The Adventures of Nora the Human Prostitute

by GalleyPass

Rating: mature
Tags: Lyra, Romance, Original Character, Porn, Sex, Profanity, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Human
Length: 105544

What do you do when you're a sex addicted woman stranded in a world of strapping stallions and insatiable mares? Well, when in Rome...

Nora has always been a lover, not a fighter, but she'd fight for her right to make love. Luckily, she doesn't have to, especially now that she has the denizens of Equestria at her beck and call. Hers may be a rather uncoventional choice of career, after all, especially for someone who is technically an envoy of her species, but Nora has always been one to take risks. And dicks. She may be in for more than she baragained for, however, with the clientele she's collected, and her life sure doesn't look to be getting any more normal in the near future...

Published 2023-06-10 20:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-12-01 01:26:08 UTC

A Night Like Any Other

Nora's life was about typical, before it had happened. She worked a nine to five at a call center, rented an apartment above a pawn shop, and went to bed each night dreaming about nothing more than something better. She was 24, two siblings, no boyfriend. Liked singing, but only in the shower where no one could hear her. Liked animals, but had no pets of her own. She was also a nymphomaniac, but everyone is entitled to their quirks. Still, it got her out of the house pretty regularly. She had never really wanted more than something casual; she liked things loosey-goosey. No routine is sort of a routine on its own, when you give it enough time. That suited her love life just fine. In hindsight, perhaps her new profession shouldn't have been that much of a surprise.

You see, Nora's life had been uprooted permanently when she woke up in the land of brightly colored talking ponies. It was something of a surreal experience, to be sure, and one that had damn near stopped her heart cold when the penny dropped, but she was over all that now. The ponies were kind, and not to mention cute. It made for an easy transition, which softened the blow of leaving everything behind. Sometimes you don't realise what you have until it's gone.

The 'how' part of the equation had been still been bothering her, though. Sudden multi-dimensional teleportation to a land of talking equines doesn't usually happen at random. She had had plenty of time to dwell on it all, lazing away the days under the relentless summer sun. There hadn't been much else to do here in Equestria - at least, not at first. She remembered how she had arrived in this land, waking up under a tree on a hill just outside Ponyville's boundaries. It had been the flower trio of all ponies to find her... that had been one heck of an entrance. One panicked trip from the trio back to town raving about the strange monster had Ponyville in an uproar when she arrived. How those windows all got boarded up so quick remained a mystery to this day, as did the origins of the stampeding cattle that had been let loose on the village somehow. Anyway, the panicked ponies caused chaos in their haste to hide from her. Nora was a pariah for all of two hours, before the local gang of roving heroes had been ferried in to see to her and the apparent threat she posed.

Anyway, before long she was put before the Princess of Friendship. Apparently this was normal protocol here. It was a little intimidating at first, having someone - or rather, somepony - holding your fate in their hands - er, that is, hooves - but Twi and her friends had been nothing short of amazing. Instead of banishing her or feeding her to a dragon (dragons also apparently exist here, by the way), or even making her rebuild the damage from the carnage her arrival had caused, they welcomed Nora right into their little circle of friends. She smiled, thinking back on it all, how immediately they had all accepted the mystical two-legged creature nopony had ever heard of before.

Being the first human in Equestria had its perks. Since she was homeless by virtue of her circumstance, the Apples had put her up - they had the room to spare, plus AJ wouldn't take no for an answer. She had said everypony needs family, and if Nora couldn't see her own, they'd have to do. That was so typical of her. She didn't have a job, either, but nobody seemed eager for her to get one. She bedded and boarded rent-free at the farm for a couple of months before she got on her feet.

...Yeah, about that.

Nora had found work by now. It was... honest work. She had certain unique characteristics and skills to offer, you see, and, well... perhaps we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. It had all started right there at Sweet Apple Acres, funnily enough. She didn't know it at the time, but one chance encounter had altered her path in Equestria forever, and she couldn't have been more grateful.

Being stuck in Equestria came with many challenges, and one of the least obvious at the time had been, to put it succinctly, her physical needs. Nora would shack up on the regular back on Earth. Always safely, of course, and on her terms. But she had no outlet here. She was the only human in existence, after all. So she had to resort to self-care.

She was ashamed of it, something she had never remotely felt before. Something about seeing the face of an adorable, fluffy pony not two minutes after fingering yourself silly just stabbed at the heart in a way that said "this is wrong, they are too innocent to be around you." Even though she kept things very private, being sure to tend her needs in bed when no ponies were around, speaking to anypony after felt... weird. Like she would have some corrupting influence on them simply by being around them.

Ponies were, by all accounts, pretty pure. They didn't really have war or inequality or anything that humans did - hell, they didn't even curse! So, by way of logical deduction, they were probably pretty reserved about sex. Nora wasn't even sure if they had sex. Of course, little ponies had to come from somewhere, but the thought of them actually going through the motions just felt wrong when you looked at how adorably naive they were about most everything else. Something did not compute. So as much as Nora needed her private time, she tried not to think about it too much, especially in their presence.

Of course, everyone gets horny somtimes, and for someone like Nora, 'sometimes' was a lot. Maybe even most of the time. So as much as she had tried to show restraint, before long she was masturbating every day to keep down the urges. It didn't hold a candle to real, primal sex, but if she were to be stuck in Equestria for the foreseeable future, she had resigned to live with it. Could be worse, all things considered. Human dick wouldn't even scratch her top five for things she missed about home. Where the hell was pony internet, damn it?! And just how hard can it be to serve food not covered in grass and hay?

The problem with getting into routines like that is that you get comfortable, and when you get comfortable, you get careless. Nora found this out one day when she retired to the Apples' spare bedroom mid-afternoon for a little relief. Atop the bed in a position between sitting and laying, she worked her pussy, eyes closed as she focused on the pleasure welling up inside her. She had naught on but a t-shirt, one made by Rarity in the wake of any ready-to-purhcase human clothing. Her jeans and panties lay discarded on the floor in front of the bed, which creaked ever so subtly with her movements. She didn't normally like taking too long, since the shame around her actions still hit her to some extent, but she was slowly getting over that and getting used to being less utilitarian with her personal time. She groped her chest with a free hand as she felt herself getting closer, on the brink of climax, when her eyelids parted for just a fraction of a second, and what she saw in that time stopped her cold. The red blur in her distorted vision definitely struck her as out of place, and in an instant she knew what it was, eyes subsequently flying wide open as her hand lingered stock still between her agape legs.

When Big Macintosh saw that she had finally noticed him, and realized that he had been staring, his cheeks turned a deeper red than his already near-crimson coat, something Nora hadn't thought possible. His front peeked in around an ajar door, his mouth agape in shock and what he had seen. He immediately broke his gaze, but in the moment before reality had set in for him, Nora noticed his pupils had been locked onto her. He had started sputtering, choking out a hundred half-apologies, each one cut off by the next, and scampered away from the crack in the door.

But Nora had called out to him to halt his retreat. About a million feelings flooded her head in that moment, and looking back, she couldn't name a single one. Something between embarrassment and fear, perhaps? Fear of never being seen the same way by one of her hosts - her good friend's brother - ever again? Fear of him telling the others, and them kicking her out, disgusted? Fear of becoming an outcast as the revelation finally hit that humans were just a whole lot nastier than ponies?

To her amazement, he returned, hoof covering one side of his face in a conscious effort to look away, though she had quickly thrown the sheets over herself to cover up. He said many things in tandem, and in his flustered state, none of them made much sense. From what she pieced together, he was sent to check if she wanted to join the others for a round of cider. First batch of the year. It made sense, in hindsight. Apples were too giving not to think of her in a moment like that. Mac never was much of a talker, Nora had gathered that in her time living with him, but his inability to get his words out now was obviously her doing. She would have found it cute were it not for the circumstances around it.

One thing drew her attention away, however, from both her own mortified feelings and from Mac's whimpered apologies, and that was a noticeable growth between his legs. She stared. She couldn't help it. It was the first time she had seen anything resembling genetalia in Equestria. Sure, ponies didn't wear clothes, but they hardly flashed their private parts around, either. Maybe a mare's teats would be visible sometimes, sure, but as a human towering tall above all ponies, she didn't really get an eyeful, and nobody ever commented on it, so it didn't seem to be sexualized at all. She felt sure that on occasion ponies must get a bit of an intimate view of one another, if only by accident, with only a tail between the outside world and their own shame, but it didn't seem to matter to them, and she was certainly content not to try and steal a glance at their plump little posteriors. That would have been wrong.

But there and then, Mac's half-hard penis met her head on, shattering her reality of some innocent, abstinent society where foals were brought in by the stork, or some magical pony godmother, or something equally ridiculous that was probably normal in talking horse land. No, he had a dick, and that meant that he - or ponies in general, at least - had sex. Raw, uncensored, rough-riding sex. And in that moment, that was all she could think about. It washed away much of the guilt she carried for her own urges; even if ponies weren't exaclty horndogs, they definitely understood the concept of good old fashioned fucking.

Much too late, she realized that she had been staring at him, much as he had at her, and she snapped out of it, diverting her attention back to Big Mac's face, which carried a puzzled, shy, and - she was pretty sure it wasn't her imagination - slightly hopeful look. Time moves slower in those sort of situations. Neither of them said a word in what felt like a small eternity, but was probably only three or four seconds. And then Nora had invited him in.

He plowed her fields that day.

He had been sweaty, sticky and dirty from his work, and she had loved every apple-bucking second.

That day, a switch flipped in Nora's mind. It hadn't activated her sex drive, which had always been there, but it had activated its new focus. Never did she think she'd acquire an insatiable urge for horsedick, but life was full of surprises these days.

Her second had been Mr. Cake, the baker. He had been heading up the storefront alone. She had been buying a box of confections... cupcakes, donuts, she couldn't even remember now. She had come up a little short on bits. How those ponies managed without even having access to pockets most of the time, she could only guess. It was never a big deal; sometimes loose change is a little too loose, and ponies were content to wave it off and say "you can pay me back next time." Just another one for the tally in the list of reasons Equestria rocked. Mr. Cake was no different in that regard. Except Nora had joked a little. "Oh no, looks like I don't have enough to pay you," she had said. Thinking back to it now, she could neither confirm nor deny that she had batted her eyes and loosened her top off her shoulder, just slightly. "Well," came his reply, choked out between licked lips, "I'm sure there's... some way you can settle your debt."

The baker wasn't all that special to look at, but he was a hit in the sack. She could see why cream buns were his specialty. Mrs. Cake was a lucky woman. Ah... right.

Nora felt guilty about that one. Very, very guilty. From that moment on, she made a rule. No messing around with married stallions. It would only be trouble. She had kind of avoided Sugarcube Corner since. Seeing Mrs. Cake would just send her into a meltdown. Nora liked to try and pretend it had all been an innocent, spur of the moment thing, but the truth is, she flirted. And when he flirted back, she escalated. Why Mr. Cake had cheated, she wasn't entirely sure. He must have been getting some at home - if he could dick his wife half - no, one quarter as good as he had Nora that day, then she would have no trouble putting out, even with two kids to juggle. Nora would have gone to war to be fucked like that every night.

Turns out, though, she didn't have to. After one or two more 'forays', she had acquired a bit of a reputation. She wasn't sure who had been the first to talk, but word soon got around among the stallion population in Ponyville: Nora the human bent over for pony dick. The first one to offer her money had been Filthy Rich - that is, that was his name. Curse these overly descriptive pony monikers. He didn't break her rule about married stallions since he and his wife were on the rocks anyway. Since then, she charged every time, and never had to worry about being a burden on the Apples again. She quickly got enough bits together to buy a quaint little house closer to the center of town, and after deftly dodging some awkward questions about her new financial status, she never looked back. And thus began her life as Nora the human prostitute.

It was a simple existence that kept her in supply, and firmly in demand. The perks: gold coins and buckets of pony cum. It was the perfect job for her. She was, after all, a slut, in the strictest definition of the word. She would never appreciate being called such by another - outside of the bedroom, that is... or the kitchen counter - but from a purely detached, descriptive standpoint, the term defined her perfectly. She was living the nympho's dream.

And all that brought her to where she was now, lurking in an alley after dark with an eager eye for male ponies. It paid to have a specific spot for such encounters; word got around on its own, and it saved the awkwardness of colts trying to approach her in public. Nora still didn't quite have a handle on how she now fitted in with Equestrian society; the stallions lining up to dick her down certainly didn't seem to have a problem with her new occupation, and none of them ever really treated her like she was someone lesser, or that she was doing something shameful, but her clientele was a self-selected bias. Nora still dreaded the idea of her open secret being an open truth. As things stood, she still had plausible deniability, and none of the girls had seemed to have caught on, at least yet. That was good. That was ideal. Let her keep her daydream-like life as a wayward being in colorful, whimsical pony land separate from her nightlife as a whore for throbbing stallion cocks. If those two worlds never met, it would be too soon.

Nora looked to the sky, eyeing up the moon, half-shrouded in cloudy haze though it was. Wouldn't be long, now. She wondered who would stop by first. Perhaps Rich - he had been a recurrent customer since their first encounter. Poor boy's balls must have been the size of basketballs before they met, for how eager he was to empty them inside Nora every week. Maybe one day he'd get her out of his system. She hoped not.

She did have favorites, of course. Ever since the money element had gotten introduced, she actually kept things very professional, almost to her own surprise. The fact that she was a dedicated employee didn't detract from her cool demeanor when bargaining with a first-time customer. Besides, she didn't want anyone - that is, anypony - getting too familiar. She was content to grab life by the balls and steer it with its dick, not wanting to settle down just yet, so the idea of a pony catching feelings was a little concerning. She wasn't even sure she'd be able to say no to such a cute little scrunchy face. If Mr. Cake ever officially split with the wife, though, all bets were off.

Just as she started spacing out imagining Mr. Cake ravaging her on their honeymoon, a slight tug at her sleeve caught Nora's attention. A sidelong glance revealed a tentative navy blue hoof slinking away from her side. Beloning to said hoof was an equally tentative looking pony, wearing what looked to be a forced casual grin, the underlying nerves of which couldn't be contained. Nora hadn't seem this guy around town before. A merchant, maybe? They tended to come and go like clockwork.

"What is it, sweetie?" she asked with a reassuring smile, despite being pretty certain they both knew the answer already.

"Uh... uh, excuse me..." the pony replied, his pre-planned speech clearly crashing and burning before his eyes. He was an average build, and his dark coat would have made him kind of hard to discern under the gentle night, were it not for teal eyes which pierced through the dark.

Nora was bad at guessing pony ages. If they were little, they were probably foals. All the grown stallions seemed about the same height, except Big Mac, who earned his nickname in two ways, it turns out. Perhaps this was a younger stallion, or maybe he just felt a little uneasy around her since she was human. That was something she almost forgot about, now that Ponyville had grown accustomed to her presence, but the shock factor must be real for anypony seeing her for the first time. Still, if he was about to ask what she expected him to ask, he can't be that scared of her. Unless he was terrified of the unparalleled softness of human lips, or the knee-quaking tightness of human-

"Well, um, are you... Nora? The... h-human?" he got out, breaking her train of thought.

Now unable to not think of him shaking in fear at the thought of her sexy human charms overwhelming him, she let out a sweet-sounding giggle.

The pony before her pulled his head back at this, ears turning down, and Nora quickly realized her mistake - it must have looked like she was laughing at his question. She made frantic moves to reassure him.

"Sorry, honey, you ponies are just too cute sometimes. That's me, the one and only," she said with a flourish, posing triumphantly in a way that even Dash would have respected.

Despite the added clarity, this seemed only to confuse her conversation parner momentarily, until he pulled himself together, pupils focusing on her face once more. Had he been checking out her body while she did that goofy pose? Naughty boy! And he seemed so shy, too.

"I, uh, I wondered if you - that is, I heard that you, um, oh my... what I wanted to say was-"

"200 bits," she cut him off.

He seemed flabbergasted at her directness, a response she had feared, but she didn't want to be here all night. She wanted to be on all fours for a good sixty percent of the evening, at least.

"I-I, that is to say, um... okay."

Nora beckoneded him over to a corner in the alley, and he followed closely in tow, looking equal parts relieved at not having to overtly ask the question, and excited at what was to follow.

"You got a place for us to do the deed, hon?"

From the new angle, Nora got a glimpse at his cutie mark, an unfurled scroll and inkwell. Yep, definitely didn't ring a bell. Her bang-buddy-to-be nodded once resolutely.

"Great. What's your name, by the way? I don't think I've seen you here before."

The nature of their transaction didn't revoke her polite conversational nature.

"It's, uh," he said, eyes darting around. "Quill... Heart?"

Why did he say that like it was a question? He may have been nervous, but you'd think a pony would be confident enough telling someone their own name. Perhaps he made it up, too embarrassed to give his real name? Still, hers was not to judge.

"Is this your... first time, Quill?" she asked, as tactfully as she could. "It's not a problem if it is, I can take the lead if you-"

"Yeah," he said abruptly, "It's my first time with a mare."

Human, she thought. But it was sweet that that hadn't occurred to him. Her... exoticness, was certainly a card she played frequently, often unintentionally, but she was glad to be treated just like any other pony, at least outside of work.

Nora idly wondered why he'd come to her. Stallions were in short supply, certainly in Ponyville. If it wasn't the novelty of banging a human, then what? Perhaps he was just too afraid of mares? Eh, she didn't care, she'd still show him a good time.

"Lead on, then, Quilly," she cooed, earning a surprised smile from the stallion at the impromptu nickname.

The pair travelled beneath the night sky to a house on the outskirts of town. Small, cozy, away from it all. It reminded Nora of Fluttershy's place, in a way, but she hadn't actually seen any ponies going to or from this abode before. She didn't bother trying to strike up conversation on the way, given Quill's prior nervous and cagey disposition. He'd probably be more comfortable in silence. She did notice him stealing glances her way every once in a while, though. Despite what they were here to do, she didn't take it as oogling; no, she knew that look. It was curiosity, plain and simple. The sort of half-glance the ponies all shot her from around corners and behind windows when she had first appeared here. Nothing malicious, but certainly a little uneasy. She wasn't sure if he was taking a sly look at the strange creature, or simply checking she was still there, and hadn't abandoned him under cover of darkess.

When they rocked up to what was apparently Quill's place, she flipped the lights on. Why ponies made switches when they had hooves was another mystery to her. The front room was plain and simply decorated, betraying little about its owner. Finally, she spoke again for the first time since they struck up their bargain.

"Shall we head upstairs?" she asked.

Quill Heart nodded, then scampered up. Nora was getting a little excited herself, now; after all, she was in this for love more than money, and she loved extending diplomatic relations with the locals, one awe-struck colt at a time. She generally preferred clients who had a little experience, but Quill was still all pony, after all; he'd have the equipment, which was impressive enough on its own. Ponies weren't giant down there. Big, sure. Bigger than any human. But ponies themselves were little guys, after all. Even Big Mac barely came up to her lower chest, and he had nealry a head on most other stallions. Things down there were in proportion. That perfect sweet spot of dwarfing anything she'd get back on Earth without rearranging any of her internal organs. In other words, pony dicks were perfectly sized, and most stallions had the raw, animalistic passion to use them to full effect when mating.

"Are... are you coming?" called down a voice from above.

Snapping back to the situation at hand, Nora blinked twice in quick succession, before turning her head to the stairs. "Be right with you!"

He still seemed concerned she might leave. Weird, since he had already paid her before they headed out. Some clients paid upfront, others didn't. Nora didn't care. Crime was rare in Equestria, and from what she could tell, Ponyville was hardly a hotspot for it even by Equestrian standards. It probably wouldn't even occur to most ponies to use her and then skip town. So sometimes she'd roll around first, take the money after. No sweat. She had yet to get short-changed - ponies just didn't seem to have it in them.

Something still felt a little odd about the encounter, something she couldn't place, but she was anxious about keeping the bag of nerves upstairs waiting too long, so she brushed it aside and ascended to meet him in his room.

Making her way up to a small, if somewhat shabby bedroom, Nora closed the door behind her, taking stock of Quill, who was eyeing her expectently.

"So... where did you want to start? We can go as slow as you like," she offered.

"Can you... lift up your shirt?" he requested.

She was happy to oblige. Her boobs hugged the fabric on the way up, before dropping in one fell swoop as her shirt settled against her collarbone, kept in place with both hands. Nora was fairly well endowed; it was a blessing and a curse. Her bra kept her girls pert and in place. Explaining to Rarity what bras were used for had been weirdly mortifying. Somehow, the concept of making clothing specifically for something like that almost seemed lewder here, as normal as it would have been back home. But it was one item she was not content to go without, even in Equestria.

Quill trotted closer, gazing at her chest and stomach. Whilst things were still pretty tame so far, no doubt even this was weird for him, since ponies had fur covering all that up. For Nora, clothes would suffice. There was something pleasing about seeing naked skin, though. Smooth, shiny, ticklish to the touch. Could show plenty of marks... she shook her head, getting devious thoughts already.

Quill stuck his face forward in a particularly horse-like manner, inspecting her navel. Then, with no warning, he gave Nora a quick lick up over her bellybutton.

"Heh," she let out a quiet laugh at the foreign, ticklish sensation.

His tongue was long and flat. Kissing was an unusual one now, since the anatomy between ponies and humans wasn't exaclty made for mutual compatability, but it was always an intense experience. She had yet to have a pony lick her stomach until today, however.

Quill went in for seconds, tonguing her navel once more, lapping at her core before giving one long, lavish lick up to just below her chest. Then he seemed to notice her breasts for the first time, looking utterly transfixed by them. He stood up awkwardly on three legs, trying to gain a little height, reaching out with a hoof and kneading her left tit.

It felt a little immature, but everyone starts somewhere, and given the species divide, Nora wasn't about to judge him for playing with her boobs like someone prodding at a jelly dessert with a fork. He lifted one under his hoof, feeling its weight, before dropping it and turning his attention to the other. He managed to bring in a second foreleg, propping himself up against Nora, doubling his capacity for feeling around. Well, he seemed to be getting his bearings, at least.

"Like how they feel, hon?" she asked, flashing him a seductive look.

He seemed to suddenly remember how to be embarrassed, turning flush red and breaking eye contact, but not retracting his groping hooves. "Y-yes..." he said, clearly enjoying himself.

This continued a little longer, before he eventually retreated, sitting on his haunches in front of her and tilting his head quizically, almost like an adorable puppy. "Can I see the... other side?" he asked, still struggling, but with more confidence than he mustered before in asking such questions.

"It'd be my pleasure, sweetie. It's why we're here, after all."

Nora threw her top off, discarding it to the side, and turned around, pulling down her pants to reveal her tight silk panties. They were form fitting, dark, and translucent, her intimate area on semi-display as she bent over, giving the flustered Quill the view he desired.

She heard him gasp a little under his breath. Legs bent and torso contorting to look behind her, Nora eyed the stallion as he approached. Seeing him step up, she resumed looking ahead of her, before giving her booty a little wiggle, inviting him in. She felt the weight of a pair of hooves on her ass, which Quill used to prop himself up behind her, feeling her posterior up. It reminded her of the feeling right before getting mounted, and instinctively the anticipation flared up inside her, her own arousal now climbing. She had been in this position so many times, right before some hunky stallion had plunged his full length into her. The very idea made her wet, a damp spot appearing on her otherwise pristine panties.

As he felt around her ass like he had her boobs, he quickly realized Nora's rump was firmer and meatier than her chest. Stepping off her backside, he caught sight of her wetness and sniffed the air in its general direction. Hands on her knees, Nora looked back once more to speak to her customer. "Like what you see, eh, lover boy?" she teased.

Quill Heart seemed to ignore her entirely, his sniffing picking up in pace as he moved his snout closer to the source of his excitement. In a mere second, he had his nose pressed against her pussy, separated only by the thin fabric of her underwear, and his every breath tantalized her, equine nostrils flaring as he breathed in her scent and breathed out a heavy, cold gust right against her sex, sending shivers up Nora's spine.

"O-oooh," she moaned, the sound quiet but audible against the backdrop of the silent room and Quill's snorting. Before she could think of what to say next, she was surprised as once again, her flesh was given a delicate lick, this time right between her legs, Quill's saliva sticking to her panties and rubbing them against her pussy as his tongue dragged along her erogenous zone.

"Aaah~" she squealed. "Honey, that'd work better if I took off my-" she did not have time to finish the thought before another tongue lash sent her lunging over, metling under Quill's care. "Ooooh!"

She touched her toes, bent over fully now with her back arched and her ass sticking up in the air. Quill seemed to take this as a green light, and he began licking her with reckless abandon, eating her out through her teasing human underclothes with rabid pace and intensity. He lapped away at her, sending her mind spiralling in pleasure, the cries escaping her lips evidence of a job well done.

Quill's hooves rejoined their previous resting place on Nora's ass, this time holding it in place at her sides. He slurped and sucked and sent her into overdrive, tasting her like a ripe fruit, juices dribbling down his chin. Nora's panties were soaked in her own juices and Quill's saliva - mostly the latter - as her brain tried to process what was going on. She locked her fingers inbetween her toes, which curled in delight, her head hanging between her spread legs as she noticed Quill's growing excitement from her upside-down vantage point.

His cock twitched in anticipation, rock-hard as he pleased her, lapping up every nook and cranny, every fold in her ass and pussy. Nora's tongue hung limply out of her mouth like an animal in the throes of passion. She let go of her feet and tried to swing her body closer her prize, the sizeable cock greeting her like an old friend.

"Ugh, uh... do it!" she got out between huffs. "Tongue-fuck me, you naughty boy. I- oh...?"

Her own dirty talk was cut off by something in her peripheral vision. The throbbing, dark gray pendulum between Quill Heart's legs seemed to be convulsing pretty heavily all of a sudden. He couldn't be about to...? Oh no...

Sure enough, right as she looked his member head on, he spurted, coating her face in his batter. He shot several loads, dick spasming with each one, and Nora shut her eyes reflexively as each one hit. Her own pleasure ride didn't stop, however, as Quill gave one final, almighty lick, grazing her with his tongue and sending her over the edge. She coughed and sputtered a little, getting plenty of semen in her mouth, whilst also shaking from the orgasm that she rode out, unable to quite believe that he'd gone in like that after everything that lead up to it. She wasn't exactly complaining, mind, but this had certainly not been an expectation.

As the loads died down, her face, neck, legs and chest absolutely drenched, she steadied herself with her hands against the floor.

"I... I..." she could hear from behind her.

"Pt, pfft, phew," she exclaimed, wiping her eyes in relief.

"I'm... so sorry!"

Nora rose her body a little, taking a stance more akin to when she had first presented herself to him, still wiping her face and trying to see beyond the sticky mess that had made its home on her skin. "Aw, it's no trouble, sweetie, let's-"

From what she could see in her blurred vision, the form of a pony was backing away, uncertain and shaking. "No, I knew this was a bad idea! I have to, I-" and in a flash of blinding light, he was gone.

...What the hell had just happened?

After a few miunutes spent regaining her composure, Nora had cleaned herself to the best of her ability. The en suite bathroom had been surprisingly lackluster in its offerings of hygiene products; there was a single bar of soap which looked to have been untouched for some time, and a small towel. Even the sink was filthy. She hadn't done a perfect job, but she was more bothered by what had just transpired. She felt guilty that he had jumped ship like that; being plastered like that just came with the territory, though she did have to admit he seemed a little more pent up than most ponies she had done the horizontal tango with.

It was such a strange encounter. He had left her absolutely quaking there, clearly no slouch at pleasuring a woman. It occurred to Nora that no one she had been with had actually eaten her out before, and here Quill had managed to make her squeal without even getting her out of her undies. It had been an overwhelming experience, and as great as it was in the moment, his abrupt exit had left her down in the dumps and unable to fully enjoy it.

That, and there was one other thing bothering her. One little nagging thought the pushed itself to the front of her mind, though she was content to sweep it under the rug for now. He had teleported out of the house... had he been a unicorn? She certainly hadn't noticed, but perhaps she was just getting so used to these bizarre equine features now that she missed it? Something didn't feel right. Well, at least she had her money. She would've been a little peeved if buddy boy had dined and dashed.

Still, she resolved to put it aside. After all, technically this was a successful night, at least for her. She hoped Quill would be alright, though. One thing was for sure; was was richer and covered in cum. In other words, a night like any other.

The Mare

"Hey, Nora!"

The sound grabbed her attention at once, though in the midst of the busy market, finding its origin was easier said than done.

"Over here, dummy!"

Wait, Nora thought. I know that voice anywhere.

She looked straight up, and sure enough, there was Rainbow Dash lounging on a cloud, looking down on the town below. After being spotted, she fluttered down to Nora's level, doing a frontflip before landing gracefully on the ground. A little showy, but impressive nonetheless. Rolling her eyes a little at the unnecessary display, Nora gave a little sarcastic clap.

"Bravo, bravo..."

Dash beamed at the attention, despite how thick she was laying it on. "I know, I know, I'm amazing!"

Seeming to get caught up in the praise, she held a wing behind her head in mock-embarassment, apparently forgetting the reason she had called out to her friend in the first place.

"So... what's up, Dash? I appreciate the social call and all, but it's not usually your style," the human quipped. A light seemed to flicker from behind the mare's eyes as she remembered her mission, mouth opening slightly in realization.

"Oh yeah, I wanted to tell you something. Sleepover at Twi's tonight. You're invited. Just us and the other girls - Spike's away or something," she concluded, apparently not interested in the 'or something' part of the equation.

Nora threw a hand to her chin idly as she pondered the request. It'd be nice to spend some time with her gal pals, sure, but...

"I don't know, Dash," she said, "You know I like my evenings... quiet."

No need to be too descriptive there. Dash wasn't having any of it, though, rolling her eyes with a sigh before shaking her head in frustration. "What's with that, anyway? You never used to mind doing stuff late, but now you're always busy. And you won't tell us why. C'moooon, when was the last time we did something, just the seven of us?"

"Seven? No Starlight?"

"Another roadtrip with Trixie."

Heh. Nora had an inkling she knew what went on on those 'road trips', but nopony else seemed to catch on, so she let sleeping dogs lie. Or sleeping mares, in this case. Still, it would be kind of nice to see everypony again - Dash was right in chastising her, she had been dodging them a little lately. Besides, if they had suspicions, this might get them off her case for a little while. Yeah, she could miss work for one night.

"Okay, master negotiator. You've convinced me," she said, hands up in defeat.

"Awesome!" came her reply, punctuated with a hoof-pump. Man, this mare really got excited easily. It was adorable, but Nora would never dare to tell Dash that to her face. The pegasus pony turned on the spot, bracing for takeoff. "And bring snaaaacks!" she said, reply trailing in the air like vapor.

Well, that was something.

Nora made a mental note to add some pony-appropriate snacks to her shopping list. Her bags already heaved with goods, though her dietry requirements limited her to certain stalls. Fruit and veg, fine. Tea? Great. But what the heck is a hayburger supposed to be, anyway? It seemed to Nora that 'burger' probably shouldn't be in a pony's lexicon, but she chalked it up to another weird little Equestrian idiosyncrasy. Their culture and society really mirrored Earth in a lot of ways - weird ways that didn't really make sense. It was like this was a designed world which sprung up out of the ground one day, rather than a world which grew and evolved throughout its history. Ponies had modern tools but no electrical outlets. Just what gives with that? Probably magic. That was usually their answer.

Resigned to leave that mystery on the side for the time being, Nora resumed her shopping, bumping into many familiar ponies along the way. Some of her clients would give her a knowing nod or tip of the hat, sometimes. They were usually happy to see her, even with her clothes on. Much nicer than some of the men back home. Even though she had a policy about 'rendezvous' in the daytime, once or twice she had caved when she had been approached with nopony else around. She made sure to give them a stern telling off, though - that riding crop had sure paid for itself. She really didn't help herself, sometimes...

Anyway, snacks. That was about all she had left, since Dash caught her at the tail end of her spending spree. Sugarcube corner was a no-go zone; she just didn't trust herself. Surely there was somewhere else to go for sweets? What about that cream-colored mare that ran that one place - didn't she make candy? What was her name, Liquorice? Candy Cane? Marshmallow? Nora didn't have a handle on all the pony names, yet. Ponyville was a small town, but no one knows everyone. Except Pinkie Pie. She also wouldn't have put it past Twilight to keep some detailed record of every pony that came and went, either.

Making haste, but with no certain destination in mind, Nora sought out the promised land that was Whatever-That-Pony's-Name-Was's Shop. It led her away from the wooden stands in the market and onto the highstreet. You'd think a candy shop wouldn't be so hard to find, especially since these ponies could really put it away. Pinkie especially - she seemed to eat nothing but sugar, and while she had an ass that would have made most women jealous, she didn't really have any ill effects to show for it. A little pang of envy struck the human there, imagining what would happen to her poor figure if she indulged like that maniacal pink horse. Then, for some reason, the question entered her mind as to if some of her customers would enjoy that. She shuddered a little, pushing on mentally and physically.

Eventually her efforts were rewarded with a store that, outwardly, had the appearance of something that sold edible confections. Good enough.

For reasons unexplained, Nora got this strange feeling as she approached. It was a feeling of trepidation; it was unease. Like she was being observed. She looked around to see a few ponies dotting about the place, none of whom seemed to pay her any attention. Weird.

Putting her hand to the handle, she lingered for but a moment before shrugging it off and heading inside. The place was well decorated; pretty little displays were laid out for candies of all kinds. Swirling wrappers housed sugary delicacies, held in little glass trays to catch the eye of passing ponies. They even had a lazy Susan - impressive! The front desk was surprisingly abandoned, though. Perhaps the proprietor was on break. Nora thought she could hear a discussion of some sort in the back room, however. The door behind the counter was closed shut. She shouldn't, she really shouldn't...

Unable to resist her urges, Nora jumped the counter with ease and leaned in, ear to the door. Two distinct voices sounded out, each barely audible. The conversation seemed a little heated, from what she could tell. She thought she picked up the phrase "finally here," along with "not ready," and "you deal with it."

Probably just stressing about a delivery or something. Content that there was nothing juicy going on, she returned to browse the candy on offer. Picking up a selection she thought would please everypony, she was just grabbing her last item as a mare burst through the door, making her way over to the counter, a slightly frazzled look adorning her face as she greeted her.

"Sorry for the wait! We're open and ready to serve you now."

Hey, it was the cream-colored mare! That's right, she had the blue and pink swirly hair... just what was her name? Ah, it didn't matter.

"Just these, please."

Nora smiled at the mare with the difficult name, who returned it earnestly. As she was handing over her bits, however, something caught her eye. A flicker of movement from behind that open door behind the counter. By the time she darted her eyes up to look, whatever it was had already gone. The mare at the counter noticed, following her gaze with a nervous expression before waltzing over to the door and shutting it.

"Just my assistant skulking about, hahaahah, don't mind her!" she said, a little too frantically.

Nora shot her a look that indicated she knew something was up, but didn't know enough about the situation to press her on it. Silently, she slid over the last bit on the counter and made a grab for her bagged goodies.

"Thanks, come again!"

Nora sauntered off without another word. As she rounded the corner on the way out, she sensed something again. Having not yet left the perimeter of the store, she looked left, into one of its windows, only to see the face of a mint green unicorn mare staring her down. Her eyes were wide and her focus looked abosulte, which was a little concerning, because she appeared to be focusing only on Nora. Upon being spotted, the unicorn breathed against her hoof, before rubbing it against the glass of the window, as though cleaning it, but Nora knew that's not what was going down. Eventually the mare broke eye contact, still feigning her chore, and Nora left in a hurry.

Okay... toothbrush? Check. Blanket? Check. Copiouis amounts of candy? Also check.

Nora rifled through her bag, ensuring everything was in order. All things considered, she was looking forward to tonight. It'd be fun. Ponies were a little weird in some respects - they still had sleepovers as adults and played children's party games, for one, but she supposed that was just a product of their innocence, along with pony cellphones not having been invented yet. Besides, maybe they'd play truth or dare and things would get spicy. Nora was always ruthless at that, at least in comparison to everypony else last time she had played. Must just be that humans have more of a vicious streak. She had made Dash sing a love ballad to a houseplant, gotten Pinkie absolutely wasted on pony alcohol by daring her to down oodles of the stuff (a particulalry fun variety of chaos had ensued), and even gotten Fluttershy of all ponies to admit what she likes in a stallion: apparently, she has a thing for well-kept wings. To be fair, that may have been a little easier than normal, since her 'truth' had been talked down from "what is your fetish," the question she had initially asked, much to the butter-coated pony's horror. It was a little mean, but her reaction had been gold! Nora was getting a little more comfortable being just a touch more raunchy around ponies now, in a good-natured way, of course. Knowing what the menfolk of the town got up to certainly convinced her that the mares were no angels, either. She wondered if dear little Fluttershy's comment about the wings betrayed more than she knew: maybe the mare had a secret preening fetish. The thought brought a giggle to Nora's lips.

Grabbing her gear, she readied herself to head out. She was already clad in her PJs - ponies certainly wouldn't be bothered by her strolling around town in night attire, after all. To them, clothes were clothes, and she was the weirdo for wearing them all the time anyway. Rarity had been the only pony to see her naked, actually, before her sudden shift in careers. The others had been baffled by her insistence on them leaving the boutique when she got fitted. Twilight had even been a little sulky about it - figures she'd want to study human anatomy. How jealous she would be if she knew just how many ponies had had the pleasure before her by now. If Rairty thought her proportions were odd, she hadn't let it show, at least, ever the professional. Nora was sure that even if the first time did faze her, she had gotten used to it by now - after all, she was Nora's sole benefactor of clothing. What she'd do if that talented mare ever moved shop, she didn't know.

Striding out the front door of her modest abode, Nora relished in the early evening air, thankful for such blissful weather. God bless those pegasi heroes. Or was it more appropriate to say Celestia bless them? She wasn't sure. Picking up her earlier train of thought about Fluttershy, she idly wondered if Celestia had any bedroom hangups. Now THAT would be juicy info.

At around the half-way mark between her humble home and Twilight's imposing castle, Nora felt it again. That anxiety she had felt at the store earlier, which had been forgotten until this very moment. She stopped in her tracks, scanning the horizon. Not a pony in sight.

Weird.

Ignoring it against her better judgement, she moved on, before she picked up the distinct sound of little clip-clops against the cobbled road behind her. And not a pony in sight. Right.

She stopped abruptly, too abruptly to be natural, and the hoofsteps persisted for half a second before stopping as well, her stalker clearly taken off guard by the sudden change in tact. So that confirmed it, then. She was being followed.

Looking back on the scene behind her, she once again saw nothing. Not a peep. Well, if they were a pegasus, at least one with common sense, they wouldn't be trailing her on hoof, so that ruled that out.

"Any pony there?" she called out, her voice reverberating slightly as it bounced off the buildings.

Silence.

This was getting a little creepy.

She moved on again, darting her head back periodically to check for predators. Suddenly the thought occurred to her that monsters did exist in Equestria, they just normally didn't enter the town's borders. The thought of all kinds of nasty critters from the Everfree following her penetrated her brain, sending her into something of a fearful panic. As peaceful as Ponyville was, the beasts here were straight up deadly, and not just by pony standards, either.

Nora's walk turned into something of a half-jog, wanting the safety of Twilight and the others but not wanting to break out into a sprint for fear of something lunging after her. To her dismay the steps picked up their pace as well, her potential assailant's movements perfectly mirroring her own.

In a split second, Nora's fight or flight senses kicked into overdrive, and she pivoted to face her mysterious follower. What she saw shocked her in a way she didn't expect.

"Aha!" she cried, catching the pony in the act. Her heart fluttered, emotions going from relief that she wasn't being tracked by something that wanted to eat her, to smugness at managing to catch her stalker out, to sheer bewilderment at who it was she saw.

A mint green face recoiled in horror, now that the jig was up. The unicorn skidded to a halt, clearly unable to get out of view in time thanks to Nora's sudden spin maneuver. Just what in the name of fuck was she doing here?

"You're the w-"

Don't call her a weirdo, Nora.

"The pony from the candy store."

Senseing that she had no means to hide any longer, the pony in question gulped nervously. "Lyra," she said. "M-my name is Lyra."

A few seconds of awkward silence followed, before Nora decided to ask the obvious question, since her culript didn't seem keen to elaborate.

"Why the hell are you following me?"

Lyra winced at the question, looking guilty as can be. It was as though Nora had just scolded a puppy for making a mess on the carpet.

"I've... seen you around town," she said flatly.

Well I sure as shit haven't seen you, Nora thought, trying in vain to keep her composure.

"...And...?" she offered, prompting her to keep going.

"A-and, I, well..." the peculiar pony trailed off, looking like she wanted to die on the spot.

"C'mon, you don't get to stalk me like that and then weasel out of an explanation. Especially after you were acting so creepy earlier."

Lyra bowed her head in shame, clamping her eyes shut as tears welled in up in their corners. Despite having every right to be angry, Nora felt remorse at the harshness of her tone. Ponies are more sensative than humans, after all.

"Hey, hey, sorry, I'm sorry," she said, walking up to the unicorn who was on the verge of blubbering and crouching down to meet her face to face. "But you can't exaclty blame me. You've been following me and you won't tell me why. If you've got a good reason, I just want to know, is all..." she offered in a soothing tone. Strange how she was now the one on the back foot, in a way.

Lyra blinked away the beginnings of her tears and looked up at Nora with big, round eyes.

"I just think you're really interesting," she said plainly.

Okay, that one threw her for a loop.

"Because I'm... different?" she asked, genuinely unsure where this was heading. Two little nods were her answer. Nora thought most ponies had gotten used to her by now, certainly after the first couple of months since her disasterous arrival. Sure, some still leered here and there, but most seemed unperturbed now - familiar, even. If this mare lived in Ponyville - which if she worked at a store located here, seemed incredibly likely - what was she still hung up on? Nora wondered if maybe she had been too quick to assume everyone took her presence for granted now. The thought of still being an alien in the eyes of some made her a little upset.

"Interesting, eh?" was all Nora could think to say next.

"Interesting like... pretty."

If anything else had shocked Nora that evening, it paled in comparison to that bombshell. Was this mare really saying what she thought she was saying? Was she following her because she liked her? Like, like like?!

"And I heard... well, I thought... what I mean is, you offer... services, right?" she went on, seemingly unaware of Nora's frozen shock. "And I h-have bits!" she added, hurriedly. When Nora was too taken aback to reply, mouth agape, Lyra floated out a jingling satchel to punctuate her point. She seemed to think Nora was concerned she was lying about the bits, when the reality was, Nora was concerned about lying down with a mare.

"You just, I've just, I-I've never done it with a mare before!" she stammered out, her usually cool composure absolutely shot.

"Oh," said Lyra dejectedly. "Is that a problem?"

What the fuck is happening?

"You, I - what I mean is, I have this party..." she gestured to her bag of sleepover gear and then pointed in the general direction of Twilight's house, though the structure itself was not visible from her vantage point. This probably explained very little, but Lyra seemed to read enough into it to get the message regardless.

"Okay, yeah..." she said, looking distraught. "Sorry, I should've known."

She began scampering away, and for some reason, in that moment Nora couldn't bear to see it. "WAIT!" she bellowed out after her, her booming voice shattering the peace of the quiet dusk.

Perhaps it was just the ferocity of her exclamation, but the put out pony stopped dead in her tracks, face betraying her prior sadness but also hinting at some hopeful anticipation.

"I mean, I wouldn't normally work because I've got this thing, but I... let's talk shop," she said, waving the mare over with a hand.

Lyra beamed, not believing her luck, as she galloped over to the human with a spring in a step and a newfound grin in her teeth.

"Really?" she asked, as if in disbelief.

"Sure, sure sweetie, let's just talk about how this is going to work," she said, mind racing. Her words were getting out before her brain could stop them, unbothered by the implications of what she was saying. Could she even go through with this? She had never looked at a mare that way before. With stallions, it had always been easy, but she had never even considered that a mare might want her that way. And that's not to mention the rather unusual circumstances around this encounter, what with the excitable Lyra following her in secret and all. Could she trust this pony? And yet, her hands reached out for the satchel of bits nonetheless, before the reality of the situation caught up with her.

Lyra made a cute little squeal, dancing on her hooves, which would have normally raised an eyebrow from Nora were she not so preoccupied with trying to process everything that was happening all of a sudden. As she started counting out her bits, Lyra chimed in. "There's 200 bits in there."

So either this was another wonderous coincidence, or she knew her rates already. Suddenly Nora wondered if this was the first time she had been tailed by the pastel pony. Her heart was racing a little. No, no, it wouldn't be anything like that. After all, stallions talked, and she never got uppity when a colt she'd never met engaged her on familiar terms. Maybe Lyra had overheard ponies talking. Hell, maybe she'd outright asked - she seemed like she didn't exactly have normal social boundaries, even for a pony.

Nora sighed, as she looked over the hill to where she had been going. She had said she'd be there, but she hadn't exactly promised.

Ugh.

She weighed her options, the certainty of Twilight's sleepover versus the unknown depravity of the skittish Lyra. She still wasn't sure how she even felt about Lyra's offer, so why was she considering it so much? But then again, it had something of a pull - there was a mystery to be solved here. Who was this mare, why did she have such an interest in Nora, what exaclty would they get up to? Would she even enjoy it? The combined weight of all these questions proved too much to bear. Nora knew that if she didn't get her answers now, it'd eat at her all night.

"You have... accommodation?"

A series of manic nods followed the question.

Letting out a held breath, she conceded. "Lead on."

