[Thursday, 19 May 2016, The Equestrian 18th Day of Love.]

Cadance awoke from her sleep with a silent gasp in the early morning hours. Her eyes had burst open into the dark room, stuck in a state of shock and panic.

For a moment, she dared not to breathe. Her mouth slightly parted open, holding her next exhale from falling out over Cerb’s lips while she tried to recall what had set her on edge.

“Just a dream,” she silently thought to herself. “Shining would never hurt me.”

She finally released her breath against her current sleeping partner, careful not to wake him, luckily he slept so deeply it did not wake him. It was then that she wondered what it was exactly that had woken her.

Funny thing about dreams was how you almost immediately forgot about them the second you woke up, even if it was fresh in your mind. And therein was the conundrum.

The dream had just ended. What was it exactly? Something familiar. More than familiar, in fact, not too long ago, it was part of a passionate conversation at Twilight’s castle. Only, at the time of the conversation she had shared with her husband, she couldn’t recall what she felt from her dream.

[Moments ago in Cadance’s Dream.]

The room was the same as she was in, but the time was many, many months ago. Certainly over a year, not more than two, but… why was that night so hard to remember?

“I can’t imagine loving you anymore than I do now,” Shining lovingly declared between another kiss with Cadance.

With a growing fervor, Cadance returned the kiss and pulled Shining closer to their bed, only pulling away long enough to reply with words equally devoted. Words that came from a glowing source of inspiration.

“I want to give you more to love.”

Her body was hot, bristling with anticipation. She was moving without thinking on her own, swept up in a rush of excitement and—

"I should turn around for him."

Wait….what was that?

Were those really her thoughts? So much of it seemed foggy. A mix of memory and the haze from adrenaline had washed over the details with a strong emphasis on the physicalities and sensations.

In a way, it almost felt as though her body was moving while her mind didn’t even register what was going on.

There were tingles from Shining hugging his forelegs around her waist from behind. A faint recollection of romantic tickles as he kissed and drug his teeth over the back of her neck.

The strange embrace created a growing heat and sweat building up from under her tail as she lifted it for him.

Then…

…pain?

“The rut will only hurt for a moment.”

Even with the fog, all of that moment of her memory was clear again. Instantly, the recollection of those words running through her mind that night and logic dictated she had found clear evidence of a whisper.

Shining was hurting her. So, why did it not feel wrong?

Portions of her inner feminine depths felt like they were being stretched and torn, yet, something beautiful was glowing throbbing along with the pain. Despite her body crying out from the unexpected expansion of what had been forced inside, thrusting over and over again, it also screamed louder for more as it wrenched down against each stab inward.

Then… there was warmth, deep from within, expanding fluid, with a heat that left them both exhausted and panting. Shining lay motionless on her back, save for the labored breaths heaving from his chest.

All of it felt so foreign, so odd, yet her body demanded more.

From under her stallion, she was unable to move away. Her inner convulsions delivered titillations that only human skin could invoke fantasies of. Each convulsing wave crept through her loins, washing her mind in a dreamlike state of fulfillment and love.

From there, it was all a blur.

[Back in Cadance’s Bed.]

There was a maelstrom of thoughts attacking Cadance. The mystery of what happened with Shining was a forced act of copulation?

Her private thoughts demanded all of her attention.

"Why did it… Wait… Justin's medical documents mentioned his genitals were always exposed. There were even notes about reproduction… But that doesn’t make any sense. What would any creature's genitals have to do with rutting or… No. Not rutting. I mean. No. That’s… Wait? What am I even thinking about?"

In a desperate attempt to put all the pieces together, Cadance raced through her memories for any connection to draw her attraction together with her desires.

"The love in Justin caught my attention, but I quickly was attracted to the complex and valiant stallion he is. And, of course, his touch… Every human has that wonderful touch of their skin. I wasn’t thinking about marriage. I was already married. I was only wanting physical love at first. Didn’t I? And did that love only extend to simple kissing and touching?"

In a sudden bout of guilty fantasy, her mind went to the night of the welcome party in Ponyville.

"When we danced, and he held me… Oh, that feeling of pressing against him while he swung me around. It didn't hurt at all, like what I can remember Shining doing to me… Or at least how it felt at first… Was that the feeling I've been searching for all this time? That same feeling I got from… Why did I not remember what a rut was? Every pony knows what a… No… Harmony said our memories of death and fornicating were under her control. She paired Shining and I together specifically. Yet, if that’s the case, why wouldn't she rob me of such an important memory when she's taken so much more from me?"

Cadence felt her mind twist itself in multiple directions, trying desperately to make sense of this new information and thoughts.

With such dim light coming into the room, Cerb's features were all but muted hues of the shadows surrounding them. Even still, the faint outline of his face, his alluring scent, the heat from his body, and the flowing comfort she held around him still provided her some solace.

Her dream of time gone was difficult to digest. That love she had for Shining was gone, likely never real to begin with. By all rights, he was a sweet and admirable stallion, otherwise worthy of her affection, but that spark was long since extinguished. Not even in that fleeting moment of her recollection where she had some semblance of that physical release she sought after was reigniting that old flame.

To be fair, how could she when Cerb was safe within her embrace?

Lying next to her, faintly covered by a flowing robe she could remove the next time he bathed, was her new object of desire. A future where her previously forbidden fantasies could be straddled and entwined against her. There, her flame could burn with all the intensity she was previously denied the joys of exploring.

Those joys may be strange, new, once-forgotten desires she didn't fully understand, but he could help her. He was an open book of knowledge and ready to repay his helpful mares in any way he could.

What mare didn't deserve all that and more after showing him that she could be the mare to give him all the love and support he was searching for?

