A desire to understand what made dragons so great inevitably led Discord to the Badlands. Of course he knew the drake was far from average; he was practically half pony after being raised around them, a fact which had caused Spike much confusion. Lava bubbled and rolled throughout fissures in the rocky land. He breathed in the fumes which stand of sulfur, waving a paw over his face which he covered in a gas mask. “Nice place.” His eyes took in the mountains which decorated a hellishly red horizon.

At his side rolled the Smooze which left a thin slimy trail behind him. He watched some figures sail the skies, while others lazed about or wrestled, the beastly creatures indulging in their most primal instincts. He remembered a cave he'd often spied on when 'researching' (More like shameless masturbation fuel!) Spike's herd and made his way there.

Stepping into the gloom, a pair of eyes shined in the darkness, and a plume of fire erupted, which he dodged with a ballerina-like pirouette complete with a frilly tutu. “Now, now, is that how you welcome guests? I'm hurt! Princess Ember, isn't it?”

“That's Dragon Lord to outsiders,” she called from the back. Her soft belly was quite swollen from the eggs Spike had put in her. Most hatchlings wouldn't make it, as dragons weren't supposed to directly interfere with their young on the hunt shortly after they hatched lest they become too dependent on their mother, but even so she was fiercely protective of them.

“Forgive me, your highness.” He bowed with a flourish, unable to hide a tinge of sarcasm. “You look well.” It was true. Her body was slender yet well-curved, her bosom shaped in a way that resembled breasts despite her lack of nipples.

“Thanks, I guess. Can't say the same about you. So what do you want?” She flicked her tail about.

“Well then, I'd like to know a few things, if it wouldn't be too much trouble?” He summoned up a chair and settled into it, adjusting a pair of glasses and readying a pencil, a clipboard settled across his lap. “Why Spike in particular?”

Ember blushed despite her fierce expression. “Why not?! You've seen what dumb brutes most dragons are! A bunch of stupid, sexist bullies I can run circles around all day! Letting one of them mate with me would be an insult! But Spike, well...” She turned away. “He actually cares about his mates. He's...nice. A bit too sensitive, but I can help whip him into shape!”

Discord jotted down some observations, and also doodled in the margins. “Ah, I see. You like the tough-but-kind type. Yes, that might explain why his herd likes him so much.” He winked at the Smooze who settled patiently beside him.

“Nothing so mushy in my case. I just want some offspring that aren't so dumb they won't make it to puberty! Dragons aren't like ponies. We don't worry too much about consent or things like that. It's a might-makes-right society here.” She seemed almost wistful but quickly shoot that softer side away. “Nope, Spike's not much like most of the drakes I've met, at least!”

“I see, I see.” He studied the pictures he'd drawn of himself and Fluttershy, encircling them with a heart. Was it love? He certainly cared about her more than anything else in his long life. Enough that he'd thrown away almost limitless power just to please her. Plus, he'd made some other pals who amused him enough! Of course, he'd probably lost them all, too...

He pulled on his beard. “So...how would you like a go with me?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Ember scoffed. “Why would I want a loser like you to stick his dick in me?”

“Loser?! I was the scourge of Equestria! Worshiped like a deity! Even Celestia and Luna feared me! I brought the whole world to its knees for a time, something that Nightmare Moon, Chrysalis, Sombra, or...okay, Tirek came close, but that only counts in horseshoes!” He spun a horseshoe around a finger. “Why not give me a shot? You're not tied down, right?”

She rubbed her egg-filled soft underbelly. “True, but-”

With a poof he transmuted into Spike, an almost perfect likeness, save for eyes that resembled his own, especially the coloration. “I'm like Spike, but better! I can turn into anything! Do almost anything! Any fantasy you have, I can fulfill!” He posed for her, showing off his chiseled musculature. “How about a test-run? I want to see what dragon mating is like!”

She scratched her chin, considering. “Well...I would like to see if you're as good as Spike. I gotta warn you though, dragons are pretty rough. We'd break a mere pony once our instincts kick in. Can a weirdo like you handle it?”

