“You sure you don't want to come with?” Sunset asks. “The private jet's got plenty of room.”

You watch your breath float in the air as the snow begins to settle. The five of you just watch the overcast skies as each flake flutters into the streetlamps for the Clydesdale arena private parking lot.

“We'll be fine,” you say. “I don't want to keep ditching Cruise Control and we've got a room booked at The Equerry hotel. Besides, we might not be back in Canterlot City for a while.”

Sonata looks disappointed. “Aww, for realsies?”

Adagio gives you a raised eyebrow. “That's news to me as well.”

Aria shrugs. “I kinda figured. It's been, what, almost a year since we all reformed The Dazzlings? And I'm gonna be doing some travelling anyway. I kinda got used to touring with Salt-Lix, but now I wanna try my hand at going solo after kicking Rainbow Dash's ass tomorrow.”

Sonata glances at everyone and tears up. “But... but it feels like we've only just got back together!”

“It's not going to be for long, Sonata,” Adagio says and pulls her sister into a hug. “No matter where we go, we'll keep in contact, I swear.”

You nod. “Absolutely. Those new phones you've got have a unique magic-wavelength...” Okay, Ray, you're talking to Sonata here. “They have a special way of keeping in touch, where no distance is too great. It only works via text messages for the moment, but I'll get calls working soon. And we won't be gone that long. A couple of weeks tops. I've tried to keep it so we'll be back when you finish your recording run.”

Sonata reaches for you and you join the hug. As you do, she also gestures for Aria, who rolls her eyes and complies as one big family cuddle.

“You stay in contact too, Ari,” Adagio adds.

“Relax, I will,” Aria says and grins. “Gotta keep you guys up to date how much I've thrashed the Rainbooms alone. The way I see it, every time I crush their mediocre feel-good, easy listening garbage, the worse they'll play when we fight them together at the next battle of the bands.”

Adagio giggles. “I meant what I said back there with that girl. You're the strongest of us three by far, Ari.”

Aria's smile fades a little and she looks to the side. “Maybe, maybe not. Doesn't matter. We've got a dynamic. I doubt I'd be much good as a leader if I'm honest. I still kinda struggle with thinking of others. You and Sonata have that in spades and, no offence sis,” she nods to Sonata before looking at Adagio again, “but having guts, a heart and brains to match is why you're in charge, Dagi.”

Sonata shrugs. “Well, duh! Dagi's even smarter 'cause of Ray. Though who needs brains when you can just, like, act smart!” She clears her throat and pulls away from the hug, and in a scarily accurate adoption of Adagio's voice, says, “Tantra may be fleet of foot, but on this day she will stand her ground and rout our foes in one, well placed stomp. It's just that simple!”

“You've so got range, Sonata,” Adagio says and squeezes Sonata's shoulder. “And never change. You keep us all grounded. Keep us all together.”

Aria cricks her neck. “Ain't that the truth. She certainly keeps you and Ray from going full geek-speak around us idiots.”

You shrug. “Can we just agree that our family is just perfectly rounded for all our oddities and call it a night? I'm freezing my nuts off out here.”

“Eh, I guess,” Aria says. “But yeah, let's get rolling.”

“Yeah, that flight's not gonna wait forever,” Sunset says, then pats Sonata on the shoulder. “And I could always hang out with you. You can tell me about your show and we can watch it together. I could use some time getting to know you anyway.”

“I dunno,” Sonata says, unsure.

You add, “I think you'll get on fine, if you give her a chance, Sonata. C'mon, for me?”

Sonata sighs, “fine,” and finally relents.

Adagio finishes. “Go kick some ass, you two. The Dazzlings are superior together, but make sure everyone knows that we deserve adoration alone.”

Sunset blows into her cupped hands and rubs them as Sonata and Aria climb inside the chopper. She then turns to Adagio and says, “so, I'll see you both later. Stay out of trouble, okay?”

Adagio steps forward and offers her hand. “No guarantees, but the same goes for you. I won't forget what I did to you that night.”

“And I'll keep telling you to forget it,” Sunset replies and shakes Adagio's hand, then pulls her in and puts her arms around her. “If you're that sore about it, just keep doing what you're doing; you make a good role model, and I never thought I'd say that. Hell, you'd make a good hero if you didn't always feel the need to be smugly superior to everyone around you.”

Your girlfriend shrugs. “How else will I inspire others to step up and stop being crappy without such a shining example of being the best?”

“Don't you mean a Dazzling example?”

Sunset and Adagio both give you a look.

You shrug and continue, “what?”

With that awkwardness over, you step back as Sunset enters the chopper next to the pilot, closes the door and, with a whirr of the engines and the snow being whipped around hard enough it blinds you for a moment, they take off. You see Sonata tearfully wave at you through the glass, with Aria giving a single nod, and you wave back as they fly towards the airport.

You then wrap your arm around Adagio's shoulders and head for the limo, where Cruise Control, a sombre man but patient and affable, opens the doors for you to enter, then climbs in and drives off.

The roads are still a mess, but you're glad for the privacy as you make slow progress to the hotel.

Adagio removes her coat and leans her head on your shoulder, briefly checks her phone for any messages, then just sits in silence.

You ask, “a bit for your thoughts?”

She looks at you with those gorgeous raspberry eyes and forces a smile. “I'm fine. Just tired, that's all.”

That's not gonna fly with you. “C'mon, Addy. Talk to me.”