"I wouldn't abandon you," she quietly spoke to her sleeping man. "I know what you want. I see that love inside you that keeps you fighting for us."

Her soft whispers fell over Cerb in his sleep, unnoticed as the mare inched her way closer to lay against him. Her foreleg draped over his battered arm, and her hindleg slipped up under the hem of his robe to rest over his knees.

Even now, still sore and feeling her bruises and inner swelling aching in and over her body, she wished Cerb was awake. Feeling more of him against her, her dream, that memory, it didn't seem so terrible if she could reimagine Cerb with her for that night.

Her imagination began to recreate the scene. They would be in the same room as they were now. He would be healed and no longer concerned with covering himself with the novelties of a robe or towel. Together, they would climb into her bed, and she would be welcomed to feel over every inch of his forbidden skin. She could even take it further and take the place Rarity once held over Cerb the night she oversaw them together in Twilight's castle—

"Hooo~”

The sudden reality of what she had secretly spied upon that night left her in a hushed gasp. She could barely speak above a whisper in her state of shock at the multiple layers of revelations.

"That was… Justin you… Your physical love you were sharing with—”

All too quickly, so many of the odd behaviors she had noticed prior started to become more clear from those she had witnessed them from.

[Nine days ago, late into the evening of Tuesday, 10 May 2016, The Equestrian 18th Day of Love in the Castle of Friendship.]

Prince Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash, Octavia, Vinyl, and Helix were all collected around Cadance, who was resting gracefully on her bed. The dinner party following a happy hour, as well as an emergency trip back to the Castle of the Two Sisters, had ended, which had led Cerb and many leaders into a private meeting. A meeting that was already crowded as it was unscripted, leaving Cadance and Shining to entertain the other guests and not impose too heavily on the likes of Rutherford or Ember.

Then again, in more recent years, Celestia tended to give Cadance the footnotes of important events not involving her, so this wasn’t outside the norm. Besides, she still had many curiosities to inquire about these new human relationships and one of Cerb’s closest friends she knew he shared a particular bond with had joined in a similar multi-mare pairing. So, what better way to pass the time than to see what she could learn from the two mares under the guise of a private conversation with a random grouping of partygoers.

In the room, Shining leaned against the bed frame, more or less a fly on the wall during the conversation taking place while Helix sat next to the door. Helix wasn’t exactly standing guard, but he wasn’t really sitting at his leisure, either. Rainbow seemed uninterested in the conversation, mostly taking a slow pace from one side of the room to the next, looking over the various odds and ends of the room left for Cadance and Shining’s comforts. Mostly they were old books, toys, and trinkets of Shining's youthful days, which held their own curiosities in some ways.

Then there was Octavia and Vinyl on the cozy loveseat, trying not to sit too comfortably close to each other while in front of royalty with whom they were less familiar with. Upsettingly, their secret love was all but written in ink for Cadance to see, though it was peculiar to see in the open. Nonetheless, they were of trusted company to Benny and the others alike, and whether they knew it or not, still offered plenty of information about what Cadance was after.

That is, If only Cadance could find the words to better earn their trust, which she was carefully approaching.

"I believe we all have danced around the topic long enough. You both love each other as you have fallen for the brave Mister Yale. I understand your concerns, but our human friends are showing all of us that there are more expansive ways to share their love with each other."

At that remark, Vinyl couldn't help but cock a grin if this new princess was going to be just as accepting as the others so far.

"Oh, yeah. Really looking forward to Benny using some new ways of expanding us with his—”

"Ahem," Rainbow crudely coughed into her hoof, then very discreetly made the motion of zipping her lips to Vinyl while making it look as though she were wiping her mouth toward the others.

Octavia was grateful that Rainbow had acted fast enough that she didn't need to, given that she had been so nervous she would have failed to discreetly stop Vinyl. Ironically how the normally mute mare never seemed to be able to shut up when she did decide to speak. In fact, she feared Cadance might have noticed, but at least now she could recover for her loose-lipped marefriend.

"I believe what Vinyl was trying to say is that Benny has allowed us to express ourselves in ways we never felt confident in before. Just the same, it has taken the combined efforts of both of us to truly be able to reciprocate to Benny any level of assistance for his needs and difficulties."

Seeing Rainbow continue to busy herself again and Cadance now deeply invested while Vinyl thankfully kept quiet, Octavia continued with a calmer tone.

"Benny… if not all humans, much like many of us, needed time to adjust to how much their lives had changed. Even with all the compassion we could give them to trust in what we wished to share, we had to always tread carefully."

Vinyl adjusted closer to Octavia and laid her fetlock around the back of her mare's neck. She sported an expression that was just as cocky as before but spoke a bit tamer in her tone this time.

"Princess, lemme tell ya. These humans are into some crazy wild stuff. I'm sure you know by now they’ve got secrets that you wouldn't believe if you didn't know 'em for more than five minutes. But I can’t say more than that….mostly cause I’m pretty sure Tavi here would slap me if I did... Then again. I doubt that I should need to. I’m sure after tonight, Tavi and I will be just as experienced as you and your royal sweetheart. Know what I mean?”

There was a bit too much divulged there, as evidenced by Octavia immediately leaning in so she could interject. A simple effort given before any further clarification from Vinyl was added or questions from Cadance were put forth.

“You’ll have to excuse our elusiveness, Princess. It’s simply that our shared relationship with Benny, while new to us, appears not to be unfamiliar with its progression as it has been for the other mares.”

While Cadance would have loved to have been privy to all the details, there was presumably still plenty of information to extrapolate from what they could clarify they couldn’t tell her.

