As she was sitting in class, AB found her eyes drifting more and more to the flanks of her classmates. This was unusual in that she wasn’t imagining how soft those flanks might feel to rest her head on, or how yummy it might be to taste what lay beneath their tails. Rather, her eyes were fixed on the wondrous butt tattoos that were so very important in pony society. There were so many wonderful marks on so many equally wonderful and supple young flanks. A mark for a bow and arrow probably meant a general skill in archery, but could also have a secondary meaning as a hunter or even protector, although the latter tended to be a shield. A flower was one of the more generic marks, open to a broad variety of interpretations aside from simple gardening. AB knew all this because last night’s homework assignment had been to study up for today’s lesson.

“Like most ponies,” Miss Cheerilee continued, “I wasn’t born with my cutie mark.” Standing up from her seating cushion, the cerise colored mare turned her body to show off her cutie mark to the class; three smiling flowers. Once she was satisfied that all the class had seen her butt – not that any of them hadn’t already – she sat back down on her sitting pillow; a soft squeak escaping her lips as she wiggled. “My flank was blank, as it still is for many of you.”

Despite her interest in the subject, AB felt just a little bit embarrassed, like she was being singled out for being a blank flank or something. She did her best not to sink down into her seat, though. Whatever Cheerilee was about to say, she desperately wanted to hear it. It might just hold the secret for resolving her problem.

“It wasn’t until I was around your age that my cutie mark first appeared.” Cheerilee gestured to the display board, flipping between the pictures of herself as a young filly, and then to herself with her mark and a rather unfortunate hairdo. A number of students laughed, but Cheerilee grinned and bore it, shifting her butt in her seat and focusing on something more enjoyable. “Yes, yes, I know. But I wouldn’t laugh if I were you. After all, they say fashion trends are cyclical. It might not be much longer before you’re rocking the exact same look.” That shut ‘em up. “Anyway, like many foals, I didn’t know what my cutie mark was meant to be, but I was one of the lucky ones that had a gut feeling, a calling if you will.

“I was volunteering as a teacher’s assistant at the time. I helped with tutoring, gave out lesson plans, and also maintained my teacher’s erection,” she explained nostalgically. “It wasn’t until one day when I noticed several of the students were watching us with a bit of envy. They were having problems getting off in public and watching me go to town on my teacher like that was, in hindsight, a rather cruel tease. So, I spoke to them after class and we made an arrangement. If they could both bump up their next test scores by a full letter, I’d let them spit roast me right after. If they maintained or improved those grades, we’d make it a regular thing. The next test came around, and so did I,” Cheerilee said with a seductive purr and playful fluttering of her eyelashes. The students laughed and swooned. “And it was in the middle of having one cock down my throat and another jamming up my little filly pussy that it happened. I got my cutie mark!”

A foal raised their hoof.

“Yes, Diamond Tiara?”

“I don’t think I get it. What do three flowers have to do with getting spit roasted?”

“I was just getting to that,” Cheerilee explained patiently. “You see, my talent is in helping young foals blossom, to be the best that they can be. The flowers are smiling because I’ve properly nutured them,” she tittered and gestured down to her flank. Beneath her tail was a mane of dark gray, the face entirely concealed by her plump butt cheeks. Out in front of her was the body of Rumble, his erection standing proud as his teacher periodically tended to it with her hoof, carefully keeping it firm without letting it go off. He’d shown the most improvement on the last test, and so would be rewarded by finishing inside his teacher at the end of class. This was her idea of ‘nurturing,’ and it certainly did the job of keeping foals motivated to study while satisfying her own needs; a perfect win-win. “Now, can anypony tell me when exactly a foal gets his or her own cutie mark?”

A lightly tanned hoof shot up and Cheerilee nodded. “When thee disthovers that thertain thomthing that mathes her special!” Cinnamon Twist answered animatedly, bouncing her head around and showing off her collar.

“That’s right Twist.”

AB beamed, glad that her fellow blank flank got the right answer.

“Oh please,” Diamond Tiara muttered. “As if that’s not common sense.”

AB glowered at the pink filly. There was no excuse for that kind of rudeness, even if the question was easy.

Cheerilee continued her lesson, taking note of Diamond’s comment for later punishment. She quickly went through the text from the books about how each cutie mark was unique, but went on to elaborate on some of the trends. There were some of the more obvious cutie marks, such as weapons denoting a skill for combat, or vegetation suggesting a skill with gardening. Some cutie marks had less obvious meanings, such as a pony with a rubber duck on his butt Cheerilee once met who had a knack for making ponies happy. Some cutie marks were so obscure that even the circumstances around their appearance couldn’t be easily deciphered, often leading to unhappiness as the ponies struggle with not knowing what they were meant to do with their lives.

