Pony Addictionby ObscureChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 1I was afraid. The hair on my arms was standing on end and my stomach flip flopped nauseously. Terror induced sweat was soaking through my shirt. The greasy asphalt was gone and with it the constant traffic of automobiles. The city air was beautiful and clear. I couldn't see another human anywhere. Brightly coloured little horses starred at me with intelligent and curious eyes. Someone had clearly dosed me with acid and any moment now I was going to blunder into something bad. This kind of thing had happened to people I knew. People thought it was funny to drug us with whatever they had on hand. Carrying a heavy bag carrying my entire worldly possessions, my fingers stained with ash from tobacco scavenged from public ash trays and my underfed frame made it was clear what I was. I hated having people look at me. I preferred it when they just ignored me. Apparently that desire extended to hallucination induced ponies. I struggled to find a less trafficked area so I could sit and wait for the effects of the drug to wear off. At every intersection I took the cobbled path that had the least ponies on it. I wasn't able to find privacy, privacy was a luxury I had long abandoned, but I found a nice quiet avenue where less then a handful of ponies could stare at me. I half closed my eyes, took a deep relaxing breath and slowed my steps to the pace of a man with no where to go and a lot of time to get there. The practiced smile of contented nirvana spread across my face. Now just to wait a few hours. The cobble stones really felt like cobble stones under my boots. I saw another man. First one in a long time. First one in two hours said my watch when I consulted it. He wore a dreamy smile as he was led into an alley by a brightly coloured pony. That was odd. My watch and clothes made sense. So did my thoughts. I certainly didn't feel drugged. Maybe my blood was running a little hot but that was about it. My ear caught the sound of moist flesh interacting lewdly coming from the alley. Interesting. I avoiding glancing to allow them their privacy. Funny how the alley didn't smell of stale beer and urine at all. It smelled of something else. My blood was suddenly running very hot and I was blushing like a teenager. A pony, fondling soft and tender ears, a soft whimper of lust rising unbidden from my throat. The image sprung unbidden into my mind and I had to swallow the drool in my mouth before I choked on it. I froze as I tried to master my self. “Don't stop on my account,” said the stealthy pony that had manoeuvred it's head under my hand. She was light pink and had a spiral unicorn horn. Oh dear. She had the glassy eyes of an addict and she clearly wanted something from me. It wasn't good. It was inherently bad. But a little harmless ear fondling never hurt anyone. Right? Soft, delicate and given how the pink creature under my hand squirmed in delight apparently very sensitive. We were in public. That's the only reason I managed not to kneel down right there and use both hands to knead those wonderful ears. “You're new. I wanna break you in.” The pony was walking now. I couldn't abandon my hold on it's ear. I followed. I was caught. But I was uncatchable. I had cut my self free of everything to make my self uncommandable. I submitted to no one. It commanded and I obeyed. I'd gone along with worse, but those times I had felt that I had more choice in the matter. Now to follow along until it asks for what you don't have. Still no harm done. It brought me to the alley where the other two had been. It smelled wonderful there. Something musty and delicious. Like sex, but what sex should have been but never was. I set down my pack grabbed both of those ears. Nose to nose, it was grinning at me. I was probably grinning back. It put it's tongue in my mouth. All I knew was that this was wonderful. It pushed me against the wall and straddled me, grinding into my pelvis. That wonderful smell in the air intensified. Oh thank god, this thing was female... I was aroused to the point where I was going to have sex with it regardless. It did look kinda feminine. And my hard cock was out, she had gotten my pants open somehow. She had hooves. Mastery of buttons and zippers didn't go hand in hand with hooves. Then we where fucking like kids in love. The kind of sex that filled all the empty spots in my heart and made me feel whole. Like no kind of sex I had ever encountered but always dreamed of. With a pony. Go figure. Going to hell for sure for this. Not like I wasn't already. Her eyes rolled back into her head and my crotch was getting pretty soaked from her. This was her drug. Damn, she was strong and tireless. I often encountered women that couldn't finish on top. This wasn't even winding her. It was everything I could do not to cum before she did. She pushed off of me, and I stood up and got my clothes in order. My nameless lover met another pony, one with a more masculine build, on her way out of the alley. “Humans are such sluts aren't they?” She asked him with a laugh. He agreed. Damn it! She used me like a toy and laughed about it damn her! “Relax, that's just how they are about it. I think this whole thing embarrasses most of them.” It was a girl. A human girl, brown hair kinda cute. Pulling up her pants and buttoning her shirt. Oh, the male pony. I hadn't even noticed anyone else was in the alley. I liked this girl. Trusted her even. Like we clicked. “You look new. You been to the zoo yet?” “No, this all new to me.” “Come I'll show you.” I followed without considering the alternative. “What is the explanation for this place?” “The big pony wrote it down in a letter. It's a real hoot. Definitely worth reading.” She handed my a scroll. It was worn and stained and smelled of that wonderful smell from the alley. * * * To my new humans There has been an influx of human immigrants into our fair land for the past year. It has been a time unrivalled scientific and cultural opportunity that I have done my very best to ensure goes as smoothly as possible. Unfortunately there has been identified a phenomenon known as Escalating Pheromonal Compatibility that occurs when humans and ponies spend any amount of time in close proximity without significant precautions. It has a powerful and addictive stimulating effect on both parties. For this reason all humans are under strict curfew for the hours between 8 PM and 8 AM. This is non negotiable and will be firmly enforced. Many of my loyal and beloved ponies have fallen prey to addiction to this phenomenon. Please I beg of you, do not blame them, or think less of them. Also I beg you, please do not allow them to hurt you. The greatest victims in this is the humans. Without a homeland and support you are vulnerable. But we cannot adequately enforce your safety. The percentage of the pony populace that has dallianced with the effects of EPC is too significant for proper legal enforcement. You will be granted a haven, housing, food and adequate security, a minimal stipend to live on and my personal best wishes. The greatest pony scientists are working hard to find a way to allow humans to safely and harmlessly integrate into pony society. Signed, Celestia of Equestria, Princess of the Dawn and your new sovereign * * * The zoo was a two story stone building with small windows fenced by sturdy looking iron bars and patrolled by stern looking guards in armour fitted with gas masks. It was a prison. Signs on the front stated that it was for my protection. “You better hurry and get washed up and get some new clothes. Nopony will look at you twice while you smell of another pony. There's still time for one more before curfew.” She grinned eagerly in excitement. I noticed then that her eyes where those of an addicts'. Chapter 2“Hi,” greeted pony wearing a gas mask and what looked like a rubber gimp suit. “Hi,” I greeted back looking around the lobby of the zoo. It had a cold, sterile feel to it. The ample seating was empty and the plants looked plastic. “So...?” I could feel her looking at me quizzically through the tinted lenses. “I'm new.” I leaned on the counter and reached for my wallet for some identification. “Step back from the counter!” she shrieked in panic. I could taste her victim-hood. “Oh, right. Sorry.” I took a good long step back. “Here, take these pamphlets and look them over. Over there.” She pointed to the seating in the far end of the room. “I'll have somepony down to take your registration in a few minutes.” “Gotcha.” The top pamphlet was titled 'Hoof-rot and you' and had some rather distressing medical pictures on the cover. “Remember, stay at least one pony length away from anypony.” “Okay.” “And no touching.” “Got it.” “Just be good for a little while okay? Can you do that?” “Of course.” She wanted me to assure her I wouldn't leap over the counter and rape her. Without acknowledging the fact I now had that mental image in my head. I wasn't sure how to do that, so I just went over to the far corner she had pointed me to. Hoof-rot was apparently a sexually transmitted disease that could work it's way between humans and ponies. It didn't look pretty, but it wasn't fatal. The next pamphlet was about the importance of controlling violent tendencies and how humans where expected to be on their best behaviour regardless of circumstances. It included pictures of holding cells that looked a lot more pleasant then most drunk tanks I had been in. The third pamphlet was the largest and probably the most important. Apparently the crazy pheromone thing only kicked in if a human and a pony could smell each other or come into physical contact. Humans where advised to wear gloves and full covering clothes. It was also apparently illegal for a human to intentionally touch a pony without invitation. And vice-verse. That stealthy pony that had gotten her head under my hand when I was distracted. That had been a little... That soft ear, luxurious to the touch. Fur against my skin. My heart filled at long last. How easy it had been to have something that wonderful. Damn it. I was trembling. It hadn't been easy for me. It had been easy for her. What difference does that make? It was wonderful. She laughed. Maybe the next one won't. Yeah, you tell yourself that. Here I am, dragged into a different world, on the greatest adventure possible for an inquisitive monkey such as is man, and I'm bogged down in such ridiculous and meaningless concerns like what counts as proper consent for a bout of inter-species mating. You where raped within hours of coming to an alien world. Shut up. Whatever. It's fine. I'm fine. No, you're not. You haven't been for a long time. “Hello,” a sweet voice interrupted my spiral into despair. It was another pony. She had a white lab-coat on and a somewhat smaller gas mask that fit over just her muzzle. Her coat was green. “H-hi,” my voice cracked. “I'm here to take your information and then we can see about getting you settled in. I see you brought luggage. Most humans aren't so fortunate.” “I imagine not.” “May I ask what is in it?” “Oh, of course... A change of clothes, bedroll, small first aid kit, sewing kit, thermos with some coffee (cold)... Please tell me you have coffee here?” “And tea.” “That's wonderful. ...a novel (fiction), my binder, a diary and an assortment of pens and pencils. Also dice.” “Your pockets?” “Ah, two lighters, tobacco, rolling papers and my wallet. Nothing in it, just my ID.” “You smoke?” “Yes... Do you have tobacco?” “No, but we can supply a substitute. The majority of users admit to preferring the it over the original.” “Neat.” Like tobacco but better? I love smoking. This was going to be hard. “Do you regularly take any other drugs?” “Curiously not. I don't even drink all that much.” No one ever believed me when I said that. “You mean alcohol?” “Yup.” “You can do without it?” “Entirely,” I only used alcohol for chatting up women and I wasn't going to have to do that here. Why would I after all with all the...? God damn it. When did I decide I was going to be doing that? This wasn't good. The majority