, Cyclone looked curiously to see what she had for her.

Without any explanation, channelling her inner Mapper, Bluefeather set the nappy cover and pacifier on the coffee table next to the untouched bridle and, when an idea came to her, she retrieved her lover’s favourite and most treasured Radiance plush from the box and put it on the table.

When she saw the plush get placed on the table, Cyclone looked uncertainly at it and at her marefriend. The events of the train ride were still fresh in her mind, and she wasn’t keen to repeat them. Still, she trusted the older mare. ‘Blue'll be careful, she's cool,’ she told herself, her worry dissipating just a little bit.

First, making her mind up, Bluefeather placed the Luna themed nappy cover on Cyclone and, once that was done, she affixed the hoof-made rope bridle to her head, though she chose not to create a bit. “I think that is enough clothing, hmm?” Smiling, she placed the pacifier in Cyclone’s mouth. Nopony but me, you included, may take that out of your mouth. You may nod once in understanding.”

Very quickly indeed, Cyclone nodded her head, instinctively sucking on the pacifier in her mouth.

“Lift your left wing.” Bluefeather ordered, and Cyclone again nodded her head, lifting up her left wing as she was instructed. Once the wing was lifted, the mid grey pegasus took up the Radiance plush and placed it snugly under her wing. “Close and hold this plush. You will not set it down anywhere until after we have returned home. You may nod once if you understand.”

Straightaway, getting the rules of the game, Cyclone nodded once as she closed her left wing tightly around her plush. “When I say the word 'Rad', you will show me the plush no matter what you may be doing.” Bluefeather continued to give the rules for their upcoming play. “You are free to use the nappy, of course, but with the butt plug it will be impossible to do a bowel movement. If you want the plug out say the word ‘Yes’ now.”

Smiling a very, very aroused smile, Cyclone shook her head so hard she risked giving herself whiplash. It had been a good few years since she had been dominated like this, and she liked it. Her thoughts however were cut somewhat short when the leash was taken up and she was lead outside into the chill of the night. Thankfully, as she was a stranger, the night club was easy to see, even a few streets away.

Grinning, Bluefeather lead her lover along the street like an owner leading her prized pet, their destination the five storey neon lit edifice that said, in huge fluorescent lettering, ‘Trixie’s Place’. Lit up like the most gaudy Hearths Warming tree that she had ever seen, it wasn’t exactly hard to find. It was probably visible from the moon.

Tugging the improvised leash, Bluefeather picked up the pace towards the club. Something was putting her ill at ease, from the derelict cloud houses they passed on the way to the unlit and broken street lights, she just had a ‘feeling’ that something was going to happen. Needless to say, when she at last arrived at the main door to Trixie’s Place, she felt considerably better. Not in the least because of the mountain of a unicorn stallion staffing the door.

As they approached, the chocolate brown unicorn nodded to Bluefeather, his expression unreadable behind his shades. “Ma'am?” he said by way of greeting.

“Greetings!” the relief in Bluefeather’s voice was almost tangible. The lights – and the lump of talking granite in front of her – made her feel infinitely safer. “I'm here with my pet and wish to party the night away.”

“Yes ma'am.” The door stallion smiled, recognising Cyclone at once from her past visits with Skydancer and her friend Storm Chaser. “There’s vanilla on the ground floor tonight, kinky stuff on the first and second floors. Really kinky stuff on the floors above that. Dance floor in the centre, there are private rooms to the side on each floor, just flip the sign to red for occupied. There's a bar on each floor as well as unmarked safety officials.” Introductory speech concluded, Door Stop stood aside. “Have fun.”

“My good stallion, my thoughts of Cloudsdale have gone up a notch or two this night.” Bluefeather returned the chocolate unicorn’s easy going smile with a nod of her head. “Thank you.” With that, she led Cyclone inside with a sharp tug of the leash.

Door Stop nodded in turn. He always did admire Cyclone’s ass, especially the way it swayed like that when she wore a nappy. And she always wore a nappy. “You're welcome, ma'am, welcome to Trixie's Place.” He noted them down on his security pad as ‘Cyclone plus one’ and issued them both with a little tag that slipped over their ear.

Walking inside, Cyclone sucked noisily on her pacifier, making Bluefeather smile. Zeroing in on the ground floor dance floor, the mid grey pegasus led her straight there. Once they had taken an empty spot near some tables – there were up to thirty pegasi dancing in the middle – she turned to face the younger mare. “Rad.” She was pleased to see Cyclone immediately lift her left wing and showed her the plush.

When the next ‘song’, if such fast senseless noise could be called music, started, Bluefeather lead Cyclone in a fast paced dance. While they jived their way through three such songs, the older pegasus never once let go of the leash. The jet black pegasus, for her part, never loosened her grip on her plush as she matched Bluefeather dance for dance. After the third dance ended, Bluefeather led her lover over to the bar. “Two beers,” she ordered breathlessly, her blue mane sweat-slicked to her head, “lager if you have it and draft preferred.”

The serving mare, Beer Tap, smiled as she was well accustomed to Cyclone’s antics by now. Seeing her sucking on a pacifier was nothing new or out of place. “Local, ma’am?”

“Sure,” Bluefeather gasped, quickly getting her breath back as Beer Tap poured the two drafts and placed them on a tray in front of her customers. Bluefeather however decided to prop up the bar and kissed Cyclone where they stood, taking the pacifier with her in her mouth when she pulled away. She then drank from her glass and left the pacifier floating in it. “Drink at your own pace, my love.” She said, taking another sip.

“Thank you, ma'am.” Cyclone picked up her glass and took a gentle sip of her beer just as a light grey mare, so light she was almost white, approached the bar.

The moment the mare’s crystal blue eyes saw Cyclone, she brushed aside her bright yellow mane and hugged her friend. “Hey Cy, haven't seen you in here since forever.” She grinned, seeing as ‘forever’ was only two weeks ago. She took in the bridle and the leash. “You’re a pet tonight?”

Cyclone nodded, setting her beer back on the bar top. “Storm Chaser, this is Bluefeather, my marefriend.”

Storm Chaser turned to Bluefeather, flashing her black cloud cutie mark as she shared a hoof bump with the new mare. “So, you've managed to tame the Cyclone, huh?”

“Working on it.” Bluefeather smiled sweetly, taking another sip of her beer. “It really depends on her.” To her marefriend, she nodded, winking in such a way that spoke volumes. “We leave here when you wet your nappy, and Cy, I don't want to leave here early, understand?”

“Yes ma'am,” Cyclone answered quickly, sipping her beer, “I understand, ma’am.”

Grinning ear to ear, her pale grey face almost split, Storm Chaser turned to Bluefeather. “You're doing well, she isn't that respectful even to her boss. So, where'd you two meet?”

Bluefeather considered that for just a moment, then she decided that no harm could come from telling this mare. She seemed pleasant enough, and she obviously knew Cyclone. “Well, the first time was in passing at a weather conference over in Las Pegasus, but more recently my new Fire Control Officer told me about her so I followed it up. I'm Bluefeather, Cloudhatten Weather Factory manager.”

“I’m very pleased to meet you.” Again, Storm Chaser bumped hooves with the older mare while Cyclone was drinking her beer quietly at the bar. “I keep this one in comic books,” she smiled as she indicated the jet black mare with her hoof, “and she keeps me in business.”

Bluefeather said, “I'm sorry for your financial loss then, Storm Chaser.”

“Hehe not a bit of it,” Storm Chaser giggled, sharing a rather pointed knowing look with Cyclone. “Your pet here's my best customer.” She paused and sipped her beer, ignoring her old friend’s rather desperate look. “She’s too good sometimes, right Cy?”

“Ah,” Bluefeather explained, raising her voice as another fast song began blaring over the sound system courtesy of the DJ, “but she is moving to live with me in Manehatten.”

“Is this true?” Storm Chaser asked, affecting an aghast expression on her face like she had just been told her shop had been burned to the ground. Cyclone simply nodded quietly, occupying herself with her half full beer. “Alas!” she declared, her hoof up to her forehead, “I'm ruined! Seriously though, I wish you both good luck, and remember I do mail order…”

“That is true,” Bluefeather smiled and nursed her beer, “but we shall see. There are a number of shops in Manehatten, after all, but you do have the upper hoof knowing what she likes.”

Now, Storm Chaser gave her friend a very serious look, a look that didn’t go unnoticed by the older mid grey pegasus. “And, I have the good sense to cut her off from time to time, right Cy?” she turned back to Bluefeather when Cyclone nodded again. “But hey, fun as this conversation is, I’m gonna get more beer and see what fun's occurring in the upstairs. I’ll see you guys around.”

Quietly, Bluefeather finished off her beer, saying nothing while she watched Cyclone nurse her own after she waved a goodbye to Storm Chaser. “She’s my enabler.” She explained, though it wasn’t really necessary. “She keeps me in comic books and collectibles.” She was very glad however that Bluefeather hadn’t chosen to delve into the whole ‘cutting her off’ issue. It was a matter of shame that more than once she had neglected things like food, and household bills, to get the latest whatever it was she was collecting.

Nodding, Bluefeather upended the glass, careful not to spill any on the very expensive black faux leather coat she was wearing and, taking the pacifier in her mouth, she kissed her marefriend, leaving it in her mouth. “Let us explore,” she said when a particularly noisy ‘song’ made her want to murder the DJ, “This place interests me.” getting up, Cyclone nodded, sucking hard on the pacifier as she did so.

Leading her upstairs to the second floor of the night club, the older pegasus saw that it was indeed a fetish driven floor, as the nice door stallion had advised upon their entry. She looked around and she liked what she saw. She liked it a lot. “Cy, please do a little dance for me if you like what you see here.” She was very, very pleased to see that Cyclone immediately, even before the sentence had fully left her lips, that Cyclone nodded and performed a happy four hooved dance. Bluefeather glanced around again and assumed it must be the various ponies, some dressed in corsets, or socks, some in rope harnesses, some in all three at once, that swayed her.

“I confess I'm very surprised by all this.” said Bluefeather, leading Cyclone to the bar past a mare using her stallion as a chair, squirming her crotch over his face as she talked to her friend who had another mare bound in a similar fashion, “You won't find a bar like this in Couldhatten. Now,” she giggled, “It’s in Manehatten where this is found.”

When they arrived at the bar, and she had just about acclimatised herself to the kinky nature of the upper floors, Bluefeather got the attention of the unicorn stallion tending the bar. “Excuse me, I had the local draft lager downstairs, do you have a local draft ale, please?”

“Are you new to the area?” asked the stallion, tearing his attention away from the two mares using their partners as seats, immensely jealous of the seats. When his latest customer nodded, he smiled, “We do have local ale, ma’am.”

“Then two, if you please.” Bluefeather placed her order, “Both my pet and I are thirsty.”

“You look familiar,” the stallion said, starting conversation as he poured the ale from the pumps. “Are you with the weather factory?”

Taking the beers on a tray, Bluefeather paid the bill. “I'm with the Cloudhatten branch, I’m here visiting friends.”

“Well then ma’am, I hope you enjoy your time here.” he smiled an easy practised smile at his latest customers and watched closely when Bluefeather took the tray up in her mouth and led her pet over to a small out of the way table.

When Bluefeather arrived at her chosen destination – walking past a stallion who was having his hooves attended to by a stallion under his table, and another table where a stallion was enjoying watching his mare drink her beer from a pet bowl through the ring gag she was wearing – she sat down and kissed Cyclone, taking the pacifier from her and dropping it in her beer. “You are to finish that before I finish mine, understood?”

Cyclone grinned at that. “Challenge accepted!” taking a decent sip of her ale, a drink she wouldn’t normally order but was still nice enough, she asked, “so you like the club?”

Bluefeather looked about, again taking in the sight of the mare attempting to lap up her beer through the ring gag wedged behind her teeth. “Time will tell, but I'm intrigued by it…” she trailed off as a couple of ponies patrolling the very edges caught her attention. ‘They must be the unmarked security,’ she thought, instantly reassured. This was obviously a professional proper set up. “Not all such clubs have been visited by me twice, but I'll give this one a chance. Did you come here much?”

Cyclone nodded after taking another long sip. “Hmhmm, every month or so yeah. It's a fun hang out.”

That caught Bluefeather’s attention. She had been hoping that was the case, that her new marefriend was something of a regular here. “So, I might glean some more information about you from your acquaintances?”

“Oh yes you might.” Cyclone agreed, very thankful indeed that Bluefeather was taking care of her coat. She didn’t even know if it could be replaced, let alone where to go to replace it. “It was nice coming across Storm Chaser again.”

“She cares for you,” Bluefeather commented, taking a long slow drink of her beer, “but she isn't the jealous type. I think she’s a friend you may want to keep through mail order instead of changing to a local shop.” She finished, leaning over the table to give her a very deep kiss.

Cyclone kissed her lover deeply on the lips. “She's alright is Chaser…” that said, the jet black mare noticed that her older marefriend was almost done with her beer and that she still had half a mug full. Taking it up in her hoof, she rather skilfully emptied her mug in three swallows. “Done!”

Smirking to herself, Bluefeather finished off her own drink and, taking up the pacifier in her mouth once more, she kissed Cyclone, putting it back in her mouth. As she did so, an idea occurred to her for some fun. “You may nod if this place has a foal play room.” No sooner had she asked, than Cyclone sucked hard on the pink pacifier, nodding her head earnestly.

Trixie’s Place, as Bluefeather was soon to discover, catered to everything.

With the information that there was an adult foal room here, Bluefeather removed the cuffs that adorned Cyclone’s black hooves as well as the bridle. Storing the cuffs away in her bag, she then converted the bridle into a chest harness. The way she worked told Cyclone that she had done this before more than once. “You may, as always, end the age play whenever you want, but now I'm starting it.” She said, slipping the harness over her foal’s head and chest. “You are now a foal.” In response, Cyclone nodded, clapping her hooves together excitedly.

Smiling sweetly, slipping easily back into her practised and well worn persona, Bluefeather took up the foal leash and led her charge past the other ponies who were enjoying themselves in their bondage back to the bar. “Bartender, my foal is growing tired and I don't want her to grow cranky. Is there a foal room I can let her rest in?”

The stallion at the bar smiled a wide smile. He had been betting with himself how long it would take before Cyclone became the foal, he was pleased that he won. “Next floor up and to your right from the stairs, ma’am.”

“Thank you.” Bluefeather treated the very pleasant bartender to a generous tip and she led her excited foal up the stairs to the second floor. Cyclone, sucking on the pacifier for all she was worth, started to skip up the stairs. The second floor was her favourite floor, for obvious reasons.

At the second floor, Bluefeather turned to the right, coming face to face with a very matronly looking mare who was staffing the check in counter. Apparently it wasn’t out of the ordinary to see new customers walk through the door at a quarter past midnight. “Good evening, ma’am.”

The pegasus mare sat at the counter, obviously a no-nonsense type with her mane pulled back in a severe bun and half moon glasses, looked up from her paperwork. “Will you be dropping off or staying with, please?”

“Staying with.” Bluefeather replied, glancing over the formidable matron’s shoulder she saw the prices clearly marked for both options on the wall, along with a set of rules in large type.

“Forty bits an hour or fraction thereof,” the severe mare said without even looking at the prices. “You will have to take care of your foals needs, but staying does give you access to snacks and facilities.”

Quickly, Bluefeather slid forty bits on the counter. Had it been earlier in the day, she would have paid more. As it was, she didn’t think they’d be here much past one a.m. “Thank you, ma’am.” Receiving a nod, and having been signed in, the mid grey mare led Cyclone inside to the foal floor proper.

Inside, there was a very, very large play area with padded mats on the floor, large squidgy building blocks, foam balls, slides and even a ball pit. Everywhere there were bright primary colours and the giggling of the seven adult foals playing happily. Outside the play area, clearly separated by a low barrier, were several tables, at which were sat four ‘adult’ adults. One such adult was wearing a Trixie’s Place uniform. All were supervising the foals in the play area.

Leading her foal through the supervision area to the gate and the play area beyond it, Bluefeather removed the chest harness and stowed it in her bag. “You may play with your plush, but!” she paused for added effect, “she will stay in your sight at all times. Now, go play nice.”

When her nanna kissed her, in order to remove the pacifier, Cyclone looked around the play area, searching for anypony she knew. While it was way too late for Thunderhead, the odds were that there would be at least one she knew there. She wasn’t disappointed.

“Windy!” she called out when her blue eyes settled on a sky blue pegasus colt playing by himself with some chunky building blocks. She didn’t know the other foals. Yet. “Nanna! It’s Windy!” without a backwards glance, Cyclone galloped over to her foal – and adult – friend Wind Rider.

With a very amused look on her face, Bluefeather watched her big filly speed off towards her friend. She did have something of an ulterior motive for coming up here. Seeing as their relationship was new, she was very interested in observing how she played and interacted with those that knew her well.

That included those actual adults that were sat at the tables supervising their foals. She wasn’t surprised to see the place used at such a late hour, she assumed it was due to shift work. As she was on an intelligence gathering mission, the mid grey pegasus walked over and joined the other three adults, two stallions and a mare, at their table.

The day care worker wasn’t seated, but roving around the edges of the play area watching the foals like a hawk for any sign of trouble.

Bluefeather took all this in and approved. She wondered if the Manehatten Trixie’s Place was just as well run. She decided it was worth a trip, if only to go see for herself. “I'm very impressed with this set up,” she said as a conversation starter to the nearest adult, a tan coloured mare.

The mare in question smiled at Bluefeather as she ran her hoof through her dark blue mane. “That accents sounds like you're from Manehatten.”

“I am,” Bluefeather responded, one eye on the mare she was talking to and one on Cyclone, “I’m just visiting Cloudsdale.”

A flicker of recognition flashed across the stallion’s face. “You're Bluefeather?” the slate grey pegasus asked, his eyes checking out the somewhat signature blue tints that adorned the weather manager’s wingtips.

“Yes,” Bluefeather nodded politely, her ego rather pleased that she had been recognised, “Yes I am. And you are?”

“I thought I recognized you.” The stallion said with a smile. He was about to tell the Manehattenite his name when a very fillyish squeal from the play area drew his attention. “Ah, I see you brought Cyclone in to play.”

Cyclone, well and truly in her persona, squeaked, “Windy!” as loudly as she possibly could, unable to contain her enthusiasm as she thundered across the padded play area, past the large squidgy bricks and plonked herself down on her rear end next to the stallion working the blocks. “Look, I got Rady!”

“Blocks.” Wind Rider replied, his tongue stuck out in concentration as he built a multi coloured tower several blocks high. One more would be his personal best.

The stallion, a smile on his face at Cyclone’s antics – nothing he hadn’t seen from her before – turned back to a very patiently waiting Bluefeather. “I beg your pardon, I'm Cloud Burst.”

“I'm Rainy Day,” the tan mare smiled, holding up her hoof to still Cloud Burst before he started, “yeah I know, what a name, right?” giggling, she pointed to a lavender maned violet mare in the play area. “That’s my filly in there, Sugar Plum.”

Bluefeather politely introduced herself to Rainy Day and, as she shared hoof bumps with the both, she noted that the other stallion made no attempt to introduce himself. Not that she cared too much about that, per se, she was taking note of the day care worker prowling the play area, busy watching her charges, of which one began crying and she straight away took him for a quick nappy change.

“Windy, can Rady help build?” Cyclone asked, waiting until her friend had placed his eighth building block in place. When Wind Rider nodded, he clumsily pushed over some spare blocks he had been saving for a second tower to her. “’Kay Rady…” she got her plush and squeezed her hooves so that the plush picked up the block and she placed it very carefully indeed on top of the tower.

“Yay!” Wind Rider and Cyclone both squealed in glee and hoof bumped each other. Nine blocks was, after all, an impressive achievement.

Over in the supervision area, Bluefeather was chatting it up with the two adults, Cloud Burst and Rainy Day, surreptitiously finding out all about her new lover and foal while at the same time she was watching her – just in case she was needed to deal with any needs.

While she was getting to know her new best friends, a stallion colt, so dark blue he was almost as dark a Cyclone, waddled over carrying Zapp plush under his wing. Belonging to the stallion who hadn't yet introduced himself, he sat himself down hard on the padded play surface next to Cyclone when he saw she had a Radiance plush. “Hi! Wanna play ponies?”

Cyclone took one look at Wind Rider who, starting a second tower, nodded and turned to the newcomer with a smile on her face. She was always up for playing ponies. “Sure!” she held her Radiance tight, using her hoof to wave her soft doll’s leg at Zapp. “What your name?”

“Night Sky.” He replied simply, flying his Zapp plush in the air making whooshing noises as he zoomed her through imaginary obstacles.

“I Cyclone!” she squeaked, noticing out of the corner of her eye that the day care worker mare had finished changing the other stallion’s soiled nappy and had placed him back in the play area, where he immediately ran back to the crayons and the part of the wall where they were allowed to colour on it.

The purple filly, Sugar Plum, waddled her way to the gate that separated the play area from the supervision area and reared up, lip wobbling and tears in her eyes. “Mama, I hungy…”

Playfully, Rainy Day rolled her eyes. “Well, that's my call!” getting up from the table, excusing herself politely from the conversation she had been sharing with Bluefeather and Cloud Burst, she picked up her filly and carried her back to the adults table, where she held Sugar Plum’s head at her heavily swollen breasts and she began to feed her.

Very proud of himself, Wind Rider reared up to his hind legs and waved to get his lover and caretaker’s attention to the monumental eleven block construction that he had made. “Burst! I made tower!” he clapped his hooves together excitedly when Cloud Burst took a photo of his construction on his phone, the caretaker having gotten permission to do so at the check in counter.

“You like Zapp?” asked Cyclone, seeing this as an ideal opening gambit for her newest playmate.

Night Sky nodded earnestly, “Zapp is da best pony!”

Well now, there was just no way that Cyclone was having that, whether as an adult or a foal. Everypony knew that Radiance was the best Power Pony. Anypony who thought different was just wrong. Simple as that. “Nu huh! Radiance is best!”

Over at the actual adult table, in the supervision area, Bluefeather had jealous eyes turned to the tan mare currently breast feeding her large filly. “It must be hard for a nursing mother, Rainy Day, you can't just drop off and go.” She said that, but what she was thinking was, ‘I can’t wait for that to be Cyclone and I…’

Rainy Day giggled, letting out a sigh of relief as her heavy milk swollen breasts were relieved of their contents, “Oh, I don't mind in the least.”

Turning away from his colt’s second tower, Cloud Burst smiled. “I see you didn't drop and go, Bluefeather.”

“I'm still a bit protective of her right now.” said Bluefeather in agreement.

Cloud Burst accepted that as it was given. He was just pleased, given how well he knew the young black mare, that she had at last found a pony as nurturing and caring as Bluefeather was. “It's good to see Cy has somepony to care for her.”

In the play area, Night Sky took as much exception to Cyclone’s point of view as she had to his. “Nuh! Zapp beats Radiance!” to emphasise his point, the dark blue stallion shifted in his nappy and, with Zapp held up in the air, he mimed a lightning bolt with added sound effects, before swooping his plush down and knocking Radiance from Cyclone's hooves.

“Hey!” wholly unprepared for such a vicious and unprovoked attack, Cyclone picked up her plush, stroking it like he had genuinely done her damage. “You hurt my Rady!”

No sooner had Cyclone picked up her plush though, than Night Sky let loose with a second lightning bolt and knocked Radiance to the floor again. “Zapp is best!”

Just as Cyclone was about to shout back, the day care worker was on them, her trained sharp eyes having detected the brief scuffle between the two ponies. “Night Sky!” she called out, drawing the attention of the adults, “I'm reporting this to your father!”

“Noooo!” the dark, dark blue adult colt hung his head, realising he’d been caught. “I sooowweeeeee…”

The day care mare, well accustomed to the colt’s shenanigans by now, shook her head. “No. Too late, buster.” She had her notepad, scribbling down her charge’s offense, to be reported back to Night Sky’s partner when he came to collet him, which wouldn’t be that long.

Though he was thoroughly admonished, Night Sky scooted closer to the still clearly outraged Cyclone and, before she could yell at him again, he whispered quietly to her, “I’m sorry,” his voice was anything but that of a colt, “but I do like a good spanking.”

A split second later, the bit dropped in Cyclone’s head and the jet black pegasus giggled. Leaning in close so that her nanna couldn’t see or hear her talking ‘adult’ in the play area, she whispered, “Don't we all?” when the two new friends shared a wink between themselves, she took her Radiance in her hooves and used it to swat at the ‘unsuspecting’ Zapp, sending the plush to the floor.

That, Bluefeather did see. Like a hawk, she was on the case, much to Cloud Burst and Rainy Day’s amusement. “Cyclone!”

Hanging her head in a very good imitation of the manoeuvre that Night Sky had pulled, Cyclone squeaked, “I sowwy nanna!”

“Apologise to Night Sky, right now!” said Bluefeather, making full use of her authoritative ‘nanna voice’. Watching the scene play itself out, Cloud Burst understood just why she was the manager on the Cloudhatten weather factory.

“I sowwy Night Sky.” Cyclone held out her hoof, turning just slightly so that the ‘adults’ couldn’t see her wide grin.

Grinning, Night Sky returned his new friend’s hoof bump and leant in close to her, his adult voice a quiet whisper lest the day care supervisor report him for that, too. “Does she use her hooves?”

Casting a quick glance at Bluefeather, Cyclone didn’t know the answer to that. She sincerely hoped so, though. “If I'm a lucky pony,” she whispered back, picking up her Radiance again holding it out to Zapp. “Cuddle?” she asked, her foal voice back in use.

“I love the feel of hooves.” Night Sky whispered, though when he saw the day care mare turned his way with a frown on her face, he pulled his plush into a cuddle with Radiance. “Zapp still best, but she fwiends with Rady now.”

“Fwiends!” overjoyed, Cyclone thrust the face of her plush to meet that of Night Sky’s. “Aww they fwiends, see they kiss!” when Night Sky blushed, he looked away and saw that Rainy Day was gently cradling a sleeping Sugar Plum in her hooves as the adults continued to chat away. “Hahaha!” Cyclone’s laughter however returned his attention to her. “You bwushed!”

As they made up, a very pretty green filly with a shockingly bright blue mane came toddling over carrying a well-loved Shining Armour plush under her wing. “Can I play?” she squeaked.

Cyclone was at first struck by just how pretty this newcomer was. Particularly the pink booties she wore on her hooves. They matched the nappy she was wearing perfectly. Smiling, she showed off her Radiance plush to her. “Rady says hi!”

“Shiny says hi too.” She looked from the Radiance plush to Cyclone and back again, then to Night Sky. “You two are pretty!” giggling, she brought her plush up to her ear and nodded like it was talking to her. “Sowwy, I'm Juniper.” At the urging of her Shining Armour plush, she introduced herself and held out her hoof.

Night Sky chuckled, returning the hoof bump to the newcomer, “Zapp says shiny is pretty.”

“No,” the green filly shook her head, rocking on her padded rump which made the nappy crinkle underneath her. “Shiny not pretty he is hads...ah…handsa...” she blushed, giving up on the big tricky word. “Okay, he pretty.”

“I’m Cyclone,” the jet black mare smiled, bumping hooves with Juniper after her friend had got his hoof bump in first and pointed to the colt. “He Night Sky.” She leant in close to her and said, in a not-very-quiet-whisper, “He silly. He likes Zapp.” She stuck her tongue out when she was raspberried, “but we like him.”

Juniper giggled at her new friend’s antics, “Both are okay,” she pointed to the Zapp and the Radiance plushes, “but I like Shinny, I gonna mawwe him.”

“Yoooo wuv Shiny!” Cyclone chanted with unbridled glee in her voice, even going so far as to make kissy noises as she clapped her hooves.

“I do!” Juniper had to agree with her new playmate. She accentuated this assertion by taking her Shining Armour and kissing its muzzle as if she had been told she could kiss him after being announced as his bride.

This was all getting way too girly for Night Sky. Thankfully, before he could get cooties or anything else, his stallion – a very well-defined muscular specimen of a pegasus who looked like he had been carved straight from the side of Canterlot Mountain, walked through the door and spoke to the day care worker. “Dada!” he squealed in joy after a brief farewell to Cyclone, “I was good!”

Unfortunately for Night Sky, the ever-present day care mare passed the stallion the note she had made of his errant behaviour, which detailed exactly how naughty he had been. In response to this, the mountain simply raised his eyebrows, giving his colt a look that he recognised. A look that said he wouldn’t sit for a week. “No…dada no!” he tried to protest, skidding to a halt as he ran to greet his lover.

The stallion surveyed him quietly for a moment before turning his back on his colt and his husband. “Come along colt,” was all he said, already halfway out the door.

“Buuuusted!” Cyclone and Juniper both sang out together, the jet black pegasus deciding to stop when she saw the disapproving look she was getting from Bluefeather sat at the adults table.

Once Night Sky had left with his stallion, Juniper turned her attention back to her newest playmate. “Shiny kiss Radi...Radia...” she struggled again with the big word that was Radiance’s name, eventually settling for, “Unicon?”

Cyclone giggled behind her hoof. She didn’t mean to, and she wasn’t laughing at her friend, more she was laughing with her. The green filly really was too cute. “Rady like kisses!” to show her how much her Radiance liked kisses she pushed her plush to Juniper’s so their faced touched.

Smiling and giggling in equal measure, Juniper held the ‘kiss’ between the two soft toys, she even made the sickly sweet kissing noises that Night Sky had hated so much. Eventually, after a long few moments, she pulled her plush away and held it up to her ear. “Shiny say he like you, but he still mawwe me.”

Cyclone was more than happy with that. She doubted she could with Cadance anyway. “You can mawwe Shiny…” she then held her plush to her own ear, “Rady says Shiny a good kisser.”

Seeing that Wind Rider had abandoned the multi coloured wooden building blocks in favour of diving into the ball pit, Juniper pointed her green hoof to the blocks. “Can Shiny play with blocks?” she asked, “he make big fotwuss.”

Looking around, Cyclone saw that her long-time friend had indeed moved on, she nodded. “Let’s make fotwuss!”
“Yay!” Juniper exclaimed, clapping her pink bootie covered hooves together excitedly before she started to build her mighty fortress. Holding her plush just so, she was able to use Shining’s forelegs to hold the blocks. Watching, Cyclone noticed she was building in a pattern of blue, yellow and red blocks.

In an attempt to be helpful, Cyclone used Radiance’s forelegs to place the next block in the pattern. Alas, as the mighty construct was now three layers high, she didn’t quite place it right and she - accidentally - knocked a whole wall down. “We sowwy...Rady not good at makey fotwuss.” she apologised as Juniper started rebuilding, “Rady say sowwy.” she lifted her up and squeaked, “I sowwy!”

“Is okay,” Juniper smiled sympathetically, patting Cyclone’s foreleg with her plush, “Shiny is not good either, he sowwy too.”

“I like you!” Cyclone smiled, sharing a hug with her new friend as they both got back to building their rather large impressive castle fortress. Once built, they spent a fun ten minutes assaulting, rebuilding and defending their castle from the menace of the squidgy ball attackers.

They would have carried on playing longer, had the day care mare not walked over and gently tapped the green pegasus’s shoulder. “Juniper, sweetie, your aunt is here to collect you.”

“Oh, it’s go time for me,” Juniper stood up, growing up as she did so now that her playtime was over. Smiling, she pushed her Shining Armour into a kiss with Radiance and then she used it to kiss Cyclone as well. “I hope I see you again, you’re fun to play with.”

Cyclone highly doubted that, but there was no point making a thing out of it. Waving her hoof, she said, “You fun too. Say bye, Rady.” She waved her plush’s hoof as the green mare left the foal floor with a mare who was much older than her. Now that the foals were leaving, that left herself, Wind Rider, a filly Cyclone had never seen before and a standoffish stallion who thus far had kept himself to himself over in the corner with the wall crayons.

Outside, beyond the partition wall in the adult supervisory area were Bluefeather, Cloud Burst, the quiet stallion who, Cyclone assumed, was here with the adult colt doing a wall drawing and of course the day care mare. She looked around to try and see Rainy Day, but she had left a little while ago with a sleeping Sugar Plum on her back.

Left pretty much to her own devices, what with Wind Rider still enjoying the ball pit, Cyclone decided to rearrange the castle she had built with Juniper. As she worked, she shifted once and was reminded of the large inflatable plug still buried in her ass. She hadn’t thought about it all night. She wasn’t thinking about it for long, however, when the standoffish stallion finally approached her. “Heh…you're cute.”

Thinking nothing of it, Cyclone looked at the red stallion in his white nappy and she giggled. As far as she was concerned he was just being nice, nothing to worry about, nothing alerted her in the slightest. “Well, you is cute too!” she lifted up her plush to her ear and giggled, “Rady says you is cute, too.”

The stallion smiled. Cyclone wasn’t looking directly at him or she would’ve seen the nasty glint in his eyes. “Would you like a lolly?” he asked, ready to put his plan into action.

Not expecting anything untoward, Cyclone’s blue eyes grew large as they lit up. Again, she assumed he was just being nice. “Pwease! Oooh yes pwease!” she squeaked, clapping her hooves together, “I likes lollies!”

Snickering, the red stallion flared his wings and reared up, at the same time he yanked down the front of his nappy to reveal what would otherwise be an impressive erection standing hard and proud. “I got a lolly right here you can suck on, filly.”

Several things happened almost at once then, while Cyclone was confronted with the stallion’s throbbing member. In the adult area, Bluefeather launched herself from her seating pad, screaming, “Who let a paedophile in the foal area‽”

The stallion who had been sat quietly at the table thrust himself up, shouting “Buck you!” and aimed a hard swipe at Bluefeather, seemingly knocking the mid grey pegasus down to the floor.

“Shit!” The day care worker reacted almost instantly, her training kicking in as she hit the radio on her uniform tabard. “Shit, security! Security to the second floor! Security!”

“Bluefeather!” Cyclone finally added her voice to the mix, screaming as her lover and caretaker was knocked to the floor. Instantly growing up, she charged across the padded play area. “You leave my marefriend alone!”

The stallion that had exposed himself though had other ideas. “You're going now nowhere baby girl!” lunging for her, he grabbed at and seized Cyclone’s hind leg, tripping her up and sending her into the padded play floor.

Over in the adult area, the quiet stallion who had punched Bluefeather to the floor reared up to deliver a second, measured strike. Fortunately, Bluefeather knew how to fight. While she was on her back, she saw the double hoof-stomp coming a mile away. She used her powerful wings to sweep the stallion’s front legs as they descended. Cloud Burst used that split second to launch himself in a flying tackle at the paedophile’s accomplice.

“Buck you!” Cyclone screamed and, rolling onto her back, she kicked out with both of her hind legs aimed squarely at the red paedophile’s chest, her muzzle drawn back in a feral snarl. Her kick connected, sending the pegasus reeling backwards into a reared up Wind Rider who punched him in the back of his head.

At that moment, four very burly pegasi security guards flew up the stairs and in very, very short order they had the two stallions subdued and bodily under control. The ‘adult’ of the two, the one who had punched Bluefeather to the ground, yelled his protestations. “Get off of us! We were just doing some harmless role play when that crazy mare threatened my colt!” he struggled uselessly, pointing at Cyclone.

Bluefeather was having none of that, however. “Your colt sexually assaulted my foal!”

The day care mare, her hoof on a heaving Cyclone’s shoulder in an attempt to calm her down, spoke up. “Sirs, you can review the security video, it’s all there.”

Instead of being cowed by that, the ‘adult’ of the two redoubled his efforts to get away. This went about as well as to be expected, seeing as the security guard had him in a severe hammer lock. “Y-You didn't have my permission to film us!”

The security guard holding him down snickered, “You gave permission when you entered, or can’t you read the signs?” he asked while his partner called the Cloudsdale police department, directing them to Trixie’s Place.

In the foal play area, Cyclone was breathing hard, shaking all over as the two security stallions hauled the red stallion, nappy still on him, from the room. “H-He exposed himself to me and the others…” she was apoplectic with anger. Especially with what she had endured back in Canterlot. If the security wasn’t there, she would’ve gladly earned herself twenty five years in prison. “He said I was cute and asked if I wanted a lolly to suck on!”

“Cyclone's right.” Wind Rider added, standing alongside his good friend. “She was minding her business with the building blocks when that....’thing' there assaulted her.”

At the door to the lobby, the security guard paused. “Don’t worry, sir, it's all on the video…” he grunted as the adult struggled in his firm grasp. The stallion who had been playing the colt made a break for it, but, with three heavyset security around him, he did not get far before he was tackled to the ground. Both of them were then hauled off to await the police.

The day care mare fidgeted her forehooves together nervously, surveying the scene. Thankfully there was just the adult table that had been overturned. “I sincerely apologise for this incident, sirs, ma’am.” She spoke to Cloud Burst, Bluefeather, Cyclone, Night Sky and the shy mare.

Dusting herself down, Bluefeather shrugged. She had no quarrel with Trixie’s Place or its staff, she was still impressed with it and them. “Slime are everywhere, miss Sweet Heart,” she read the mare’s nametag at last, “and your security was really quick on the ball.”

The day care worker, Sweet Heart, pointed to all four corners of the large foal room, indicating the hidden cameras there. “We run total surveillance of all the common areas, ma’am.”

While Sweet Heart righted the upturned table, before trotting into the foal area to clean things down, just in case, Cyclone bumped hooves with Wind Rider. “Nice punch ya got in there, Windy.” She was genuinely impressed, she’d never seen her friend punch anything in three years of knowing him.

Wind Rider smiled with pride. “Anytime, Cy.”

“Blue,” Cyclone started, noticing that her lover was checking her wings over, “Are you alright?” the last thing she wanted was for her marefriend to be hurt. This was supposed to be a fun night out, not a bar brawl.

“It takes more than that to bring me down.” Bluefeather smiled, satisfied that her wings were in perfect order. “Thank Cloud Burst for that.” She flared her wings and spread them nice and wide to demonstrate to her young mare that she was alright and so was the long black coat. “Well, that was exciting!”

“Cloud Burst?” Cyclone turned to the stallion with a wide smile on her face. “I've seen you about at the weather factory. Are you taking hugs?”

“Get in line, my little foal.” Bluefeather made sure she was at the front of said line and she hugged Cloud Burst tightly to her, while obediently, Cyclone waited her turn.

Thankfully, as Wind Rider and the other filly weren’t looking for hugs, Cyclone was next in line. “Thanks,” she said with a grateful smile, “for helping out.”

Cloud Burst nodded solemnly, pointing to Wind Rider who was already back in the play area, “Could have been my colt.”

Now the drama was over and done with, Bluefeather seated herself imperiously back at the adult table. She checked the large clock on the wall and saw it wasn’t long until one a.m. Still time enough to play. “You can go back to playing, Cy, if you wish.”

Cyclone nodded, but, while she wanted to play, there was something she had to do first. Lunging at Bluefeather and hugging her tight, she kissed her nose. “Hmm, now I can go play.”

As Cyclone re-entered the foal play area, the shy filly, a little snow white mare with a powder blue mane, summoned up the nerve to talk to her. “Hewwo, I am Cloudshoes, I um…I, ah, I like your pwushie.”

At once back in her own persona, Cyclone smiled and gently bumped hooves with the little mare. She understood why she had stayed out of the fight, brief as it was. She looked as soft and fragile as her voice. “She Radiance.” She introduced her plush with a smile. “You can call her Rady.”

“I drawed her!” taking Cyclone by the hoof, Cloudshoes led the taller black pegasus over to the colouring station in the play area where she showed off several pieces of paper covered in foalish crayon drawings of Radiance and Cyclone that even had the right colours in the right places.

“Wow!” Surveying the art, Cyclone was duly impressed. This mare was better at drawing as a foal than she was as an adult. She picked up her prized toy and showed her the picture. “Rady likes it. I likes too. You very good drawerer.”

Cloudshoes blushed so hard her white cheeks turned a bright red. She knew she was a good artist, but being told it still made her blush. “I drawed a lot, see!”

“You drawed pwetty good.”

Still blushing, Cloudshoes showed Cyclone another really, really good drawing, this time of Zapp and Night Sky which again had all the right colours in the right places. “I drawed this too when you were play'n blocks.”

“Ooh! Look Rady! Cloudshoes drawed Zapp real good!”

Unfortunately, before they could talk any more, a yellow middle aged pegasus with a green mane entered the foal room and called her. “Cloudy, time to go, sweetie.”

“Mama!” Cloudshoes leapt to her hooves, which only increased her height by a little bit and, giving Cyclone the Radiance drawing, turned to leave. “I has to goed now. You keep drawing I done.”

The mare smiled when, having shared a parting hug with Cyclone, her filly waddled over to her. “You find a friend?” she asked as she picked her up onto her back.

“Yes mama, she call Cy and she pwayed nice.”

The yellow mare nodded to Cloud Burst, who worked in her department at the weather factory. “I’ll see you later, Cloud.”

Cloud Burst nodded, “Take care, Willow.”

It had just gone one in the morning and, but for Wind Rider who was fading fast, Cyclone found herself alone in the play area. Being very careful indeed, she placed the drawings down and she decided once more to play with the blocks. Radiance needed a castle.

As she began to arrange the blocks, the jet black mare let out a massive yawn that threatened to split her face. At the same time, the incontinent pegasus let loose a stream of hot pee that soaked the inside of her nappy. Completely unaware of this, Cyclone used her plush to build up the castle even as her heavy nappy squelched under her. “We play wiv the blocks Rady. Makes you a fotwuss!”

Over at the adult table, Bluefeather and Cloud Burst continued to chat about life, the universe and everything until the mid-grey pegasus looked over at her filly and saw that she was moving around with a very heavy nappy hanging from her rear end. “Cy, honey,” she said as she stood up, “do you need a change?”

Cyclone, lost in the construction of her mighty block fortress, looked up at her nanna, only now aware that she had soiled her nappy. “Um...yes nanna, pwease.”

Smiling, Bluefeather entered the padded play area and lifted up her sodden foal. Along with her changing bag, she carried her over to a nearby changing table. “Let’s get you dry and then it is beddy-bye time.”

“Aw! Nuh huh!” Cyclone tried to protest as she was placed on her back and her legs were lifted up. Unfortunately another large yawn rendered her protest moot. It didn’t help that she was normally well asleep by now. “I wanna play! Me an' Rady made a fotwuss to keep out da bad ponies!”

“We can always come back.” Bluefeather smiled as she got to work removing the heavy pee soaked nappy.

Cyclone wriggled when the air hit her exposed wet marehood. “You right, nanna.”

Once she started, Bluefeather performed a quick change, wiping her marefriend’s crotch clean, adding talcum powder before affixing a clean, dry nappy securely around her waist and the inflatable plug still in her asshole. Lastly, she dumped the soiled nappy into the trash can by the table. Leaning in to her now dry mare, she whispered, “Over all I think you were a good filly today.”

On her back, Cyclone smiled, “I was just being me…” she trailed off into another yawn.

One light kiss to her lips later and Bluefeather said, “Let’s go back to our home. I'll walk you out a foal, but if you want you can grow up outside.” Smiling, she put the chest harness back on her.

“Deal nanna!” Before Bluefeather could take up the leash on the harness though, Cyclone galloped back to the play area where she had been building her castle and picked up the drawings. There was no way she was leaving those behind. Besides, Cloudshoes rang a bell, and she wanted to look her up, tomorrow.

“Rad.” Bluefeather said simply as Cyclone ran back to her in the adults area. Obediently, Cyclone lifted up her left wing to reveal that her Radiance and the pictures she had been given were safely stowed there. The older mare furrowed her brow, “I didn't see you draw that, sweetie.”

Cyclone shook her head, lowering her wing to hold her things. “Cloudshoes drawed them!” she explained, “she's super nice and super good!” Satisfied by that, Bluefeather kissed her foal, leaving the pink pacifier in her mouth when she pulled away. Sucking on it almost automatically, Cyclone stood up, ready to go.

Taking up the leash in her hoof, Bluefeather pulled on it, steering her foal towards the door. “Time to go home, Cy.” Following eagerly behind her caretaker, the jet black mare waved to Wind Rider and Cloud Burst. Outside in the cold chilly night air, Bluefeather turned to her lover on the street. “I admit, I was a little envious when Rainy Days nursed her filly back there.” She said, taking the pacifier back with a kiss.

“I’mma growing up.” Cyclone announced with a blink of her blue eyes. “We can do that for real, real soon, babes.”

Bluefeather nodded solemnly as they walked along the street, Trixie’s Place behind them and her house up ahead. “It takes a couple of days for the milk to come in, but yeah, soon.” She gave Cyclone another, far more adult kiss, “I had a lot of fun watching you and the others playing. Even when what happened, happened, this is a really nice place.”

“I had fun too!” Cyclone took the kiss and, under the glare of a street light, she nuzzled her marefriend. “Hey um, are you really alright?”

“I am,” Bluefeather gave a reassuring smile, “I fell away when I saw the blow coming.” Just to put Cyclone’s mind at ease, she allowed her to inspect her shoulder. “See? Didn't even leave a bruise the lightweight. I think I hit him harder with my wing. How about you?” the mid grey mare asked, “I thought you were going to punch him in the nut sack.”

Carefully, Cyclone inspected Bluefeather’s shoulder until she was satisfied she was okay. “If that animal hadn't tripped me up, I would've gone to prison for him…” she shuddered and trembled, “I...it’s...it’s stuff like that just brings up bad memories I'd rather forget…”

Sighing, Bluefeather gave her a sympathetic hug. She knew exactly what had upset her so much. “Yeah, if a foal of mine had pulled that stunt they'd be on the street. When the idiot adult has them do it though...I did want to bust his chops but those security were really fast.”

Cyclone did not return the hug. She simply stood there still until the older mare pulled away. “When I think of what I did, what I could've done, to that poor little filly in Canterlot...ugh…” she turned her face away as familiar tears welled up in her eyes, “I’m s-sorry…”

“In a way I'm glad I wasn't there, but if I was your nanna back then, I don't think it would have happened.”

“I was a stupid dumb mare for taking those potions!” said Cyclone, kicking the dense compacted cloud street with the toe of her hoof. She hated ponies like that stallion before, because she knew deep down she had come perilously close to becoming that stallion.

Turning her head to face her, Bluefeather silenced her self-loathing lover with a kiss to the lips. “You're my stupid dumb mare now,” she giggled, making a very big mental note to take Cyclone back to Ponyville and that zebra before she got very much older. Whether she wanted to or not.

Returning the kiss, Cyclone at last managed a thin smile. “I love you, Blue.”

Bluefeather smiled now that Cyclone was smiling, albeit thinly. “I’m growing to love you more every day. Pretty light night for us though, just two beers.”

“You know there's more at home, right?” Cyclone giggled, “And I'm your awesome Playcolt model. Don’t you forget that.”

“Forget what?” Bluefeather giggled, eager to keep the light mood as she walked along the darkened street. “I see you knew some of the ones there and they knew you, too.”

Cyclone nodded, guessing correctly that was the reason for the trip to Trixie’s Place, so that Bluefeather could play super-secret agent pony and find out about her from those that played with her. A smart idea, really. “Storm Chaser I told you about. Wind Rider I met in the foal area one time a couple of years back. He's strictly a foal friend. He’s with Cloud Burst, they’re married. I’ve seen Cloud Burst about, enough to say hi in passing. What were you chatting about?”

“You, of course!” Bluefeather giggled again, “I think the worse anypony had to say about you is that you don't take a lot too seriously. Not a bad fault to have.”

Cyclone couldn’t help but breathe out a sigh of relief. “Well, there's a time and a place for everything. I can be serious when the need arises, other than that, I like to have a laugh and see what happens most of the time.”

“When you get to know me, I'm not much different.” Bluefeather assured her as they turned onto the street where Cyclone lived, at least for now, anyway. “Oh we are here, already.”

Seeing as Bluefeather stood aside to allow her to open the door, Cyclone did so and politely stood aside for her marefriend to enter first. “To be honest, having very few inhibitions helps. When I was younger I was overconfident to the point of reckless, that's not really me anymore.”

“I can't say I was ever that way.” Bluefeather replied, standing in Cyclone’s kitchen. “More like painfully shy. Then one day I thought, ponies are too worried about themselves to be worried about me. That’s when I loosened up and moved up in the weather world.”

“Being loose is good,” Cyclone commented, going over to her fridge. “Do you want one before bed?”

Bluefeather shook her head. “No, I'm good, are you sleeping with me or in your crib?”

Cyclone didn’t have to even think about that. With everything that had happened to her that day, especially the news of her mother’s death in Whinnyapolis, she needed adult time. “I want to sleep with you. I um...I need cuddles, with everything that's happened, please?”

Bluefeather saw her lover about to burst into tears now that she was thinking about her mother. She decided to act quickly lest her distraction tactics this night be for naught. “It is a good thing I like cuddles…” smiling tenderly, she led the struggling young pegasus up to the second bedroom.

In spite of her growing maudlin mood, Cyclone still ran up the stairs and, when Bluefeather made use of the bathroom, she hopped onto the bed, bouncing on the mattress three times an before she laid herself out as sexily as she could. “Did I hear somepony bouncing on the bed?” Bluefeather asked, walking in with a smile on her face.

On the bed, Cyclone raised her hoof. “Guilty as charged.”

“Good thing this is your place, then.” Bluefeather snickered as she flopped into bed next to her young lover, immediately snuggling up to her.

Smiling, Cyclone snuggled deep into her side, her head buried in her fur. “Oh? What if it was yours?”

“Then, some filly not a million miles away would be thankful her bottom is well padded.”

“Ooh...promise?” Cyclone kissed her lover’s lips, “cos...sometimes I can be a naughty pony.”

“Really?” Bluefeather asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm, eventually giggled when she saw Cyclone’s pout. “I don't expect perfection, I just expect you'll do your best.”

Cyclone joined her lover in her giggles, though she didn’t move from her snuggled position. “You'll always get my best, Blue. That's a promise…” she kissed her mare’s chest, trailing her hoof down to rest just above her breasts.

“Hmm…” Bluefeather kissed Cyclone’s lips, stifling a yawn in the process. “Somepony may be feeling frisky, but nanna needs her sleep.”

“I'm going to sleep, eventually.” Cyclone snickered and nestled her head into the mid grey mare’s shoulder, at last closing her eyes as the clock ticked over to one thirty a.m.

“Oh, and Cy,” Bluefeather smiled with her eyes closed, her thoughts turning to the inflatable butt plug still nestled deep in her lover’s ass, “let me know if your eyes turn brown…” she said, snuggling against her warm body.

“Ha. Ha. You'll be the first to know,” Cyclone yawned, eyes closed with a face full of fur, “right now it’s comfy and I feel happy and full.” Sleep came to both mares not very long after that, in the dark quiet of the bedroom. As they slept, nestled in each other’s body heat, they were oblivious to the small cloud quake that sent the already derelict house next door crumbling to the ground.

Chapter 7 - Hot Wheels, Hot Mares

“Ha, ha!” Cyclone giggled and, returning the wink with one of her own, she continued to lead the way down the street until she turned onto a different street. “Aah...and here we are…it’s not busy!” Standing aside, Cyclone held the door open, and together, the two mares walked into Frankie’s Bar.

“It isn't hoof ball season,” Bluefeather commented as she walked into the sports bar with her marefriend. If she were in any doubt as to the theme of the place from the outside, then the inside put any of that to rest in an instant. Pictures of the Cloudsdale hoof ball team stood proudly on the walls beside the rugby team, the Equestria Games squads past and present as well as other sports that the mid grey mare had never heard of. “Ohh, they have Crystal Empire Ale!” she let out a squee and she headed straight to the bar. “You showing the Canterlot race?”

The pale blue pegasus stallion tending the bar, the eponymous Frankie, chuckled, “There is no race in Canterlot, ma’am, but the Manehatten race is being shown on screen four.” He pointed his hoof to one of four seventy inch flat screen TV’s that lined the longest wall of his bar.

Realising her error, Bluefeather blushed very, very hard indeed. It was just a good thing that there was only the three of them there to see it. “Oh, ah yes, and I'll have a Crystal ale too, please.”

“Ooh yeah, one for me too, please Frankie.” Cyclone put in her order once she had stopped laughing enough to speak.

Frankie rolled his green eyes and got ready to play their little game, the same game he played every time his overgrown foal of a friend went in his bar. “ID please, young lady.”

As Bluefeather erupted into a fit of giggles that easily matched the ones that Cyclone had given her, the jet black mare prepared her stock response to the often played little game. “Well, I'm coming here again that's for sure!” she reached into her saddlebag and produced her ID, like she had to do every time she came to watch Air Raid race, especially when her races were in Canterlot. “Here you go.”

Satisfied, the pale blue stallion served up the two ales and, just in case, Bluefeather started a tab at the bar, leaving a credit card for good measure. It just saved time. “Let's go watch the race that is not in Canterlot,” said Bluefeather, recovering quickly from her blush and carrying the two ales over to a table that, thanks to the bar not being busy, had a very good view of screen four.

Quietly, Cyclone followed her over, making sure her floral sundress was smoothed out as she sat down on the vacant seating pad. Looking at the TV screen, she approved of her marefriend’s choice of location. “Blue, are you okay?”

“Sorry for looking silly back there.” Bluefeather replied with a smile, brushing away an imaginary mote of dust from her formal wear blouse. She knew Cyclone wasn’t judging her but she still felt the need to explain, before the big race started. “We took the train from Manehatten to Canterlot and I totally thought the race was there for a moment.”

“You?” Cyclone giggled loudly, “You’re worried about looking silly?” when Bluefeather nodded she took a sip of her ale and giggled again, “you aren’t the one that tried scissoring a pony wearing a nappy.”

As she sipped her own ale, Bluefeather found she was feeling immeasurably better about herself. Another reason why she knew she loved Cyclone. A lot. “Hmm…this is hard to find in Manehatten,” she said, referring to her drink. “I usually have to go to Vanhoover for something this good.”

“It’s not my usual drink,” Cyclone commented as another mouthful of the ale was swallowed with relish, “but it is nice.”

“Was the beer in the fridge your usual drink?”

“It was. Cloudsdale gut rot.”

Bluefeather snickered at that, so much so that she almost choked on her ale. “So, do you like anything besides beer?”

“Um…” Cyclone looked around the bar, especially at the two ponies who had just entered and taken seats nearby, presumably to watch the race too, like she was deciding whether or not to share a scandalous secret. “Um…” she was still making up her mind when Bluefeather made encouraging motions with her hoof. “I um, I like red wine.”

“Dry or sweet?” asked Bluefeather, trying very hard not to laugh. The way her lover had been stalling, she was half expecting the still-warm blood of virgins, not wine.

“Sweet.”

Bluefeather smiled, stroking Cyclone’s hoof sympathetically. “I promise I'll not tell a soul.”

“Thanks babes,” Cyclone breathed a sigh of relief that her secret was safe and, sharing a rather loving, tender kiss with her lover, she saw that the TV had changed from showing a cycle of advertisements to now showing live footage of the Manehatten stadium pit lane. “That's Air Raid,” Cyclone pointed out her friend, who was wearing a very tight white racing jump suit. “The lime green one, just there.”

Bluefeather looked at the screen and just caught sight of the lime green pegasus, wearing a determined look that even she recognised as ‘in the zone’ as she got into the driver’s side of a very fast looking white car that had the Manehatten Times and Stripe’s Cup of Java decals on it. “She seems to get a lot of media atten...” she paused, having just seen Octavia wearing a similar racing suit. “Oh! Look! There is Princess Octavia!” It was in that very second that Bluefeather realised every single thing Cyclone had said regarding her knowing royalty was true. “She's wearing racing garb!”

As the camera and the screen cut to a shot of Princess Luna, seated in a VIP box, along with Dusk, Brush Stroke, Caffeinated, Thespian and most of the herd that Cyclone barely knew, the jet black mare nodded. “Uh huh. Apparently she's riding co-driver with Raid for this race.”

Bluefeather was amazed. Stunned and amazed. Staggered, almost. Watching the camera pan across the other cars on the line up, establishing the track and then cut back to the watching VIP’s, she at last managed to pull her jaw up from the floor where it had been resting. “I-I…Cy…I thought you were joking.”

“That’s understandable, sexy.” Cyclone smiled, taking no offense at all from her lover’s admission. “I admit, I do joke about somethings...ooh look, there's Dusky!” she pointed her hoof to the screen as the camera zoomed in on the midnight blue pegasus, looking resplendent in his flowing red dress with his mane pulled up in a ponytail, makeup looking perfect as he stood next to Brush Stroke.

About to make a further comment, Bluefeather was interrupted by Princess Luna on the screen. The Lunar alicorn was telling the pony interviewing her in great detail how she had absolute confidence in Air Raid's racing abilities. A cut back to the track hid the Princess’s reaction when the interviewer pointed out that Air Raid hadn’t won a race in several months showed a pink zebra mare busy running interference to keep the reporters away from the pit crew. Taking it all in, Bluefeather came to her senses. “So, what's royalty on a first name basis?”

“They're friends.” Cyclone giggled, watching the pink zebra to whom she had spoken on the phone intercept every single reporter. “I’ll tell you what, that Amethyst is formidable keeping the press away, isn’t she?”