“Oh?” She inquired. “I’ve spoken with Justin about love and how it can be expressed differently than how we may have traditionally viewed it be shared. Then of course, there is how they have taken on more than one mare to love… and certainly, in Chris’s case, for each mare to share as well, just as I presume you both are. Which I find to be incredibly wonderful for all of you, if a little unconventional. I see only more of the emotional support our dear human friends need coming from what you’ve all started to share together. But… what exactly is it that you… can’t say?”

As soon as Cadance asked that question, she could see Octavia searching the room again. A momentary lapse of judgment for the present company might have left such a query ill-advised. Helix may have been a shared friend but was practically a stranger to them. Shining, while her husband, another trusted royal, also likely added more tension to the room. Then Rainbow, who was giving a stare that… on closer look, only gave more indication to Cadance that the cough earlier had to have been a warning and not involuntary. That meant Rainbow also knew something she wasn’t letting on.

Whatever this unspoken truth was that Octavia was trying not to say on Vinyl’s behalf, Cadance had to lighten the atmosphere of the room.

“Please, forgive me, Lady Octavia. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot like that, but you must understand that as the Princess of Love, and a pony with a shared interest in Benny’s well-being as the others, you are among friends and can speak freely. There is no need to be so nervous about your feelings or the complications, and certainly not the excitement you must have with Benny and Vinyl. Although, we do understand.”

To make her point clear, she turned to her husband.

“Shining, dear. How would you say your opinion has changed upon the newly formed bonds of love between ponies and our new human friends.”

Shining took a moment to respond as if he were taking mental notes of where he was leaving off on a daydream. When he snapped out of it, he quickly turned to the pair of mares on the loveseat with a confident smile.

“Oh, sure. I was a bit confused about it all at first, but I think it’s been great for everypony involved. Cadance and I have been happy to support and learn more about all we can since it helps every creature involved. Especially the love stuff. It’s really helped bring Cadance and me a lot closer together.”

Of course, Shining was onboard with the whole ordeal. He wanted Becky to get more involved as well, after all. Helix, though? He was, without a doubt, a friend to Cerb as of late, but how much else did he buy into?

How much could her crown influence him, if at all?

“Helix Ray?” Cadance gently called out. “You’ve been on the outside looking in for most of this. What’s been your opinion of everything so far? Such a fetching and capable young stallion as yourself must be interested in the prospect of having more than one marefriend, don’t you?”

From the start of the question, Helix had been attentive, likely taking everything in from the start. His response came off as rather even-keeled and respectful, always keeping his eyes on Cadance as he spoke.

“I haven’t much to say about the whole multi-mare dating trend as of late, Princess. I’ve heard of stallions trying to go after more than one mare at a time before, but this is more than the complete opposite. Even still, I trust the likes of Cerb and Benny. Well, all of them, really. Even more, knowing how powerful they can be while at the same time seeing how reserved and friendly they are to us ponies. So… I’m not surprised so many mares have become fixated enough on them that they might share a human stallion. Though even now, I do still find the idea surprising. Still…”

Finally breaking eye contact, he turned his view to Rainbow.

“It’s a lot better than fighting over them.”

Cadance then turned her attention to Rainbow, who was trying to busy herself with a shelf full of old mementos and not look flustered over being called out.

“And you, Rainbow Dash. With so many of your friends joining in these new relationships, don’t you feel as though we should all be in good company together and not feel so afraid to express our feelings more freely?”

There was no escaping this conversation, so Rainbow turned to face her audience, though she showed signs of nervousness.

“Eh, well, first off. I didn’t fight over any human. I fought Starlight because Becky needed to talk to Chris. But for Vinyl and Tavi, of course, they should be able to talk and date or whatever. They’re not hurting anypony, and Benny is an awesome human. He needs good ponies looking after him just as much as Justin does. But that doesn’t mean we should go around talking about all their private stuff, either.”

Rainbow held a strong glance at the two mares on the loveseat for a moment but then turned towards Cadance. It wasn’t accusatory, nor did it bare any malice. It was more of a stern reminder from a friend, but with a touch of sadness behind her eyes.

“When humans trust someone they can be intimate with, emotionally or physically… It’s not just any pony’s business to share. And if they’ve been hurt in the past by being intimate with another person and lost it, or that sense of trust, it takes a lot for them to open up to share that again… if at all.”

Cadence couldn’t find fault in such beliefs, given Rainbow was the Element of Loyalty, betraying one’s trust was likely the worst crime one could commit in her eyes.

At that note, Vinyl leaned in closer and brushed her hip to Octavia’s as she spoke in a voice that was either messing with her mare or outright taunting her.

“Guess it’s a good thing Benny Boy trusts us enough we can try some of that at his place tonight, huh Tavi? We’re bound to get some physical lovins with both of us working together, right?”

Yet another selection of cass words from Vinyl set Octavia to face hoof and groan, again wishing the DJ pony would return to her long silent period.

“Damn it, Vinyl. Just because the other girls at the bar tonight mentioned how much more they could do when they were together doesn’t mean that’s what we need to do. Rarity told us specifically that we need to be careful not to push things with him.”

Frustrated with the situation Octavia found herself in, she lowered her forehooves across her midsection and turned to face away in a huff.

“I only wish he would be more honest with us about it all.”

Well, it had been a good attempt, and Cadance would likely put together some useful knowledge afterward from this disjointed conversation, but more serious issues were now presenting themselves. Real issues of the heart were apparent, which could affect the love life of these two mares and a valued friend they all shared.

Cadance had to do the right thing and properly counsel these two.

