Author's Note

Chapter contains: Human/Humanized, Incest, Unrealistic Anatomy, Harem/Polygamy

Matrimony

Not for the first time, and probably not for the last time either, I found myself cursing whoever had invented that abominable torture device commonly known as the bowtie. I had been standing in front of the mirror, hopelessly fiddling with the piece of cloth around my neck for so long that my fingers were starting to ache. I got a sudden urge to rip the thing off of me and hurl it away, but I managed to stop myself. I reminded myself that I wasn’t going through all that trouble just for my sake, but for the sake of the three people I loved more than anything in the world. After everything they and I had gone through to get to that day, the least they deserved was to stand next to a man who looked like he actually knew how to dress himself.

I completed yet another attempt at tying the tie, then stood back and tentatively examined myself in the full-length mirror. My well-polished shoes stood out against the bright green grass beneath them, their neatly tied laces a small consolation in my present predicament. The rest of my father’s suit fit perfectly, every curve and crease hugging my body snugly, yet comfortably. The soft material seemed brighter and cleaner to my eyes than I could ever remember seeing it; I might have thought it was brand-new had I not known better. Even my hair was looking spiffy, due much more to the assistance of others than to my own cosmetological abilities. Unfortunately, the whole picture was thrown off by the miserable knot around my neck which still looked undeniably lopsided, despite my best efforts. Grunting in frustration, I quickly undid the tie once again and resumed my Sisyphean struggle.

“Need some help?” said a voice from behind.

I did a half-turn and looked towards the entrance of the tent that served as my dressing room. I breathed a sigh of relief as I looked upon the familiar face of local dressmaker and family friend Rarity. The deep purple bridesmaid dress she wore was perfectly designed, being gorgeous enough to complement the beautiful woman while being modest enough to not draw attention away from those three women who most deserved it on that day.

“Uh...yeah,” I said, smiling bashfully.

Rarity chuckled softly and smiled right back as she stepped up to me. She grasped my shoulders and gently turned me to face her, then reached for the monstrosity clinging to my neck. Unsurprisingly, her dextrous fingers made short work of the task, trying the most perfect bowtie I had ever seen in mere moments.

“Thanks,” I said.

“You’re quite welcome, darling,” she said.

I turned back to the mirror, examining the completed ensemble and finding it satisfyingly improved from before.

“You know,” said Rarity as she examined my suit, “when you first told me you wanted to wear this, I was, quite frankly, somewhat put off. I suppose those were my fashion instincts thinking for me; this suit is quite out of style, after all. But now that the day has finally come, now that I can see it on you for real, I think I finally understand.”

“Family never goes out of style,” I said.

“Indeed, it doesn’t,” she said.

When my family and I had told her about the wedding, Rarity had practically begged to make the dresses for the brides, their bridesmaids, and to make my suit. I had known that telling the fashion-conscious Rarity that I wanted to wear an outfit that had been outdated even when my father had been my age would probably make her cringe, but to her credit, she had respected my wishes. I had allowed her to do a little bit of work on it for the sake of sprucing it up and making it fit better. I didn’t know what sort of magic, literal or figurative, she had worked, but I could not argue with the results. I was not an arrogant person, but even I couldn’t help but think that I was the best-dressed man in the orchard that day.

“Thanks for this,” I said. “Thanks for everythin’, in fact. I don’t think my family and I would be here today if it weren’t for you.”

“Oh, I don’t think that’s true,” she said. “Sure, I might have given you all a little help here and there, but...it was you that did most of the work, you and them. I think you all would have found your way here one way or another.”

“Still...I really appreciate it,” I said, giving her a smile.

“You’re welcome,” she said, smiling back at me.

“How are they all doin’ over there?” I said, referring to my brides-to-be, who were currently preparing in their own tent a short distance away.

“Well, they’re certainly feeling the mood,” she said. “Apple Bloom is practically bouncing off the walls. Applejack, on the other hand...well, she’s working through some pre-wedding jitters right now. Thankfully, Buttercup is there with her. The girls and I already wished her luck, but your mother is being a great help in calming her down. Even minutes away from her own wedding, she still finds the time to look after her children.”

“She really is a good woman,” I said. “They all are.”

“I hope you remember that,” she said.

“Oh, I will,” I said. “You can be sure of that.”

“Good,” she said. “I really do hope that you all will be happy together. I want people to see that...people like you...really can lead fulfilling lives with each other.”

I looked over at her and saw that her gaze had lowered, her mind clearly elsewhere. “People like you, you mean?” I said. “Like...you and Sweetie Belle?”

She looked back up at me, chuckling softly. “Well, yes,” she said.

“How have you two been handlin’ all this?” I said.

“Very well, in fact,” she said. “You should have seen Sweetie Belle’s face when we heard the princess’s proclamation. She was this close to dashing off to Canterlot and asking the same thing for us.”

“Now that would have been a sight,” I chuckled.

“I know,” she said. “I didn’t let her, of course. She’s a spirited woman, but...she can be a bit idealistic sometimes. What you and your family are doing here today, what the princesses are doing, it’s going to be a lot for people to take in. It’s going to take people a while to get used to it, and not just here in town, but all over Equestria. I wanted the two of us to wait...wait until things calm down a bit, at least. Besides, I wouldn’t want to overshadow you and your family’s special day.”

“But you are thinkin’ about it though?” I said.

