Chapter 2: A Sunset of Emotions

“Are you sure it’s okay for a Princess to meet a friend out here and not at your castle?” Sunset Shimmer questioned, a small playful smirk adorning her lips.

“Pffft,” Twilight scoffed. “I’m a mare first and a Princess second, Sunset. You know this,” she replied before she proceeded to devour her fifth hayburger. “Besides, I’d give my crown first over sticking to that diet Celestia and Cadance go through. They nearly starve themselves just to ‘keep in shape’.”

Sunset blinked, surprised. “Then that means Luna doesn’t do a diet? What about Celestia and her addiction to cakes? Also, could you please at least chew on those burgers more than twice before swallowing? It’s breaking my appetite,” she protested, her smirk never leaving her lips.

“We’re alicorns,” Twilight said after swallowing her mouthful, sloshing it down with half a cup of her third cola. “No matter how much we eat we can’t be out of shape to begin with! They should really let go and take advantage of it. Celestia’s infatuation with cakes and pastries is a perfect example. She eats all she wants once a moon, and she doesn’t gain a single gram of fat. Even though she eats enough to bring an entire squadron of Royal Guards down to a sugar coma. Kinda like Pinkie Pie,” she explained before finishing the rest of her current burger.

“Yeah, says the mare that should be having a heart attack with each bite she takes out of those,” Sunset countered in a sardonic fashion. “Damn alicorn genes or whatever is at play with you demi-god beings,” she sighed tiredly, looking down at her stomach. “I gained two pounds since last month and it is Tartarus to lose them!”

“Shhuks teh bii shfuuu~” Twilight jabbed in good humor.

“Eat my ass, Purple Smart,” Sunset grumbled, crossing her arms. She waited in silence for another minute while Twilight vanquished two more hayburgers. “Sooo… how’s everything going since the last time we chatted?”

Twilight shrugged. “A few things have happened. A villain defeated here, another celebratory ceremony, Spike started his own herd, and I think I convinced Flash to give herding a chance.”

Sunset stared at her for several seconds. “Come again?”

“I nearly choked him when he told me all about it! But when I saw how happy he was I couldn’t stay mad at Spike forever. Less so when I’ll soon have plenty of new nieces and nephews to spoil rotten!” She giggled. “Don’t think he’s done yet. Gabby has been spending a lot of time around him as of late.”

“No, no, not that! Although I’m happy for Spike!” Sunset leaned forward, nearly pressing her snout against Twilight’s. “What was that about you convincing Flash into herding? Tell me, tell me!”

Setting aside her current hayburger, Twilight smiled as she let out a dreamy sigh. “Well… I’m not entirely sure he’s on board, but he told me he would think about it and maybe give it a chance. He said he doesn’t know many mares that’ be comfortable around him or as part of a herd.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Sunset grumbled, returning to her seat. “It’s not like he had a major bitchy and manipulative girlfriend that practically controlled his life before meeting you - oh that’s right, he had one!” She exclaimed with poison-spitting sarcasm.

“And that’s all in the past, Sunset. You’re a different, better, smarter mare now. Flash doesn’t even resent you, trust me, I know,” she ate some hayfries before continuing. “Actually, he really misses you.”

“Yeah, right, misses me… ha ha… ha… D-Does he? Even after everything I did? After all the pain I caused him? How I used him to steal the Elements of Harmony?” She asked, eyes filled with hope.

Twilight nodded. “He was sad, Sunset. But you’ve seen him with your own eyes; he doesn’t hate you. True he was disappointed that his girlfriend was a villain that only used him.”

Sunset slumped on her seat. “...That’s the only thing I still regret… how I treated him,” she looked out the window to see a few couples and herds passing by. “Nopony liked me at Magic University… but he did. He was the only one that showed interest in me… and I used him as a pawn,” she sighed heavily. “I was such a stupid idiot back then, Twilight.”

“Yup, you were,” she munched on a few more fries.

“For being the Princess of Friendship, you are awful at giving comfort, Twi,” Sunset grumbled, annoyed, but did nothing else. “But… are you sure he misses me? If I were in his place, I wouldn’t stand to be in the same room as me.”

