As of this chapter the story is going to be tackling more explicit topics periodically. Thus the rating will be bumped up to Mature.

The town hall had been booked by the school for the end of year talent show. Families sat in the chairs provided and large red curtain concealed the makeshift stage in front of them.

Lorraine, now sporting vibrant, green bucksleaf leaves on her lower legs and back, sat next to John in the front row alongside the families of the various students performing that day. Several families gave the pair confused or condescending looks but the couple paid it no mind as the next performance was about to start.

“Spike and the girls are up last,” Lorraine said quietly. “After they’re done, I’ll head backstage to pick them up and you run over to Rarity to tell her to get the party ready.”

“Sounds good to me.” John replied as the curtains opened and Cheerilee walked on stage to announce the next act.

The small area behind the stage was abuzz with activity as props and sets were hauled away, families looked for their children, and the students themselves were buzzing with excitement and beaming with the success of their shows. Lorraine looked around and spotted the backdrop Applebloom had worked on being hoisted into a cart, but no sign of the filly or her friends. As ponies trickled out of the area to head home, the doe wandered around in search of the teenagers. She stopped at the doorway to a small room that had a sign on the wall designating it as a costume and makeup room for the event.

“Oh please. That was a mess. Who even uses black-lights anymore?” Diamond Tiara snorted. “And how could you even call that singing?”

“It sounds like you’re having a hard time even coming up with insults. That’s new.” Spike commented, taking off his sunglasses and putting his guitar away.

Lorraine walked into the room to find the Peacewalkers cornered by Diamond as they were taking off their costumes and putting away their equipment. “Hey guys, almost ready to go?”

“Just a minute.” Sweetie Belle replied, following the doe’s silent cue to ignore Diamond.

Diamond in turn looked over at the doe. “Huh? Oh, you’re the bitch that mom keeps ranting about. I really don’t see what the big deal is. You were prettier before the change, you were the dragon right?” She said dryly. “You’ve got a stud like that buck wrapped around your hoof, and I almost forgot about that bug of yours. Easy to forget, honestly.”

“...And I should care because?” Lorraine replied, her face briefly morphing into something best labeled as absolutely furious before returning to her usual calm expression. The doe paused. “Wait, aren’t you a little young to be talking like that?”

Diamond immediately blushed. “I-I just haven’t had my growth spurt yet.”

“Like the rest of us.” Scootaloo added as the girls and Spike walked around the “filly.” “We know.”

“Aside from Spike, you’re all still minors,” Lorraine said, shifting into a more authoritative tone as she addressed everyone in the room. “This is nowhere near appropriate behavior for a bunch of kids still in high-school and I don’t care if your parents let you get away with it. It’s still not okay.”

“You’re not my mom!” Diamond snapped.

“You wish she was, Spoiled’s a terrible influence.” Spike replied.

“Spike. We don’t stoop to their level.” Lorraine chided. “We can just walk away, besides, We’ve got a party to get to, remember?”

“You’ve got a point. Sorry Lorraine.” Spike said with a sigh then looked at Diamond. “Sorry Diamond.”

“I don’t need your pity!” Diamond snapped before storming out of the room.

“Wow… She’s been harassing you guys daily right?” the doe asked as she made sure everyone had their things.

“Yup, every dang day fer the past year or so,” Apple Bloom replied. “If it ain’t about Scoots not bein’ able to fly, then it’s about Sweetie likin’ mares or about the fact that AJ is still in jail.”

“She’s just… ugh!” Sweetie groaned in frustration. “No-one aside from our families believe us when we tell them because Spoiled has this stupid town wrapped around her stupid hoof!”

“I don’t mind it so much since the blatant racism is sort of the norm for me anyway.” Spike shrugged.

“You kind of have to get used to it,” Scootaloo said as the doe led them out of the room. “Or it just ruins your whole day, you know?”

“Look on the bright side, you’ve only got one more year of school left and there’s no way her behavior would be tolerated once she’s an adult.” Lorraine stated.

Three fillies and one dragon looked at her oddly.

“You have seen her mother right?” Spike deadpanned.