“I am,” she said. “Sweetie and I have...thought about it quite a bit, but I don’t think we’re quite ready to take that step yet. We haven’t been together as long as you all have, and our relationship hasn’t been as...serious as yours. We’re still getting used to treating each other as lovers in addition to sisters. That’s another reason we decided to wait: I want to make sure that, if we decide to go further...that I’m ready for her. I want to be sure that I’m ready to be hers, and that I’m ready for her to be mine.”

“I know how you feel,” I said, “and I know how she feels. I know what it’s like to want to...charge ahead full speed, damn the consequences. But now I know how to take things slow too. Now I know how important it is to...be worthy of someone. I know how important is to do things right, give the people you love what they need, not just what you or they want. I just hope I can remember that.”

Rarity placed one of her slender hands on my shoulder. “I’ve known you since you were a child, Anon,” she said, smiling at me. “I’ve seen how much you’ve grown as a person. I’ve seen you do amazing things. And I’ve seen how much you care about your family. It’s good that you’re worried about being good to them, but...I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

“I don’t think you do either,” I said, smiling back at her.

Our tender moment was soon interrupted by the gentle music of the attending band, signaling all those present that the ceremony was about to start.

“It’s time,” she said.

“Eyup,” I said, sighing.

“Don’t be nervous,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll be splendid.”

“You sure I can’t pop over there and see ‘em?” I said. “Just for a minute?”

“Absolutely not!” she said. “It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding, and seeing three brides would probably be even worse.”

“Oh, alright,” I said.

“Besides, you’ll see them very soon,” she said. Rarity took one last moment to look me over, fixing some microscopic fault with my hair before stepping back and nodding her approval. “Alright, handsome, let’s get you out there. We wouldn’t want the brides to arrive before the groom, now would we?”

It’s funny how things change. Just a short time ago, I had been Anon, the simple farm boy hopelessly in love with his big sister. I might have still been a farm boy, admittedly, but my relationship with my sister, as well as the rest of my family, could not have been more different. As I stood there beneath the boughs of my parents’ tree, almost a year to the day since that fateful night when it had all began, I couldn’t help but marvel at how much we had all changed. We had learned to come together, not only as lovers, but as friends and family too. We had helped each other grow stronger, wiser, and more caring. All the happiness and all the struggles we had been through together had led us to that day, the day when I would be joined with the three people I couldn’t live without.

If someone had told me a year earlier that such a thing would come to pass, I never would have believed it. Even as I looked around me and took everything in, it was still hard for me to believe that I was not in the middle of a dream. The branches above my head, as well as those of the nearby trees, had been decorated with sparkling white ribbons and bows. A tall wooden arch loomed over me, its sides covered with beautiful flowers of all shapes and sizes. Before me sat rows of chairs arranged to either side of a long aisle leading from the arch to a large curtain hanging on a frame at the other side. At that moment, the three most important people in my life were waiting behind that curtain, preparing to make their entrance. Somehow, the distance managed to feel insurmountably far while also being tantalizingly close.

Standing under the arch with me was the mayor, looking sharp, as always, in her tan suit, skirt, and heels. She was doing her best to maintain that perfect politician’s smile of hers, but I could tell she was feeling on edge. Given the circumstances, I could hardly blame her; officiating a wedding that had become a topic of nationwide discussion would probably make anyone a bit nervous. When we had asked her to perform this role for us, we had made it clear that we did not want her to feel obligated to do so. We knew that, even with the princesses’ approval, she might want to avoid the publicity for her own sake. Despite the potential repercussions, she had gladly agreed to marry us, saying that she felt that doing so was her duty, both as the mayor and as our friend.

Looking past her, I saw the bridesmaids assembled a short distance away. Knowing that, due to the nature of our unconventional wedding, it was going to be a bit crowded up front already, each of my brides had agreed to have just a single maid of honor attending them. Standing beside Rarity, Applejack’s obvious choice, were Mrs. Cake, Buttercup’s oldest and most trusted friend, and Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom had apparently had a heck of a time deciding between her two best friends, but Scootaloo had eventually conceded the role to Sweetie Belle, saying that she was a much better fit for the job. Mrs. Cake wore an elegant blue dress that highlighted her ample curves while preserving an air of modesty. Sweetie Belle’s dress was in lavender, and was of a slightly bolder, more youthful cut. Standing opposite them, on my side, was my best man, one of my best friends whom I had known for years. He flashed me a thumbs-up as I glanced over at him, which I acknowledged with a smile.

Before us sat our assembled guests, who were excitedly chatting with each other as we waited for the last few people to take their seats. To the delighted surprise of my family and I, there had been almost no negativity directed towards us, neither from our neighbors nor our extended family, after we had publicly revealed ourselves. Even that little we did receive took the form of lighthearted jealousy, playful teasing, and mild disappointment from those who said they would have accepted us earlier if they had known, all of which was expected, forgiven, and was eventually gotten over. Because of the unexpected degree of acceptance we had experienced, there had been a great many people who had desired to attend the wedding. While my family had had differing opinions on what the scale of the ceremony should be, we had eventually decided to make it a fairly small affair, only inviting our family and our close friends. Of course, even with this restriction, the clearing where we stood was brimming with happy faces.