Lyra's house wasn't far, as luck had it. Nora dumped her bag of junk by the door, still feeling guilty for ditching the girls. Maybe if things wrapped up quick enough she could make it, just a little late.

Lyra, emboldened by Nora's willingness to go along with her, paced the floor eagerly in front of her, still burning off the energy boost that Nora's affirmation had given her.

"Like I said, I've... this is new territory for me," she tried to warn the prancing pony.

"Oh, me too, me too!" replied Lyra, though for her the prospect of breaking new ground seemed to be an unambiguous positive.

"So, do you want to take the lead, or..."

Lyra stopped her movements, looking at the human, some bashfulness seeping into her expression all of a sudden.

"Oh, if I could just, um... what do you normally do?"

"That's kind of up to you, hon," she said, settling into some comfort at the familiarity at having to reassure a first time client. "If we get to any red lines, I'll let you know. But your bits pay for the evening, we stop when we stop."

Lyra shot her a blushing smile.

"In that case, if you could just... do as I say for now?"

God, she was so awkward. Still, thinking back to Quill from the previous night, it would hardly be the first time she'd dealt with that sort of behavior recently.

"I'm yours, hon."

Lyra paused, basking in the sight of her human companion, as though assessing where to start, or simply working up the courage to ask.

"Those... hands of yours?"

Nora glanced down at her appendage. Heh, they sure were popular. Hoofjobs didn't hold a candle to what a set of fingers could do.

"I want you to... run them through my mane."

Okay, this wasn't where she thought things were going. She looked at the pony quizzically, surprised at such a tame request, but then again, Lyra did seem hung up on her, well, humanity. These things were probably something of a novelty for her. Maybe even a little scary.

Nora complied, walking up to the unicorn in her living room and stroking her mane gingerly. Lyra leaned her head into the touch, thick locks stroked between deft fingers. She closed her eyes, a contented smile on her face. Suddenly Nora wondered if she'd gotten the wrong idea about what her services were.

"Mmm, that's nice. Now, I want you to rub my horn. Um, please," she went on.

Nora followed her instruction, rubbing the length of her horn between a finger and thumb, before circling the tip with said thumb, then cascading her whole open hand down along the horn's length to repeat the process. Now this certainly felt more like her normal work, though she couldn't quite say why. She wasn't aware of horns being sensitive... not in a sexual way, at least. No one had ever asked her to do this before.

Things went on like this for about a minute, before Nora piped up, a little confused as to how, or even if, things were to proceed from here. "Are you... enjoying yourself, hon?"

"Mmmmm~"

Okay then. Another minute or so passed, before Lyra opened one eye, peering up at her with a blissful expression. "Can you..."

She had said something, but Nora couldn't make it out.

"Sorry, hon, ask me again. I didn't catch that."

"Kiss me?" said Lyra, wearing her whole heart on her hoof. She looked like she was afraid of being rejected at this stage, and it was obvious that such a rejection would crush her. Nora didn't quite understand it, since they had gotten this far. Still, kissing was still firmly in tame territory for her. She knelt down and smooched the unicorn on the lips without a word.

What started as a chaste kiss soon turned more passionate, tongues poking and prodding one another as Nora's mouth opened to match the chasm that was a pony maw. With Lyra, it wasn't so bad, though. Mares had shorter snouts, after all. While Nora enjoyed it, kissing a stallion felt like it could quickly turn into a life or death struggle sometimes. This was calmer, softer. More intimate.

Lyra moaned softly into Nora's mouth, content with her experience. She wrapped a foreleg around her head, keeping her close, as though still afraid she would pull away at any moment.

They explored each other's mouths for a while, but Lyra soon became the dominant party, wrestling for full control of the shared space with her tongue. It was not surprising; she had the tongue of a horse, after all. She was gentle, though, dancing along the insides of Nora's cheeks, and tickling the roof of her mouth a little. Nora let loose a puff of air from her nose.

When Lyra finally broke the kiss, a saliva trail still joined the duo, hanging between them like a symbol of their connection.

"How was that?" she asked, tilting her head and sporting a confident look. The unicorn's expression already told all.

"Amazing..." she replied between breaths. "Everything I hoped it would be."

"Do you want to go... further?" she inquired. She was surprised at her own haste to escalate things, given her uncertainty around the whole affair. Perhaps routine was betraying her.

"Yes," said Lyra, steadying herself. She paused for a while, again returning to that uncertain state, as though she were a kid in a candy store that only had the allowance for one purchase. Fitting, given her apparent profession. "Do you always wear clothes, by the way?"

The sudden question caught Nora off guard. She'd heard this one plenty, usually in casual conversation struck up with ponies she was meeting for the first time. For her, it almost seemed an equivalent to 'so how about this weather, huh?'. Ponies just couldn't get over it. But to be asked this now, after a short makeout session, just seemed bizarre.

"Uh, yeah. Except behind closed doors, of course," she said with a wink, trying to push past the awkwardness and get things back on track.

"We're behind closed doors," said Lyra, matter of factly.

"Do you want me to take off my clothes, sweetie?"

"I mean... if it's what you'd normally do..."

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes at the roundabout way Lyra had asked her, Nora stripped. She didn't do any kind of striptease, she simply undressed casually, allowing the mare to look over her whole body. Since she was only half-dressed anyway, there wasn't really room for much ceremony regardless. Standing before host, she let the mare take in her form. Lyra was transfixed.

After a bout of silent gawking, the mare spoke once more, quietly, still distracted by the view in front of her. "You know, if you didn't wear clothes around town, nopony would care."

"I know. I can't do that, though."

"Why?"

Again, she'd been here before. She didn't feel like elaborating the way she had to Twilight about human culture, though.

"I just can't."

"But not in here?" Lyra asked.

"Yeah..." Nora replied, looking down at her face. "Not in here."

Lyra gave one half nod, satisfied, though still distracted by Nora's body. She got closer, reaching out with a hoof and touching her leg.

"Ohh."

She traced a hoof up and down Nora's leg a bit, and Nora blushed. It made her feel a bit like a piece of meat, which would hardly be a first for her, but this was... different.

Despite her unusual anatomy, most of her customers got over it pretty quickly, but then, most of her customers were horny stallions. Still, some liked to experiment with her a little more first. To feel her weight, her shape. Touch her skin, smell her scent.

"I really wanna make you feel good," said Lyra suddenly, breaking Nora's concentration. She had gotten used to the rhythmic touches and spaced out. "Lay down, please."

"Here?" she inquired. She was stood in the middle of the room, after all. "We could go upstai-"

"Here," repeated Lyra.

Nora did as she was told. The draft from under the front door assaulted her, leaving her exposed front a little chilly, while her backside embraced the shaggy carpet.

She could see Lyra bow her head in front of her, and in a flash, a familiar tongue poked at her sensitive parts. She let a silent moan escape her lips and dug into the carpet with her hands as Lyra licked her.

Weirdly enough, her last two nightly encounters had been pretty distinct from her usual business, but pretty similar so far. This was her second time being eaten out by a pony. She certainly didn't mind it.

Lyra tucked into Nora like a scrumptious meal, but not ravenously, giving refined little laps and pecks and nips. She would taste her folds before delicately running her tonuge along her lower lips, then working her clit, acting like a well-oiled woman-pleasing machine. Nora wondered if she had been with mares before, meaning this wasn't too unusual for her. After all, the mechanics are the same. Now that the stitled first encounter had been left in the dust, Nora allowed herself to enjoy things, giving in fully to the pleasure that Lyra was unleashing upon her.

Lyra soldiered on, but made no rush of the affair, seeming to savor every taste of the woman she doted on.

"Lyra... I didn't think you'd... I didn't think..."

Nora wasn't entirely sure what she wanted to say, which didn't matter, because she couldn't finish her sentence anyway. Instead the sensations that coursed up her body overloaded her brain on dopamine, causing her to short circuit. Lyra didn't take any notice of the half-finished thought. Instead, she persisted, her tonuge doing her speaking for her without a single word being uttered.

Nora tugged at the carpet harder still, as though hanging on to a cliff for dear life, grasping for stability against her own shivers and spasms. Her teeth gritted instinctively, turning would-be moans into grunts.

As the minutes flew by, time melted around Nora, her equine companion making her head swell. Then, all of a sudden, it was gone. The moist organ that poked and prodded at her needy sex retreated, leaving Nora's pussy shivering against the cold of the room, especially for the added wetness. Lyra scrambled on top of her, straddling her and plopping herself down like she was right at home, head positioned in parallel with Nora's own. Suddenly, she brought herself in for another needy kiss.

Meanwhile, a stray hoof went exploring, roaming down the human's body until it settled back to where Lyra's tongue had just been. Lyra rubbed her pussy with some gusto, causing Nora to cry out into her maw as they locked lips. Soon, another hoof found its way to her chest. The positioning was a little awkward, with Lyra's own body covering much of Nora's torso, but she managed to play with an exposed breast, making circular motions against it with her flat hoof. Lyra quickly adopted a new rhythm, seamlessly transitioning from her prior position to this. As the kiss grew more passionate, her movements down below picked up as well, rubbing Nora raw before tracing her clit. Occasionally she would give her pussy a little slap. It was one such slap that finally sent her over the edge, squirting over the pony's hoof with glee as she contorted her spine, trying to sit up but being locked in place under the weight of Lyra, still at the mercy of her greedy tongue.

Nora wanted to scream in delight, but she had only a mouthful of Lyra, so instead she sucked her tongue, taking it as deep into her throat as she could as she road out her orgasm. Lyra's soaked hoof showed no signs of stopping, determined to keep up the assault until things had fully calmed down. She did stop playing with her chest, however, instead pulling back a little, allowing Nora to sit up like she had attempted moments ago. As the kissing pair held each other, Nora's twitching pussy finally started to calm down, coming down from the height of her orgasm.

Okay, maybe she could do mares from now on. If they really insisted.

When they broke the kiss, they looked each other in the eyes.

"That was..." they said in unison, both stopping as to not cut the other off. Nora looked away red-faced, not expecting that.

"I live here, you know," said Lyra, blankly.

"Oh, really?" said Nora in a playful, sarcastic way. Getting such a non-sequitur now probably should have bothered her, but she couldn't find the energy. She just didn't understand this mare.

"You can come by, if you like... any time," she offered.

"Oh, sorry honey, not outside of work," she said. Sure, Lyra had surprised her, actually showing her a good time, but she wasn't about to give out freebies, even if those big, cute eyes stared her down.

Lyra didn't say anything at this, pausing for a while, before pulling her back in for another, shorter kiss.

"You're soft," said the unicorn after breaking her hold once more. "And your hands are cool, and feel nice, and your hair is so smooth and pretty," she concluded, complimenting her with the tact and grace of a child, but the sentiment shining through nonetheless. Nora chuckled.

"You're sweet."

She was still learning how to navigate conversation with Lyra. It felt a bit like being thrown into a shark-filled ocean with no life raft. Like one wrong thing could break her confidence. And yet, she was so arupt and to the point sometimes, it was hard not to be taken aback at her mannerisms.

Luckily, thereafter the talking stopped, and the two cuddled on the floor in silence. It was a little strange, since she was more used to beds, but she wouldn't have wanted to move anyway.

After an inperceptable amount of time, a wandering thought struck her.

"You know, I never told you my name."

"It's Nora, right?"

"Yeah... how did you know?"

"I heard you talking with Bon Bon earlier. S-sorry."

Bon Bon! So that was her name. Well, that's one mystery solved. Still, though, one thing was bothering her.

"I'm pretty sure I didn't tell Bon Bon my name, either."

Maybe it was a bad idea to put her on the spot like this, but the strange mare was full of questions, and offered very little in the way of answers. Lyra looked a little panicked at this, sweating slightly.

"Well... okay... I heard your name around town. You're the only human, everypony knows you!"

Fair enough, that certainly had some truth to it. She would stand out enough anyway, and with her reputation getting out there more and more, she was increasingly finding herself at a disadvantage against ponies who apparently knew of her, whom she had never properly met before.

Looking at the clock, she realized she would be so late for the sleepover by now that there was no point going. When she eventually got herself in order and prepared to take her leave, Lyra stopped her.

"Nora..."

It was her first time addressing her by her name.

"What I said before, about stopping by some time... think about it."

Nora just shrugged and shook her head a little, taking off into the night.

As the door closed behind her, she dwelled on the encounter, in all its weirdness. It wasn't unpleasant. Certainly felt more like work than work usually did, since she was a glutton for stallion cocks anyway, but maybe that was less to do with Lyra being a mare and more to do with her being, well... Lyra. She didn't seem like a bad pony, though. Maybe a little needy. In a way, tonight felt like an occasion worth marking. She had been with a mare - that was a door that was now firmly open, even if she wouldn't normally seek it out. And she had also gotten a little closer to understanding that strange mint unicorn. Just a little.

Letting a slight sigh escape her, she wondered if tomorrow would be any simpler.

Over a Barrel

"I just wanted to make sure you're alright."

Twilight was being obstinate again. The purple pegacorn - was that the right word? - circled Nora energetically in the air, doting like a concerned parent.

"I already told you I'm fine, Twi. Something just... came up."

It wasn't really a lie. Lyra had diverted her attention well and truly; she couldn't be blamed for that.

Turns out, her friends got the wrong end of the stick about her not showing up last night. They weren't mad at her, but they may as well have been - she felt guilty enough either way. While they hadn't said as much, images of the gang making feeble attempts to start the fun inbetween worrying silly about her flooded her mind. She saw the ever-impatient Dash doing laps in the high halls, unable to start any games while the others insisted they wait for her. She saw Fluttershy watching the clock inbetween sips of punch, wondering if something had happened to her. She always fussed over Nora when she didn't need to. Sometimes she wondered if the pegasus saw her as another one of her animal friends to watch over, though if so, she was sure she didn't mean it in a dismissive way. And finally, she saw Pinkie, looking sadly at a piece of chocolate cake, unable to bring herself to eat it, probably declaring that it reminded her of Nora. Imagining Pinkie sad was always the worst. The pictures played in her head like a haunted theater, apparitions of her pony playmates spooking her at every turn.

The guilt was currently buried under a thick gravel of frustration, however. While playing hooky with your friends was hardly proper etiquette, it wasn't like she made a habit of ditching them. This was a one off. While she reserved plenty of time for her carnal adventures, she was always good enough to warn the girls in advance if she wouldn't be attending one of their little soirees - except last night, of course. Twi in particular had been riding her hard about it, and not the kind of riding she was used to.

"We're just concerned, Nora! It feels like you haven't been yourself lately..." she trailed off, coming to a stop in front of her, blocking her path. Nora had stopped by the castle to try and explain herself, but despite having the whole morning to plan her excuse, no good reasons came to her. Bad dreams kept her up, so she slept horribly, and was a tad grouchy to show for it. Then pitted against Twilight's own headstrong worrywarting, sparks were flying.

"It feels like you've been kind of distracted," she went on.

Yeah, by your sexy-ass brother, maybe.

"You've been spacing out quite a lot, and it feels like we've seen less and less of you since you moved out on your own."

The alicorn - yes, that was the word - placed a comforting hoof on the woman's shoulder, making deep eye contact.

"I know it must be hard, being in your position, and while you never let it show, it must bother you, being away from home. When you still had Applejack to keep an eye on you, that was one thing, but-"

"So, what, you think I need a minder? Like I'm some foal?" she barked, annoyed. Injecting the word foal into that sentence still felt unnatural, but she hoped that making a conscious effort of meeting Twilight on her own linguistic terms would punctuate her point.

"Not at all!" she replied, face betraying no dishonesty in her statement, aghast at the implication. "It's just, we-"

That was it.

"We, we, we. That's all it is. Why can't you admit it's just you, Twilight?"

Nora stormed off in a rush, hearing no attempts to call out to her, not that she'd have been responsive either way. This was fucking typical. She came by for a quick hello, and to offer something of an apology, and she'd gotten a grilling and an argument for her troubles.

Making haste for the door, she sulked out.

Nora skipped rocks, angrily. It wasn't a productive use of her time, but she didn't really have any better plans right now. She had felt some remorse at how she handled Twilight before she'd even finished closing her lips, but she was too prideful to turn back her words right there and then. And besides, while the princess' intentions were pure, the helicopter mom routine was a little much. She didn't treat her like this when they first met. At least, not too often.

She had a sinking feeling in her gut, like there was more to her friends' gestures than they let show. She hoped it was speculative on their part, and that they weren't getting wise to her. Who knew how they would look at her if they knew what a whore she was.

It was strange... as much as Nora had shattered so many of her original preconceptions about pony innocence and purity, their society was so outwardly non-sexual that she still felt compelled to keep her secret. It's not like being known as a slut was any easier back on Earth, but here, she felt like she had people to disappoint. She didn't want that. Sure, her sexual renaissance sparked by her first taste of stallion had bumped up her opinion of Equestria a few notches, but it wasn't all there was to the place. Even for someone with such a fiery desire, there was more to life. The blue skies; the friendly smiling faces, ready to greet one another without any sinister undertones or unwarranted prejudice; the laughter; the joy of the little ponies as the waddled out of the schoolhouse; the way even the animals here seemed to live in harmony with everything. The tranquility of the lake, which she was destroying with her mineral bombardment.

"Oh," she said, sensing that her last throw had a touch more gusto than she had intended. The rock, rather than skipping daintily, plopped down menacingly, disturbing a mother duck at the front of a line of little yellow waterfowl. "...Sorry," she added, sheepishly.

Nora looked up at nothing and sighed. Today could only get better.

"Screw this," she resolved. "I need a drink."

The bar wasn't busy, being afternoon and all. Ponies had work... well, the ones who worked, anyway. This town was odd like that. She couldn't quite figure out how Fluttershy's animal husbandry paid her bills. She worked hard, no question, but she didn't have a boss or a business, so what she did to actually pay her way, Nora didn't know. Parental support, maybe? She had heard Fluttershy talk about her mom and dad, once or twice. And a brother. She idly wondered if he'd be worth looking up.

Taking a swig of the brew she held in hand, she drowned her sorrows gladly. It hadn't solved any of her problems, and yet she felt all the better for it.

As she lowered the glass tankard of ale from her face, she felt the tickle of foam on her upper lip. Caring not about table manners at a time like this, she licked it off.

"Well hey there, doll, why so down?"

The sing-song voice startled her out of her wallowing, jumping in her seat as a stranger's hoof snaked its way over her right shoulder. She followed the yellow tendril up to a thin face, haloed by red strands of hair and some sort of straw hat.

"And, why, I thought this was a cider town!" declared a similar voice to her left, history repeating as the other pony leaned in on her arm, leaving her flanked by the pair of stallions. This one had a red mustache to match the mane, but otherwise looked identical. Nora always thought mustahces looked kind of weird on ponies. It felt too... human? Like it didn't belong. She didn't let herself get distracted by that for long, though.

"Uh..."

Just what does one say in this situation?

"Can I help you?"

The question seemed to linger in the air, as though the pair couldn't believe their ears. They looked at one another around her head, and then back at her again.

"Well, missy, my dear old brother and I," began the mustachioed one.

"That's I!" piped up his counterpart.

"That's he," he went on. They spoke almost like a hive-mind. Spooky. "Well, we-"

"That's me!"

"-And me, well we just so happened to see..."

Nora felt like they were on the verge of bursting into song. She hated it when that happened. No one clues the human in on the intricacies of the choreography that everyone else apparently rehearses when she isn't looking. She hadn't been the focal point any any musical numbers yet, and this would not be that day.

"Y'know, I think I've got to be somewhere," she said, standing up from her barstool, taking specific care not to say 'somewhere to be' lest she set them off again. The foppish siblings went wide-eyed at this.

"Wait, miss!" said brother number one.

"Please desist!" chimed in brother number two.

"Whaaaat?" she groaned. Apparently she couldn't even have a bit of self-pitying solitude today.

"We noticed you looking so down in the dumps at the bar," said one of the interchangeable brothers, ditching the melodic rhyming, likely sensing that it was ticking Nora off.

"And, of course, before we noticed that, we noticed you!" said the other, gesturing at her with two widely outstretched hooves. How ponies did that without toppling over, Nora would never stop questioning. At least they didn't seem to be capable of sticking to walls, like Pinkie.

"Me?" she said, before realizing something. "You two... aren't from around here, are you?"

The stallion currently on her right cocked an eyebrow, bearing a smug, toothy grin. "Nay, deary filly, and I dare say, neither are you."

She held up her hands in mock defeat. "You got me there."

So they were just curious about her? Hardly unprecedented. New ponies always had questions, like where is your fur, why do you walk around on two legs, and what are those noodly things coming our of your weird, flat hooves? Sure, Equestria was diverse - moreso these days, apparently - but most creatures still walked on all fours, and if they didn't have tails or hooves, they probably had claws or fangs. Nora had wondered a few times just what her closest relation in Equestria would be. A dragon? They walked on two legs, but that was where the similarities stopped. A minotaur? A little closer, but they still had fur, horns, and the lower half of a farm animal. Not to mention abs for days. Nora had been primed by Twilight on the various fauna and flora of Equestria, and of course that included a rundown of every intelligent species on the block. It would have also included a full tuition on their histories, cultures, mythologies and politics if she hadn't been so adament that that wasn't necessary.

The memory of Twilight made her smile, which felt weird, and when she remembered that it felt weird because she was currently angry at her, that made her sad. Emotions are fickle things, indeed. The sudden proverbial rollercoaster left her glum and back of the defensive, remembering that she currently had a social obligation to fulfil: talking. Yes, the curious travellers.

As if on cue, taking her silence as an open invitation for introductions, the mustache-sporting pony stretched out his hoof expectently.

"Flim," he said, eyes opening wide and sporting the look of a used car salesman.

"Flam," said his sibling counterpart, mirroring his motions and tilting his head a little. The duo looked as though their legs might pop out of their joints for the enthusiasm they showed in offering their hooves.

Nora blew her fringe out of her eyes a little and crossed her arms, taking one hoof in each hand, before shaking them in a zigzag formation. She didn't know why she did it; maybe their silliness was getting to her.

"Nora," she said. "I'm a human," she hastily added, pre-empting what would probably be their next question. "So let me guess, you're wondering what a human is? Never seen anything that looks quite like me before?"

She didn't ask rudely, but was conscious nonetheless that perhaps some exhasperation seeped into her tone. She had been through this song and dance so many times - almost literally, in this case.

"A human, eh, brother?" said the yellow stallion on her right - Flam, apparently. He poked at the brother's side with a... knee? Elbow? Forelegs seemed to function more like arms, sometimes, but it was hard to say what the appropriate thing to call it was.

"Why, well I never, brother!" Flim echoed, bowing his head. Flam, upon seeing this, quickly followed suite. "Charmed," Flim added, pulling Nora's hand back in and giving it a kiss without breaking eye contact. Despite feeling that the two had an angle, her heart skipped a little and her face turned flushed at the display. They were laying on the charm thick already, and were quite dashing in their own way, as long as you tried not to let the fact that their outfits and accents only let you picture them running a carnival distract you.

"We're ponies of business, ma'am," said Flam.

"That's us - the esteemed Flim and Flam!" sounded off Flim, springing up on his hind legs, forelegs reaching upward in excitement. Flam joined in as well, the brothers using each other for balance as they got more daunting and stood on only one leg each.

Nora rolled her eyes, but with their odd speech patterns more interspersed now and introductions out of the way, it didn't bother her the way it had initially. Their admittedly impressive acrobatics display didn't garner her attention as much as what they had just announced, though.

"Business? What kind of business?"

Their vocation made sense, they clearly had either a routine, or a natural flair for the dramatic; she was, relatively speaking, hooked.

"Oh, a bit of this, a bit of that," Flim said, having descended from his and Flam's impromptu circus routine, bobbing his head from side to side to emphasise 'this' and 'that' as though they were proper nouns. His face and voice both betrayed the aura of someone who knew something, and was taking great pleasure in broadcasting that they knew something, to someone who didn't know the thing. Whether the thing was juicy or not wasn't the point; the point was that they knew and you didn't. In a way they reminder her of her own two older brothers in that regard.

"Riiiiight," she said flatly.

"Presently at present," interjected Flam with some redundency, "We are on a quest of some dire importance," he said, hooking his hoof around Flim's neck and looking at her. "Booze!"

This, she wasn't expecting.

"Booze?"

"To cure our blues," Flim chimed in sadly, shutting his eyes and nodding solemnly.

"Cider. Hard cider, to be specific. An old caché."

"From back when we were nonpareil!"

Nora looked the two over, curiosity at their statement overpowering her curiosity at their insistence on this strange near-musical charade.

"Cider?" she asked. "But I thought the Apples were the only ones who made cider in this town."

The brothers hung their heads, looking glum.

"Right you are, miss, and that was just our problem."

In a moment, they both seemed to cheer up at once. It was freaky how synchronized they were at times. These guys had to be twins, right?

"But bygones have been bygones, and after we said by and were gone, we picked ourselves back up by our horseshoes, and here we are! Now we're giving Ponyville a second chance..." the stallion - she had lost track of which - said, though she thought she had heard him mutter something like "or third chance, maybe fourth," under his breath as well.

"We're here, looking for business ventures a-plenty, but pleasure before business, as my brother and I always say! That's where the sweet stuff comes in. Cider squeezed with our very own state-of-the-art machine, good as any Apple cider, any day! Made before they drove us away-"

"Sent us orders in droves, dear brother," the stallion - Flim, she remembered now - cut in, poking his brother in his side, knee/elbow serving as a lethal weapon.

"R-Right you are, brother..." Flam said behind a false smile, sheepishly.

"We had some stockpiled, used for testing before demonstrating our machine to the good townsfolk. We had forgotten all about it, as bad luck would have it, but seeing this quaint little country paradise again really got the old cogs turning," Flim said, making little circles with his hoof against his head having leaned in closer to Nora.

"And turning!" confirmed Flam, poking his head out from behind his brother to give his two bits on the situation. These two really were supportive of one another... Nora wasn't quite sure if that was for the best.

"And since cider doesn't spoil, it'll be as sweet as the day it was squeezed," said Flim.

"Sweeter," said Flam.

"Almost as sweet as you, my... sweet," concluded Flim lamely. Nora rolled her eyes yet again, shaking her head but smiling all the same at the feeble delivery.

"Why, with your tall stature, dexterous looking digits, and fancy hoofwork-"

"Footwork," she corrected, to little avail.

"Why, you could have our cider open in a pop, sure as you like. And to the victors, go the spoils...?"

So they wanted her to crack a few kegs, and she'd get a share of the drink for her troubles? Not a bad deal. The generosity of ponykind never ceased to amaze her. She had thought the brothers were a little suspect, but their logic checked out - with one exception.

"Why do you need me to retrieve it? Where the h-" she paused, making a conscious effort to avoid anything approaching bad language, even though she felt confident hell wasn't a concept here. It was just something she did in polite company. "Where on Ear-" no, that expression was out too. "Just where did you stash it?" she finished frantically, facepalming.

"Somewhere safe!"

"Somewhere nopony would think to look."

"Including us, it turns out."

This wasn't how Nora had anticipated spending her day. As it so happens, the 'where' in this story was a cave outside the town's bounds.

"Who stores cider in a cave, anyway?" she said, frustrated, rolling another barrel up the hill where her temporary employers of sorts waited patiently.

"Why, we wanted it safe and sound, ma'am," said Flim, nodding. "I must confess, our later products were... not so fresh. But this stuff is the real deal! And since we made it ourselves, it's free - what a steal!"

He jumped up, clapping his hooves together. "No profit in it, mind, but for how our luck's been going lately, a free lunch is a free lunch. Even if it's a lunch you made yourself. And the lunch in this case is a drink, but, well - you get the point."

"Well said, brother," Flam added.

Was it well said?

"Our next capital venture can wait. Thank you again, miss, for your help. I knew you were a good find."

Nora wiped her head, sweat gushing off her upper half. Her lower half was soaked for a different reason - and no, not the usual one. The cave was partially flooded now, and she'd had to wade through water up past her stomach to grab each of the five barrels that waited at the rear of the rocky cavern in a dry alcove. The cider itself was fine, as she had room to hold the barrels above the water on her return journey, so it got through unscathed. She hadn't been so lucky. On her first journey in, she'd tripped in the pool and soaked herself. She considered herself lucky to have gotten away without any nasty cuts or scrapes, let alone a sprain or break - those jagged rocks could have done a number on her. All in all, she got a little more than she bargained for. Tavern ale may not have been talked up as much as this elusive cider, the virtues of which were extolled voraciously by the salesponies on the walk over, but it was certainly a lot more accessible, at least to anypony with a few bits in their possession.

The Flim Flam brothers needed her for her height; ponies would have been drinking cave soup for a good minute before they could reach the nook at the back where the barrels laid. She did question why they couldn't magic up a solution, but they said they didn't have any spells that would help them out of this one. That tracked - apparently Twilight was the main magical prodigy around, but she was an alicorn. Starlight and Sunburst were very skilled unicorns, but most magically-inclined ponies didn't test their talents much beyond basic levitation, which would have been fine for the cider, but not for Flim and Flam themselves, who would be carrying it out completely underwater.

Nora breathed controlled but heavy breaths, standing the barrel upright. The fact that the land dipped around the entrance to the cave hadn't helped. The flashy Flim and Flam had helped her with the first three, their magic finally coming to some use, but stopped thereafter to inspect the goods, leaving her to do yet more of the legwork.

Despite being peeved at the work being a lot harder than she was originally led to believe, she at least savored the irony in the fact that these stallions wanted her for her body in a way that shattered convention.

She had rolled up her pants and shirt for the task, but while her top had mostly dried from her tumble, her legwear was still obviously saturated, and her torso shone as the sun reflected its light off her glistening body. She stood atop the hill like a human lighthouse, skin reflecting beams to steer wayward ponies to safety. This had better have been worth the trouble.

"So where the hell's this cider?" she asked, throwing her normal no-human-cursing policy to the wind for once as her thirst overcame her. She had really worked up a hankering for the stuff after so much exercise, rays bearing down on the trio mercilessly from above, the mid-afternoon sun assaulting her skin.

For her troubles, a frothing flagon was thrust into her hands right away. "Already on it, young missy," said Flam with a wink.

Nora downed half the contents in one go, liquid dribbling down her chin and speckling her bare stomach and thighs with honey-hued nectar.

"Gah," she affirmed the quality of the beverage. "Gooood."

She wore a goofy grin. The brothers looked at one another, pleased, having poured mugs of their own.

"Here's to Flim-Flam ingenuity, and human muscle!"

"Cheers," she toasted, three containers clashing mid-air in a welcome celebration.

At least this had been a distraction. This morning's heated discussion weighed on her much less now. And she had to admit, the damn cider tasted pretty good. She would have to make a point of asking AJ why these guys hadn't stuck around, if they could walk the walk. Perhaps ponies were just loyal to the Apples and their business, what with their importance to the town.

As she quaffed the remainder of her drink, the three relaxed, making a home of the fold-out chairs Flim and Flam had brought with them for such an occasion. One thing prodded at her, though. Her makeshift shorts kept sticking to her skin and it was starting to make her uncomfortable, especially now that they were drying with her still in them, fabric contracting against her thighs painfully. The water had been chilly, insulated from the hotness of the day by the walls of the dreary cave, so the sudden temperature change around that area certainly didn't help, either.

After mulling it over for a few minutes while Flim and Flam drank in silence, she reached a verdict on her situation, and with forced resolve, fighting off her inward doubts, shed her pants, pulling them slowly off her legs as they fought to remain stuck to her.

This quickly caught the attention of the two colts, who watched her intently, eyebrows raised, though saying nothing. Flam gulped down his mouthful of cider all at once. She remembered back to what Lyra had told her the night before; no one would care, right? If anything, half the ponies she met wanted to see her naked, and not even in a lewd way. It just wasn't a taboo here.

Nonetheless, the stallions' obvious curiosity at her exposed body lingered for a while, watching as her rolled-up pant legs turned inside out, the cold, moist article of clothing clinging to her skin, stinging as they pulled away. Eventually they reached her feet, where they caught around her ankles. She fought to be rid of them, but they had other ideas. Eventually, a final, extravagent kick sent them packing, and soon after her observers leaned back once more, returning to their drinks but still stealing the occasional sidelong glance.

Relishing in the relative peace that her near-nudity had brought, another thought occurred to her, but she was less sure about this one. Perhaps this was pushing it.

Her panties had also gotten drenched in her little escapade. They were practically see-through anyway, thanks to the water, and Flim and Flam weren't really at an angle to leer quite that closely from where they sat. Nora squirmed in her chair, which she was a little too big for, thinking. She looked at the stallions as they watched the horizon, questioning internally if they would say anything.

Nora was comfortable enough walking around naked in her own home, but the thought of casually chilling bottomless in the great outdoors - not to mention with two members of the male species sat right across from her with only a stack of barrels and a tree stump between them - still rubbed against her human social conditioning in a bad way. Then again, her wet undies weren't bringing her much joy right now.

With some deliberation, she slid her panties off - they were a soft pink in color, though the tone was washed out now. Not wanting to leave them on the grass, she placed them on the lid of one of the barrels that had already been drained, accidentally meeting the eye of Flim as she did so. Darting her gaze to Flam, she saw him watching her movements as well, though again, both said nothing, merely glancing at her with unreadable expressions.

The hilltop breeze tickled her naked pussy, leaving her feeling tingly, not in an unpleasant way. With her shirt in a knot, hugging her cleavage, she was probably the least clothed she had ever been outdoors. How scandelous. And to be in such a state in the company of two strapping stallions, too.

Wait, strapping? Heh, clearly the cider was getting to her already. At least, that was a convinient excuse. Let's face it, she didn't exactly need encouraging at the best of times.

Laying back, hands behind her head, she soaked in the sun on her almost bare body, feet propped up against another barrel, wind tickling her. After an unknowable amount of time, she heard a voice.

"Want to play some card games, miss?"

Turns out pony card games were the same as the ones back home - snap, go fish, that sort of thing. It had passed the time, and as many more full flasks were emptied, a mood of merriment took the trio. They were quite a few drinks in, now, and the sky was turning orange as the sun began retreating behind the trees dotting the rolling hills, the early evening glow making making everything seem warm. Nora was totally fine - her head didn't spin at all, and her words came out mostly unslurred. She would have swore by that fact. Too bad humans were good liars.

There was no strip poker in Equestria, which made sense, since ponies didn't overdress, but Nora looked like she'd lost a few rounds anyway. She had quickly gotten comfortable basking with her bottom half nude, and no wandering ponies came by to get an eyeful, so her brief foray into almost-naturism was a secret only Flim and Flam would get to enjoy. And enjoy they did. As the cider stock got lower and lower, each of them seemed to be letting their eyes linger on her just a little longer than social convention would normally dictate. At least, she was pretty sure - she was getting kind of sort of a teensie bit tipsy, maybe, so she couldn't be certain.

The three had talked, played games, and shared in many a laugh, which again, got all the more frequent the more cider they got in their bellies. They were all chuckling now, laughing at Flim, who had gotten his muzzle stuck in his mug.

"Here, you lug," Nora said, reaching in to help him out. Her fingertips brushed against his face as she slid the beaker off, and he wallowed in embarrassment for a second - seemingly moreso at her delicate contact than at his mishap.

Sensing an opportunity in the midst of spontaneity, she used the ensuing silence to ask a question.

"So," she began, getting up from her seat, her thigh-gap visible over the top of the tree stump that was their makeshift games table. "Whaaaaat I really wanna know," she soldiered on, getting slightly lost one word for a second, mouth not co-operating with brain, "Is... this. What are you two really up to in Ponyville?"

At this, she crossed her arms, laughing an ungracious, drunken laugh. She soon leaned back, still standing, letting her arms hang loosely by her sides as her core pivoted forward, her pussy doubtlessly on full display to her small but captive audience.

They exchanged a nervous glance, unsure where to look at first, until she sat back down with a thud, goods concealed once again.

"W... W..." tried Flim, apparently having some difficulty with words of his own. "What d'you - hic! - mean, miss?"

"We already told you," Flam added, merrily, "We're good ponies. No malicicus... malivisus... no bad intent heeere!"

"Bullshit!" she blurted out, startling them. She wasn't sure if it was her volume or the word itself that seemed to get something of a reaction out of them; it certainly had the makings of being a pony-appropriate swear, referencing a bovine quadruped, and all. She clapped to herself and laughed at their reactions, seeming to forget what she had wanted for a moment, until her focus - or what was left of it - returned.

"You two have the makings of entrapren- of entrep- of business geniuses," she said, "And this cider is très magnifique," she punctuated with a kiss to her hand. "Not quite as good as Applejack's cider, though," she hastily clarified, "Hers is awesome. Old Apple family secret recipe, they say. I've heard that one plenty of times, let me tell you," she laughed to herself, memories of her time on the farm flooding back. "Apple fritters? Old family recipe. Apple vinegar? Old family recipe. Apple pies? You better believe it," she slapped her knee in jovial recollection...

"Old family recipe," said the trio all at once, the other two catching on.

"A whole book of recipies. Awesome stuff. Super good. Super old, too! All those Apples know it off by heart, anyhow, so they just keep it in their cellar," she stifled more laughter. "Great big tome, size of a... a..." she struggled for an analogy, but stretched her hands out wide to illustrate her point, much to her own amusement.

It could have been her imagination, but it seemed as though the lighthearted atmosphere fell flat for a short while after that. The happy Flim and Flam had looked suddenly serious when she mentioned that book, but then again, she could barely see them out of her squinting eyes, or when she stopped for more bouts of giggles, doubled over.

When Nora got over how funny she was - mostly, anyway - she reclined more, chest rising and falling quickly as she calmed down, looking suddenly altogether more tired.

"Well this was been a most pleasant evening, my dear," said Flim, spitting cider a little.

"And your stories, for hours, we could possibly hear," said Flam with a curt nod.

"Naaah," said Nora with a groan. "It's been great, but I oughta be getting back."

She stood up, but her movement was stifled. She couldn't extend her back properly, forced into a squat. Shimmying on her feet, she looked left and right, searching for an answer to her quandry, when she heard her company break into uncontained, disharmonious laughter.

She looked at them, seeing them pointing hooves right at her. Throwing a glance back at her own rear, she realized too late that her pony-sized chair had gotten stuck to her, ahem... human-sized posterior. The little camping stool hung off her ass like a tail, cheeks wedged between the arms as it gnawed on her rump. She flushed red instantly, bringing both hands to the chair at once to prize it off her. A good ten seconds or so of heaving, and she was rewarded for her efforts, and punished for her inelegance, tumbling over backwards and landing in a heap on the ground face first.

She heard the jeering behind her stop at once as she fell, going limp in the way that drunks do, making a feeble attempt to save herself by putting out her hands, but reacting far too slowly for it to matter. She soon found herself on the bare grass, face down and ass giving a salute, her back half propped up by her knees while her face rested on her arms. The experience hadn't hurt her - or at least, she wasn't feeling it yet - but she did become aware, after taking stock of her new position, blinking a few times in uncertainty, that she was mooning the boys behind her. This was her second time today inadvertently flashing them, and while she had fought off the nudity taboo enough to go bottomless in their company, she wasn't quite sure how she - or they - felt about her full-on presenting like this.

Soon a butter-colored hoof reached out in front of her face, a tender voice calling out to her. "Please, my sweet, stay a spell."

She dragged her torso upward, hands flat on the ground, before taking the offered leg and pulling herself up to Flam, who had come to her assistence.

"But you're drunk as a skunk, and double the smell!"

She once again chuckled heartily, relishing in the joy that cheekily adopting the duo's rhyming scheme for a moment brought her. She wasn't wrong about the smell, either. The both stank of cider - no worse than she did, but still. And she almost thought she could sense something else in the air... something familiar... it almost smelled like-

Before she could finish the thought, she became acutely aware of another falling sensation. Once again she fell forwards, the time into poor Flam. Having been somewhat overenthusiastic in her asencion from the ground just prior, she had pulled herself up a little hard and a little fast and flown right into his body, crashing into him and sending the pair spiralling down once more. Nora ended up straddling Flam, who crashed into the base of the tree stump, leaning against it with his back, his straw hat askew. His pupils danced as he saw stars, shaking his head to chase away the dizziness.

That was when she realized what she had been smelling - the aroma had filled her lungs on many a pleasant night, after all. It was the delicious scent of stallion musk, the smell of unbridled male horniness that she savored, nostrils now flaring as she breathed it in on the disoriented Flam.

"Brother! Nora!" she heard an alarmed Flim call out from somewhere off to her side.

As Flam came to from his daze, and Nora came down from her brief high on his stench, she felt something poking her backside. Oh yes, he couldn't hide it now. She grinned deviously, barring teeth like fangs as she held him, feeling very much in control.

"Well, well, well, what is this?" she asked rhetorically, sliding her ass down his body so that his cock was on full display. Flam looked at it wide-eyed before darting his attention up at the smirking Nora.

"Uh, I - Sorry, ma'am! I-"

She cut him off by pressing a finger to his lips, which quivered against her momentairly. "Uh, uh uh~" she taunted. "Bad boy. You don't get to talk when you're - hic! - showing yourself so dirtily like this..."

Never mind what she had done mere seconds ago. Who ever said whores weren't hypocrites?

Flam merely looked at her, paralyzed under her weight and her stare.

"Madame," came Flim's voice, the pony having walked up to see what was going on. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Oh, hush," she scolded with a wag of her other hand's index finger. "There'll be plenty for you. But first..."

Nora took the finger she had wagged at Flim like a metronome and started tracing it along Flam's stallionhood, running it up and down his length, carressing him only with the very tip of her digit. It was a delicate sensation - one that he could probably barely feel - but it certainly did its job. Flam scrunched his eyes shut and he winced at the touch, clearly trying in vain to hold back his desire. Withdrawing her other finger that had pressed his lips shut, he soon started whimpering, his cute noises barely audible.

Nora took her newly freed hand and allowed it to join in the fun, rubbing all ten fingertips along the sides of Flam's impressive member. It was stark black, in contrast to his light coat. Many stallions had dark dicks, which made them stand out nicely against their fur; it was like nature was just trying to beckon her in with the pretty colors. She wondered if Rarity would say they were complimentary.

Flam shuddered under her gentle hands, his cock throbbing despite his intent to resist. "Uh... N... Nora," he stammered out, throwing a hoof over his face.

Nora paused briefly to undo her top, dishevelled though it was, tossing it aside with ease. Her bra followed, and with that, she removed the last of her scant amount clothing. Her puppies hanging free, she felt the cool air on her tits, relishing in the feeling as they swayed with her own movements.

No longer content in teasing Flam with only her hands, she respositioned herself, bouncing upward on her heels once before slamming her ass down over his erect cock, which still laid flat against his body. Drunk and determined, Nora began grinding on him, her lower lips parting slightly, hugging his girth in a half-embrace. She slid down his length until she felt his balls against her ass, then bounced up again and thrust forward, restarting the motion and working him again from the tip.

Flam melted under her tender touch, and Flim, for his part, stopped his objections, his mouth turning flat and unreadable, but his own cock doing his talking for him, poking out of his sheath in a signal of his own obvious arousal.

"Lookie here," Nora began, relishing in the liberation the sexual power she suddenly had over them brought. "The only thing harder than the cider is you boys," she concluded with a snort, her laugh still somewhat unhinged from the drink. Speaking of which, she seized the opportunity when bouncing up from Flam's balls yet again to snatch her flagon from atop the tree stump she had pinned Flam to.

"Waste not, want not," she said, taking another big sip nonchalantly as she turned the pony beneath her into a quivering mess. The faintest beginnings of a handjob and a little grinding - no penetration whatsoever - and Flam already looked like it was taking all his willpower to hold back from bursting right there. This was Nora's wheelhouse, her special talent. She sometimes envied ponies their gift of destiny, of knowing their life's calling, and even having a convinient reminder of it tattooed right there on their ass. Well, if she had a cutie mark, it would probably be of a big, fat stallion cock getting slurped up by a wanting tongue, or being jerked by dainty little hands. Perhaps, she considered, it was for the best that she wasn't a pony.

"C'mere, cutie," she said, beckoning Flim over with her left hand, the one not currently supporting her drink. Like a pony possessed, he complied, saying nothing. "You know how to use that thing?" she asked, pointing at his now fully erect cock with glee.

"Well, I-"

"Rhetorical question, sweetie," she said, grasping it around its head at once and running her fingers along the surface. Flim's stiff and neutral expression deteriorated immediately, his teeth gritted and his eyes darting skyward at the pleasure received.

She never slowed down her gyrations on Flam's solid appendage, either, her pussy kissing his shaft all the way down to its base, the pair of them growing wetter from a mixture of her own excitement and his precum. This made her sliding easier, which in turn fuelled more arousal and more juices. It was a lascivious circle - one that neither wanted to break.

She increased her attention on Flim also, not wanting to leave the poor colt out in the cold after his late start to the fun. Abandoning her erstwhile method of circling his tip with her fingers, she upgraded to fully jerking him off, yanking his penis with vigor and courage both. His head flared up, her motions clearly doing a good enough job at simulating sex for his primal equine instincts to kick in. Nora loved the sight of a flared horsecock. Almost as much as the feel of one.

After taking another sip of her cider, she prompted to move events forward again. "Enough of this."

She stopped stock still, sitting on the tip of Flam's dick, pinning it to his barrel, before rising slightly, balancing on her heels. She put her cider down again, not wanting to stop masturbating Flim to her left, before grabbing hold of Flam's cock, now slick and shiny from their activities, positioning it upward as she hovered over it.

Taking in a deep breath, she steadied herself, before slowly lowering down onto it, gasping slightly as he entered her.