“Of course I can! Question is, can you?” He looked at her swollen womb. “You look ready to pop!”

“Nah. Dragon eggs are a lot harder than they look. Not to mention I'm not the type to be broken. You're free to try, though!” She issued it like a challenge, having little patience for creatures who took it easy on her. She'd had to goad Spike into making him fight and ultimately dominate her; if he'd failed to she would've taken him instead. It was the ultimate insult to a drake's macho pride. Especially since a dragoness could close up her cervix and deny any chance at impregnation.

She felt no attachment to Discord but it's not like that's how dragons tended to choose mates anyhow. They simply fucked whoever looked interesting, and while he wasn't her type, she had to admit he was certainly memorable! Plus she wanted him to put his money where his mouth was and prove he could outdo Spike. She shot from the cave, taking to the red sky.

A grin split his face. He could easily teleport on the cocky dragoness and put her in her place...but why not go through the song-and-dance routine? He clumsily stomped from the cave and shot skywards, finding his new shape harder to command than he liked to admit without cheating. “I'll give you five minutes to catch me,” she warned. “Otherwise, you'll have to find another dragon to fuck you! I'm sure that loser Garble would be desperate enough!” She wiggled her scaly rump at him.

“Oh, you little...” He beat his leathery wings to keep up, straining his muscles, but she already had quite a head-start, not to mention she was far swifter and more agile than most of her kind. She dodged between rocky hilltops, laughing at him! Smoke rose from his nostrils and fin-like ears, his heart racing as he pushed this muscular bulk to its limit without cheating.

He couldn't lie. He wanted that dragoness pussy. Badly! Convinced there was no way he could best her in a fair fight, he snapped his fingers, and suddenly a rocky hill jutted in front of her. At such speeds she couldn't stop or turn in time, slamming face-first into solid stone with a thud. She went into a tail-spin, dazed, landing in his muscular arms bridal-style.

“I'd say that you cheated, but that's poor sportsmanship to a dragon. We don't whine no matter how our opponents win. You outsmarted me,” she admitted with a curl of her snout. “Aren't you going to claim your prize?” She flicked her tail.

He threw his weight atop her and pinned her down with a goofy smile. Dragon mating rituals were fun! He'd thought Rarity and Spike wouldn't care if he deceived them for sex so long as they ultimately enjoyed it, but unlike ponies dragons didn't seem to care about consent in the same way. They took what they wanted and those who couldn't handle it weren't fit to survive.

He slammed into her fuckholes without ceremony, knowing she had little patience for romance. Especially from some stranger. He needed to prove he could fuck harder and better than Spike, and fast! “Unf,” she cried with a particularly hard thrust, immediately hitting her closed-off cervix. “Don't worry, there's no way a wuss like you could ever possibly hurt me!”

She felt wonderful. So warm and wet. Almost boiling. But something was missing. He produced a golden apple, this one enchanted with a variety of his power, and stuffed it into her mouth. Fangs chomped down on it, honey-like nectar running down the sides of her snout, and her perky breasts swelled a little more, until nipples arose from them. “What in Tartarus?!”

“Just go with it,” he said taking one erect digit in his lips and pulling hard on it. She winced and writhed. He made a couple of tiny claws materialize on his wings, using them to pin her wrists, while his hands curled around her ankles, lifting her legs up until her feet were side-by-side about her head. He angled up her ass and pussy, laughing as he violently smashed into her like a dominant dragon would. She huffed under him, splashing him with small spurts each time he bottomed out in her.

“N-not bad,” she admitted with a flushed and sweaty face. “Still not on Spike's level, though!”

“You might regret that challenge,” he warned flopping her onto her round belly, laying a claw upon her skull, and pounding into her with all he had. His tail wrapped around one of her tits, constricting around it, milking her until she squealed in a rather girly, submissive manner, unused to this sort of stimulation which was driving her much wilder than she'd ever admit!

