It was late into the evening, Lorraine stood in the hotel lobby as, flying above her, Princess Joy adjusted a glowing gold sphere floating near the ceiling.

"Princess Celestia sure was quick with these Sun Orbs," Joy said brightly. "It's a good thing she sent so many, that way you're not restricted to one room."

"Yeah," Lorraine agreed. "I'm guessing everyone is away for the holidays? It's been really quiet here."

"Yes, we're closed until January, Tartarus enters a sort of dormant state at the end of the year that reflects the slowing down of mortal societies during this time. I'm just here for the last bit of cleanup, and to make sure Angel Dust and Alastor don't do anything reckless," Joy replied cheerfully. "I'll be here for a few more days and then you'll have the place to yourselves."

There was a knock at the door, the princess steadied the orb with a hoof and flew down to the front door.

Princess Joy opened the front door.

Five familiar mares were unceremoniously dumped onto the lobby floor by an exasperated Mourning Star.

"Your problem now." the king stated, dumped a thick envelope at his daughter's hooves, and teleported away.

Pinkie Pie was giggling as the ponies untangled themselves. "See girls? I told you it would work!"

"I don't think annoying the king of Tartarus was really the best idea Pinkie..." Twilight said as she sat up.

Lorraine watched her friends sort themselves out, sidestepping a familiar pink blur.

"Lorraine!" Pinkie whined. "You're supposed to accept the glomp, not dodge it!"

"I'd rather not," the doe said politely as the other mares crowded around her. Lorraine held up a hoof to silence the oncoming barrage of concerns. "Just gimme a sec."

Lorraine looked over at Joy, who was reading the contents of the envelope. "That the paperwork?"

Joy looked over at her and smiled. "It is, Al and I want to look over it first before you sign it. Why don't you take the time to fill your friends in on what's happening?"

"Sure." the doe agreed.

Lorraine led the small group to a sitting room off of the main entry room. Pinkie immediately jumped onto the plush couch. Much to the annoyance of Rarity.

“Darling please, be a tad more civil, will you?” The alabaster mare sighed as she sat down next to the pink mare currently gathering all the pillows for some reason.

“But I’m just so happy to see Lorraine!” Pinkie countered.

“We all are Pink.” Rainbow replied, hovering over to her own chair before, landing and kneading the cushion with her hooves so she could assume a proper pony loaf position.

“And I’m certain Lorraine plans to tell us everything.” Twilight nodded, waiting for the doe to find her own spot.

“Only if she’s okay with talking.” Fluttershy added as she sat down on Rarity’s other side.

Lorraine snagged a couple of cushions from Pinkie's hoard as she walked past to take a seat in a tall-backed, red armchair, placing a cushion on either side of her.

"You got the gist of it, yeah?" the doe asked. "Got kidnapped, escaped, fought Magic Cthulhu, and now I'm pulling a Persephone and staying here every winter."

“Perse-what?” Rainbow blinked.

“Magic Cthulhu? Like an evil, eldritch high priest or something?” Pinkie asked with a gasp.

“No, I meant an eldritch abomination. Cthulhu is the one you see most often.” Lorraine shook her head.

“Oooooo! Gotcha.” Pinkie nodded.

“So you’re staying here because of some contract with Mourning Star, right?” Twilight asked from her own chair.

“She is.” Alastor said striding in while holding a tray in his palm. Said tray held various coffee cups as well as a steaming teapot and what looked like a selection of teas and a can that had to contain hot chocolate mix.

The former deer walked over and set a cup of hot chocolate next to the doe, before setting the tray on the table in the center of the room. “For you, ladies.”

Pinkie virtually pounced on the hot chocolate can.

“Why… Thank you darling.” Rarity said with a somewhat strained smile.

“You’re all two-legged now.” Rainbow said bluntly.

Fluttershy stared wide-eyed. Only for her wings to pop straight out. She immediately yelped and tried to force her wings down by hoof.

“No! No! Sweetheart you’re doing it all wrong, yous gonna hurt yourself!” Angel Dust yelled only to rush into the room and picked up the blushing butter mare. Which he immediately plopped into his lap when he sat down, so he could pet the mare to get her to relax.

“Doll, your muscles are too tense.” Angel frowned down at the mare.

“Ladies, Angel Dust. Angel Dust, Ladies.” Alastor gestured to Angel Dust, then the group.

“A pleasure.” Rarity said, scooting over a bit as Fluttershy melted under the spider demon’s four rather talented hands. “However, before the interruptions. You’re going to be staying here for the winter?” She asked, looking towards Lorraine.

