Evening was alive and well in Canterlot as city lamp posts illuminated the bustling streets. Remnants of sunlight bled into the impending night, leaving traces of brilliant purple over the skyline as the star sank past the horizon. The weather was still frigid with snow perched upon buildings or piled onto sidewalks, yet not even the cold could bring ponies spirits down.

The weekday work cycle had, at long last, come to an end. Friday had arrived and brought forth promises of rest for the exhausted ponies that inhabited Canterlot. A day just like any other, yet it enabled one to forget their troubles - if even for just a moment – and sometimes that’s all you needed to carry on.

For many people, home was the only place they wished to be after a hard day’s work. However, payday was a cause for celebration. Streets were packed with creatures of all sorts as they traversed through the city. Shops of all kinds were visited by last minute customers picking up various sundries for themselves or their families. The liveliest of all though were the bars and pubs; a hub for the downtrodden and for the weary.

The Black Cauldron was one such magical place where alcohol was shared freely between coworkers, friends and even strangers alike. Multiple voices blended into one another in a symphony of sound, and boisterous laughter thundered over the conversations within the dining halls of this purveyor of spirits. Standing across the street from the lively pub, Moondancer adjusted the scarf around her neck and shivered.

Levitating a pocket watch from her small saddle bags she saw that the time was a quarter past seven. Moondancer was a few minutes early but waiting at home and counting down the clock was driving her up the wall bananas. So, she donned a black turtle neck sweater along with a red scarf and headed on out ahead of schedule. The sweater provided some much needed warmth to bear the evening cold but she would be happier with some cider in her belly. She sighed and a fat, wispy cloud lazily dissipated in front of her muzzle.

It'll be just like old times, Moondancer thought. Minuette would get a pint of beer, Lemon Hearts some vintage red wine, and Twinkleshine would prefer a cocktail that’s cloyingly sweet. They would be eagerly talking about work and discussing the latest gossip they’d found. Twinkleshine would be enraptured by the stuff that Lemon Hearts had overheard from the castle. Minuette would probably go on and on about her coltfriend if she had a few too many and we’d tease her by asking when the two of them would just get married already. The smile on Moondancer’s lips fell.

The past week had been sobering for Moondancer to see just how isolated she had become again; especially after she felt that she had put this behavior behind her. She was frustrated with herself, but it was overshadowed by her feeling of shame. It felt as though she let her friends down again by closeting herself away. Minuette assured her that nothing could be further from the truth - and Moondancer knew better - but those negative thoughts lingered in the back of her mind.

“Ugh, this is so stupid,” Moondancer muttered as she kicked at the ground. A few of the ponies around her directed funny looks her way but she hardly noticed them. She thought back to the week leading up to their get together and grimaced.

After her friends visit Moondancer tried to continue on with her research but lacked the drive that she once had. It felt like she was just going through the motions. Minuette was right, Moondancer thought. Minuette is always right. She needed a break. So, instead of sulking about the past, Moondancer decided that if she wasn’t going to continue with her work, then she would instead focus on tidying up her home.

Starting was the hardest part as the saying goes so Moondancer began the following day by collecting all the trash that she had accumulated. The rotting food was the first thing to go, many of which she had merely nibbled at and forgotten about. Colorful crinkled wrappers and empty paper takeout bags were pulled into the air by her magic and tossed into the garbage. Sorting through all of the trash put a spotlight on Moondancer’s eating habits that she hadn’t really noticed until now. There wasn’t much in the way of fresh produce in the remnants, while pastries on the other hand, were not so lucky as to escape her wrath. It got her thinking; she didn’t eat too much yet she didn’t feel as though that she lost weight.

A passing glance in the mirror was enough to spark her curiosity. Moondancer pulled her sweater off and under her scrutinizing eye she couldn’t ignore the fact that her flanks had gotten a tad bigger, while her tummy put on just the tiniest hint of pudge. She made a beeline for the scale in her bathroom which only confirmed her suspicions; she had gained some weight. It wasn’t much if Moondancer was being honest with herself – just a few pounds – yet it was something every mare loathed.

“Buck me!” Moondancer whined. “Why do sweets have to taste so good?” She made a vow to watch her diet there on out and cut down on any and those vile delicacies. Of course, only after they went to The Black Cauldron. Maybe... probably… it would be a work in progress.

With all the food stuffs and trash thrown, that just left the dishes. The kitchen was relatively clean except for the pile of dirty dishware that had been accumulated, but it was nothing that a simple spell couldn’t handle. Moondancer willed her magic and the plates and drinkware all floated on their own in unison into an assembly line next to the sink. They moved into the soapy water and were scrubbed, then dried and finally put away in the appropriate cabinet.

