The Body Electric

It was bad enough that she'd ~~completely missed~~ waking up to the end of Ponyville’s rain-storm alone in bed. But as Carrot Top yawned from her second doze-off, the memories of what she’d started yesterday night plagued her too. This only meant more tasks had to be done, more work for the self-made Marestress of Vegetable Agriculture to talk about with the Mayor.

For that, she’d have to talk more with her Trade Union buddies Cream Heart and Carrot Top. And she was not looking forward to seeing the Marestresses of Dairy and Fruit Agriculture. “If one of you took Derpy from my side today…” Carrot hissed, before her mouth cracked open with a muzzle-straining yawn.

With a flash of covers, Carrot stumbled to her front door. It’d be the least she could do, considering how the bell next to it was ringing incessantly. She couldn’t blame them for her grogginess though; she had to feed, clothe, and watch the first half of Power Ponies with Dinky Hooves alone. The good news was Noi was here too, so Carrot’s daughter and Derpy’s kept each other occupied while Carrot had worked her tail off. The bad news…

DING DING!

...was going to be ripped off her door frame nail by nail today if Carrot had her way.

Yanking open the door, Carrot Top saw Amethyst Star, surrounded by lakes of rainwater. Amethyst was her friend, the apple of Ponyville’s eye, the minute-taker of the town’s trade union. She was also a mare with a lot to answer for from yesterday. And most of it involved the vanishing act she had to have pulled on Carrot's love, Derpy.

“Look Carrot, I know I’m the last-” Suddenly, Amethyst had to wedge her foot in the door to keep it from being slammed in her face. “Whoa! Hold on, Carrot! I - ow! It just rained, I’m gonna sl-!”

“How could you do that to Derpy!?“ Carrot yelled. “And where are the rest of your friends?!”

Amethyst got in enough of her limbs to get through the door. Bitterly she cursed herself for not telling Carrot sooner.

It’d all started with that accursed makeover of Derpy during these rainy days. That was both to test out the Union's waterproof mascara and to help Derpy’s confidence following her sacking from her weatherpony job. Amethyst knew that Cream Heart had been a bit too eager to do this, a bit too cattish at the blush on Carrot’s face every time she’d seen the smoky-eyed Derpy.

Then the storm came, and Cream Heart started scoping out Carrot’s house. Amethyst didn’t know why until four days ago, when Cream bounced them into Carrot’s empty room - and brought out porn stash and wardrobe. Apparently Cream had plans for finally breaking Carrot’s timid around Derpy. And now that it’d come to fruition yesterday, well…. “I don't know where Derpy went, I swear!” Amethyst yelled. “But it’s not outside, I swear Derpy was curled around you when I left! Please, Carrot, let me in!”

Carrot’s only reply was to try and shove out Amethyst through the door. Amethyst’s heart nearly ripped in two at the display. This was an effort Carrot only showed while ripping out troublesome weeds in her vegetable gardens. And now, Amethyst felt like one of them.

But damn if Amethyst wasn’t gonna try to produce something better for Carrot today. “C’mon, Derpy’s fine, Carrot! And -ungh!- And Cream and Strawberry are our friends, not just mine! They’d be here to apologize too, if they hadn’t been fighting pneumonia in Redheart’s clinic since six!”

Before Carrot could reply with her concern about Cream Heart and Strawberry Sunrise’s - likely using the words ‘rat’s ass’ - Dinky Hooves burst from the room to hug them. “That was an awesome Power Ponies episode, Miss Carrot!Can we watch more, Auntie Amethyst, canwecanwecanwe?”

“In a minute, Dinky,” two voices said.

Amethyst almost regretted voicing hers the second Carrot shot daggers at her. Then Amethyst looked at Dinky, and her mouth clamped shut. Amethyst was not apologizing in front of her daughter.

“Yay! I’ll set up the popcorn and let Noi know. She really likes Radiance - can you believe how much she looks like Rarity down the corner?” Running back to the dining room, Dinky plopped on the floor in front of the TV. “So Noi, what’s the next episode gonna be about? You got the TV Guide!”

Dinky was quite fast when she wants to be, thought Carrot. Just like her mother.

That thought went down in the flames of Carrot’s anger at Amethyst. Goodness, all the trials thatDerpy Hooves went through to bring Dinky into Amethyst’s life, and she repaid it with making Derpy look like she did on Friday?! Beckoning with her finger, she led Amethyst into the kitchen. And like a fly, the grateful Amethyst stepped into her trap.

