Our Sacred Spot

The fading warmth of summer gave way to autumn, and Fluttershy's mailbox threatened to burst from the piles of correspondence she received from all over Equestria.

“How exciting,” Fluttershy said as she read another letter in her living room. “They want to hold a meeting here in Ponyville. Maybe I'll squeeze in and hang out at the back.”

Pinkie let out a knowing chuckle. “Oh, you'll have a front row seat.”

Fluttershy lowered the letter. “Pinkie, what did you do?”

“Maaaaaybe I said you would be the main speaker.”

Fluttershy didn't scream or faint. She only took a deep breath and exhaled. “Of course you did.”

Pinkie tossed her foreleg over Fluttershy's shoulder. “They all wanted to hear you drop some knowledge, so I said you would be the head honcho in hopes they would come visit. And they did! That's good, right?”

“The future of Equestria shouldn't depend on my pitiful public speaking skills, but I'll give it my best shot.”

Pinkie backed away. “So you're not mad?”

“I'd describe it more as a mild existential terror.”

* * *

Pinkie whispered dirty ideas into Fluttershy's ears, ideas she promised would solve all their problems and ensure the meeting went off without a hitch. At first Fluttershy demurred, finding them too risky if not downright depraved, but the more she dwelled on them the more she realized this might be Pinkie's cleverest plan yet. But if she failed she would never live it down, she would be humiliated and exposed, and yet, for reasons she didn't understand, that just made Pinkie's perverted plan all the more enticing.

The more time she spent with Pinkie, the more her old self fell away like clothes that didn't fit anymore.

“This will be our special secret,” Pinkie said, reclining in her bed. Fluttershy crawled between Pinkie's thighs and started her favorite new indoor hobby: Going to town on Pinkie's pussy until she begged for mercy. The only downside was the ache under her tongue after a long session, a small price to pay for spending quality time with her marefriend.

Marefriend.

That magical word never lost its luster.

Just as Fluttershy got into a groove, a soft mouth clamped around her butt cheek and made her yelp in surprise. Gummy had latched onto Fluttershy's bottom like a suction cup and was nomming away.

Pinkie shrieked with laughter while Fluttershy wiggled her rump in a fruitless attempt to dislodge the scaly scamp, his tail swaying in the air. “Shoo, shoo,” Fluttershy said through a growing blush. “Um, a little help?”

“Hey Gummy, I don't blame you, she's got a cute caboose.” Pinkie picked up the little gator and booped his snout with her nose. “But only I get to touch her tushie, okay?”

* * *

For their secret plan to work they needed proper concealment, which meant a trip to Rarity's boutique. Fluttershy admired Pinkie's new dress as she emerged from the curtained changing room. A ruffled magenta skirt flowed over Pinkie's tail, and a poofy white and blue striped top completed the ensemble. “That should do the trick,” Fluttershy said. “You look like you're about to serve me ice cream.”

Pinkie drew close and whispered with a sultry purr. “If you're a good girl I'll give you a cherry on top.”

“And if I'm a bad girl?”

Rarity called out and interrupted their reverie. “Yoohoo! Fluttershy! Your selection awaits.” The secret lovers did their best to act like normal friends as they rounded the corner. They sat beside each other on a lounge sofa while Rarity levitated a variety of dresses from the rack and displayed them for review.

“I'm tired of always wearing meadow green,” Fluttershy said. “Let's try that sky dress with the cloud trim.”

“Powder blue, excellent match with your coat,” Rarity said, adjusting her reading glasses. “There's something different about you, dear. You're radiant, you have a verve, a pep in your step—I suppose all this organizing brought out your best, hmm?”

“I've been preparing my speech. Pinkie takes care of the rest.”

“How splendid! Event planning is definitely up Pinkie's alley.”

“A lot of things have been up my alley lately,” Pinkie whispered with a giggle.

“What was that, dearie?”

Fluttershy elbowed Pinkie in the side. “She said it's like a big rally. You know, because of all the ponies.”

“Why of course,” Rarity said. “Now just let me make a few alterations and you'll be out of here in no time.” Rarity perched on a stool and swept the dress across her workstation. “You know, Fluttershy, this meeting could prove a most excellent occasion to dip your hooves back into the dating world. I bet all sorts of eligible bachelors will attend.”

Pinkie's hoof drifted around Fluttershy's lower back.

“This isn't a social club,” Fluttershy said. “It's for raising awareness and addressing serious issues.”

“An admirable sentiment, dear, but you can't put a leash on love. I know you've had some bad luck, but I'm confident Mr. Right is out there waiting for you, and what better venue to find a fellow who matches your interests?”

Pinkie tightened her grip around Fluttershy's waist into a tenacious hug.

“I'm already seeing someone, believe it or not.”

“How lovely! Do I know him?”

Pinkie held back the flicker of a grin and shrugged her shoulders, as if to say “this is your call.”

“I took a different path this time. I'm seeing a mare.”

Rarity's ears perked up. “So you've broadened your horizons. Are you going to dish the dirt on this mysterious mare or keep me hanging?”

“You know her pretty well.”

Rarity tilted her head and cooed. “Is it Cloud Chaser? A little birdie told me she's on the prowl for mares after breaking up with Thunderlane. Wait, don't tell me, it's Coco Pommel, isn't it? I've never heard her talk about having a coltfriend, so—”

“I'm dating Pinkie.”