Bluefeather watched said mare work for a few more moments and nodded her agreement. “I deal with zebras on the city council. They can be intimating, but there all softies.”

“Uh huh.” Cyclone smiled, treating her marefriend to her bedroom eyes, “as soft as you?”

Bluefeather sniffed as a few more pegasi entered the bar, filling it out a little, though it was by no means packed. Some were betting on the race. “Don't know if anypony can be as soft as me…”

“Good,” Cyclone snuggled up to her mare. She noted, with a smile, that nopony was betting on Air Raid and her R8 to win the race. ‘Big mistake,’ she thought as they watched the fifteen cars drive out onto the track. The track itself was a large modified oval, with one long straight section that was the start / finish line and two huge sweeping banked corners. The opposite straight was modified outwards with a smaller corner in the middle so the track looked like a triangle. “It looks like she qualified in second place.”

“Still, it puts her on the front row.” Bluefeather commented, watching Dodge Vipers line up alongside Aston Martins and BMW’s for the 450bhp race. Even she, with zero idea about racing, knew that there were something like twenty million bits worth of cars on the grid.

With a passing interest, the mid grey pegasus watched the race. If she was honest she was a little bored. The start had been interesting, watching the cars lurch off the line in a roar of power and exhaust fumes. Air Raid was sat in second for a few uneventful laps, so she assumed she was safe to go get some wine. It was, as she returned from the bar with two glasses, that Air Raid was bumped hard by the car in third place.

Princess Luna, unaware that the camera had swung back to focus on her, watched with mounting horror as the white Audi R8 was bumped against the retaining wall, scraping its right side along it for a few hundred feet. She screamed 'Octavia!' and, as sparks showered from the car’s body and white paint was left on the wall, she lunged forward only to be stopped by Dusk who whispered something and urgently shook his head no.

“Holy shit!” Cyclone squealed, along with a collective gasp from the ponies in the sports bar, pointing her hoof at the screen as the offending car, labelled '00' with ‘Mean Machine’ on its sides, lost control and spun out, causing an impressive three car crash while Air Raid wrestled her car under control.

Bluefeather sat, only then realising her hooves had gone numb from shock. “I-I think my heart skipped several beats, watching that!”

Cyclone, her eyes not leaving the screen while the watching ponies cheered the crash and pile up, nodded. “I think I need a fresh nappy!” forcing herself to breath though, she calmed down. “Oh bucking hell...” as officials worked to clear the wreck that was car ‘00’, and pull the Mean Machine’s driver away, the rest of the field were under a slow yellow flag.

Sighing, feeling like she had ridden a hailstorm, Bluefeather leant against Cyclone. “It looked like Princess Luna was going to do that whole, 'To the Moon' thing, but Prince…ah, Princess? Dusk stopped her.”

Cyclone had to agree. It was a seldom thing to see ‘that’ look on the alicorn’s face. “Well, had Luna interfered, Raid would've been disqualified.” She hugged her marefriend tight however when the damaged R8 came around the track, showing the heavily damaged side, all the paint scraped off and the metal battered and dented from its encounter with the wall. “Jeez...it's a good thing that driver's been removed by ambulance, look.”

Bluefeather did indeed look, and she saw the unconscious stallion being removed from the track by the medics. “Is she going to be able to finish the race?”

“Yeah, look the yellow flags gone.” Barely had those words left Cyclone’s mouth than the damaged R8 shot off like a rocket the instant the official car had gone, bits of the right side lights coming off and littering the track in scraps of metal and glass in its wake.

Following that dramatic incident, nothing happened to Air Raid until the fortieth lap. The lime green mare and Octavia were sitting back in fourth when the car in third tried to pass the second place driver high on a corner. Whomever it was screwed up his line and slammed into the safety wall, causing him to T-Bone the second place car.

There would have been an amazing crash had Air Raid not performed some extraordinarily nifty driving through the wreckage. As cars spun and bits of mangled metal flew in all directions, the only damage to the R8 was a blown left front tire, but at least coming out of turn three she was able to go right into the pit row. The leader lapped her but took the yellow to pit also, so at the end of the yellow flag Air Raid was only half a lap down to the leader.

“Go on Raid!” Cyclone screamed, as did a good half of the bar patrons who wished they had backed Air Raid before the race began. They would next time. “Get your hoof down!” she gripped Bluefeather in a hug that almost spilled wine as Air Raid caught up to the race leader. “She's doing it!”

“She’s driving like a pony possessed.” Bluefeather commented, skilfully saving the wine from being spilled, “I bet Princess Octavia is leaving hoof prints on the dashboard.”

Cyclone had to laugh at Bluefeather’s comment, “I bet she is. I can guarantee Raid hasn't said anything since that nifty pass through those two cars. In the zone isn't the word.”

With just four laps to go, Air Raid made her move. Entering turn three, she pulled high in behind the first place car, using it to slingshot past it on the low side, daringly going under the leader as they sped out onto the long straight section. She took first place and held onto it, not looking back as she sped away in the lead. As Air Raid’s white Audi took the lead, Bluefeather, by now absorbed in the action, jumped up. “She's leading! Cy, she's leading!”

“Go on Raid!” Cyclone cheered her old friend on, hoping through some magic that her cheers would make it through the ether and make her car go faster. Luckily, now that Air Raid was in first place, she stayed there for the rest of the race, eventually winning by forty clear feet. “Get in!” she cheered. The whole bar cheered, especially Frankie who had placed a large bet on the unknown from Canterlot to win.

As soon as Air Raid, Octavia and the damaged Audi crossed the line, the cameras – almost as one entity - all cut to Princess Luna's reaction up in the VIP box. While extremely pleased, the Princess was performing a much more regal and reserved clap of her forehooves, while the rest of the herd all cheered.

Down on the track, Air Raid was performing her own ‘understated’ victory celebrations, pulling a series of celebratory donuts around the finishing line, twirling her helmet out of the car window on the damaged driver's side. She had made sure that every driver in Manehatten knew who she was.

In the bar, Bluefeather hugged Cyclone tight, following it up with a long, hard, deep kiss. “That…That was exciting!” she exclaimed breathlessly, “I'm so happy for your friend!”

“I need more wine.”

Bluefeather agreed with that sentiment. “More wine coming up, love.” Getting up onto shaking legs, the mid grey pegasus trotted off to get another wine for her young lover and a dark beer for herself. This wasn’t very hard as Frankie was in a very good mood, having just won a ton on the race. “That was more exciting than a Wonderbolt show!” she squealed with excitement as she returned, setting the drinks on the table.

It was a few moments before Cyclone trusted herself to lift the wine glass without dropping and breaking it. “It certainly was intense, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.” Bluefeather took a calming sip of her beer. “Intense. Are you going to call?” she asked after a few more minutes had passed.

“No car crashes at Wonderbolts shows!” Cyclone let out a very happy little giggle. “And yeah, I'll give her a ring, just a mo,” she reached a hoof into her bag and, retrieving her phone, she took a much needed sip of her red wine. “Hmm, now that’s good stuff.”

“You just like it because some filly used her hooves to squish the grapes…” said Bluefeather teasingly.

Cyclone giggled, thinking immediately of Wildfire and the blind mare’s proclivity for hooves. “Well, hooves are fun. They tread grapes, they’re fun to lick, they’re good for spanking naughty fillies...” sharing a wink with her older marefriend, she swiped through her phone’s menus and dialled Air Raid’s number.

“Hello Cyclone.” Amethyst’s broad Broncs accent answered the call after a couple of rings. “We are celebrating, yes?”

“We watched the race!” Cyclone enthused, loudly, for most of the bar was also celebrating, those that weren’t drowning sorrows, anyway. “It was super scary when that car hit her, she okay?”

“Yes,” Amethyst replied over the sheer amount of noise in the pit lane, “I was very afraid and I am afraid now.”

“Why?” asked Cyclone, sharing a giggle with Bluefeather, “has Raid tried to kill the driver for hurting her precious baby?”

Amethyst, shaking her head, moved to the far end of the pit, where thankfully it was a little less noisy. Not that she could fault her new pet for celebrating. It was a deserved win. “No, Air Raid kissed Princess Octavia in the winner's circle. I fear that Mungu wa Usiku may send her to the moon.”

As the phone was on speaker, Bluefeather looked up at Cyclone with a questioning look on her face. “Munga wa Usiku?”

Cyclone had to think about that for just a moment. It had been many years since languages at university. “Um, I think she means Princess Luna, ‘Munga wa Usiku’ means 'Goddess of the Moon, I think.” She smiled, “Amethyst, I'll go on a limb and say everypony's safe.”

“I do hope so.” Amethyst didn’t sound wholly convinced. “Princess Luna is talking to them now.”

Just as Amethyst said that, Cyclone and everypony else watching could see it on the TV as the cameras were still rolling. “So I see, the TV cameras are on you. Gotta say, your mare looks good on that winner's podium.” Said the black mare, able to see both Amethyst and Cream stood next to each other, but they weren’t on the podium. “Cream looks happy too.”

“Yes, we are all waiting for the after party.” Amethyst smiled, “We’re going to Caffeinated's place.”

“We'll have a drink for you here,” Cyclone added, hopefully helpfully, “I hope Raid wasn't too bummed we weren't there.”

“She knows you watched and she said she hoped you peed in your nappy!” said Amethyst, finishing with a loud laugh.

“Twice!” Cyclone retorted, also laughing into her wine glass. “Tell her we'll catch up with you all when we get back, I've got some news to tell you.”

“I’ll not get her to call now,” Amethyst said, she doubted whether or not her pet was able to talk at all, with all the shouting she was doing she’d lose her voice. “You want her call later or you going to leave a message?”

“Hun, get her to call when she has a moment, please?”

“Okay Cyclone, she is more than happy now.” Amethyst laughed, “Got to go and kiss mare who gave her the flowers.” The pink zebra mare barked out a loud laugh before hanging up the call.

Cyclone laughed, for on the TV she could see the mare passing out the flowers. She could also see Air Raid’s disinterest. All she wanted was the trophy. Cream wanted the flowers. Putting her phone away, she turned back to Bluefeather who was sipping her ale. “To our celebrations! Ale, wine and cuddles!”

Right there in the bar, Bluefeather did just that, cuddling her young lover so tightly she wrinkled her floral sundress. “There’s always time for cuddles.”

All was perfect in Cyclone’s world. She had her mare, her wine and it was a good day. “Hmm, snuggly cuggles wiv my sexy pony…”

As she snuggled, Bluefeather tuned out the TV and the rest of the bar, the patrons now propping up the bar and helping to keep Frankie in business. “So,” she started, “twice, huh?”

“Um...uh huh...I was scared, twice!” Cyclone blushed at being caught out, especially so now she knew that Bluefeather could tell when she blushed. While they snuggled, the jet black mare felt a gentle hoof push firmly between into her padded crotch, squishing the pink nappy into her marehood under the dress. “Aaah...” she gasped, biting her lip.

Playfully, Bluefeather prodded Cyclone’s nappy, amazed both at the fact it hadn’t leaked and how her lover hadn’t noticed. ‘Wow…she really is incontinent,’ she thought, realising again that the young mare had been honest with her all along. She liked that. “No wonder you have so much room for wine, hmm?”

Still blushing, Cyclone giggled as she emptied her glass of red. “There’s always room for wine, Blue.”

“Hmm, maybe, but there’s not much more room left here,” said Bluefeather, smiling as she pushed with her hoof again into the very full nappy. “Squishy butt.”

“No, I guess not,” Cyclone cooed, “Hmmm very squishy!”

Bluefeather smiled at her very sexy mare. “Set down the glass and get on your back. I'm changing you now.”

‘Right here? In the bar?’ Cyclone thought, a wide smile on her face as she looked around the sports bar and saw the few ponies still inside drinking at the bar. ‘Oh that’s so awesome!’ Needless to say, it didn’t take her more than a few seconds to roll over on her back.

From her own bag, Bluefeather got her changing supplies and, removing the accidentally-on-purpose wrinkled dress, the mid grey pegasus, in full view of the sports bar, removed the nappy cover followed by the very heavy, very wet nappy itself. “You are my little filly.”

At the bar, Frankie looked on, but other than looking he did nothing. He was by now, after four years, used to Cyclone’s antics. She was a fun, harmless mare. The other patrons, those still in the bar following the race, glanced over, watching as Bluefeather worked. Some gawked at the blatant display, some were embarrassed they even looked. Some didn’t know where to look while Bluefeather powdered Cyclone’s nether regions and applied a fresh clean nappy.

“You are a good little filly, yes you are!” the older mare rubbed Cyclone’s nose with her own, before quickly disposing of the soiled nappy.

Laid on the seating pad, Cyclone smiled up at her lover and rubbed her nose in kind. “I'm your good filly!” she put an emphasis on the word ‘your’.

“Yes you are.” Bluefeather agreed, pouring out the rest of the bottle of wine into Cyclone’s glass, filling barely half of it as the other ponies in the bar, satisfied the spectacle was over, went back to what they were doing. “You can sit up and drink your wine now.”

Sitting up, Cyclone laid a wine-flavoured kiss on her lover’s lips. “Hmm, that feels better, thanks hun.”

“You're welcome, love.” Bluefeather smiled warmly, affectionately nuzzling her marefriend’s cheek. “You are my very special filly.”

While she was being nuzzled, Cyclone blushed. She blushed so hard she knew for a fact that Bluefeather could feel the heat coming from her cheeks. “And…you're my special mare,” she said quietly, while the older mare continued to nuzzle and snuggle her, only breaking occasionally to sip her beer. “I don't think it gets better than this, in a bar, with my mare, wine and snuggles.”

Bluefeather considered that, and decided, for the most part that she was right. “Maybe a nice home cooked meal, too?”
“Hmm, now, that does sound a little better.”

“But do I let you eat what I eat, or give you filly food?” Bluefeather asked playfully, “Hmmm…” she left that hanging in the air.

“Mmm, how about we have some nanna and foal time first, then when it's the filly's bedtime she grows up and you get the hoof cuffs out?” Cyclone countered with a proposal of her own.

“You can finish your wine first, since no foal would be drinking that, well, unless I watered it down first.” Bluefeather giggled, thinking the proposal over and finding it a good one, albeit with a little tweaking.

Cyclone, taking her glass in her hoof, let out a bright little giggle. “Ickle Cy knows it’s a big filly's drink, don’t worry.”

Lovingly, the older pegasus kissed her marefriend’s lips. Again, ponies looked, again, she didn’t care. “That is a sweet wine indeed.”

Returning the kiss, Cyclone paused long enough to drain her glass before laying on a longer, sexier kiss for the benefit of the ponies still watching them. “It's nice, right?”

“Too bad I didn't think to bring the stroller,” said Bluefeather, thinking of the adult sized stroller that she had left safely in the locker back on the train platform in Canterlot. Still, an idea came to her, for a fun way they could spend their late afternoon in the sun. “Would my little filly like to go to and play at the park?”

Immediately, and with very little persuasion, Cyclone got into her role, grinning and clapping her hooves together excitedly. “Yes pwease, nanna!”

“You wait here and be a good filly while I go pay the nice stallion.”

Cyclone, fully adjusted, sat proudly on her seating pad. “I be a good filly, nanna, you see!”

Frankie, behind the bar, held up his hooves when Bluefeather reached the bar to pay. Kindly, he passed her unused card back to her. “I'll cover the wine, as that was a good show, ma’am.”

Bluefeather however, insisted on paying for her ale, despite Frankie’s attempts to persuade her otherwise. “You're most welcome, sir, and this is a lovely bar.”

When the mid grey mare returned to their table, she was very pleased to see that Cyclone hadn’t moved. “I was good, nanna!” she beamed proudly.

“You are a very good filly.” Said Bluefeather, who was at that moment a proud nanna. “After the park, maybe we can have ice cream.” Making sure she had everything in her saddlebag, the changing supplies as well as the folded floral dress and a ‘surprise’ for the park, she bent her legs. “Climb on so you don't get lost, since I didn't bring the foal leash.”

Awkwardly, Cyclone clambered up on her nanna’s grey back. She was determined to behave, because she wanted her promised treat. “I wanna icy cweam!”

Using her wings to help keep Cyclone in place, Bluefeather casually strolled out of the bar, ignoring the tuts and the glances of what she deemed ‘ignorant asses’ and giving an appreciative nod to Frankie when he nodded to her. Outside on the street, in the warm pleasant sunlight, she looks around, realising then that of course she didn’t know where the nearest park was. She smiled, seeing how they could play a game. “If only I knew a smart filly that knows where the park is?”

“Ooh!” Cyclone squeaked, waving her hoof in the air, “ooh! Nanna, I is a smart filly! I is!”

“You are a smart filly.” Bluefeather smiled broadly, “Maybe we can play giddy up and you can turn nanna by gently pulling her mane?”

“Like this, nanna?” asked Cyclone demonstrably tugging gently on her nanna’s blue mane, pulling it to the left.

Nodding her head, Bluefeather turned in the direction that her mane was tugged, facing the left down the street. “So, little filly, off we go!” leaving Frankie’s Bar behind her, she set off at a gentle canter, in no hurry whatsoever as it was a fun game to play. She did take care to avoid the odd pony on the street though.

“Whoooo! Pony wide! Pony wide!” Cyclone whooped and cheered on her nanna’s back, the canter more than fast enough for the ‘little’ filly. She did take care to steer her though, first left then right onto different streets and finally onto a wide ornately decorated avenue. Bluefeather didn’t speed up or slow down, she just followed her filly’s directions. “We here nanna!” she squeaked, once they reached the end of the avenue.

Reaching the park, Bluefeather looked about to see how full it was on this Sunday afternoon. She noted there were a few parents and actual foals, though not very many. She put that down to the sports events on TV. After a moment’s deliberation, she trotted over to a gathering of adults sat on a couple of side by side benches. “Good afternoon,” she spoke up, getting their attention, “I want to make sure it is okay if my filly plays with your foals, please?”

The nearest stallion, a dark green middle aged pegasus, gave a frown. “Isn't she a bit old to be playing here?”

Expecting such a reaction, Bluefeather simply smiled, “Her body may be older but…” she tapped the side of her head with a hoof, “she plays nice and doesn't bite or hit. I'll be right here to watch her and you can watch us both at all times.”

A pale green mare sat next to the stallion – Bluefeather assumed she was his partner – giggled, “I don't see a problem with it, but you just make sure I'm not wrong,” she finished quite seriously.

Bending her legs, Bluefeather let Cyclone down easy on the grassy cloudstuff floor. “Remember Cy, share and play nice.” As she did so, she also pulled out some toys from her bag, a little bucket and spade, a plastic pony doll, and a small carriage. As a last surprise, she revealed that her Radiance plush was in her bag too, but she didn't offer that.

“Nanna...can you keep Rady comp-ny wiv you?” Cyclone asked, immersed in her role, she didn’t want her prized plush damaged, at all.

“I will,” her nanna nodded kindly, “we will watch you together from this bench.”

Leaning up, Cyclone quickly kissed her nanna’s cheek, “I be good nanna!” Taking the little bucket and spade, she toddled off to the nearby sand box.

“It is a lovely day today.” Bluefeather said as she sat down, opting to start conversation flowing with an easy opener.

The pale green mare nodded, more agreeable to a chat than her stallion. “Yes, then again it usually is a lovely day in Cloudsdale. Where are you from, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Bluefeather chuckled, “My accent didn't give me away? I’m from Cloudhatten.”

The dark green stallion nodded, finding his tongue now that the conversation had been started. “You hid the accent well, ma’am.”

In the sand box, a four year old lime green pegasus colt was happily building a sand castle with his own little bucker and spade. Cyclone, running up, slowed down as she got close. “Hi!” she squeaked in her best filly voice, “can I pway wiv you pwease?” she asked, minding her manners like her nanna had advised.

The colt looked up from his construction and gasped, “you big!”

On the bench, Bluefeather and the dark green stallion were both watching Cyclone and the colt. “Yours?” the weather manager asked, determined to keep the conversation light.

“Nephew.”

At the sand box, Cyclone smiled, “I is a big filly.” Very carefully, she sat on her padded rump, painfully aware of the scrutiny she was under not just from her nanna but from the other adults as well. While she was in her ‘foal persona’, she knew what she was doing. She made sure to keep a few visible feet between her and the colt. “You good at castles.”

The lime green colt nodded. “I buid tings, cassels and tings. I Haze.” He held out his little hoof for a bump.

Cyclone returned the hoof bump with a smile, making contact for the briefest of brief moments. “I Cyclone. I make castle too!” taking up her little shovel, she proceeded to fill the bucket, making sure to pack the sand in good and tight.

Seeing what she was doing, the little colt knew the dry top sand wouldn’t stand up. It had to be wet. Haze pointed to a nearby faucet. “Water makes cassel betta.”

The dark green stallion, starting to at last warm to the strange pair, as they didn’t seem dangerous in the least, spoke up. “So, ah, is this role play, then, that you two do?” his valiant attempt did earn him a smile of approval from his partner.

Bluefeather saw no reason to not open up a little, now that the stallion was talking, at least. “Yes, you see, she is far more comfortable in her own fur as a foal.”

“All the time?” asked the pale green mare curiously.

“No,” Bluefeather replied, with just a hint of ruefulness in her tone, “even she has to grow up now and again.”

Cyclone, at the sand box, looked over to the faucet, shielding her blue eyes from the pleasantly warm mid-afternoon sunlight with her wing as she did so. “It does. I go get water.” That decided, she emptied out the dry sand from her bucket and she got up to her hooves.

While she was gone getting the water, a pretty little sky blue filly with a pink bow in her mane came waddling over to the sand box. With as much tact as she possessed, she prodded the colt hard with her hoof. “Haze, who dat?” she asked, pointing to the large black mare at the faucet.

“Cycone.” replied Haze, moulding the sand into shape with his hooves.

“She big.” The filly passed her judgment, while Haze just nodded his agreement.

The third adult mare, a dark blue pegasus, that had until this point said nothing, spoke up. “My daughter, Weather Vane.” To which Bluefeather nodded. “She can be a hoof full, but she doesn't hit or bite either.” She concluded with a smile.

With the little bucket of water held securely by the handle in her mouth, Cyclone trotted back to sand box, only to pause when she saw the sky blue filly. “I-I gots water…” she looked like she had seen a ghost when she sat on the very edge of the box and poured out the water. “I-I um, I Cyclone,” she introduced herself to the newcomer.

“I Weada fane!” the filly held out her hoof for Cyclone to bump, “Haze is my fwiend.”

Cyclone nodded, tentatively bumping the filly’s hoof before pulling it back like she had been scalded. “Haze good wiv castles…” she said, but what she thought was, “Oh, dear sweet Luna above, she looks just like Cinabelle, she even has a mane bow!’ Shaking her head, she forced the unpleasant memories aside and she used her hooves to mix in the now wet sand with the dry.

Weather Vane, quickly getting bored of the sand box, got up and looked for something more fun. Fortunately she found it. “I slide now.”

“Bye!” Haze called out to his friend as Weather Vane trotted off to the slides.

“Bye!” Cyclone called, at the same time offering up a silent prayer of thanks to the mother of all the alicorns as she shovelled the wet sand into the bucket. Without a word, the lime green colt got and, once he had some water, returned with water. Once back, he dug a moat to put the water in. “Ooh clever!” Cyclone upended her bucket and released it to reveal a slightly crumbly castle. “Ta da!”

“Your filly seems nervous.” The pale green mare said to Bluefeather as she leant forward on the bench.

‘Yes, she does, doesn’t she?’ Bluefeather thought, her eyes never once leaving Cyclone as she played, carefully, in the sand box. She knew why her mare was as nervous as a dog faced with too many hydrants. “She knows I'm watching her and that I expect her best behaviour.”

Haze was impressed with Cyclone’s creation. “Good!”

“You like?” Cyclone asked, “I’mma put 'uva one there.” She pointed to a spot next to the first castle and she quickly filled the bucket again with the wet sand.

Haze nodded as he knocked down one of his walls. “Bigga!” he declared his intent, quickly rebuilding the structure, this time larger than before.

“Bigga is betta!” Cyclone agreed, upending her bucket. This time she made a much better castle. Using her hooves, she moulded a little wall around it from the sand while Haze dug sand out of the moat to shape the wall a good two hooves high. Noticing that the wall, and indeed Haze himself, was getting a little close to her, Cyclone stood quickly. “Haze I’mma go swing.”

Utterly unconcerned, Haze nodded, more bothered with constructing something to rival the Canterlot palace. “Bye Cycone!”

“Byeee!” Only too quickly, Cyclone gathered up the bucket and spade and, once they were cleaned under the nearby faucet, she trotted over to where Bluefeather was chatting with the adults as if they were old friends. “Nanna, I wanna swing. Pwush me pwease?”

Nodding, Bluefeather put away the bucket and spade before excusing herself from the other adults. “Okay Cy, let’s go swing, sweetie.” With that, she walked with her, leading her over to the swing set.

“Taaa nanna!” at the swings, Cyclone held up her hooves to her nanna, “Upsies!”

Smiling, the mid grey mare lifted her filly up and, with hooves and wing power, she started her swing into motion. “High?”

“High pwease nanna!” Cyclone squeaked and obligingly, Bluefeather pushed her higher and higher until she was roughly shoulder height off of the ground. “Whooo!” she squealed in delight, holding very tight onto the chains either side of the swing. “Yaaay nanna!”

After a few minutes off this, Bluefeather pushed Cyclone a little harder so that she was up to her wingspan height and the big filly, feeling particularly brave, cried, “higher nanna! Higher!” Smirking behind her, the older mare got her up to half the bar height. That was enough. “Ooh um...high 'nuff now!”

Bluefeather kept up her swinging, though she made sure to keep the height where Cyclone was most comfortable. “Yaaay better!” she whooped in glee as she swung.

Bluefeather giggled as she pushed her. “My brave little filly.”

“Your good bwave ickle filly!” Cyclone corrected her, happy to swing until, after a few minutes, she got bored. Looking around the park, she wondered what to do next. Seeing that Weather Vane had vacated the slide, she decided to play on that. “Nana! I wanna slide now, pwease!”

Carefully, Bluefeather slowed the swing down until it stopped. Once she was sure it was safe, she helped her filly out of the swing and onto the grassy cloudstuff floor of the park. A glance around told her that the slides were indeed vacant. Not that she was overly concerned about that per se, but it never hurt to be careful. “Can you climb up yourself?” she asked once they were stood by the steps.

Cyclone looked up at the five foot high slide and swallowed. “I-I's a big filly Nana...I can cwimb up…”

“I'll wait at the bottom then.”

“’Kay nanna!” Cyclone exclaimed, carefully climbing up and sliding down to her waiting caretaker. Expertly, the older pegasus caught her at the bottom, ready with a tender kiss to her forehead. “Ta for da catch nanna!” she leapt up, kissing her cheek. “I doin’ 'gain!” she declared, making Bluefeather laugh merrily as she let her go again.

“Catch!” As she sped down the slide, a little pee shot out of her and filled the nappy, but not enough for the eagle eyed Bluefeather to notice as she caught her filly again. “You is a good catch, nanna!”

Bluefeather laughed, “You are a fluffy catch!”

“I is...” Cyclone paused, suddenly she found that she was breathing a little hard. She hadn’t played this much in a long while. She made a mental note to work out more. Well, at all, really. “Um, can I pway wiv Rady now?”

“Of course you can,” Bluefeather replied with a very motherly smile, “but I want you to play in the grass and not in the sand, okay, sweetie?”

Cyclone was only too happy to oblige. “Yes nanna, Rady no like sand. She like her hoovsies clean!” When they had trotted back over to the bench, and Bluefeather had sat back down, she gave her filly her Radiance plush from her bag. The dark green stallion was still sat there while his nephew, Haze, was still happily playing in the sand.

“Taaa nanna!” Grateful of the rest, Cyclone sat on the grass close to the bench, immediately lost in her own imaginary world of play as she trotted her plush around the grass. Watching her antics out of the corner of his eye, the stallion snorted but, thanks to Bluefeather’s look she gave him, he elected to say nothing.

Cyclone flicked her ears towards the stallion, briefly showing her irritation, but this was quickly forgotten about as she played her little game. “Radiance!” she ducked her toy down, “Mane-ac is back! Power Pony up!” with that, she started 'fight' the imaginary villain, acting out the whole climactic scene from Power Ponies 2, Revenge of the Mane-iac, in her mind’s eye.

While he was keeping an eye on his nephew in the sand box, the dark green stallion did, every now and then, cast a glance at Cyclone as she played, in spite of himself he had a small smile on his face. Eventually, Cyclone concluded her epic battle. “Yaaay!” she cheered, “Mare-top-lis is safed!” As she stood up from the grass, the incontinent mare peed again, this time her pink nappy looked very full indeed.

Bluefeather, of course, noticed this development in an instant. “How are you doing, Cy?” she asked kindly, knowing now that her mare was unaware of what she had just done.

Only then, when she tried to waddle, did the jet black pegasus realise that she had urinated in her nappy. “Um…” she prodded the full squishy nappy, “I fink I had 'nuff pway now, nanna.”

Bluefeather nodded. She was thinking the same thing. “It is somepony's nap time, I think.” Leaning forward, she checked her mare’s nappy, though given how heavy it looked, this was somewhat unnecessary. “After a change.”

Almost as soon as her nanna said ‘nap’, Cyclone let out a tiny yawn. “Hmm, yes nanna...did I pway good?” she asked hopefully.

“You played very good, sweetie.” Bluefeather replied, setting out the changing mat in the grass near the bench. “Come here, my little filly.”

“I is here, nanna,” Cyclone huffed, walking distinctly more tricky now she had to waddle with a thick, heavy swollen nappy around her waist. Once she was there though, she rolled over onto her back, hind legs up in the air.

As she changed her filly, Bluefeather performed her usual professional job, while the dark green stallion looks over at what she was doing, he blushed hard and looked anywhere but at them. Once the mid grey mare had finished up, with the soiled nappy deposited in the trash can, she picked Cyclone up to her hooves. “Okay, hop up on my back and I'll give you a pony ride home.”

“Yaaay!” Cyclone squeaked in sheer delight and, with her nanna’s assistance, she clambered up onto the older pegasus’s back. “Pony wiiiiide! Hi ho nanna, away!”

Bluefeather did take a moment before leaving to show her appreciation to the dark green stallion, and his pale green partner, who had returned to the bench. “Thank you both, for being so understanding.”

“But for the grace of Celestia there go I,” he replied with a smile, nudged a little by his mate.

That done, and the pleasantries observed, Bluefeather trotted off, letting her filly pretend to steer as now she knew where she was going. After a few moments of quiet walking, with the park behind them and the two mares turned on to a different street, Bluefeather spoke up, voicing a thought that was in her head. “You were a little nervous around the real foals. Are you okay, Cyclone?”

Resting on her marefriend’s back, Cyclone grew up, sloughing off the foal persona that she wore so well and again becoming ‘herself’. She knew she had been watched, and she knew that Bluefeather would want to talk about it. She was fine with that, with everything. “Yeah, I'm fine…” she looked down, gathering her thoughts together. “It’s just, I dunno, that little filly looked just like Cinabelle, and I didn't want a repeat of history, y’know?”

Bluefeather did know. She understood and she was so proud of her marefriend. “You've learned a lot since then, and you're not under the influence of drugs anymore. Being careful is very important. Then again, that filly's mother was more worried she'd do something wrong.” She said supportively, before giggling brightly, “It isn't always going to be easy, but you're a better pony for what happened.”

“I know hun, and I've got an awesome nanna looking out for me as well.” Cyclone agreed, nestling into Bluefeather’s back, finding the short warm grey fur extremely comfortable and relaxing. “But, well, the thing is, you never know when stallions like Gossip Column will appear and ruin your day, so I played it safe.” She couldn’t help but think back to the weather expo in Las Pegasus, and the hack reporter that had ruined her.

Bluefeather mulled on that as she turned onto Feather Lane, leading back to Cyclone’s modest little house. “Tomorrow night we can go to the club again,” she offered, “It is a safer environment and I think you could use some escape time.”

On her back, Cyclone nodded quietly, “I'd like that…” she paused, letting out a yawn. Thanks to her lover’s body heat and rhythmic heartbeat, her eyes were drooping, no matter how hard she tried to fight it, she was falling asleep. “Hmm, I think I'll need, it after the viewing…” she trailed off, she really wasn’t looking forward to seeing Monsoon’s body.

“I was thinking the same,” Bluefeather agreed as she walked slowly along. She was in no hurry. “But, plans can change. You may want to spend some time with your dad, too.”

Again, Cyclone was almost asleep, still, she was able to think, for the moment, anyway. “No reason why we can't do both, I mean, we'll need to spend some time with him to talk over working and that.” She smiled a little smile, “we could always check out some of the other rooms?”

Bluefeather chuckled, “Do I have a frisky little foal on my hooves?”

“You do,” Cyclone fought through her fatigue and, kissing her marefriend’s ear, she added little nibbles along the leading edge.

“Maybe if you're a good pony and take your nap, I'll find something else for us to do after, hmm?” Bluefeather offered, casually flicking her ear out of her lover’s reach.

“I'm a very good pony,” Cyclone giggled, leaning forward just a little and licking Bluefeather’s grey ear, stopping just before she was told to stop. Still giggling, she yawned a longer, more pronounced yawn before she comfortably nestled her head into the older mare’s blue mane. In short order she was snoring away like the contented foal she was.

Once she had reached Cyclone’s house, Bluefeather wasted no time at all in taking her precious sleeping package up to the foal bedroom. “Waky waky so you can napy napy!” she giggled, playfully jiggling her marefriend awake.

“Huh!” Startled by Bluefeather’s jiggling shoulders, Cyclone jerked her head up, very suddenly awake. “I’m up! I'm 'wake!” Blinking, she wiped her drool away from the edge of her mouth with her hoof as the older mare gently helped her into the waiting crib. Immediately, as soon as her body hit the soft mattress, Cyclone curled up without any argument whatsoever. “Hmm...th-thanks, Blue…”

“I love you, Cyclone.” Bluefeather placed a soft, loving kiss on her marefriend’s forehead, smiling as she was already fast asleep once more. Happy that she was, for the moment, gone to Luna’s domain, Bluefeather busied herself with putting away the bucket and spade in the moving box, cleaning and ironing the wrinkled floral dress and restocking her supply bag.

That done, the mid grey pegasus found the closest thing to a trashy romance novel she could lay her hooves on, a Buffy novella that she assumed was based on one of the show’s episodes entitled “Lies Our Parents Told Us”, and she settled on a recliner in the foal bedroom to enjoy it and a mug of herbal tea, reading while Cyclone slept.

~ ~ ~

An hour into Cyclone’s nap, and Bluefeather, thanks to the novella, was feeling rather horny. She had re-read the part with the Vampony hoof-cuffed in Buffy’s basement several times over. Deciding some very adult fun was in order, the mid grey pegasus retrieved the set of cuffs from the adult spare room. Very carefully, at first anyway, she slipped the cuffs on her sleeping lover’s legs. When she realised she was out like a light, Bluefeather was more confident in clipping the cuffs together. That done, she returned to the novella.

One hour later, and Cyclone sat up sleepily in her crib, yawning a wide yawn as she tried to rub her sleep-filled blue eyes. Something however was wrong, but she didn’t know what. “Bl-Blue?” she asked groggily.

Bluefeather, no nearer to finding out what happened to Spike the Vampony beyond the fact that he was chained in the basement and being used as a sleeper agent by The First, looked up somewhat reluctantly. She actually wanted to find out what happened next. “Hey love, did you sleep well?”

“Huh?” Cyclone asked, still sleepy, she tried again to rub her eyes, wondering why on earth all four hooves were being raised up at once. “Ooh...oh!” she giggled as she at last recognised the cuffs holding her hooves together. “Yeah...it was sweet, I needed that, I think.”

Putting the book down, making a mental note to watch the episode she was reading about, Bluefeather moved over and dropped the side of the crib. “Is my wittle filly still so sleepy she can hardly move?” she asked with a playful smile.

Cyclone returned the smile with a tiny yawn and, rolling to her side, she tried to wriggle out of the crib. “How long was I gone for?” the jet black mare asked, realising that the sun was hanging very low in the sky by now, it must be at least the early evening, or late afternoon.

Seeing what she was trying to do, Bluefeather positioned herself in such a way as to stop her lover from leaving the crib. “A couple hours,” she answered, unsure of the exact time, thanks to the book. “Are you all growed up now?” asked the older mare hopefully.

“I am all grown up!” Cyclone replied, flexing her legs against the restricting hoof-cuffs and guessing, correctly, that Bluefeather had some fun in mind. Getting the answer she wanted, the mid grey pegasus decided to find out if it was true that a pegasus’s ears were stuffed with clouds. This had nothing to do with what she knew of Cyclone’s sensitive ears.

Much.

“Aaah! Haa haaa teehee! M-My eeears!” Cyclone squealed, flicking her ears as she wriggled and squirmed, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “Hahahahaaaaaa!”

With Cyclone’s hooves all bound together, Bluefeather only had to worry about her wings and, in the crib she knew she was pretty safe there. Somewhere between moaning and laughing, Cyclone was twitching and wriggling. “Mhmm...hahaaa!” smirking devilishly to herself, Bluefeather moved a hoof to see if her young mare was dry after her nap, but she didn't let up on her ears for a second.

“MmMmm...hahaaah!” Cyclone realised she was on the wrong end of a losing battle, she squeezed her hind legs together in her dry nappy, though her marehood was starting to leak as she started to become overwhelmed with the tickling sensations in her ears. “Bl-Bluuuuuueeeeeee! Teeheehee st-staaaaaaaaahp!”

Bluefeather noted, with intense dissatisfaction, her dry nappy and she whispered in her ear, “I'm going to tickle you till you pee.” With that said, and the threat issued, she added strategically roaming hooves to the tickle attack.

“Nooo...noohohoho!” Cyclone wailed, desperately flicking her ears and squirming like crazy in an attempt to fend off the the terrible attack. She was twitching so hard she couldn't speak for laughing.

Now and then, every few minutes or so, Bluefeather relented so that Cyclone could catch your breath. Still, she didn’t stop, she nibble / nuzzled her neck and face. After ten more minutes or so of Bluefeather’s ticklish assault on her body, Cyclone lost all reason and, with a loud barking laugh, there came a loud hissing noise as she peed in her nappy, moaning and laughing in equal measure.

“Victory is mine!” Bluefeather declared, pulling a pose before she giggled and deeply kissed her trembling and panting mare’s lips.

“Mmmph!” Cyclone opened her mouth to accept the kiss while her older lover’s hoof pressed into her now very squishy butt, she moaned into the kiss, shivering under the attention from Bluefeather’s hoof as it pushed the sodden nappy against her marehood.

Bluefeather quickly moved from the kiss to nibbling down Cyclone’s neck, not giving her addled senses time to catch up with the stimuli they were experiencing. It was all the younger pony could do to purr in sheer pleasure, “Hmm…oooh Bluuuue!” and leans her neck to the side.

“You are the tastiest of ponies,” said Bluefeather huskily as she worked her way down her lover’s chest towards her belly.

“Mmm...aaand y-you're th-the hmmm...sexiest…” Cyclone exhaled, moaning lustfully as her black wings started fluttering outwards from her body, a sure sign that she was getting more and more aroused. Noticing this – like it was hard to miss – Bluefeather trailed gentle nibbles and nips all over her chest on her way to her belly.

“Hmm, I should have thought this out.” Bluefeather said, thinking out loud as she gently moved Cyclone’s around to get to her belly. ‘Next time,’ she thought, ‘I’ll plan ahead…’

“Ooh...oooh Bluuue...y-you teeeease!”

Smirking to herself, Bluefeather moved down to lavish some attention on Cyclone’s teats. “Such a soggy bottom you have, sweetie.” All Cyclone could do was moan into a low whimper, her wings now standing semi erect as the older mare unfastened the sodden nappy from around her waist. “Who knew black fur was nice and absorbent though?” she asked playfully, laying a kiss on her lover’s pubic mound.

That pushed all of Cyclone’s buttons, almost literally. “Ooh Luna above! Pleeease lick me Blue, pleease!”

For a moment, Bluefeather stepped away from the crib. “Oh yes, I'll lick you, Cy!” she said with a giggle.

“Th-Thank you!” after begging, Cyclone gave her marefriend a very desperate look, a look full of want and need. Bluefeather only teased her for just a little longer. Reaching for something just out of Cyclone’s line of sight. She picked the ‘something’ up and pressed it to her puckered anal ring.

As it was slippery and lubricated from the wet nappy, Cyclone gasped as she felt the small and round something slide into her asshole. When she felt a little cord trailing from it out your tail hole she knew it had to be one of her vibrating eggs. “Ooooh!” she gasped, feeling the toy slide inside her as her muscular tunnel flexed.

Almost the moment it disappeared inside her slippery ass, Bluefeather turned it on, loving the delighted little squeals coming from the bound black pony in the crib. “Oh,” she thought, “We can't have that fall out though, can we?” smiling sweetly, she inserted the inflatable butt plug next and pumped it up. “There, that should keep it in!”

“Aah...ooh, ooh m-my goodness!” Cyclone twitched as the vibrating egg was pushed deeper into her anus, held tight against her muscular walls by the plug filling up her whole anal cavity.

“What do you know, I have a second one!” Bluefeather declared, giggling like an excited filly as she slid a second lubricated egg past her pussy lips and into her sopping wet tunnel before turning it on. “Do you think it will tickle my tongue, Cy?” she asked, though she didn’t wait for an answer to find out.

“AaaAH y-yeees!” Cyclone’s blue eyes rolled and she squeaked rather loudly, “yeeees it will!”

“Hmm, I’m having a hard time reaching it, I'll have to delve deeper.” With that said, Bluefeather took a deep breath and plunged, ‘full muzzle’ deep inside Cyclone’s dripping pussy.

Cyclone, already squirming, now squirmed really hard. She could feel her lover’s muzzle filling up her marehood. “AAAAH BLUUUE!” she screamed, especially when the older mare used her teeth to pull the egg to the opening by the cord before pushing it back in with her tongue, effectively bucking her with the egg.

That did it. It didn’t take more than several thrusts of the egg before Cyclone screamed, “B-BL-BLuuuUUUEE!” she shuddered as she came, and she came hard, flopping and squirming in the crib as juices squirted all over her marefriend’s face.

“Von, von orgasm Muwahahahahah!” Bluefeather laughed maniacally, continuing her sensual assault.

“GaaAAH...” Cyclone arched her back, her wings were now very, very stiff indeed. At her dripping crotch, Bluefeather tried to use her hoof to thrust the egg in and out, but the vibrations proved too much for her ticklish hooves. That quickly discovered, she went back to using her teeth. “Aahn...aahn...” Laid whimpering on her back, the quivering jet black pegasus writhed as another climax was quickly building within her core.

Determined, Bluefeather worked hard to push her over the edge again by turning the egg trapped in her that asshole up to its highest setting.

That worked.

“BUUuuuuUUUUCK! YEEEEEEEES” Cyclone’s moan became a scream, she flexed her hips hard as she came again, once more squirting and filling her lover’s mouth with her ejaculate.

“Two,” Bluefeather whispered, her voice barely audible. “That’s two orgasms.” She then turned both eggs down to low and she crawled up to lay by her panting marefriend’s side, laying with care over a stiff outstretched wing. “Are you having fun yet?”

Barely able to string two words together, Cyclone nodded her head. “Yu-Yuh huh…” with that, Bluefeather decided to work on the black wing underneath her. “Yeeeees!” she hissed with pleasure, not looking when the older pegasus produced a third vibrator, turned it onto its lowest setting and, with a wide grin, ran it along the wing bone. Suddenly very aware of the new toy, Cyclone let out a guttural, “UuuaaAAH!” as she went into spasm underneath her lover, her marehood leaking like a faucet left turned on.

Noticing the egg in said dripping pussy had almost slid out, Bluefeather reached back with a rear hoof to push it securely back inside. The effect was immediate, even on the low setting. “Guu...Guuuu...aAAAH!” Cyclone shook violently under her lover as she came for a third time, this time wetting her hind hoof in the process. With devious intentions, Bluefeather now moved the vibrator in amongst the primary feathers along with her lips and tongue.

Immediately, Cyclone’s blue eyes went as wide as saucers. ‘Oooh sweet Goddesses!’ she thought, but what left her mouth was, “OooOOOH!” After her fourth shuddering climax, Bluefeather crawled back down her side, making a low pass over her turquoise tail with a brief stop and then up her other side to take care of the other wing in the same way. “MmmMMM!” Cyclone moaned, ‘oh Luuuna I can’t take much more of this!’ “BluuuUUUE!” she squirmed and wriggled.

Bluefeather paused, dissatisfied. “Hmm, you’re still conscious, so I'm obviously not doing it right.”

“OOOooOOooOH!” Cyclone squealed, her vision going white for a second as she shuddered and quaked her way to her fifth orgasm, whimpering underneath her older marefriend, thanks in no small part to the vibrator buried in the primary feathers of her right wing. “O-One...one m-more...pl-please...”

“Of course, you know it’s two per wing, right?” asked Bluefeather rhetorically, her rear hoof continuing to idly stroke between Cyclone’s hind legs over the inflated butt plug and at the same time, keeping her from squirting the egg out.

Again, with all the stimuli, Cyclone arched her back, shaking as she screamed, “AAaaaAAAAH!” her breathing quickened, going shallow. “B-Buuuuuck...Bluuue...” she squirmed and trembled, shaking her way through her sixth violent orgasm as her head rolled towards her lover, her eyes half closed and drool leaking from her mouth.

Finally, at long last, after so long, Bluefeather took some pity on her twitching marefriend and she switched off all three vibrators. “You know, Cy, you are so cute when you drool like that.”

“Bl...Bl...” Cyclone couldn’t speak, she merely wondered how else she wanted her to drool as she slumped, drooling in the crib, unable to even say her marefriend’s name just yet.

Smiling, Bluefeather deflated the inflatable butt plug and, sliding it out, she removed the switched off eggs while her marefriend slowly recovered. As she did so, she chose to leave the cuffs on her legs, holding her hooves tightly together. Leaning down, she sensuously kissed and whispered in her black ear. “Well then, I guess it is time I really got started, don’t you think?”

After her six orgasms, wonderful though they were, Bluefeather gently carried her drooling wet mess of a marefriend through to the adult bedroom for some serious and much needed recovery snuggles. It was a good twenty minutes until the mid-grey pony deemed her young lover recovered enough to be able to answer her properly. For what she had in mind, this was absolutely necessary. “Cy,” she started gently, “have you ever been at the business end of Mr. Pointy?”

“Um...” Cyclone nodded, now that her breathing was under control and she wasn’t drooling everywhere like an idiot, it was easy to reply, “but not when he's been attached to another mare…” she admitted.

Laying beside her marefriend in the big spoon position, Bluefeather giggled. “I can say with experience that you don't know what you are missing out on.”

Cyclone smiled, very grateful that her ears were, for the moment at least, being left alone. “You did sound like you were having fun with him.”

“Yes, and I want to repeat that, and I'm okay if you want to do the mounting.”

Cyclone did want to do that, but then, another more sexy idea occurred to her. “We could, or...you could um, you could mount me, sexy.”

Bluefeather smiled kindly, though she inherently sensed the hesitation in Cyclone’s voice. “I believe I would like that, my love.”

Shivering involuntarily, Cyclone smiled as well. “Um, me too, Blue.”

This lead Bluefeather to a rather awkward question, one there was no real tactful way of asking, but one that needed to be asked, regardless. “Have you been aaah, I mean to say, um…well, ah, have you ever been…”

Cyclone couldn’t help but smile, in spite of her sudden nervousness, “mounted before, you mean?”

Now it was Bluefeather’s turn to blush slightly as she nodded. “There really is no easy way to ask that.”

Cyclone understood, but she was still grateful her marefriend had asked. “Well, technically no.” she rolled over on the bed to face the older pony, whom she kissed affectionately on the tip of her nose. “I've ridden Mr. Pointy before, it’s not like I'm a virgin, or anything.”

Bluefeather was more than happy to return the kiss, but she kissed Cyclone’s lips, instead of her nose. “Thank you then, for letting me have this.”

The jet black pegasus kissed Bluefeather’s lips now, holding her tight in a hug. “We'll always have this, my love.” At that, Bluefeather increased her tight snuggles, while Cyclone took the opportunity to kiss her again, because why not, given the chance? “You…Blue, you'll always be my first.”

“Wouldn't that be a disservice to the racing mare?”

“I meant the first to mount me, rather than the other way around.”

Blushing once more, Bluefeather understood what she meant, though she skilfully covered her blush with a doubling of the snuggles and the kisses. “So, my frisky mare, are you ready for round two?”

Cyclone looked blank for the briefest of seconds. Then realisation hit her like the hoof of an angry alicorn. “You mean all that before was just round one?”

“You don't think you got a full round?”

“Oh no...” she laid another kiss on Bluefeather, this time on her cheek. “I'm saying, I can't wait for round three!” Hearing that, the older pony utterly failed to hide her smile. “You have a beautiful smile, love.”

“Thank you!” Bluefeather was still smiling the beautiful smile. “You know, complements will get you everywhere.”

“Will they get me return trips in case I get everywhere?”

“To get everywhere, you have to return to the beginning.” said Bluefeather who, as she was in no hurry whatsoever, continued to snuggle her young marefriend. She was very pleased to discover, as she was snuggling, that Cyclone was also in no hurry. “Seems you have your breathing back under control,” she said, after a further ten minutes of solid quality snuggling.

“I does,” Cyclone agreed, “snuggles go a long way towards that.”

Smiling, deciding it was about time to start ‘round two’, Bluefeather reached down and very gently, she caressed her lover’s marehood with her hoof. “It seems you're still a bit moist though. Maybe a bit of friction will help you with that?”

“Yes!” Cyclone nodded enthusiastically, “Yes I think it will!”

“Maybe I could get you to help me with Mr. Pointy then?” Bluefeather asked, reaching over to the night stand and retrieving the large strap on, almost as if she had placed it there ahead of time in anticipation of just such an event.

Eagerly, Cyclone grinned. “I'd love to, sweetness.” Cyclone rolled onto her back while Bluefeather stood up on the bed, her butt near the black pony’s face as she stepped into the straps. “Hmm...such a cute ass!” she said appreciatively of the grey hindquarters and the blue tail as she used her hooves to slide the straps up her shapely hind legs.

“Cyclone!” Bluefeather exclaimed in mock outrage, “I'll have you know I am a pony!”

Cyclone blinked once then twice before she got it. “Oh, ha, ha.” She giggled at the ‘ass’ comment and the joke as a whole as she tightened the straps and admired her lover’s hole. “And a sexy one, too, at that.”

“You may continue to lavish praise on my butt.” Not that Bluefeather was vain, but if somepony was going to worship her ass, she wasn’t about to stop them.

“This beautiful,” she placed a kiss up high on Bluefeather’s inner thigh. “Sexy,” she put another kiss on the other inner thigh. She wasn’t quite done worshipping this specimen of an ass before her. “Perfect,” she now kissed the dock, just under her blue tail. “Butt?”

“Well, yes.” Bluefeather replied, lifting her tail up high to further show off her ass. “It would be a little narcissistic to praise your own butt, after all.”

“Yeah,” Cyclone agreed, though at that point, with her lover’s puckered ring right in her face, she may have agreed to anything, “But this butt is worth the praise.” As Bluefeather giggled and wiggled at that, Mr. Pointy bounced on her belly. “Mmm...” leaning forwards just slightly, she passionately kissed her marefried’s asshole, making out with it like she would kiss her lips while at the same time using her hooves to massage her six raindrop cutie marks.

Bluefeather let out a very contented purr, how could she not, Cyclone’s lips were most talented on her muscular sphincter. “Careful, I might just forget what I was doing…”

Giggling, Cyclone gently parted Bluefeather’s ass cheeks and, spreading her hole just a little, she licked all around her ring and she slid her hot wet tongue deep inside, swirling it around her anal cavity for a few seconds before pulling out. “Hmm, right there.”

Over the course of her life, Bluefeather’s partners had of course been ‘attentive’ to her behind, but Cyclone was on a whole other level. Not that she was complaining. The feeling of her tongue plundering her colon was most heavenly. But… “Are you hinting where you'd like Mr. Pointy to go?”

Her hint received and understood, Cyclone lay back on the bed and she smiled up at her lover with half lidded eyes. “Hmhmm, yes please, Blue.” If she was going to be mounted for the first time, she wanted it ‘there’.

Turning around, Bluefeather scooped up the lube in a wing. “Since you asked so nicely, I just might be able to help you out there.” Cyclone’s smile widened as she lifted up her hind legs and Bluefeather squirted a more than generous amount of the lube on her tongue and applied it liberally to her lover’s tail hole in a slow and through method.

“Mmm...” Cyclone moaned, not for the first time that evening she squirmed and wriggled, especially when the older pony used her hoof to help spread the lube all around her butt hole.

As Cyclone wriggled on the end of her hoof, Bluefeather loved the way the hard edge of her toe opened her hole up. She may not have been mounted before, but it was obvious, as she moved her hoof to the dildo to smear an amount of lube along its impressive length, that she had regularly had toys up there. “Ready love?”

‘As I’ll ever be…’ Cyclone thought, nodding up at her marefriend. “I-I'm ready babe…” with that, Bluefeather crawled up her body until she bumped hips and ass together.

With the bump, Cyclone bit her lip. As she shivered slightly, she tensed up. She couldn’t help it. As she glanced down to make sure she was positioned correctly, Bluefeather noticed her sphincter was clenched tight, preventing her from just easing forwards. “Relax for me please, love.”

Cyclone looked up at the mid grey mare, in position and ready, and she let out a breath she didn’t realise she was holding in. “I-I’m s-sorry…”

“Don't be sorry,” Bluefeather cooed gently, soothingly, the very tip of Mr. Pointy resting at the entrance to the young mare’s rectum, “just relax for me sweetheart,” she said, again in that soothingly gentle tone as she applied a teeny amount of pressure and pushed against the muscular ring. Cyclone, remembering to breathe, did do deep and evenly, relaxing her muscles. This allowed Bluefeather, with little trouble, to push the flared head of the toy inside her wanting hole. “There you go love, are you doing okay?”

“Aaahn...” Cyclone hissed with the entry, but she smiled too. “Y-Yeeeah, I'm okay,” the moment she heard that, Bluefeather thrust her hips forwards a little harder, impaling the whole length of the strap on inside her young lover’s asshole until the medial ring bumped and she nibbled playfully on her chest fur. “Aaah...oooh that feels...wow!”

Bluefeather couldn’t help but chuckle at the lack of articulation. It was understandable. She was amazing after all. “Tight, yes, you’re nice and tight, Cy!” smiling, she pulled back a bit and pushed forward to force the larger circumference of the ring inside as well, which it did with a satisfying ‘pop’ sound. “Ohhh that felt good!”

“Ooow!” Cyclone gasped, her eyes going wide as the ring slipped inside her asshole, widening it even further, sharp pain for the briefest of moments overwhelming the pleasure. “AAAH...d-damn that's good!” she moaned, arching her back upwards slightly.

In a patented distraction method, Bluefeather nibbled her way up to Cyclone’s neck, adding licks and kisses. “Take it, take it all!”

Cyclone squirmed as her neck was bitten. “Mmmm, gi-give it to me, please!”

“Give?” Bluefeather giggled, “You're going to take it!” with that, she thrust her hips hard, pushing Mr. Pointy in all the way until her crotch hit her lover’s spread open ass. At the same time, she slid her tongue deep in Cyclone’s mouth before she pulled away. “You’ll take it both ends!”

“Hmm...MMmmMM!” Cyclone kissed back, ‘I-I'll take it!’ smirking, Bluefeather released the the kiss she had held for a few seconds, only to slide out as far as the medial ring and then ram herself back inside, licking her black nose as she did so. Pulling out again and thrusting back inside, she found her rhythm as she licked her way up the side of her jaw to her sensitive ears. “AAH sweeet Luuuna!” Cyclone screamed, bracing her hind legs against the mounting mare’s chest to push back against the deep thrusts, “Ooooooh yeeees!”

Quickly, like her good friend Tempest, Bluefeather lost herself to the rutting, nipping harder at the base of Cyclone’s left ear when she thrust forwards. “AAAaaAAH Bluuuue!” she writhed under her older lover, she herself lost in utter bliss. “Haaarder! D-Do me haaaaaaarder!”

Bluefeather didn’t really hear. The part of the toy wedged inside her was driving her crazy with lust. She began to snort as she pulled further out, all the way to the medial ring and then, over and over again, she rammed her way home. Focused on reaching her ears, she licked the edge. “OOOH...OooOOOH!”

Sensing that her young mare was nearing her climax, Bluefeather’s thrusts became shorter and faster as she now deeply tongued the inside of her ear. That was all it took. “AAaaaAAAaaaaAAH!” she screamed her loudest scream yet of the evening, arching her back as she came for the seventh time.

“EEEAAaaaARRRS! OoooOOOOOH BUUUUUUCK!” Bluefeather felt Cyclone’s body shiver underneath her and she stopped as deep in as she could manage and she made an all-out assault on her ears. “GAAaaaAAH…” Cyclone started drooling and her brain stopped working, refusing to function as she came again just from her ears being tongued.

