Friday night. The day everypony unwinded for the upcoming weekend looming upon them. However, this particular night was what many were looking forward to.
Earlier in the week, the residents of Ponyville were graced with the sudden presence of a wide, fancy new restaurant—Mugs, Hugs & Cuddlebugs—now completed on the outskirts of town. No expensive catches, enough space to make reservations obsolete and lots of lonely hearts willing to kill for such an opportunity.
Coco Pommel, on the other hoof, came against her will.
Yes, what was meant to be just a friendly little visit with a certain fabulous fashionista soon became a forceful night of "fun". That night, the shy mare struggled to make an approach toward the love-themed establishment. Ponies strolled past her with no issue, leaving her alone in an aura of overwhelming shyness.
"Hey, you!"
The earth pony flinched, catching herself as she noticed a pale lime-green mare with a tan-brown mane waving her over from behind a wooden podium. "You've been quivering in fear in that same spot for almost a half hour. You okay there?"
Taking a heavy gulp, the timid dressmaker finally made her way to the pony. "Welcome to M,H&C, girl!" she chimed. "What can I do ya for?"
Coco kept her head down, frantically searching through her turquoise purse to pull out a red ticket with glistening gold trimming. "I-I have a coupon..." she uttered. "For a free mug?"
"Wonderful!" the mare collected the slip of paper. "Head right in. Pick a table, any table. Enjoy yourself!"
The shy gal gave a quick and silent nod, shuffling onward past the large dark doors. Inside, the bustling building was in full swing. Couples had taken in its romantic decor, exquisite and flavorful meals were being prepared and sizzled before the amazed customers, and the staff were quick and efficient—moving in perfect sync with one another.
While still nervous of her unfamiliar surroundings, Coco was equally astounded by the aesthetic and excellent service being displayed. Her state of awe was then cut short as a bubbly filly zipped circles around her on roller skates. "Hi there!" she yipped, screeching to a halt. "Everything going well for you, ma'am?"
"O-Oh, um, yes," Coco mumbled. "I was just about to find a...table."
"Of course, lemme take you to a real good one!" the young one escorted her guest further into the restaurant. "Meeting a special somepony?"
"Me? N-No, I'm not that interesting."
"Not with that attitude. No worries, I'm sure somepony wouldn't mind minglin' with you."
"Heh, I just had a coupon for a free mug. A friend of mine insisted I come here."
"Oooooh, do you know what a free mug comes with, right?"
"I don't think so?"
"Comes with a free snuggle sesh! With...additional features."
"H-Huh?"
"Tell me, what do you like in a partner?"
"I-I don't know...
"Come on, girl to girl. Spill!"
"I guess I like a tall stallion. One who'd like me for me and—"
"Here we are!" the filly guided the stunned mare into a curved booth with blood red seats surrounding a sleek, oak table. "You'll love it, trust me! You're waiter will be with you in a bit!"
Within a few seconds, the rushing child was already gone before Coco could question further. Clearing her throat, she sheepishly scooted onto the center seat. Thoughts of a potential boo thang had plagued her mind, putting up a vigorous fight with her crippling insecurities. It wasn't long going into her thought process when an peach-colored earth stallion with a golden mane popped up. "Hey there," he greeted, giving a confident wink. "So, it's one free mug for the lady?"
Coco pressed her back against the seat in surprise. "Y-Yes, that's me. But...does it come only in mugs?"
"Of course not, cutie. We have regular cups, sippy cups, wine glasses—"
"Wine glass would be nice. With...wine, too, if that's available."
"Coming right up, Miss..."
"Coco Pommel."
"Xander," he scooped her hoof to smooch it kindly, chuckling as the flustered mare tried to hide a smile. "Pleasure to meet you. Be right back."
Left alone again, Coco let out a heavy sigh, letting her giddy emotions flood freely. Never had she been in the company of someone as caring or as handsome. She stared longingly at her hoof where he had smooched, smiling wide as a faint blush grew brighter.
Eventually, Xander returned carrying a single glass of cherry wine on a silver tray atop his head, kneeling to swiftly slide it between her hooves. "For the lovely gal." he hummed.