At the conclusion of class, AB left with Twist by her side. The curly red maned filly with purple glasses was speaking excitedly about their plans for the day, but her bestest/only friend looked too down to listen.

“Wasth wrong?”

AB heaved a mighty sigh and looked back at her yellow flank, blank as it ever was. Twist was about to offer her companion some supportive words, only for new voices to cut in.

“I don’t know why we had to listen to a lecture about getting our cutie mark,” Diamond ranted to Silver Spoon as they walked up to the red heads. “I mean, waiting for your cutie mark is so last week. After all, you’ve got yours,” she gestured to Silver as the gray filly shook her rump, “I’ve got mine,” Diamond continued with her own little wiggle, “so what’s there to learn?”

“Oh please,” AB said with a roll of her eyes. Her ire with the snooty pink filly had somehow pulled her out of her funk. “Like you weren’t a total mess before ya decided to start wearin’ a crown on yer ass instead o’ yer head.”

“I… I was not!” Diamond protested.

“Weee~lll….” Silver began, only for Diamond to shoot her a look. She elected not to share how her pink friend had been bawling her eyes out in her room, even though AB was likely already aware.

“Yeah. Sure ya weren’t,” AB retorted smugly. “So was there a point to this, or are ya’ll jus’ bein’ an ass fer the sake ‘f it?”

“Well…” Diamond stuttered a moment, trying to think of a good comeback. None came to mind. “Well, you’re both coming to my cute-ceañera this weekend, right?”

“Well, obviousthly,” Twist replied.

“Um… good!” Diamond huffed. “I guess I’ll… see you then… blank flanks.”

AB turned to Twist. “Think she’s aware that dishin’ out insults ain’t exactly proper party invitin’ protocol?”

“Well, thee did imply that thee wathn’t paying attenthion in the lethon, tho thee might not know a bunth of thuff,” was Twist’s most eloquent reply. The two redheads shared a giggle.

“Hey, guys,” Silver spoke up, ignoring the way the pink filly was staring at her in shock. “Wanna come to Diamond’s cute-ceañera? There’ll be cake and party games! I know she’s looking forward to it.”

“Well, thank you, Silver Spoon,” AB answered politely. “Ah think that sounds fun.”

“Perfect! See you at Sugar Cube Corner.” And the silver filly started motioning Diamond away before she could say something stupid.

“The’th weird about you,” Twist observed.

“Yeah, I know,” AB huffed. “It’s this whole… thing with our families,” she said while waving her hoof around. “Our businesses are kinda married ta each other, so we kinda gotta be friends ‘n’ stuff. She’s really not that bad, though.”

Twist snorted.

“Ah mean it. Ah think she jus’ puts on an act when she’s in public. Probably cuz her mom’s a huuuge cunt. But we’ve hung out a little ‘n’, well, she can be downright tolerable if she puts her mind to it.”

“High praithe,” Twist joked and the pair shared another giggle.

The redheads continued their walk, with Twist breaking off first for her house. She needed to check in with her owners/parents for her afternoon chores. AB went home as well, the absence of her speaking buddy leaving her alone with her thoughts. Negativity began to swell. Even so, she was a well-mannered little filly and waved to the farm slaves as she walked straight up to her sister.

“What’s got yer tail in a twist, sugar cube?”

“Ah want my cutie mark,” AB grumbled. “Half the class already has theirs, so why’s mine takin’ so long?”

AJ mentally rolled her eyes, but it was a struggle not to physically do so. “Don’t get yer mane in a tangle. You’ll get yer cutie mark,” she said with big sisterly authority. “Everypony gets theirs eventually.”

“But Ah don’t want one eventually. Ah want one right now! Ah can’t go to Diamond’s cute-ceañera without one. Ah jus’ can’t!”

“Why not?” AJ asked flatly. “Way Ah hear it, half yer class are still blank flanks. It’s not like you’ll stand out.”

“Don’t call me a blank flank! And that’s not the point.”

AJ paused to collect herself. Her little sister had been growing increasingly anxious about her mark, which wasn’t surprising for her age. Still, it was a little frustrating to see her family struggle like this and not be able to really help. “Ah know what yer goin’ through. All adults do. Believe me. An’ Ah’m really sorry, but there ain’t much more Ah can say other than ya jus’ gotta be patient and you’ll figure it out.”