"Yeah, have to demon-sit," Lorraine replied, motioning to Alastor as the radio demon conjured up a chair of his own to sit next to her. "Sort of like a vacation, I guess?"

“Well it could be worse, I guess?” Twilight said with a shrug.

“Twi, she has to stay in Tartarus.” Rainbow raised a brow at the purple mare.

“Hey, Tartarus can be civilized.” Angel pointed at the pegasus not in his lap.

“Details dear, you really didn’t tell us much.” Rarity said as Pinkie returned to her seat, squishing the mare between herself and Angel. Much to the white mare’s irritation.

“Well Lorraine got locked up with Alastor in his fancy holding cell in the Committee’s Tartarus division headquarters. The eggheads wanted them to fuck, but they didn’t and ended up busting out. Oh yeah, that was also probably helped by John getting possessed by that Chaos God and running amok, until John and Lorraine here kicked him out of John’s head.” Angel rambled, causing Fluttershy to stiffen and the other mares to stare at him. He gestured between Alastor and Lorraine. “Oh, and these two are also technically married.”

Alastor took off his monocle and rubbed his eyes. “Thank you, Angel…”

“Wut?” Rainbow said slowly.

“John was… possessed?” Pinkie’s mane started to deflate.

“And you were locked up by the Committee? But Celestia said-” Twilight started but was cut off.

“MARRIED?!” Rarity virtually shrieked.

Angel blinked. “Oops.”

"Solaire's looking after John, he got really badly hurt during the fight," Lorraine explained calmly. "I was able to talk to him briefly though."

"But, married!" Rarity spluttered, gesturing at the doe.

Lorraine looked at the group sternly. "Due to a curse Alastor has due to being a demon, he needs to stay around me to remain sane, and after a serious discussion with John, we're forming a Deer Herd specifically for our protection."

“You’re finally making a Herd?” Fluttershy perked up.

“I don’t think they’re the same kind of Herd.” Twilight said with a small frown, looking lost in thought.

“Soooo, are you recruiting?” Rainbow asked with a small smirk.

“I hope so!” Pinkie said with a gasp as she almost spilled her hot chocolate.

“Maaaaybe?” Lorraine said slowly.

“She’d probably be very selective.” Twilight said. “Oh, I remember now, you’re going to be the head doe and John’s going to be the head bug.”

“And I am thankful that he let me in, for my sanity’s sake at least.” Alastor said with a small chuckle.

“Oh that’s so romantic…” Rarity said with a drawn out sigh. “To have such loving males doting on you.”

“Rarity, what are you talking about?” Twilight screwed up her face at the white mare. “Deer Herds aren’t anything like Pony Herds.”

“Is Gilda gonna join?” Rainbow asked casually.

“I don’t know.” Lorraine said with a shrug towards the pegasus.

“I just want her to be happy, ya know? You two aren’t really my type, no offense.” Rainbow said with a small wince.

“That’s fine.” Lorraine replied.

“Ummm, could I join?” Fluttershy spoke up. “John’s kinda… cute.”

"I'm sorry, wut?" the doe deadpanned.

"Well, um... I think he's..." Fluttershy trailed off.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "You can say you think he's hot 'shy."

Twilight let out a long-suffering sigh.

“He’s hot.” Fluttershy squeaked out.

“We don’t have to go there.” Twilight face-hoofed.

“But Twilight, Alastor wouldn’t be in the Herd if she didn’t find him attractive.” Rarity protested.

Alastor burst out laughing.

“Wut.” Lorraine stared at the white mare. “No, seriously, what?”

“Pony Herds are all about the sex.” Angel chuckled.

“They are no-” Rarity cut herself off as she screwed up her face in thought.

“They really are.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “I don’t want a herd, maybe a guy or girl or two so I can really understand how relationships work.” She paused. “Huh, maybe I should ask Caramel and Garble about it, they’ve been borrowing a lot of books lately.”

“Twilight, what if they’re into each other?” Rainbow asked.

“Huh?” Twilight blinked.

“Hey, don’t crush her dreams like that!” Angel frowned at the pegasus.

“Sweet Celestia… Pony Herds are all about sex…” Rarity said, physically slumping into the couch.

“And Rarity’s world has been rocked, and not in the fun way.” Pinkie patted the mare’s shoulder.

"Rarity is kinda right though, you guys wouldn't be in this mess if you didn't like each other." Rainbow pointed out, turning the conversation back to the doe girl.

Alastor had calmed down, almost sneering at the blue mare. "And what exactly, do you mean by that?"