Rarity turned to face them, blinked several times, and covered her mouth before chortling so hard she shook. “Ohohoho, Fluttershy, you're such a riot! Pinkie, do take note, you've got stiff competition for town jester.” Pinkie sidled up to Fluttershy and started smooching her on the cheek, and Rarity froze in place while her glasses slid down her muzzle. She returned her attention to the dress. “Not bad. You two almost had me convinced. You're dedicated to your pranks, aren't you?”

“There's no prank. We've been together for awhile now.”

“Thirty-one days and four hours,” Pinkie added.

Fluttershy massaged Pinkie's knee. “Do you need more proof?”

Rarity waved away the suggestion. “I believe you! I don't need more sordid displays in my shop, especially after last week's incident with the Whinnypeg dance troupe.” She rubbed her chin and studied them with growing approval. “This will take some getting used to, but I must admit you two make an adorable couple. Have you told the others?”

“We'd rather keep this under wraps,” Fluttershy said. “We're still figuring things out, and we have a lot on our plate right now.”

“I'm a tad jealous,” Rarity said, sighing in defeat. “I never had much luck with mares. You know I don't like to kiss and tell”—Fluttershy and Pinkie shared a skeptical glance—“but once upon a time I set my hopes on this lovely lady from Canterlot. She was a high class mare with extravagant tastes, and her domineering attitude proved rather helpful for certain, shall we say, recreational activities involving props. We had such fun together, but dating another mare was like dancing on the lip of a volcano. We crashed and burned over some ridiculous nonsense. Can you believe she said I wasn't on the cutting edge anymore? The nerve!”

“That's um… quite the story,” Fluttershy said. “What happened to her?”

“She ended up back with her old boyfriend. Typical.”

“Sooo does that mean we should ignore the advice you're about to give us?” Pinkie asked.

Rarity muttered to herself. “Artists are never appreciated in their time.”

“Will you be able to attend the meeting?” Fluttershy asked.

“I'm afraid not, dear. Fall fashions are swamping me, not to mention my back orders. Perhaps this dress will be my contribution to the cause?”

Pinkie and Fluttershy leaned over Rarity's desk and admired her craftsmanship. “A mare wearing this could sell matches to a dragon,” Pinkie said.

“This is lovely beyond compare,” Fluttershy added. “Sometimes I wish I could be an artist like you.”

“Pish posh! We're all artists, darling, and the world is our canvas. Now go out there and paint a masterpiece.”

Fluttershy and Pinkie prepared to leave the boutique, balancing their boxed dresses on their backs, when Rarity called out to them. “You two want foolproof advice? Imagine how Applejack and Rainbow Dash would act, and then do the opposite.”

* * *

In Fluttershy's living room, Pinkie revealed her newest erotic toy: A smiling purple butterfly that nestled against Fluttershy's cunny. Attached to its front were thin black straps that looped around Fluttershy's thighs and rear end.

“These make sure it stays nice and snug,” Pinkie said, adjusting the bands a little tighter. The butterfly's business end provided a short but thick shaft that spread Fluttershy apart and gave her something to squeeze. Pinkie pressed a button and the entire butterfly came to life with a vibrating hum, its wings flapping against Fluttershy's labia while its head pulsed against her hood.

“Whooaaaa.” Fluttershy sank back into her green couch under the rumbling waves. “How does it do that?”

“I think there's a magic crystal thingy inside. Hmmm, maybe that's why Rarity loves gems so much.”

Fluttershy struggled to her hooves and staggered across the living room in a failed attempt to seem normal. Finding the buzzing a bit much, she leaned against the fireplace and caught her breath. Angel Bunny came bounding down the staircase, paused on the lowest step, and tilted his fuzzy head in confusion before casting a suspicious gaze at Pinkie, who lounged on the couch feigning innocence.

“Angel, dear, run along and play,” Fluttershy said, swishing her tail. “Momma's got company.” The little ruffian shrugged and scampered back upstairs, and with some effort Fluttershy managed to stroll back to the couch without buckling once. “This might actually work. I just need a bit more practice.”

* * *

A wide spectrum of Equestrian society arrived at the Ponyville Town Hall, from Canterlot ponies draped in luxurious dresses and jewelry to earth pony laborers wearing dusty cloaks and patched hats. Fluttershy greeted the visitors at the door and met farmers, teachers, nurses, artisans, mages, mayors, miners, weather workers, cart pullers, students, and fellow environmental caretakers.

Along the edge of Ponyville, a purple and silver hot air balloon emblazoned with an eagle claw touched down. Out of the basket spilled a flock—or was it a pride—of griffons, and they barged inside while arguing all the way. A straggler towered over Fluttershy and cut through her with yellow eyes.

“G-Gilda… It's been awhile. You're looking well.”

Gilda raked her talons through her snow-white crest and coughed. “Yeah, I guess. Pinkie said I should say sorry, or something, so there ya go.”

“You came all this way to apologize? How sweet of—”

“Naw. Griffonstone is a dump because we let it rot, and Pinkie said you figured out a fix. True?”

“Um… Maybe?”

Gilda sank her claws into Fluttershy's shoulder in something approaching a reassuring gesture. “You know I went to flight school in Cloudsdale, right? You ponies are corny and sing too many lame songs, but I like Equestria, so don't let your pony friends make the same mistakes we did. The lust for gold is a killer.”

* * *

The audience totaled around two hundred, and they chatted among themselves while they took their seats in the Town Hall auditorium. Fluttershy put on a brave face, ascended the stage, and gripped the lectern for dear life. She could do this. She had to do this. And it would be so much easier with the comforting presence of that butterfly toy rumbling under her tail, hidden by Rarity's splendid sky dress.

