If You Forgot It, It Couldn't Have Been Important
Canterlot Park usually helped Wallflower Blush stay calm. The gorgeous greenery took her mind off her problems, letting her focus on the beauty of leaf and petal. Keeping herself from flying off the handle should have been a literal walk in the park.
Should, but wasn't. June was barely a week away, which meant it was crunch time for the yearbook committee. And that meant daily exposure to Sunset Shimmer, who consistently failed to recognize Wallflower even as her very existence reminded the green girl of all the torment she'd inflicted on CHS. No amount of begonias could soothe Wallflower's resentment.
But that didn't mean Wallflower enjoyed feeling that anger. She'd already tried telling off Sunset and erasing the experience from the other girl's mind. Multiple times. Each one left her more guilt-ridden than the last, more filled with shame and regret that did nothing to counteract her continuing hatred. And her current plan, the one that would finally unload all of those ugly feelings on Sunset and keep them there...
Wallflower had seen magic turn people into monsters plenty of times. She sometimes wondered if she'd already transformed and not even she had noticed.
"Okay, Wallflower," she muttered to herself. (After all, she could always use the Stone on anyone who noticed.) "We're going to use a sounding board. Tell someone, see their reaction. That'll be enough to drop this plan and find... something else. That isn't confronting Sunset directly." She shivered at the idea of doing so and letting Sunset remember the experience. "Next person you see."
As if on cue, the next turn revealed a girl about Wallflower's age sitting on a park bench, looking around and smiling at nothing in particular.
Wallflower clenched her fists and walked up to her. "Um, hi."
The other girl turned that smile to her. "Hi! Nice to meet you."
"Uh... same." Wallflower took a deep breath. This was edging way too close to normal social interaction. "This is going to come out of nowhere, but... can I confess something to you?"
"Huh. Sure, I guess." The girl patted the unoccupied part of the bench. "Seat's free."
Wallflower swallowed against the lump in her throat. "Thanks." She shrugged off her backpack and sat next to the girl. "Okay, so this is going to sound insane, but... do you know about the weird stuff going on at CHS?"
The other girl nodded, the grin never leaving her face. "Oh yeah. Did you hear about the giant woman with the magic mirror at the mall earlier today?"
"Huh. I missed one." Wallflower wasn't sure how to feel about that. She shook her head and dug the Memory Stone out of her pack. "Anyway, this rock? It's magic too."
That finally got the girl to react, though she seemed curious more than anything. "That doesn't look like something charged by a random mana wisp. What's it do?"
"It erases memories. And I'm going to remove every good memory of Sunset Shimmer." Wallflower had thought saying it out loud might make her decide the whole thing was a bad idea. Instead, she found herself sitting up straighter, a fire of determination blazing in her heart. This was the right path to take, she just knew it.
"I see." The fire flickered. Wallflower had honestly forgotten about the other girl. "May I ask why?"
Wallflower tightened her grip on the Stone. "Ever since the Battle of the Bands, people have completely forgotten about what a horrible person she is. I'm going to remind her and everyone else along with her."
"Ahhh." The other girl nodded. "You know, I've been in your shoes."
Wallflower had expected shock, disgust, maybe even morbid interest. Not what amounted to "big mood." "Y-you have?"
"Right, I never introduced myself." The girl offered her hand. "Hi, Starlight Glimmer. Unicorn, self-taught sorceress, former cult leader and archnemesis of Twilight Sparkle. The 'former' applies to both." After a moment, she added, "And I mean the princess, not the girl with glasses."
"What."
"Suffice to say, I've done the 'obsessive, vengeful stalker' thing."
Wallflower flinched back at the idea. "I'm not stalking her! I wasn't even there for the giant woman!"
"Eh, from what Sunset tells me, she wasn't that impressive compared to some of the other things this world has faced." Starlight scowled. "Of course, Sunset wasn't the one who nearly got eviscerated by those claws." She shook her head. "Point is, this isn't your best plan."
"Let me guess," Wallflower grumbled, "my best plan is to make friends with Sunset."
Starlight shrugged. "Couldn't hurt, but that may not be best for you. Why do you want to erase all of those memories?"
That got a flat look. "I just told you."
That got an even flatter one. "Speaking from experience, nopony ruins somepony's life for completely impersonal reasons."
Wallflower thought about denying it, or maybe just nitpicking about the pony pronouns, but her objections dried up under that stare like tomatoes in a drought. "She doesn't even notice when I'm in the room. I mean, most people don't, but her especially. She was like that even before I found the Stone."
"And more so afterwards?" said Starlight, one eyebrow raised.
"I... may have used it to erase some awkward social moments." Wallflower shook her head. "But that's not the point! This way Sunset will be just as miserable as I am!" She blinked. "Wow. That sounds really petty when I say it out loud."
Starlight nodded. "Like I said, I have absolutely been where you are right now. Now, I've used my share of mind magic, and I can see a much better way to handle this situation with the tools you have available."
"Like what?"
"Well, I do need to know the specifics of how that thing works." She poked the Memory Stone. Wallflower had forgotten she'd still been holding it. "Pretty sure my plan will work based on what you told me, but it never hurts to check. Don't want to almost burn down another castle."
"Uh..." Wallflower chose to ignore that. After all, Starlight was the closest thing she'd had to a friend in way too long. "Well, it actually came with instructions." She dug through her backpack for the Stone's parchment wrapper. “I always keep them with me, just in case I accidentally erase myself."
"Has that ever happened?"
"I wouldn't know," Wallflower deadpanned as she passed Starlight the instructions.
The other girl laughed. "Good point!"
Wallflower smiled at that. Not only did someone notice she was there, they enjoyed her presence. It was a nice change of pace. "So, what are you thinking?"
"Hang on, let me go over this real quick..." Starlight unfolded the sheet and browsed it for a few moments. She drew back and nearly dropped it. "Whoa, Clover the Clever?"
"Big name in magic pony land?" Wallflower had looked; the closest thing she'd found in this world was some minor Renaissance scientist.
"Equestria. And yes, very much so. He helped found Equestria." Starlight turned back to Wallflower. "Where'd you say you found it?"
"Buried near the school."
"Makes sense. He'd hoped the low-magic environment would drain the enchantments to uselessness. Lucky for us that didn't happen." Starlight nodded as she refolded the instructions. "Okay, it can do what I'd hoped it could. It's all a matter of framing the command properly."