Quietly reaching her own climax, Bluefeather relaxed on top of her shuddering marefriend, amazed at how ‘gone’ she was just from the attention to her ears. “Next time, my pretty mare, I'm going to fill your other hole.” Promise made, and still hilted inside her, she moved down to kiss her lips.

It was fifteen long minutes before Cyclone was alert enough to return the kiss. “Ro-Round th-three?” she gasped, barely able to think, let alone speak.

“Round three, but not tonight. I don't feel like moving. You comfy still?”

“Comfy.”

“So am I.” Bluefeather, still deep in her lover’s ass, wiggled as it just felt so damn good.

“MmmMM! N-Not moving!” Cyclone doubted whether or not she could move, even if she wanted to, which she didn’t.

On top of her marefriend, Bluefeather was happy to snuggle, at least until she felt her hind legs go numb. At last, she was ready to get Mr. Pointy out of herself. Slowly, she pulled out of Cyclone’s ass, drawing back until first the ring slid out and then she took her time getting the flare out. “My,” she commented, looking down at her lover’s gaping open ass, “what a messy pony!” smiling, she gave her a long, loving lick down between her legs.

“OooOOH!” Cyclone gasped, both from the licking and from the feeling of air hitting her gaping butthole. Idly, she wondered if it was like an open tunnel back there, “th-that's me...messy!”

Spinning around, so that her butt was again hanging over Cyclone’s face while all the time licking her, she said, “Unstrap me please.”

Once Mr. Pointy was out of her and she was out of the harness – this simple manoeuvre took a while, what with Cyclone’s shaking hooves – Bluefeather placed her forehooves under Cyclone’s butt cheeks, rolling her up so she could keep licking. At the same time, she lowered her breasts to the jet black mare’s mouth. “In case you're hungry.” Immediately, she began to suck on the nipple of her left breast adding a gentle massage to her flanks.

Pausing for a moment, Bluefeather admired Cyclone’s impressive ass gape. A tiny part of her felt guilty that she had done that, as it was only just starting to slowly close up, but another part of her was proud that she had done that, for the same reasons. “You're going to need a nappy after that, aren't you?”

“Um...yeah, best be safe, Blue.” Cyclone answered, pulling off the nipple long enough to reply. She knew, being incontinent, that she would need a nappy regardless of what they had just done together, but even more so now. Bluefeather simply giggled, and Cyclone went back to sucking on the nipple, one hoof resting on her cutie mark, the other under her blue tail.

“Aisle Mare is clean,” Bluefeather reported moments later, “repeat, Aisle Mare is clean!”

Cyclone chuckled, “Yes for now, but there might be a spillage later.”

“Full yet?”

“Yes love, I’m all full up.”

At long last, Bluefeather moved off of her young lover and, before such a spillage could occur, she retrieved a fresh nappy from the night stand by the bed. After applying a generous amount of talcum powder to her still open ass, she made sure the nappy was strapped tightly and snugly around her waist. “Are you sleeping with me tonight, or do you want to go back in the crib?”

“Um...” Cyclone had a sudden flash of thought, said thought regarding her mother, Monsoon, and what had happened to her. “Can I stay in the crib for tonight, Blue?”

“Of course you can, my love.” Bluefeather’s smile took on a very maternal aspect as she recognised the look of worry on her marefriend’s face. “You want a snack first or are you ready for a bedtime story?”

Cyclone let out a yawn, exhausted from all the intimate activity of the last Celestia-knew how long. “Bedtime story, please.”

“How about 'Thomas and the Naughty Diesel'?”

Cyclone smiled, once more becoming the foal she needed to be right now, just to get through the night and day. “Oooh nanna I likes that one!” Once she had been carried back to the crib, and once she was all tucked in as snug as a bug in a rug, Bluefeather took the book from the shelf.

She began to read about Diesel, who was a mean engine, but then who tried to be a good engine, but how no one believed him. Bluefeather read about how Diesel recued Thomas when the tank engine got himself stuck in the mud, and about how the others then believed that Diesel could be good.

In the crib, Cyclone yawned and rolled over to face her nanna, her blue eyes closing as sleep took her. “N-Night night, nan…na,” she murmured and, by the time Bluefeather read the last line of the story, the jet black mare was sound asleep. Smiling, the older pegasus gave her a tender, loving kiss to the forehead. Making sure the night light was on, she left the bedroom in search of a late night drink before she too went to bed.

Chapter 8 - Monsoon

Bluefeather was awake at seven the next morning, as was her routine. It was only after she was awake and sat up on the bed in Cyclone’s spare room that she realised that she wasn’t in her house, she wasn’t in Cloudhatten and she didn’t have to go to work. With those realisations, as she got out of bed and cleaned herself and Mr. Pointy, came the sobering thought that today was the viewing of Cyclone’s mother.

One rather cold and uncomfortable shower later – she also then realised that the water in Cyclone’s cloud house was not heated – she laundered the clothes they had worn the day before and she went on to make breakfast for herself. As she knew today was going to be a tough one, she decided to start it off right. One large bowl of muesli later, and she started to prepare her marefriend’s breakfast.

Seeing as today was going to be hard, on them all, she made her mind up that Cyclone was getting mango mash. When she looked at the clock and saw that it was already ten minutes to ten, Bluefeather decided that her partner had slept long enough. Any longer would be a waste of the day, and they had a lot to get through today. They wouldn’t do that if Cyclone was in bed. Trotting up the stairs into the foal bedroom she approached the crib, where the jet black pegasus was sleeping, snoring away with a contented smile on her face and a full nappy around her behind.

Smiling, the mid grey mare tip-hooved across the bedroom floor, she smiled for she knew she didn’t need to be delicate, Cyclone was out like a light, even with a very, very smelly behind. Nappy check complete, she gathered together what she needed to change her lover and lowered the crib side down. “Rise and shine, little Cy. Time to get up.”

Very slowly, Cyclone cracked open her blue eyes, yawning as she gradually woke up. “Aww...” she murmured, sunlight steaming through her window and hitting her face. She wanted to go back to sleep, but a second later she breathed through her nose and smelled herself. That did it. “I-I was driving Thomas...”

Bluefeather smiled, kneeling by the crib. She wasn’t put off by the smell of the small sewage plant coming from her lover’s nappy in the slightest. “Did you go far, sweetie?”

“We went all around Sodor,” Cyclone explained, recalling her dream where she had been driving the tank engine along the tracks. “You and the Power Ponies were in the carriages.”

“Well, you are a very important engineer so they would only ride on your train.”

Cyclone smiled at that, especially as more of her dream came back to her. “You were in the best carriage though.”

But of course she was in the best carriage, why wouldn’t she be? “Yes, the one with the champagne and artichoke hearts. I expect no less.”

Realising she couldn’t put off the inevitable any more, and that there was absolutely zero chance of getting back to sleep, Cyclone slid out of the crib and laid down on the bedroom floor. “You know it, Blue.” she said, only just then remembering what she had to do today. Her smile faltered.

Bluefeather, quickly and professionally taking care of the much-needed nappy change, noticed the change in her lover’s demeanour. She knew what was behind it, she understood and she sympathised. Deep down, she was curious as to why Monsoon had left Cyclone when she had been just six years old, but she knew enough not to push. “I've had breakfast, but I have your favourite breakfast waiting for you downstairs.”

That went a long way to cheering her up. “Mango mash?” asked Cyclone, not daring to believe it, “in a Radiance bowl?” she clapped her hooves together hopefully.

“Did you sneak and peek in on me when I was making breakfast?” asked Bluefeather by way of reply, her own smile widening along with Cyclone’s own.

Earnestly, Cyclone shook her head. “No, honest,” she smiled, “I just guessed you'd pick the bestest Power Pony, that’s all.”

Chuckling, Bluefeather helped her young lover up to her four hooves. “Well, it seems you and Radiance are very close friends.” She affectionately nuzzled her marefriend’s cheek. “I didn't think the other very unused looking bowls would do.”

On her hooves, Cyclone wriggled her cleaned ass in her fresh clean nappy. “To be honest, they're just there to complete the set.”

“And here I thought they were Radiance's cheerleaders!” Bluefeather let out a little giggle, playfully she swatted her mare’s nappy covered flank. “Out you go, and to the high chair for breakfast with you.” Her giggle only intensified when Cyclone hopped up to kiss her nose and, needing no further encouragement, she scooted down the stairs and through the living room, over to the high chair in the kitchen. Bluefeather followed at a far more sedate pace, ready to do the feeding, unless of course, she claimed to be a big filly.

In the kitchen, Cyclone fluttered her wings and hovered, albeit clumsily, into the high chair and looked at the bowl of steaming hot mango mash. “Um, can you do it, nanna?”

“Do what?” asked Bluefeather, at last appearing in the kitchen.

“Can you feed me...um, pwease?”

“Of course I will.”

“Taaaa nanna!” Cyclone squeaked, opening her mouth wide and banging her hooves on the high chair’s table. It wasn’t that she couldn’t feed herself, it wasn’t that she wasn’t a big filly, she just wanted to hang onto her persona for a little bit longer.

As Bluefeather performed some dodgy manoeuvres with the spoon before it arrived in her mouth, the hope was that the longer she was a filly, the longer it would be before she had to view her mother’s body, because viewing would make it real. And when it was real, Cyclone wouldn’t be able to pretend her mother was still alive.

“Who's the hungry little filly?” Bluefeather asked playfully as she sent the airship full of mash into the hanger of Cyclone’s mouth. A second spoonful followed the first, the black pony sucking this one clean like the first.

“I’mma hungwy filly!” Cyclone squeaked, lunging forwards for the loaded spoon. As it turned out it was a near miss, most of the mango mash found its way into her mouth but some spattered onto her chin. As ever, Bluefeather was quick with a napkin held in her wing to wipe her foal’s mouth. “I gots it!” Cyclone giggled playfully while her nanna continued to make a game of feeding her with the napkin ever ready.

Cyclone was only too eager to play along, eating her mash like the big filly she was. She really did not want to grow up today. Not today. “We's good at dis!”

Bluefeather smiled a very motherly smile as they finished off the bowl of mash together. “You are a super smart pony!”

“I is a smart filly!” playfully, Cyclone booped her nanna’s nose with her hoof, giggling brightly, wishing as she did so that this game could last forever. “And you's a clever nanna!”

Almost like she had a sixth sense, Bluefeather knew what Cyclone was trying to do. Sadly, she also knew she couldn’t let it continue. Diversion was one thing, avoidance was quite another. One she could allow, the other she couldn’t countenance. Very gently, Bluefeather nuzzled the black mare’s cheek. “Cyclone, the movers will be here soon.”

“Ugh...” Cyclone grunted as her marefriend whispered in her ear. It wasn’t a sexy times whisper either. “I guess I gotta 'adult'.” She smiled sadly, knowing she couldn’t hold back the turn of the day any more than she could hold back the tides. “Fine, I can do that.”

“No, you don't,” Bluefeather affectionately kissed Cyclone’s lips, “but then I have to make sure my foal doesn't get in the way.”

“Naaah, it's cool, I'll grow up.” Cyclone was enough of a grown mare to realise she couldn’t outrun life, no matter how hard she tried, and she’d tried pretty damn hard. As a reward for her decision, Bluefeather kissed her once more on the mouth, this one she let linger. “Hmmm…” Cyclone almost as a reflex had her hooves in her marefriend’s blue mane.

To complete the move to adult form, Bluefeather got Cyclone all cleaned up and, once the dishes had been washed, she lifted her out of the high chair. “Do you want to wear a sundress or go without a nappy?” asked the mid grey mare, “Or there is the third option. The movers can just deal with it.”

“Or I can just wear a nappy around the house, like you said they can deal with it.” Cyclone responded with a casual shrug of her shoulders. If she was honest, she didn’t give a single buck what the movers thought about her or her house. At the best of times she wouldn’t have cared, today she really didn’t care.

Approvingly, Bluefeather nodded, admiring as she did so the pink nappy on Cyclone’s hindquarters. “I sort of like that option. Let me get the laundry out of the dryer and we’ll check the four boxes are all packed with everything you want to take back.” she said, moving automatically to empty the dryer.

“Coolness.” Cyclone commented and, once she had rolled onto her hooves, she stood up and gave the four large boxes currently occupying the battered pink playpen in her living room a once over. “Do you want an ice tea making after we've done that, sexy?”

“That would be nice, thank you.” Bluefeather called from the dryer in the kitchen.

As she carefully inspected the boxes to make sure she hadn’t left anything important, like a figurine or a comic book, Cyclone did notice that Bluefeather had also cleaned up the living room as well as everything from the night before. Most likely while she had slept. “Thanks, for cleaning up, babes.”

“It's my thing,” Bluefeather replied casually, “and I don't see that changing anytime soon.”

“That's cool,” commented Cyclone, ferreting a couple of errant comics from underneath the couch that had seen better days and adding them to one of the boxes. Other than that, she was happy all her precious figures were safely packed. “One of us has to be the sensible adult in this relationship.”

“True, but don't think I'll not have you doing chores if you're a messy filly.”

Cyclone rubbed her forelegs together, feeling a teeny bit like she was being judged. “I'm not ~suuuper~ messy…”

“Didn’t say you were, just that you might. After all,” Bluefeather said as she folded the freshly laundered clothes, “regardless of what you said, this place was in good shape when we arrived.” ‘Shame the same can’t be said for the rest of the street,’ she thought, thinking of the two derelict cloud houses as well as those three that had actually crumbled to ruins.

Cyclone smiled as she went to prepare the ice tea. “The reason this place isn’t so bad is because I do my own repairs,” she waved her hoof to the kitchen ceiling, indicating said repairs. “Plus, I thought I'd over-exaggerate the mess, in case it was messier than I remembered. Besides which,” she said as she got the cups and the kettle boiled, “these lower rent suburbs really are prone to cloud quakes. The architects don't maintain them as much as the upmarket areas.”

Bluefeather cast a quick glance about, and her sharp eyes picked upon the repaired sections of the walls, “I'm sure you'll get used to a stable cloud home, in time.”

As she poured the tea, Cyclone giggled at the very thought of that. “Wow...imagine one that doesn't shake at least twice every week,” she was being absolutely serious as she set Bluefeather’s tea and her coffee on a tray and carried it through to the living room coffee table. After so long, she didn’t know how she’d manage in a non-quaking house.

Bluefeather laughed as she sat on the less threadbare part of the couch. “I'll just shake your crib twice a week for your comfort.”

Cyclone laughed along with her older marefriend as she too sat down, once the tray had been set down. “Why, thank you, love.” She then snuggled up to her on the couch. “I think you've earned that tea.”

“I'll drink to that.” Bluefeather agreed, wrapping her wing around her lover’s shoulder.

“For the awesomely applied distraction job you've done over the past couple of days.”

Bluefeather tensed a teeny bit at that, having been openly called out on her tactics. “I love you, Cyclone, a lot, and I hope you don't think I'm being manipulative, but I don't want to see you spiral down the well.”

“Not at all, sexy.” Cyclone squeezed Bluefeather’s barrel. She wasn’t that oblivious that she couldn’t see that she had been manipulated a tiny bit, probably a big bit, but she didn’t mind that much. “I'd have been a complete mess without you.” She knew the truth of herself, then, a thought occurred to her. “Hey, you wanna see an old photo real quick?”

“Old, is it a foal picture of you?” Bluefeather asked, her ears perking up as her interest was piqued. “That I'd truly love to see.”

“Oh, you'll see.” Getting out of her lover’s embrace, an act that allowed the older mare to sip her tea, Cyclone scooted up and dived head first into the box that was for paperwork and, after a second of searching, she pulled out an old photo album. “Here we go!”

Though she was very curious indeed, Bluefeather had to fight the urge to rip the album from Cyclone’s hooves. She instead allowed the young pony to hold the album so that she could look at the pictures as she opened it and turned the pages. “Aah...” she pointed to an old picture of a young black pegasus. “That’s me aged like, when I was two or something…here,” she found another, a little older, “still looking super cute....and oh!” she turned the page, where there was a picture of an old kitchen area and a three year old Cyclone covered in mud with hoof prints all over the table, lino and the fridge.

Bluefeather studied the picture closely, particularly noting the proud happy look on the little filly’s face, sat as she was on the mud covered table. “Such a messy filly you are.”

With a wry smile, Cyclone noted the use of ‘are’ rather than ‘were’, “Well, guilty as charged, I guess.” She grinned, turning a couple more pages of the photo album. “Oooh! Here's one of mom and dad and me, look!” she pointed out a picture of herself, looking about five, standing in front of and between a brown unicorn mare and a pegasus stallion as black as Cyclone was. “That was a holiday, um…Las Pegasus, or was it Horseshoe Bay? I can’t remember.” Listening, observant, Bluefeather paid very careful attention to the inflection of Cyclone’s voice as she continued to describe the picture. She noted straightaway she was a little sad, a little melancholy. “Oh! I remember, we went to the crystal empire...I think I was four, maybe five? Something like that.”

Bluefeather looked hard at the picture, particularly Monsoon. She had to admit the brown unicorn was very, very attractive. “She was a beautiful mare,” she commented eventually, once she had committed the picture to memory. “Just like her daughter. She could have been a model too, I think.” She kissed Cyclone’s cheek. “Just like you plan to be.”

Cyclone found she was stroking the picture, almost caressing it. “She was pretty, right?” the question was a rhetorical one. Monsoon was a very, very beautiful unicorn, graceful and elegant. “I don't know if she ever worked for dad, he never mentioned her after the split.”

“Sometimes you need to put things behind you that keep the old wounds open.” Bluefeather commented, trying to guess what the pretty smiling mare was thinking when the picture was taken. “If it is of any interest to you, I have photo albums of all the foals I've cared for. You may find a familiar face in my newest album.”

“That I'd love to see, hun.” Cyclone smiled, though she didn’t look away from the picture of her mother and father, it was a way happier time. She frowned, just a little. “I got my fear of heights there too, so thanks mom, for that present.”

Bluefeather gave her a sceptical look. “A ground based unicorn gave you a fear for heights?”

‘An understandable question,’ Cyclone thought, and she took a deep breath before she spoke next. “We had a top floor hotel apartment. Penthouse. Dad never settled for less than the best. Mom and I were playing a game.” If Cyclone’s voice was sad before, it was heart-breaking now. “She’d levitate me, so I was ‘flying’. I was never a strong flyer, and I loved that game. Anyway, she was levitating me around the room and somehow, I went out of the window. I was outside, on the thirtieth floor or whatever it was, just when she lost control of the spell and I fell. It was super high up and I panicked. I forgot I had wings. I fell like a brick.”

All through the explanation, Bluefeather had remained silent, just offering a hug as and when required. Now, when Cyclone went quiet, she raised an eyebrow. “And, you're here with me today because?” Not that she wasn’t glad she was here, she was just curious.

“Tropical Storm.” Cyclone responded sombrely, “My dad flew out of the apartment window and caught me, like ten feet away from being a smear and a memory.”

Bluefeather nodded, this at least explained why she didn’t like going up higher than ten feet. Under the circumstances, she doubted she’d be the same, had she been the one to fall almost three hundred feet. “Did you have to listen to them argue over it after that?” she asked kindly, though she already kind of knew the answer.

“How did you guess?” Cyclone nodded, laughing mirthlessly. “I heard them, for days and days and days.”

“Adults do that, and they forget who is listening.”

Cyclone let out a very loud sniff, blinking back the hot wet tears that suddenly welled in her eyes. “Mom never wanted to play with me again, after that.”

“Did you always wonder why then,” Bluefeather asked gently as she hugged her lover tightly to her, “or did you figure it out early?”

“I kinda figured it out, though I stopped asking after a while.” Cyclone wiped her wet eyes and Bluefeather gestured at the album for her to continue, probably hoping that there would be happier memories to come. Thankfully, there were. “Oooh!” she gasped, turning the few pages to a picture of the 'gang' as she called them; Dusk, Brightstar, Darkstar, Wildfire and herself, all dressed in Las Pegasus casino clothes. Standing in pride of place in the middle, next to her, was Darkstar in a 'Lola' dress and feather boa. “This was when we were all eighteen, we ended up in Las Pegasus for a week.”

“That sounds like an adventure…” Bluefeather commented, thinking out loud, A whole week.” Then, she noticed something that didn’t seem quite ‘right’ about the photograph. Dusk and Brightstar were wearing waiter’s vests, Wildfire a waitress dress and Cyclone a cooks outfit. “But, those look like uniforms, yes?”

“Oh, yeah,” Cyclone laughed. They were all in uniform, except for Darkstar, in her dress. “You'll notice no nappy on me, either. We had to work for the money to get train tickets home...or so we thought, anyway.”

Now, the innate gossip that lived inside Bluefeather reared its head, sensing a story. “Did you gamble all of your bits away?”

Snickering, Cyclone shook her head. “No, what happened was, Darkie lost a bet to Luna, something about who could drink the most moonshine. The forfeit was we spend the week somewhere 'remote'. Of course, Luna supplied Darkie with tickets to get back in case anything went south, she just…‘forgot’ to mention that bit to the rest of us.”

Bluefeather laughed, she laughed out loud at that, finding the whole thing highly hilarious. “I do hope you've forgiven her after all this time. I'm a bit surprised, what with the Prince in your group he didn't just commandeer a train to take you home.”

Cyclone too laughed, she couldn’t help it, her marefriend’s mirth was infectious. “Oh...we forgave her on the way home. Darkie always was a prankster, and it was an adventure.” She did feel the need though to explain something to the older mare. “Aaaah well, Dusky was never one for the whole 'I’m-royalty-I-can-do-what-I-like' thing,” she then turned the page to the photograph of the whole group, which now included Air Raid and Slingshot, taken in the booth at the funfair. “Aaah...this one was one of the last ones we had as a group, before everything went to Tartarus.”

“Life has a way of doing that.” Bluefeather commented, referring to everything going to Tartarus. Then, she snickered, somewhat conspiratorially, “If you ask Lance, he'll tell you I toss my weight around at the weather factory without a second thought.”

“Stallion...I mean, mare, of the ponies, is our Dusk.” Cyclone giggled behind her hoof. “You, my love, you throw about your weight? I'd have never believed it! The funfair was my first attempt at wearing a nappy,” she pointed out the rather obvious padded bulge at her hindquarters under the dress she was wearing in the picture.

“First?” Bluefeather questioned, “So was it because of a dare?”

Cyclone nodded, smiling wryly. “That's right. Did it too, under that red dress. Then I got to like it, like, really like it. It wasn't long after this that Wily got blinded and I did the whole potions thing.”

Now Bluefeather did give voice to something that had been on her mind for a couple of days now, regarding the potions and their lasting effects upon her person. “And, you've never followed up to see if the potion maker would have a cure for you?” she asked, eyebrow raised, “You do know that even if you didn't physically need a nappy, there is no reason to not have or use a nappy?”

“I know babes,” Cyclone admitted with a very deep, uncharacteristic sigh, “but after I made it through the six week rehab here in Cloudsdale I didn't want to go back, just in case I wasn't strong enough to not get them again.” Plus, going back meant braving the Everfree Forest, and there were bugs in the Everfree Forest. Cyclone hated bugs, almost as much as she hated heights.

A six week rehabilitation was nothing to sneeze at, nor was it something to take lightly. Again, Bluefeather was impressed with her young lover. Just as she was formulating a mental plan to get Cyclone to go back to Ponyville and to the potion seller, the doorbell rang. “Well,” she said, snapped out of her planning mode, “It’s time to empty this place.”

“Yep!” with that, she fluttered off of the couch, landing on her hooves as the doorbell rang a second time. “It's time. I got this, Blue.” She trotted through to the kitchen and to the door. “Hey guys, come on in.”

A bright sun yellow stallion in work overalls greeted her with a flash of his “Rainboom Removals” ID badge. “Hello, I'm Day Time and this is my brother Night Time.” He indicated a dark blue stallion stood by his side. “You're Cyclone?”

“Yep, that's me, Cyclone.” Looking at the two stallions, she once again checked their ID badges, trying for all she was worth to not think of them as a gender bent Celestia and Luna. They probably got that ALL the time. She couldn’t see their cutie marks thanks to the overalls, but she would have bet her last bit one was a sun, the other a crescent moon. “You're at the right place.”

Day Time nodded to his brother as they followed Cyclone into her kitchen. Professionally he ignored the nappy she wore. “Okay, we need to do a quick look through and verify we have all the packing material we need. Are the appliances going or staying?”

Cyclone didn’t bother to look at her second-hoof kettle, microwave and her third-hoof sandwich maker. The bottle steriliser was already packed, as was the bottles. “These appliances are staying,” she waved her hoof at the worktops. “Important things are the four boxes in the playpen, the playpen itself, the crib and the display cases.”

Day Time, like his brother, was making notes on a pad, he nodded. “Looks like we have what we need for this job. Let’s get moving, Night. Pardon us, but it might be best if you did lunch or something while we move. I'd say we'll be good in an hour for you to sign us off.”

Cyclone liked that idea, a lot. “Whaddaya think Blue, lunch sound good to you?”

Bluefeather nodded in a heartbeat. After their emotionally fraught morning, she was ready to eat. “Lunch always sounds good to me. Oat burger?”

“You read my mind!”

“A true challenge, indeed!” Bluefeather smiled good naturedly to the two stallions as they began their work, making sure she had her bit purse on her before heading out of the open door.

“Meaning?” asked Cyclone, who stuck out her tongue and affected a really convincing outraged look, until she giggled and ruined the effect. Taking up her phone and her own bit purse, she followed her marefriend out into the morning. Usually sunny, today, almost matching her underlying mood, the sky was grey and filled with dark grey storm clouds.

Bluefeather giggled, her smile brightening up the dark foreboding clouds that hung in the sky. Even Cloudsdale itself, usually white, was an ominous leaden grey. “Could mean many things. Maybe I just love you enough to know your thoughts. Maybe the number of Oat burger wrappers in your trash can gave me a clue. You may never know…” still giggling, she turned and walked down Cyclone’s street.

As she cantered past the houses that were nothing but crumbled ruins, Cyclone giggled, in spite of the very maudlin surroundings. It was as if the sky itself was aware of the tragedy in Cyclone’s life and was acting accordingly. “Guilty as charged, love.” She draped a wing over Bluefeather’s back and was very grateful to get one in return draped over hers. “Onwards! To glorious food then, my lady.”

~ ~ ~

“Cyclone…” after a brief lunch, which had been a most subdued affair, and the quietest lunch that Bluefeather had shared with the young pegasus, they had ordered the sky taxi to take them to Canterlot, in which they were now sat. Bluefeather had tried to start a conversation already, only to be ignored. Falling back on her caretaking instincts, she draped a grey wing around her shoulders. “You can do this, Cy.”

On the sky taxi’s wide seat, Cyclone nestled into her marefriend’s side, taking care to not wrinkle the perfect cream sundress she wore – that she had to wear in Canterlot, to cover up her cutie marks. There was no being a foal in Canterlot. “Blue, I don't know...” she tapped her forehooves together nervously.

“Just because you're an adult doesn't mean you have to be the responsible adult.” Said Bluefeather as the cab lurched into motion, taking off into the heavily leaden skies. So dark was it outside due to the storm clouds that the driver had to turn on the interior lights.

Cyclone, studying her hind hooves and the floor of the taxi itself, still didn’t look up. “I dunno what to feel, Blue!” she exclaimed, she was frustrated, mostly that she had no outlet for her frustration. She wanted to scream, to cry, to shout, and to run away…what she really wanted was her mom back, but that was impossible. “I-I spent so many years hating Mons...mom...I don’t know!”

Bluefeather felt a huge pang of sympathy for her young lover. She could only imagine what today was like for her. “While that may be, she is no longer worthy of your hate, and if not your love, at least grant her your pity.” She paused for breath, “As for me, she brought you into the world, and I'm calling that a good thing.” She kissed Cyclone’s cheek, tasting the ghost of her tears there on her fur. “Sure life could have been better, but if it was would we be sharing a cab right now?”

“I…” Cyclone sighed, “I can't hate her Blue...I love her, of course I love her.” She let out a louder, longer sigh. “Whatever she did in the past, she didn't deserve to go like that.” Nopony deserved to die alone of an opium overdose and lay undiscovered in a grubby motel shed.

Bluefeather nodded solemnly, not letting up on the feathery hug around Cyclone’s shoulders. “But for the grace of Celestia there go I. Whatever demons had been chasing her are gone now.”

In spite of her downcast mood, Cyclone laughed, though her laugh was dark and hollow, like the thunderous sky outside. “Ha, now you sound all poetic, like Wily.” She wiped her eyes, brushing away tears that threatened to leak down her cheeks. “Do um, do you think she's happy now?”

“I honestly don't know. I haven't given a lot of thought to the afterlife. I do know there is no more pain or sorrow.

“When Buffy died the second time, she went to a heavenly dimension...I um...I like to think my mom's gone somewhere very similar…” this time, Cyclone didn’t bother to brush away her tears. She dearly hoped wherever Monsoon was, she was at peace, and happy, and safe.

“Then hold that thought,” Bluefeather said supportively, squeezing her powerful wing around her marefriend’s shuddering shoulders. “Sometime down the road you can ask her yourself.”

“She deserves to be happy!” with that exclamation, Cyclone began crying, her words barely making it through her sobs. “I-I just wish I-I co-could've told her how m-much I lo-love her!”

Bluefeather’s hug was so tight now that she feared for her lover’s ability to breathe. She was very grateful of the taxi driver’s professionalism. He drove ever downwards through the stormy sky without comment. “Ponies make choices. Not all of those choices are good ones. It is hard to tell somepony you love them if they aren't there to be told.”

“Yeah…Yeah I know. Well,” she whimpered, weeping so hard she didn’t – and indeed, hadn’t – noticed that the window covers were up, and had been up throughout the flight thus far. She really didn’t care. “I guess I'll get my chance soon, huh?”

Bluefeather showed no signs of letting go of the hug, though she did loosen her hold just a little. “Tell her everything love, don't hold anything back, but don't let anger take hold of you, either.”

Likewise, Cyclone held her marefriend tight in her hooves. She wasn’t thinking about the cream sundress anymore. “I just want her to know, I forgive her, for everything.”

“There is another pony that really needs to hear what you have to say to her.”

“Yeah...I um...I just hope my dad listens.”

“I guess that will be up to you then.” Bluefeather gave her measured, considered comment. She did have the benefit of looking at things from a third pony’s perspective. “Both of you need to talk about Monsoon. I don't think you and your dad have been very close either over these last few years, am I right?”

Cyclone shook her head miserably. Bluefeather was so right it was scary. “N-No...besides birthdays and Hearths Warmings, I've seen as much of my dad as I have of my mom.”

‘I thought as much,’ Bluefeather thought, though being right didn’t bring any satisfaction. She just had the benefit of being outside looking in. “Well, this I know for sure. I'm with you. If need be I'll protect you, but you do need to take a stand in this, Cy.”

Cyclone nodded, hot salty tears starting to leave tracks on her black fur as they left her blue eyes. “Y-You're right hun, and I will. T-Take a stand. Definitely.”

As the sky taxi continued to descend towards Canterlot, the weather grew steadily worse. Nearer the mountain they got, the storm clouds grew bigger, darker, more ominous and foreboding. The sky itself was so grey it was almost black as night. Bluefeather had fallen quiet, content to cuddle her weeping lover.

Cyclone though, didn’t want to be quiet.

Quiet meant thinking, and she didn’t want to think too much right then. “Blue, what was it like for you, when yours passed?”

Bluefeather had been expecting some kind of question, and she was prepared. “Good. It was good that I have siblings that gave them grandfoals.” She giggled, “Dad went first, but he lived life hard. Wasn't a big surprise, but it was really quick. Mom lasted another eight years, and never did stop asking when I was going to give her a grandfoal. It was hard though. My brother moved in with her for the last six months. She really missed dad, and I think she just got tired of living without him.”

Bluefeather sighed, but it wasn’t a sad sigh, more a contented, happy sigh. “Dad is the reason I've made it so far as a weather pony. He did drive me hard, but he was fair. I said that at his funeral. Mom though, I do miss her nagging.”

“You miss her nagging you for that foal?” asked Cyclone, giggling sadly, “I miss playing with my mom. I loved her games when I was a foal,” as she spoke she thought back to all the times they played the levitating game. She had really loved that game.

“I'm just the nanna,” Bluefeather smiled, “but I can do games.”

“You're an awesome nanna.” Cyclone smiled, though the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. It felt as artificial as it looked. “I hope she knew, I mean, I want her to know, I never blamed her for the accident.”

Now, at that, Bluefeather certainly was surprised. “You don't?”

Cyclone shrugged, still looking at the floor of the taxi. She hadn’t actually looked up at all yet during the whole journey. “It was an accident. I mean, I highly doubt she threw me out the thirty floor on purpose.”

“But you did?” Bluefeather pressed, albeit gently. “You did blame her at some point, didn’t you?”

Cyclone nodded sadly, unaware that the sky taxi had entered the Canterlot City Airspace. “Tropical Storm, my dad...he, he said some horrible things to her when they thought I wasn't listening.”

Bluefeather, who was sat up and looking out of the windows, saw the royal palace in the distance as they flew over the frankly magnificent capital city. For a moment she found it hard to believe her marefriend had been able to come and go from there as she pleased, at one point. “Fear can lead us to doing the wrong thing, Cyclone.”

Cyclone nodded, sadly. “You see, some of what he accused her of sunk in a bit, made me wonder for a while, but the older I got I realised that it was just a dumb accident…” the jet black mare sighed, almost seeming to deflate, like a balloon. “Of course, by the time I figured that out, she had been long gone.”

“Sounds like one more thing that both of them need to hear.”

“Yeah,” Cyclone sniffled, “and he'd better take notice. He's gotta let it go, Blue.”

“Sounds like a song cue.”

“I am definitely not drunk enough to sing!” Cyclone giggled, regardless of her mood, the thought of her singing was always funny. Grateful that her lover had her humour in there somewhere, no matter how deeply buried, Bluefeather continued to hold her tight. Cyclone however went quiet until the taxi landed at the ornate wrought iron gates of the Canterlot Residential District Cemetery.

“We still have a lot to do,” said Bluefeather, ignoring the overcast storm clouds and the slate grey sky as they both got out of the sky taxi and the older mare paid the driver, making sure to leave him a very generous tip. Turning her back to the vehicle, she surveyed the huge graveyard. It was old, obviously, and it had its own kind of beauty that quiet places just had. “I'm here with you, all the way. This is a part of Canterlot I've never been to, though.”

“The Residential District Cemetery.” Cyclone waved her hoof at the iron gates. She shivered now, a brisk breeze had picked up, a sure sign that a storm was coming – as if the huge black storm clouds weren’t enough of an indication – idly she wondered what level of storm was coming, which was big enough to envelop Cloudsdale, Canterlot and Ponyville. If she was any kind of weather mare she would know by the very feel, but she didn’t care. “We used to hang out here most weekends,” she pointed her hoof over in a vague direction. “Wily's mum's over there, not cos we had a graveyard fetish or anything.”

Bluefeather tried, and utterly failed, to hide her wide smile. “I didn't say anything was wrong with it, did I?” She was more than willing to have sex in a graveyard. She had done before and she was sure she would do again. “In Manehatten, they do these goth parties in graveyards. I've attended a few.”

Now, Cyclone’s smile was a genuine one. Or, as close to genuine as she felt at that moment. “It is fun to do it in a graveyard too…” she trailed off as she started to walk towards the house of rest situated not that far away. The building where her mother was waiting for her. “Or, anywhere outside, really.”

“Was it just you or the others in your group that like the thrill of being caught?” Bluefeather asked curiously, looking at the gravestones they passed from the gravel path.

“Definitely me.” Cyclone replied, the breeze now whipping her sundress around her legs as she walked alongside her older lover. “Brightstar the voyeur especially loved it. He used to hide and watch me pee.”

‘I love the sound of your friends,’ Bluefeather thought, many ideas for future fun running through her head. She filed those away in the ‘naughty’ section of her brain. “Those are the memories to hold onto,” she started as she held the door open for her to enter ahead of her. “Now, it is time to make new memories to replace those that you don't want to hold onto.”

Cyclone looked up at her with a faint smile on her face. “Yeah, thanks hun.”

A charcoal grey earth pony stallion in top hat and tails stood in the entry of the house of rest, as grey as the roiling sky outside, nodded to them both in a polite, well trained manner. “Greetings to you both, I'm Peace, are you here for the viewing of Monsoon?” he asked, his voice soft as a whisper.

Taking a very deep breath, her voice cracking with the strain of the occasion, Cyclone responded. “Ah, y-yea...um...yes, we are, thank you, sir.”

Again, Peace nodded, tipping his top hat to the young mare. “Please, follow me.” he indicated the open door to a room behind him, inside the house of rest. “There is a registry which you may sign at your convenience.” He held the door open and, inside the immaculately appointed and decorated room, was the black pegasus, Tropical Storm, whom Bluefeather recognised from the family photograph, along with an elderly couple of unicorns. All three were stood by a very ornate casket.

Tropical Storm looked up at them at the sound of their hooves clopping on the polished hardwood floor. The relief on his face was evident when he saw whom had entered. The elderly couple, who happened to be Monsoon’s parents – a coffee brown mare with a greying blue mane named Lemon Grass and a green stallion with a pure white mane named Earth Song – did not turn away from the open coffin. “Cyclone!” Tropical Storm cantered over quickly and wrapped his estranged daughter up in a hug.

“H-Hey...” Cyclone didn’t care that her dad’s pale blue beard tickled her, she didn’t care he was wearing the old and battered white panama hat that he always wore, she just cared that he was here, and he was hugging her. “Hey, dad.”

“Thank you for coming, Cy.” He have his daughter another tight hug before the late middle aged pegasus stallion looked over to Bluefeather who was maintaining a respectful distance from them. Lifting up a hoof, he tipped his hat to her. “And, you must be Bluefeather, her companion.”

Bluefeather nodded politely and held out her hoof for a bump, which he duly returned. “I sincerely wish we were meeting under better circumstances.” Had they been better, she would be getting him to autograph all her Playcolt and Playmare magazines, but there was time enough to come for that.

“Yeah...dad, this is Bluefeather.” At the very mention of her marefriend’s name, Cyclone smiled. “Of course we'd come...I'm uh...I’m sorry I wasn't there Thursday.” Her smile faded a little, ‘I was too busy jollying it up in Manehatten…’ she thought guiltily.

Tropical Storm waved his hoof dismissively in the air. “Water under the bridge. You're here now,” with that, he looked back at the ornately carved open casket. “Would ah, would you like to see her now?”

Cyclone nodded and, making sure to hold Bluefeather’s hoof with her own, she slowly, very slowly, approached the waiting coffin. “Yeah...I need to see mom, now.” She was extremely grateful she had Bluefeather on her left and her dad on her right. Otherwise she doubted she’d have the strength for this.

The three ponies stood by the edge, looking down at the sole occupant. Monsoon lay on her back, her forelegs placed over her waist pressing just a little into the white dress the body was dressed in. Cyclone looked down at what once been her mother. She could tell whomever had tended to her had done a good job, she looked every bit of the late forties she was, but she could tell the damage the opium had wrought on her face and body. She did however look at peace.

Seeing her laying there was too much. “Oh...oh m-mooom!” She couldn’t help it, the tears came and came, and they didn’t look like stopping as she broke into floods of tears.

Standing by her marefriend’s side, Bluefeather chose to say nothing, she just held Cyclone as she cried and cried. Following her example, Tropical Storm also remained by his daughter’s side, he placed a hoof on her heaving shoulder. “M-Mom...” Cyclone was crying so hard she was almost beyond reason, she could barely see as she stroked her mother’s expertly coiffured mane. “I-I love you!”

As Bluefeather still had a firm hold of her weeping lover, she noted Tropical Storm had a distinctly awkward look on his face, though he too kept his hoof where it was. “Let it all out, my love.”

“M-Mom...” Cyclone whimpered, leaning down over the edge of the casket and hugging her mother’s cold body. She had hoped, prayed even, that maybe this was a joke and she’d get up, and they’d be a family again, but the remains of the old brown unicorn laid unresponsive as Cyclone’s hot tears hit dead fur.

It was in that split second that the reality hit her like a Rainboom to the face. After long moments where she just cried, Cyclone eventually moved up and kissed her mother’s muzzle. “I-I-I missed you...” she tried to speak through sobs that wracked her shaking body. “I-I forgive you mom...always,” as she said that, Tropical Storm’s awkward look became very awkward indeed. Bluefeather noticed, but still she said nothing. She just held her distraught marefriend. “Y-You were always f-forgiven, mom, aaaalways!”

Lemon Grass and Earth Song come hobbling over, the unicorn stallion having to use a cane to aid him, while the mare had the clearest, bluest eyes that Bluefeather had ever seen. Lemon Grass cast a sad look down at her daughter laid in the casket. “She would be happy to know that, dear.”

“Th-thanks nanna,” Cyclone, still with wet cheeks from her tears, pulled herself away from Bluefeather and went to give her grandparents a teary hug. “H-Hey gramps...” she smiled at Earth Song, “this is Bluefeather, my marefriend.”

Lemon Grass smiled, her blue eyes sparkling, seemingly fifty years younger than the rest of her wrinkled body. “Pleasure to meet you.”

“Take care of our grandfilly,” Earth Song smiled, performing a shaky bow with his bent forelegs.

Cyclone smiled through her tears. “She does, a lot, gramps,” she hugged him again, carefully this time. “How are you and nanna?”

“It isn't right, outliving your filly.” Lemon Grass said suddenly, looking back at the coffin. Like Cyclone, she didn’t want to look away. She wanted to absorb every second of this.

“Hush you,” said Earth Song over his shoulder to his old wife, before turning back to look at his granddaughter. “We're doing okay in the retirement community. You could visit us, you know.” He gently prodded Cyclone with the end of his cane, snickering as he did so.

“I...I do,” Cyclone stuttered, erupting in a huge blush that showed even against her black fur at being called out on that. It had been something like a few months since she’d seen her grandparents. That was her fault. “Um...kinda, I mean, I will…” she offered lamely.

“Not getting any younger, you know.” Lemon Grass giggled, eventually turning away from Monsoon and the casket. “I love using that line.”

Bluefeather smiled at the elderly couple, she really liked these two. They could be her own parents. “I'll see what I can do to get us there.”

Cyclone hated her nanna talking like that, though she always did. It was just the elderly unicorn’s sense of humour. “N-Nanna, d-don't say it like that!” she looked over the old unicorn mare’s shoulder at the open casket and wept again. She was surprised she had so many tears in her to shed. But she them she did. “Y-You know you'll outlive the P-Princesses, you always said that.”

“She does,” Earth Song nodded, casting a sideways glance at his wife, “and she just might, too.”

“As long as I outlast you,” Lemon Grass snarked back, jabbing her wrinkled foreleg into her husband’s ribs, “you'll never know if I do or not.”

“I like you two,” Bluefeather interjected. She really did too. She loved their gallows humour, the way they snarked with each other. “You’re nice and dark.”

Earth Song shrugged, almost falling over where it not for his cane. Last thing he wanted was to give his wife a cheap laugh. “At our age, ma’am, all you can do is laugh at death.”

“Yeah,” Lemon Grass snickered playfully, “It shames him into staying away.”

“Nanna!” Cyclone spluttered, not sure if she should chastise her errant grandparents, or if she even could, or if this was the time or place for any of this, then again right now she wasn’t sure of anything. “Did you um...speak to mom, before she um, y'know...” she couldn’t bring herself to say the words, she just pointed to the coffin.

“It was last year’s spring equinox when she last stopped by.” said Earth Song. He failed to mention the pathetic specimen of a pony his daughter came with. He wasn’t worth mentioning, the scum who had killed his filly.

“Yeah,” Lemon Grass added, also choosing decidedly not to mention the poor example of a stallion her daughter associated with. As easy going as she was, the old unicorn sincerely hoped He burned in Tartarus for what he did to her filly. “She telephoned us every couple of weeks.”

“Was um...was she, was mom...happy?” asked Cyclone hesitantly, still looking at the casket, ignoring the somewhat darker looks that had come over her grandparent’s faces.

Earth Song shook his head, clearing all thoughts of Red Light from his mind. If the police reports were to be believed, the scum had been arrested. That was enough for him. “If you’re asking what I think you're asking, then yes, she wanted to know how you were doing.”

“We'd stay in touch with Storm on that,” Lemon Grass added, though her husband simply shrugged, “She was doing. Happy is a...another thing.”

“You know what I mean, gramps, was she alright, was she...I dunno, happy with herself?”

“She's happy now,” Lemon Grass cut across her husband, answering for him and getting a ‘hmmmph’ for her trouble, which she chose to ignore. She knew all the nasty details of her daughter’s life, and she made up her mind that her granddaughter didn’t need to know all that. Not today. “She is happy where she is, and that is what matters.”

Sobbing fresh tears, oh, how she wished she’d stop crying, Cyclone gently hugged her nanna. The fact that her dad had stayed quiet this whole time didn’t surprise her any. “I-I just w-wanted to t-tell her I l-loved her!” raw emotion flowed out of Cyclone, like water from a hose, she was unable to stop it. “I-I ju-just w-wanted her to p-play with me again!”

Earth Song very gently laid his wrinkled hoof on his grandfilly’s heaving shoulder. “She knew you loved her, Cyclone. She knew.”

“I did, gramps, I really did, honest!”

“Maybe a day will come when she can play with you again,” Lemon Grass said tenderly, not letting go of the tight hug she had on the distraught young pony, “but there is no reason to make that day come any faster.” When she said that, she looked at Bluefeather, who nodded.

Cyclone nodded, rubbing her nose to clear some of the stinging tears from her muzzle. She never expected to be this emotional. “Y-You're right, nanna,” when she said that, Bluefeather glanced at Tropical Storm, in an effort to gauge his reaction, but he had moved off back to the coffin. “I'm ah, I’m moving to Cloudhatten, nanna, but I'll visit, I promise I will.”

“Last time you visited you had to work.” Earth Song said accusingly, again prodding her gently with his cane.

“Las Pegasus is nice though any time of year.” Lemon Grass chimed in, because, well, it was.

Bluefeather giggled at that, speaking up for the first time in a long while. “They do like to do the weather conferences in Las Pegasus.”

Cyclone forced a smile, “yeah they do, right?”

Bluefeather sniffed, “I think it is because of Captain Dash.” Although, if she was honest, it was probably more to do with the excellent weather on the west coast, the casinos, the abundance of dancing ponies and the casinos.

“Yeah, it probably is,” Cyclone couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped her lips. “So, we can visit more often than I did before, gramps.”

“That would be nice.” Lemon Grass reached over to gently touch Monsoon's expertly styled mane. Gallows humour aside, it would be nice indeed to see more of her granddaughter before she joined her daughter. “Yes, very nice.”

Slowly, Cyclone went around to the other side and she carefully stroked her mother's mane. There was so many things she wanted to say. She wished she was more like Wildfire, she would have the right words for this. Her friend would have a poem for this. She however, was not Wildfire. “I-I wish...I wish she'd have come back, y'know, just once or twice, let me know how she was…”

At that, both Lemon Grass and Earth Song looked pointedly over at Tropical Storm, who, just as pointedly looked away from the accusatory stares of elderly ponies. Bluefeather noted these stares, and filed them away, old enough to be able to read between the lines. Thankfully, Cyclone had tears in her eyes again and didn’t notice any of this exchange. “A phone call on Hearths Warming...anything...I-I kept the same number in case she'd call!”

Now, Bluefeather came around to Cyclone’s side and whispered in her ear. “Now is not the time to accuse her.” Especially not when she suspected that Tropical Storm may have had a hoof or two in Monsoon staying away, at least from reading the stares.

“I...I'm not, hun...I just miss her so much!” Cyclone sobbed, very grateful that Bluefeather didn’t move her along, but continued to hold her supportively. After a few, very long, moments she walked over to her dad. “Hey. Hey dad, you holding up?”

“Yeah...” Tropical Storm didn’t look at his daughter at first, “Yeah, um, I'm fine, Cy.”

“Oh really?” she asked, eyebrow raised as she gave the black stallion an extremely tight hug indeed.

“It was a surprise to me too...” Not half as much as the phone call from the police counsellor in Whinnyapolis, Doubleshoes, had been. He deeply, deeply regretted the way he had spoken to her, especially in light of what happened afterwards. “Not a good one, either.” He held Cyclone as tight as she held him. He found he needed his filly’s presence. “I'm so sorry.”

“I know dad,” Cyclone said quietly in the embrace, “I'm sorry too. I know I haven't been around much.”

“Neither of us did you right,” Tropical Storm commented, looking directly at Monsoon’s face as he spoke. “I know I didn't.”

“You did your best, dad.”

Earth Song nudged his wife. He recognised that father and daughter needed time alone to themselves. “Lemon, it's time to go, we will see you all tomorrow.”

Lemon Grass however didn’t want to budge. A tiny vindictive part of her wanted to see Tropical Storm squirm. “But...”

“Now, love.” For once, Earth Song was insistent, and he wasn’t taking any of his wife’s shenanigans. Not today. There would be time enough in the future for recriminations, but for now, he knew Cyclone needed this time with her father.

Cyclone looked at the elderly couple with a teary smile. “We'll see you tomorrow nan, gramps,” she said, hugging them both as tightly as she dared.

As Lemon Grass and Earth Song both took their leave, Royal Pin and Royal Ribbon – Tropical Storm’s brother and sister, respectively – walked into the house of rest. The four unicorns glared daggers at each other as they passed in the entry way. There for just a cursory viewing, the two upper crust lavender coloured unicorns looked once at Monsoon before they turned to leave.

Royal Pin, identical to his sister but for his powder blue mane where hers was candy pink, looked over his shoulder at his younger brother. “Call us if you need us brother, I trust we’ll see you at dinner tonight?”

“Oh ah, um, yeah, sure thing.” Tropical Storm replied, but his siblings had already left, having spent less than five minutes viewing Monsoon’s body.

“Well...” Cyclone sniffled, wiping her eyes on the back of her foreleg, “that was frostier than the Crystal Empire, wasn’t it?”

Closely observing what had just happened, the metaphorical train wreck of a familial meeting, and she gave her lover a slow, tender kiss. Like Earth Song, she too recognised the need for Cyclone and her dad to talk. “I'll be right outside, getting some air, if you need me.”

Cyclone returned the kiss, not wanting to let her go. “Don't go too far, sexy.”

“I won't, I promise.” Bluefeather answered, seeing the pure relief in Tropical Storm's face, obviously he was glad he’d be alone with his daughter to say what she knew needed to be said. “Never too far away, my love.”

As Bluefeather walked outside, Tropical Storm and Cyclone both moved to stand next to Monsoon’s body. “I-I missed you too, dad.”

Tenderly, with far more care than he ever had while she had been alive, Tropical Storm placed his hoof on his dead wife’s chest, careful not to wrinkle her white dress. He tried to ignore the traces of drug abuse on her face. He failed. “When she dropped you out of that window,” he spoke up after a few moment’s silence, “You fell out of her range before she could do anything. We both sort of panicked.”

“It was an accident,” said Cyclone, trying to be supportive as she placed a hoof on her dad’s shoulder, “and you caught me.”

Tropical Storm shook his head. She just didn’t get it. He had to make her see, now they were finally talking. “If I hadn't been in the next room...we blamed each other. She wanted to know why I hadn't taught you how to fly yet.” ‘Because I was too busy photographing models…’

“I know.” Cyclone removed her hoof and looked hard at her dad, “I heard all the arguments. In the hotel, and after, back at home.”

“Not all of them...”

“Dad, let it go!”

“Not yet, I have something else to tell you.” Tropical Storm went quiet, looking down at his ex-wife’s remains until Cyclone made encouraging ‘go on’ motions with her hoof. “You heard us talk about how you weren't planned. Still, she really did love you, even if it wasn't what she was expecting in life.”

Cyclone actually smiled at that, “I was your favourite accident, remember?”

Tropical Storm took a very deep breath, marshalling the strength to say what needed to be said. Monsoon seemed to give him the courage. “J-Just a few months after the accident, I don’t remember exactly when, she brought up the idea of another foal...I...I told her she wasn't safe to be around foals...” the black stallion’s voice diminished to barely a whisper. “Not long after that she left us...she left you.”

“I...I...” Cyclone took a step backwards, looking upon her father like she was seeing him for the very first time in her life. She couldn’t believe what she heard, coming out of this pony’s mouth. She wouldn’t believe it. “You...you said what?”

In that same quiet, almost barely audible tone, he continued. “She, Monsoon, your mo-mom, she told Lemon and Earth what I said, but…she added that I was right. I...I didn't think she would avoid you. You weren't a foal anymore.”

“I was six!” Cyclone screamed in her father’s face, she didn’t care who heard. “I could've had a brother, or a sister!” she raised her hoof, pulling back to slap the black fur from her father’s face, but, breathing heavily, she didn’t deliver the intended blow. “Buck it! Buck you! I could've had a mom for the past eighteen years!”

Tropical Storm didn’t flinch. He wanted her to hit him. He almost needed his daughter to hit him, at least he deserved being beaten. “She never forgave herself for what happened and...I didn't help her because I couldn't let it go either. I watched you falling to your death...”

The black stallion sighed, removing his panama hat and fanning himself with it. Now he was talking, it was like a damn had burst, he couldn’t stop. He had to speak. “It wasn't an accident you went out the window. She wanted to make you fly. The true accident was when her magic failed her. When she knew all she could do was jump after you. I...I shoved her away from the window when I dived out to get you.”

To say she was stunned was an understatement. It was as if her universe had crumbled, been rebuilt and cast down over and over again. Monsoon, her mother, the pony she had hated for so long, had tried to jump after her. She had tried to save her. “And,” she processed this slowly, “you saved my life, and hers too. I…I blamed myself for not being able to stop myself, not being able to fly.”

“I've never been so scared and angry, and she was scared too and got angry along with me.” Tropical Storm explained it, carefully, for the first time. His daughter was seein him as a saviour, and he wasn’t. He wasn’t the hero of the piece, more he was the villain. She had to see that! See what he did! “But it was later, when she wanted another foal and I rubbed in what happened with you. I hurt her, Cy. She was still hurting and I just hurt her more.”

Cyclone nodded slowly, jigsaw pieces slowly falling into place in her head. “Is that why you stayed away too, after she left?”

Sadly, Tropical Storm nodded. Now she understood. “I tried to do my best by you, but when you left home I didn't think I had the right to pursue you. I'm not any better than she was. I'm sorry, but you needed to know this.”

Cyclone couldn’t believe this! Now, after all these years, it made sense. Now she understood. “I mean, I'm grateful and all that you paid for the house I was living in, but YOU weren't there. Every time I called, YOU were too busy with a shoot, or YOU were busy with some model or other...even when I had to leave Canterlot, I hardly saw you and then out of nowhere I get calls, wanting me to work for you!”

How Tropical Storm wished his daughter would hit him, and get it over with. But, she didn’t. “Monsoon called and yelled at me for abandoning you. I yelled back at her. In the end she wasn't coming back, so I had to try. Even if it was too late, I had to try.”

Cyclone let out a long sigh. All her anger seemed to just evaporate. “I know I kept saying no, but as it happens, the next time you asked, I was gonna say yes.”

Like his daughter, Tropical Storm let out a sigh. All the time he was looking at Monsoon’s body. “So, Cy, do you want to model for me?”

Cyclone nodded and at last, she stepped closer to her father, nestling into his side. “I talked it over with Blue, and yeah, she's cool with it.”

“But are you cool with me, after this?”

Cyclone took a long few moments to consider her answer before she replied. “End of the day, you're my dad. You did what you did. It’s done with now. I'm not gonna say I'm not angry, but...I've lost enough time with you already. Yelling at you won’t change what happened.” She nuzzled his cheek, finding it wet like hers was. “I want my daddy back.”

Hearing that, Tropical Storm pulled her into an extremely tight feathery hug. “I don't deserve any more than that. I won’t ask for more than that. Welcome back, Cyclone.”

Cyclone squeezed her dad in the hug. “I missed you, you dozy featherbrain…”

“Are you coming over for dinner tonight?” he asked tentatively, not wanting to push his luck too much, “Royal Ribbon is doing the cooking.”

“I'm sure we can stop by.”

“They close at five to get Monsoon ready for tomorrow.” Tropical Storm commented sombrely, deciding it was time to take his leave. “You can stay till then. You want me to send your marefriend back in?”

“Nah...I'm good.”

“I'll see the two of you tonight about seven, then.”

Cyclone hugged her father’s foreleg. “You bet!” she smiled, happily, for once. “So, are we cool about the job? Is the job offer still open, or do I have to audition?” she asked with a playful smile on her face.

“We're cool.” Tropical Storm replied quickly, though he was still sure he had gotten off rather lightly, all things considered. “We can work the details later, with your marefriend present. Seems she has worked contracts in the past.”

Smiling a very wide smile, Cyclone giggled. “Sounds like a plan, dad. I ah, I never was much of a weather pony anyway.”

“I'm proud of you regardless of what you are.” He blushed, almost ashamed at the cheesiness of what he had just said.

“I know dad,” Cyclone hugged him one last time. “C'mon, let’s go, I don't want Blue getting lonely.”