"Thank you so much." as she took a sip of her drink, she held her breath noticing the stallion in the corner of her eye sliding up beside her in the booth. Heart racing, she kept her eyes forward, watching other couples in the restaurant in each other's embrace.
"Nervous?" Xander chuckled.
"A-About what?"
"If you don't feel comfortable about free hug sessions, that's perfectly understandable. It's a unique concept we offer, but it's our motto: 'we all need love'."
"No, no, it's just I...I never had a guy want to do anything like that with me before. I don't know what to do, or say."
"Let me help you. Tell me what you want."
"I want...tuh-bee-snuhuh."
"Could you repeat that?"
"I want to be...snuggled."
Xander held his arms out wide. "Of course."
A bead of sweat came down Coco's forehead. Taking a big swig of her wine, she placed it down and hesitantly inched toward the open stallion. A minute or two went by before Xander carefully guided her chin atop his shoulder, wrapping his toned hooves around her back. Shocked and breathless, Coco practically melted like butter into his warm hug.
"I find that hard to believe," the cheeky stallion uttered, rubbing down her fuzzy back. "Any stallion would be lucky to have you."
"I'm just an average..." Coco managed to huff out, getting lost in the sensations. "An average mare."
"Nonsense. I'm sure you're very fascinating. Tell me about yourself, Miss Pommel."
Face hotter than ever, the flattered mare rested her head against her hugging buddy's chest, raising her hooves to caress his sturdy back. "Mmm, I'm a dressmaker. I-I make special costumes for plays. Sometimes, I sell dresses across some big cities."
"Well that's wonderful! I myself enjoy a lavish production," Xander looked down at the smol creature now staring back at him with glistening eyes, leaning in to plant steady, delicate kisses upon her off-white-coated cheek. "Very impressive."
Coco bit her lower lip, reacting to the moist contact. "Mmm, you're just saying —AH!"
The stallion's sweet kisses then trailed off down her slender neck, her grateful grip on him growing tighter.
"Is that the 'additional features' I've heard about?" the mare giggled, closing her eyes in delight.
"That it is, indeed. I can stop if you want."
"No, I...I love it. Please, tell me about you."
"Hmm, before working here, I babysat a lot of foals. A lot."
"Wow, sounds like a hoofful."
"They may be gremlins, but at least they listen to me. The adults, not so much."
"Aww, you poor thing. Hey, I'm listening. Always."
The stallion's ears perked up wholeheartedly. "Thank you. That's a first for me, it really means a great deal."
"Of course. So, um..."
"What is it, Miss Pommel?"
"Can you...keep going?"
"Oh! Yes, ma'am."
Xander's playful pecks transitioned into light nibbles, ocassionally tugging her skin between his lips and earning sweet moans from the customer. Coco's grip grew even tighter as she instinctively leaned up to return a kiss to the stallion's neck. "Eep!" she blushed. "I'm sorry."
Suddenly, a low but hearty belch escaped the stallion. "Oof, pardon me," he snickered. "It's okay, we consider that our own personal tips. You got quite a strong grip, I must say."
"Hee, thank you. I just never felt this way before with anypony, it feels so good."
"You deserve to feel good, Miss Pommel."
"C-Call me Coco if you want...mmph."
"Well," Xander lifted a hoof to boop her nose. "Do you feel special, Coco?"
"Very much..." the mare nuzzled into him with a pleased pout.
"Anything special I could do for a special gal?"
Coco popped her lavender sailor collar, puffing her fluffy chest out with an adorkable smirk. "I-I've always wanted a stallion to play with my floof."
"What an amazing floof," Xander licked his lips, placing his hooves deep within her fluff-filled forest. "Am I doing it right?"
"Hmmmm, yes..."
Every strand of fuzz on the worker's neck stood on end as Coco's happy coos send a wave of ecstacy up his spine. The two struggled to keep their hums of affection low and under the sounds of chatter and clatter. The sensual, strawberry aroma of the candle circled around them, their cuddle upgraded to a passionate snuggle. All throughout the session, a restless—but simultaneously pleasing—sensation gradually built up within the stallion's gut as he and his cuddle bug explore each other.
Everything came knocking up every corner of his being, Coco's vigorous snuggling squeezed it up. There was no return. It was coming...