Wallflower rolled the Stone in her hands. "So what were you planning?"
"Well, I got the idea from human Fluttershy. Don't know if you know her well, but her pony counterpart is terribly... shy." Starlight shook her head. "Okay, I guess that's kind of obvious. But when I asked this one how she dealt with being in a band, she told me about a fascinating method to cope with anxiety that just wouldn't work in Equestria."
"Which is?"
Starlight grinned. "I want to keep it a surprise. Trust me, you'll love it."
"How am I supposed to do it if you won't tell me?" said Wallflower.
"Oh, you won't." Starlight held up the Stone, which was already drawing memories into itself.
"H-hey!" Wallflower reached for it.
Starlight just held it over her head, thoughts still streaming in. "Relax. I'm not going to include you; that would defeat the whole purpose of the exercise."
"How did you even do that?"
"I'm friends with a stage magician. Sleight of hoof is so much easier with fingers." Starlight waved her free hand.
Wallflower sat back down, arms crossed. "I'm tempted to wipe this whole conversation from your mind."
Starlight shrugged. "I find it's better to beg forgiveness than ask permission. Besides, it's nice to make another friend here. This world is fascinating."
Shock replaced any resentment in Wallflower's mind. "F-friend? Really? Me?"
"Sure! You remind me of that magician I mentioned. She's a bit more outgoing, but deep down, she was as lonely as you are when I first met her."
Wallflower bit her lip. "Just... please don't use the Memory Stone again?"
Starlight frowned at the Stone. "Can I be honest with you, Wallflower?"
"I hope so."
"I think you might be developing a bit of a dependence on this thing."
"Just because I use it after almost every social interaction doesn't..." Wallflower slumped and sighed. "Okay, point."
"I tell you what, I'll hold onto it until after school..." Starlight frowned. "You, um, do have school tomorrow, right?"
Wallflower gave a wary nod. "Right..."
"Perfect. You see how my idea works out, no take-backs or erasures. At the end of the day, if you want the Stone back, even if it's to undo everything that happens that day, you'll get it. Deal?"
Wallflower hesitated. Going without the Stone for a whole day sounded terrifying... but it was for a friend. And she'd still be able to clear out everything eventually. "Sure. Will you tell me what you did then too?"
Starlight winked as she got up from the bench. "Oh, I think you'll be able to figure that out on your own."
The next day dawned hot and only got worse from there. Wallflower brought her usual morning routine into overdrive once she saw the temperature.
Once she was ready to head out the door, she went into the living room. "Hey, Mom?"
Her mother looked up from her laptop. "Yes, Wally?"
"Could you drop me off early? I need to make sure everything at school gets enough water."
Mrs. Blush nodded. "Of course, dear. Though I just got an email from Principal Celestia. You'll need a towel."
Wallflower blinked. "A... towel?"
"Don't worry, I already got one for you. It's on one of the kitchen chairs."
"Oh." Wallflower had wondered about the hibiscus-patterned beach towel during breakfast. "Um... okay?"
She took it with her. What else could she do?
Once everything got watered enough that it would make it through the worst of the day, Wallflower went into the building itself. She held a hand over her eyes as she moved for the entrance. Even before nine in the morning, it must have been pushing ninety.
She went inside and noticed two things in quick succession:
One, it wasn't any cooler. If anything, the complete lack of airflow made it worse.
Two, most of the other students wore nothing but shoes and either swimsuits or underwear. And some of the exceptions wore only shoes.
"Hey! Wallflower!"
It took a bit for Wallflower to process that; first getting over the shock of seeing so much skin in the hallways, then registering that someone actually recognized her. But in time, she spotted Starlight.
Who only had on her beanie.
Wallflower rushed over to her and hissed, "What the actual fuck did you do!?"
"Hey now, let's not get ahead of ourselves," Starlight said with a salacious wink.
Wallflower was in no mood for winks, salacious or otherwise. "Starlight."
"Okay, okay. Lighten up. I just told the Stone, 'Make CHS students forget everything that would stop them from physically expressing themselves how they want at school without harming others.'" Starlight shrugged, which led to some jiggling. "You know, more or less. And something similar for the faculty."
After a few false starts, Wallflower said, "How does that lead to everyone in their underwear?"
"Well, once they forgot about that silly nudity taboo, I just needed a little help from a screwdriver, a pair of bolt cutters, and the local Trixie. Not that she remembers that." Another wink.
"What."
Starlight beamed. "It's like Fluttershy told me, only better! Why just imagine everyone in their underwear—"
Wallflower facepalmed. "When they can actually be in their underwear. Or less."
"Exactly!"
"This is insane."
Starlight gave a very equine-sounding snort. "Hey, ponies don't usually wear clothes. On that note, hi, Sunset!"
"Starlight! Hey! Who's your friend?" an all-too-familiar voice said from behind Wallflower.
"We've—" She stopped dead as she turned around to face the centerfold-worthy body that was Sunset Shimmer, completely bare from the ankles up save for her geode necklace. Her breasts bounced hypnotically as she rushed over to them, the faintest sheen of sweat making her glow under the fluorescent lights.
Wallflower was pretty sure she was straight, but she wasn't that straight.
Starlight put an arm over her shoulders. "This is Wallflower Blush. We met yesterday in the park."
"Cool," said a smiling Sunset. "You go to CHS?"
"I..." Wallflower shut her eyes to block out the golden, toned distraction. "I'm in the yearbook committee with you. I've been doing the landscape shots."
"Really? I thought that was... Um..." After an awkward cough, Sunset said, "Well, my face is red."
Wallflower opened her eyes. At some point, her head had dipped down to Sunset's crotch. "It's not alone." She gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth.
And Sunset laughed.
She nudged Wallflower with an elbow. "You're a hoot, Wallflower. I'll be sure to look for you in the club room today. Got to make up for lost time. See you then!" She waved and walked away.
After a few stunned moments, Wallflower squeaked out, "What just happened?"
"I'm no expert, but I think you made a friend." Starlight gave that smile again, the one Wallflower now knew meant "I've done something crazy and I'm proud of it." Out loud, Starlight said, "Still think this is insane?"
"Yes. But..." Wallflower took a deep breath. "I guess I'm willing to give it a try."
The insane-pride smile redoubled. "That's the spirit!"