“I guess I'm still dealing with the fact that while we're a family again, the Dazzlings won't be together all the time. Being alone was great for them both; Sonata's gained a lot of maturity and wisdom despite how she's still so like her old self. I never imagined she would take to normal life so well.”

“Yeah, she's not traditionally smart, but common sense? You've got to be proud of her for that.”

Adagio nods. “I am. I couldn't be more proud. Not to mention she caught into this whole friendship and togetherness thing way before I even considered how powerful it would make us. Like I said, she's wiser than even she realises. And Aria's taken to music in a way only a siren can. We could always weaponise our voices, and she's just taking that concept to a whole new level. I think she's honestly going to turn her guitar into the very tool that will let us win against the Rainbooms.”

“Considering taking up an instrument then? Like Ari recommended?”

“Maybe. I wouldn't know what to play. I certainly don't have any drive or inspiration right now. If I didn't have you, I'd probably hit the bottle again. I guess it's also the fact that... well, I just still don't really feel like I belong here, in this world. Like having that brief taste of Equestrian life has made this place even less bearable.”

You cuddle her closer and kiss her on the cheek as she once more just sighs and gets lost in her thoughts. You have to agree; despite the drama, despite all the chaos, life over there just felt right. But right now, you need to cheer up your lover here and now.

Guess you might as well get the anniversary stuff rolling before she makes good on that threat of alcohol.

You reach into you coat and pull out a long, slim jewellery box. “I was going to save this for when we got home, or maybe the hotel, but screw it. Happy anniversary, minus four days, Addy.”

She breaks from her maudlin mood and looks at the box, smiles at you more earnestly, and opens it.

Inside, on a braided golden chain, is a panelled necklace with a recess for her stone. The plated gold features intricately detailed versions of the sirens' true forms, with their eyes in their respective colours of precious gems, and little stylised ponies in the corners.

“It's beautiful,” Adagio says as she marvels at it. “Surprisingly so, if you made it.”

You can't help but pout. “Hey, what's that supposed to mean?”

“No offence, Ray, your future-tech minimalist style works for Radwave gear, but this is genuinely pretty.”

Just take the win, Radian. “And that's just the outside. Put your stone in it.”

She gives you a surprised look, removes her necklace, carefully extracts the stone from it and places the gem in your gift. The recess whirs softly as a tiny mechanism pulls it inside and clamps it in place.

“What is this?” Adagio asks.

“That, my love, is a voice activated, magically shielding control system. Put it on.”

She fastens the chain around her neck, then adjusts it for comfort.

“Emitt, link with the control module,” you say, wait for a confirmation chirp, then add, “close the shield.”

The necklace's recess covers fully with a metal panel, and after a moment of confusion, Adagio shudders and starts to grow.

Before she gets too big, you say, “Emitt, open the shield.”

As if she was touching her stone again, she shrinks back. “So I can shift styles on command? Like an on-off switch?”

“More than that, it should protect the stone from outside forces,” you add, “I also theorise that will be able to give you access to your powers in pony form without changing into a full siren, though naturally you'll still be able to do so on command if you desire. It can't do it yet, because I need to study your stone when over there, under Equestrian magic forces and your own connection to it. Also whether the necklace has the right levels of shielding and whatever. It'll need a bunch of fine-tuning; there's plenty we still don't know about what the stone does to you, physically and psychologically, but the control necklace is functional and active.”

Adagio chuckles. “You never stop creating, do you?”

“Driven, determined and more, as you've always said,” you reply and wink at her. “But speaking of Equestria, now that the tour's over and Radwave is working with some automation, we can go back on our anniversary. I've got it all ready with Twilight so we'll get a warm welcome.”

Adagio finally seems to perk up. “That I can get behind. Well, less the warm welcome; I'd rather settle in with a bit less fame. I've had my fill of that here.”

You scratch your chin. “For a siren that used to live to be adored and nothing else? That's a little surprising, but I kinda figured something like that was wrong.”

She sighs. “I think what I went through, both in terms of my fall, when I was attacked and even our trip to Equestria, has kinda broken that part of me. I enjoy singing, and I don't mind the fame we've earned as the Dazzlings because we've done the hard work, but everything feels tinged by those events. Even going to Equestria, I feel like I'm walking into a role rather than conquering it on my own desires.”

“If you've been given a role, it's one you deserve,” you say and hold her closer. “You remember what Applejack and Rarity said, right? They came to like you for who you were. Not the siren, not the pony or the singer, just Adagio Dazzle. Besides, I doubt they're just gonna fawn over you over there. Once the welcome wagon passes, we can live our best lives and take it from there.”

“I guess,” she says and nods, then smiles at you. “I can't wait. Just gotta get through these next four days, huh?”

You laugh. “Try not to make it sound like spending four days alone with me's gonna be torture or something, Addy.”

She looks shocked. “Wait, no! I didn't mean it like that.”

“I'm fucking with you! Relax! You're really worrying me now. This isn't like you at all.”

Adagio looks tense as she says, “I can't help but keep thinking of how everything seems too perfect. Like I'm going to wake up and everything's fucked up and gone to ruin. I've gone from not knowing what I am and just living in the moment as a siren, to not knowing what I even was as a human girl, to a siren again with a goal of recovering what I had, back to a human with the awareness to know that I'd fucked up but with no way out, to-”

“Hey,” you interrupt and kiss her on the neck, then stroke her indulgent curls. “You're one of the most powerful people in both worlds. You're a respected peer of the future ruler of Equestria. You're the caring, brilliant sister to a pair of remarkable women. You're a world famous singer. You're my girlfriend and soulmate. We're making strides every day to make sure that, if any one of those things happens to fail, you'll have more support and connections to protect you than ever before. We're preparing for the future, Adagio, and no matter what happens, I want to make sure you never have to worry about losing anything again. Even if something does happen in one world, the other will look after you.”