“But what if Ah can’t? Cheerilee said some ponies get marks and got no idea what they mean. So what if that happens ta me?”

AJ wrapped an arm around her little sister and pulled her into a hug. “Not likely, sugar cube. Yer an Apple.” She gestured down to her flanks. “Jus’ like the rest ‘f our family.”

“Family? That’s it!” AB exclaimed. “Ah’ll bet mah cutie mark’s some kind o’ apple, jus’ like you, Granny, ‘n’ Big Mac!”

“Safe bet,” AJ affirmed calmly as she watched her sister zip about. She could already see where this was going and decided to intercede. “It’s about time Ah go into town to sell this mornin’s batch. Wanna come along?”

“Hell yeah!”

***

The market square was as busy as it ever was this time of day. Being a farming community, most ponies were selling produce from stalls. And while the Apple farm was big enough that a lot of out-of-town buyers would go straight to the farm to buy in bulk, setting up a stand was a tradition the family had always adhered to. The sisters were even wearing matching aprons so that all would recognize them as business ponies.

“Hey, there, li’l lady,” AJ greeted a green mare who had walked close enough to the stall. She turned her body sideways, fluttering her eyelids while giving her rump an enticing shake. “Ya wanna… buy some apples?” She finished with a playful wink.

The green mare, eyes bulging, swallowed convulsively to stem the tide of her drool.

AJ giggled, laying on the accent thicker than usual. “Tell ya what, darlin’. Ah’m havin’ a special today. Fer every six apples, ya’ll get one free kiss. Anywhere ya like,” she added in a soft, husky whisper.

“K-kiss?” the green mare stuttered. “So… do I get to kiss you, or…?”

“Whichever ya like, sugar cube.” She threw in a kissy face for good measure.

The green pulled her bit bag from her satchel and threw it straight at AB, knocking the poor filly over before charging straight for apple horse. She attacked with a big, open mouthed kiss over AJ’s lips. AJ welcomed the saliva exchange, meeting the green mare’s tongue with hers as they embraced. A number of ponies stopped to watch the pair of moaning mares. AJ was really getting into it, tending her customer with gentle caresses while passionately exploring her maw, and it was having an effect on the watching crowd.

Having seen this before, AB had the wherewithal to keep her eye on the prize and checked the bit bag. “Thirty six bits,” she informed.

AJ eventually came up for air, pushing the panting green mare back while delivering a smoldering gaze. “That’s one, sugar cube. Where do ya want two through six?”

AB watched with great interest as her sister sold apples. However, when she turned to her own flank, she not only saw its blankness, but couldn’t help but compare it to her sister’s. Her bottom was still round with lingering baby fat. It wasn’t as much as other fillies her age, but it seemed especially noticeable to her eyes. She might have cuteness on her side, but there was no competing with the raw sexual power of her big sister’s bum. Still, she’d come out here to sell some apples, and with Molestia as her witness, she was gonna do it!

***

“Huh?”

“What is it, your Highness,” Withers asked.

“Just… a rather unusual prayer. Probably nothing. Carry on.”

Withers nodded and resumed his worship of the princess’ balls while the court watched.

***

“Fresh apples, here!” AB announced as she balanced one on her head. “Delicious an’ nutritious. An’ so many uses. Ya can eat ‘em, but ya can also play with ‘em.” Sitting back and spreading her legs wide to the square, AB took the apple she’d been balancing and began rubbing it against her little filly pussy. Unfortunately, this fruit wasn’t as smooth as she’d originally thought, leading to a rather unpleasant kind of friction. Regardless, she put on a brave face and continued to rub away. If nothing else, maybe a little filly juice coating would make this apple more desirable?

The ponies of the crowd saw the little filly’s antics as more cutesy than alluring, preferring instead to go to the mare with a peculiar magnetism about her.

Deciding against rubbing herself raw, AB tapped into her more creative side to find other ways to attract buyers. Apples, as it turned out, were not appealing as substitutes for tennis balls, nor did they seem that great as art supplies. When that didn’t work, the little filly tried being more direct and picked out a brown stallion with an hourglass cutie mark. “You sir. Wanna buy some apples?”

“No thanks.” He tried walking away, but the little filly just cut him off.

“Why not?”

“I have plenty at home, thank you,” he dismissed politely and tried walking the other way.

“Ya sure?”

“Yes, I’m pretty sure I-”

“Yer pretty sure, but are ya really sure?” AB cut him off, approaching as he backed away. “But yer not absolutely, positively, completely, super dooper sure, are ya?”

“I-i-if I buy some apples, will you leave me alone?” the nervous stallion asked.