Just ten minutes earlier backstage, Pinkie had carefully slipped the butterfly into place after explaining how it would be on its lowest setting. Pinkie pulled up Fluttershy's purple underwear and kissed her on the behind “for butt luck, the best kind of luck.”

Fluttershy studied the crowd and searched for her goofy gal pal. Pinkie sat near the center aisle and cheerfully waved and bit her lip as her own hidden toy delivered forbidden massages, except hers was shaped like an egg and buried deep inside.

The grand hall fell silent while everyone focused on Fluttershy. She cleared her throat and spoke from prepared remarks. “Welcome, friends and neighbors. For those who traveled a great distance to reach us today, I hope you were able to appreciate Equestria's dazzling beauty, from the swampy lowlands to the towering crystal peaks in the north. I've always admired the Equestrian ethos: Harmony with each other and Harmony with the Earth. Maybe we could actually try it for once.”

Confused murmurs spread through the crowd, but Fluttershy wasn't thrown off by their apprehension, instead finding herself already at ease. A week's worth of expectations had lodged in her stomach like an icy weight and clamped along her nerves, but the frost melted from the secret butterfly going to work against her tingling marehood. Fluttershy had found confidence with sex in private, so it only made sense to carry this revelation into the public sphere, or so Pinkie had reasoned, and now Fluttershy set out to prove her marefriend right.

“Ponies are resilient because life was always difficult for us. We came from meager beginnings in the ice and snow, and then we fled to a new land teeming with dragons and great beasts. Everything noble about Equestria was born from struggle, and now we face a new challenge, one of our own making, but we'll solve this problem the way we faced everything else—together.”

Fluttershy recounted her studies in painstaking detail. She focused on the following points:

1. Large scale weather manipulation ultimately destroys what we sought to control. Maintaining the status quo requires ever increasing wingpower, and once this system fails the weather will spiral into catastrophe. Blizzards, floods, and droughts will batter Equestria into submission. We must scale back weather management year by year as we transition to a new equilibrium.

2. Abandoned magical artifacts leak corrosive energy into the environment, poisoning the land and corrupting innocent creatures. Teams of mages must rejuvenate the wilderness by cleaning up centuries of arcane energy pollution. Future magical waste will be collected and processed.

3. Ponies have blighted the land with mining, deforestation, and modern agricultural practices. Farmers aim for the highest profits via monocropping, but this drains nutrients from the soil and leaves it vulnerable to erosion. We must employ a system of permaculture and agroforestry to restore topsoil and conserve resources.

Fluttershy could almost see Equestria's future farms as she described the new suite of techniques. A crew of earth mares advanced across a field that was brimming with all variety of vegetables and crossed by rows of trees planted to secure the soil. The mares tended to their crops with water canisters while singing an upbeat tune to raise their spirits under the harsh midday sun.

Their work complete, the sweaty mares celebrated by pouring cool water over their friends and jumping into a pile of giggles and upturned bottoms. Dozens of mares stretched across the farm in a long daisy chain of spread legs, probing muzzles, and disappearing cucumbers that were plowing a different kind of field. Their delighted moans rang out as geysers of mare lust arced through the air and drenched the crops with life giving nutrients. This was truly the pinnacle of resource management and community building.

Fluttershy ruffled her feathers and took a deep breath. No one was ever this horny when talking about new farming methods. Not even Applejack.

The fantasy wasn't part of Fluttershy's speech, of course, but the daydream made her lose her place for a moment. Where was the next topic? Oh, right.

1. Wasteful production must be minimized. For example, massive quantities of land and water are used in producing fibers and dyes for the textile industry, which manufactures clothing far beyond Equestria's needs. The fashion industry drives this consumption with pernicious advertising that instills anxieties that can only be met by the latest fad.

On second thought, maybe it was for the best Rarity couldn't attend.

1. Habitat destruction sends all manner of beasts on a crash course with civilization. In response, the victims call for razing the creature's homes to push the danger back, which only exacerbates the problem further. Ponyville's naturalized border with the Everfree is a leading example of pony/beast cohabitation and should be emulated.

A warm rush of pleasure gripped Fluttershy and threw her off. The vibrations from the wiggling butterfly coursed through her tender valley and engulfed her throbbing clit. She feigned a cough so she could gasp and squeeze her eyes shut without being obvious, and to stall for time she took a long sip of water. No one suspected a thing. She moved to her last point.

1. The aforementioned dilemmas are bad enough on their own, but if left unchecked they would converge in unpredictable ways until we cross a tipping point. Beset by cascading disasters, Equestria would abandon its communal ways and disintegrate into tiny fiefdoms. The survivors would stake their narrow claims and keep out strangers no matter the cost, hoarding Equestria's dwindling resources like greedy dragons.

“If you study the past,” Fluttershy continued, “you see a repeating pattern. Reckless civilizations leave deserts in their hoofprints. This may not seem as dire as a demon crawling from the pits of Tartarus and vowing our destruction, but if we don't establish a sustainable society then Equestria's future is nothing but ruins and half-remembered legends.”

A commotion raced through the crowd as ponies bolted from their seats and spoke over one another.

“Monsters attack our gates! We need more soldiers, trenches, magic barriers, anything to keep them out.”

“If we don't control the rains we can't grow food and ponies will starve.”

“So lower the population.”

“Don't panic! Someone will make a spell and save the day.”

“Who invited the griffons? Our ancestors fought these feathered freaks not all that long ago, who's to say this isn't their doing?”

“Ponies can't hurt the world. We're so small and the world is so big.”

“That must be true because it reinforces what I already believe.”