She purses her lips but remains quiet as you just hold her tightly.

After a long wait, the limo finally gains speed as the traffic jam abates, and you're on the way to the hotel.

It's a grand establishment, some hundred years old and famous for only taking bookings from the famous and wealthy, which you guess fits both of you these days. You tell Cruise Control you may not need him tomorrow and that you'll message him if that's the case. It hardly seems like the most out-there request he's had from a client. Then you head inside the hotel.

You order room service rather than head into the restaurant, and before long, you're in the suite, where Adagio notably relaxes as she changes into her nightwear and you enjoy a meal of fancy lobster subs as you just relax and enjoy the quiet. She's so relaxed that you're not surprised when, as you tamper with Emitt for your next anniversary gift, you feel her hands slide over your shoulders and into your shirt, the little scratch of her nails followed by her soft lips on your neck, then cheek.

You ask, “feeling a little better then?”

“Kinda,” she whispers into your ear. “Though mostly I'm curious what you're up to.”

“Just routine maintenance,” you lie.

“Oh really?” she purrs. “Funny, I don't remember 'silica-based aperture cohesion destabilisation' programs being part of Emitt's 'routine' maintenance.”

Ah. Well, you picked a really bad day to forget that Adagio's clever. It's been so long since you just talked magic and tech with her. At least that's your excuse.

Which isn't an excuse.

“Are you going to come clean, or am I going to have to sing an answer out of you?”

It's not ready... you need to stall for time.

So you do the only thing you can; you put Emitt down, twist around, and kiss her deeply on the lips. You then stand and gently push her onto the bed.

She seems resistant at first, her eyes challenging you, but as your hands caress her hips, her lower back and gently undo her bra and she gives in. She undoes your belt and you let your pants slip to the floor, then you finally end the kiss.

Adagio climbs in bed, smirks and says, “for a guy who just got sucked dry by my sisters, you're still going, huh?”

“I love them both, but I'm not in love with them,” you say and sidle up beside her. “You of all people should know that. We can play games, we can have fun, but it won't mean anything as strong compared to what you mean to me.”

“And this translates to perpetual, endless and unsurpassed libido?”

“For you? Maybe.”

“Maybe?” She giggles.

Goddamn it, you're fumbling. Play it cool. “... okay, I'd have to rely on some technological boosts, but-”

“I'll take maybe,” Adagio says and pulls you on top of her. “Maybe's good. Certainty's overrated and boring.”

“That's rich, coming from someone who believes in the inescapable binds of fate, no?” You move lower and gently rest your head against her soft, perfect breasts.

“Fate's for big things,” Adagio says and sighs as you nuzzle, lick and taste her bosom. “Transcendent moments. Losing my powers, alienating, rekindling and reinforcing the relationship with my sisters, meeting you, recovering my powers and becoming so much more than I ever imagined I would be. That's fate.” She tilts your head to face her, then kisses the top of your forehead. “These moments? This is where things get unclear and exciting. Like what you're going to do to me first; are we going to go gently or hard?”

“Do you have any commands, my mistress?”

“Pfft, my commands are for idiots and weaklings,” she says and lounges. “Surprise me, my muse.”

“Very well,” you say and stroke her hair, slowly climb on top of her, and take one of her hands in yours.

You run your thumb over her hand, and feel the delicate bones under the surface, the smoothest damn skin. You then coax her fingers apart and weave yours between them. The little tensing of her arm as she squeezes your digits back. You then get closer and closer, until you feel her breath on your face.

And simply cuddle her.

Adagio says, “huh... really?”

You nod and squeeze her. “I may not know the absolute depths of what's wrong. I have some ideas, but I bet it's not the sort of thing sex will help. Comfort, however? That feels closer to the mark.”

She laughs softly. “Yeah, I guess so. But I do want to make one change. Emitt, shield my gem, and give me an earth signal... low power, let's say ten percent.”

“Yes, Ms. Dazzle.”

Adagio sighs as her new necklace shrouds her stone with its mechanisms, leaving it a plain, if still very pretty, piece of jewellery. You feel her tremble slightly as the earth energy works its magic with her, and she says, “so, how long until Emitt can hold a conversation?”

“I'm not sold on the idea. Every time I think of some new feature, I worry about how it might be exploited. I'll stick to honing its voice recognition and commands until I settle on an a final goal. Did you know this world's Twilight invented a robot dog to keep Spike, her own one, company? I heard about it from Sunset. I'll have to collaborate with her at some point and get her opinion.”

“I wonder if she'll impress as much as Equestria's Twilight?” Adagio sighs and smirks as her body grows.

“I doubt it,” you say. “She's a genius, but she's not got that edge.”

You may not have carnal pleasure on the cards, but you love feeling her body shift all the same. The way her already toned body, something she's been doing in her down time thanks to Aria's pointers for exercise, thickens out and becomes powerfully built, but just as indulgently feminine. How her breasts push against your chest as they, too, swell. The way her legs push beyond your feet and her arms reach farther and farther around your body. Before long, you're being cuddled by your goddess, nestle your head between her warm, silky smooth breasts, and just enjoy holding each other until sleep overtakes you both.