I saw Applejack’s friends sitting together, Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and even Rainbow Dash all dressed in their own bridesmaid dresses. Scootaloo, one of Apple Bloom’s oldest friends, sat next to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, Apple Bloom’s not-quite-as-old friends, as well as our cousin Babs Seed. Cookie Crumbles, who was already misty-eyed at the sight of her daughters in such beautiful dresses, was sitting amongst some of Buttercup’s other friends from town. Granny Smith, dressed in an outfit that would probably have been considered the height of fashion several decades earlier, was happily gabbing with Auntie Applesauce, Apple Rose, and Goldie Delicious. Even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had made the time to attend, the two of them dressed in beautiful gowns of soft pink and light blue, respectively. Filling out the rest of the seats were dozens of our extended family, cousins, aunts, uncles, all with varying degrees of removedness, who had come from all across Equestria to wish us luck and happiness.

Such a tremendous showing of support was certainly welcome, but it also emphasized just how big of a deal the whole event was. All of them had come because of the love they felt for me and my family. All of them had come because they, as well as many all over Equestria, wanted to see if we could really pull it off. They wanted to see if a man, his big sister, his little sister, and his mother could all live happily together as husband and wives. They would be rooting for us, but they would still be watching us closely, watching me closely, for many years to come.

The overwhelming nervousness that I had been fighting to keep a lid on for days suddenly flared up again, making my heart race and my forehead sweat even more than it already was under the heat of the afternoon sun. I was going to be married soon, I realized. I was going to be a husband, and not just to one woman, but to three. I would be responsible for loving them, protecting them, and fulfilling their needs for the rest of their lives. For months, I had lived that reality as their man, but standing there on that day, in that place, with those people, I felt that weight of responsibility magnified a hundred times. Not for the first time, and definitely not for the last, I found myself wondering how things really would turn out. I found myself wondering whether we really would be happy together...forever.

My train of thought was interrupted as the gentle music filling the air suddenly kicked up. I looked out at the audience and saw that everyone had finally taken their seats and was ready to begin. Over to one side of the seats, the quartet of fiddlers that had been providing our music put their bows to their strings and filled the clearing with the first notes of the bridal chorus. As one, everyone in attendance, myself included, looked back at the curtain obscuring the three most important people there. A pair of attendants stepped up to either side of the curtain, and together, pulled it apart. When my eyes fell upon the three of them, my heart did a backflip in my chest.

Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Buttercup stood side-by-side, already presenting a united front to both the audience and the world. Each one of them wore a gleaming white dress so beautiful that I could not possibly decide which I preferred. I had gotten a peek at them a few days before, but those brief glances had not prepared me in the slightest for the sight that met my eyes. The three waited for a moment, letting the crowd get their “ooh”s and “aah”s out of their systems, then slowly walked forward, crossing the length of the aisle one step at a time. My eyes stayed locked on them for every wonderful second of their journey, just as theirs stayed locked on me.

Apple Bloom’s dress was held up with shoulder straps and had a plunging neckline that showed off a titillating, yet tasteful amount of cleavage. The bodice clung snugly to her torso, accentuating her thin waist and stomach.The skirt was thin and lacy, swaying as she walked like a spiderweb caressed by a gentle breeze. Her red hair flowed down her back, and was covered by a thin white veil. Her hands were clasped in front of her, holding a bouquet of apple blossoms.

Buttercup’s dress was less revealing, possessing the short sleeves required to keep her ample bosom in check. Despite this, the low neckline couldn’t help but show off a hint of cleavage as well. The dress was snug enough to keep any jiggling to a minimum while still letting the perfectly plump woman move comfortably. Her skirt, made of a soft silk, reminded me of fresh linens draped over a warm bed. Her orange curls rolled and tumbled down her back, and a veil covered her hair as well. Held in front of her was a bright yellow bouquet of her namesake flower.

Applejack’s dress was strapless, the bodice wrapping around her beneath her arms. While of a modest cut, the dress could not help but look alluring when worn by such a voluptuous woman. Her soft skirt was much more solid than the billowy ones worn by the others, Applejack having erred on the side of practicality even in this. Her yellow hair flowed freely down her back, covered by a veil of her own. Her strong, yet feminine hands tightly grasped a bouquet of golden yellow sunflowers.

I thought they had walked straight out of my dreams, so perfect did they appear to my eyes, but one look at those smiles on their faces, smiles that no facsimile could ever replicate, let me know that I was wide awake. When I looked into their eyes, I saw my life reflected in them, mine and theirs. I saw all of the love, all of the happiness, and all of the comfort we had all given one another, not just over the past year, but over all of our years. Every soft touch, every gentle word, every moment of kindness we had shared over the years came rushing back to me all at once, drowning out the doubt and worry in my heart and filling it with pure, unadulterated love. We were meant for each other, I remembered, and as long as I remembered that, as long as I continued to hold them in my heart, nothing else mattered.

It took them less than a minute to travel the length of the aisle, but to my mind, it could have been hours. When they finally did reach the arch where the mayor and I stood, their respective bridesmaids stepped up and took their bouquets from them. Their hands free, my three brides turned and faced me, all four of us reaching out and holding hands together. Their skin was soft, but sweaty, and their hands trembled slightly in my grasp. I tried to steady them, looking into their eyes and flashing my most comforting smile. They smiled back at me, each one of their faces filled with varying mixtures of happiness and anxiety.