Walking through the halls of CHS felt like moving through a dream. An awkward one. New arrivals came in, went to their lockers, undressed like they were getting ready for gym, and just went on with their day from there. When she'd woken up today, Wallflower had never seen a penis in real life. By the time she got to her locker, she'd seen five.
Furthermore, other people had seen her. And their whispers were never quite quiet enough for her not to hear.
"Who's that?"
"Showing off that outfit?"
"What's her deal?"
It wasn't like she was wearing her favorite sweater. Not even she liked it enough for this weather, instead wearing a baggy T-shirt with her usual jeans. But even those were getting uncomfortable. She could feel the sweat soaking into her shirt where her backpack pressed against it.
And so, at her locker, she faced a choice. And as she looked around, she realized more and more people were looking at her. Because she was the weird one. She stood out.
"Isn't she hot?"
"She's more cute than hot."
"Well yeah, but I meant warm."
Wallflower blushed. She wasn't sure what kind of attention she wanted, but this wasn't it. Despite the heat, she felt goosebumps as she pulled off her shirt and stuffed it into her locker. The jeans followed before she could even think about it, leaving her in an uninteresting bra and boyshorts.
And no one cared. Frankly, she'd seen even less flattering underwear on a few other girls, including Twilight Sparkle.
A cry from the other side of the hallway made Wallflower turn. "Applejack, what are you wearing!?"
Then there was Rarity, who no amount of memory erasure could keep from clothing. If anything, she was dressed up even more than usual, in something like an ancient Roaman toga... which hung from only one shoulder, leaving one pert breast bare, while stopping at mid-thigh.
"Well, I ain't never worn 'em yet," said Applejack. She shrugged, which had interesting effects on the cherry-red lacy bra with an apple embroidered on each cup. Between that, the abs, and the farmer's tan, it took Wallflower a moment to notice the jean shorts beneath it. "I figured today'd be a good time t' show I hadn't forgotten 'em."
Rarity sputtered for a few moments before taking a deep breath. "I do appreciate that you're wearing my gift, dearest, but your sweat will ruin it by the end of the day!"
Applejack put a hand on her hip. "I thought ladies didn't sweat."
"And how often have you reminded me that you are no lady?"
"Fine." Applejack removed the bra with little ceremony and tossed it into her open locker. "Happy?"
Rarity pouted as she fussed at the discarded underwear. "Now it will be all wrinkly. It's going to crease!"
Applejack shook her head. "You are impossible, I swear."
That got her a peck on the lips. "Admit it, you love it."
She smirked. "Never said I didn't."
Rarity's expression shifted to a frown as her gaze went south. "You're wearing the panties too, aren't you?"
Applejack sighed and unbuttoned the shorts. "That seam's gonna go places only you should." She pulled them down, revealing panties that matched the bra.
"So don't wear the shorts," said Rarity, as though that were a perfectly sane and valid option.
"I like havin' pockets," Applejack said as she rebuttoned her bottoms.
Rarity shook her head. "If you would just get a purse..."
The first bell made Wallflower jump, shove everything she needed into her backpack, and dash for her first class.
Wallflower wasn't quite late, but it was a near thing. Thankfully, she'd beaten the teacher in. Even so, she learned the reason for the towel: Hot plastic and bare skin were not a good combination. Everyone else in the room already had terrycloth on their seats.
By the time Wallflower had everything arranged, Principal Celestia's morning announcements began. "Hello, students, and happy Monday. As you have no doubt noticed, the building's air conditioning has stopped working. Our custodian Mr. Mule is working on the problem and says it should be fixed by tomorrow. In the meantime, the cafeteria refrigerators are working fine and you can pick up bottled water for free from Granny Smith. Stay cool and stay hydrated. Also, I will remind all students and faculty that only students who are eighteen or older may completely disrobe on school grounds."
Principal Celestia went on from there, but Wallflower's attention, already shaken by that last sentence, got completely torn away when Miss Cheerilee walked into the classroom. She was technically following the guidelines Principal Celestia had just set out. All the relevant bits were covered, which was more than Wallflower could say for some of her classmates.
But she was still wearing a swimsuit. A one-piece, true, but with noticeable cleavage and a bottom so thin, it was nearly a thong. And Wallflower was pretty sure that was only half the problem...
Once the announcements were over, Miss Cheerilee smiled and said, "Good morning, class! Sorry I was a bit late; a little traffic jam in the teachers' lounge while everyone got into something more comfortable." She patted her braided updo.
Wallflower considered how Mr. Doodle might handle the heat, then immediately wished she hadn't.
"So, we ended on Friday with Hurricane the Great naming a third city after himself..." Miss Cheerilee turned to the blackboard, revealing what Wallflower had thought she'd seen, a vast expanse of exposed raspberry back and ass. From behind, the swimsuit was absolutely a thong, the only other visible fabric thin straps that went across the base of her neck and where her arms met her shoulders.
Miss Cheerilee was saying something, but Wallflower couldn't hear anything over the rush of blood in her ears. The room was already sweltering even with the open windows, but her face felt like it would burst into flames any moment now. She wasn't sure what she'd expected, but it wasn't this.
A thump to her side managed to break her shock. She glanced, then tried not to gasp or stare. She managed the former.
The boy next to her had eyes locked on Miss Cheerilee, one hand on his desk, and the other stroking himself. Wallflower watched, captivated as he was, as he went up and down his length. It had been one thing to see them just hanging there. Watching as it rose and swelled...
She tore her eyes away, trying to focus on the lecture.
Miss Cheerilee had apparently dropped the chalk, given how she was bending over.
Damn it.
The swimsuit was just barely wide enough to hide everything it had to. Once Miss Cheerilee straightened up, she looked back and gave the class a wink. "I'm flattered, everyone, but please try to focus on the lesson. This will be on the final."
That prompted several thumps, bumps, and scrapes of desk against linoleum as several boys and one girl all put on the most innocent looks they could manage while each wiped off a hand.
For her part, Wallflower just kept her eyes on her notes and followed along with as few glances up as she could manage. She still caught several cases of suspiciously repetitive motion in the corners of her eyes.
After a brief eternity, the bell rang, and everyone filed out, towels in tow. The crush of bodies and smell of sweat and other fluids sent shudders down Wallflower's spine. The relatively fresher air of the hallway contrasted with that many more barely—if at all—clad bodies moving through it. Hardly anyone wore more than underwear at this point. Even Rarity had stripped down to almost painted-on panties, and a nude Pinkie Pie bounced in every sense imaginable.