of users admit to preferring the substitute over the original. Shut up. Fuck you. We aren't doing that. “Sir, are you lying?” she broke into my inner dialogue with a poignant question. “No,” I was suddenly on the defensive. “My question seemed to upset you.” “It was unrelated.” “Are you sure?” she persisted “Wholly.” “Any disease?” “A mild lung infection.” “Your previous area of employment?” She moved onto the hard questions. “uhm... Clerk.” I had clerk experience. I just hadn't used it in years. “Like records keeping?” “Like store clerk, handling cash and working the register.” “And what do you like to be called?” “Call me John.” “You can call me Enlighten.” “Nice to meet you.” I reached forward to shake her hand only to pull it back in alarm. “Alright, that should be everything.” She didn't want my last name? “Come, lets go get you settled in. Just remember to stay out of 'arms reach' okay?” “Right.” I stood up and moved to follow her. “Oh, one more thing, are you a vegetarian?” “No.” “Can you learn?” A civilization built by equines. Of course. “I suppose so.” * * * A shower and an rather good apple pie latter I was feeling much better. Dressed in what amounted to a loose white body sock and sitting on a bed in my new room I was sucking on a medicinal lolipop. The candy like thing actually did hit the spot. It cleared up the nicotine withdrawal head-ache and gave me that mentally sharpened sensation. Now I could finally catch up on all that sleep I had been missing. I checked my watch. I had taken the opportunity to adjust it to local time. I still had just over an hour before curfew if I wanted to go grab some pony. That's what I had over heard the other humans here calling it. Grabbing some pony. The image of poor creature at the greeting desk recoiling in terror sprang to mind. Sleep sounded good. Chapter 3I'm not normally one to go on about sheets, but these were really nice sheets. A nice heavy texture you could really feel under your finger tips. Like some kind of linen. I wonder what it's called. Probably linen sheets. Oh. Anyway the bed was luxurious. A closed door to the world, well insulated walls around me and a solid darkness about me. I felt safe and secure. The only reason I was awake was because I was tenaciously clinging to partial consciousness so that I could enjoy this experience. That and my slowly filling bladder. I hastily donned my pants and a pair of slippers before making my way down the hallway to the public bathroom. It was clean. No water or anything else on the floor. “Hi,” a winged purple pony quietly greeted me as I left the bathroom. “Hey...” this was interesting, “I'm not planning on running away under cover of darkness or anything.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets. Kind of pointless when I was half naked, but I wanted to reassure her. “Oh, right, of course. Good to know.” She admitted. Her exact expression hidden behind the gas mask. “That's not what your here to see.” “Not really,” a silky soft ear flipped back nervously. “You staked out the bathroom and waited for someone to come by?” I combed my hair back in a frantic effort to straighten it. This pony reminded me of me in my more love lorn moments. “It's not like that...” “It must have been a long wait.” “No, not that long a wait really.” “Still I admire your dedication to the stalking craft. I imagine it doesn't come naturally to a herbivore.” “I always was a fast learner.” “This kind of conversation is a lot easier when you know where it's going isn't it?” “And where is this conversation going?” She had to be smiling under that mask. “Well if I recall correctly, this is the part...” I was really going to do this wasn't I? I was really going to finish this sentence? “'This is the part...' what?” “This is the part where you ask me to join you on a walk to a private spot so we can spend some time together.” “How about we just hang out together at your room. Do a little sniffing.” “I see. I suppose I don't see any harm in going along with such an innocent notion.” Sniffing didn't sound like a sexual euphemism. She turned and gave me a whip with her tail before walking off down the hallway. It was just hair. No burning magical lust, no searing passion. Just a playful lash of hair tickling across my chest. It smelled nice enough sure, but not like the alley. The crazy pheromone cascade wasn't active. This was honest, I was still me and she was still her, she was playing me fairly. I followed. You were raped just a few hours ago. You're probably still traumatized and not thinking clearly. Maybe it wasn't that bad of a rape. Maybe I needed something to wash the taste of it out of my mouth. Well she didn't exactly look sexy per say. I'd never been especially interested in a hoofed quadruped before. The glimpse I sneaked behind her swishing tail showed anatomy that while vaguely analogous was fundamentally different from my experience. She looked healthy and feminine. The conversation and flirting had been pretty hot. She was interested in me. Her backside was moving in an entirely pleasing manner. The clip-clop of her hooves as she walked down the hallway oddly reminded me of the clip-clop of high heels. Nothing about her actually turned me off and a few things attracted me. All checks cleared, we are green light for go. “Call me John,” I hastened my step till I was side by side with her. “Call me Candy.” “Nice to meet you.” “Like wise.” “I'm kind of new. I assume this isn't entirely new for you, though? Sweeping down and snatching stray humans?” “Oh, not entirely. I had a human girl stumble into me on a busy street once. That was almost a year ago now. No pony knew anything about how it worked back then, so it wasn't that hard to cover up the incident.” “You had to cover it up?” “They never would have let me work nights here if they new I'd already tried human.” She quirked back an an ear as a thought occurred to her. “You said you were new. You have any pony experience?” “Yeah...” I was suddenly at a loss as I perused a lengthy list of possible half truths. “How much?” “I found out what happens when a pony touches you.” “We won't be going that far.” “Ah,” I was admitted to myself I was modestly disappointed. Her ears called out to me. I opened the door to my room and welcomed her in. “Okay, now you just sit on the bed and I'll sit over here,” she instructed as she came in the room. We settled into our spots. We were sitting in opposite corners of the room as far as possible from each other. “Now I just need you to focus on sitting there and not doing anything. Let me know if you hit a point were you don't think you can keep sitting.” I smiled. I was a champion at not doing stuff. “And now I just take of my mask...” She slid the strap over the back of her head and let the thing fall to the cushion. The effect on her was significant and immediate. Her wings relaxed and partially opened, she took on a goofy smile and bit of a blush. She sighed in bliss. She gave me a pleasant smile that was slightly out of place. A kind of smile best reserved for a dear and precious friend. A moment latter my blood was running warmer. I smiled back at her with the same smile. Just two friends hanging out enjoying each others company. Apparently there was a delay as scent travelled back and forth in the confined space of the room. Slowly, easily, wonderfully the experience grew. We moved onto crushing on each other and then past that to gazing at each other like love struck idiots. I constructed a perfectly revoltingly sweet list of Candy's many glorious features. A glorious eternity latter she slid her gas mask back into place. She opened the door, “We'll have to do this again sometime.” “I'm afraid that isn't going to happen,” explained the armoured guard in the hallway. “I'm going to need you to come with me.” The door closed and I was left alone in the dark. Chapter 4For days two and three in Equestria I hid in my room. I caught up on my sleep, I ate my fill in every meal, wrote in my diary and read my book. I only left my room to eat and use the washroom. I admit I walked slowly and searched for any sign of Candy when I did leave my room. She never appeared again. I guess she wasn't able to talk her way out of her predicament. It was regrettable. It wasn't fair. But that's just how things go sometimes. On the morning of the fourth day I went to the communal room were the other humans where. Colourful walls and clear bright lighting. A dozen humans sitting at tables chatting idly and quietly playing board games. The humans where a clear cross section of a North American metropolis. No one looked genuinely rural. There was a poisonous tension in air. A dash of hopelessness and despair and a large dollop of decay. Not an unfamiliar feeling. There was one other person alone in the room. Gazing off into space and looking lost and alone. He was overweight, balding and reeked of money. “Hey,” I sat down next to my chosen conversation partner. He looked away. “Sure is a funny place.” He responded with more silence. “The grub isn't all that bad here. This place really kinda okay in places.” “Go away.” “Are you sure? There's nothing here but this or to out there with the ponies, isn't there?” I wasn't awake enough to deal with them yet. Maybe after another cup of coffee. “Yeah, you like this don't you? I bet you're fucking loving it.” “I haven't even left the zoo since I got here. I think I'm hiding.” I took a soft yielding hand to our verbal sparing. He laughed before catching himself. “But I finished my book. I'm going to have to go out today.” “Why are you telling me this?” “I was wondering if you knew a good bookstore in town.” “No, I don't.” “Or maybe you knew a good place to go...” “I don't know about that either.” “Or maybe just some advice for getting through the city?” “My advice is not to go.” “I could use some company-” “I'm not going! They're nothing but animals! They act like people, but they aren't! You can't trust them!” His face was beat red and his eyes were wet. Candy wasn't like that. Most of the ponies I had met had been decent folk. Not that first pony of course. And of course he was talking about ponies like that first pony. Maybe. “I'll wear my gloves,” I said excusing myself. “I miss my wife, my house, my car and my job. Not my intern though. He was worthless. But everything else I miss.” “I miss...” damn it. I suppose this whole thing was harder on normal people. * * * I was slowly simmering under the light of the sun. My search was getting confused. The city hadn't been built on a grid of streets but apparently a series of curves that reflected the terrain. “Excuse me, do you know where I can find a book seller?” I asked a couple of ponies conversing on the corner. The reaction was humorous, or would have been from a third persons perspective. Each one, turned saw me, gaped in shock and took a step directly away from me and froze. The fact they did this in near sequence made it as adorable as it was terrible. “A book seller,” I prompted. A hoof pointed down one of the four directions that the streets went. “Thanks,” I tipped my head and I was off. I could have used some verbal directions. But hey, don't scare the normals, right? Half a block latter I found a book store. I suppose the directions had been sound. The store was small, part of a larger storefront and stuffed with tall book cases. It was dark, dusty and smelled of old books. “Hi,” I greeted the clerk, “Fiction?” None of the books had covers with pictures and all where hard bound. I grabbed one at random. “Shadow in a Ponies Heart.” Neat. “Oh, and I probably need a history book of some kind.” By the time I picked up a copy of “Rule of the Sisters” I was feeling a little flushed. The ventilation in the store was non-existent. Still my experience with Candy suggested that I was good for a good twenty minutes or so. Books down before the clerk I reached into my pocket for the small purse of coins I had been given as part of my stipend. “What do I owe you?” “It's a pretty hot day out isn't it?” “Pretty hot, yeah.” “On a nice hot day like this, I usually like to hang out at