Hunter's Flower

Wallflower felt like she was in a completely different world as she walked alongside Lightning. She had heard about the large, ivory like towers with their gold and purple domed roofs that could be found in Canterlot. She had heard about the large building made of steel and stone in Manehatten that tried to surpass the clouds. Even news of the Crystal Empire had reached her ears with their buildings made out of various colored crystals. Yet seeing what Hollow Shades had to offer was something else! Had somepony described the place to her or if she had read about it, Wallflower was sure she would have thought it was a nightmarish place in which only the most hardened of hearts could bare to live. As she looked around, however, she found that that wasn’t the case. The massive, almost pitch black trees she saw were no less intimidating than any other tree she had ever seen before. It was surprising to see that they had built their homes around the trees instead of inside them like some ponies did but nothing more. She didn’t even mind the bats that flew around the place, sometimes having one stop in front of you before kissing your nose and flying off.

Then there were the decorations. By Celestia the decorations! She had never seen spider webs in those bright colors, shifting ever so slightly. It should have made her cringe to think that so many spiders were in this one area, making them. But instead it filled her with amazement to see how they were using them. Some of the pictures they created were almost at the border of being offensive, but still rather impressive. Sky lanterns of reds, pinks, oranges, and blacks floated about them while illuminating shapes related to love.

“It’s a lot to take in,” said Lightning as she probably noticed Wallflower staring about her. “First time seeing the place like this myself. Thestrals sure get into the spirit of things, don’t they?”

Wallflower nodded dumbly as she looked around, slightly awestruck by how the thestrals were acting. She would have thought that Nightmare Night would have been a bigger, more elaborate holiday for them given their association with the night. Yet what she saw all around her were ponies getting into the spirit of love. Above her, with the moon shining brightly down upon them, were thestral couples flying around closely. Some were holding hooves as they flew around while other kept giving the other a look so suggestive that that made Wallflower actually blush. Those on the ground were trotting side by side, their bodies pressed close together as their tails intertwined. One couple was even standing off to the side, eating a fruit of some kind that Wallflower had never seen before, making out briefly in-between bites.

A hoof reached down to touch the heart pendent lightly bumping on her chest. There were others she could see with the same item indicating that they were single as well. From young to old, these single ponies were mixed about. Some fluttered about, talking to another single or one of the active couples about. Other seemed to form packs as they moved along the streets while in high spirits.

There was one pairing that did catch her attention far more than any other. It was a stallion and a mare, both looking a bit on the young side as if they had just entered adulthood or were about to. And they were kissing! Now, Wallflower had seen ponies kiss before. Back home there were plenty of ponies who kissed each other on the cheek as well as married couples who would openly give a quick kiss to their partner in public. Yet what she was seeing now was something completely different from anything she had ever seen before in her life! Both had their hooves and wings wrapped around each other to tighten their embrace, their lips locked against the other as if trying to fuse. While they were far away, the green earth pony could hear them moaning and could see bulging from their cheeks. What in the name of Celestia were they doing? What’s more, none of the other ponies around seemed to care. Just walking around them as if they were a wet floor sign in the middle of the road!

As she and Lightning walked past them, the pegasus in front of her seeming not to notice anything out of the ordinary, Wallflower kept her eyes on them far longer than she knew she should have. What she had seen was far more tame than most of the debauchery that went on in the world. Yet that sort of thing shouldn’t be on display where everypony could see it! It was just so wrong. And still…seeing it did something to her other that offending her. Wallflower instead felt her heartbeat quicken while her cheeks began to heat up. Something deep inside her began to burn, traveling down to her marehood. Then, for a single moment, she imagined herself taking the place of that mare as the two kissed with the potential for so many to see them. Getting that attention from her stallion and perhaps being watched and envied by other made her feel so-

“So do you live here or…” began Wallflower quickly as she shook her head, doing her best to shake out the impure thoughts in her head while wanting to make conversation. She fought hard to control her breath and return to a more normal state. The last thing she wanted was for this mare to abandon her and risk losing her first friend ever!

“Yep,” said Lightning while suddenly getting a spring into her step. “Like I said, moved here not too long ago. Before I was living in Las Pegasus.”