“No, no. Rainbow Dash is right. And, as to how I have been able to assist Justin with his emotional needs before, I’ve been allowed information about some of the emotional weight he’s carried for others as well. So, I can understand why Benny may be hesitant to open up about all his hardships.”

Taking another moment, Cadance remembered with greater clarity what Shining had told her before about Benny’s past and the horrors he witnessed on that boat. Those terrible memories ruined more than his continued service in the military, he lost the woman he loved and her child he would have taken as his own.

It was clear why she lost focus on her prior objectives after this problem had arisen.

“Benny will need to know that you care about him, that you take his concerns seriously. But you also must communicate with him in a way that he understands so that he can easily communicate back to you what he needs… Then… Then I believe you will see that there may be more room in his heart to share that level of trust Rainbow Dash mentioned they need to open up to you.”

Octavia held a long stare of hope toward Cadance. So much of that resonated with her after all the progress they had already made. She had to believe it was true.

“Do you really think we can do more to help him?”

If Cadance could be this supportive, Rainbow could step in to do more and did so by marching her way over and forcing herself onto the loveseat next to the wishful mare. Adding another foreleg behind Vinyl’s to make it more personal, Rainbow thought she could put this issue to bed.

“Tavi, that Benny guy of yours really took a liking to both you girls. And while he may not be exactly like Justin, they are a lot alike. They’re rough, they’re tough, they’ve been hurt a lot, they need our help, and they have great tastes in mares.”

Vinyl instantly mirrored the same sentiment.

“The best taste, Sweet Cheeks.”

There wasn’t a moment to spare before footsteps were heard approaching the door by Helix, and he rose up.

“Sounds like they’re here, everypony. The night shift should be taking over. If nothing else is needed of me, Princess.”

Cadance bowed with respect and a gracious smile.

“I’m sure the others have turned in for the night. You are free to go, Helix.”

Vinyl and Octavia quickly slid off of the loveseat, and as expected, Benny, Becky, and Cerb made their way into Cadance’s room. Once inside, Octavia and Vinyl immediately made clear their intention to depart, which was voiced graciously by Octavia.

"Princess Cadance, thank you so much for talking with us. We will take your advice and write to you with the results."

Vinyl played up her cordial demeanor as best she could, but her excitement and natural playful nature came through equally clear.

"Thanks a mill, Princess. I owe you ya DJ session. Anytime, you name it."

As the first two mares exited the room with Benny, Helix figured he should see himself out as well, knowing Cadance had been waiting to speak with Cerb for some time now. Although, he had left one question unanswered, which he figured he should answer before leaving.

"I suppose I should be getting some sleep as well. Not that I'll be doing much tomorrow, and thanks for letting me sit in for the talks, Princess. Not sure if I’m ready to even have one marefriend, but I’ll keep an open mind."

Just as Helix stepped out, Becky stepped in first, making eyes first to Rainbow, though she looked a bit troubled, if not slightly worn down.

"Sorry, that took so long. We got the other delegates clued in on what's been going on here. Not everything, of course. Just the big stuff. The Shadow, Timberwolves, blood-related injuries… the fact that we're the key."

Rainbow had hopped out of the loveseat, likely more energized to leave than she led on, but froze in place at Becky’s last portion of her remark.

As it turned out, the humans weren’t the only ones holding onto secrets, and a big one Rainbow had been holding onto was now known.

"Oh… yeah… that."

[Back with Cadance in her Bed.]

The physical love between humans and ponies was sex. Carnal knowledge that had been held captive by Harmony from all the Equestrians but was free to receive by those liberated from her influence. That is, of course, if they were liberated while in the embrace of a loving, trusting human who was willing to open up to such acts of intimacy.

"Curse you both," Cadance harshly scorned in her thoughts at the memory of Fluttershy and Rarity. "If Justin and Benny truly are alike, how much damage has been done? Justin all but had his heart broken before he was sent home from his war, just as Benny had. That may have been years before they arrived here in Equestria and opened up enough to love again, and you both knew that… I can’t let that happen to him again."

A completely new layer of complications had just been dumped into Cadance’s lap. Not only did she need to balance the political dangers, Cerb’s health, and his guardians on top of her own needs. Now she had the added danger of the mental and emotional damage that could come about from any separation from those Cerb was depending on.

Even worse, the fallout that could happen if Fluttershy and Rarity were to force their way back into his life again could be devastating. At worst, they could rip him away back to a place he didn’t want to be, and who knew what darkness could befall him at that point.

Looking at him again, she remembered his pain, the hurt he tried to hide away, the kind of despair he fought from sinking into when he left the hospital without the support he needed. Thankfully, he had trusted her this much, to be this open, sharing so much of himself, as he had when they first met back in Ponyville.

She brought her muzzle closer to Cerb and kissed him upon his forehead as he remained deep in his sleep. Even in his calm and sedated state, her lips against his tender flesh gave a teasing comfort of what she knew she desired to discover further with him.

The newfound clarity gave all the more to fuel her ambitions which strengthened her resolve while clarifying what hurdles had been placed ahead of her. She was so emboldened her voice slowly crept out, quiet enough not to wake her sleeping companion.

“Changes both physical and mental that would require your help… It’s what Harmony took away. That’s what your touch can give back, isn’t it?... Now I understand… All that love I detected coming from your room that night I saw you with—”

In an instant, Cadance’s brow furrowed with a glare as she recalled the intimate moment witnessed through the window that fateful night. Spying through the window to find Rarity sitting atop Cerb’s bare flesh while deeply kissing Fluttershy before the unheard cries of passion tore the two mares apart.

At the time, Cadance had been enamored with the sight of Cerb’s zealous display of passion shared privately behind the four walls of his room guarded by a silencing spell. The thought of what it would have been like to have been there in Rarity’s place when Cerb brought their lips together only made her more cross, now knowing the harm it caused when they pushed him away.