the park, but I'm stuck working inside today. Can you believe the luck?” The clerk had an odd smile on. “It's not all that bad I suppose. Every job has it's perks. I remember I used to enjoy chatting with customers back when I was working till.” I smiled back catching her game. “I like that too, it really helps the day go faster doesn't it?” “I have noticed that the local population has a lot more females then males.” “It's about 83% female. Give or take. Just like everywhere else.” “Neat, It's about 52% female back home.” “Isn't that fascinating? The differences I mean,” she said putting a hoof over my gloved hand. “Indeed.” Wait was this okay? “The differences and the similarities.” Maybe, it wasn't okay. This was relying on the cascade's effect. “Certainly very thought provoking.” Times up. Make it okay. Fast. “My name is John.” “Nice to meet you. Can you take off your glove for me?” Her eyes where large and bright. Green eyes contrasting neatly with a reddish coat. “I think I might enjoy that, Miss...?” I swallowed. “Take off the glove.” I smiled a brittle smile and pulled my hand back. “What do I owe you for the books?” * * * I panted for breath on a park bench. I wasn't a good jogger and running on a hot day wearing a coat was especially taxing. The lust showed it's self to be false as it rapidly faded as I regained my breath. But the books where in hand and paid for. I had won. I had kept my dignity intact. It was kind of fun though, to be wanted. Even if it wasn't for anything I had done. Maybe it was kinda like being a drunk girl at a party. A pony ushered her progeny away protectively while shooting me mean looks. I kinda wish I hadn't seen that right then, but whatever. It was fine. Nothing new. Actually... relaxing on a park bench, check... disgusted looks, check... basking in the glorious warmth of a sunny day, check... smoke, not check... I pulled a medicated lollipop out of my pocket. Smoke alternative, check. Just like home. A winged pony flew by leaving behind a colourful contrail to the sound of a distant roar. Close enough. But I should find someone to talk to. Or somepony I guess. Sometimes you need to snack on some social interaction. Just pick somepony cute... Well they where all cute in a way. Visual cues weren't helping me pick one. Somepony not dragging around a kid... That narrowed down the list pretty good. This was apparently a popular destination for family outings. Not the one hanging out with her boyfriend. There a pony reading under a tree. How sweet. How to start the conversation? “Hi, whatcha reading?” “Why no, I've never read that title, heard of that author or even conceived of that topic because I am from a different world.” Fuck, I could just walk over there, take off these stupid gloves and run a finger down her neck. Simple, easy and straight forward. Even if she didn't want to she'd change her mind right quick. That's what I'm out here for isn't it? Of course it is... Wait. “Why hello there. How rude of me not to notice you.” I welcomed the tan and grey pony hiding behind the bench with a genuine and predatory smile. “Hi,” it squeaked. It was hiding it's face under it's hooves. “Whatcha doin'?” I asked as I ran a gloved hand over it's ears and tousled it's mane. “Didn't mean to.” “Yeah, we all do things we don't mean sometimes.” “I didn't know.” “You didn't know? Do you know what happens if I touch you without my gloves on?” It shook it's head. How adorable, how precious. “And you know that I know exactly what you're feeling right now?” It whimpered in shame and curled into a ball. I saw it's erection as it shifted. Lust struck decades of cultural indoctrination in a storm of violence. I stood in the calm eye. “This wasn't your idea.” My voice was empty but my hand was still working the pony's ears. It nodded. I tore my eyes away from my poor creature and spotted a small group of ponies that where watching the proceedings with amusement. Oh, so that's how it is. He squeaked in pain as my grip tightened on his ear. “Sorry, didn't mean to do that,” I did want to do it again though. “I need you to run away.” I wouldn't be able to ruin everything if they caught up with him. He looked up at me. “Right now,” I closed my eyes and smiled a toothy grin. He took off like an arrow. I headed over to intercept the group of oh so amused ponies before they could follow him. I contemplated taking my time and letting the cascade fade. But it didn't feel right. It felt more hateful to do it this way. “Hi!” I greeted cheerfully. Three out of four ponies jumped back in surprise as I stepped into their midst. The slow one got an elbow to the face and hit the ground. The rest gets a little blurry. Chapter 5*Note* I wrote a mature story and then did 3 straight chapters withonly trace amounts of horse sex. To hide my shame for this crime I now post a chapter containing excessive amounts of horse sex. */note* The tan pony with the grey mane struggled feebly under me. Hoof sharp against my bare flesh as he tried to push me away. “Didn't know,” he whimpered. * * * My eyes fluttered open as I rolled over on a thin mattress. Everything hurt. My head and my ribs especially. My chest felt tight. I could barely breath. Couldn't focus. Couldn't think. Sleep, recover, advised my body and I obeyed. * * * My hands griped the ponies throat, slowly strangling it. I felt the ring of tightness that was his sphincter around my cock. I could smell his despair. Savage rage fuzing with lust. “I'm supposed to be straight, damn it!” * * * My eyes opened again. He was just some stupid kid. He didn't deserve that. Why was I thinking this? Why was my body devoting energy to my sex drive instead of healing? My eyes closed again. * * * Crushing his head into the ground, I sodomized the pony with as much violence and hatred as I could. He wailed in a high pitch keening like a rabbit in a trap. * * * Rolling off the mattress, my eyes latched onto a toilet. I desperately dragged myself to it and started to dry heave. This was an injury to my fundamental sense of self. Not just my sexual orientation but more importantly the concept that I was a decent person. But I was, wasn't I? I still saved that stupid kid. No matter what I was thinking right now. * * * The thrill of superiority as he whimpered around my cock. He wasn't that good at sucking cock but he was learning fast. I wrenched his for-leg hard enough to make him squeal. “No, not like that.” * * * I dragged myself up off of the floor. I couldn't keep dreaming this. It wasn't who I was. Stood and made my way along the wall to a set of cold metal bars. I tangled my arms in them to hold myself up and pressed my aching head against the cool iron. I was an idiot wasn't I? You can't fight a bunch of guys without getting touched. Somehow I was jammed. Stuck in a cascade tainted with violence. One of those four had been wearing horse shoes. That had really hurt. That concussion like injury wasn't overwhelming my lust. But apparently it was screwing up my brain enough to prevent me from taking the obvious step to solve the problem. I returned to the mattress and started to masturbate. All of my usual fantasies proved drab and colourless. Empty things long devoid of value and no longer capable of stimulating me. I wound up cumming to the thought of purple wings brushing across my face as Candy straddled my chest, beautiful and inhuman labia mashed against my bare flesh, smiling down at me. I slept again. * * * And I dreamt of the tan and grey pony again. He whimpered helplessly as I stroked him. Struggled as I took him. I laughed as he submitted. It didn't stop when he finally passed out. It just kept going and going until... * * * “Wake up, hero.” “Oh, thank God,” I breathed, finally released from what was the longest and most tactile dream I had ever had. “If you need to thank anyone for this, thank Luna.” A grey green pony with cat eyes and bat wings stood just before bars. “I've never seen a pony like you before.” Talking to this pony wasn't having that dream and thus something I had to do at all cost. “Night Guards are special. We aren't like other ponies in a lot of ways.” “How so?” I lifted myself up into a sitting position. “We're resistant to a lot of things. Relevant to why I'm here, we are immune to all manner of mind altering effects.” “Like what?” “We don't have to wear gas masks around humans to stay focused.” “You're immune to the cascade?” She had my attention. “I'm sure you will have noticed your condition. Occasionally a human touches a pony without completing coitus and becomes locked in the cascade.” “So this really won't end till I have sex with a pony?” “It lasts an average of four days.” “So only, what two days left?” I smiled hopefully. My swollen face protested as I forced it into shape. “Three days and eighteen hours left.” Six hours... This was just six hours. There wouldn't be anything left of me in a day, little lone four. There was no choice was there? I stood up and supported by the wall made my way back to the bars. “My name is John.” “Starfall.” “Charmed Miss Starfall. You have a quite a lovely set of wings don't you?” “You're quite forward, aren't you John?” “A bit, I can tone it down a little if you like.” I turned the swollen part of my face away from her. “I'd prefer it if you did. I'm only here on my Princess's orders.” My voice caught a little as I suppressed a sob with a sigh. “What are her orders, if I might be so bold.” She stood silent for a moment. “I suppose that a summary execution might be within expectation...” I mused wistfully. It certainly would be better then waiting for the cascade to fade on it's own. It would break me. Make me something less. The door opened. I took half a step back, my first impulse to cower in the corner quickly smashed, but not before it could show it's self. This is okay. This is fine. You have no control anyway. Have some dignity damn it. Hide your cowardice. I couldn't look at her as I my legs stiff with mortal terror, carried me to the centre of the room where I knelt. “Your case has been reviewed by Her Royal Majesty Princess Luna, personally.” I carefully studied the ground beneath me. “She has deemed your actions sufficiently noble for her intervention on your behalf. By her command I hereby extend her mercy unto you.” A black and fleshy wing brushed my cheek. The confused, frustrated and suffocating tangle of my emotions cleared and became razor focused. My muscles relaxed for the first time in hours. I relished for a moment the bliss of being able to draw a full breath. She might not feel the effects of the cascade but she could certainly cause them. I looked up at her. She looked down at me like someone determined to do their job and didn't have any strong feelings about it one way or the other. “I thank Luna for this,” I managed before I reached up and caught Starfall in a kiss she didn't return. “And you. Thank you so much.” She pushed me back and I laughed in joy at the sudden jolt of sensation as broken ends of a rib clicked together. “Disrobe.” Her voice was firm. The voice of a pony that wasn't burning with the maddening power of the cascade. It was so strange. “I wasn't lying about the wings.” In my haste to comply I nearly tipped over. My balance and ocular focus was still crap even if the pain in my head had vanished. “Just lay down.” I made my way onto the mattress. She moved on top of me, her hooves digging into me a little as she settled in. I savoured the feeling of her pressed against me. It filled me, made me whole. I hugged her and laughed again as my ribs clicked. “You are hurt.” “No.” “You are lying.” She was as sharp as a tack. “It doesn't matter.” My erect penis rubbed back and forth sandwiched between our stomachs. She didn't seem to be in a hurry to slide forward for penetration. Well this was just orders, right? “Just like this?” “Yes, just like this.” That wasn't wholly acceptable. My hips disagreed with me as they continued to grind into her. I stroked the strong leading edge of her left wing. “Stop that.” “Sorry.” She looked away and opened her wing. “The underside.” She watched with a bemused