“Wow, Las Pegasus?!” exclaimed Wallflower, her shock causing her to raise her voice a bit. “I’ve heard about it before but never been. It must have been amazing! So, why’d you move?” At that, Wallflower noticed Lightning slow down considerably. Her eyes now held a faraway look that Wallflower had seen plenty of times when she had looked at herself in the mirror. Regret mixed with sadness. Seeing this, Wallflower bit her lower lip and hoped she had time to correct her mistake. “You don’t have to tell me if don’t want to. In fact, we could forget I ever said anything.”

“Nah, it’s cool,” said Lightning after shaking her head. Her prior composure had returned along with a smirk. “I just made a real mess of my life back there. Self destructing so hard that I had no stable job and, as uncool was it was, had to sleep on my mom’s couch more than a couple of times. By the time somepony helped pull my head out of my plot, my life there was an utter mess. Thought it would be better just to start up somewhere new.”

“Oh,” replied Wallflower as they turned a corner. Now all around them were small shops with thestrals crowding the streets. “So what made you come here specifically? I mean, there are so many other places you could have gone.”

“That’s kind of a long story,” admitted Lightning, her smirk turning into a more sheepish smile. “Let’s just say this place has what I needed.” Wallflower blinked at this information, wondering what it meant. As they trotted along, she began to wonder if she should press the issue. No, they didn’t know each other well enough and she might lose a friend. Maybe ask for a hint? Would that work? Or maybe she should leave it alone. It wasn’t any of her business after all. Lightning seemed happy after all. What the pegasus said next seemed to confirm this. “Anyways things are great for me now. Got myself a job at the gym, got a roof over my head, and I’m even in a forming herd. So I really don’t regret coming here.”

As Lightning spoke, Wallflower couldn’t help but glance at the pegasus’ neck and noticing for the first time that it was bare. No heart to show she was single. Briefly, the green earth pony chided herself for not noticing it sooner. They had been walking all this time and it was only now that she realized that the mare actually talking to her wasn’t single?! Was she really that unobservant? What kind of a friend would miss something like that? Was she doomed now to lose her possible friendship?

Before Wallflower’s thought could go into more of a downward spiral, a thestral walking by did something that caused her heart to stop. He just looked at them and said “Evening ladies.” Normally, Wallflower would think that he was just talking to Lightning and ignoring her per as usual. But…But he had said ladies. Plural. Was there another mare in the direction he was looking at or had he noticed her as well? Could it be possible that she was in a town where two ponies might notice her?

“Evening Coach,” came a voice above them, causing the two mares to stop. It was a good thing to because Wallflower felt like her head was spinning from this new development. Now completely still, a thestral stallion landed in front of them. He was a bit on the chubby side with both a cap and one of the heart shaped necklaces on. Also…he was looking at her! Noticing her! “Is this a friend from Las Pegasus?”

“Nah,” said Lightning with a wave of her hoof. “Met her after she got off the train. Just showing her around for now.”

“Uh…hi,” said Wallflower as she gave a nervous smile. Her heart began to pound against her chest wondering what would happen. Would he move on to talk to Lightning or-

Wallflower’s mind seemed to shut down completely as the stallion closed the gap between them and took her hoof. “Well, I hope you enjoy it here,” he said as he kissed her hoof, his fangs lightly brushing against her flesh as he did so causing her eyes to grow wide. “Perhaps we could get to know each other better while you’re here. Maybe over lunch or something.”

“I-I,” stammered Wallflower as she looked on at him, her heart pounding. But before she could say another word the mare felt a tail brush against her flank. Turning her head, she saw that a thestral mare with a freckled muzzle was now standing on her opposite side. Wallflower began to wonder when she got there for she had heard nothing only to have her thoughts shut down by the half lidded gaze the mare was giving her. It also didn’t help that this mare was emitting some sort of purring noise like a cat as she licked her lips.

“Personally, I think this little treat is too sweet for you,” said the thestral mare as she gave the stallion a quickly glance with a smirk. Then she returned to look in the direction of Wallflower. “You look so tense. Perhaps you need a little help…unwrapping as it were. What do you say? Want to make this a week of pure magic? If things go well, it might even last much longer.”