Lorraine sighed. “I was trying not to think about that…”

Lorraine walked into the guardhouse to find Akechi waiting for her. The pegasus was wearing his usual cold weather attire of a long brown coat and black boots, as well as his metal saddlebags,

“What’s up?” Lorraine asked and the prince led her to a side room and motioned for her to take a seat. The room had only a table and two chairs, placed across from one another. The doe took a seat and watched Akechi as he pulled out a thick folder stuffed with papers from his bag and placed it on the table.

He slid into the chair opposite her, expression carefully neutral. “These are the reports the guard has received regarding you and your houseguests over the last few months. The majority of them are from various mares expressing concern about possible acts of domestic violence or abuse happening within the household, a rather alarming issue as I’m sure you know.” Akechi’s tone was serious.

He looked at the doe coolly. “Imagine my surprise when, after a bit of investigating, I deduce that these reports are all fake. Made to slander you specifically but that brings up another concern.”

“Did I do something wrong?” Lorraine asked. “Is there something else wrong?”

“Tell me, how is your home life?” The detective prince asked. “Do you feel safe at home? Is anyone making you uncomfortable or forcing you to do things you don’t want to do?”

“No-one’s forcing me to do anything… Everything’s fine. Everyone’s getting along fine… Why?” the doe answered curiously.

“Are you certain? You are sharing a house with a demon after all, he hasn’t done anything? Perhaps convinced you to keep quiet about it?” Akechi pressed and at the doe’s utterly baffled expression, elaborated. “There are stallions who do take advantage of their status in Equestrian society to do some truly cruel things to the mares they form herds with. Smaller herds or monogamous couples have a history of incidences where stallions think they can get away with physical, emotional, and sexual abuse so many victims often feel as if they have no choice but to accept such behavior as normal because that is how society treats it.” Akechi continued, a cold, detached look sliding into place as he spoke. “After all, what sort of mare just lets a stallion do that to them? Some even find it funny, most write off such actions as a joke or a myth...”

“Akechi, nothing like that is going on,” the doe stated. She looked appalled, uncomfortable. “Nothing even remotely like that is going on…”

“I’m only making sure,” the pegasus said and leaned back in his seat. “There are systems, organizations and laws in place to help people trapped in abusive relationships, if you ever feel like anyone, anyone at all, is forcing you to do things that are outside of your comfort zone, talk to me immediately.”

“Okay.” Lorraine said simply. “... You do know we talk things out right?”

“So I’ve heard yet you continue to allow a demon, who has made it known that he desires you in some fashion, to live alongside you with no thought to the danger you and everyone else could be in.” Akechi drawled.

“I’m not stupid and it’s not like I have a choice,” Lorraine replied. “I know Alastor could do god knows what and I’d be able to do fuck all about it. That’s why I’ve been trying to get to know him, to understand why the hell he’s interested in me in the first place, in the hopes I can talk him down from doing something dumb when he gets all his powers back.”

“And just how is that going for you?”

“Fairly well actually,” she stated. “He’s willing to at least humor me so far, he does care about me and I can see him making an effort to understand where I’m coming from with the whole herding bullshit Ponyville enjoys shoving down my throat and he’s respected me and john when we told him to knock off the flirting… hell he’s been oddly supportive of us after that.”

“And when he does get his powers back and returns to his original demonic self, what then?” Akechi asked.

“He was interested in me when he was still a demon, best case scenario is that I can talk to him and work something out,” the doe shrugged. “Worst case scenario, I get trapped in Tartarus, separated from John and forced to make a deal with Alastor just to get my boyfriend back. I’m sure Princess Joy could help me out.”

"Sorry I'm late, Akechi called to the guardhouse to ask about some old reports." Lorraine said as she approached Rarity, already seated at one of the corner tables in the Tea Shop.

"You're always early to our weekly lunch anyway darling," The mare waved her off and observed the doe as she took off her cloak and draped it over her chair before she sat down. The mare looked concerned. "He wasn't too...intense with his questions was he? I've been privy to a few of John's training sessions with him and his highness has a tongue as sharp as his wit."

"Just some stuff that came out of left field, nothing you need to worry about," the doe replied. "Shy not here yet?"