Moondancer’s living room was coming along nicely after all that clutter was discarded; she could even move freely without tripping over herself – something she had taken for granted. The next thing on her itinerary was organizing the books but as anyone with a sizeable collection of tomes can attest, one simply cannot just pack books away. It was an unwritten rule somewhere in the universe that only after skimming through the pages of said book were you then allowed to shelve them.

It took the better part of an hour to place just a handful of books back into their correct spots. It wasn’t technically studying if she was just revisiting subject matter that had no correlation to her own research. Moondancer repeated this cycle until finally she came across a thin paperback. She was honestly picking up the books at random from the piles but what she saw quickened her pulse. It was the very same comic that she had snatched away from Minuette just the day prior.

Junkyard Bitch was plastered on the front cover along with an image of three burly diamond dogs groping an attractive unicorn mare. Moondancer gave a lecherous chuckle and flipped through the pages, each more explicit than the last. One panel in particular though caught her interest. The mare was spit roasted between two of the mutts while the third was on his back, eagerly thrusting his hips beneath her.

Moondancer stared at the page as she imagined taking the mare’s place. The diamond dogs forcing themselves on her without a second of respite. The musk of their cocks swirling inside her head as one swabbed down her throat. The other two dogs fervently pounding away at her pussy and plot in unison; stretching her holes with every thrust. It all finally culminating in a fevered pitch as they frantically sought their climax, shoving their bulging knots inside her and shooting their seed, not even noting Moondancer’s discomfort; to them she was just their breeding sow. Juices dribbled down her leg and onto the floor beneath– her switch had been flipped.

Moondancer lied down on her back against the cool hardwood floor with her foreleg propping herself up, while her hind legs spread wide open; presenting her puffy labia. The book was placed to her side to have an unobtrusive look while her hoof snaked itself past her small teats and prodded at her pussy. There was no one to see her display of course, but it made her feel exposed all the same; in that moment all that mattered was getting off.

In her haste however, she had lied down in the pool of juices, smearing the mare-cum into her coat. Moondancer deeply inhaled the pheromones that ran rampant inside the living room and quickly grew drunk from the stench. It was hard to think coherently for the mare as a haze spread inside her mind like a thick fog, demanding that she give in to her primal instincts. A wet squelch could be heard from her loins as she rubbed her swollen labia in achingly gentle circles. Like a ripe fruit, her pussy flowed with her essence when pressed.

The dildo was somewhere in here. Where was it again? Moondancer thought. She tried to recall where her toy might be but the thought eluded her. She strained what little brain power was afforded to her at that moment and remembered the box underneath the couch contained just what she craved. Her eyes darted to the piece of furniture and saw that it had disappeared. The mare let out a frustrated whine as she continued to pleasure herself. Buck me! They’re in the tub. Of course. Why didn’t I just wash them yesterday?

Buck it! I’m not stopping now, I need this. Moondancer spread her labia down the middle with her hoof and grinded the appendage into her entrance. Although slow going at first, she quickly built up a rhythm; her hoof slick from her excitement. The muscles inside of her passage contracted, grasping at a phantom invader while Moondancer bucked her hips in search of more stimulation. She picked up her pace and began rolling her hoof with vigor.

It wasn’t enough for her though as magic tendrils manifested themselves on her soft teats, massaging the mounds. It couldn’t compare to the touch of a real lover though; it was too artificial – ethereal. It lacked the warmth and passion of someone attentively listening to their lover to find just the right spot that would make them sing. Moondancer skipped the process all together and tweaked her nubs alternating between gentle and hard twists. The small amount of pain was welcomed by Moondancer as it only amplified the sensations of her body.

Just like clockwork, her clit winked after being coaxed from her groping. Moondancer returned to her previous form and her hoof circled around her swollen lips; first clockwise for a spell then counter clockwise- rinse and repeat. Her breath hitched and she moaned out expletives whenever she touched her sensitive clit, the stimulation like lightning racing through her spine and straight down to her core. The sensations were overwhelming but Moondancer chased the pleasure, her head fluttery and light.

That’s the stuff. Just like that! Moondancer thought. Now we’re getting somewhere.

Same old, same old. Fast, then slow. Fast; slow. She gasped and cooed, writhing on the living room floor as she played with herself. Moondancer was - at that point - quite familiar with all the ins and outs of her body. It was all just a part of the everyday routine for the mare; nothing special, nothing new.