Wallflower felt her breath quicken as her brain synapses fire so quickly that they might overload at any moment. She had literally no idea how to respond to any of this! This…THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE! Two ponies fighting over a mare was just something that didn’t happen. Maybe in one of those trashy novels that were burned back home, but never in real life. Did it? And yet it was happening. Happening to her of all ponies. Why? Out of the corner of her eyes, she could now make out several other ponies looking in her direction. Many of the ones with hearts around their neck were eyeing her up as if she were a helpless mouse and they were the owl ready to snatch her up.

“Back off you two,” barked Lightning suddenly. Wallflower watched as both the mare and stallion turned to look at the pegasus who had a frown on her face. “If you couldn’t tell, you’re making her seriously uncomfortable. I’m actually surprised she hasn’t fainted yet!” It was then that both the stallion and mare turned to look at Wallflower again and their eyes widened. Both quickly backed away, giving the green mare a bit more room.

“O-oh my,” began the stallion as he rubbed the back of his head, looking very embarrassed. “I guess I got a little over excited there. I came on too strong.” His hoof then moved towards his forehead where it then began to pound the stallion’s face. “Stupid, stupid.” He repeated over and over between each blow.

“Yeah,” said the mare as she looked away for a brief moment before returning her focus to Wallflower. A small smile appeared on her face. “Listen, ah, if you’re ever up for some fun my door is always open. The names Chocolate Delight by the way.”

“AAHH, more stupid,” screamed the stallion as he continued to pound his face in. “I never even introduced myself. Stupid, stupid.”

“Let’s go,” whispered Lightning as she tugged on Wallflower’s sweeter. The mare, still in a daze with what had just happened and what was happening right now, simply followed the mare without so much as a word. Behind them a crowd began to form around the stallion as he continued to denounce himself as stupid.

A short while later found Wallflower sitting at a café, giving her a moment to catch her breath from everything she had seen and done. After the…odd greeting from the locals, Lightning made sure to give her the speedy tour of the town with little interruptions. Most likely to prevent Wallflower from being ganged up like that again. Despite the speed of everything, Wallflower was able to get a good lay of the land. She now knew where the mayor’s office was as well as all the shops one would need to know if you were staying for a prolonged period of time. Lightning had even recommended a few places to eat based on her own experiences.

There was one place that caught her attention in a big way, actually getting the mare to ask her guide if they could go in. That place was the local floral shop. As the two walked past it, Wallflower had noticed in the windows several ferns and blooms that she had only ever seen in books before. One of them was a plant called the Lunar Phoenix. It was odd plant with large white petals that were raised towards the sky. According to the books she had read, this rare flower seemed to wilt and appear dead during the daylight hours only to magically revive itself when the moon was out. Even more interesting was the way it glowed during certain moons, like a like red hue when there was a blood moon out or a ghostly white during the full moon. Moving closer to the building, Wallflower gleefully looked upon other plants that she was seeing for the first time. Like in the back was a plant called the Widow Maker. It was a large plant with four long greenish leaves, one almost draping the floor with the other three above it. From what she had read, the plant emitted an alluring scent that caused animals to be drawn to it as if in a trance of sorts. Once its prey stepped on the bottom leaf (which was twice the length of the average pony), the other leaves would surround it and stick to it before slowing eating away at what it had captured. The plant got its name from the numerous explorers who were unable to return to their loved ones as well as an incident back in the early day of Equestria when a noble got one for her husband. Wallflower swooned at the thought of all these exotic plants in one location before making a metal note to return here before she left. She needed to pick up a few for her home.

From there the two moved on looking for a place to stay and, well, Wallflower didn’t know how to feel about it. The Hollow Shades Inn was one of the few larger structures that was built like the homes of the town yet was situated within the trees well above everypony’s heads. Made of blackened wood, the long rectangular building looked like a four story log cabin held up by the ten trees that pierced its walls. Getting up there wouldn’t be a problem since there were ramps that circled the trees leading upwards so Wallflower wouldn’t need to ask for a lift. It was interesting and probably a unique place to stay. However, what caused her unease were the hooting stallions/colts that she had seen on the train. Already she could see several annoyed guests and thestrals giving them death glares which they paid no mind to. In Wallflower did stay there she doubted she would get much rest.