Wallflower turned a corner just in time to hear "A pox on whatever broke the air conditioning. A pox, Trixie says!" Trixie tossed back her cape, revealing her bare body for a moment before it settled back on her shoulders. "Trixie should've picked a lighter fabric for this thing," she grumbled.
"You could always just take it off," Lavender Lace said from beside her, having done the same with whatever she'd been wearing.
Trixie scoffed and cocked back her hat. "The show must go on." She slumped. "Even if the show feels sweaty and gross."
At that point, as much as she wanted to keep watching, Wallflower reached her next class.
She was not ready for the bulge.
She didn't think anyone could be ready for the bulge.
"Wallaroo! Good to see you," said a voice above it.
"Wallflower, sir." She managed to drag her eyes up to Mr. Iron Will's face.
"Of course, of course," said the blue slab of beef that walked like a man. He didn't look sweaty so much as oiled, and wore nothing but a Swifto the size of a handkerchief. "Take a seat. Number two pencil, you know the drill."
Memory struck. The math quiz was today. A giggle escaped Wallflower. In her underwear, about to take a test she hadn't studied for. What was next, her teeth falling out?
She sat. More people filtered in, and the start-of-class bell rang. It almost felt normal.
Then Mr. Will started speaking. "Alright, last quiz of the year before the final. Check your work, don't rush. You're not getting out of here any faster, no matter how hot it is. And ladies, I know I can be distracting—" He flexed each pec, left, right, left "—but remember, hands off your clams, minds on exams!"
The quiz went surprisingly well. The sheer disbelief of hearing Mr. Will say that made the day up until then pale in comparison.
Mostly.
After math came gym, and Wallflower found herself wondering how changing was supposed to work. Coach Stormy Flare nodded when she asked.
"Good question, Blush," said the yellow woman, clad in tank top and bike shorts. Wallflower was just grateful to find a teacher who wasn't in swimwear. "It's bad outside, but the gym's an oven, so we'll be on the track like normal. Still, if it isn't a sock, shoe, or supporter, don't bother putting it on. You'll want as much exposed skin as possible to help the sweat evaporate."
Which was how Wallflower found herself outside and naked save for footwear. Only after leaving the building did she realize that when Coach Flare had said "supporter," she'd meant sports bra. A blowing whistle made it clear it was too late to act on that knowledge, though at least she wasn't the only one who hadn't made the connection.
"Alright, everyone," said the coach. "We're continuing our track and field unit, heat or no heat. That said, we've set up some shade and a cooler for those who aren't racing. To the track!"
If nothing else, thought Wallflower, it was a dry heat. The jog to the track was horrible, but at least she could stop in shade. The track curved around the school football field, where an awning stood propped up by poles like a tent with no sides.
"We're keeping it to dashes today. Nothing longer than a four hundred meter. I'm a hardcase, not a sadist. First up: Cloud Kicker, Nolan North, Thunderlane, and Rainbow Dash, who won't use her magic if she knows what's good for her."
"Yeah, yeah," Dash said as she limbered up. She had gotten the message about sports bras despite being flatter than Wallflower, which was an achievement in itself. Though going by how sweat-soaked it was, she might have been wearing it all day.
The runners got into position, skin glistening in the sun. "On the whistle, and not a moment earlier," said Coach Flare. "Ready, set..."
She blew the whistle, and the runners burst into motion like released springs. Wallflower turned as she followed them around the track, watching muscles flex and sweat drip. She barely noticed as Coach Flare called in new runners. The whistle blows were just punctuation to each round of bodies exerting themselves, chests heaving with each breath, the boys' legs hiding and revealing what lay between them with every step—
"Hey! Wallflower!" Rainbow Dash slapped her on the ass, and Wallflower nearly came there and then. "You're up!"
"S-sorry!" Wallflower scrambled to the starting line, wincing, listening for laughter and scorn.
"She was totally checking me out."
"No, she was checking me out."
"Kiss already, you two. She was watching me."
Wallflower gaped at the awning, barely registering the whistle. Then she was too busy trying to keep her lungs from exploding to think about it.
She staggered back into the shade. Someone put a cold bottle of water in her hand. "Thanks," she panted, pouring half of it over her before chugging the rest.
"Blush has the right idea," said Coach Flare. "I want all of you hitting the showers. Goodness knows everyone needs one while the school's a sweat lodge."
Wallflower gulped, feeling a chill from more than just the water soaking into her hair. And even that wasn't doing much against the itch in her loins, which was making itself known again amid her fading exhaustion.
Well, maybe if she took a cold shower.
Cold showers were not an option, not today. It was, at best, a cool shower, and Wallflower was still surrounded by other girls.
"Did you see Thunderlane?"
"Why do you—huff—think I'm using—huff—three fingers?"
Other girls who thought nothing of masturbating in front of each other.
"You know, I could do that for you..."
"Not everyone at CHS is gay, Cloud."
"Yeah, you and Lyra are just 'best friends.'"
Wallflower thought she was straight. She'd definitely believed that when she'd woken up this morning. Maybe it was just peer pressure making her fingers inch towards her slit.
"Yo, Wallflower!"
She jumped, hands darting away from her crotch. "R-Rainbow Dash?"
Dash leaned against the shower wall. "When do you have study hall?"
"F-fifth period?"
"Awesome! Same here. You know that one hallway where the lights never work?"
"The one where Sunset would take you aside and threaten you personally?" Wallflower had never experienced that herself, but she'd seen it more than once. Not that any teachers had ever listened to her about it.
Dash frowned. "Hey, she's cool now. Point is, if you can hold out, wait until then." After a moment's thought, Dash brought her own fingers to her folds. "Or do it now and then." She pinched one of her nipples and shut her eyes in pleasure as the other hand sped up. "Oh yeah, that works."
"We got ten minutes until our next class, Rainbutt!" Cloud Kicker cried as she toweled off.
"I can get myself off in ten seconds, Cloud Muncher!"
"Not something to be proud of!" Cloud flicked a towel at her.
Dash spun to avoid it, ended up leaning on the wall, and shivered as she proved her earlier claim. "So," she said as though nothing unusual had happened, "you in?"