“Positive,” Twilight answered. After making sure nopony was within earshot, she leaned forward, urging Sunset to do the same. “Wanna know why I’m so sure about it?” Sunset nodded. “Because sometimes he calls me by your name when we have sex.”

“T-Twilight!” Sunset hissed, embarrassed. Reeling back, blushing like crazy, she frowned at her friend. “J-joking like that isn’t nice!”

“It’s not a joke. He really does, and he doesn’t even notice it,” she finished with a giggle.

Blushing harder than before, unset bowed her head. “I-I’m so terribly sorry, Twilight… I--”

“Oh, please, Sunset. Do you take me for a jealous mare or as some petty whore?” The Princess replied with a smile. “I fucking love it when he does it. He clings to me so hard and fucks me so deeply, mmmMMmm~” She confessed without a trace of shame.

“Y-Y-You do?” Sunset asked, taken aback. “T-That’s, erm, mighty surprising,” he fanned herself, using her other hand to pull at her blouse at the same time. “But why? I can imagine many mares would be angry because of that.”

“I find it adorable,” Twilight smiled widely. “He reeeeeally misses you, Sunset. And I bet you miss him too, don’t you?”

Sunset fidgeted for a few seconds but gave up shortly after. “I miss him, Twi. When I saw you two kiss after you became a couple… it hurt. It hurt like I never thought it would. It hurt so much because I realized how badly I screwed things up… and I knew… I know I lost my chance to be with him. So… please make him happy? He deserves a mare that loves him with all her heart.”

A magic hand flicked her horn.

“OW! What was that for!?” Sunset growled.

“Because you’re being dumb, Sunset,” Twilight replied, the glow around her horn diminishing. “Flash still loves you, silly. Why should I make him happy when WE can make him happy?”

Sunset let go of her horn and whatever lingering anger left was snuffed out of existence to be replaced by astonishment. “You can’t be… Really? You want me to join your herd?”

Twilight nodded. “You’re one of my best friends, Sunset, and Flash still loves you. And I know you still love him, right? Or rather, you realized you’ve loved him all along,” Sunset nodded weakly. “I would be more than happy to call you herd-sister Sunset, but you have to talk with Flash yourself if you want to have a second chance.”

Sunset used her hands to clear her eyes from the tears flowing down her cheeks. “Do you think… he’ll listen to me? Take me back? Give me a second chance?”

Twilight nodded. “But only if you want it, Sunset.”

Sunset smiled and nodded. “I do want it, Twilight. But… Why did you push Flash to think about starting a herd? Aren’t you… scared?”

Now it was Twilight’s turn to fidget. “To be honest… yeah. I’m a bit scared… but look over there,” she said as she pointed with a wing to a large table the other side of the restaurant.

Sunset turned to see where Twilight was pointing. Sure enough, he recognized the scene. While she wasn’t really familiarized with the lanky stallion, Mudbriar, she knew Big Mac well. She had seen them and waved at them upon her arrival, actually, but paid them no mind afterward. Now, however, she could see something she couldn’t see before.

Each stallion was accompanied by their respective herd. Big Mac sat with Sugar Belle, Cheerilee, and Zecora. She had to squint a little, but Sugar Belle was starting to show a bulging belly. On the other side of the table sat Mudbriar with Maud, Limestone, and Marble, three of the four Pie sisters. They were talking, laughing, eating, and joking. Generally having a pleasant, jolly good time. Despite each of them and their herds being vastly different, almost a contrasting reflection of the other, they were happy. In love and united.

“I want that for me and Flash,” Twilight continued. “I want him to be as happy as he can be, and I want to have a big family.”

“Then… What about Rarity and the others? I always thought you’d start a herd with them in mind, not me or any other mare,” Sunset asked, intrigued.