“You go on ahead.” Tropical Storm changed his mind. “I'm going to stay here for a little bit longer, I think.”

“Promise me you two won't start fighting again?”

“I promise. It's time to start forgiving, if not long past that time.” He offered her an affectionate nuzzle, which she accepted and returned. “Go on, she's lucky to have you.”

“And you're lucky to have such an awesome daughter and model.” With that, Cyclone turned and took her leave, nodding politely to Peace who was stood at the door as she signed the guestbook and walked out into the still heavily leaden stormy skies. Outside, she found Bluefeather pacing around the flower beds, taking an occasional nibble, “Hungry babes?”

Bluefeather looked up and immediately she wrapped Cyclone up in a tight feathery hug. After a moment or two, she stepped away in order to really, properly look at her young lover. Once her scrutiny was complete, she smiled. “You're okay.” It wasn’t a question.

Cyclone nodded. “I-I've been better.” She commented truthfully, “I've also been a little worse.” She smiled a thin, tiny smile that barely troubled the corners of her mouth. “We talked. We really talked. It's a new thing we're trying out.”

“Talking is a good thing.” Bluefeather said, giving her lover a bluebell flavoured kiss as her belly rumbled. “Yes, I’m a little hungry. Do you know a place to eat around here?”

“Cafe Diem!” Cyclone responded with enthusiasm as she smoothed out a wrinkle in her cream sundress. She wanted to be sure her flanks were definitely covered up if she was to be walking around Canterlot. While she had been given leave by Princess Twilight Sparkle to enter the city on extenuating circumstances, she’d rather not encounter any police, or Guard. “It's the only place to eat, and Java still owns it!”

“Sounds wonderful, my love.”

“We used it to hideout from classes there all the time,” she coughed noticeably, “I um, I mean um, study…”

Bluefeather sniggered loudly, not bothering in the least to hide her glee. “Of course, no doubt you studied weather dynamics and cloud formations, I'm sure.”

Grinning, Cyclone draped a wing over her marefriend’s back as she led the way out of the Residential District Cemetery to the street beyond. “Yeah...we never ever talked about stallions or mares at all, much.”

Bluefeather giggled, before laying a gentle little kiss at the base of Cyclone’s ear, not enough to turn her on, though. “The way everypony was dancing on eggshells at the funeral home trying to not make a noise…” she sighed deeply, leaving the cemetery for the sidewalk, “I thought Lemon Grass was going to bite somepony's head off when Earth Song hustled her out of there followed by the other two.”

They walked together in relative silence after that, Bluefeather asking about things she thought were important, like the bakery, the university, Trixie’s Place in Canterlot, the Playcolt Towers, that sort of thing. Every so often Cyclone would answer her, when she wasn’t thinking about her mother and what might have been. Presently, after twenty minutes or so, they turned the corner and Bluefeather was presented with Café Diem. A vision sent straight from Manehatten. “Oh, is that the place?”

Cyclone let out a happy little giggle. “That’s the place, alright.” She was so happy to see her old café, she didn’t think about the stormy skies or anything else. “Ooh, look, the outdoor seats are empty, let’s get one quick!”

“That may have something to do with the imminent weather,” Bluefeather laughed, but she sat nonetheless when Cyclone pulled out a seating pad for her at a table she went straight for. “I'll be generous and let you buy me lunch. Did you bring any bits?”

“You generous bundle of sexiness!” Cyclone giggled, “Sure I bought some bits. Oh hey, while I think about it, best not to eat too much-”

Bluefeather tilted her head at that and she interrupted her young mare in mid-sentence. “Are you saying I'm getting fat?”

Cyclone’s blue eyes went very wide as she realised what she had just said. “No! No, not at all, no! Ugh...sorry, Aunt Ribbon's cooking later, and dad's invited us to dinner,” she tried to cover her faux pas, to explain herself outside the café. The last thing she wanted was a row.

Bluefeather held her shocked expression for literally three seconds before she broke out laughing. She couldn’t hold it for longer than that. “Cy, that look on your face was just too precious!” she kissed Cyclone’s nose, noting the fact she was still wide-eyed as she took the pad she was offered and getting comfortable at the table.

“You're evil!” Cyclone pouted, while Bluefeather simply grinned, unable to dispute such a statement. “So, evil sexy pony, what would you like?”

“Large mocha with cinnamon, and one of those lemon tarts.”

“No probs hun, don't miss me!” she blew her evil lover a kiss before sashaying sexily into the café to place her order before Java could come out and embarrass her with old war stories of her and her group of friends. She was more than capable of embarrassing herself, thank you.

Once the order, a large mocha and lemon tart for Bluefeather and a Celestia coffee and lemon tart for Cyclone, had been placed on their table, the older pegasus took a nibble of her tart. “I'm glad everything went well with your dad,” she said after swallowing the tart square and going for her drink.

Cyclone, on the other hoof, was studying her tart intently as if she expected the secrets of the galaxy to be revealed inside it. “We talked,” she said quietly, “We talked about stuff I needed to know, like how I could've had a sibling but didn't.”

Gently, Bluefeather laid a lemon frosted hoof on her own and squeezed, covering Cyclone’s black hoof in lemon. “Life, it happens and we have to deal with it. Try not to over think what might have been because it never was. Okay?”

“Yeah,” Cyclone smiled, more at the presence of her lover’s hoof than her words. “It’s all ifs and maybes I know, but ah, I dunno, it’s a pretty bucking big ‘if’, y’know?”

Bluefeather did know. She knew and she understood. “A widdle filly or colt would have been fun.” She giggled as she took a long sip of her mocha, “I'm the oldest of four. Brats every one of them.”

Drinking her Celestia coffee, Cyclone giggled. “You, a brat? I can hardly believe it, Blue!”

At her lover’s snark, Bluefeather raised up an eyebrow, so far it went up into her blue mane. “My siblings. I’ll have you know I was the perfect filly.”

“Uh huh,” Cyclone smiled, reaching again for her coffee. “I mean, you are pretty perfect.”

“Don't you forget it.”

“No ma'am.” As Cyclone leaned over the table to kiss Bluefeather’s lips, all of a sudden the dark stormy skies and ominous clouds didn’t seem quite so foreboding. As their lips met and their tongues danced with each other, the love in Cyclone’s heart could’ve cleared the skies all by herself.

Life wasn’t so bad, after all, not when she had Bluefeather by her side.

Chapter 9 - A Much Needed Diversion

Sat on her seating pad at Café Diem, Cyclone kissed her marefriend and, as she took a tiny, delicate nibble of her lemon tart, she did her best to ignore the roiling storm clouds that were being arranged overhead by the weather pegasi. “Blue,” she spoke up while she ate, “I'm curious. Y'know our fear right, how bad does it affect you?”

As she too was enjoying her tart, Bluefeather paused in thought. “Fear is something I respect.” She answered presently. “I fear storms but it is my job to deal with them. So I respect storms and what they can do if I fail to respect them. I have a healthy fear of flying in Manehatten because some idiot is paying no attention to their flying. Those are the ones that you find on the ground after hitting a building.”

Then, when she reached for her mocha, she looked straight at Cyclone. “I don't let fear control me, but I respect that fear is real and I deal with it accordingly.”

“Hmm...” Cyclone murmured her agreement around her Celestia coffee, she understood Bluefeather’s reply, but that wasn’t what she had meant. “I ah, I get that, but I meant 'our fear' the uh, the…” she whispered, “The claustrophobia.”

‘Ah…the Pegasi’s Fear,’ Bluefeather thought with a definite shudder, that did not go unnoticed by her companion. “That’s why I'm glad I can fly. Those elevators are just coffins on cables. The trick is to close your eyes keep your wings to your side, then you can imagine the thing is as big as the outdoors.”

“It’s funny,” Cyclone mused thoughtfully, though she noted her marefriend’s shudder. “It doesn't really bother me very much. I dunno why. Perhaps, and I’m just guessing, it might be like that pegasi philosopher said, that the stronger the flyer the worse – more pronounced - the fear.”

“Yeah, that could be true…” Bluefeather nodded thoughtfully as she finished off her tart. If she was honest she didn’t think about their racial fear too much. “Tempest is fine as long as she can move her wings. Airmail is happy in a hole in the ground. I called her a gopher once.” She laughed out loud at the memory of that. “Lance does better in an elevator than me, but he really doesn't like being on the ground. I'll have to see what Wildfire is like.”

“She's really bad.” Cyclone, in a rare move, cut across and interrupted Bluefeather with a very serious look on her face and in her tone. “Like, she’s really, really bad. Before most of the gaming guests arrived at Caffeinated’s place last Thursday we all had a catch up, and she told us about this...this awful abusive care home where she'd been kept the last five years.”

Bluefeather made a mental note about that. “So, that is not a hazing option then. Okay.”

Cyclone shook her head. “No, best not. I nearly didn't believe it when she told me they stuffed her in this lockable box and left her there for days on end…”

Bluefeather shuddered again as Cyclone trailed off, nursing her coffee to calm herself down. “So,” she started, wondering what had lead her lover down this particular thought path, “why the worry about tight places all of a sudden?”

“I’m just curious, babes, that's all, honest.” She nibbled slowly on her lemon tart, finishing it off as she marshalled what she was about to say next. “This one time, I was gonna get one of those rubber isolation suit thingys, y’know, from MiAC, but there's no way I could get it on myself on my own.”

‘Well…I wasn’t expecting that!’ Bluefeather thought, wide eyes blinking once then twice as those words washed over her, slowly sinking in. What she said was, “Oh my, those bind your wings to your side. Never, ever do that on your own! In case you change your mind.”

“I really wanna try one out,” there was an earnestness in Cyclone’s voice, “but Air Raid wouldn't even look at one, let alone touch one, so I left it in the store.” Because, as she reasoned, there was no point buying one if she couldn’t get in it or get it zipped up on her own.

Bluefeather drank the rest of her mocha as she considered her reply to that. Cleary, her marefriend wanted play that was above and beyond nanna and foal, she was fine with that, she could be the dominant, she was sure. But an isolation suit? Essentially sensory deprivation? She had never heard of a pegasus having that kink. It was hot though. “I'm certainly not going to wear it, but if you want to try, go for it. I'll be there to get you out if you panic.”

“Really?” Cyclone smiled, “Really, really? You'd help me out with it?”

Bluefeather let out a delighted little giggle. She did so like that look of giddy happiness on Cyclone’s face. It suited her, she decided. Who was she to deny a pony’s fetish? “I'll even help you try to return it if that isn't your cup of tea.”

“That’s so awesome!” Cyclone squeaked, “Have I ever said before that you're the best? Cos if I haven't, you are!”

Bluefeather casually tapped her chin with her hoof. “Hmm, I can't remember, maybe not often enough, I think.” As she leant over the table and kissed Cyclone’s lips, allowing the kiss to linger, she really did like the way her lover stroked her ego. It was one of the many reasons she loved her.

Cyclone took the kiss and returned it with one of her own. She couldn’t believe her long-held desire for an isolation suit might finally be coming to fruition. “Y’know, I think a red one would look cool against my fur, awesomest pony.”

Bluefeather giggled. She couldn’t help it. Cyclone’s enthusiasm was so very infectious. “So, you want to look like the Matter, ah, hoof?” she ventured, plumbing her admittedly shallow Power Pony knowledge. “Or Mistress Mare, oh, the bondage-looking one, what’s her name?”

Shaking her head, resisting the urge to facehoof, Cyclone laughed. “Teehee, he, he…you mean Mistress Marevellous,” she snickered, “though you did very well for a beginner, love.”

Bluefeather sniffed, affecting an air of indifference. “I did remember two of them dressed in red and it wasn’t Radiance.” Only because she had seen her lover’s Radiance plush and knew it was dressed in purple.

To show her appreciation, Cyclone leant over and kissed her older marefriend’s lips. “Y'know, Blue, we have a little while before we need to head over to dad's place.”

“Oh, you didn't say a time, or how we should dress for that matter.” Bluefeather’s eyebrows alone were very suggestive, half lidded as they stared across the table. “I'm very open to suggestions on what to do with that time.”

Mentally, Cyclone kicked herself. “Oh, right, it was for seven p.m., later, and I think our dresses would be fine, though Aunt Ribbon might think she's royalty…”

Immediately, Bluefeather picked up on the slight distaste prevalent in her marefriend’s tone. “All I packed was another sundress for each of us, a onesie for you and an evening gown for me, you know, in case you took me to see Prince Dusk or Princess Luna.”

“I was gonna suggest the Canterlot MiAC,” Cyclone smiled a devious little smile. She knew her lover was teasing, but now she mentioned it, a side trip to Ponyville seemed like a good idea. “But sure, we can head on over to the palace…”

“Ah,” for just the briefest moment, Bluefeather was flustered. That didn’t last, however when she saw the playful wink in her young marefriend’s eye. “Well, that was a joke...but, if you're so bored with me that you want to spend time at the castle, far be it from me to stop you. I do need to change though.”

Cyclone laughed at that, “Okies sweetie...ooh!” realisation came to her with the force of a sonic boom. She put together a thought in her head that she was sure her lover would go for in a heartbeat. “Dusky and his coltfriend adopted this completely GORGEOUS little unicorn colt, I played with him Thursday at the gaming night, you'll love him!”

Bluefeather blushed, wondering if it was a good or bad thing that she was so easy to read. She decided it didn’t matter. The ‘mother’ in her had made up her mind for her already. A chance to meet and chat with one or both of the Senior Diarchy of Equestria or meet Dusk and his little colt. No brainer, every time. “Oh, now that does sound like fun, doesn’t it?” she asked, trying to play it cool.

Cyclone giggled, knowing full well she had the mid grey mare in the sole of her jet black hoof. “I thought that'd get your interest, babes.” She was still smiling, most at Bluefeather’s stuck out tongue, as she got her phone from her bag. “Just let me give him a call, see if they're here or at their new home in Monsterville.”

At that, Bluefeather tilted her head. She didn’t know where Cyclone meant, but it didn’t sound pleasant. “Um…Monsterville?”

“Ponyville. You do know its reputation, right?”

“Ah, yes,” mentally, Bluefeather kicked herself. She should’ve got that. “The home of Princess Twilight and from the news at least, part of the monster of the week club.”

“You got it, babes.” Cyclone smiled and, leaning over the table, she kissed her lover’s beautiful blushing cheeks, feeling the heat on her lips, before she dialled Dusk's private number.

It was Brush Stroke, not Dusk, who answered the call. The blue earth pony artist only knew whom was calling thanks to the caller ID on his special mare’s phone. “Ah, hello, Cyclone?”

Cyclone had to think for a moment, the mix of Trottingham and Manehatten accents threw her for a second. A blink later and she knew who she was talking to. “Yeah Oils, hi, listen me and my marefriend are in Canterlot. Is it okay if we drop in on you and Dusky?”

“We're at home in Ponyville, but sure, you can come on by.”

Bluefeather rested her hoof on Cyclone’s foreleg, supportively. She knew how she felt about flying. “It is but a short flight, my love.”

Cyclone nodded at Bluefeather, resolutely. “Oils, we'll be there soon, mate.”

“Alright Cycl...” Whatever Brush Stroke was going to say was drowned out by a thunderous crashing sound in the background followed by the whooping of a very excited colt as well as the swooshing of flapping wings passing by the phone.

Cyclone and Bluefeather shared blank curious looks. “Err…um, what was that?”

“That,” Brush Stroke sighed deeply, “was Dusky giving Ivory little flying lessons around the great room.”

Trying so very hard not to laugh out loud, Bluefeather quickly put her hooves over her mouth. She would’ve crammed them in, had she been able. Cyclone however was far less delicate when she sniggered. “And the crashing?”

The sigh was still there in the blue earth pony artist’s voice. “Ivory put his fedora over Dusky's eyes and they went through a couple of my canvasses-”

“HAHAHAAA!” Cyclone blurted out laughing, only stopping at the frowning look from her marefriend, though this disapproving look was ruined somewhat by the shaking shoulders. “Ahem, ah, I’m sorry, I mean, that's awful. Very awful. That’s bad, even.”

“I can feel your sympathy, Cyclone.” In spite of that, though, he giggled. And ducked, as his mare flew low over his head, ruffling his yellow and red mane. “Dusky, outside for flying, love! Please!”

“Aah...you seem busy,” Cyclone decided not to keep the artist longer than necessary. “I'll let you go, Oils and we'll see you soon.”

Now, when Cyclone hung up the call, Bluefeather allowed herself to burst out into fits of giggles. “When he said 'giving a unicorn flying lessons' all I could see in my mind was a unicorn javelin!” she laughed so hard that several passing ponies turned to look at her. Not that she cared.

Putting her phone away in her bag, Cyclone erupted in gales of laughter. “Teehee...from the sounds of it, that wasn't far off!”

“Do you want a pony-back ride?” Bluefeather asked gently and, when Cyclone nodded very quickly that yes, she would, the older pegasus crouched down low for her to get on. “Hop on and hold on. It is a downhill flight from here to Ponyville.” When Cyclone was safely on her back, Bluefeather lifted off and flew, not to Ponyville, but to the grand and impressive – it was Canterlot, after all - Manefair Hotel.

When Cyclone gave her a questioning look as they landed, Bluefeather lifted her eyebrow. “I wasn’t joking Cy, about changing my clothes.” She answered, leading the way up to a room she had booked while she had been waiting outside the House of Rest in the cemetery.

Thankfully, as it had been rather a last minute booking, Bluefeather led the way to their room on the first floor. “I believe you, sexy.” Cyclone said as she followed along up the short flight of stairs. Even though this was her home city, fancy hotels were not her thing.

Safely in the room, which was a functional affair with just one Princess sized bed, mauve wallpaper with a filigree gold flower design repeated all along it and gas lighting – it was Canterlot… and even though this was a ‘standard’ room, it still beat anything in Ponyville. Bluefeather swapped the rather plain dress she had been wearing thus far in favour of an evening gown and tied it up for flight. “You good as is, love?”

“Um...yep,” Cyclone looked herself over, pleased to discover that in spite of her indulgence of a lemon tart and coffee, her cream sundress was still clean, and she was even more pleased to find that her nappy was dry. “And, I'm with you, so I'm very good.” She did wonder however, how the soft carpet could be as soft as it was and not be a cloud.

“Time to fly, love, and I'm with you always.” That said, though it wasn’t strictly necessary, Bluefeather trotted over to the balcony through the wide double doors. When her marefriend joined her, she closed them shut, the magnetic strip automatically locking them behind her. Once more, she crouched down for her to climb aboard.

Again, Cyclone climbed on her lover’s back, though this time she was far more careful, given that Bluefeather was wearing a very nice, very delicate and very expensive looking evening gown that looked like it could’ve come straight from Rarity’s boutique. It probably had, for all she knew. “I know,” she said once she was safely secured in place, “and thanks, love.” She playfully nipped at a grey ear.

As she took off from the balcony, quickly leaving the hotel behind, Bluefeather giggled. “Still, too much of that while flying can be hazardous.” Gaining just enough altitude to fly over the streets and houses, the couple flew over the city wall, past the edge of the mountain and onto the long glide down to 'Monsterville', five thousand feet below.

~ ~ ~

It was an easy and uneventful flight from Canterlot down to Ponyville, thanks in no small part to the weather. It seemed only the nation’s capital city and Cloudsdale itself was due for bad weather today. The suburban town was blessed with a lovely late summer afternoon provided by the weather team. They didn’t know, of course, that the town had endured a week of light rain before this. “They do well here,” Bluefeather commented as they flew lower, entering the town, “even with the Everfree weather patterns.”

Cyclone sniggered at that, only now did she look up from her marefriend’s blue mane – from where it had been nestled for almost the entire flight, “Yeah, and the Plundervine incursions, the Parasprites, the Flyders and the Everfree monsters and so on...”

“There is the castle of the Arch-Librarian.” Said Bluefeather, sharply cutting across her before the young pegasus could build up a head of steam. Instead she scanned the ground. “Now, which home is Prince Dusk’s?”

“Um...” now she had been asked, Cyclone tried very hard to cast her mind back to last Thursday and the chat she’d had with Dusk at the gaming night. It wasn’t exactly easy, what with everything that had happened to her since then over the past four days. “Um, Dusky said it was a three storey thatched place near a big lake, with a heart weather vane on top.”

At that, Bluefeather let out an unintelligible mutter under her breath as she looked down at the houses. They were almost all thatched! “Hmph, that narrows it down a very tiny bit. Not!” They were pretty, yes, but still. “Okay, there is the stream and a lake. Seems heart shaped weather vanes is all the rage in this town.” Still muttering, she looked and saw four three storey houses. “It has to be one of those four over there, then.”

“Uh...” Cyclone looked as well, feeling more than a little silly as she did so for not asking the exact address. Or, more likely, she had asked and had now forgotten. “I thought it'd be easy...yow!” she ducked instinctively to Bluefeather’s back as a dark blue blur shoot past just several feet away, rocking them in the wash from a powerful pair of wings. “What in the name of Tartarus was that‽”

Her question was answered mere seconds later when the dark blue blur came around and flew over to them, slowing to a hover. “Hey Cy!” Dusky grinned, a grin which only got wider when Cyclone offered the royal pegasus a rude gesture with her wing. On Dusk’s back was an ivory white unicorn colt with a purple mane whooping with joy. Dusk himself was looking pretty with ‘her’ mane in a ponytail, a yellow summer dress and a blue collar around his neck.

“Dusk!” Cyclone squeaked, the presence of Ivory Wind preventing her from saying what she wanted to say. She settled for, “that wasn't funny!”

Bluefeather didn’t really know what to make of that, her attention was so drawn to the little unicorn colt that she entirely missed the gesture Cyclone had given her friend. At least that spared Cyclone’s ass later. After a moment though, she thought she should be saying something. “Aaah, Prince...Princess, Dusk?”

“Prince, technically, I prefer Princess,” he made a very mare-ish sounding giggle, “though just Dusky is fine, thank you.” The cross-dressing pegasus hovered over and extended a hoof in greeting. “You must be Bluefeather?”

Skilfully, Bluefeather maneuvered in such a way that she could return the hoof bump without dislodging Cyclone from her back. Even though they were only a few feet higher than the houses below them, she didn’t want to risk an injury. “That would be me. So you've heard of me by reputation, or from my passenger?”

“Both,” Dusky answered truthfully, “though Wily and Tempest both spoke about you in glowing terms at the racetrack in Manehatten yesterday, so I looked you up.”

By now, Ivory Wind, nestled safely on Dusk’s back, had gotten quite bored from the several moments of inactivity. “Mamma!” the little unicorn swatted the back of his ‘mother’s’ head with his brown fedora in an attempt to get the pegasus to move. He loved flying, and he loved flying fast. “Do flying 'gain! Do it ‘gain!”

As Ivory now started to bounce encouragingly on his back, Dusk grinned, “And this here is Ivory Wind, our colt.”

“Who is just adorable!” Bluefeather squealed, clapping her hooves together in sheer delight.

“Just a lot,” Dusk smiled, not minding in the least that said colt was now digging his hind hooves into his flanks in an attempt to get him to move again. “Oils and I found him in the orphanage in Trottingham and we just had to adopt him.”

Cyclone sat up on Bluefeather’s back and waved at Ivory Wind, getting his attention. “Hey lil' guy!”

At once, Ivory saw her and waved back, waving his hat in the air. “You da big filly!” he recognised Cyclone from the gaming night when he had played with her spare Power Pony plush, not that he would forget a super big filly like her.

“Anyway,” Dusk smiled warmly, “Oils said you were stopping by, and I remembered your filly didn't ask our address, so I thought we'd fly up and meet you.”

“Very kind of you.” Bluefeather returned the royal pony’s easy, relaxed smile. She was also very quickly reassessing her opinion of royalty, if the midnight blue pegasus’s example was anything to go by. “The ah, the ‘architecture’ in Ponyville is very similar and I didn't want to go knocking door to door.”

“It’s my pleasure, really.” Dusk insisted, “That and Ivory here just loves to fly.” He giggled, “plus if we break another canvas Oils will spank my flank red, so, c’mon.” with that, he turned, leading the way down and across to the largest of the nearby lakes.

Bluefeather followed in an easy glide down to the large heart shaped lake. She was intrigued by what the Prince had just said. “So, you and Cy have that in common?” she asked, referring to the discipline he had just mentioned.

“Being spanked?” asked Dusk with a wide grin, “it's awesome, right Cy?”

“I can't argue there Dusky, though I'll admit the cross-dressing was a new one on me, last Thursday.”

Dusk simply shrugged, his smile firmly in place as he smoothed out the flowing dress he wore with his forehooves. “What can I say? Oils prefers me in a dress, I love him and I'm his mare.”

Bluefeather let out a delighted little squeal at that. “You look adorable too!”

“Thank you,” Dusk performed a polite little bow in mid-air as they flew low over the thatched houses between them and his house. “That's you straight on the Hearths Warming card list!”

Unfortunately Ivory Wind, who had been excited that they were flying again, now saw where they were going. He didn’t like it, one bit. “Mamma I don' wanna land, I wanna fly!”

It was all Bluefeather could do not to have a heart attack from the cuteness, or at the very least she was sure she now had diabetes. This level of cute just shouldn’t be allowed, especially with that old battered hat he wore. It was too much. “Point out your place and we'll wait inside for you,” she offered, not wanting to upset the little unicorn.

Dusk pointed his hoof towards the building up ahead of them. “It's the large one just there, with the light blue walls the same colour as this collar. You can't miss it.” He turned his attention to Ivory Wind, over his shoulder. “You wanna go superfast, sweetie?”

Ivory Wind was practically on the tips of his hind hooves with excitement and he would’ve, too, had he not been warned against doing just that. “I wanna go mega fast!”

“Alright, one rainboom, but don't tell Daddy, 'kay?”

“’Kay!” the promise of going that fast made the ivory white colt bounce all the harder on his momma’s back. He knew of course that Dusk wasn’t his momma, and he knew that the pony underneath him was a stallion, but he also knew – thanks to the delicate talk that Dusk and Brush Stroke had with him – that he liked to wear dresses, so he was momma.

Bluefeather giggled, she just couldn’t resist a tease of her marefriend. “You want to go superfast, Cy?”

“Y-Yes…” Cyclone held on tight, in preparation, “yes I do.”

“Wow...check you out, Cy!” Dusk hoof-bumped his old friend, clearly impressed.

Bluefeather laughed out loud, happy that her teasing mission had been so easily accomplished. She decided to relent before her passenger wet or filled her nappy. “Maybe not so much when she finds out just how slow my 'superfast' is.” At that, she sped up, accelerating towards the three storey light blue walled house.

That was more than fast enough for Cyclone. “Wohoooo!” she held on really tight, for the moment forgetting that her marefriend was wearing a fancy schmancy evening gown. Dusk, alongside them, also sped up, gathering speed until he shot off into the distance, leaving a midnight blue blur in his wake that erupted in a circular rainboom moments later.

A few seconds later, Bluefeather slowed down and landed softly in front of the three story thatched house on the bank of the heart shaped lake. “Cy? How's the nappy, sweetie?”

Cyclone didn’t answer straightaway, for she was panting really hard. “F-Fine...uh...just fine,” she looked up at the sky, where the dark blue concentric rings of the Rainboom still hung, though they were dissipating slowly into nothingness. “Ugh…what a show off,” she scoffed.

Bluefeather patted her marefriend’s head as she slipped her off of her back and untied her dress so that it hung more naturally that the ‘in flight’ position. “Don’t worry, little filly, I'm not that fast. Serves as a good door knocker though, I imagine.” She snickered at her own joke as they approached the, well, rather nondescript, ordinary, looking house. “Like Ivory would have told his dad anyway,” they both laughed at that, before Bluefeather knocked on the plain white wooden door.

Just a few moments later, the wooden door opened to reveal an extremely harassed looking mid blue earth pony stallion with a striking red and yellow mane. Two clean paintbrushes were lodged behind his right ear. Though he did look somewhat stressed, he give have an easy-going smile on his face when he greeted his guests. “Ah, Cyclone, and you’re Bluefeather, I presume.”

“You presume correctly.” Bluefeather curtseyed politely in the open doorway.

“I'm Brush Stroke, but please call me Oils as I like how it rolls off the tongue.”

“Hey Oils, nice to see you again!” Cyclone, as was her manner, greeted the earth pony stallion like they were old friends, not that she’d only met him the once. It was just her way. “Soooo,” she smiled after they exchanged hoof bumps, “how's the canvasses?”

“From earlier?” he asked, a slight twitch in his eye, “Most are in the rubbish, but a couple were just knocked over.” Brush Stroke was just thankful that the canvasses in question were blank and no work on them, otherwise he would’ve made sure that his mare wouldn’t have sat down for a week. “Please,” he said, standing aside, “come on in as I ‘heard’ my Dusky will be delayed.”

Gratefully, Bluefeather trotted inside, quickly followed by Cyclone. She immediately found the house, with its bare lacquered hardwood floorboards and pale blue paint on the walls to her liking. Looking around, the older pegasus fished for a conversation starter. She was still a little flustered from the informal meeting with a royal. “I've seen some of your work at City Hall. I should say Brush Stroke's work. I was confused when Cy called you Oils.”

Not completely insensitive to his guest’s obvious discomfort – it wasn’t that long ago that he himself was flustered meeting his mare’s parents at Caffeinated’s Open Mic Night, after all - Brush Stroke knew how best to solve that. “Drinks?” he offered, “We have a variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.”

‘Yes! Sweet Celestia’s molten flanks yes!’ Bluefeather thought, as she watched the stallion walk over to a rather impressive and well stocked drinks cabinet and bar that dominated one whole side of the great room. What she actually said was, “A beer for me please an IPA if you have it, thank you.”

“I’ll have a red wine, please.” Cyclone requested, as it was by now the late afternoon. No sooner had the last word left her lips than the white wooden door burst open like it had been bucked and Ivory Wind bounded in, closely followed at a slightly slower pace by his ‘momma’.

That did it, as far as Bluefeather was concerned. With the exhuberant entrance of the excited colt waving his adult sized brown fedora all over, the ice was well and truly shattered and she was immediately at ease, in her element, as it were. “Who's the handsome colt‽” Bluefeather squee’d, crouching down low to the floor.

“I am!” Ivory Wind levitated his hat back on his head, stuffing it on top of his shockingly purple mane and ran over to bump hooves with ‘da big filly’s friend’.

Dusk, taking a moment to fix his charcoal grey mane back into its smooth ponytail, walked over to his lover and Master. “Hey, sweetie,” he offered as a starter, gauging whether or not his stallion was still upset about his canvasses.

On the hardwood floor, Bluefeather gave Ivory Wind a hug, once they had exchanged hoof bumps. “I bet you have some cool stuff!”

At the bar, Brush Stroke busied himself with the various drinks; beer for Bluefeather, red wine for Cyclone, a beer for himself and, to show he was no longer cross, he made a virgin moonrise for his special mare. “At least this time you paid attention to Twilight's noise ordinance this time, my love.” He smiled, affectionately nuzzling ‘her’ cheek.

“I has drums!” squeaked Ivory Wind excitedly, suddenly realising that this newcomer hadn’t seen his new drum kit yet. He had to show her! He had to!

Dusk let out a series of very feminine giggles, the nuzzles easing the stallion into his more ‘mare’ persona. “well, after being chewed out by Twilight seven or ten times, even I learn.”

Bluefeather however, only had eyes for Ivory Wind. The little ivory white unicorn, with his too-large hat, was just the cutest thing she had ever seen, second to her Cy in her full on ‘filly mode’, perhaps. “Won’t the drums break the Princess's noise ordinance?” she asked, hoping for a no.

“Oh no, we had a basement put in.” He, now fully a she, winked playfully as she took the drink from Brush Stroke. “It’s fully soundproofed.”

The mother in Bluefeather was in heaven. “Well then, I'd very much like to hear you play the drums, Ivory.”

“I’mma real good! You come see!”

Smiling, Bluefeather took the offered Ponyville beer from Brush Stroke in her wing and she followed Ivory Wind as the little colt led the way to the basement steps. As he watched the strange new mare follow his colt, Brush Stroke had the look of uncertainty of a father watching a strange mare following his colt. Cyclone, oblivious as she was, caught the earth pony’s nervous look. “She's cool, Oils. When I play the foal, Blue is my nanna.”

Dusky took a delicate sip of her drink. “So, you found a playmate at last then, Cy?”

“One of the best.”

Giving the red wine to Cyclone, who like Bluefeather, took the glass in her wing, Brush Stroke hesitated for just a moment. As glowing as the jet black mare’s recommendation was, he still wasn’t wholly convinced. “I like to hear him play too…” he said, taking up his own beer and leading Dusky and Cyclone down the steps to the basement.

“Of course, sweetie.” Dusky smiled. Brush Stroke was never so attractive and sexy to her now than when he was protective and fatherly over Ivory Wind. On the way down the steps though, she couldn’t help but notice Cyclone’s choice of drink. “Red wine, Cy?”

Cyclone stuck out her tongue, pouting playfully. “Shut up, Princess.”

“C'mon, lil’ filly, let's go hear Ivory play,” giggling, Dusky stayed by the stairs and the entrance to the very well-lit basement. No stranger to noisy foals, Bluefeather had chosen a front row seating pad in front of the little raised up stage that held a very impressive drum kit. Cyclone trotted on in and sat to Bluefeather’s right, while Brush Stroke was sat behind the older pegasus and to her left.

Ivory Wind was perched on a large raised up stool, just so he could actually see his audience over the top of his drum kit. Watching, waiting, Bluefeather knew nothing about drums but she knew enough to know that this was not a cheap set up. “I’mma practise this one!” Ivory Wind squeaked and, pushing his hat back, he took up his drumsticks in his magical aura and launched into a five minute drum solo. When he was done, Dusky clapped from the entrance to the basement. “I gots anova one! Can I daddy?”

Brush Stroke, far more at ease with Bluefeather now he had seen her up close, nodded after he took a long sip of his beer. “I think our guests would love another one, Ivory.”

Bluefeather, lost in the performance, clapped her hooves enthusiastically. “Yes I would! Please!”

“Here goes!” with that, and with encouraging cheers from everypony present, Ivory Wind again took up his drumsticks in his magical aura and played. His performance was technical, complex and the young colt never missed a step. Oft times he hit a cymbal or drum without even looking what he was doing. He was one with his equipment. Once the protracted drum piece was over, he was panting hard, the drumsticks dropping from his flickering magic. “Um...I learn me dis, nopony teached it.”

Once the performance was over, Bluefeather clapped her hooves and cheered like she had just watched a performance at Carneighgie Hall. “You are a very talented colt!”

Brush Stroke smiled, deciding as he applauded, that he liked Bluefeather. “Yes, he is, isn’t he?”

Swallowing his innate claustrophobia that threatened to have her black out then and there, Dusky walked into the basement proper, trying not to think about the fact that she was in a fifteen by twenty foot underground space. “You did very well, Ivory!”

Abandoning his precious drums, Ivory Wind trotted over at top speed to Brush Stroke and tackle hugged the earth pony stallion. “Daddy Daddy, you likes? Didya, huh, didya likes?”

Brush Stroke swept up his little colt in a very tight hug, nuzzling him affectionately, cheek to cheek. “Yes love, I liked it very much.”

Bluefeather had at last stopped applauding, lest her hooves become sore. “Brilliant!” she gasped, “That was just brilliant!”

Ivory Wind soaked up the praise like a sponge, seeming to glow as he puffed out his little chest. “Yaaaaay! Can I go pway now, please?”

Dusky beamed, her heart soaring at how happy and loved the little unicorn was. “Of course you can, sweetie.”

“He is a lovely colt.” Bluefeather smiled appreciatively, taking up her beer and enjoying a long sip. “You've both taught him well.”

“You wouldn't think we've only had him just over a week,” Dusky commented as Ivory Wind, given permission to go play, galloped out of the basement and up the steps back to the great room above them.

“A week?” Bluefeather could hardly believe that. “He seems to be very much at home here. I'm truly impressed.”

‘Yes,’ Brush Stroke thought with a self-satisfied smile, ‘I do like her, very much.’ The mid blue artist nodded to Bluefeather, “We do have a lot of support with four Princesses watching over us.”

“Oh yes,” Dusky giggled, her claustrophobia for the moment out of her mind, “The first three nights we had to pry my mum out of here with a crowbar,” she thought of the scene Octavia had made when it had been time for her and Luna to eventually leave, and leaving made her think back to leaving the enclosed space. She shuffled uncomfortably. “Um, love, can we go back upstairs now, please?”

Brush Stroke, catching the unease rife on his mare’s face, nodded immediately. “Of course we can, dearest.”

Smiling serenely, Bluefeather spoke up, thinking back to the Rainboom that Dusky had performed earlier. “I ah, I do hope we aren't interfering with any discipline while we’re here.”

That did make Brush Stroke pause. “Oh, well, now you mention it…” he teased, looking directly at his mare with ‘those’ eyes.

“Yeah, Dusky,” Cyclone chimed in, unable to stop herself, “you was a naughty filly.”

“Love, Sir,” Dusky had a very desperate look on her face now, the space was really starting to get to her, badly. “Please, I really need to be upstairs, like now, then you can punish me.” Dusky was eminently relieved when her stallion nodded and led the way back up, more intent on seeing what his colt was doing than on punishing his mare. Bluefeather wasted no time in following, while Dusky breathed out a sigh of relief. “Th-Thank you…”

The last two to leave, Cyclone followed alongside her old friend. “Hey, ah, you okay, Dusky?”

“Yep!” Dusky exclaimed in a manner most unlike her once they were at the top of the stairs in the great room and she could spread her wings with a sigh. “I am now!” Ivory Wind, oblivious to all this, was happily playing with his Power Pony action figures that nanna Tavi had bought him the moment she found out he liked them.

Bluefeather smiled, “You may play if you ask nicely, Cy.” She said with a huge wink to her marefriend who, she could see, was itching to go play. “It was funny,” the mid grey pegasus turned her attention back to the sweating Dusky, “earlier today, Cy was asking me what I thought about enclosed spaces. She seems to be fine in a tight spot. I'm not real comfortable in the subway, but I do okay in buildings. Kinda interesting, isn't it Dusky?”

Cyclone, like she had been told it was Hearths Warming, asked, “Blue, Oils, is it okay if I please go and play Power Ponies with Ivory?”

Brush Stroke looked to his mare on that one, as she knew Cyclone better than he. “That depends, will you be a very good filly like you were on Thursday?” asked Dusky with a smile.

“Sure I will, Dusky, I promise!”

“Off you go then.” No sooner had she said that, than Cyclone trotted off to play, while Dusky chose to sit on the long couch, inviting Bluefeather to sit as well, which she did, gratefully. Now, at last, the royal pegasus addressed the question. “Um...I really, really hate being enclosed, Blue. Caffy's Dungeon wasn't so bad, it's fifteen feet high…” she trailed off with a pronounced shiver. “Ah, what was Cy talking about?”

Bluefeather smiled once she was comfortably seated with her evening gown. She emptied her beer and placed the glass on the coffee table. “Wanting to play with foal toys or enclosed spaces?”

“The enclosed spaces,” Dusky explained, though the pegasus visibly relaxed now she was on the couch and sipping her expertly prepared virgin moonrise. “We've only spoken about it once, a long time ago.”

Bluefeather considered that for a moment. “There's an earth pony that works at the Manehatten Times offices who has an isolation suit she wears for fun. Cy is interested in that.”

“What‽” Dusky exclaimed, almost dropping her glass as she shuddered, her skin crawling underneath the midnight blue fur at the very thought of that. “I-I ah…” she struggled to regain her former composure, “I know Lavender...ugh...nope!” it was no good. Dusky just couldn’t countenance it.

Bluefeather rested her hoof on Dusky’s foreleg, for the pegasus seemed less like a royal and more real with every passing second. “I've not seen her in the suit, but I agree, it isn't for me. Do you know of Airmail, too?” she asked, deciding it was best to change the subject.

“Oh yes, I know Airmail,” Dusky smiled, draining her glass in the process. She wasn’t blind, she could tell the subject had been changed for her benefit, not that she didn’t appreciate that, or the supportive hoof upon her foreleg. “I was at Caffy's place when they had one of the bondage parties, I watched Lavender in...in that.”

Bluefeather giggled, out of the corner of her eye she was watching Cyclone play, but she wasn’t concerned in the slightest. “I nicknamed Airy, Gopher, because she likes tight places. I think Cy wants to be like her.”

Dusky smiled, in fact she almost burst out laughing. The very thought that the extremely girly Cyclone could in any way be like the cold blooded Airmail amused her no end. “Well, the fear affects us all differently. I'm alright with my wings tied up as long as I can see outside.” She smiled when Brush Stroke sat to her other side and nuzzled her cheek. “We had that talk didn't we love, after you tried the blindfold?”

“I remember Tempest telling me about her wings being tied up.” Bluefeather commented, casting her mind back to a conversation she had with her violet friend. “That was one bad scene that did not end well.”

Dusk shuddered quite violently, for he too remembered a similar discussion with her in the evening of the BDSM night. “Uh...ah...so um, Blue, seeing as Cy is a filly, what happened Sunday?” she fished for a different topic of conversation, though she was glad Brush Stroke was by her side. “We all missed you both at the race.”

Bluefeather chose her next words quite carefully, she didn’t want to upset her lover any more than she already was. “What do you know of Cy's parents?”

Dusky gave the older pegasus a blank look for a moment as she tried to remember anything about Cyclone’s parents. “I know her dad is an executive at Playcolt, that’s about it, really. I only know her mom from what she's told us in the past. She ah, she made it very clear it wasn’t a topic she wanted to talk about.”

Again, Bluefeather chose her words with care. Cyclone may have been a foal right then, but she knew she could still hear her. “Her mom passed away last Thursday. We went to her home in Cloudsdale on Saturday to move her stuff to Cloudhatten. That was when we found out. The viewing was today and the funeral is tomorrow.”

“Oh...oh I am so sorry...um, do you know, was it ah...natural?” Dusky, not expecting to hear news of a death, was rather taken aback and at a loss for what to say, beyond offering her sympathies, which of course, she did.

“Heart failure.” Said Bluefeather, electing not to go into the whole ‘opium overdose’ aspect of it. Besides, she wasn’t lying.

“Oh, I see,” Dusky smiled, “In that case then, I'm glad she has you with her, Blue.”

Bluefeather nodded. “She and Tropical Storm had a long heart to heart at the house of rest, and she is going to work for him.”

“Is she?” Dusky asked, surprised to hear that, though her smile was still in place. “I remember she enjoyed that one shoot she did years back,” as she said, she looked over at Cyclone and her colt playing happily.

Deciding to bring the as yet silent earth pony stallion into the conversation, Bluefeather looked pointedly at Brush Stroke to get his attention. “Did Dusky tell you about Cy's age play?”

“Not in great detail.” Brush Stroke replied, emptying his beer down his throat in one swallow, “I saw her doing that on gaming night at Caffy's place though, she seemed to really enjoy it.”

“I've been the adult in age play for many years now.” Bluefeather commented, she pointed her hoof over to Cyclone, “My little filly is moving in with me.”

“And I hope you're both very happy,” Dusky smiled, “I know Cy loves playing the foal, and she could use some ‘being happy’.”

Bluefeather nodded, “She plays a rather good adult, too.”

“She can turn her hoof to most plays,” Dusky then noticed that they had all emptied their respective glasses and decided she should do something about that. It was improper, after all, for a host to leave a guest waiting. “Would you like another drink, Blue?” When Bluefeather nodded, Dusky quickly provided another beer for her and Brush Stroke, as well as moonrise for herself to enjoy. As she retook her seat on the couch, a though occurred to her. “I wonder, do you have plans for the coming weekend?”

Now, Bluefeather really did have to think about that. After two sips of her beer, she remembered. “At the moment only on Sunday. Storm front to drop one inch of rain over the whole eastern region.”

“Well, Saturday we have Brightstar, Moonbeak and their two kittens over for a playdate if you'd like to come join us?” Dusky offered, with a nod of approval from his partner.

“I'd love to,” said Bluefeather, and she would, too, then she remembered the distances and travel times involved, “but the distance from Cloudhatten to here and back is just too great, I’m sorry.”

“Next time then,” Dusky smiled, unperturbed, taking a sip of her drink.

“Where does this Brightstar and Moonbeak live?” Bluefeather asked, vaguely remembering the names from what Cyclone had told her about her close circle of friends earlier that day. Thought she did have to think hard to remember if Brightstar was the blue or white unicorn.

“They live in Fillydelphia.”

‘Fillydelphia?’ Bluefeather thought, “That’s not far…’ “Well when you have a playdate at their place I'd be happy to come over with Cy.”

“We can easily relocate Saturday to their place if you'd like?” Dusky offered with a giggle, “I know Moonbeak will be happy to not drive.”

“Let me give you my contact info and if it happens we'd be happy to be there.”

“Alright Blue, thanks.”

“No Problem.” Bluefeather then reclined on the couch with her beer and looked around the great room. It was very…normal. She did giggle at that, after what had she been expecting? The house was just that, a house, a home. It wasn’t anything special or ostentatious. “I must say, this is all rather pleasant. I've not had a lot of dealings with royalty. There was the time Princess Celestia visited Manehatten. That was a production. Then Cy told me Princess Luna visited recently and it wasn't even in the papers.”

Dusky giggled out loud, joined by Brush Stroke. “Ah, we are but ponies underneath, though Aunt Tia likes the pomp and circumstance. Mom is more...um...shall we say, ‘spontaneous’.”

Bluefeather accepted that. She found she rather liked having her misconceptions smashed apart by this very down-to-earth couple. “I do know I'll be at Caffy's for the next gaming night.”

“Excellent!” Dusky clapped her hooves together excitedly, “then we'll definitely see more of each other.”

“I'm very comfortable with the foal play that day.” Bluefeather sipped her beer, “Caffy's Open Mic can be fun too.”

“Yes it's ah...definitely interesting, alright…” Dusky, easily recalling the events of the last Open Mic Night, went quiet and elected to just play it safe and sip her moonrise. Bluefeather didn’t need to know the whole story of how she had met Brush Stroke, and how Luna and Octavia had both turned up. Plus, it was nice having somepony who had not heard the ‘Questionnaire Story’ yet.

“If I might ask,” Bluefeather prompted a few minutes later, breaking the comfortable silence, “what prompted you to adopt?”

Brush Stroke kissed Dusky’s cheek at that question. “My lovely mare right here, Blue.”

Dusky blushed a very intense blush indeed, one that appeared on even her dark blue cheeks. “Well, you see, my parents were talking about having another foal, that gave us the idea, and then the other week we flew to Trottingham with Wily, Airmail and Tempest. Along the way Tempest mentioned we'd be good parents and the idea just…stuck.”

“I think the two of you are excellent parents and this is a home filled with love.” Bluefeather had no idea where that came from, it just entered her head and out it came before she could stop herself.

Dusky, thankfully, knew exactly what the older mare meant and nodded with a smile on her face. “Just like you and Cy, I think.”

“Thank you, Cy is a lovely foal to care for.”

“At the risk of sounding like my cousin Cadance, you two complete each other, anypony can see that.”

Bluefeather nodded thoughtfully at that, as she enjoyed her beer in the Prince’s – Princess’s – great room. “It has been less than a week, but I do have high hopes for this one.”

Dusky smiled, “Cadance would say something like, "in order to be together for years you have to be together for a few days" or, something along those lines.” Her smile became a gentle purr then, especially as Brush Stroke chose that moment to tenderly kiss his special mare’s neck, nibbling up to her ear.

“Such a wise pony.”

Dusky giggled, both at her lover’s attention which was now focussed on her ear and at her guest’s comment, “of course, she'd phrase it better, but you get the meaning.”

Bluefeather did indeed get the meaning. She also got, again, how normal and everyday these royals were that they spoke of one another in such an informal manner. She liked it, a lot. “It is the sentiment is what counts. Do you two go to Caffy's on the other big herd night?”

“We've made a note to attend them all,” Dusky replied, getting an affirming ‘hmm’ from her stallion’s muzzle buried in her neck. “The Gaming Night and the Bondage Night, haven't we, love?”

“Yes,” Brush Stroke smiled, coming up for air and earning himself a mewl from his mare at the loss of contact with her collar bone. “It was a concession of mine. You don't go, Blue?”

“No, I've only been to one.” Bluefeather nursed her beer as she answered, “It really isn't my cup of tea, but Cy and I will talk about it. She likes discipline, but I'm not sure I can go that extreme with a foal. As an adult? We'll talk about it.”

Dusky smiled a very wide smile, and not just because her stallion was playfully stroking the base of her wings from behind, though that was a big part of it. “Oils wasted no time at all getting his collar on me,” Dusky leant her head back and kissed Brush Stroke’s cheek, “I love it. It's not for everypony, to be sure, but if Cy's willing to trust you with an Iso suit, try it, you might like it.”

“We will talk about it.” Bluefeather stated definitely as if to say that was that. She had been there the night Mapper tied up Tempest's wings, and that kind of disastrously violent scene left its mark on a pony. She finished off her second beer with a smile though, as it wasn’t a fault of her host. “I wish to thank you both for your hospitality on such short notice. I'm going to need to get flying if we are going to make it back to Canterlot on time for dinner.”

Dusky waved away Bluefeather’s thanks as she finished her drink and set her glass down on the coffee table. “I think Oils will agree you're welcome anytime you're in the area, short notice or not, Blue.” She smiled, “and I know Ivory would love to see his audience again.”

“Quite true,” Brush Stroke nodded, “I support Dusky in this.”

“Thank you, both.” Bluefeather, albeit reluctantly, got up from the very comfortable couch and stretched her legs. “Cy dear, it’s time to say good-bye to your friend.” She called over to where Cyclone and Ivory Wind were still playing, and she took a moment to once more tie up her evening gown for flight.

“Aaaw!” Cyclone whined, though her whine was entirely playful. “Okay,” at the rather stern ‘motherly’ look on Bluefeather’s face, she turned back to her playmate. “I gots ta go now, but we can play 'gain tho, 'kay?”

“Aaaw...'kay Cy!” Ivory Wind beamed, treating Cyclone to a very tight hug, or, as tight as the little unicorn could manage.

Leaning in close, Cyclone whispered, “Hey, Blue loves squeezy hugs…”

Seeing as Dusky and Brush Stroke had also stood, to see out their guests, Bluefeather gave them both a hug. “Until another day.” She sincerely hoped that ‘another day’ came soon. She’d had a remarkably good time, and she was keen to repeat the experience. “Ready for your pony back ride, Cy?”

It wasn’t Cyclone, but Ivory Wind who came galloping over and tackle-hugged Bluefeather as hard as he equinely could. “You gonna come 'gain? Wiv da big filly too?” he asked hopefully.

Bluefeather hugged the little ivory white colt back just as hard as she herself was hugged. “Of course I will, I want to hear my favourite drummer again!”

Ivory Wind was beside himself at that. “I'll learn new song for you!”

Trotting over, Cyclone had a beaming smile all over her face. “I'm ready for my ride babes, hey Oils, thanks for the wine, I appreciate it.”

Once they had been shown to the door by their very gracious hosts, Bluefeather crouched down low on the gravel path outside the three storey thatched house to allow her marefriend to climb aboard her back. “Next stop, Canterlot!”

Eagerly, as if she was the one who was the young four year old and not Ivory Wind, Cyclone vaulted up on her lover’s back and got herself secured. “Hi ho Bluefeather, away!” she declared loudly, earning herself a ‘look’ from her mount as well as looks from several passing townsponies. “That was fun!” Cyclone said as they lifted off and gained altitude, “I had fun, did you have fun?”

“I did,” Bluefeather replied after a moment’s thought, putting more space between herself and the ground. As she got higher, she felt Cyclone tense up, but no more than that. “More than I thought I would with royalty, if I’m honest. Thank you for bringing me here, Cy.”

Playfully, Cyclone licked up her lover’s ear, enjoying the sensation of her shuddering underneath her. “I'll put that in my official 'i told you so' book, and you're welcome, sexy.”

“Ugh, so I don't get out much, okay?” Bluefeather groused good-naturedly over her shoulder. Then, a thought occurred to her, a thought regarding the events held at Caffeinated’s place. She had promised Dusky she would talk about it with Cyclone, and there was no time like the present. “So, Cyclone, what do you think about going to Caffy's bondage night?”

“Okay,” Cyclone was still giggling at her little joke, “Although it is nice to finally have an 'i told you so' book. And, about that, I think it's something I'd like to attend, it sounds like it’s a lot of fun, babes.”

Bluefeather still wasn’t wholly convinced, given her past experience, but she was willing to try, for Cyclone. “Okay, I'll drop a note to Tempest and that should clear the way for us.”

“If you're cool with it and all, that'd be great, y'know, get you out more.”

The eye roll that Bluefeather performed then was audible. She knew she was never going to hear the end of that. “I'm cool with foal sitting, but I take it you'd like to do more?” she asked tentatively, already fairly sure of what her young marefriend’s answer would be.

“Bluefeather, my love,” Cyclone answered, though it was a good few moments later, after she had carefully considered her response, as well as leaving the outskirts of Ponyville behind them. “I'd like to wear that isolation suit we were talking about earlier to the evening, I hear there's a Dungeon and everything. But, we don't have to do that straightaway.”

Just like Cyclone, Bluefeather was quiet as she too considered her reply. Miles passed by them in the meantime. “Let's see how that works out first, hmm?”

“Deal!” A very relieved Cyclone once more kissed Bluefeather’s ear. “Y’know, I think I'd like a shiny red suit though, oooh hey, they might sell a special onesie like that!” Buoyed by how well the afternoon had gone, Cyclone felt particularly brave. The height didn’t seem to matter to her right then and there. She also didn’t care about the storm clouds they were approaching. Smiling, she started to flap her wings and, slowly, very slowly, she separated herself from Bluefeather’s back by a couple of inches, looking dead ahead as she did so. “I can do it...I can do it…”

Bluefeather felt the weight on her back lift off and, without looking, she had a fair idea what her marefriend was attempting. Given that they were at four thousand feet, she considered this extremely brave. She resolved not to ruin this brave moment by being overly zealous with her support. “Just stay steady love and I'll stay under you. You can land any time.”

Cyclone heard that, though of course she did not look down. She had the toe of her left forehoof touching Bluefeather’s back but she didn't look down. “I-I trust you, love.”

“And I'm very proud of you, but stay safe for the both of us.”

“Uh...y-yeah,” in spite of her resolve to not look down, as they banked and changed direction, she accidentally caught a glimpse of the ground far below, a very, very long way below. Too far below. “AaaAH! N-Nope!” Instantly, she dropped carefully back down to Bluefeather’s back.

Bluefeather glided until she was sure Cyclone had a firm grip on her back. She was certain of this as she could feel her shivering and quaking in place. “Well done love, very well done, Cyclone. I’m proud of you.” With that, the mid grey mare continued her steady climb up towards Canterlot.

“I did it!” The brevity of the seconds long flight didn’t matter one iota to the jet black pegasus. The fact that she had flown at all, particularly at altitude, was enough for her. For now. “I did it! Well, for a bit, anyway.”

“You did!” Bluefeather clapped her hooves together, applauding Cyclone’s frankly heroic effort. “You know, if you peek over my left ear you can see the palace straight ahead with the early evening sun shining on the towers.”

Very carefully, Cyclone did indeed peek over her marefriend’s left ear. She saw the palace. She saw the sunlight glistening off the gilded towers. She knew what that meant. She was practically giddy with excitement. “But…But that means, it means, we're at about five thousand feet!”

“That sounds right.” Bluefeather nodded thoughtfully. She wasn’t sure of the exact height of the capital city, but she knew it was halfway up the mountain, and that was ten thousand feet high. “I wanted to finish the climb so I could take it easy getting there.”

Cyclone giggled, “I flew! At five thousand feet!”

“Not a lot of difference from five feet if you're not looking down.” Bluefeather offered supportively.

“Yeah, I guess you're right babes,” Cyclone leant forward just a little bit and kissed the back of the older mare’s head as they passed over the boundary wall and into the very outskirts of the city. “Know what? I think you might just cure me yet.”

“Not of everything, I hope, my little filly.”

“Nah, not everything, just the fear of heights thing.”

“Good, I'd miss my little filly, but I'll still welcome the big mare.”

“Oh, you definitely got the best of both, my love!” Cyclone giggled, feeling distinctly braver now that the ground was raised up as they flew together over the city. She kissed her ear, “Hey, when I was playing with Ivory, I heard you and Dusky talking about Brightstar and his kittens.”

Bluefeather nodded, smiling ruefully as she was going to bring this topic up, but was beaten to it, just a bit. “They do playdates together. I'm guessing they are the same age as Ivory?”

Cyclone had to think about that for a moment. “Um...Zephyr is three I think, and Athena is about five. When we land I'll show you a picture from my phone.”

“Okay, that sounds good.” Bluefeather responded, flying low and slow over the city, “So when they have the playdate in Fillydelphia I said I could bring you to play with them.”

The moment she heard that, Cyclone let out a delighted little squee. “You did? You said that? Oh Blue that’s so cool! They're both fun to play with, and Athena is such a big sister, too.”

“Have you played with all three of them before?”