“Rarity and Fluttershy,” she hushed in an angry whisper. “I knew they were never going to be enough for you.”

Cadance was wide awake at this point. With so much of her prior confusion gaining clarity, her typical fanciful thoughts began to morph into plotting.

“Don’t you worry, Justin. I wasn’t the only mare outside your window that night… and I think I should find out how much help she might be looking for.”

[Meanwhile, in Becky’s room in the Castle of Friendship.]

A series of low hums and chimes rang from Becky’s phone as the screen illuminated the current time of five-thirty AM.

Midnight, still sitting on the bed with Becky lying over his lap, curiously eyed the strange device. He was slightly familiar with what it was, or at least some of its functions, and had heard those same noises coming from this room before at the same time in the few days prior. However, seeing the device act on its own had him questioning for what purpose this otherworldly device would serve.

To vibrate and chime such an annoying melody while brightening the room his eyes had become so comfortably adjusted to, it was interfering with his limited time with his ward.

Before any thoughts could move past wanting to smash the damn thing, Becky pushed open her escape from the folds of his wings to lay eyes on her phone.

"Oh, shit," she groaned before shielding her eyes from the light. "Why didn't you wake me? Are you okay?"

Slightly confused, Midnight turned his head and shifted his ears away from the phone while he assisted Becky to sit upright next to him.

"My apologies, Lady Landon. I did not know you wanted to be awoken at a certain time. And I am fine. The noise is not so loud… slightly irritating, perhaps, but I was not going to complain if—"

"Em-mm," Becky half groaned, half moaned before reaching for the phone and swiping the alarm off. "No. I mean, why didn't you wake me so you didn't have to sit there all night?"

Due to a heavy overcast outside and the sunrise about another half hour away, the room went incredibly dark as soon as the cell screen timed out. In the darkness, Becky was blind, but Midnight had just enough ultrasonics emanating through the room to keep Becky's outline and the faintest of her features in his awareness.

"Lady Landon, you were sleeping so soundly. You need your rest no differently than the patients you care for. I consider it an honor to have been able to assist you, considering the nights prior you were so restless in bed before settling in for sleep."

With no light to see Midnight's face, Becky didn't exactly know how to interpret his claim.

"What? I wasn't… What do you mean I was restless? Are you guys spying on me through the window or something?"

Midnight's heart jumped in tempo at the accusation. It wasn't out of anger, but the fear of having his professionalism and trust called into question.

"Lady Landon. This is your private quarters. We all respect these confines as if they were the chambers of the Princess herself. We would never disrespect your wishes as to try and observe you without your knowledge."

His ears twitched, doing his best to follow Becky's movements in the dark. While his vision was nearly as absent as Becky’s, what he could visualize through his echolocation, the dark-violet outlines and hints of silver showed her carefully inching closer toward her nightstand.

With so little light, Becky needed to find the oil lamp or the matches to get it lit. However, finding it came at the cost of knocking both items off the nightstand.

“Careful!” Midnight blurted out.

Instead of a crash, three hooves hit the hard floor, followed by the soft thud of glass meeting fur and muscle.

After a moment of Becky fearing she would have a mess to deal with, the striking of a match burst with another flash of light that illuminated Midnight’s face. Then, before Becky’s eyes could adjust, the flame faded behind a small panel of glass and grew in brightness again as the flame found the oil-soaked wick.

“These lamps can break and spill easily, Lady Landon. Perhaps you should use the light from your music contraption next time.”

With the source of light restored, Midnight returned the lamp to the nightstand and stood before Becky, ready to apologize or leave her room. Whichever she requested first, he was ready to obey.

Instead, Becky was still fixed on his prior claim.

“Yeah, good point. But, what did you mean by I was restless?”

It was a fair question, prompting Midnight to flatly provide his honest answer.

“Well, to address your earlier concern, due to my kind’s heightened hearing I am able to pick up otherwise inaudible sounds from within your room even with the door closed. While patrolling outside your chamber, I could hear you fidgeting under the covers. Then there was another sound. It sounded similar to a bat pony’s tongue sliding into a melon. It was somewhat difficult to hear over your shallow panting.”

Midnight took a moment to stop his recanting of what he heard the past few nights, as it clearly made Becky embarrassed. What other reason would she have held her breath and begun to turn red in the face?

….Oh, God. She hoped he was honestly clueless and not beating around the bush for her sake.

Now embarrassed himself, he couldn’t think of anything else to do but finish answering her question and hope the resolution would put her at ease.

“A thousand apologies if you are sensitive about your difficulties falling asleep. It was enough that I nearly knocked on your door to offer any assistance. A glass of warm milk or a change of bedding if that would have helped to ease your discomfort, but before I could, I heard you say… that’s better, the first night. So I assumed you had finally made yourself comfortable since the other noises stopped and your breathing went back to normal.”

By all rights, Becky was mortified at the descriptions used to describe what he heard during her private time. Then again in hindsight probably wasn’t the best idea to…relieve herself when she had someone with super hearing on the other side of the door.

Thankfully, remembering how little ponies seemed to know about what was otherwise common knowledge, particularly regarding sexual activity, she at least had her dignity intact… assumine she could come up with a convincing lie.

“Oh?” She weakly squeaked out, which instantly turned into a short coughing fit. “Emph, um… Yeah… Sometimes I just… have a hard time getting settled in for the night, but can we keep what you heard just between us? It… It’s embarrassing that I have a hard time getting to sleep and, uh… fidget like that.”

Respectfully…and utterly ignorant, Midnight closed his eyes and bowed.