Oh Celestia! Buck, I’m going to cum. Her voice could be heard in the entire house as the sound of her ecstasy reverberated off of every nook and cranny.Moondancer’s tummy felt like it was getting tighter with every passing moment. At that point the comic book she was using was long forgotten about as she focused on the sensations her body was enjoying.

She moved with conviction; like a mare possessed, she tossed and turned with her hind legs trapping her foreleg. Moondancer was almost there, she just needed that little extra push. In a moment of spontaneity, she flipped herself over with her head flat against hardwood floor and her flank waving high in the air. While she continued to fiddle with her loins and teats, she willed her magic upon one of the books lying on the floor. The tome flew across the room and was poised above the mare’s cheeks, winding back in an arch and held still. With her free hoof she pulled her soggy tail aside, presenting her eager, flooded cunt. Quick as lightning, the makeshift paddle struck against her plot.

Moondancer’s eyes shrunk to the size of pin pricks as she came. Her mind went haywire, from the sensations. Her muscles locked up in response forcing her to ride out the orgasm as her body become hypersensitive. She felt liquid spilling from her loins and trickle down her legs. She choked out a guttural moan; lost in her climax, Moondancer was unable to control herself.

Her hind legs eventually did give out though and she plopped to the floor. Moondancer’s heart jackhammered inside her chest, her lungs in stasis as she rode out the sensation. A second passed then five, ten and even thirty. All good things pass however, and Moondancer eventually came down from her high. Like a mare surfacing from the sea she sharply inhaled the air to inflate her lungs. Moondancer’s body exhausted and for the moment she was perfectly content to lie still, a smile on her face – she was at peace.

Dopamine, endorphins, oxytocin, and all the rest; I thank thee, brain chemicals, Moondancer thought. Except for her laborious breathing, silence permeated inside the room as she basked in her afterglow, her body twitching here and there. It was ruined of course by the neighbor’s dog obnoxiously barking in the distance - most likely celebrating its owners return from work. Moondancer lied there on the floor, coated in her own juices and sighed.

All the cacophony that she was able to tune out during her session came back in full force: The dogs barked, garbage collectors depositing bins into their haul, birds sang outside, her clock ticked away, and water dripped from her leaky sink. Sensations came back to her body in full and only now did her aching hindquarters thank her for abusing them so hard. The pain throbbed in tandem with her heartbeat and she knew that she would be using an ice pack for a while.

I haven’t cum that hard in a while. The pain seemed like a great idea at the time but already I regret it. Forgot to get a towel again too, and now I’m paying for it. I just hope I didn’t splash any of the books again. She peeked a glance at the damp book she used and cracked a smile, Beginners Guide to Stamp Collecting. Well, nothing truly lost there.

She didn’t want to get up, but after a few minutes had passed she grimaced. The soreness she felt was uncomfortable but manageable, however, a building pressure throbbed inside Moondancer. It wasn’t painful by any means; an annoyance more than anything else. Moondancer’s bladder now screamed at her like a foal throwing a tantrum, demanding her immediate attention.

I have to pee, Moondancer thought. Her legs fidgeted to hold it back, unwilling to stand up from her semi-comfortable spot, but it was a losing battle.

The mare let out an irritated groan as she pulled herself up and all at once it hit her. Moondancer’s bladder was a dam ready to break – holding it back a herculean effort. She scurried over to the bathroom down the hall, kicked the door open and flipped the light switch. There, sandwiched between the sink and the fixed bathtub, was the toilet. She threw herself atop the porcelain chair and relief washed over her body as a steady stream splashed against still water.

To Moondancer’s right – where the tub rested– smoky grey tiles coated the side of the walls and transitioned to an eggshell white paint that covered the rest of the room. The toilet was between the bath and the sink, the latter of which having scattered miscellaneous items resting atop it, such as a mirror leaning against the wall, hair ties, a tooth brush, and a soap dispenser. A teal bath mat was placed next to the tub and was even fitted with a matching curtain on the rod above it. All in all it was a typical bathroom.

With her bladder now emptied, Moondancer made to wash her hooves in the sink, though it was a small pittance compared to the rest of her body. The grime, smell, and sweat accumulated from the past couple days – particularly from today’s session- was beginning to feel unbearable on her coat; a shower was definitely in order. When she pulled the curtain aside however, her memory came back to her. Sitting inside were several dildos of diverse colors, shapes and sizes pleading to be washed.