“Once,” Cyclone answered quickly, “Thursday was the first time that I've played with little Ivory - isn't he sweet? – and, I've played with Bright and Moony's kittens a few times before at their place in Filly.”

Without realising it, Bluefeather had slowed her flight in what remained of the evening light, which wasn’t much, given the storm clouds, to almost a hover. “Sweet was watching you interact with him.” She said with a smile, revealing that she been watching, if not concerned. “He did take a shine to you.”

“Yeah he did, you just gotta know his games.” Cyclone hugged her marefriend tight, because Ivory Wind’s games had almost been heartbreaking. “Most of his scenarios revolve around the Masked Matter Horn being abandoned.”

Again, Bluefeather found the depths of her limited Power Pony knowledge being plumbed. “That's the leader one, right?”

“Yep. She's his favourite. Then, these other two ponies show up and rescue her. Usually it’s Zapp and Mistress Marevellous. It's pretty 'on the nose' stuff.”

“Was Radiance part of the rescue team?”

Cyclone smiled in such a way that Bluefeather could hear it in her voice. “Well, she is now he knows I like her.”

That was what Bluefeather was aiming for. That was what she had in mind, alright. Hearing that confirmed though, she leant her head back and nuzzled Cyclone’s cheek. “Well done indeed, Cy. You should be proud, getting his trust like that.” She then checked her watch and saw that they had just less than an hour until their dinner date with Cyclone’s family. “So, where’s your dad’s place?”

As they were skimming just a few feet higher than the rooftops, Cyclone felt very brave indeed in looking down and giving directions. “Ah, right, you want the noble quarter of the residential district - the one with the poshest houses and villas,” she then proceded to give her marefriend her dad’s address. “You really can’t miss it, it's a huge red roofed one story villa, with two outdoor pools.”

“Two?” an impressed Bluefeather asked with a giggle as the first few drops of rain hit her blue mane. “My oh my, will he think I'm a gold digger?”

“You can dig for my gold any time you like,” Cyclone giggled, burying her face in her lover’s mane at what she had said. “I’m sorry, that was awful, I know. But, only three quarters of the space is for living in. the other rooms and one pool are for photo and DVD shoots.”

“Ah, quite the business stallion then.” Bluefeather responded, noticeably speeding up when she felt a few more, bigger, drops of rain hit her wings. “It has been too long since I was last in Canterlot. I assume the Noble District is just outside the palace gates?”

“Yeah,” Cyclone made an indifferent sniff, “it makes the nobles or the wealthy feel more important than they are.”

At last, Bluefeather dropped below the level of the rooftops and followed the cobbled streets and the signs to her destination. Below her she could see the insistent rain start to discolour the road surface. Thankfully, as she turned left then right after a straight, she could see their destination. “That must be the place, yes?”

Cyclone saw the rather large palatial single storey villa come into view and nodded. “Ooh yes, that's the place alright,” she giggled a little as the falling rain hit and tickled her ears. “As we're early, you now we'll get the whole tour, right?”

“As long as that tour includes your foal book, I don’t mind.”

Cyclone slumped on her marefriend’s back. “Oh...oh it will, trust me he's kept eeeeeevery photo, and Aunt Ribbon will be there, she’ll make sure you see every photo…”

“Good, the more embarrassing, the better!” Bluefeather giggled as she landed on the well cared for garden path inside the white picket fence.

Very quickly, thanks to the rain, Cyclone slid off of Bluefeather’s back and walked under the wide overhanging front porch. “I cannot be embarrassed, I'm with you, silly.”

“That's the spirit. Should I ring the doorbell?” Bluefeather asked, although, spurred on by the rain suddenly getting a lot worse, Bluefeather leapt forwards under the porch and slammed her hoof insistently into the door, foregoing the bell.

Chapter 10 - Family

At last, Bluefeather dropped below the level of the rooftops and followed the cobbled streets and the signs to her destination. Below her she could see the insistent rain start to discolour the road surface. Thankfully, as she turned left then right after a straight, she could see their destination. “That must be the place, yes?”

Cyclone saw the rather large palatial single storey villa come into view and nodded. “Ooh yes, that's the place alright,” she giggled a little as the falling rain hit and tickled her ears. “As we're early, you now we'll get the whole tour, right?”

“As long as that tour includes your foal book, I don’t mind.”

Cyclone slumped on her marefriend’s back. “Oh...oh it will, trust me he's kept eeeeeevery photo, and Aunt Ribbon will be there, she’ll make sure you see every photo…”

“Good, the more embarrassing, the better!” Bluefeather giggled as she landed on the well cared for garden path inside the white picket fence.

Very quickly, thanks to the rain, Cyclone slid off of Bluefeather’s back and walked under the wide overhanging front porch. “I cannot be embarrassed, I'm with you, silly.”

“That's the spirit. Should I ring the doorbell?” Bluefeather asked, although, spurred on by the rain suddenly getting a lot worse, Bluefeather leapt forwards under the porch and slammed her hoof insistently into the door, foregoing the bell.

After a few seconds, which felt like an eternity which was punctuated by the staccato tattoo of the pounding rain that suddenly began pounding off of the ground, coming down so hard that it bounced off of the floor, the front door opened, revealing Tropical Storm standing in the doorway. “She followed me home.” Bluefeather said before the black stallion could utter a word. “Can I keep her?”

For a long moment, which would have been silent were it not for the thunder and lightning that now split the early night sky, Tropical Storm blinked, looking back and forth between Bluefeather and Cyclone. Then, the bit dropped in his head and he smiled. “That depends, is she house trained?”

“I don't think so,” Bluefeather replied, rubbing her chin with her hoof – she was also very glad of the low overhanging porch for enabling this banter, “but I put a nappy on her, just in case.”

Tropical Storm smiled at that. It was one of the few actual smiles that he had smiled that day. He could count the genuine smiles on his hooves. He hoped his puffy bloodshot eyes didn’t stand out too much. “You may as well keep her, then.” He would have followed that up with another snarky comment, but a long line of lightning forking across the darkened sky prompted him to do otherwise. “Please come on in.”

Stood by her marefriend’s side, also extremely glad to have the porch there, Cyclone playfully rolled her blue eyes. “Oh gee, thanks for the vote of confidence dad, I love you, too.”

Tropical Storm just laughed at that, along with Bluefeather, and he led them both, daughter and marefriend, into his villa. Inside was soft quilted cream carpets, royal blue and purple wallpaper adorned with gold fleur de lys and the cutie marks of the Princesses. The black pegasus stallion led the way down the hall to the great room where Royal Ribbon and her brother Royal Pin waited, seated on faux leather couches, the luxurious room illuminated by several large gas lights.

“Still a few minutes till dinner.” Royal Ribbon, dressed in an evening gown and tiara that had come straight from Canterlot Boutique courtesy of Sassy Saddles, smiled by way of greeting, nodding politely to her niece and her companion.

“Join us in here and we can chat.” Royal Pin – dressed in a white dress suit with black tie, smiled an easy, relaxed smile, offering Bluefeather a polite little bow of welcome.

“Ooh thanks uncle Pin,” Cyclone ran over the soft fluffy Saddle Arabian carpet and hugged her aunt and uncle. As she was wearing a very simple sundress, she felt quite underdressed, but she didn’t dwell on that for very long. She was hungry. “Hey, what're we having?”

“Fettuccine al fresco with roasted vegetables.” Royal Ribbon answered before her brothers could take credit for doing more than just the prep work. Because she knew they would. “With summer flower salad and vinaigrette dressing.”

Royal Pin shared an eye roll with his brother, and Tropical Storm snorted out a barking laugh. “We did the dessert. It’s a crème brulee with cinnamon and vanilla sprinkles.”

“Aww!” Cyclone beamed, “that's why you're my favouritest aunt and uncle ever!”

As Royal Ribbon, Royal Pin and Tropical Storm all burst out in fits of giggles, some of the tension of the arduous day melting somewhat, thanks to Cyclone’s antics, Bluefeather spoke up, voicing a thought that had occurred to her. “Does my foal have any cousins?” she asked, taking a vacant seat on the couch.

“I do,” Cyclone answered before her aunt had the chance. She joined Bluefeather on the couch opposite her family. “There's Four Step and Purple Wave. They’re Aunt Ribbon's mares. Fine Line is Uncle Pin's stallion.”

Bluefeather welcomed her lover next to her and she leant in to deliver a soft loving kiss to her marefriend’s cheek and her ear. “Have they played with their little cousin?”

“Well,” Cyclone said hesitantly, returning the kiss she was given with one of her own. There was a hesitance in her voice that everypony seated in the great room picked up on immediately. “Purple Wave and Fine Line have, but Four Step refuses to acknowledge that side of me.”

Bluefeather knew instinctively what that hesitance meant. “I love that side of you. What do you think of that side of her, Tropical Storm? I'm putting that one photo spread in my office at the weather factory.”

“I'm not going to change her,” Tropical Storm replied, “and there hasn't been any harm done by it for some time.”

“Thanks, dad,” Cyclone smiled. A moment later however and her smiled disappeared, to be replaced by a sad sigh. “Four Step basically thinks I should've been sent down for what happened four years ago.”

Bluefeather was about to answer when she saw Royal Ribbon nudge her brother’s shoulder and Royal Pin, with a nod, left the great room for the kitchen. Tropical Storm left with him. “The truth is, Cy, I would think the same thing at first glance. You were very foalish that day.”

As the sounds – and smells – of food being prepared and plated up came wafting to them from the kitchen, Cyclone took a few minutes to reflect on that. She should have been sentenced. She always thought her banishment from the nation’s capital as too lenient. Perhaps that was why she refused to see Zecora for a cure to her incontinence. “You'll get no argument from me, you know that, Blue.”

“Dinner is served, good fillies.” Royal Pin announced roughly ten minutes later, breaking a silence that was only accentuated by the roiling tempest outside. Even through the closed drapes they could see the flashes of lightning and hear the rain that lashed at the windows.

Royal Ribbon, as hungry as her niece, needed no further encouragement. She stood from her couch and, once Cyclone and Bluefeather were stood, she led the way to the finely appointed dining room. “We live and learn Cyclone. Anypony here says they've never done anything stupid, I'll call them a liar.”

Cyclone smiled, her spirits lifted just a little. Maybe her aunt wasn’t as bad as she remembered. Then again, it had been a year or two since she had seen her. Ponies changed. “Thanks, aunt Ribbon.”

“Well, I guess I'm still learning…” Bluefeather giggled, though this giggle was there to cover her amazement at the sheer luxury of the large dining room she found herself in. Two tone cranberry red and cream wallpaper was separated in the centre by a black divider that bore the same fleur de lys pattern as the décor in the hall. Three huge gas lit chandeliers lit up a polished oak dining table and matching seating pads.

‘Sweet Luna’s sainted cutie marks…’ Bluefeather thought, ‘There are two hoof restaurants in Manehatten that aren’t as lush as this!’ Carefully, she walked over the immaculate carpet and took a vacant seating pad next to Cyclone as Royal Pin levitated in all the food from the kitchen. Tropical Storm sat at the head of the table, while Royal Ribbon sat opposite her niece and used her magic to pour one hundred and fifty year old Canterlot wine into crystal glasses.

“What do you do in Manehatten, Bluefeather?” Royal Pin asked politely once he had set out all the food onto the dining table and took his seat next to his sister.

‘Nothing succeeds like excess, alright…it’s like the palace!’ Bluefeather thought, 'But, then again, I was in the Prince’s own house, and it was nothing like this!’ And it was true, wasn’t it? Dusky’s house, while obviously well-to-do, and been nothing compared to the lavishness on display here. ‘Is this typical of Canterlot housing?’ Suddenly aware that she hadn’t answered, and that five sets of eyes were looking at her, Bluefeather blushed and replied, “I manage the weather factory in Cloudhatten.”

“She's a very important pony!” Cyclone spoke up as her dad gave a motion with his hooves that they should start eating. “I was gonna go work for her.”

Royal Ribbon raised her eyebrow, her loaded fork paused millimetres from her mouth. “Was? Why, surely you aren't going to move in and not work, Cyclone?”

Thankfully, as the storm continued outside, Tropical Storm came to his daughter’s rescue. “She has agreed to work for me, Ribbon.” He said, taking a rather large mouthful of his fettuccini and roasted vegetables.

Bluefeather hadn’t tried her food yet, she was sampling some of the best wine she had ever tasted. “Which means I'll have more photos for my office decorations.” She added with a wink at Cyclone and her dad.

“How long have you been trying to get her, Storm?” Royal Pin asked his brother once he had swallowed his mouthful of salad.

“One doesn't give up.”

“I stopped counting when the attempts went past twenty,” Cyclone snickered at her dad’s comment, while Royal Ribbon simply rolled her eyes, deciding it was best to keep her tongue. “I gave in because I want Blue to have the best decorated office ever!”

“So,” Royal Pin returned his attention to his niece’s marefriend, “you're in charge of Manehatten weather?”

Bluefeather considered that for a moment as she swirled the wine around in her mouth. “In truth, I'm in charge of seeing the weather that the Mayor and City Council want, happens.” She hoped that made as much sense coming out as it did to her in her head.

“A big responsibility,” Tropical Storm complimented her, “How long have you been in charge?”

“I'm on my seventh year or two years into my second tour.”

Cyclone leant in and gave Bluefeather a really big hug. “That's my awesome mare!”

“Cyclone, dear,” Royal Ribbon decided to be as delicate as she could, “wouldn't you rather work with Bluefeather?” ‘Instead of being a model and getting rutted for money,’ she thought, finishing her sentence in her head. It wasn’t seemly for such things to be said out loud at the dinner table.

“The job is a low level position,” Bluefeather explained, looking Royal Ribbon dead in the eyes, though she understood where the middle aged unicorn mare was coming from. “And, it is not a requirement for me. I just wanted to let her have an option when she moved out east.”

Royal Ribbon sniffed and contented herself with attacking her salad like it had wronged her. “Well, I suppose, as long as you are both happy…” she smuttered.

“Aunt Ribbon,” Cyclone let out a most unbecoming snort of breath, “Blue isn’t my keeper!”

“Oh, is that true my little filly?” Bluefeather asked, a giggle in her voice, “More like I'm not your owner, I think.”

“I wouldn't complain,” Cyclone giggled as she grew quickly tired of arguing with her aunt and instead took a mouthful of her fettuccini and salad.

“This is a lovely salad!” Bluefeather exclaimed, picking up on the underlying tension in the room, she was determined to do something about it. “And the pasta smells delicious!”

Cyclone, not the most emotionally attentive of mares, knew she had gone a wee bit too far. There was no need to fight, especially not today. “Um, it really is nice, aunt Ribbon.”

Now, it was a well-known fact, known well to those who knew it, that Royal Ribbon had an ego. It was also a fact that Royal Ribbon had, in her younger days, trained under the Princess’s own personal chef when she had left Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. Although she hadn’t owned a restaurant in a good few years, it still stroked her ego when her cooking was praised. “Well, thank you both, very much.”

“Sadly, I'm not the best cook.” Bluefeather continued, “I tend towards simple dishes.”

Royal Ribbon snickered playfully, now she was disarmed, her mane – and her guard - was coming down.”Then, you have something in common with Storm and Cyclone,” she said, giving both black pegasi a very pointed look.

“I can work a microwave,” Cyclone shrugged unapologetically, “and there's always the hayburger place.”

“Oh my,” Bluefeather almost purred like a kitten when she had swallowed another mouthful, “well I'm a step above that, but this meal is still beyond my skills.”

Cyclone nudged her dad’s elbow, “We keep her around because she feeds us, right dad?”

“No,” Tropical Storm gently corrected his daughter, “she feeds us because she loves her little brother.” He delivered this line so innocently and unexpectedly that Royal Pin snorted into his crystal wine glass, sending its contents over the table.

As her brother hastily used his own magic to clear away the spilled wine and refill everypony’s glass, Royal Ribbon gave Tropical Storm a withering stare so potent it could’ve stripped the bark from a Timberwolf at a thousand paces. This look continued until all three siblings burst out into gales of laughter. “Hmph, somepony has to feed you something other than burgers, Storm,” Royal Ribbon snarked.

“Aww,” Cyclone giggled, clapping her hooves together, “you love him really!”

Bluefeather smiled, “Thank you, all of you.”

That caught Royal Ribbon’s attention. “Oh, for what?”

“For being family in front of me.”

Shovelling in a large bite of salad, Cyclone giggled, “We don't do airs and graces, really.”

Royal Ribbon smiled sweetly at Bluefeather. “Well, if you can't be yourself, it's a pretty poor show.”

Bluefeather couldn’t help but look around at the most luxurious dining room she had ever been in outside of a multi hoof restaurant and it struck her, then, that this was the norm for the Noble District. “I've been to too many functions where the pony I'm talking to isn't the pony I know,” Bluefeather explained, and it was true here. While there was excess on display, there was nothing over the top, nothing disingenuous or fake. She liked that.

“I understand,” Royal Ribbon seemed to read Bluefeather’s mind. She waved her hoof dismissively in the air as she ate, her fork held in her magic. “Take the Grand Galloping Gala for instance, as an example.” Now there, there were the epitome of fake shallow nobleponies pretending to be something they were not.

“Ohh, you've been?” Bluefeather asked, wine on her tongue at the mention of the Gala, only the biggest most well-known social event in Equestria. “That had to be fascinating. My last trip to Canterlot was three years ago when the Everfree weather pattern went crazy again.”

“I haven't been,” Cyclone huffed, and she never would go either, but it wasn’t like she even wanted to go, right? Right? “Um, aunt Ribbon has, been a few times.”

“I run a couple of charities, Bluefeather,” Royal Ribbon explained in answer to the mid grey pegasus’s questioning look. “Princess Celestia allows tickets to one of them.”

Bluefeather was liking these ponies more and more by the moment, it seemed. While they seemed lavish at first, they really were not. “I like the idea of ponies helping ponies. I participate in some charities in Manehatten, but I don't run any. That is a full time effort.”

Royal Ribbon smiled, “it is no effort.” She said, self-deprecatingly, to say her work was an effort was slightly in error. She considered it her duty, as she was in a privileged position to help. So, she helped. “I run the Canterlot Invasion Veterans Association.”

Bluefeather shuddered, “We were fortunate that the defenders did so well and the threat the Changelings posed never made it outside this city.”

“Indeed so.” Royal Ribbon raised her full glass in a silent toast, which the others copied, “those who fought are the ones who made the effort, both in the military and the civilians.”

“A very worthy cause.” Bluefeather commented sombrely, taking a little sip of her wine.

“Sad though after this much time the charity is still needed.”

Cyclone nodded at her dad’s comment, though her attention was somewhat diverted by the crème brulee on the dining table next to her three quarters empty plate. Tentatively she dug in, pleased she wasn’t told to do otherwise. “You're right, dad.” She said thickly.

“True,” Royal Ribbon said with a sad little smile, “I'm just happy so many ponies still donate to it, though more would, I'm sure, were I more selective.”

“I don't think time really matters after such a traumatic event.” Bluefeather added after she had followed Cyclone’s example and attacked her dessert, “Plus, I'd rather a charity saw to the needs of those affected then using taxes to do so. There is more meaning in giving than taking.”

“Hmm,” Tropical Storm mused over his third glass of wine, “and I was thinking the government should be doing more. I concede your point.”

“I'm glad you agree, Bluefeather.” Royal Ribbon then chose her words extremely carefully, for she wasn’t sure where Cyclone’s marefriend’s politics or loyalties lay, just yet. “I also run its sister charity, the Changeling Integration Trust, which as you can imagine, is less well received.”

Cyclone patted her aunt’s foreleg supportively. “It's still important work though, aunty.”

Bluefeather tapped her chin in thought, racking her brain. “No, I don't think I've heard of that one.”

“Not all Changelings are evil.”

“Quite right, Storm.” Royal Ribbon nodded to her younger brother over the dining table. “And Bluefeather, I'm not surprised you haven't heard of that one,” she paused and sighed, “it's forever being opposed.” As she was talking about her charity, the light of the chandelier overhead gave her a slightly manic look on her face. “Captain Starbright, formerly of the medical corps, is always lobbying the Princesses to shut it down and have its supporters banished or imprisoned. Or both.”

Bluefeather ignored the ‘glint’ in her host’s eye. She was still processing what she had heard. “So, there are Changelings still in Equestria?”

“Oh yes, I liase regularly with a representative for them from each major city, from Vanhoover to Trottingham, from Las Pegasus to Baltimare,” she sighed, setting aside her own dessert. “If that Starbright had his way there would be a mandatory public register and they'd be marked with enchanted brands.”

“What? They can't do that, surely?” Cyclone asked, “um, can they?”

Still, Bluefeather was struggling with the revelation. “So there are changelings in Manehatten?”

Her mind full of a terrible possible future where families turned on families and Changelings were marked and branded and either killed or rounded up into slave camps, Royal Ribbon shuddered. “There are, yes. And Cy, to answer your question, dear, I fear he might get his way eventually, seeing as his adopted son is dating your friend, Prince Dusk.”

“Wow,” Bluefeather puffed out her cheeks and exhaled noisily, letting it all sink in. “I will say it is a well-kept secret. So, that means that Changelings are blending in well. Cy, I don't think Brush Stroke talked about his family…” she looked to Royal Ribbon, “We were visiting him and Dusky earlier today.”

“No he didn't, did he?”

“They are blended, integrated, whatever term you prefer, contributing members of our society.” Royal Ribbon sniffed, while Royal Pin and Tropical Storm busied themselves with eating their desserts. They knew better than to interrupt their sister when she was on her soap box. “That they remain hidden is their choice, out of fear of undeserved retribution, mostly.”

Bluefeather giggled, mostly at how conspicuously the two stallions were keeping their heads down. “I love how politics can creep into any discussion. So, Dusk and I have a mutual friend in Cy, but more important in Caffienated. A well respected zebra in Manehatten.”

That certainly did pique the unicorn mare’s interest. “You know Caffeinated as well?”

Cyclone, wanting to be part of the conversation, spoke up, “I met him Thursday.”

The unicorn smiled, all thought of dessert gone as she favoured her wine. “He deserves to be respected. He's a very sweet zebra.”

“How'd you know him, aunt Ribbon?”

Royal Ribbon shook her head. “Oh, I don't know him personally, but I know his father and mother in law quite well.”

“You are a mare in the know!” Bluefeather smiled and silently requested that Royal Pin refill her wine glass, which he did for everypony. He then surreptitiously stole his sister’s untouched crème brulee, along with a spoon for himself and his brother to share it. “My goodness you know Griffons, too?”

“I'm afraid I don't know many Griffons.” The unicorn replied, making a mental note to put salt in her brother’s coffee for thinking they could steal her dessert unnoticed. “Mr. Baron and Ms. Snowfall are big contributors to my charities.”

“They are a sweet couple.” Bluefeather commented, passing her thoughts regarding Baron and Snowfall. “Prince Dusk invited us to join him in a play date in Fillydelphia. One of Cy's friends, Brightstar, lives there and he has married a griffon with kittens...What was her name, Cy?”

“Moonbeak, babes.”

“Moonbeak...Moonbeak...hmm, no, it doesn't ring a bell.” Royal Ribbon mused out loud, feeling a little ‘happy’ after draining her third wine. She reached for more. With her hoof, not her magic. “I'll have to ask ambassador Gilda next time we meet at the palace.”

“To the point,” Bluefeather pressed on, “would you like some influence used on Prince Dusk, and possibly Brush Stroke too, to impress the idea of Changelings blending into our society...I thought they could only impersonate ponies...”

Almost absent mindedly, Royal Ribbon nodded, her guest was right, in that regard. “Oh, I'd love for them to have some positive influence, really I would!”

“Do the ponies they are impersonating know they are being impersonated?” Bluefeather asked, the three glasses of wine assisting in lowering her inhibitions enough to be able to ask.

“Those that are being impersonated, yes. There are sympathetic ponies all over the land. Sometimes however the Changeling can create a whole unique persona to live under.”

“Not to put a damper on this,” Bluefeather held up her hoof, “but, even with my clearance, is this something you should be talking about?”

“You’re quite right to ask, of course,” Royal Ribbon replied with a wry grin, “although I have been careful to not go into sensitive details, I do hope you understand why?”

Cyclone giggled playfully behind her hoof, thanks to her consumption of the really good wine. “Teehee, it sounded like you were recruiting us, aunty Ribbon!”

Bluefeather joined her young lover in her giggles, “I can see it now, Equestrian Sneakret Service. So special it’s a sneaky secret. I do understand though, yes, and I was worried you may go too far.”

“Ah, pfft,” the unicorn mare waved her hoof in the air, “More bodies to the cause never hurts,” she giggled like a filly a fifth of her age, “but I apologise for the hard sell act.”

“It is fascinating though!” Bluefeather exclaimed, “I never knew, nor do I think it is something I'm going to spread. Does Baron and Snowfall know all about it, them, everything?”

“Oh yes,” Royal Ribbon nodded enthusiastically. So enthusiastically that some strands of her nicely coiffured mane came loose and hung over her eyes. “Yes, they do. They are very sympathetic to the Changeling plight. They, like me, see both sides of the coin.”

“This is rather exciting!” Bluefeather felt really quite giddy, like she was in a LeCarre spy novel. “Mild mannered weather pony during the day, and inter-species coordinator at night!” She giggled as she pulled a particularly heroic pose on her seating pad at the dining table. “I can't promise anything, but I think your cause is worthwhile, too.”

Royal Ribbon giggled, she rather liked this newcomer. She hoped that she would continue to be a good, positive influence on her niece. “Why, thank you Bluefeather, we appreciate your support, however you give it.”

Cyclone couldn’t help but feel rather left out of all this. “Hey! I support you too, y’know!”

Noticing that said niece was starting to slur, just ever so slightly, and that her two brothers were starting to swap dirty limericks – Tropical Storm opening with the ‘Mare That Came From Nantucket’, Royal Ribbon tweaked the black pegasus stallion’s ear with her magic. Thankfully, he got the message. “Cy,” he said loudly, getting her attention, “could you come to my office, please?”

“Oh, sure thing, dad!”

Bluefeather tapped her lover’s shoulder with her hoof. “You need me, love?”

“Nah sexy, I'm good,” Cyclone shook her head, feeling happy, warm and buzzed. “You talk to aunt Ribbon, I can see you're her new bessie friend.”

As Cyclone and Tropical Storm both left the dining room together, side by side, Royal Ribbon led her brother and Bluefeather back through to the great room for after dinner coffees and conversation. “No hard sell.” The unicorn smiled sweetly as she ushered her brother to sit. “I promise just coffee.” ‘And you’ll like yours, Pin, I’m sure…’ she grinned an evil grin.

“You don't have to do this for me, Cy.” Tropical Storm said the moment the door had closed on his office, which was a large rectangular room with wood panelling and several filing cabinets. There was also a finely carved desk upon which rested something that could best be described as an organised mess.

“I'm not dad, doing it for you, I mean.” Cyclone clarified as she sat down on the seating pad opposite her dad. “I'm doing it for me. It's a cool job, I enjoyed the last shoot I did.” Even if it was four…something years ago.

Nodding, apparently satisfied at that, Tropical Storm reached into the second drawer down on the left side of his desk and, without looking, he pulled out a short stack of papers. “This is the standard Playcolt contract. Read it. It will protect both of us. This contract is for photos only, but they do become property of the Playcolt division. There is a fair use clause for yourself, so you can hang a picture in Blues office.”

Reaching into another drawer, with practised ease he pulled out some more papers. “This is a video contract. Something else to read and think about. Again, anything produced will belong to Playcolt.”

“Okay, cool.” Cyclone looked at the stack of neat paperwork and couldn’t help but feel sorry for the tree that produced it. She was glad she had Bluefeather to hoof to look over these, as she was next to useless with contracts. “I'm interested in doing video stuff, and you already know Blue wants to decorate her office.”

“Read the contracts.” Tropical Storm tapped the papers with his hoof for emphasis. “Have a lawyer check them out. You can decorate Blue's office. She can't take the works and decorate her own office with them.”

“I will dad,” Cyclone took up the contracts and dumped them in her saddle bag. Bluefeather would love them, she was sure. Maybe. “So, what kind of thing did you have in mind for me? I mean you've been after me for ages, you must have some things lined up.”

“Other than the chase?” He answered her, then he flinched instinctively when they heard the anguished sound of Royal Pin screeching as he drank his salted coffee. “Your return to the magazine is high on the list. I’m planning a sort of ‘what happened to’, type spread, as well as a few pictures.”

“That’s cool, Blue expressed an interest in an updated version of my old spread.” Cyclone thought out loud, trying not to laugh as she wondered what her uncle had done to warrant a screech like that, that could be heard through interior walls. “Although, I can do other adult stuff for you too.”

“Getting to that. I'm still doing photography, but a staff photographer will be assigned to you.” Tropical Storm explained, trying to remain business-like and not laugh at his brother’s misfortune. He definitely did not laugh. Much.

“Alrighty dad,” Cyclone smiled as she channelled her friend, “That all sounds good so far.”

“Pay isn't bad either, even if that isn't a motivator.”

“Okay, well, kinda daft question time, do you expect me to be rutted?”

Tropical Storm had been expecting that question, at least. “If that is what you want, and only if that is what you want.” He couldn’t over state or emphasise that point enough. “Should you be required to do something you don't want to do there is an out in the contract. If you use the out, then you are very much out. That said, my bosses aren't idiots. You will be asked first.”

Cyclone nodded thoughtfully. That did sound great, and all, but she knew what she wanted to do. If she was doing this, then she was doing it properly. No half measures. “Well, I figure those are the jobs that pay the best, right? Plus, I also figure there's an added security working with you on this, I mean you aren't gonna pair me up with somepony who doesn't know a crop from a paddle or their plot from their elbow, right?”

“I'll do what I can,” now, Tropical Storm became absolutely, deadly serious. “Cyclone. You do need to come to me if there is anything bothering you. Since you're living in Manehatten, then that is where your staff photographer will be living too.”

“Don't worry dad, you'll be the first pony I come to, I promise.” Cyclone smiled, getting up from her seating pad, she trotted around the carved desk and gave her father a very warm, very tight hug.

“Welcome home, Cyclone.”

“I missed you, dad…daddy…”

Tropical Storm let out a long, low sigh, all his emotions seemingly evaporating out of his body. “I-I wish this isn't what brought us back together.” His voice was so quiet, almost inaudible. “I have so much to...to be forgiven for.”

Cyclone pulled away from the hug and laid her hoof on her dad’s foreleg. “The past is done dad, we can't alter that. We can either regret stuff forever and wallow, or we can make some cool new memories, together, as a family.”

‘When did my filly get so smart?’ Tropical Storm thought with a wry inward smile. ‘She really is the best of me.’ “If those are the choices, then I'm for some cool new memories. How long have you known Bluefeather?”

“Oh, since Friday, so...four days.”

“I worry for you. That isn't very long and you're moving all the way out there to Manehatten…”

Cyclone silenced her father with a forehoof pressed ever so softly to his lips. “C'mon dad, you've met her, she's cool, and I was never much of a weather pony in Cloudsdale anyway. But,” she hugged the black stallion and affectionately nuzzled his cheek, “Thanks for worrying about me.”

Tropical Storm chuckled to himself as he returned the nuzzle to his daughter’s cheek and neck. “Well if you're going to live with the weather manager and not be a weather pony, I suppose that does speak for itself.” He went quiet then for a few moments, content to just nuzzle his filly as if he was making up for lost years. “Are you ah, satisfied with where you're at in life, Cy?”

Cyclone giggled at that, though she didn’t pull away from the hug or the nuzzle she was getting. Almost like she was making up for lost time. Too much lost time. “Wow...that's deep. Um...yeah, all things considered, yeah, I’m happy. I've got an awesome mare, she shares my kinks, she likes roleplaying, and now I get to work with you, making decent money at a job I reckon I'll be good at.”

“Don't rush into this.” He reiterated once more, “I want you to look over the contracts. Talk to Blue about it, and get a lawyer you trust.”

“You got it, dad.”

Seeing as business was, for the moment anyway, concluded, Tropical Storm got up and led Cyclone out of his office. “Come, let’s make sure Pin and Ribbon haven't taken away your mare while we’ve been talking.”

“Good idea!” Cyclone snickered and she eagerly followed her dad out. Back in the great room, Bluefeather, Royal Ribbon and Royal Pin were sat sharing one of the two three seater couches. All three ponies had coffees, though this time there was actually sugar in the unicorn stallion’s drink. As they were chatting about what level of government should be managing weather patterns, Cyclone wrinkled her nose. “Aunt Ribbon definitely hasn't stolen her away.”

“Hello love,” Bluefeather greeted her young marefriend, “Did you two have a nice chat?”

“We did, yeah, I think we gave each other something to think about, right dad?”

“True Cy, and we'll follow up on it later when, and only when, you're ready.”

“You got it!” Again, Cyclone hugged her dad tightly with legs and with wings. “While you lot were talking about boring weather stuff and government, and falling asleep?”

Bluefeather looked at Royal Ribbon and both mare’s shared a synchronised eye roll, both of which were directed straight at Cyclone like a combined attack. “I breathe politics at work. Just my opinion of more autonomy isn't the same view that Ribbon shares.”

Royal Ribbon smiled a very wide smile indeed. It was a rare thing to be challenged by such measured discourse. She looked forward to the next time. “It was a pleasure chatting and sharing viewpoints, Bluefeather.” She looked at her niece with a playful smile on her face. “Not everypony talks about Power Ponies, young one.”

Bluefeather laughed, mostly at the pout on Cyclone’s face. “That is because I live in Manehatten and not Maretropolis.” She needled, causing Royal Pin to snort in the middle of sipping his coffee.

“Indeed,” Royal Ribbon yawned, for the hour was getting late, “for one who doesn't fly, her head is ever in the clouds.”

“Well,” Cyclone pouted, missing the yawn from her aunt entirely. “Comics are awesome! Blue, tell the mean pony they're awesome!” she gave her marefriend the biggest most adorable puppy eyes she could manage.

“Ribbon dear,” Bluefeather smiled placatingly at her young lover, patting her head with her hoof. She did not miss the yawn, even if Cyclone had. “They are but another way of telling a story to reach an audience that might otherwise be left out. I will say my romance novels do have less pictures.” At that, Tropical Storm and Royal Pin shared a look that screamed ‘mares’ “Tropical, would you like us to arrive early tomorrow and help with anything?”

Tropical Storm shook his head, though he was most grateful of the offer. “Last Word has it well in hoof, and I'm not expecting a lot of ponies to be there. The funeral starts at eleven a.m., still you're welcome to come early.”

“You know we'll be there, dad.”

“I know Cy, I know.”

Now, Cyclone let out a little yawn, which she utterly failed to hide behind her hoof. “Aaaaah…I'm glad the hotel's pretty close,” she muttered, her feathers fluttering as she yawned.

Bluefeather decided that it was time to leave. Thankfully, she hadn’t heard the tattoo of the rain outside for some time. “Thank you for the hospitality and for the fine meal, but I need to get this tired little filly off to bed.”

“No problem,” Tropical Storm smiled, politely walking his two guests to the door. “I'll see you tomorrow at the funeral home. It is a short journey from there to the cemetery.”

Cyclone tackle hugged her father in the hallway. “Have a good night, dad.” She smiled when the black stallion returned her hug, though she guessed, correctly, that the rest of her dad’s night might involve whiskey and more than one photograph album.

“See you both on the morrow.” Royal Pin made sure to get his hugs and nuzzles in with his niece and her marefriend as they left. Opening the door, with Cyclone once more on her back, she was extremely grateful that the thunderstorm had abated. Not that she would’ve minded too much, but navigating a violent storm with a passenger was risky business.

~ ~ ~

A short walk later, through the darkened gas lit cobbled streets of Canterlot, Bluefeather arrived with her yawning passenger at the doors of the Manefair Hotel. On the way they passed a couple of young ponies huddled in a sodden box in an alley, to whom Bluefeather tossed a heavy bag of bits so that they could buy a bed for a few nights. On the first floor, in their room, Bluefeather turned to her lover. “Is my filly ready for bed or would she like a night cap?”

“Ooh...” Cyclone shivered, thinking of the two unfortunate teenagers as she shrugged off her heavy saddlebag, which fell with a thud to the carpeted floor, “think a night cap is in order, sexy.”

“What would you like?” Bluefeather asked as she picked up the phone to dial room service. She had to suppress a shudder, the thought of homeless ponies in the nation’s capital, on a night like this, was unthinkable. Still, they had done their bit, so that made her feel better. “Red wine?”

“Oh yes,” Cyclone answered a little too quickly, “I'd love some.”

When Bluefeather called the room service, she made an order for some cheesy hay fries as well as well as beer for herself and a red wine for Cyclone. “Your aunt and uncle are some nice ponies,” she said once she placed the phone back on its receiver, “but your aunt is a wilful one,” she giggled appreciatively, “Quite the challenge.”

Exhausted, Cyclone slumped on her back on a nearby couch in the hotel room. “Aaaaah...yeah, that's aunt Ribbon, alright.” She giggled playfully, “I guess doing what she does with the charities she has to be wilful.”

“Still, Changelings.” Bluefeather tapped her hooves together. “Seems a bit dicey to me. Pin on the other hoof is just low key cool.”

“I get that.” Cyclone replied, turning her head to look at her marefriend but not getting up from the couch, “but like dad said, not all of them are evil. Personally, I think there was a lot of right and wrong on both sides at the time. I also know enough to keep that opinion to myself in Canterlot.”

Minutes later, Bluefeather answered the door to the room service and she allowed the staff to bring in the snacks and the drinks. Once they had arranged everything on a low table and left them in peace, with a generous tip, she sat down on her haunches. “I think I'll just forget that I even know about this.”

“Y'know?” Cyclone agreed, “That’s probably for the best. Otherwise, when we get back to Cloudhatten you're gonna be looking for Changelings and you'll be seeing them everywhere.”

“If I'm going to deal with changelings, I'd rather deal with ones like you,” Bluefeather smiled, scooping up a hoof full of cheesy fries and helping herself. “Mare one moment, filly the next.”

“Aww, you say the sweetest things!” Cyclone took a mouthful of fries and hurried to swallow them, letting out a little yawn. “So, I got the contracts from dad while you kept my aunt busy with talks of weather patterns and other such exciting topics.”

Bluefeather snickered around her beer bottle. “We did notice the lack of loud voices. So, did you sign them?”

“No,” Cyclone responded with a smile, “he wouldn't let me sign them there and then. My dad insisted that I take them, talk them over with you and get a lawyer we trust to look at them.”

“Well, that ups my respect for your dad a fair bit.” Bluefeather commented, almost thinking out loud as she nibbled on a helping of cheesy fries. “Ribbon spent most of my time talking about her projects and probing to see how far up I was in the weather hierarchy.”

Cyclone helped herself to a few more mouthfuls of cheesy fries, mulling things over in her head as she ate. “Dad said I could take all the time I needed. He wants us both to be cool with it.”

“You already know I'm cool with your decision. Especially if I can watch when I'm available.”

“I do,” Cyclone leant over the low table and gave her older lover a cheesy fry flavoured kiss. “I'll just get a lawyer to give them a look and we're golden.” A thought occurred to her then, as they were talking about fathers. She decided that she was curious about hers. “So, what about your dad?”

“Mine?” Bluefeather asked with a giggle in her voice, “He lives in a retirement community in Cloudelphia.”

“What's he like?”

“Hmmm, well he is a curmudgeon, but I mean that in the nicest way.” Bluefeather grinned and, channelling her father, she deepened her voice until it was almost unrecognisable. “You pesky foals get off my cloud!”

“Aah...one of those types!” Cyclone joined in with her lover’s giggles, “Will you take me to meet him?”

“Of course I will. He is pretty understanding of my desire to 'mother' ponies. Wish I could introduce you to mom.”

“Tell me about her.”

Bluefeather was extremely glad she had Cyclone’s hoof squeezing her foreleg at that moment, even if it was covered in cheesy residue. “She is the one that got me to do day care. In her career, she was a midmare.”

“Is that why you're so fond of being the adult?”

“Oh yes,” Bluefeather nodded enthusiastically as she took a sip of her beer. “But that came later. I worked day care from my senior year through college. It was after that, I joined the weather service that I found an Adult Baby Diaper Lover group, and it just clicked.” She then kissed Cyclone’s lips, “You're my eighth adult foal.”

Cyclone smiled, “It's cool when things just click, right? You get that feeling, that it’s just, I dunno, right I guess.” She then kissed Bluefeather’s lips. “You ever keep in contact with any of the others that you’ve cared for?”

“Actually, no. All of them were clean breaks as they moved on. A few got tired of the play, others found another to care for them. Sort of like working in a day care. You don't have them forever.”

“Hmm...I get that, sexy. Were you in an adult relationship like us with any of them or was it purely nanna and foal?”

“My last one was mixed, as were three others.” Bluefeather thought about that, the mid grey mare casting her mind back over her past relationships, both with adults and foals. “Those were the only four that lived with me. I was mom to two and auntie for the other two. The rest were in home care.”

“Hmm...” Cyclone wondered something then, as she took a long drink of her wine. “So, mom, aunt, nanna...do you have a preference, or is it all a bit samey?”

Bluefeather thought that was actually a very intelligent question. “I care, of course I care, but I let the foal set the limits. Sometimes it has a bonus. As mom I walked my stallion down the aisle. He got married just over a year ago.”

“Aaaw!” the little filly that lived inside Cyclone let out an enormous squee. “That is adorable!” she did pause the take another sip of her wine. “I guess deep down I wanted a mom who was 'there', y’know? When I first started, but there was no way in the world Air Raid would let me call her mommy, so it was nanna.”

“One of my day care foals called me nanna because he wanted a grandmare figure.” Bluefeather commented with a bright little giggle.

Cyclone smiled, though there was a hint of sadness to it. “Ultimately, no matter how much I tried to replace her, Air Raid wasn't Monsoon and neither are you, and anyway that's unfair, so I prefer you as my nanna.”

Now, Bluefeather leant in and she kissed her young lover long and hard on the mouth. “And I'm very much fine with that. Each foal is unique and I love each for that. Limits are for the comfort of the foal. I can't be what I'm not, but I can be what they need. I can be what you need if you let me.”

Taking the beer flavoured kiss, Cyclone returned it with one of her own and she thoughtfully sipped her wine. “Blue, I'm yours and I want to be yours for a very long time to come.”

“I'd like that,” Bluefeather agreed as she scooped up a heavily cheese coated fry and stuffed it in her mouth. “As I say, the foal sets the limits. My last was five years till he grew up and got married. The shortest one was a single home visit. She didn't want a mother, but a father so I let one of my friends know.”

“Well, like I said to dad,” Cyclone countered, “I know it hasn't been long, but I trust you, Blue and I like how we play.”

“I like all the ways that we play.” Bluefeather added, “You're right it hasn't been long, and I'm in it for the long haul. Of the others I only ended one.”

“I'm here for keeps too. I just can't do quick affairs.” As she drained her wine glass to just a quarter full, she reflected that was due in no small part to her mother’s past actions. “Why'd you end it?”

“I think you know,” Bluefeather answered coolly, “After all you almost fell into that very same trap.”

“Aaah.” Cyclone blushed a blush so intense that it showed even against her black fur. “Ah, ahem...yes.” she had an inkling of the incident in question that Bluefeather was referring to. “You mean when I was a dumbass back on the train on the way here?” she asked, trying and failing to hide her biggest yawn yet.

“Pardon?” Bluefeather shook her head, she recalled as well as her lover did the incident way back on Baltimare train station when she had lost her precious Radiance plush in the gift shop where they had purchased the Railway Series plushies. “No, the filly I was caring for thought she could have sexual relations with real fillies.”

“Ooh,” Needless to say, Cyclone felt extremely silly. “Ah the other thing.” She rubbed her forelegs together nervously, finding the couch suddenly very interesting indeed. “Yeah whichever way you slice it, that's just wrong.”

“What you did on the train was, disappointing,” Bluefeather chose her words carefully, gently she turned Cyclone’s face back to look at her. “But I wasn't going to toss you for that. You'd have to do it repeatedly for me to get really disappointed.”

“I've learnt, sweetie.”

“Nice to have a foal that is teachable.” Bluefeather giggled as she drained her beer bottle and placed it on the low table. “My youngest charge was six months and he was that way for two years. Then one day he just told me he was a grown stallion and thanked me for caring for him. Bitter sweet to see them grow up and leave home.”

“I bet it is, Dad kinda didn't want me to leave home…”

Bluefeather squeezed Cyclone’s foreleg. “You gave him purpose. Maybe a way to massage away any guilt he might have had. Two of my charges wanted somepony that cared about them, something they didn't get from home.”

Cyclone shrugged, though she didn’t object to the hoof squeezing her leg. It was nice. “Substitutions and distractions, all variations on smoke and mirrors. Better than avoidance at any rate.” She raised her glass and drained what was left in one swallow. “Ugh...I'm so not looking forward to tomorrow, Blue.”

“Closure is important. I'll be there with you.”

“Thanks babes. I have a feeling I'll need you.”

“It's what all good nanas do.” Bluefeather giggled, pulling her young marefriend into a hug. She decided to try and lighten the mood. “At least I don't have to squeeze you into an office. You can chill in mine during your off time when you aren’t filming.”

Cyclone kissed Bluefeather’s neck and giggled playfully. “I'm not an office-y pony, but I'd love to crash in yours when I'm not working. Oh hey, dad did say I'll be working with a photographer based out where we live.”

“Makes sense. Unless you want to rack up some frequent rail miles.”

“Well, I'm sure there'll be DVD and photo ops in Ponyville or elsewhere, but for the most part I'll be working in Manehatten.” She smiled, “does mean we get to be mates with the photographer though.”

Unfamiliar with the term that Cyclone had just used, probably due to the amount of beer and wine she had consumed that day, Bluefeather tilted her head, “Mates?”

“Yeah, y'know, mates. As in friends, pals, chums, mates.”

“Ahh, I see,” Bluefeather giggled unabashedly, “I took the other meaning of the word mate. I can be friendly.”

“I know you can, sexy…” whatever Cyclone was going to say then was cut off by an extremely long and particularly loud yawn that split her face and her blue eyes drooped to half-mast. She was beat, good and proper.

Bluefeather took that as her cue. “I think some filly needs a tucking in, but first…” she was prompted by the rather unholy smell that very suddenly began to emanate from her marefriend’s nappy under her sundress. Slipping the dress off of her, the older pegasus did a quick check just to confirm her suspicions.

Bluefeather sniffed and smiled, rolling a very compliant Cyclone onto her back on the hotel’s couch. “Time for a nappy change, Ms. Stinky Butt!” when she saw a pair of watery blue eyes looking back at her, she nuzzled Cyclone’s belly, making her laugh. “Who's the stinky ickle filly?”

“Teehee, hehehe!” Cyclone couldn’t help but giggle like a filly she lifted her hind legs up. “Hahahoo! I...I'm a st-stinky filly!”

Still nuzzling her belly, Bluefeather slid off you liner covering the full bulging nappy. “You're my stinky filly.”

“Hmm...always yours, Blue.”

Smiling, Bluefeather reached for and grabbed the changing bag with a wing. “That hay burger smelt a lot better going in.” Nappy removed, she giggled as she quickly and expertly applied the wipes to clean Cyclone’s messy rear end.

“Uuugh...phew,” Cyclone got a deep whiff of the waste she had expelled and quickly she covered her nose. “You aren't wrong, sexy.”

That just made Bluefeather giggle all the harder as she folded the soiled wipes in with the equally soiled nappy and applied the talcum powder liberally to her lover’s now sparkling clean ass. “As stinky as you may be I swear I'll never tire of this.” She leant in and blew very loud raspberry on her belly button.

Now, it is a well-known fact that Cyclone was an extremely ticklish mare. Now, as she erupted in fits of giggles and peals of laughter, Bluefeather knew it well too. “HAHOHOHOHEEEEEEEE!” Cyclone writhed, helpless on the carpeted floor, “Yaaa-hAHAHA!! Th-that was sneaky!”

Before her lover could pee all over the hotel room, Bluefeather quickly placed a clean nappy over her butt. She did too store away the fact that Cyclone was so ticklish, not just on her ears. ‘Hmm, perhaps that will come in useful at Caffeinated’s BDSM nights…’ she thought with a smile. “The key is distraction. My little filly will have to sleep with nanna tonight though, as the hotel doesn't have an adult crib.”

Still breathing heavily, Cyclone giggled up at her lover as she got rid of her used nappy. “At least you didn't go for my ears.”

“Your ears are for a different play date.” Bluefeather asserted, kissing Cyclone’s forehead and very gently picking her up and bundling her in the luxurious Princess sized bed.

“Hmmm!” Immediately, Cyclone found the soft, comfortable bed with its Neighponese sheets and cloud mattress to her liking and she snuggled in deep under the duvet.

In very short order, after washing her hooves in the en suite bathroom, Bluefeather climbed into bed and, after extinguishing the wall mounted gas lights, she spooned up to Cyclone’s back. “I'll protect you from any nightmares, my love, I promise.”

Nestled into Bluefeather’s belly and chest, Cyclone gave a tiny little sniffle as her eyes closed. “Th-Thank you, love.”

“You're welcome, my dearest.” She hugged Cyclone tightly as she started to fall asleep, though by a sheer act of willpower she stayed awake just long enough for her marefriend’s breathing to become deep and steady before she finally allowed sleep to overtake her.

Chapter 11 - Saying Goodbye

It was twelve minutes past eight the following – Tuesday – morning when Bluefeather opened her eyes. The warm sunlight streaming through the open drapes immediately told the older pegasus that the previous night’s storm had ran its course and been taken care of by the weather pegasi. Rolling over on the hotel room bed, her first instinct was to check on her filly.

Cyclone, who had moved in the night from the spooning position, was stirring restlessly behind her. Clearly in the midst of a dream, Bluefeather propped herself up on the elbow of her foreleg, watching her cautiously. As she tossed and turned, she scrunched her closed eyes. “Um…play momma...” she murmured.

In her dreamscape, Cyclone was four years old, in the Las Pegasus hotel penthouse suite. Her mother, alive and well, had her securely in her magical aura, levitating her around the room. She was a very happy little filly, clapping her hooves and buzzing her little black wings.

Watching carefully, Bluefeather was torn. She had a rough idea where this dream was going, but what did she do? Did she wake her up or did she allow it to play out? Eventually she placed a light kiss on her forehead, through her turquoise mane. Feeling rather impotent, she slowly extricated herself from the bed to order room service for breakfast. At least that was useful.

“Magic game!” Cyclone squeaked, her eyes moving rapidly behind her closed lids. She adored this game, as did her mother. Monsoon, levitating her little filly, was throwing her up to the ceiling, only to catch her in her magical aura just as she was about to hit the floor. Cyclone loved it, her mommy always caught her.

After having ordered breakfast, Bluefeather gently sat on the floor near the bed on Cyclone’s side. While she was waiting for the room service, she decided to at least watch over her sleeping filly. “Mommy!” Cyclone yelped, for all of a sudden, she was outside, thirty stories up in the air, in a flickering magical aura, which winked out with a 'pop'.

Suddenly, Cyclone was three hundred feet up in the air, and she was falling.

“NOOO!” Cyclone screamed, still asleep, as the bottom fell out and she dropped like a brick towards the rapidly approaching ground. Alarmed, Bluefeather looked up at her marefriend’s shout. “MOOOooooom!” she screamed and screamed, all the time she fell, every effort to flap her small wings doing nothing whatsoever to arrest her descent.

The ground came nearer and nearer with every second.

That made the watching pegasus’s mind up for her. With a flick of her powerful blue tinted grey wings, Bluefeather darted over and wrapped Cyclone up in her hooves and wings, rolling on the bed as she did so, so that she was underneath her. “I'm here love,” she whispered loudly in her ear, “I'm here. I’ve got you.”

“Whaaaa!” Cyclone screamed as she fell, mere metres from the ground she snapped awake at the very last second, just as the inevitable impact was upon her. Just as suddenly she was confronted with reality, the Manefair hotel room, the bed, the sunlight, with Bluefeather holding her and the fact that she wasn’t falling anywhere. Under the circumstances, her scream was entirely justified. “BluuUUUUUUUuue!”

Bluefeather just held her quaking lover tight in her legs and her wings. “I'm right here, Cy. I’m right here.”

“I...I...” Cyclone panted, her jet black fur covered in a cold sweat, “I was falling…”

“I caught you.”

“Y-Yes…yes you did…” eventually, calming herself down, she smiled down at her marefriend underneath her, “y-you caught me!”

“Yes, my little filly.”

Cyclone, still holding her lover tight on the bed under her bodyweight, hugged her and peppered her muzzle and face with a multitude of light little kisses. “I love you!” she carried on kissing, “I love you so much!” again, she kissed all over her face.

Bluefeather did her best, under the ‘assault’, to return the kisses in kind to Cyclone’s face until the room service showed up with the rather sumptuous breakfast. That, and her empty belly, was enough to wrench Cyclone away from kissing her marefriend’s lips. “You got food!”

Quietly, and professionally, the hotel staff set up the table with food. As they left, Bluefeather made sure to give the waiters a generous tip. “Now,” she said, once they were alone in the hotel room and the table was groaning with the weight of breakfast, “Is somepony hungry?”

Cyclone, who was about to answer when her belly rumbled loudly, blushed like she had been caught red-hooved. “Um, maybe a little?” This did give her the chance to look at the table though, and she noted there was no foal food present. What there was, was pancakes, lots and lots of pancakes, along with chocolate spread, blueberry spread and an assortment of flowers and vegetables to make a salad. Including crystal berries fresh from the Empire. “Ooh they've bought pancakes, with chocolate spread!”

At the table, for she was herself hungry, Bluefeather helped herself to several large fluffy pancakes and lashings of blueberry spread. “It was a wild guess on my part that you might like chocolate.” She giggled, seeing as Cyclone was still on the bed.

“I love your guesses as much as I love you,” with that, Cyclone fluttered her wings and made her way over to the table. Once there, she tipped a large stack of pancakes to her plate, along with the chocolate spread.

Snickering, Bluefeather added an amount of scrambled eggs with cheese to her plate alongside the pancakes. “You eat your daisy salad too, young filly.” She smiled, granting her a wink.

Cyclone, with a mouthful of pancakes, was about to protest, but seeing as she actually quite liked daisies, scooped up a hoof full on to her plate. “Chocolate counts as salad.” She said, looking Bluefeather dead straight in the eye. She was technically right, after all, chocolate came from a plant, and salad was plants. Technically.

Bluefeather giggled as she ate another mouthful of her breakfast. “And I thought you'd be a naughty filly and I'd have to eat all of your favourite ‘salad’.”

Cyclone giggled thickly, thanks to the chocolatey pancakes wedged in her mouth. “Aww, I'm a good filly...well, most of the time.” Bluefeather decided to not argue that and simply giggled as she helped herself to a bit of the lavish salad. “Ooh look, there's even cheesy crumpets,” she said once she had managed to swallow her food, “I'm so having two of those!”

Bluefeather absently patted at her blue mane, “You may have noted I'm a bit of a cheese fan.”

“Melted cheese solves many problems...” whatever Cyclone was going to say then disappeared into the ether as her eyes settled on one little bottle of sauce. Her jaw dropped wide open. She couldn’t believe her marefriend had remembered. Hesitantly, almost not daring to believe it, she licked her lips. “Oh Blue...” she reverently picked up the bottle of hot sauce like she was handling Celestia’s own treasure. “You even got extra strong!”

Bluefeather, on the other hoof, flinched away from the little bottle like it had physically burned her. “Just be sure to keep it on your side of the table.”

“Will do, sexy.” Uncorking the bottle, she upended it and smeared its contents liberally over her cheesy crumpets until the crumpets could no longer be seen. Watching, Bluefeather simply shook her head and ate her own selection. Eagerly though, Cyclone lowered her head, took a good long sniff and dug in hungrily. “AAAAH! Yuuuum!” she gasped, coming up for air as the very hot sauce burned her mouth and throat, before digging in again, this time into the pancakes.

As she ate her decidedly non-hot salad, Bluefeather wondered if her lover could taste anything at all with all the hot sauce spattered over her food. She made a mental note to pause before giving her a kiss. Oblivious to the scrutiny, Cyclone came up again with half her pancakes demolished and a grin on her face, she reached for a napkin and a glass of milk. “Enjoying yourself?” asked Bluefeather, who was eating far more daintily.

“Gaaah!” Cyclone panted, hanging her tongue out in an attempt to cool it down. “Ooh yes! You?”

Bluefeather laughed, she couldn’t help it. Cyclone was indiscriminately diving head first into all her plates like an overgrown foal. It was adorable, really. “I'm having breakfast and a show. Very enjoyable.”

“Uuuh...” Cyclone paused then, taking a good look at herself as she wiped her muzzle clean of the detritus of her breakfast. “I have manners, honest.”

“I'm sure you do.” Bluefeather sniffed, by contrast taking a very delicate little bite of her blueberry pancakes and crystal berry salad. “Most likely in a book under the bed.”

Cyclone giggled as she drank her milk, taking away the burning aftertaste with it. While she enjoyed the hot sauce, even she had limits. And it was bad form to kiss somepony with the heat still on her mouth. “At least I've read the book!” Bluefeather nodded, saying nothing as she continued to eat in a dignified and dainty manner. Giggling, Cyclone launched back into her pancakes, but this time she was a little bit more refined.