"She popped out to remind Rainbow and Twilight we actually have these meet ups. Winter preparations are always hectic."

Lorraine nodded. "I've heard, between getting Thorax settled and getting used to being a Flora Deer I haven't really been paying attention to what's going on around town aside from the fact that the weather team is basically on a time crunch to get the town ready for snow an' stuff."

Their conversation halted as a Rainbow Dash darted to their table and slumped into an empty seat.

Twilight wasn't far behind. "We're not late are we?"

"Oh I hope not..." Fluttershy quietly fretted from beside the unicorn.

"Nah, you're fine," Lorraine said. "Who's ordering?"

Rainbow groaned. "I just sat down..."

"I'll go." Twilight offered as Fluttershy took a seat next to Rainbow and rubbed the pegasus' back in sympathy. "Everyone getting their usual?"

With nods and affirmations all-around, Twilight headed towards the register.

"So, Lorraine-" Rarity began.

"Rares, I know that tone. No."

"I have no idea what you mean darling-"

"That's your shipping shenanigans voice," the doe deadpanned. "I get enough of that from Futuba when she comes over to play videogames."

The mare pouted. "Can I ask the question at least?"

"Just one question."

Rarity's face lit up. "I only have one teeny-tiny question," she cleared her throat. "Do you have everything you need for your upcoming season?"

The flat expression the doe sported spoke volumes as Lorraine pointed a wooden hoof at the leaves that covered her lower legs.

"Other than that, dear. This will be your first estrus after all, you need supplies, a plan- you do have a plan don't you?" Rarity asked.

"...What. In hell, would I need a plan for aside from taking suppressants and staying indoors?"

The three ponies shared a look.

Fluttershy broached the subject gently. "Lorraine, does have a um, more intense breeding season than ponies..."

"It's gonna hit you hard." Rainbow added.

The doe girl blinked. She took a moment to compose herself. "I can function perfectly fine while... distracted. Hell, as long I'm not in pain or practically peeing blood afterwards, I don't care."

"-Blood? Wait, you're talking about the cycle you said human females went through." Rarity realized.

"I still call bullshit on that." Rainbow commented.

It was then that Twilight returned. "Bonbon will bring our orders over. What did I miss?"

"Twilight, be a dear and help us explain to Lorraine why she needs to be properly prepared for her first estrus." Rarity said.

"Oh, I forgot that was soon-"

"Why is this such a big deal?" Lorraine groaned as Twilight sat next to Rarity. "I already looked up the affects. Unstable magic, hormone changes and arousal for several hours over a few days every week from December to the end of February. I did take that into consideration when picking the damn form..."

"Traditionally, a pony's first breeding season is a big event," Twilight explained. "Not only is it a biological milestone, but it's often the first major hurdle for new or early relationships. The abrupt changes that happen can often seem scary and it can put a strain on relationships."

"Not to mention mares do dumb shit during their first heat." Rainbow stated, propping her head up on a hoof.

"I am a grown-arse woman." Lorraine deadpanned.

"Why don't we talk about it this after lunch?" Fluttershy suggested politely.

The group of five continued the conversation at Rarity's place, the other mares and one doe ushered into Rarity's bedroom by the fashionista.

Rarity closed her bedroom door and the group took a seat on the mare's rather spacious bed. Rarity sat propped up by pillows and looked at the doe expectantly.

Lorraine, a deer loaf near the middle of the bed, looked somewhat annoyed. "Even if my heat cycle will hit me like a truck, why do you care?"

"Well, as your friend, I'm worried you may... Do something foolish."

Lorraine snorted in dry amusement. "You really think I'm going to do anything, pfft."

"Oh come on!" Rainbow whined. "You have a coltfriend-"

"Boyfriend." Lorraine corrected.

"Whatever, point is, you two have an excuse to finally do something!"

"Wow, gee thanks Dash," the doe snarked. "Way to go, invalidating all the time I've spent with him just because I don't fuck him."

"Why won't you? Wait no, I take it back." the pegasus scrambled to apologize as the doe stared at her, entirely unimpressed. "Sorry! You're just weird."

"I'm telling Gilda when I get home."

"Don't! I'm sorry!"