Fluttershy rubbed her thighs together while the relentlessly vibrating toy filled her with a warm gooey ache. A bead of sweat rolled down her brow, but she wiped it away before anyone noticed. She cleared her throat and calmed the crowd. “You're all missing the root problem. We have enough resources for everyone, but we need more than patchwork solutions that let us pretend we can plunder nature in a limited way. Our current system incentivizes anti-social behavior and imprisons our imagination. To save Equestria's environment, we must reorganize society so we focus on sustaining the many, not enriching the few.”

A prominent Canterlot mare named Fleur dis Lee stood up and objected. Her lavish dress gleamed with gemstones and Star Snatcher feathers. “Now listen here, Miss Fluttershy, I shan't sit here while you besmirch the business ponies who endeavored to build this land. Your precious Ponyville would be nothing but timberwolf country if it weren't for Filthy Rich's ancestors.” Sitting next to her was Fancy Pants, who crossed his forelegs and gave an exaggerated nod and a loud “harrumph.”

Toffee Swirl the wagon mare rose from the audience wearing an enormous straw hat. “Everyone knows the Apples founded Ponyville by working their tails off, and the common ponies built the rest, not the masters from Canterlot. Who mined those fancy jewels in your dress, by the way? An earth pony toiling in the dirt, that's who!”

Fleur dis Lee pinned her ears and scoffed. “I paid more than a reasonable price—an act of charity by any measure. And mind your tone, because without Canterlot's nobility you earth ponies would eat that dirt.”

The crowd simmered with tension, but Toffee didn't back down. “What's the matter, hon, spooked by the workers’ movement in the western provinces? Afraid it might spread to Equestria's heartland? Funny, I haven't seen that covered in any of the newspapers run by your friends in the guilds. Just admit that's the only reason you're here: To stamp out a campaign that threatens your ill-gotten wealth.”

“Ridiculous claptrap,” Fleur dis Lee said. “The productive elements of society have nothing to fear from layabouts and freeloaders.”

“Ha! The only freeloaders live in mansions and castles. Y'all from Canterlot are a bunch of blood-sucking parasites.”

A vicious argument exploded across the hall with a slew of back and forth insults as the crowd descended into a frenzied mass. Everything was falling apart and Fluttershy wanted nothing more than to flee to the safety of her cottage and forget this ever happened. She peered out into the turmoil and locked eyes with Pinkie, who returned a reassuring glance that filled her with confidence. The restless toy vibrating against her marehood energized her into an ever heightening crescendo.

“Quiet, everyone!” Fluttershy shouted. “Is this our future? Arguing while the world sinks into the sand? This isn't about individuals, it's about whole systems. We must decide this together: Will we sever our connection to the environment in pursuit of profit? What will we profit when Equestria is reduced to a howling wasteland? Is this really the best we can do? Turning live green nature into dead gold bricks?”

“More populist pandering,” Fleur dis Lee said. “You rail against profits and the excess of the textile industry while showcasing one of Rarity's gaudy dresses. I bet she paid you to wear that abomination. You're just a walking advertisement.”

“What? That's absurd. And this is a modest dress, so I don't think…” Fluttershy held back a moan deep in her chest. She couldn't imagine the crowd's reaction if they discovered the truth behind her attire. “A-And I don't think my wardrobe is the issue.”

“Of course you wouldn't. You want everyone else to change, not you. How convenient.”

“I want to expand the horizon of your vision beyond your muzzle. Now does anyone else have anything to say?”

A pegasus mare with a mint coat sailed above the crowd. “Weather control has been the pride of pegasi since time immemorial. What's our purpose in your world? To be aerial scouts? Entertainment?”

“We can still employ weather magic,” Fluttershy said, “but it should be defensive in nature, and scaled down for local need, not to enrich some distant group of absentee owners. As much as possible, we must work with mother nature, not against her.”

A stallion's voice called out. “Why are we talking about this? You're friends with Princess Twilight.” The crowd hummed with agreement. “He's right,” said another mare. “This is a job for the princesses. Celestia will save us.”

“This is beyond the scope of castles and crowns,” Fluttershy said. “Not only because the powerful wish to maintain the very systems leading us to ruin, but because our problems spring from the same source. The alienation, the breakdown of communal bonds, the reduction of everything to a transactional exchange—these all flow from our relationships with each other under a system that puts profits over ponies, and this determines how we view the natural world. If we exploit one another, so too shall we exploit and dominate the environment. To find true Harmony we must dismantle hierarchy and all forms of domination. We must abolish plutocrats and princesses.”

Gasps rang out from the crowd, as well as scattered applause.

“This is utopian nonsense,” Fleur dis Lee said. “Show us your plans for this glorious new society. One without princesses!”

“There's no grand plan from on high. That's the point. Each community would meet with their neighbors and decide what needs to be done for the betterment of all.”

“Impossible!” Fleur dis Lee shouted. “We need a powerful mare to unite Equestria. Anything else goes against the nature of the herd.”

“Ages ago the wise and pragmatic ponies said it's impossible the three pony tribes could ever live together. They said it's impossible to awaken the Elements of Harmony. They said it's impossible to make friends with dragons and changelings and all the rest. If we don't embrace the impossible, we will face the unthinkable.”

Growing sections of the crowd cheered, but Fleur dis Lee kept them at bay with a mere glance. “Cute rhetoric. I'm sure you practiced in front of a mirror and everything. But words can't bring forth the dreams of starry-eyed flower children.”

Fluttershy swallowed a moan of frustration and rising sexual bliss. “Y-You believe in a dream too. No, not a dream, a nightmare. You want endless growth in a finite world. You want to treat your workers like trash and expect them to take it. You're in for a rude awakening!”