Although Bluefeather was lagging behind with her meal, she didn't seem to care. After a few more moments, Cyclone had well and truly devastated her pancakes as well as her hot sauce drenched cheesy crumpets. To properly demonstrate her appreciation, she let out a loud burp. “Ooh, pardon me!”

“I don’t know about that, I'll have to ask the warden.” Bluefeather snarked, then she looked down at her plate with about one third of its contents still in place, then she glanced up at her marefriend. Grinning, she dropped the silverware and, embracing her inner filly, she dived in muzzle first, slurping it down loudly.

Cyclone watched and sniggered, “That's the way Blue! Show that breakfast who's boss!”

Once she had licked her plate clean of all her breakfast, Bluefeather then licked her lips as far as her tongue could reach. Alas, it wasn’t far enough. Her mid grey muzzle was still spattered with the remains of her food. “Did I miss any?” she asked, well aware that there was still plenty of blueberry on her muzzle.

“Um...yeah, you got a little something...hang on…” Cyclone made sure to tale another fire quelling drink of her milk and then she sloppily licked Bluefeather’s muzzle. Braced for any invasion of spice to her lips, the older pegasus was pleasantly surprised when there was none. That’s when she realised what the milk was for. Cyclone kept up the licking and kissing, wrapping her legs around her shoulders.

Gradually, as Bluefeather began to relax under her ministrations, Cyclone pressed their lips together, slipping her tongue into her marefriend’s mouth. There was a very brief hesitation – Bluefeather was still frightened of the hot sauce - before she welcomed the invasion. Smiling, Cyclone swirled her tongue over her lover’s as she kissed her long and hard. After a second, once she was recovered, Bluefeather returned the favour by pushing back with her tongue. “Meeep! Hmmm...” the jet black mare purred, allowing her mouth to be dominated, granting her free access.

Without warning, Bluefeather spun Cyclone around and, while her young lover was wondering what on earth was going on, she nibbled on her black wings in the most sensual preen she was physically capable of delivering. Instantly, Cyclone arched her back in utter ecstasy. The teeth behind her were nibbling in just ‘that’ spot. “MMmmm....ooooh yeeeeeah!” she flared her wings as wide as she could. Seeing she was having the desired effect, Bluefeather reached over and placed a rear leg between Cyclone’s rear legs as she preened.

“Hmm Bluuue!” Cyclone moaned, rolling her head back as she spread her legs wide open. “Oooh just there!” she gasped, while Bluefeather continued to nibble and grind, looking for those spots that made her lover moan. She found one such spot, at the back of each wing there it me her sides. Bluefeather had barely nibbled there than her grinding hoof detected moisture in the nappy she was wearing. “Aaaaah yeees!”

Noting the wing spot, Bluefeather made sure to give that extra attention when she got to the other wing. “Nggh sweet Luna, Bluuue I'm gonna cum!” Cyclone half moaned, half screamed. This was all the encouragement the older mare needed. She doubled her efforts with her rear leg and her preening, making sure to nibble that sensitive spot. “GaaAAAH!” Cyclone shuddered violently as she came, soaking her nappy with her cum.

“Did some filly just fill her nappy?” asked Bluefeather, playfully licking across her marefriend’s back between her wings.

Panting hard, Cyclone hung her head, unable to hold it up. “Yes, y-yes...yes I did, I filled it…”

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.” Bluefeather shook her head, tutting condescendingly, “You'll just have to wallow in it until I finish the other wing.” She allowed that to hang in the air for a few seconds as she moved across slightly and began to preen Cyclone’s other wing. At the same time, she swapped hind legs and started to grind away again, at her sodden nappy.

“Mmmm....oooh yeah!” Cyclone barely had time to register what was happening before her trembling wing sent extremely pleasurable vibrations straight to her core. Fifteen minutes into the sensual preening, she screamed as she climaxed again, swelling the nappy even more than she had before. Her mission accomplished, Bluefeather moved around her shuddering lover to deliver a deep kiss.

Cyclone, panting as hard as was after her first orgasm, was gasping for breath in the kiss, her hooves held loosely around Bluefeather’s shoulders. “Breakfast and a preen.” She smiled once she pulled away from the black mare’s lips. “How are you feeling, my love?”

“Like…like I could fly over Canterlot Mountain!”

Bluefeather giggled at that, in no doubt at all of her claims. “I bet you could, even if it is only a few feet above the mountain.”

“Nah...Right now I could go thousands of feet over it!”

“Maybe with a lighter nappy.”

Sniggering, Cyclone felt her vastly swollen cum sodden nappy with her hoof. “Oh, yeah, I reckon that would weigh me down a bit, huh?” this just made Bluefeather giggle as she pulled over the changing bag. Like a good well behaved filly, Cyclone laid down on the carpeted floor, legs in the air.

Instead of her usual, more professional approach, Bluefeather decided to take her time. “Best clean you up, little Cy.” She took a wipe in her hoof then, seeing as her marefriend was very much in her adult persona, she tossed it to the side as she dived in muzzle first.

Cyclone, on her back, looking up at the lavishly decorated hotel room ceiling, was not aware of this. She was aware, however, when she felt a nose, a pair of lips and a tongue dragged slowly over her wet puffy labia. “AAAH th-that's gon...na make more of a aaaaah mess!” she screamed. Bluefeather, eating out her lover’s snatch, wasn’t one to talk with her mouth full. When Cyclone began shuddering very hard, her hind legs twitching, she slowed down to a slow tease.

As Bluefeather’s tongue slid torturously slowly over her hard clitoris, licking ever so slowly in circles around and over it, it was driving Cyclone crazy as if it were a feather. “Oooh! Please...Blue don't tease...” she begged, panting hard, “I want it! I w-wanna cuuuum!”

For a split second, Bluefeather considered playing a little denial game, but she decided against it. It wasn’t really the time or place, no rules had been agreed upon, and she wanted her young lover fortified for the day ahead. Insead, she dived in with utter abandon, licking and slurping like her very life depended on it. “YAaaaAAAH! THAAAAANK YOOOUU!” Cyclone screamed, climaxing for the third time.

As she swallowed Cyclone’s ejaculate, Bluefeather licked her lips, savouring the taste of her nectar. “I've saved another nappy,” she purred, winking at her quivering lover.

“I…” Cyclone was breathing hard, “I think…we might need it, l-love.”

“Silly filly, still feel like flying a thousand feet?”

“I uh, I feel like I could, but I think my wings won't let me,” ‘at least not for a few hours, anyway,’ she thought breathlessly.

“I did nibble them quite a bit, didn’t I?” Bluefeather admitted, crawling slowly back up Cyclone’s body to snuggle with her on the thick carpet. While she was there she peppered her black muzzle and face with soft flowery little kisses.

“Uh huh,” Cyclone found just enough energy in her to lean her head forward and kiss Bluefeather’s lips, though she was happy to lay there and take the kisses too. “And you found 'that' spot, on my back.”

‘I think your whole body is ‘that’ spot,’ Bluefeather thought, though she said, “A spot that I don't think I'll lose.”

“Hmph,” Cyclone pouted, albeit playfully, “as if my ears weren't bad enough.”

“Fear not, I will not neglect your tasty ears!”

“Eeep!”

Bluefeather gently kissed Cyclone’s nose, happy now that she had elicited an ‘eep’ from her. “Are you ready to face the day now, my love?”

Cyclone didn’t have to think. She knew her reply. “Face it and kick its flank!” she declared, though the epic-ness of this statement was mooted slightly by the fact that she was still on her back. “Well, with you, anyway.”

“Then,” said Bluefeather as she checked the clock and found it was almost ten a.m., “I think it is time to get ready.”

“You bet, babes. I'm ready.” She said she was ready. She didn’t feel ready. Not ready at all. As Bluefeather delved into her luggage and retrieved a simple understated black dress for herself as well as a dark blue dress for her to wear, all Cyclone really wanted to do was go back to bed and wake up in Manehatten. Still, when she saw the dress, “Oh...oh Blue, it's beautiful!”

Now Bluefeather had stopped playing, she helped Cyclone into the dark blue dress and, once her marefriend was dressed to her satisfaction she allowed Cyclone to dress her in turn. One well-placed nuzzle later and Bluefeather opened the first floor balcony doors. “Come, Cy. Time to give some ponies peace and to let one rest.”

Out on the balcony, shielding her eyes against the bright warm summer morning, Cyclone gave her marefriend a hug, though she was careful not to crease her dress. “Right you are, Blue…” she didn’t speak again until she was securely on her back, again, mindful of the dress. When she spoke, there was a definite sniffle in her voice. “L-Let's go…”

Once she had closed the balcony doors, ensuring they were automatically locked, which they were, Bluefeather took off, though her flight was slow and she didn’t go much higher than the rooftops. “My mum,” she said as a conversation opener, “being a pegasus, didn't want to be buried. She was cremated and my Da gave into her wish and seeded the clouds with her ashes. He has an empty urn on the nightstand he used to carry her up there.”

Cyclone nodded at that. “Hmhmm, that’s centuries old pegasus tradition, going all the way back to General Thunderbolt of the Wonderbolts, right?” she had to admit, she wasn’t the best when it came to history. “Born of the clouds, live in the clouds, die in the clouds.”

Bluefeather also nodded. “Don't know if it was General Thunderbolt or Colonel Skyseeker who started it, but it is tradition. I doubt, however, that your dad will do that. After all that has happened, I think he'll spend eternity next to her.”

“Y'know what? I gotta say I think you're spot on love.” Cyclone commented after she had thought about it for a few moments, “What about you? What do you want?”

Bluefeather knew exactly what she wanted. What she had always wanted. “I've lived my whole life in the clouds, and while I know I'll be washed away with the first rain, I'd still want to go the way my mum did.” She giggled, “Next time you eat a carrot you might be eating a bit of my mum.”

“I’d rather eat a bit of you...wait...not like that!” Cyclone’s blue eyes went wide as saucers as she realised what she had just said. Mentally she facehooved, because she couldn’t actually facehoof. “Uugh...I have to agree though. We're pegasi, we belong in the clouds in life and in death.”

Bluefeather adjusted her course, banking round a large clock tower on her way to the Residential District Cemetery. “I like to think so, but I respect a pegasus that gives up the clouds for an eternity with a loved one.”

“Oh yeah, I mean, I agree with you.” Cyclone mumbled, trying and failing to put out of her mind where they were going. She couldn’t put into words how glad she was that she had Bluefeather with her. At least the weather today was excellent. “My dad'll be in the ground for sure. If only to make up for lost time, I think.”

“No reason to rush him though. He is one of the ponies that needs to find peace today.”

“You're right Blue. He'll be with mom soon enough in due course.”

Bluefeather smiled warmly, leaning her head back to nuzzle Cyclone’s cheek. “Let's say goodbye in style, and share the memories of the good times while letting the memories of the bad times fade.”

Cyclone nodded determinedly. “I like how you think, sexy. Good memories only I think, from here on.”

It was only a few more minutes, ten at the most, until Bluefeather swooped in for a picture perfect landing at the ornate wrought iron gates at the cemetery’s entrance. The mid grey mare waited until Cyclone had dismounted before she pulled her young lover into a tight feathery hug. “I'll still be there till the memories finally fade.” When Cyclone kissed her, she returned the kiss with an added nuzzle. “Lead the way, I'll be your wing mare.”

“Right. In we go.” Although Cyclone held her head up high, squared her shoulders and wanted to move, it was as I she was glued in place at the open gate. “I said, we're going in.” Still, no matter how hard she willed herself, she just wasn’t moving. She snorted at her own foolishness. “Ugh! In. We. Go!” Finally, after two minutes, she walked into the cemetery. “Better, legs.”

Playfully, to lighten the mood just a little, Bluefeather snapped her teeth just behind Cyclone’s now moving rump. “Aw, I missed.”

“Eep!” at the snapping of teeth behind her, Cyclone scooted her slow ass forwards.

Bluefeather decided more lightening of the mood was necessary. “Do you think your aunt Ribbon is a Changeling? Maybe that is why she does the charity?”

As they passed through the doors of the house of rest, Cyclone was so distracted by the funeral that was abot to happen that she actually found herself entertaining the notion that her aunt was a Changeling. “Aunt Ribbon?” Cyclone cocked her head in thought. “I never thought about it. It wouldn't change anything if she was…”

Bluefeather’s barking laugh interrupted Cyclone’s misguided train of thought and derailed it completely. “I don't think it would.” She leant in close and whispered, “By the way, that was a joke.” Just then, almost on cue, Tropical Storm, dressed in a white suit and black tie, with a similar tie around his panama hat, walked out to the foyer and gave his daughter a feathery hug.

Again, for what felt like the millionth time that day already, Cyclone facehooved, though she grinned at her marefriend’s joke. She was extremely grateful though for the hug her dad gave her. She needed that hug then, like she needed her next breath. “Hey dad, how you doing?”

“As well as I can, I expect.” The pegasus stallion let out a deep sigh, “I'm doing better now you're here. Lemon Grass and Earth Song are here along with Pin. Ribbon is running a bit late. She’s brining her mob with her.”

“Thanks for the warning,” Cyclone smiled and she nuzzled her father’s cheek in an effort to lift his spirits. “We'll get through it dad, 'kay? The rest of our lives start here.”

Tropical Storm managed what could pass as a smile and he nodded in turn. “Into the Manticore's den, then.”

Bluefeather giggled, behind her hoof, she just couldn’t help it. The tension seemed to call for it. “Both of you are silly ponies.”

Cyclone, however, thought the Manticore was a much preferable option as opposed to having to be with her cousin Four Step for an extended period of time. Their previous encounters since her banishment had not gone well. “Y'know, if you have a Manticore to hoof, we can wrestle that instead?” she asked, a hopeful look on her face, “maybe a Cockatrice or a Chimera?”

“No,” Tropical Storm shook his head, “not enough of a challenge. Just your mom's parents and your cousins.”

‘Not even a little Cockatrice? Really?’ “Aww...have I said how life as a statue would be really cool?” Cyclone giggled.

Bluefeather rather liked the idea of that, a particularly lewd image shot into her mind. “Only if you're in the right pose, so I can lube you up and make use of you.” This had the much desired effect of making the sombre stallion snort loudly.

Cyclone sniggered out a laugh at that, she too had an image in her mind similar to the one that Bluefeather had in hers. “Oh yeah...yeah, but dad always warned me against getting 'stoned'.” She said, managing to keep a straight face.

“You are of that generation.” Bluefeather rolled her eyes, “Youth, it is wasted on the young.”

“Yes, but I don't have the energy anymore to be young.”

“Dad!” Cyclone exclaimed, playfully punching his shoulder, “you make yourself sound ancient!”

Tropical Storm sniffed, though there was a twinkle in his eye that had been absent of late. “I like to think of myself as 'seasoned'.”

Bluefeather giggled, “It's okay, I'll change your nappy too.” Tropical Storm snorted out a louder laugh this time.

Cyclone too laughed along with her father and her marefriend. She could feel some of the underlying tension seep out of her, for which she offered a silent thanks for Bluefeather’s presence. “C'mon, let’s go get a seat before Four Step accuses me of ruining the day by smiling.”

Inside, the very large room was comfortably able to hold fifty ponies, although there was just nine seated when Cyclone, Bluefeather and Tropical Storm walked in. There were two camps, Cyclone noted, with Monsoon’s relatives numbering six on the left and Tropical Storm’s just three on the right. “Jeez...” the jet black mare was unimpressed, “I'm glad we arrived early, at least we beat the crowds…”

At his daughter’s words, Tropical Storm hung his head. “I...I couldn't find any friends of Monsoon, nor could Lemon Grass, so When Ribbon gets here that will add another seven.”

“Hey dad...it’s not quantity, but the quality of those that are here that counts.”

The black stallion simply nodded at that and, without argument, he walked over to the open casket bearing Monsoon’s body that held pride of place at the head of the two sets of seats. Fifteen minutes later, Royal Ribbon entered along with her husband, her hubby, and her brood. Resplendent in their funeral wear, they took their seats on Tropical Storm’s side.

Behind them, a truly ancient looking unicorn stallion, who looked so old he could’ve been born before the Princesses themselves, walked into the large room and walked slowly down the aisle between the two camps. Tropical Storm saw the long white Celestial raiment he was wearing before he noted the old stallion wearing them. Indeed, the large white hat bearing Celestia’s cutie mark seemed bigger than he was. “It’s time to take our seats. Ah, could you sit with Lemon Grass and Earth Song?”

As the newcomers sat down, Cyclone cast a quick hopeful glance over in Four Step’s direction. The lilac unicorn mare simply glared back at her, staring sharp pointy daggers. “Uh...yeah, sure thing, dad.” Cyclone’s ears slicked back as she walked over to where Lemon Grass and Earth Song were sitting.

Bluefeather followed Cyclone to an empty couple of seats next to the elderly couple and gave them a nuzzle of greeting. “Good to see you again Lemon, Earth,” she said politely, while Lemon Grass just nodded, tears in her crystal clear blue eyes.

Earth Song, his cane out of the way, hugged Bluefeather and his granddaughter. “Maybe the two of you will visit on another day too?” he asked hopefully.

“You know we will, gramps.”

Royal Ribbon, sat next to her daughter, noticed the glare on her face and to whom it was directed. “Four Step, please, can there be a cease fire, at least for today?”

Four Step simply brushed aside a stray part of her styled yellow mane and gave Royal Ribbon a pointed sideways glance. “Whatever, mom.”

Royal Ribbon, looking very harassed indeed, for she had a lot going on overnight, what with her Changeling charity. “Please honey, I don't need it, not today.”

The ancient stallion dressed in the flowing white robes of the Celestial Church, stood at the lectern at the head of the room by the side of the open casket. Clearing his throat, he summoned everypony’s attention to himself. It was time to start the proceedings. “Fillies and Gentlecolts, I'm Golden Glow from the Temple of the Order of Light and welcome today, as we remember the life of Monsoon.” He looked imperiously around the room and his withered gaze settled on Cyclone’s father. “Tropical Storm.” He stood aside as the black stallion walked up to the front.

Tropical Storm sniffed, taking several long deep breaths to compose himself before he spoke. “Th-Thank you all for being here.” He glanced at the casket, and to his ex-wife’s body. “I hold to the day we met, a gangly pegasus and a stunning unicorn. I did all the right things that day. It is the day I'll hold onto.”

Beside Bluefeather, Cyclone sniggered quietly. “heh, the gangly hasn't changed much, has it?”

“Then, to our surprise, Cyclone came into our lives.” Tropical Storm continued, wiping his moistening eyes with the primaries of his wings, “Another day to cherish. Then, I tossed it all away over a misunderstanding.” His voice grew hard, remorseful. “A day I won't forget, but not a day I'll dwell upon. That would make Monsoon sad, and I've done that enough for a life time, that I no longer wish to do so.” He looked to Monsoon’s mother, motioning her to come up as he stood aside and retook his seat. “Lemon Grass.”

Cyclone sniffled, leaning into Bluefeather as she cried. Over the other side, Royal Ribbon patted her younger brother’s shoulder as he sat down, opting to weep into her husband’s offered kerchief. “Th-That was beautiful!”

Lemon Grass took a moment to survey the assembled ponies in the room. “Behind me lies my only daughter. It is not right that a parent outlive a foal, but here I am.” For an old pony, her voice was surprisingly strong and stable. “I will not speak against her choices in life. For it was her life to live and not mine to control. She was gone for so long, but she is here today.” She turned and looked long and hard at her daughter’s body. “I will reflect on the day she was born, and all the joy she brought to my life. I will carry this forward and share with my grandfoal any time she wishes to do so.” Finished, she gestured to her granddaughter. “Cyclone.”

As Lemon Grass carefully made her way on unsteady hooves back to her seat beside her husband, Cyclone made sure to give her grandmother a hug on the way. “N-Nanna!” Cyclone cried, wholly unsure if she had it in her to stand in front of her family like this. One tight hug with the elderly unicorn though, and she knew she could.

Fashion Plate quietly hugged Royal Ribbon as his wife cried on his shoulder, wetting his suit. Not that he minded, today. He understood his wife was going through an astronomical amount of stress, what with Monsoon, the funeral and events that had happened with her charity. Four Step however, looked on, bemused if anything. She had her own ‘issues’ she was dealing with and working through, not that anypony cared about her.

Hesitantly, Cyclone made her way from her seat up to the front of the room. The journey seemed to take a decade. Her hooves didn’t want to work and they felt like lead weights. Eventually she was in position by her mother’s body. “Hi.” She greeted the assembly, immediately feeling idiotic. “Um...” she sniffled loudly, “you all know mom and me had our issues. I'm not going into them nor will I dwell on them. Fact is, whatever happened, she’s my mom...”

Under her breath, Four Step muttered, “Huh, was...”

“Uh...sh-she's my mom,” Cyclone paused to let out her tears. She didn’t hear her cousin’s acidic remark. It was all she could do to hold herself together. “If it weren't for this beautiful unicorn and that gangly pegasus, I wouldn't be here. So...I love you mom, and until we get to play again,” her voice wavered, threatening to break and crack. “I-I'll say bye, for now…” she bent and she kissed her dead mother’s horn before going to sit back down.

Gingerly, almost like he was in danger of crumbling to dust at any moment, Golden Glow moved back up to the lectern. “Does anypony else wish to speak?”

Had Cyclone not been crying heavily into Bluefeather’s shoulder, she would’ve reflected on how remarkably strong the Celestial Priest’s voice was compared to his physical being. Instead, Royal Ribbon stood up. “May I?” she asked, and at his nod, he stood aside.

Four Step was stunned. “M-Mom what th...”

Royal Ribbon, conspicuously ignoring her daughter, walked up to the front of the room and turned to address the assembled ponies. “Ah, ahem...I didn't know Monsoon very well, I shan't pretend otherwise, but I knew her well enough. She made my brother very happy. They completed each other, what else is there to say? She didn't deserve what happened to her, and I will chose to celebrate her...thank you.”

As Royal Ribbon tearfully made her way back to her seat, Bluefeather whispered in Cyclone’s ear, “That's a classy pony, right there.”

Golden Glow stepped forward once more. “Is there anypony else?”

“Yeah,” Cyclone whispered back, “but she looks like, twenty years older than last night, what gives?”

When it was apparent that nopony else was going to step forward, Golden Glow raised his voice once more. “If the pall bearers will step forward, we will gather again at the grave site.” On cue, Tropical Storm, Royal Pin and two of Monsoon's cousins whom Cyclone didn’t know quietly moved forward as the casket was closed by the priest and magically sealed.

“Well, you can ask her later.” Bluefeather commented almost absent mindedly, “I've been told there will be a wake after the service.” As Cyclone made a mental note to do just that, she got up with everypony else to leave, except the pall bearers. Rather noticeably, Bluefeather made sure to interject herself between her marefriend and her cousin. Just in case.

Four Step and Purple Weave were ahead, they left the house of rest first with their parents alongside them. Cyclone on the other hoof chose to hang back with Bluefeather. Once they were outside in the warm summer morning sunshine, the mid grey pegasus nuzzled Cyclone’s cheek. “Is it a far walk, or should we fly?”

Cyclone knew it wasn’t far, but she didn’t want to walk. “Let's fly, baby, I feel like flying.” Without another word, Bluefeather lifted off, but she didn’t go too high. With a determined look on her face, Cyclone took off and, with a few flaps of her black wings, rose up to twenty feet.

Bluefeather stayed with her, her ever-present wingmare. “Lead on, my love.”

Cyclone scanned the huge Residential District Cemetery and she saw, in the middle distance, where the plot had already been prepared by the groundsponies. “It’s just there, look.” She pointed it out with her hoof.

Bluefeather looked where her lover was pointing and nodded. “Not far at all, I see the others are pulling a wagon with your mom.” ‘Wagon’ was an understatement. The four stallions were pulling an ornate black coach hearse. Golden Glow was riding the driver’s seat with Monsoon’s closed casket in the back. Red velvet curtains lined the windows and there were two burning torches either side of the driver’s position.

“Yeah…” Cyclone whispered, it really was a sight to see. Cloudsdale just didn’t have these black coaches, and they weren’t cheap things. Down below, though, she saw Four Step walking behind her mother, her head was down, looking at the wide gravel path. “Hey, can I pee on her and blame it on a bird?”

Not entirely playfully, Bluefeather slapped Cyclone upside the head with her wingtip, just hard enough to make sure she got the message across. “Hey now. Just because you're not wearing a nappy doesn’t mean you can pee on ponies. Besides, I think she's pissed off enough.”

Despite the slap, Cyclone giggled. “Then may I enjoy the thought? Really though Blue, I don't want a scene, and she looks ready for one.”

“Ignore her,” Bluefeather’s next feathery contact was more gentle, a soft caress along Cyclone’s flank. “You've done a good job of it so far.”

Cyclone nodded. “I'm remembering why we're here. It’s not for me or Step, it's for mom and dad. Plus, I love nan and gramps too much to rise to her here.”

Bluefeather was more than happy to hear her young marefriend say that. “So, you won't mind me moving you along when I think you've had enough at the wake. I see the open grave, let’s land and wait for the others.”

“I won't mind babes.” Cyclone affirmed as she started her descent, “you know I trust you.”

“As long as there is beer, all will be okay.”

The two pegasi landed carefully a few feet away from the open grave. “Beer solves many things, right?” Cyclone commented, wishing she felt as upbeat as she sounded.

“It does,” Bluefeather agreed as the funeral party approached, the spectacular black coach at its head. “Like what will I put in the recycling bin.” She looked around at the graveside and saw a shade awning, but it wasn't really needed.

Cyclone looked down into the empty hole, soon to be filled with her mother’s body. “It's...it's a good day for it, at least.”

Lovingly, Bluefeather wrapped her left wing tightly around her marefriend’s barrel, very gently guiding her away from the grave as the priest and the pall bearers quietly got to work. “Every day is a good day, but some are better than others.” She said supportively.

“Yeah,” was all Cyclone said, she allowed herself to be steered away, looking up just in time to see Four Step walking her way.

“Cyclone.” Four Step nodded in greeting, taking a moment to smooth out a non-existent wrinkle on her black dress.

Bluefeather smiled pleasantly at the lilac unicorn. She estimated her to be a very similar age to Cyclone, though she had a very ‘noble Canterlot’ accent and, she thought, she looked distinctly ‘rounded’, in the barrel. “It is good of you to have come.”

Four Step nodded to Bluefeather, trying her best as she did so to not look as shifty as she felt. Things had to be said, and, in light of a very brief chat with her mother on the way here, she had to say them. “I am...sorry, about your mother.” As she said that, Bluefeather squeezed Cyclone slightly. “I ah...” she paused, holding out her hoof, “I wish to apologise, Cyclone.”

Of all the things that she may have been expecting, that was certainly not one of them. “You...you want to apologise?” Cyclone asked, immediately she felt another wing squeeze.

“In light of the current circumstances,” Four Step replied, her hoof still held out rather awkwardly, “I believe we have fought long enough.”

“Uh...um...I guess?” Cyclone stammered, cautiously holding out her own hoof, but not bumping it.

“Time can change a pony.” Bluefeather commented, looking at the gap of a few inches that separated the two hooves, one black, one lilac, held out in front of her. “I work to see that this one doesn't change your mind back.”

Four Step looked like she would rather be anywhere else in the world than here. She especially noted that Bluefeather was looking at her barrel. She knew! “We ah, we...ultimately, we are family, aren't we?” she took a deep breath and closed the distance between herself and her cousin, bumping her hoof.

“Four Step, I'm so sorry!” As Cyclone too moved forward, Bluefeather released the hold she ad upon her and watched as the two mares embraced in a hug that lasted a good few minutes.

“So...” a teary eyed Four Step started once the hug was finally released, “who is your mare that mom speaks of so highly?”

“Um, Four Step, meet Bluefeather, my marefriend.”

Bluefeather, tearing her eyes away from Four Step’s barrel, and being mindful to keep her suspicions to herself, bumped the hoof that was offered to her. “I think Ribbon only said that because I have as much sass as she does.”

Four Step smiled, “You are a much needed distraction to her, I think.”

“Maybe I can convince this one to visit more often so I can tag along.”

The lilac unicorn kept up her smile, “I ah, I mean...we, would like that, a lot.”

Bluefeather nodded as, over at the grave, the four pall bearers carefully lowered the casket. She couldn’t help but note the look on the black pegasus stallion’s face as he completed his sombre duty. “I think Tropical would like that, too.”

“We can't alter the past. The future, we can work on, at least…” the lilac unicorn spoke directly to her cousin, “we can at least move forward, I hope?”

Cyclone glanced from Bluefeather to the grave, to her dad lowering her mother into it, and back again. She was acutely put in mind of the folly of holding on to stupid grudges. It was time to move on, put the past where it belonged, behind them in the past. “Sure cus...I'd like that, I think we'd like that.” She didn’t object when Bluefeather moved her along to join the other mourners assembled under the awning.

At last, at noon, as the sun reached its zenith in the sky, Golden Glow began the service. “Fillies and Gentlecolts,” he intoned, everypony present bowed their heads. “We are gathered here today to send Monsoon into the embrace of Blessed Celestia’s Holy Light.”

He paused for effect before continuing, the pall bearers each throwing a shovel full of dirt into the hole. “We send Monsoon to a land where the sun ever shines upon the mirror sea. A land without pain or sorrow. While we can and do experience sadness now, we know that eternal joy will be our reward for walking in the light.”

With a nod of his head, a stallion with a set of bagpipes whom nopony had yet noticed, stepped forward and began to play ‘Amazing Grace’ as the pall bearers reverently placed more dirt in the grave until the casket was covered. “Into the earth's embrace we commit our flesh for our soul knows no bounds.” Golden Glow intoned, his voice loud and clear over the pipes. “Farewell, Monsoon, until we all meet again. Until all are one.”

His solemn duty done, Tropical Storm spoke up to the assembled ponies. “Thank you all for coming. The wake will be at the Celestial Temple, over in Court's Row of the Noble Quarter.”

“I know where that is, dad,” Cyclone commented as the mourners began to mill around and slowly break up, walking away in ones and twos from the gravesite. “It’s not far from here.”

“I'll see you there then.” Tropical Storm nodded, not yet taking his eyes from the freshly filled plot. “I'm going to wait here for a bit.”

“I understand, dad.”

Four Step stepped up and rested her hoof on the stallion’s shoulder. “I am sorry, uncle Storm.”

Just then, as the assembly properly dissipated, Royal Ribbon came walking up briskly, conspicuously placing herself between Cyclone and her daughter. Just in case. “Oh, there you are! Um...is everything okay, here?” she asked, looking at least sixty years old.

Bluefeather didn’t know what kind of stress made a mare look like she did now, but she hazarded a silent guess that the Changelings were a part of it. She chose to keep this theory to herself, however. “Yes Ribbon,” she said instead, “They are as okay as they can be, at a time like this.”

Four Step shot Cyclone an apologetic look. “Ah, we're…putting things behind us, mother.”

Cyclone, tactless as ever, blundered straight in where alicorns feared to fly. “Are you alright, aunty?”

“Oh,” Royal Ribbon looked at her niece like she had only just realised she was there. “Oh, um, yes dear. Go along now, we'll talk later.” She was thankful a million times over when Bluefeather took her for her word and lead Cyclone away from the awning so that they could take off. She really didn’t want to go into details of the tragic events in Fillydelphia. It was bad enough that she had to see what the gang had done to the poor unfortunate Changeling. Still, at least those responsible had been arrested.

Almost as soon as she had taken off, Cyclone moved close to Bluefeather’s side. “Okay...I'm calling it, something’s wrong.”

Bluefeather had to agree with her marefriend’s assertion. Though, if she was honest, there was two somethings wrong, with both Royal Ribbon and with Four Step. She was, however, willing to bet her pension that she knew what was wrong with the latter. “Then do it discreetly please. You want me with you?”

“With aunt Ribbon, I mean.” Cyclone clarified, though it wasn’t that necessary. “I think we should talk to her at the wake. After a few drinks.”

“Sounds fine. You didn't tell me your family followed the Celestial Order.”

“It’s Canterlot,” Cyclone shrugged like that was explanation enough, “Everypony follows Celestia.”

Bluefeather chuckled as they flew over the capital city, though she was definitely following Cyclone’s lead. She had no idea where to go. “The Lunar order is above ground now though, and I've looked into that upstart group, Twilight's Grotto.”

“Princess Luna has her followers too,” Cyclone commented, referring to the Blessed Lunar Order of the Sacred Night, “like our little gang, for instance.”

“Yeah, Tempest tells me all the time about the Lunar Hall.”

“Luna has moonshine, Celestia has tea. No brainer really,” Cyclone giggled, knowing full well which one she preferred.

Bluefeather let out a bright little giggle, “Try to mix the two.”

“Can you?”

“Of course you can.” Bluefeather then paused, before she turned her head to look long and hard at her marefriend flying alongside her in the early afternoon sun. “And you wanted to piss on her.”

Cyclone sighed, feeling particularly wretched as she flew just above the level of the rooftops. She really didn’t want or feel the need to go higher. She knew, very deep down, her lover was right. It would’ve been shitty of her. “O-Okay...perhaps, maybe, that was wrong of me, Blue.”

“Perhaps.” Bluefeather was very glad indeed that there was a healthy amount of shame in her lover’s voice. It saved her having to tickle her until she peed herself. “Even if she was a complete jerk, it would have still be wrong of you.”

“Hmm…” Cyclone murmured noncommittally, “I'm glad she came over though. I've had enough of hating ponies to last a lifetime.”

Smiling, Bluefeather caressed her lover’s flank with a wing tip. She couldn’t say how happy she was to hear her say that. Very, to say the least. “Sort of sets you free when you let go of the hate, Cy.”

“Yeah, I just feel bad about all those years we wasted. Oh well, onwards, huh?”

“And upwards!” Bluefeather cried, flapping her powerful blue tinted wings hard, she rose up from twenty feet all the way to a hundred feet, just to see what her companion would do. Eagerly, she watched her, almost daring her to join her

“Well, that’s a challenge!” grinning a very wide grin, Cyclone flapped her wings and, though she was visibly shaking, she rose up – slowly – through thirty, forty, sixty, ninety feet until she was up at her marefriend’s altitude. Bluefeather did wait for her, curious to see if she’d make it up that high. “I'm doing it!” she called out, “Blue, I’m doing it!”

No sooner had Cyclone managed to get up to the same height as the older pegasus than Bluefeather flipped over onto her back for some upside down flying. Cyclone had been a very good filly thus far and she decided, as she moved underneath her, that she had earned a reward. “Look down and tell me if you like what you see?”

Doing as she was told, Cyclone looked down and smiled. She smiled even wider when Bluefeather lifted up her dress and began using her forehooves to play with her teats, flicking and rubbing her nipples. “I love what I see!” Cyclone bit her lip, “hmm...you are a sexy mare!”

Underneath her marefriend, Bluefeather allowed herself to glide lower until she just above the rooftops. All the time she was suggestively massaging herself, never looking away from Cyclone’s blue eyes. “I have no idea where we are going, you know.”

“We're going the right way,” Cyclone replied, checking her course just to be sure – it had been a while, “But you know ponies can see what you're doing, right?”

As if Bluefeather gave a flying feather about that. Not. “So? Is there some ordnance against massaging one's own breasts?”

“No, but that old stallion down there walked into the wall looking at you!” Cyclone giggled and massaged her teats too, feeling a little out-done. “I want in on that!”

Grinning, Bluefeather flipped back over, letting her black dress fall back into place as she did so. “Later love. Now, please lead the way, I'm in need of a beer.”

“Deal. Wine does call to me. It’s just a block over there, now.”

Bluefeather looked to where Cyclone was pointing with her hoof. It didn’t really matter she hadn’t been to Canterlot for a few years. There was no mistaking the purpose of the huge five storey temple up ahead. Especially with its pure white walls, golden steeples and a twenty foot representation of Princess Celestia’s cutie mark emblazoned above the wide golden doors. “The giant white marble phallic shaped building?” Bluefeather asked with a giggle.

Cyclone did a double take. The temple didn’t look at all phallic, even if you looked at it on your side and squinted. “Huh? You look at that and see a phallus?” she giggled, “You are horny today! But yes, that’s the place.”

Giggling like a filly, Bluefeather followed Cyclone’s lead and both mares glided in for a long swooping landing just outside the temple doors. “Well, I said the same thing about the zebra hall and Airy just rolled her eyes at me!”

“Not that I’m complaining about you being horny, but do I need to guard the stallions from you?”

“Well, it has been a while since I was last in a temple, but there's booze, so let’s get inside.”

Cyclone giggled, “Let the booze be doubled!”

Now, Bluefeather rolled her eyes at her marefriend, making sure the expression spoke volumes. “You silly filly, this is a temple not a hall, I think their mantra is 'let the cake be doubled’.”

Cyclone shrugged her shoulders before checking her dress, smoothing out a couple of little wrinkles. “Meh, cake, booze, it's all good fun, sweetie.”

Once Bluefeather had smoothed her dress in turn, she leant in and kissed Cyclone’s lips. “You flew very well today, Cyclone.”

“Mom wouldn't want me to be afraid.” Cyclone asserted as she returned the kiss she was given. “After all, it’s about time I realised, I have a decent pair of wings, and you're the wind beneath them.”

“Awwwww that is so sweet of you to say.” Bluefeather smiled, caressing her marefriend’s cheek with her wingtip. “I think you're trying to make me blush.”

“Well, yeah, and I'm trying to be genuine too, no joking about for once. I mean it, baby.”

“I love you too, now, in we go. Can't keep family waiting.”

“No, we can't.” Cyclone squared her shoulders and, after a deep breath to gather her nerves, she hoofed open the door. “After you, sweet flanks.” Obligingly, Bluefeather performed an exaggerated flank wiggle as she sauntered into the Celestial Temple like she owned the place. “Hmmm...sweet flanks…” as she followed the older mare, Cyclone panted just a little.

Bluefeather looked over her shoulder and smirked, rather pleased indeed that her wiggle had the desired effect. “Try to not drool on the carpet, love.” As they walked into the temple’s main function room, which was almost like walking into the throne room of the palace, Royal Ribbon and Royal Pin both walked over and bowed in greeting, which she returned. “Ribbon, Pin well met. How goes the celebration of Monsoon?”

“Just getting started.” Royal Pin answered, making sure to get in before his sister had a chance. “The caterer was a little late in the set up.”

Momentarily, Cyclone was distracted by the fully laden buffet table. Then she remembered to look back to her aunt and uncle. “Hey, ah, that was a sweet classy thing you said, aunty.”

Royal Ribbon nodded, dabbing at her eyes with a kerchief. “It was from my heart, I couldn't say any more, although I am pleased you and Four are talking now.”

“I'd say Cy was more surprised,” Bluefeather agreed, “but I know I'm pleased about it, too.”

“Yeah, it was a surprise...I mean, a good surprise…”

The was a loud ‘pop’ then, as Four Step appeared from a teleport right next to Cyclone’s right side. “First time I've been called a nice surprise.” She deadpanned, unable to resist the prank.

“Cus!” Cyclone squeaked, jumping a foot in the air and making everypony burst out into gales of laughter.

It was a good few minutes before Bluefeather could speak, thanks to the well-timed and excellently executed prank. To show her appreciation, she high hoofed Four Step. “Thank you, Four Step, for giving my filly hope in Equestria.”

“It's my great pleasure.” Four Step smiled sweetly. “Cyclone, I hope you can forgive me, for all the things I called you in the past. They were uncalled for.”

Cyclone glanced at her marefriend, her aunt and her cousin. She smiled, “Well, first things first, it's 'Cy', 'kay?”

“Four Step, when she told me of what happened, I let her know how disappointed I was by her actions.” Bluefeather put in, “Since then though, I've watched her and I believe she'd make an excellent day care worker.”

Nodding, Royal Ribbon leant in to her daughter and whispered, loudly, “Tell her!”

“Tell me what?” Cyclone asked, catching the intentionally loud whisper as her cousin blushed hard and her aunt and uncle shared a wink and walked away to the buffet table. This did nothing but make Cyclone even more curious than she already was. “C'mon cus, what's up?”

Four Step, for her part, looked like she wanted to strike her mother down with a curse. That, or teleport away to anywhere other than where she was right then. Sadly she knew the cat was out of the bag. She sighed, shuffling her hooves. “I'm ah...I'm pregnant.”

‘Yes!’ Bluefeather thought. ‘I knew it! I totally called it!’ while she cheered to herself, what she actually said out loud was a far more restrained, “Congratulations! I'll make sure Cy is available for foal sitting duty.”

“Really?” Cyclone asked, her mouth hanging open, “Really, really?” when Four Step nodded, looking down at her hooves, the bit finally dropped. “Oh cus, that's great!” she squealed like the the girliest filly in the world, and pulled her cousin into a neck crushing hug. “Who's the dad?”

“Um...” Four Step scratched the back of her head when she was released from the bone crushing hug, “um...weather was nice for the funeral! I'm glad about that...” she knew though, that this distraction wouldn’t last forever.

Again, Bluefeather had a very good idea what the issue was, but she wasn’t going to press her. “It is a beautiful day to celebrate Monsoon. Come along Cy, I need adult supervision at the bar.”

“Coming dearest!”

Four Step couldn’t help but giggle as she followed after the two pegasi. “Well, aren't you all well trained, Cy?”

Bluefeather smirked, “She's a work in progress.”

“I approve of your efforts, Bluefeather.” Four Step smiled as they all walked up to the bar. “Might I join you in a beer?”

“In your condition?”

“Pish posh,” Bluefeather playfully swatted at Cyclone’s ear with her wingtip. “A beer didn't hurt any foal. More than one will make nanna Bluefeather frown, though.” She accentuated this statement with a very pointed look directed straight at the lilac unicorn.

“Exactly,” Four Step sniffed, “I was only planning on having the one, nanna Cy.”

“Oooh...” Cyclone pointed to Bluefeather while they waited to be served, “she's the nanna, not me.”

Bluefeather suddenly thought that this may have been the reason that Royal Ribbon looked so harassed at the funeral. “It is good that your mother is very supportive.”

“Oh heavens!” Four Step smiled, “I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for my mother!”

“So uh, how far along are you?”

Four Step blushed a very, very intense blush indeed as she smoothed away a wrinkle on her dress that wasn’t there at all. “Two months. I’m two months pregnant.”

At once, Bluefeather picked up on the saddened tone in Four Step’s voice. She felt so much sympathy for the young unicorn mare. She knew some gentle prodding would get to the bottom of it. “Oh, they got the good beer!” To stallion behind the cash bar, she requested, “Two Fast Trots and a glass of red, please.”

“Oh my thank you, Bluefeather.”

Cyclone let out a delighted squee. “More wine!”

Four Step smiled, “And, I thought you liked beer, Cy.”

“She still does,” Bluefeather commented to the lilac unicorn mare as the bartender served up the three drinks. “But, this is something of an indulgence.”

Just as Four Step was about to comment that red wine was something they had in common, Cyclone suddenly squeezed her hind legs together as her eyes went wide. “Oooh! Aaaah, Filly’s room! I need the filly's room!”

Thankfully, at the Celestial temple, the restrooms were all well marked and, more importantly, not very far away. Bluefeather took her wine and pointed to the nearest WC with a wingtip. “Go! Go like the wind!”

Without any further encouragement, Cyclone disappeared so fast she was almost a black and turquoise blur. Four Step watched with a rather bemused look on her face, gently she sipped her beer. “It seems she's getting that under control?” she offered as a conversation starter.

Bluefeather shook her head though at that. “No, not really. She still has very little warning time. I should have put her back in a nappy, but I really didn't think about it at the time.”

“At least here she's among family.” Four Step thought out loud, “Any accidents will just result in teasing forever…” she smiled and let out a long, protracted heartfelt sigh. Now they were alone, she thought it best to open up with her cousin’s marefriend and nanna. “I am, sorry, I was evasive, but, there isn't a dad, and it’s twins.”

“Not that you need to tell me,” Bluefeather said kindly, laying a tender hoof on the unicorn’s shoulder, “But I figured that out after the first head scratch. Why I was ushering Ms. Million Questions out of the room. Nice you tagged along anyways.”

“I know, but it’s obvious that Cyclone trusts you, and it is nice to not be judged.”

‘More like it’s easier to talk to me than it is to family,’ Bluefeather thought to herself. “Well, I judge all the time, but unless there is a reason to act on my judgement, I'm a live and let live pony. Also, I'm proud of you for carrying to term.”

Four Step snickered, “I thank you for not just assuming I'm fat.”

“Not that, that would bother me either.” Bluefeather giggled. At the gravesite, that had in fact been her first guess, before she noted exactly where the slight bulge was on the lilac mare’s barrel. “Some ponies are just too hung up on what they think is the cultural norm when nopony can really achieve such a thing.”

“Too true,” Four Step nodded her head and she raised up her beer bottle in a mock salute. “But, you forget where you are. We are in Canterlot! Public image is everything here,” she smiled as she sipped her beer, “besides, I'm much better off on my own than with my ex-partner.”

Bluefeather had heard of this attitude in the nation’s capital, of course, but being way over on the east coast, she was pretty far removed from it. “You should know I'm from Manehatten, so I'll be the first to put a hoof up some pretentious pony’s ass.”

“I'll bear that in mind if he ever breaks the restraining order.” Four Step’s smile vanished. “My ex, he was pretty ‘free’ with his hooves, and he didn’t mind who he hit with them, if you catch my meaning.”

“I do,” Bluefeather said, only then did she notice the extensive make up liberally but carefully applied around her left eye. No doubt there was a beauty of a black eye underneath it, and she was sure, too, were bruises on parts of her body that were hidden by the dress she was wearing. “I'm not mare exclusive, just exclusive to the one I'm with.”

As Cyclone came out of the bathroom, Bluefeather made her mind up not to tell her marefriend about that particular little nugget. “I think…Cy doesn't need to know that, as she is quite a reactive pony.” She saw Cyclone get ever closer to them, “Did my filly remember to wash her hooves?”

“Yes I did, see?” Cyclone sat on her haunches and held up her shiny clean hooves for inspection as Four Step nodded her agreement at the thought of her younger cousin's reaction to her predicament.

Smiling, for her marefriend’s hooves passed her scrutiny, Bluefeather winged her red wine back to her. “Such a good filly you are, Cy!” still smiling, she took a long drink of her beer. “Keep us up to date, Four Step, on your progress. Are you going to have a foal shower?”

“I most certainly will, and yes, I plan on having a shower.”

“That's good news. Thing can get a bit stinky otherwise.” Bluefeather pulled off her best, most innocent look as Four Step and Cyclone both laughed out loud, snorting through mouthfuls of beer and red wine respectively. “My work here is done!” With that, Bluefeather moved off leaving the two cousins alone as she searched for new targets.

“What of you?” Four Step asked, though she was still giggling after Bluefeather had left, “What are your plans?”

“Well, after we're done here, we're going to the MiAC store before heading back home to Cloudhatten, I think.”

Four Step sniffed, “Hmm, lucky you, cousin.”

“Come with us, we'll buy you something 'fun'!”

It only took Bluefeather a split second to identify and acquire her next target. Just having hung up her phone, Royal Ribbon was stood alone and apart from everypony else with a slice of cake on a plate held in her magical aura. “Hey,” she smiled, getting the unicorn’s attention, “It’s easier to be understanding when it's not so close to home. How are you doing?”

Royal Ribbon smiled at her new friend as she put her phone away. Though she smiled, she looked no less stressed. “I’m doing alright, thank you, Blue.”

“Same here. Almost had to perform a clean-up by the bar, but Cy can move when she needs to.” She grinned, casting a quick glance back at her lover as she spoke with her cousin. Then, going back into full meddling mode, she turned back to her friend. “I've heard you’re the best mother a daughter can have.”

“Hardly.” Royal Ribbon nodded, though her smile vanished quicker than Cyclone had when she realised she needed the toilet. “Were I that good, poor Four wouldn't have played punching bag for the scumbag stallion she was with, but I was too busy with my charities to see it until it was too late.”

“Sometimes you have to let them fly solo,” said Bluefeather, giving her an affectionate friendly nuzzle, “and just be there to catch them when they crash. I heard it straight from the filly’s mouth, so it must be true.”

Once more, Royal Ribbon smiled. She tapped her glasses with her hoof. “Well, hindsight glasses are always 20/20, right?”

Bluefeather lifted up her beer and after a little salute, she took a draught of it while the unicorn ate a forkful of her cake. “Always, but the real problem is when we take them off and do the same thing over and over again.” Nodding to that, Royal Ribbon set aside her cake and lifted up her own beer. “What you said in the house of rest really touched Cy, thank you.”

“And I meant it, too.” Royal Ribbon sipped her beer slowly. “I'm glad it touched Four as well.”

“Being a mom is a scary thing.” Bluefeather said sympathetically, “There’s no owner’s manual. Being a grandmare is a wonderful thing, though.”

“You can wind them up and give the foals back!” Royal Ribbon let out a rare giggle, given her current mood, “I must say I’m looking forward to it.”

“I'm sure you are. Now, to see where Earth Song went.”

Royal Ribbon pointed her hoof over to the far end of the buffet table, where the elderly unicorn stallion was propped up on his cane, talking rather animatedly with her younger brother. “The charming old stallion is just over there with Tropical, I think they're comparing mares, by the look of it.”

“I should give them something to compare with then!” Bluefeather smiled, happy that her work here was done, she trotted off to be a nuisance elsewhere. The two stallions were unaware of her presence until she had arrived right next to them. Tropical Storm was showing Earth Song a spread from Playcolt on his phone. “It was beautiful,” Bluefeather said loudly to announce herself, “What your wife said, Earth Song.”

Reluctantly, Earth Song looked away from Tropical Storm’s phone. He never knew a pony could bend quite like that. He learned something new every day. “It was indeed.” He let out a little chuckle. “It was a good send-off, for her, I think.”

“I know a little filly that desperately misses her mom,” Bluefeather said, casting another quick glance back at Cyclone, “but who would love to visit some grandparents.”

“And I know grandparents who'd love to see more of her,” Earth Song agreed, though his old mind was wandering back to what he had been viewing with his son-in-law. Even though technically he wasn’t, anymore.

“Good to know, I'll let her know.” Bluefeather pointedly nudged Tropical Storm with her foreleg. “She'd see more of her dad too if it weren't for that box in front of his eyes.”

“I've had surgery!” Tropical Storm laughed along with Bluefeather and Earth Song’s giggles. “I can remove it once in a while.”

“Well now,” Earth Song chuckled, leaning heavily on his cane for fear of falling over. “My son-in-law here says he's gone and given young Cyclone a job, is this right?”

“He has and it is,” Bluefeather confirmed what Tropical Storm had said to Earth Song, “and she is thinking of taking it too. I'll nudge her to make a decision on it in a few days.”

Earth Song smiled at that. “Lemony was dead against it at first, until I pointed out our rather large collection of Playcolt DVD's. Then again, she was upset she lost the argument.”

“It is always something to explain to the guest.” Bluefeather laughed, before taking a long drink from her now half empty bottle. “Why does your young colt have a Playcolt picture on his wall? It's his grandmare, who am I to make him take it down.”

“Like I said to Lemony, if little Cy's happy, then good luck to her.”

“Your support will mean a lot to her.” Bluefeather laid her hoof on the old stallion’s shoulder, but she was careful not to apply too much pressure lest she knock him over. “She is still building self-confidence.”

Earth Song scoffed, snorting through his nose. “Pah, self-confidence has never been Cy's trouble, young mare, more like kicking off the shackles of the past. Now there,” he slowly levitated up his beer bottle and emptied it, swaying very dangerously on his wrinkled hooves, “There she has ‘issues’.”

“Hmmm,” Bluefeather murmured thoughtfully, “you do have something there. I can work with that.” She lifted up her beer for a toast. “To Monsoon! To the mare that brought Cyclone into my life.”

Trying to drink from his empty bottle, Earth Song instead touched it up to Bluefeather’s bottle. “And…” he swayed again, thanks to the alcohol he had drank, “To the mare that bought you into our lives. Celestia bless all the mares in the land!”

“I can drink that.” Bluefeather giggled and she went to the bar to get herself another beer so she could do just that. The mid grey mare determined to stay for the duration of at least three beers, and while she was drinking them, she wandered around the temple, making sure to chat with all the ponies before she trotted back to see what Cyclone was up to.

Cyclone, with Four Step, was over by the bar. On her second glass of red wine, the jet black pegasus was – rather loudly – sharing some of her best dirty jokes with her cousin, who was enjoying a non-alcoholic beer. “Remember what I said, foal sitting is my specialty.” Bluefeather smiled, kissing Cyclone’s lips as she was performing a lewd hip thrust to emphasise her latest joke. She was determined to make Four Step spit. “How are you doing, love?”

Cyclone though didn’t mind the interruption. “I’m doing okay, sexy, just telling Four here about the pony who came from Nantucket...” she sniggered as Four Step did indeed snort and spit her beer.

“I never knew her jokes were so...dirty,” the lilac unicorn giggled. Then, there was a lot she was discovering about her cousin.

“Not the only thing about her that gets dirty,” Bluefeather giggled as she helped herself to her third and final beer. “No accidents, Cy?”

“No!”

“There was an 'almost', but we sorted it.”

Cyclone scowled a little at her cousin for almost ratting her out. “Four teleported us to the bathroom just in time.” With that, the two cousins shared a hoof-bump.

“My, I didn't realize you're such a powerful unicorn…”

Four Step turned a very, very acidic glare to Bluefeather. She picked up immediately on the tone in the older mare’s voice, the tone of surprise that basically said ‘how can you be assaulted if you’re that powerful?’. “You’ll pardon me, Bluefeather, but powerful unicorns can still be taken by surprise.”

Thankful that her marefriend was slightly oblivious, Bluefeather mouthed ‘I apologise’, to which Four Step nodded that she accepted. “Have you made your rounds, Cy?” she asked, “Lemon Grass and Earth Song would like to see more of you during a happier visit.”

“Ooh! I need to say bye to nanna and gramps before we go, you two okay for a minute?”

“Of course Cy, you go.” No sooner had those words left Four Step’s mouth than Cyclone had gone, leaving her alone with Bluefeather by the bar.

“She must be worried you'll steal me off my hooves!” Bluefeather raised a dramatic foreleg up to her forehead. “Woe is me, so completely under your spell!”

Four Step snorted out a laugh, her brief acidic mood already forgotten. “Oh I doubt it, you two complete each other. Oh, Blue, you must tell me, as I'm sure Cy was pulling my horn. Does she really have a strap on called Mr. Pointy?”

Bluefeather nodded as she slowly sipped her beer. “She does and as I said earlier I swing both ways so Mr. Pointy has completely explored me.”

Four Step almost spat out her beer, though she put it down on the bar, just in case of spillage. “As do I, but...” she then looked enviously at Cyclone who was talking and hugging with her grandparents, “ooh, but for a tenth of her confidence…”

Bluefeather placed a gentle hoof on Four Step's shoulder. “Real confidence isn't acting without care, but acting knowing you are true to your inner self.”

“And she has never been scared to be herself, no matter what.” Four Step smiled, very grateful that Bluefeather’s hoof was where it was. It gave her the strength and confidence to say what she wanted to say. What she needed to say. “That's what makes her so...attractive, I suppose.”

‘Attractive?’ Bluefeather thought as she nuzzled the pregnant unicorn, trying to make up her mind if it was too soon to tease about being ‘kissing cousins’. She decided against it. She recognised it had taken courage for her to admit that. “It is her fantasy that attracted me to her. A mutual friend told me of her playing a foal. She is much more than that, but she’s still haunted by her past mistakes.”

“Well,” Four Step blushed, embarrassed at the part she had played in that. “I admit I haven't helped there, but we made a start working things out, a start we both wish to carry forward.”

“I was very clear on my disappointment. Drugs are never the solution.”

“No,” Four Step agreed, “but she's done her rehab, she's beat them.” That really just made her cousin all that more attractive to her, really. Oh…how she wanted her! Instead, she smiled sweetly at the mid grey pegasus. “I do hope you don't mind, she was talking about bringing me with you to the MiAC store.”

“Feeling adventurous?” Bluefeather asked, not that she minded in the least, “Did she say why she wants to go?”

“I should get adventurous at least once. Oh, she was telling me about buying a red latex – or was it rubber - isolation suit. At first I thought she was joking,” Four Step said, glancing over at her cousin and taking a moment to admire her flank.

“Personally, I think she's crazy, but I support controlled craziness.” Bluefeather responded, noting where her companion was looking and, she had to agree, it was a mighty fine view from here. “She saw an earth pony in one and she got the idea in her head. Best to test it and see if that idea blossoms or dies.”

Four Step looked a little misty eyed at her cousin and then she blushed, realising Bluefeather was looking at her with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smirk. “If…if she's crazy, then we should all be as crazy, I think. I know she's happy, and she's more 'her' than she's been in a long time.”

Almost on cue, Cyclone came trotting over, none the worse for wear after her bone crushing hugs courtesy of her grandparents. “Hey guys!” she gave out nuzzles to both Bluefeather and to Four Step, completely missing why her cousin’s cheeks were so red and hot. “Did you miss me?”