Nora would never be as unprepared as her first time experiencing this feeling, and having Big Mac be the one to shatter her equine virginity had certainly helped subsequent encounters feel a little less daunting, but even still, every time a stallion fucked her, she couldn't help but shudder at their length and girth, the moment of penetration always catching her body slightly off guard no matter how mentally prepared she was.

As Flam broke new ground, Flim too panted heavier, moving in closer. Nora's hand movements had slowed down considerably as she sat down on Flam's lap, adjusting to the feeling of having him inside of her. She lowered herself slowly but surely, until she reached his base, now comfortable with her feet flat once again, the fur on his front tickling her slightly as it brushed against her ass. By way of apology to Flim, she leaned in, barely a moment of hesitation delaying her, before peppering the head of his cock with kisses.

Nora could feel Flam twitching inside her, and she knew he was close. Not wanting to let the opportunity go to waste, she began bouncing, this time with the whole length of a stallion inside her, continuing to take the lead in their romp as she used him like a living dildo.

Meanwhile, with Flim, she quickly moved from gentle kisses to wrapping her lips around his tip, sucking him and sloshing her tongue around. He, too, felt taut, his member seeming to contract with some urgency at her advances.

She wanted to moan, to tease, to cry out for them to fuck her like the slut she was, but her mouth was busy, too busy to quit. That was until the thirst hit her in a different way, and she paused her oral affair, cock popping out of her mouth with a schlop, before she went at the cider once again, gargling a little, keeping it in her mouth, then going right back to work. Her tastebuds appreciated the blend of apple and precum, and the scent wasn't too bad either, assaulting her senses readily.

As she rode Flam's rod, pounding him into the ground as though trying to dig through it, she felt he was about to arrive. Bracing herself, she slid right up his shaft until only his tip remained inside, before descending with a triumphant bang, slamming onto his lap as he shot his load inside of her.

Fun fact: stallions cum a lot. She had taken plenty of loads in her days as a prostitute, but it was always an ordeal - much like the size factor, being subjected to a stallion shooting inside you was something you could expect, but never quite grow accustomed to. At least, Nora hoped she wouldn't. The feeling of him erupting inside you, filling you up and up and up until you thought you would burst, but then somehow still going; the feeling of hot seed shooting into you in a way humans were never meant to experience, but that she had been lucky enough to go through time after time; the warmth, the heaviness, the way you could feel every throb, every iota of movement inside you... it was heaven. Truly, it was why she practised her craft.

This time was no different. As Flam came, she squealed in delight, throwing her head back and shutting her eyes at the blissful sensation of being filled. It was a good thing she couldn't get pregnant from a pony, because they sure did stack the odds. If humans came this much, she was pretty sure condoms wouldn't withstand the force. There would probably be about 20 billion of us right now. Mares must have been made of strong stuff - how did they not get knocked up every time they did the dirty? She couldn't quite differentiate between pony cock and a fire hose half the time - the fact that most every mare in town was not sporting a baby bump was either a small miracle, or the curse of some vengeful fertility god.

Flam's head lolled back, and to the outside world, he was dead, killed in action doing what he loved. Not a stir from the fast-talking salespony. Flim, on the other hand, begged a release of his own, his cock throbbing and stirring, Nora knew that he, too, was right on the brink.

Instead of resuming her fellatio, she stroked him to completion, taking her almost empty flaggon and dipping his flared tip just over the rim. As he shot out, a thick rope spattered the inside of her drink. She licked her lips, pulling the beverage away and letting Flim finish on the ground as she slowed her motions to a halt. Well, most of it went on the ground - splash damage ensured some had gotten on her leg, and even on Flam's side. Oops.

"Good boy," she said. "Now, for my treat."

She necked the cum-infused cider, its thick consistency giving her some trouble, but by pacing herself, Nora was able to swallow every last drop. She finished with an "Ahh," sticking her tongue out to show Flim that not an ounce of his cum reamined.

She was impressed at her own creativity - and generosity. Back home, this sort of thing probably would have been confined to some specialist fetish porn shoot, but she just threw it in for free. That was the fun part about having very few inhibitions; you got to try a lot of things. The ever-so-slightly bitter aftertaste of Flim's cum lingered in her throat as she scrambled off the prone Flam.

She collapsed next to him, panting at the workout she had just brought on herself. Skirting on the edge of inebriation had most certainly made her a little more, well, forward than usual. Often enough stallions would approach her - now that she had a fledging sexual empire, she didn't often need to do the chasing. When she wanted to - often when a particularly hunky stallion took her fancy - she would flirt a little, gauge their interest, then lay on the charm before eventually suggesting that they buck her brains out. Here, however, she had just sort of thrown herself at Flam, and Flim had followed like a fallen domino. It worked, sure - much to her own delight - but it was not her normal tact. She wondered if the alcohol had gotten to her a tad worse than she initialled assessed.

"Miss," said Flim between pants, "That was one heck of a good time."

Nora smiled softly at this, closing her eyes as she laid naked on the grass, feeling the cool air on her body. Her peace was ruined in short order, however, by a sudden movement to her right, accompanied by a raised voice.

"Just what the heck did'ja do to me, brother? D'you know how wrong it is to have your own flesh and blood's cum staining your coat? Yeugh!"

Nora opened one eye to see an irate Flam gesturing at his side, which was sticky with Flim juice. Her smile grew, unable to hide her amusement at the situation, not that either pony noticed.

"Well you were the one hogging her all to yourself, brother," Flim retorted, holding his hooves out in a conciliatory gesture but not capitulating completely. "I don't think you'd have much rather been in my position, while you were rutting her senseless like that."

A generous estimation of the situation: she had rutted him, he just came along for the ride.

Flam scowled a little, leering at his brother as sibling rivalries boiled to the surface. Nora had only seen them getting on, so this argument was a change of pace, but she supposed that all brothers liked to get one over on the other sometimes.

"Well, why don't we switch ends and see for ourselves, then?"

The duo butted heads, snorting in an expression of pony anger. Nora would have found the attempt at aggression kind of cute, were it not for what she just heard.

"You're on, brother!" Flim exclaimed, eyes narrowing at they stared each other down.

Nora was in no way inclined to let them down; a double pleasure ride would really hit the spot for her right now. But all the same...

"Fellas. Excuse - hic! - excuse me, fellas!" she called out, waving a hand to catch their attention.

As the pair ceased locking metaphorical horns for a second, they turned to face the human, expressions softening.

"Don't you think I need a say in whether or not either of you is going to rut me again?"

She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow in an attempt to look serious. She felt that her nudity undermined that attempt, at least partially, but if that was truly a human hang-up, maybe her intent would drive through all the same. It certainly had some effect, as the two colts broke eye contact. Flim coughed politely into his hoof, while Flam kicked at the ground absentmindedly.

She sensed they were on the verge of an apology, along with an offer to screw her brains out, but she didn't let them get a word out, eager to kick off the action herself. "You have my permission," she declared, matter of factly.

The yellow unicorns grinned ear-to-ear, perking up right away at her announcement. They likely couldn't believe their luck. She had certainly given them a lot this day - cider, conversation, her body... twice. She was gunning for Rarity's element, for sure. Look out, girl.

Nora stood up, walking up to an untapped barrel of cider and rolling it down to where the duo awaited. They both wore questioning expressions, but she simply leaned over, bending her body across the thing with her pussy on display. She tapped the side of the wooden container with one hand, decreeing that she was open for business. "So who's where? Flim's getting my human hiney this time, I take it?"

Flim shot an ecstatic smile, walking up to Nora's rear as she tapped on her ass to punctuate the point. Flam sulked, looking more than a little jealous, despite having just coated her insides minutes ago himself. Instead, he circled around to her front, where her head rested, supported by chest which the barrel propped up. She had to steady herself with her feet to ensure she didn't roll too much - the object certainly wasn't designed for such purposes. But she felt like letting the stallions loose this time, ceding her control to them - that meant no more piledriving on the ground. And if they were going to mount her properly, that either left her with the option of fully rolling around in the dirt like some wild beast - not wholly unappealing, but not right now - or propping herself against something like the tree stump or one of the barrels lying around so she could stick her ass in the air and let them go to town. The stump offered more study support, but the thought of getting splinters in her tits put the kibosh on that one.

As the pair got into position, she braced herself, gripping the sides of the barrel with her hands. First Flam moved in, his penis already half hard at the sight of her and the thought of what was to come. He stepped forward, more or less level with her mouth from this position, egging her on.

"Why don't you clean up some of the mess you made, eh, doll?" he said, cum-stained rod meeting her lips.

She scowled, annoyed at the sudden bravado of the two, and at this line especially, given she had gone out of her way to show the pair a good time and considered that they had nothing to be cocky about, but she complied nonetheless, taking his tip in her mouth. She swirled her tongue around it, coaxing it back into action, leaving Flam as content with her mouth as he had been with her vagina. She could taste the remnants of their previous encounter.

Before long, she was reminded that this was a two for one deal, feeling her ass cheeks being spread by a hoof from behind. She couldn't see Flim as he brought his penis to her entrance, put she could feel him, his prodding cock making contact with her labia.

Not wasting time, the stallion broke through, parting her lips with ease as he took up room inside Nora. He was slow and gentle, but it was apparent to her that this was against his own urges; nonetheless, she was grateful that he didn't try and slip in with one thrust. Even after being loosened up by Flam, that would have been a painful experience.

Speaking of Flam, he pushed further forward, now rock solid and ready for more loving. Nora took in as much as she could, adjusting to the unexpected intrusion into her mouth, trying to brace herself as his size overwhelmed her. No woman alive could have deep-throated that thing, so if that's what he was expecting, he had another thing coming. When she felt her throat closing up, she blocked the entrance to her windpipe with a tongue lingering at the back of her mouth, halting any further advances. Meanwhile, she squirmed under the movements of Flim, who was now exploring her with great interest, making little thrusts and testing how well she could take his length. Having already gotten up close and personal with his stallionhood once, she estimated that he was about on par with Flam in terms of size. She did wonder, however, if there would be any discrepancy between the two in terms of ability: the threesomes hardly made for a fair one-to-one comparison, with her capturing the initiative the first time, but still, Nora pondered whether Flim would make for an even better fuck.

Between Nora's attentive tonuge and soft mouth, and her tight, hugging inner walls, she pleased the pair of stallions splendidly - they certainly seemed in high spirits, piping her with purpose, each sliding in and out of her rhythmically. As soon as Flim hilted her, she would rock forward, rolling the barrel, and which point Flam would bury as much of his delightful dick into her mouth as he could manage. This sent shockwaves in the other direction, rolling the barrel back to Flim, and serving to function as the world's most perverted Newton's cradle. The fact that she had chosen a cylindrical object to prop herself on had been a coincidence - nay, a necessity - yet as she felt the varnished wood rolling under the stomach, sending her back and forth between the two males, she was ultimately grateful for the lack of alternatives. They were pushing her into one another like a pinball fired back and forth between two bumpers in perpetual motion. She wondered if she had stumbled on the beginnings of a new era of Equestrian transportation. The thought of the assorted DILFs of Ponyville riding her to work each day certainly didn't raise any complaints.

Her pussy clenched tight around Flim as he penetrated her over and over, ramming her with the lusty intentions of a wild animal. Flam, meanwhile, poked and prodded at her tongue, assaulting her mouth with his girth, her head swirling with dizziness at the musk that wafted under his crotch. Nora had never felt more at home than between the two, the spitroast really giving her the ride of her life.

Nora's tits flopped against the barrel as she rolled back and forth. Their thrusts were getting more volatile, now, and while she had less distance to cross as the two closed in on her from both ends, she was sent packing with some oomph; as if proving the point, Flim hilted her, his humping vibrating her ass as his body slammed her booty in a way which would have registered on the Richter scale. This sent poor Nora bounding forward, lurching over the barrel with much more of a lean than intended, her feet rising off the ground behind her, marking the end of her stability. Flam had to retreat slightly at this, adjusting to her new downward angle, her position fighting off his dick's urge to rise skyward. Nora tried to dig her heels into Flim's sides for support, but kept slipping off, her legs kicking and flailing aimlessly.

Eventually, she was bucked so far in one direction that she could not stop herself from falling over the barrel, forcing Flam down into a sitting position to accommodate her. As she hung in the air, suspended only by the slippery, rotund wood and the two dicks impaling her, she felt a heat rising in her lower regions. Her own time was upon her, now.

From this angle, at least, she was able to hook her feet around Flim's neck, helping him to lunge at her with her own hip movements, forcing him into her as deep as he could go. This sent her sliding more and more into Flam, her mouth straining under the size of his member, but gravity doing the heavy lifting for her. Flim was effectively screwing her into his brother, pushing her deeper and deeper into Flam's crotch as he sat in front of the cider barrel, mouth agape and awash with carnal delight.

Nora sensed something - a familiar feeling. Her throat went tighter still as Flam clenched his hoof.

Oh fuck, not now!

It was too late: Flam burst, his thick pony semen coating Nora's mouth and shooting down her throat, past her tongue which shielded her as best it could. She coughed and sputtered, tapping the pony on the knee to let him know to pull back. He did so at once, still firing away at her, and as he pulled out, several more bursts coated her face and chest. Still recovering, Nora spat out as much of the cum as she could. Don't judge her: you try tanking a load of pony sperm like it's no big deal.

As Flam came down from his peak, unleahsing his orgasm, he slammed a hoof on the barrel between Nora's head and a resting arm. It didn't look at all intentional, but this blow was too severe for the vessel, the wood breaking under the might of the strike and cider shooting out of a newly made hole right under Nora's face, soaking her in yet more fluids. She closed her eyes at once, spurting out even more liquid from her mouth, before moving in with her face and closing her lips around the hole, plugging the leak by drinking in the small stream that had been overflowing.

Flam looked at her, almost in disbelief at her actions. "Darn, girl, you are one heck of a mare."

She would have blushed were she not still getting fucked silly.

Flim had reached his own limit, and not a moment too soon, Nora thought, the precariousness of her position readily apparent. She still felt her own arousal bubbling up, the repeated ramming from Flim sending her over the edge. As he pulled out almost all the way, she squirted over his dick, coating it in her love, before he finished with one final jab. While Nora suckled at the escaping cider, this definitive slam from Flim also hit the barrel, his foreleg knocking against the metal brace. The thing burst, and the pair came crashing to the floor right as he buried himself inside her, cumming intently.

"Ah, ah, ah, ah, ahhhh!~"

Nora could not contain her moans, the pleasure proving to be too much. This was certainly the most unique way she had fucked so far. Still, there's always room for improvement. As Flim finished firing off in her pussy, his cum leaking out for how deeply she was filled, even with her ass in the air and gravity fighting to keep his semen in, he sighed, giving her ass a light tap before unsheathing himself from her.

Nora collapsed, laying on her side with her arms outstrethced, hands in front of her face. The trio had gotten soaked from the cider, but being on top of the barrel when it burst, she had taken the brunt, her chest, navel and legs all sticky and coated. Her front was also still loaded with Flam's cum, though she made little effort to clean it off, besides a cursosry licking of her lips.

The brothers laid down as well, exhausted from the evening's affair. They both panted heavily, gazing at the sky which had begun to darken, the sun more or less fully hidden now. The purples and deep blues of the sky filled their vision as they sank into the long grass, not a care in the world.

"Well, brother, you were right," said Flim, breaking the silence. "Her pussy was extremely tight."

"And, dear brother, I must note my luck," replied Flam, returning serve, "Her human mouth can really suck."

"I did rather enjoy getting fucked," finished Nora, chuckling softly at having completed another of their rhymes. "So, did you two get it out of your system? Ready to kiss and make up?"

"Oh my, dear Nora," said Flam. "You really know how to bring a pair of stallions together."

"An exquisite ride, indeed," agreed Flim. "Too bad Manehatten gals don't put out like you!"

"Watch it," she said with a light smile, giving him a mock slap from her reclined position, feigning offense at the comment.

"Really, though," said Flim, "I could fuck you all day!"

"And I could fuck you all night," piped up Flam.

"Well, play your cards right," said Nora, pausing on the word to match their sing-song temperment, breaking their little stanza into disntinct lines, "And you just might."

As she laid there in bliss, one thought did occur to her.

Fuck, she mused. I forgot to even charge!

Well, easy cum, easy go. Still, these two were businessponies by trade - she may have missed a good opportunity, there. A few extra bits never hurt, and she had technically given out four freebies today. Tut tut, naughty Nora.

She would have to punish herself for that one - she would think about it long and hard the next time she was choking on some juicy stallion cock.

Already envisioning her next conquest, the air had turned chilly, and against her cider-soaked, cum-stained naked body, there was one other thing she wanted to know.

"Now, where did I put my panties?"

Back to Square One

Nora rubbed the meaty stallion rod between her tits, massaging it dutifully. This was familiar territory. Her tongue dragged along the end of the shaft, adding more sensations to the pleasure cocktail, the cock on her chest and its owner above her both showing immediate appreciation. The pony dick squirmed and writhed under her touch, enveloped by her perky breasts at the center while up toward the tip, Nora cleaned it with her mouth.

The pumping kept pace, quick and eager, titfucking her with neither shame nor remorse. She was impressed at its stamina, though perhaps that had been bred by familiarity. This schlong was like an old friend to her at this point. She could tell you its likes, dislikes, where it had been recently - that answer to that last one was usually 'inside Nora the human', but one mustn't make assumptions - it spent plenty of time rubbing against her, too, like today. It probably spent plenty of time being tugged to thoughts of her, too, though she didn't have the arrogance to declare that with certainty.

As the hefty horsecock shuddered, veins visibly pulsing at the joy her chest and tongue provided, Nora braced herself, finally expecting that release drew near.

"Mr. Rich?"

A resounding bump was heard under the desk, echoing out in the otherwise silent room. The secretary looked on, nonplussed.

"Y-Yes, Paper Pusher?" came the startled reply from above Nora, the stallion leaning back in his chair as she worked on, not letting him off the hook. While he fought to maintain a straight face, she lavished his dick with licks, strokes, and touches, continuing her assault with no mercy. It felt good to be in control in situations like this.

"Our client just wanted to check you're still on for your ten o'clock?" the office mare asked.

"Yes!" he said, altogether too enthusiastically. Devious little Nora may have had something to do with that, giving his hulking ballsack a single firm tug.

He course corrected quickly. "I-I mean, yes, that's no problem."

His assistant raised an eyebrow, frowning, but made no inquiries about his speaking habbits.

"You don't want to cancel?"

At hearing this, another devilish thought entered Nora's mind. She paused in place, keeping Filthy Rich's cock balanced between her warm tits, but providing no movement. On the brink of blowing, Rich squirmed, his orgasm suddnely on hold. His already damp brow grew damper as another bout of sweat broke out across his face.

"C... cah... cancel?!" he said, struggling to get the word out but eventually making it there, once again with volume exceeding that appropriate for the conversation.

He looked down under his desk where his favorite whore of a human set, flashing him the most evil smile she could muster, her hands on her breasts, ready to resume cranking his cock, but refusing to budge in protest.

Rich was going to cum in mere moments - there was no doubt about that. The only question left on the table was whether it would be a ruined orgasm or not. His mind was made up before he even had to ask himself the question.

"BUCK NO!" he declared, stamping a hoof on his desk. He winced instantly, his pet slut resuming his pleasure ride out of sight. "We don't - ah! - cancel... not in... this company..."

"Well, alright then," stated his secretary, slightly taken aback. She blinked twice before heading out of the office. "So passionate about his work..." she muttered, door closing behind her with a creak.

"Ffwaaaaaaaahhh!" screamed Rich, biting on his hoof much too late to try and contain his volume. He may have been more or less in the clear, but the sound of his arrival most certainly broke through the thin walls of the office complex, greeting disturbed workers with haunting vigor.

He splooged all over Nora, leaving her plastered in white, along with the back of the underside of his desk. She was stark naked, seeing no point in ruining a good set of clothes by turning them into cum rags; this wasn't her first rodeo with Rich, but she hoped that three weeks ago had been her first awkward attempt to explain to Rarity why one of the designer tops she made her didn't see the light of day anymore. Washing them out worked, kinda, but a trained eye could tell. The crust, the smell - and from the potency of a pent-up stallion, no less, there was little one could do to save any attire that bore the full brunt of a cum onslaught.

As Rich flopped down face-first onto his desk, panting up a storm, Nora licked herself clean a little, speaking up.

"I'm so glad you decided not to cancel," she said cheekily. "I was worried you'd changed your mind about our little get together at the last second, there."

"I... am going... to wreck you so good... next time... we do this..."

She looked forward to it.

It was something else, making a stallion squirm like this. Most of what Nora loved about pony sex was the primalness to it; ponies fucked like, well, ponies; like four-legged animals with whopping great ding-dongs. There was little more to it than that; she got the rutting only a farm animal could give with no consent issues and no organ restructuring, either. It was like someone had plucked a horse from Earth and engineered it to be the most compatible human sex partner science could afford - that was your average Equestrian stallion. And with Nora being the only human around, it was like they had been put here specially for her. Her own personal little heaven.

But the taming of this wild beast, this instinct-driven baby-maker, whose only urges were telling it to bend her over and breed her senseless - taking this creature and reducing him to a bundle of quivering nerves, to a whimpering mess, making him beg her for release - that was a truly ethereal moment.

So yes, Nora liked getting the dicking of a lifetime, being bandied about from colt to colt with no shame but also no dignity, letting herself be used like a piece of fuckmeat. But she had her dominant moments, too.

She crawled out from under the desk, still drenched, a sighing Filthy Rich greeting her. He lived up to his name - they had done the dirty in about every way, every time of day, every day of the week. He was her first and most loyal customer, the reason she had inadvertently started selling her body, and a good friend, too. He could also fuck the stuffing out of anything with a heartbeat, it turned out.

"I think you meant to say, 'thank you, my dearest Nora'," she scolded mockingly.

"Oh buck off, I already came."

They shared in a laugh as he handed her a towel to wipe the stains off her chest and face.

Rich was one of the few clients she did business with in daylight hours. It was safe, his office room serving as his own personal playboy mansion, Nora his adoring little bunny. There were risks, sure, but the dirty dog liked the thrill of it all. He would lock the door if they were doing anything too indiscreet, anyway.

He kept her bags heaving with gold, too. Nora was thankful to male kind everywhere for putting her in her place and paying her for the privilege. Chaps like Rich kept her pockets and her pussy full, fulfilling her two most pressing needs in life. She loved the sex, and she loved the way he treated her - honestly, if she were the type, he would make good husband material. Just the two of them fucking and frolicking their days away, living the high life. He wouldn't be the type to risk a second marriage, though - you could tell he regretted the first one enough already. Nora supposed that was why she was here, after all.

Spoiled Rich, his not-so-loving partner, never really came by the office, though her reputation preceeded her. Two words: coldhearted bitch. The two had not broken it off, for some reason - maybe for the sake of their brat, that pink filly who seemed a bit too keen on playing rough with the other girls. Nora wondered if mere reputation had an effect on this decision, too - in the corporate world, people like happy families. Maybe the bossman getting a divorce just wasn't a good look. Not her problem, anyhow.

Nora considered if maybe he'd just let her marry his cock - that way she wouldn't get anything in any ensuing divorce. She could write her own vows, and she would be very much willing to kiss the groom at the altar. Hard to imagine any objections. She tittered at the thought.

Dry as can be, nary a speck of male grease on her, Nora was handed her clothes and a bag of bits - her payment. She kept a spare set in the drawer of his desk, just in case, though this time her original apparel was returned. The harrowing memory of what happened to that deisgner top really did leave its mark on her in more ways than one...

She leaned in and kissed the pony on the cheek. "Same time next week?"

"Wouldn't miss it."

He looked like her was already missing it, and she hadn't even left the room yet.

A brief silence hung in the air as the two looked at each other.

"'Nother round?"

"'Nother round."

Nora waltzed out of the building whistling a merry tune, a spring in her step. As she twirled an imaginary cane, she relished in the simple delights of life once again. The situation, for lack of a better word, with her friends still played on her mind somewhat. Yesterday's encounter with the mysterious Flim and Flam had given her a momentary reprieve, but this session with Rich is what finally clicked the mental reset button on her anxieties. She was back to square one, and it felt good. No more anger, no more worrying, she was confident her pony pals would warm up to her again in no time. She just had to lay on some of that famous human charm... in a way that wouldn't accidentally seduce anypony. Easier said than done, in this crazy place.

Nora's whistle morphed into a happy hum, passing by desk jockeys on her way to the front door. Rich's workers had grown accustomed to her presence. As an investor, of course. She met with him there regularly to discuss important business. Like which holes he would be filling, and in what order. Somehow, his staff seemed none the wiser - more of that customary pony obliviousness, she assumed. As wild as things could get in the streets, their kind seemed happy to keep things clean in the sheets. No, wait, the other way round.

She had crazy fantasies sometimes - things like Rich throwing their secret to the wind and letting his whole office use her. This year's Christmas bonus would be Nora the human. Enjoy. She wasn't sure ponies even celebrated Christmas. Surely they had to have something similar? She would ask Twilight next time she saw her, after they'd made amends, of course. But anyway, her fantasies were just that - fantasies. Even she, unbridled as she was, would not want quite that level of mass intimacy. They helped when she felt like rubbing one out, however.

Nora skipped out of the building, the song playing in her head distracting her from all that went on around her, until...

"Lyra?"

The human had had to stop abruptly, exiting Rich's workplace and rounding the corner outside before coming face-to-chest with the green pony, stopping on one foot in an awkward balancing act to avoid impaling herself on the sharp looking horn that hovered at heart level.

Yep, that's a hazard, alright.

The mare sat on her haunches and tilted her head, beaming an adorable smile her way. As Nora's mind raced to jump to conclusions, she said the first thing that remotely made sense to her.

"Were you waiting for me here?!"

The mare nodded cutely, tail swishing behind her.

"Uh... why?"

And how, she thought. Her private time with Rich had been exactly that - private. She supposed the unicorn could have caught her heading in a few times and put two and two together. Still, a little weird.

"Well, I was just in the area."

"...Right."

The two looked at each other, neither daring to make the next move. Nora's expression was questioning, while Lyra's head seemed to be empty, a goofy smile on her face.

"Well, nice seeing you, but I gotta head on out now-"

Nora began scooting round the sitting pony as she spoke, but Lyra quickly bounded up to her side, walking alongside her.

"Where are you going?"

Nora sighed inwardly. She didn't really have anything important to do, but she wanted some alone time. It had been a busy couple of days. Hell, she had been mostly cum from the neck up not ten minutes ago. She wanted to go home and shower, then maybe swing by town and chat up some of the girls to get a read on how they were feeling about her right now.

"Just... the market."

Nora was a terrible liar. In this case, that didn't mean she had told the truth, it meant she had told a lie, terribly.

"Cool, I was actually just heading there myself!" the perky pony broadcasted.

Nora inwardly scolded herself for spinning a story that left her open to Lyra butting in like that. She had a feeling this would happen - Lyra could be pretty forthright, after all, and she seemed distinctly interested in Nora. It was as though the mint mare was a bumbling moth, and Nora had just set herself on fire.

The woman didn't respond, opting for a silent approach as the pair headed into the center of town. Lyra stuck close - close enough for Nora to notice how close she was getting, at least. She all but clung to her leg, seeming to act more as an extension of her own limbs than a separate being. When Nora's gait quickened, Lyra's gait quickened. When she slowed, the unicorn followed suit. Every once in a while she would turn her head and look up at her, as if checking she hadn't left, like a frightful filly scared of walking home on an unfamiliar journey, hanging by her mother.

Their mutual company drew no stares, such was the innocent nature of the stroll, but Nora was still weirded out by the whole thing. After their escapades together the other night, it was hard to see Lyra in a neutral light - she clearly had a thing for her, but what she wanted - her body, her mind, her heart - she didn't know. She had been so standoffish and stilted, going as far as following her in secret, but then so tender and sweet once they got busy, focusing entriely on her pleasure. She wasn't much of a conversationalist, her blunt statements bordering on the rude, but her happy demeanor and cute little pony habits made her seem so pure, too. She was a walking contradiction. A contradiction that was walking, with her.

"Do you... like to go to the market?" she asked shyly, looking up at her.

This was exactly what Nora meant. So awkward, so adorable!

"Uh..." she said, thinking of something to say. She didn't want to brush the poor girl off with nothing answers. That wouldn't be very kind, and besides, Nora felt she would have to do the heavy lifting in any chit-chat here. "It's alright. Everything's close by, so it's convinient for getting what you need, but the stalls are spaced out enough that it encourages you to have a wander, see more of the town. I like strolling through here sometimes when I'm not doing anything, even if I don't have anything to buy."

Heh, look at that, she was actually enjoying herself already, even if it was mostly due to her own relief at being able to convert Lyra's simple, open-ended question into a coherent and downright conversational reply.

Lyra smiled in reply. "Me too! I stop by here all the time on the way to Bon Bon's. Sometimes I sit on the bench in the square and play my harp."

She coughed into her hoof, blushing. "I don't play as good as some of the other musicians in town, though. Octavia plays in an orchestra and everything! And that DJ fillyfirend of hers is pretty popular, too. I probably look like a hack compared to them..."

"No!" exclaimed Nora at once. Lyra had hung her head, talking herself into a pit of despair, and she simply wouldn't have it. "It's never wrong to do what you enjoy. Don't compare yourself to others. Besides, it's your cutie mark, so you must be pretty good, riiiiight?" she asked, waving her hand with the goal of making the downtrodden mare sing her own accolades a little.

"Well," she responded, hoof holding her neck and a small blush appearing on her cheeks as she broke into a slight smile. "I guess I'm okay..."

Nora smiled, too, happy to have picked her up. As they entered the hustle and bustle of the sqaure, ponies went to and fro in all directions around them, and she had to slow her steps to avoid bumping into them. Lyra quickly adjusted in kind, seeming grateful for the slower strides - ponies may have four legs, but they were only little, so it made sense that each leg was working harder. Nora hadn't realized how fast she had been going - perhaps her own subtle anxiety at the strangeness of their encounter had pushed her ahead.

Now more relaxed, though, she made a show of choosing out a stall to visit, not wanting to look a liar. She just had to buy something, then she could make her excuses and go home, letting Lyra down gently. Very gently - if her prior display of gloom had been any indication, the poor thing had enough self doubts as it was.

She scanned the market, her height her strength, peering over the crowds with ease. Perfecto.

She spotted the orange mare from a way off, hoping she'd be on duty by now. Putting one foot forward, she explained to Lyra that she just needed some apples, then it was off home. She looked a little sad at this - subtly so - before resigning herself to her brief time with the human, agreeing with a nod.

As Nora walked over to Applejack, Lyra following behind, the country mare spotted her, looming bipeds being hard to miss, perking up. Applejack never looked tired, somehow, despite working like a horse. Okay, maybe not the best expression, given the circumstances. She was always at her stall on time, every day, always eager to chat to any passers by, enticing them in to sample the best apples money could buy. Nora had to admit, the fruit was good - must be something about the soil... nonetheless, her family's passion for it left her a little perplexed at times. Just another case of ponies being ever so slightly crazy in a mostly cute and charming way, she supposed. They really let their passions rule them sometimes.

"What's on the menu, AJ?" she asked, leaning an elbow on the wooden box that was her stall. It was a simple structure, appearing to have been built some time ago. Putting the lean on had been a bit difficult, requiring some bending of the legs, its surface not meant for someone of her stature to brace herself on.

"Well howdy, Nora," she greeted, tipping her stetson. "Same as always, silly! Apples, apples, apples."

Nora relished in the casual chatter, instantly at ease with her friend.

"I don't know," she said. "You sure you haven't got anything new in? Maybe grapes, or kiwis?"

"Kiwis? Just what the heck's gotten into you, missy," she said, brow furrowing, suddenly serious. It had been a joke, but AJ didn't joke around too much when it concerned her livelihood. "Only the freshest apples from Sweet Apple Acres, same as always."

"Go figure," said Nora under her breath. "Okay, then, hit me with a handful. Dealer's choice," she continued, gesturing at the fine produce stacked around them.

AJ smiled again, gathering some apples in her hooves.

"Sorry I missed you before, by the way. You know, Twi's thing?"

"Aw, don't fret none, ain't nothin'. I told the others as much. Yer made of strong stuff, always have been."

Nora felt giddy at the compliment, relieved that AJ, at least, was on board with her still. No bitterness here - no, this pony was as sweet as the apples she grew.

"Still, it was a mite odd, yer not turnin' up an' all. Ain't like you."

"Ahaha, yeah..." she said, playing with her hands nervously.

It was at this moment that she realized Lyra had snaked around to her side again, her head poking around Nora's leg.

"Well hello there miss, won't be a minute," assured Applejack, ever the professional.

"Oh, she's with me," said Nora, before freezing, suddenly catching the potential implications of what she just said. Surely Applejack wouldn't think she meant 'with' like a date, right? Nora stopped mid-thought, mind working to try and come up with a sentence that cleared up any ambiguity without it being obvious that this was something she had been worried about.

Her fears weren't helped by Lyra's blush and sheepish smile at the sentence. "We're walking together."

Fortunately for Nora, Applejack simply looked bewildered at this statement, tilting her head with a questioning frown but inquiring no further. The orange cowgirl was a simple pony at heart. Honesty apparently didn't leave much room for complexity, so she often missed the subtler nuances of conversational undertone. Thus, Nora's faux pas was safe from scrutiny, and Lyra's obtuseness hadn't escalated the situation.

"Anyway," said Nora, pushing past the topic to skirt around any potential awkwardness or probing questions, "I'll try and make it next time. Something just came up is all, human business calls, you know how it is."

"You sound like Dash when you talk like that," said AJ, chuckling. It was a fair assessment - Ponyville's resident speedster was often putting on airs, acting like the open road - or more accurately, skies - were calling to her, always having some msyterious pony to meet or unknown business to attend to. Really, it just signalled the start of her impending nap time.

"In that case I'll be sure to sprint home. Maybe she'll come out of hiding and race me."

The two shared in a laugh, enjoying the inside joke. Lyra forced out a little laugh too, which Nora was glad AJ missed. The unicorn's eyes looked from human to earth pony, then back again, unsure where to let her gaze linger. She looked anxious, feeling trapped in a social situation she was sort of a part of, but not really.

"Anyway, bake some pies next time we get together. I love your pies."

"Ah baked some last time, I'll have ya'll know," Applejack lampooned. "But ya know I'm always makin' more. I love baking like a pig loves-"

Shit.

Nora stumbled, juggling apples in her arms as she listened. Of the four she bought, one rolled out of her grasp, her stockpile balanced precariously between her crossed arms and her bust. As it veered over the barrier created by her arms, the sizeable fruit proving a bit too much for her to handle in quantity, it careened toward the ground.

In a flash, Lyra sprung into action, moving in a blur to Nora's left. Before she could even blink, the mare had darted her head down, catching the falling apple in her teeth. She lingered there for a second, as if surprised at herself, before standing up straight once more, turning her head to face Nora, the apple clasped between two rows of pearly whites.

"Thanks..." she said, reaching out for the fruit. It had pony slobber on it. Lyra looked ecstatic with herself, though, face full of delight at her heroism. As Nora's fingers brushed her muzzle, she gasped.

"Sorry, AJ, think I need a bag," she concluded.

In due order a square paper carrier was provided. Though Nora often lamented the lack of pockets in this world, ponies touring the market did have their saddlebags, which were actually much better poised to carry food and other supplies, the shallow contours of her own jean pockets left lacking in comparison. It just wasn't fair - even when they walked around nearly naked, they had more practical attire than her.

"Thanks AJ, I'll get out of your hai- your mane, now. See ya around!"

As Nora took a few paces away from the stall, waving her friend goodbye with Lyra in tow, she dumped her goods into her bag, taking care to keep the soiled Lyra-apple from touching the others. For a woman who spent so much time drinking in other people's and ponies' bodily fluids, she was kind of fussy about the state of her food, and the apple was both steamy from Lyra's breath and wet with her saliva. Not exactly appetizing.

The effort made to save the pomaceous treat clearly meant a lot to Lyra, though. She had the look of some noble knight who had just cleaned the clock of some hungry dragon to save a helpless princess, who was now waiting for her thank you kiss.

"Well, like I said before, I've gotta get going now," said Nora, eager for that shower. She scrubbed off good, but was still accutely aware that her face had been plastered in pony semen very recently. The thought suddenly occurred to her that horses had a good sense of smell. This wasn't normally a problem for her, working nights, but the daytime fun she'd had today, mixed with yet another blistering hot day and her unplanned trip through town could have definitely given Rich's scent time to bake in, and exposed her to many ponies who may have picked up on it - she didn't smell off, she thought, but the alarming idea of other ponies detecting hints of cum of her face with their noses immediately redoubled her enthusiasm for washing.

"You sure? There's plenty of other fun stuff to do here," said Lyra. "We could look at the other stalls a little."

"Sorry, Lyra, not right now."

"O-or we could do something else - relax by the lake, maybe?"

She just wasn't getting the hint.

"Look, no offense, but I-"

"Lyra!" came a voice from nowhere, cutting Nora off, much to her own relief. She followed the sound, finding a nearly eggshell colored mare galloping towards her. She was glad for the accidental rescue. "I've been looking all over. You're late!"

"Aw, but I was just gonna..." Lyra paused, her sentence left hanging, but she stared down Bon Bon, the candy shop owner, exchanging a silent but seemingly very meaningful look which was returned in kind. The two seemed to have a conversation just with their eyes, and occasionally glances were shot her way, as well, their peepers gesturing at her without a single utterance. Lyra looked forlorn at the wordless battle of wits.

"No ifs, ands, or buts," continued Bon Bon, "You've taken enough unplanned time off as is, I need you at the store! I've had to close up just to look for you, you know," she scolded, brow furrowing.

Lyra looked guilty and remorseful, staring at Nora with wanting eyes but relenting to her duty. "Ok, let's go. Sorry, Nora, I got work," she said, confirming the obvious, turning on her hooves to follow her boss who had already started trotting away. As she left, she called out to the human once more from over her shoulder. "I'll find you again soon, okay?"

Slightly odd phrasing. 'I'll see you soon', sure. 'I'll find you again soon'? Perhaps a little unintentionally creepy.

Oh, that's right.

"Hey," Nora called out, stopping her a few paces into her retreat. She walked up to the mare, closing the distance, before fishing out a very particular apple from her bag.

She held it out in her palm, Lyra eyeing it curiously as though it were some impressive artefact. Not making any moves to take it, Nora prompted her. "For you. They keep doctors away."

Lyra seized the red orb in her magic, spinning it on its axis like a globe, inspecting it. She then looked back it Nora, eyes wide in disbelief.

Since Nora appeared to have sent Lyra's brain into a reboot sequence, the mare frozen to the spot, she decided to depart quickly, not wanting to keep her from her job and still wanting to make it home herself. "See ya," she said, already walking away.

As she sped back to her house in a brisk stroll, she pondered whether Lyra had skipped out on work for a while just to wait for her outside Rich's place. She could have forgot she was on shift, sure, but that mare seemed allergic to coincidences. It would be a little concerning - she didn't want her to get in trouble, after all. More than it, it concerned Nora how... hung up Lyra seemed on her. A little physical admiration was one thing, but if it turned into infatuation - hell, if she wasn't there already - that could be a problem. Nora wanted her privacy, especially given her unique line of work, and not to mention she still owed much of her free time to her friends, wanting to make up for past transgressions. And if she were to date anyone - a big, fat 'if' that it was - she would expect that someone to be a stallion, not a mare. Sure, Lyra had been something of an awakening for her, sexually, which still felt weird to think about, but romantically, Nora wasn't sure she was prepared to try pushing the envelope quite that far.

As she shut her front door behind her, she flopped onto the couch face first in desparate thought.

One steamy shower later, Nora had allowed herself time to push her worries about Lyra out of her mind. She still had some of the day left, the town's sundial having indicated when she left the market that it was barely mid-afternoon. Rich was a morning pony, so Nora had been barking up his door bright and early. She often beat him there, actually, having access to his office by a spare key he let her hold on to. She liked waiting for him there, already stark naked. The first time she'd done that it certainly caught his attention; now it was just something of a sexy routine they shared.

They didn't always bump uglies in his office, of course. Sometimes they would retreat to his house when his wife and daughter were away. Well, she called it a house - it was more like a small mansion. Nice place, though a bit overly lavish in a way that seemed slightly tacky to the down to earth human girl. Anyway, having ticked Rich off her list for today already, she still had plenty of time to kill, and she would be free to work the night, as well. She hadn't bothered yesterday. After the ride Flim and Flam gave her, she was in no mood for more fucking, a rare occurance in her world. And since she had been a no-show the night before that, Lyra snatching her away en route to her sleepover, the poor stallions of Ponyville must have been in dire need. They probably had to wheel their sacks around in carts, unable to move under their immense weight. Mmmm.

Remembering Flim and Flam for a moment made Nora curse her own forgetfulness - she had meant to ask AJ about them. It'd be interesting to learn more of what went down last time they were in town, since it sounded like things went badly for them, even though they could make a mean brew. She vaguely remembered mentioning AJ to them and not getting much of a reaction, so it could be that they didn't actually know each other, despite briefly being comrades in industry... well, competitors, really, but in magical pony land, Nora had a feeling that financial rivalries couldn't really be all that severe. Even Filthy Rich, the guy who by all convention and appearances should have been filling the role of the town's stereotypical evil corporate suit, was actually a nice fellow (with an even nicer package). He even apparently went way back with Granny Smith of the Apple clan - if the town's wealthiest patron was an upstanding fellow, Nora couldn't picture anypony being especially cutthroat in commerce here.

She lamented the missed opportunity for questions, having been distracted by Lyra's antics. Damn that crazy mare! Ah well...

Deciding that she should use her free time to seek out another friend, she resolved to get dressed, picking herself up off her armchair, clad in only her undies. After making herself presentable, she headed for her front door, a location already in mind. It was for slightly selfish reasons, but she wanted to see Rarity. She desired to swing by all of her friend's places anyway - well, except Dash, who lived in the sky, somehow - but Rarity was also her seamstress, and she wanted to order more clothes. She felt bad giving her so much work, but the marshmallow mare always laughed off her concerns, stating that she was happy to help. It wasn't simple politeness - Rarity lived to create, and with the unique opportunities for designs that Nora's form brought to the table, she was always delighted to take a commission from her.

The idea of humans staying clothed all the time rather intrigued her. No, that's the wrong word - that concept intrigued most every creature she met, nowadays. It may be better to say that it inspired Rarity. It made sense, Nora supposed - she'd certainly get a lot more business if ponies were the same way. Perhaps that'd make wearing clothes less special for them, though. It was a strange thought, but she saw no reason it wouldn't ring true - after all, being naked was certainly special for humans. Eventful, at least, if in public. It made sense that the reverse could happen.

Nora actually thought she had noticed Rarity dressing up more since their friendship blossomed. It was hard to say for certain, since the fashionista certainly liked to flaunt her wares on herself anyway, but Nora felt confident she was turning up layered even in more casual settings. She had also worn more skirts, and even pants - something exceptionally rare for ponies to wear, since putting them on would be tricky. Luckily, having magic helped.

Nora envied unicorns that. It must have been nice. She wondered how many stallions she could jerk off at once if she had magic. The possibilities were truly endless. It'd probably make opening jars a lot easier, too.

By the time she shook the thought, less a train and more a trainwreck, she was already at Carousel Botique, the permier place for pony fashion, and her only source of modesty, all rolled into one. Nora couldn't deny that ponies looked adorable in their little dresses and waistcoats. Fuckable, too, but that was a given. She wondered if part of her own appeal was the allure of what was underneath - the tease of never knowing what you were going to get until you'd already paid for it. It made her feel sexy and powerful, like some kind of sexy empress, or general, or something.

Directing her thoughts to cleaner avenues of discussion, she lightly knocked three times on the front door. In no time at all, a pair of sparkling blue eyes greeted her, made all the more striking by the luscious lashes that surrounded them. Nora had given some thought to what made ponies sexy - not to herself, for once, but to each other. She knew Rarity was a looker, but she wasn't sure how much of that was her taking care of her appearance, and how much was natural beauty. What made a mare gorgeous? Her eyes? How slender her muzzle was? How shapely her flanks were? And what about the stallions? Big Mac was a hit with the ladies, and subject to some gossip because of it, so Nora guessed big, muscly dudes were still hot here. What about someone like Mr. Cake? He wasn't what Nora would have guessed to be a typcially ravishing guy, but she could speak to his abilites herself. Oh yes, she could...

Rarity coughed, snapping her out of it.

"Uh... sorry there, Rare. What did you say?"

Rarity carried the look of someone slightly peeved but doing a delightful job of reigning it in because that's what friends do. Nora cursed herself, embarrassed to have been nympho-dreaming right on her friend's doorstep. She wondered if a vacation from lovemaking might do her a bit of good, but remembering how hard it had been when she got by on masturbation alone, she knew she'd miss it too much. Hell, if anything, she wanted to have more sex on vacation - exotic lands full of hot guys she'd never see again, sunny beaches giving plenty of excuses to show some skin, maybe even a little clash of cultures if it turns out that rawdogging is just how the natives greet each other...

Rarity coughed again. Nora was sorry, really she was.

"I said it's nice to see you, darling. And unexpected, too," said Rarity with the patience of a saint.

"You too, Rares. Heh, sorry about that, my brain's just a little fried today, I guess," she said. It was more or less true. Upon finally responding, Rarity's smile turned a little less hollow and a lot more real, relieved that her friend wasn't delirious. Maybe only delirious at the thought of stallion-

Okay Nora, enough. Control yourself.