Wallflower just stared for a few moments as she tried to process someone else initiating a conversation with her on top of everything else. Eventually, she got out, "I'll, uh... get back to you?"
"Cool."
Wallflower didn't bother getting "dressed" again. She did feel cool after coming out of the shower, but that didn't last long. The school was only getting hotter, and pretty much everyone had stripped down as much as they could. Though the heat didn't stop kisses, or the occasional grope. A musky smell hung heavy in the air, and Wallflower couldn't honestly say it was all bad.
Next was lunch, and Granny Smith was fully clothed. Which was... probably a good thing. A small and shrinking part of Wallflower thought the sight might have been a good way to get herself under control.
Still, she had to ask, "Aren't you hot?"
The lunchlady snorted. "You kids today. Call this hot? Summer o' '69, now that was a scorcher. Fried an egg on th' sidewalk jus' t' see if I could. Then Cousin Apple Rose went an' did th' same thing to her behind with her beau at th' time..." She shook her head. "Aw, you got me ramblin'. I'm fine, thanks fer askin'. Enjoy yer lunch."
"Thanks, ma'am."
The cafeteria was largely as it usually was... though there were definitely more PDAs than normal. And many of the couples—many of whom Wallflower hadn't realized were couples—were using the little corner tables and overlooked alcoves where she usually sat. Using them quite intensely.
Then, during what felt like Wallflower's third circuit of the room, the impossible happened.
"Hey! Wallflower!"
She stopped dead. Teachers noticing her, okay, sure. That was their job. Someone remembering her for a few minutes after seeing her, par for the course. But Rainbow Dash was surrounded by her friends, and food, and all the loud cafeteria conversation she could ask for, but had still managed to keep Wallflower in mind enough to recognize her and wave her down from three tables away.
Wallflower walked to the Rainbooms' table in a daze. The math quiz should have been a hint. Some of the most popular girls in a school, all naked as she was, asking her to sit with them? This wasn't actually happening. She was still asleep. Any moment now her alarm would go off and—
"Yipe!" She jumped at an impact.
Dash nodded in satisfaction. "I never forget a slapped ass."
"That's not really something to be proud of."
Oh. Right. Sunset Shimmer.
"It does say interesting things about Rainbow's learning techniques," Twilight said from next to Sunset.
Sunset gave a wry smirk. "That's definitely one way to put it."
"Hey!" The shout got Wallflower to look away from Sunset. As did the sheer amount of motion involved in Pinkie Pie leaping to her feet. "Don't be a Sally Standerson! Take a load off, stay a while!"
"Uh, I mean..." Wallflower bit her lip and sat. Rarity made room for her by shifting into Applejack's lap, even though there were already a few free seats. "Thanks?"
"No problem! I mean, we've been in the same classes since sixth grade, right?"
Wallflower blinked. "Um. Yeah. That is right."
Pinkie tapped a finger against her chin. "Even though the last few years of your dossier just say 'data expunged' for some reason."
"W-well, you see—" Wallflower frowned as she processed the part of that sentence that didn't incriminate her. "Wait, dossier?"
Pinkie pointed towards the lunch counter. "Hey, look at Fluttershy!"
Wallflower did, and her jaw dropped. She knew Fluttershy. She'd even spent a few lunches with Fluttershy back during Sunset's reign of terror, both having slipped through the cracks of the rigidly enforced cliques.
The young woman striding towards their table barely resembled that trembling ball of anxiety. She was confident. She was gorgeous. She moved like a model, secure in the knowledge that she was clothed in glory and fabulosity, which were clearly superior to actual fabric.
Fluttershy slid into the table, sitting close enough to Wallflower that their hips brushed each other, leaving electric tingles in her wake. "Well, hello. Who's this cutie?"
"W-wa-wa-wall—"
"Wallflower Blush," said Sunset. "She seems nice. Are you new here?"
It was a more effective mood breaker than a cold shower ever could be. "We met this morning. Again. Starlight introduced me. Not that she should've needed to, because I'm in the yearbook committee with all of you. I've taken half of the photos in the thing."
"Really? I thought that was..." Sunset shook her head. "No, Dash is just doing the sports teams. Applejack?"
"Ain't me," Applejack said, even as she playfully struggled to keep Rarity from stealing her hat, the one piece of clothing at the table that wasn’t footwear or a necklace.
"Huh." Sunset scratched her head. "I'm sorry, Wallflower, I don't know how that could've slipped my mind."
For the first time that day, the heat filling Wallflower had nothing to do with embarrassment or arousal. "You're sorry?"
"Oh." Sunset winced, as did everyone else at the table. "Oh boy, I know that tone. What did I do and how can I make it up to you?"
"You didn't do anything. Before or after. I was beneath your notice and I have been this whole time. Even when I was right in front of you."
Sunset furrowed her brow. "I... I'm not sure what to say. I've never had anyone mad at me for... failing to interact with them?"
"More like treating me like a piece of furniture," said Wallflower. "Do you know how many times you've turned out the lights in the yearbook room while I was still in there?"
That got a wince. "More than once?"
"... I honestly wasn't keeping track." Wallflower slammed her palms on the lunch table. "But it's a lot! You may act like you've changed, but people who aren't your friends might as well not exist to you."
Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. "Now would probably be a good time to mention I invited Wallflower to the thing next period."
Sunset smiled. "Perfect. Wallflower, I'm sorry I've taken your help with the yearbook for granted."
"That's still falling into the 'I'm sorry I didn't notice your usefulness to me' camp," said Twilight. "Based on my own experience at Crystal Prep, it would help if you acknowledged her value as a person and not just a means of furthering your own goals."
Sunset kissed her. "What would I do without you?"
"Hopefully still recognize Wallflower as a human being with inherent worth?"
"Right. Wallflower..." Sunset took a deep breath. Wallflower did her best to maintain eye contact. "Okay, this is going to sound awful, but even after all this time, most humans look the same to me."
"... What."
"Unicorn, remember?" Sunset hefted her breasts. "It took me a week to figure out the portal hadn't made me pregnant." She started ticking off points on her fingers. "Plus no one has cutie marks, there's no wings or horns or tails, this nose is useless, and even beyond all that, I had to relearn social skills after the Fall Formal, since 'be a bitch and hope the other guy shuts up' wasn't an option anymore.