"That Lorraine thinks you're hot or something?" Rainbow said. "She can say she's different but everypony gets crushes or finds people attractive. That's how forming a herd works."

"Actually that is the norm," Twilight pointed out and looked at Lorraine. "About our conversation from before you were taken, do you mind if I bring it up with Alastor and Angel in the room?"

Angel Dust was paying a lot more attention now as Lorraine shrugged.

"Go ahead." she said.

Twilight faced the group. "Do you girls all remember what Lorraine shared with us a couple of days ago?"

“Yeah.” Rainbow replied.

“Mmhmmm.” Fluttershy said, coming out from her shy shell once again.

“Of course.” Rarity nodded.

Pinkie was too busy finishing her chocolate to answer.

"I highly doubt Lorraine finds Alastor attractive in the way you're thinking of," Twilight explained. "I couldn't stop thinking about how Lorraine described her own veiws on sex and attraction, it reminded me of some research I did as a teenager."

“Is this going somewhere?” Rainbow asked.

“Shhh!” Rarity shushed her.

“Go on.” Fluttershy said as Angel returned to kneading at the mare’s back.

"What I'm saying is, there are people out there that function differently in comparison to what's normal in our society," Twilight stated. "You all know there are ponies who like others of the same sex, both sexes, others outside their species. But there are those out there that don't find anyone sexually attractive, or in Lorraine's case, only under specific circumstances."

“Huh?” Rainbow blinked.

“Oh right, I remember now.” Rarity nodded, sitting up properly again.

“Poor girl had one Hell of a freak out when she figured it out.” Angel commented.

“I can confirm.” Alastor agreed with a nod.

“So she might be sexually attracted to John but that might not be the same for Al.” Pinkie spoke up.

Everyone looked at her.

“What? I was paying attention.” Pinkie glanced at everyone else in confusion.

“Pinkie’s right. I think.” Fluttershy added.

"You figured it out?" Twilight asked Lorraine and the doe nodded.

"With help, keep explaining though... I'm still adjusting to the whole idea." the doe admitted sheepishly.

"That's fine," Twilight smiled at her and resumed. "Our friend Lorraine is demisexual, she doesn't feel sexual attraction, or as Dash would say find someone hot, nor want to have sex with someone unless they had a strong emotional bond first."

“I knew she was weird, but not that weird. Not that being weird is a bad thing!” Rainbow quickly added. “Just, different, and makes my head hurt.”

“I think Dash prides herself on her sexuality, and someone basically lacking one threw her for a loop.” Pinkie said with a nod.

“Yeah, that sounds like her.” Fluttershy added.

“Be that as it may, I’m happy that you figured yourself out, dear.” Rarity said with a smile. “But, how does this connect to your Herd?”

“It… doesn’t?” Lorraine replied slowly.

“Rarity, her Herd doesn’t have anything to do with her sexual attraction, or lack thereof, to anyone else.” Twilight said then paused. She looked at Alastor. “Okay, it might have a little to do with it.”

"If you want to be technical, I essentially developed strong emotional attachments to fictional characters, further amplified and validated by romantic fiction and explicit material being commonplace and expected in my society," Lorraine said. "Since I won't find my romance candidates sexually attractive from the get go, the forces that be made my preexisting fictional crushes real, banking on the subconscious and conscious association with those characters to fuel this harem anime bullshit that is my life."

"It's not appearance that serves as the primary factor for her, it's personality," Twilight added. "Though that doesn't stop her from having her own personal tastes."

“So, what’s that mean in less words?” Rainbow asked, scrunching her face up in confusion.

“She preferred people from books, when she came here she got those people from the books.” Pinkie explained.

“Oooooooh. Gotcha. Like Al there.” Rainbow nodded at the demon, who nodded back.

“She finally got it.” Twilight slumped in her chair.

“Took her long enough.” Pinkie giggled.

“Hey!” Rainbow pouted.

There was a faint rumbling from outside, followed by a moment of silence.

“What was that?” Pinkie asked.

~Knock knock knock, knock knock.~

~Thud~

They felt the front door shake.

“Coming!” Joy called out as she raced through the hallway. “Oh, hi! You’re here already?”

“Yeah.” Came John’s voice.

“They’re in the-”

“I can feel where they are, thanks though. Sorry to barge in.” John cut her off.

“It’s fine.”

There came the clopping of hooves then a heavily cloaked and hooded John stepped into the doorway. There was a strange sway to his walk, like he was off balance. He plodded over to the doe girl. Said doe girl grinned. Her tail was wagging like she was an excited puppy.