We waited as the band finished out the last few notes of their music, the clearing soon falling quiet once again. A moment later, the mayor began. “Dearly beloved,” she said in her crisp, clear voice, “we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman...and this woman...and this woman...in holy matrimony.”

To her credit, the mayor had prepared a wonderful speech full of both heartwarming sentiment and respectful solemnity. She even managed to squeeze in a few lighthearted jokes which set the audience giggling. The effort was very much appreciated, but to be honest, I was only half-listening. Throughout those minutes, my mind was wholly occupied by thoughts of the three women before me, and by the looks on their faces, I got the feeling they were thinking something similar. The three of them were so different in many ways, but fate had united them in their love for me and my love for them. It was that love that would guide us throughout the years to come, each one of us giving as much as we could give and receiving as much as we could take.

When the time came, I took each of their beautiful hands one by one and slid their rings onto their respective fingers. Immediately after, the three of them grasped my hand and slid on my own ring, all three of them taking part in binding me to them. We stared dreamily into each other’s eyes as the mayor finished off the last of her speech. I knew the end was drawing near when I heard her speak the words that I had been waiting to hear for a long time.

“Applejack, Apple Bloom, Buttercup,” she said, “do you three take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, protect him, and care for him...so long as you both shall live?”

The pause that followed lasted only a few seconds, but they were the most intense few seconds of my life. I gazed into their eyes as they finally opened their mouths to speak, one at a time.

“I do,” said Applejack, looking to be on the verge of tears.

“I do,” said Buttercup, tears already making their way down her cheeks.

“You better believe I do!” Apple Bloom proclaimed with those trembling lips of hers. A low chuckle from the audience mixed with the sounds of sniffling and scattered sobbing.

“Anon,” said the mayor, “do you take these women to be your lawfully wedded wives? Do you promise to love them, protect them, and care for them, so long as you all shall live?”

I opened my mouth and spoke the most important words I would ever say: “I do.”

“Then,” said the mayor, “by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wives.”

Immediately, thunderous applause erupted from the audience, including some hooping and hollering from some of our more enthusiastic guests. I and the three loves of my life, now my three wives, were so singularly focused on each other, however, that the noise sounded as quiet as the patter of soft rain. Within seconds, the four of us were leaning in, closing our eyes, and bringing our lips together in a four-way kiss. As their soft, plump lips made contact with mine, a wave of soothing warmth flowed through me, reaching all the way down to my toes and all the way up to the crown of my head. For that one moment, that one perfect, beautiful moment, I knew that everything was as it was meant to be. I knew that my whole life had been leading up to it and I knew that the rest of my life would follow from it. Time might march on, consigning that moment to days gone by, but part of me would always remain there, just as it would always remain in my heart.

Something people never tell you about weddings is how exhausting they are. Not only do you have to make it through the wedding itself, but also through the hours of partying afterwards. Of course, ours being an Apple family wedding, the partying inevitably included festive music, spirited dancing, and long tables covered with every kind of delicious food imaginable. By the time the afternoon had turned to evening and the celebration had begun to wind down, I was about ready to collapse. The high that had kept me going ever since my wives and I had shared our first kiss was being gradually overpowered by the tiredness of my legs and the fullness of my stomach.

From where I sat in a folding chair on the edge of the festivities, I looked around, basking in the dwindling energy that filled the air. All around the barnyard and the surrounding area, a small forest of tents had been set up to shield our guests from the late-spring sun during the reception. While the area had been teeming with partygoers just an hour earlier, most of them had since departed, leaving behind a small fraction of stragglers. Those who had come from far away had left earlier so that they could catch the last train of the day out of town. Those who lived nearby had stuck around longer, but even they had almost all departed, neither we nor they wanting them to have to walk back home in the dark.

Looking over at the tent that housed the large dance floor, I saw just a handful of couples left slow-dancing with each other to the gentle music wafting through the air. That floor had been much livelier earlier, back when Applejack, Apple Bloom, Buttercup, and I had danced our first dance there, first individually, then altogether. While I had enjoyed spending time slowly spinning and swaying with each of them in turn, I had enjoyed the lively square dancing as well. If there’s one thing Apple family girls prided themselves on, it was their unquestioned mastery of that uncommon dance, and my family were no exception. I had had my work cut out for me as I tried my best to keep up with three strong, energetic women who had been loath to let me out of their grasp for more than a minute.

Casting my gaze even further away, I saw the tent full of tables and chairs where we had all eaten our evening meal. My stomach ached as I remembered how many mouthfuls of succulent meats, fresh greens, potatoes, pies, and a plethora of other pastries I had swallowed down. Of course, the crown jewel of the banquet had been the huge, towering wedding cake provided by Sugar Cube Corner. So massive had it been that there was still some left over even after everyone in attendance had gotten a piece. A few people, including Pinkie Pie, had begun the laborious task of cleaning up, although Pinkie’s method of “cleaning up” primarily involved helping herself to those untouched cookies and cupcakes that still remained.

Way off in the distance, standing by themselves away from everyone else, were Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. The two stood side-by-side, looking up at the evening sky above us. A yellow glimmer of light from Princess Celestia’s horn cut through the dusk as the sun was gently lowered below the horizon. The world grew dark momentarily as the last few rays of light were snuffed out, but was soon illuminated again by soft, pale light of the moon. Princess Luna’s horn glowed blue as she raised the brilliant orb into the sky to join the twinkling stars.