Snickering, Bluefeather reached into Cyclone’s turquoise mane and she pulled out a bottle cap. “No, I guess not. I actually got a bullseye!” she giggled at Four Step, for she knew the heavily blushing mare had seen her hoof the bottle cap there in the first place.

“N-No!” Four Step spluttered, trying to cover up her faux pas. “Um, no, not at all, Blue was very entertaining to talk to…”

“Aww cus!” Cyclone, oblivious, again nuzzled the pregnant unicorn, causing the poor mare’s blush to reignite instantly. “You missed me!”

Bluefeather cleared her throat noisily. It was, after all, time for them to go. They had the MiAC store to go to, and she wanted to get the Friendship Express before the evening, if they were to be back in Cloudhatten before noon tomorrow. She didn’t want to waste the whole day on the train. “So, are you ready for the three of us to go off to sexy times?”

“I’m ready, sexy!” Cyclone gave a last wave of her hoof to her grandparents and her dad, before turning to leave. She too was eager to leave. She had gained her closure to a big part of her life and, in doing so, she had repaired more than one important bridge with her family. That said, though, she was keen to get the first day of the rest of her life started.

As they left the Celestial Temple, standing in the warm early afternoon summer sun, Cyclone couldn’t help but smile. In spite of everything she had lost, she smiled. She smiled for she realised just what she had gained, too. She had her marefriend and her nanna.

She had her family back.

She had her life back.

Cyclone smiled in the sunlight. This life stuff was easy. It was foal’s play.

Chapter 1 - A Filly's Hope

‘I can do this…’ Bluefeather stood motionless on the sidewalk outside of Stripe’s Cup of Java, where she had been stood for the last five minutes, summoning up the nerve to walk inside.

“You can do this…” the forty year old mid-grey pegasus talked herself up a little more. Ponies walked past her, paying her no mind as they went about their business and she checked her watch. ‘Twenty minutes early, okay.’ With the afternoon sun on her back, she smoothed the green blouse and she was partway through smoothing out a non-existent wrinkle on the translucent green skirt she was wearing before she realised, with a smile, that she was stalling.

‘C’mon Blue, you can do this.’ She knew she wasn’t going to get anywhere out on the sidewalk. Summoning her nerve, she brushed her hoof through her blue mane and, with a last deep breath, she trotted through the door into the coffee shop. She scanned the red tables in search of any black pegasus. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw the area was clear.

“Bluefeather,” Caffeinated looked up from behind his kingdom that was the serving counter of his empire, “It’s been awhile since I've seen you.” The large orange zebra laughed, his deep voice rumbling. He saw the funny side of the coincidence, the coincidence that the night before there were adult foals playing at his ranch and the day after, Friday, here was a caretaker in his shop. “You would have liked the party at my place last night.”

Bluefeather smiled sweetly at her old friend. A friend he knew through Tempest but a friend nonetheless. “So I hear.” She took another breath, for her nerves. “Stormy and Wildfire paid me a visit today up at the Weather Factory. They told me of their friend, Cyclone.”

Immediately, that got Caffeinated’s attention. He had an inkling, as he started his coffee machine going, that this Friday afternoon was going to get a little bit more interesting. “Got your interest, did they?”

“Yes, to say the least.” Bluefeather ran her hoof through her mane, toying with the ends of it near her shoulders, “So, what’s your impression?”

“She played her part very well.” Caffeinated chuckled, recognising the fishing job as it was being played. He also recognised nerves when he saw them. He knew it had been a while since Bluefeather had cared for a foal. Of course, this called for coffee. Coffee did solve many problems. “Both Trotter and Bookmark said she was pretty well behaved for a two year old and she stayed in character.”

Bluefeather nodded at that. ‘So, this Cyclone knows how to play, does she?’ she thought with a tiny smile. More to the point she had Trotter, Bookmark and Caffeinated’s seal of approval. That approval carried with it a lot of weight, in her mind. “Okay, she is to meet me here at four, and I want to make a good impression.”

“You worry too much Blue.” Caffeinated chuckled, reaching under the counter and pulling out a mug for the coffee that hadn’t been ordered yet. “Serenity loved your attention and I'm sure Cy will, too.”

“You're right.” Bluefeather sighed, “of course you’re right.” She saw the mug being placed under the machine and knew it was for her. Silently she thanked the alicorns that the zebra was so good at his calling. “Coffee with cream, while I wait.”

Caffeinated laughed, that deep rumble emanating from him as he already had the cream in the mug ready. “Okay,” he smiled, setting the order on the counter, “but you know I still can't get that factory coffee down just right.”

“Thank Celestia for that.” Bluefeather treated her friend to a smile and, taking her coffee with her, she moved over to a bright red table situated where she could easily see and be seen from the main entrance.

Ten minutes later, at three fifty five, Cyclone arrived. Wearing a simple plain cream dress, with socks, Cyclone well and truly arrived. From the slight bulge at the rump that was her nappy to the pacifier around her neck and plushies in her saddle bag, Cyclone arrived. Looking around the coffee shop, she soon spotted the blue wing-tipped pegasus nursing her coffee. Grinning as she locked eyes with her, she trotted over. “Hey, thanks for coming.”

Bluefeather waved her guest into the seating pad opposite her own. “It’s my pleasure Cyclone.” She looked the jet black mare over, from the pacifier to the cream dress. Instantly her eyes were drawn to her padded rump. “May I call you Cy?”

“Sure,” Cyclone nodded as she sat down, practised ease she didn’t crease her dress, “Can I call you Blue?”

Bluefeather smiled, “For now you may. Can I get you a drink while we chat?”

“Sure,” Cyclone said again, this time with a smile that matched the older mare’s, “I'd love a coffee Blue, thank you.” ‘Damn…’ Cyclone thought, looking her over as she rose up out of her seating pad, ‘she is great looking!’

Bluefeather stood up, leaving Cyclone sat at the table. “Straight up?”

“Please, hun.”

After just a few minutes, which would have been longer had Caffeinated not already had Cyclone’s coffee of choice on the go before she reached his counter – seriously, she swore that zebra had ‘coffee sense’, or something like that - she soon returned to her table with Cyclone’s coffee. “We've met before,” she opened, “back at the Weather Conference in Trottingham.”

“Yes!” Cyclone cheered, punching the air with her hoof, “I knew I remembered you from somewhere!” she smiled and took her coffee gratefully, “You’re still cute with those wings.”

“I have to ask,” Bluefeather said, getting straight to the point that bothered her the most, “At the conference you were weather manager. Wildfire says you're in charge of inclement weather now. What happened?”

Cyclone took a moment to sip her coffee. It was fair after all, that Bluefeather should ask. In the end, she decided on the truth. She knew she’d get nowhere lying, and by Luna did she want to get somewhere. “I got a demotion, I'm afraid. I wore my nappy to work, big boss didn't like it. Simple as that.”

Bluefeather nodded, listening intently. Studying that cute black face, she had a ‘sense’, that the younger mare was being honest with her. “That wouldn't happen here, but you may have to say you suffer from incontinence. Then again, I'm the 'big boss' for the Cloudhattan factory.”

Cyclone giggled. “It helps to know the sexy boss,” she said with a smile. “I don't even think when I put one on now, it's like second nature to me.”

“How long have you been in the ABDL scene?” Bluefeather asked, her curiosity piqued.

Cyclone took another, longer sip of her coffee as she tapped her chin with her sock clad hoof. “Oooh...let’s see now...just over five years. My friend's dared me to wear a nappy to a fun fair in Canterlot in the Uni holidays.”

Bluefeather smiled warmly. “So, what do you think of me, as I've never worn a nappy?”

“That you prefer to be a caretaker, you like looking after adult foals?”

“That I do.” Bluefeather agreed, “I've been looking after adult foals for twenty years.” She paused as she emptied her mug of coffee before it got much cooler, “Filly or colt is fine by me, and they can't be too messy for me to care for them.”

“That's cool. I didn't actually use the nappies at first.” Cyclone went on to explain herself, “it freaked me out. Then, about two weeks after the funfair, I got some proper supplies and I tried it again.”

Bluefeather set her now empty mug down on the table. “You don't have to use them, but I want you to know I'm okay with you if you do.” Then, another rather important question occurred to her. “What age to do you prefer to play?” she knew she was getting straight to the point, but it was critical to her these things get nailed quickly.

“Oh I have use them now alright,” Cyclone said, correcting her, “time and place taken into account as much as possible, of course. Um...I like to play a two year old, maximum three.”

“A fun age where a foal discovers trouble.” Bluefeather said with a giggle, wondering what the younger black pegasus meant by having to use her nappies. “What about a caretaker? You prefer mommy, nanny, babysitter, older sibling, or something else?”

The jet black mare mulled that over for a moment, finishing off her coffee as she did so. “I prefer babysitter or nanny. My friend, Air Raid, played nanny for me up till now.”

“Till now?”

“She's moved from Canterlot to Manehatten,” Cyclone explained with a ghost of a sad smile on her lips, mostly at the loss of her caretaker. “She’s got herself a Mistress and a fellow Sub in a pair of zebra mares.” her smile did grow a little warmer now though, she really couldn’t begrudge her old ex-marefriend her happiness. “I think I'm between playmates.”

That was literally music to Bluefeather’s ears. “So,” she said carefully, trying hard to keep from being too excited, “I guess it is time to set some parameters on our play. While you're a foal, I'll do nothing that would endanger a foal. If you have a bad dream you can share my bed, but only for safety and sleep.”

Cyclone nodded, “That sounds cool to me. I do sometimes have bad dreams.”

“As for sharing my bed,” Bluefeather continued with a wink, “I prefer mares.”

‘Oh sweet Luna above, she is perfect!’ Cyclone thought to herself, though she made an effort to not sound too excited to quickly. She didn’t want to appear too eager and ruin a good thing before it happened. “I’m bi, but it’s a stroke of luck, I prefer mares too! Aaaaand, I was single till I walked in here and saw you.”

‘By Luna, she is perfect!’ Bluefeather thought with a delighted little giggle behind her hoof. The self-assuredness that this young mare was displaying was rather attractive. “You’re rather sure of yourself.”

“Confidence has never been an issue.” Cyclone smiled, “the question is, am I right?”

“I see, and I do like your style.” Bluefeather satisfied herself that this mare was worth more of her time delving deeper, at least for now. “Dinner?”

“Yes please.” The moment her coffee partner mentioned food, Cyclone realised just how hungry she was. “This foal's hungry.”

Now, Bluefeather leant forward across the red table. “Question is, real food or mashed turnips?”

“Now you're asking!” Cyclone smiled. The last night at Caffeinated’s ranch notwithstanding, it had been a week or thereabouts since Cyclone had enjoyed having a nanny. There really was only one option, and that was the easiest choice she had ever made. “Manehatten's finest turnip, mashed, please Blue.”

Making up her mind, Bluefeather used both hooves on Cyclone’s jet black cheeks, doing the squeeze / pull that all good nanna’s did. And she was a good nanna. “Aren't you just the cutest little thing!”

“Yes, I am.” Cyclone said proudly, puffing out her chest as she pulled off her cream socks and folded them into her saddlebags. If she was going to be a foal, she didn’t want to get them dirty. “I even have a certificate to prove it!”

“Now I wish I’d brought my stroller with me,” Bluefeather smiled, watching as her potential partner removed her socks. Socks were, after all, sexy. “Shall I carry you, or are you a toddler, Cy?”

“I'm a toddler!”

Bluefeather beamed a very broad smile indeed. She already chalked the day up as a success. “You stay close to me and you can have ice cream for dessert.” After she cleaned away the dirty mugs, the mid grey pegasus made her way through the coffee shop to the exit, giving Caffeinated a knowing wink on the way.

“I'll stay close!” Cyclone squeaked, sneaking in a nuzzle to Bluefeather’s foreleg before she got up and followed her – hopefully soon-to-be – nanna out. On the way she caught the wave that Caffeinated sent her way and returned it just as enthusiastically.

Leaving the coffee shop, Bluefeather turned and headed north up the sidewalk along bridleway. She had just the place in mind to go, seeing as Trixie’s Place was closed this early in the day. Foal Friendly's was just as good, if not better. The walk, while not very long, was pleasant enough.

Cyclone, walking next to the older mare, was thoroughly enjoying her morning day. For the seventh time, she offered up thanks to all the alicorns that Tempest, Airmail and Wildfire had stopped at the weather factory in Cloudsdale that Tuesday. She was even more thankful she’d come to Manehatten now.

She was still smiling when Bluefeather held open the door for her. “Ta!” she squeaked in her best little foal’s voice as she stepped through the open door. Now, she knew, it was time to show her new nanna how she could play. And she could play very well.

As soon as she walked through the door, Bluefeather pulled a booster seat from the stack that was just inside, and she led her new foal over to an empty booth. Smiling, having been here a few times, the mid grey pegasus placed the booster seat on one side of the table near the wall. “Do you need help,” she asked, in full ‘caretaker’ mode, “or are you a big filly?”

This being her first time in Manehatten, Cyclone was a teeny bit overawed that such a place like Foal Friendly’s existed outside of Trixie’s Place. There was no chance in Tartarus that an ABDL café would be allowed in Canterlot. Looking around, the jet black mare was surprised how ‘normal’ everything was. It was just like any other café, just bright primary colours and the other foals were big foals.

Cyclone decided immediately she liked Manehatten. A lot. Here, she knew she could be herself and not be judged. “I'm a big filly, nanna! I show you.” Although she could’ve easily got in the seat, she made a bit of a show of clambering up and sitting on the booster seat, just like a foal.

‘She really can play!’ Bluefeather thought with a smile as she sat down on the seating pad next to her filly, at once impressed. Straightaway, a waitress came over and set down menus for them. “Can I have a foal menu for this one, please?” she asked with a smile, determined to be as good a nanna as she was a foal.

“Welcome to Foal Friendly’s!” the teal earth pony waitress beamed, “Sure, no problem, can I get you drinks, ma’am?”

Bluefeather pointed to her foal, who looked utterly adorable in her cream dress. “She will have a small glass of mare's milk and I'll have a coffee with cream, please.”

“Yes ma'am,” the waitress made a polite little bow, “and I'll be right back with the foal menu for you.”

“Thank you,” Bluefeather smiled, “and please remember the colouring pencils.”

Seated on her booster pad, Cyclone giggled, well into her chosen role, she hugged Blufeather’s left foreleg. “I like mare milk, nanna!”

‘Aw!’ was the one thought that ran through Bluefeather’s head. ‘Definitely made the right choice with this one.’ “Only the best for the foals I watch over.” With that in mind, the mid grey pegasus gently eased the saddlebags off of her foal, along with the cream dress. Cute as it was, and by Luna’s sainted fetlock it was cute, it wasn’t really appropriate. She was pleased to discover that Cyclone had no qualms about being in just her nappy.

The waitress returned with the foal menu and box of four chunky colouring pencils just as Bluefeather folded the dress away neatly in the bags that the jet black pegasus had been carrying. “I'll be back in a couple of minutes for your order,” she said with a practised smile as she set the drinks and the pencils down.

“Thank you, dear.” Bluefeather said, opening up the pack of pencils and placing them on the piece of white paper already at the table.

“You is a good nanna,” Cyclone said, then she saw the colours on the table and strained her hooves. Unfortunately they were just out of her reach. “I wanna colour.”

Bluefeather raised her eyebrow. “And what do we say?”

“Pwease, nana?”

And just like that, Bluefeather’s heart melted. “You are such a good filly!” she rubbed the shock of turquoise that was Cyclone’s mane, loving the way her blue eyes seemed to grow in size and sparkle like that. Seeing as her foal had said please, she opened up the box and poured the four pencils out where Cyclone could reach them.

“Yay!” clapping her hooves together like the excited little filly she was, Cyclone reached into the bag that Bluefeather had removed from her and pulled out her Radiance plush doll. She never, ever went anywhere without her Power Pony plush. Where she went, it went. “Can Radiance watch, nanna?”

Bluefeather glanced at the plush. It was obviously old, and she could tell immediately that it had been loved and well cared for. “She can, but be careful to not colour on her, sweetie.”

The earth pony waitress reappeared at their table just as Cyclone began her work of art. “Are you ready to order?” she asked, watching her draw in what was grass and trees with a little interest.”

“Yes, she will have the root vegetable mash, and I'll have the spring flower salad with vinaigrette dressing.” Bluefeather placed the order, admiring the haphazard green grass as she did so. “A side of hay fries for the both of us too, please.”

“Okay, and I'll be back with more coffee for you, ma’am.”

“Thank you.” Bluefeather thanked the teal earth pony while at her left, Cyclone was happily in her own little world. Having scribbled in the grass and trees to her satisfaction, she took up the blue pencil and started drawing a crude picture of a pegasus, her tongue out the side of her mouth in concentration.

Moments later, the waitress refilled the coffee. “Ma’am, your filly is very well behaved.”

“Thank you,” Bluefeather felt a great swell of pride right then and there. “She likes to go out and how she acts decides when we will do it again.” Happy at that, the waitress left them to it. “The nice waitress saw you are a good filly.” Again, she tousled Cyclone’s mane. “I think you'll get two scoops of ice cream today.”

Cyclone squeaked, all excited. “Two nanna? Ta!” she beamed happily before hugging her plushie to her. “I’mma good filly Radiance!” with that, and in the absence of black, she picked up a red pencil and drew a slightly smaller pegasus next to the bigger blue one.

“Here is your salad and the veggie mash,” the waitress set the orders down, having carried them over on her back. “Here are your fries. Can I get you anything else?” automatically, Bluefeather looked to see if her filly needed more milk.

Momentarily, Cyclone put her pencils down and, taking hold of the glass of mare’s milk in both of her hooves she drained in it one, leaving a moustache on her lip. “More!” she declared loudly.

“Okay, I'll bring you another glass.”

As the earth pony turned smartly and trotted away, Cyclone clapped her hooves together. “More milk! More milk! I get more milk!”

Bluefeather winced. She didn’t mean to, but her left ear was perilously close to Cyclone’s muzzle, she was in danger of going deaf in that ear. “Not too loud sweetie, please.”

“Oh...I sowwy nanna.”

“Okay then.” Bluefeather couldn’t be irritated too long, not with the weapon’s grade blue eyes that Cyclone possessed. ‘Those should be classed as deadly weapons…’ she thought as she tested the mash. “This is the right temperature, are you ready to eat?”

Cyclone shook her head. “Um…no nanna...my picture!”

Bluefeather sighed a very ‘motherly’ sigh. She couldn’t fault her filly though, she was playing her part very well. “I can feed it to you so you can still draw,” she offered, “how does that sound?”

“Yay yes please!” Cyclone squeaked delightedly, especially when Bluefeather started alternating feeding mash to her and then herself. After two bites, she even gave Cyclone a hay fry to tackle. After two more rounds like this, the waitress returned with her milk. “That's yummy!” she passed her judgement on the mash, food spattered all over her muzzle, before reaching for her milk. “Ta!”

“You can do better than that, Cy,” Bluefeather said gently, “what do you say?”

“Ta!” she squeaked defiantly.

“Add the ‘u’ at the end, please.”

Cyclone, screwing up her face, really concentrated. It wasn’t wholly for show, either. When she was in her foal role, she really went for it. “Um, uh…erm, th-an-k...u, nanna.”

The earth pony waitress let out a delighted little squee. “She. Is. Adorable!”

“Thank you, I do love it when she tries so hard.” Bluefeather smiled, affectionately stroking Cyclone’s turquoise mane. “You have made nanna very proud, Cy.”

“I did? I did!” Cyclone clapped her hooves excitedly. She did so like being praised, even more so when she was a foal. “Look nanna, I done the picture!” in search of even more praise, she showed off the crude pencil drawing of two pegasi in the clouds holding hooves that she had been working on while being fed the mash.

“That is very cute!” the teal waitress beamed, then to Bluefeather she said, “You can hang it up at the front if you like, or take it home with you.”

“Do you want to take it home Cy?” Bluefeather asked, “Or do you want other ponies to see your drawing?”

Cyclone thought about that, tapping her chin with her hoof in serious thought. While it was her first picture of them both together, and therefore special, she did want to show off. “I want them to see us nanna, pwease?”

There was no way in the world the mid grey pegasus was going to refuse those sparkling blue eyes. “I am happy you want to show your beautiful work, Cy.”

As she passed it over, Cyclone pointed to her drawing, first to the larger blue pegasus, and then to the smaller red one. “See, nanna, that’s you, and that’s me!”

Bluefeather was in heaven. It had been a fair while since one of her foals had done her a drawing. “Would you like for me to write our names on the drawing, Cy?”

Cyclone nodded enthusiastically. After all, she couldn’t, could she? “Pwease, nanna.”

“Which colour should I use?”

“Umm...” Cyclone looked at the four colours, eventually she made her mind up. “Um...that one!” she pointed to the green pencil, as she had used the yellow to do the sky.

“Good choice,” Bluefeather picked up the green pencil and, in very neat lettering, wrote out ‘Cy and Blue’ under the respective images on the paper. “Do you think that is good, or do you want your whole name spelled out?”

“Nopes,” Cyclone shook her head, “I like that, nanna.”

Passing the drawing to the waitress, who took it away to put up and display, Bluefeather turned her attention back to her filly and her half empty bowl of veggie mash. “Just two more bites and then it is dessert time, sweetie,” she said, holding up a loaded spoon to her.

Smirking inside, Cyclone decided it was time to test her new nanna, to see how she dealt with a testy foal. “No!” she retorted, turning her head away. “I wanna ice cream.”

“I think some filly was going to get two scoops,” Bluefeather said with a sigh, “but if she is done eating now then she will only have room for one scoop. What do you want your one scoop's flavour to be?”

“Not one, want two!” Cyclone crossed her forehooves over her chest, while her nanna simply waited patiently for her to give the right answer. “I wanna stawbewwy.”

“One scoop of strawberry?” Bluefeather pushed gently, for she knew how to get foals to behave.

“T-Two....pwease.” Cyclone asked with a very real pout.

Smiling, Bluefeather moved the dinner bowl so that Cyclone could see how little was left in it. “It is okay that you couldn't finish your dinner Cy. I know you have a little tummy and I understand. But, if you are full then you may not be able to eat two scoops of ice cream and it would be wrong to throw away ice cream.”

“Well...” the big foal looked down at the bowl, in her head she was weighing up the pros and the cons of showing off and acting out too much on what was essentially a first date. “Um...can I has an ickle bit, pwease?”

At that, Bluefeather leant in close and whispered, in a voice that wasn’t her nanna’s, “I'm a little hungry after that salad. Is it okay with you if we split this?”

Cyclone nodded with an eager smile all over her face. “’Kay!” she even opened her mouth wide when the older mare scooped half of what was left, maybe just a bit more than half and offered it to her.

As Bluefeather fed Cyclone her spoonful, she got the rest and downed it herself. “MmMmmm,” she smacked her lips, “Well, do you think that is the best turnip mash in the city?”

“Yes nanna,” Cyclone readily agreed, though admittedly she didn’t have anything to compare it to. “It was nummy!”

“I agree, so, my little filly is that two scoops of strawberry or do you want a different flavour for the second scoop?”

“Um...” now Cyclone had to really think about that. Ice cream was after all a very serious matter. She was thinking so hard she didn’t notice two couples, both caretakers and their adult foals, leaving the café. “Um, chocolate pwease.”

“Oh, that does sound so good!” Bluefeather smiled, sharing a knowing couple of nods with the caretakers that walked past her. One of them mouthed ‘park’ quietly to her and again, she nodded. “Is it okay if I have the same thing?”

“Course, nanna!”

With the choices made, Bluefeather waved her hoof in the air and the teal earth pony waitress came trotting over. “She has been a very good little filly,” she started, to which the waitress nodded her agreement, “so a scoop of strawberry and a scoop of chocolate ice cream for her, and I'll have the same please.”

The waitress scribbled down her order, “I'll be right back with that, ma’am.”

Once the waitress bustled away, taking the dirty dishes with her, Bluefeather looked Cyclone over and, with a rather critical eye saw her face was smeared with veggie mash. As she picked up a napkin in her hoof, her filly eyed it warily, ready to turn away at an instant. Grinning, knowing how this little game was played, Bluefeather slowly moved the hoof not holding the napkin out of her filly’s view.

While Cyclone was busy watching the napkin, her nanna used her other hoof to tickle the primary feathers of Cyclone’s wing. “Hahahaha!” The filly didn’t stand a chance as she broke out into fits of giggles, “n-n-nanna!”

Bluefeather took the opportunity, while Cyclone was laughing, to wipe the bit of mash that was smeared on her left cheek. “Is my pretty little foal ticklish?”

“Hehehe...sn-sneaky nanna!” Cyclone nodded, though she didn’t stop giggling.

By the time Cyclone had stopped giggling, the waitress arrived with their desserts on her back and she set a bowl of mixed ice cream in front of each of them. “Enjoy.”

Again, Cyclone concentrated hard, wanting to impress her partner. “Tha-nk y-ou!”

“You are totally welcome, little missy!” the waitress tousled Cyclone’s turquoise mane as Bluefeather offered her thanks as well.

Bluefeather held up her hoof to stop Cyclone as she was about to dive head first into her ice cream. “Don't eat too fast or you will get a headache, sweetie,” she warned.

“Uh huh…” not listening in the slightest, the jet black pegasus dived muzzle first into the chocolate and strawberry ice cream. Smirking to herself, the older mare ate hers with a hundred per cent less mess than her filly was doing. When she was three quarters through her bowl, though, “Aaa...Aagh!” Cyclone held up her hoof to her head.

Resisting the urge to say ‘I told you so’, Bluefeather held out her hoof to her filly. “Try to burp, sweetie.”

“Uuugh...” with that, Cyclone let out a huge burp, her lower lip started wobbling as she did so.

“Better?” the mid grey pegasus asked as she dabbed her filly’s chin with her napkin.

Taught her lesson, Cyclone nodded. “Um, t-ta, nanna.”

“Good filly, so maybe nanna knows what she is talking about?” Bluefeather said with a giggle, “Now, finish your ice cream.”

Cyclone mumbled, “yes nanna.”

Reaching across to her filly, Bluefeather tousled her filly’s turquoise mane. “Aw, it will be alright Cy.” She went back to eating her ice cream, while Cyclone giggled and finished hers. When she could see the pattern on the bottom of the bowl, the jet black mate started to lick out the bowl.

After a few moments of this, Cyclone lifted up her ice cream covered muzzle from a now spotless bowl. “I done!” she announced loudly and with pride as Bluefeather finished her ice cream. Smiling, allowing it because it was age appropriate behaviour, she pushed her not-so-spotless bowl towards her filly.

While Cyclone busied herself licking out the second bowl, the mid grey mare waved over the waitress who brought the check with her. Leaving the necessary bits, Bluefeather made to get up. “Do you need help getting down?” she asked, ever ready to assist.

Cyclone shook her head, no. “I can do it!”

Bluefeather had no doubt she could do it. So, she tried another tack. “Do you need the potty, Cy?”

About to answer that she didn’t, Cyclone felt a familiar lurch in her abdomen, followed by a tightening of her gut muscles. “Um...yes pwease nanna! I needs to go!”

“Okay then.” Bluefeather recognised the urgency in Cyclone’s voice. That was the urgency that said the jet black pegasus was not playing. She really did need to go. Taking her hoof, she led the way over to the public bathroom. As this was a place that catered to the ABDL scene, all the bathrooms had foal changing facilities. “Do you want me to help you?” she asked gently, not wanting to push too much.

Cyclone nodded her head. “Pwease!”

Offering her a helping hoof, Bluefeather helped Cyclone to unsnap her bottom and she removed the nappy which, she was pleased to see after a quick inspection was still dry. “Okay, you’re all clear, Cy.”

“Ta nanna!” Cyclone climbed up on the potty and, as soon as she was in position, she relaxed her bladder muscles and released her barely held in stream of hot golden pee. Bluefeather might’ve said she was all clear, but she knew how close she had come to pissing all over the floor. Very close indeed.

Bluefeather watched her filly squat and pee like nopony was watching at all. She liked that. Again, she knew she had made a good choice in this pegasus. She was an exhibitionist after her own heart. “Some filly may be ready for pull ups, hmm?”

Squatting on the toilet, sighing as her stream finally ended, Cyclone beamed. She honestly couldn’t remember when she’d had this much fun in her role. “Nanna, I’mma big filly!”

‘Oh yes you are, sweetie,’ Bluefeather thought as she helpfully wiped her filly’s crotch clean and, once that was done, she replaced the pastel pink nappy around her waist. “You want to flush?”

“Pwease nanna.” Cyclone turned and pulled the flush, watching fascinated as her waste disappeared.

“I know a nice park with fun stuff to play on,” Bluefeather said, thinking of her two friends and their ‘foals’ who had left the café before them. They should be there by now. “It is about a mile away though. You want to walk? Or we can take a taxi instead.”

Cyclone made a show of stretching her legs. “My legs are tired, nanna.”

“It has been a very long day,” Bluefeather smiled warmly, taking her little filly by the hoof, she led her through the café – taking a little pride in the fact that Cyclone’s picture was on display on the wall behind the counter – to the front where she waved down a taxi. “Come on sweetie, let me help you in.”

“Ta...” Cyclone muttered, thoroughly allowing herself to be helped into the earth pony stallion’s taxi, “ta nanna.”

“Battery Park, please.” Bluefeather said, placing Cyclone’s full saddlebags on the seat next to her as she sat down. With a ‘yes ma’am’, the chocolate brown stallion set off.

As the taxi rumbled along its way to the park which, like the café behind them, was adult foal friendly, Bluefeather draped her foreleg around the jet black pegasus’s shoulders. “Cy,” she started, a thought occurring to her, a thought that needed sorting out. “I'm going to step out of character for a moment. How will I know when you are not a filly?”

Next to her nanna, Cyclone heard the question and she blinked a few times, herself coming out of her character. “Ah, well usually I agree with Air Raid a set time from and to, to play. At Caffy's place last night, I just had to say 'I'm an adult', so which ever is good for you, hun. I’m easy.”

“What is good for me is what you wish.” Bluefeather cleared up, “though that last sounds a lot like a ‘Bookmark rule’.” She giggled, knowing of Bookmark through Caffeinated’s herd. “Do you like that one?”

Cyclone thought about it for a moment. “Yeah, it's nice and simple. It works for me.”

Satisfied, Bluefeather nodded. “I'm stepping back in character. Is my little filly enjoying the ride?” she asked, her ‘nanna’ voice back in full effect.

“Yes nanna,” Cyclone giggled, as the taxi was moving along at a full gallop, “it's real fast!”

Fifteen minutes later, the taxi arrived at Battery Park which, as Cyclone discovered, was located on the south end of Manehatten Island. Paying the fare, Bluefeather helped her filly out of the cab. Approaching the park, again, Cyclone decided she loved this city.

On the park, there were fourteen adult ponies, both mare and stallion, sat on benches watching ten fillies and colts that were playing on the swings, the slide, sandbox and roundabout. Amongst the colts and fillies, were a stallion and a mare both dressed in onesies playing in the sandbox. Bluefeather nudged Cyclone’s shoulder as she went and sat down. “Go have fun, Cy.”

“I will nanna!” Cyclone scanned the park, weighing up each thing. The sandbox she dismissed out of hoof, because there was an actual filly playing in it alongside the two adult foals. ‘Too many memories…’ she thought. The swings, of which there were five, were also a no, as she didn’t care for the back and forth motion. The roundabout was just too fast. That left the slide.

Mind made up, the jet black pegasus trotted over to the slide where there were three colts – two earth ponies and a unicorn – waiting in line. Smiling, she headed over to wait her turn at the back of the line. A sun yellow earth pony colt, the more adventurous of the three, greeted Cyclone with an enthusiastic “Hi!” while the other two looked on, very shy.

Cyclone waved back, thoroughly in her role, she greeted the colt with an equally enthusiastic, “hi!”

“My name is Track!” the yellow colt introduced himself, holding out his hoof for a bump.

Cyclone bumped his little hoof, all the while aware, in the back of her head, that she was being watched by the now fifteen adults all around the park. The very, very last thing she wanted was another Cinabelle. “Mine is Cyclone!”

“These are my friends, Two Step,” Track was in full flow, while Two Step, a blue earth pony, tried his very best to hide behind a white unicorn. “And this is North Star.”

As Track made the introductions, Cyclone saw over his shoulder that Bluefeather had sat next to a unicorn stallion. She vaguely recognised him from the café, though she wasn’t sure. They were talking though, and on the other side of the stallion was an earth pony mare who joined the conversation. Assuming they were friends, Cyclone turned her attention back to the slide and the colts. “Hi!” she beamed, waving a hoof to Two Step and North Star. “Two Step like Power Ponies?”

Feeling a teeny bit braver, Two Step nodded, though he was still standing behind North Star’s back. “Marevelous.”

“Matterhorn,” North Star added his choice.

“I want Hum Drum to show how powerful he is!” Track stated, earning himself a series of exhausted eye rolls from his friends.

Cyclone giggled. Reading the three colts, she judged that this was an argument between the three friends that had gone on for some time. “I like Radiance. She's pretty.”

“True, she is pretty.” Track said, while Two Step and North Star blushed very deep red blushes. “You're pretty too.”

“Aww thanks!” Cyclone grinned at that, though in spite of her grin, she was sweating bricks underneath. She was well aware that this was very thin ground, and she knew she had to be very careful. “You're pretty, for a colt.”

Still stood firmly behind North Star’s back, Two Step whispered to his friend, who in turn whispered to Track. “Colts are handsome,” he corrected Cyclone, “Fillies are pretty.”

Cyclone giggled, “in that case, you're handsome.”

“Thank you!” Track beamed, puffing out his little chest. “You can go first.”

“Thanks!” Cyclone smiled and climbed up the steps, pausing at the top of the slide. Now she was up there, the slide seemed a million feet off of the ground. Her fear of heights hit her full in the face. ‘Ooooh my...breathe Cy, just breathe…it’s only a slide…’ she gripped the guard rails and, about to change her mind, she felt Track behind her and North Star was behind him. After a moment's pause, she slid down with her eyes shut and off the end. “Oow!” she squeaked, landing on her ass on the grass.

Moving up the steps, Two Step giggled while Track waited for Cyclone to move out of the way. Getting up, the black mare rubbed her padded rump. “Not funny!” she said, though she giggled, “it’s high up there!”

“Watch!” Two Step called out to her as Track came down the slide on his back and landed on his butt, causing the normally shy earth pony to burst out in giggles.

Cyclone giggled behind her hoof as Track got up and took a bow. “That was funny!” she smiled and looked over at Bluefeather sat on the bench. “I’mma go talk to my nanna now.”

“See ya!” Track and the others waved goodbye, then North Star took his turn going down the slide and Two Step climbed up while Cyclone turned and trotted over to her mid grey partner.

“Singer, Prance,” Bluefeather introduced her two caretaker friends from the Foal Friendly’s café that she was sat with. “This is the filly I'm taking care of.”

Singer, a burgundy earth pony stallion with a straw yellow mane, spoke up first. “Is this the first time I've seen her, Blue?” he asked curiously, giving Cyclone an appreciative once over.

“Yes,” Bluefeather replied, “she is new to the area.”

“She plays very well.” Prance commented, the fuchsia mare likewise admiring her friend’s new filly.

Even if Bluefeather didn’t have wings, she could’ve flown forever at that praise from her oldest friends. “Yes,” she beamed, “I'm very proud of her.”

“I'm an adult, just for a sec,” Cyclone said, immediately getting Bluefeather’s attention. There was something on her mind that playing on the park had bought to the fore, and she knew sooner or later she would have to talk about it before they went any further. “Blue, have you got a moment?”

“Excuse us, please.” When her two friends nodded, she got up. “Of course, Cy.” With that, she led Cyclone away from the others over to the edge of the park where they couldn’t be overheard.

“I’m sorry if I interrupted anything, hun.”

“Not a problem,” Bluefeather smiled, she wasn’t interrupting anything that couldn’t wait. “They are watching the other two adult foals. I've been to some events with Singer a few times. Prance though, she is new to the scene.”

At that, Cyclone cast a glance over to the stallion and the mare, trying to guess in her head which of the adult foals in the sandbox belonged to whom. “They seem pretty nice, and the colts on the slide were fun too.”

“You did well, and you were being watched.” Bluefeather nuzzled Cyclone’s cheek and, in a lowered voice, said, “I think some of the adults envy you being a foal.”

Cyclone giggled, “I like to think I'm awesome in my role, even if the slide was higher than I first thought it was.”

Now, Bluefeather placed a very light little kiss squarely on Cyclone’s lips. “You do play your role very well, Cy.”

“As do you, nanna.” Cyclone smiled, feeling her wings flutter upwards of their own accord as she was kissed. “I kinda wanted to talk to you about that…” when she went quiet, Bluefeather sat and waited for her to carry on. “Well, the thing is, I'm due back in Cloudsdale on Monday, and I was thinking, it's silly us being hundreds of miles apart if we're dating, so...”

Bluefeather couldn’t help but giggle. “Dating?” she asked with her eyebrow raised. She did very much appreciate Cyclone’s forwardness. “I took you to lunch, but you haven't taken me to dinner yet.”

“Only cuz we haven't been going out long enough for dinner. But, I will, when it's dinner time.”

“Okay, and the ‘so’?”

“I was hoping, if you were cool with it, I could stay with you?”

Hearing that, Bluefeather looked out over at the playground. “The filly in the sandbox is Rimshot, she’s Singer's wife. The colt is Vine, and he has been looking for a caretaker for some time. Prance is his current marefriend.” She pointed to each pony in turn with her wingtip before looking back at Cyclone. “You really don't know me, Cy, but I'm willing to let us each have a chance to learn about each other.”

“That’s all I ask, is a chance hun, but there really isn't much tying me to Cloudsdale.”

“No friends or family?”

Cyclone shook her head, sending her unruly turquoise mane flying. “My dad's in Canterlot, his time's taken up with whomever the current mare of the month is. I couldn't even begin to guess where my dear old mummy is, and I wouldn't call the few ponies I work with and talk to friends as such.” She looked down at the grass, “they can't see past the weird of the nappy.”

Bluefeather giggled behind her hoof and tried, without success, to smooth down Cyclone’s mane. “I'm guessing that Tempest and Wildfire are your true friends?”

“Well, I’ve known Tempest about a week, when her, Airmail and Wildfire showed up at the Cloudsdale weather factory.” Cyclone explained, also trying without success to smooth down her mane. “Wily,” she said with a laugh, “well, there's a story there alright. We've been friends a long time, not far off ten years now.”

“Why me?” Bluefeather asked directly, straight to the point, “Why here?”

Cyclone considered that for just a moment, the laughter of the foals playing in the background reached her ears. “Well, the first answer is easy, Wily wouldn't have called and helped set us up if she didn't like you, she's got like, super mare sense or something, and being with you for an hour or so, I can tell you're alright. The second…the second is harder to answer.”

Bluefeather studied the jet black mare for a moment, shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun. “You'll find that Cloudhatten isn't as advanced or as glamorous as Cloudsdale. Here, we take care of weather for ponies, not royalty, or at least not until they visit, then Cloudsdale takes over.”

Cyclone snorted. “To be honest...I never 'wanted' to move to Cloudsdale - heights and stuff are an issue for me - but, I had to help try and find my friend...which is where the long story comes in.”

“Which friend?”

“Wily.” Cyclone said, “five years ago in Canterlot, right after she was blinded she went missing from the hospital. Her dad said she was in Filly, which we knew was manure, so we, her friends, decided to split up and try find her. Lucky me, I got Cloudsdale…”

As Cyclone was getting up a head of steam in her explanation, Bluefeather interrupted her with a kiss straight on her lips, a kiss that was longer and more heated than the one before. “That sounds like a story over candlelight and wine between two adults, I think.”

Again, Cyclone’s wings buzzed, though this time it was almost a full wingboner. “It's an epic tale filled with dastardly villains, heroic heroes and I daresay a good few car chases. I think all it's missing is a mare tied to train lines.”

“That could be fixed, I'm sure you look good in rope.” Bluefeather giggled, “To answer your question though, yes, I have room at my place in Cloudhatten for you to stay and from there, we can see where in my place you sleep.”

“As an adult, I look awesome in rope!” Cyclone gave her marefriend a wink, “but yeah, I'll take you. To dinner.”

“Do you want to play some more?”

“Hmm…” Cyclone glanced back at the slide and saw it was empty now, the three colts from before having moved on to the swings. “Um, maybe for a little bit. I wanna go down the slide with my eyes open this time.”

Bluefeather wondered if her professed fear of heights was real, or if it was an aspect of her foal play. She shrugged, figuring she’d find out eventually. “Be careful my sweet, do you want me to go stand at the bottom?”

“Well...” Cyclone felt her legendary confidence wavering just a little, “maybe you could, for the first go? It is pretty high up…”

Playfully, Bluefeather ruffled Cyclone’s turquoise mane. “I'll go and watch, because you're a brave little mare.” She said, kissing her forehead and trotting on over to the slide.

After a few seconds, Cyclone galloped off after Bluefeather, skidding to a halt at the steps to the slide. “Nanna, I'm goin' up!” she squealed, quickly climbing up the ladder to the top.

Bluefeather clapped her hooves together. “You can do it, Cy!”

She was so sure of herself, Cyclone wasn’t too sure of herself. Gripping the guard rail so tight her black hoof turned white. Cracking open an eye, she breathed deeply through her nose. ‘Breathe...Cy, you got this Cy...’ “here I go!” letting go, at last, she slid down.

“Wheeee!” she squealed in pure delight, thankfully Bluefeather was close enough to catch her if need be. “Whee-aaah!” her delighted squeal turned into a frightened squeal as she fluttered her wings at the bottom just in time to avoid landing off the end. “I-I did it!”

Watching her closely, more closely than perhaps Cyclone realised, Bluefeather saw how scared she was up on the slide. She knew then that she wasn’t faking or acting. She really was scared of heights. As such, she clapped her hooves loudly. “You are a big, big filly!”

“I did it!” Cyclone bounced on all four hooves. “I did it!”

“Can you do it again?”

“I’mma do it 'gain!” she squealed like a huge overgrown filly and ran back to the ladder as fast as she could. Sliding down again, Cyclone made a perfect landing. Spurred on by this success, she galloped back around and went down for a third time. This time she went so fast she would’ve gone off the end, had Bluefeather not been there to catch her.

When Bluefeather caught her and, she nudged her to become an adult. “So, is that what you envisioned for our play together so far?”

“Yeah!” Cyclone squeaked happily, though she was still pleased Bluefeather was there to catch her. ‘Foal steps on the heights, Cy, foal steps.’ “Yeah that was pretty sweet. I had fun, and you're an awesome nanna, Blue.” She flashed the older mid grey pegasus a smile. “Did you have fun?”

Bluefeather thought about that for a moment, tapping her chin with her hoof just long enough to make Cyclone worried. “You challenged me, but not beyond reason. It was fun to get you to want to do what I wanted you to do. Then again, I'm old enough to have been your nanna when you were a foal.”

Cyclone sat on the grass and rubbed both her hooves together nervously. “The truth be told Blue, I didn't want to mess it up.”

“You haven’t.” Bluefeather asserted delicately, giving the fretting mare a light little kiss. “You've been naughty enough to be your age, yet still show that you're well raised and want to please others.” Then, a thought struck her. A far more serious thought. “What you said earlier. "I used to be single". Do you mean that, Cyclone?”

“Yep!” Cyclone smiled and gave Bluefeather a nuzzle. “I meant it hun. I really meant it.”

“Then let’s fly to my place in Cloudhatten, and we can talk about 'our' future there.”

Cyclone grinned, “now that sounds like a plan hun.” She spread her black wings, “after you.”

Launching into the air, Bluefeather proved she was a moderate flyer as she headed for home, Cyclone right beside her. Seeing as they were now in the air – five feet in the air – the weather manager decided now was the right time to talk about the heights issues she had witnessed. “So, how much do you like flying?”

“Uh...y-yeah...it's awesome.” Cyclone’s voice was a dead monotone and, as she flew next to her partner, she made sure to keep her head and her eyes totally level, not looking anywhere but dead ahead.

Bluefeather sighed. “If you're going to get anywhere with me, you best be honest both as an adult and a foal.”

Cyclone flew on, still without looking at Bluefeather, without looking anywhere other than straight ahead. She knew she had to tell the truth, as much as she didn’t like it. “Okay, I hate it, alright? I hate it and I'm terrified right now, Blue, and it's a good thing I'm wearing a nappy cuz I'm peeing myself so much.”

“Well, that is the bright side then.” Bluefeather smiled as they flew up together towards the floating cloud city and to her home. “I have something to change, and you will let me change you, right?” she asked, putting emphasis on the word ‘will’.

“Yeah…yuh huh...you can change me. I'd really like that.” She smiled a very thin smile, “a-and Ra-Raid said there was no upside to wearing nappies.”

As they passed a hundred feet, Bluefeather glanced to the side and saw that Cyclone was in a very bad way. Her ears were slicked back, sweat was pouring down her face and her legs were shaking. “Is it flying or heights that cause you fear?”

“Heights!” Cyclone screamed as they passed one hundred and fifty feet, knowing they had thousands still to go. “I hate heights! I hate them so much!”

“Would you be more comfortable on my back?” she asked, chancing a second glance and seeing Cyclone was actually crying. “I can carry us both…you’ll need to be a foal though, of course.” She said with a giggle.

Cyclone didn’t have to think. She was back in her role as a filly before she could blink. “I’mma here nanna!” Immediately, she landed herself and her wet squishy nappy on Bluefeather’s back and she held on for grim death.

“Gah!” Bluefeather gasped, thoroughly surprised at just how tight Cyclone was holding on. “You're safe now Cy, just rest your muzzle in my main. My, my, you are a squishy foal. I'll change you as soon as we get home, I promise.”

Cyclone however wasn’t really listening. She had had her whole face buried deep in Bluefeather’s blue mane. Sobbing and whimpering, she scrunched up her eyes real tight and wished that the flight would be over. Thankfully, or not, as it were, Bluefeather picked up the pace. “I'll keep you safe Cy, so don't you worry none.”

“I-I-I trust you nanna…” Cyclone muttered, while, on the flight Bluefeather made lots of reassuring comments to keep Cyclone calm. Before she knew it though, they were landing. A second later and she realised they had landed.

When she – finally – opened her blue eyes, Cyclone parted Bluefeather’s mane and peeked at the freestanding three storey cloudominium. It certainly was a splendid place, fit for a manager. Eventually she slid off of the older pegasus’s back and properly admired Bluefeather’s home. “Wow, Blue, nice place.”

“Time for that later, Cy.” Bluefeather smiled warmly, using her wings to get her filly back on her back. As long as she was a foal, she belonged on her back. “For now, let’s get you inside and dry.”

Quickly, Cyclone adjusted herself back on her nanna’s back. This was where she belonged. “’Kay, nanna!”

Chapter 6 - More Than A Filly

Sunday morning rolled around, as it was wont to do, following Saturday. Seven a.m., and while the early morning sunlight shone through the windows of Cyclone’s bedroom, the jet black mare let out a loud ‘mMmm...’ Snoring gently, she was drooling into Bluefeather’s mid grey fur. Underneath her, awakened both by the sun in her eyes and the snoring in her ear, Bluefeather knew her lover hadn’t pooped, and that she must not be in much distress.

Moving just slightly to get the bright sun out of her eyes but not enough to wake her sleeping drooling marefriend, Bluefeather ran her hoof gently over Cyclone’s nappy, checking to see if she was wet. When her hoof came away damp, she smiled to herself and whispered, “My oh my, wet at both ends.”

“Mmm...” Cyclone mumbled as her furry pillow shifted underneath her, rousing her ever so slightly. “M-Mom...” she fidgeted in her sleep, “Mom...” hearing that, Bluefeather made like a statue and forced herself to lie perfectly still, listening to what she was dreaming about. “D-Don' go mom...” Cyclone stirred a little more, starting to get restless.

Thinking what she could do, Bluefeather slowly wrapped her lover up in a hug, making sure to keep her drooling mouth on her chest. This seemed to work. “Hmm...” Cyclone nestled in, smiling for a few minutes before she cracked open her eyes. As Bluefeather was still holding her, her breathing regular and she couldn’t see her face, the black mare thought she was still asleep. “M-Mommy...”

As Cyclone yawned and opened her blue eyes properly, Bluefeather tightened her hug. “No sweetie, it’s just nanna.” In response, Cyclone squeezed her while the older mare nuzzled the top of her head and her ears. “So, it’s another beautiful day. Ideas?”

Properly awake, her illusion shattered, Cyclone sighed as she lay next to her lover. ‘Reality isn’t all that bad,’ she thought with a smile, even though deep down she wanted her mother. “Well...I'll need to call the gang, tell them what's going on, and we have that meeting at ten with Misty. Other than that, I'm aaaaall yours.”

“Shopping for a couple days of supplies.” Bluefeather thought out loud, “Line up the movers. Say your good-byes to anypony else here in Cloudsdale.”

Cyclone nodded, still laying deep in her lover’s fur. She had no real intentions of moving when she was this comfortable. “Sounds like a plan. Maybe we hit up the Cloud Burger joint for an unhealthy lunch afterwards?”

“That sounds just terrible.” Bluefeather giggled, “I'm all in.”

Then, an idea came to the black mare. “Hey, we could do that, or...now that I'm back in with Dusky, we could always drop in on his aunt and steal her cake?” she asked, breaking out in a fit of giggles when Bluefeather gave her a look that reserved for especially naughty fillies. That ‘look’ made her change her mind. “Or...um...maybe we don't do that…”

Bluefeather shook her head. ‘Drop in on the Princess of the Sun and steal her cake?’ she thought, her inner jury still out on whether or not Cyclone was on the level as far as that was concerned. Still, benefit of the doubt, she had earned that much. “Cy, are you really that tight with Prince Dusk?”

“Yeah,” Cyclone nodded, her tone all serious, “well, I was years ago. On Thursday at the party the gang got back together. I guess it's like it was before, just that we’re all older.”

Bluefeather smiled in her lover’s embrace. She had to admit that all added up, so who was she to call her false? “Oh, the party Wildfire told me about, when she and Tempest told me all about you…” she bent her neck and half kissed, half nibbled Cyclone’s ear. “I know for a fact Caffeinated moves with the big crowd.”

“Mmm...” Cyclone purred, flicking the ear that had been nibbled. She had sensitive ears, and Bluefeather was very close to finding out just how sensitive. “Ooh l-lower...hmmm yeah...Lu-Luna was there, Octavia, Twilight and Dusk...it was just like old times, like the last four years hadn't happened.”

Bluefeather, obligingly going lower on her lover’s ear, smiled, “Time can do that. It can crawl slower than mountains eroding or fly faster than Captain Dash.”

Cyclone couldn’t help but smile. “Rainbow's alright. She’s a bit up herself when it comes to flying but I guess when you can do what she can, she has the right to be up herself. Twilight keeps her on a pretty short leash though.”

Bluefeather giggled, knowing exactly what Cyclone meant by that. She wasn’t being figurative. “I've seen that at conferences. I think she keeps Captain Dash around to fetch her coffee.”

“I'd fetch your tea,” Cyclone giggled on her spare bed, “if it wasn't up too high.”

“Well, I could move it to a lower cabinet.” Bluefeather retorted, a big smile all over her face, especially now the sun had moved out of her eyes.

Cyclone had a smile as big as her marefriend. “Oh, then that is definitely something I'd do for you.”

“You are a silly little filly and I love you for it.” Bluefeather smiled, nuzzling her lover’s ears once more. “Does the heavy nappy pony need that big butt plug removed?”

“I'm not silly!” Cyclone pulled a huge fake pout, sticking her bottom lip out like the most spoiled filly in the land. “I just like role playing different things, that’s all.” She giggled, unable to hold the pout for very long, especially with the look that Bluefeather was giving her. Although she hadn’t been thinking of the butt plug still in her ass, now it was mentioned, it was starting to hurt a little. “Yes, please, I'd love it removed.”

Snickering, Bluefeather rolled Cyclone off of her and onto the bed, drying her drooled-on chest on hers as she did so. “I think I'm going to let you run around 'all natural' till we leave,” she said, casually removing the heavy wet nappy before deflating and removing the butt plug. ‘Wow…she took that to two whole inches!’ she thought, impressed at her anal ability. “Maybe you want to go use the big filly potty?”

“Oooh!” no sooner had Bluefeather said ‘potty’ that she found she had to go. Now. “Ooh yes, I do now that's gone!” rolling over, her asshole still gaping open a little, Cyclone quickly scooted to the bathroom while Bluefeather busied herself with disposing of the nappy and cleaning the plug along with the other toys they used last night.

Ten minutes later, bathroom business all taken care off, Cyclone walked into an empty spare bedroom. “Ooooh babes that feels better…”she trailed off, realising the bedroom was empty. “Blue?”

Thankfully, a sniff of her nose later told her where her sexy pegasus was hiding. There was no mistaking the smell of chocolate chip waffles coming from her kitchen. “I smell waffles!” she squealed happily, running downstairs like it was her birthday.

“I didn't find any syrup so I made a fruit compote to go with the waffles.”

Cyclone’s heart melted. Sexy, caretaker and now provider of waffles. Bluefeather was the perfect pony. “Have I mentioned that I love you?” she asked rhetorically, rearing up behind her marefriend and kissing her below her ear.

Bluefeather giggled, tipping freshly cooked waffles onto waiting plates. “So seldom that I often forget.”

Cyclone hugged her forelegs around Bluefeather’s belly. “I love you…” she purred, nibbling her lover’s ear.

“Hmm…I may be willing to part with a waffle or two.” Bluefeather smiled, leaning her head back to nuzzle Cyclone’s cheek.

“I shall buy them with a kiss!” Cyclone declared, nuzzling Bluefeather’s neck before delivering two long deep kisses to her jaw and cheek, “or two.”

Bluefeather kissed back, considering the terms of the deal and finding them acceptable. “A fair price. Set the table please while I serve up breakfast.”

“You got it, Blue!” her task given, and duly accepted, Cyclone trotted over to a nearby cupboard in the kitchen and, once there, she retrieved an almost pristine white table cloth with roses around the bottom that looked like it had never been used. Once that was draped meticulously over the kitchen table, she went back for some seldom used grown up plates and cutlery.

Bluefeather of course caught this out of the corner of her eye. “You don't have to change because of me.”

“I know hun,” Cyclone smiled, setting out the knives and forks. “I just thought, seeing as it's one of the last meals I'll ever eat here, you'd like to eat off of something that's not got a Power Pony on it...that and I don't entertain much.”

“A good enough reason as any,” Bluefeather commented as she carried over a stack of chocolate chip waffles on two plates to the table along with a berry compote to put on them.

Smiling broadly, Cyclone helped herself to a couple of waffles. “Thanks, by the way, for cleaning those toys.”

“It wasn’t a problem,” Bluefeather replied after she had eaten and swallowed a waffle, “After all, they might be used on me!” she concluded with a bright giggle.

Taking a moment to consign an utterly delicious steaming hot chocolate chip waffle, as well as the compote, to the prison of her belly, Cyclone giggled, “Oh, what box should they go in, if we're bringing them back with us?” she asked, digging her fork into a third waffle.

Bluefeather merely pointed to one of the four boxes that currently occupied the old pink playpen, meaning for her to just pick one. Several long minutes later, when both of them had finished their breakfast, the older pegasus immediately got started washing the dishes. “You dry.”

“Yes ma'am!” there was just ‘something’ about being ordered like that, that made Cyclone’s hot bits all the hotter. Obediently she fluttered her way over to the sink and she grabbed a towel.

“It only takes a couple of minutes to get to the Weather Factory from here?” Bluefeather asked, passing a freshly washed plate to her lover to dry.

“Yeppers!” Cyclone squeaked, putting the dry plate on the draining board, “you passed it on the way to this backwater suburb, remember?”

Bluefeather nodded. She did remember, of course, she just wanted to keep her lover distracted so she wasn’t able to dwell too much on her mother, especially as she had dreamed about her. She only hoped they were good dreams. “In that case, I'm still tense from last night's incident with that paedophile couple.” She said once the dishes were done. “So, there is plenty of time for you to help me relax before the meeting, yes?” she asked, running her blue tail up and down her young lover’s hind leg.

Cyclone giggled, shivering a little with the touch of her lover’s tail, especially how high her tail was going. “Oh?” she smiled, wrapping her turquoise tail with her older marefriend’s, entwining them together, “and how would my lady like to relax?”

Oh, Bluefeather knew just how she would like to relax. “I think my elderly frame could use five orgasms. That sounds nice and relaxing.”

“Only five?” Cyclone giggled, shimmying behind Bluefeather, licking up and nipping her ear as she did so. “I can do that…”

Bluefeather took a moment to dry her hooves. “I'm not a greedy mare,” she whispered, her breath hitching, leaning back against Cyclone’s reared up body, her back pressed to her lover’s front, “But I am a needy mare.”