"URRRRRRRRRRRRRP!!!"
The vibrations of his throaty roar shook the restaurant, reducing the chatter to a deafening silence. Soon, all the staff erupted into supportive cheers as everypony continued on with their cuddling dates.
"Sweet Celestia," Coco laughed, poking her recovering bud's back against his seat. "You're just a gassy type, aren't you?"
"Heh, I, uh..." he muttered. "Had a big lunch."
"That oughta do it."
As the mare rested with her cup of wine, Xander reached for the small, fancy vase on the table beside the candle, plucking a rose and placing it behind her ear. "Beautiful." he sighed, locking eyes with hers.
Coco rubbed a hoof on his cheek. "Handsome."
"Much appreciated. So...how was my service to you?"
"It was...magical. I felt special, more than I've ever felt in my life. Nopony's ever looked at me this highly before. But I have to tell my friend Rarity it was decent enough or she'd never let me hear the end of it."
"Heh, well your secret's safe with me."
Coco flipped her two-toned blue mane to the side, giving the stallion a grateful boop. "For that, here's your tip."
Xander's hair spiked as if he'd been struck by lightning. He fell petrified, helplessly watching the sneaky mare plant a generous peck on the lips, eyes half-lidded. "I should probably get going," she whispered in his ear. "All that cuddling took the energy right out of me."
"U-Understandable," the stunned pony fumbled to say, composing himself. "We close in less than an hour anyways."
"Lovely," she finished her drink, being politely guided out from the booth. "We should...do this again. Soon, at least."
"I would love that."
Coco's face scrunched into a cute pout as her hoof is smooched one last time. Her gentlecolt stood there curiously while she rummaged through her purse before setting a ladybug pin against his beige-patterned shirt. "To remember me?"
"You're my first legit client...ish, of course I'll remember you!"
The two briefly exchanged smiles before the mare turned heel and headed for the exit. Once she was out of sight, Xander pocketed the precious gift and let out a light sigh, swishing his tail in gleeful satisfaction.
"Enough gawking, Casa-neigh-va," a gruff stallion waiter gave him a friendly slug in the arm. "Let's get to it!"
"Yeah, yeah...coming..."
"Dang, I haven't eaten this well in months!"
Closing time.
Mugs, Hugs & Cuddlebugs was a rousing success with Ponyville. Tables cleaned and customers satisfied and long gone, the vast staff waited idly by in the center of the establishment. Xander, however, sat alone, fiddling dreamily with the ladybug pin.
Eventually, a huge booming THUD from the front doors grabbed everypony's attention. Stading before them was the green mare, a mischievously twisted grin across her face.
"So..." she hummed, popping her neck. "How was everyone's dinner?"
All but Xander erupted into triumphant celebration and/or belches.
"I'll take that as an 'absolutely!'"
With a heavy stomp of her hoof, the mare's soft cheekbones twisted and morphed to appear harder and less rounded. A glowing green wall of blinding fire surrounded her. Her appealing skin faded into a coal black coat as features from the entire staff followed suit, rabidly ripping their uniforms to ribbons. Now populating the room was a horde of ravenous changelings, reveling in their deceit under the proud authority of their queen, Chrysalis.
Soon, Xander changed into his dark, bug-like form last—begrudgingly—not breaking his golden-eyed gaze on the pin.
"Why didn't we think of this sooner?" Chrysalis cackled, strolling through her subjects. "Creating a lovey-dovey dump like this and those pathetic simpletons just come flocking in. We will no longer starve, no longer scavenge. We have a love farm on our hooves!"
Chaotic applause shook the roof.
"So savor every tasty drop remaining on your vile tongues," the queen continued. "A goldmine has blessed us tenfold, and we must exploit every sad sour single sap that walks through our doors! Their hopeless love is their only ounce of significance...and what could be more valuable than love?"
Under all the cheering commotion, Xander closed his eyes, the thought of the dressmaker's presence elicited a dreamy yet dopey grin as he chuckled to himself. "Couldn't agree more."
"And next time, my subjects, please just remove your bucking uniforms instead of tearing them up. These things are very, very expensive!"
Author's Note