The second Amethyst passed the door’s threshold, Carrot shoved her into the edge of it with one hand. Beside her, both the microwave and oven were fired up. The bag of popcorn in the microwave was almost half -full of air. And the timer for the oatmeal was at half a minute, a fuse somehow longer than Carrot’s own.

“A babysat filly, Amethyst. That’s why you’re not scraping your teeth off my welcome mat.” Carrot said. “Now explain why Derpy spent yesterday dressed like a-”

“Wait, lying on the couch? That’s all you spent yesterday doing? I thought when we left-”

“-got thrown out-”

“--left, that you and Derpy… well, you know.” Amethyst’s hands circled anticipatingly. Carrot refused to give her comfort now.

“That is not what I’m mad about!”

“Then what is it? You know why we and Derpy helped each other! Yes, we and Derpy, meaning it was a two-way street-”

“Yeah, down the middle of the red lantern district! Just because I liked Derpy doesn’t make it fine to tart her up and launch her at me!”

“For the last time, the only thing that went off was the-!”

DING! DING! DING!

Carrot and Amethyst’s eyes swung toward the stovetop. “Huh, oatmeal’s done.” “You have till the popcorn’s done to explain that horseshit yesterday.“

“Finally! I was here to do that first, anyway.” Amethyst cleared her throat, then wrapped her sorcerous grip on the saucepan. Quickly, she pulled it out of the fire, hoping to escape her own hot seat as well. “Well, it was a dark and stormy-”

“Puns mean you taste-test the oatmeal first.” Carrot’s eyes narrowed. “Without blowing.”

Amethyst’s eyes shrank. Beside her, poppoppops came from the still-popping kernels in the microwave, matching her fluttering heart beat for beat.

“Okay, Carrot. Was this about us going for the plumber costume, because that was really Cream’s-?”

“I’m getting a bowl.”