“Of course, Lady Landon. I will speak nothing of it. But…”

He rose again, looking softly toward Becky.

“If you normally have such trouble falling asleep on your own, I would be happy to stay with you again any night you wish. I remember you had no issues falling asleep in Canterlot while Rainbow Dash was with you in the room Celestia reserved for you. And with it being such a normal practice for the likes of Cerb and his sleeping issues, I’m sure any of us would be willing to assist.”

Becky was thankful to the stars above. This guard was so clueless, but at least he was trustworthy, on top of being kind, and rather sweet in his own way. She couldn’t help but keep a certain soft spot for him and his offer.

“Um… how about tonight, if I whistle three times, you come and check up on me first. I, um…”

She was growing flustered with her thoughts and what her body was telling her. No matter what, she needed to get her mind right.

“It’s all still embarrassing. I don’t normally get this restless, but I like the fact that I think I can trust you so much. Really, I do… I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable or…”

Midnight bowed again, having no other means to address her concerns. Perhaps a little unprofessional courtesy would help.

“Lady Landon. If it is not too uncouth to say, my admiration for you goes beyond that of formalities and duty. I have always enjoyed the time you have shared with me, and last night through this morning was no exception… I consider you more than my ward, and I hope you trust me enough to be more than your guardian.”

Unexpectedly, Midnight felt Becky’s hand slide under his jaw to round up under his chin and lift his view high enough to see Becky smiling warmly back at him.

“Of course, I see you as more than a guard. I thought I told you during our dance we need to hang out more. And stop bowing and calling me Lady Landon all the time… My name is Rebecca… Everyone else calls me Becky, so you can too, but I would prefer if you looked me in the eyes when you did.”

Midnight was struck momentarily. Becky had used this method of getting his attention before. Her every touch granted to him was always coursing with pleasantries and warmth. Even her eyes, beautiful tiny orbs of emeralds that always found him in graces that he never understood the reason for, were looking at him in a way he had never noticed before.

She was happy in the glance they shared, though there were hints of trepidation, excitement, and if he wasn’t so lost in the moment, he could have sworn there might have been some empathy as she waited for him to respond. All he had to do was find a way to break the spell of the enchantment she had over him.

“Lady La… Becky… If you were to have plans for me, I’m certain you hold enough sway over Princess Luna that any request for my time off duty would be granted without question.”

That was the most roundabout way Becky had ever heard of someone asking for a date. On the other hand, though, she didn’t know how their work schedule was laid out, and she could see how having her make the request would all but guarantee the approval.

Even still, she had a lot to think about and work out on her own, so she changed the comforting hold of her hand to move into some soft taps on his cheek. She needed time, and while she knew that had been a problem for her in the past, she would use a few tricks she learned from Kelly to hopefully keep this stallion interested.

After all, her…nighty activities could only keep her satisfied for so long.

“I’ve got a busy schedule, too, ya know.”

She stood up from the bed and started a slow walk toward her private bathroom, turning just enough to give a clear view of the outline of her bust and posterior in the lamp’s glow.

“I really need a shower since I didn’t take one last night. Could you be a dear and get my tea ready while I freshen up? I think we can head into the hospital a bit early this morning… Kill some time together there.”

Midnight began to bow but quickly shot up straight to make eye contact with Becky.

“As you wish, Lady La— I mean, Rebe… Becky. Yes. I’ll see to it that your breakfast is ready for you this morning… Is that all?”

Becky beamed as she found herself at the doorway to the bathroom and turned again to pose on the door frame. She leaned up against the vertical structure, looking as cute as she could at the stallion clearly growing more flustered with each passing moment.

“Don’t wake the kids up for breakfast. You and I both know they watched another movie and need their rest. You and I can eat together since you didn’t get to eat last night.”

She watched his smile widen. An expression she rarely got to see him share, which brightened up her morning even more than the impending sun that would be rising soon.

“Go on, you. And take your time. I think I’m going to relax and take a longer shower than normal this morning.”

Again, Midnight went to bow but caught himself much faster than last time and kept his eyes locked on Becky’s.

“As you say… Becky.”

Within a few minutes, Becky was enjoying the comforts of a warm shower pursuing other means for another release. Unsettled ambitions of the night prior created conflicting thoughts that had taken her down to sitting on the tiled floor of her shower.

“Gawd, I can’t believe he heard me fingering myself,” she moaned in a low voice as she teased herself over her southern divide, while wishing she could just smash her head against the wall and erase the memory.

She looked down upon herself. The low light seeping through the curtains brought up thoughts of the weeks prior with Shining.

Aside from the dance, he never pushed or pressured her. Even the dance itself was relatively harmless in retrospect. Otherwise, he was considerate and overly understanding. He was charming with his humor and even funnier with his nearly buffonish levels of naivety.

Honestly, it was hard to determine if he was always like that or simply a result of him being from an up till recently G-rated influence of Harmony.

But then there was their mock date he didn’t understand he agreed to until Cadance had explained it to him.

Not only had he taken the time to treat her out to a wonderful dinner, provided a tour of the city of Canterlot, and kept her entertained, he spared her from the drama and fallout Cerb had created. He protected her from the crazed echo that tried to murder her.

He was there for her so often. A shoulder to lean on, or a tentative listener, and even a sturdy set of legs when she could no longer walk on her own.

She trusted him, and Cadance had trusted him with her.

[Four days ago, 15 May May 2016, The Equestrian 14th Day of Love, in Ponyville Hospital.]

Cadance shifted uncomfortably in her hospital bed so she could sit upright while Becky looked over her chart. It was late, and Cadance saw no need for Becky to be staying up later than needed.