He wrenched her arms behind her and locked them in place, slamming his bulk upon her scaly backside. His cocks expanded to fill her as much as he could, wiggling to caress her most sensitive, spongy part. Her eyes rolled into her head and her long tongue lolled out. She rapidly clenched her holes around him and whimpered in complete submission.

He wanted to drench her with his cum but wasn't certain she could take it in her impregnated state despite her boasts. Maybe it was another test for herself to see whether her eggs were worthy to survive; if they couldn't withstand such raw force she'd have to knock herself up with an even stronger batch. He decided to risk it, letting loose both barrels into her hot canals.

They shrieked as one in a war-like cry that shook the heavens. Not fully satisfied, he manifested a third dragonhood in midair which sunk all the way down her throat, completely claiming her as it fired more burning hot spunk down her gullet. Wads burst from her nostrils and bubbled with pops, her glazed eyes staring aimlessly as she felt limp below him.

He laid there for a moment, still locked in her, finding dragon mating habit simultaneously mundane and fascinating. It was like a predatory throwback to times before Celestia and Luna rose to power. Before civilization had neutered chaotic beings like him and ponies were forced to repress their fiercer instinct which rarely came to the forefront now. “Bah...polite society.”

A rainbow whipped across the sky, Dash's flying kick connecting with his side, sending him tumbling off the dragoness. She'd let Pinkie down to launch her attack, the earth pony bouncing up nearby, while in the distance Fluttershy hovered over, carrying Tree Hugger. “Get away from her, creep!” Dash scrunched her snout. “How dare you use Spike's likeness again after that stunt!” He settled onto his scaly butt, rubbing his aching side, and with a poof transformed back into his usual state.

Ember sat up too. “Hold up. That was my idea. I wanted him to prove he could do it better than Spike.”

Dash folded her forehooves, hovering in place. “Oh? And how did he stack up?”

“Not bad. Spike still has the better technique, but he has a ton of tricks.” She sniffed the air and looked at Fluttershy and Tree Hugger. “Ask those two about it. They can try and wash away all the evidence, but there's still a hint of his musk on them.”

Fluttershy turned cherry red. “N-never mind that!” She planted hooves on her shapely hips. “Discord! We need to talk!” He lowered his head, not seeing this side of her often. She reserved it for when he'd really screwed up. Of course he'd hoped for a bit more time to rethink his life, make amends, and maybe let tensions cool a little more before he finally confronted her.

“Hello, dear Fluttershy. Have the rest of you come to dress me down, too? Well, maybe I deserve it.” He looked downcast, but worked a cat's cradle between his fingers, hating to be idle at any time. “Is what I've done unforgivable?”

Dash started to speak but Shy covered her mouth. “I don't think so,” said the pegasus who fluttered over to him. “I can't speak for Spike or Rarity, but I can accept your apology. So does Tree Hugger.” She nodded at her over her shoulder. She wrapped her forehooves around his neck, and after a moment's cautious hesitation, he returned her warm and tender embrace.

“Group hug,” cried Pinkie who tackled him with a giggle and snort.

Tree Hugger wandered over to and held them. She looked back at Dash with that crooked smile. “Feeling left out, babe?”

Swallowing a string of curses at what Rainbow swore was a taunt, she reluctantly threw her forehooves around the group, with only Ember refusing to join in. They stayed that way for several moments, ignoring the heat and the stink of brimstone that washed over the area. “Hey Princess, want to head to Ponyville with us and see Spike?”

Ember stroked her chin. “Nah. You're pretty cool though, I guess. Not on my level, of course.”

She shot her a cocky smile. “Oh? Are you saying I need to be about twenty-percent cooler?”

The dragoness planted hands on her hips. “More like twenty-percent hotter!” They shared a laugh.

A part of Discord still couldn't help but fantasize about forming his own herd. He looked between the flock of mares, wondering if they'd go for it? Flutters and Hugs would probably try it at least, maybe even Pinkie, but he wasn't so certain about the rather picky Dash. He collected the Smooze and prepared to return home, hoping there was still time to make amends.