“Still steaming. Got it. So, to what yesterday was all about...“

~~~ Yesterday ~~~

“.. I swear, it broke my heart when the Cakes couldn’t attend. I mean. they’re Sweets, Cream’s Dairy, I’m Fruits, Carrot’s Veggies. Four maresketeers, you know?”

Strawberry Sunrise’s confession made her sink her head. Thankfully, Carrot Top was next to her on the couch to lift up her hand. “It’s why Amethyst is visiting them. Our little club endures, even in this foul weather.”

“In this rain? I still think she's risking pneumonia.”

“And if she wasn’t blessed with a horn, that’d be a problem. Besides, how’d you think she dropped off my sister, Dinky, and Button Mash at the school?” Carrot stretched her arms, nearly dislocating them when another snap of lightning rumbled the house.

Strawberry forced a giggle. “Look, the credit you gave me for that morning run idea’s premature.”

“So was the rainstorm, Strawberry.” Cream Heart sad, returning from the bathroom. “Besides, I’ve loved the company. Button’s been so antsy cooped up at home - you’re the reason he’s had four others in this storm to frolic in.”

“Again, this is Amethyst’s stuff,” said Strawberry.

“And again, it’s what you said that spurred it on.” Cream Heart replied, plopping on the couch. That action would‘ve launched Strawberry into the ceiling if not for Carrot’s embracing her.

Strawberry sniffed. “Then why do I not feel like a hero?”

“We’ve been trying to find out since you broke down talking about your fruit sales.” Carrot ashed. “I knew stir craziness was bad, but being cooped up isn’t that good for you.”

Strawberry felt a decade older than she looked at that point. The next thunderclap did nothing to take attention away from the bags around her eyes. “Because I think it came from wishing too hard.”

Even Carrot could guess why this time. Strawberry was the head of Fruit Agriculture, after all. “It’s Applejack right?”

Strawberry twitched so hard that it dislodged Carrot’s fingers. “Yeah. I… Well, look. It’s so frustrating. Applejack’s got the Element, the large family, the town roots. I have a title - and sometimes not even that. Too many ponies just laugh when I try to promote fruit! Cream; you’re who everypony turns to for strong bones with milk. It’s the deterrent for the biggest end to a pony’s career; a broken leg! And Carrot and the Cakes, they’re got entrenched bases! But me...”

Strawberry gulped thickly.

“I mean, I need to grow my strawberries in glass houses! Anywhere a sun shines, an apple tree could grow, and one day, I just said I wished the weather wasn’t always just A.J.’s friend for once! And then… this…” Strawberry wiped away the tear welling on her left eye. “It’s not fair! I just wanted to humble that farmpony, not ruin her! I don’t want the Element of Honesty… to suffer because of me.”

Carrot and Cream’s hands clasped onto Carrot's shoulders. “Look, Shortcake,” started Cream Heart. Strawberry’s face brightened the nickname’s reminder of their sunnier times in the Ponyville Schoolhouse like a warm bath to her now.

“Nopony predicted this storm, not even the pegasi. Nopony could have heard your wish. But that doesn’t mean nopony supports you, and it doesn’t make you an Apple family ruiner.” Carrot continued.

Cream Heart wrapped it up for Carrot. “And Strawberry… you’ve sent so many supplies to Apple Acres, they’re bound to take note of you now. Everypony knows who’s at their side in a crisis.”

Shuffling, Strawberry hugged Carrot back. “I know, Carrot. Thanks for getting Cream and Derpy at your house. And thank you, in particular, for being there for me.”

“And soon, Carrot, we’ll be there for you.” A purple spark shot up from the rain-streaked window. Even with lightning blinding them midway, the flashing comet was very present in Cream’s vision. “Ooh, Amethyst’s done dropping off our young ones at the Schoolhouse. Showtime, Strawberry.”

“Are you sure, Crea-”

“Never moreso than right now. Carrot, do stay on that bench. After all… our visitors will be all wet when they get here. Keep an eye out, Carrot.”

Strawberry Sunrise slowly stood up. Strawberry then followed Cream to the kitchen, her eyes darting back to the lone pony on the couch now.

The second they were out of earshot from Carrot, Strawberry turned to Cream. Strawberry only paused when Amethyst materialized next to them with a quiet pop. “Look, we can back out of this at any time, Cream!” Strawberry said. “Amethyst’s having doubts now! This’ll come out of nowhere for Carrot! Even I think Derpy’s confidence is solid enough witho-”

“This stopped being about Derpy’s confidence days ago, Strawberry.” Cream folded her arms. Even in a house that wasn’t hers, Strawberry cowered before Cream. Amethyst just looked to her hoof-feet. “Carrot’s been dodging her feelings on Derpy for two weeks, and it’s getting uncomfortable now.”

“But-”

“-is what I won Hottest Mare in Ponyville awards for, Strawberry. For Derpy however, we’re winning her Carrot for all the ferrywork she’s done for us in this storm. Carrot’s good at helping others open up, but not herself. This is for her good, like our talk before was for your good.” Carrot’s gaze turned to Amethyst. “I’d think Amethyst would be supportive of this plan; after all, she came up with this one.”

“And I’m regretting it.” Four words spilled from Amethyst’s lips, and yet Cream drew back as if they were slaps to her face.

Amethyst meant every one, though. Yes, she had developed the plan to dress up Derpy and finally break Carrot out of her husk.But every step made Amethyst more and more uneasy, and Strawberry followed suit just yesterday. Cream was dead set, her determination rivaling her son’s own in the final level of a game.

It’s out of gratitude that we’re doing this, Cream Heart repeated like a mantra those three days. Empathy. Compassion for Derpy Hooves - and the Carrot pining over her.

Which didn’t stop Amethyst’s heart from lodging in her throat as she continued. “Look, the makeup sessions - Derpy asked for that! But you insisted on the roleplay, and I’m not sure keeping this from Carrot is-”

“We have no way to get to a makeup store for the makeup sessions! You barely get to the Schoolhouse now, and it’s the next street over!” Cream restored. ”And now, I hear Derpy coming in; she’s in the new getup. Watch and learn.”

The kitchen fell quiet as Cream, Strawberry and Amethyst hunched behind its island. Soon, even their breathing was muffled out by the sheets of rain battering the windows.

Beyond the three hidden mares, on the couch she now sat alone on, Carrot’s ears perked at the backdoor of her house opening. It was in a small cubby where Derpy had delivered them their supplies during the storm.

Turning to face the opening backdoor, Carrot spoke. “Yo, Derpy! We’ve already concluded the meeting; you don’t need to risk the rain… You’ve gotten wet enough over thiiiii...” Then her voice tapered off seeing what Derpy Hooves, somehow still dry as a bone, was wearing that day...