* *

While comfortable and you get a few hours of sleep, you're still troubled by Adagio's downtrodden mood. Once you stir awake, you decide to act. It takes a little while until she releases you, and you climb out of bed, put on your pants and sit down at and check over Emitt's sensor log. You're missing something, and it's infuriating that you can't figure out what, but you'll get there. You refuse any more sleep until you do; Adagio's happiness is at stake. You don't even care she only has to wait a few more days, you're doing this tonight.

You feel a vibration in the floor, and turn around as Adagio rubs her eyes as she sits on the side of the bed, the frame creaking under her weight. “Everything okay?” she asks.

“I guess,” you say. “Just working on... something.”

“Can we stop hiding things from each other, Ray? It's getting old.”

“It'll be easier if I show you.”

You raise Emitt towards a wall mounted mirror and fire. The reflection distorts and fades as an aperture forms with a subtle hum, there's a low flash of light, then it fades. Again. For like the fiftieth fucking time.

Adagio's eyebrows rise. “Was that a portal?”

“Got it in one. Too bad it only opens for about half a second before it collapses, and I have no idea why.” You sit down at the dining table and take a sip of leftover bottled water from room service.

Adagio approaches, and your frustration is abated by your endless amusement girlfriend's resounding footfalls. She really is a goddess, and the ground should tremble at her strides.

She says, “Emitt, close the shield.”

“Yes, Ms. Dazzle.”

With a shudder, Adagio's size reduces back to her classic look. She picks up your coat, wraps it around herself, and sits next to you.

“So how long have you been working on making your own portals to Equestria? And why?”

“Ever since I got readings from Sunset's journal and also heard Twilight uses its companion book as both a power source and a sort of entanglement tuner for the mirror portal. It's been a long work in progress that I've only recently managed to actually open the aperture. As for why? Well, why not? We can't afford to be tied to going through CHS's statue entry point, nor lucking out and finding a wild portal. If Equestria needs help, we need to be able to respond no matter where we are. It just needs sufficient silica, like sand or glass, and we can make an aperture.”

Adagio yawns and ruffles her messy, half-flattened and half-poofy hair. “Wait, where would this portal even go? I thought we already established these things require an string-point counterpart; our statue, their mirror, the two journals, that quick-sand and cave near Ponyville Sunset mentioned, et-cetera?”

“I love it when you talk scientific,” you chuckle. “Yes, you're right. Just as my portal is a vague point near a source of collected magic in the form of Emitt, I've been using-”

“The old emitter?” Adagio finishes. “Localised entanglement of similar projected field. Huh. So it wouldn't even need a physical exit point. Clever.”

“Not clever enough...” you sigh. “Something's collapsing the field. I was wondering if it's the lack of a physical exit point, but then it wouldn't appear at all. It's something else.”

“It's magic.”

“Well, obviously, but-”

“No, no, literally,” Adagio says as she rubs your shoulder. “You're opening a doorway into a world with considerably more magic than this world. So much, it's going to interfere with-”

Like a bolt of fucking lightning! You leap to your feet and yell, “the aperture projection!”

This changes everything! You sit down again, pick up a notepad and pen, and begin writing and recalculating.

“We need to find a way to protect the projection...”

“Right, but Ray, listen-”

“... I could prospectively apply a second field, a shielding harmonic? Something that blocks resonance...”

“Ray, stop for a second, would yo-”

“... but I couldn't possibly be able to protect it without knowing the signal coming through the aperture, and I'd need an extended quantity of magic to scan to make a counter-projection...”

“Oh, for fuck sake, Ray, I'm warning-”

“... yet I could cycle through each block of signals in turn. Theoretically each would only need a broad slice of about three point two her-”

“RAY!! STOP!!”

Your mind swims... so still and blissful. “Yes mistress....”

Adagio pinches your arm, snapping you out of her spell. “You done?”

Ow, fuck, you've bitten your tongue too. “What? What's wrong?”

Adagio's got a scowl on her face. “You were doing that weird, sticky-out tongue thing and ignoring me. Shut up and listen a second.”

“... Sorry, I got a little carried away.”

“No shit,” Adagio says and giggles. “Seems to me that the best way to counter a surge of magical energy is to project our own, no? Can't Emitt multitask?”

“I've tried that before; the aperture signal is too intensive, focused and specific to allow any other signals going the same way. I'd need a second emitter.” You scratch your head. “It would take me a couple of days to make another one... damn it, we should have gone back to Canterlot City so I could access my lab.”

“I could just, y'know, sing a blast of magic at it. We don't need fancy signals, we just need a secondary force that just pushes the magic back and push it back through. I mean, I'd need to be careful; if I mistime my song, I'll take out a wall.”

Your jaw goes slack. “That's brilliant. Why didn't I think of that?”

Adagio winks at you. “I think someone's forgetting who they're talking to. Adagio Dazzle? You know, the girl who turned out to have a pretty good head on her shoulders thanks to being inspired to use it by a certain somebody? I think it was that rich kid, oh what's his name? Oh, it's on the tip of my tongue.”

You chuckle and squeeze her knee. “Sorry! You know me, I still get wrapped up in working alone a lot.”

She hugs you. “So, are we going to Equestria or not?”

You nod and pick up your phone, then send Cruise Control a message to get your stuff from the room and head home. You also sent a message to the hotel that you want to check out and to give Cruise access, as well as pay an early cancellation fee. Then you put Emitt's holster on, a properly fashioned army-strong kevlar strap and armoured case.