AB agreed and the stallion tossed the bits at AJ before running off with his single fruit. “Woo-hoo! Ah did it. Ah made a sale!”

“More like ya made an extortion,” AJ chided.

“Hey, it got results, didn’t it?”

“This time, yeah, but that ain’t exactly a long term business plan. Next time he’s probably gonna-”

“So what’s mah cutie mark like?”

“Beg pardon?” AJ asked while watching her sister spin around like a dog chasing its tail. To call the sight embarrassing would have been an understatement. Stars above! Was Ah ever that bad?

“Ah jus’ made mah first sale, so what’s my cutie mark like? A basket of apples? A satisfied customer eating an apple? Maybe an apple with a money sign?” Her ranting trailed off when she stopped spinning, finally accepting that there was nothing there. “Hmm. Maybe Ah gotta increase mah sales figures first.”

“Oh boy,” AJ said in dread, knowing her sister’s habit of taking things too far.

“Hey, you!” AB pointed at a mare sniffing at some apples. “You touch it, you buy it!” Her firm business voice quickly turned to one of cavity-inducing sweetness. “We take cash or credit.”

Berry Punch, possibly because she was drunk, reacted to this tonal whiplash in the most sensible manner a horse like her could. She bolted.

“Bloom!” AJ snapped.

“What?”

“Ya can’t go around bein’ all forceful like that. Even Rarity knows ya gotta lure ‘em in before ya get all pushy. Sorry, but yer done sellin’ apples today.” And she snatched the little filly’s apron right off of her.

“Hey! Ya’ll can’t jus’ expose mah nudity fer the whole town ta see. An’ how am Ah supposed ta get mah cutie mark?”

“Home!” AJ stomped her hoof to the ground to show how serious she was. “Now!” However, at the sight of her little sister’s pouting, apple horse understood that this was more than just a foalish tantrum. “Listen, sugar cube,” she said more gently. “Ah know its hard ta wait fer yer very own cutie mark, but ya jus’ can’t force it. Besides, yer not that grown up jus’ yet. In fact, yer li’l friend Twist don’t have her cutie mark yet. How ‘bout ya jus’ go ta the party with her?”

AB caught herself smiling appreciatively to her sister. “Ah guess Ah could.”

After some final words of farewell, AJ got her little sister to skedaddle before she could compromise any more sales.

***

Twist’s house was a lime green, although it was often difficult to see the walls through all the plants. Flowers and vines of all sorts had practically consumed the quaint little home, and that wasn’t even counting all the potted plants set up for decoration around the door. Her parents/owners were gardening nuts, but very nice. They’d been very supportive of their daughter’s desire to wear a collar and had gotten her a practice one. That meant she wouldn’t have a tag until she was ready to find a proper master.

AB knocked on the door. “Twist. You there?”

Twist stood on her hind hooves and looked out through the half door. “Oh, wath’s up Apple Bloom?” Her tone sounded oddly sad.

“Uh, hey yerself, Twist. Ah was jus’ thinkin’ that, ya know, since neither of us has a cutie mark, we could go to Diamond’s cute-ceañera… together.”

“What? Like on a date?”

“Or whatever. Ya know, jus’ so long as we’re not alone.”

Twist averted her gaze and began rubbing the back of her head in that universal show of discomfort.

“What’s wrong?”

“Thee, the thing ith…” Rather than telling, Twist decided it would be best if she just opened the bottom door and show the issue. There, upon her flanks, were a pair of candy canes.

“A cutie mark. You got yer cutie mark!” AB screamed, happy as could be for her formerly fellow blank flank. “Ah can’t believe it.”

“I know. Ithn’t it thwell!” Catching AB’s contagious enthusiasm, Twist walked out and paraded her mark for the other filly to admire. “I’ve alwayth loved making my own thavory thweeths, but it only jutht now occurred to me that it wath my thuper thpecial talent! Pretty thweet, huh.” And she gave her rump a playful wiggle.

“Yeah! It really is… sweet.” AB’s excitement petered out once she remembered the whole reason she’d come to see Twist in the first place. “Well, we could still go to the cute-ceañera together, right?”

Twist flinched as if struck. “Thee, the thing ith…” She straightened up and pushed her chest out, intending to show off her collar. The band was the same material relegated for temporary collars, but now she had a blank tag. “I’m being thold!”

AB was gob smacked as a torrent of conflicting emotions whirled inside her. On the one hoof, she was happy. Being sold was every aspiring slave’s dream, and that it came at the same time as her cutie mark was like icing on the cake. However, being sold had certain negative connotations as well. “Ya’ll ‘r’ goin’ ta market so soon?”