~~~ Present ~~~

“Thanks, Miss Carrot! The popcorn’s almost ready!” Dinky’s face was pressed to the microwave, watching the nearly-full bag swell in the oven. Between it, salt-water smell and the dull thumpthumpthumps of kernels popping, that last night returned to Carrot Top in vivid fashion.

Shortly after pulling the filly’s face away from the bright glass, Carrot turned to Amethyst. “I did not drool when Derpy arrived that day!” she hissed. “Go to the telly, Dinky. We’ll bring the popcorn to you.” Thankfully, the filly accepted, hugging Carrot before bounding into the dining room.

Carrot knew what the rare pause Amethyst gave before speaking heralded; it was the calm before Amethyst’s verbal storm. “Alright; I don’t care about what you think of me or the others. But don’t start taking your anger out on Dinky; she’s even more innocent than Derpy was!”

Carrot bit back a curse. The image of that insemination that gave Amethyst Dinky - and her cajoling Derpy to go through with it - returned. “Dinky does not excuse what you did to her surrogate mother.”

“What? Making her the mare who’d loved her since she brought Dinky into the world?”

“Making her into a walking sextoy, Amethyst!”

“She is not a toy!” Amethyst glowered. “We all knew the difference! By Tartarus, Strawberry was laying bets that Derpy would find out where we got the outfit ideas from and we’d have a laugh!” Amethyst’s head dropped. Excuses never felt right on her tongue. “And…”

“No, Amethyst; please tell me who else was on this bullshit train of thought.” Carrot was in Amethyst’s face now. “So I know who else to wallpaper for nearly fouling up my chances with Derpy!”

“It’s what we missed, okay!” burst Amethyst. “We all had Derpy’s happiness in mind, as she had ours! She was the lifesaver of our group, our port in this storm! She’s damn near family to me! Goodness, I ran with Dinky in the Sisterhooves Social, and Derpy brought her into my life! We just wanted Derpy to be the center of attention for a good reason this time, and…” Amethyst dragged a forehoof across her wet eyes. “And we wanted you to see just what you could have.”

Carrot’s heart broke upon seeing Star’s breakdown. Between this and Ponyville General’s two new occupants - damnit, Carrot was headstrong, not heartless! “Look, Amethyst… I-well, I know why I tend to hold back. But it wasn’t because I didn’t appreciate Derpy; I was concerned about proposing love too fast. I wanted it to be perfect.”

Then realization struck for Carrot Top.

“And when you tried to set that perfect moment for me, I…”

A soft ding! broke the lone silence. Amethyst opened the microwave door with a snap of magic, silently teleporting the popcorn to Dinky and Noi’s spot in front of the TV before continuing ahead. “... Yeah. I think we all had problems with timing that day. But how did you really feel about seeing Derpy in that outfit?”