expression as I carefully traced the bones of the wing with my fingers. Moments latter hot semen flowed onto my stomach, I felt her coat turn into a matted and sticky mess. She gave a soft satisfied sigh. My exhausted and battered body, no longer driven by the cascade, succumbed to unconsciousness almost immediately. * * * The moon was full and bright, casting it's cold light down upon the hill top where I lay. All the world was beautiful like sharp ice. “This means nothing,” Starfall assured me from an arms length away. I smiled back at her before drifting off into a deep and dreamless slumber. Chapter 6For a week after my release from holding I sequestered myself in the zoo while my body mended. I buried the memories of that dream as deep as I could. Long days of nothing happened. The discomfort from my ribs and later a growing haze of stir craziness made it impossible to focus on the books for more then a few minutes at a time. I accomplished nothing. I only waited impatiently for something to happen. To my disappointment nothing did. Soon I started making trips out into the city to a local coffee shop. The trips were uneventful for the most part. * * * One day a rosy pink pony stood in my path. Just sat there looking at me. Waiting. I gave her a friendly nod and walked by. * * * The next day a rosy pink pony stood in my path. Just sat there looking at me. Waiting. I gave her a friendly nod. “Hey.” “Hey,” I returned stopping. “You wanna come with me?” I stood there like an idiot. “Gloves on?” She offered, like it wasn't her first choice. “I'm John.” “I'm Tulip.” I followed her dutifully like a lost lamb to her place. It was a cozy little top floor suit over the flower shop she probably ran. I always made a fuss when I found out somepony was a self-employed business owner. It was very common here but the staggering economic mobility of ponies always surprised me. We sat in her apartment, talking about her business, while the cascade slowly filled the room and we fell in love. I excused myself and left. * * * The next day Tulip stood in my path. Just sat there looking at me. Waiting. We exchanged friendly nods and I followed her home. I couldn't tell her about my adult life. I didn't want her to think less of me. I told her about my childhood, about living on a family farm and working in the fields. The still air very quickly filled with the smell of each other till we fell in love. I excused myself and left. * * * The next day I spent twenty minutes searching for Tulip before I found her. We exchanged friendly nods and I followed her home. She asked if I wouldn't mind her bringing along a friend for our next visit. I told her I supposed it was okay. We sat in her apartment staring at each other till we fell in love. I excused myself and left. * * * The next day I spent over an hour searching for Tulip before I found her. “I can't have you over today, sorry,” she apologized. “I suppose you could have other things to do.” I nodded, somewhat surprised at how needy I was being. “I'll catch you next time.” “Still okay if I bring a friend, next time?” “Sure.” I said, relieved that there would be a next time. And with that we parted ways. Feeling lonely I took the long way back to the zoo. “Hi again,” said a stealthy pink unicorn, with her head under my gloved hand. I laughed. “You actually remember me?” My fingers stroked her ears reflexively. “Sure, I was your first. Wasn't I?” “Yeah, you were.” “I thought so,” she caught my glove in her teeth and started to pull it off. “I'm kinda trying to keep those on,” I complained catching the cuff. “Well, you aren't wearing those things around me,” She struggled stretching the glove out in an impromptu game of tug of war. “Oh, come on, be nice!” I grinned. “I'm trying to be nice!” “Hold on-” “Fine!” She spat out the glove and walked away. Wait... come back... please? The words died on my tongue as I silently watched her go. I straightened the glove. Then I took them both off and put them in my pocket. Then I put them back on. I wandered pointlessly for a few hours till curfew. I actually caught myself looking for that sneaky unicorn a few times. It was a Murphy's Law kind of thing. They never find you when you really need them to. * * * At dinner I found myself seated next to a woman. “It can become a habit, those gloves.” I started. She said nothing and kept eating. “I don't think I've ever seen someone using with a fork while wearing gloves.” It was strange and strange things have to picked at. Unexpected mysteries had to blundered into. She took off her glove and showed me her bare hand. Hoof rot wasn't properly an STD you see. It was a fungal infection that required prolonged physical contact and sweat. You could technically get it wrestling. But then you could probably get crabs that way too. But humans don't have hooves to catch the rot, I hear you say. Humans do however have finger nails. This woman on the contrary did not. Her fingertips were dark, swollen and oozing, her nails had long since fallen away. She put her glove back on. “You seeing a doctor about that?” I leaned back rapidly loosing interest in my meal. She shot me a look that suggested I was insane. * * * Tulip stood in my path today. Without word or gesture we fell into step and I followed her to place that was not her home. A more impoverished single floor home. She gestured to the sofa. I sat. “My friend's name is Feather Step,” She told me. “I want you to think of her as a friend. Like I am.” “I'd be happy to,” I replied. I wanted another pony to hang out with when Tulip was otherwise engaged. It would make things much less lonely. “She's late,” I saw her glance at the door impatiently. “How did you meet her? This Feather Step?” She blushed a little. “She's actually the one that got me into humans in the first place.” “Oh,” I said, I could taste that there was a juicy story here. “Yeah, she kinda brought one over. It was just so incredible.” “It is isn't it?” I laughed. “They went... ah...” She began awkwardly. The door opened and a familiar stealthy pink unicorn stepped inside. Feather Step took a long hard, almost hate filled, look at me. “Gloves. Off.” Tulip just blushed harder and tried to hide her expectant smile. I really should have expected this. Chapter 7I didn't feel so good. One foot in front of the other I followed my homing instinct. The city looked different at night. The street lights shone with a gentle blue light instead of a dingy yellow. It's relaxing and pleasant. Maybe I should lay down for a little and rest? “You! Human!” It hurt to turn around. A bright light shone into my eyes blinding me, but I knew better then to turn away. “Good evening, officer.” “Do you know what time it is, human!” There was the sound of an unseen assemblage of wood and metal moving it's self into readyness. “Indeed! I got a little side tracked while I was out and am just now heading back home. Could you overlook my minor transgression?” There was a pause. A deliberation. “It won't be happening again,” I assured him. “See that it doesn't.” He sounded almost disappointed as he put away his man catcher. I left before he had a chance to change his mind. I pressed my sticky fingers against my face as I struggled to calm myself. Sticky? There was some kind of sticky congealing tar on my fingers. It was thin is some places and thick in others. It looked black in the soft blue light. Whatever, I had to get back to the Zoo. A trip to the bathroom to wash up was a minor addition. *** After fast apologies to the guards at the gate, I made it into the well lit entry hall of the Zoo. There was a terrified squeak from the empty front desk. I was in a hurry but I swung close by the front desk. It was just the regular receptionist in her gimp suit and gas mask hiding out of sight. Something had spooked her but she didn't seem to be in any trouble. I had to go to the bathroom. It was important. I really didn't feel well. I tried to wash my hands. Whatever was on my hands was staining the sink. I tried to look in the mirror, but it didn't make any sense. Something was wrong. More of that sticky stuff was under my shirt. I dropped my heavy coat onto the floor in my haste. Like it didn't matter. I tried to take off my shirt and... It hurt. It hurt a lot. With just the left arm, I pulled the shirt over my head and down the right arm. I touched... it. Under the... stuff my fingernails touched... metal. I looked into the mirror again. I saw someone I did not know. Someone pathetic and broken. My stomach heaved and bile leaked past my lips and into the basin. I touched it again. It hurt. It hurt so much. Fingers reached around it on their own plunging, it hurts, it hurts, I shouldn't be doing this. Fingers seeking out the edges and gripping, this is a terrible idea. Fingers taught the arm pulls, ripping. What is this? What am I doing? Why is it in me? Fingers twisting, wrenching, get it out, get it out, get it out! The metal horseshoe hit the basin with a muffled clunk. I was crying. Of course I was crying. This was the time to cry. She really did a number on you didn't she? She... Who... Oh, yeah... Her. “Here just for you, so you don't forget again.” Feather Step, the stealthy pink unicorn pressed the heated horseshoe into my chest. There was the sound of sizzling meat, the smell of searing pork. It burned in, it stuck. Like a steak on an unoiled pan. The cascade was absolute. I loved her even still, and I knew that she felt the same. I let her. I let her do that. She knew I would let her. Of course she knew. How could she not know? I was using my shirt to staunch the blood. My arm was getting tired. I needed... Something. What was that something I needed? I looked at the stranger in the mirror. Oh right. I draped the coat over my shoulders and holding the makeshift bandage in place I made my way back to the receptionist. I needed help. I should go ask for some. A door opened. “Hey jackass! Some of us are trying to sleep around here! Shut up already!” “I'm on it!” I gave the fellow a friendly wave and reassurance as I passed by. There was a sound of confused sputtering and finally the closing of the door. The receptionist was fending off the the pointy questions of a pair of guards, standing off by the front door was a pair of ponies in hazmat suits. The paramedics I would have to assume. I approached the front desk “If I might interrupt...” “Go away human, this is a matter for the guard.” “Okay then...” I turned around and approached the paramedics. “Pardon, I seem to be in a bit of trouble...” “Listen we're just here doing our jobs, can you go bother somepony else?” Not unexpected. Standard fare to be sure. The receptionist saw some some guy covered in blood and called for some help. They had arrived while I was indisposed and now it fell entirely on my shoulders to ensure the emergency personnel recognize me as the person they are here to see. I doubled down with the paramedics. “Sirs, I am in need of some medical attention.” “Listen, we aren't a pharmacy and we don't hand out band-aids. Take your paper cut somewhere else, we're here to find somepony who is really hurt.” I didn't have the strength to legitimately try to strangle them. “What if I said I was the person you are here to pick-up?” “Listen, you look like a nice guy and all, but if you don't leave we're going to call those guards right over there and make you leave.” I could just go back to my room and go to sleep. I probably, like 60-80% chance, wouldn't even bleed to death in the night. No I could give it one more try. I turned back to the guards. I sat down for a minute on the way across the room to catch my breath. “Hey guys.” “We're busy doing actual work here.” “I couldn't help wondering what it might be that your pestering our sweet little receptionist about.” “If you must know, she called us here on a false alarm of some sort.” “What if it's not a false alarm and there is someone here that is hurt?” “Then you'd better disclose this information as to were this person is hiding.” “Here. Me.” As the guard's pony turned to face me the end of his man-catcher hooked my knee. I fell.