“It’s beautiful, ain’t it?” said a voice from nearby.

I tore my gaze from the heavens and brought it back down to earth, only to see another heavenly body in the form of Applejack. She walked up to me, placing a hand on my shoulder and staring up at the moon.

“It sure is,” I said, my eyes never leaving her face.

After a moment, Applejack looked down at me, chuckling when she saw me staring up at her. “What?” she said.

I smiled, then silently rose from my seat and turned to face her. “Oh, nothin’,” I said as I put my arms around her waist and pulled her close. Before she could react, I leaned in and pressed my lips against hers in a tender kiss. Applejack melted into my embrace, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me back. The feel of her soft body and her softer lips slowly wore away the weariness that clung to my muscles, giving me the energy I needed to keep going. After spending a few moments savoring the lingering taste of cake and cider on each other’s tongues, we pulled our lips apart once again and gazed into each other’s eyes.

“If that was ‘nothin’’,” she chuckled, “I’d love to see what ‘somethin’’ is.”

“I think you will pretty soon,” I said. “It is our weddin’ night after all.”

Somehow, even after everything we had been through, everything we had done together, Applejack still found the modesty to blush. “It is, ain’t it?” she said.

“Eyup,” I said. “And I can’t wait to spend my first night with you...as your husband.”

“Let’s not dawdle then,” she said. “Let’s go find the others and...head off to bed.”

“Let’s,” I said, grinning wickedly.

The two of us walked off, hand-in-hand, to find the missing members of our quartet. It didn’t take us long to locate Apple Bloom, who was just sending off Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. As her friends made their way down the path that would lead them back to town, Apple Bloom turned around and saw us approaching.

“Hey,” she said, smiling and walking towards us.

“Hey, yourself,” I said, smiling back.

When she reached us, Apple Bloom immediately threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. I happily kissed her back as I placed my hands on her hips and pulled her close. As she had done many times before, Applejack stepped up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist, pressing herself against her back. As Applejack leaned in and started kissing Apple Bloom’s neck and cheek, Apple Bloom turned her head and shared a passionate kiss with her as well.

“You ready to call it a night?” I whispered.

“You read my mind,” said Apple Bloom, breaking her kiss and giving me a sultry look.

After a few more pecks, the three of us grasped each other’s hands and walked off to find our mother. It took us a little while to locate her, as she was not in any of the tents or milling around with the few remaining guests. Instead, we found her in the last place we had expected her to be: just outside our house. She was walking back towards the party area with Granny Smith plodding along next to her. Granny was wearing her traveling clothes and was carrying her suitcase in her hand.

“Are you sure you wanna do this?” said Buttercup, looking over at Granny Smith with a worried expression. “You really don’t have to.”

“Aww, quit your worryin’,” said Granny Smith. “I’ll only be gone for a week. Besides, it ain’t like y’all are gonna be gettin’ any work done around here for the next few days anyhow.”

“Hey, Granny!” said Apple Bloom as we approached them. “You headin’ out now?”

“Sure am,” said Granny Smith, looking over and smiling. “That is, if your mama will let me go.”

“Oh, c’mon, Mama,” I said. “She’s just goin’ down to Goldie’s house.”

“I know, I know,” said Buttercup. “I just don’t want you to feel like we’re kickin’ you out.”

“Oh, fiddlesticks!” said Granny Smith, waving away her concerns. “Y’all just got married; you ain’t gonna want me around gettin’ in the way, and I don’t want that neither. Y’all can have the house to yourselves for a few days while you get the honeymoonin’ our of your systems. And to be honest, I don’t really wanna listen to squeakin’ bedsprings all day.”

“Er...right,” said Buttercup, blushing.

“Now, give your granny a kiss before she goes,” said Granny Smith. Smiling, my sisters and I each leaned down and gave our grandmother a peck on the cheek. “You kids have fun now, but not too much fun, you hear?”

“Alright, Granny,” said Applejack. “We promise.”

“Good!” said Granny Smith. “Well then, I’m off! If you need me, you know where to find me!”

The four of us offered Granny Smith a chorus of parting words as she happily waddled off to join Goldie Delicious on her trip home. We watched her go for a few moments, then my sisters and I turned to Buttercup, who still looked mildly concerned.

“You’re such a mom, Buttercup,” said Apple Bloom.

“Sorry; I can’t help it,” said Buttercup.

“Well, then don’t,” I said, pulling her into a hug. “We all love that about you anyway.”

As I leaned down and brought my lips to hers, Buttercup smiled and returned my embrace. She and I swirled our tongues together as my sisters positioned themselves around her, surrounding her on all sides. After a few moments, my sisters nuzzled their way in one at a time, taking turns giving Buttercup their own kisses. Our combined assault had the desired effect, as I could feel the tension in Buttercup’s body slowly melting away.

“Hey,” I whispered. “You know what I want to do?”

“What?” whispered Buttercup.

“I want to take my beautiful mama...and my two beautiful sisters to bed,” I said.

“I sure do like the sound of that,” said Buttercup in her bedroom voice.

“What are we waitin’ for, then?” said Apple Bloom.

The four of us shared a knowing chuckle as we parted and prepared to head home. Suddenly, Buttercup’s eyes widened as she looked at something behind me. I followed her gaze, spinning around to see what was the matter. No trouble did I see, although I did see something very significant in the form of Princess Luna and Princess Celestia slowly walking towards us. They had smiles on their faces, Celestia’s warm and bright, Luna’s subtle and gentle. My family and I turned to face them, standing up straight and adjusting our clothing.