Fluttershy's heart pounded, her blood ran hot, and her marehood grew unbearably heavy with need. Maybe this wasn't the best idea. Once she went over the brink they would discover she was a dirty mare and they would bend her over the lectern, yank down her underwear, and show all of Equestria how much of a pathetic lust-addled pervert she really was. Everyone would denounce her and say this whole event was just a prop for her disgusting fantasy. No one would ever listen to her again.

“Please understand this point,” Fluttershy said through a wavering gasp. “Our social relations will always govern our relations with nature.”

The tingling lusts under Fluttershy's tail reached a fever pitch. Her knees buckled under the butterfly's onslaught and she leaned against the podium for support. Her tail jerked and lifted and the throbbing tension released in wave after wave of soul sizzling pleasure made all the more intense by the audience of unsuspecting ponies watching her every movement. Erotic heat radiated from her pussy, stoked by every illicit vibration against her clit. She struggled to meet the crowd's eyes, as if they could see through her, as if her perversions were painted across her face for all to witness. She bit down on her cheek, breathed using her diaphragm, and did everything in her power to hold back a moan that would echo through the grand hall and reveal her wanton lusts. And yet despite her valiant efforts, the excess energy had to go somewhere. Fluttershy squeezed her eyes tight and shivered like she was cast out into one of the world ending blizzards.

A stallion in the front row leaned forward. “Miss? Is everything okay?”

“Y-Yes,” Fluttershy said, her face warm from secret shame. “I'm just very passionate about the environment.”

Pinkie was proven right yet again. Imagining herself as dirty and sinful pony made Fluttershy even hotter and hornier than usual. She let out a contented sigh, wiped her brow, and scanned the crowd. Pinkie writhed in her chair with restless energy while her tail swung to and fro. Fluttershy giggled in sympathy with Pinkie's inner turmoil.

A business stallion in a top hat had been speaking at length, but Fluttershy only heard a stream of pablum. “We must make the proper capital investments… paradigm shifts… disruptive innovations…”

A mare with glasses, a slide rule, and a notepad said, “We should establish a Department of Environmental and Resource Preservation—D.E.R.P.”

“You've made many salient points,” said a silver griffoness with a red feather in her crest. “But your idea of delegating power to local communities would cause a whole raft of problems. If preserving the environment is our goal we must invest authority in a central committee to make uniform decisions and—”

“Don't listen to Gale unless you like being stabbed in the back,” Gilda said. “She's a power hungry lunatic.”

“How dare you call me an opportunist? The only reason you made this trip was to visit that rainbow pony!”

Gilda waved a dismissive claw. “We had centralized authority in the king. How did that turn out?”

“What a preposterous comparison. You don't know the first thing about class structures or power dynamics or—”

Mayor Mare's bespectacled secretary trotted onto the stage and interrupted. “This meeting's allotted time is up. Thank you for visiting Ponyville and supporting our local businesses. Any Canterlot delegates who wish to speak with the mayor should see me in the front office.”

The audience dispersed, and as Fleur dis Lee made her exit she flicked her tail dismissively. “This meeting was a complete waste of time. Equestria will never succumb to decay, just as gold will never know the touch of rust.”

A sticky wetness clung between Fluttershy's thighs as she left the stage. Her climax left her deeply satisfied, but she didn't expect such a mess, and she needed to find a place to clean up. Pinkie bumbled across the auditorium in an awkward gait and beckoned Fluttershy to follow her down the side hall. They passed the archive room, several offices, and ponies milling around a break room drinking tea and coffee. At the end of the corridor, they flung open a double door, ducked around the corner, and found refuge in an empty meeting room decorated with light wood paneling, royal blue carpet, and majestic paintings of Celestia and Luna.

Pinkie pushed one of the rolling chairs to the side and threw herself against the long conference table. “That was insane! I saw the exact moment your canoe went over the waterfall, but I don't think anyone else had a clue.” Fluttershy sank into one of the plush chairs, and Pinkie reached out with her hind leg and dragged Fluttershy's underwear to the floor. A sizable damp spot marred the fabric, and her sticky essence seeped around the smiling butterfly toy. “That must've been a good one,” Pinkie said with a hint of jealousy.

“I didn't feel it against my G-spot, it just sorta happened,” Fluttershy said, unfastening the loops and setting the shiny butterfly on the table. “Everything was so nice and warm.”

“Y-You're coming into balance with your body like a seesaw, and—” Pinkie let out an anguished moan, bent over the table, and wiggled her butt. “I'm sooOOOoo close! It kinda hurts!”

Fluttershy rolled behind Pinkie and flipped the ruffled dress over her back. Pinkie's sky blue underwear had been completely soaked. Fluttershy pulled down the drenched fabric while Pinkie helped by lifting her legs. A mouth watering fog wafted across Fluttershy's face and filled her chest with an hour's worth of Pinkie's pent up desire. The green base of the vibrating egg peeked between Pinkie's immensely dark and swollen marelips, and a long strand of arousal dripped onto the blue carpet.

“I need relief reaaally bad,” Pinkie said, her secret pearl winking into the air. “Oh, this is torture! Help me!”

Fluttershy grabbed either side of Pinkie's balloon adorned flanks and steadied her frenzied shaking. After a gentle tug, Pinkie's plump cheeks spread apart and Fluttershy lavished Pinkie's desperately engorged valley with an emergency tongue bath. Fluttershy meandered around Pinkie's exposed clit, gave it a brief lick along the side, and pulled away, letting it retreat back into its warm confines.

