Tres Magnifique!

by LunaJack

Rating: mature
Tags: Griffons, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Porn, Sex, Pony Joe
Length: 4743

Gustave LeGrand is in love with a pony. How will that pony react when he finds out?

Griffon chef Gustave mac Jean O'Black-Verreaux has come a long way. Rejected by his family in the Griffon Kingdom, Gustave made a new life for himself in Equestria, changing his name to LeGrand and becoming a famous pastry chef. He has made many friends...but there is one stallion he would like to have as more than a friend. Pony Joe!

This story is inspired by Gabriel LaVedier's story "Clop-Clop" the chapter "Jelly and Cream". It is how I imagined Gustave and Pony Joe's first time. The link is below.
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/33023/clop-clop

Published 2022-10-18 04:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2022-10-18 04:40:00 UTC

Everything Must Be Perfect

Author's Note

This is my first time writing a clop fic. I have written romance novel style sex scenes and even got a story published in Penthouse Forum, but this is the first time I've written one with MLP characters.

Just want to add that this story has nothing to do with my other story "My Big Fat Griffon Wedding" though I am not against Donut Joe and Gustave being a couple.

Everything Must Be Perfect

Gustave Legrande breathed in the savory aroma of the thick sauce boiling on the stove. “Tres magnifique!” he chuckled to himself. He was a renowned pastry chef, famous for his exquisite eclairs, but he was also more than capable of producing a full gourmet meal. With utmost care, he poured the steaming sauce over a perfectly prepared tofu steak, followed by some carefully arranged sauteed legumes and rice. The girthy griffon fussed over the details with a nervous energy he usually reserved for catering important events like the Grand Galloping Gala or Princess Celestia’s Golden Jubilee.

Everything must be perfect, he whispered to himself.

Once everything on the plates was arranged to his satisfaction, the griffon stepped back, took a deep breath, and let it out with a shuddering sigh. Quickly, he inspected his white chef’s jacket insuring there were no crumbs or stains. Instead of his usual tall toque blanche, he wore a short brimless cap similar to ones worn by Neighponese chefs. With practiced ease, he took the completed dishes in his claws and walked backwards through the swinging door that led into the dining room.

Everything must be perfect.

The dining room was dimly lit. A single tall taper burned in the middle of a dark oak table flanked by a slender crystal vase holding a red rosebud. Seated at the table was a light amber-colored unicorn stallion with a carefully combed orange mane wearing a neat black jacket and tie.

“Bon Appetite, mon ami,” murmured Gustave as he carefully laid the steaming dish before his guest.

The stallion eagerly leaned towards the food. “Looks good.” He took a deep appreciative sniff. “Mmm! Smells good, too.”

“Merci’, Joe,” replied the griffon in a gracious voice that belayed the blush crossing the bridge of his beak. Deftly, he eased the cork from a bottle of red wine and poured the contents into his guest’s crystal wine glass. The stallion waited patiently until his host had served himself before taking a fork in his magic and cutting off a bit of the tofu steak. Gustave trembled slightly as he watched the stallion levitate the fork to his lips, open his mouth, and slowly take a bite.

“Whoa!” The pony’s eyes widened, the whites shining bright in the candlelight. The griffon host grasped the tablecloth tightly with his sharp talons.

“Qu`est-ce qui ne va pas? What ees wrong?”

“Nothin’!” the stallion snorted. He dug into his plate with enthusiasm. “This is some kinda good!”

Gustave breathed in relief. “Thank you, my friend.” The griffon took up his own fork in a shaky claw and partook of his own dinner, worriedly critiquing the quality as he ate. The steak was perfection itself. The sauce above reproach. The rice had turned out well. The legumes—well, that could have been better. He glanced furtively across the table at his guest. The portly stallion was eating slowly, humming in pleasure as he savored every bite. A soft smile crossed Gustave’s beak. His golden eyes became lidded as his mind slipped away to a time not long past when he had first met Joe, the donut baker.

It was during the National Dessert Competition in Canterlot. Joe, or Donut Joe as Princess Twilight had dubbed him, was the owner of a successful pastry café near the upper tiers in Canterlot. His operation was simple but effective, offering a sweet treat along with generous cups of gourmet coffee for busy office workers, late night accountants, and even members of the castle staff.

Gustave could not help but be struck by the tall unicorn: how strong and confident he was, his head held high, a smirk on his handsome face. He admired how the stallion lauded his donuts in a deep voice augmented by his belligerent Hooflyn accent.