"Rainbow does bring up an interesting difference between our cultures though," Twilight spoke up. "Intercourse is considered a requirement in Equestrian courtship, it can make-or-break a relationship."

"I wouldn't say it's a difference of cultures," Lorraine argued. "Humans are like that too, to a degree."

"But not you?" Rarity asked.

"I'm only gonna explain it if you swear to keep it to yourselves,' Lorraine stated. "I mean it, this isn't something that's openly discussed normally."

"This is important to you isn't it?" Fluttershy realized.

"I had to do a lot of thinking to understand it so it's not something I'll share lightly." the doe clarified.

"It won't leave this room, promise." Twilight stated.

"It will stay between us." Rarity agreed and Fluttershy nodded.

"I got your back." Rainbow said.

"Thanks. Now how to explain it," Lorraine said. "There's probably some way to describe it, a person's sexual orientation was a big deal back on Earth, there were a whole bunch of labels to help people figure themselves out. I never really thought about it until I got together with John. -there's probably a word for it but I dunno what it is. To sum it up, I can recognize both objectively attractive qualities in someone, as well as what I find aesthetically pleasing but that alone won't do anything, so to speak. Even just sex for the sake of it is unappealing."

"I love John for who is and his support, any time I spend with him, is enough for me. I don't want to fuck him because I'm happy with just his care, affection and being able to be there for him in turn." the doe elaborated. "When I am interested in intimacy, it's the emotional connection in a relationship, the trust and support inherent in the act has my interest more than the act itself, I personally treat sex as act of intimacy and vulnerability built on a healthy relationship." Lorraine shrugged. "I do have a sex drive, I can just not think about it, switch gears so to speak, and I'm only interested in a very small list of intimate things and only with John."

"Weird." Rainbow said blandly and Rarity threw a pillow at her.

"Well, did you talk to John about your upcoming cycle?" Fluttershy asked calmly. "Have you two decided what your going to do?"

"This is about the having kids thing, isn't it?" Lorraine sighed. "For fucks sake... What I'm going to do is stay at home, take my suppressants as scheduled and cuddle the shit out of my boyfriend. What we do in private is our business. We have no plans to have children." Irritated the doe added. "If I wanted a kid, I'd adopt or grow one because plant."

"So to summarize, you don't really feel physical attraction but rather emotional attraction?" Twilight suggested. "How does work with fiction?"

"...I thought it was obvious," Lorraine said. "I get attached to a character and project that attachment onto fanfiction, wherein my emotional investment in said character is rewarded with whatever story catches my interest. I want to see more of them, I want the character to be happy, I'm either curious about them, can relate to them or care about them in some capacity."

"Um...Wouldn't that mean you read erotic fanfiction to fulfil your own fantasy of being emotionally supportive or vulnerable around those characters?" Fluttershy suggested.

"I will admit that yeah," the doe agreed "But fiction is a different matter entirely, sometimes I just find certain things interesting from-" the doe explained but was cut off.

"Can't you just say you find it hot like everypony else?" Rainbow grouched.

"Nope. Plus, romantic situations are easier to envision within the confines of fiction," Lorraine stated. "That reminds me, I can't fantasize for shit. It's kinda funny, I have a boyfriend but anything more intimate than a hug is beyond me, kissing is just gross."

"Well then, it appears I was worried for nothing." Rarity said.

"Rares, even if I'm proven wrong and the next three months are miserable as all hell, I'm not going to just...you know."

"Bang the one guy you'll want to?" Rainbow suggested.

"Yeah, that," Lorraine replied. "Besides, given the fact that the affects of estrus will affect my mental state regardless, we won't be doing anything anyway because that just screams dubious consent. And that's just horrifying in all honestly."

The doe girl looked around at the group. "So, we done? Can we talk about something else now?"

Author's Note

Dragonfire2lm: I wrote all of this chapter, aside from Diamond Tiara's lines which Lucid helped write. If there's any mistakes or missing words, let us know in the comments.

Please be advised that we're moving into a story arc that contains sexual themes and some minor horror elements. We will Not be writing explicit sex and nor we will feature graphic gore. These themes are only used for the purpose of moving the story forward and won't be the main focus.