Chapter 1I was afraid. The hair on my arms was standing on end and my stomach flip flopped nauseously. Terror induced sweat was soaking through my shirt. The greasy asphalt was gone and with it the constant traffic of automobiles. The city air was beautiful and clear. I couldn't see another human anywhere. Brightly coloured little horses starred at me with intelligent and curious eyes. Someone had clearly dosed me with acid and any moment now I was going to blunder into something bad. This kind of thing had happened to people I knew. People thought it was funny to drug us with whatever they had on hand. Carrying a heavy bag carrying my entire worldly possessions, my fingers stained with ash from tobacco scavenged from public ash trays and my underfed frame made it was clear what I was. I hated having people look at me. I preferred it when they just ignored me. Apparently that desire extended to hallucination induced ponies. I struggled to find a less trafficked area so I could sit and wait for the effects of the drug to wear off. At every intersection I took the cobbled path that had the least ponies on it. I wasn't able to find privacy, privacy was a luxury I had long abandoned, but I found a nice quiet avenue where less then a handful of ponies could stare at me. I half closed my eyes, took a deep relaxing breath and slowed my steps to the pace of a man with no where to go and a lot of time to get there. The practiced smile of contented nirvana spread across my face. Now just to wait a few hours. The cobble stones really felt like cobble stones under my boots. I saw another man. First one in a long time. First one in two hours said my watch when I consulted it. He wore a dreamy smile as he was led into an alley by a brightly coloured pony. That was odd. My watch and clothes made sense. So did my thoughts. I certainly didn't feel drugged. Maybe my blood was running a little hot but that was about it. My ear caught the sound of moist flesh interacting lewdly coming from the alley. Interesting. I avoiding glancing to allow them their privacy. Funny how the alley didn't smell of stale beer and urine at all. It smelled of something else. My blood was suddenly running very hot and I was blushing like a teenager. A pony, fondling soft and tender ears, a soft whimper of lust rising unbidden from my throat. The image sprung unbidden into my mind and I had to swallow the drool in my mouth before I choked on it. I froze as I tried to master my self. “Don't stop on my account,” said the stealthy pony that had manoeuvred it's head under my hand. She was light pink and had a spiral unicorn horn. Oh dear. She had the glassy eyes of an addict and she clearly wanted something from me. It wasn't good. It was inherently bad. But a little harmless ear fondling never hurt anyone. Right? Soft, delicate and given how the pink creature under my hand squirmed in delight apparently very sensitive. We were in public. That's the only reason I managed not to kneel down right there and use both hands to knead those wonderful ears. “You're new. I wanna break you in.” The pony was walking now. I couldn't abandon my hold on it's ear. I followed. I was caught. But I was uncatchable. I had cut my self free of everything to make my self uncommandable. I submitted to no one. It commanded and I obeyed. I'd gone along with worse, but those times I had felt that I had more choice in the matter. Now to follow along until it asks for what you don't have. Still no harm done. It brought me to the alley where the other two had been. It smelled wonderful there. Something musty and delicious. Like sex, but what sex should have been but never was. I set down my pack grabbed both of those ears. Nose to nose, it was grinning at me. I was probably grinning back. It put it's tongue in my mouth. All I knew was that this was wonderful. It pushed me against the wall and straddled me, grinding into my pelvis. That wonderful smell in the air intensified. Oh thank god, this thing was female... I was aroused to the point where I was going to have sex with it regardless. It did look kinda feminine. And my hard cock was out, she had gotten my pants open somehow. She had hooves. Mastery of buttons and zippers didn't go hand in hand with hooves. Then we where fucking like kids in love. The kind of sex that filled all the empty spots in my heart and made me feel whole. Like no kind of sex I had ever encountered but always dreamed of. With a pony. Go figure. Going to hell for sure for this. Not like I wasn't already. Her eyes rolled back into her head and my crotch was getting pretty soaked from her. This was her drug. Damn, she was strong and tireless. I often encountered women that couldn't finish on top. This wasn't even winding her. It was everything I could do not to cum before she did. She pushed off of me, and I stood up and got my clothes in order. My nameless lover met another pony, one with a more masculine build, on her way out of the alley. “Humans are such sluts aren't they?” She asked him with a laugh. He agreed. Damn it! She used me like a toy and laughed about it damn her! “Relax, that's just how they are about it. I think this whole thing embarrasses most of them.” It was a girl. A human girl, brown hair kinda cute. Pulling up her pants and buttoning her shirt. Oh, the male pony. I hadn't even noticed anyone else was in the alley. I liked this girl. Trusted her even. Like we clicked. “You look new. You been to the zoo yet?” “No, this all new to me.” “Come I'll show you.” I followed without considering the alternative. “What is the explanation for this place?” “The big pony wrote it down in a letter. It's a real hoot. Definitely worth reading.” She handed my a scroll. It was worn and stained and smelled of that wonderful smell from the alley. * * * To my new humans There has been an influx of human immigrants into our fair land for the past year. It has been a time unrivalled scientific and cultural opportunity that I have done my very best to ensure goes as smoothly as possible. Unfortunately there has been identified a phenomenon known as Escalating Pheromonal Compatibility that occurs when humans and ponies spend any amount of time in close proximity without significant precautions. It has a powerful and addictive stimulating effect on both parties. For this reason all humans are under strict curfew for the hours between 8 PM and 8 AM. This is non negotiable and will be firmly enforced. Many of my loyal and beloved ponies have fallen prey to addiction to this phenomenon. Please I beg of you, do not blame them, or think less of them. Also I beg you, please do not allow them to hurt you. The greatest victims in this is the humans. Without a homeland and support you are vulnerable. But we cannot adequately enforce your safety. The percentage of the pony populace that has dallianced with the effects of EPC is too significant for proper legal enforcement. You will be granted a haven, housing, food and adequate security, a minimal stipend to live on and my personal best wishes. The greatest pony scientists are working hard to find a way to allow humans to safely and harmlessly integrate into pony society. Signed, Celestia of Equestria, Princess of the Dawn and your new sovereign * * * The zoo was a two story stone building with small windows fenced by sturdy looking iron bars and patrolled by stern looking guards in armour fitted with gas masks. It was a prison. Signs on the front stated that it was for my protection. “You better hurry and get washed up and get some new clothes. Nopony will look at you twice while you smell of another pony. There's still time for one more before curfew.” She grinned eagerly in excitement. I noticed then that her eyes where those of an addicts'.
Chapter 2“Hi,” greeted pony wearing a gas mask and what looked like a rubber gimp suit. “Hi,” I greeted back looking around the lobby of the zoo. It had a cold, sterile feel to it. The ample seating was empty and the plants looked plastic. “So...?” I could feel her looking at me quizzically through the tinted lenses. “I'm new.” I leaned on the counter and reached for my wallet for some identification. “Step back from the counter!” she shrieked in panic. I could taste her victim-hood. “Oh, right. Sorry.” I took a good long step back. “Here, take these pamphlets and look them over. Over there.” She pointed to the seating in the far end of the room. “I'll have somepony down to take your registration in a few minutes.” “Gotcha.” The top pamphlet was titled 'Hoof-rot and you' and had some rather distressing medical pictures on the cover. “Remember, stay at least one pony length away from anypony.” “Okay.” “And no touching.” “Got it.” “Just be good for a little while okay? Can you do that?” “Of course.” She wanted me to assure her I wouldn't leap over the counter and rape her. Without acknowledging the fact I now had that mental image in my head. I wasn't sure how to do that, so I just went over to the far corner she had pointed me to. Hoof-rot was apparently a sexually transmitted disease that could work it's way between humans and ponies. It didn't look pretty, but it wasn't fatal. The next pamphlet was about the importance of controlling violent tendencies and how humans where expected to be on their best behaviour regardless of circumstances. It included pictures of holding cells that looked a lot more pleasant then most drunk tanks I had been in. The third pamphlet was the largest and probably the most important. Apparently the crazy pheromone thing only kicked in if a human and a pony could smell each other or come into physical contact. Humans where advised to wear gloves and full covering clothes. It was also apparently illegal for a human to intentionally touch a pony without invitation. And vice-verse. That stealthy pony that had gotten her head under my hand when I was distracted. That had been a little... That soft ear, luxurious to the touch. Fur against my skin. My heart filled at long last. How easy it had been to have something that wonderful. Damn it. I was trembling. It hadn't been easy for me. It had been easy for her. What difference does that make? It was wonderful. She laughed. Maybe the next one won't. Yeah, you tell yourself that. Here I am, dragged into a different world, on the greatest adventure possible for an inquisitive monkey such as is man, and I'm bogged down in such ridiculous and meaningless concerns like what counts as proper consent for a bout of inter-species mating. You where raped within hours of coming to an alien world. Shut up. Whatever. It's fine. I'm fine. No, you're not. You haven't been for a long time. “Hello,” a sweet voice interrupted my spiral into despair. It was another pony. She had a white lab-coat on and a somewhat smaller gas mask that fit over just her muzzle. Her coat was green. “H-hi,” my voice cracked. “I'm here to take your information and then we can see about getting you settled in. I see you brought luggage. Most humans aren't so fortunate.” “I imagine not.” “May I ask what is in it?” “Oh, of course... A change of clothes, bedroll, small first aid kit, sewing kit, thermos with some coffee (cold)... Please tell me you have coffee here?” “And tea.” “That's wonderful. ...a novel (fiction), my binder, a diary and an assortment of pens and pencils. Also dice.” “Your pockets?” “Ah, two lighters, tobacco, rolling papers and my wallet. Nothing in it, just my ID.” “You smoke?” “Yes... Do you have tobacco?” “No, but we can supply a substitute. The majority of users admit to preferring the it over the original.” “Neat.” Like tobacco but better? I love smoking. This was going to be hard. “Do you regularly take any other drugs?” “Curiously not. I don't even drink all that much.” No one ever believed me when I said that. “You mean alcohol?” “Yup.” “You can do without it?” “Entirely,” I only used alcohol for chatting up women and I wasn't going to have to do that here. Why would I after all with all the...? God damn it. When did I decide I was going to be doing that? This wasn't good. The majority of users admit to preferring the substitute over the original. Shut up. Fuck you. We aren't doing that. “Sir, are you lying?” she broke into my inner dialogue with a poignant question. “No,” I was suddenly on the defensive. “My question seemed to upset you.” “It was unrelated.” “Are you sure?” she persisted “Wholly.” “Any disease?” “A mild lung infection.” “Your previous area of employment?” She moved onto the hard questions. “uhm... Clerk.” I had clerk experience. I just hadn't used it in years. “Like records keeping?” “Like store clerk, handling cash and working the register.” “And what do you like to be called?” “Call me John.” “You can call me Enlighten.” “Nice to meet you.” I reached forward to shake her hand only to pull it back in alarm. “Alright, that should be everything.” She didn't want my last name? “Come, lets go get you settled in. Just remember to stay out of 'arms reach' okay?” “Right.” I stood up and moved to follow her. “Oh, one more thing, are you a vegetarian?” “No.” “Can you learn?” A civilization built by equines. Of course. “I suppose so.” * * * A shower and an rather good apple pie latter I was feeling much better. Dressed in what amounted to a loose white body sock and sitting on a bed in my new room I was sucking on a medicinal lolipop. The candy like thing actually did hit the spot. It cleared up the nicotine withdrawal head-ache and gave me that mentally sharpened sensation. Now I could finally catch up on all that sleep I had been missing. I checked my watch. I had taken the opportunity to adjust it to local time. I still had just over an hour before curfew if I wanted to go grab some pony. That's what I had over heard the other humans here calling it. Grabbing some pony. The image of poor creature at the greeting desk recoiling in terror sprang to mind. Sleep sounded good.