Despite the presence of two other entries from the Cakes and Mulia Mild, the two men were hotly focused on each other. Passions ran high and the two almost came to blows, until Twilight Sparkle sent everyone to bed for the night. Despite the drama, the contest had ended amicably. Still, the griffon had been surprised when the stallion invited him for a beer at his favorite bar.

“I gotta say, those eclairs you made were delish,” said Joe, as they bellied up to the bar. “The usual,” he said to the pretty barmaid across the counter. She returned a second later with two green bottles of beer. Joe popped off the cap with his magic and took a deep drink. “Best thing I’ve ever eaten…next to a donut.”

“Merci,” Gustave replied with a slight nod. “And I rather like zee jelly donuts you let me try. Simple, yet delicious.”

“That’s pony-made jelly,” the stallion murmured as he watched the way Gustave effortlessly popped the cap with a flick of his talon. “Your cream filling was really good. Maybe…you can show me how you make it sometimes.”

“Perhaps,” the griffon replied noncommittally. He had no intention of giving up any trade secrets. He lifted his beer to his beak and took a long swig.

Joe watched him drink, eyeing him with growing respect. “So, ya ain’t all fancy talk and frou-frou,” he said, grinning. “Most of these Canterlot ponies won’t drink beer unless it’s in a damn glass.”

“I am not a Canterlot pony,” Gustave snorted, slamming his empty bottle down on the bar. “I am a griffon! Zis pony beer is champagne compared to zee foul merde that passes as liquor in zee Kingdom.”

“I know what ya mean,” said Joe, his muzzle scrunching. “I tried that stuff on a dare once. Won five bits then I had to go puke in the alley.” He took a swig of his beer as if to rinse the memory away. “So, Gustave LeGrand. Which of those griffon clans do you belong to?”

“Black-Verreaux,” said Gustave, signaling the barkeeper for another beer. “In zee Kingdom I am known as Gustave mac Jean O’Black-Verreaux!”

“No wonder you go by LeGrand,” said Joe with a smirk. “Mine’s simple. Joseph Ponsese, but my friends call me Pony Joe.”

“Zen, I am pleased to make your acquaintance,” said Gustave, offering him a claw. “Pony Joe.”

The stallion accepted the proffered claw with a hearty shake. “Same here…Gustave LeGrand.”

“Hey, Gustave!”

The griffon startled at the sound of his name. “Oui? Er…yes, Joe?”

“Ya okay there?” the stallion asked, squinting at him in the dim light. “Ya look like ya zoned out on me there.”

“Oh,” Gustave gave a nervous chuckle as he carefully smoothed his fluffed feathers. “I was just thinking…about zee food. Zee legumes, zey are a bit tough, no?”

Joe took a bite of bean. “Tastes fine to me. That garlic salt gives it the right amount of pizzazz.”

“Tres bien.” The griffon returned to his food which was growing cold on his plate.

Everything is perfect.

“I haven’t eaten this good since the last time I visited Ma in Manehattan,” the stallion murmured. “Ya sure can’t get much here in Canterlot, unless ya go to the lower tiers. Everything at the top tastes like nothing.”

“Zee upper crust believes flavor is tres gauche,” sneered Gustave. “Zere is nothing in zee upper tier worth eating…except for zee eclairs and zee donuts,” he added with a smirk. The griffon raised his wine glass in salute. “Congratulations for being chosen to cater zee next Gala, mon ami.”

“Thanks,” Joe lifted his glass in his magic and clinked it against Gustave’s. “It was a real surprise. I didn`t know the princesses even liked donuts.”

“Zey are both fond of sweets,” Gustave chuckled with a knowing grin. “Zee Princess Celestia especially loves her cakes.”

After the delicious dinner the two retired to the griffon’s living room. It was a large space as befit a business owner who often entertained clients at home. A gas-burning fireplace with a shining black marble hearth took up most of one wall. A pair of stylish yet comfortable black leather armchairs sat close on each side. Directly opposite sat a large matching couch with a glass coffee table in front of it. A liquor bar covered in black leather and trimmed with silver stood in a corner next to a large sliding glass door that led out onto a sizeable stone balcony.

As Joe made himself comfortable in one of the armchairs, Gustave slid behind the bar, returning a moment later with two green bottles of cold beer. He gave one to Joe. “Pour vous.”