She stifled the idea, heading inside the shop at Rarity's invitation. The place was a mess in a strangely organized way. Such was the way of creatives, she supposed. Something about the place struck her as off, but she couldn't yet place it.

"What brings you to my front door at this hour, dear?" spoke Rarity sweetly. She wore a yellow silk scarf, further evidencing Nora's theory about her wearing more clothes. Sure, it wasn't a lot, but was was home alone, seemingly, and scarves were absolutely not weather appropriate right now. Then again, she felt sure Rarity would spout off about how fashion seasons were different to regular seasons if she questioned her on it.

"Oh, just dropping in to see my favorite fashion freak," she said, giving her a jostling pet behind the ears. Rarity was one of those girls that was touchy-feely in her friendship with other girls, and this rubbed off on Nora when she was in her presence. Besides, she liked to tease her, since she was so prim and propper. Those types were always fun to wind up, in a playful way, of course. Rarity smiled once more at the contact, but instantly levitated up a hoof mirror out of nowhere to check that the errant hand had not messed up her mane.

"Erm, very kind of you, darling," she returned, mood improving when she was satisfied that her purple curls were undamaged.

"I'm sorry I missed the sleepover," said Nora plainly. No use beating around the bush with Rarity. Applejack may be the element of honesty, but honesty and inquisitiveness didn't always go hand in hand. Applejack was the better lie detector, but Rarity asked more probing questions. She had found that out to her detriment before.

"Aw, pish posh, darling. I'm sure you had your reasons..."

She let the sentence hang in the air, clearly hoping Nora would fill in the blanks. This is exacly what she meant about Rarity. When elaboration was not forthcoming, she carried on.

"Besides, you could always make it up to me," she said, lashes fluttering. Nora felt pretty sure she'd started one or two crazy nights with a sentence like that by now, so the innocuous use of the line here felt out of place to her. "It has been a while since you let me design something for you. You know I like working with unique proportions."

Nora wasn't sure if 'unique proportions' was actually a compliment here, but she took it in her stride.

"Actually, that's also part of the reason I'm here," she revealed, glad of the opportunity to change topics and also to request her clothing without coming across as a moocher. It's not like she wouldn't pay her, but she still would have felt bad asking right after apologizing for dodging her. She also still felt she owed a debt to Rarity in particular, much like she did to Applejack, for their assistance in keeping her clothed and fed, respectively, for many a week after her sudden arrival in Equestria. All for free, too, and Nora had technically never paid them back. She didn't think her romp with Big Mac would settle her debt with all the other Apples, at least.

Rarity squealed in delight, doing a little dance with her front hooves. "Eeeee~", she squeaked. Nora could have keeled over from the cuteness. These ponies were deadly weapons. "So what'll it be? New blouse? A formal blazer, perhaps? You know, I've yet to have the pleasure of making you any business attire. It looks great on mares too, I feel. Oh, what am I saying, you're here for something casual. More socks? Those are certainly a challenge, but nothing I can't handle! Rarity's on the case!"

She grasped rolls of fabric in her blue magical aura, darting over to a sewing machine and getting to work before Nora could even interject. She strolled over to Rarity, slumped over on her chair and already intently focused on whatever it was she had envisioned.

Nora tapped her on the back to get her attention. When that didn't work, she coughed. Rarity stopped, flustered. Looks like it was her turn to be embarrassed.

"Oh, sorry, darling," she said, "You know how I get sometimes."

Nora opened her mouth to speak, before the prissy pony cut her off again.

"I know what you'll be here for. More of that secret clothing," she said with a wink.

What? Oh...

"How your kind came up with the idea of a strap to hug your teats, I'll never know, but I must say, darling, these 'bra' items are strangely fashionable. It's a shame we don't get to see them more often. Well, I suppose I'm lucky in that respect," she said, giggling behind a hoof. "And I do see the appeal, since your mammaries are located rather, ahem, uniquely on your form," she concluded with something approaching tact. "I do say ponies would probably keep them upright if we were in your horseshoes!"

Every time Rarity got enthusiastic about her unmentionables, Nora wanted to die on the spot. She meant well, and she was a whiz with a needle, but her accidental faux pas when talking human underwear always stung. It had been weird enough getting sized up by her in the buff for measurements, especially since she had an eye for detail and drank in Nora's form with delight. It was nothing sexual, she was just interested in her shape, but it still left Nora red-faced when she thought about it. Luckily, that had been a one time affair. She would just have to make sure her weight didn't fluctuate if she didn't want a repeat of that experience.

"N-No, Rarity. I'm not here for that," she corrected. "I wanted another top. Something lighter, more breathable, you know? Ideally something striking, color wise. Maybe black with some crimson. Some lace, also?"

Rarity's enthusiasm didn't falter at the revelation - in fact, it doubled. "Oooh, my, darling!" She spun around in her swivel chair, completing one full rotation, before climbing down and looking at the human with interest. "How daring! Much more risqué than anything we've tried before, wouldn't you say? So bold. Is there some special stallion you've got an eye on, perchance?"

Rarity leaned in her in, eyes sparlking with devious machinations.

"W-Well, I just wanted something showy that I could wear in the summer. Humans wear that sort of thing all the time," she said, lying through her teeth. She didn't like it, but it was too useful a card not to pull in such circumstances. "A... And," she went on.

Again, Rarity's energy did not waver, her look begging Nora to continue. "And, darling?"

"And you c-can make it low cut," she said, finding the resolve to ask for her desired item. "Y'know, since it's... hot. Summer, and all..."

Nora trailed off, holding one arm and looking down. Rarity's enormous grin remained, but she held off from probing her further, or worse, implying anything else about her love life. Not that she would have been entirely wrong to do so. Truth is, Nora did want something sexy to wear. If she were to be a lady of the night, it was about time she started dressing for the occasion. She just wished she didn't have to go through one of the town's foremost curators of gossip for this one, much as she loved Rarity.

"I'll have it made and ready in no time, darling," she said with a determined but dainty stomp, pride at her work ethic shining through. She really wasn't so different from AJ in that regard, despite the drastic difference in occupation, and arguably in social status. Nora wasn't entirely sure if class existed in Equestria, at least in the same way as on Earth, but one could not deny that Applejack was a straight talking, action loving county girl, and Rarity was a snooty but caring, exciteable and dramatic fashion designer. Even if that didn't relegate them to different social strata the way it might at home, it certainly made for an interesting clash of personalities and backgrounds, so the similarities between the pair in spite of all that really stood out.

"You're the best, Rarity," Nora spat out through gritted teeth, her face flushed as can be. She really did appreciate it, though.

"Same deal as normal, you'll bill me when it's ready?"

"But of course, darling. Why, I know just the material to use..."

Rarity was already lost in thoughts of Nora's slightly smutty clothing, images of the finished article likely already flashing before her eyes like premonitions.

Nora kind of wanted a pair of tight leather pants and boots to complete the look, but somehow she didn't think ponies would take kindly to the idea of using leather, and if she blushed any harder she might pass out, anyway.

As the mare in front of her scampered about the place, picking up wads and rolls of material, weighing up each option before putting them down again, Nora finally noticed what had been bothering her. There was normally a small scaly guest at Rarity's that had to be ushered out of the room when she wanted panties.

"No Spike, Rarity?"

"Oh, he's away at the Dragon Lands, darling."

That's right, the Dragon Lands had been in the primer Twi had given her. There wasn't all that much info on the place, though, at least compared with many of the other lands outside Equestria.

"Oh yeah, Dash mentioned he was away. What are the Dragon Lands like?"

"Just dreadful, darling."

Sounds about right.

"Twi must miss him."

Rarity looked up from behind a reel of fabric. "She gets by. She has us."

Nora felt a pang of guilt.

"And she has you, darling. You should see her again soon."

That statement seemed to confirm that Twi had confided in her friends after their heated discussion yesterday. Nora decided that she would definitely visit her tomorrow and make things right.

"...Yeah, I will."

She took a seat as Rarity worked, content to sit and chat to her for a while as she did so. As she watched the ponies go by the window, she balanced her head on her hand and let out a wistful sigh.

Rumors

Nora leaned against the cool brick, enjoying the feeling of it. She lurked in her normal alley, waiting to pounce any clients, just as soon as they swung by. Any minute now...

It was a quiet night. Too quiet. It wasn't late, as such, but late enough. Usually she'd have expected to see a well-endowed guest or two with a jingling coinpurse at the ready by now. She hadn't even seen any ponies simply passing by. The streets were abandoned, her usual hotspot feeling a little chilly tonight. Could two days away from her meeting place really have set her back that much? She didn't take breaks often - usually only when she had something important to do, like planning for sleepovers she didn't go to - but she had yet to find herself wanting for attention quite this much for some time.

When she was newer on the scene, of course, the nights rolled by a lot slower. It took time for word to get around, which was actually reassuring, since it demonstrated that news of her trade wasn't spreading out of her control. Sometimes she'd linger for an hour or so and nopony would stop by, so she'd give up. Not everyone was willing to pay for sex on the regular - a perfectly reasonable state of affairs.

Since those golden weeks, though, Nora's popularity had skyrocketed. She was a hit with, and had been hit on, by just about half the single stallions in town. Nowadays, nary a night went by when she didn't find a client, and she was usually approached rather quickly, to boot.

She sighed, supporting more of her weight on the wall behind her. It was typical that when the itch got real bad, she couldn't find a scratching post to save her life. And right now, she would have been happy to pay for just about any stallion's post to scratch against. It was a good thing none of her clients followed her lead and started selling themselves, or she'd probably fritter away all her income on them instead. It was almost comical how quickly she would be willing swap roles from dealer to customer just to get her rocks off if things got desparate enough.

It wasn't very classy, hanging around in a dank alley after dark to solicit sex from strangers, but that had more or less stopped bothering her by now. Nora was at the point where she was straddling the line between clinging on to that concept of pure innocent ponies who mustn't under any circumstances have sex because that's just not something talking ponies would do, damn it, and fully embracing the notion that they were as raunchy and ready as any human male, perhaps more so. Every night here in this alley pushed her more and more in the latter direction, her shame slowly washing away, but not gone. Perhaps one day she could even be more open about this with her friends. Maybe not about the whole prostitution gig, but not having to hide the fact that she slept around occasionally may not be so bad. That was all easy enough to think, but putting it into words was a different trial. Sure, she could decry pony puritanism with ease when she was twerking on the end of a stallion's rod, but when she saw them all going about their regular lives, living out the daily routines of characters from a children's story book, so oblivious about how cruel the world could be, the want for honesty shrank. It was like a switch just flipped, sometimes. They could all go from cute and cuddly to stiff and sexy just like that. It made pinning down a consistent feeling on the matter hard.

For now, though, Nora remained steadfast in her resolve: she was getting some tonight. If she had to be a succubus, corrupting these poor innocent creatures under her influence, she would fill the role gladly. Just who could she turn next under her womanly charms? She made a mental list of some of the stallions in town she'd had an eye on that hadn't rutted her brains out yet. That tan pony with the hourglass on his butt was kind of cute. Nora was sure he could make time stand still for her. Right as soon as she seduced him with her feminine wiles, of course. He seemed the nerdy, clueless type. Good looking but doesn't know it. Maybe a virgin. She could show him a thing or two, teach him how to pleasure a woman...

Step one: lubrication. Always make sure your human's entrance is nice and slick. If you didn't bring any lube, don't worry, you can always make your own...

"Nora?"

The voice didn't catch her attention at first.

"Nora?"

Second time was apparently the charm.

"You're, uh, drooling."

"Oh, thanks Twi."

In the millisecond that followed her reply, Nora's eyes almost shot out of her skull at mach speed. Her brain stalled, comprehension failing her at a most critical moment. Was she seeing things, or was she really here?

"T... T... T..."

The woman stammered, unable to do much else. The purple pony opposite her looked quite concerned, ears folding back in an equine display of trepidation.

"Are you okay, Nora?"

Nora was not okay.

"T... T... Twilight?!" she screamed. "What are you doing here?!"

The bookish mare looked stunned, eyes darting around as if trying to assess why she shouldn't be here. It was a public space, after all.

"I came looking for you. I wanted to talk, about yesterday."

Nora's blood pressure slowed just in time to prevent a vein bursting. The fact that Twilight Sparkle was here for friendship and nothing more was enough to calm Nora down, her state of mental panic moving one notch lower from 'we're fucked, let's bail' to 'this is really really bad'. The why of Twilight's presence being her chief concern, now answered, she quickly made an attempt to establish the how, this being the second question sending alarm bells ringing in her head.

"H-How did you know I'd be here?" she asked, suspicion slipping out of her statement like water from a leaky bucket. Right now she carried the voice, expression, and body language of someone who had been caught red handed - she just had to pray that Twilight didn't know what she'd caught her in, and wouldn't press it.

"I didn't," she explained. "Not here specifically, anyway. I went to your place this morning but you weren't home. I waited at the castle for a while, hoping you'd stop by again, but when you didn't I decided I needed to talk to you tonight - I just felt awful about how we left off yesterday, and..."

She shot a bashful smile, playing with some dirt on the road with her hoof, breaking eye contact. This was all very touching and unexpected, but it didn't really answer Nora's question.

"So you just went looking for me in back alleys?" she prompted, the underlying implication of why this might be the case seemingly lost on her pony chum.

"Oh, yeah. I'd heard you liked taking late walks. I thought I'd heard something about the streets near the commercial district, and I figured it'd make sense, since all the stores are closed. Nice and quiet for a stroll, right?"

Nora's sweating didn't subside, even if each new chunk of precious info collected from the alicorn did alleviate some of her worst fears.

"Where'd you hear that?"

"Just some ponies talking. I didn't know you'd already made so many friends in town! I'm so proud of you!"

Her naïvety made Nora feel all the worse at deceiving her, the baseless praise washing over her and leaving her hollow. If Twilight knew the real reason she was so well known in town, or, indeed, why she'd found her loitering in a back alley, it would be a different story.

As the pony came in for a hug, tender hooves wrapping around her waist, Nora stood there, lifeless.

"Oh, but look at me, getting all distracted! I didn't come over here to congratulate you on your success in friendship, eeeeven if it does make me feel like a better teacher," she touted pridefully, rubbing a hoof against her chest with exaggerated bravado. "No, I actually came to apologize."

Add this to the list of things Nora didn't expect to hear tonight. She felt catastrophically lucky, right now - whether it was good luck or bad luck, she couldn't even tell. She wanted to buy a lottery ticket, or walk under a ladder; anything to test whether the outcome of all this was about to be positive or not.

"Apologize? To me?" she said, pointing at herself as though there were anyone else present. Looking around and seeing the scene empty aside from her and the sheepish Twilight, she collected herself, coming to her senses. She had to shepherd her away in case any, well.. regulars came by.

"Let's not do this here," she concluded.

Twilight answered her with a nod.

Sipping a cup of hot cocoa, seated next to Twilight at an oversized table, she reflected on the words of the mare spilling her guts before her.

"And I just felt so bad, because I want to protect you, to keep you safe, but I know you're not a foal and you can take care of yourself, and I didn't mean to make you feel useless and... and..."

It was hard to watch. Twilight looked like she was on the verge of tears, her run-on sentence petering out without ceremony. The two were snuggled in thick blankets that they had draped over themselves, sat on kitchen chairs. The walk had been quiet and forboding. Once they arrived, Twilight made haste to get them comfy, working up the nerve and possibly trying to find the right words to express herself. She hadn't waited long enough. Nora didn't mind - panicking over stuff like this was about as on brand as Twilight got. But it didn't make the bitter pill any easier to swallow.

Finally having heard enough, she cut in. "Stop it!" she cried, more forcefully than she had intended. Twilight's eyes went wide in surprise, her mouth clamping shut. "I can't let you say all this stuff. It's my fault. I was rude to you when you didn't deserve it, when I knew you were just trying to be a good friend. I... I'm sorry."

Holy shit, she thought, tears hitting the quilt that covered her. I'm actually crying...

Twilight pulled her close, tears of her own forming, but joy written on her face over the reconciliation.

"Oh, I'm so glad to hear you say that!" she said, wiping droplets from the corners of her eyes before sniffling once.

They hugged each other tightly, Twilight resting her head on the crest of Nora's shoulder with her eyes closed. It was a sweet moment, and Nora instantly felt much better.

"And about what I said before... I still mean it. It must be hard being you, being here. I know you can handle yourself, and if you don't want me to, I promise I won't pry. But if you're ever feeling down, of if there's anything you want to confide in us with, me and the other girls will always have time for you."

"Thanks, Twi. I guess I... have been feeling sort of homesick."

It wasn't entiely untrue, but it also wasn't the motive behind her seemingly strange behaviour and erratic schedule. Still, if Nora opened up about this, throwing Twilight a bone to chew on, she may be content to leave it be in the future.

Her friend pulled back from the embrace, looking at her with sincerity. "That's perfectly understandable. I wish there were more we could do, but in the mean time, we're here for you."

Nora's will to do better buried itself in her chest. She had been rash with her friend, writing off her concerns in an effort to keep her own dirty little secret. She still didn't want to unbottle all that just yet, but from now on, she wouldn't let herself butt heads with friends over them second guessing where she was at any given time. If she wanted to keep their suspicions down, she'd just have to be a good friend herself and shirk less of their gatherings in the first place. Her priorities felt firmly in order, now, and it felt good. So, too, did the closure with Twi. She had intended to work her way up to confronting her again, planning to visit all the others first just to get a read on the situation, but all things considered, she was glad things had worked out the way they did. Right when she thought she had gotten over it this morning, her visit to Rarity's placed the matter right back at the forefront of her mind, left with little else to do but think inbetween idle gossip as the fashionista got busy on her new design.

The top wasn't ready yet, for which Nora had been glad. If Twilight had found her in her slighlty racy outfit, it would have simply thrown another layer of dread on the growing pile when she stumbled upon her in that alley. Fortunately, it seemed she had found the human there more or less by chance. If she had overheard ponies talking about her, though, that was still very bad. Nora just counted her blessings that she hadn't heard too much.

She hung out a while longer, though not much conversation occurred. It was getting really late, now, the moon visible from the view in the window, striking against the dark skyline.

"Well," came a chirp from Twilight, eventually, "I'd better let you get home. Or you're welcome to stay here, if you prefer. Either way, I think I need to get to bed," she said, proving the point with a yawn and a stretch.

"Thanks for the offer to crash, Twi," said Nora, feeling giddy from the emotional whirlpool she'd escaped from as well as her own growing tiredness. "I'll head on home, though."

She got up, leaving the warmth of her quilted cocoon, the duvet dropping to the floor. Her host followed suit, though instead folded her blanket, placing it neatly on the table. Neuroses know no sleep, it seems.

As the two absconded for the foyer, the imposing entrance to the grandiose castle, Nora led the way, hearing the pitter patter of pony hoofsteps behind her.

"Oh, um, actually, Nora..."

She turned her head, meeting Twilight's gaze. She looked slightly anxious about what she was going to say, which was not entirely unlike her. Apparently she had been a real shut-in before moving here. It was simultaneously easy and difficult to imagine.

"If you're headed back through the square, past Mane Street," she said, smiling with slight but noticeable discomfort. "You should be careful. When I was looking for you I heard... things. Apparently, there's a - oh, how do I say this...?"

Just where was this heading? Nora didn't know, but she had a feeling she wouldn't like it.

"There's... there's a... well, a merchant in town. One you should avoid."

"A merchant?" Nora raised an eyebrow quizically. This was certainly a strange thing to bring up right as she was about to go home.

"Yes. Only, this merchant doesn't sell things during the day, she opens herself at night. Opens shop, that is. And what she sells, well..."

Twilight had turned from soft purple to bright red.

"Are you okay, Twi? You look a little feverish."

She reached down to touch her forehead, but a hoof swatted her away. The pony stood upright, finding the ability to speak once more.

"She sells..."

Nothing.

Nora waved a hand in front of the princess' face to check she was still with her. Pupils traced the movement of her digits.

"She sells, experiences. She offers to spend time with, um, lonely stallions. If that... means anything to you."

Excuse me... WHAT?!

Nora exhaled sharply, hurting her chest. Just as things had calmed down, her survival instancts finally dropped, Twi drops this bombshell. She must have looked immediately flustered, because Twilight hastily tried course correcting, doubling down on trying to explain things to her.

"What I mean is, she sells the concept of... time with herself, to... oh, that's no good, how do I put this..."

Catching herself, Nora steadied her breathing, trying her damndest to keep a straight face. Somehow Twilight looked the more flustered of the two. It occurred to Nora that, the way she was putting this, dancing around the subject with her words, the princess of friendship may have thought that she didn't know what a prostitute was. They had never exactly discussed that part of human society in their talks, funnily enough.

"I know what you mean, Twi," she said plainly.

Twilight breathed a sigh of relief, wiping her brow, clearly overcome with happiness at not having to shatter the innocence of her alien friend. Nora was relieved, too, in a way. If Twilight was putting on kid gloves with her on this issue, it certainly suggested she wouldn't think she was the whore in question. But the mere fact that she had caught wind of it at all... this had all resulted from that stupid argument...

"So you know I'm talking about a 'lady of the evening'?" Twilight questioned.

"Yes, Twi, I get you, I get you," replied Nora, miming pushing her away with her hands. This was one avenue of discussion she was less than thrilled to be having. It seemed those came in bundles, the way her night was going.

"Phew," exclaimed the mare. "I'm glad I don't have to go into detail there."

After pausing for a second, the pair both regaining ther respective composure, she spoke up again.

"Anyway, I heard some boorish looking colts on Hay Road talking about her, near the station. I don't think she's been in town long, but apparently she's taken to skulking about the streets at night, coaxing ponies in. You'll want to steer clear."

"Hehe, wouldn't want to get caught up in all that," she said behind gritted teeth. "Thanks for the heads up, Twi."

"No problem," she returned, smiling again. "I wasn't sure if I should call in the guard, honestly. I mean, what consenting ponies do behind closed doors is their business and all, but the thought of hapless bystander crossing paths with her by accident... heck, you could have easily run into her tonight if I hadn't found you!"

"Don't call the guard!" Nora said in a panic, before realizing how that sounded. Sweating, she tried to talk her way out of her outburst. "What I mean is, that might just draw in more attention. If she's smart she'll move on soon, and we won't have to worry."

"Yeah, you're right."

Another yawn from Twilight broke the brief silence.

"Well, anyway, be careful. Remember what we talked about - if you need me, I'm only a skip across town."

"If you're not off saving the world," Nora quipped, her brain defaulting to trying to inject some levity into the situation. "I appreciate it, Twi. See ya around."

The following day proved uneventful, but Nora's mind kept returning to last night. Twilight knew far too much for her liking. She had been unable to relax all day, worrying over how she would operate now that her business was becoming more and more public. Sure, she could touch base with ponies like Rich during the day, but those relationships were few and far between - most of her sex came from relative strangers, negotiated in that alley. An alley Twilight Sparkle had confronted her in only yesterday.

She didn't like it - her place of work had been compromised, at least partially. She resolved to head there tonight discreetly. Something had to be done, but she wasn't quite sure what.

Still, the talk with Twilight had brought some good news. As well as their friendship being thoroughly bandaged, she did seem to confirm that she had no suspicions on Nora. For now, at least. What's a nympho to do under such watchful eyes?

She wasted most of the day doing chores, unable to concentrate on much else. She had thought about seeking out her other buds to say hi, but she felt she wouldn't be in an ideal state for lighthearted fun right now. The thought of enduring Pinkie's antics in particular seemed harrowing for the moment. A party cannon should not be within fifty foot of one in such a nervous state.

As the evening drew closer, Nora felt more and more nervous, hovering around her house doing nothing in particular. She lost the will to sweep the floors after the third time she'd done it - cleaning could be therapeutic, but there was only so much one can take. She sat on her couch, drumming her fingers along her legs idly, staring at the clock on the wall.

She hadn't gotten any since yesterday morning, and wanted to change that. All the same, a sense of risk attached itself to her job now, which terrified her, but didn't deter her. Maybe, in some small way, it even excited her, but she was confident that was just withdrawal symptoms kicking in. Looking back on her opening weeks in Ponyville, she wondered just how she'd managed to go such a long time without sex. Now that she had so much supply, her demand had been growing. She contemplated if perhaps it'd be best if she just took the night off, but her burning need to scope out the area and at least check if it was safe from prying alicorns won over.

She left for her usual spot early, not able to stand the boredom or the anticipation. There were still ponies milling about as the night's haze set in, starting to envelop the town, but some sunlight still winning out. The colors mixed as deep blues and purples swirling into oranges and yellows, light and dark at war. Her mind drifted to the sibling monarchs that managed such affairs. She pictured them having a little squabble every day when this happened, slapping their hooves at each other in a foalish manner until either day or night was victorious, and the sun rose or set accordingly. It was a cute thought, though very unlikely to be accurate.

When she reached her stomping grounds, she focused her attention again, if briefly. She had hardly noticed how quickly she'd been walking. Settling in to nestle herself against the familiar and welcoming brick and mortar, she waited with a sigh. She knew she shouldn't have gotten here so early, she'd only be bored. Even on a good day, stallions generally didn't show up this quick - or at least if they did, she wouldn't normally be here.

Nora closed here eyes as the fading sounds of distant hoofsteps reached her ears, the only hustle and bustle to speak of in a soon to be stagnant town.

"...ra?"

Eh... wuh?

"Nor..."

Nora opened her eyes lazily, her face kissing the wall of the alley she leaned against, grit and gravel clinging to her cheek.

"Um... Nora?"

She pulled herself off the wall with a yawn, dusting herself off, before realizing she had been asleep.

Jeez, not a good look...

She met eyes with the little pony who had stirred her from her slumber.

"Oh, Quill? I'm glad you're here."

Her blue companion blushed deep red at once, but pushed passed it.

"Really?" he said, looking pleased with himself for just a second before shaking his head, snapping himself out of it. "I, uh... if this is a bad time-"

"No, no, you're good. I don't even know what time it is, heh..."

He looked at her with uncertainty, but didn't break eye contact. "It's a little after midnight."

Yikes!

Nora had to work to not visibly react. "Ah, I see. That's... late."

She didn't normally stay out this long. She still had to get plenty of beauty sleep, after all. Her work was physically draining. Since ponies seemed to keep good sleeping routines for the most part, she wouldn't have expected much custom at this hour, either.

"Is this some sort of trend I don't know about?" she asked, replying more to her own thoughts than anything else.

"I'm... sorry?" replied Quill Heart, confused. His nerves seemed to be kept in check by the oddity of their meeting so far.

"Are ponies staying up super late now, or something? Maybe everyone just decided they hate awesome, mind-blowing sex?"

"Uh..."

"Heh, sorry," she said, catching herself getting carried away. "You're the first pony that's stopped by in two nights, is all."

"Is that unusual?"

She realized that she may have outed herself as slightly sluttier than intended, there. Which is impressive for a known sex worker.

"I guess," she replied, before resolving to change the subject. "You're back."

"Yeah. I, uh... wanted to apologize. For last time-"

She cut him off with a dramatic hand wave, slicing the air between them with enough velocity to fan him slightly with her movements. "I won't have any of that," she said, adopting a serious expression. "You were just nervous, right? It was actually going great. I was just surprised by... it... is all. And you vanished before I could say anything."

Nora suddenly remembered something that had occurred to her that night. Checking his head, she noticed a distinct lack of horn. He seemed to be earth pony, through and through. That was... odd. Had she simply imagine seeing a light before he disappeared?

While Nora was on the verge of some crisis of clarity, Quill looked relieved, glad that his prematurity hadn't sullied things forever. He still looked kind of guilty, too, but for him, this was a step up in confidence. "So, does that mean you'd be willing to, y'know, try again?"

His question took Nora out of investigation mode and pulled her into business mode. "Of course!" she said, perhaps a little too eagerly. Still, the stallion seemed to appreciate the enthusiasm, a smile curling up his lips.

He pulled out a pouch of bits from... somewhere. Just where ponies kept things on their person, Nora didn't know. Pinkie could pull a party cannon from the ether, it seemed, along with a host of other objects. It was a little disconcerting, living in a land that seemed to operate on a degree of cartoon logic.

She emptied out half of the bag, stuffing the bits into her own pockets, before handing it back. "Half off," she decreed with some authority. "Since we didn't finish things last time."

She was also just glad to be working again, but she didn't let that spill.

The duo set off, walking to Quill's place to do the deed. Since she'd taken the journey recently, she didn't need Quill to lead her this time. To her surprise, this time he actually made an effort to converse with her en route, piping up around half way to their destination.

"So, you were... asleep, huh?"

As the two trotted down Ponyville's streets, the break in the silence caught her off guard, her flustered face failing to hide the mild embarrassment at having been caught dozing in an alley.

"Y-Yeah, I guess. I just, didn't have a great night last night, y'know? Made it hard to sleep, I suppose."

The pony seemed surprisingly contemplative at this answer.

"Well, sleep is important."

"Not to you, apprently," she quipped. "If I hadn't nodded off, you'd have missed me today."

"I work nights," he said, divulging personal information willingly for what may have been the first time.

"I guess you'd know about struggling to sleep, then. What do you do?"

Nora was genuinely curious. She had heard that some pony cities were more like the cities she knew from Earth, never truly sleeping, but quiet, country-based Ponyville was usually pretty dead at this time. She couldn't imagine much call for night time workers, excluding her good self, of course.

"I'm a, uh... writer," he said, after a pause. Nora may have been imagining it, but she could have sworn he had just checked his own cutie mark before responding, the scroll and inkwell a sign of his calling.

Nora knew that not every pony had a job relating to the tattoo-like icons on their rear; sometimes it was just a hobby, or indicated some sort of vague concept like hope, or love, or compassion or some such garbage. Some also seemed to reveal family lineage, like the Apples. What an Apple would do if they preferred another fruit, Nora didn't know.

"Not using me as inspiration for anything saucy, are you?" she teased, immediately regretting her decision upon seeing his aghast reaction.

Quill stopped in his tracks, sputtering and stammering, a bashful hoof covering his snout. "O-Of course not! I would never! I-I just write for a, um, a newspaper, is all!"

She poked him on the nose. "Just teasing, hon."

She didn't particularly mind the idea of somepony basing a steamy romancy novel off of her, anyhow. It was actually kind of flattering. She conjured up some cheesy titles in her head: 'Love on Two Legs', 'Human Hearts After Dark', 'Hand Over Hoof: A Story of Human Love' - the list went on. She wondered if she had a knack for this, herself.

"So, what paper do you write for?"

"The Canterlot Informer."

She hadn't heard of it, unsurprisingly. She'd yet to venture far from Ponyville, and hadn't been to any of the big settlements before.

"Canterlot, eh? That's a way away, isn't it?"

"They take submissions by mail. I, uh, travel."

"Well, I'll look out for any of your articles if I'm ever there."

"I write under a pseudonym."

His expression after stating this was hard to read. It almost looked like he surprised himself with the comment, and was pleased with what he arrived at. Like he'd taken a guess and somehow reached the correct answer.

A question occurred to her, something that she knew she shouldn't ask, but she couldn't help herself.

"Is 'Quill Heart' another pseudonym?"

He looked totally taken aback by her remark, like prey caught in a snare.

"I..."

As 'Quill' shrank under her gaze, almost fearfully, Nora was worried that she blew it, and almost expected him to run off.

"I guess so," he finally stated frankly, standing up straight once more. She hadn't expected that level of candid from him just yet.

"Well, it's no biggie, really," she assured, giving his soft mane a tousle. "It's not like you're seeing a doctor or a carpenter or something. We're talking paid sex. This kind of arrangement is taboo, right?"

Her question wasn't rhetorical, she was actually hoping to get some info here, since she had a hard time judging that herself sometimes.

"Y-Yeah..."

"So it makes sense some ponies don't want everypony knowing their business. I'm discreet as can be, sweetie - trust me - but if it's what makes you comfortable, I'll keep calling you Quill."

He seemed assured by this. "T-Thanks."

They finally arrived at the house, looking much the same as it did before, both inside and out. It looked like he'd hardly been here since their last encounter. As Nora walked through the front door, she noticed a layer of dust over most of the downstairs furniture. Weird.

"Why don't you head upstairs," she suggested. "I'll just be a minute."

Quill did as he was told, looking a lot more self-assured now that the cat was out of the bag. At least, it had a paw out. Nora felt there was more to uncover.

As he trotted upstairs, she moved to the kitchen, looking to procure a glass of water. She opened a cupboard affixed to the wall, only to find it empty. Trying another built into the counter, she found more nothing. In turn, she tried every drawer, every cupboard, every nook and cranny, and didn't happen upon one bit of tableware. Not a stray spoon, not a wandering salt-shaker. Again, weird.

She brushed it off for now, deciding that she had some fucking to do. Strolling upstairs to meet Quill in the bedroom, the scene felt familair, but she had some hope that it would go better this time.

"Well," she began. "I'm yours."

Quill, who was sat on the bed, looked at her with a nervous smile. "Well, whatever you want to do is fine, really."

Damn it, pony boy, she internally chastised, that's not how this works!

"You paid for me, remember, hon? You technically own my body right now," she said, getting close to him. She placed a hand behind where he sat on the bed and rubbed her chest against his. "I'm here for you. What you say, goes. Like I said, if we reach any red lines, I'll let you know."

Quill was blushing up a storm from her flirting, looking like he could pass out from the blood shooting to his head. "I guess we could... pick up... where we left off..."

He barely got the words out, his jaws seeming to want to clamp shut.

"Good boy," she said, rewarding him with a chaste kiss on the lips. "Does that mean you're ready to go inside?"

Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes, please say yes...

"Yes..."

Yes!

Nora needed this. While she had been more inquisitive than anything on their joruney here, the mystery clinging to this colt too much to ignore, now that they were in more routine territory, her carnal instincts took over. It was as though all her frustrations from last night boiled over into a cloud of lust that was now taking hold of her. And as much as Quill clearly knew how to use his tongue, if their previous encounter was anything to go by, right now, nothing would satisfy her but pure, raw, penetrative sex.

She threw off her clothes, slinging apparel this way and that like some sort of tornado of fabric. At once, she position herself on the bed, poised on all fours with her face by the head of the bed, waiting for Quill to begin.

She felt a tentative hoof fondle her pussy, and in the quiet of the room, she could hear each and every breath the stallion took. It occurred to her that he was seeing her intimate area properly for the first time, since last time he'd opted to eat her out through her panties. Man, that was hot.

As he rubbed her gently, she exhaled deeply, savoring the sensation. Many of her clients lately had been so take-charge, she sort of missed having to guide less experienced studs along like this. There was a thrill to be had in showing them the ropes, teaching them how to screw. She was always the one getting railed, and yet on more than one occasion, Nora felt as though she was also the one doing the deflowering, snatching away her partner's innocence. It made her feel sexually powerful, like some temptress that could allure any male she wanted.

She could see Quill's rising affection out of the corner of her eye, now at full mast. He brought his snout in to her rear, and she thought he was going to start eating her out, but instead her took a quick whiff of her scent and then positioned himself to enter her. She was grateful, needing it bad. As a pair of hooves found her rump, she leaned over more, resting her head on one of the bed's pillows, inhaling sharply in preparation.

She felt Quill's weight against her ass, his body propped up against hers as he balanced two legs on the bed and two legs on Nora. In just a few moments, she felt his shaft poking at her entrance. Then, he paused.

Nora looked back over her shoulder and saw him lingering there. "Just do what feels natural, okay, sweetie? You'll see, it's easy."

He nodded once at her, steeling himself.

He slipped in slowly, his head pushing past her lower lips without much difficulty, much to Nora's relief. As he continued worked his way in, Quill moved his body forward to accommodate the change, placing one of his forehooves on the bed below the pair for stability as he pushed up on Nora. She gritted her teeth as he filled her, the familiar sensation bringing her some relief; eager as she was to get a pounding, she knew she wouldn't have long to wait now.

When Quill was mostly in, he stopped, then retracted slightly, before thrusting forward again, his barrel making contact with her butt as he did so. Nora shivered in delight. He was still pretty slow and deliberate with his movements, which was to be expected for his first time, but the movement he provided was enough to get the ball rolling nonetheless. He moved back again, pulling out about a third of his length, before lunging, most of his size now inside Nora.

As Quill got used to fucking, Nora relished in its familiarity. Even if Quill didn't have experience, he made up for that with one thing, and one thing alone: being a stallion. A mouth-watering, big-balled, fuzzy little schlong-carrying stallion. Just like they all were. When Nora had sex with men, she enjoyed it, but it could be hit or miss. Sometimes you got a selfish lover, or one who didn't have much skill, and it really soured the mood. Stallions, she was pretty sure, couldn't be bad at sex, per se - just more or less proficient than one another. Because unlike humans, even a stallion that was otherwise lacking in the bedroom had many things going for him just by virtue of his species: his size, his tongue, and his equine sensibilities - that is to say, his tenacity. There was just something so animalistic, so primally satisfying about getting freaky on four legs, and her beloved ponies never disappointed.

Quill started to pick up the pace a little, rocking back and forth behind her. She felt his weight shifting, his hooves digging into the flesh on her rear more as he moved forward, putting more pressure on her, then the hold softening as he pulled back, able to stand more under his own support. He had already gotten a decent rhythm going, which was honestly half the battle sometimes.

It was funny, Nora thought, how submissive she felt at times like this, even in the presence of such an unintimidating colt. The sheer sexual dominance that stallions exuded without even trying blew her away. Right now, as Quill pulverised her pussy, she would have done damn near anything he asked if it meant he didn't stop. His only weakness was his own mind. She supposed that was why Filthy Rich was a favorite of hers; he was one of the few ponies to actually indulge in pushing against the line. Making her have risky sex in his office, treating her like some slutty secretary... she wanted more of that kind of thing. Sometimes these ponies were too nice for their own damn good.

She felt Quill hilt her, the whole mass of his cock burying itself in her for the first time, and she raised her head with a silent cry. It was as though he was unknowingly reprimanding her for thinking about somepony else, even for a second.

"S-Sorry..."

"Ah~ you'll only be sorry... if you don't do that again!"

He didn't respond, but made good on her request anyway, taking longer thrust so that he could go deeper. Nora squealed in a most unladylike fashion.

Now that Quill was firing on all cylinders, as it were, using the entirety of his god-given tool, he retracted his remaining hoof from Nora's ass and placed it next to her right elbow. He stood over her now, her back scraping against the underside of his barrel, fur tickling her as they slid back and forth. With each movement he inched his head closer to hers, until she could feel his chin against her lower neck. With this range of motion, Quill didn't have to do as much work, abandoning the technique of pulling out a good portion of his length only to fill Nora up again, and instead opting to keep most of his shaft fully inside her, gyrating his hips wildly to stimulate her. It was like having a vibrating horse dildo, the ferocity of Quill's incremental movements sending Nora over the edge.

She gripped his left hoof with her hand, holding onto it for dear life, while she raised her right hand to his side, slapping him lightly to signal him to keep going.

"Oh, fuck me you little... you..."

Nora couldn't stop what was about to happen, her juices gushing out as her orgasm hit. Her eyes rolled up in their sockets as her mind briefly went blank from the pleasure. She rode out the orgasm for a good half a minute, Quill showing no signs of slowing down. She felt his hot breath on her neck, making her hairs stand up.

Well, he had outlasted her. That was certainly a step up from their first meeting. Sure, he may have had a slight advantage from her being a little sexually frustrated, but still, Nora was impressed with the display.

Good job, cutie. Knew you could do it.

She did feel Quill tense up shortly after this, and the telltale sign told her to prepare. She continued gripping his hoof, while also tugging on the sheets with her other hand, knowing that this would take a lot out of her. Or more accurately, put a lot into her. Semantics.

He snorted, and she felt his movements slow slightly. "I think I'm... Nora, I'm..."

Apparently the news hit her before it hit him, which was amusing. She just laid in place, offering herself as a receptical for his seed.

The first spurt hit like a freight train, which it always did. Having ponies finish inside was a lot of fun, but damn. Having braced herself well, she was ready for the impact, but the sensation was still overwhelming. She wondered if she would ever get used to it. When his second shot unleashed, she started to feel full. Quantity could be an issue with stallion cum. When his cock twitched yet again, unloading more semen, she felt it strart to leak out, mixing with the existing wetness around her pussy and dripping onto the bed. His fourth and final shot did the same, her insides well and truly pressurized, functioning like some kind of elaborate hydraulic system that ran on horse sperm. Well, saying that Nora ran on horse sperm wasn't entirely inaccurate these days...

Quill huffed and puffed, trying to calm his frantic breathing above her. "Wow..."

He unsheathed himself, causing heaps more of his love to spill out. Nora turned to face him.

"Pretty good, eh?" she asked between her own breaths. He nodded with an earnest smile.

"I've wanted this for so long..."

Quill collapsed next to her on the bed, and she turned to lay on her side, the two facing each other.

"It's pretty late. Can I stay the night? No problem if that's a no, but-"

"Yes! I mean, um, please, feel free..."

He was blushing again. Cute.

Nora resolved to figure him out, some day. She figured he'd come see her again. She'd come see herself again after a night like this.

"I-If you want the bed..."

It took her a moment to realize what he was insinuating.

"Don't be stupid," she said, giving him a playful slap. "After what we just did, I'm not bothered about sleeping next to you."

"Okay."

"...You can cuddle me, too, if you want."

To her mild surprise, he did scoot a little closer at the invitation, wrapping a hoof around her side.

Before closing his eyes, he offered his parting words.

"Pleasant dreams."

Nora awoke before she even realized she had fallen asleep. She must have been out like a light, despite getting a street nap earlier. Sunlight crept in through the upstairs windows, signalling the rise of the new day. She felt good - better than usual, but couldn't really explain why. She still had things to worry about, after all. Nonetheless, she'd had a good sleep. Just what time was it?

She shifted slightly, sitting on the bed, still naked and a little sticky. A shower wouldn't go amiss. She immediately noticed the absence of a pony next to her, however. Wandering downstairs, she looked for the errant Quill, to no avail. It looked like he wasn't home. She didn't see any note, either, but didn't take it personally. Still, if he worked nights, she was surprised he wasn't going to just sleep the day away. She knew she would. Why a writer needed to work nights in the first place, she didn't know, but if he was a freelancer, perhaps he just chose his own hours. Nora felt like more of a night person, herself, and that was only partially due to the fact that that was when she had the most 'fun'.

She crept into Quill's bathroom, before remembering what a state it was in. Apparently he wasn't a fan of cleaning. The bathtub at the end of the small room was a little grimy - too much so for her tastes. She figured she could get dressed and dart home for a wash.

As she dressed herself, her mind wandered back to the chance encounter with Twilight from the night before last. She would have to tread carefully for the time being, but if she got through yesterday unaccosted, she figured the princess might just make good on her statement about not involving the guard. Might.

Letting that thought sit for now, Nora pondered her plans for the day. She'd already done just about every household chore that she'd been neglecting at least twice over yesterday, and she didn't have any pre-arranged plans, so it looked like she was a free spirit today. Maybe she'd go nuts and get one of those mega ice cream sundaes Pinkie made, or watch one of Dash's flight routines. Heck, she was even in the mood to be probed for information on human culture by Twilight, since it had been a while.

Walking out the front door without much of a care, Nora knew one thing: she was going to seize the day.

Rivals

Author's Note

Chapter content warning: brief depiction of accidental watersports.

Rivals

Nora returned to her familiar hotspot with some trepidation. The usual hive of horniness was once again empty, no customers attent and waiting, no seedy looking characters waiting to swap bits for pleasure. It was exactly as the backstreet of a pictureque country town should look at night. She hated it.

Things had shaken out okay in the end the night before, if only by chance, but something was definitely off about the lack of stallions here. She hadn't known streets this peaceful since she first got her start in the biz. Were ponies on high alert, now that the heat was on? Nora doubted it. Sure, Twi had heard rumors, but she hadn't acted on them... yet. And she only learned that much by happenstance. Nora thought back to her encounter with the alicron two days ago. She had mentioned some colts talking about her - shouldn't that mean she still had some customers looking to get busy?

Nora sighed, many thoughts filling her head. Were the good times really over? Perhaps she'd have to just pack up shop, or at least go part time if there was really so little interest now. She supposed it may have been inevitable - perhaps ponies were getting bored of her. Even if most were up for a roll in the hay once or twice, surely there were a limited number who would indulge her regularly? Back home, at least, it would take a certain type of man to routinely pay for sex. Her own exotic appeal may have been fading, too - merchants and other travellers still gave her a reaction, but to Ponyville she was as normal as crusts on a sandwich now, even if that wasn't to everyone's taste.

She felt that all - or at least most - of her clients had left with a good time, but maybe that just wasn't enough. It's perfectly possible to enjoy sex and not feel the need to come back again and again - not everyone is an addict like her, she considered. She wondered if it would be worth lowering prices somewhat and seeing if things changed. A mere week or so ago she never would have dreamt that necessary.

Mind racing with possible reasons for the missing interest, Nora waited. And waited, and waited, and then waited some more. As time flew by with nothing but her thoughts and the sound of the wind to keep her company, her hope waned. Eventually, she had all but given up, ready to call it quits.

She sulked out of the alley, greeted by the soft glow of the night and by the stiff air.

Maybe this is for the best, mused Nora. Twilight was a hair away from rumbling me, and that means it was only a matter of time before the pieces all clicked into place.