“You're a monster,” Pinkie said through an exasperated laugh. “A cruel, heartless monster! I'm gonna go crazy!”

“Too late for that,” Fluttershy teased. She licked the length of Pinkie's silky smooth slit and planted kisses across her round cheeks.

Pinkie shifted her weight from one hind leg to another in a nervous dance, each shuffle wobbling and shaking her squishy bottom like jello. Another sticky strand of mare goo dribbled from Pinkie's puffy honeypot, but this time Fluttershy carefully gathered it with her tongue and swished the creamy goodness in her mouth. Fluttershy followed the strand to its source and slipped her greedy tongue inside until she brushed against the submerged toy still buzzing away. Incredible amounts of heat poured from Pinkie's inner depths, like a hot pink furnace on the verge of a meltdown. Pinkie's heart shaped clit popped out further than it ever has, straining against the air, yearning for the touch that would send her over the edge.

“Please, pleaaase,” Pinkie begged, a tense urgency in her voice. “Don't let me lose this.”

Fluttershy opened her mouth and sucked Pinkie's poor neglected clitty. She could maroon that little bud to the cold air once again and make Pinkie collapse from frustration, but Fluttershy preferred to soothe her friend's suffering. Or maybe her taste was simply irresistible.

Pinkie shivered and let out a low moan of sweet satisfaction. “Oh, you're the best! I loved watching you up there controlling the crowd. You were busting chops and breaking boxes. And we shared a special secret that made it even better.”

Pinkie was a dish of ice cream drizzled with warm strawberry syrup, and Fluttershy wouldn't let another drop go to waste. She paid special attention to Pinkie's cherry berry. “I can't believe this cute little clit caused so much trouble.”

“Story of my life.” Pinkie grabbed the sticky butterfly toy and gave it a long lick up its purple body. “You like being watched,” Pinkie said matter-of-factly. “Today confirmed it. For awhile I thought when you looked around it's because you were nervous, but nope! That was hope. A dirty hope that someone would find us doing the deed. My bright-eyed Fluttershy really is a naughty mare!”

Pinkie pressed back into Fluttershy's muzzle and gyrated her rump against her face, and Fluttershy moaned from being found out. She sucked on Pinkie's jelly bean for all she was worth, swirling her tongue over the grooved tip. Fluttershy pulled back and a long ribbon of sticky lust connected them before it collapsed against Pinkie's thigh.

“You got me,” Fluttershy said. “I've never told anyone, but being caught in the act is my biggest fantasy. I don't know why, but it really gets me going.”

Pinkie trembled from the denial. “Great, but please h-hurry! I can't take much more! Maybe you can imagine those princess paintings watching us? I'm sure Celestia and Luna would love to know we're defiling the royal conference room!”

Fluttershy relished Pinkie's simmering frustrations as she teetered on the edge of a huge climax, and to add to Pinkie's delicious misery Fluttershy sang an old song with a new twist.

What is this place
Filled with so many wonders?
Casting its spell
That I am now under

We're heading down south
There's a button so funny
Melt in my mouth
And give me sweet honey
Hooooonneeeeeeey!

Fluttershy buried her face in Pinkie's marehood and sucked her desperate clit with newfound zeal.

“Oooh! Holy cows over the moon! I'm gonna… I'm gonna go kersploosh BIG TIME!”

Pinkie's tail lifted like a flagpole as Fluttershy took a deep breath and wrapped her lips around the crown of Pinkie's swelling pussy and hugged her big behind. Pinkie scraped her hind hoof against the floor and let out a shuddering moan. A warm tangy flood surged into Fluttershy's mouth straight from the source, puffed out her cheeks, and threatened to spill onto the floor. Fluttershy gulped down the first torrent and relaxed the best she could so the rest of Pinkie's pent up orgasm would pour past the back of her tongue. Jet after jet of Pinkie's pleasure gushed down Fluttershy's throat and filled her tummy with glowing erotic energy. One last blast of sticky mare cream splattered against her tongue and filled her mouth to the brim with a rich brew. Pinkie's gift dribbled down Fluttershy's chin while another trickle rolled down Pinkie's cunny and onto the floor.

Despite those dribs and drabs, Fluttershy had prevented a disaster. Instead of an enormous puddle, stained dresses, and a sticky mane, only a few wet spots sullied the carpet, hardly noticeable unless you knew where to look.

Pinkie let out a long sigh and slumped against the table, her tail flopping against her legs. “Wowie zowie. You swallowed my gooey gunk with gusto. Kinky.”

Fluttershy licked her lips and savored the long lasting residue. “Your, um, 'appreciation' tastes pretty good. And now I know what it's like to be a thirsty hummingbird drinking nectar.” Before pulling away, Fluttershy kissed Pinkie's clitoris and giggled as Pinkie shivered and squeezed out the egg-shaped toy with a deluge of melted desire. “I guess now you're in the egg laying mood. Got any more up there, Momma Pinkie? Maybe we could raise a full clutch.”

“Laugh it up, Snuggle Butt. I'm gonna get you back for all that teasing.” Pinkie rose up on wobbly forelegs before falling back down with an oomph. “It seems you've turned my brain into hot fudge. Clever.”

The inside of Fluttershy's dress worked as an impromptu towel as she dried the messy egg. She returned the plaything to its carrying case and stored it in Pinkie's saddlebag. Pinkie did the same with Fluttershy's toy before giving it one last lick. “This cute butterfly fluttered your butter for an hour. No wonder she's smiling.”