“Heineighken!” cried the stallion. “Nice and cold, too.”

“Oui, my friend,” replied the griffon taking the chair opposite him. He leaned close to the hearth and pressed a switch, making the gas logs burst into flames. “I believed you would prefer zese to a nice cognac or chianti.”

“You know me well, pal.” Joe popped the top with his magic and took a deep swig. Gustave followed suit, flicking the cap from his drink with a sharp talon. The two sat for a while quietly enjoying their drinks and watching the shadows dance in the gaslight. It was a cozy, almost domestic scene.

“Hey, Gustave,” said Joe after a moment.

“Oui?”

“How long have you lived here. In Equestria I mean.”

The griffon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Two years, perhaps.”

“Ya ever miss livin’ in the Kingdom?”

Gustave shrugged. “Not really. I sometimes miss zee fellowship of my fellow griffons, but I prefer the company of ponies.” He took a sip of his beer. “Zey are not so…judgmental.”

“I miss my old neighborhood in Hooflyn sometimes,” said Joe quietly. “Miss my Ma. Tried to get her a house here in Canterlot, but she wouldn’t have it. I did get her a nice apartment, though, just two blocks down from where she stayed.” He sighed. “Don’t get to see her much, but we always get together for holidays. How about you? Got any family you miss?”

Gustave studied his beer before replying. “Non. My mère, she died when I was still le enfant. I was never close to my père. I had one sister who cared for me, but she is married now. Her husband’s number two hen. I have not heard from her since.”

Joe regarded the griffin pityingly. “So, ya got nobody,” he said quietly. “That’s a shame.”

“Telle est la vie,” replied Gustave with a shrug. “Water under zee bridge. I am an Equestrian citizen now. I weel make my own way.”

“Guess that’s a healthy way of lookin’ at it,” said the stallion after a moment. He took another swig of his beer and relaxed back into the armchair.

Gustave breathed a quiet sigh relieved Joe had not pursued the subject. He took a sip of his drink just as Joe spoke again.

“Ya ever think about gettin’ married?”

The griffon froze, an icy coldness seizing his heart. "Why do you ask, mon ami?"

“I don’t know,” Joe shrugged. “It’s just, ya know, griffons your age are usually married, got a hen or two or three in the nest, kids on the way—”

“I do not want a few hens in my nest,” Gustave snapped coldly. “My mère was my père’s third hen. I saw what life was like for her, with so low a status, and do not let me get started on zee children! No, I would never have that!”

“Hey, hey! Cool it down! I didn’t mean to get ya so riled up!”

Gustave took a shuddering breath. “Desole, Joe,” he whispered. “I am sorry. I…was asked zat many times while living in zee kingdom. My pere asked it of me constantly. ‘When will you marry? I had three wives by zee time I was your age!’ It was…hard for me, Joe. I could not make him understand, I had no desire to…”

He paused. His face contorted as if in pain. His grip on the beer bottle tightened until Joe thought he could hear the glass crackle. The stallion stayed silent, watching his friend wrestle with his emotions

CRACK!

“I did not want any bucking hens!” Gustave screeched his fist still tightly clenched around the shattered remains of his beer bottle. His golden eyes glared at the shocked unicorn. “I do not WANT hens. I have NEVER wanted hens! How do I explain theez to my pere? I do not want mares! I do not want cows! I--” he choked back a sob. He lowered his head, tears dropping onto the floor. “I-I do not know if I can ever have what I want,” he whispered.

“You’re bleedin’,” said Joe quietly.

The griffon glanced at his claw. Blood dripped heavily from his still clenched fist to form a puddle on the floor. Joe was beside him in a moment, sweeping away the shattered glass with a flick of his horn before taking the bloodied claw in his hooves. Gustave just stared as his friend used his magic to examine the cut.

“Don’t see any glass in there,” Joe murmured. “Hold on.” The griffon winced as the stallion’s magic probed the wound. “Not too deep. Hold still.”

Gustave clenched his beak as a tickling-burning sensation slid over the cut. He watched in fascination as the gash slowly closed and healed.

“There, good as new,” said Joe, admiring his work.

Gustave flexed his claw. It barely hurt at all. “Merci, Joe,” he whispered.

The stallion shrugged. “You okay?”

The griffon lowered his eyes. “Oui.”

Joe did not return to his chair but sat on his haunches next to the flustered griffon.

“So…” he said after a moment. “You’re…ah…what you griffons say…a…Feather Fluffer?”