“Put that down and get some rest, deary. The doctors and Nurse Redheart said I’ll be fine to leave in the morning. I’m only here under protest and an abundance of precaution.”

Becky turned her eyes up to give Cadance a momentary glance of annoyance, but her expression quickly turned to an exhausted smile while she lowered the notes back down to the foot of the bed.

“I seem to remember a certain Prince and Princess sticking by my bedside when they had better things to do.”

Cadance rolled her eyes, but her reaction to having the hypocrisy called out obviously entertained her.

“This is hardly the same thing. I am perfectly fine, aside from some bruises and swelling. You, on the other hoof, could hardly crawl into the bed Shining carried you to. Not to mention your trouble breathing, the chest pain, the leg pain, that terrible cough you had, the—”

“Okay, okay,” Becky said, finally giving in. “You were the last one I wanted to check up on tonight. I’m heading back to the castle after I know you’ll be fine for the night.”

Cadance returned her eyes to Becky and grinned, though it softened slightly as she could see how tired Becky looked.

“But how are you holding up?” She softly asked, afraid Becky would not be honest with her. “Shining tells me you haven’t been the same since you sent Cerb back to the embassy. He and I are still concerned for both of you.”

There was so much going on, and Becky had been hiding all of it. Even then, she didn't want to let too much of it out. So, she would focus on the one problem she was sure would handle itself.

"Justin was like this before… All torn up and lashing out in his sleep. So, I sent him back to the place he would feel the most comfortable in without causing another scene."

She sat back farther in her seat and sighed, trying not to dwell on the matter, though she couldn't shy away from it.

"He'll probably booze it up for a while so he can sleep, and then Rarity and Fluttershy can swoop in and save him again… Probably… take a hold of him and magic away all his worries like I never could."

That wasn't how Cadance saw things, given her direct observation of Cerb working through his issues. Regardless, she would deal with that personally the first chance she got. For the time being, she could offer some help to the human in front of her.

"And what about your worries? Who will take a hold of you and give you the kind of comforts Justin has come to embrace? After all you've done and been through, I would think you should have somepony that—"

"No," Becky groaned. "I don't have a pony of my own. I've only had one guy here who even sort of showed any interest in me, and it was Doctor Horse of all ponies… And he made it weird and… even I made it weird… I don't even like him that way… Certainly don't trust him like that, now."

There seemed to be no harm in Cadance offering her services, so she smiled softly again with the first thought that came to mind.

"Becky, my dear. You need a little more love in your life and somepony to help take your mind off of everything you've been dealing with. The first chance you get, let Shining know that you would like another day in Canterlot—"

"No," Becky groaned, nearly laughing at the offer.

"Some dinner," Cadance continued, almost laughing herself.

"Cadence," Becky said, trying to stop the embarrassment from continuing.

"A nice romantic night as the hip candy for the stallion I was so happy to make available for you—"

"Oh, please," Becky scoffed, finally laughing out loud and blushing wildly, wishing something, anything, would end this awkward conversation.

Cadance, however, relaxed and spoke calmly on the matter.

"Becky… Shining and I owe you so much for all you've done for us. I know that he adores you for how genuine you've been and how you've helped us better understand our relationship. And just as Justin helped me to see that there are differences in loving someone and being in love with someone, how you express it, and where those expressions might overlap. That’s why I was so happy to see you both have gotten so close to one another."

Becky relaxed more in her seat, thinking back to their carefree time in Canterlot and how sweet Shining had been. Then, she remember Cadance's offers before she left for the date.

"Is that also why you gave me permission to give him a smooch or two?"

The question was asked as a joke, but Cadance knew how serious the offer was and how Becky had taken it.

"If that's all you were comfortable with."

Becky instantly raised her eyes to look at Cadance, thinking there was some follow-up or a gotcha reaction coming her way.

Cadence, in actuality, kept her smile simple and sat at ease in the bed with her forelegs lazily crossed on the sheets over her stomach.

"It's late, sweety. Tomorrow will be a better day and another small step towards a better life for all of us… That includes you as well."

[Back in the shower with Becky.]

Her legs quivered around her hands. Two fingers sunken deep inside her center carried her down from the rapidly dwindling high of her climax. Another two fingers worked over her sensitive pink nub to prolong the journey before it would all fade away.

“Gah,” she huffed, doing all she could to control her breathing and avoid another coughing spat. “Better… but not good enough.”

She sat under the downpour of the steaming shower, trying to imagine how far she would have gone had Shining not admitted his heartache.

It might have been taboo, but that married stallion had been made available to her. She wanted to hold him until he held her as she had never allowed another man before. It had been so long since even sharing a kiss with a man that she was tempted to request to feel his lips against hers and fulfill Cadance’s request.

Then, to take things further, the sight of a stallion’s member wasn’t so unappealing from what she recalled. It certainly was no less appealing than any of the sex toys she no longer had access to.

Even if she wasn’t ready to go that far, there were other options she could eventually experiment with. After all, it wasn’t as if she were a lesbian, but she had no regrets about her weekend with Kelly.

Would a stallion be so different in terms of having an outlet for her sexual needs if he was willing and wouldn’t take her for granted or use her? Was it a double standard if she would have used him? Could it be even worse if she were to dump all her intentions for Shining and throw herself at another?

“Midnight, Midnight, Midnight,” she lamented loud enough to hear her words clearly over the downspout. “Are you the one, or am I making another mistake again?”

[Deep in the frozen mountains of the Crystal Empire.]

Snow-covered rocks stretched out into blanketing darkness, all encased in ice within the dark enclosure. A swirling mass of green magic, surrounded by dark swirling wisps, floated the projection of Queen Chrysalis on her throne in the center of the space, angrily looking down upon four changelings.