Twist nodded, catching AB’s glumness as her ears splayed. “Yeah. Apparently they already tharted the paperwork a while ago. They were thuth waiting for my cutie mark tho they could narrow down the buyerth.”

AB, knowing that it was what her walking buddy needed, held strong and kept on smiling. “When?”

“Right after the cute-ceañera,” Twist admitted. “I’d like to hang out ‘til then, but there’th a lot of paperwork. You know.”

“Ah do,” AB sighed. She did. She may not have known all the ins and outs, but she’d sat in on enough family meetings to know that slave transfer was a bitch of a time, especially with first timers. What they lacked in experience, they made up for with tightness and potential that a master could mold into whatever they wished. “Ah guess Ah’ll… see ya then.”

“Yeah. Thure.” And the redheads waved awkwardly at one another, going their separate ways.

“Hey, there, Apple Bloom,” Diamond greeted condescendingly as she and Silver strode up. “Why the long face? Ha! Get it. Get it? Because you’re…”

Both AB and Silver turned disapproving scowls upon the pink filly, making her feel rightfully ashamed for her terrible transgression.

“Ah hear some provinces actually made that joke illegal.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Diamond dismissed, trying to regain control. “But seriously, what’s got you so glum, chum?” Her condescension resumed.

AB sighed, too emotionally drained to put up a proper fight. “Twist is being sold.”

“Oh my goodness! When?”

AB quirked an eyebrow at how Diamond sounded genuinely concerned. “Uh, Ah guess right now, but she’s leavin’ right after the cute-ceañera.”

Silver flipped her puzzled gaze between the yellow filly and the green house. “Well, why aren’t you two making the most of what you’ve got left?”

“Ah don’t know,” AB sighed. “Ah mean, we’d talk a lot on our walks to school, sometimes she’d invite me over to try her candies, but Ah wouldn’t exactly say we hung out.” She used her hooves for air quotes.

“Seriously?” Diamond asked incredulously. “I always thought you two were, you know, best friends.”

“Ah guess that’s true, but only kinda by default. Mostly Ah hang out with the farm slaves, but they’re more like family than friends.”

“Well then, why don’t you just buy Twist for yourself?” Silver suggested as if it were so obvious.

“Nah. Twist is a candy maker. Not too much for her to do on a farm. It wouldn’t be fair ta her.”

“Yeah,” Diamond sighed her understanding. “I’d ask daddy, since he usually gives me what I want, but I don’t think he’d agree either.”

“Yeah. Sucks all around,” concluded AB. And the trio just sat there a moment in awkward silence.

“Hey. What about Spike?” remembered Silver. “Isn’t he your boyfriend or something?”

AB’s eyes nearly bulged right out of her skull, only to be knocked back in place by a firm hoof to the face. “Aw hell. Ah mean, he ain’t actually mah boyfriend, but Ah can’t believe Ah fergot about Spike.” And before the others could say a word, the little yellow filly began scampering off. She called over her shoulder, “Thanks Silver,” and disappeared around the corner.

Diamond had reached her hoof out in an impotent attempt to stop the little apple, mouth hanging agape as words failed her. She stayed like that for a few seconds until Silver saved her from any bugs flying down her throat.

“Sorry,” Silver squeaked. “I didn’t think she’d run off like that.”

“Of course she would!” Diamond snapped and kicked at the ground. “She’s got a cute dragon boyfriend. Why wouldn’t she rather hang with him than… than…?”

Silver reached out and pulled Diamond into a half hug. “She’ll be at the cute-ceañera, you know. You can try talking to her then.”

“Oh yeah. Sure,” Diamond dismissed patronizingly. “And call her a blank flank until she gets so pissed off she bucks me in the face? No thanks.” She made to move away, but Silver held her fast. “Let go,” she said more than demanded, but Silver just kept on hugging her. “Whatever. It’s not like I care,” Diamond said as she eventually returned the embrace.

***

“Hey, Spike!” squealed AB, startling the drake. “What’s up?”

“My pulse, for one,” he joked, a claw over his chest.

“Yer such a scaredy cat,” AB teased. “Livin’ in the same town as Pinkie, ya’ll ain’t gonna last too long unless ya toughen up.”

Spike chuckled a bit nervously, “That actually makes a lot of sense. I’m learning that I really ought to be on my guard against just about all the ponies in this town. Rainbow likes to play surprise butt sex, Rarity’s started hiding rope traps all around her boutique, Twilight’s convinced Fluttershy has some kind of hidden power, and Pinkie’s just, well, Pinkie. It’s like all the ponies in this town are out to get me.”