She felt some bittersweet relief at this. She could get out clean, if she needed. Perhaps this was a sign. Fate does seem to exist in Equestria, at least in some capacity, after all.

Yet still, something tugged at her mind. There had to be an explanation for the sudden drop off in clients. One stallion in three nights? Unheard of. Too low to be a coincidence. Just what was going on?

If someone had later sat her down and asked Nora to explain why she had started wandering, she wouldn't have been able to articulate it. It was like an imperceptible force was pulling her, guiding her down the street, further into the web of roads and branching alleyways that lived in Ponyville's shopping quarter. She wasn't sure what she would find, only that she was content to look. What if some half-wit stallion had given his buds bad info and told them the wrong street corner to wait on? Maybe teams of heavy stallion sacks sat waiting just behind Sugarcube Corner, or Bon Bon's candy shop, or the post office, and nopony had told her? Poor boys - their needy cocks must have been twitching with anticipation by now, waiting for dear little Nora to tend them.

She licked her lips at the imagined treasure trove of colts waiting for her in the promised land - wherever that was. She walked slowly and with purpose, just without direction, milling about carelessly in the hopes of finding the source of this sure-to-be mix-up.

Under cover of darkenss she prowled, continuing her hunt. She felt like an apex predator waiting to pounce some poor gazelle. Okay, perhaps that was poor metaphor, since deer were intelligent here. She had yet to meet one of them in the bedroom, though, so perhaps the comparison was not so misplaced after all.

Eventually, rounding the corner of a narrow street, light dim due to the tall buildings surrounding the place, she thought she could hear something. It was too quiet to place, yet there is was all the same - a soft... rustling? Ruffling?

Nora pressed on, making long, slow strides as to not create too much noise with her footsteps. As she made her way further down the path before her, she thought she picked up hushed whispers, too.

It was tough to pinpoint which of the side streets the sounds were eminating from, but eventually she came up on a turn that seemed to house what she was looking for. She heard it more clearly, now - the distinct sound of voices, along with some sort of movement. Standing on arched feet, she tiptoed to the entrance of the alley, ready to peek around the corner.

When she did so, what she saw shocked her.

Stood in the alley were two stallions, each with long, shaggy manes that mostly covered their eyes. One was brown, the other had a more tan, soft caramel coat. Their manes and tails inverted this palette, the darker colt sporting a lighter, almost blonde mane, while the lighter pony wore a darker, chocolate colored head of hair. His cutie mark appeared to be three basketballs arranged in a triangle formation, while his companion's flank boasted a dumbell. It made sense, as they looked athletic, standing on the tall side for most stallions. Nora also made out a pair of chiselled, square jaws in their silhouettes.

What caught her immediate attention, however, was what was going on on the floor.

There laid a third pony, gray coated and black haired. And, naturally, some sort of bird creatue was riding him cowgirl style.

Nora rubbed her eyes, jaw slack at the sight. She pinched her arm just to make sure she wasn't dreaming, but sure enough, the prone pony, leaning against the alley wall, sat thrusting his dick into a being that seemed for all intents and purposes to be half pheasant, and half lion. She recognized it right away as a griffon.

Griffons were rare in pony settlements. She had seen just one - a mail mare with dark plumes, who always seemed carry a smile on her face. An impressive feat, given the beak, and all. This griffon was not her, however. She was a plain brown, right up to her neck line, at which point white plumage fluffed out, lavender highlights meeting the tips of her feathers and circling her eyes, almost like eyeshadow. Nora had to admit she looked striking. Her interest at seeing the strange creature was offset plenty by her abject shock at seeing her getting down and dirty with some rando behind a building, however.

The griffon worked her hips as the pony below her bucked upward, giving her a good pounding. She took it in her stride, gyrating eagerly, one set of talons holding her ass as her tail danced. The other two ponies stood nearby, clearly enjoying the show. Nora noticed the outline of two whopping stallion cocks under their barrels, each evidently excited by the display.

As the griffon and the gray pony both worked harder, thrusting with more might, eventually he reached boiling point, a thick load shooting out as he slipped out of his griffon fuck buddy. After his first spurt, he wrapped his hooves around her feminine frame, pulling her in and burying himself inside her again, finishing in the panting avian. The spectators cheered, the brown one stomping his hooves in the floor in added encouragement. Then, finally, they spoke.

"Holy smokes, Score, you showed her good!"

The gray pony on the ground - Score, apparently - blew his jet mane out of his eyes, peering around the neck of the griffon he still cradled, flashing a wry grin.

"This one's a good fuck alright, fellas! Sheesh," he stopped, wiping some sweat from his forehead. "I could go another two rounds with you easy, babydoll."

The bird lady, picking herself off the stallion, his shrinking member sliding out of her with ease as cum leaked onto his belly, cast a fiery glance at the reclined pony.

"Whatever, whatever. Just tell me who's next."

The tan coated pony waltzed up to her, sporting a cock smile of his own.

"That'd be me, sweet thing."

His right foreleg stretched out to meet her, and in it, Nora spotted a plain pouch clutched in his hoof. The distinctive glint of sparkling coins caught her eye, reflecting light beckoning her around the rim of the open bag.

This was snatched by a swift claw, which then proceeded to poke around inside, below a beak that opened and closed rapidly with mumbled counting under its breath.

"Alright, you're good to go. Step up, and let's get this over with."

Nora's heart quickened. Was this really what it looked like?

Prostitution - her trade - seemed to be such an unthinkable thing in Equestria, at least based on what she had seen. In all her time here, she never knew of anyone who indulged in the trade as a sex worker, other than herself, and she could hardly be held to normal pony standards. Yet here she was, having just watched this griffon rawfuck a pony in an alley, before accepting a bag of gold. There was no mistaking it.

Her brain got to work filling in the gaps, rationalizing what she bore witness to. It must have made sense that it would be a griffon of all things to be the first sex worker she had seen, besides herself. They clearly had a different culture. Maybe they were less... repressed? And if a new griffon showed up in town, it would probably be a talking point. Significantly less so than her own initial arrival, but still, an act of note.

This led her to another conclusion, one which brought a blazing fury to her heart.

This must be the bitch Twilight heard those ponies talking about the other night!

It all made sense. Nora was usually so careful; discretion was very much her watchword, and while she couldn't stop another pony from spilling the beans, it would be unlike her to stir up enough of a fuss to tip off the local princess, of all ponies. This, however...

That also explained one other thing which had been causing her grief these past few days...

This skank has been taking my customers!

Nora wasn't the jealous type. Filthy Rich was one of her favorite fuck buddies, after all, and he had a wife and a kid. Mrs. Cake got to have her fat ass pounded my Mr. Cake's magical cock every single night, yet Nora stayed away from him all for the sake of their marriage. But this griffon slut, snaking her way into her territory, and stealing her business? That would not stand. No siree.

Nora's fist balled up in anger, but before she could leap in with triumphant fury and dispell the wayward she-beast, a more pressing problem presented itself.

"Horseapples!" called out the pony with the dumbell cutie mark, looking her way. "We've been spotted!"

The three ponies, all pegasi, stood awestruck upon seeing her, but the griffon girl pounced away immediately, taking off with the bag of bits in her clutches. Nora, in an impressive display of human speed, dashed after her, taking a few swift strides before reaching skyward, just about managing to grab her tail.

"G-Get off me!" yelled the griffon, flailing as she attempted to accelarate out of Nora's grip to no avail. Nora stood, feet planted on the floor, the griffon's wriggle dragging her forward on her heels a little, but she remained in control. With one heavy heave, she pulled on the creature's tail, sending her crashing down into her, dropping the bag of bits which went scattering everywhere.

The duo collapsed in a heap on the floor, the griffon's butt sitting on Nora's stomach. Oof. She wasn't light.

In a mere second, she heard a gasp above and the griffon scampered off her. "My bits!"

Nora sat up, clutching her core in pain, to see her frantically picking up individual coins in her deft claws, stuffing them back into her bag. Taking stock of the situation, Nora looked around at the assembled ponies, who seemed at a loss for words.

She wasn't quite expecting to have charged the poor bird like that, certainly, but she didn't want to let her leave without a confrontation, either. Nora's face flushed as her adrenaline kickstarted, unable to work out exaclty what she was going to say or do. She had intervened without a plan, and it was showing.

"W... What the hay are you?" asked the basketball-flanked pony to her left. The griffon was still frantically darting around after spilled bits, tailfeathers shaking in the air as she bent over to retrieve her ill-gotten gains.

"I'm a human," she replied, with some confidence. "Nora the human. These are my streets," she said, plainly, throwing her accusation to the avian who still had her back to her.

One of the colts to her right gulped. "You mean... ponies pay to... to screw around with you?"

She crossed her arms. "Damn right."

The gray pony who had already gotten his dick wet - Score, she remembered - looked his comrades left and right before speaking hurriedely, some uncertainty seeping into his voice. "Boys, group huddle."

As the trio gathered around, nearly butting heads as they leaned on each other with their front hooves for support, Nora took a few idle steps closer to the panicking griffon. Hearing her approach, the irate punk chick chirped out as coins clinked in her clutches.

"You nearly cost me 300 bits, dweeb!"

300? She even charges more than I do?!

"Didn't look like you earned them to me," she said. "I wanted to talk to you."

"Talkin' ain't free, toots. I got bits to make and ponies to rut."

"Well, you've attracted a lot of unwanted attention out here, and it's causing a real headache for me. So I'd appreciate a little discretion, at least," replied Nora, resisting the urge to spit.

"And just who are you, exactly?"

"I'm your competition."

The griffon actually laughed at this. "Hah! Good one. Some competition you are. I bet ponies aren't exactly lining up round the block to fuck you," she concluded derisively.

"You'd be surprised... look," Nora reasoned, taking a calm tone to surpress her rising temper. "We're both clever... mares..."

She wasn't sure it was the right word to use, but it was what ponies always said. She felt sure there wasn't a word that accurately encompassed the pair of them, anyway.

"We can talk this out. Make some sort of a deal. But you have to stop flaunting it in public, or you'll ruin this for both of us."

Nora was surprised at herself, not usually being so hostile, but it looked like this grumpy griffon was more than willing to meet her at her level.

"Not likely. You sound jealous, to me," she said, stopping to give her rump a little sway. "What, none of the pony boys want to play around with yooou?" she mocked, taking an infantile tone.

Nora could hear growing whispers behind her, turning her head to see the three stallions, still hanging close to one another, conversing in secret, but looking at her and the griffon both. She concentrated, focusing in to try and pick up on their conversation.

"Dude, I'm telling you... they'll totally go for it..."

"No way, bro, chicks don't actually do that, that's just in books and stuff... not that I read books."

"I'm telling you, dude, any chick will totally lez out if you dangle a bag of bits in her face."

"That tall one looks hot, too. I wanna go back to Cloudsdale bragging that I banged that, don't you?"

"She looks kinda weird to me, bro."

"She's exotic! How often do you get the chance to bend over a mare from a species you've never even heard of before?"

"But we don't know what a human is, what if she-"

"If you don't want in then take a hike, bro, more for me and Hoops."

"N-Nah, bro, I'm in, I'm in, I'm jus' saying, is all..."

Charming.

They walked up to her, looking her over with some curiosity.

"So you'll really do anything for money?" asked the tan pony - Hoops, she presumed from his cutie mark.

"Well..." said Nora with a flourish, "Not anything, but I'll show you a good time if you've got the bits to pay for it, big boy."

She poked him on his snout, casuing him to retreat a couple of paces with an embarrassed look on his face.

"You might be even dirtier than Gilda here," said Score. "And I didn't think that was possible!"

Gilda, eh? The name suited her, Nora supposed. The griffon in question had turned to face the small group, now, having stuffed all the bits back into the little pouch she carried.

"And we'll be taking that back," said the brown pony, whose name Nora hadn't caught yet, darting in with a flap of his wings and swiping the bag off of Gilda in an instant. She blinked once, amazed, before narrowing her eyes. "But you girls can still earn it. If you're willing to work... together."

Nora cocked an eyebrow, catching where this was going. She looked over her shoulder at Gilda, who exhaled through her nose. "I'll work with any two-bit slut if you want, but you'd better have the bits to pay for it. This'll cost extra."

Nora was impressed at her hardline negotiation skills, if nothing else. "That goes for me, too," she said, raising a hand.

The three looked at one another, before eventually, two sets of eyes landed on the brown pony who's flank suggested he was adept with weights.

"Dumbell, you're good for this one, c'mon, dude."

Dumbell sighed, rolling his eyes. "I still dunno, bro..."

He looked from Gilda to Nora, before giving another resigned sigh.

"Fine. You two better put on a good show, though."

He procured, seemingly from nowhere, another bag of coins, slightly larger than the first. He poured some into the smaller big until they were about even.

"Should be 500 bits each here. Good enough for you two fine ladies?"

Nora and Gilda looked at one another, sharing a wordless exchange, before Gilda nodded. "It'll do," she said.

Nora had noticed that Hoops and Dumbell hadn't quite lost their hardness from before, each still erect and raring to go. Score, the pony who had already been treated to a round of griffon ass, also poked out of his sheath a little, his stallionhood already springing back into life at the prospect of more action.

"Wait," called out Hoops. "What about those?" he pointed at Nora, though she wasn't quite sure why. Eventually, she picked up on his intent, tugging at her shirt.

"You mean my clothes? They come off, cutie."

To prove it, she shed her shirt, unbuttoning it and casting it aside on the ground next to her. She wasn't thrilled at having to leave her attire on the floor of some alley, but she didn't really have anywhere better to put them right now. She reached behind her back for her bra strap next, unclasping it and rolling it off her chest. Dumbell took to the air, admiring the view from above, while Hoops stomped his hooves in delight. Score gave a loud wolf whistle.

"She's got milkers up there, dude!" shouted Hoops.

These damn ponies are gonna get me caught if they don't keep the volume down... if this is how Gilda has been running things I can see how word got out about her so quick...

Nora blushed, both at the attention and at the thought of these frat boy types alerting somepony. Still, she crossed her arms in a huff and haughtily titled her chin upward, relishing in the attention, if only to spite Gilda.

Next came her jeans and panties, which she slid off together, her jeans hugging her waist but fitting loosely enough to come down without a fight. She kicked off her bottomwear and stood in the alley, naked.

Feeling the sudden rush of the situation, Nora started to get into the swing of things, excitement overtaking her momentarily. Her nipples hardened at her arousal and at the cold air hitting them.

Gilda looked at her, absorbing the human's true form. She looked inquisitive - not disgusted, but not outwardly impressed, either. They looked at each other awkwardly, neither wanting to make the first move.

"Tick tock, ladies," called out one of their spectators. "We paid for a show."

The pair shuffled toward one another, both somewhat embarrassed now. Nora's bravado was wearing off as the reality of what she was doing set in, her excitement at the daringness of it all superseded by nervousness at what was to come, and mostly, what could go wrong. She steeled herself with the thought that if she followed through, and better yet, if she showed up this boisterous griffon, she may yet reclaim her usual stomping grounds without further fussing.

No, she had to do this. If she could wow these three loudmouths, there was no way Gilda would keep eating into her usual clientele, and she may just send her packing for good.

Nora's thoughts were cut off as a cold talon touched her bare skin, sliding down her pelivs and toward her vagina. She squirmed at the contact, the unexpected sensation of the sharp claw carressing her skin leaving her tingling. When it got to her pussy, Gilda felt out her folds, dragging claws over the sides of her labia.

With a shiver, Nora crouched, both at the stimulation and to better position herself to return fire. She snaked a hand around to the griffon's backside, feeling out her ass, before sliding three fingers into Gilda's own mound. The griffon perked up at this, head raising slightly as her eyes went wide, before returning to a more subdued state. In response, she slid a talon into Nora's own entrance, caressing her from the inside.

The two fingered each other, slowly getting to grips with how this would work. The height difference along with the obvious unfamiliarity with one another's anatomy made for a sluggish start, though Nora felt she had something of an advantage, there, with Gilda not being too dissimilar from a pony in shape and form. For her part, though, Gilda adapted to the human quickly, exploring uncharted territory with both ease and pride as she quickened her pace, talons scraping against the inside of Nora's pussy, leaving her gasping. The feeling was unlike anything she had experienced before, and she couldn't exactly say it was unpleasant. It seemed that griffons has more adaptability with their talons than ponies did with their hooves, which certainly lended well to Gilda's craft.

"Woah, bro."

"Dude, I told you this would be awesome!"

The cheers and jeers of their audience reminded Nora why she was here. She fingered Gilda with delight, trying to outmatch her before the griffon could one up her. It wasn't working. Gilda's dextrous claws were assaulting Nora's pussy, which was already slick at the attention.

"Hey, c'mon girls, I wanna see you really get into it!" said Score, looking on from in front of the pair, stroking his cock slightly with one hoof. "How 'bout a friendly little competition? First one to make the other cum gets an extra 50 bits?"

The mention of bits sent Gilda into overdrive, fingering Nora with neither mercy not restraint. Her knees quaked, struggling to keep her upright in this uncomfotable squat as she reached over to continue playing with Gilda's pussy. Before she could even escalate things further, Gilda continued her advance, leaning in with her beak and tonguing her.

"Ah!" cried Nora at the sudden assault, completely caught off guard, her nether regions shuddering under the wet muscle's diligent care.

She felt like her knees were going to give out soon if she didn't come up with something. Gilda was wet from her own advances, but the griffon hardly seemed to care, pushing on unaffected. It wasn't enough.

Nora looked around, assessing her options. Shrouded in the alleys, before her were three pegasus stallions enjoying the show, looking on from behind thick, wavy manes and calling out to the pair, egging them on. Occasionally they would hover mid-air for a moment to get a new angle on the porn scene that was unfolding before them. When they did so, their flopping cocks were easy to get sight of, calling to attention against the dreary backdrop of the street. They had no qualms about stroking themselves off to the show. To her right stood Gilda, poised on three legs as her remaining claw pumped Nora's pussy, her middle talons thrusting in and out like a piston while one rubbed her clitoris and another simply kept her steady. Gilda's tongue lolled out of her beak, slurping at Nora's wanting flesh, complimenting her fingering technique and keeping her well lubricated. Despite the seemingly obvious disadvantage that a beak would present for oral fun, Gilda had the talent of a champion, showing no signs of any weakness. Meanwhile, Gilda's own backside stuck out at an angle, raised slightly from Gilda bringing her face in to Nora's crotch. Her lion-like tail swished absentmindedly, the only notable reaction from her rear end, despite Nora's own tender care back there, fingers quickening in a vain attempt to get the greedy girl to cum.

Perhaps Gilda had done this with mares before. She certainly had been quick enough to jump in at the offer the jocks had made them, despite her less than sunny disposition toward the human, though it seemed that the generous promise of bits had more to do with that than anything. Then again, maybe she was just adaptable - her methods had proven plenty effective so far, Nora reminded herself as she bit her bottom lip to suppress a moan - even with an unfamilair biped to contend with. Nora thought back to her own first time with a mare - with Lyra. She had just laid on the floor and let the unicorn fondle her silly. She hadn't actually needed to show any kind of skill with the female sex. It seemed that was biting her in the ass now.

As Nora's lower half quaked, she made a rash decision. By bringing in her mouth, Gilda had an advantage over her. Nora couldn't meet her on her level from this position, at least without permanently altering her spine. Her knees and feet hurt at the strain of keeping her situated at half height so she could pleasure the griffon in kind. So she decided to do the only thing she could think of, even if it did seem a little gross.

She immediately retreated, sitting down on the ground, her bare ass touching base on the public footpath that who knew how many ponies, or even animals, had walked over. As much as she found the thought uncomfortable, she supposed that it was unlikely anypony had done anything dirtier than she was about to on this pavement, which brought her a modicum of comfort.

Gilda stopped, pupils shrinking in surprise at the human's movement, a limp claw hanging in the air where she had just been working her vagina, and a limp tongue flopping out her beak, dangling freely with nothing to lick. Before she could react further, Nora spun around on her posterior, laying down in the process, until her head was below the griffon's own. Gilda looked down at her, a puzzled expression betraying her confusion, eyebrow cocked. Nora slid on the ground with her hands, positioning herself under Gilda's feathered body, before lunging her hands up and wrapping them around Gilda's barrel. Nora heard an alarmed squak in response.

Having Gilda just where she wanted her, she pulled her body in, sending her bounding down onto the human, her legs splaying out in all cardinal directions, unprepared to support her descent in the wake of such velocity.

Then, Nora immediately started eating her out.

She showed no mercy, assaulting her with her tonuge. She didn't just lap at Gilda's waiting pussy, she penetrated it, felt around her insides with her tongue in a display of unexpected domination. She nipped at her lower lips, running rows of teeth along her folds, stimulating her with every possible part of her mouth. She sucked on Gilda's pussy, causing it to puff out, drinking in her fluids and lavishing her in plenty of her own.

With her hands, she traced one digit along the base of Gilda's tail, fingertips massaging it dutifully. She made an educated guess that this may be a sensative spot for her, given how much she had been flicking it about earlier. Whether that applied to all griffons or just Gilda in particular, she couldn't say, but Nora seemed to be right on the money, her finger work rewarded with frenzied cries of pleasure above her. Her other hand stroked the griffon's soft back, occasionally diverting its attention to one of her wings, running fingers through the loose feathers. If Nora was going to do this, she was going to give it her all.

Gilda moaned and huffed, and her ass tightened at the attention her rear end received, her back legs even wrapping around Nora's head as best they could. She sputtered and flailed for a few seconds, panting heavily at the stimulation, before eventually re-joining the fray, bringing beak and claws back to Nora's own exposed pussy. Gilda certainly had a big head start, but Nora regained a lot of ground with this unexpected tactic, now fully able to pleasure Gilda with her mouth and both hands at the same time. The playing field was level.

"Buck yeah, Nora! Take it to her!"

"Give er' tartarus, Gilda! Get back in the game if you want those bits, you slut!"

The chants from their pleased spectators echoed out, reverberating against the closed in walls. Nora didn't need the encouragement that their words provided, but took it anyway. For her part, Gilda was getting back into the swing of things again, lavishing her pussy with affection. It proved to be too little too late, however.

Feeling a tightening around her as she continued eating the bird pussy sat on her face, Nora knew that Gilda was about to burst. She gave a particularly devilish flick of her tongue around the clit, and spanked her flank for added effect, while her other hand rubbed along her tail from base to tip in one lightning quick motion.

That had done it.

Nora felt the lapping at her own crotch stop, as talons remained frozen, buried half way in, the griffon's activities seizing up as Gilda brought her head away from the floor. Nora couldn't see her face at all from where she laid, but she was sure she was scrunching her face up in an attempt to suppress what was about to come.

The dam broke, and Nora felt the gushing of fluid on her face, raining down from above as the griffon squirted over her.

Victory.

It had never tasted this sweet. Except... as she closed her eyes at the sudden rush of wetness, she was doused a lot heavier than she had expected. And it wasn't stopping. No longer able to contain her need to know what was going on, she half opened her left eye, cautious not to get any griffon juices in it, before recoiling in horror as she saw a distinct yellow tinge to the droplets in the veritable stream pouring down on her.

Nora closed her eyes and turned her head, but she had no way of avoiding it, her faced marked by the griffon like a lamppost by a dog. She heard a thumping toward her feet, and it seemed that Gilda was pounding the ground with a clenched fist in frustration. Meanwhile, laughter roared from around her as male voices spoke.

"Dude, she made her cum so hard she pissed herself!"

Craning her neck to try and catch sight of the onlooking stallions, she saw them slapping their kness, laughing.

Nora flushed immediately, Gilda having made an unwitting spectacle out of her. The griffon herself seemed more frustrated, though, despite not being on the receiving end of the impromptu golden shower. She picked herself up off Nora, circling around to meet her gaze, angry eyes gazing back at her as she pointed an accusatory talon at the prone Nora. Gilda's face was red as well, though with shame or rage, Nora could not tell.

"You!" cried the griffon. "You... you cheated! I had you... I totally had you..."

She began pacing in circles, her long tail dangling behind her. Her turning circle was so narrow that she probably could have taken the tip of her tail in her beak if she wanted, like some strange twist on an ouroboros.

Nora sat up and spat several times, getting the taste of Gilda's piss off her lips. Her face was slick, though not drenched, and her hair was now matted. As Gilda made a show of her spinning, she could see that her fur was stained by the activity slightly as well.

"I..." said Nora, dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, stomps of approval and cheers came from the trio of pagasi, who came up to greet her like some sort of returning sports star after a win at a big game. Hoops wrapped his right foreleg around her neck as she remained seated on the ground, befuddled.

"Awesome stuff out there, Nora! I never thought I'd see the day somepony turns Gilda the griffon into a quivering mess."

"I just can't believe it was a mare to do it," added Dumbell, "Thought it'd take the king of all stallion dicks to take her down a peg, but you showed her with that tongue and those... those..."

"Fingers..."

"Right, those fingers of yours!"

Hoops and Dumbell high-fived as Score slowly trotted over.

"I can't believe she just pissed on me..." Nora muttered, more to herself than anyone.

"Well, I think we all learned who the real star of this town is," chimed in Score, giving Nora a congratulatory pat on the back. "You're the whore I come to when I'm in town from now on, Nora. After all, the old one might spring another leak."

The stallions all bellowed out in more laughter, merriment in the air at Nora's victory over the griffon, while Gilda abruptly stopped in her tracks before pivoting on the spot so that she was facing Nora and her sudden entourage.

"What the buck ever! So you can pull a few dirty moves, you think that makes you special? You may have cheated your way into a win there, but you'll never be able to ride a dick like I can. That's why the colts flock to me," she excalimed, gesturing at herself with a talon that took the role a thumb would on a human hand.

Nora's head span. She hadn't planned for any of this. She just wanted things to go back to normal.

"Look, look," she said, holding up her hands with palms flat in a way she hoped came across as conciliatory. "I just want to work the streets I've always worked."

Always may have been a stretch - she hadn't been here that long, after all, and even less of that time had been spent pimping herself out - but still, the point stood. Gilda was on her terf, and while she may not be so averse to the competition under normal circumstances, it was basically her fault that Twilight was on the look out for roaming skanks in the area.

"I dunno, sounds like tailfeathers wants to prove her worth to me, don't you think so, boys?"

Hoops and Dumbell nodded and murmured in agreement at Score's assertion. It seemed he was well and truly throwing down the gauntlet, meeting Gilda's passionate stare with a cool, relaxed look.

"Maybe beaky here wants to show us all what she can do. Another contest?" chimed in Hoops.

Gilda, far from being perturbed at the sudden escalation, took it in her stride, strutting and puffing up her chest in an attempt at rekindling some pride, despite her yet red face.

"You're on!" she said. "Me and the two-legged freak, one on one. First to make one of you assholes cream yourself wins."

She blew some feathers out of her face, still visibly dismayed at having literally wet herself in her last venture, but her bravado quickly showing signs of returning. She had something of a commanding presence, even in such circumstances.

"Probably won't take long," she continued, pointing at Hoops and Dumbell. "I bet you two are a couple of two-pump chumps, anyway. Not that you wouldn't be if you've never had pussy this good before."

"Oh, we'll put you in your place, missy," said Hoops.

"When I'm done with you you'll be begging to ride me again! You'll do it for free!" said Dumbell with a whinny, rearing up on his back hooves in a flashy display.

"Yo," came a voice from in front of Nora. "What about me? I want some action."

"Nah, you already got yours, Score. Go keep guard or something," retorted Hoops.

"Well, I paid, so I ain't sitting this one out. Sorry, bro," replied Dumbell.

With a huff and a pout, Score wandered out of the way, standing back a few paces as the remaining pair looked to take position.

"I didn't say I'd agreed to any of this," said Nora, finally picking herself off the floor. She looked down at the leering Gilda, her beak twisted into a grimace.

"You're just chicken," came her snappy reply.

"The only one here who looks like a chicken is you. Or maybe more like a turkey, actually," said Nora, to a chortle from the stallions surrounding them. "But I already got paid, and I got my extra 50 bits for whooping your sorry flank. What's in it for me?"

It wasn't like Nora to get cocky, but the events of the night had taken their toll. Between Gilda's harsh treatment of her, Nora discovering that she had been the cause of much of her recent trouble, and not the mention the incident that had just occurred, she was irate. Deservedly so, she felt.

Gilda, however, wasn't backing down. "Winner takes all," she said. "And loser cleans up."

Winner takes all, eh? That's over 1,000 bits...

"Fine. I'll take your bits as well as your dignity."

"Dignity will be the last thing on your mind when you're on the floor eating the cum out of my pussy."

Nora dusted down her back and ass, wiping loose gravel off of herself as she frowned at the tomboy. "We'll see about that..."

Hoops and Dumbell were still hard from before - as was Score, for that matter. None of the trio had cum to their little peep show. They both looked at her and Gilda both, then at each other.

Dumbell was the first to speak up. "I wanna score with the bird slut. I bet I can tame her."

Gilda merely rolled her eyes at this, but strolled up to the boasting stallion all the same.

"Whatever," came Hoops' voice, "I wanted to fuck the winner anyway. Look how small her flanks are, I bet she's tight as can be!"

Nora, despite herself, blushed a little at the compliment. The two stallions stood side by side, allowing the competitors to ready themselves. She noticed that Hoops' dick was mottled - it was kind of cool, actually. Gilda was already in position, but Nora had to get on her hands and knees for this.

"We'll begin when they're both fully hilted," she said, looking to her left at Gilda, not wanting the griffon to have an advantage over her again - Nora's human anatomy would definitely make the initial penetration more difficult, and thus slower.

When Gilda nodded in agreement, presumably unaware of the motives behind the request, Nora took a deep breath, relaxing her muscles as best she could as she felt Hoops guide his cock into her with his hoof from behind.

She shuddered at the feeling, thankful for his slow approach as his flared head scraped against her insides, sending her tingling. Gilda, for her part, seemed to be having less trouble, Dumbell already fully buried inside her as she stood looking on at Nora, an arrogant scowl on her face.

When she eventually felt Hoops' sheath against her lips, she knew he was fully in. Emptying her lungs, testing the limits of her breathing again now that he was inside as far as he could go, she steadied herself, fingers spreading out on the ground to provide as much balance as possible.

"Okay, ready, boys?" she said, looking up at Hoops' face directly above her. She had to admit, he was a picture of masculinity, as were the others. All three seemed well defined with rippling muscles, and their long, flowing hair along with their bad boy attitudes did make Nora's heart flutter, just a little. She would have been happy with any of these fellas rutting her.

He nodded once, resolutely, letting out a horse-like snort, the hot air hitting the back of Nora's neck and driving her wild with anticipation already. To her left, Dumbell also nodded, confirming his eagerness to begin.

"Count us in, one of you."

"I'll do it," said Gilda. "Poor slut here probably has trouble with numbers, if she thinks her odds of beating me are any greater than zero."

Nora just rolled her eyes.

"Okay... three... two... on- oh!"

Before Gilda had even finished her last word, Dumbell had already begun his onslaught, retracting out of her half way before thrusting back into her, catching her firmly off guard. Upon seeing that the contest had begun, Hoops followed suit, unhilting himself from Nora in order to pump back into her, opting for smaller, quicker thrusts as to not overwhelm the tight human.

Nora appreciated his tact, wondering how she would cope with these colts at their full strength. They were all big down there, even by pony standards. Her tunnel contracted, squeezing the life out of the cock that filled her, urging it to cum. The motion was involuntary, spurred on by the hearty fucking she was receiving, but she would have put on her best effort regardless, desparate to show up Gilda and get her off her back once and for all.

The griffon, for her part, seemed to be in her element, beak open and cawing in delight at Dumbell's initial lunges, before quickly regaining composure and remaining steady and stonefaced, her professional side coming out in full force. It had become clear by now that she was motivated purely by money, not by pleasure, like Nora, which seemed to allow her more detachment from sex. Right now that was a plus, as she focused purely on her partner's pleasure, not her own. Nora, meanwhile, had her mind go blank at the intense pounding her pussy was getting, the sheer presence of the musclebound stallion overwhelming her. She could feel Hoops breathing in her ear, his pants and grunts making a home for themselves in her head. His noises drove her wild with delight.

So, too, did the feeling of his hulking muscles behind his skin, layered in soft pony fur, pushing and sliding against Nora's back, his strong legs cradling her own legs and arms as she bounced her ass under him. He was all stallion, alright. And after her little lesbian foray with Gilda earlier, brought into fruition at the promise of bits, Nora was remembering just how much she loved stalllions.

"~Unf... fuck me harder, big boy. I wanna scream so loud they hear it in Yakyakistan."

Hoops was loving every moment, gladly complying with Nora's request, swapping his early gentle thrusts for big, heaving lunges, removing his length from her almost entriely before pushing it back in in an instant.

"Yes, yes!"

Nora cried out like a whore, melting under Hoops' care. She could see Score spying on at the fuckfest, still jerking himself, sat on his haunches with a longing look on his face. Gilda, meanwhile, was debasing herself far less, moving her ass in fluid motions, arching her back to ensure the entirety of Dumbell's length hit her. As he would pull out, winding up for another strike, she would thrust her own flansk back to meet his base again, giving him no quarter. The pair had taken several steps backwards due to this approach. It seemed to be working, the stallion's control of the situation thoroughly out of his hooves as Gilda domianted him from below, milking his penis with every loving shake of her booty. The griffon still sported a cool exterior, no obvious signs of pleasure on her face now, after Dumbell's initial surprise start was out of the way. She looked like she could do this in her sleep. Nora had to be impressed - she couldn't help it, even if she wasn't happy about the fact. If Gilda kept up this kind of pressure, Dumbell would burst in no time, and she'd be out 550 bits for nothing.

She knew that she would lose if things didn't change, but she had little more to give. She tried pushing her own behind into Hoops' oncoming thrusts, arching her own back more until her face barely hovered above the ground, but her tightness as well as the sheer pace of Hoops' lunging left her unable to do much to match him, her lot leaving her fit for submission and little else.

"C'mon, pony boy, breed me! Let loose, you know you want it!"

She begged Hoops, beckoning him on with her words. He was still giving it his all, ravaging Nora with no restraint, but she could do little to spur on his orgasm. His tongue flopped out of his half-open mouth to her side, swaying with his motions. It soon came in to give Nora a long, tender lick along her face, beginning at her chin and ending at her left eye. Her cheek wet with stallion spit, Nora felt her own inner fire flare up at the animalistic attention, wondering how much longer she could last, herself.

"Shoot, Hoops! Shoot inside of me. I, uh... I want your foals."

If her hands weren't currently gripping the ground, holding on for dear life at the violent dicking she was taking, Nora would have facepalmed, her panicked attempt at sexy talk coming out rather awkward. She said what she imagined stallions would like to hear in this situation, but her mistake was not fully committing to the line. Gilda snorted to her left, still working Dumbell's cock like a pro. Dumbell's eyes were shut tight and he was barely even moving anymore, Gilda doing the bulk of the work between the two from below. Despite the premise of this little contest, she was the one fucking him, there was no mistaking it. He looked like he was trying not to blow his load.

"Fuck," Nora whispered, seeing that the end was nigh. Desperate, she tried the last thing she could think of: bargaining. "Hoops, if you cum inside me right now, I'll give you another round for free."

Hoops seemed elated at this news, responding in kind by hilting himself in her rapidly, his girth testing the woman's limits.

"Hey!" came the voice of an irate Score. "What about me? I already sat out once!"

"Okay, yes, you too. ALL of you. Just cum in me, please!"

"Holy horsefeathers!" came Score's awestruck reply, his jaw remaining slack for a second. "Dumbell, hold it in like your life depends on it, I want that free rut!"

Dumbell merely wore a sheepish grin, his eyes not readable behind his black locks. "I, uh..."

Gilda moved forward slowly, unhitching herself from the stallion. A long cock flopped out, dangling limpy under Dumbell's body, coated in white goo. Gilda's own pussy was also stuffed, cum dripping out on the ground below. She bore the most maniacal, boasting smirk Nora had ever seen. She stared down at the human, still getting pounded on her hands and knees.

"Fuck," said Nora in irritation, before Hoops hit her at just the right spot. "Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck!"

She squirted over his spotted dick, coating the stallion in her juices, before he responded in kind, finally cumming - and with some force, too. Nora rested her head on the ground, unable to support herself, arms and legs shaking at the sensation of being filled. Rope after rope of thick cream shot into her, Hoops' pulsing hardness carressing her all the while.

Damn it!

Hoops finally stopped, pulling out of the defeated human. She laid there a moment, finding the strength to stand. When she went to sit up after a few seconds, a griffon's claw pushed on her shoulder, keeping her down.

"Nuh uh uh, Nora," said Gilda. It may have been the first time she had used her name. "We had a deal. Loser cleans up, remember?"

Before they could continue, a round of cheers sounded off as the stallions congratulated Gilda. It was strange that they were suddenly buddy-buddy with her right after mocking her and singing Nora's praises only minutes ago.

"Knew I'd tame your ass, you bratty griffon!"

"And I knew griffons were better lays than... whatever that thing said she is again."

"No way, dude, you were drooling over that two legged slut, like, what - two minutes ago?"

"Was not!"

"Shut up, boys. We get to watch more action, remember?"

After pinning Nora to the ground, Gilda waited for the colts to pipe down, before positioning herself over the human once again, her rear over Nora's face. She lowered herself steadily as droplets of cum leaked out, spotting Nora's face.

This was the exact position they had been in before, when Nora had pulled her in for a surprise attack. She felt confident, then. She did not now. The harrowing memory of what Gilda had done to her so recently from this exact angle also still reared its ugly head, though she mostly felt confident that there wouldn't be a repeat of that little incident.

"Hope the cum tastes better second-hoof, bitch."

Nora stuck out her tongue hesitantly. She moved in slowly, closer to the leaking griffon pussy. She may have joked about Gilda looking like a turkey earlier, but with Dumbell's cum overflowing from her backside like this, she did kind of remind Nora of a stuffed bird at Thanksgiving.

She took a cautious taste, licking off some of the semen that poured out, not really having to bury herself in Gilda's pussy just yet to wipe off the excess of cum that spilled from her. It was a strange experience - she had eaten plenty of stallion cum before, but never off of another pony - or griffon, in this case. She had done much more adventurous stuff behind closed doors, but knowing how much Gilda was enjoying her victory made the affair a humiliating one all the same.

She went in for another mouthful, slurping up some stands that landed around the outside of Gilda's vagina, cleaning her cheeks. The cum was quickly sticking to her fur, and so Nora got plenty of fur in her mouth as she dragged her tongue along Gilda's ass.

"Let this be a lesson," came a cocky voice from above, "That there's just no beating griffon pussy. So next time, don't even try."

Nora sighed, resigned to her fate. As she cleaned Gilda, it was not long before she had to go deeper, pushing her tonuge into her folds, scraping out every drop of cum she could reach. The griffon looked spotless by the time Nora was done with her.

Eventually content that she could do no more, having upheld her end of the bargain, Gilda clambered off of Nora, letting her up.

"Good work, slut. I can see why you're in the biz, at least."

Was that a compliment from her? It was hard to tell.

The three pegasi gathered round again, Hoops and Dumbell looking recovered from their earlier exercise. The three had had quite a night. As Gilda snatched her winnings from an offered hoof, they spoke up.

"There's just one more item of business," said Dumbell, a devious look about him.

"You see," continued Score. "Your little offer earlier didn't mention anything about Hoops cuming before Dumbell. You just said he had to cum."

"And that I did," concluded Hoops, beating his chest with a hoof pridefully.

"So as far as we can see," Score went on.

"You owe us all a free fuck! Pronto!" they all piped up in unison.

Nora stood there, flabbergasted.

"Hey!" came Gilda's voice from behind her. "That's not what she meant and you know it! Back off, dweebs!"

She was... defending her? Nora was grateful, despite how unexpected it was.

"Stay out of this, tailfeathers!"

Gilda leered at the group. "You three have been bad news since flight school."

Hang on, thought Nora. They know each other?

Well, that certainly frames the fact that they were paying her for sex in a slightly different light. Suddnely Nora wondered how much Gilda really wanted to be here.

"It's okay, Gilda..." said Nora, looking at the griffon softly, before trying to put on an air of authority. "I'll show these three a good time. You can stick around and watch, if you want. You may yet learn something."

"Pfft, no thanks," said Gilda, tutting. She picked up her two jumbo bags of gold and took to the skies. "I'm outta here. Until next time, dweebs!"

She vanished beyond view over a rooftop, gone.

"Well," said Score, "With her out of the way, that only leaves one thing left. Who's first?"

"First?" said Nora, confused. "I thought you all wanted to go at once."

From their reactions, it was clear they had not been expecting that at all. Still, Nora was happy to kill three birds with one fuck. She didn't want to be hanging around all night, and she was conscious of the fact that she was still naked in a public alley that anypony could, in theory, pass by, even at this late hour.

"Buck yeah! I call her ass!" cried Hoops, pumping a hoof.

"I call pussy. Let's see how you compare with miss bitchypants," said Dumbell with a snort.

Score still seemed dumbfounded at Nora's offer to pleasure the three of them together, his mouth gaping.

"What's up, big boy? Cat got you tongue? It's okay, you can have mine," she said with a wink, opening her mouth and pointing at her throat.

The three quickly scrambled to get into position, not believing their luck. Dumbell laid down on the floor, his stallionhood already sprung back to life and waiting. Score stood by his head while Hoops waited at his tail. Nora climbed atop the pony, straddling his soft barrel and taking each of his front hooves in her hands. She backed up, sliding her ass down his front until it made contact with his meaty member. Bracing herself, she lifted herself off the colt momentarily, getting into position, before guiding her pussy over his tip.

She lowered herself onto Dumbell, already slick and loose from fucking Hoops prior. When she took him about half way, she stopped. "Better get both of you in, now," she said, looking at Hoops. "You might not fit otherwise."

He didn't need to think things over. Hoops put his front hooves on her cheeks, spreading them to inspect the goods. He leaned in with his muzzle, his breath tickling her butthole, taking a quick whiff of her scent.

"Bro, she looks so tight," he said, voice nearly failing. It was clear that they were used to ponies and other equine-adjacents - her own small human holes must have been an enticing treat.

Bringing his penis to her ass, he slowly worked it in, stretching her out.

"Ohh, slowly, big guy... fuck."

Nora rarely did anal, and she had certainly never done it while having her pussy fucked simultaneously. This would be one for the résumé. Hoops wasn't able to get in as far as Dumbell, her ass holding a smaller capacity for stallion cock, but he had well and truly entered her, nonetheless.

As she lowered herself slightly more on Dumbell's dick, she leaned forward, mouth open, awaiting Score. His big, delicious looking cock waiting for her, staring her head on. As he stepped forward, it booped her on the nose.

"Alright, girlie," said Score. "Let's do this!"

She took his tip in her mouth and began sucking. It wasn't long before she felt movement to her rear, Dumbell and Hoops slowly starting to slide in and out of her other holes. They were being gentle for now, but already the sensation made it difficult to concentrate on giving head, the stuffing she was receiving proving a lot to handle already.

She moaned into Score's dick as they continued, still holding steady against Dumbell's hooves for support. Her tongue danced around his girth, pulling all its usual tricks. She sucked and slurped and drank in his musky scent, all the more potent from his earlier romp with Gilda and the long wait before his erection was finally seen to. His arousal had been brewing for some time now, and it showed, his face scrunching up as she took in more of his length, eager to please.

Meanwhile her bottom was being stretched out by the other two, Dumbell going deeper thanks his choice of entrance as well as gravity doing some of his work for him, sending Nora sliding further down his pole with every thrust. Hoops, however, had more difficulty, her tight ass proving too much of a bulwark against his advances, not really able to bury much more of himself in her than he initially had.

Nora's mind flooded as the cocktail of hormones hit her. She had never felt like more of a woman, at the mercy of three throbbing great stallions who used her like a simple fucktoy.

Man, Gilda is missing out...

She sucked down more of Score's dick, taking him deeper as he grunted. Her tongue couldn't do much work on him, now, confined to sitting flat on the floor of her mouth in order to accommodate his size. Dumbell seemed to have capped out the extent of his cock he could fit in her with Hoops also fighting for space inside her. The laying pony bucked up into her, but couldn't fully thrust from this position - not without a lot of strenuous effort, at least. That was probably for the best. Hoops, however, was making progress, fitting slightly more of his needy dick into her asshole. The feeling of the two stallionhoods rubbing against one another between her inner walls was mind melting. She would have given anything to feel like this all the time.

Hoops and Dumbell opted for taking turns - as one would push in, the other pulled out. There was a delightful mid-point, however, where they met in equalibrium, both half-hilted in the human's holes, each not quite reaching the end of their journey. This was the point at which she found heaven. Her ass was already sore and stretched from the activity, and her pussy wasn't faring much better, but she wouldn't trade it for the world right now. Score, too, was getting bolder, taking a more proactive approach in pushing his length down her throat. She could never fully take him, but she did the best she could, her small human mouth working overtime for his benefit.

The four of them continued on like this for some time, the alleyway orgy getting into full swing. As they quickly found a rhythm on which to operate, the mechanical motions of the sex become almost routine with surprising alacrity. All good things, however, must come to an end. Score was the first one to began faulting, from what Nora noticed. Her slick throat had certainly washed waves of pleasure up into his core, and he looked like he was barely holding on. The fact that his needs had been left unattended the longest beforehand probably had something to do with it, and he had been tugging himself at the sight of her and Gilda getting rammed earlier, so it made sense that he was close now.