Carrot twiddled her fingers. She knew - and didn’t care that the ‘deadline’ for Amethyst’s explanation ran out several seconds ago. “Well, It was - okay, it was hot! But yesterday, I thought that...”

~~~ Yesterday ~~~

“....you’ve seen a ghost.” Cream Heart chuckled next to Carrot Top as her jaw dropped. Only she was upright to see Carrot’s reaction to Derpy. “I did say you’d remember Derpy’s visit today!”

Carrot’s mind was wholly on Derpy Hooves. For the third time that rainy week, Derpy was in another outlandish outfit like she’d been the past three days.

This time, Derpy was in a tight set of overalls that was tight enough over her legs and torso that it looked painted on. The suit parted just above the jut of her ribcage, revealing the dip of a white shirt and the soft breasts they softly cradled. “You needed to fix your TV and pipes today, Carrot?” she asked.

Carrot’s tongue felt like cotton. Yes, she had needed them fixed, since the blackout yesterday, but... “I-I mean, I did, but I thought we’d wait until… after the storm,” she said. “And Derpy, I… didn’t think you’d do this for me.”

“Why not, Carrot?” asked Cream Heart. Envy of Ponyville indeed, Carrot mused. “Derpy’s always been there for you. When you needed help sweeping the floors yesterday. And the help with lunch prep the day before that.”

Back then Derpy had been here too, in a maid outfit and pizzapony’s outfit, respectively. And both were just as revealing as this one. Lately, Carrot had felt like she was in a dream in between Dinky’s trips to school. And this was the kinkiest of them all, as Derpy bent over to fix the snow infecting the TV’s screen.

“I’ll leave you to her tender care. Holler if you need me.” Carrot Top turned to Cream Heart as she left, the sly look she gave her the only early betrayer of her true goals.

Carrot Top’s mind reeled; did Cream Heart think she needed Derpy around this much?! So yes, she might have gone with Derpy on her mailroutes the past few months. And yes, every time she delivered mail in the pouring rain, Carrot was happy to let her in, despite her usual issues with wet floors. And yes, on that last subject, that one time she had to shoo Noi upstairs after one too many questions about the wet patch of couch after she let Derpy crash on her lap for an hour-

Carrot Top shook her head. “Whatever, I don’t care,” she muttered, her low tone helping sell the lie. “Do what you’ve gotta, De-” Then Carrot gasped again. Apparently, the walleyed repair pony liked to drink while she worked, a grape soda can plugged between her tits as she merrily worked with the wires. Carrot would have given life-bearing limbs to be that straw Derpy was slurping at.

Surprisingly enough, it was working! Well, not just the grape-juice; Derpy’s hooves were a blur full of purple sparks as she fixed the TV’s antennas. It seemed each time she'd taken up a new outfit, Derpy had also gotten this new wealth of information. It was like she was becoming this vital element in Carrot’s life now, completing out the house Carrot was cooped in. Yet, as Derpy finally finished with the TV, the look in her eyes made Carrot feel that she was Derpy’s only focus.

“Oh! D-don’t worry, Carrot. I always love to help out. Getting messy is part of the job!” Derpy chirped. “I can just towel off while I fix the pipes. Really, the runoff in this place is crazy.”

It certainly is, Carrot said as her legs clenched. Suddenly, her sinfully tight black pants were damp with arousal. As Derpy’s opened the cubby to the sink’s copper pipes and worked under there as well, Carrot followed again, taking in the mare so central to her life. Goodness, she even outpaced the ponies present in that stack of video cassettes next to~!

Realization, then rumbling rage, rolled through Carrot like a thunderclap. Grabbing one of the tapes-and making Derpy bump her head on the door jamb as Carrot pulled out-she rounded on Strawberry and Amethyst. Both ponies turned white as chalk at what Carrot Top was holding. ”D-dangit Cream, I said to hide them somewhere nopony would search...” whispered Strawberry.

“Oooh, I heard calls, did somepony call-'' Then Cream Heart’s face fell upon Carrot’s snout-crinkling scowl. “Would you believe us if we said we used those to record old TV shows?” she sheepishly added.

“You did?” Carrot savagely hissed. It wasn’t a question. “Then let’s reenact one of them right now. Brash Prince of Saddle Arabia, I think it’s called?”

The outside of Carrot Top’s two-story house was soon lit up by another thunderclap, the white paint made even whiter against the sparkling showers.

“GAAAAH!” Strawberry Sunrise was then thrown out into the torrent, right from the front door. Amethyst and Cream bolted out soon after to escape Carrot blowing her top.

Thankfully, her rage was abated by the bounding steps of Derpy, the plumber-pony staring at Carrot’s display. “D-did I do something wrong?”

“No-no Derpy.” Within moments, Carrot was cradling the pouting pony next to her, orange and gold locks settling them over. “You’re great, Derpy, and you always have been. I just... don’t think you need all this to impress me, and that they thought this would make me wanna~”

“That’s exactly it though…” whispered Derpy, her wings fluttering in anticipation. “I did it to impress me.”

Carrot’s left eyebrow cocked up. “Wait, what?”