Of course, Moondancer thought. It's always something. She used her magic to open the sink cabinet, pulled out some mild dish soap and got down to scrubbing; the next several minutes spent cleaning the silicone phalluses. It was a modest collection that contained replicas of various species: pony, diamond dog, griffon, changeling, and even dragon were all present. Variety was the spice of life as they say, and she definitely appreciated having options.

Finished with her chore Moondancer teleported the now dry toys back to her room, the tub now free. After a long shower she emerged from the restroom feeling refreshed and clean. By now a pit formed in the middle of her stomach and made its displeasure known with a growl. The afternoon sun was long since gone; shadows of the afternoon now progressed into darkness. A quick flip of the light illuminated the room, her excitement exactly where she left it on the floor.

Moondancer frowned and stepped around the mess towards the kitchen. The magic had long since dissipated and the dishes were thankfully all neatly put away by now. She opened the refrigerator and was displeased to find that its contents was severely lacking. While an opened box of baking soda, some bottles of condiments and milk two weeks past its expiration date sounded like a recipe for a delicious smoothie, she decided to pass.

It seemed that her pact was going to have to wait just a while longer. Opening the pantry, she picked up a packaged bear claw and tore open the plastic wrapper. She nibbled on the unhealthy snack as long as she could but work could only be put off for so long.

With renewed vigor, Moondancer once again tackled her chores. The laundry was washed, bathroom scrubbed, furniture dusted, her room tidied and the living room organized and sanitized all within just a few measly hours. Truthfully, with magic the tasks she had piled up were just a small annoyance at best, but when reluctantly doing something it becomes easy for the mind to wander. Moondancer was just relieved that it was over and plopped herself on her couch to relax. It was late into the night by the time she finished but it was still just a tad early for her to make for bed. So, she lied there with an ice pack on her plot and stared at the wall, lost in thought as she listened to her clock tick away.

Is this really it? Moondancer thought. There was always something exciting to learn; something new to discover. My routine was fulfilling at the time – but now? Now it all appears so mundane. Until that point my days played out much the same: Wake up, masturbate, eat, go to the bathroom, work, eat again, bathroom break again, continue work, check mail, and masturbate one last time before going to bed. It’s all just so… predictable.

Moondancer yawned, exhaustion setting in as her eyes become heavy. I still have a few days left before the meetup but I’ve got nothing scheduled before then. I’ll just rest my eyes for a bit…after that I’ll get right to making a list.She never did thoughas her mind went still and the mare peacefully drifted to sleep.

Halfway through the week on a lazy afternoon, Minuette payed one last visit to a bored Moondancer. She came bearing three things; the first was good news as Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts both eagerly awaited their meet up on Friday. The second a gift; fresh homemade stew for the two of them to enjoy. The aroma was mouthwatering: carrots, potatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms and an assortment of herbs and spices all conglomerated into a hearty dish that Moondancer relished. The third was company for dinner; Minuette wanted to ensure that her friend was eating something that wasn’t junk food, insisting that Moondancer keep the pot containing the leftovers.

The two mares chitchatted here and there about inconsequential things while they ate their dinner, Minuette even commending Moondancer for taking her advice on cleanliness, but the two mostly focused on the meal in front of them. Moondancer didn’t mind, she was just happy to have some company after being cooped up in her house for so long. Time flew by as sunlight waned and dusk grew ever more prominent. If she was being honest she didn’t want the mare to leave so soon, but understood that Minuette was a busy mare that had a vastly different work schedule than herself. Minuette saw her friends troubled expression and promised that they would hang catch up more at The Black Cauldron, informing her of the agreed upon meet up time. The two hugged, said their goodbyes and that was that; Moondancer was alone once again.

The rest of the week was uneventful for Moondancer. Reading was a momentary distraction. Masturbating, a fleeting moment of respite. I love it, but is this all? I’ve almost completed my research and it should be one of my biggest accomplishments, but then what? Another mystery, another project, another paper and on and on it goes. I feel like I’m running in-

“Moondancer!” A voice called out.

Moondancer was broken from her trance and looked on towards the source of the noise. Down the street Minuette broke into a gallop, quickly crossing the distance between them and jumped on top of her friend.

“Wah!” Moondancer cried. Her glasses went askew upon her face but held steady under shaky hooves. Minuette wrapped herself around her friend and hugged the hermit in the midst of the passing crowd.

“Great to see you again, Moonie!” Minuette exclaimed.

“You too, Minuette.” Moondancer patted her friend’s withers and tried to detach herself from her friends grasp but was held firmly in place. Other ponies around them began to stare at the scene that they had caused, but Minuette could care less about all the eyes watching them.

“Sorry for the wait. Friday’s are a total pain in the flank when crossing the city.”