His cock twitched in her mouth, signalling what was to come. Nora pulled her head back considerably, not wanting to meet an early grave choking on a fat load. As he fired off, a thick string hit her uvula right away, causing her to withdraw entirely, coughing and sputtering. Score finished on her face as she struggled, a dopey smile on his face.

"F... fuck..." was all she could manage when she finally caught her breath. The other two showed no sign of slowing down, either.

"Hey, dumbo, bet I outlast you again," taunted Hoops from behind her.

"Oh, you're on!" replied the brown pony from underneath her, a competitive look in his eyes as his mane flopped out of his face, flashing teeth.

The pair didn't let up, despite thier impromptu contest. They gave it to her for all they were worth, pounding the poor woman nearly senseless. Their feathers tickled her sides, wings hugging her body close. It was nifty how pegasi could use them for extra leverage like that. As they wrapped their wings around her, pistoning in and out of her ass and pussy with precision timing, Nora knew her own orgasm was imminent.

"Fill me you... you stupid jocks! Give it to me good!"

She rocked her body, moving her hips to try and meet their thrusts. Her mouth now left wanting, she moved her face in to meet Dumbell's, meeting him in an extraordinarily sloppy french kiss. As they cired and moaned silently into each other's mouths, she felt a rush from her pussy.

High tide was here. She squirted out, coating Dumbell with her fluids, screaming into his throat with delight. He quickened his own thrusting at this, letting her ride out her orgasm with no reprieve while Hoops continued battering her ass. She wrapped her hands around Dumbell's body, matching the hug his wings gave her, thrusting her chest into his.

The intensity of the attention she lavished on him proved too much. In no time, Dumbell was on the brink himself, his thick cock pulsing inside her pussy. With no warning her fired off, shooting his baby batter into her.

"H-Hey, stop moving so much," came the shaky voice of Hoops, Nora's ass finding new angles as she spasmed and jolted, his position already more awkward thanks to her collapsing on Dumbell below. This had only served to add to his pleasure, her hiney twisting and turning on the tip of his dick as he tried to match her angle, milking him. With Dumbell fully hilted in Nora, still spurting inside her, and Nora's ever changing movements, Hoops could not keep up, pulling out of her ass as his flared tip ached. There just wasn't room for him in her anymore. It didn't much matter, however, as the act of pulling out, cool night air hitting his soaked dick as her soft cheeks shook at his exit, sent him spiralling into a pit of bottomless pleasure. In an instant, he came, coating Nora's back as she hugged Dumbell for dear life.

When the final stallion stopped, his seemingly endless waves of cum finally ceasing, Nora flopped off his right side, laying on her own side on the cold ground, her pussy twitching as she came again, the mere act of pulling out setting her off once more. She clutched her sex with one hand as she squirted over herself, shaking on the floor.

"Ahhh, ahhh, I - I can't stop..."

Nora's hand was drenched by the time she was done; she seemed to have multiple mini-orgasms at once, if such a thing were possible. She was a writhing mess, thoroughly used and abused.

As she collected herself, she heard the stallions butting heads once more.

"Dude, you totally came first!"

"Yeah, but you finished first! One load on her back while I'm still pumping her full of Dumbell goo."

"That doesn't count, you came first, so you lose!"

"Whatever, bro."

Nora twisted her body, laying on her other side to face the stallions. Despite the petty rivalry they all looked pretty happy.

"You rock, Nora!" said Hoops, coming over to offer her a hoof up. She took it gladly.

"Yeah, totally! I'm gonna spread the word about how great 'human' pussy is!"

"Just so long as you keep it discrete," she said, calmly but with some assertion. The last thing she needed was this spiralling out of control - half the reason she was here was to ensure Gilda didn't compromise things for her, after all, and loose lips from these three would certainly compound that problem.

"I've never seen anything like you," said Score, "But I wanna again!"

She gave his mane a tousle. "Next time you're in town, maybe."

"Buck yeah! Gilda's alright, pretty good fuck an' all, but you're somethin' else, sweetheart!"

"Thanks for the free fuck," concluded Dumbell, "Maybe I'll buy you dinner next time!"

And with that, the three took off, not another word.

Well, that was certainly... something.

Pausing a moment to let the events of the night sink in, her thoughts were interrupted.

"Hey," called out a familiar voice.

Gilda the griffon peered out, perched atop an overlooking rooftop. She landed gracefully in front of Nora, wearing a less prickly expression than she was used to.

"That was pretty hardcore. You've got spunk."

"Um, thanks..."

Nora rubbed an arm gingerly. She was still naked, so this felt a little weird.

"Were you... there the whole time?" she asked.

"Just making sure those knuckleheads didn't give you any trouble."

Okay, that was actually really sweet. It seemed the griffon wasn't done, either. She reached into one of her pouches, procuring a small clawful of bits, holding them out in front of her. "Your 50 bits," she said plainly. "For beating me earlier."

Nora took the coins. It wasn't much - hardly worth the trouble of giving her, really - but it seemed that Gilda had to battle with herself to even part with this much. Just how money focused was she?

Nora took them appreciatively, less so because of the bits and more so out of respect for the gesture - clearly this was difficult for Gilda, so she must have been sorry.

"And... my bad about, y'know... on you, earlier," she said, a claw behind her head, looking like she wanted to die on the spot. "I... I just got... excited."

"Thanks," repeated Nora.

The two shared a moment of awkward silence, before the griffon spoke up once more. "So... word really got out about me? The heat's on?"

Nora coughed into her fist. "Well, the local princess of friendship was about to call the guard in to clear you out, yeah."

Gilda looked horrified at this, and still a bit bashful. "Well, I usually skip town after a while anyway. Can't linger too long, gotta hit the open skies and all that."

She reminded her of Dash, talking like that. Nora wondered if the two would get on.

"Anyway, I'll be more... careful next time," Gilda declared. "You be careful, too."

Before Nora could absorb her words, she turned tail and fled into the night as well.

The woman stood there, puzzled and tired. She had pony and griffon feathers stuck to her nude body, held in place by sweat and cum. She would probably need two baths just to feel right after it all. She walked up to the corner of the alley to find her clumped pile of clothes. She couldn't get dressed, not like this. Not without ruining yet another set of clothes, at least.

She contemplated her evening. She had taken four dicks, gotten pissed on, and eaten cum out of a griffon's pussy, and she was only 50 bits richer for it. She normally thought of herself as a whore, but she was pretty sure whores got paid a lot better than this.

She let out a deep sign, looking at the position of the moon in the sky. It was late; really late. Perhaps more accurately, really early. The darkenss wouldn't last much longer, and ponies were early risers.

Well, she concluded, picking up her heap of clothes in her cleanest hand. Quick streak home it is.

Poetry in Motion (pt.1)

"Yo, Rarity."

Nora wasn't quite sure why she was often so blasé in her greeting to the fashionista - she didn't put on a hyper-casual act with anypony else. Perhaps Rarity's natural stiff, prissy aura just made Nora instinctually veer toward the direct opposite with her speech patterns. Who could say.

"'Yo' yourself, darling," she said with a wink.

These ponies, man. Such goofballs sometimes. Nora chuckled behind a hand.

"Something amusing, dear?" inquired the marshmallow-hued pony.

"Oh, nothing really, it's just funny hearing you say that word," she confessed.

"Whyever would that be? I can be 'hip' and 'with it', too, you know!" she bounced back uncharacteristically, before giggling herself. Someone was clearly in a silly mood. "Would you like to come in?"

"Actually, I was hoping we could stand around outside for a couple hours and chat," she said, gesturing at the busy streets behind her.

"Okay, we can discuss your underclothes in public if you like."

"Kidding, Rarity! Kidding!"

Nora beckoned with her hands, making her intent known as Rarity made a move to step out of her front door. She retracted at the human's interjection, smiling wryly. Oh, she knew all right... Nora didn't usually try this kind of banter with Rarity, for fear of her taking something the wrong way, but today it was her on the back foot.

The strangely mischievous mare invited her in, and they sat down in her work room, piles of fabric towering around them. It was almost a touch claustrophobic, actually.

She was presented with a saucer and filled teacup as they exchanged further pleasantries - lady stuff. Nora didn't mind it. You tended to get this more with Rarity and Fluttershy, as opposed to the blunt directness of the group's own pair of athletes. Different vibes with different pones, she supposed.

When the idle chatter died down a notch after only a few minutes, Rarity placed her front legs on the table between them, getting down to business.

"Now, about why you're here, darling."

"My top, yeah. Is it ready?"

She had brought a stash of bits to reimburse her friend. She was half worried that Rarity would insist on working for free, otherwise. She was like that with her friends, and throw in Nora's 'unique form' being a prime opportunity for experimental styles, and one may find the unicorn in a mood to decline payment. She had given Nora a lot of gear for nothing in return already. Still, she had fought her enough on money before to be able to insist on compensating her. Even if she probably did wonder where the bits were coming from.

"It certainly is, darling," she said, moving to a freestanding screen at the end of the botique workshop. With an elegent flick of her horn, she threw the screen to one side. "Ta-da!"

It looked good. Dark in color with crimson lace and trim, just as requested. It'd show the goods a little, too. Racy, but... classy.

"It's wonderful, Rarity!"

The outfit was wrapped around a wooden mannequin torso, familiar in shape. It wasn't her first time seeing it. That had ended with her questioning why Rarity had made a dummy with her measurements. Of course, she responded, quite reasonably, that none of her other displays would work. Rarity had false ponies galore about her shop, and even some more exotic creatures too, now that Ponyville was more of a melting pot, all adorned with elegant outfits and fabulous fashion, but still, the idea of her bust being put up there for all to see was a bit embarrassing. It's not like there were any other humans around - it was obviously her chest. That was how she felt at the time, at least, and Rarity had assured her it wouldn't be left around when she wasn't making something for her. In hindsight, Nora didn't know why she had taken issue with it at all. Sure, it was kind of odd, but between then and now, a lot of ponies had seen a lot more of her than that facsimile would reveal. Case in point, her new low cut ensemble, that she'd have probably sucked a dozen dicks in before the end of the month.

"Isn't it just? Not my best work, mind. I obsessed over the material for what felt like weeks, darling!"

"It's only been a few days, Rare."

"Ah, but fashion moves faster than time, Nora."

Sage wisdom, no doubt.

"If you say so..."

Nora extended her right hand, feeling the material. Light, soft. Well made. Shoulderless and strapless to boot. She'd look dynamite in this.

"And that's not the only thing..."

Rarity sidestepped over to another workstation, picking up something by a sewing machine. Where was this going? Nora hadn't requested anything else. She really hoped Rarity hadn't thrown in any freebies, she worked hard enough as it was.

"Wuh?" was Nora's ineloquent response to the surprise. Rarity probably would have had something to say about articulation, but she suppressed it.

The unicorn wore another smile, one that seemed to barely contain itself on her face. It wasn't unusual to see her like this when she had something big to unveil. She was holding some canvas, the back of which faced Nora, concealing the contents of the image.

"You know how I'm always saying how inspired I feel working on items for you, darling?"

"Hmm, yeah..."

For some reason, she didn't like where this was going.

"Well, not only am I fascinted by your species electing to remain dapper at all hours of the day, I've also spent some time ruminating on the nature of the apparel you so adorably require."

Er...

"Er..."

What?

"And so, I put my brilliant mind to work. What kind of things am I making for you most often? Designs that hug the chest, and the waist. Those secret clothes of yours," she said with another wink. Ugh, why was she so hung up on the existence of bras and panties?! Nora wanted to keel over in embarrassment at the mare's enthusiasm with her unmentionables.

"Well, I figured, why should humans have all the fun? I could adapt that sort of design for a pony quite nicely. With my particular artistic skills, of course. And so..."

She flipped the canvas, showing Nora a detailed sketch of a mare showing off a pair of tight-fitting panties. From several angles. The damn thing was even labelled.

"I congratulate you on being the first to bear witness to my new avant-garde 'derrière delights' line!"

Oh, no no no. There was so much wrong with this.

Nora's mind melted slightly as her flustered panic broke out. She couldn't be serious, right? Rarity couldn't have known the cultural associations tied to underwear since ponies didn't, well, wear any, but surely she could tell that it wasn't normal to go waltzing around in it on the regular from the fact that Nora always had at least one degree of separation between her personal attire and the outside world... in Rarity's presence, anyway. Measurement-taking aside.

That wasn't the last of the problems. They looked ridiculous on a pony ass.

The tail looked like it'd get in the way too much, the mare in Rarity's sketch lifting it up awkwardly to fit the fabric hugging her flanks, and the sheer insanity of the portrayal of that tight, dinky little bit of satin smooshing two fat pony cheeks together would haunt Nora for years to come. She knew Rarity's influence in this town. She knew that if she launched pony panties to a crowd of innocent onlookers, they'd adopt it. See it as a cute, quirky trend. Nora couldn't take it. She'd have to move, lest she forever be faced with conversing with mares dressed like they belonged in the red light district while she's trying to barter for carrots at the town market.

"Well, don't be shy, what do you think?" Rarity prompted, scooting forward an inch eagerly in wait of feedback.

"Well..." Nora started. "Well... it's..."

She paused, unsure how to put this. How could this happen? It just wasn't fair.

"It's... different..."

"Isn't it just? Oh, I can see it now. This will be everywhere! A whole new set of clothes to market! Great for sales, too."

"Um, Rarity?"

"Yes, darling?"

"You can't."

Rarity paused, titlting her head with blissfully unaware musing. "Why ever not, darling? Don't you like it?"

"It's... it's just... well..."

Does. Not. Compute.

Nora's brain was on the verge of shutting down completely, when Rarity interjected once more.

"Darling? I've got something I'd like to say, if you please."

Nora looked up at her friend, though tearing her gaze away from her own shoes had been a mammoth task.

"Y..." was all she got out, the affirmation dying in her throat.

"You just got..."

"PRANKED!"

The voices synced up, taking her off guard. At once, a pink blur spun out from behind several stacks of fabric, cartwheeling without difficulty from either the crowdedness of the room or the laws of physics. The blur slowed down, skidding along the floor on its hooves, until the culprit stood before her, wrapping a hoof around Rarity's neck as the two stared up at Nora with big, beaming smiles.

"Got you!" cried Pinkie, gleefully sticking out her tongue.

"Oh, ohohoh," started Nora, half laughing, half crying. She had never been so relieved to be pranked.

"Come now, darling. Did you really think I'd do such a thing? Such attire looks gorgeous on you, don't get me wrong, but some things should stay on two legs," said the perky Rarity.

"I can't agree more," said Nora, relief still washing over her. "Hah, haha."

She laughed in a stilted manner, like someone coming down from the verge of a heart attack.

"We figured you looked kinda glum, and wanted to remind you we're your chums!" said Pinkie, balancing on a single hoof as her legs strutted out in all directions.

"And when Pinkie here approached me with the idea of pranking you, I had just the thing in mind!" said Rarity with some delight. So it wasn't Nora's imagination - she had been in a good mood.

"Oh thank god," she whispered under her breath. "Well, you girls got me good. Does this mean I have to prank you back?"

"Ooh, yeah, do me first, me first!" screamed Pinkie, apparently pleased with the prospect of future victimhood.

"Well, I hope it brighened up your day a little, darling," added Rarity, with some more tact than her pastel friend.

"Between this and my new top, it's been a heck of a morning, alright," Nora conceded. She did wonder slightly what the motivation was. Pinkie said she'd looked down. Perhaps this was just a friendly welcome back to normality now that she and Twilight were on good terms again? Or maybe she had just seemed bummed out when she wasn't getting much in the way of custom the few nights prior. A lack of sex could really sour one's mood at times.

"I figured you were in a teasing mood, Rare. More than usual, at least."

"A lady never tells."

"I totally thought you were gonna burst out laughing, Rarity!" added Pinkie. "I nearly did a super fantupple ninja leap out of my totally secret hiding place to pull down on your smile, because it was thiiiiiis big," she finished, stretching her hooves out as far apart as she could to indicate the apparent measure of her pal's amusement.

"I, um, wouldn't go that far, dear," she said, "Though I must admit, the anticipation was getting to me, just a little."

"You were in such good spirits, I was going to suggest we change your name to Levity," Nora cracked.

"LEVITY! HA!" yelled Pinkie, doubled over and leaning into Rarity's face as she guffawed. The ladylike businessmare took a step to her side at this, getting out of the Pinkie's clutches.

"It wasn't that funny, Pink," Nora concluded, before stretching, mood now stabilized. "Well, glad you two had your fun, at least. I should grab my top. Oh, and your fee, Rarity," she remembered, bringing out a bag of sparkling coins and thrusting them at the white mare, who took them in a magical grasp.

"Always a pleasure, darling," the fashionista replied earnestly.

"You got much more to work on today?" she asked, content to continue with some milder conversation.

"Oh, I'm going gem hunting later. Our little Spikey Wikey is back from his trip! I'm meeting him at the castle next, actually."

"Oh, cool."

"Hey Nora!" came a thunderous voice to her left, reminding her of the other pony in the room. "You should totally tag along with me to Sugarcube Corner! I'm gonna bake up a batch of new, quadruple chocolate chip cookies! The likes of which the world has never seen before..." she squinted, her eyes darting left to right as she leaned in to punctuate the end of her sentence, adding an ill-fitting seriousness to the goofy remark.

Still, Sugarcube Corner was the Cakes' lair. Nora could do without that awkward situation in the making.

"Actually, I think I'll go with Rarity, see our favorite dragon boy. If that's okay with you, Rare."

"But of course, darling."

"Awwww."

Pinkie visibly, and quite literally, deflated, before immediately perking up again.

"Oh well," she summised. "All the more for me!"

And with that, the pink terror was gone, a spring in her step as she all but hopped out of the building without another word.

...Just Pinkie things.

The two remaining ladies exchanged a familiar dumbstruck glance, the kind always seen in the wake of Pinkie's antics.

"...Shall we?"

"Quite."

There was some fanfare at the castle, it seemed. A few of the gang had made their way over to celebrate the roving drake's return. Applejack and Fluttershy, to be precise.

"Howdy, ya'll," greeted the orange farmer.

"Um, hello," rounded off the timid pegasus.

The pair met Nora and Rarity in one of the many inner chambers, seemingly loitering and making small talk with one another when the duo arrived.

"Hey, gals," said Nora with a wave, while Rarity gave a polite nod. "Looks like Spike draws quite the crowd these days. He hasn't been gone that long."

"Oh, well, it's always nice to have a friendly face or two ready to greet-"

"Ah agree, lotta hullabaloo, ain't it?" interjected Applejack, cutting off Fluttershy's train of thought. Not forceful enough to continue, the butter-coated mare shrank under a raised wing, hiding. "Ah mean, ain't like this is the first time dragons have come to visit Ponyville. Still, ah suppose it's only neighobrly of us ta make a fuss."

Dragons? Plural? Nora wondered if AJ's accent was playing tricks on her comprehension skills, or if she had understood her correctly.

"Oh, I wasn't aware Spike was bringing guests," added Rarity, confirming to Nora that she hadn't misheard.

As if on cue, four figures walked in through an nearby entrance. The striking thing, to Nora, was that three of them walked in on two legs.

There was Twilight, flanked by two lumbering lizard-like bipeds, the likes of which she had never seen, with Spike trailing behind. Upon seeing Rarity, he natrually quickened his gait, eyes glossing over as puppy love gripped the sappy dragon. Nora, however, was more interested in the two behemoths in front of her - okay, they weren't giants, but given this was her first time not being the tallest creature in the room since she had teleported to magical horse land, it gave her pause for thought nonetheless.

She had enough context clues to put two and two together, though she never thought she'd actually see it with her own eyes. It was something she dreamt of seeing as a kid, and having two in front of her now actually felt stranger than arriving in Equestria in the first place. "Woah..." she exclaimed. "Real life dragons..."

This prompted a tugging at her leg, a slightly irate pint-sized dragon glancing up at her. "Um, hello," he said, clearly broken free of his Rarity craze by her remark, at least temporarily. "Real dragon, that you've known about for months, two feet in front of you."

"Oh, I just meant... uh... real life grown dragons!"

Her attempt to smooth things over had only made them worse, Spike's brow furrowing in frustration. Whoops.

"Not to say that we don't appreciate our little Spikey Wikey," chimed in Rarity, causing invisible hearts to fill the boy's eyes as he turned to her.

"Eheheh, well, I'm nothin' much, really."

As a scaly claw reached for his neck in faux humility, Nora mentally thanked Rarity for the save. Even if she could get away with calling him little and she couldn't.

She took some time to drink in the appearance of the new dragons. One was a striking blue; a pretty, lithe thing, she didn't look how Nora would have pictured such a creature at all. She seemed to carry herself with a degree of elegance and authority. Her counterpart was a dark-ish red, taller than the cyan dragoness, and counting his orange head fin thingies, he had a little height on Nora herself. He looked more the part of a beast, with sharp fangs jutting out of his overbite and more of a buff, combat-ready build. Like Spike, they carried themselves more like humans, especially in posture - the shoreter one had her hands on her hips, while the grumpy looking red one walked in with folded arms. His hardened stare broke, however, when he laid eyes on her.

"What the heck is that?!"

A pointed claw extended in Nora's direction in a near accusatory manner. Twilight took the opportunity to make introductions, befitting her role as friendship princess. Never off the clock, that pony.

"Ember, Garble, this is my good friend Nora," she said, plainly, though it was evident that the red one - Ember, she guessed from his color - wasn't exactly satisfied with this answer. His associate, having noticed her thanks to his outburst, also looked on curiously, though with less exasperated shock.

"I'm a human," she said lamely. Meeting new people - or, well, ponies, usually - wasn't always a blast. She got this a lot, and it got old quick. It wasn't that she didn't understand their curiosity - really, it was quite reasonable. But being on the receiving end of the same questions became draining. She counted herself lucky that the routine didn't crop up too frequently these days, with her presence in the small rural village well and truly established by now. Still, she was willing to put up with going through the same old song and dance if she got to talk to a couple of dragons for her trouble. Spike was one thing, but he was practically a pony in her eyes. He probably wouldn't appreciate that, but she couldn't help it, he had all their mannerisms, and he was only little, after all, even if his recent wings did give him the ego of a rebellious teenager sometimes.

"Nothin' I ever heard of. Are you some kind of pony pet or something?"

Nora actually contemplated this. Well, technically, that one time with the collar and leash...

Her thoughts, and the brash dragon's arrogance, were cut in twain by a well placed elbow to his side, his female counterpart wearing a slight frown.

"Garble, what did I tell you about first impressions?"

Oh, so he was Garble and she was Ember? Nora figured the reference to fire would suit the red one more, but maybe that was the influence of pony culture digging into her brain. The adorable equines often had names befitting of their looks - either their color, like Rainbow, or their cutie marks, like Applejack. Perhaps dragons would consider that profiling.

"Sorry about that. It's nice to meet you. I've never seen anything like you before," Ember finished, strolling up with an extended claw. Nora took it with a hint of trepidation, not knowing the strength of the being in front of her, but mostly with reverence and awe. She was touching a dragon! A real, living, breathing dragon! How cool was that?!

As she shook hands with the more mild-tempered of the two, she tried to find some words, realizing that it was her turn to speak.

"W-Well, I'm kind of one of a kind..." she said, trailing off as she maintained eye contact with the she-beast in front of her. Wise, orange eyes gazed back, as if pondering what to make of the entity in front of her.

Nora looked behind her, seeing that Spike was very much occupied talking to Rarity and the others, which caused her to feel a little less rude at paying him little attention, given this gathering was more or less in honor of him. Twilight and Garble moved in closer, and the four of them made a little square, conversation now fully in swing.

"You look freaky to me. You stand like a dragon, but you look soft and weak, like a pony."

"Garble!" Ember exclaimed, rubbing her temples and she closed her eyes in frustration. After a second, she looked back at Nora. "He's... new to this whole 'friendship' thing."

"That's actually why they're here!" chimed in Twilight, a grin sprouting on her muzzle.

"It was Spike's idea," continued Ember.

"And a certain dragon lord forced me to go," Garble pouted. Dragon lord, huh? He sounded powerful.

"Garble's actually made decent progress - he didn't even insult me when we met! But his attitude could still use, ah, fine tuning..." relayed Twi sheepishly, whether out of embarrassment at a prospective student not shining under her tutelage, or out of consideration for Garble's feelings. Probably the former, given the latter's apparent disinterest with friendship.

"And I figured the best way to learn was to see it in action. And I know ponies do friendship better than us dragons. Smolder's doing really great since she started school," informed Ember.

Dragon lord? Smolder? Too much information, too fast. It was like being in one of Twi's lectures. Nora tried to absorb as much as she could, even if she didn't have full context for everything just yet. If there was a dragon at a pony school, that'd have to be the school of friendship, currently out for summer. Nora's friends helped run the place, apparently, but she hadn't seen it in action herself.

"This almost sounds like one of those fabled 'friendship problems' I've heard so much about," Nora mused. "Well, nice to meet you both. What exactly are you hoping to see in town?"

"Ooh, I know," interrupted the purple alicorn, characteristically excited at the prospect of helping somepony. "Nora, YOU should show Ember and Garble around town!"

This drew in questioning looks from all three remaining conversationalists. Nora herself was the first to break the short silence that followed Twilight's suggestion.

"Uh... me?" she queried. It seemed a bit out of the blue.

"Sure, why not? You're new in town, so you know what it's like to have to adjust to pony ways, just like Garble!"

But not Ember, apparently? Nora wondered if she was like Spike, and lived with ponies. She did seem a bit more world-weary than he did, though, so perhaps not.

"With you and Ember both helping him acclimatize to how we do things, he'll pick it all up in no time! It's a one way ticket to mastering friendship, I guarantee!"

"I dunno..."

Truth be told, Nora was giddy at the prospect of getting to hang around with some non-ponies for a while, especially mythical creatures of such renown. She used to love dragons as a kid, and even if these ones didn't look like what had been portrayed in her childhood media, she was still down to get to know them. They seemed less stuffy and sugary-sweet than ponies, too, which made for a nice change of pace, since Equestrian life could get boring in its overly safe, predictable nature sometimes. It was like living in a kid's TV show, she would have sworn it.

But all the same, being responsible for them left her a little nervous. She didn't really know all that much about their species, though from what she remembered from Twilight's ramblings, they kept to themselves until fairly recently. That would certainly explain Garble's... disposition. She also remembered Rarity telling her that the Dragon Lands were less than savory. Her tone seemed to imply a hostile place. Perhaps even violent? Nora was sure it couldn't be worse than what humans were capable of, though.

"I think it's a great idea," agreed Ember, to Nora's surprise. "I've been to Ponyville before, but even still, some of these... customs... confuse me. And I may have a little trouble telling ponies apart still," she said, while Twilight shot her a look that betrayed some annoyance at this quality. "At least you stick out in a crowd."

She did make a lot of sense, putting it that way...

"Pfft, what do we need some weird creature for? She'll kill our buzz. C'mon, Ember, we dropped off Spike, let's just call it quits and-"

He had started to march off, only to be grasped by the wing by Ember, resolute and standing firm.

"No way, Garble, I let you off too easy for too long. I know you can do this. You're a good learner - better than you let on. We need more dragons to get the hang of this stuff, and I need dragons I can trust for the job. Strong, brave dragons," she added, appealing blatantly to his ego. The hollow compliments did wonders, however, and he suddenly seemed to reconsider.

"Well... fine."

"Then it's settled!" said Twilight, clapping her hooves together. "Nora'll be your guide for the time being."

The mare giggled cutely into her hooves.

"Well, alright... now, where do we start?"

Nora had said her goodbyes to Twilight, Spike, and the others, leading her new company out into the streets. She didn't know where to begin.

"So, Ember, you've been here before, right? What did you do?"

She put a talon to her chin pensively before responding.

"Not a lot. Spike double booked me with his changeling friend once, and he was too busy darting between the two of us for us to hang out much. Beside that, mostly just short diplomatic visits."

Changelings, huh? That had been in Twilight's famous dosier, as well. Nora felt like for some reason, some pony god of knowledge and studiousness had decided to make today into one big pop quiz for her. Any more unsolicited cultural info, and she'd have to stop by Quills and Sofas and start writing this all down.

All she remembered about changelings was that they, well, changed. Their shape, and apparently, as of late, their moral compass. If there was much more to it than that, Nora wasn't in the mood to find out, bringing herself back to the task at hand.

"Let's see, friendship, friendship... I guess the best way to learn it is to see it in action."

"Bor-ing!" Garble interjected in a sing-song voice, making a deliberate show of pretending not to listen. Nora rolled her eyes. If he was a typical dragon, the wonder of seeing them would wear off pretty quick.

"Where can we do that?" Ember asked with interest, after casting a sidelong glare at her male counterpart.

"Well... anywhere! There's friendship all around in Ponyville," Nora said, catching herself. Man, these ponies were rubbing off on her. She sounded just like one! She inhaled, thankful that she stopped where she did, or she may have started... singing. She shook off the thought with a shudder. No, no, that's just a dark fantasy. The day she broke out into song in public would be the day she truly lost her mind.

"Anyway..." she continued, trying to recompose herself, the patient Ember waiting for her to conclude, blissfully unaware of the human's narrowly averted internal crisis. "I think I have an idea where to start. The only problem is knowing where to find them."

Ember looked intrigued at this, and even Garble couldn't help but drop his 'la-la-la-la-I-can't-hear-you-la-la' act for a second. The two spoke up in unison.

"Find them?"

"Cutie Mark Crusaders, sailors extraordinaire!"

The fillies were abound on a custom made raft of surprising size and detail. It appeared to use bedsheets for sails, and mixed woods for the bulk of its construction, utilizing salvaged scraps and felled logs both. A majestic flag bearing a logo featuring their shared emblem served as its crowning glory.

Nora stood by the river bank, approaching while her trainees lagged behind slightly. "Yarr, there, maties!"

"Nora!" they chirped together.

"We ain't pirates," corrected Apple Bloom.

"Ah, of course not."

"Just sailors!" said Sweetie Belle, her voice cracking on the second word. That was always so adorable. It didn't happen as often as it used to, though, Nora lamented.

"And I'm the fearless captain!" declared Scootaloo.

"Uh, ah thought we agreed we was sharing the captain role?" chided Apple Bloom.

"Yeah, and it's my turn!"

"Is not!"

Their vessel was starting to slide away under the force of the current, so Nora took to walking alongside the water's edge to keep up. She beckoned over the pair of dumbfounded dragons.

"I was actually hoping you girls could..." they were already starting to get away again. Nora upgraded her leisurely walk into a light jog, while Ember and Garble hovered in the air behind her. "I was actually hoping you girls could help me!" she called out loudly, trying to reach them over the distance and the sound of their own bickering. "If you're not too, uh, busy."

The three stopped their verbal scuffle mid-sentence, freeze framing in aggressive poses for a second as they looked over at the hapless human, before their expressions turned soft once again.

"Well, sure thing, Nora! Always happy ta help!" said Apple Bloom.

"What do you need us for, though?" asked Scootaloo.

"Well, I'm trying to teach some friends about friendship," she said, gesturing at the dragons to her rear, "And when I think of unbreakable friendships, I think of you three!"

"Gosh, that's awful kind of ya," said Apple Bloom, blushing.

"Hey, if they're your friends already, why do they need friendship lessons?" asked Sweetie Belle.

Damn it, that was a good point. Nora thought on her feet, not wanting to have her plan thwarted by the unpredictable insight of a child. "Well, because-"

"Because we aren't friends," mumbled Garble, crossing his arms as a disinterested look washed over him.

Nora ignored him, hoping the girls wouldn't hear. "Because they aren't good at being friends with other people. Er, ponies."

She was pretty sure half the town was used to hearing her make that blunder by now, and only a few probably had the context for why.

"Aren't we more cutie mark consultants than friendship consultants?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Ah thought we were specialists, not consultants," added Apple Bloom.

"Well I say we're advisors!" Scootaloo yelled.

"Consultants!"

"Specialists!"

"Advisors!"

Nora facepalmed. So much for Plan A.

"This is... friendship?" asked Ember. "It doesn't seem so different from things in the Dragon Lands after all! Is the one who emerges victorious from the conflict the one who wins the most friends? Oh, or their first choice of friend? Or, or, maybe they're like... the alpha friend? The Friend Lord?"

Nora's palm had barely left her face before turning about, finding itself right at home once more. "Friendship isn't a conflict. Sometimes friends fight, is all. Heck, sometimes when you can fight with someone and not stay mad, you know you're really good friends."

"Then... would you like to fight?" Ember asked, crouching slightly in what Nora assumed was a fighting stance.

"I didn't mean physically! I meant a fight of words."

"Like competitive slam poetry?"

"What?"

Nora thought she had heard Garble whisper something under his breath.

"Nothing!"

This day was not going to plan.

"But... they get to fight," Ember said, pouting a little as she pointed at the boat. It had sailed on beyond their range again as the trio had been ensnared in futile coversation. As Nora sprinted to reach the makeshift ship, she came level to the squabbling gaggle of small ponies, and sure enough, things had erupted into a physical scuffle, hooves flying in all directions.

"Lemme steer!"

"No, me!"

The ship beached itself on the muddy banks, and the three fillies stumbled over.

"What's gotten into you three? As if your bickering weren't bad enough, I thought you only pulled these crazy stunts back when you were trying to get your cutie marks."

Nora hadn't been there to witness their prior escapades, but they were the stuff of local legend. Knowing each of their sisters also probably played a role in her knowledge of events, to be fair.

"Don't you just help other ponies get their own, now?"

"That's what we were doing," said Sweetie.

Scootaloo nodded in agreement. "We were helping Driftwood with his soon-to-be-awesome sailing cutie mark!"

"Say, where is he?"

As if on cue, a small, runtish looking colt clawed his way up off the back of the raft, coughing up water.

Yeesh, thought Nora, good thing they stopped when they did.

"I've been... keelhauled."

He collapsed on the back of the ship in a daze.

"Driftwood!"

"Is he moving?"

"And does his flank look any different?"

Nora sighed in frustration as the trio turned to tend to the boy. Well, two tended to him - Scootaloo was just poking his flank with a stick, as if waiting for a cutie mark to appear.

"I don't understand," came a voice from behind her, taking her by surprise.

She turned to see Ember had caught up, with Garble in tow. He pointed and laughed at the sputtering pony on the raft. "Haha! Reminds me of one dorky little dragon I know."

An elbow to his ribs shut him up.

"Ow! Okay, I know I said I wouldn't say that anymore..."

"To be honest, Ember, I don't understand either," she confessed.

"What's with their obsession with those butt thingies?" asked Garble. It wasn't exactly eloquent, but at least he was finally taking an interest, sort of.

"Well, for ponies, their cutie marks reveal their destiny. I think."

"Well dragons don't have those," he complained, throwing out his hands. "What good is this to us?"

Good question.

Out of nowhere, a loud cracking sound erupted from behind them. Nora turned, only to see that the ramshackle boat had collapsed under the comibned weight of the four mini ponies standing in one spot.

"Get to the lifeboats!"

"There ain't any lifeboats!"

Nora sighed, again. She'd have to start keeping a tally.

Wading in ankle high, she pulled them out by the scruffs of their necks. She was pretty sure they could almost stand in this water - they were right by land, after all. She got poor Driftwood first, before grabbing the other three one by one and pulling them to shore.

"Ah told you ya shouldn't have wasted so much time prettying the thing up, Sweetie Belle! It needed structural honesty!"

"That's structural integrity," Sweetie corrected.

"Honesty!"

"Integrity!"

Driftwood, thankfully back on all fours, was looking at his own flank, which Scootaloo was still poking with a stick.

Guess they're having an off day.

"Let's... try something else."

Nora strode through Ponyville, her companions following closely, one with mild boredom, the other with mild perplexion. Nora herself felt mild exhaustion. This was going to be an uphill battle, it seemed, between Ember's well-meaning cultural misunderstandings and Garble's fiery temper. That her first bet hadn't paid off only added to her troubles. Twi had left too much responsibility at her feet. These weren't just random strangers, after all, they were practically representatives of another nation; it seemed the dragons didn't really get out much. Perhaps this sort of treatment was why.

"You've not been here very long, correct?"

Nora turned to the cyan reptile. "How could you tell?" she asked sarcastically.

"I think I would have heard about you on my last visit here, not too long ago," continued Ember, oblivious to the rhetorical nature of the question. "Where did you come from?"

"Far away," she answered plainly, not really wanting to get into the logistics of it all.

"Further than the Dragon Lands?"

"Much further."

"You don't have wings. How did you get so far? And are there more of you where you come from?"

Okay, time for a change of subject.

"I'd rather talk about you," she said. "I've never seen a dragon before," she paused, remembering her error from earlier, "Besides Spike, of course."

"We don't like hanging around puny little ponies," chimed in Garble.

"Lucky I'm not a pony then, eh?" she said with a wink, trying to lighten the mood, but earning nothing more than a roll of the eyes. With a sigh, she continued. "So what do dragons eat?"

"Anything that gets in our way!" declared Garble.

"Gems, mostly," admitted Ember.

Nora slapped her forehead. "Right, of course."

She had actually known that tidbit, having seen Spike chow down on more than a few varieties of the stones. Come to think of it, she had been shocked the first time she was party to one of his little snacks, aghast at the waste of such valuable rocks, until she learned they weren't so uncommon here.

"You can eat other stuff, though, right?" she asked, thinking again about Spike. He was hardly on a mineral-exclusive diet, after all.

"When it suits us. Why?"

"Have you ever tried a cupcake?"

"I don't think so."

"If you had, you'd remember. C'mon, this morning was a wash, let's get some lunch."

Nora's own rumbling belly was enough to motivate her suggestion, and she had the perfect place to take them: Sugarcube Corner. Sure, she normally steered clear since the incident with Mr. Cake, but she was tired of dodging Pinkie when she asked her to go there, like she had earlier, and with two dragons in her company, she was sure their presence would dominate the proceedings, leaving her nothing to worry about. Besides, a chance to introduce them to Pinkie may help smooth things over - sure, she could be a little annoying at the worst of times, but she had more friends than Nora had sexual encounters, so her résumé spoke for itself.

Garble actually pumped his fist that this. "Now you're speaking my language!"

Well, at least he was keen.

After a minute of walking in silence, she attempted again to break the ice, as well as trying to scratch the itch of curiosity about dragons that lived in her brain.

"So... what's it like where you guys live? Do you sleep on big piles of treasure? How big do you get? Can you walk in lava?"

Her fascination had distracted her from her temporary defeat for now.

"Uh... usually, pretty big, and yes," answered Ember. "Can I ask you another question about where you come from?"

"Sure," she said. It seemed only fair, even if it wasn't her favorite line of discussion.

"What are those for? Does everyone have them where you live?"

She poked a claw softly into the flesh of Nora's chest.

Nora went beet red, jumping back slightly at the contact and reflexively clutching her chest where Ember's cold claw had just been.

"OH, LOOK, we're nearly there! C'mon!" she said, breaking into a light jog as the bakery entered the group's view on the horizon. She'd been through those kinds of questions enough with ponies already.

As her red and blue followers caught up, she quickly pushed through the front door of the establishment, eager to waste no time. Her favorite party pony was manning the register, which was a spot of good news. As she waited slightly for Garble and Ember, she waved to Pinkie, who, catching sight of her, returned the gesture with enthusiasm.

She strolled up to the counter where treats of all kinds lay out on display. "Hey, Pinkie."

"Hiya, Nora!"

Nora cast a glance back at the two dragons. "Let it be known that friendships can blossom over good food."

She turned back to the pink earth pony in front of her. "I'm supposed to teach them about friendship," she said with the faintest shrug. "If you could do anything to help..."

She didn't have to finish the request, cut off by an almighty gasp. Pinkie seemed like she was trying to swallow all the air in the room, her pupils shrinking to pinpricks, head thrown back in apparent shock. When her gasp died, her throat able to contain no more air, she clamped her mouth shut, before letting out a tiny, squeaky, "Really?"

Nora nodded.

"WOOHOO!"

Okay, so that's what she was building up to.

The dragon-human convoy all clutched their heads at the exclamation, the volume definitely unwelcome. Nora flashed an uneasy grin at the two. "Eheh, thanks, Pinkie," she managed.

"No problem! You know how much I love making friends, and the only thing better than making friends is making my friends learn how to make more friends of their own! It's like a big, never-ending cycle of friendliness! It's all so... friendly!"

"So, where do we start?" asked Ember, uncertainty written into her expression.

"Ooh, that depends! You could ask their name, that's usually a good starting point, but sometimes when I meet new ponies I don't ask their name at all, like when I met Twilight, I just gasped, suuuper loud, like just now, and I ran, vroom," she mimed the movement with her hooves, "And then I went and threw her a surprise party! Parties are a great way to make new friends. Or you could play a game, or go on a trip across Equestria, or escape a life or death situation together! Or-"

She was getting closer and closer to Ember with each step, the overwhelmed dragoness backing away with every such movement. It was like a game of cat and mouse. It was almost amusing, seeing such a proud and presumably strong creature backing away in fear of a little, excitable pony.

"Or you could save their failing business, or solve a mystery together, or accidentally take their bag at the train station, and then when they come up to you and say 'is that my bag', you say 'I'm pretty sure it's mine', but then you see the bag she's holding has a red ribbon on it, which you always put on your bags to make sure you don't lose them like last time, silly - so then you say 'oops, my mistake', and you swap bags, and you ask her where she's going and she says Fillydelphia, and you say 'no way, me too!', and you find out you're on the same carriage, and you chat all the way there and exchange addresses so you can be pen pals! Or-"

"My head hurts!" wailed Ember.

"My stomach hurts," complained Garble.

Okay, this was going nowhere fast. While Garble just looked irate at the pink onslaught, Ember was still backing away for dear life as Pinkie chased her across the floor of Sugarcube Corner, filling her head with one in a million scenarios that would form the basis for a long-term friendship.

"Pinkie... hey, Pinkie!"

The energetic mare stopped in mid-air, lingering there for longer than seemed physicially possible, before falling onto the wooden shop floor.

"That'll do. We'll just, uh, take a round of cupcakes."

"Okie dokey!"

As Pinkie bounced off to retrieve the goods, Nora motioned for the group to take a seat. So much for that plan.

"Is friendship always so... loud?" asked Ember.

"And annoying?" furthered Garble. It must have been bad, because even Ember didn't reprimand him for that one.

"She's just... eager. Maybe too eager for newbies like you," concluded Nora. This hadn't been her best thought out idea - the dragons seemed averse to overly cutesy nonsense, and that was something Pinkie oozed. It was a good quality, really, but not what they needed right now. "Let's just tuck in."

After a minute or so, a tray of three cupcakes was placed on the table in front of them.

"One fresh batch of super awesome, taste-tastic cupcakes, make by yours truly," Pinkie beamed pridefully. "Though you really should have tried my quadruple chocolate chip cookies, now they're all gone," she said sadly.

"Another time," said Nora, slipping her some bits.

As the mare left them in peace, Nora tucked in, glad for the light snack to keep her going. Say what you want about Pinkie, but she can cook. Nora had missed her cooking, getting much less of it since her frosty relationship with the eatery they found themselves in began.

Ember picked her cake up by its lower end, turning it around under her watchful gaze. She almost looked suspicious of it. "What is it?"

"Just try it."

She opened her jaws and demloished it with one chomp, chewing in exaggerated motions as stary crumbs fell to the floor. Not exactly elegant, but the smile that washed over her was reassuring.

"'S'good," she complimented behind a mouth full of cake.

Meanwhile, Garble sat with his arms folded, unmoving.

"Garble," said Ember, swallowing the rest at once. "You should try this."

"Nuh uh," he said childishly. "This stuff is way too girly! You call his food? I can put my claw right through it!"

Nora guessed dragons were used to their food being more, well, solid.

"Besides," he went on, "Mine's pink."

True enough, pink frosting decorated his confection.

Nora was surprised that even a dragon would turn their nose up at something for such a reason in this world - she was so used to the saccharine culture of ponies, that by now it wouldn't have even occurred to her. While they could be a little immature, so far it felt like dragons may have more in common with humans than they did with ponies.

"It's good," she prompted, only for him to turn his face away.

"You're acting like a hatchling. Eat the food," scolded Ember.

"No."

By the way Ember was staring it him, her claws digging into the wooden table, Nora felt like an all out war was about to erupt over this stupid cupcake. As tensions flared, she was about to say something, when another voice caught her attention.

"Nora?"

She looked up to see a curvy blue pony walk out from the back room, a messy apron over her front and a smile on her face.

"I haven't seen you in here for a while. Tell me how you've been."

Oh, crap, Nora thought. Mrs. Cake.

"Y'know what," she told Ember, "He's right, no need to worry. Thanks for the food, Pinkie!" she called out. "Sorry, Mrs. Cake, no time to chat, these two have to go."

She all but ran out of the store, a dragon on each arm.

The three assumed what seemed to be their default states for the day: once again, Ember was confused, being dragged off by a frantic Nora mid-conversation. Once again, Garble was irate, still in a tantrum about his cupcake. And once again, Nora felt ready to collapse, the stress of it all taking its toll.

"That was close," she whispered under her breath as a concerned Mrs. Cake peered at them through the window. "Lunch over, let's go somewhere else."

Time was slipping by, and Nora was running out of ideas to keep her guests entertained, and more importantly, educated. Garble had made about as much movement in his understanding of friendship under her guidance as a snail race playing in slow motion.

"Ugh," she sighed, rubbing her head slightly.

"That was... strange," said Ember. "But I enjoyed this 'cupcake' you spoke so highly of. I can't help but notice we don't have any friends, though," she said, gesturing to the empty space around them.

Well, she didn't have to put it quite like that.