Adagio takes a long swig of water and tunes up her voice, going through several pitches that make the room hum, your mind haze over before she says, “want to open that portal again? I need to get the timing down.”

You obey, and she watches as your finger pulls the trigger, the mirror fading and distorting, then the aperture opening, then it closing. You do this a few times before she nods.

“Once I start singing, just walk forward, slowly and smoothly. Let's do this,” she says and walks beside you, and takes a deep breath.

When you pull the trigger, she belts out a long, sustained note that's visible as a cone of magic, wreathed in red energy. The portal stays open! It's working!

You both walk forward slowly, and enter the aperture.

Everything swirls.

Gravity shifts.

Stillness in motion.

And you crash land on the other side.

“Ow, my butt!” Adagio says.

You try to get off the floor, and notice the strange feeling. Grass... but not on your skin, but fur. You raise your arms... forelegs, and see blue hooves.

A wide, open night sky extends above you, interrupted by quaint, thatched roof cottages in more haphazard placement than any city, like a little village that grew in size with no typical city planning. No cars, no engine roar, just the sound of crickets chirping in the distance, the gentle sound of grass waving in the uninterrupted breeze, the faintest and distant sound of occasional clopping.

You're back in Equestria!

“Warning, ambient magic levels reaching one hundred passive particles per square inch. Equestria level strength,” Emitt says, just to confirm.

You let your brain shift gears, roll over and get your legs beneath you and see Emitt on the ground. You reach with your hoof, chuckle at your lack of digits, and focus your mind. Your belongings glow amber as you pick them up with telekinesis. You'd forgotten how good and natural using this power felt.

“Warning, strong magical signature detected. Source: unicorn magic. Subtype: telekinesis.”

“Emitt, disable live-scanning verbalisations.”

“Chime mode activated.”

You make sure Emitt's properly holstered, then watch Adagio as she climbs to her hooves as well. Once more, your goddess earth mare girlfriend is a pony, but she's only about as big as you are, and as slim. Your eye is drawn to her necklace, and you can see the small vestigial scales around what would be her scar underneath it.

“Well, this is weird,” Adagio says, then winces as her stone begins to glow, and brightly. “Ray, what's happening?”

“Hay, I forgot; the stone still wants to be part of you. Emitt, close off the stone.”

Once more, the necklace closes off the gem, and Adagio's body rapidly swells in the presence of all the delicious Equestrian magic to her full size in mere moments. She rolls her neck and her muscles flex under her golden coat.

She sighs with relief. “That was close, and this certainly feels more natural.”

“One of a few things we need to work on,” you say and sit down so you can shrug. “Once we know the exact forces involved between you and your stone, I can fine-tune levels that should allow you to use your siren powers at will. Not to mention refine the portal program so we don't need to risk you turning into a siren on arrival if we need you to sing another aperture open, but anyway, we're here!”

“Here being... where, exactly?”

“We should be in Ponyville. I assume so, anyway, since Twilight should still be living here, and she has my old emitter. We should be within a few hundred feet of it, at any rate.”

You both look around, and assume that just as it was in the early hours of the morning back home, it seems to be the same here. A couple of lights are on in the simple windows around the town, but nopony else seems to be immediately around, besides the very faint sound of hooffalls in the distance.

“So, what do we do first?” Adagio paces about, restless. “Go and find Twilight?”

“Nah, we can surprise her tomorrow. I had three gifts in store for our anniversary. The first was the Radwave network to give you and your sisters energy on command. That should work here, and I can tap into it with Emitt and your necklace, although I suspect the yield will be greatly reduced. The second was the portal program we just used. The third? Your Equestrian dream home.”

She smiles wider than you've seen in months and does an adorable little happy dance on the spot with a clip-clop of her hooves on the cobblestones. “Really? My bar? It's ready!?”

“Hopefully,” you say and nod. “The final touches were being prepared going by what Sunset told me last time we discussed Equestria a few days ago. We just need to find it, although I know it's close to Rarity's boutique, which should be a big, carousel-like building that should stand out. Let's have a look around.”

You wander the streets of Ponyville, getting used to four legged walking again. One, four, two, three. One, four, two, three... like riding a bicycle! You both quickly pick up the rhythm and it become second nature in moments, then move up to a trot.

At one corner, in the distance, you see what you know is Twilight's abode. A weird, crystalline building that's somewhere between a castle and a tree, and appropriately huge for royalty.

“Wow, that place really clashes with the town aesthetic, doesn't it?” Adagio says and tilts her head.

“Right? I heard Twilight used to live in a tree-house library combination. Golden Oak, I think it was called? This was before she was a princess. A shame; that sounded really cosy.”

A bit farther on, you both hear a cascade of water, and head towards the source. You see a grand building on top of a few artificial waterfalls, filling a moat-like structure with stepping stones. It has a symbol remarkably similar to Twilight's cutie mark in a place of prominence high on the front in a couple of spots, but the most obvious one also has six little coloured stones around the points.

“And that would be the former school of friendship,” you say, going by memory.

“Oh, right, I remember you mentioning it. It's just a normal school now, right?”

“It's that and sort of an embassy. Ponies and other the other races go here to get educated on societal norms here and in other nations if they plan to travel. It also means we're going the wrong way, since I also seem to remember that Twilight said Rarity's place the other side of Ponyville. C'mon, let's keep moving.”