“Uh…no. I just got here myself actually,” Moondancer lied. She adjusted her glasses and looked every which way for her other friends.

Walking at a much more reasonable pace, Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine lazily caught up and stood next to their overenthusiastic companion, giggling at their antics. Moondancer could now feel passing ponies’ eyes on her and groaned as her cheeks heated up.

“C’mon, Minuette. Ponies are watching,” Moondancer whined.

Satisfied with the embarrassment that she brought upon her friend, Minuette released her captive and pranced in place. “Sorry, I’m just so excited that the gangs back together.”

“Yeah, it’s great to see you again!” Twinkleshine exclaimed.

“We missed you, Moondancer.” Lemon Hearts said.

“Likewise. I’ve missed you girls,” Moondancer replied. Now that she had a moment to collect herself, Moondancer could see that her friends were dressed in a similar fashion as herself, each adorned in scarfs and sweaters to help stave off the cold.

“It’s been forever since we last saw you. A few months I think.” Twinkleshine said.

“Several actually,” Lemon Hearts said.

“Oh gosh, we have so much catching up to do! What was the Crystal Empire like; take any pictures? Is it true all the ponies over there are see through?”

“What, like a vampony? How can you take a picture of something that’s invisible?”

“No, no it’s more like their coats are see through. Like glass.”

“Um…well, you see,” Moondancer wavered under her friends’ inquisitiveness.

“That’s sounds horrifying! So everypony is just a walking, talking bundle of organs and guts?” Lemon Hearts continued.

“Well, we all are if you really think about it,” Twinkleshine rebutted. “But you can’t see their guts only their bodies. They have a minor translucence is what I heard. That and they’re built different if you catch my meaning.”

“Oh, okay… I don’t get it. Do they have extra eyes or something?” Lemon Hearts joked.

Twinkleshine gave her an incredulous look. “C’mon filly, use your imagination.”

It took a moment for Lemon Hearts to process her friend’s words but when she did a small blush appeared on her face. “What? No way!”

“All that magic is supposed to do wonders is what I heard,” a dirty grin appeared on Twinkleshine. “Goes to all the right places.”

“You’re just messing with me again. Moondancer, is she talking out of her plot?”

“Yeah, Moondancer. Meet any cute stallions up north that volunteered to be test subjects?

“T-that’s not… I mean,” Moondancer sputtered. Truth be told she did investigate the pony anatomy of their northern neighbors. Of course it was all sanctioned by Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and she had only sifted through medical data from hospitals. That being said, she might have snuck a few glances here and there at some stallions - nothing wrong with window shopping after all - and her face heated up as she recalled how gifted they all were. “No comment.”

“Moondancer, you minx! I was just teasing but now you got to give us the details,” Twinkleshine said while Lemon Hearts just giggled to herself.

Before Moondancer could muster some sort of lackluster response, Minuette looped her forelegs around the three mares, pulling them all into a huddle.

“Girls, give the mare some air! Wait till we’re all at least a little sauced before you ask the big questions like that. Besides, days, weeks, months; what does it matter? Moonie’s here now isn’t she?” Minuette interrupted. “I’m ready to celebrate her return and what better way to do that than sharing a drink with a friend! First round will even be on me, so let’s get our tails inside and out of this cold, huh?”

Twinkleshine and Lemon Heart nodded and pulled away from their friend.

“Okay, Mom. We’ll put a pin on this topic for now but you're definitely giving us the details later, Moondancer. Luckily my uncle is running the place today so I should be able to get a table for us.” Lemon Hearts meandered past all the ponies waiting outside and over to the pub entrance.

“Well, If you’re buying…” Twinkleshine trailed off as she followed after Lemon Hearts. “But, not all of us have a coltfriend to snuggle up with. Let us single mares dream at least!”

Moondancer watched as the two entered the building, the uproarious crowd inside as loud as ever when the doors opened. She looked over to Minuette, who still had her held in place with a foreleg, and the mare gave her a wink.

“Thank you…” Moondancer quietly said.

Minuette released her friend and shrugged. “What for? It is freezing out here, ya know. Let’s get all warmed up inside and we can talk more comfortably… alright?”

“Yeah,” Moondancer sniffed and a smile broke out across her face. “Yeah, that sounds pretty good right about now.”

Minuette trotted ahead of her compatriot and held the door open, “Ladies first.”

Moondancer rolled her eyes and shook her head as she made her way inside; her smile never faltering.

Author's Note

Sorry for the wait everyone. Work has been hectic for a while but it's finally calming down now. Hope to have the next chapter out soon!