"Well, I think we've become closer," said Nora. "We've learned about each other, I introduced you to some new food, I'd say we're becoming friends, at least."

Ember smiled at this. Garble just snorted.

"What good is friendship lessons if it only helps us make friends with you?"

She hated to admit it, but once again, he had a good point.

"Well, I-"

How was she going to reason her way out of this one? She had hardly taught them transferrable life skills. They'd watched a squad of fillies sink a raft, and tried to force Garble to eat a cupcake.

"I think that, uh..."

C'mon, stall, stall.

"I think... sometimes friendship is about... common ground."

That's it, Nora told herself, channel your inner Twilight. Go full lecture mode.

"We've bonded because we're both different. Equestria isn't home for either of us, and that shared hardship helps us to relate to one another. Finding you have similar experiences or interests with someone is a great way to meet them or their level, and become fast friends."

She beamed, standing tall with hands on her hips pridefully. That actually sounded like it made sense.

"Could've fooled me," he grumbled, before stretching, a yawn escaping him.

"You're not seriously tired already," said Ember, plainly.

"Hey, we were flying for ages to get to pony land, don't give me that!"

Nora sensed an opportunity here for reprieve. "We can head back to my place if you want and take five," she said.

"Take five what?"

"It's an expression... never mind. We can take a break."

"But, we have so much more to learn," said Ember, before Garble let out another exaggerated yawn. "Oh, fine."

She deflated slightly, relenting to the pressure the others exerted. Nora, meanwhile, sighed in relief, hoping this would buy her some more time. Surely there had to be a pony in this town that could help her, right? Ponies and friendship went together like cheese and crackers. So why was nothing working?

On the walk home, a few stallions said hello to her as they passed. A tip of the hat, a nod and a greeting, one even whistled at her as she walked by. These ponies were not strangers to her - she had worked with them all.

"You seem popular enough," noted Ember. "Maybe we could learn by watching you and your friends."

Nora gulped, thinking about exactly what kind of 'friends' these were.

"Hehe, uh, nah, really, they're just being polite," she lied, trying to shake off the attention.

"Hey, Nora," called out a passing pony stud, waggling his eyebrows. "I'll be out late tonight..."

She clenched a fist in suppressed anger. A little too on the nose for her liking.

"Ehehe, don't know what you mean!" she called back, before shooting him a cold look, jerking her head subtly to the dragons to her left as if it say 'not now', at which he sheepishly skittered off.

"Well, we're almost there!" she said, changing the subject in the hopes of throwing them off the scent.

"Good, my wings are killing me," grumbled Garble, at which Ember rolled her eyes but said nothing.

When they eventually happened upon her humble home, she held the door for them, beckoning them inside. "Make yourself at home," she said. "If you get hungry, the fridge is full. Well, not full, but not empty, either. Bathroom is upstairs."

She certainly hoped dragons understood the concept of bathrooms.

The two walked in, some awe on their faces despite the spartan look of her abode.

"What's with the looks?"

"It's just... weird for me, still. I feel like I'll never get used to buildings."

Ah, right; they probably slept in caves, or something.

"I never want to," moaned Garble, collapsing on the couch.

"Well, I'm gonna head upstairs for a bit, and plan where to take you guys next," she said, hand on the banister. "I won't be too long. Just relax a while, okay?"

"Sure thing," said Ember.

Nora ascended to the second floor with a weary gait, disheartened at her failed attempts to help the pair of dragons. It seemed her reservations about being up to the task were spot on. It still puzzled her that friendship was apparently something that needed teaching - so much so that there was a school dedicated to the concept. If nothing else, it made her consider the nature of relationships in Equestria, and even beyond.

Friendship.

Sure, humans had a word for the concept, but it wasn't something put on a pedestal, a prize to be won or a puzzle to be solved - it was just a natural consequence of positive interaction. How do you teach that? Why do people here need to be taught that? It made her head spin. If even the ponies didn't have it all figured out, she didn't feel good about how some of the other civilizations might be doing. Although she didn't quite have a handle on the lay of the land yet, what little she had heard didn't paint the plains beyond Equestria's borders in the best light at all times. Still, at least here current mentees were trying - well, one of them was.

Dragons. Real life dragons. And no, now that she was alone and at no risk of spilling out something offensive, Spike did not count. He was barely passed her knees! He wore an apron! She loved the little guy, sure, but Ember and Garble were different beasts altogether. She did feel something of a strange kinship with them, being outsiders and all. She considered that maybe her bullshit earlier was more from the heart than she realized.

Entering her room and pushing the door so that it was mostly closed, she kicked off her shoes and flopped on her bed in a manner that was overly dramatic, but since no one was watching, she felt she could get away with it. Not quite on the level of Rarity and her fainting couch. She could be as much of a cartoon as Pinkie, sometimes - the two had weirdly complimentary energy levels that you wouldn't expect, it's no wonder they got her good this morning.

Ah, shit. Rarity. She suddenly remembered that in her rush earlier, she had left her new ensemble behind. Well, at least her debt was paid - she could grab it later, if she had time. She was beginning to doubt she'd even be free enough to work this evening, or that she'd have the energy. The way things were going, she was in for a long day. And just how long were these guys staying in Ponyville, anyway? Until Ember felt Garble had learned enough? Was it her job to feed and house them for now? Normally the idea would seem preposterous, but ponies were generous enough by default that it seemed the sort of thing they might do without thinking twice. Hell, she'd been the beneficiary of that already.

Gripping the sheets underneath her form loosely with one hand, she threw her other over her face, closing her eyes to think. Friendship, friendship, friendship. Dragons, dragons, dragons...

Light slowly crept into Nora's world. It arrived before the sound - a mumbled collection of noises she couldn't place. They seemed distant, unimportant, but they pulled her into consciousness.

As she sat up with a start, realizing that sleep had overcome her, her eyes darted about for the clock.

Damn.

She'd been out nearly two hours! How had things gotten this bad? It was the middle of the day. She moaned, wondering if her late nights were adding up. She had been feeling a tad more fatigued than normal lately.

As her bare soles touched down on soft carpet, she acclimatized to the world around her again in the way that everyone does when shaking off an unplanned nap - that is to say, groggily.

But there was that sound again.

Sounds, rather. They bled into one another, blending into some unrecognizable symphony. It kind of sounded like voices, but she couldn't hear any talking.

Deciding to get up and check on the state of her guests (and the state of her kitchen, if Ember's disposition toward Equestrian food was any indicator), she made for the ajar door, creeping down the upstairs corridor. When she left her room, however, the sounds she heard became clearer, and more familair. She knew these sounds. She was well versed in their manufacture. As low grunts reverbed and echoed back into soft moans and gasps, quiet but now distinct to the trained ear, Nora knew one thing: someone was having sex in the vicinity. She wanted to claim this was an instinct, some sort of superpower granted to her for her years of service to promiscuity, but to tell the truth it was pretty damn obvious now that she was getting closer. To make matters more interesting, it was clear that someone was having her sex in her house. A house in which the last known occupants were Garble, Ember, and herself.

Nora glanced down over her body.

Well, it definitely ain't me.

She shifted to her toes, creeping toward the staircase with overwhelming curiosity. She knew what she heard, but surely they couldn't be... in her...

She had to see this.

Reaching the top of the stairs, there was now no disguising the source of the noises. Garble's slightly gravelly voice, and Ember's more refined, feminine chirps told her full story. Plus, there was only one animal she could think of off the top of her head that would be hissing during the deed. That wasn't the only draconic element to the passionate orchestra, however - she could hear smoke being bellowed out between deep breaths, and the shifting of scales as they made contact, brushing against one another musically.

She tried to peer under the banister, but couldn't get an angle of things.

Just go back to bed, Nora. Pretend you didn't hear anything. There's no way they can be doing what you think they're doing, anyway. This is probably just a crazy sex dream you'll wake up from any second.

Any... second... now...

Nora pinched herself on the arm.

...Oh.

It wouldn't be the first time she had crazy fantasies in her dreams, but apparently, this was all extremely corporeal. That still left her with a choice, however: bedroom, or downstairs.

She shifted slightly on the spot, thighs rubbing against each other. If she went back to bed, she wouldn't be able to ignore it - just the sound of them going at it had her worked up. And if she played her cards right, just maybe...

That was it, she was committed, consequences be damned. It was her home, anyway, so they could hardly call her a pervert.

Taking a decisive first step onto the staircase, Nora leaned forward, trying to get a vantage on the duo with no luck. It seemed she'd have to walk down fully, which wouldn't exaclty se subtle, but screw it.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, heart pounding, she turned to see Ember laying on her side, one hand holding her ass as Garble piped her on Nora's living room floor. They had moved her couch out of the way, clearing a space in the center of the room, over her fuzzy purple rug.

It looked like things were coming to a climax - Ember's moans had been getting louder and louder since Nora first awoke, but now it seemed more like bestial screeching. Garble remained resolute, thrusting into her with no obvious sign of exertion. The two paid her no mind whatsoever. As time passed - how much, she could not say - Nora watched as Garble's eyes rolled up slightly, and Ember's roars peaked in ferocity, while she scratched up the floorboards off the side of the rug all the while. At once, Garble leaned back, his hands on Ember's lower back, while she arched her back, throwing back her head and letting out a final, inaudible gasp. Trickles of white goo started leaking out of her, spilling slightly onto the floor.

A few seconds after this all transpired, Ember, still panting and heaving, seemed to finally notice the awestruck human.

"Oh," she said in labored, breathy tones, "Hi Nora. You said... huff... to make ourselves at home."

Poetry in Motion (pt.2)

Garble turned his head as well, his hands having already shot up to grip the back of his neck as he finished in Ember. Coming down from the high of his orgasm, he regarded Nora casually, his expression betraying no alarm at being caught in such a compromising position. But then, what would one expect, fucking on the floor of the house of someone you just met?

"Thank you for your... huh... hospitality," continued Ember, also oblivious to the inherent oddity of the scenario, still panting as she recovered her stamina. "I really needed that."

Nora was a very confused variety of horny, which was new.

"What are you two doing?"

"Isn't it obvious?" asked Garble, though he did not seem sarcastic; instead his tone oozed genuine bemusement.

"Well... yeah," she conceded. "But, why now? Why here? I thought you wanted to nap?"

"I did," said Garble.

"And then I felt the need to mate swell within me," added Ember. "So I woke him up."

"Right," said Nora quietly, "That clears that up."

She stared at the pair for a few seconds, thinking of what to say next. It felt there were limited paths to choose to further the conversation, here, and none of them were making themselves known to each other. As Garble pulled out of Ember, sliding his body back, something quickly caught Nora's eye, however. Or rather, two somethings did.

"T... Two?" she said lamely, pointing at the red dragon. Sure enough, he was double packing down there - two red, smooth reptilian cocks, stained by his own cum, swung into view. They were big - maybe not quite as long as a pony's, but it was a close thing, and having two of the bastards more than made up for that in her books.

"Oh, right, that's not normal for you, is it?" asked Ember, chuckling. She seemed over the throes of passion, mostly, able to compose herself.

Never had Nora found Ember more relatable: right now, she could feel the need to mate swelling within her, too. It was a grand feeling, but not nearly as grand, she speculated, as feeling one of those two delicious looking cocks swelling within her. She may just have drooled a bit from her semi-open mouth.

"Do you... often mate in people's homes?"

The question seemed to confuse them.

"Is that wrong?"

"NO!" she said, a little too eagerly, before catching herself. "Well, ponies probably wouldn't like it, but I don't mind..."

Nora's brain did its best, shoving together pieces of a puzzle she didn't know she was tasked with completing. They didn't have homes, they're lizards who seem pretty oblivious to normal social cues... is it a stretch to assume they had a super casual outlook on sex? Including one that holds no prejudice over where the activity takes place?

Nora's eyes hadn't left Garble's double-barrelled shotgun, the movements of her pupils glued to the tips of his dicks, chasing after them with glee. They were so intriguing, different to anything she had tried before. And one characteristic spoke to her most of all: they were still hard.

"Do you need... help, Garble?" she asked hopefully.

He seemed to take a moment to comprehend the meaning behind her comment, before scrunching his face up in disgust. "Ugh, with you? No way! Dragons don't lower themselves to mate with lesser creatures."

"Garble!" chided Ember at once. "What did I tell you about phrases like 'lesser creatures'?"

When he drew a blank, she went on. "We don't use them!"

A shrug was her only response. She shifted on the spot, propping herself up from her semi-prone state into a sit, her strong, defined, yet feminine legs crossing. "No wonder you're struggling with your attempts at friendship."

Nora, like a bloodhound, sensed a weakness - an opening, an opportunity. She leapt on it, without even realizing she was doing it. "She's right, Garble. This sort of thinking is really bad for your friendship lessons. Let me relieve a little tension, it's the friendly thing to do. You'll feel better for it."

He stuck out a thin, slithering tongue, which Nora assumed to be in protest, but seeing the thing only excited her further.

"Nuh uh," he said, crossing his arms.

"Garble," said Ember, adopting a serious if not stern expression. "We came here for a reason, and she's the expert."

He held up his hands in an almost defensive stance, taken aback. "B-But, with a non-dragon? If word gets out about this..."

"It won't," Nora interrupted. "Discretion is very important to me. Trust me."

Ember dragged herself up from the floor, taking a step forward, while Nora also advanced on the nervous dragon. For all his ego before, he was like a deer in headlights now. Nora licked her lips.

"Hold on..."

His objections were increasingly futile, the twin assault furthering as the distance between the three closed rapidly.

"This'll seal the deal on everything you've learned so far, Garble," Nora pleaded, now single minded in her approach.

"Look at it this way," said Ember. "You're here on my say so, and we're staying here until I'm convinced you've learned something. The sooner you get this out of the way, the sooner we can go home..."

He gulped, eyes darting left and right.

"You'll love it, I promise!"

Nora was trying in vain to suppress the desparation in her voice. She wouldn't let this one slip through her fingers if she could help it.

"Oh, fine! Fine," he exclaimed in defeat, crossing his arms and blowing out a small cloud of smoke into the room as he snorted, causing the human to cough as she waved it away with her hand.

She resisted doing a celebratory dance on the spot. Clearly the two-donged dragon had some hang-ups about this, so she'd be best placed playing it cool. Cool, cool, totally cool. Not thinking about taking those sleek looking shafts at all...

Marching up to Garble, the last remaining distance between the two - along with any chance of him weaseling out of this - was now eradicated. She placed a hand on his scaly chest. It felt hard and cool to the touch, but was not unpleasant. She looked him over, properly admiring his features.

The two dragons had been eye candy for her all day, honestly, if for no other reason than because of how cool they were, but truth be told, Nora had been glancing in a different way, too. Their forms were just rippling with muscle, strength barely contained in their scales that made Garble's limbs bulge and stretch in all the right ways. It was the same thing with Ember, albeit less pronounced, but combined with Garble's more brutish facial structure - the protruding fangs, the tattered wings, the lumpy snout - and he just had a masculine presence that none of the cute, cuddly stallions she'd bedded could offer.

That's not to say that Nora suddenly found stallions inferior - not by any measure. They may look cute as can be, but they could make her forget her own name with two pumps and a nibble of her ear. No, stallions were great. But Garble... he just looked the part of a dominant partner. Someone a bit more untamed to sink her teeth into. Not literally, if the robustness of his natural body armor were anything to judge by.

His hesitance was only egging her on; she wanted to tease out his wilder side. She knew it existed - she had caught a glimpse of him going at it with Ember, after all. To bring him to that point again, she wasn't sure if she'd have to excite or frustrate him, but she was willing to try anything.

"What's she doing?" asked the male dragon, dragging Nora's mind back to the mortal plane. She realized she'd been frozen, hand still on his chest, feeling it rise and fall while she'd been drinking in his form, judging him like some prized pig at a county fair.

"Us humans like to get a good look at our partner before we bed them," she stated, still lusting over his body as her gaze fell down once again to his groin.

"'Bed' them?" said Ember, a slight head tilt betraying her confusion.

"Human term for 'mate with'," continued Nora, not missing a beat. She supposed that dragons wouldn't use that one if they didn't sleep on beds - beds that weren't made of gold, anyway. She could quite see herself in the role of sex education, as long as a practical demonstration was always invovled.

Deciding to waste no more time, she plunged her right hand down to crotch level, clutching Garble's corresponding shaft at the mid way point, wrapping her fingers around it as far as she was able before making slow, gentle strokes up and down its length.

Garble's breath instantly shifted, his breathing becoming more slow and controlled under the attention of her soft hand. She wondered if playing with one would make him cum from both. Oh, the experiments she could run, if only she had all the time in the world with these two cocks. Deciding, utlimately, that now wasn't the time, she brought her other hand into the fray, removing it at last from the red dragon's chest and stroking his other cock at a pace out of sync with the first.

Her hands were already sticky, picking up traces of leftover semen from his romp with Ember, along with fresh pre that now started to flow from his tips.

Garble's face was a sight to behold. He looked pleasured, obviously - any creature on this planet that wouldn't go gaga from these hands wasn't quite thinking straight, Nora assumed - but he also seemed... uncertain. Confused, almost, as though he were in unfamiliar territory. And that expression soon turned into one of slight agitation.

Just why is he looking at me like that?

"Guh," he grunted, his right eye twitching, before he straightened up his posture and spoke up clearly. "You're just... touching them! I thought we were going to mate, but you're just being weird!"

She withdrew her fingers, giving each shaft one last loving touch before seamlessly throwing her hands to her hips, eyebrow cocked in bewilderment. "I'm just getting you warmed up, honey."

She cringed a little at the nickname, it having slipped out from the part of her brain that was used to dealing with clients. She had gone into business mode for a second, and it was clear Garble was about to object to the overly sweet moniker before she continued, denying him the chance. "I figured it'd make things a little easier, and I've certainly never had complaints before!"

Ember took the opportunity to interject. "This is most unusual, I must agree. Dragons don't do anything like this."

"They... don't?"

Two blank faces answered her question without words.

"Well, why not?"

"What's it got to do with mating?" asked Ember.

"Well, it makes your partner feel good, and it helps get the juices flowing," she held up her left hand, playing with her fingers, as a strand of cum linked her thumb and index finger. "If you see what I mean. It's no different than using your mouth."

"Mouth?" repeated Ember. "Why would you do that?"

Oh, you poor, naïve, sexy dragons. I am going to rock both of your worlds today.

"Okay," said Nora, clapping her hands in a display of decisive action, before remembering what they'd just been doing, and regretting the gooey sensation that had ensued. "Ew. Uh, demonstration time. For... friendship purposes," she said, paying lip service to the theme of this little demonstration and little else. She felt somewhat confident that even the two dragons had figured out this had little to do with making friends by now, but if they had, clearly their sense of intruige was strong enough to keep them from bailing.

She took a knee in front of Garble, seeing red as his sibling schlongs met her eye to eye. "Ember," she called, waving a hand, "Get over here."

The dragoness looked around the room, as if waiting for someone else to interject, despite the absence of any other souls, before cautiously making her way over to the pair. At Nora's behest, she crouched down to meet her at her level, both now in a comfortable lips-to-cock radius of today's lucky dragon.

"Do as I do," said the human woman, a smug look overcoming her, before she grabbed Garble's left cock at the base and deepthroated it, taking most of the length in one go.

Nora couldn't see Ember's shocked face, but she imagined it anyway, the thought of her calm, detached demeanor breaking instantly at the sight of Nora's lewdness turning her on.

She didn't need to imagine Garble's shocked face, as his throbbing cock did most of the talking for him. It twitched and trembled under her experienced tongue, clearly not used to the sensation. This would have explained the odd faces he was making when she was jerking him off, too - he had looked like the act was making him horny. Like, way too horny, and he seemed perplexed, and maybe even a little ticked off about that fact, whilst also trying to hold it in.

Nora quickly retreated a little, having made a show of taking him deep at first to take the both of them off guard, but she could not last in that position. Withdrawing down his length a bit, she shifted her eyes to the right, trying to see if she could catch sight of the blue dragoness in her periphery.

The regal looking reptile's pupils were pinpricks, her jaw slightly agape. As Nora's head bobbed back and forth, coating Garble's delicious snake in spit, Ember just stared in disbelief, her aghast expression confirming her earlier words: she had never seen anything like this before. Perhaps no dragon had. What a shame indeed.

After some more teasing, Nora's lips escaped Garble's tip with a pop, a trail of saliva still connecting them. "Well?" she asked, not quite sure what it was she was looking for in response. When silence greeted her, she gestured, beckoning Ember over with one hand. "Get in here, girl!"

The turquoise dragon complied, scooting over on her knees.

"It seems a submissive position to be in," she observed.

"Submission can be a lot of fun, if you give it a try," Nora noted, resisting the urge to add a flourishing wink.

"Dragons don't... usually..."

Ember stared down Garble's length. Nora guessed it must have seemed rather more intimidating from this position. Bigger, too. Amazing indeed how a new angle can change up your view. She was about to give Ember a new lease on life.

"Suck it."

Garble, for his part, was looking down in anticipation, his eyes doing their best not to pop out of their sockets. As mixed as his feelings had seemed on Nora, the idea of Ember lavishing his nethers in affection certainly turned him on. Again, though, he looked as though he were trying to fight it, or hide it.

His hesitation wouldn't be given pause for breath, however, as Ember moved forward, jaws apart, a long, slick tongue making its way to his unattended dick. As they made contact, a pronounced shiver ran up his body, to the extent that Nora feared his legs may give out, but his feet remained planted firm, and eventually his wobbling ceased.

Ember graced his shaft with her mouth, her movements stiff and stilted, reflecting her beginner's status. As much as Nora wanted to re-enter the fray and pounce right on his remaining cock, this was a teaching moment.

"Good girl," she said instinctively. "I mean, uh, good job. But relax. Less mechanical. It's not an exercise, there's no routine required here. Let your body lead you."

The happy human patted her on the back of her head reassuringly, as she seemed to let go of some held tension. Ember slipped into a slightly more natrual looking motion, though her nervousness and inexperience still shone through. That was to be expected; Rome wasn't built in a day.

Garble's head tilted back in a clear attempt to conceal his pleasure, and Nora smiled deeply. For the first time since she'd been stuck with these two, she felt fully in control of a situation. It made sense, she supposed - this was her area of expertise above all else. The notion briefly washed over her that she hoped being in Equestria wasn't enough to make one eligible for a destiny-granted butt tattoo, or she'd half expect her ass to glow any second now, and for a logo of twin dragon dicks to linger in the light's wake. She exhaled through her nose, slightly amused at the silly thought.

Still, she was gald to be broadening some horizons with her guests. She still knew little of dragons, and wasn't clear how representative these two were, but all things considered, they seemed much more animalistic than ponies. Was that wrong to think, when they were capable of speech? Nora considered whether she should chide herself. Perhaps 'more animalistic' was wrong, and 'less civilized' was more fitting, though that still felt a tad harsh. Everything seemed to come down to strength and power. If they had a culture, she felt little of it had shone through on their visit so far. Not that that was a thing to be mocked, of course, it just explained some of their attitudes toward sex. It made her all the more grateful to be expanding their worldview... in her own way.

"That's it," she congratulated, picking up where she left off, "Take him as deep as you can go. Don't hurt yourself, mind."

The note of caution seemed redundant, with Ember's long, elegant snout looking more than up to task, but still, she felt it was imporant to make sure she was thinking about herself, too.

"Now," the lusty human continued, "Let's see how this feels when we're firing on all cylinders."

She stifled a grin at the half-intentional pun, before throating Garble's unattended shaft. She was rewarded at once with a convulsion in his body, leg muscles tightening yet further as his claws balled up, gripping something invisible. The cherry on the cake was a puff of gray-brown smoke bellowing from his nostrils, a signal of how overwhelmed the hot-headed stud was by the two-pronged attack.

Nora took him as the dominant type by his gruff attitude, not to mention what she'd seen of his impressive display with Ember earlier, but right at this moment, she felt he could be putty in her hands. There was something to be said for the idea of taking such a raw hunk of masculinity and taming him, shaping him. Making him her little pet. Hehee... okay, okay. Too much, she told herself.

Besides, she couldn't take all the credit. Ember seemed to be having quite the effect on him herself. She and Nora huddled together closely, constrained in their movement by the relative proximity of Garble's double pride and glory. Their movements were not in time; as one delved further down his left length, the other retreated up his right, and vice-versa. Whilst the duo wouldn't be earning any points for synchronization any time soon, the pleasant side-effect was one merciless assault on Garble, who was nary given a moment's reprieve.

At times their faces touched as they passed one another, tough scale scraping soft human cheek. Nora had never given head like this, with another girl right there next to her. She hadn't expected it, least of all for them to be blowing the same guy! Ah, the wonders of Equestria...

Lost in blissful thoughts, Nora's attention was grabbed by a slight change up in movement, specifically from Garble. He seemed to be spasming slightly at the base. She knew what that meant. Time for one last little lesson.

Pulling back, she freed herself from his meat, taking a couple of deep breaths to adjust, before speaking to Ember.

"He's close. This'll feel kind of... odd, at first, but try to keep it in your mouth."

The dragoness paused, side-eyeing her, before nodding once, ever so slightly, her head movement restricted.

"Oh, and when he blows his load, try and swallow it if you can."

Nora gave her a light tap on the ass with her right hand, a sign of approval, before parting lips over Garble's head once again. Call this a little test, she thought, curious to see if the dragon would be able to tank the load.

The pulsing hadn't stopped, and in fact, Nora's re-introduction seemed to be the thing that sent him over the edge. Almost as soon as her lips found his shaft's half-way point, the red dragon seized up, bracing for what was about to happen.

Nora steadied herself too, very much in unknown territory. Ponies came like a fire hose, she knew that; she'd be lucky to swallow even a small portion of their cumshot before choking up. Dragons certainly seemed like they should have, well, a lot of cum. Granted, there wasn't a lick of science behind that assumption. He was bigger than a pony, too, but then, two dicks... would she and Ember be 'splitting the bill', as it were?

Ah, to hell with it.

Nora retreated to his tip, not wanting to take her chances when her ability to breath was on the line. Ember, she was sure, would be fine - the girl was made of much sturdier stuff.

Here comes...

A powerful blast fired off, aggravating Nora's lungs. This was not, as expected, Garble's cum, but in fact the smoke that was eminating from his snout, pouring into the room with great intensity as he found himself unable to hold back any longer. His draconic semen soon followed, predictably painting Nora's throat. If there was just one thing she missed about her romps back home, it was her ability to keep it all in at the end of a blowjob. She did herself proud, though, taking rope after rope of his seed, before eventually settling on what she had, pulling back as his last spurt fired off onto her once pristine rug.

She quickly turned to focus on Ember, who was handling things like a real champ, though her eyes lit up with apparent surprise and alarm. Despite her uneasiness, she kept Garble's cock in place the whole time, though Nora wondered idly if perhaps this was just a consequence of the Ember's own body stiffening to the point of utter rigidity.

Nora sat there, a few strands leaking down her mouth, before she realized something very important, very suddenly.

Hot... hot... hothothothot!

As Garble's sperm swirled in her mouth, she noticed the sheer intensity of its temperature. She darted her tongue around, shifting the portion of her mouth in which it pooled, before pushing it frontward and letting it seep out. As it dribbled over her chin, drops speckling her neck and upper chest, she still found it slightly too unpleasant to let sit, rubbing it onto her hands before wiping it on the carpet next to her, before exahling with a definitive 'whew'.

Hardly ladylike, but hey, she wasn't prepared for that.

She had visited Rarity just this morning; the thought of her disgusted face upon seeing that display made Nora shudder. She could pictue it now: "How uncouth! A proper mare always swallows! Do it again - properly this time, darling."

On second thought, she considered, let's not picture our friends right after taking a fat load.

Pushing the disturbing imagery aside, she regained composure from the unexpectedly warm dragon seed. It had been like taking a big spoonful of piping hot soup - not enough to do any damage beyond a mild scolding, but certainly not something to look forward to. She'd have to remember that for next time.

Heh, next time.

Clearly she was already planning ahead. How devious.

Ember seemed entriely unfazed, and in fact had not a trace of Garble's spunk anywhere on her exterior. She licked her scaly lips absentmindedly.

"Good job, gal," Nora congratulated, giving a mock punch to her arm. You even showed me up, there. Not bad.

Garble, meanwhile, finally collapsed onto his posterior, legs no longer able to keep him upright. As he sat, knees upright, his penises finally started retreating into his scaled folds.

"Th-thank you..." Garble uttered at barely a whisper.

Ember's head snapped to him in a second, the words breaking her out of her stupor. "What was that?!"

Garble brought a claw to his face, hiding it shyly. 'Cute' almost didn't fit him, and yet here it was, clinging to him like glue.

"That," Nora concluded, "Was the sound of progress."

She felt very assured in herself at this. Oh yes, she'd done what she'd been tasked with doing, and she did it her way.

"Told you this would bring us closer!"

After a moment she stood up and made for the kitchen, brining back some paper towels to clean herself - and more imporarntly, her poor floor - up.

"Nice moves, Ember. You were a natrual. So do tell... how was it?"

"It was... different," she surmised, pausing as though considering her words carefully. She looked like she had a concept she wanted to convey but simply lacked the lexicon for it. "In the Dragon Lands, rutting is a display of passion, but also of power. It is the natural order of one body dominating another. This was... unusual. More... equal, I suppose? I guess I'd expect nothing less from a pony custom."

"Ahah, I wouldn't exactly call it a pony custom," Nora corrected quickly, eager not to get her and her new friend in trouble. "But it is done here. And it is passionate."

"It was... like nothing I've known. Simply fascinating! He didn't once touch my... and yet I feel..."

She scrunched up her face and blushed.

Girl's got it bad.

She turned to Garble, who was still cooling off. "As if I need to ask you how it was, big boy," she teased.

"It was... okay," he said.

How adamant, even in the wake of such undeniable pleasure. The guy was as stubborn as a mule - if that isn't a prejudiced saying here, of course, Nora thought. She briefly pondered about setting him up with Applejack. Now that would be a hell of a power couple.

"I still think it's weird, though!"

"Maybe we could go a bit... further?" Nora suggested. After all, all the attention had been on Garble thus far - she wanted a slice of that for herself. "To better demonstrate my point, a-about friendship, of course..."

"But... that... with a lesser," he shook his head, "With a human!"

Points for remembering for species and avoiding another use of 'lesser creatures', she supposed. This time, Ember had her back right away.

"Hang on now, Garble," she added, "If there's one thing I've learned on my visits here, it's that ponies love sharing... apparently it's a big part of friendship. And they also love solving problems for one another. So if Nora helped you with your problem, it's only fair if you help her with hers."

"I do feel the need to mate swelling within me," she added cheekily, aping Ember's use of the phrase from earlier. It seemed to go unnoticed. "And you look a little pent up from our, uh, lessons, yourself, Ember..."

The dragon was up and pacing the floor by now, turning this way and that frantically.

"I'm just thinking about the implications behind all this... what it means... such a fascinating discovery! To think, you can mate entirely with your mouth!"

Kind of a gross way to put it, but she had the spirit.

"And with your claws... and who knows what else? Maybe sex shouldn't just be about dominance and making eggs... maybe it's about showing how much you care about someone. And about feeling good together."

Nora could have almost shed a tear. "That's the idea," she agreed, not having much to add.

"I need to record this somewhere, and to let the other dragons know. I'm heading home."

For perhaps the first time that day, Garble and Nora were on entirely the same page, as a unified "WHAT?!" bounced off the walls.

"This is important! And it's such a big step in getting closer to our neighbours. I need to make sure it's known about, and that it's done right. Garble, stay here for now, you've still got a job to do. Don't think you're shirking your friendship lessons for this," she threatened.

"Uh, are you... sure that's a good idea?" Nora said, perhaps a slight air of pleading in her voice. "Are you sure you're ready?! The whole business seemed pretty foreign to you just now," she reminded. Nora didn't want this getting out of hand.

The blue dragon closed her eyes sagely, acknowlidging the woman with some formality. "It's a start..." she said. "And I've already picked up so much. I'm sure we can return for more cultural exchanges, of course."

The dragon had circled on her feet and was already heading for the door.

"C'mon, Ember, don't leave me hanging! Haven't we wasted enough time in this puny pony paradise?"

She regarded him fiercly, clearly in no time for disagreements. "Garble," she said, commanding a low, dominating tone. Suddenly the air in the room seemed vacant, like a creeping sense of dread was seeping in. "Your dragon lord commands you to let the human do with you as she pleases."

He gulped.

Wait... dragon lord?

That title rang a bell. Nora had assumed a patriarch, but... Ember? She certainly had an air of aloofness befitting nobility, but Nora kind of assumed that was just a dragon trait. Perhaps not.

"Thank you for everything, Nora," she concluded, before heading out her door in a half-run and taking to the skies. Nora wasn't sure if it was her imagination or the pre-evening dew, but she could have sworn a slight trail of clear droplets followed her.

What the hell just happened?

Garble laid on Nora's couch, arms crossed and a grumpy look on his face. One would think the preceeding 15 minutes or so never happened; they were firmly back at the starting line.

Nora wondered if it was Ember leaving that had set him off, or whether he was ashamed at having been brought to the brink by a 'lesser creature'. Either way, he was being a bit of a brat.

"Here," she said, handing him a cup of water, which he took.

Nora plopped herself down on an armchair opposite the sulky dragon.

"You don't actually have to do anything with me, you know," she said. He did soften a little at the concession. She certainly wasn't about to make him have sex with her! As curious as she may be...

I can't believe I taught a dragon lord how to give head, she thought, head in her hands. That was a strange mix of mortifying and mind-blowing. She wasn't even fully aware of the implications, which troubled her.

As she sank deeper into speculation and frantic thoughts, the time slipped away, nothing left anchoring her to temporal reality. That was, until a tether reached out and shackled her back to the present. A voice.

"Poetry," it came, to her surpise. She looked up, as though unsure who could be speaking to her, despite knowing there was only one other occupant in the house. There laid Garble, looking up at her ceiling with too much interest. "I like poetry."

Uh...

Nora's brain was pulling overtime, trying first to snap her back to where she was and who she was talking to, and second to what in the everloving name of fuck he was talking about.

"...Excuse me?" she said quietly. Politely. She didn't know how else to react.

"Earlier, you said sharing interests is a good way to make friends. Well, that's my interest," he said.

So he really was listening, huh?

"The other dragons... they wouldn't understand," he went on, bluntly. "They... hate anything different. Anything that's weak. And 'weak' is anything that's not necessary for survival. So fancy words, they're out."

He was going somewhere with this, and Nora was content to let him speak. She wouldn't have known what to say if she wanted to interrupt, regardless.

"I thought... I mean, I didn't understand at first. But just now, I think it clicked, what you were trying to teach me. With your weird touching, and using your mouth - that's not what mating is! But it was... good."

His eyes were laser focused now, staring at the plain what paint above them.

"And I think maybe that's what friendship is. It's strange, it's alien, but it's... not so bad. When you try it."

She was awestruck. "Garble... I..."

A total wave of dumbness overcame her, rendering her speechless. Something this heartfelt was exactly the last thing she had prepared for.

"I, uh-"

"And you better not tell any dragon about this!" he said, springing into life and into his old self again suddenly, much to Nora's relief. He was pointing an accusing claw her way, a serious look on his face. "If this gets out, my rep is ruined. So you better just make like a pony and stay away from the Dragon Lands."

"No arguments here, chief."

He seemed satisfied at this, relaxing in his seat.

After this, a bout of silence hit the house. Nora wasn't sure if it was an awkward silence or not; things felt more comfortable than before, but somehow so much still felt unsaid. At the very least, it distracted her from panicking at Ember's closing revelation.

Eventually, when she couldn't bear the quiet any more, she piped up. "Poetry, huh?" she said rhetorically. "Wouldn't have guessed. Maybe you could... share something you've written?"

"Don't even have my drums," he muttered, more to himself than anyone, as he turned his face away. Nora thought that was that, there being no hint at any further avenue of conversation in his words, until he propped himself up slightly, changing the topic. "Y'know," he began, "Dragons are real serious about pacts. And about honor, and stuff," he said, almost as though he was embarrassed by it. "You know something I don't want any dragon to know. How do I know you'll keep your word about hushing up? That's not how it is in the Dragon Lands."

"Garble," she replied, annoyed, "I told you, I-"

He cut her off. "Nuh uh," he said. "You have dirt on me now, and the only way I'll leave here happy is if you make a pact with me that you don't tell anyone! And in exchange, you get something you want..."

He stood up suddenly, and to Nora's immeditate amazement, was packing a double hard-on. How long had those been there?! She didn't have the best vantage of his crotch from where she sat, not that she was liable to stare, anyway. If he was already hard... did that mean... was this his way of trying her out, without admitting that he wanted it, too? Was he saving face?

Nora clicked her tongue absentmindedly. "Oh, well, in that case..." she said, already grabbing the hem of her shirt to start undressing. She wasn't about to decline the offer, especially since she didn't know when she'd get a chance like this again.

Three times in one afternoon? Dragons clearly had stamina in spades. Although, he'd seemed worked up over new techniques. If dragons didn't use hands or tongues, they just rutted, she had to imagine he was still reeling from her demonstration with Ember earlier. Imagine going your whole life just fucking and then experiencing a double blowjob. Dude had to be horny with some lust to spare.

She prepared herself, and they moved into position. Her knees shook slightly in excitement. Garble looked slighlty nervous, too, though there was something different about him now - an air of cool confidence. Before, he had been hiding behind a facade of brashness: this, she felt, was his true self.

As she got down on all fours, she stuck her naked hiney in the air. "Give it to me," she said.

To her surprise, she was left waiting. Eventually, she peered behind her, craning her neck to see. "Um, everything okay back there?"

Garble was sporting a confused expression, transfixed by her booty. She didn't understand it.

"Uh... two?" he said, lamely.

"Huh?"

"Two... holes," he finished without fanfare. "Dragons have one. Which do I..."

She was about to give him words of advice, when he moved in, apparently making his choice without further input. Normally she'd admire confidence between the sheets, but this was the kind of thing she'd prefer a partner have a handle on.

"W-Woah!" she yelped as his sleek shafts slithered against her ass. He was holding his dual rods together, forming one thick, girthy shaft. His tips poked at her hole, before sliding in.

"Ah! Other hole, usually. And I thought you'd, ah... use one," she said between breaths, unprepared for the anal pentration.

"Sorry!" he said quickly, throwing his hands up. "I can take them out, if you want."

"Don't you dare!" she yelled. "Just... fuck me."

He didn't need telling twice. Garble began rocking back and forth, slowly, easing her into it. Nora was incredibly tight around his penises, though their shape and smoothness did make things gentler. Unlike a stallion, she had no flared head to contend with, and the probing nature of his dragon cocks seemed designed to get into any crevice they so desired.

"Ah, oh yeah, like that!"

She leaned into him, arching her back with the skill and flexiblity of a gymnast. Nora wasn't built for gym - too tall, boobs too big. But she sure practiced her mobility a lot in the bedroom. Or living room, in this case. Her curtains weren't closed, she realized, but no lights were on, so she felt safe from prying eyes.

"Mmmm, do me, dragon boy~"

Garble picked up the pace now, adjusting to their shared rhythm. He really nailed his timing, pumping her at just the right moment before pulling back slowly, making her agonize over when he'd ram her ass again, leaving her wanting. It drove her wild.

The two entities became one being, with shared movements, a shared mind. They both worked together for a singular goal. As Garble probed the depths of her behind with each lunge, she wondered just how she'd gone this long without a dragon lay. It was exquisite. Folks back home would pay handsomely to get this treatment. She wondered what it would be like with one in her ass and one in her pussy. But would that be one cock in each, or one dragon in each? She handn't exactly been sold on the Dragon Lands prior to this, but perhaps a visit there was in order after all...

As she panted, melting under Garble's effortless care, she felt a sensation in her lower back. He was tracing a claw down her spine. It made her shiver in the best way possible. His hand lingered on her ass, gripping it slightly, pinching, squeezing - testing it?

Before she could ponder what for, the answer hit her, literally. A painless but firm slap on her right cheek made her very alert indeed to his interest. What was he up to? This certainly didn't seem like a dragon thing, if what she'd seen and heard was anything to go by. But then-

WHAP!

Another blow, this time on her left, shut up her internal dialogue.

"Right shape, good acoustics, wonderful elasticity. They'll do," she heard behind her.

Another slap to hert cheek came, then another, then more and more in quick succession. They were less powerful than the first, certainly not painful, but the pace was picking up remarkably. And then she heard... talking. No, not talking. Poetry.

"Dragon riding, dragon dancing,
Dragons frolic, dragons pouncing,"

Nora's ass reverberated with percussive blows. Each dry slap punctuated a word in Garble's astonishingly out of place sonnet. He was playing her ass like a pair of bongos.

"Dragons living, learning, loving,
Dragons fucking, rutting, cumming,"

As he slid in and out of her, sending wave upon wave of pleasure through her body, he rapidly spanked her, generating a drum roll. It served an adequate second place as backing noise to his rhyme; it could not beat her screams and moans.

"Came to the land of friendship,
Picked up some hot tips,
Watched a boat sink,
Didn't eat a cake cos it was pink, yeeeah!"

Nora would have sighed had she the breath to spare. Oh, she thought. What cheesy bullshit. She didn't care. She wanted him to keep it up. In a weird way, he probably felt closer to her through the poetry than through the fucking, despite his initial mental barriers about xenophilic relations.

"Dragon learning, understanding,
Dragon sharing, dragon giving,
Dragon freely, proudly living! Yeah!"

He was rocking her harder and faster, each thrust bringing them both closer. Nora reached between her thighs and began rubbing her pussy in raw ecstacy, eyes rolling upward.

Human mating, human humping, human purring, creaming, thumping, yeah!

As he spanked her rapidly at mach speed, making music from her rear end, the ceaseless vibrations rattled her innards, massaging her tunnels that were already buffetted by Garble's conjoined cocks. Nora pawed at her needy pussy like a thing possessed, until finally, definitively, she climaxed. Garble finished seconds later, burying himself rather deep as he did so.

"Ahh~" she slurred, unable to think straight. Fluids gushed out of her, and then gushed into her, sending her brain spiralling. Then, at an inopportune moment, she was reminded of a critical detail.

Tapping her ass quickly, she cried. "Take it out!"

"But-"

"TAKE IT OUT!"

Garble complied, shooting the rest of his load onto her back. Nora ascended with remarkable speed, usually expending no such energy in the immediate aftermath of love-making. Hell, they had hardly even finished, really.

"Ahh, oh, hot hot hot!"

She danced on her toes, aching, unsure, before squatting and trying to let gravity do the work.

"Ah, owie, oh," she gasped, pain overtaking her. How could she forget such a crucial detail? Clealry she wasn't thinking.

As Garble's white ooze slowly slipped out of her, she scraped off what had hit her back, beckoning Garble to fetch the paper towels that were still on site.

"Are you okay?" came a male voice, concenred.

"That was awesome," she said, tears forming in her eyes.

She'd be okay. It just wasn't a pleasant experience.

Garble, unsure what to do to make her more comfortable, looked around.

"I'm fine, really," she said through gritted teeth. This would make for quite the story. Not that she'd have anyone to tell. "You shared your - ow! - poetry... with me..." she said, gasping slightly, breath steadying.

He scratched his neck, looking at the floor. "Well, you asked," he said. "What are friends for?"

When all was said and done, Nora sat on the couch next to Garble. She was still naked from the waist down, and her rear was submerged in an open tub of ice cream. She wouldn't be able to look Pinkie in the eye next time she ordered this stuff.

"Thanks," she and Garble said in unison.

Both were taken aback.

"You're thanking me?" asked Garble. "You helped me today."

"Well, you wanted to be helped. Eventually," she said. "And, besides, I know this wasn't easy for you."

He shrugged, slipping into that carefree attitude she had come to expect.

"Just trading a favor to keep you quiet, is all," he said, smiling. "And if any dragon - or dragon lord, for that matter - asks, that's all this was."

"Cool."

She drank in the silence once more, before returning. "Well, you fulfilled your friendship obligations. If Ember asks, you've got my glowing review."

"'Bout time," he said.

Okay, yep, he was fully back into his cocksure persona.

Nora looked at the clock on her wall. She'd closed the curtains before grabbing her makeshift frozen medical aid, so the daylight, or lack thereof, was no clue as to the time.

"It's late. You can stay the night, if you want. Fly out tomorrow. I'm sure you're eager to get back."

He perked up, surprised. This seemed to remind him of Ember suddenly.

"Nah, I'd best get back now," he said.

"But it's late!"

"I'm a dragon, things in the night fear me, not the other way round," he said, shutting her down. Without another word, he made for the door.

"Well, nice seeing you," she said. He turned back, giving a curt nod, before opening it and taking flight. In no time at all, he had vanished into the all-encompassing night. Leaving her door wide open.

Dragons and their manners...

She got up cautiously, leaving her tub of vanilla behind, pulling her shirt down to cover her parts and make herself half-decent to lock up. After doing so, she returned to her seat, forgoing the ice cream, her pain now gone.

He had certainly been quick to take off. She wondered if he still had a disdain for small talk, or for lingering in pony territory. Or maybe he wanted to chase after Ember. She wondered if he had a crush on her. She hoped not - she still wanted to set him up with AJ. Eventually. If he had a few more rounds of mind-blowing sex in him, Nora was content to keep him her little secret for just a while longer.