He didn't have a cutie mark like a pony to point him towards his destiny. They were bound by fate to a certain extent which no doubt made their lives easier. But maybe his freedom meant he needed to be even more responsible?

*****

Applejack's day rolled around, and since the effects of the golden apple still hadn't worn off, she laid out her plans to the herd. She had Twilight Sparkle and Rarity strip completely like her, forbidding them to wear anything but their boots, and of course her stetson which she refused to abandon. For the final touch they would take a slow ride around Ponyville. After some pleading with Rarity she relented a bit, allowing the fire ruby too, which swung on a necklace between her milky mounds.

She hadn't forgotten how poorly Big Mac and Shining Armor had behaved when this all started, and the sisters called in favors from their brothers, who would help them on this little exhibitionist venture. Rarity asked Sweetie Belle for her own part, the mare now a young adult, although she still maintained that filly-like innocence. Thankfully she readily agreed.

The trio set about on their trip with Spike following behind, drawing stunned looks from the citizens, most of whom had never seen a human before. “Giddy up, sugarcube!” AJ laughed and smacked her brother's muscular flank.

“Eeyup,” he mumbled with his head lowered.

Shining Armor carried his sister atop him, similarly downcast. “Why do I have to do this, Twily?!”

She straddled him bareback like her herd-mates, waving to those they passed, and delivering her own smack on his flanks to move him along. “You know why. Unless you want me to tell Cadance you cheated on her while she was away...”

“A-anything but that!” He'd suspected his wife was having an affair on him when she was away on political business, and tried to get back at her, only to realize he'd been worried for nothing. He and Big Mac had gone hunting for an easy lay and lost themselves to their instincts in a particularly heated moment when they spotted Spike and Rarity first getting it on. He deeply regretted it now, and like Mac he'd promised his sister a favor she could call in at any time, whatever she wanted as an apology.

“This is so neat,” chirped Sweetie. “Think I can get an apple from Discord, too?!”

Rarity exhaled. “Perhaps. I'm willing to forgive him...if he's truly remorseful.” With a cat-like stretch she basked in the warm sun which tickled her skin, hoping that she wouldn't tan; she was quite proud of her rather pale complexion.

She squeaked and hopped. “I can't wait to tell Apple Bloom and Scootaloo!”

“Please don't,” muttered Mac under his breath. “Bad enough that Sugar Belle knows...” She'd forgiven his infidelities after a couple weeks in the proverbial doghouse, but she certainly wouldn't forget his unfaithfulness any time soon. AJ had broken the news almost immediately after she and Granny Smith had chewed him out something fierce.

“Quite a dare, huh. Doubt even Dash'd be this bold,” said AJ who chewed on an apple with a crunch.

Twilight bounced between exhilaration and nervousness. She wiped a dab of sweat from her temple with an uncomfortable smile. “Do you think they'll figure out its us? I'm a little worried what this could do to our reputations...”

“Don't sweat it. Remember, we don't normally wear clothes. Just relax and enjoy it,” said AJ who waved her hat.

“Yes, I suppose you're right. I'm being too paranoid. Plus, I think Spike's loving the view!” Twi smiled back at the drake who watched their bottoms bob atop the ponies they were riding as the herd casually made their way down the marketplace.

They made another pass by Carousel Boutique where Coco Pommel and Sassy Saddles waved back at them with silk scarves. By this point almost everypony accepted Spike, what was once considered an intimidating, predatory appearance now a welcomed one. They cheered and smiled in unison, more-and-more accepting the once divisive idea of a herd. Of course this was helped by Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis, the couple coming out as having once taken in Rarity before she decided to move on.

Lashing his tail about lazily, Spike welcomed the acceptance he'd always craved. His heart swelled with how content his lovers had made him. The sun started to dip below the horizon by the time they decided to head home for the day.

Author's Note

Think now I've had every character that's appeared in this series make at least a cameo!