Derpy grinned. “After the first outfit, Amethyst wanted to stop, but I realized this was where I wanted to be. And you were who I wanted to be with you. Do you remember the first time that your eyes locked on me? When I had that new eye shadow?”

Carrot weakly nodded.

“When you blushed and stared at me, not just as a friend or go-between… I realized that was really nice. Most ponies don’t usually like keeping their eyes on me for so long. Especially…”

One of Derpy’s eyes rolled to look at the other, still and illuminating. Immediately, Carrot got the message, and her grip upon Derpy’s wrists loosened. “And I never returned those signs you sent me,” breathed Carrot.

Derpy tentatively nodded. “Yeah. So then I said I could go through the whole catalog of outfits Cream Had. And Amethyst agreed, so long as they stayed within the house and out of Dinky’s sight. Because ponies go the distance to make fantasies for those they… love, right?.”

Carrot stood in shock. Derpy was doing this - no, she’d started this? Oh she was still angry at the others, but she had expected Derpy to join in that anger. It was demeaning, right, to be in those outfits. No way could Derpy know what these outfits impl- Sudden Carrot felt guilty. Ass out of ‘u’ and ‘me’, indeed, she wanted to mutter.

“I’m sorry Derpy. I shouldn’t have thought you didn’t know what you were doing.” Carrot said. “And I’m not mad at you! T-the opposite, even! But now… I don’t want you to go.” Even Carrot’s mind idly realized she no longer said that the fantasy was unwanted. Or contending Derpy’s love.

“Why not?” Derpy’s head cocked.

“Because then you might get soaked! Then you might be alone!” Carrot’s epiphany continued. “Then I might be alone…” And for so long, her lack of a partner had pained her. Now... now should start something with Derpy. Something that Derpy was as enthusiastic for her.

Carrot’s dismay gave away to delight. I can have Derpy! I can be with her! I can… be everything she’s fantasized about too.

Carrot was brought out of her dream by Derpy. The grey mare drew closer, their faces inches away. “Well, do you want me to stay here? With you?” So husky and yet so damned innocent, even here Derpy was a paradox of a pony!

“No, but… We’re friends.” Suddenly that felt inadequate. Weak. Paltry.

“Okay! I can wait then!” Derpy pulled back, and Carrot's mind screamed in deferred desire. “Because Strawberry said waiting on you to go for this was still important, and Cream said that waiting for this big sign you were cool was cru-”

Seeing the risk of losing Derpy made Carrot act at last.

Carrot’s hand shot out, clutched into Derpy’s juice-soaked collar, and pulled her into a kiss. Thunder crackled outside, its newly purple glow bathing both ponies’ faces as they twitched in their embrace.

“... Is this a sign, Carrot?” breathed Derpy. “Because it feels really good and I really think my heart leapt up a foot and-”

“Please, Derpy. I just fuckin’ want this. Please.” And Carrot’s kiss with Derpy restarted. Slowly, tentatively, Carrot explored the Derpy’s mouth, mapping out corner after corner with her tongue. She was even happy Derpy’s eyes stayed open, the look of both eyes dilating as they sped around making it look like her searing liplock was making Derpy lose her mind.

As a matter of fact, Carrot Top really liked Derpy’s eyes. They perfectly complemented the grin spreading across Derpy’s mouth, one she’d gotten used to seeing brighten her days in Ponyville more than Celestia’s own sun. A mouth that was becoming wet with saliva and Carrot’s lipstick. Soon, Derpy’s tongue was battling against Carrot’s own, and the fresh smell of lemons assaulted Carrot’s tongue.

The need for oxygen made Carrot break the kiss. Just as one part of Derpy pulled away, another rippled invitingly to Carrot - her soda-soaked collar and chest. Carrot started feeling… generous. After all, Derpy had spent the last week comforting her in this rain-soaked hose, tending to her every need before she knew it was a need. Much like the honey trickling down her thighs. Was it so wrong to help out Derpy for once today?

Her finger poked at the sticky patches on Derpy’s fur, lower lip trembling in a silent plea, and Derpy Hooves slowly nodded. Carrot’s head dipped lower, as her lips traveled over every patch of stained silver skin. The sweet tang of grape fizz and the pungent smell of sweat gracing her mouth and nostrils. Inhaling, Carrot felt her swelling chest brush feather-light against Derpy’s stomach, the denim and cotton between their bodies grinding together.

Sparks pulsed through Carrot’s body, a sensation that made her suckle at the edges of Derpy’s breasts. For Derpy, however, it was even better--her wings stiffly shot out through the open back of her overalls.

Suddenly, Carrot’s want spiked. She needed to see more of Derpy, clean her, claim her like she wanted this wonderful wunderkind to claim her. But that wouldn't happen with the plumber suit on Derpy, close as it clung to her hourglass-like body. Slowly, Carrot hands fisted in the overall straps and shirt underneath, peeling it down Derpy’s shoulders. With a roll, Derpy helped Carrot undress her, shining planes of silver skin rolling out to be swept over in Carrot’s loving gaze.

Carrot's next move slowly formed as she pushed down the overalls, not stopping until the fabric slacked at Derpy’s hips. Slowly, Carrot drank in Derpy’s wonderfully taut body, her lemony perfume tickling at Carrot’s nose like the bubbles on her flank. Even after her caring tongue bath, patches of purple still danced around Derpy’s stiff nipples.