You move side by side, and it's almost romantic just walking the streets with Adagio. You keep exchanging glances, and it's not even funny how much happier she looks as she glances here and there with wonder, taking in the sights. With good reason, you guess; this is going to be your home away from home. Maybe even your main home, eventually; you admit, her enthusiasm is infectious and the rugged utilitarian modern ways of the human world seem so false compared to this quaint, cosy town. Even your apartment, your actual residence in the human world, barely feels 'right'.

Make no mistake, it's a really nice apartment in the same neck of the woods as Sonata, but you're almost never there. You're usually at the Radwave factory outside of town, and naturally Adagio was often on tour. You've maybe spent a few days actually just getting the apartment set up before you started bouncing between work, meetings and catching whatever shows you could of the Mistress tour.

You pass by several ponies, most looking tired and just taking in the air. They give you and Adagio funny looks, but they all wave and casually greet you. A far cry from the 'look at me and I'll punch you' attitude you're used to in human cities.

Finally, you see Rarity's place. A large, circular building with pony figures in the windows, all wearing assorted clothing from simple yet refined all the way to elaborate and wildly elaborate. It's on the edge of town, and in the distance you can see Applejack's farm way down the road.

“Okay, that's the boutique, but where's... ah-hah!” You trot over to your new home.

It's a long building, two floors, in a similar style of construction as the others in the town, with a thatched roof and those old-timey, wood beam walls of which you forget the name. The ground level is all designed to be the juice bar Adagio wanted, with the living space on the second floor, and she looks at it with wide, awe-struck smile.

The sign over the door reads, “Always Sunny.”

You approach and test the door with your magic, but obviously the happy-go-lucky vibes of Equestria got the better of you as you expected most ponies wouldn't worry too much about security. The place is locked tight.

“Damn it,” you say and grumble.

“What's wrong?” Adagio asks.

“We're going to need a key to get in,” you continue and start heading back towards Twilight's castle. “I was hoping not to have to disturb Twilight and keep our appearance a surprise, but I guess-”

There's a loud crack of wood. You spin about and Adagio's glancing about innocently while her muzzle scrunches up and she pulls a face. She's facing away from the door, now half-kicked off its hinges, with a conspicuously Adagio sized hoofprint on the shattered lock. The door then collapses inward.

“... it was stuck, that's all.” she says, still wrinkling her muzzle.

You snicker. “Right. Stuck. No patience with you sometimes, is there?”

With the way clear, you head inside. You do make an attempt to close the door, forcing it back in place with your magic, before turning around and taking in the interior, but it's too dark.

You fumble around via star and moonlight, and find a couple of lanterns. Then you locate some matches, strike one, spark the wick of the old fashioned light and hover it near Adagio so she can take in the room.

She winks at you, says, “thanks,” then wanders the big, open floor space. There's a bar, complete with barrels, bottles, taps and more ready for use. There's a stack of short stools, low tables in one corner, carpets rolled up ready for placement, and a stage beside the bar itself, with a fairly high tech looking sound system decoratively hidden on the back wall, with a standing microphone and stage lighting that just needs fitting.

She climbs on top of the stage, and you can see it already; she belongs there. Her presence fills the room, despite the size of the space. You can already see her envisioning the bar filled with patrons as she looks wall to wall at the bar, her eyes go wet and she sings a familiar tune, now filled with joy;

“Does deceit hit my eyes? It's like I'm hypnotised,

But I know all of this to be true,

A place all of my own, not as grand as a throne,

But the potential is vibrant and new!

Humble starts, took in stride, in for such a fun ride,

Endless dreams that we'll both see on through,

Equestria now awaits, so no matter our fates,

The important part is I'm with you!

So let's open up our eyes,

Every dawn, a new surprise,

As our paths now branch off evermore unending~!

And for every wondrous sight,

It's now bathed in golden light,

As we move on, souls together, now ascending~!

As one...”

You sit on your haunches and applaud with your front hooves. “The acoustics are almost as good as your voice, but then again, nothing can compare with that.”

Adagio bows, complete with a dainty raise of a foreleg. “Thank you. I don't know what to say!” She looks around again and wipes here yes on her foreleg. “I can't wait until everything's in place so we can break it in and make it a truly ours! It's perfect!”

She hops off the stage and pulls you in with her forelegs to hug you, and you reply, “I couldn't disappoint you, right? Between Applejack's building knowhow, Rarity's choice of décor and Twilight financing the place, I wanted to make sure it was ready for you.”

“Twilight's paying for it?”

“Sure, and to compensate her, I've set aside a nice war-chest for her if she ever visits the human world for any emergencies. I may already be paying Sunset, but I wanted to make sure if anything happened that needed Twi's attention in the human world, she'd have access to my resources, and that includes a her own bank account. Come on, there's more to see.”

Next on the tour, you head upstairs into the living space. It's a bit more modest, but no less amazing; two bedrooms, a bathroom with a luxurious two-pony sized bath, a living room and a combined dining room/kitchen space as well as walk-in storage. Again, the furnishings are there, but not in place just yet.

Adagio says, “I can tell we're going to be happy here. Hay, I doubt I'm going to want to leave if we're not careful!”

“Well, we're going to be here for a couple of weeks at least, at least until Sonata finishes her recording for her show and Aria does her charity tour. We'll have plenty of time to get the place nice and comfy, then we can see about getting them introduced here, then with their siren stones and that'll be that. The sirens will be officially repatriated to Equestria for the first time in centuries.”