Gustave cringed. “Oui.”

“Hey, it’s okay. Ain’t nobody gonna hurt ya.”

Gustave nodded. “I know,” he whispered.

The griffon flinched as he felt the stallion lay a comforting hoof on his arm. A blush colored his cheeks. His breathing became labored and his heart beat hard in his chest. None of this was lost on Joe as he regarded the griffon steadily.

“Ya didn’t just invite me over for dinner, did ya?” the pony asked quietly.

Gustave winced and shook his head. “Desole! I am sorry. I should not have assumed—”

“Assumed what?”

The griffon gulped. He was stronger than Joe, but he knew one blast from the unicorn’s horn could paralyze him and leave him helpless.

“Assumed what?” asked Joe again.

Gustave gathered his courage. “That-that you were…like me.”

“What, a colt cuddler?” Joe chuckled as he leaned in closer. “Who said I wasn’t?”

The griffon’s beak fell open but no words could come out. He could only watch as the stallion lifted Gustave’s wounded claw to his lips and gave it a soft, warm kiss. The griffon’s breath hitched at the touch. Encouraged by the sound, Joe continued to lay light kisses on the palm before deciding to up the ante. Gustave whimpered as the stallion slowly ran his tongue over his claw, the tip tracing over the healed wound like a fine paint brush.

“J-J-Joe…”

“Shhh…It’s okay,” the portly donut baker whispered reassuringly, his languid tongue tracing it’s way to where Gustave’s talon started. “I gotcha.”

The griffon shuddered as Joe drew the digit into his warm mouth, his tongue circling and stroking. The act was submissive but Gustave found the way the stallion just took control highly arousing. He closed his eyes and surrendered to the tantalizing sensations, a burning need building in his nethers.

“Gustave.”

The griffon opened his eyes to find the stallion looking down at him, his green eyes liquid and warm. Soft pony lips touched the end of his beak. Gustave’s mouth opened. A thick pony tongue slipped inside, lapping hungrily along the strong cartilage. The griffon baker closed his eyes, moaning, as he surrendered to this invasion, his own thinner tongue stroking the donut maker’s longer, thicker one. Tentatively he slid a claw up the stallion’s neck and into his thick orange mane. Joe growled appreciatively, feeling the talons lightly pricking his scalp, reminding him that this was a dangerous predatory creature whose maw he was ravishing. The thought thrilled him.

Slowly he drew back, a long thin line of saliva connecting them. He gazed down at the panting griffon hungrily.

“Wanna show me the bedroom?” he murmured.

As though in a dream, Gustave guided his guest into the master bedroom. His bed was king-sized as befit a griffon of his size with a soft mattress and silky purple sheets. Joe grinned appreciably at the sight.

“Nice.”

Gustave, feeling intensely shy, blushed and looked away. Suddenly, he felt his hat being lifted from his head and the buttons on his jacket being slowly unfastened. He looked up and saw the unicorn’s horn glowing softly. The stallion chuckled.

“First time I’ve ever seen ya without your hat,” he said, giving the griffon’s bare head a playful tousle with his hoof. “Ya look good without it.” His magic continued its work on the baker’s jacket, pulling it open until the griffon’s girthy body was laid bare to him. He growled deep in his chest. "Really good."

Magic flashed again and the stallion's jacket slid off, revealing his portly body and substantial belly to the griffon's gaze. Gustave's breathing hitched at the sight. His body shook with emotion, his talons flexing in a restrained desire to touch the soft amber body. Joe grinned and moved in closer.

"It's okay, Gus," His horn glowed and magic aura surrounded the griffon's claws drawing them to where his neck met his shoulders. He leaned in and murmured in a low sultry voice. "You can touch me all ya want."

The griffon whimpered in delight, hardly able to believe this was happening. "I...I have wanted to do zees for a long time," Gustave whispered, his talons sliding up the pony's thick neck to bury themselves in his unruly orange mane. Joe moaned softly, his scalp tingling from the novel sensation of having fingers running through his hair. Slowly, Gustave's hands trailed down to the pony's broad chest, and soft ample belly. "Tu es beau," he marveled.

"Yeah, w-w-whatever you said," Joe shuddered as the griffon's claws lightly raked the sensitive flesh. He leaned in and laid an open-mouthed kiss on his soon-to-be lover's neck right below the jaw. Gustave gasped, delicious tingles making his feathers stand on end as the stallion licked and suckled his neck.