Chapter 3I'm not normally one to go on about sheets, but these were really nice sheets. A nice heavy texture you could really feel under your finger tips. Like some kind of linen. I wonder what it's called. Probably linen sheets. Oh. Anyway the bed was luxurious. A closed door to the world, well insulated walls around me and a solid darkness about me. I felt safe and secure. The only reason I was awake was because I was tenaciously clinging to partial consciousness so that I could enjoy this experience. That and my slowly filling bladder. I hastily donned my pants and a pair of slippers before making my way down the hallway to the public bathroom. It was clean. No water or anything else on the floor. “Hi,” a winged purple pony quietly greeted me as I left the bathroom. “Hey...” this was interesting, “I'm not planning on running away under cover of darkness or anything.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets. Kind of pointless when I was half naked, but I wanted to reassure her. “Oh, right, of course. Good to know.” She admitted. Her exact expression hidden behind the gas mask. “That's not what your here to see.” “Not really,” a silky soft ear flipped back nervously. “You staked out the bathroom and waited for someone to come by?” I combed my hair back in a frantic effort to straighten it. This pony reminded me of me in my more love lorn moments. “It's not like that...” “It must have been a long wait.” “No, not that long a wait really.” “Still I admire your dedication to the stalking craft. I imagine it doesn't come naturally to a herbivore.” “I always was a fast learner.” “This kind of conversation is a lot easier when you know where it's going isn't it?” “And where is this conversation going?” She had to be smiling under that mask. “Well if I recall correctly, this is the part...” I was really going to do this wasn't I? I was really going to finish this sentence? “'This is the part...' what?” “This is the part where you ask me to join you on a walk to a private spot so we can spend some time together.” “How about we just hang out together at your room. Do a little sniffing.” “I see. I suppose I don't see any harm in going along with such an innocent notion.” Sniffing didn't sound like a sexual euphemism. She turned and gave me a whip with her tail before walking off down the hallway. It was just hair. No burning magical lust, no searing passion. Just a playful lash of hair tickling across my chest. It smelled nice enough sure, but not like the alley. The crazy pheromone cascade wasn't active. This was honest, I was still me and she was still her, she was playing me fairly. I followed. You were raped just a few hours ago. You're probably still traumatized and not thinking clearly. Maybe it wasn't that bad of a rape. Maybe I needed something to wash the taste of it out of my mouth. Well she didn't exactly look sexy per say. I'd never been especially interested in a hoofed quadruped before. The glimpse I sneaked behind her swishing tail showed anatomy that while vaguely analogous was fundamentally different from my experience. She looked healthy and feminine. The conversation and flirting had been pretty hot. She was interested in me. Her backside was moving in an entirely pleasing manner. The clip-clop of her hooves as she walked down the hallway oddly reminded me of the clip-clop of high heels. Nothing about her actually turned me off and a few things attracted me. All checks cleared, we are green light for go. “Call me John,” I hastened my step till I was side by side with her. “Call me Candy.” “Nice to meet you.” “Like wise.” “I'm kind of new. I assume this isn't entirely new for you, though? Sweeping down and snatching stray humans?” “Oh, not entirely. I had a human girl stumble into me on a busy street once. That was almost a year ago now. No pony knew anything about how it worked back then, so it wasn't that hard to cover up the incident.” “You had to cover it up?” “They never would have let me work nights here if they new I'd already tried human.” She quirked back an an ear as a thought occurred to her. “You said you were new. You have any pony experience?” “Yeah...” I was suddenly at a loss as I perused a lengthy list of possible half truths. “How much?” “I found out what happens when a pony touches you.” “We won't be going that far.” “Ah,” I was admitted to myself I was modestly disappointed. Her ears called out to me. I opened the door to my room and welcomed her in. “Okay, now you just sit on the bed and I'll sit over here,” she instructed as she came in the room. We settled into our spots. We were sitting in opposite corners of the room as far as possible from each other. “Now I just need you to focus on sitting there and not doing anything. Let me know if you hit a point were you don't think you can keep sitting.” I smiled. I was a champion at not doing stuff. “And now I just take of my mask...” She slid the strap over the back of her head and let the thing fall to the cushion. The effect on her was significant and immediate. Her wings relaxed and partially opened, she took on a goofy smile and bit of a blush. She sighed in bliss. She gave me a pleasant smile that was slightly out of place. A kind of smile best reserved for a dear and precious friend. A moment latter my blood was running warmer. I smiled back at her with the same smile. Just two friends hanging out enjoying each others company. Apparently there was a delay as scent travelled back and forth in the confined space of the room. Slowly, easily, wonderfully the experience grew. We moved onto crushing on each other and then past that to gazing at each other like love struck idiots. I constructed a perfectly revoltingly sweet list of Candy's many glorious features. A glorious eternity latter she slid her gas mask back into place. She opened the door, “We'll have to do this again sometime.” “I'm afraid that isn't going to happen,” explained the armoured guard in the hallway. “I'm going to need you to come with me.” The door closed and I was left alone in the dark.
Chapter 4For days two and three in Equestria I hid in my room. I caught up on my sleep, I ate my fill in every meal, wrote in my diary and read my book. I only left my room to eat and use the washroom. I admit I walked slowly and searched for any sign of Candy when I did leave my room. She never appeared again. I guess she wasn't able to talk her way out of her predicament. It was regrettable. It wasn't fair. But that's just how things go sometimes. On the morning of the fourth day I went to the communal room were the other humans where. Colourful walls and clear bright lighting. A dozen humans sitting at tables chatting idly and quietly playing board games. The humans where a clear cross section of a North American metropolis. No one looked genuinely rural. There was a poisonous tension in air. A dash of hopelessness and despair and a large dollop of decay. Not an unfamiliar feeling. There was one other person alone in the room. Gazing off into space and looking lost and alone. He was overweight, balding and reeked of money. “Hey,” I sat down next to my chosen conversation partner. He looked away. “Sure is a funny place.” He responded with more silence. “The grub isn't all that bad here. This place really kinda okay in places.” “Go away.” “Are you sure? There's nothing here but this or to out there with the ponies, isn't there?” I wasn't awake enough to deal with them yet. Maybe after another cup of coffee. “Yeah, you like this don't you? I bet you're fucking loving it.” “I haven't even left the zoo since I got here. I think I'm hiding.” I took a soft yielding hand to our verbal sparing. He laughed before catching himself. “But I finished my book. I'm going to have to go out today.” “Why are you telling me this?” “I was wondering if you knew a good bookstore in town.” “No, I don't.” “Or maybe you knew a good place to go...” “I don't know about that either.” “Or maybe just some advice for getting through the city?” “My advice is not to go.” “I could use some company-” “I'm not going! They're nothing but animals! They act like people, but they aren't! You can't trust them!” His face was beat red and his eyes were wet. Candy wasn't like that. Most of the ponies I had met had been decent folk. Not that first pony of course. And of course he was talking about ponies like that first pony. Maybe. “I'll wear my gloves,” I said excusing myself. “I miss my wife, my house, my car and my job. Not my intern though. He was worthless. But everything else I miss.” “I miss...” damn it. I suppose this whole thing was harder on normal people. * * * I was slowly simmering under the light of the sun. My search was getting confused. The city hadn't been built on a grid of streets but apparently a series of curves that reflected the terrain. “Excuse me, do you know where I can find a book seller?” I asked a couple of ponies conversing on the corner. The reaction was humorous, or would have been from a third persons perspective. Each one, turned saw me, gaped in shock and took a step directly away from me and froze. The fact they did this in near sequence made it as adorable as it was terrible. “A book seller,” I prompted. A hoof pointed down one of the four directions that the streets went. “Thanks,” I tipped my head and I was off. I could have used some verbal directions. But hey, don't scare the normals, right? Half a block latter I found a book store. I suppose the directions had been sound. The store was small, part of a larger storefront and stuffed with tall book cases. It was dark, dusty and smelled of old books. “Hi,” I greeted the clerk, “Fiction?” None of the books had covers with pictures and all where hard bound. I grabbed one at random. “Shadow in a Ponies Heart.” Neat. “Oh, and I probably need a history book of some kind.” By the time I picked up a copy of “Rule of the Sisters” I was feeling a little flushed. The ventilation in the store was non-existent. Still my experience with Candy suggested that I was good for a good twenty minutes or so. Books down before the clerk I reached into my pocket for the small purse of coins I had been given as part of my stipend. “What do I owe you?” “It's a pretty hot day out isn't it?” “Pretty hot, yeah.” “On a nice hot day like this, I usually like to hang out at the park, but I'm stuck working inside today. Can you believe the luck?” The clerk had an odd smile on. “It's not all that bad I suppose. Every job has it's perks. I remember I used to enjoy chatting with customers back when I was working till.” I smiled back catching her game. “I like that too, it really helps the day go faster doesn't it?” “I have noticed that the local population has a lot more females then males.” “It's about 83% female. Give or take. Just like everywhere else.” “Neat, It's about 52% female back home.” “Isn't that fascinating? The differences I mean,” she said putting a hoof over my gloved hand. “Indeed.” Wait was this okay? “The differences and the similarities.” Maybe, it wasn't okay. This was relying on the cascade's effect. “Certainly very thought provoking.” Times up. Make it okay. Fast. “My name is John.” “Nice to meet you. Can you take off your glove for me?” Her eyes where large and bright. Green eyes contrasting neatly with a reddish coat. “I think I might enjoy that, Miss...?” I swallowed. “Take off the glove.” I smiled a brittle smile and pulled my hand back. “What do I owe you for the books?” * * * I panted for breath on a park bench. I wasn't a good jogger and running