Adagio grins as you both look at the bed, the only thing that's in the right place and is even made properly. “Don't get me wrong,” Adagio says, “I like the big, luxury bed we've got at the apartment, but this looks so much more comfortable.” She looks at the top, then bends her head low, leaving her haunches raised, and wiggles her rump about as she takes a suspicious amount of time looking underneath.

Oh. Oh wow.

That goddamn ass!

And the more you focus on it, the more you realise how everything's basically on display, besides the poofy tail obscuring some of the view. You wonder if, like the language side of Equestria, there's some innate magical filter that prevents you noticing certain... details despite-

Adagio just winked at you.

And you can't see her face.

Her pony-parts just winked at you. The darker skin exposed from her golden coat. The round hole and a long teardrop-like slit beneath. It's different, that's for sure, but you're only leaning on your physiology a little; you want to be in there. You have a mighty goddamn need!

“I think we could try this bed out... right here, right now,” Adagio says in the sexiest fucking voice, hot damn. “Might as well let the neighbours know what they're in for, hmm?”

This time, she does turn and wink at you as she continues to slowly sway her massive, thickly built rump, her tail swaying farther to-and-fro to keep enticing you in.

She continues, “I believe I did swear we'd go at it like a couple of animals when we were last in Equestria, right? How about you show me that 'horn' of yours, stud?”

“Yes'm,” you manage as she rests her forequarters on the bed and wiggles her rump.

You approach, feel a natural compulsion take over as you rear up on your hind legs, extend your forelegs, fall forward and go to mount her.

Only to discover her impressive size means all you've managed to do is hug her giant ass. Which is great, make no mistake, you could cuddle her thick, meaty butt for hours, especially with easy access to her poofy tail for extra comfort, but there's no way you're going to be able to actually... well, reach the fun-parts with your own. Licking would be fine, but that wouldn't be the most animal way of doing it, would it?

She giggles and asks, “need a hoof there, Ray?”

“... would you?”

Adagio ducks down, and pushes into you, scooping you onto her back. She then stands, lifting you clear off the ground, turns around and you're flung onto the bed with a flick of her hips.

She then promptly sits on you with a giggle. “Work for it, my muse!”

So heavy. So lusciously heavy! If you could breathe, it would be amazing. You instinctively wrestle free, knocking pillows on the floor, and turn to her as she suddenly lifts her rump up, and continues her attack.

Earning you a muzzle full of her flaring, wet lips.

And she earns your horn.

She goes bolt rigid, whinnies and screams, “wrong hole!!”

You dare not move as your horn's most of the way up her ass, and you can't say anything since you have a muzzle half-embedded in her cooch.

Adagio gasps as she slowly steps forward and pulls herself free. “Okay,” she says with a slight, bestial nicker and eyes as wide as saucers. “Maybe we can try butt-stuff another day?”

“Walk before we run. Check,” you reply. “Okay, less horsing around and more gently feeling each other out, I think.”

“Right! Sorry... I got a bit carried away.” Adagio backs up to the bed once more, and lifts her tail. You once again feel the compulsion come over you to mount her, and follow the instincts. It feels so right, especially with you standing on the bed to compensate for the size difference.

You reach down with a foreleg to guide yourself in, and... damn, ponies may be smaller than humans by your estimates, but apparently some parts aren't subject to that reduction. You feel huge.

Once you lift your dick up, and lean heavily on Adagio's back (with her tail acting as a comfortable cushion), you finally make contact.

“Ooh,” Adagio coos. “That's... different.”

You grunt softly and slowly ease your way in with short, rhythmic thrusts, each with a light grunt and a wet, slick squelch.

She moans. “You feel so big! I love it!”

Those are some magic words right there. That'll put the fire in the heart of any guy. Especially when you're not even all the way in yet.

Her moans escalate to cries as you inch forward, two thirds the way in as you lean back and shove in with one final thrust with a wet, loud 'plap'.

“Aahh! Oh my! What the hay!?” Adagio says and squirms. “Is that your hoof or something!?”

“Nope,” you grunt and bite your lip as Adagio's shifting teases your length. “Pure unicorn meat.” And you were worried about the size difference... fate obviously has other plans, because if anything, you're worried you might hurt her.

She glances over her shoulder in disbelief, then laughs. “Rut me like you mean it, big boy! I'm a tough mare! I can take it all!”

You need no further encouragement. You hook your forelegs into the point of her hips and buck like the wild bronco you are! It's so weird, so wild, so fucking hot.

You feel perfectly shaped to please your pony goddess as you pull out further and further each thrust to enhance the impact, yet still don't fall out; each thrust takes your whole body to get the most out of it, and her inner walls begin to massage your cock, clenching and teasing with each pass.

You don't even care about the lack of protection. The wild instinct might even prefer it if her old desires for foals still ring true. You just don't care, and neither does she. It's all about this moment, as your senses are filled with Adagio; her scent, the feel of her body beneath you, the gutteral moans as she cries out with each massive thrust of your big dick. You're a stud, a stallion, a mighty male!

“Yes! Yes! Harder!!” Adagio screams. She scoops a pillow with a foreleg in front of her and bites it, snorting like a beast. Drooling. Her eyes rolling back as she loses all sense of self. She's a willing mare, ready to be bred!

It may be the simplest way to mate... have sex with your girlfriend, but it's all new to both of you, and you can feel yourself edging, your exotic form clench, and you loose a full whinny as you blow your load inside her. Your ears ring, your body tingles and you ride the climax, but as a matter of pride, you still don't stop thrusting, and it's just in time as you start to lose the apex of your excitement, Adagio squeals so loudly it hurts your ears.