As they left the hotel, with Wallflower wondering if there were any other options for her lodging, the two ran into another stallion. Unlike the last one she had met face to face, this stallion lacked any heart pendent around his neck meaning he was taken. At first, Wallflower thought that he would ignore her since he wasn’t single and thus had no need to notice her. That proved to be wrong rather quick, smiling at her and asking if she would like to join the two of them for a quick bite to eat at the café where they were now sitting.

Now sitting across from Lightning and the stallion named Hunter, it was clear to Wallflower that the two were close. It was clear they were comfortable with each other with the way Lightning would lightly touch him or playfully tease him as she rested her head on one of her hooves while looking in his direction. Hunter, in turn, didn’t seem bothered by Lightning’s actions nor did he ask her to stop. He also leaned against her when she sat down next to him. It was nice seeing them together, being so comfortable with each other in such an open place. Yet there was a feeling inside of the earth mare, one that she knew all too well made worse by the fact that she had gotten to know Lightning so well. Briefly she wondered what it would be like for her to be in Hunter’s place, receiving those looks as butterflies danced in her stomach. To have that same level of affection given to her. It had to feel nice.

With cheeks beginning to turn red, the waitress returned to their table with three glasses of a bubbly amber liquid. THREE! “Sorry for the wait,” said the bat winged mare as she bowed. Wallflower stared at the mare, noting that she didn’t have one of the heart pendants before she walked away.

“Everything ok?” asked Hunter causing Wallflower to jump a tad in her seat. She turned to look at him and saw that his eyes were fixed gently upon her. “I’ve noticed you’ve seemed a bit nervous.”

“More like shell shocked,” said Lightning as she took her glass with a hoof. She took a small sip before setting it down. “Ever since I met her she seems to just go a little out of it whenever ponies talk to her. Or look at her for more than a second.”

“S-Sorry,” mumbled Wallflower as she hung her head. Her eyes began to water as the stared at the table. She knew it, she had messed up! They probably thought she was this weird-o mare and would shun her. Or just ignore her like everyone else. Honestly she didn’t know what would be worse.

“Hey, hey,” said Lightning causing Wallflower to look up in time to see the pegasus waving a hoof in the air. “No need to get so down on yourself. Just something we noticed.” She then paused to take another sip of her drink. “Look, you don’t need to tell us if you don’t want to. We did just meet after all. So it would be totally cool if you want to talk about something else.”

“But if you do want to talk about whatever is bothering you, we’ll be here to listen,” added Hunter with a nod as he picked up his own drink.

“Thank you,” said Wallflower with a smile, wiping away a tear with her hoof at the same time. She then let out a small sigh as the courage within her gathered. “I’m honestly not used to so much attention. Or any attention at all for that matter. Sort of comes with the territory of being a wallflower I guess.” Wallflower then picked up her drink and took a mouth full…only for her eyes to widen suddenly. It was like all the scents of fall had been liquidated into this glass. The scent of a cool autumn day danced on her tongue as did the burning of leaves. There was so much more, everything ‘Fall’ could be found in her mouth! It was so surprising and so powerful that it was simply too much for her to handle, spraying it out from her mouth. As she began to cough, Hunter got out of his seat so that he could move behind her in order to assist if need be. As for Lightning, she apparently found this rather amusing.

“Oh man, you should really see yourself right now,” she managed to say between her snorts and laughter. The pegasus was laughing so hard that she need to steady herself with a hoof on the table.

Wallflower managed to look up in time to see that Hunter was looking at his partner with little amusement. “I seem to recall that when you tried that drink, your reaction was far worse.” That stopped Lightning in her tracks, the mare silencing her laughter as she crossed her hooves on top of her chest while looking a tad sullen. As for Hunter, his eyes met Wallflower’s. “Sorry about not warning you. It’s a traditional drink around these parts and, well, we can sometimes forget that not everypony knows how to drink it properly. Mainly in small sips to help the conversations last longer during the holiday seasons.”