on a hot day wearing a coat was especially taxing. The lust showed it's self to be false as it rapidly faded as I regained my breath. But the books where in hand and paid for. I had won. I had kept my dignity intact. It was kind of fun though, to be wanted. Even if it wasn't for anything I had done. Maybe it was kinda like being a drunk girl at a party. A pony ushered her progeny away protectively while shooting me mean looks. I kinda wish I hadn't seen that right then, but whatever. It was fine. Nothing new. Actually... relaxing on a park bench, check... disgusted looks, check... basking in the glorious warmth of a sunny day, check... smoke, not check... I pulled a medicated lollipop out of my pocket. Smoke alternative, check. Just like home. A winged pony flew by leaving behind a colourful contrail to the sound of a distant roar. Close enough. But I should find someone to talk to. Or somepony I guess. Sometimes you need to snack on some social interaction. Just pick somepony cute... Well they where all cute in a way. Visual cues weren't helping me pick one. Somepony not dragging around a kid... That narrowed down the list pretty good. This was apparently a popular destination for family outings. Not the one hanging out with her boyfriend. There a pony reading under a tree. How sweet. How to start the conversation? “Hi, whatcha reading?” “Why no, I've never read that title, heard of that author or even conceived of that topic because I am from a different world.” Fuck, I could just walk over there, take off these stupid gloves and run a finger down her neck. Simple, easy and straight forward. Even if she didn't want to she'd change her mind right quick. That's what I'm out here for isn't it? Of course it is... Wait. “Why hello there. How rude of me not to notice you.” I welcomed the tan and grey pony hiding behind the bench with a genuine and predatory smile. “Hi,” it squeaked. It was hiding it's face under it's hooves. “Whatcha doin'?” I asked as I ran a gloved hand over it's ears and tousled it's mane. “Didn't mean to.” “Yeah, we all do things we don't mean sometimes.” “I didn't know.” “You didn't know? Do you know what happens if I touch you without my gloves on?” It shook it's head. How adorable, how precious. “And you know that I know exactly what you're feeling right now?” It whimpered in shame and curled into a ball. I saw it's erection as it shifted. Lust struck decades of cultural indoctrination in a storm of violence. I stood in the calm eye. “This wasn't your idea.” My voice was empty but my hand was still working the pony's ears. It nodded. I tore my eyes away from my poor creature and spotted a small group of ponies that where watching the proceedings with amusement. Oh, so that's how it is. He squeaked in pain as my grip tightened on his ear. “Sorry, didn't mean to do that,” I did want to do it again though. “I need you to run away.” I wouldn't be able to ruin everything if they caught up with him. He looked up at me. “Right now,” I closed my eyes and smiled a toothy grin. He took off like an arrow. I headed over to intercept the group of oh so amused ponies before they could follow him. I contemplated taking my time and letting the cascade fade. But it didn't feel right. It felt more hateful to do it this way. “Hi!” I greeted cheerfully. Three out of four ponies jumped back in surprise as I stepped into their midst. The slow one got an elbow to the face and hit the ground. The rest gets a little blurry.
Chapter 5*Note* I wrote a mature story and then did 3 straight chapters withonly trace amounts of horse sex. To hide my shame for this crime I now post a chapter containing excessive amounts of horse sex. */note* The tan pony with the grey mane struggled feebly under me. Hoof sharp against my bare flesh as he tried to push me away. “Didn't know,” he whimpered. * * * My eyes fluttered open as I rolled over on a thin mattress. Everything hurt. My head and my ribs especially. My chest felt tight. I could barely breath. Couldn't focus. Couldn't think. Sleep, recover, advised my body and I obeyed. * * * My hands griped the ponies throat, slowly strangling it. I felt the ring of tightness that was his sphincter around my cock. I could smell his despair. Savage rage fuzing with lust. “I'm supposed to be straight, damn it!” * * * My eyes opened again. He was just some stupid kid. He didn't deserve that. Why was I thinking this? Why was my body devoting energy to my sex drive instead of healing? My eyes closed again. * * * Crushing his head into the ground, I sodomized the pony with as much violence and hatred as I could. He wailed in a high pitch keening like a rabbit in a trap. * * * Rolling off the mattress, my eyes latched onto a toilet. I desperately dragged myself to it and started to dry heave. This was an injury to my fundamental sense of self. Not just my sexual orientation but more importantly the concept that I was a decent person. But I was, wasn't I? I still saved that stupid kid. No matter what I was thinking right now. * * * The thrill of superiority as he whimpered around my cock. He wasn't that good at sucking cock but he was learning fast. I wrenched his for-leg hard enough to make him squeal. “No, not like that.” * * * I dragged myself up off of the floor. I couldn't keep dreaming this. It wasn't who I was. Stood and made my way along the wall to a set of cold metal bars. I tangled my arms in them to hold myself up and pressed my aching head against the cool iron. I was an idiot wasn't I? You can't fight a bunch of guys without getting touched. Somehow I was jammed. Stuck in a cascade tainted with violence. One of those four had been wearing horse shoes. That had really hurt. That concussion like injury wasn't overwhelming my lust. But apparently it was screwing up my brain enough to prevent me from taking the obvious step to solve the problem. I returned to the mattress and started to masturbate. All of my usual fantasies proved drab and colourless. Empty things long devoid of value and no longer capable of stimulating me. I wound up cumming to the thought of purple wings brushing across my face as Candy straddled my chest, beautiful and inhuman labia mashed against my bare flesh, smiling down at me. I slept again. * * * And I dreamt of the tan and grey pony again. He whimpered helplessly as I stroked him. Struggled as I took him. I laughed as he submitted. It didn't stop when he finally passed out. It just kept going and going until... * * * “Wake up, hero.” “Oh, thank God,” I breathed, finally released from what was the longest and most tactile dream I had ever had. “If you need to thank anyone for this, thank Luna.” A grey green pony with cat eyes and bat wings stood just before bars. “I've never seen a pony like you before.” Talking to this pony wasn't having that dream and thus something I had to do at all cost. “Night Guards are special. We aren't like other ponies in a lot of ways.” “How so?” I lifted myself up into a sitting position. “We're resistant to a lot of things. Relevant to why I'm here, we are immune to all manner of mind altering effects.” “Like what?” “We don't have to wear gas masks around humans to stay focused.” “You're immune to the cascade?” She had my attention. “I'm sure you will have noticed your condition. Occasionally a human touches a pony without completing coitus and becomes locked in the cascade.” “So this really won't end till I have sex with a pony?” “It lasts an average of four days.” “So only, what two days left?” I smiled hopefully. My swollen face protested as I forced it into shape. “Three days and eighteen hours left.” Six hours... This was just six hours. There wouldn't be anything left of me in a day, little lone four. There was no choice was there? I stood up and supported by the wall made my way back to the bars. “My name is John.” “Starfall.” “Charmed Miss Starfall. You have a quite a lovely set of wings don't you?” “You're quite forward, aren't you John?” “A bit, I can tone it down a little if you like.” I turned the swollen part of my face away from her. “I'd prefer it if you did. I'm only here on my Princess's orders.” My voice caught a little as I suppressed a sob with a sigh. “What are her orders, if I might be so bold.” She stood silent for a moment. “I suppose that a summary execution might be within expectation...” I mused wistfully. It certainly would be better then waiting for the cascade to fade on it's own. It would break me. Make me something less. The door opened. I took half a step back, my first impulse to cower in the corner quickly smashed, but not before it could show it's self. This is okay. This is fine. You have no control anyway. Have some dignity damn it. Hide your cowardice. I couldn't look at her as I my legs stiff with mortal terror, carried me to the centre of the room where I knelt. “Your case has been reviewed by Her Royal Majesty Princess Luna, personally.” I carefully studied the ground beneath me. “She has deemed your actions sufficiently noble for her intervention on your behalf. By her command I hereby extend her mercy unto you.” A black and fleshy wing brushed my cheek. The confused, frustrated and suffocating tangle of my emotions cleared and became razor focused. My muscles relaxed for the first time in hours. I relished for a moment the bliss of being able to draw a full breath. She might not feel the effects of the cascade but she could certainly cause them. I looked up at her. She looked down at me like someone determined to do their job and didn't have any strong feelings about it one way or the other. “I thank Luna for this,” I managed before I reached up and caught Starfall in a kiss she didn't return. “And you. Thank you so much.” She pushed me back and I laughed in joy at the sudden jolt of sensation as broken ends of a rib clicked together. “Disrobe.” Her voice was firm. The voice of a pony that wasn't burning with the maddening power of the cascade. It was so strange. “I wasn't lying about the wings.” In my haste to comply I nearly tipped over. My balance and ocular focus was still crap even if the pain in my head had vanished. “Just lay down.” I made my way onto the mattress. She moved on top of me, her hooves digging into me a little as she settled in. I savoured the feeling of her pressed against me. It filled me, made me whole. I hugged her and laughed again as my ribs clicked. “You are hurt.” “No.” “You are lying.” She was as sharp as a tack. “It doesn't matter.” My erect penis rubbed back and forth sandwiched between our stomachs. She didn't seem to be in a hurry to slide forward for penetration. Well this was just orders, right? “Just like this?” “Yes, just like this.” That wasn't wholly acceptable. My hips disagreed with me as they continued to grind into her. I stroked the strong leading edge of her left wing. “Stop that.” “Sorry.” She looked away and opened her wing. “The underside.” She watched with a bemused expression as I carefully traced the bones of the wing with my fingers. Moments latter hot semen flowed onto my stomach, I felt her coat turn into a matted and sticky mess. She gave a soft satisfied sigh. My exhausted and battered body, no longer driven by the cascade, succumbed to unconsciousness almost immediately. * * * The moon was full and bright, casting it's cold light down upon the hill top where I lay. All the world was beautiful like sharp ice. “This means nothing,” Starfall assured me from an arms length away. I smiled back at her before drifting off into a deep and dreamless slumber.