“I’m glad we caught you,” said Princess Celestia as they stepped up to us. “My sister and I were about to depart, but we wished to speak with you one more time before we did.”

“Of course, princess,” I said.

“We merely wish to thank you all for the wonderful afternoon you have given us,” said Princess Luna.

“Indeed,” said Princess Celestia. “Your family certainly knows how to throw a party. I can’t recall that last wedding I attended that was so lively. Oh, and that cake was absolutely scrumptious; one of the best I’ve tasted in years!”

“Coming from her, that’s quite a compliment,” said Princess Luna, her grin turning sly for a brief moment.

For just as brief a moment, I thought I saw Princess Celestia’s perfect visage falter, a flash of mild annoyance appearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye. “Yes, well...suffice it to say that we both enjoyed ourselves very much,” said Princess Celestia, giving her sister a sideways glance.

“Thank you, princess,” said Applejack. “We were honored to have you both here.”

“You four are honorable in your own right,” said Princess Luna, “us being here or not.”

“You all have demonstrated incredible bravery, selflessness, and devotion,” said Princess Celestia. “Your willingness to stand together before your peers and proclaim your love for one another is...to be quite honest...inspiring. I know that things are a bit...heated right now. You might have heard some people say things about you that you would not like to hear. I confess, I don’t know how things will progress from here, but what I can tell you is that, while your actions have drawn the ire of many, they have also given many others hope, hope that they, too, might be able to come out of the shadows one day and stand before the world...with the people they love.”

Princess Luna subtly reached over and took her sister’s hand, squeezing it gently. Princess Celestia never looked away from us, but I saw her return the squeeze.

“Oh, I don’t know about all that, Your Highness,” said Buttercup. “You’re makin’ us sound a lot more special than we are.”

“Perhaps we are being a bit idealistic about this,” said Princess Luna. “Nevertheless, you four are indeed very special, so special, in fact, that my sister and I had a great deal of difficulty deciding on what gift to bring you.”

“Oh, you really didn’t need to do that,” said Applejack. “You’ve already done so much for us. We couldn’t ask you for anythin’ more.”

“Nonsense,” said Princess Luna. “It would be rude to attend a wedding without bringing a gift...wouldn’t it, sister?”

“It would indeed, sister,” said Princess Celestia in a tone that sounded forcibly polite. “Which is why...we decided to give you this.”

Princess Celestia reached into the folds of the elegant, flowing gown she wore, withdrawing her hand a moment later. Clutched within her fingers was a round, red object that looked suspiciously like an apple. When she extended her hand and offered it to me, I realized, to my surprise, that it really was an apple. It was certainly a very pretty apple, its skin blood red and devoid of any blemishes, but as far as I could tell, it was not that different from any of the fruit that grew on my family’s trees.

“Uh...thanks,” I said halfheartedly, before remembering my manners. “I mean, thank you! Thank you very much, Your Highness!” I reached out and reverently took the apple from her, holding it before me. “We’ll, um...we’ll treasure it always.”

Princess Celestia chuckled, presumably sensing my feelings. “This is a very special apple,” she said, “befitting of four very special people. My sister and I plucked it from a tree that grows in our private garden back in Canterlot. We have allowed others to sample its fruit very few times before; however, we felt it was fitting that you four should be among those few...for more reasons than one. Please...try it.”

I looked back down at the apple in my hands, inspecting it very carefully after hearing what the princess had said. I had been around apples my whole life, and yet even I could not detect anything unusual about it. Still, I was not about to deny the princess’s request, so I slowly raised the apple to my lips. I tentatively bit into the soft flesh, slowly chewing the piece I bit off. It certainly wasn’t a bad apple; if anything it was a very good apple, its taste a satisfying blend of sweet and tart. I continued chewing, waiting for something out of the ordinary to happen, but nothing did, even after I swallowed.

When I had finished, I offered the apple to my family, who had similarly confused looks on their faces. One by one, Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Buttercup each took a bite of the apple, chewed, and swallowed. I watched them, waiting to see if one of them would have a different reaction than I did, but as far as I could tell, they found it no more extraordinary than I had.

“Princess,” said Apple Bloom when she had chewed and swallowed, “I don’t mean to be rude or nothin’, but I don’t see what’s so special about this particular—”

She was cut off by a sudden gasp from Buttercup, who was staring down at the apple in Apple Bloom’s hands. When the rest of us followed her gaze down to it, we all gave a start as well. The skin of the apple, which had been a lovely shade of red but a moment before, now looked as if it were made of solid gold. The pale moonlight reflected off the gold, making the apple shine like a star. Through the four bite marks, I could see that the flesh was still the same pale yellow it had been before.

“Whoa!” I said.

“What in Equestria?” said Applejack, clearly astounded by the sudden change.

“Just as I thought,” said Princess Celestia quietly. She had a curious smile on her face as we looked back up at her. “Taste it again.”

Apple Bloom raised the apple to her lips even more warily than she had the first time and took another bite of it. The instant the flesh touched her tongue, her eyes went wide and she let out a muffled grunt. As she slowly chewed, her eyes fell closed and she began softly moaning in a manner that was borderline inappropriate. She savored that bite for as long as she possibly could, then finally swallowed it down, breathing heavily afterwards.