“Rainbow Dash is in Soarin’s herd. And after she got together with Applejack a while back, she joined too, so that rules them out. Fluttershy is with Discord, and I believe she’s encouraging him to start his own herd! Talk about the irony, no? I think her friend Tree Hugger is up for it. Starlight and Trixie are like glue, but I think there may be something between them and Sunburst. Rarity… I don’t know about her. I think she might ask Spike to join his herd, but I don’t know where she stands. And Pinkie Pie is with Cheese Sandwich. Honestly? Only they can handle the other,” Twilight sighed happily. “I actually wanted to try before I became a Princess, but now I am so happy for them in their own ways.”

“And what about Spike?”

“As I said, I’m so happy he found mates to love and form a herd with. I’m actually surprised he never sought a dragoness, but maybe in the future he will?” She shrugged. “So, Sunset, do you accept?”

Sunset Shimmer looked back at Big Mac and Mudbriar’s herds. She smiled. “I promise to try.”

Twilight nodded. “Flash should be doing his usual rounds at these hours. You can find him there.”

“Wait, aren’t you coming?”

“And ruin your reunion with my presence, not to mention leave my meal half-eaten? No thank you,” she chanted before taking a huge bite out of yet another hayburger. “Oh, Shunzet?” She swallowed. “If things go well, you can go back to the Castle,” she smiled slyly. “I’ve been smelling your heat since you arrived. Maybe he can take care of it.”

Sunset, blushing as brightly as possible, flipped her the bird before teleporting out of the restaurant, leaving a happy Twilight to hum and gorge herself with her beloved hayburgers.

************************************************

“Are you sure I’m not interrupting your patrol, Flash?” Derpy asked as she held a shopping bag in each hand. Her expression showed some despair mixed with bashful embarrassment.

“Not at all, Derps,” Flash replied with a wide smile on his face whilst carrying several bags with his hands and wings. “Your house meets my usual route as it is. And come on, this may be Ponyville and it gets attacked or something crazy happens every week, but I don’t think my luck can be that bad from just helping you out with these many supplies,” he grunted before adjusting the weight again. “Why do you need so many ingredients again?”

“Muffins!” She declared happily. “You know it’s heat season and how bad it can go for mares and stallions, right? My special muffins help mares out with their heats to at least make it bearable.”

“I will buy the first batch when they’re ready. I love Twilight to bits, but my hips can only take so much!” Flash laughed.

Derpy giggled. “I bet!” With a turn to the right and walking down the road past Doctor Whooves and the Bowling Alley, the pair arrived at Derpy’s house. Opening her door, she used her rump to push it in and allow her and Flash full entrance.

As he entered, Flash sniffed the air, instantly noticing a lavender and coconut scent floating around. “Coolant?” He asked. He knew coolant was used by mares experiencing a particularly hard heat. It didn’t help them much when dealing with the pain, but it eased their nerves and urges. The fact that Derpy was using coolant yet seemed almost normal aside from the telltale twitches and tail wags impressed him.

“Oh… sorry…,” she blushed, putting the bags on the table. Flash did the same a moment later. “Yeah, my heat is being troublesome, but I manage.”

“I’m impressed you’re able to withstand it like that. You’re a strong mare, Derps,” he proceeded to hug his friend and be hugged back in return.

“Thanks for helping me, Flash.”

“A pleasure as always, Derps. Can’t let a pretty mare like you carry that much weight, now can I?” He wiggled his eyebrows as he muttered those words.

Derpy blushed but slapped his upper arm, where his armor didn’t cover. “You are such a dork.”

“Hellah yes,” he said. Then they laughed for a few seconds before sharing another hug. “You sure you don’t need any more help?”

“I’m fine, Flash. Thanks for everything! I’ll bake you an extra special batch of blueberry muffins just for you as thanks!” She waved as he exited her house.

“You spoil me too much, Derps. Never change. Love you!” He waved, grabbing the door handle.

“Love you too!” She replied before Flash closed the door softly. “...I love you…” she muttered almost too weakly for even her to hear. With a defeated sigh, she started to unpack her groceries.

Outside her house, Flash was adjusting his armor when he recognized a mare making her way (rather nervously) to him. He blinked and then smiled. “Hello, Sunset,” he said once the mare was close enough to him. “Fancy meeting you here,” he blurted out in the suavest voice he could muster. Screaming internally at his idiocy, his eyes were all over the two-toned maned mare in front of him.