"Tres bien!" he breathed, his arms wrapping around the pony's bulky frame, pulling him in closer. "S-s-so good!"

Joe's hooves slid around the girthy griffon's body, clumsily trying to imitate the griffon's tantalizing caresses. Gustave, his head tilted back to grant the pony more access, did not mind at all. After a moment, Joe gave an extra hard suckle then pulled back, proudly admiring the pinkish mark he had left on the griffon's neck.

"Lay down."

Meekly, Gustave did as he was told. He crawled onto the bed, positioning himself onto his back so he could face Joe. The stallion stood at the foot of the bed, his green eyes gazing hungrily at the bulky griffon's naked body. Gustave giggled nervously, a deep blush covering his face.

"Ce?" he asked. "W-what ees it, Joe? You look at moi as if I am zee donut you want to devour!"

Joe grinned at the analogy. "Well, I am looking for some dessert." He crawled onto the bed, the springs protesting loudly as he moved up until he was face to face with the trembling griffon. "Maybe a little something with...I dunno...sweet cream?"

"Oui," panted Gustave, his sex eagerly slipping from its sheathe. "Sweet cream, I have beaucoup amounts of zat to feed you."

The two kissed again, Joe's thick pony tongue forcefully claiming the griffon's open beak. Gustave moaned eagerly, reciprocating the best he could while his claws roved feverishly over the stallion's body. Joe shivered as the talons raked through his fur, his skin tingling at the unfamiliar yet wonderful sensations.

"Damn, that's nice," he managed to moan between kisses. Gustave chuckled underneath him.

"You have never had zee griffon, Joe?" he asked.

"Nope." The stallion sucked in his breath as the claws dragged down his sensitive belly. "Y-y-you're my first."

Gustave grinned mischievously. "You are not my first stallion," he whispered, his nimble fingers sliding further down the stallion's undercarriage. "So I know you weel like zees!"

"Sweet Celestia!" Joe groaned as the griffon's claws raked over his testicles. His organ, which had only been peeking out, now dropped eagerly from its sheathe. Drops of clear pre dripped like sugary glaze onto the griffon's belly. "Y-y-you naughty griffon, you!"

Gustave replied by scooping up some of the pre with his talon and bringing it to his beak. The stallion watched, shuddering, as the griffon licked the digit clean with his thin tongue and smacked his beak. Joe groaned.

"Oh, baby, I'm gonna reward you for that!"

The stallion laid kisses down the griffon's neck and chest, licking and nibbling as he went. The mattress creaked as he shifted his bulk to go lower. Gustave whimpered in anticipation, his thick leonid penis leaking strings of milky pre onto his fur. He gasped when Joe wrapped a fetlock around the base, giving it a clumsy yet gentle stroke.

"Nice fat cannoli ya got here," said the stallion, admiring the pink tube of griffon meat twitching before him. "My ma used to make cannolis. Stuffed with the tastiest cream I have ever eaten...till I tried an eclair." He smirked up at Gustave. "You know how I used to eat cannolis?"

Gustave whined, watching as the stallion leaned in close, feeling his warm breath on the pre slicked skin. "N-n-no. Tell me, s'il vous plait!"

"I used to lick out the filling then eat the crunchy outside." The stallion slowly drew the very tip of his tongue around the base just above his hoof. The griffon's breath hitched at the touch. "Oh, yeah," Joe breathed. "I would stick my tongue right up the fill hole, swirl it around and dig out all that tasty cream." He smirked as the griffon whimpered with want.

"Would you like that?" he asked, his tongue giving the pointed head a quick flick. "Ya want me to lick the cream outta your cannoli?"

"OUI!" Gustave cried, desperately arching his back. "Oh, please, Joe! Do not prolong zees torture! L-let me feed you my sweet cream!"

The griffon threw back his head, crying out as the stallion wrapped his lips around the pointed organ, his tongue swirling around the sensitive head. Joe was not exaggerating about his skills. He licked the griffon's penis like a colt enjoying his favorite cone of ice cream, his tongue circling hungrily round the tip then sliding lower to catch anything that trickled down.

"Oh, mon cher!" Gustave moaned, his talons raking through the donut baker's mane as the stallion gently dug the tip of his tongue into the griffon's drooling urethra, licking up the bitter-sweet glaze. "More! More!"

Joe smirked. "If that's what you want..."