Hunter then smiled kindly at her and Wallflower felt the butterflies in her stomach again. It felt nice to get such a simple smile just for her. But before she could ponder any more, Hunter moved back to sitting with his sulking friend.

“So, just a sip,” said Wallflower as she picked up her nearly empty glass. Carefully she took the smallest of sips, tasting the same thing that had been on her tongue mere moments before. Only this time it wasn’t so overwhelming. Very pleasant actually. She looked up from her glass as she set it down, noticing Hunter nodding.

“Well anyways, I don’t know why you’re not more noticed back home,” began Hunter, but stopped when the chanting of ‘Party’ could be heard. Instantly his ears flattened against his skull as did several other thestrals within Wallflower’s field of vision. Slowly she turned in her chair to see that group of young stallion’s again marching down the street with bottles of cider in their hooves acting like this was the greatest celebration in Equestria. A few of them were staggering as if a bit tipsy, pushing and shoving each other. Wallflower’s eyes widened when she saw one nearly crashed into a mare who had been walking down the street. If it hadn’t been for her quick actions at taking flight, there could have been an accident.

As several very stern looking thestrals began to descend to the ground and surround the group, Hunter shook his head. “It’s like this all the time,” he muttered as the others around him went back to what they were doing. “We mainly get stallions from all across Equestria who want to take advantage of the laws and customs we have here. Some of them are or feel the same way as us, but most of the time we get morons like them. And don’t get me started on how we’re treated when we leave town. Heh, maybe that’s why ponies around here are quicker to notice you. It’s very rare to have a mare outside of town to join in on the fun around this time.”

“Yeah, I can see that,” said Lightning with a nod. “Might even be getting used to mares moving in. First was Four Eyes and from what I heard they weren’t too keen on her moving here. Then I came and that was less of a hassle. Maybe they’re catching on that mares like us are far better than those idiots.”

Wallflower smiled a bit at this before turning her head to look that the now silent group. She could see that the thestrals who had surrounded them were officers, taking away their bottles and writing up tickets. She could not hear the natives as they spoke to the group in low tones that made it impossible for Wallflower to hear nor the outsiders who were looking back with cross expressions. It was now that Wallflower understood just how hard it would be to get thestrals to join the Sol Invictus. If what she had heard was the truth, thestrals seemed to get tourists like these all the time who just made asses of themselves. As for when they left, well, she had to admit that the Sol Invictus had done enough shaming of them for being lunatics in the past. Not to mention that whole drinking blood rumor. With all that over their heads, it was easy to see why they might mistrust outsiders. However, while it would be difficult, Wallflower was going to try!

While her plans of trying to get Lightning to join the Sol Invictus hadn’t changed, Wallflower believed that she might not be the best choice in trying to get others in Hollow Shades to join. Not if what she had just heard was to be believed. Instead, she needed a thestral. One of their own who could help show them the right way. How did that old saying go? Every great tree started as a seed? She could already see that Hunter was a very understanding and accepting thestral stallion. Perhaps she could appeal to him first, help get him to see why the Sol Invictus was a good thing. Then, when the others in the town saw the benefits and how much happier he was as a member perhaps they would consider joining up as well!

The green mare was about to turn around, ready to bring up the subject, when she noticed something. It was that stallion and mare that she had seen earlier kissing passionately. The two had detached and were heading into a space between buildings. What set alarm bells in her head was the way they were looking over their shoulder and above their heads, as if they didn’t want to be followed or something. Then a moment later the two slipped down the alleyway.

“I’ll be right back,” said Wallflower as she got out of her seat, eyes locked on the alleyway.

“So?” asked Lightning.

Hunter raised an eyebrow as he turned to look at his pegasus marefriend, diverting his attention from Wallflower as she moved across the street. “So…what exactly?”

Lightning let out a puff of annoyance, her wings extending slightly as she did so. “What do you think of her?” she asked in an exasperated tone, rolling her eyes as she did so. “She’s got that nerdy vibe that I know you love. Might not be as nerdy as Four Eyes, but pretty close. If she happens to be alone at the end of the week we could invite her to have some fun with us. I can’t speak for Moondancer, but I for one wouldn’t mind listening to her moan. We could take turns with her and show her something she’ll never forget!”