Like always, she was wearing a blouse, a skirt, and a jacket. He felt his heart flutter when he saw her smile, mixed with the visible cleavage of her impressive breasts and a tentative yet silly-looking sway of her hips.

“Fancy meeting you here, too, Flash,” she said in the sultriest tone she could muster.

They spent the next two minutes doing nothing but stare at each other, not knowing what to say or do. Finally, it was Flash that broke the uncomfortable silence.

“...Glad to see some things never change. We still suck at flirting,” he said with a smile.

Sunset smiled back, embarrassed. “Big time, Flash. Big time,” Sunset sighed. “Can you… join me for a walk? Maybe visit the park?”

“Of course, Sunset,” Flash replied. With a nod and a sidestep from Sunset, Flash accepted the invitation to guide her. Their walk was silent, as their minds were filled to the brim with thoughts, emotions, and pressure. By the time they arrived at the park, Flash picked a secluded bench for themselves. Sitting next to each other with a solid meter of distance standing in between them, Flash spoke up.

“How have your travels been going? Last time I saw you was during Hearts and Hands Day about a month and a half ago.”

“Oh… you know, being here and there, working with my charitable group, helping ex-criminals find a new life, studies, and jobs. Things like that. You know me; busy, busy, busy! Eh-he,” she exclaimed enthusiastically.

“I’m glad to know you’re doing okay, Sunset,” he turned his head to face her. “Truly, I do.” After a moment of silence, he spoke again. “Have you visited Twilight yet?”

“Just finished, actually. She’s busy trying to commit suicide via hayburger overdose. I think she might actually find a way one of these days.”

Flash laughed loudly. “Gotta love alicorn anatomy, metabolism, and biology, don’t you? Ha ha ha!” After his laughter died down, he stared intently into her blue sapphire eyes. “And you? Have you… found somepony yet?”

“I haven’t tried,” she confessed. “After everything that happened and how focused I was with turning a new leaf, I guess… romance didn’t fit in my life. That and, well, you know… there’s a stallion I can’t stop thinking about.”

“...oh…” Flash muttered, blushing madly. “H-how peculiar!” He cleared his throat. “And, uhh, this ‘stallion’, has a name?”

“You may know him. He’s a great stallion, a dutiful guard, a huge nerd, and too kind for his own good. I bet you’d be friends,” she said as she inched her right hand toward Flash.

Out of the corner of his eye, Flash noticed her movement and imitated it with his left hand. “Sounds familiar,” he gulped. “I have a friend that can’t stop thinking about a certain beautiful, flawless, and silly, fun mare. Kinda like you can’t stop thinking about that stallion,” he inched a little closer.

“What a coincidence,” her hand inched closer. “But… I don’t think I deserve that stallion. Not after everything I’ve done to him.”

“And what have you done to him?”

“I’ve lied, used, manipulated, and tricked him for my own goals. I was wrong to do so… and when I lost him, I realized how much he really meant to me,” she inched her hand back. “I lost my chance with him.”

“Has he said he doesn’t want to see you again? Does he hate you or sees you in any light other than one of the most gorgeous, intelligent, and kind-hearted mares he has ever met?”

He inched closer.

“Kind-hearted? I treated him like a tool! I was such an ungrateful bitch back then!” She said with despair. “Why… why would he see me like that?”

She inched back.

“I think… because, much like my friend, he saw past that veil of bitterness and lay witness to the mare that you’ve become. The real Sunset Shimmer laying deep within your soul.”

He inched closer.

“H-How can you think that of me after everything I’ve done!? I… I nearly killed you! I--” She was cut off by Flash grabbing her hand softly, his fingers caressing hers. “How can you not hate me?”

“I was angry at myself for not seeing your pain in full, for not helping you when you needed me the most, Sunset. And when you left, I was sad,” he inched closer. “So many times… so, so many times I tried to reach for you, but I thought you were better off without me. And when I met Twilight and we started to date, I thought I finally could move on,” closer. “But I couldn’t. You’re always present in my mind, my Sunset Shimmer.”