"Point is, I don't notice a lot of people and I don't open up that easily if we haven't faced one another in magical combat." Sunset grimaced. "And saying all that out loud, I can see that those are all excuses that I've been using to stay in my comfortable little bubble. So thanks for the dope slap, I guess."
Wallflower's mouth worked silently for a few moments. "You're welcome? This is not how I expected today to go. Like, even more than any other part of it."
Sunset smiled. "Take it from me, friendship can surprise you. So, are you coming with us to that side corridor?"
Wallflower fidgeted. "Are you going to have sex there?"
"Nothing serious; just some friends blowing off steam. Me, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, some guys."
"Not all of you?"
"We don't all share a study hall," said Rarity, who had apparently won the battle for the hat.
"And I respect that Sunset's desire for physical intimacy outstrips my own," said Twilight.
Sunset smirked at her. "And you don't have free periods."
"And I have no free periods."
"So, you in?" said Dash.
"Um..." Wallflower licked her lips and shrugged. "You know what? Why not?"
The whole table cheered for her. She couldn't remember the last time that many people were excited for her.
It was nice.
By the time she walked to her study hall classroom, Wallflower was pretty sure the only bits of clothing left on the entire senior class were there to secure pads. A fair number of her classmates also sported erect dicks or nipples. A few even openly rubbed themselves as they walked. It made sense even through her own aroused haze: No one remembered why they'd never done this before, but it was still the most skin any of them had ever seen. Anyone who felt a drop of sexual attraction would get turned on in such circumstances.
Wallflower poked her door in the classroom and momentarily froze in shock. "Um, Ms. Harshwhinny? Aren't you uncomfortable?"
Ms. Harshwhinny glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. She was in her usual blazer, blouse, dress... The only concession she'd made to the weather was a pair of sunglasses on her desk. She wasn't even sweating. "It does not matter if I am comfortable or not, Miss Blush. What matters is that I am professional."
"Um... right. I'm going to be with some friends in a side hallway, working on a... group project."
"I'm sure," said Ms. Harshwhinny, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Very well, you're on the record as such." She nodded at the empty desks before her. "And perhaps the only student who bothered. Well done."
Wallflower's eyes widened as the ramifications hit her. "Thanks?"
Any break in the mood from the sheer mass of professionalism passed once Wallflower got going. As she'd suspected, seniors lingered in the halls in ones and twos, sitting on their towels and relieving themselves of the same need she felt herself. No one cared if anyone was watching. A few even waved at her.
One girl she didn't recognize pulled her mouth off of her partner's length to ask, "You want in? He's been eating his pineapple."
Wallflower managed to keep her jaw from dropping. "Th-thanks, but I'm seeing some friends."
"Cool. Don't let me stop you."
She walked a little faster after that, and the faint breeze caressing every inch of her did not help. By the time she reached the dead-end corridor, she heard a distinct smack of fluid against tile directly beneath her.
Thankfully, the others were already there, sitting together and chatting. Dash looked up at her and grinned. "Awesome, she's here." She jabbed Thunderlane with an elbow. "Worth the wait, right?"
Thunderlane looked over Wallflower from head to toe, then fistbumped Dash. That three-finger-worthy penis twitched in approval. "Definitely."
Wallflower tried to tear her eyes away. Really, she did. "Um... um..."
Her attention eventually got torn away by the boy who'd been talking to Fluttershy getting up and offering his hand. "Hey there. Name's Sandalwood. What's good?"
"I..." Wallflower shut her eyes, took a deep breath, and fell back on something comfortable and familiar. "We've gone to CHS together since freshman year." After a moment, she shook his hand. "But hi."
"That's Wallflower Blush," said Sunset. "She hasn't exactly stood out, but we're working on that."
Wallflower stared at her. "We are?"
Sunset gave her a sultry smile. "Hey, I don't invite just anyone to hang out. You've met Flash, right?" Flash Sentry waved.
Wallflower waved back by reflex. "Yeah. It, um, seems like we're going to do a lot more than just hang out..."
"Whatever you're comfortable with, Wallflower. For example..." Fluttershy took Sandalwood by the hand, guided him back to where they’d been sitting, and started stroking his dick with her hand.
He leaned his head back and gave a pleased sigh. "Righteous."
Fluttershy brushed her hair back, leaned down, and took the length into her mouth.
"Most righteous." Sandalwood stroked her hair like he was petting a cat as her head bobbed up and down.
"Giving you any ideas?" Thunderlane said to Dash.
She smirked. "I think you're forgetting who kicked whose ass at the four hundred meter in gym." She shoved him flat on his back and heaved herself onto his shoulders. "You're gonna suck my dick."
"Uh..."
"We went over this in human anatomy, dude. Clits are girl dicks."
"Right, right." Thunderlane wrapped his arms around Dash's thighs. "Though I have a few ideas of my own." She yelped as he got to his feet, teetering a little at first, then walking the both of them towards a wall. He mashed her against it as he started eating her out, Dash's protests quickly giving away to encouragement.
"Wallflower?" said Flash. He stood next to her, a hand on her shoulder.
"If you just want to watch," Sunset said from her other side, "I think we're both fine with that." Flash nodded.
"No!" Wallflower probably blushed, but she couldn't tell it from the heat radiating from every part of her. "This whole day has just been one big tease for me. I... really want this, but it's one thing to just, you know, see a penis in the hallway." Her eyes drifted down to Flash. And not-so-little Flash. "But this one, it's, well, right here. And happy to see me. And I'm going to..."
"Hey." A hand on her chin brought her eyes up to meet Flash's. "Speaking as the penis? There's pretty much no way you can mess this up. Sunset and I have done a lot of stupid stuff."
"Flash helped me figure out how ape bodies work." Sunset gave a half-lidded smirk. "Every part of them."
"And that means I have some experience with helping a girl get to know herself."
Wallflower let out a nervous giggle. "Is that what we're calling it?"
Sunset held her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "We want this to be fun for you, Wallflower. What's the point otherwise?"
"W-well. Um." Wallflower swallowed. "M-maybe if the both of you—"
"Attention, students."
"Come on!"
"This is Principal Celestia. In light of today's record-breaking high temperature—"
Rainbow Dash pumped a fist in the air. "Woo!" Thunderlane stumbled at the sudden movement and had to sit down.
Sunset gave Dash a flat look. "Seriously?"
"Broken records are—mff!—always awesome." Dash curled her toes. "Ooh yeah, right there."