Her puffy clit was opening for Carrot's intrusion, winking and dripping every time Carrot’s fingers softly squeezed her hips. Normally such a titillating sight would be followed in... those films by taking to either those peaks on Derpy’s chest or the waterfall between her trembling legs. But, for once, Carrot wanted to take her time with the canvas before her.

So slowly, Carrot returned to those breasts’ swell, avoiding those nipples as she continued lapping at the soda streaks. But the most thrilling part for Carrot came when her fingers left Derpy’s rump to trail their way through her grey wingfeathers. Derpy’s moan at that point was hot and needy, in a wordless way that no film would ever tolerate long. But to Carrot, that speechlessness was just what she needed.

Quickly, she stroked those feathers straight, both preening and pleasuring Derpy’s appendages. Derpy’s tail flicked incessantly, her thigh moving up and down Carrot’s leg as she rode her way to her approaching climax. This time, the steady climb toward release didn’t feel anything like Derpy imagined; it was better. Derpy would have howled, but Carrot’s careful wingjob and slight pressing into her needy snatch took her breath away, faster than she could draw it.

Derpy’s head rested near Carrot’s ear in rapturous paralysis. Her hot moans fried Carrot’s mane and mind all in one. Every time the rainbeat against their window waned, Derpy’s movements went faster. Even her hip-rolls against Carrot’s leg was creeping further and further up her thigh. Yet despite every bated breath, every call of “More…” falling from Derpy’s lips, she never made Carrot change her pace. No, she let her wings flare in that electrifying massage, pushed herself closer to Carrot’s side, met Carrot’s neck and nape with the same mouth that called for more.

The soft schlicking turned to gushes as Derpy’s inner spring crimped, her pleasure cresting to a point that made her wrap her arms around Carrot. Soon she was shivering, shaking, and wailing Carrot’s name as she came. Derpy’s release was like a bubbling brook, her hot fluids flooding Carrot’s leg from thigh to fetlock as she buried her head into Carrot’s top.

Soon, it was Carrot holding Derpy up, despite the mailpony being half a head taller than her, quivering in exhaustion and ecstasy. Another purple thunderbolt flashed outside as Derpy’s cascade became a trickle, thankfully uninterrupted by the rumble of thunder like all the others.

“Oh… you’re all wet,” breathed Derpy, her head rising from Carrot’s pillowy rack. Golden eyes welled as she looked at the marecum sticking Carrot’s hoof to the pavement. “And you didn’t even get in the storm!”

“It’s… fine,” reassured Carrot, stepping back to let Derpy shove the rest of her sodden clothes down her legs. However, she wasn’t ready for the burst of strength Derpy showed. Suddenly, Carrot was pushed back into the couch she faced away from, the springy seat cushions dipping under her weight. Carrot was prone, watching Derpy’s crawl over her, wings aflare with arousal.

“Nuh-uh! It’s a slipping hazard!” said Derpy. “And I’m still a plumber. So I haveta plumb you.” Derpy’s hands were more frantic than Carrot’s. But this time, it felt like inexperience rather than impatience. Even now, with her own climax clinging to her thighs and knees, Derpy’s focus was on helping Carrot. With a little help from...

No. Carrot wasn’t entirely sure Cream and Strawberry and Amethyst were friends at the moment. Her mind was still mixed up between carnal need and roiling anger - like way too much of her life had been until she’d found her purpose in the Ponyville Trade Union. But whatever Derpy was doing needed her assistance, now more than ever. And so, Carrot lifted her hips to roll her pants down her legs.

Without another thought, Derpy was between Carrot’s trembling legs. Within minutes, something Carrot was sure only Cream Heart could’ve taught her happened: Derpy’s tongue expertly trailed over her pussy. Carrot’s legs shot up in bliss. Her mind suddenly rocketed back to those porn films - and beyond - by the pink muscle spearing into her clit.

Only minutes passed, but Carrot’s thighs clamped over Derpy’s head all the way through. Her walls twitched, tightening over Derpy’s relentless tongue. For once, Derpy’s technique was perfect, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Yes! Yes! Please! Derpy! Make me yours! Claim me!” And claim Derpy did, her tongue punching into Carrot’s folds like a ticket.

Soon, however, Carrot’s destination was reached; so busy clutching at her breasts that she wasn’t ready for the climax that hit her like a train. Carrot’s loins burst their banks, streams of marecum splattering into Derpy’s eager mouth.

“Derpy! Fuck, Derpyyy~!”, Carrot screamed loud and clear, like the squelching her clit did and the hot spray it bathed Derpy’s mouth in.

Swallowing the sticky honey, Derpy slowly pulled up the wadded overalls and rubbed them slowly over Carrot’s sap-sticky leg. After drying that limb, Derpy moved up to Carrot’s side, both mares lounging on the couch. “Well, Miss Top? Are you finally clean?” she asked.

“Course I am, Derpy. And I love you.” Kissing her forehead, Carrot clung to Derpy like a life preserver, not like it’d be out of place in the growing rivers of water streaming throughout Ponyville. “I always have.”