Chapter 6For a week after my release from holding I sequestered myself in the zoo while my body mended. I buried the memories of that dream as deep as I could. Long days of nothing happened. The discomfort from my ribs and later a growing haze of stir craziness made it impossible to focus on the books for more then a few minutes at a time. I accomplished nothing. I only waited impatiently for something to happen. To my disappointment nothing did. Soon I started making trips out into the city to a local coffee shop. The trips were uneventful for the most part. * * * One day a rosy pink pony stood in my path. Just sat there looking at me. Waiting. I gave her a friendly nod and walked by. * * * The next day a rosy pink pony stood in my path. Just sat there looking at me. Waiting. I gave her a friendly nod. “Hey.” “Hey,” I returned stopping. “You wanna come with me?” I stood there like an idiot. “Gloves on?” She offered, like it wasn't her first choice. “I'm John.” “I'm Tulip.” I followed her dutifully like a lost lamb to her place. It was a cozy little top floor suit over the flower shop she probably ran. I always made a fuss when I found out somepony was a self-employed business owner. It was very common here but the staggering economic mobility of ponies always surprised me. We sat in her apartment, talking about her business, while the cascade slowly filled the room and we fell in love. I excused myself and left. * * * The next day Tulip stood in my path. Just sat there looking at me. Waiting. We exchanged friendly nods and I followed her home. I couldn't tell her about my adult life. I didn't want her to think less of me. I told her about my childhood, about living on a family farm and working in the fields. The still air very quickly filled with the smell of each other till we fell in love. I excused myself and left. * * * The next day I spent twenty minutes searching for Tulip before I found her. We exchanged friendly nods and I followed her home. She asked if I wouldn't mind her bringing along a friend for our next visit. I told her I supposed it was okay. We sat in her apartment staring at each other till we fell in love. I excused myself and left. * * * The next day I spent over an hour searching for Tulip before I found her. “I can't have you over today, sorry,” she apologized. “I suppose you could have other things to do.” I nodded, somewhat surprised at how needy I was being. “I'll catch you next time.” “Still okay if I bring a friend, next time?” “Sure.” I said, relieved that there would be a next time. And with that we parted ways. Feeling lonely I took the long way back to the zoo. “Hi again,” said a stealthy pink unicorn, with her head under my gloved hand. I laughed. “You actually remember me?” My fingers stroked her ears reflexively. “Sure, I was your first. Wasn't I?” “Yeah, you were.” “I thought so,” she caught my glove in her teeth and started to pull it off. “I'm kinda trying to keep those on,” I complained catching the cuff. “Well, you aren't wearing those things around me,” She struggled stretching the glove out in an impromptu game of tug of war. “Oh, come on, be nice!” I grinned. “I'm trying to be nice!” “Hold on-” “Fine!” She spat out the glove and walked away. Wait... come back... please? The words died on my tongue as I silently watched her go. I straightened the glove. Then I took them both off and put them in my pocket. Then I put them back on. I wandered pointlessly for a few hours till curfew. I actually caught myself looking for that sneaky unicorn a few times. It was a Murphy's Law kind of thing. They never find you when you really need them to. * * * At dinner I found myself seated next to a woman. “It can become a habit, those gloves.” I started. She said nothing and kept eating. “I don't think I've ever seen someone using with a fork while wearing gloves.” It was strange and strange things have to picked at. Unexpected mysteries had to blundered into. She took off her glove and showed me her bare hand. Hoof rot wasn't properly an STD you see. It was a fungal infection that required prolonged physical contact and sweat. You could technically get it wrestling. But then you could probably get crabs that way too. But humans don't have hooves to catch the rot, I hear you say. Humans do however have finger nails. This woman on the contrary did not. Her fingertips were dark, swollen and oozing, her nails had long since fallen away. She put her glove back on. “You seeing a doctor about that?” I leaned back rapidly loosing interest in my meal. She shot me a look that suggested I was insane. * * * Tulip stood in my path today. Without word or gesture we fell into step and I followed her to place that was not her home. A more impoverished single floor home. She gestured to the sofa. I sat. “My friend's name is Feather Step,” She told me. “I want you to think of her as a friend. Like I am.” “I'd be happy to,” I replied. I wanted another pony to hang out with when Tulip was otherwise engaged. It would make things much less lonely. “She's late,” I saw her glance at the door impatiently. “How did you meet her? This Feather Step?” She blushed a little. “She's actually the one that got me into humans in the first place.” “Oh,” I said, I could taste that there was a juicy story here. “Yeah, she kinda brought one over. It was just so incredible.” “It is isn't it?” I laughed. “They went... ah...” She began awkwardly. The door opened and a familiar stealthy pink unicorn stepped inside. Feather Step took a long hard, almost hate filled, look at me. “Gloves. Off.” Tulip just blushed harder and tried to hide her expectant smile. I really should have expected this.
Chapter 7I didn't feel so good. One foot in front of the other I followed my homing instinct. The city looked different at night. The street lights shone with a gentle blue light instead of a dingy yellow. It's relaxing and pleasant. Maybe I should lay down for a little and rest? “You! Human!” It hurt to turn around. A bright light shone into my eyes blinding me, but I knew better then to turn away. “Good evening, officer.” “Do you know what time it is, human!” There was the sound of an unseen assemblage of wood and metal moving it's self into readyness. “Indeed! I got a little side tracked while I was out and am just now heading back home. Could you overlook my minor transgression?” There was a pause. A deliberation. “It won't be happening again,” I assured him. “See that it doesn't.” He sounded almost disappointed as he put away his man catcher. I left before he had a chance to change his mind. I pressed my sticky fingers against my face as I struggled to calm myself. Sticky? There was some kind of sticky congealing tar on my fingers. It was thin is some places and thick in others. It looked black in the soft blue light. Whatever, I had to get back to the Zoo. A trip to the bathroom to wash up was a minor addition. *** After fast apologies to the guards at the gate, I made it into the well lit entry hall of the Zoo. There was a terrified squeak from the empty front desk. I was in a hurry but I swung close by the front desk. It was just the regular receptionist in her gimp suit and gas mask hiding out of sight. Something had spooked her but she didn't seem to be in any trouble. I had to go to the bathroom. It was important. I really didn't feel well. I tried to wash my hands. Whatever was on my hands was staining the sink. I tried to look in the mirror, but it didn't make any sense. Something was wrong. More of that sticky stuff was under my shirt. I dropped my heavy coat onto the floor in my haste. Like it didn't matter. I tried to take off my shirt and... It hurt. It hurt a lot. With just the left arm, I pulled the shirt over my head and down the right arm. I touched... it. Under the... stuff my fingernails touched... metal. I looked into the mirror again. I saw someone I did not know. Someone pathetic and broken. My stomach heaved and bile leaked past my lips and into the basin. I touched it again. It hurt. It hurt so much. Fingers reached around it on their own plunging, it hurts, it hurts, I shouldn't be doing this. Fingers seeking out the edges and gripping, this is a terrible idea. Fingers taught the arm pulls, ripping. What is this? What am I doing? Why is it in me? Fingers twisting, wrenching, get it out, get it out, get it out! The metal horseshoe hit the basin with a muffled clunk. I was crying. Of course I was crying. This was the time to cry. She really did a number on you didn't she? She... Who... Oh, yeah... Her. “Here just for you, so you don't forget again.” Feather Step, the stealthy pink unicorn pressed the heated horseshoe into my chest. There was the sound of sizzling meat, the smell of searing pork. It burned in, it stuck. Like a steak on an unoiled pan. The cascade was absolute. I loved her even still, and I knew that she felt the same. I let her. I let her do that. She knew I would let her. Of course she knew. How could she not know? I was using my shirt to staunch the blood. My arm was getting tired. I needed... Something. What was that something I needed? I looked at the stranger in the mirror. Oh right. I draped the coat over my shoulders and holding the makeshift bandage in place I made my way back to the receptionist. I needed help. I should go ask for some. A door opened. “Hey jackass! Some of us are trying to sleep around here! Shut up already!” “I'm on it!” I gave the fellow a friendly wave and reassurance as I passed by. There was a sound of confused sputtering and finally the closing of the door. The receptionist was fending off the the pointy questions of a pair of guards, standing off by the front door was a pair of ponies in hazmat suits. The paramedics I would have to assume. I approached the front desk “If I might interrupt...” “Go away human, this is a matter for the guard.” “Okay then...” I turned around and approached the paramedics. “Pardon, I seem to be in a bit of trouble...” “Listen we're just here doing our jobs, can you go bother somepony else?” Not unexpected. Standard fare to be sure. The receptionist saw some some guy covered in blood and called for some help. They had arrived while I was indisposed and now it fell entirely on my shoulders to ensure the emergency personnel recognize me as the person they are here to see. I doubled down with the paramedics. “Sirs, I am in need of some medical attention.” “Listen, we aren't a pharmacy and we don't hand out band-aids. Take your paper cut somewhere else, we're here to find somepony who is really hurt.” I didn't have the strength to legitimately try to strangle them. “What if I said I was the person you are here to pick-up?” “Listen, you look like a nice guy and all, but if you don't leave we're going to call those guards right over there and make you leave.” I could just go back to my room and go to sleep. I probably, like 60-80% chance, wouldn't even bleed to death in the night. No I could give it one more try. I turned back to the guards. I sat down for a minute on the way across the room to catch my breath. “Hey guys.” “We're busy doing actual work here.” “I couldn't help wondering what it might be that your pestering our sweet little receptionist about.” “If you must know, she called us here on a false alarm of some sort.” “What if it's not a false alarm and there is someone here that is hurt?” “Then you'd better disclose this information as to were this person is hiding.” “Here. Me.” As the guard's pony turned to face me the end of his man-catcher hooked my knee. I fell.