Up front, in view of the dark ice enclosure, Pharynx stood with his head held low.

“He… got away.”

From the other side, Chrysalis screamed out her discontent.

“Incompetent fool! I gave you one simple task while all the others are working themselves to exhaustion repairing the hive and scrounging for love to bring back to replenish our reserves. In the days that I have let you continue to fail me, you could have been useful in leading the patrols around the hive like you were supposed to. But you couldn’t even do that right! Thorax and Ocellus running away are both your fault! Had you done your job correctly, you would have caught them leaving! GET BACK HERE AT ONCE! …I will deal with your punishment for all to see and make you an example so that no others will dare betray my trust and waste my time as you have.”

Now feeling even more ashamed, Pharynx lowered his head even further.

“I… can’t, my Queen. We’re… trapped inside a cave not far from the Crystal Empire’s boundary. Thorax was starving and—"

“YOU MANAGED TO GET YOU AND YOUR TEAM TRAPPED!” Chrysalis screamed. “How in Tartarus did you allow Thorax to trap you!”

Pharynx rose up, and his prior fear amplified with urgency.

"He fed on Gaster's love. I managed to separate them, but the others couldn't hold him and must have hit an ice column that caused the cave-in. I barely had enough time to save him—"

"Save him?!" Chrysalis yelled again. "Your bumbling nincompoops fed him, let him escape, and then caused the cave-in that not only made you lose him, but were responsible for getting yourselves trapped in a cave?! It sounds like your cowardly brother is more competent than the whole worthless lot of you."

This was a mess far too frustrating for Chrysalis to deal with. In fact, she had reached her limit.

"I have no more patience for you and no pity for your situation. You've obviously gone soft and let Thorax escape. Now you and the others are of no value to me. If you need me to save you from yourselves."

Pharynx threw himself to the ground, forelimbs extended and bowing as deep as he could to plead for mercy.

"My Queen! Please! We have been loyal. This was an accident! We're injured and need your help!"

The look on Chrysalis's face shifted from anger to disappointment and discontent.

"Pitiful… Only the weakest and defeated beg. And if you can't dig yourselves out of this mess you've made or bring me Thorax, then make yourselves at home. I'm finished with you."

Chrysalis charged her horn, and the like green aura spread over the viewing portal and erupted in a flash that shattered the four glowing beetle devices empowering the spell.

As the last pieces fell and smoldered to dust, the cave dimmed to black until Pharynx lit his horn with a small amount of his magic and looked to his comrades.

"This is all your fault," he growled.

Another changeling rose up, charging his horn and butting heads with Pharynx.

"You had him! You shoved him into us, which caused the cave-in! This is your fault!"

Pharynx pushed back against his comrade harder, shoving his fellow changeling to the ground.

"I protected Gaster because she is devoted to the hive! And I saved Thorax because he's my brother! You three failed to hold him!"

Another horn lit up in front of Pharynx, and another Changeling spoke up, starting with an angry hiss.

"Hisssss! Haltere is right. You've been protecting your spineless brother since you were a grub. Had you ambushed him like we said, instead of trying to persuade him to come back, we would be on our way back to the hive by now. Don’t you agree, Elytra?"

Another horn lit up, increasing the green glow in the enclosure to show the last able-bodied changeling standing behind their downed comrade.

"You slow-tracked Thorax on purpose. You didn’t take him down when we had the chance. You didn’t stop Thorax from feeding on Gaster. You didn’t push Thorax into us so we could capture him!”

Rightfully enraged, Elytra stepped over Gaster and smashed her forehooves into Pharynx’s chest, slightly pushing him away.

Even if the hostile act didn’t have the level of impact she desired, she didn’t let that diminish her hostility and exchanged hisses until he knew she would refuse to back down.

“Instead, we get to freeze together because you put your brother before the hive," she growled with a sharpened tongue.

Pharynx reared back, his horn glowing brightly, heaved his chest, then slammed his forehooves into Elytra’s chest, smashing her onto her back and skidding hard into a rock.

"WE ARE THE HIVE!”

He turned to the others, seeing them cowering at his domineering display of aggression.

“YOU! ME! GASTER! EVEN THORAX!”

He turned again towards the exit that had been filled in, analyzing every faulty approach he could take to start to dig their way out.

“All we have is the hive, and all the hive has is us. Every single one of us… Thorax needs to learn that, then we can return. Not as a prisoner, but as a true changeling. One worthy of serving our Queen.”

Elytra rose to her hooves again, giving a good show of pretending not to be hurt. Instead, she focused on her admiration for Pharynx’s strong will and determination but did so with sarcasm, of course.

“And how are we going to do that, genius? The way we came in is buried, and every time we try to dig, more snow and ice pours in. The only other exit is full of that black ooze that attacked the hive. You saw what it did to Thorax. We’re not touching that stuff.”

There was another option, one Haltere was looking at behind them.

“Not unless that way can lead us out of here.

The last option was a crack in the wall that first started the cave-in, but it led down and in, not up and out.

Pharynx eyed the crack, all the dark mysteries it held, and the chilling cold that breathed out from its depths.

“We’ll take turns carrying Gaster. And if we can’t find a way out, we’ll make a new way out.”

Author's Note

This chapter really speaks for itself, with the exception of the ending there. The changelings appear to have some issues. More will come of that, but I can't give too much away at this point. You'll have to find out more in:

Chapter 08: TO BE DETERMINED... because I really fell behind in my writing.

Also, acknowledgments to my story support:

The Fan Without a Face:

Editor for Chapters 01 - 03, 05-07

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