AB chuckled. “Even me?”

“Especially you,” he accused with a boop to her snoot. “I was just minding my own business and going to Rarity’s to model for some fabric. Then you pop in and start wooing me with all your feminine wiles. It’s very distracting.”

AB tittered. “Shucks, Ah ain’t that great.”

“Don’t you besmirch my honor as an honest drake,” Spike declared dramatically. “I am a proud and noble dragon. We never lie!”

“Never?”

“Well, not unless we’re trying to get something we really want.”

“Like what?”

“Boop,” Spike said as he delivered a second boop. “You get all cross-eyed when I do that. It’s kind of cute.”

AB lost it, bursting out with chortles as she threw herself upon Spike and gripped him tightly with her powerful forelegs. His scales were rough, but his body was relaxingly warm. And when he eventually returned the embrace, he squeezed her with reassuring strength. Just feeling him against her made it seem like all of her earlier worries had evaporated away. “Thanks Spike. Ah needed this.”

“You seem a little worked up. Something the matter?”

“Kinda. Think Ah could explain it over a bit ‘f oral?”

“Sure.”

“Hey! Wha-whoa!” AB exclaimed as Spike flipped her onto her back. “What the hell you doin’?”

“Um, oral?”

The yellow filly took a second look to see Spike’s claws on her inner thighs, pushing them apart as his reptilian mouth loomed menacingly over her littler filly flower. She swallowed. “Uh, Ah kinda meant more with me on you.”

Spike blinked. “Then how would you explain stuff?”

AB opened her mouth to answer, but closed it again. “Dammit.”

Spike grinned triumphantly and began rubbing his cheek along her thigh. He giggled as he felt her muscles tense, only to gradually relax as she acclimated to his touch. “Whenever you’re ready.”

AB let her head fall to the dirt as she stared up at the sky. Pegasi were flying around and tending the clouds, but there weren’t that many. None seemed to notice what she and Spike were doing in the middle of the road, and she lacked the willpower to look for any ponies on the ground. He’d started licking around the lips of her labia, teasing her for what was most likely a considerable climax. “Well, Ah jus’ found that – oooh – Twist is gettin’ sold.”

“You don’t say,” Spike replied a bit distractedly. The bulk of his focus was kept on her now winking snatch. He’d brought in his claws to tease near her clit as well as gently rub around her taint. “I don’t think we’ve ever met.”

AB moaned, digging her hooves into the dirt in a desperate search for some kind of leverage. Damn you, Spike! she thought. Damn you and those stupid awesome claws of yours. “Y-yeah,” she continued breathlessly. “Well, Ah wouldn’t really call us friends, but we hung out a bit. Now she’s movin’. On top ‘f all that, Ah really want mah cutie ma-ha-ha-rk!”

Spike was beginning his probing of the filly’s tight little pussy. He’d started by nosing at her clit, and then shot out his tongue for his first taste. “Sweet as ever,” he commented absently before taking another dab. His lower claw moved further south and began playing with her anus.

“Everypony keeps tellin’ me ta wait, but Ah don’t wanna!” she whined like a petulant foal. Most of the adults she knew would just chastise her for acting like this, but it still felt good to let out all of her juvenile emotions. Spike would never chastise her for something like this. He’d viciously tease her for it when they were in private, but that was fine. It’s not like she didn’t do the same for his flaws. But for right now, he was willing to hear her out, and that was what she craved more than anything. “Ah want it, Ah want it, Ah want it!”

“Patience, filly!” Spike snapped with a grin. “Give me a second and I’ll give it to you.”

“Not what I mea-heh-heh-nt!” AB involuntarily attempted to close her legs, but Spike wouldn’t let her. He held her thighs in place as he continued licking at her filly petals like he was enjoying a scoop of ice cream. He was even making what AB was certain were exaggerated moans of delight, just because he knew how much she liked it. “An’… an’… Ngh!” The filly finally got it through her thick skull to stop fighting. The sooner he finished, the sooner she could finish, and the sooner they could have a more reasonable conversation.

AB clamped her thighs firmly around Spike’s head to hold him in place. If he noticed, he gave no sign of caring, continuing to do as he pleased. He’d started pushing two fingers in and out of her ass hole at a rapid pace while his tongue went to town on her inner walls. The filly tried pushing on the back of his head, only to recall just how strong the drake was as he easily resisted her efforts. She was completely at his mercy, and she hated how much she loved it.