Fluttershy reclined in the comfy chair, spread her thighs wide, and aired out her sweltering marehood, casually bouncing one of her legs over the armrest. “I couldn't have faced that crowd without you. Not just because of your dirty idea, but because you were there supporting me. Maybe when we get home I can thank you some more.”

Pinkie sank to her knees and scooched between Fluttershy's legs with an impish smile. “Your speech inspired me to save the environment all over again. Watch me rejuvenate these endangered wetlands.” Pinkie descended face-first into Fluttershy's sticky heat, making her squeal with giddy anticipation.

A stranger's voice echoed down the hall. “I think they went in there.” The door around the corner creaked open and hoofsteps thudded closer and closer. Fluttershy and Pinkie rushed to look decent, pulling their underwear up and pushing their dresses down. The shadow along the wall crawled around the corner.

“I've been looking for you two,” said a smoky voice. “That meeting was totally radical.” Tree Hugger strolled into the room wearing a bohemian shawl and daisies in her mane. “And I do mean radical. Those Canterlot squares were popping monocles at record speeds.”

Fluttershy wiped her mouth. “Tree Hugger! What a wonderful surprise. I didn't see you in the crowd.”

“I was chilling in the back of the class and basking in your righteous vibes.” Tree Hugger sniffed at the air. “Is one of you wearing some funky all natural perfume? It's far out.”

“Haha, um, I don't think so.” Fluttershy trotted closer and nuzzled her old pal's neck, and Tree Hugger kissed her cheek and held her in a close hug. Pinkie slipped her hoof between them and nudged Tree Hugger away with a suspicious glare. “Oh, this is Pinkie Pie,” Fluttershy said. “She's my… good friend. She's the one responsible for organizing all this.”

Pinkie's ears tensed. “I remember you from the Grand Galloping Gala. So you and Fluttershy go way back, huh?”

Tree Hugger played with her peace sign necklace. “Hard to judge the flow of time. We're all just flotsam on the zeitgeist, my mare.”

Pinkie squinted as she formulated a comeback. “Yeah, well, our reality is merely a layer of frosting on a much larger cake.”

“So, um, do you think my speech helped?” Fluttershy asked. “It seemed to anger a lot of ponies, and a bunch of them leaped to awful conclusions.”

“You plant seeds here and there and who knows what sprouts up,” Tree Hugger said. “We'll need to cultivate them and see what happens, but there's promising news from all over. On my way here I percolated through the worker cooperatives and communes out west. They're seeing immense growth from ponies who want to break free from the Canterlot guilds. Equestria has a gnarly aura right now, like a new society is growing inside the shell of the old but can't quite power through. You might be the one who cracks it wide open.”

“Lucky me.”

Pinkie wrapped a possessive foreleg around Fluttershy. “You should've sent Harry the bear after that snooty Fleur dis Lee lady.”

Tree Hugger snorted. “You're a real goof, Pinks. I like you.”

Pinkie put on a fake smile that would fool most anyone but Fluttershy. “The feeling is mutual, Huggs.”

“You know what might be even more useful than bears mauling the rich? Writing a book.”

“Of course,” Fluttershy said. “That would spread the message far and wide, and I wouldn't have to speak in front of crowds.” Fluttershy nudged Pinkie. “Great idea, right?”

Pinkie batted at the leaves of a nearby potted plant. “Wouldn't be the first time a book saved Equestria.”

“It's been a blast catching up,” Tree Hugger said, “but I don't want to harsh your mellow. We should totally hang out sometime. Maybe I could show you around those communes. And you could bring your funny friend too.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Fluttershy said, not wanting to commit and irritate Pinkie any further.

Tree Hugger glanced at Pinkie before making her exit. “Good luck with Fluttershy. She's easy to like, but hard to know. Peace out, you two.” She shut the door and disappeared.

“What does that mean?” Pinkie asked. She whirled around and stood unusually rigid. “Fluttershy! You said you were never with a mare before.”

“You think Tree Hugger and I actually… Ha! No, she's just super friendly.”

Pinkie's eyes narrowed. “I bet she is.”

“I can't believe this. Are you jealous?”

“Of course not. Maybe a little. Yes!”

“You've got to be kidding. My tummy is still warm because I swallowed your, erm… mare stuff.”

Pinkie whimpered and retreated under the portrait of Celestia while speaking faster and faster. “Right. Of course. How silly of me. But that's how it always starts. Old flames, old passions, old habits. Don't worry, Pinkie, that's what they always say. They're just an old friend, Pinkie, actually we don't need you anymore, Pinkie, nice knowing you while it lasted, Pinkie, you're annoying, Pinkie, it was just a fling, Pinkie, you should've known that, Pinkie, go away, Pinkie!”

“I'm sorry about your past relationships, but I promise Tree Hugger and I were never a thing. I Fluttershy promise.”

“Fine, but that doesn't change where this is going, does it?” Pinkie repeatedly knocked her hoof against her head. “Stupid! Stupid! What was I thinking? You're so smart and now you're a big time mover and shaker.” All of Pinkie's energy evaporated and she slumped back onto her haunches. “You'll meet some other cool pony who knows way more about nature than I ever could. I'm just a dumb clown. That's all I've ever been.”

Lots of ponies threw pity parties for themselves in hopes of gaining sympathy, but the pained sincerity in Pinkie's voice melted Fluttershy's heart. No words arose to mend the fragile mare behind the faded smile, so Fluttershy did what came naturally. She stepped forward and embraced Pinkie in a deep hug.