"... Busses are en route," continued the announcement. "Please stay cool and hydrated, and enjoy the half-day."
Sandalwood blinked blearily up at the ceiling. "Wait, half-day?"
"Swee... Wait." Dash scowled. "Dang it!"
"What's wrong?"
Fluttershy sighed as she sat up. "It's not like we can leave school like this."
"Man, even my parents aren't gonna be cool with me bringing over this many people." Dash shuddered as she stood up. "At least, I hope they're not. They might cheer us on."
"Thought Luna'd be the one to blueball us," Thunderlane said as he wiped off his mouth.
Wallflower folded in on herself even as an idea came to mind. "I... uh..."
Dash turned to her with hope in her eyes. "Yeah?"
"What is it, Wallflower?" asked Sunset.
After a deep breath, Wallflower said, "I know a place on school grounds we can go to. It's shady, quiet, no one goes there..."
"Really?"
"Awesome!"
"Sounds perfect!"
Flash smiled at her, and she felt like she could float. "Thanks, Wallflower."
"After the day I've had? I'm cumming one way or another."
The walk to the Gardening Club area may have been the most surreal part of the day so far, especially as the group got curious looks from people who'd been reluctantly getting dressed at their lockers. The looks led to explanations, which led to more followers, which led to even more people noticing Wallflower. By the time she entered her private grove, she brought a group of over twenty people with her, all of them bare where it mattered.
She'd stopped blushing at some point. A small part of her wondered if she'd overloaded her capacity for embarrassment.
"It's beautiful here," Fluttershy said from Wallflower's side, eyes wide as she took in the greenery. "What is this place?"
"The Gardening Club."
"We have a Gardening Club?"
No, there was the embarrassment. Wallflower had just gotten used to nudity. "I'm the only member."
"Well, I'd be happy to join," Fluttershy said.
"Me too!" said a redhead somewhere in the group. Roseluck, maybe?
"Same here."
"Yeah!"
Wallflower's eyes watered as more and more people took up the call. She wasn't sure if they even knew what they were agreeing to, but she appreciated the spirit of it. "Thanks. All of you."
Sunset moved to her, trailing a finger along her side that left tingles in its wake. "I think we know how to thank you."
Flash flanked Wallflower, twining her fingers in his. "What was it you were trying to say earlier?"
Wallflower looked around. Already, people were pairing off. Or trioing off. Or... Wow, five? She wasn't sure how they were going to make that work, but wished them good luck. "I-I'm not on the pill, so—"
A cry of "Someone has a condom emergency!" rang out across the glade.
"Ah!" Wallflower ducked as Pinkie threw a box at her. "Where was she even keeping those?"
"It's Pinkie," said Sunset. "You're happier not knowing."
Wallflower had better things to do than worry about that. "If you could use your mouth... down there..." she said to Sunset before turning to Flash, "then so could I. Um, at first."
He nodded. "If that's what you want, Wallflower, that's what you'll get. Right now, this is all about you."
Wallflower knelt and considered the thing before her. Penis. Dick, darn it. She'd said it earlier; she could be an adult about it now. It was above average based on what she'd seen today. Not a third leg, but respectable length and girth. It twitched as she leaned in, responding to her breath like a time-lapse recording of a growing fungus.
The thought helped. Fungi liked dark, warm, wet places, after all. She could give it one.
Wallflower took it in her mouth before she could think any further. It was salty, mostly. A little bitter?
A lick along her own entrance made her gasp and stop worrying about the taste. She started moving her head back and forth, trying to copy the motions of Sunset's tongue as best she could. When Sunset flicked across her clit, she darted across Flash's head. When one tongue plunged into her depths, hers ran down the length.
Flash groaned and gripped Wallflower's hair. That was probably a good thing. So was the changing flavor. Probably. The day had left her so worked up that Sunset's ministrations had her willing to do just about anything. She tried to go deeper, felt herself reach the verge of gagging, and let the length come out of her mouth. One of her hands took over, using the motions she'd seen in first period, as she caught her breath.
"You okay?" said Flash.
"N-not ready for—hff!—deep throating quite yet." Wallflower looked around as she caught her breath, hand moving on automatic as she tried to focus past the feeling of Sunset's tongue in her snatch.
Rarity, still wearing the hat, had procured a glittering purple strap-on from somewhere and was slamming into Applejack from behind, somehow making it look stylish and elegant. Possibly-Rose and her two friends had formed a daisy chain, and Wallflower wasn't sure if that was a pun or not. Pinkie... had organized a party. She just happened to be the venue, spitroasted with a dick in each hand.
And Twilight sat to Wallflower's side, masturbating to her even as they made eye contact. "I'm a scientist," she said matter-of-factly. "I like to observe. And Flash is getting close."
"Huh?" Wallflower looked up to see Flash visibly struggling. She registered the heat and hardness in her hand and flinched back like it had burnt her. "Oh!"
"Kind of wish you hadn't done that," he groaned.
"I..." Wallflower licked her lips. "I wanted it inside—" The lack of distraction made her realize how close she was. "Sunset, stop!"
She pulled away with a look of mild frustration. "I'm fine with edging, but you should say something next time. What else are you into?"
"I don't know what I'm into. I just want someone to fuck me already!"
"Say no more." Flash had apparently gotten a condom on during the discussion. He knelt down before her. Eyes locked on his dick, Wallflower adjusted herself so she was on her back.
She felt breasts press behind her as orange hands started massaging her own. "I didn't think you'd want to leave me out," Sunset said into her ear.
Wallflower gasped as Flash entered her. “How do you feel?” he asked.
Her first attempts to answer him came out as a wordless mewl. She wasn’t sure if it was because this was her first time or because of the day she’d had, but she felt hypersensitive to everything happening to her. The hands on her chest, the cock in her pussy, even Sunset’s breath on her neck, it all threatened to overwhelm her.
“Don’t just sit there, Flash,” snarked Sunset. “Move for the girl before she falls asleep.”
“Did you seriously—” Another cry cut off Wallflower’s response as Flash followed Sunset’s order. The motion added a whole new layer to the sensation, especially after Sunset started rolling Wallflower’s nipples in her fingers in time with the trusts. “Y-y-you… Ah!” Wallflower wasn’t even sure what she’d been trying to say.