“S-Spike!” AB warned. She could feel it. A tightness was growing in her belly. It’d be here any second. Spike understood and reset his grip to something more firm. He planted his lips around her little labia and applied a vacuum seal, ensuring that nothing would escape. The filly continued to writhe, to squirm and to moan as Spike’s tongue assaulted her little clit with merciless laps of affection. “Ah-Ah’m… Nnngh!” she cried as the bliss of release washed over her. Her limbs went taut for just a moment before relaxing completely. If she weren’t’ already on her back, she’d have collapsed.

Spike, in keeping with his race’s nature, drank greedily of AB’s nectar. It was as sweet as any honey. But even as she was spraying her juices down his gullet, he never faltered in his duty to tease at her sensitive spots. It was only after he’d licked her clean that the drake stood tall over his panting mess of a friend. He smiled down at her, pleased with himself for putting her in such a state. “Feel better?”

“… lots,” she panted.

And with that, the little drake grabbed around the filly’s middle and unceremoniously tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Although he was mindful not to let her get hurt by his spines.

“Hey! What gives this time?”

“I’m not just going to leave you helpless in the middle of the street,” Spike explained plainly. “What if there are creeps lurking about? Or worse, a wild Rainbow?”

AB tittered. “That’s sweet ‘n’ all, but Ah think Ah can walk now.” She emphasized her point by playing with his spines.

Spike scratched his chin in thought. “Hmm. Nah. Don’t care,” he informed and began his walk.

“Don’t care?”

“I. Don’t. Care. Carrying you like this is fun, so that’s what I’m doing.”

“You put me down this instant, mister,” demanded AB in a faux fury.

“Or what?” Spike challenged, rubbing his claw threateningly along her butt cheek, making her shiver.

“That’s cheatin’!”

“And your point?”

AB had none. Now in full filly pout mode, she crossed her forelegs and gave a huff while making herself comfortable. “Yer lucky yer cute.”

“I am, aren’t I?” Spike replied like a total douche, knowing his friend was fighting with all her strength not to laugh at his antics.

Several minutes later, Spike finally set the yellow filly down in front of Carousel Boutique. “Sure you can walk?”

“Ah don’t rightly know,” AB replied as she wobbled. “Ya’ll been carryin’ me so long, Ah’m worried mah legs got all apostrophied.”

“I think you mean atrophied.”

“That too.”

“Well, I made a promise to help Rarity today, and Spike is a dragon who keeps his promises,” he said with a hand over his heart as though making a solemn pledge. “Follow at your own risk.” And he went inside, AB close behind.

“Ya know, Ah don’t think Ah’ve ever been in here before,” the yellow filly remarked as she looked around at the assortment of frufru decorations, ribbons, dresses, and the odd pile of clutter that made the place feel lived in. “It ain’t as scary as what Ah heard.”

“Don’t be fooled,” Spike warned. “That’s just a trick to lure you into a-spool!” He jumped back, hands out to block the filly’s way as he stared down at an errant spool of thread on the ground.

“Uh, Spike?” she questioned, wondering why the drake was looking at this bit of wood and thread like it was a landmine in a bad mood.

“Jus-just keep your distance, okay,” he advised while carefully sidestepping around the spool and keeping her behind him at all times. “You can’t trust anything in this place. And I mean you specifically since you weren’t invited.”

AB was overcome with the dreadful sensation of having done something wrong. “Sh-should Ah leave. Ah don’t want Miss Rarity mad with me.”

“Oh no. She won’t be mad,” Spike assured. “You’re with me, after all, so that’s kind of implicit permission. I just mean that, since she’s expecting me, she probably arranged her traps so that only I could get through safely, but not anyone else.”

AB blinked and looked around the room. Nothing looked out of the ordinary, but now she was imagining all manner of scary booby traps hidden in every nook and cranny. “She can do that?”

“As amazing as she is,” Spike swooned, “probably.”

AB quirked an eyebrow. “First ya say all this stuff about how dangerous she is, but then ya go all gaga fer ‘er. Ya’ll get off on gettin’ scared ‘r somethin’?”

“I’m just being honest,” Spike said with a blush. He’d only just now realized he was gushing about his crush in front of his best friend. He wasn’t sure why, but it felt a little embarrassing. “She’s amazing, but ya gotta keep on your toes around her.”

“Might be a bit tricky,” AB said while giving her hooves an extra strong clop as she walked.

“Hey, there,” greeted an unusually high pitched and squeaky voice.