John stopped and knelt next to the chair, something under the cloak hit the floor with a thud. “Hi.” He said. Not much of his face could be seen under the hood. “It was the best Solaire could find. I’ll need Rarity to make me some proper outdoors stuff when she can.”

“You okay?” Lorraine asked.

“Honestly, kinda iffy. Having ups and downs. I’m okay at the moment. Took a couple days to even get out of bed.” John chuckled.

“John, it’s only been a day.” Alastor commented.

John’s head turned towards the radio demon. “Solaire’s home realm runs on different time. An hour here is a day there.”

“Hyperbolic Time Chamber!” Pinkie called out.

“Hey, somebody gets it!” John’s head turned toward the pink pony.

“Darling, why the… cloak?” Rarity seemed to recoil at the rather ratty brown cloak.

“I told you guys he got hurt.” Lorraine chided.

John’s left hand came out of the cloak and he tugged down the hood.

There were gasps from the mares. Fluttershy squeaked. Angel grimaced. Alastor’s smile actually looked a little strained. Lorraine didn’t even look in his direction.

“The only reason I’m not looking is because I don’t want to faint. It’s an involuntary reaction.” Lorraine explained.

Pinkie got up off the couch and trotted over. She sat in front of him.

John’s different eyes stared at her as his brow raised.

“I’m not sure if I wanna make a batmare joke or a Phantom of the Opera joke.” The mare said with a hum.

“Pinkie! That’s horribly offensive!” Rarity said with a gasp.

“Sing once again with me, our strange duet.” John intoned, getting a grin from the mare. “You have a point though. A mask for the lack of face would be great.”

“Yeah but, Batman.” Lorraine countered.

“You have a point, however I would like to have you look at me without fainting.” John countered her counter.

“You could be Batman.” Lorraine added.

“But I don’t have brain for detectiveness.” John frowned.

“I gotta give it to Lorraine, you make a better Two Face.” Rainbow spoke up.

“Wait. Wait a sec. John needs an eyepatch and a full mask with only one eye hole.” Twilight spoke up. “Preferably with the left side orange and the right side black.”

“Oh right, Lorraine loves Gabriel.” Pinkie commented.

“God dammit.” Lorraine grunted with a small sigh.

“If I get a few things, I can make whatever you need John.” Rarity said with a nod, composing herself somewhat.

“Thanks.” John nodded, and re-hooded himself.

“John, have you been lonely?” Pinkie poked at his right arm under the cloak.

“Hey! I have not, thank you very much!” John said, somewhat flustered.

“Pinkie.” Lorraine said warningly.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. It was a jackin’ it joke.” Pinkie said defensively.

“What do you me- Oh goodness!” Rarity gasped as John stood and shrugged the cloak off his right side.

“Look at the size of it!” Rainbow got up and raced over.

“I know you missed your doe, but slow down man!” Angel called out.

“Thank you Angel, I know it’s a thicc unwieldy length of meat.” John said dryly. “And I could have worded that better.”

“Look at those claws.” Rainbow poked his hand with a hoof and John raised it slowly and flexed his hand before lowering it just as slowly.

John recloaked himself. “Still getting used to the weight. Have to actually work out the rest of me a little just to move easier with it.”

“That’s awesome.” Rainbow said with a nod and a grin.

“I mean, it’s weighty and hard to move sometimes.” John said leaning against Lorraine’s chair. “Sometimes I need to heal myself just to get my breath back.”

“I’m sorry.” Pinkie said, frowning a little.

“As I said, still getting used to it.” John shrugged.

Alastor hopped out of his chair. "How about you all stop treating the man like a roadside attraction and give him some space?" The demon motioned for the bug to take the vacant seat beside the doe girl.

John sat down and suddenly the pair of chairs merged into a small two-seater loveseat. With a wave of his hand, another chair appeared and the radio demon promptly sat in it.

John scooted over and put his good arm around the doe. “Hi.”

“Hi.” The doe said happily.

“Soooooo.” Pinkie started, retaking her seat on the couch. “Cute bug, doe girl, would you be interested in adding another pony to your little thing you’ve got going on?”

Author's Note

Lucid: It feels great to write again and it flowed really easily with Dragon. I hope you all enjoy. It's been awhile.

Dragonfire2lm: I admit, I had a bit of hard time getting back into working on this story specifically, I've been hyper-focused on my Henry Stickmin Crossovers, but it was great to be able write with Lucid again. I hope you enjoyed this.