Princess Twilight Sparkle, Equestria's Princess of Friendship, sighed happily. Looking out the train window at the beautiful Canterlot meadow, she almost wished she could go enjoy the wonderful weather on the last day of Spring with a picnic with her friends and herd-mates instead of where she was going. "The weather's so nice and it's so beautiful outside...a perfect Spring day to set up for the Summer Sun Celebration! Right Bade?" Twilight said, giving a big smile as she looked to her two companions.

Master-Sergeant, now also Prince, Bade Moonglade, the named stallion and Twilight's husband, was thickly build and highly muscular as all Royal Guard stallions were, wearing silver, purple and blue regalia instead of his Royal Guard armor he'd retired a few years prior when he'd married Twilight. His coat was an ashen grey, his mane such a light gray that it was virtually white, with strips of slightly darker grey interspersed in rows. Both were groomed and trimmed to Guard regulation, his coat glossy and his mane cropped short.

Like virtually all full-blooded thestrals, Bade's eyes were golden-yellow and their pupils naturally slitted like a cat's, giving him a mysterious and unnatural appearance; one of the many things Twilight loved about him. His membranous wings were much like those of a bat's – hence the thestrals' moniker of 'bat-ponies' – and were the ashen-grey of his coat with the inner membranes a lighter gray. His tail's color matched his mane's and was cropped short as well. As she looked to his rump, giving it a playful smack with her tail, she saw once again that his Cutie-mark was a dark-blue shield with a crescent Moon as its crest. Unsurprisingly, it hadn't changed in the minutes since she'd last looked.

"Princess Celestia wanted you, with your great attention to detail and organizational skills, to be responsible for the planning and execution of the Summer Sun Celebration's afterparty, and I can't agree more Twi," Bade said with a smile as he affectionately rubbed noses with his wife Twilight, earning a light blush from her. He then looked over to Twilight's other friends who were sharing the car with them - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity - and nodded to them, "and they're here to help make sure it goes smoothly too. Plus, a little time away from your castle will be nice."

"Yeah, well we're just going from one castle to another; from purple and green crystal and glass, to grey stone and mostly purple walls. A change of scenery at least, I guess," another voice said with a sarcastic tone and snort.

As Twilight looked over to the mare who just spoke, her and Bade's shared wife Sergeant Amaya Noctis – seeing her glossy mid-grey coat, slitted yellow eyes, leathery, membranous wings with lighter-grey membranes – Twilight once more saw how much shorter and less bulky than Bade she was, looking about the general size of an Earth-pony mare and just as muscular as a farm-mare. Her mane and tail were a deep royal blue and longer than the cropped style of her husband's, flowing into a natural gentle waviness instead of being cropped short. A look to her flank showed that her Cutie-mark was still the Moon with a raincloud in front of it with precipitation visible, as it was every time she looked upon her wife's flank.

"Well aren't you a ball of sunshine today," Twilight asked Amaya sarcastically, the latter huffing a bit.

"Hey, it's not my fault I just went into estrus this morning, nor that we've been too busy getting ready to board this stupid train for me and Bade to properly take care of it! All I've had time for is a quick session with 'Mr. Manticore' before we rushed to the train station. It's all this stupid Celebration's fault..." Amaya huffed herself, her tail pinned to her crotch, trying her best not to let her natural lube, which she'd been producing en masse since her estrus hit, drip onto the train's floor. Of course being around her sexy, virile husband, smelling his sexy, masculine scent, didn't help.

"No, it's just an unfortunate circumstance that your heat always comes this week. Most other mares' do as well, thanks to the additional daylight during this time of year. Amaya, I promise when we get settled, I'll—" Bade started, only to swiftly be interrupted by a flash of pink flying by.

"Oooooh I can't wait to get started on planning the party! We'll need balloons and streamers and of course a huuuuuge cake!" Pinkie Pie squealed out, darting excitedly around the train car, interrupting him unintentionally. In Amaya's estrus-stricken mind, she could have sworn she'd said 'huuuuuge cock'.

"Pinkie not now, please. Amaya's not really in the mood for overenthusiastic shouting," Twilight said, going over to give Amaya a kiss on her tufted ear, "She just went into a really bad estrus this morning and hasn't had time to properly, ahem, take care of it yet."

"Yeah, my fillymaker's screaming for some foal-fuel..." Amaya grumbled, looking to Bade with bedroom eyes, "...and you're gonna firehose my foal-factory down with lots of that stallion-juice later, put my fire out really good."

The train car, which fortunately only had Twilight's friends and spouses in it, went silent for a while. Bade also looked a mix of confused, reticent, and more than slightly aroused by that comment, not really sure if she was being literal about the 'foal' part.

"Ahem, speaking of foals, where are your three darlings? I was looking forward to seeing Dawn, Dusk, and Nocturne again." Rarity asked, changing the subject to something more approachable. Her and their friends had met Twilight's and Amaya's three foals many times before of course, falling in love with the thestral-pony hybrids as though they were their own children.