“Hmhmm…” Cyclone smiled with intent, lowering her hoof to rub circles around Bluefeather’s breast as she held her and kissed the back of her neck. Bluefeather, content in her lover’s embrace, remained on her hind legs at the kitchen counter while Cyclone kissed her way down her neck from her mane to her shoulders, using her wings for balance as her hoof stroked the feathers on her right wing and her other hoof at her breast ventured lower down.

Relaxing control over her wings, Bluefeather allowed both of them fan out. “Mmm, so they do pop?” Cyclone purred out the question, her hoof stroking between the blue tinted primary feathers as her hoof went low, going below her pubic mound to stroke at her moistening marehood. Between her soft sighs of contentment, the mid grey mare tried to control her giggles. She failed.

“Mmm...” Cyclone licked and nibbled down Bluefeather’s neck, her hoof now stroking its way along her lover’s primaries as her other hoof found and rubbed over her hard clitoris. She knew she had found her spot as she felt the older mare shudder within her grasp.

“You like that sexy?” Cyclone asked, rhetorically, nipping harder at the other side of her neck as she changed hooves, the one at her clit now working her left wing and her hoof rubbing circles around her nub.

Panting, her marehood getting ever wetter, Bluefeather pushed against her young lover. “You can't tell that, then you need more training…” Cyclone simply giggled, flicking her tongue over her neck between harder nips, her hoof starting to rub her clit harder and faster, making Bluefeather’s hind legs tremble more as she pushed down on her hoof.

Cyclone met Bluefeather’s push with increased pressure from her hoof as she rubs away over her ever moistening marehood, the whole bottom of her hoof exciting her swollen labia and nub. She knew she was doing it right when she felt her hoof getting steadily wetter and wetter from her marefriend’s juices. Further cues were given when Bluefeather’s breathing shortened and she panted. “Cum for me, sexy…” Cyclone bit down hard on her neck and began to suck, her hoof strumming away.

“Mmm…aaAAAAH!” Bluefeather gave a particularly loud lust fuelled moan and, with her first release, she slumped against her young lover’s body. “Mmmm yeeeesssssss!”

Letting go with her mouth but leaving her hoof where it was, Cyclone smiled, proud of the love bite flourishing on her partner’s neck. “Teehee, some sexy pony has hickies!”

Bluefeather, pleasure running through her body, really didn’t care. She wanted more. “Some ponies can wear them with pride.”

“I do hope so,” Cyclone kissed the fresh love bite, “ready to go?”

“Wh-Where…” Bluefeather panted, more than a bit breathless, “G-Go where?”

Cyclone, checking the clock and seeing it was only a quarter past eight in the morning, snickered in her lover’s twitching ear, “for number two, my lady.” That said, she let go of Bluefeather’s body and, getting down to the floor, rolling over to her back and positioned herself between her spread open hind legs.

“Take me there.”

Cyclone was, if anything, an obedient mare. “Yes ma'am!” sitting up, she used her hooves to massage the six blue raindrops of Bluefeather’s cutie marks as she delivered a lick all the way from her tail-hole to her hard clit. Bluefeather arched her back in sheer pleasure while Cyclone licked up her centre again. Smiling, tasting her lover’s juices on her tongue, she blew softy on her enlarged clit, one hoof massaging just under the dock of her tail.

As Cyclone continued her sensual assault, Bluefeather’s breathing became staggered as her hind legs closed. “Mmm...hello beautiful…” the jet black mare adjusted herself underneath her panting lover and she slid her tongue as deep inside her dripping wet tunnel as she could manage, her hooves leaving her cutie marks to rubbing her breasts.

“Ta...take me!” Bluefeather moaned in desperation. Underneath her, Cyclone could tell she was already very close to her second climax. Swirling her tongue around inside her sopping muscular tunnel once then twice, she pulled out and sucked hard on her throbbing nub.

That did it. With a loud resounding, “YEEEeeeeeEEEEEEEEES!” Bluefeather screamed out her orgasm, filling her lover’s waiting mouth with her sweet nectar.

Eagerly, Cyclone lapped her tongue all around Bluefeather’s still dripping marehood then, when she was satisfied she was clean, she slid forward to start licking and kissing the tight ring of her anus, her left forehoof lowering over her thigh to rub at her aching clitoris.

Above her, the mid grey mare was breathing hard, loving the touch of the warm wet tongue rimming her puckered ring. “Maybe I am a greedy mare after all…”

“I love greedy mares…” Cyclone replied, though her voice was muffled thanks to her marefriend’s thighs pressed around her head. She stiffened her tongue and, in one motion, she inserted it deep into Bluefeather’s asshole, swirling it around and tasting her anal cavity while her hoof worked away on her swollen clit. In response, the older mare raised her tail up high and stiff like a flag as she clenched her butt cheeks.

Underneath, Cyclone kept up her efforts, eating out her lover’s tail hole with gusto while her hoof strummed away like she was playing a guitar.

Pushing down hard on Cyclone’s face and muzzle, Bluefeather let out a loud series of moans and unintelligible sounds. “GUuuUUUAaaaaAAAH!” she cried, drooling when her young lover flexed her very talented tongue inside her asshole, she could feel her licking around the muscular walls. When one of her hooves began flicking a nipple, she melted in total relaxation and in a voice barely audible, she begged, “Wings. Sweet Celestia do my wings!”

“Hmm!” Cyclone moaned out an agreement from under Bluefeather as she lifted up both her forehooves. If her lover wanted her wings doing, then she would gladly oblige. Feeling blindly, she eventually found what she was looking for and she began stroking the feathers on both wings. Almost the second she began, Cyclone could feel the wings grow stiff under her touch. They grew even stiffer when she reached up as high as she could, massaging the secondary feathers.

The moment Cyclone started her well-placed massage, Bluefeather’s body shifted with a very dramatic movement of her fully erect wings. Arching her back, the jet black mare reached up from Bluefeather’s secondaries to rub her way along the wing bones and leading edges, her tongue still deep inside her asshole. “Hard!” she screamed, “do me hard!”

Doing as she was told, Cyclone increased the pressure of the massage she was performing on Bluefeather’s wing joints. “Yes!” the older mare shrieked, “do them like a storm!” Hearing that, Cyclone used the hard edges of her hooves to rub in small circles against the grain of the feathers. After a second, she could tell that Bluefeather was getting into it.

Taking a little risk, Cyclone decided to rub her lover’s wings harder with much rougher strokes while her tongue was still busy buried up her bitter ass crack. Bluefeather was in utter heaven. “MMmmm Sweet Celestia!”

‘Ooooh…she's into that, huh?’ Cyclone thought, grinning inwardly as she began to dig the toe of her hoof into the skin under the feathers, adding to her rough massage. Straightaway, her blue tinted wings shuddered and flicked, slapping Cyclone with her feathers. ‘IHmm, I like that, she can so spank me!’ with that in mind, she rubbed her wings as hard as she dared.

Three seconds later, with an extremely loud scream of “OOOOOH YEEEEEEEEEES!” Bluefeather came for the third time, wrapping her wings around her lover like a cocoon. She was panting very hard and in a soft voice, she murmured, “I-I think I've given up my fetish…”

At last, when she felt Bluefeather’s orgasm die out, Cyclone pulled her tongue out of her muscular sphincter, licking her lips as she did so. She saw the six discarded feathers littering her kitchen floor. It didn’t take a genius to know what her fetish was. “I hope I wasn't too rough?”

Staring down at her young lover, Bluefeather caressed her cheek gently with her hoof. “Cy, I joy ride hurricanes.”

Cyclone winked and giggled, “I guess that's a no then.” Standing up from her kitchen floor, she hugged Bluefeather tightly. “That was three. You have two to go, sweetie.”

“I think there is no need to rush.” Bluefeather panted, finally getting her breathing under control, “Some cuddling on a softer spot would be good.”

Cyclone had just the thing. She pulled a very heroic pose, declaring, “To the bed-cave!”

Bluefeather giggled, she couldn’t help it. “Think you can carry me there?”

Right now, had she asked, Cyclone was sure she could carry her anywhere. “But of course, my love!”

Bluefeather helped Cyclone to help her onto her back, helpfully resting herself lengthways so her head rested on the turquoise mane. “Lead on, my sweet chariot.”

As she turned to trot out of the kitchen to her stairs, Cyclone did notice that the usually tidy neat freak that was her marefriend did nothing whatsoever about the feathers that she had shed during their admittedly intense session. Where the black mare expected her to be all over it, she instead left in the kitchen. “Hey, um, you want I should pick those up?”

“They've left me!” Bluefeather made a fake but very dramatic sniffle. “Maybe you can find a use for them.”

“I can turn them into a feather bracelet,” Cyclone thought out loud as she trotted on up the stairs to the spare bedroom. A more pressing thought occurred to her though that pushed thoughts of feathers and hoof-crafts out of her mind. “So, you have a thing for hurricanes?”

“And hail storms.” Bluefeather expanded, “I love hail storms.”

As she said that, another thought came to the black pegasus, she paused at the doorway to the spare – adult – bedroom. “You think you can do it with a pony on your back?” she asked, giving voice to her idea that she’d been having for a while now, she just lacked the right incentive.

Bluefeather considered that for a moment, wondering where her mount was going with her train of thought. Certainly not towards the bed, at any rate. “I could do that, yes, but you have to fan your wings to protect your head.”

Nodding, taking that in, Cyclone walked into the bedroom, heading towards the spare bed. “You see, I think it's about time I buck this fear of heights once and for all, but I need your help.”

At the bed, Bluefeather let herself slide off of Cyclone’s back, flopping onto hers on the duvet. “Easy to say, not so easy to implement, my little love.” She opened all four of her legs wide, inviting her mare in, “I'll be with you every step, or flap, as the case may be.”

“Yeah,” Cyclone slid on top of her much older lover, she knew how hard it would be, but she really wanted to beat her long-time fear. “But…you inspire me, Blue.”

Bluefeather smiled a truly heartfelt smile. “I do try because I love to see my foals grow in spirit,” she kissed Cyclone’s lips, “if not in age.”

Eagerly, Cyclone returned the kiss, rubbing her breasts over her marefriend’s little mounds, “and this filly likes impressing you.”

“Then stay true to yourself.”

Raising herself up to her knees, Cyclone rubbed her marehood over Bluefeather’s, loving the feeling of their wet snatches rubbing together. From the way she closed her eyes and purred, Bluefeather loved the sensation too. Lifting up her left hind leg for ease of access, the younger pegasus ground herself down a little harder as she started to lick her grey hoof.

In a quiet voice, Bluefeather moaned, “Now with less crinkle…”

“Mmm...oh, hush you!” Cyclone giggled into the frog of her lover’s hoof, licking it as she started to scissor her.

Involuntarily, Bluefeather’s leg twitched violently. “Aaah! AaaAAK!”

“You don't like?”

“Ticklish hooves!”

“I’m sorry sexy,” straightaway, Cyclone ceased in her kissing, obvious as it was that her partner didn’t enjoy it. Instead, she concentrated on what she was enjoying, namely grinding their pussies together ever harder.

“Ju-Just a warning,” Bluefeather panted, her eyes rolling in her head, “I c-can kick pr-pretty hard when my hooves are tickled.”

“Aaaah...n-noted babes…” Cyclone gasped, vigorously sliding her sopping crotch over the older mares as they scissored each other, their legs wide. “Wh-whooo! L-Luuna above, I love you!”

“Sure, I'll do a threesome…” Bluefeather giggled as she moved her forehoof to the juncture of the two of them together, the toe of said hoof flicking both their hard exposed clitorises at the same time.

“Ngggh...oooh that's hot!” Cyclone moaned, she really started to buck her hips to Bluefeather’s, while the weather manager kept rubbing the both of them, biting her lip in concentration. “GAAaaaAH!” Cyclone let out a throaty scream, her grindings becoming erratic as she got close to her climax. “Ooh...ooh Bluuuue!”

Several hard grinds later and Bluefeather’s hoof movements came to a stop as she put her all into the orgasm, determined to get her lover off as much as she was doing to her. She thrust herself upwards, earning herself a loud, “AaaAAH BLUUUUUE!” as Cyclone slammed down hard and came, squirting her juices all over her crotch.

Reaching her climax at the same time as her young lover, Bluefeather’s scream was drowned out by Cyclone yelling her name. As she recovered her breath, she wondered if the neighbours heard that. She hoped so, as she snuggled with her on the bed. The jet black mare leant forward and kissed the mid grey fur of her chest, all the way up to her neck. “You've been very creative love. I thank you.”

Cyclone, duly flattered, performed a little bow, though it was little as she was still connected to her partner. “It's been my pleasure giving you pleasure. Plus, I saved the best for last!”

Bluefeather giggled, feeling a little dramatic. “The last of a round for the beginning of years, sweetheart.”

“You got it, hun!” at last, she rolled over, separating herself from Bluefeather’s wet crotch as she reached into the top drawer of the nightstand this time. “I think you'll like this toy, babes.”

“It's not Buffy's stake is it?” asked Bluefeather, feeling mischievous.

“No!” Cyclone squeaked, trying not to be affronted that she’d use a valuable prop as a sex toy. Again, at any rate. “That's in a box downstairs,” she giggled, “but I can certainly impale you with it…” she smiled, pulling out the large anatomically correct black strap on stallionator that perfectly matched her fur.

Impressed, Bluefeather laughed. “Okies, I'm both surprised and impressed. I've seen Tempest pretending to be a stallion with one of those.” When she saw the sexy look that Cyclone was giving her, she cleared her throat, affecting a thoroughly over the top accent. “I vant your blooood vittle pony. You no can stop me! Muahahahaha!”

So funny was Bluefeather’s impersonation – which, she realised, was buck all like any vampony from Buffy, more a parody of the Nosferatu movie – that Cyclone had to cover her mouth with her hoof she was sniggering so hard. “Would my sexy vampony help me into this? Then I can rut you so hard you'll think you're alive again.”

Bluefeather took a moment to run an appreciative hoof along the stallionator’s impressive length, taking in all the veins and the medial ring. Imagining that plundering her insides was enough to make her dripping again. “You betcha I'll help you put this stake in me!” standing up on the bed, she quickly moved behind her.

“Mr. Pointy is gonna love you as much as he loves me!” Cyclone smiled, standing with her hind legs ready for the straps.

‘She’s named her strap on?’ Bluefeather thought, supressing a laugh, ‘of course she has…’ she shook her head as she helped Cyclone into the harness and tightened the straps of ‘Mr. Pointy’. That done, she laid down on the bed looking up at her slayer. “You have my permission to jump on the bed a bit, as I want to watch that bounce on your belly.”

“Whoo!” Cyclone, not needing to be told twice, had a massive grin on her face as she leapt on the bed, bouncing hard enough to bounce the toy up into her belly. Watching, Bluefeather’s forehoof drifted between her hind legs as she watched the phallus bounce off of her belly between her breasts. Just because she could, Cyclone bounced a few more times on the bed, making the most of the opportunity.

Having got herself ready, as if that was necessary, Bluefeather rolled over to her belly and, with her chest on the bed, she lifted her ass up high and her blue tail even higher. “I'm feeling very empty…” she purred over her shoulder, a forehoof still pressed between her hind legs, her hindquarters fully exposed.

In mid bounce, Cyclone flapped her black wings to land behind her wanting lover. “Oh, what's this‽” she cried, getting into her role, “I see a sexy vampony in my room!” she ran her forehooves over Bluefeather’s back before rearing up and inching forward. “Mr. Pointy knows how to stop vamponies like you!”

“Oh no,” Bluefeather shrieked playfully, “spare me from sweet life!” she cried out as Cyclone rested her hooves on the top of her wing joints, very gently sliding the toy inside her accommodating snatch. “Ahhhhhhh, yessssss…” she moaned, full up, though she wasn’t quite fulfilled. “You said something about rutting me?”

“I did,” Cyclone agreed, taking a moment to rest herself inside her lover’s marehood. “But Slayers should be gentle with sexy vamps, at least the first time.” Slowly, for she remembered the time she was a little too rough with Air Raid, the lime green mare still had trouble with her neck because of it, she hilted the toy inside then pulls out only to re-enter quite a lot firmer, pulling on her grey wings.

While Bluefeather appreciated the considerate thought, right now she wanted to be rutted to within an inch of her life. “Just so you know this isn't my first time, but I do want you to be comfortable doing this.” For added effect, she fluttered her wings as sexily as she could manage.

“Oh, I got this hun…” now she was sure Bluefeather was okay, she quickened the pace of her thrusts, roughly tugging at her lover’s wings for leverage. “Hmmm yeeah!” she grunted, while Bluefeather continued to flutter her wings and she pushed back on her forward strokes. “AaaAH...oh...ooh B-Blue...” Cyclone thrust a little harder, going up to the toes of her hind hooves with each thrust.

In a whole world of pleasurable sensations, Bluefeather flared her wings and she folded them back, extending them along Cyclone’s flanks. “Rut me!”

“AAAH...oh I'll rut you good!” now thoroughly encouraged, Cyclone dug her hooves into Bluefeather’s wings as she really started to pound her dripping marehood good and hard. She was snorting with each forward thrust, especially when the older mare’s back pushes became erratic as she was overcome with pleasure. “Squeal! Squeal, vamp!” Cyclone yelled, pounding inside hard enough to force the tip of the toy against her cervix.

Bluefeather’s wings moved away from Cyclone’s sides as they went fully erect. “Stake me! Stake me go...goo... oohhh yesss!” she screamed, squealing obligingly as she was again pushed to her edge.

In pure arousal, Cyclone snorted as her next several thrusts hit her lover’s cervical wall again and again. “AaaAAH BUUUCK YEES!” at the same time, the part of the toy in her was rubbing her clit the right way.

Five thrusts later, five hard taps of her cervix later, the medial ring of the toy rubbing her clit, and Bluefeather was pushed over her edge. “CyyyYYYyyyyyyYYYCLOOOooooOOOOOOONE!” she screamed, the rocking so hard it was making dents in the wall, her fifth and strongest orgasm hitting so hard she drenched the floor with her cum.

“BUUCK BLUUUUUE!” Cyclone screamed with her marefriend, hilting the toy inside her one last time as she came really very hard as well, the frame of the bed making a hole in the wall the session was that energetic. Underneath her, Bluefeather panted, utterly spent, though her wings were still erect. Above her, Cyclone leant forwards onto her back, nibbling both of her ears.

“I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel…” though, if she was accurate, she was seeing stars, if anything. “I'm undead no more…”

Equally spent, Cyclone flopped on her lover’s back, the toy still buried inside her like it was conjoining them together. “I…I saved my fair maiden!”

“And spent me, love.” Bluefeather gasped, her wings were slowly folding back up, though her breathing was still laboured and slow. “I truly needed that.”

Finally, after a few more minutes, when she herself was able to see straight, Cyclone pulled out and flopped down to lay next to Bluefeather on the bed. “You still pent up, babes?”

Bluefeather shook her head slowly. After five orgasms of that quality, she was anything but pent up, though if she was honest, she wasn’t really to start with. It was merely an exercise in diversion for her lover – albeit a very, very pleasurable diversion – so that she wasn’t eaten up by thoughts of her mother. When Cyclone pulled out, she slowly lowers her hindquarters to the bed. “I'm going to enjoy feeling that all day long, my love.”

“I do have one more idea…” said Cyclone, once she could breathe easy at last.

“It is good to have ideas.” Bluefeather smiled, wondering what on earth she had in mind.

“A bath. A nice warm one with scents and oils. Sound good?”

Bluefeather sighed, somewhat relieved that her idea wasn’t sex-related. She wasn’t sure she could take being taken again. At least not for a few minutes. Or hours. Maybe tomorrow… “Yes, I'll just lay here while you get that prepared, my love.”

“Do you have any preference on the oils?” Cyclone asked with a smile on her face, “I have lavender, lavender or lavender. Your choice.”

“The second one I think, yes, the second one.”

“Hmm, good choice babes, that's my favourite too!” Getting up from the bed, Cyclone left her marefriend where she was and trotted off to the bathroom. She knew from the look on the older mare’s face that happy Blue was happy. She was probably sore, but happy sore.

Cyclone hummed pleasantly as she ran the bath, soon she had it full with steaming hot water to which she added copious amounts of lavender oil. True to her word, she did in fact use the second of three bottles, all were lavender. Once it was ready, the black mare fluttered her way back into the bedroom. “Hey, the bath's ready, babes.”

On the bed, Bluefeather at last had her wings folded away to her sides. “Hmm, that's nice,” she sniffed, detecting a very heady scent of lavender in the air. Another sniff and she detected traces of orange oil in the air too. “Is that the second lavender? Not the third one, right?”

“Oh no, I made sure to use the second, as requested.” Cyclone grinned, as lavender one was mixed with lemon, lavender two was mixed with orange and the third one was a mix with peppermint. As it happened, two was her favourite of the three. She knelt by the bed to allow Bluefeather to climb onto her back.

Looking at her lover, Bluefeather almost burst out laughing. She was still wearing Mr. Pointy. “So, are you wearing that in the bath?”

Cyclone looked down between her legs and saw that the toy was indeed still there. She had honestly forgotten all about it. “If it'll make you giggle I'll wear it to the opera if you like.” She would, too.

Grinning, Bluefeather climbed onto her back. She was in no doubt Cyclone would do as she claimed. “It does look like it's covered with something tasty and I think it could use a good hoof scrubbing too.”

“You see? That’s exactly my thinking...honest!” she snickered, trotting into the bathroom that was masquerading as a sauna, thanks to the steam from the piping hot bath obscuring almost every surface.

Bluefeather, while she liked lavender as much as the next pony, had to force herself to adjust quickly. The heat intensified the scent, and it hit her like a physical wall as they entered the sauna / bathroom. That said, it wasn’t unpleasant, by any means. “I totally believe you because I understand. You um, you don't think I'm too fussy, do you?”

“Nah...well maybe a little, but I love you for it.”

Bluefeather simply giggled at that and she slid off of Cyclone’s back into the tub. As soon as the hot water touched her she was sure she was being cooked, like a lobster in the pot. She was almost expecting her marefriend to add vegetables and light a fire underneath the tub. She was just getting accustomed to the hot, hot water, when it reached under her tail and she was reminded just how sore she was. “Oh my, oh my, oh my!”

Cyclone giggled and she got in the bath with her, raising up the water level even higher, now it was around their necks. She loved the lavender with just a hint of orange in the air. “So, how's the second lavender bath, hun?”

“It’s lovely.” She answered truthfully, especially now her sore marehood and wing joints had adjusted to the heat of the water. “First lavender is a prototype, and third second hoof, this is just right…”

There was a very broad smile on Cyclone’s face. “I’ll admit, it's nice having a sexy mare to share my bath with, for once.”

“Not complaining,” Bluefeather wiggled her flank in the hot steaming water, “Well, not too much, anyway.” She smiled, running a soapy hoof along the length of the stallionhood strapped around Cyclone’s waist.

The jet black mare giggled, her shaking making the toy shake in turn. “Careful, you're making it all hard again!”

“Really?” Bluefeather snickered, “I'll just give it a massage to relax it then.” She said, rolling it between her two hooves, giving it at least a cursory clean. In her mind she was picturing a stallion panting at the treatment she was giving.

“Oooh!” Cyclone squirmed, for in her efforts to clean it, Bluefeather was moving the little end that was inside her, rubbing it against her clit.

“Hmm, it’s still very stiff. Let me try this then…” with that, she lapped at it with her tongue and nibbled with her teeth, pulling the toy back and forth.

“Aaah...ooh...ooh yeah that's better!” Cyclone moaned, causing Bluefeather to move one hoof along Mr. Pointy’s length and, at the bend were it goes in, she rubbed it vigorously. “Ooh B-Blue...” Cyclone melted into the bath, bucking her hips in the hot water.

“I think that did it.” Satisfied, Bluefeather unfastened the straps and removed it from Cyclone’s waist so it could be cleaned properly. With Mr. Pointy all clean, she set it outside the tub on a towel to dry. “That,” she said definitely, “goes in a box.” Giggling, she pulled her young lover into a hug and she started to wash her turquoise mane.

“So,” Cyclone giggled, a giggle which became an ‘oooh’, “you like my toys?”

Bluefeather said, after a soft tender kiss, “The toy is nothing without you.”

Cyclone smiled and returned the kiss with one of her own. “Y'know, you can't see a blush on my fur, right?” she asked, though she definitely knew she was definitely blushing. Not an easy feat to accomplish.

Moving past her muzzle, Bluefeather whispered deep in Cyclone’s ear, right in the centre of it where the fur was thinnest. It was a bright red. “I see your blush right in here…” she emphasised this by sticking her tongue as far down her ear as she could, licking away.

The effect of this manoeuvre was instant.

“AaaAAAH!” Cyclone squirmed and thrashed in the bath, sending hot water over the side as she almost came then and there.

Quietly, and with a huge smirk on her face, Bluefeather continued to wash Cyclone’s mane. “Now, that is some information I'm going to file away for the future.”

“Aah...ah...” Cyclone’s eyes were crossed and she was breathing heavily. “Se-Sensitive...ears!”

“Now we know each other's secret. At least your ears won't buck me out of bed.”

“Well no, there is that,” Cyclone giggled, flicking her ears until the wonderful feeling at last went away, “that did feel very good though. Really good. Really, very good.”

Carefully, Bluefeather finished up washing her lover’s turquoise mane. While she was tempted to attack her ears again, she didn’t want to abuse her newfound power. With it came great responsibility, after all. A responsibility to wait until the right moment. “I'm thinking of all the inappropriate times I can do that to you. You know that, right?” she asked, moving alongside her to get to her tail and backside.

“Haha...I'd say 'you wouldn't'...but I think I know you better than that by now,” Cyclone snickered, washing her partner’s flank just as hers was being scrubbed. As she worked, she made sure to pay attention to her six blue raindrop cutie mark.

Bluefeather giggled, loving the feeling of sexy young hooves all over her hindquarters. “So, you think you know me, do you? We will see together just what each of us know about the other.”

“I think so, a bit.” said Cyclone, paying close attention to her lover’s tail. She already knew what bit she liked best.

With all the expertise of cleaning foals, Bluefeather cleaned under and around Cyclone’s tail, pausing when a thought occurred to her. A thought regarding her marefriend’s immediate future. “Have you decided to accept your father's offer?”

“Yeah,” Cyclone smiled, her scrubbing now directed under Bluefeather’s blue tail. If she was truly honest, she had been giving her father’s offer of employment serious thought for a long time, not just recently. Although, since she had met Bluefeather, she found she was thinking about it more and more. “Yeah I have.”

“The picture still goes in my office.”

“And the updated one I'll no doubt do?” she asked with a bright giggle, “I have been thinking about that, though.”

“No that one is in my office, an update will be in our home.”

“That’s cool, it’ll brighten up our living room!”

With Cyclone’s dock and tail cleaned, Bluefeather began to work her way back up towards Cyclone’s wings. “Love, you brighten a room with that black coat of yours. The picture will have to do when you're away.”

“You sweet talker.” Cyclone purred, spreading her wings, “I'll be sure to dedicate my first DVD to you, sexy.”

Bluefeather was more than fine with that. “As long as you autograph it.” She made a start, gently washing the black feathers, starting with the leading edge and the primaries. She was amazed at her feathers. “Cy, these are really soft.”

“Hmm, probably cos I don't use them very often,” she giggled, “and yes, I'll be more than happy to sign it for you…” whatever she was going to say after that was lost though, as Bluefeather luxuriated in her wing with hoof, teeth, and tongue, all three used in equal measure. “OOH...stars and moon!” When she was done with that wing, Bluefeather moved up to her head and ducked under to get to the other wing. Cyclone had no complaints. “Mmm...I love you!”

“Love you too, my little filly.”

“Hmm, you've earned a world class preen when you're done there.”

Bluefeather rather liked the idea of that. She had grown to appreciate Cyclone’s preening skills. “I could use one, then I often need one at the end of the day.”

Cyclone raised up her hoof in the water, like she was answering a teacher’s question in class. “I humbly volunteer to be your live in preener, sexy.”

“I think it is more 'conscripted' but I accept the offer.” said Bluefeather with a giggle, gently correcting her marefriend.

“Mmm aaAAaaah m-my pleasure…” Cyclone moaned when her lover found a particularly old feather and gave it a tug, “h-hey um...you sure you're okay with me doing that adult work for my dad?”

“Cy,” Bluefeather lifted her head up from Cyclone’s wing, “I'm your lover or your nanna, but I'm not your controller. If I had an issue with that for a career choice do you think I'd have a collection of magazines?”

Cyclone had to see her point there. She didn’t just have a collection of magazines, she had them organised in ring binders. “I know babes,” she sighed, relaxing into the water from the attention to her wing, “I also get that it's different reading them and clopping to them than it is to have a relationship with a star of them. I just want us to be solid, that's all.”

Returning to her wing, Bluefeather giggled into the black feathers. “So, if I'm on set then I can clop to you as I watch you being rutted?”

“You sure can, sexy lady.”

“No, not happening, your father would take photos.”

Cyclone laughed, “he would, that, then he’d try selling them to you.”

“I believe I'll settle for encouraging you from the side lines.” Bluefeather chuckled and, finishing up with her preen, she moved back to the front of the tub, positioning herself in front of her young mare and spreading her grey wings wide. “Your turn, my love.”

“I think I'll need it…” Cyclone admitted, a tiny trace of nervousness entering her tone as she began a very slow sensuous lick and nip of the feathers on Bluefeather’s wing bones. In all honesty she was, very nervous. “I mean, boundless confidence has to come from somewhere.”

“I'm full of that.”

“Then this exhibitionist might need to borrow some,” said Cyclone, now using her teeth and tongue to straighten up the bent and abused primary feathers. It was painfully obvious from the state of her wings that she did a proper number on them when she rutted her. She almost felt guilty. Almost.

“I wonder if he will split your time between adult and adult foal?” she asked, trying to keep her mind in the moment and not wholly surrender to the pleasure in her wings.

Cyclone took a little step back in the tub and surveyed the poor state of the older mare’s wings. “Hmm…it looks like a Cyclone blew over your wings, babe…” in an effort to rectify that, seeing as it was her fault, she used her hooves as well as her mouth to work on the bases of her wings. “And, about that...really I'm cool with either, as long as they're clearly segregated.”

Bluefeather laughed, “I think the Cyclone was more shove than blow…” she had to admit though, she was damn good at preening. Idly she wondered if there was pegasi porn exclusive to preening. She supposed there must be. “I'll watch over you either as lover or nanna.”

“I can blow too!” the black mare insisted as she kept up her work, smoothing out and realigning the damaged feathers. “Seriously though, thanks Blue, your support means a lot to me.”

“You're welcome Cy. It does give me pleasure too, you know.” Although, not half as much pleasure as the preen was giving her right then.

“As long as it does, then everything's cool…” Cyclone replied, snuffling her snout in deep between her grey blue tinted feathers. Thoroughly enjoying the preen, Bluefeather sighed and relaxed as Cyclone again demonstrated skill beyond her years, gently using her teeth and lips to tease the edges of her feathers back into alignment. “Looking good again, sexy.” She said after her work was done.

When Cyclone said she was done, Bluefeather was inclined to believe her. She settled her wings at her side. “Must be drying time, yes?”

“Yep!” The jet black pegasus grinned, pointing to the antiquated dryers. “After you on the wall dryers, hun.” Bluefeather climbed out of the tub and, wondering if it was a miracle or not that such ancient things still worked, she switched on the dryer. She was well aware of her lover watching her and she put on a show as she dried herself with windblown mane and tail. “You're just a sexy mare.”

“And I know it.” The older mare giggled, wiggling her hips suggestively. “Move along, I'm not putting a nappy on wet fur.” As Cyclone hastened to do as she was told, she went and stood in front of the dryer, hiking up her tail and spreading her wings out wide to catch the hot air, Bluefeather, after letting out the water, whispered in her ear. “I'll be waiting at the changing table.” With that, she turned and left the bathroom.

“Mmm!” Cyclone squirmed as her breath played across the inner part of ear. ‘D-Daaaamn...’ she thought, pushed straightaway to the point of climax. She didn’t know what was worse, being that easy to arouse, or having her lover know she was that easy to arouse. Anyway, she very quickly finished off and, all dry, scooted through to the foal bedroom and to the changing table, where Bluefeather was waiting with a pink floral sundress and a Power Pony nappy cover.

“Ooh pretty!” Cyclone squealed happily, hopping up onto the changing table. It had been a while since she had been covered up, and she really didn’t want an accident.

Quickly, Bluefeather powdered her rear end and expertly applied the nappy. As soon as that was on, she even dressed her, taking great pleasure in putting the floral sundress on her young marefriend. “I'm thinking emerald green for myself,” she said thoughtfully, smoothing out an imaginary wrinkle on the dress.

“I'm thinking emerald green on you, too.”

With Cyclone’s seal of approval, Bluefeather put on her business attire of a skirt cut high on the flank to show her six blue raindrops cutie mark and a vest that sat low in front of her grey wings. “Well?” she asked, performing a little twirl to show herself off like she was on a catwalk.

Sliding off of the changing table, smoothing herself out, Cyclone blinked twice, her jaw open until she remembered to close it. If that was what her partner wore to official meetings and such, she was determined to attend more meetings. “Hmm, very cute, and hot. I likes, very much!”

“Let's not be late for your appointment,” said Bluefeather, noting that it was just after nine thirty in the morning. ‘Where has the time gone?’ she asked herself. Then, she remembered the five orgasms and she had her answer.

Thankfully, Cyclone didn’t notice her blush, as she was already down the stairs. “No, you're right. We shouldn't keep Misty Morning waiting…” she trailed off in her living room, trying to remember where she had put her phone. Surely it was by her saddle bag? But no, it wasn’t. “Just let me get my phone first hun.”

Bluefeather watched her put her bag on her back and search for her phone before she took pity on her. “Can you find it?”

“I can, it's on the couch...I think?” she really didn’t know.

“Should I call you?”

“Please babe…” Cyclone gave in after a few more seconds of searching and, laughing at her antics, Bluefeather took out her phone and dialled her number. When the Power Ponies theme tune rang out, muffled from down the side of the couch cushions, the jet black mare dug it out and stuffed it in her saddlebag. “How'd it get down there?” she asked rhetorically.

“I approve of the ring tone you have for me.” Bluefeather said with a wry smile as she put her own phone away in her bag.

“Why thank you.” Cyclone checked herself over one last time and found she had everything. “Right, shall we go, my lady?”

“We shall, my love.” Imperiously, the older mare led the way out so that Cyclone could lock up behind them. “Shall we fly or walk?” asked Bluefeather when they were both stood side by side on the street outside the cookie cutter cloud house.

Cyclone weighed up the options. On the one hoof, walking was safer. On the other, she had expressed a desire to beat her long time fear. And, she noted, it was shaping up to be a fine day. Not a rain cloud in the sky. Not that she would know if there was or not. She gulped and summoned her nerve. “F-Fly.”

Flapping her powerfully strong grey wings, Bluefeather got a couple feet off the ground. “Lead on lover, you know where his office is.”

Following Bluefeather’s example, Cyclone took off, rising through ten feet up to twenty feet off of the cloud street’s surface. “S-See?” she asked as she flew along with her older partner towards the weather factory, “I-I’m doing it!”

“You're doing great love!” cheered Bluefeather, clapping her hooves together as she flew up to twenty five feet, their dresses flapping in the slight breeze.

‘I'm doing it! I'm doing great!’ Cyclone thought and, spurred on, with the rising sun behind her, she attempted to go up to thirty feet. Alas, that proved to be too much for the young pegasus. “No!” she squealed, going back down to twenty feet, “That’s too high!”

“Filly wings love, filly wings.” Bluefeather said supportively, staying at twenty five feet. “You can do this. I know you can.”

“I can...” Cyclone told herself, rising very slowly up to twenty five feet, shivering as she did so and threatening to fill her clean nappy. “Filly wings. I can do this…I can do this…”

“Almost there.”

“I got this...I got this...” Cyclone talked to herself as she went up a little more, “nearly there...” she looked dead ahead at the rapidly approaching factory, she could see her lover out the corner of her eye staying below her, cheering her on. “I can do it...I am doing it!” she cheered herself when she realised she was flying at thirty feet and she wasn’t covering her eyes.

“Well done Cy!” Bluefeather was ecstatic, clapping her hooves and cheering as if her marefriend had just won the best junior flyer competition. “I’m so proud of you!”

Thankfully, after just a few short moments, it was time to land. “Phew…oh, thank Luna we’re here!”

“Well,” Bluefeather said, landing beside her marefriend, “That was nice, wasn’t it?”

“It was...an experience, I’ll give you that.” Cyclone agreed, breathing a little heavy after her fearful flight from her house. She was impressed she had made it at all, really. Thirty feet unaided was no small thing for her.

“You are really cute when you fly.” said Bluefeather, pulling her lover into a much needed hug outside the weather factory.

“I'm cute everywhere!” Cyclone smiled, though she was immensely grateful of the hugs she was getting. “C'mon, let’s get this meeting over with…”

“You want me to wait in the lobby?”

Cyclone nodded, in spite of how nervous she felt deep inside. “I got this babes.” She kissed Bluefeather’s lips, thanking Celestia’s sainted fetlock that she wouldn’t have to see Misty Morning again after today. “It really shouldn't take long.” As Bluefeather walked over to the lobby area to see just how old the magazines were, Cyclone trotted on up to the manager’s office, gathering herself before she knocked on the door.

~ ~ ~

Thirty minutes later, Cyclone emerged from an elevator into the weather factory lobby with a face like brewing thunder and, in a thoroughly bad mood thanks to the events of the meeting with her – ex – boss, she stomped over to the front desk. “Hey, Meadow Flower.”

Meadow Flower, the genial old mare who staffed the front desk, looked up from her computer. “What's up, Cy?”

“Here,” Cyclone said by way of reply she fished out her factory pass, her ID and computer log in key as well as her folded uniform from her saddle bag and dumped them all on the desk, upsetting a neat stack of paperwork in the process. “You need these.”

Meadow Flower took a look at the stack of things and put two and two together in her head. “You...aah...did they fire you?” she asked tentatively. It was a shame, really, she rather liked the young black mare. She helped to make her feel young, and she always made the old mare smile.

“Not quite,” Cyclone groused, unable to be angry around Meadow Flower for long. She really liked the old sky blue pegasus. She was maternal in that sweet motherly way, and she always had time for Cyclone. “I beat him to it. Just.”

“So, are you going to be okay?” she asked, resting her old hoof on Cyclone’s younger one and giving it a gentle squeeze, “You don't look okay.”

Cyclone shrugged. “I'll be fine hun,” she glanced over at Bluefeather waiting patiently in the lobby and she couldn’t help but smile. After all, her foul mood was with Misty Morning upstairs, not with these two mares down here. “It’s onwards from here.”

Quickly, after a few taps of her keyboard, Meadow Flower did an inventory of the things that had been given over and she passed her back a receipt to say she had received them. “I wish you well in whatever you do Cy.” The old mare gave the younger a genuinely earnest look. “Don't be a stranger.”

“I won't,” she smiled, squeezing Meadow Flower’s hoof as she put the receipt away in her saddlebag. “I'm gonna go work for my dad.”

“What? But?” the elderly sky blue pegasus blinked a few times, her wings involuntarily springing to half-mast at the thought of seeing Cyclone in the pages of Playcolt. “Well, I guess I'll be seeing you in the future then, at least in the magazines.” She added with a giggle.

“I'll be travelling about, but if you're ever in Cloudhatten, stop by.”

Meadow Flower nodded at that, and returned to her work. She doubted she ever would, but it was nice to have the offer there. As Cyclone entered the lobby, Bluefeather stood to greet her, her welcoming smile becoming a slight frown when she saw the dark scowling look on her marefriend’s face. “Okay?” she asked, knowing full well that she wasn’t.

“I'm okay,” Cyclone answered shortly, “let’s just go, please. I need to get out of here.”

Without another word or backwards glance, Bluefeather led her out of the factory. Once they were back outside, in the warm morning sunlight, the mid grey mare checked her belly and, finding it empty, realised it was dinner o’clock. “Cy, let's go somewhere for lunch.”

Her heart not in it at all, Cyclone let out a sigh. She didn’t care for the view, the nice day or frankly anything, at that moment. “Cloud Burger's not far that way,” she pointed with a hoof down a street without looking.

“Just so you know, I still love you.” said Bluefeather, trotting off in the direction that Cyclone indicated. She was just in the mood for something unhealthy from a burger joint, and she figured her marefriend was, too.

Following along, Cyclone let out another sigh, smoothing out her floral sundress with her wingtip as she walked, kicking the dense cloud that made up the street with every step. She knew she’d have to explain her mood. Bluefeather was one of those awkward mares that cared and wouldn’t let it go. “Misty was...less than complimentary.”

“I guess that blows your chances with him should you ever leave me.”

Cyclone snorted out a harsh laugh as they walked side by side towards the burger joint. “My last few reviews weren't the best, alright, that's my fault I'll give you that.” The jet black pegasus was the first to admit that she wasn’t the best weather pony in the world. Still, she didn’t need it pointing out to her. She knew how rubbish she was. “When he asked what I was going to do next and I told him, he commented that 'that' was all I was good for.”

‘Ah…there we have it,’ Bluefeather thought. ‘That explains the crappy mood.’ Still, it was understandable. Had somepony said that to her, she would have gone full ‘Tempest’ on their flanks. “Well, I can understand if you told him you were going to live with me…” she sighed at the look she was given, “But I know you told him about your dad.” She quickly gave her a nuzzle to her cheek. “Cy?”

“Yeah? What?”

Bluefeather stopped the morose pony on the street with a hoof to her chest, ignoring the looks from the passers-by at the sudden stop. “Do you think you're not good enough to do anything else,” she started sympathetically, “or do you think you are good enough to be able to do this?”

Again, Cyclone scuffed the street, leaving a dent in her wake. “I admit to anypony I'm a lousy weather pony, but I did my best.” She returned her marefriend’s nuzzle with one of her own, “and yeah, I think I'm good enough to do it. I don't see modelling and performing for my dad as lowering myself or anything.”

“Still love you, and I think you're the best foal ever!” Bluefeather smiled a very loving, affectionate smile, “Then that isn't the job you're looking for, and I'm glad. I'd rather it be for us.”

At long last, Cyclone’s smile was wide and genuine. “Thanks Blue. I mean...it's not like I'm following in Monsoon's hoof steps, am I...” Yes, she knew she was going to be a porn star – possibly the best porn star Equestria had ever seen – but it wasn’t like she was going to be a whore or anything, right? “You really think I'm the best foal ever?”

Looking at her, the mid grey mare smiled, “Yes, but I will need to tell you a truth. I said the same of my last foal, and will say the same of my next foal. For now, you are my foal and that makes you the best foal ever.”

Cyclone grinned, “I can live with that, sexy.”

Bluefeather kissed her lover’s lips as passionately as she could, before turning back towards the Cloud Burger just over the street from them now. “I do hope they have oat burgers, I'm not a big fan of hay burgers.”

“They do, actually.” Cyclone commented as they crossed the street, “They even do salad if you want that sort of thing from a burger joint.” She smiled, forcing herself to cheer up, even if she didn’t feel it. Bluefeather didn’t deserve her bad mood. “It’s my treat I think, as it's a celebration, of sorts.”

Bluefeather wasn’t going to argue, if her lover wanted to treat her, she was going to let her. “Okay, big spender, a date at a Cloud Burger, I'm feeling like a filly myself now.”

At that, Cyclone actually, genuinely giggled, her hoof resting on the door. “Only the best for my sexy young mare.” When they entered, they found the Cloud Burger place very, very busy. Pegasi and unicorns – those that could cast cloud walking spells on themselves – of all ages were enjoying their meals, minding their own business. “So,” the black mare smiled, “gimme your order, and I'll go spend some of my ex-bosses bits on us.”

Bluefeather took a few moments to scan the bright gaudy menus up on the wall behind the service counter. It wasn’t long before she made up her mind. “Number four, supersize, but I want a large chocolate malt for the drink.”

Cyclone too looked at the menu and saw that Number four was a double oat burger with cheese. “You got it, babe.” She joined the shortest line of ponies waiting to be served. “While I’m waiting, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get us a table.”

Bluefeather looked around the packed burger joint, she saw precious few empty table to hoof. “No injuries?”

Cyclone didn’t doubt for a moment her marefriend was serious. “Hmm, light maiming is allowed, it is an important mission.”

Mission in hoof, Bluefeather moved out and, in a few seconds, she had her target. Not very far away she saw a table for two with a lone stallion who was clearly near the end of his meal. Trotting over, she sat down at the table. “Hi there, sweetie.” she purred.

“Ahh,” the skinny light green stallion looked up from the remnants of his hay burger meal, “Um, hi, ma’am.”

Over in the line - which was moving too slowly for Cyclone’s liking – though it did give her the chance to work out what she wanted. ‘Hmm...number one I think,’ she thought after a moment, which was her usual half pound hay burger. Of course she was going to add a lot of hot sauce to it. “Damn, I wish this line would hurry up...I'm hungry!’

At the table she had effectively commandeered, Bluefeather noted that the skinny stallion had stopped eating. She also saw that he was in no danger of getting up any time soon. Something would have to be done. “You want those fries, sweetie?”

“Um?” The stallion looked at the fries he had left, “Wha?”

Bluefeather giggled playfully, “I’m just waiting for my marefriend to get my order, but I'm hungry.”

“Oh, ahh, oh…” uncomfortable with this mare’s forth rightfulness, the skinny stallion quickly finished up the few fries he had left and, taking his shake with him, he left, not looking back. Just smiling at a job well done, Bluefeather watched him leave, though she couldn’t help but picture him in a nappy.

In the line, Cyclone was starting to fantasise about the serving pony turning into a burger when at last she reached the counter and it was her turn. “Hey!”

The serving mare, a butter yellow pegasus, replied with an automatic, “Welcome to Cloud Burger, what would you like today…” then, she actually saw who it was and gave a more genuine smile. “Oh, hey Cy, the usual?”

“Hey Shimmer,” Cyclone smiled, “yeah, the usual with hot sauce, and can I get a supersized number four with chocolate malt for the drink as well please?”

Shimmer nodded, “That’ll be two hundred eighty bits please, Cy.” When her favourite customer handed over the bits, Shimmer gave her the receipt. “Your number is 492. Oh, see you at the next Buffycon, it’s in Manehatten!” she added, before moving to serve the next pony in line.

At the table, that was now hers, Bluefeather was now trying to make the table not wobble by putting napkins under the wonky leg. She was on the floor when Cyclone, receipt in her wing, trotted over to the now stable table. “Hmm...now there's a view I can get used to,” she said, playfully slapping her marefriend’s raised up ass.

Bluefeather wagged her blue tail, and her voice came from under the table. “They do at least keep the windows clean.” Her mid-grey hoof moved on top of the table and, when the table didn't wobble, Bluefeather popped back up. “Food?”

Just then, a stallion’s voice came over the speaker from the front. “Number 492?”

“Oooh that's me!” Cyclone – somewhat reluctantly – tore herself away from her marefriend’s ass and she scooted back over to the counter where a stallion she didn’t know hoofed over her tray of food. “Thanks!” she called out and, as she picked up the tray in her mouth, she caught Shimmer’s eye and made a mental note to attend the Buffycon in Manehatten.

“Ah my Princess in crinkly armour!” Bluefeather let out a delighted squee once the tray was set down on the wobble-free table. “You have brought me sustenance!”

“Food worthy of my Princess!” Cyclone declared, taking care to set the tray down so the hot sauce laced burger was facing her and not her lover. Last thing she wanted was an accident in that department. “And, I didn't even drool.”

Bluefeather giggled, “We can work on that later if you need to learn,” she said, grabbing her malt shake and taking a big drink of it.

Cyclone, hungry, snatched up a couple of fries and she almost swallowed them whole before getting a load more. “Hey um, thanks, for the pep talk. I needed that, after the meeting with Misty.”

Leaning over the table, Bluefeather gave her lover a long, deep, chocolate flavoured kiss. “I see potential and I don't let my own insecurities tear other ponies down.”

Giggling, Cyclone returned the kiss, loving the chocolate flavour on her tongue. “Chocolatey kisses are best kisses!” she pulled away with a smile on her face. “I think Misty rolled off the wrong side of his cloud this morning.”

Bluefeather considered that for a moment as she took a bite of her supersized oat burger. “Hmm, maybe you're his best employee and now he is stuck trying to fill your job slot and that has him royally pissed?” she offered, reaching for her fries.

Cyclone laughed out loud, snorting on her coke. “Y-Yeah...let’s go with that!”

Taking a second bite of her oat burger, Bluefeather looked Cyclone straight in the eye and gave a long, low, orgasmic moan. Watching her eat, Cyclone blinked once then twice. “That's the same noise you made earlier. Not that I'm complaining or anything, but I can't compete with a burger that makes you sound like that!” After another bite, Bluefeather’s orgasmic smile just got bigger.

“Hmmm…” Cyclone took a bite of her own hay burger, she loved the taste of the hot, hot sauce. “Damn that is nice, though.”

“Food is tastier when you're hungry,” Bluefeather commented, her nose wrinkling from the very smell of the hot sauce, “then sex is tastier when you're horny.”

Cyclone giggled, “you just keep reminding me why I love you!” she took another bite of her burger while her partner placed a few fries on hers and took another bite. “Ooh adventurous…” copying her, Cyclone did the same, stacking up fries on what’s left of her burger.

“Adventurous is adding mayo.” Bluefeather giggled around her mouthful of food, “I'm not adding mayo.”

“I’m waaaay ahead of you!” Cyclone reached for and squirted mayo on her burger so that it mixed with the fries and hot sauce to form some unholy mess that threatened to go everywhere when she bit into it. Thankfully, for her floral sundress, she was careful. “So...what do you wanna do after this glorious meal and I've called the gang?”

“Wonderbolts in town?”

“Actually yeah, there's an afternoon show over at the Cloudisseum,” Cyclone replied, “It starts at two, the same time as Air Raid's big race.”

“Race?” Bluefeather questioned before she recalled what her lover was on about, “Oh, yeah, I remember you said something about that.”

“I hope she'll be cool we aren't there to watch her kick flank.”

“Is it televised?”

“I bet it is,” Cyclone commented as she finished off her monster burger. “Most of the races are...ooh, we could get some beers and a big tub of ice cream before the removals take my TV away?”

Bluefeather had a better idea, one that built on that. “We could do that, or go to a sports bar and watch it there.”

Cyclone nodded thoughtfully around a huge hoof full of mayo covered fries. “I'm liking the sound of this plan, sexy.”

Bluefeather shrugged her shoulders. “Wonderbolts are over rated anyways.” She said, giggling she finished up her burger and fries with still half the malt left in the container.

“Yeah that was really fun.” Cyclone said with a smile as she finished her fries, “We'll have to do it again, maybe later? How was your dinner?”

“Was filling, and tasty too. So, your place or sports bar?”

“Sports bar.” Cyclone didn’t have to think about it. “Definitely a sports bar.”

“You know Cloudsdale better than me. Since you treated me to lunch I'll treat you to drinks.”

“Aww,” Cyclone grinned, taking their remnants over to a trash can and dumping them. Shimmer never let her hear the end of it when she left her table messed up. She had a feeling Bluefeather would be something similar. “Aren't you just the perfect marefriend?”

“I'm a good nanna too.” Bluefeather kissed her lover, happy now the taste of hot sauce was hidden by the coke and the malt shake. She took the rest of her shake in her wing. “Lead on, my love.”

“I certainly will,” once they were outside, again in the light and heat of the now mid-morning sun, Cyclone paused, “Hey, gimme a sec, sexy, I need to call Raid…”

“I should meet your old caretaker some time.”

Cyclone thought about that for a very brief moment and decided she’d like to see that too. “Well, most of the gang are living in Manehatten now,” she commented as she got her phone out from her saddle bag. “We can arrange a get together.”

“I've been to Caffy's on gaming night,” Bluefeather thought out loud, “but unfortunately I missed the last one.”

“What about the other, the ‘adult’ night? I hear that's a lot of fun.”

“So Tempest has told me,” Bluefeather answered, “but they don't do age play on that night, and I just don't know.”

“I know what you mean.” Cyclone dialled Air Raid’s number, “we can always go and watch?”

Bluefeather shrugged a very noncommittal shrug. “I could watch as long as I'm with you.”

Cyclone smiled, “That sounds like a fun night...hmm c'mon Raid!” she groused to the speaker of her phone, willing her lime green friend to pick up.

A second later and a mare’s voice answered the phone. “Hello?”

“Finally! Hey Rai...” it took Cyclone a split second to realise that the mare on the other end of the line wasn’t her long-time friend, yet she was familiar, from somewhere. “Oooh hi, you aren't Air Raid, who are you?”

“No, Cyclone, this is Amethyst.” The pink zebra introduced herself with a wry smile, even though she couldn’t see it. “Raid is busy right now for the race. She did ask if you were going to be here though.”

“Um, about that, Amethyst I'm sorry but we, Bluefeather and I, are in Cloudsdale for a few days, ‘till Tuesday night at least.” Cyclone really didn’t want to go into detail as to exactly why they were in Cloudsdale. Not here, not over the phone at any rate, besides she knew it would just distract Air Raid.

“Okay,” Amethyst accepted that, “will you still watch the race?”

“Oh yeah, we're heading to a sports bar in a moment to cheer her on.”

Amethyst smiled, so much so that Cyclone could hear it in her voice. “I will let her know you're watching then. She and Cream are getting Lady Octavia ready so this is a big race for her.”

“I can imagine it’s a pretty huge thing for her.” Cyclone knew full well how seriously Air Raid took her races, and especially this one, what with it being her big comeback gig, and having Octavia with her as well, she dreaded to think how nervous her friend was under the surface. “I won't burden you with what's going on with me then, I can always call back tomorrow.”

“Okay Cyclone,” Amethyst smiled, “you have a good day.”

“You too Amethyst. Give Raid a sloppy kiss from us!”

“With very great pleasure.”

“She has a Broncs accent,” Bluefeather commented once the call was over and the phone was back in Cyclone’s saddle bag. “I’m assuming she’s a zebra?”

“Yep!” Cyclone beamed, “Air Raid's new partners are both zebra mares.”

“More than one?” that intrigued the mid grey weather manager no end. “This Air Raid must have quite an appetite.” She approved.

Cyclone nodded, “Amethyst is from the sand tribe and the dominant of the pair, while Cream is from the coffee tribe and a submissive, like Air Raid.”

“You have interesting friends and that makes for an interesting pony.” Bluefeather meant it, too, so much so she gently kissed her lover’s lips.

“At one time we were like a herd,” Cyclone replied, kissing her marefriend’s lips, “so hey, what about your mates?” she asked, realising she didn’t really know much about Bluefeather’s friends.

“I'm married to my work. All my mates are co-workers. Been a couple of years since I last had a foal.”

“Ever been married to anything other than your work?” asked Cyclone, as she led the way down the street from the Cloud Burger to where she knew there was a good bar. A nice out of the way place.

“Enquiring minds want to know, huh?” Bluefeather responded with a playful wiggle of her eyebrows. “I was engaged once, that lasted six months. I'm glad we didn't marry right away, as we found we just weren't really for each other. I can be controlling at times, and he was looking for somepony a bit more subservient.”

Bluefeather took a deep breath to marshal her thoughts as she walked with her marefriend. She didn’t question where they were going. “It was working in a day care that I found there was an adult day care, and not for the invalid. I've also worked at a senior day care. Body waste doesn't disgust me, nor is it a turn on. Caring for others is. Then, I put my university degree to good use and I have moved up to Manehatten weather manager. That accounts for more than half my life.”

Cyclone walked and she listened. “I'm curious that's all, as to what your view on marriage was. I've never really thought about it very much, y'know, given my mom and dad’s experience.” Now, it was the black pegasus’s turn to marshal her own thoughts. “I was doing really well in the weather factory, ‘till that event at the expo when I was demoted.”

She lowered her head as she walked along, she hated opening up like this, but it needed to be done. She had to make Bluefeather see. “I never really progressed after that. I was never put up for promotion, no matter how well I did, no matter how hard I worked, no matter how hard I tried. And, I did try.”

Bluefeather nodded, taking in what her partner was saying. “I do think you have to shoulder a lot of that responsibility though. As far as marriage goes, I don't really plan on taking that step. Will that be a problem?”

“Oh yeah of course I do.” Cyclone stopped and she looked at her marefriend. She stopped and she really looked. “I've never shirked my part in what happened. There was really nopony else to blame but me. Everything bad that happened to me was my fault.” She thought for a second, “and no, not at all. I really don't trust marriages.”

Bluefeather nodded, looking at Cyclone as intently as she herself was being looked at. “I will not hold your past against you. After all, it brought you to me.”

“Blue…” Cyclone suddenly lunged forwards and she kissed her lover’s lips on the street. “I don’t normally do deep reflection, but I sincerely wouldn't change a thing. Not now that I have you.”

In spite of the sombre reflective mood, Bluefeather couldn’t help but giggle. “I do hope you'll change your nappy now and again,” she said with a playful wink.

“Ha, ha!” Cyclone giggled and, returning the wink with one of her own, she continued to lead the way down the street until she turned onto a different street. “Aah...and here we are…it’s not busy!” Standing aside, Cyclone held the door open, and together, the two mares walked into Frankie’s Bar.