“Oh, sweet Celestia,” she breathed, looking down at the apple in her hands.

“Yes?” said Princess Celestia, her perpetual smile acquiring a hint of smugness.

Apple Bloom looked up again, blushing when she realized what she had just said. “Oh, uh...I, uh...I-I’m sorry, Your Highness,” she said. “I just...wow.” She quickly took another bite of the apple, having a marginally more restrained reaction than she had the first time.

“Lemme see that!” said Applejack, snatching the apple from Apple Bloom’s hands and raising it to her own lips. She paused for half a moment before taking a bite, inspecting the fruit before sinking her teeth into it. She immediately gave a start, and after a moment, began chewing just as enthusiastically as Apple Bloom had. Before she had even finished the first bite, she had taken another one, clearly enjoying whatever she was tasting.

“Let me try, Sweetie,” said Buttercup, reaching out for the apple. Applejack reluctantly handed it over, and Buttercup brought it to her mouth. Just as with the others, the reaction was immediate, Buttercup quivering and moaning as soon as she began chewing.

“You’re joking,” I said. “It can’t be that good.”

I reached out and plucked the apple from Buttercup’s hands while she was distracted, raising it to my lips. I was somewhat hesitant to sample it, but judging by my family’s reactions, I was willing to assume that I had nothing to fear. I opened wide and sunk my teeth into the golden skin, biting off a small piece. As soon as the juicy flesh touched my tongue, I felt a jolt arc through me like a bolt of lighting, making me flinch. I froze for a moment, waiting as the energy dissolved into my skin, then slowly began chewing.

Each soft crunch sent a wave of pleasurable warmth rippling through me, filling both my body and mind. A feeling of profound comfort came over me, eliciting a soft moan that joined the chorus around me. If I had to compare that incredible sensation to something, then I would say that I was reminded of those tender moments that my family and I spent snuggling together after a passionate night of lovemaking. It reminded me of gentle touches, loving smooches, and whispers of “I love you”, a sensation that left me feeling satisfied both physically and emotionally.

The feelings continued to flow through me until at last I swallowed, the taste lingering for a moment like a deep kiss. I stood there panting, looking down at the miracle of nature in my hands. “What in Equestria is this thing?” I said.

“Like I said,” chuckled Princess Celestia, “it is very special apple.”

My family and I handed the apple back and forth between each other, unable to stop ourselves from gobbling it down.

“I ain’t never seen an apple like this before,” said Applejack. “Not even zap apples have this much of a kick to ‘em.”

“I would be surprised if you had encountered this particular variant before,” said Princess Luna. “My sister and I discovered it...a very long time ago...and we have never seen another like it.”

“We discovered its...unusual properties quite by accident,” said Princess Celestia. “When we were younger, we often enjoyed spending long afternoons lying under the boughs and nibbling the fruit together; I trust you can imagine why. It was...quite a disappointment when I was no longer able to taste it...for more reasons than one.”

“The magic that gives the fruit its taste will not activate for any one person,” said Princess Luna. “It requires...companionship...and not just any sort of companionship either.”

“We have never been able to fully understand its behavior,” said Princess Celestia, “but after what I have just witnessed...I have a few theories.”

“Like what?” I said.

Princess Celestia gave me a knowing smile. “Perhaps another time, if you are truly interested,” she said. “It’s getting late, and I believe we are keeping you from your bed.”

“Well...yeah,” I said, chuckling awkwardly.

“Then we shall leave you four to yourselves,” said Princess Luna. “Farewell...and pleasant dreams.”

My family and I all echoed our own parting words, giving the princesses quick bows and curtseys, respectively.

The princesses turned to leave, but before they walked away, Princess Celestia turned back around for a moment. “Just one more thing,” she said, looking down at the heavily gnawed apple in Apple Bloom’s hands. “When you are finished, plant the seeds in your orchard. We have never successfully managed to cultivate it, but...perhaps you will have better luck.”

“Well...sure, princess,” said Applejack. “We’ll give it a shot.”

“Thank you,” said Princess Celestia, “and farewell.”

With that, the princesses walked off towards a golden chariot that was waiting in the distance for them. It was as we were watching them leave that we noticed someone else approaching us from the opposite direction. The lavender bridesmaid dress and the long, dark blue hair made Twilight Sparkle instantly recognizable.

“Hey, you guys!” she called out as she jogged up to us.

“Hey, Twilight,” I said as she slowed and stopped before us. “Is everythin’ alright?”

“Yes,” she said as she caught her breath. “I just wanted to catch you before you left. You’ll all be happy to know that the cleanup is proceeding on schedule, all the gifts have been organized and properly stored, and the last of the guests are on their way home.” As she said this, she looked down at the clipboard she held in her hand, reading from the checklist it held.

“Thanks a heap for handlin’ this,” said Applejack. “I don’t know what we woulda done without you.”

“It was my pleasure,” said Twilight with a smile. “Well...I don’t want to hold you up any longer. I know you’re probably wanting to...head home now. Also, I know you’ve probably heard this a lot today, but...congratulations. I really hope you four will be happy together.”

“We have heard that a lot,” chuckled Buttercup, “but we really do appreciate it. Thank you, sweetie.”

“You’re welcome,” said Twilight. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go make sure Pinkie doesn’t eat the last of the cake.”