Sunset kissed her on the cheek. "Probably a big tangle of conflicted feelings in there about me. Hate and envy and more than a little lust. Let it all out, Wallflower. Stop letting it rot and let me have it."
“I… I…” Flash sped up, hands squeezing Wallflower’s ass. Every thrust chipped away at her hesitation. She turned to Sunset, and Flash found a spot she’d never known about just as she opened her mouth. "Yes! Yes! I hate you! I hate that I hate you! I want to be you!" Wallflower's head thrashed. She spotted Twilight at her side, one hand holding hers while the other fingered Sunset.
"I've been there, Wallflower." Sunset panted along with her. They kissed far less chastely, tasting each other, and in Wallflower’s case, herself. She thought she sensed a hint of Flash in there as well and tried to make sure. Sunset pulled back and breathlessly told her, "Let it go. Let me go. Be your own woman. The best revenge is being better than I ever will."
"I... You... Gah, fuck!" Wallflower threw her head back into Sunset's chest. Flash grunted, and Wallflower could feel the warmth pooling inside her, barely contained.
Wallflower lay there for a bit, enjoying the afterglow. Sunset’s voice broke her out of the daze. “So, how do you feel?”
“I don’t know. I think we may need some more sessions.” Only after saying that did Wallflower realize she didn’t have a filter after sex.
But Sunset snickered at the comment, and Wallflower’s faltering smile came back in full.
A purple hand rested on Sunset’s shoulder. “I have to ask that you wait,” said a flushed Twilight Sparkle. She kissed a spot on Sunset’s collarbone that made the other girl’s breath catch. “I have some matters to discuss with Dr. Shimmer.”
Wallflower started to object, but then she noticed how Twilight’s smoldering look came with a few actual, teal flames. “Um, yeah, you two go have fun. I’ll… watch the others with Flash?”
“I’ll let you know when I’m up for more,” he added.
“Thanks again for the—ah!—help, Flash!” Sunset gasped her way through the sentence, Twilight already trailing kisses down her body. She lay down, returning the favor as the two got into position to sixty-nine.
Wallflower glanced at Flash. It likely said something that she was more comfortable screwing a guy than actually talking to him, but one step at a time was progress, even if it took a really weird route. She looked back out among the crowd. Thunderlane was in Rainbow Dash, the two flipping around such that neither was on top for more than a few seconds. Lyra and Bonbon scissored, both of them proving very vocal.
“You’re my best friend!”
“You’re my best friend!”
Cloud Kicker pulled away from the cock of a boy Wallflower didn’t recognize. “Seriously, you two?”
And Fluttershy… was approaching Wallflower. “Thank you again for suggesting this place.”
“In a way,” said the girl next to her, “we have you to thank.”
Wallflower’s jaw dropped. “Starlight?”
“I told Wallflower about your anti-anxiety trick,” Starlight said to Fluttershy.
“Oh! I wasn’t sure if that would work for anyone else.” Fluttershy sat next to Wallflower, opposite of Flash. “I just find it helpful to remember that humans are still a kind of animal.”
“I’m more of a plant girl myself, but it’s been more helpful than I thought.”
“Glad to hear it.” Fluttershy gave her a half-lidded look. “And I can help you in… other ways, if you’d like.”
“I’m up for more too,” added Flash, stroking himself to stiffness, another condom in hand.
Starlight leaned in close to Wallflower and whispered, “So, happy with the way things are?”
Wallflower looked from Fluttershy to Flash and nodded. She kissed the former briefly but deeply before lowering herself onto the latter.
Wallflower tried to savor the experience as she moved herself atop him. Flash lay down, giving a pleased, masculine hum. Once he started thrusting along with her, her restraint wavered. Once Fluttershy sat on Flash’s face and trailed kisses up from Wallflower’s breast to her lips, it collapsed completely.
Before, Sunset and Flash had made love to her. This was fucking, hard and fast and just as wonderful in a different way.
And as Wallflower writhed in pleasure, she never noticed the length of memory streaming out of her forehead.
Starlight smiled as the last of the thought ribbon slid into the Memory Stone, which she’d kept under her hat. This way, Wallflower had no way to backslide. She couldn’t indulge an addiction she didn’t remember having, after all.
"I can call every part of this little experiment a success," Starlight said to herself as she made her way back to the school’s front yard. "In fact, I can probably expand it to apply to every human in this world. It might be a bit much, but if everyone here has a pony analogue, it should only be about a hundred million." She paused in front of the portal statue. "Okay, that may be more than just a bit much..." She grinned. "But hey, we won't know until we find out!"
She held up the Memory Stone and focused on all those silly concerns about clothing and sex that caused so much misery in this world. And this time she definitely wasn't projecting. With cutie marks, she'd lashed out against an ingrained part of the society she lived in. Here, she was just visiting.
At first, nothing seemed to happen. Then Starlight realized the new cloud creeping over the horizon was made entirely out of memories.
Then she turned around and saw it was creeping over every horizon.
"Um—"
A world's worth of memories slammed into the Stone, knocking Starlight on her rear and shoving her towards the portal. She wasn't sure how long it took; every time she tried to look at the point where it drew them all in, she forgot what she was doing.
Finally, one last ribbon made its way in like Pinkie Pie finishing a plate of pasta. The Memory Stone flickered, glowed more brightly, vibrated... and went dim and cold.
"Ummmm..." Starlight tried to erase her memories of breakfast that morning. Nothing happened.
"Okay. No need to panic. I'm sure Princess Twilight can fix this. When she gets back." Starlight gulped. "In three days."
With that, she slipped through the portal.
And Wallflower Blush came again, wondering why she'd waited so long to socialize.
Author's Note
Wallflower may not know the name of everyone at CHS, but she does know how long she's known them.
Based on Forgotten Friendship, Memory Stone victims subconsciously paper over the gaps in their minds, justifying the inconsistencies. That has... interesting ramifications.
"Harm" in the context of Starlight's command includes rape, unwanted pregnancy, spreading STIs, and violations of the Golden Rule in general. Based on when Mirror Magic aired, this is Season 7 Starlight; she does have some grasp on the consequences of her actions. Just not much.
I doubt I'll ever get tired of Sunset adjusting to humanity. Though this one was a lot more open to Flash helping her than the one in "Astronomy Lessons."
As for the ending, it's Starlight with mind magic and good intentions. Are you really surprised she went overboard?