“I understand,” Pinkie said through a sniffle. “I'm always the rebound mare, always the stepping stone, and that's fine. You deserve better than me.”

Fluttershy squeezed so tight she trembled. “Stop! Please stop saying such awful things about the mare who changed my life.”

“You did that on your own. I was just along for the ride.”

“If it weren't for you I'd still be lost and confused and hiding in my cottage. I'd be nothing. This was all your idea!”

Pinkie wrenched away toward the exit, or at least she tried, but Fluttershy fought against the earth pony's strength with all her might and flapped her wings for leverage. “I'm not letting go. Not now. Not ever!” Pinkie grunted and pulled away and stumbled and they both collapsed against the carpet in a heap. Fluttershy reached out and looped her hooves around Pinkie's torso so she couldn't get away.

A little giggle escaped Pinkie, and then a burgeoning chuckle, and then a great heaving cackle that echoed through the room. Pinkie grew quiet and dried her eyes. “Look at us. We're a pair of freaking weirdos. Maybe we deserve each other.”

Fluttershy clambered over Pinkie and snuggled against her shoulder. “I like weird.”

With sheepish smiles they brushed themselves off, shared a quick kiss, and made their way toward the front entrance. After entering the auditorium, Fluttershy wanted to get something off her chest. “I met your friend Toffee Swirl when you were on your tour. I think that's why she came here. She was kinda flirty with me, or maybe I was reading too much into things, or—”

“So she's your secret marefriend!” Pinkie bumped Fluttershy off balance with her butt and giggled. “Kidding, kidding… Good old Toffee is always keeping an eye out for new friends on those lonely road trips.”

“Maybe more than friends?”

“You said it, not me.”

Groups of ponies milled below the Town Hall veranda and spilled onto the surrounding commons, and when Fluttershy wandered into sight at least twenty ponies mobbed her. “There she is,” they yelled with excitement. “Fluttershy! Lead us into a glorious tomorrow!”

“Oh, uh… I guess you liked my speech, then?”

“T'was brilliant,” said a classy stallion wearing a turtleneck. “We should name our club with a title befitting your genius.”

The crowd buzzed with ideas and yelled them out in turn:

“Friends of Fluttershy.”

“Fluttershy's Flora and Fauna Party.”

“The Butterfly Brigade.”

All this praise reminded Fluttershy of her mission to Starlight Glimmer's village. So many disaffected ponies had traveled there in hopes of finding meaning in their lives, but instead they fell under the charms of a charismatic cult leader. “I can't lead something so important,” Fluttershy said. “And if I tried I would crumple from the pressure and let everyone down. The entire point of our new society is that power should rise from below, remember?”

“So we'll vote you as our leader.”

Fluttershy's hoof smacked against her forehead. “No, no, listen! Banish the thought of leaders from your mind. Even if by some miracle I led you in the right direction, that just means someone else could swoop in and lead you astray.”

A sea of confusion stared back. “What should we do then?”

Fluttershy threw her forelegs over the veranda railing and addressed her would-be flock. “In the shadow of Canterlot we will build a new order of community self-management. How to proceed? Use your hearts and your heads. Mobilize local support, find out what the masses need, devise solutions by consensus, and make demands to the local authorities. Remember this well: Power resides with those who turn society's wheels. If the cart pullers refused to haul goods they would bring Equestria to a screeching halt. Organize the common workers and the ponies in castles will tremble.”

The gathering of ponies and griffons received her declaration with hushed awe. She couldn't believe she was saying such things out loud, openly transgressing against the ancient nobility, but she didn't see another way to save Equestria.

The crowd parted and made way for Toffee Swirl. “Fluttershy's on to something. After our little chat last month I reached out to the other cart pullers and they were even more fed up than I am. Count us in!”

Pinkie and Toffee waved at each other. “You were spitting venom back there,” Pinkie said. “It was awesome!”

“And I got plenty more where that came from,” Toffee said. “Here's a rallying cry for your next pamphlet: Workers built everything around us. Everything. The schools, the hospitals, the mines, the great weather factories, even the fancy castles. Which means we own it. We should decide what happens. And I reckon anyone who lays claim to our sweat and blood should be tarred and feathered!”

Cheers broke out all around, but Fluttershy wished to reel them back without being too much of a wet blanket. “There's no need for open revolt or anything crazy like that,” Fluttershy cautioned. “I'm hopeful the princesses and the nobility will see reason and join our cause. And if not they can be sidestepped. The old system will lose legitimacy when ponies control their own destiny. We can build a new world without them.”

“What if you're wrong?” Gilda asked. “Those who profit from the current system won't stand around while we undermine it. They'll send soldiers and spies and saboteurs.”

“They would only hasten their downfall if they did something so foolish. Call me an idealist if you want, but Equestria was built on the belief that the nobility had our best interests at heart. If they let the mask slip and show their true face… They can't stop all of us. Not when we're organized. Not when we're together.”

Fluttershy couldn't do this anymore. She was spent.

The mint pegasus stepped forward. “Hey Fluttershy, we're heading to the cafe for lunch. Wanna come and talk shop? We have sooo many questions!”

“Of course she will,” Gilda said. “Not as a leader, but as a mare with knowledge to share.”

“Sounds mighty fine,” Toffee added. “All that agitating is hungry work.”

Fluttershy shrank back. “I… I dunno.”

Pinkie elbowed her in the side and whispered. “Go ahead. This is what you've always wanted, isn't it?”

Fluttershy stood tall and puffed out her chest. “Thank you all for coming out and supporting me, but I must decline. This is your campaign now. I'm sorry if I'm not the pony you had hoped.”