“I can’t forget you either,” she inched closer. “You’ve been ever-present in my mind ever since we broke up.” Sunset sniffed. “I’ve missed your touch, your voice, your kisses, your warmth. Your support,” closer. “Your love. It’s been driving me crazy. I… I tried dating other stallions, but it never worked. I always ended up thinking about nothing but you, comparing them to you, or talking about nothing but you, Flash.”

They inched closer at the same time. Finally, with tears glistening in their eyes, their lips met. It was a gentle, loving kiss; little more than a chaste show of affection, but to them, that kiss carried the weight of three long years of struggle and longing. As they pulled back, they immediately clashed once more; this time carrying their need and hunger to show just how much they missed the other.

Uncaring of the world around them, the couple kissed passionately for uncounted minutes. Their tongues, once more allowed to frolic together, danced and coiled as they saw fit to sate their long dry-spell. When their make-out session ended, Sunset was sitting on his lap, hugging him for dear life while Flash’s hands squeezed her derriere under her skirt.

“I love you,” Sunset whispered. “I love you. I love you. I love you. Please, never let me go again,” she begged as she kissed his snout.

“I promise, Sunset. I’ll never let you go again. I love you, too. So damn much,” Flash swore as he returned her kisses. Their loving display continued until a cough from none other than Spike made the couple look back.

Thankfully for them, not many ponies were around but the few that were passing through respected their intimacy and gave them space and were smiling at them, some mares and stallions going as far as to give them thumbs up. This did little to appease Sunset’s massive blush once she noticed the compromising position they were in.

Flash stood up, holding tightly his lover, and spread his wings. With a flap, they were airborne.

***********************************************

They landed on Twilight’s room balcony. The magic detected him and let him through the sealed doors. Almost after they were inside, their clothes began to fly around the room; discarded and forgotten by their owners.

Flash tossed Sunset onto the bed. He felt that it was a bit taboo that he was about to fuck another mare on the bed he and Twilight regularly used to both sleep at night and make love, but since she had more or less given her permission, he lunged forth. Even after three years since their last time together, he clearly remembered just how Sunset liked it.

Outside the bed, she was a love bug; cuddling, snuggling, nips, kisses, hand-holding, whispers of sweet nothings with enough sugar to make Pinkie Pie sick for a month. But in the bed? She was another mare. She had no patience for mushiness or tenderness. She liked it rough, fast, and vigorous.

And he was all too happy to oblige her desires.

She barely had time to present her sopping wet nethers to her former lover before his strong hands were gripping on her hips; his cock lined perfectly against her entrance. She felt the tip push past her hungry, vice-gripping folds.

“FFUUUUUCK YOOUUUUU!” She screamed at the top of her lungs, her hands gripping the sheets as her entire body shook from the force of the thrust. She couldn’t see it, but she certainly felt it as his whole meat-spear has pierced her front line and had reached her deepest part in a single stroke; his cockhead rubbing perfectly against her cervix. “Come on! W-What are you -Oh sweet Luunaaaaaa!- you waiting for! Fuck me! FUCK ME! Show me what you can do now, Royal Guard!”

Flash felt a surge of primal pride fill his chest. He gritted his teeth as he steeled himself for the taxing task ahead of him. It didn’t help that her trenches were impossibly tight and convulsing on their own; a mare in heat was bad. A mare in heat that had gone without relief for three years was criminal.

And Sunset Shimmer was his mare.

With a snarl, Flash pulled back until only the tip remained inside her famished pussy; her tightness a stark reminder of how deeply in need she was of cock. With a goal set in mind, Flash gave her tight snatch exactly what she desired. Sunset screamed again, her voice laced with a deep desire to be quenched.

Flash snarled and growled as he rocked his hips back and forth as fast and hard as he could manage. The entire mattress shook with every thrust, each time he hit her sweet spot she screamed in pure delight, and the room was quickly filled with the stench of sex and the music of flesh meeting flesh, wet slaps, and screams of pleasure. Each stroke reached as far as he could reach, each stroke an uphill battle to endure and not simply cum from just how fucking good it felt to fuck Sunset again after so long.