“Alrighty, then,” chuckled Applejack. “See ya, Twilight.”

“Oh, wait! Before you go,” I said, handing the apple, which had been reduced to no more than a core, to Twilight, “could you please put this with the rest of the gifts?”

Twilight gave me an odd look when she saw the saliva-covered piece of fruit, but presumably decided not to question it. “Uh...sure,” she said. Her lavender horn lit up with a sparkling pink aura as she levitated the core from my hand, seemingly wanting to avoid touching it. “I’ll...get right on that.”

“Thanks,” I said.

The five of us said our goodbyes then turned and went our separate ways, Twilight heading back to oversee the cleanup and my family and I finally heading home. We hadn’t gone far when I heard Twilight’s voice once again. “Anon!” she called out.

I stopped where I was and did a half-turn, looking back at her. Twilight raised her free hand to her mouth and quickly mimed drinking something. The sign confused me for a moment before its meaning registered in my brain. I reached into the breast pocket of my suit and carefully withdrew the little blue vial that I had put there earlier. When I had retrieved it, Twilight smiled and nodded before turning and heading off.

“You comin’, Anon?” said Apple Bloom, looking back over her shoulder at me.

“Uh, yeah! Yeah,” I said, quickly turning back around and resuming my walk towards the house.

I trailed behind the others a few paces, looking down at the vial in my hand as I went. It wasn’t very big, looking to be big enough to hold but a single mouthful of liquid. When Twilight had given it to me earlier that day, she hadn’t told me what it was, although it was probably a potion of some sort, knowing the magically inclined unicorn. What she had told me was that I should drink it at the end of the day, when my family and I finally headed off to bed. While her lack of explanation made me slightly suspicious, I knew that Twilight wouldn’t have asked me to do it unless it was for a good reason. I carefully uncorked the vial and, after a moment’s hesitation, deposited its contents into my mouth.

I couldn’t detect a taste in the lukewarm liquid as it flowed over my tongue and down my gullet. I had been right about it only being a single mouthful, so I was able to swallow down all of it in one gulp. I waited for a moment, half-expecting expecting something crazy to happen, but nothing did. Thinking to myself that the potion was probably just some harmless thing to aid digestion, I slipped the bottle back into my pocket and continued onward. I made it about three more steps before I realized that my initial hypothesis had been very wrong.

The first thing that clued me in to the potion’s true effect was a terrific heat originating from what felt like my stomach. It wasn’t painful at all, feeling similar to the feel of a tall mug of hot cocoa sloshing around in one’s belly, but the swiftness with which it arrived caught me off guard. I reflexively clutched my stomach and came to a stop, suddenly very worried about what was going on. As soon as I noticed its arrival, I also noticed that the heat was spreading, seeping throughout the rest of my body at a rapid pace. All the way up to my head and all the way down to my toes it went, and wherever it went, I could feel it working its magic.

My muscles and bones, weary from hours of partying, received a tremendous surge of energy, bringing me back up to my full strength and then some. The sheer amount of power I felt in my limbs was staggering; I felt as though I could have torn the biggest tree in our orchard up by the roots and hurled it halfway to Canterlot. Those thoughts only grew more intense as the potion began to effect my mind, filling my head with a desire for intense physical action. My heartbeat grew faster and louder, sounding not unlike an avalanche of boulders tumbling their way down a mountain.

I looked up, preparing to alert my family to the situation, but stopped when my eyes fell upon their soft, warm, shapely bodies. All the pent-up energy swirling around my body suddenly decided upon its outlet and rushed to prepare me for what would come next. Those aggressive thoughts that urged me to lift and grab and wrestle now directed me towards a trio of very vulnerable targets. My pounding heart began diverting all available blood to my friend downstairs, who received a wakeup call unlike any he or I had ever felt in our lives. As my pants grew tight, I realized what was about to happen, and I wasn’t even particularly opposed to it happening; I had been waiting for it all day after all.

“Anon?” said Applejack, looking back at me with a look of mild confusion on her face. “You comin’ inside?”

“Oh, I will,” I said, my lips stretching into a hungry smile. “You can be sure of that.”

I broke into a brisk walk, almost running up to her, Apple Bloom, and Buttercup as they neared our front door. They didn’t seem to notice the change in me, at least, not until it was too late. As soon as I was close enough, my magically empowered arms grabbed hold them one by one and scooped them up off of their feet. In my lust-maddened state, I did not question how I was able to lift and carry all three of the curvy women at once, but even if I had still had my faculties, I don’t think I would have cared enough to do so. I wanted exactly one thing in that moment: to take my three wives upstairs and give them the sort of treatment a man should give a woman on their wedding night.

They let out a slew of startled exclamations as they were swept off their feet, but their shock quickly turned to laughter as they realized what was going on. They wrapped their arms around me and held on tight, just as I sank my fingers into their plump butts and hefted them against me. Within seconds, I had kicked open the front door of our house and carried all three of my wives over the threshold. I didn’t stop there, of course, immediately heading for the stairs and beginning my ascent. My powerful legs made short work of the climb and were soon carrying me, and them, to Buttercup’s bedroom. A quick kick opened the door and another one slammed it closed again, leaving the three eager brides trapped inside with their even-more-eager husband. If the walls of that bedroom could talk, I imagine they would have quite a bit to say about what happened next.