The public had also well-received the half-breed princess, and thestral princess and prince, when they were publicly announced and Celestia officially christened them with the titles at a coronation ceremony. Many ponies saw Dawn's existence as a symbol of how unified all pony tribes were, so much so that an Alicorn princess was willing to marry into another tribe and have foals by him.

"Well, they're in the care of my parents here in their house in Canterlot for tonight so that Bade, Amaya and I can help here as long as needed, and be rested and ready for the party. I love our children to bits, but sometimes we just need a little break from being parents. We've been raising them for the past two years non-stop," Twilight explained, getting an understanding look from Fluttershy, "even through...our estruses. In a couple days, they're bringing Dusk, Dawn, and Noctie to see the Summer Sun Celebration with us, leaving tonight for just us." Twilight chewed her lip nervously, "I hope the foals don't get into too much trouble, given how often Amaya's kids are in the air anymore, and how Dusk is starting to use her magic."

Ever since they were born, Twilight Velvet and Night Light had accepted the foals as if they were their own, jumping at every opportunity to see them and care for their grandkids. Velvet, especially, loved to spoil the little kids rotten. This time was likely no exception.

At nearly two years old, Dusk and Belle, the two thestral twins, were starting to learn to fly, making the three parents' hearts soar alongside them.

Similarly, Fluttershy's filly, Fluttering Heart, also had started to learn flying as well despite being a few weeks younger than Twilight's herd's foals, joining her three friends in the air despite being a weak flier much like her mother was at that age.

The sire for Fluttershy's foal was never revealed, the filly conceived when Fluttershy had gained the courage to go to Ponyville's estrus and breeding party without protection and in disguise, having gotten herself bred there by a seemingly-random stallion...but if the filly's emerald-green eyes and light-orange coat were anything to go by - not to mention how many sensual looks and family meals they'd shared before, and how much more time they'd spent just with them together since Fluttershy had gotten pregnant and had her foal - Big Macintosh was the most likely candidate.

"Fluttershy, where's Little Flutters? You were talking about how much you were looking forward to her seeing the Summer Sun Celebration, so I thought you were going to bring her?" Rainbow Dash asked her best friend, getting a nod from the named butter-yellow pegasus.

"Well, um, she wanted to spend some time with Apple Bloom and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders, so I thought that'd be nice. Big Macintosh and Granny Smith were so gracious as to offer to watch her too, since they'll be coming in a couple days for their first time ever to see the Celebration," Fluttershy explained, though she looked like she missed the pride of her life being beside her. When she'd said Big Mac's name too, though, there seemed to be a sense of barely-restrained longing as well.

Ignoring how obvious Fluttershy's poorly-kept secret was as she always did, Twilight was about to say something else, to ask Pinkie where Candy Dreams - Pinkie's own two-year-old colt, who was conceived the same way as Fluttershy's foal was, at one of Pinkie's own unprotected visits to the estrus party that she'd hosted while she was in heat and fertile - was, before the train's whistle sounded.

"Canterlot Castle station departing! Canterlot Castle station departing!" the conductor announced, with the nine ponies soon leaving the train and gathering their luggage.

Canterlot Castle in late Spring was, in a word, beautiful. All the leaves of the trees surrounding it were a lush green, the grass the same, and the carefully-planted flowers and trees in the Royal Garden in full bloom.

Looming over the whole land, like a watchful guardian perched on a very tall cliff, was Canterlot Castle, the home of the Lead Princesses and sisters Celestia and Luna, as well as home to many other nobles and royal workers. As the nontet of ponies walked, luggage being held in Twilight's and Rarity's telekinetic grasp or carried by their owners, they were quickly received by Celestia and Luna, who had come to the station to receive them.

"Hello, Twilight and friends. Bade, Amaya," Celestia said, looking over everypony and giving each a greeting nod as they were named, "Welcome, welcome. How have you been, my dear Twilight?" Celestia looked over Twilight and the group, then her expression changed to mild confusion, "Where are the young ones?"

"They'll all be here in a couple days," Twilight responded simply, smiling.

Celestia nodded. "Well, let's talk while we walk. We've got a big party to plan, after all," she said, taking the lead, them soon going into a more business-like conversation regarding the party.

~ ~ ~

"Alright my little ponies!" Celestia called out a few hours later, commanding the attention of everypony at the preparation event for the Celebration. It was at about dinner time, everypony clearly feeling the fatigue and hunger of the hours of hard work, "Thank you all once more for your assistance in making the Summer Sun Celebration possible. We will also be taking the opportunity to celebrate the third anniversary of my sister, Princess Luna's, return to Equestria! Please, take a break to enjoy a free dinner provided in thanks from us for your work!"

A massive banquet table was filled with multiple quick-fix foods like multiple types of sandwiches, including floral, hay, and greens and tomato; hay burgers and fries, apples, fruit punch, soda, water, and, of course, various types of cookies and slices of several varieties of pies and cakes...the latter-most of which Celestia was the first to help herself to.

"Princess Twilight, Princess Amaya, Prince Bade!" The three named ponies looked up to their names, seeing Minuette, Lemon Hearts and Twinkle Shine – three very old friends whom Twilight had rekindled her friendships with earlier in the previous year – approaching them, before pausing to give a courteous bow each to the royals.