“More! MORE! FASTER! HARDER!” Sunset managed to scream in between thrusts. “C-COME ON! F-Fucking knock me out! Make me pass out! FFUUUUUUCCCKKK!” She screamed as Flash, impossibly, acquiesced to her demands. “F-Fuck me stupid!”

Flash wanted to reply, but it was taking everything in him to maintain his rhythm. A minute into her drilling, he felt her legs starting to go out; their strength leaving them. Feeling adventurous and calling from the experience he’d accumulated with Lyra and Bon Bon, he knew what he had to do.

“AAAARRRRGGGHH!” Sunset screamed as a mix of pain and pleasure exploded from her cranium. Flash had grabbed her by the mane, nearly from the root, and was now forcing her body to bend upwards whilst he fucked her mercilessly; just as she liked it. She was momentarily surprised, however, when he used his wings to push themselves forth. She grunted when she impacted the bed’s slat. As Flash pressed her against it, his new position allowed him to take advantage of the gravity to aid him. “YESSS! YEEEESSS! MORE! HARDER!”

Flash continued to fuck her like that for another solid minute. The angle allowed him easier access and less strain, but he couldn’t maintain a quick pace because of it. What was worse, his climax was quickly approaching. Deciding on what his course of action would be, he decided that he needed to end it with a bang. He withdrew from Sunset’s depths but before she could protest, he tossed her again to the bed.

Sunset landed on the bed, huffing as her back made contact with it. She only had enough time to see Flash jump on top of her, holding and bending her legs up. He quickly lined his cock with her entrance and shoved it inside once more. She mewled in pure delight. Then, for a single second, her mind left her body as she recognized the position she was now in. “FLAAAAAAAASH!” She screamed his name as he began to fuck her with all his might; faster, harder, and deeper than anything he had done previously and during their time together years ago.

Flash snarled, his drool raining on Sunset’s face, not that she cared or complained about it much. He doubted she had the mental faculties at the moment to notice it. There was nothing subtle or romantic about the savage plowing he was delivering onto the gorgeous mare he loved with all his heart. There only existed a virile stallion, a needy mare, and the desire to quench her accursed heat.

The two of them peaked at the same time. They never felt it approach in full. It simply arrived suddenly and swiftly. Flash sank as deep as he possibly could, pressing down hard against Sunset’s twitching body. The honey-like scent of mare-cum reached his nose and elation filled his heart. He had done it. He had pleased his mare. And now her unprotected, fertile womb was drinking his potent seed.

But that didn’t matter right now.

Flash didn’t know how much time had passed for the fog clouding his mind banished, but when it did he found that his breathing was still ragged, though not as much as Sunset’s. Pulling back, he felt his muscles burn and ache in just the right ways. He let go of his lover, removing himself from the mating press he subjugated her to endure (or enjoy, depending on the perspective). He admired his work: cum flowing out of her pussy; whatever her womb couldn’t accommodate. Watching over her, he noticed her eyes were foggy, her horn was sparkling, and a smile adorned her lips.

He chuckled. He had actually managed to fuck her stupid. However, despite enjoying his conquer of the enemy base, he felt his cock twitch back to life. Smiling, he knelt and placed her legs over his thighs so she could rest while he fucked her again.

After all, they had three years of catching up to do. When he was about to stick his cock inside again, Sunset began to react once again.

“F-Flash?” She asked softly.

“I’m here, Sunshine,” he replied.

She smiled. “I… I missed that nickname…” she moaned. “Flash?”

“Yes?”

“C-Can I… join… your herd. Have a… a second… chance?”

Flash felt his heart swell and his wings spread out. “Of course, my love. Of course.”

Putting aside his plans of plowing her golden fields for the moment, Flash decided to lay next to his lover and hug her close.

Maybe this whole herding can be for me, too, Flash thought as he cuddled with his new herd-mate, witnessing the birth of his now very real herd.

Chapter 2 end.

Author's Note

Special thanks to anyone that red this!