As Hunter lifted his glass to take a final sip, he thought about it for a moment. Lightning was correct in that she was more his type. She would be a far better model for those magazines he used to buy, having the right amount of nerdy adorkableness to make his cock twitch. Just the idea of having her and Moondancer in their sweaters, coating his balls with their saliva while her watched was enough to nearly have his stallionhood unsheathe. As for personality, she didn’t seem rude or annoying. Just pleasant to be around. Honestly, the ponies back in her home town didn’t know what they were missing. With that said however…

“Lightning,” said Hunter, his voice carrying with it a warning. “We still don’t know her all that well. And we might want to have some more ‘advanced’ fun that night. She might not be into that sort of thing. Or, worse case, she might know somepony in the Sol Invictus and tell them about us. That or she could be a member herself.”

Lightning sagged a bit at that. “Yeah, good point,” she admitted. “We could just do some toned down vanilla stuff, but… Oh well. I’m sure she’ll get used to it here and start loosening up. Plenty of other singles around here. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

Having crept into the alleyway, making sure not to startle anypony who might be there, Wallflower looked upon a scene she never thought she would see. Hidden from the view of the world, she peeked around a corner to see the two she had followed. With wide eyes she saw that the stallion was in a standing position with both hooves on the wall. In-between him and the wall was the mare who let out muffled moans, her mouth filled with his exposed cock. Even in the dark of the night, there was enough moonlight shining down to illuminate the drool coming out of her mouth as the stallion’s hips jerked back and forth. Or the wetness running down the mare’s legs.

What Wallflower was witnessing was something she knew was wrong. Unmarried sex wasn’t illegal, but it should be frowned upon. Especially when the couple were this young! She didn’t care if they were just doing oral, somepony needed to stop them. To explain to them this wasn’t the pure, righteous way they should be treating each other. This sort of thing needed to happen after they were married or at the very least done in a bed. This however felt like he was treating her like some cheap tail raising tart. Wallflower half expected to see a small bag of bits lying around somewhere.

While her teachings had taught her she needed to stop this at once, Wallflower found herself frozen to the spot. She could feel something burning deep inside of her, starting at her chest before slowly moving downwards. All she could do was to stand there transfixed as the stallion’s ball sack bumped against the mare’s chin.

“You’re…amazing,” gasped the stallion as he removed one of his hooves from the wall. Wallflower watched as the hoof traveled downwards to caress the mare’s main causing said mare to let out a mew of delight.

As the stallion gasped, Wallflower noticed something she hadn’t noticed before. The mare was looking in her direction. Rather than pull back or do anything else, the green mare remained where she was as the bat filly gave her a saucy wink before her own hooves began to move. The sound of sucking became louder as the mare began to spread her legs open as far as they could so that the slit between them could be rubbed. All done in a way to make sure Wallflower could see everything. She could see the wetness increase greatly before the hoof even reached its destination, the mare’s expression filled with lustful fulfillment.

Then, in that moment, Wallflower suddenly found herself in the mare’s place. She was the one being watched, stared it as she took the cock deep into her throat. Wallflower rubbed her clit as the stallion above praised her, gave his attention to her while another one watched on. Nothing else in that moment mattered as she floated in a river of blissful happiness. A longing to having this moment last forever. Yet it could not as the stallion pulled out completely before assailing her with a stream of white.

Wallflower gasped, the sudden change snapping her out of the fantasy. She could now smell the scent of something like chlorine as the bat mare’s face was covered in white gunk. As her partner got back on all fours, she began to lick the stuff that shot out of his penis like it tasted good or something.

“Wow,” gasped the stallion. “What has your mom been teaching you?”

The mare giggled as she too got on all fours. “Plenty,” she replied with a swish of her tail. “Of course, that was just the basics on how a professional sucks cock. Just with a lot of extra love just for you.” With that the mare looked underneath the stallion to see his member was still rock hard in the open air. “Perhaps we could finish up at my place. Me and mom can give you something more advanced. I think I can even convince her to do it for free this one time.” Before the blushing stallion could say anything, the mare turned to look in Wallflower’s direction. “And I wouldn’t mind asking our peeping guest to come along as well.”