AB and Spike jumped at the sound of the noise, but quickly relaxed when they saw who it was. “Oh hey, Sweetie,” AB said with a friendly wave. “Long time no see.”

“And what a ‘see’ it was,” the white filly tittered, recalling what had happened the last time they’d all been together. “So what’s going on with you guys?”

“I volunteered to help your sister,” Spike boasted. “And Apple Bloom likes to live on the edge and decided to follow me in without an invitation.”

“You said it was okay!” AB whined.

“It probably is,” Sweetie added. “Except for me and Spike, Rarity isn’t really into foals. Speaking of which,” she directed her words squarely at AB, “why are you here?”

“Eh. Ah’ve been feelin’ a little down lately. So Ah decided to hang out with Spike until Ah feel better. Don’t think it worked,” she remarked flatly. “All Ah feel now is this weird tingle in mah backlegs.”

“Hang out?” Sweetie inquired. “Like… boyfriend and girlfriend?” she asked excitedly, her eyes literally sparkling with hope.

AB and Spike shared an awkward look. “Well…” “I’m not really…” They both looked away, rubbing the backs of their heads in youthful uncertainty.

Sweetie whickered a little, making it seem like she was more disappointed than she was. Her inner tween instincts told her there was more going on between these two than even they knew, but she couldn’t say anything just yet. All of the magazines she’d borrowed from her sister told her that there was a certain finesse to dealing with these kinds of situations.

Feeling that this white filly was about to say something odd, AB decided to head her off. “Ah haven’t actually seen ya’ll since the Slutty Sun Celebration. Ya’ll live ‘round here?”

“Ah. Well, my folks actually live in Fillydelphia. They travel a lot, so that’s why I come to Ponyville as much as I do. Although from what I’ve been hearing, it sounds like my parents are going to take an extended business trip, so I’ll probably have to move in with Rarity full time.”

“That sounds great,” Spike cheered. “It’ll be nice if we can have a conversation without a giant white cock shoved down our throats.” He and Sweetie shared a laugh at their shared frustration at Rarity’s more domineering personality.

And that was when AB saw it, staring down at Sweetie’s lower half. “It’ll also be nice to have more blank flanks around… no offense.”

Sweetie snorted. “We’re both blank flanks, so we’re allowed to say it, but not you.” She pointed sternly at Spike. “But under no circumstances are you allowed to call us blank flanks. Got it!”

Spike blinked, amused by the high pitched filly’s firmness. “What if I’m really friendly about it? Like how Bloom sometimes calls me scale butt.”

“He does have scales on his butt,” AB observed like a professor imparting her wisdom.

Sweetie thought it over a second. “Well, I guess that’s fine.” She then planted her hoof to her face. “Oh shoot! Sorry. Forgot to say earlier, but Rarity’s not here.”

“She’s not?”

Sweetie shook her head. “Afraid not. There was an ‘emergency wardrobe malfunction’,” she said with air quotes, “in… I want to say the Rich mansion? Either way, she said she expects to be there all day.”

“So… yer jus’ gonna stay here ‘n’ tell folks the store’s closed all day?” AB asked, presently having a hard time imagining anything more boring.

“Nah. We’ve got a closed sign for that. I was just waiting for Spike so I could ask him if he wanted to do stuff.” Then Sweetie’s smile went a little taut. “But if you two already had plans…”

“We really don’t,” AB asserted. “Ah’ve already done all mah homework ‘n’ bought Diamond’s cute-ceañera present, so Ah’m basically jus’ lookin’ fer somethin’ ta kill time ‘til tomorrow.”

“And if Rarity isn’t here, I guess I’m in the same boat,” Spike added. “So what do you say? Wanna join us on our epic quest not to be bored?”

“You had me at ‘hey’. Let’s get going!” Sweetie squeaked exuberantly and quickly threw up the “Closed” sign on the door, locking the door as the trio left.

Author's Note

So far my favorite stories to write are the ones that afford me the most freedom to write character interactions. Spike and Bloom are just good friends… with benefits, although that last part is just sort of assumed in this world. Still, they hang out as much as they can and really enjoy each other’s company.

Also I like distinguishing my world from the canon, such as Twist being a slave. Apparently she was written out of the show because her lisp was a pain for the show staff, which I can sympathize with, but I like this better as it at least gives a proper explaination. I’m also borrowing a little from The Mentally Advanced Series in that it’s really unlikely that Diamond would be allowed to bully Bloom given their family connections. Here, we have her as more of a tsundere under the negative influence of her mother. Foresight is pretty awesome.

Lastly, feel free to call out any other references you happen to spot.