In one smooth move, the stallion dropped, taking the entire organ deep into his maw until the head touched the back of his throat. He heard the griffon's cry of pleasure and felt the claws pricking his scalp as they held him in place. Joe closed his eyes, and let his tongue swirl around the thick, twitching meat. It all felt so good. Moaning, he lit up his horn and used his magic to give his own rigid organ some much needed attention. Gustave watched his lover through heavy-lidded eyes. He noticed the undulating glow between the stallion's legs and knew what the stallion was doing. The sight made his organ twitch and saliva gather in his maw.

"Joe?" he whispered.

The unicorn looked up but did not stop his actions. "Hmm?"

"Joe, I...I want to taste you, too!"

The stallion raised his head, the griffon's penis slipping from his lips with a small pop. His eyes went straight to Gustave's large yellow beak. "Um...Can you do that?" he asked.

The griffon chuckled softly. "Oui! I do not have lips but I do have zeez!" He wiggled his talons at the reluctant pony. "You will find I am tres bien at kneading zee piping bag!"

Joe's organ twitched eagerly at the allusion. He turned his bulk around until their bodies were laying side by side, in a perfect sixty-nine. He gasped as the griffon seized his penis, giving it a firm stroke. Gustave grinned as a clear bead of pre formed on the flat tip.

"Such fine glaze," he murmured, drawing the head closer to his beak. "All for moi!"

The stallion's hind legs twitched in anticipation, trust in his friend warring with the natural fear of having his goodies that close to a predator's maw! Gustave knew what the stallion was thinking. After drawing out the suspense a moment longer, he stuck out his thin pointed tongue and licked up the milky bead. Joe moaned at the touch, his whole organ swelling tighter.

"Oh, you dirty bird!" He dove down between the griffon's legs again, taking him in deep until his nostrils touched the eclair baker's tight sac. Gustave moaned, pushing as much meat as he could into the pony's hungry mouth. He slid a claw up and down the unicorn's thick rod while the other gently kneaded the heavy testicles. He ran his tongue over the flat head, tasting the bitter-sweet nectar as it dripped out like honey.

Joe lit up his horn again, letting the magic cup and massage the griffon's testicles and tease his taint. He was rewarded with a loud moan and a reciprocating talon brushing against his back door. The stallion was not exceptionally fond of anal, but the touch thrilled him, making him squirt copious amounts of pre into the griffon's hungry mouth.

It wasn't long before the two men could feel the pleasure building up. Gustave panted, pushing his organ into the stallion's mouth as his hands stroked the pony's spitting rod.

"Oh, mon petit etalon! I-I am close!"

The griffon tightened his grip on the equine penis, adding more power to his strokes. Joe, his mouth filled with the griffon's thick length, whimpered as his own climax approached.

"Hmm! Hmm! Hmm! HMMMMMMMMMMMMM!"

Gustave felt the stallion's body stiffen and knew what was coming. He opened his beak wide and pointed the blunt head towards the back of his mouth. With a muffled cry, Joe let loose, his seed coating the inside of the griffon's beak. Gustave groaned as he drank it down thirstily, allowing the stallion's flavor to overwhelm him, driving his own need to release.

With a cry that was part lion roar and part eagle screech, the griffon released his cream into the eager pony's mouth. He shook in ecstasy, feeling the stallion's maw tighten around the erupting organ, suckling him and drinking his essence. Joe's tongue circled the sensitive head, making the griffon shudder and shoot another small volley of seed down the stallion's throat.

After a while, the unicorn let the organ drop from his mouth. He lay still, his head resting on Gustave's inner thigh. His mane was plastered with sweat.

"That...was some...delicious cream," he panted. He gave the griffon's plump belly an affectionate caress with his hoof. "Well worth the effort."

Gustave smiled. "Merci, Joe. I enjoyed your pony jelly. Tres magnifique!"

Joe lifted his head so he was looking into the griffon's face. "Is this what you were hoping for when you invited me to dinner tonight?"

Gustave blushed. "Oui. Though I would have been happy if we had just--what you say--cuddled before the fire. I just wanted you, Joe."

"Well, now ya got me." The stallion rose stiffly and turned so they were laying face to face. "Good luck gettin' rid of me."

The griffon buried his face in the stallion's soft neck, tears of happiness pouring from his eyes. He felt Joe's arms around him and the covers pulled over them by the unicorn's magic. For the first time in a long time...everything was perfect.