~~~ Present ~~~

“Then I woke up, and Derpy wasn’t there,” Carrot said. ”Dinky and Noi were there, though, along with twenty lemon air-fresheners. And a cover I hope Derpy gave me.” Defeated, Carrot sighed. “Amethyst, if you know-”

“I know. Derpy’s close by, waiting for your first group activity.” Amethyst grinned, scooping the oatmeal into a bowl and taking a quiet munch. Amethyst let out some heated pants, but still managed to swallow it. “I’m really glad to hear it worked out for you.”

“So it did. And… I forgive you, at least,” Carrot whispered. “I do have one question.”

“Well, that’s me settled. But shoot, Carrot: I’m listening.”

“... well, two now, actually.” Carrot stole another look at the new episode of Power Ponies playing on the repaired T.V. “One: I know that Cream and Strawberry must have gotten their pneumonia walking through the rain, but… why? I know you could repel the rain.”

“Well. Can’t exactly say why here, Carrot.” Amethyst took her bowl out of the kitchen and up the nearby flight of stairs. ”Walk with me, I’ll explain when we’re in your room.”

Even now Amethyst was boundless. Carrot had to follow her. “Fine, Star.” As they got to the top of the stairs. “Gives me time for question two: when I accepted your apology, you said ‘that’s me settled’. How are Cream and Strawberry planning to help apologize?”

“Simple, Carrot.” Amethyst pushed open the door to Carrot’s room. “The same way I made Derpy good with her hands, and complemented your first kiss with thunderclaps.”

Carrot’s jaw dropped at the display before her. Before her, both Creamy Heart and Strawberry Sunrise were facedown down over her bed, their hooves parted with spreader bars, their legs spread, naked pussies on full display At the other end of the room was Derpy, back in her mailpony’s uniform, Carrot stuttered in the face of this. “B-but you said that -”

“They’d been in Ponyville General since 6 with pneumonia?” smiled Amethyst. “Yeah, I meant till 6 A.M. Redheart and Doctor Horse had them healed in minutes, then we came up with this plan to make up for our screwup.”

“Safe word’s carrot tin’,” whispered Strawberry.

“Desired words are ‘Beg for it, bitch,” added Cream Heart, shaking her mane loose from her sweat-dripping face. “And again, we’re sorry.”

Carrot’s muzzle slowly snapped shut. She turned to Amethyst, her eyes darkening. ”I hope you know what you’ve offered me. I’ve a lot of stress to work out today.”

“They know. I’ll keep the fillies from hearing or interfering,” purred Amethyst, finally turning to close and lock the door. “Holler if you need me.” Apparently, Cream Heart was meeting her authoritative match now.

While Carrot slowly advanced on the two mares with Derpy, their eyes dimming with lust, Carrot’s mind flashed back to the bolts Amethyst had likely stood in the rain throwing that night. Much like the Trade Union’s other gifts, it was… weirdly unorthodox, and possibly a little weird.

But Carrot Top remembered the meetings and laughs they shared and realized that was probably as intended. That gift, like a thunderbolt, spurred her to action by its spontaneity. It was a delivery that wasn’t always down-to-earth, but always made the day of anypony who saw it come home.

Like Derpy did. Or rather, would.