"Mmm, someponies are looking fiiiine~"! Amaya trilled under her breath, looking over the three mares as if they were part of the all-you-can-eat buffet on the tables. They'd been introduced before, with Twilight introducing all of her easily-available friends to Bade and Amaya, but it was only a passing acquaintanceship for them.

"Oh, I still can't get over how Lemon, Twinkle, and I are in a herd now Twilight! Isn't it great?" Minuette spoke up, Twinkle Shine and Lemon Hearts nodding and smiling grandly, "I still can't believe how much I love them either!"

"We love you too Minuette," Twinkle replied, nuzzling into her mate's blue coat.

"Yes, yes we do," Lemon said, giving Minuette a kiss on the ear.

"I know, I was at your herd joining last month and I still can't believe it!" Twilight said teasingly, making Minuette pause before both started chuckling.

After some trivial banter about how their lives were going, the trio of mares all apparently getting along fine, Twinkle Shine asked where Twilight's foals were, having wanted to see them again. "Well, they're with my parents right now, but you should be able to see them in a couple days at the festival," Twilight answered with a nod.

"Aaaaw, I wanted to see them noooow..." Lemon whined a bit, "...foals are so cuuuute. Can't wait to have some of my own." This comment, however, made Bade look over the all-mare herd and wonder where the foals would be coming from.

"Ah, speaking of foals...Twilight, Bade, Amaya, I don't know if you'll be attending given you're a herd, but the 'Summer Masked Ball' is coming up next week here in Canterlot. We'd like to extend an invitation to you if you'd like to come," Minuette, the apparent lead mare of the herd, said; "We've decided, as a herd, to attend. We're wanting to see if we can find a stud to add some foals to this herd." A sensual look was shared by the group, as well as what looked like longing, but it passed in a moment.

Twilight knew that Canterlot's 'Spring Masked Ball' was basically just a fancier name for the same kind of giant, public orgy and breeding party like the one Ponyville hosted each mating season, but with even more attendees, and wasn't sure how to respond to the invitation. She'd never attended a breeding party before as a guest, even if Amaya had likely attended every one before and since they'd gotten together. Twilight was instead always one of the volunteer staff to give contraceptive spells to those attendees who wanted them, never getting involved herself.

"Well, I'm game," Amaya instantly agreed, but Twilight and Bade both looked at each other, unsure.

"Well thanks for the invite, but we'll get back to you about it." Twilight said, while Minuette, Lemon Hearts, and Twinkle Shine meanwhile talked about finding a suitable sperm donor, what features they were looking for in a potential sire to their foals or in a herd-stallion, and how much they wanted to start families too. Apparently, this was making Amaya's own needs flare.

"Hay, maybe if we find a stallion who treats us right and has some good assets, we might even invite him into the herd to stay!" Minuette said, hearing affirmative sounds from her herdmates.

Meanwhile, Amaya had wondered off towards some other stallions, chatting them up, flirting if what Twilight heard was to be believed. Twilight merely huffed and rolled her eyes with a grin, letting her. The three had agreed after their public herd-binding ceremony to keep the relationship sexually open so long as they approved of the others' temporary partners – and that only Bade was allowed to give Amaya and Twi foals, with them or their other stallion partner having to use foal protection – as well as of course making sure their herdmates remained their first and foremost lovers. Twilight hadn't had sex with anypony but Bade yet, though Amaya had taken full advantage.

Bade was also required to use protection if he ever had sex with another mare if she was in or near her heat, and had to get his two mares' permission if he was asked to stud them and give them a foal. That hadn't happened yet, as he'd not had sex with anypony except Amaya and Twilight. He'd long ago given up his outdated views on one-on-one Thestral relationships when he'd realized just how few stallions there were to mares in Ponyville and Canterlot and had agreed to date then marry both Twilight and Amaya – and had broadened his views on sexual relationships even more since then – but wasn't ready to step outside his personal moral boundaries and loyalty to his mares yet.

"Twi, I don't know if I wanna attend that Masked Ball thing. I've never been one for group sex, or parties for that matter, so I don't think I'd be comfortable there," Bade told Twilight privately, getting a nod from her, "You and Amaya are all I need."

"Yeah, I'm not going either," Twilight answered, seeing Bade's unease dissipate as he found she agreed with him, before easing him with a kiss, "You and Amaya are all I need too."

"I think I'd rather just spend my time with you while Amaya's at the Ball then, if she doesn't want to be with us." Bade said simply, pressing back into Twilight's kiss.

"Yeah, I'm thinking the same. How about we get some food then get back to work, then after maybe we could have some fun?" Twilight asked, returning the kiss, and getting a nod from Bade as they approached the banquet spread. They had a lot of work yet to do, and would need the fuel for it.

Author's Note

Another story, another fun romantic journey of twists and turns. Let's begin once again.

At the request of the commissioner, this story will be released in chunks as they're written and paid for instead of the whole story all at once given its length. That said, these first four chapters are the first chunk. Hope you enjoy!