She stands upright, tearing the pinned pillow apart with her teeth with a shower of downy feathers and fabric. You hold on for dear life as Adagio lifts you, still buried deep inside her, off the bed and staggers about, eventually thumping against the wall to stop herself falling over. She gasps for breath, panting and whimpering from the intensity of what you just did to her, and-

The bedroom door opens.

You both freeze as three familiar ponies all stare at your pony ride.

“Adagio!?” gasps-

“Rarity!?” Adagio balks as you exclaim-

“Twilight!?” as she reels and-

“R- Radian!?” Twilight's stammers.

“Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie finishes.

The silence is unbearable as Rarity and Twilight blush, though Pinkie just stares for a moment, then giggles. “Well, somepony's been having fun!”

You're softening by the second, and hold on for dear life, but eventually slip off and land on the bed, then bounce off, onto the floor with a comedic thud.

Rarity clears her throat and says, “we are so sorry! We thought you were burglars or something! I was awoken by the sound of cracking wood, and came to investigate! Then I distinctly heard somepony say about 'breaking in' or somesuch! So I immediately went to get Twilight.”

Twilight continues, “and I heard your emitter detect a magic surge nearby, so I was already awake and trying to work out what it was! When Rarity came knocking, we partnered up to see what was going on, but then we ran into Pinkie.”

“And I saw the light and said to myself, 'Pinkie Pie, either that's that mean ol' Radian trying to avoid your super secret housewarming party planning, or it's an equally mean burglar in need of a party cannon out the window so they don't ruin your super secret housewarming party planning!' And now you're here! So, let's get this party starte-”

“Pinkie, it's three in the morning,” Twilight says and rolls her eyes. “Can't it wait until tomorrow?”

“Right, sorry!” Pinkie replies.

Rarity asks, “all the same, Dagi, what are you doing here this soon? We weren't expecting you for a few more days.”

“Testing my Ray of sunshine's portal technology,” Adagio responds, “and I guess springing a surprise early visit.”

“You never stop creating, do you?” Twilight says and winks at you.

You can't help but give Adagio a quick, knowing look. “Sorry if it's improper. I was just trying to get it to work, but I figured a few extra days couldn't hurt. It's great to be back!”

Twilight nods and says, “I can't wait to introduce you to everyone, but I don't want to overly intrude in your time here so you can hopefully live your best pony life.”

Rarity balks, “p- pony life? I thought we weren't ever going to mention that ever again! One batch of Pinkie's 'mystery herb' brownies and a shared fever dream is enough for me. If I start throwing up gems again, I don't know what I'll do!”

Pinkie shrugs. “I dunno, it was fun everyone living in the wackier, lazier looking version of Sugarcube corner. The balloons, and Fluttershy constantly growing huge for some reason, and Discord sounded all weird, and the future travelling stuff!”

You whisper to Adagio, “any idea what they're talking about?”

“A bad experiment, I think,” she replies. “Look, sorry about springing the surprise on you, and I think even I admit I'm looking forward to meeting everypony at a party, but it's getting late and I'd like to spend a little more private time with Ray.”

“Say no more,” Twilight said, “just glad to see you both again. Come on, girls, let's leave the happy couple. We'll swing by again tomorrow morning! Have a good night.”

“Well, it is kinda morning now,” Pinkie says and produces a box from... somewhere, and holds it out with her forelegs. “Allow me to present my better-than-ever breakfast fudge as the first housewarming gift!”

You try to ignore your scientific curiosity as to where she keeps producing these things despite the lack of pockets, or even clothing, and reply, “that's kind of you.”

You open the box, only to find it's full of brightly coloured confetti. “Uh, Pinkie? I think there's some sort of mistake.”

She blinks her big blue eyes at the box and frowns. “That's weird. If that's the case, what did I put in the party cannon?” She approaches a cabinet, then kicks the door with a her hind leg, and steps aside as it opens.

Said cannon to falls out aimed at you. And blasts you out the window in a barrage of breakfast fudge.

You land hard on the street. You roll to a stop, stand, dazed and confused, staggering. You're seeing stars. Or birds. Or... griffons?

“Uhh... oops?” Pinkie says.

“Ray! Are you alright!?” Adagio calls out of the broken window.

“I think so,” you reply and loose a mad-scientist cackle, then you lose sensation in your... everything. “I think I... I need a nap...”

And you promptly black out.

The End

For now...

Author's Note

At long last, Mistress is over. I want to thank everyone for reading and, hopefully, enjoying what is functionally my love-letter to Friendship is Magic, Equestria Girls and the series as a whole.
I'd love to hear any feedback, and I do plan to follow this with shorter stories overall, but it'll be some time before I'll be writing them.
Lastly, for said sequel/follow on, I'm considering some format changes. Some of the shorts I intend to tell from Adagio's perspective, which I might do from a first-person perspective to differentiate the narrative from Ray's. If there's an interest, I may even do some moments from Sonata and Aria's perspectives if people are interested. I'm also on the fence of having some "B side" added chapters that are exclusively from Adagio's perspective injected into this story, but I'd rather know if you fine folks are interested first.
Likewise, I'd like to know if anyone found the second person perspective especially grating. I could always make it third person, or do it all in first if there's a strong opinion on it, so please let me know.
Until next time!