Today sure had been a ride. It had been tough, for sure. For a while she was concerned she was only making things worse for her cold-blooded companions on their quest for friendship. Even now she wondered if she may have overstepped her boundaries a little - Ember seemed to be taking it all in her stride, maybe with too much enthusiasm. Then again, she'd found them fucking on her floor and they hardly raised an eyebrow, so maybe there wasn't much there to corrupt. If dragons viewed sex so casually, then what she'd shown the pair was more like... teaching them a new secret handshake... right?

She sighed, unable and no longer willing to try and justify herself. She'd have to live with it if there were any terrible, sexy consequences for them and their society.

She felt she'd done Twilight proud, though. As much as she'd stamped her own Nora-shaped sex-themed trademark on affairs, she had mixed in some real friendship lessons, there. Ones even Garble took to heart. That made her feel good about herself. And they say a student is only as good as her teacher.

Content with doing nothing in particular, Nora relaxed, languishing in the closing hours of her day.

Diamond Dogged

Author's Note

Chapter content warning: initial non-consent.

Diamond Dogged

"Really? That's amazing!"

Nora drank in the praise with pride, making some token effort to feign humility.

"Aww, gee, it's nothin', Twi..."

She was face to face with her favorite nerd, passing on the story of how she had helped Garble with his friendship problem - sans all the juicy details, of course.

She decided it would be best to drop in and inform her. After all, Twi was the compulsive sort - if Nora didn't stop by and let her check this off her mental checklist - there was also probably at least one physical copy of said list, come to think of it - then the purple pony would only show up at an inopportune moment to do so herself. Besides, she freely admitted it to herself: she wanted to brag about what a good job she did.

"I can't believe they made such progress in one day thanks to you! I've had a breif run-in with Garble before, and believe me, he's not usually the accommodating type."

"It's the human perspective, my dear little pony," she said, touching her nose while putting on a bad renidition of an English accent. It's like she was trying to parody Sherlock Holmes or something, though she wasn't sure that reference would land here. Then again, Equestria seemed to have a pony-themed spin on most of human pop culture, so maybe it wasn't so unlikely after all. Either way, it elicited a giggle from the princess, just as planned.

"You're a natural. You should do this sort of thing more often," she went on, before her eyes lit up, seemingly taking inspiration from her own words. "Me and my friends do this sort of thing all the time, you know. We get to travel all over Equestria and beyond, helping ponies as we go. It's super rewarding, but also a lot of fun! And a great learning opportunity, too," she added. Of course she would get that in there.

"You're not suggesting I go on some pilgrimage of freindship, are you?"

"Well, I wouldn't put it like that," she went on, "But it's made me and the girls closer than ever. I don't think the map would ever call you - no cutie mark, and all - but you're welcome to join us any time we're called away on official friendship business."

That was quite the offer. It might be nice to get out of the countryside once in a while.

"You're too kind, Twi," she said, ruffling her friend's mane. "I may take you up on that some time. As long as we wouldn't be away for too long," she added, knowing full well she'd miss the old familiar faces (and other body parts) found right here in Ponyville. Still, the idea of getting out there, and, in a more explicit sense, "getting out there", was an exciting one. She wondered what kind of exotic partners she could stumble across. Heh, it was almost like she was planning the start of some great empire.

On a non-sexual note, there would be plenty of cool things to see, too, she was sure, and it'd be a nice way to get some bonding time with the girls, something she still needed to make a better effort on. Speaking of...

"Actually, Twi, I was wondering-"

It seemed the princess wasn't done.

"Y'know, this idea has legs. LOTS of them," she said with some determination, seemingly oblivious to Nora's words, or the inherent silliness of her own statement. "As the only human around, you're kind of like an emissary already. A representative."

Gee, she hoped not.

"Since you arrived, humans and ponies have already established a solid foundation of friendship! If, I, uh, do say so myself..." she coughed politely. "But what about other species? We're already making efforts to extend a hoof to our nearest neighbors, but maybe it's wrong that we've been leaving you out all this time. Sure, you're the only human in Equestria, but doesn't that make it more important that you're involved in this stuff? And you showed such promise with Ember and Garble..."

The pony yammered on, leaving Nora's head spinning. She was going a mile a minute, now, and Nora had some trepidation at where this was heading.

"So how about, we make you some kind of... friendship ambassador?" posited the mare.

Nora let that sentence hang in the air a couple of seconds, as a small staring contest ensued between the two of them.

"That... sounds a bit much, don't you think, Twi?" she asked, metaphorically recoiling at the suggestion. Perhaps upselling her own abilities in this field wasn't such a wise move after all...

"Not at all! A title befitting your skills, I'd say. I can think of nopony - sorry, no human - better for the job," replied the alicorn, resolute. She trotted up to the human, placing a comforting hoof on her knee. "Nora, we haven't known each other for super long, but I consider you a close friend. Heck, me and the other girls were practically besties from day one. From what you've hinted at, I gather things move a little... slower, back on Earth..."

It was just like Twilight to remember all the details Nora had let slip about home. It wasn't surprising, really - she had practically interrogated her for info the first time she got the chance. Human friendship was a more subtle aspect to pick up on, but Twilight had been keen, since the subject was so close to her heart. Nora had tried explaining that while it can happen, it's less common for humans to find a best friend for life on a whim, like ponies seemed to.

"But if you can move things along so quickly, like with our dragon guests, that must make you one exceptional woman."

She was also one of the few ponies to consistently remember the term 'woman', rather than just 'human'. What a gem, this pony.

Then again, she may be making an extra effort to butter her up.

"I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't trust you completely," she went on. "Of course, the decision is yours, but think it over, okay? Maybe we could give things a trial run at some point?"

Beaming purle eyes blinked up at her. They were attached to a pony, sure enough, but Nora could have sworn they belonged to a puppydog.

"What would a friendship ambassador do, exactly?" she inquired.

"Oh, so glad you asked!" replied Twilight, rearing up on her back hooves in excitement. Nora knew deep within her soul that as soon as she had asked that question, she had lost. If she wanted to refuse, she would have taken that opportunity to do so. With a sigh, she resigned herself, listening to what would no doubt inevitably be her new role.

Twilight, for her part, seemed to realize her over-eagerness may be sending the wrong signal, and so she reigned it in as much as she was able, suppressing the grin that threatened to break off of her face, and planting for front hooves firmly back on the floor of the castle where the two conversed.

"Really, it's nothing so different to what you did yesterday," she started.

Oh, if only you knew.

"Just meeting with different creatures, sharing tips about friendship, showing them around town - I know we talked about travel earlier, but you could do it all from home! I'll just let you know the next time we get some foreign dignitaries in. Something to that effect," she concluded. She sounded like she was downplaying the work slightly, but then again, maybe it would be a breeze. Ponyville couldn't have international visitors that often, could it? The dragon duo were the first such occurance of this that Nora had seen, and she'd been here a few months now.

"Okay, okay!" she pleaded, seemingly wanting the excitable mare to stop for her own sake as much as anything. The poor thing looked almost out of breath already, Nora dare not let her carry on. "You sure are persuasive, Twi. Sign me up, do it! Just... don't put too much stock in this, okay? Nothing official, no big fuss, if I quit, nopony cares. Got it?"

"Got it!" came her expected reply. "I think this'll be really good for you, Nora. You know, steady work?" she said, peering at her. The way she was looking made it seem as though she was saying this mainly to see how Nora would react. Nora knew that Twilight didn't know about her 'business' - recent events had confirmed that, luckily - so she must have wondered what the human did all day. She must have seemed quite lazy, not getting a job in all this time. Yeah, she had bits, so maybe her friends assumed she did odd jobs for some quick cash? Heh, technically that's not false. But she didn't know exactly what they thought of her financial or employment status, and preferred not to dwell on it. Whilst Twilight's propsed position was hardly anything full time, this would at least answer some of those inevitable questions.

"Do I get a cape?"

"I can have Rarity-"

"Joking, Twi! Joking!"

Man, this pony. So stuffy. It was cute, though, so she gets a free pass.

"You know, you interrupted me there. I was about to ask you something."

Her four legged friend brought a hoof to her mouth. "Oh my, I'm so sorry, Nora!"

Again, so uptight.

"Relax, Twilight! It's fine, really," she said, regretting bringing it up. She was just being playful. "I wanted to know if you wanted to hang out today."

Call it a belated apology. Sure, she and the girls were still on good terms, as she'd learned, but she still felt bad for dipping on the sleepover. Usually, Nora was the one making excuses to swerve her pals, if anything - her being the one to propose something was rarer since she'd taken up her night work.

Twilight's face cycled through several emotions in quick succession. "Oh, um-"

This was unexpected.

"I'll even give you a lecture on human agricultural practices," she coaxed, appealing to her friend's bookish nature. Really, that just meant revealing the existence of combine harvesters, but she figured for a pony, that'd still be mind blowing.

"I want to, but I can't," she said sadly. "The friendship school is set to re-open soon, and I've got so much to do," she revealed, voice strained. Damn, if the work was getting to her of all ponies, it must have been a lot.

"No problemo, another time, then," she replied, though Twilight still looked adorably upset about the missed encounter.

The two said their goodbyes, and Nora headed out, another stop on her agenda.

She hadn't long left the castle when her walk was cut short by a familiar voice.

"Nora, Nora!"

She turned to see one Lyra the unicorn, bounding up to her at a near sprint. This one always seemed to know where she was, like she could sense her. It was kind of creepy.

"Oh, heya, Ly," she said.

The minty menace stopped in her tracks, scraping up the dirt road in front of her hooves. Her eyes went wide in awe. "Ly?" she repeated.

Oh, stupid Nora. Stupid, stupid...

"Just me being casual, like I am with everypony," she said, not wanting to give the wrong impression. Her words seemed to have little impact; Lyra mouthed the nickname, repeating it silently, before a smile spread across her face.

"Does this mean we're friends?"

'Friend' is an unusual term for someone you've eaten out, Nora considered.

"Uh..."

"Friends give each other nicknames, right? Sometimes I call Bon Bon 'Bonny'," she explained. Lyra had mentioned her employer a few times, now. Nora hadn't really seen her with any other ponies - perhaps the candy shop owner was Lyra's only real pal. "You even gave me a gift, remember?"

"I did?" asked Nora, before remembering the end of their last encounter. "Oh, I gave you an apple. No biggie."

"It tasted great."

Nora shrugged. "Well, credit to the Apples, then."

"Wanna hang out?" the mare asked abruptly, blinking a few times in fairly quick succession. "...Together?"

"Oh, man..." Nora muttered, rubbing her neck. The perky pony was beaming up at her with beady eyes, looking as though her future happiness hinged on this answer. But Nora wasn't one to be browbeaten. Bon Bon had stepped in and saved her from what could have been a slightly awkward situation last time, but if she had to turn down the pushy mare flat out, she would. Even if it did kill her inside.

"Sorry, can't," she lied, changing tact at once and abandoning those principals upon seeing a slight tremble of the unicorn's lower lip. "I've got to head to Rarity's, to pick something up."

Well, it was a half lie. She was heading to Rarity's, since she'd forgotten her ensemble yesterday after Pinkie's dramatic entrance, but it would hardly tie her down. She had just offered to spend the day with Twilight, after all.

"That won't take long, right?"

For a pony that seemed to have such trouble with social cues, she picked up on that rather quickly. It's like she could read minds.

Damn it, Nora thought. Why did I tell her specifically what I was doing? Of course she'd poke holes in it.

Nora guessed she wouldn't have to take such precautions with most ponies. Trying to let Lyra down softly was starting to feel like a tougher challenge than keeping her profession a secret from her friends, and twice as emotionally draining.

"No... I suppose it won't," she said, not waiting for an answer, instead opting to resume walking, each step filled with purpose. As predicted, the mare picked up after her, but this would buy her time to think. She didn't want to crush the poor thing, so despite her better judgement, she'd opt to find some other way out of this.

"But..." Nora's brain remembered something her fashion-loving friend had mentioned offhandedly yesterday. "Rarity's taking me gem hunting, so that could take a while."

Smooth, Nora thought to herself, slightly proud of her quick thinking.

"Oh..." said Lyra, looking downcast. "I'll just tag along to Rarity's, then. She's got something for me, too."

Really?

Nora doubted the authenticity of her statement, but said nothing.

One short joruney later, they had arrived at Carousel Boutique. It was a quiet day out, all things considered - ponies came and went, but in no great quantity. Just a lazy Tuesday.

Nora's knuckles rapped on Rarity's exquisite door, its deep purple contrasting with the more muted colors of the rest of the exterior, beckoning people in. Nora assumed it was good fashion sense, if Rarity designed it, but it seemed like good marketing sense, too.

"Coming!"

As she waited at the entrance, Lyra snaked around her right leg, poking her head out to gain equal footing in the soon to be conversation. As old wood creaked open, a smiling face greeted them.

"Oh, Nora, darling! I was expecting you! It seems in our excitement at welcoming home our dear Spike, we forgot my newest creation. I had tried dropping in on you last night to return it, darling, but it seemed you had already turned in for the evening."

That's a relief - if Rarity had been a bit earlier, she may have caught an eyeful of developing human-dragon relations.

"Oh, and miss Lyra, I see. Your item is ready as well. Come in, the pair of you."

Huh, so she was telling the truth. Lyra lit up, stepping around the human's long legs and trotting inside, while Nora lingered a little, trudging in slowly, still calculating how she would navigate the Lyra issue.

When she rounded the corner to the boutique's workshop, she saw a little dragon sitting on the table, munching an emerald. Not surprising that Spike would be here - she hadn't run into him at the castle.

She was also greeted with the sight of Lyra frantically dressing herself, with some magical assistance from Rarity, a formal white collar button-up wrapping around her torso. Nora had seen ponies wear clothes, of course, but she rarely saw them dress - Lyra looked so awkward pushing her hooves through the little arm holes in the shirt, but she supposed that was normal here. Ponies tended to wear more flowing clothes - dresses, skirts, that sort of thing. At least, the mares did. Other than that, accessories were favored - hats, bowties - anything that wasn't too, well, cumbersome. She knew pony shirts existed, but they weren't super common.

"Ta-da!" exclaimed the proud white pony in the center of the room.

Lyra, however, instead looked right to Nora, a slightly nervous expression on her face. "W-Whaddaya think?" she asked, sweetly.

For fuck's sake, stop making me feel so bad for planning to ditch you, Nora chided internally.

"Not too shabby," came her reply; complimentary, but suitably neutral.

"Looksh kinda neat," said Spike, mouth half full of shiny rock.

"I concur, darling."

Lyra shone, her smile unwavering.

"Now, for you, my dear," cooed Rarity, already levitating various odds and ends off the table in front of her.

"I'll just take mine bagged to go, please," Nora said quickly, not wanting to flash her new apparel in front of a young dragon and an obsessive unicorn.

"One step ahead of you, darling," came her reply, a trendy gift bag made of some holographic-looking material floating into her hands under a light blue aura. Rarity really did think of everything.

"Sweet," she said to herself, before looking at Lyra expectantly. When no one in the room said anything, she pushed on. "I suppose you'd better head out then, since we're... y'know, busy."

Rarity cocked an eyebrow, and Spike briefly paused from his munching.

"We are?" asked Rarity.

"Well..." Nora began, her hands folded, fingers flicking idly. She suddenly felt bashful about having to follow through on asking this. "You mentioned gem hunting yesterday, right?"

Spike perked up at this. "S'how I got this beaut," he said, holding up the remnants of his emerald proudly in one hand. It was more than half eaten, and a good chunk of the remaining half had been slobbered on.

"Yes, darling, why?" inquired Rarity, pushing to the heart of the matter.

"Well, it sounded interesting. I was wondering if you could... take me. Show me what it's all about?"

Nora felt like a kid asking for a higher allowance. She didn't want to burden the mare.

"I already asked Twilight if she was free today, but she had friendship duties," she explained, piling on just a smattering of guilt to help get her way. "And I figured, since it's helpful for your work and all..."

If there was one thing Nora didn't feel self-conscious for right now, it was her blatantly asking Rarity this despite her comment to Lyra earlier indicating that this was a done deal already. Lyra just watched them quizically, as though hoping for some extenuating circumstances that would free up her prescious human's schedule.

"Well, I suppose I'm free, dear, but I usually get my little Spikey's help-"

She could barely round off her sentence before the drake leaped off his perch and piped up.

"I'd be happy to come along... if it means spending time with you, Rairty," he gushed.

Oh, brother.

As love swirled in his head, Nora considered that the kid was not unlike her own tag-along, in some ways. Rarity was more accommodating of his innocent puppy love than Nora was of Lyra's unexpected ambushes, however.

"Well then, it's a done deal," said Rarity.

"Nice," said Nora, trying not too look to happy. "I'll just head home and drop this off," she motioned to her bag, "Won't be 10 minutes. See ya around then, Lyra."

Perhaps a poor choice of words - knowing her, she'd take that as another invitation. Still, Nora was off the hook for now. And things worked out - she did really want to spend some time with her friends today, to catch up on lost hours. Maybe this whole 'gem hunting' thing would be fun.

"This whole gem hunting thing is real fun," said Nora, wiping beads of sweat off her brow.

They were deep in an underground cavern, staking out jewels by the armful. Rarity's magic made quick work of finding the things, and Spike was ever the enthusiastic digger. Nora tried to keep up with him, but the tyke had her beat, to her shame. The things love does to a dragon.

Rarity was decidedly more hooves-off when it came to gem extraction, using her magic, and mostly seizing stones close to the surface, or ones which Spike had already unearthed, so as to not cast flakes of stray mud onto her coat. All things considered, Nora was surprised she was involved in this process at all, being so averse to dirt and grime. Would it not be easier for her to buy the things, rather than risk a splotch on her pristine coat? Then again, she was rather particular about the jewels she used for her designs - it may happen that her discerning tastes made such a notion impossible. Nora also sensed that she did enjoy Spike's company on the excursions, too, as overbearing as he could be at the worst of times.

"Glad you talked me into it, darling."

"Hey, hey Rarity!" came a higher male voice. "I found another big one! Check out the shine on this amethyst!"

The little scamp came bounding to the pair, left arm outstretched and holding his prize. When he reached Rarity, he held it up, twirling it slightly under claw, letting the light catch it.

"Very nice, Spike. Add it to the pile."

He did so.

They were making great headway. Nora knew that such precious stones were less, well, precious in this land - Rarity's own shop was enough of a testament to that, with eye-catching glittery gems speckled in practically every direction - but seeing the raw deposits like this was another thing altogether. It was like heaven for a geologist. And pretty spectacular for regular folk, too.

Having neither magic nor claw at her aid, Nora used a trusty shovel, supplied by her pony chum. It was a little short, probably intended for equine use, so she had to lean over a little more than she'd like using it, but it did the job. Nora was no purist, but she wasn't about to get on her hands and knees and dig for the bastards with her hands like a certain dragon.

She had worried she'd feel like a third wheel, but Rarity was very accommodating of her, and Spike, for his part, didn't seem to mind her presence at all - no risk, then, of upsetting his alone time with Rarity. Nora half wondered if he'd care if any number of ponies were here, as long as she was. It was sappy, which made her want to puke, but in a good way. She didn't have anyone like that, which suited her fine, but she also got a little sad when she considered it too long.

Nora pressed down on her spade with one shoe - not the sturdiest footwear for this work, but in lieu of proper work boots, sensible enough - and gripped, leveraging the thing. A shiny blue gem, partially submerged, rose under the soil, nearing the surface.

Bingo.

"By the way, darling," said Rarity, to the air. If she were addressing Spike, she'd have specified, so Nora hung on her words. "About the mare with you this morning..."

Ah, here goes.

Figures, thought Nora, that she'd go thinking about relationships and then be instantly reminded of Lyra, who seemed a little smitten with her.

"Whaaaat is it?" she said, voice uneven due to being caught off guard by the question.

The white pony tutted, seeming to consider things, before replying. "Oh, nothing, dear."

Just focus on the gems, Nora.

As her sapphire slowly surfaced, she glanced at her own stock of jewels. They lay in a heap behind her, dazzling in their multitude of colors. It was satisfying work. Something about the simplicity of the thing. Perhaps this was what Applejack felt when kicking trees all day. Nora was content to leave that one to her and the other ponies, however.

"Got it..." she muttered, plucking the mineral from its non-literal roots. "I could do this all day."

She was a tad dirty, despite her efforts, some stains lining her hands and arms, exposed by her rolled-up sleeves. She'd caught her own reflection in a few of the brigher gems, too, and sure enough, she was dirty there as well. It must have spread when she wiped her face. She couldn't help it - this was hard work! Tiring, and sweaty...

"Oh, I was thinking I'd head back soon, actually," chimed in Rarity.

Aw, already?

Nora had only cooked up this excursion as a decoy, but she was rather enjoying herself.

"You sure, Rare? There's still so much more to collect!" she said, gesturing at the walls of gem-studded rock around them. The pony did not look particularly impressed.

"Be that as it may, between our hard work here and my resupply trip yesterday, I'm quite set, really."

Nora frowned, but understood. She supposed the allure of the sparkly stones didn't hold as much appeal to one who was born here, even if she did need the things sometimes.

"Spike?" she called out. The pitter-patter of scaly footsteps quickly rang out, before Nora saw the drake emerge with arms folded, brightly colored rocks piled high aloft them. She regarded him warmly. "I was thinking of heading home for the day. Would you be a dear and gather up what we have?"

He gave a mumled affirmation and set to work. Nora watched him for a minute, mulling over what to do.

"Y'know," she said. "I think I'm gonna linger a little, Rarity. I wouldn't mind seeing some more of this place."

The cavern they were in was expansive, indeed. Nora knew she stood no chance of pillaging it all, especially now that her friends were leaving her, but she'd be damned if she wasn't noting the prime spots for next time. This warranted a second trip!

"You sure, darling?" asked Rarity, looking up at the trail leading into the cave, as though trying to ascertain a more accurate time of day. It was still afternoon, Nora knew that much. "Well, if you insist. Don't lose track of time, now. Wouldn't want you stumbling around this rocky region in the dark."

"Yeah, I'll be fine," she replied, exhaling, still cooling off from her last burst of activity. "Take what I got. I'm gonna get more anyways!"

It was the least she could do, dropping this on her on such short notice.

"Oh, I simply couldn't, darling."

"Please, I insist!" she pleaded. "Still owe you for those first sets of clothes, don't I?" she added with some sass, bringing a hand to her hip.

Rarity seemed a little cross at this. "I told you, darling, I will have no payment for helping a distressed mare in need. Especially a need for fashion! Consider those clothes a gift."

"Consider the gems a gift, then," said Nora, her teeth sparkling more than the legions of jewels around her.

She saw the unicorn wavering. Hook, line, and sinker.

"Oh, alright," she conceded.

After Spike and Rarity - mostly Spike, to be honest - set to work preparing themselves to leave her, Nora relaxed, savoring the break. When it was eventually time for them to depart, she waved them off.

"Won't stay too long," she told herself. After all, she had work. And a cute new outfit to try. Let's see how the studs like that.

In short order, Nora had amassed another humble supply of gems, cleaning up most of the good finds in this section of cave. But she felt a calling. She had to go deeper.

Glancing down the cavern, she noted the cave descended a little sharply, here.

Shouldn't be a problem.

There was one problem, though. Her booty. Her loot. She'd been chucking it rather brazenly, doing the minimum to ensure her keeps were vaguely sorted, but she didn't want to just leave them behind before she went further in. She was sure she had seen mutliple entrances to this place when the trio had been on the approach above ground, so if she got lost down there, she was confident she'd find a way out. But she wasn't confident she'd find her way back here, specifically. Thus, only one solution presented itself: the gems travel with her.

Even her minor hoard was enough to present difficulties when it came to transportation, however. And she really didn't want to leave any behind. She tried scooping them up in her hands, but such was the size of her stash that just two or three would constantly spill over the top of the pile as she made to carry them. Truth be told, her bust probably didn't help, taking up a fair portion the space in front of her torso.

Wait a minute, she realized. What am I doing? I'm a human, I should use my resources.

Stretching the fabric on her greasy shirt, she pulled it tight, piling gems into the fold.

Clothes! I'm a genius!

Nora walked slowly to the rear of the cavern, holding her shirt with both hands as gems clanked together beneath her. This technique worked, alright, but she'd have to be careful. As she got closer, the once minor slope seemed slightly more daunting without any free hands. Still, she was undeterred. She'd only been on her own a short while - if she wasn't going to check this next area out, at least, then there was no point in her staying behind.

With some care, she reached a foot forward, planting it on a perch barely bigger than her shoe. The angle meant she could see the upper walls in front of her, but peering below at her own footing was a bit tougher. It looked like things evened out in a short distance, though, so it was probably just this initial phase that was difficult.

Another step. The platform she found was of similar size to the first. Shifting her weight, she was fully on the declining ramp now. No easy way back from this position; she didn't have the room to turn around without her hands.

As jagged edges stuck out in every direction before her, she considered her next step carefully, not wanting to lose footing. She lifted her left leg cautiously, feeling around with her foot for lack of proper visibility, until she settled on her choice: a spacious ledge some two feet below her previous position.

It was a bit of a reach, with her right foot some ways higher, but this one seemed big enough that she could stand on it fully, she just had to-

Immediate thoughts were cut off by the feel of wet cave moss under her heel, something she hadn't noticed. She was only noticing it now because, upon leaning forward slightly to bring her other leg down, the change in balance had caused her to slip on said slick surface. Her first instincts, despite better judgement, were to clutch her shirt and its cargo, thinking she could steady herself, but alas, her left foot veered fully off of its perch, and she was sent falling down the bumpy drop.

"Aaaaaah!"

Arms flew out now, late, abandoning their hold on her prize. She flailed, trying to land a grip on the side of the cave wall to stop her descent, but was met only with slippery, smooth knobs, or pointy surfaces that she may put her hand right through should she attempt such an act. And so Nora descended, clunking as she went, limbs taking the brunt of her blows.

When the dust settled, so to speak, she landed on her hands and knees, scraped and bruised, but okay.

"Phew~"

It stung, but she'd be fine. She was grateful to be able to say that. Ponies were hardier than they looked, but she wasn't like that - one bad fall in the wrong way could eliminate any human just like that. She exhaled deeply, with purpose.

Looking up, she saw some of the scattered remnants of her plunder, chromatic beams signalling her, calling out to their mistress. It was hardly as much of a priority, now, but she may as well pick up what she had. Then she could sit down for a breather. Nora sighed, feeling her stomach just to make sure she was okay. That had certainly put a damper on things.

Still, she was here now. May as well explore before heading up and never making that journey unaccompanied again. At the very least, she'd never pull a stupid stunt with carting her haul down a cavern like that. Taking in her surroundings, she was struck by the relative vastness of the place. It seemed the cave had split into a whole new expansive area, replete with branching ravines, moats, and passageways of its own. It was like a hub of some kind. The chill from the surface didn't reach her, here; the slight breeze one got to let them know that daylight still awaited on the other side.

She composed herself, before putting her best foot forward, assuring it was steadier ground this time, and making for the ruby that had landed in the center of this new ecosystem. She bent over, touching it, ensuring it was undamaged.

"That's one," she said to herself, before stopping. Nora looked behind her, then around more generally.

Strange, she pondered. Could've swore I heard something. Or... felt something.

It was the creeping dread you got when you felt eyes on you. Somehow, with no physicality of the observer making itself known, you just know when you're being watched. It was the feeling that made you pull the covers over your head in bed at night, even when you lived alone, because you were afraid of what's in the dark. It was way your ears pricked up when you walked into a cramped alley and heard footsteps behind you. It was the anxiety of walking out of a store without buying anything. Of feeling worried when you should have no reason to.

Nora took in her surroundings, surveying them, ruby still in hand.

Or... not.

She released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Nnnrrrrah!"

"AH!"

She yelped, startled at the noise, flopping onto her bottom. Out of nowhere, a pair of lime green eyes leered at her from up close. They were cat-like, narrow, but the face they belonged to was not. It was gray; rugged. And, most critically, it had jaws.

"What's this one, boss?"

A voice beckoned Nora's attention, alerting her to the fact that this gnarly looking figure was not alone. She turned, seeing another, similar presence behind her, the lumbering, slightly hunched body jumping from a vantage point up high. It landed with deft and ease, betraying a familiarity with these caves and how to navigate them.

"Where did she come from?"

Another such voice, gravelly, unlike any creature she had heard, called out on the other side, also to her rear. The body it belonged to matched the movements of its prior counterpart, landing with a thud. She was caught on three sides.

Nora backed up, dropping her gem. She scooted on her ass, too fearful to rise, not that there would be much point. After only two seconds, she came up against a hard surface, her back meeting a rise in the cave floor. Firmly trapped. The duo to her flank moved in, staring at her from their slightly elevated position, the raised surface she had backed into only about three feet high. She pressed on it hard with her spine.

As she moved her neck to look up once more at the beast in front of her, she quivered. Her top and pants were frayed and ripped all over, some cuts on her bare skin. She was not faring well. The mysterious creature before her regarded her with interest - too much for her liking. It looked like it may be hungry. Getting a better look, now, she saw floppy ears and a canine nose. It was covered head to toe in fur - hardly unusual in this land - but its most striking feature was its massive, hulking arms. It loomed, leaning on them in an almost simian fashion. Just what were these things? Hybrids? Some magical experiment gone wrong? They looked like they borrowed from a manner of viscious animals.

"Wh-wh-wh-wha-" stammered Nora, unable to finish the job of asking them to identify.

"What IS that?" came the semi-feral voice of the being in front of her, finishing her sentence. He closed the distance between them, putting an oversized paw on her knee, sniffing at her, all concepts of personal space dismissed.

The two lingering behind her did the same, stepping down from the rock face and sniffing at her. One, with a coat of a more tan variety, grabbed her shoulder.

"She walks like diamond dog, but..." the green-eyed creature, taking the most authoritative role of the trio, seized her arm in his other hand, running it along her bare skin. She was in a short sleeve, so he got a good feel of her. She shuddered slightly under the strength of his touch. He was close enough that she could feel his breath hitting her. "No fur," he concluded.

Diamond dogs? Is that what these things were? Not that she had time to delve into semantics, but she supposed they did seem mostly canine, even if they appeared to borrow traits from multiple species. She had never heard of such a thing. She wondered if even the ponies knew about them.

"Maybe she's from another pack?" suggested the one to her back right, the biggest of the three. He had a flat head, ears splayed back. His eyes were a sickly yellow.

"Maybe she a hairless breed," said the remaining one to her left, still holding her shoulder. "I seen it before, Rover!" he added, addressing the gray one who appeared to be their leader.

'Breed' was not exaclty the word she wanted to hear right now, regardless of context.

Her head turned frantically, eyeing each of her captors up in turn before repeating the process again. She was trying to make sense of any of this. She noted that they all wore jackets - two gray, while the one directly in front of her wore red. They all also sported diamond studded collars.

Snapping her out of her manic scanning, Rover's dark claw came up to a tear in her top, gripping it.

"What is..." he started, before tugging on it. Under his powerful hand, the fabric protecting Nora's modesty was ripped away instantly, and she screamed.

"Let me go!" she wailed.

"It speaks!" cackled the tall gray one. He started prodding at exposed back, tugging on her bra strap, the last thing protecting her decency. As he did so, pointed nails dug into her skin.

"Ow, ow!"

After a few twangs, he gave it a slightly bigger tug and the clasp broke. Her brassiere fell to the ground, revealing her perky breasts. The cavern air washed over them, tingling them, making her nipples hard.

"I knew I smelled a female," growled Rover in a low, menacing voice, "But what a female!"

"You sure she no cow?" asked the tall one.

"She no cow, Fido," replied the short one, "But she made for milking!"

"If she's a diamond dog, where's her tail?"

Nora had noticed that her three aggressors each had club-like tails adorned in spikes or studded flesh. The things looked like weapons.

"Docked, maybe," said Rover. "Maybe she's been a naughty pup. She must have run away from her pack, if she made it out this far..." he traced a claw over her face slowly.

"I bet she could feed three litters with these," said the short one, name as of yet unknown. Without any warning, he pushed his face against her chest, mouth making its home around her left nipple. He suckled fast and sloppily, like, well, an animal.

"Ug! Get off!" she cried in vain. They the sordid gang were hearing only their own discussion.

"Any good, Spot?" asked Fido, moving in catiously, before mimicking his actions on her right side.

"Ah!"

They sucked hard on her chest, the flesh on her breats pulled against the vaccuum created around their mouths. They violated her, slobbering tongues flicking at her nipples. It pained her.

After a minute of this torment, they stopped.

"She's dry, boss!" said Spot, disappointed. Nora had had enough, panting and heaving, she took an opportunity to chastise them between breaths.

"That's because I'm not pregnant, idiot! You only make milk when you're pregnant."

A pause lingered in the air. Why were they looking at her like that?

...Oh no.

Rover grinned, licking his lips. "You heard her, boys, she's fertile and unclaimed."

"It's our lucky day!" squealed Spot.

Rover snarled. "You mean my lucky day. I'm the pack leader, I get her."

Spot's ears, previously pert and attentive, flopped down to the sides of his heads as he broke eye contact, whimpering slightly at Rover's growl. Nora recognized this canine trait - he was showing submission.

"At last," Rover monologued, "After all our females disappeared - hunted, lost, or stolen by that accursed Rhinestone Pack - we have our salvation! You," he continued, tracing his claw down from Nora's face, over her chest and to her navel, stopping with his claw in her belly button, "Will save our pack. At last, a fresh litter! More females in the pack! We will thrive! We will prosper!"

"But I'm not a diamond d-"

Nora's voiced was cut off, the lanky Fido clamping one of his massive hands over her mouth, silencing her. With his other hand he supported her right shoulder; Spot held her up by her left side, stretching her horizontally while hoisting her into the air.

"Mmmff. Hhhmm!" she cried, pleas falling on deaf ears.

Rover undid the belt holding her pants in place. He seemed the most competent with basic tools and other civilized impliments of the three. Showcasing such talent, he strapped it around her hands before linking it up again, binding her. While he hovered over her upper half, he gave her chest a single, almighty lick, absolutely drenching it in doggy drool.

As he retreated over her, he hooked her pants at the waistline, pulling them with him, revealing her panties. Her pants wouldn't come off without a fight, her shoes trapping them at her ankles. Rover was undettered, tugging still, working one shoe loose - the laces had already come undone, and so it cascaded off her raised toes with ease under his pull. When the other didn't budge, he yanked harded until her pants ripped at the back, the meager remains of her primary bottomwear clinging to her skin.

"How many layers she got, chief?" panted Fido, stomping a leg at the excitement of what was to come.

"Bitch must have been an alpha's personal pet to get this much crap," said Rover.

"Maybe cos she hairless!" squealed Spot in his shrill voice. "Cos, y'know, she'd get cold-"

He was cut off by Fido, who slapped him on the back of the head, communicating 'shut up, idiot' wordlessly.

Rover reached for her nethers, feeling her up through the thin satin shielding her. She moaned into Fido's hand, head shaking. This was bad. Real bad.

After pushing down on her pussy, thumb circling the outline of her clit, he made a grab for her underwear, shredding them in one fell swoop. The tattered remains of her panties flew out around her, Rarity's hard work undone in an instant. The annoying duo holding her in place laughed at this.

Nora's mind raced; it raced with futile thoughts on how to escape. She was down here, alone, away from all civilization. She was outnumbered, out-muscled, and she couldn't even cry for help. She was at the mercy of these animals.

She peered down, Rover's form visible between her own boobs, which sagged slighlty off the sides of her chest due to her suspension, and between her raised legs, which he held in place by her ankles. A red obelisk emerged from between his thighs, a sign of his obvious arousal.

Nora inhaled deeply through her nose, steeling herself. She knew there was no way out. He would have his way with her.

He brought the tip of his red rocket to her own sex, which was slightly slick at the stimulation and her anxious excitement, despite her clear displeasure at things. Okay, she thought, these guys were hulking brutes. Musclebound, not too bright - she could work with that type, normally. Maybe if she met them on her street corner she'd consider it? Maybe? But down here, in this dank cave? Pawing at her like animals, treating her like livestock? It was... it was...

Rover pushed inside her, burying his bone. Nora squealed.

It was hot. As. Fuck.

She paused mentally, surprised at herself. Where had that come from? Was she rationalizing this bad situation?

Rover started humping her, pushing his canine shaft in and out of her human vagina. He moved postion slightly, hooking his hands under her knees, allowing him to lunge slightly further, able to firmly hilt himself in her. He pistoned rapidly, knowing no tact, and showing no regard for her condition. As the others steadied her, her belt dig into her wrists slightly, and their pointy fingers marked her every time her body bounced under's Rover's relentless rams and drives.

She wasn't giving up, writhing under the hold to no avail, and screaming into the meaty paw that gagged her. C'mon, c'mon, something, someone...

Fido's sweaty paw being right under her nose, Nora was unable to escape their stench. The mutts reaked. Figured if they lived in caves they smelled bad. Their odor assaulted her, adding to the unpleasantness of the situation.

As she bucked her hips, trying to wriggle free, Rover plowed her, not minding her protests at all. Nora had been dominated before, but never like this. When it came to ponies, she'd never found herself with the need to say no. She always set her boundaries when a client asked her what they wanted, and if she wasn't game, that was that. Even the seedier characters she encountered respected that, even though she could tell some of them really didn't want to. This was primal. This wasn't sex, it was mating. She reflected on her encounter with the dragons yesterday. They considered sex a power display, or a means of reproduction. But even they seemed more... refined. Dignified, somehow. This, however... it was sloppy. Degrading. She might as well be a slab of meat.

And she thought dragons were tribalistic? Hoo, boy, if only she could have known. These things, these so-called 'diamond dogs' - was that even a species, or just the name of their little gang? They were at least a couple rungs down on the evolutionary ladder. While dragons understood higher concepts, and simply seemed to prefer not to engage with a lot of them - community, friendship, et cetera - these hounds acted like they lived to eat and fuck. They were capable of speech - a strange, raspy, alien tonuge though it was - but nothing else really indicated much going on between their ears. They were as dumb as... well... dogs.

Rover loomed over Nora as he pumped her, his body rocking her each time his pelvis bumped her. He was staring down at her with those animalistic eyes, squinting, inspecting her. His cock was smaller than a pony's, but by no means small. It was somewhere between Garble's smooth, snake-like penis and a stallion's thicker, fleshier rod - it was tapered, which made it ideal for fucking, able to spread her more the further inside he went - and it was veiny. The thick veins on its surface brushed against her vaginal cavity, like a ribbed condom.

He glanced at her stomach, eyeing it with delight. "Soon," he shrieked, "You will carry my pups!"

He grunted at her tightness, Nora's human pussy clearly not one-for-one compatible with his dog dick. Her folds closed around his penis as it entered and exited, milking it, egging it on. Her chest felt colder still, the thick slobber clinging to it and accentuating the feeling of the cave air hitting her skin. As her mind screamed and thrashed against the treatment, her body began telling a different story. The muscles in her upper arms spasmed under the hold of Spot and Fido, able to remain taut no longer, her whole form giving out. Her bucking hips, once veering to her side in all directions, seeking freedom, now found themselves bucking with the dog's thrusts. Nora didn't even realize it.

She stopped yelling into Fido's hand, accepting the futlity of such an act. Just cum... she pleaded with her assailant in her mind, before catching herself. So that it'll be over... Yeah, just cum for me, so this can end.

She felt a swelling from within her, Rover's cock expanding at the base.

Oh no, she thought. Is that...?

A knot. It budded, tethering the two together. They were bound at their genitals, now, any dreams of escape well and truly dashed beyond any repair. She was in this for the long haul; he would cum inside her, filling her with his seed. It was only a matter of time. The knot restricted his movement; each time her pulled back for a thrust, it locked them in place. When he pulled too far, his swollen dick tugged at her pussy, in a horrible, delightful way. Rover changed position once more, abandoning his hold on her legs and propping her up by her ass instead. His pointy talons dotted her bum with sores.

Yes, yes, yes...

Nora's mind went blank, her field of vision a haze of guilty pleasure. Surely she shouldn't be enjoying this?

While the dog's range of motion was more limited thanks to his swolen knot, his pace quickened, buffeting poor Nora with short, fast, hard thrusts. It was almost mechanical. She leaked juices from her aching cunt, her body inviting the brute in, betraying her.

Just cum, just cum, she repeated in her head, as though trying to form some psychic link with the mutt pounding her pussy, urging him on without the use of her tongue. As he locked eyes with her again, somehow, so knew he understood. He saw her pleading look, her pitiful, broken face.

I'm yours, you beast. Breed me.

As his pace quickened still, his arms seemed to tense up, and he steadied his torso, locking it in place. She knew what that meant. In no time at all, an eruption sounded off inside her; the dam burst. She was flooded with dog semen, locked inside by the knot that plugged her still. Knots... they were built for baby-making.

She felt like a dog, right there and then. Used, toyed with - she was this thing's pet. Well, if they wanted a dog, they were getting a bitch in heat.

Nora's breathing reached critical speed, her chest rising and falling without restraint. Her head spun. As the waves of pleasure overcame her, she felt her energy slipping. It was all too much. Her eyes closed slowly and wearily, and her ears rang, blocking out the bestial noises of the diamond dogs, and the soothing sounds of the otherwise still cavern. As her consciousness slipped, her lips defied her with one last act, tugging at the corners into a slight but discernable smile.

Pack Wars

When Nora came to, she didn't know where she was. She was still underground, but not in the central hub she had known - this place was loftier still. The stone looked chiseled; shaped, in places. The cave floor was flat and even, and grand stalagtites drooped from the ceiling. Gone was the abundance of passageways - there appeared to be only one way out. When she remembered the situation that landed her here, that didn't sit well.

The second thing she took note of was that she seemed to be sat down in a chair, albeit one made of stone. It was hardly the most comfortable thing, but after her exhausting and rather shameful display back there, she needed the rest. Had she been placed here?

"She's awake!" squealed a little tan hound with yellow eyes and raised ears. He looked familiar. Which one was he? Fido? No... Spot. That was it.

She looked down to see Spot and the big gray one - that was Fido, she now remembered - looking up at her. They stood on a stone platform slightly lower than her current position. Her fight or flight insticts took hold as she raised her arms, bracing for an attack that never came. Instead, they just watched her.

She was half naked, the scraps of her tattered clothes clinging, fastened under sweat and doggy slobber. Her top was mostly gone, much of the reamining fabric fastened around her shoulders and upper arms, above her exposed breasts, while her pants barely held on in scraps around her lower legs, affixed to her by nothing but her own bodily glue. She was missing one shoe and sock, on the same foot. The creeps must have brought her here, but there was no sign of their leader.

She was dazed by something being thrust into her face. Expecting the drooling face of a diamond dog, she leaned away, before her blurry eyes adjusted, deciphering the object. It was a cup of water. Well, more of a stone bowl, really.

"Drink!" said Spot.

She took it gingerly in both hands, eyeing it up. She was not about to trust a drink from these goons.

"Drink, please!" echoed his partner. His voice seemed weirdly earnest. "Chief said to take good care of you. So drink!"

They tended to end their sentences on an upward inflection, their goblin-like vocal tones seeming like they would belong more to a rat creature than a dog. Not that she had given it any thought, prior to this, but Nora would have expected a gruffer, lower barking from hounds like these. It definitely added to their unsettling aura.

She swirled the water around in the bowl, considering it. It looked normal. And she was dying of thirst. She hadn't had a drink since she stopped off to put her new outfit away earlier, right before she had made for the gem cave with Rarity and Spike. But still...

"Morons!" came a distant cry. Nora looked up at the chamber's one entrance, and the two mutts quickly followed her gaze. There stood Rover, the green-eyed devil, pointing down at the three of them with disdain. Spot and Fido began to quake under his leer. "I told you to make sure our new queen was fed and had plenty to drink, why is there still water here? Why is there still food?!"

He stamped from one paw to the next, doing a crazy little angry dance.

"S-Sorry, boss!" said Fido, teeth chattering.

"S-She only just woke up, really!" added Spot.

"The fuck did you just call me?" Nora asked, her situation so bizarre, she had no patience for decorum.

At this question Rover smiled, jumping down several rocky ledges in quick order before scampering up to her, walking with his hands as much as hit feet. He positioned himself between the other two, poking his head forward, but still keeping some distance. He kept his posture low, and the others matched him in a half bow.

"You carry my pups. You will save our pack, usher in new generation of diamond dogs! Save us from dying out! You are our matriarch, our queen."

He put one arm on each side of the chair, pushing his snout closer to her midriff. "Even now my seed quickens within you. My litter. My precious pups. You are their carrier, and our savior. You will be treated like royalty."

Without warning, he pressed himself against her skin, pampering her belly with kisses. His fur tickled her stomach, causing her to laugh against her will.

"S-Stop it! Hehe."

Rover didn't stop. He speckled her gut with loving kisses, smooching what he assumed was to be the source of his offspring. Upon seeing their leader act so deferentially, the other two looked at each other, shrugged once, and then moved in themselves. Fido positioned himself to the right of her chair, by her head. He started giving long, tender licks along the side of her face. Spot, meanwhile, squatted under heel, licking her bare foot.

"Hahaha, I mean it, ha!"

This was not the treatment she had expected.

Nora had sensitive feet, and the feeling of a dog monster's tongue against her sole and toes caushed her to flinch and flail her leg, though she couldn't get up because Rover was over her, effectively pinning her down. She moved her foot constantly, kicking wildly, but each time the eager tonuge would find it in short order, sending another bout of spasms and giggles her way.

As she belted out from the sensation, the attention on both her foot and belly sending her reeling, her own mouth hung open as she laughed. As Fido carelessly licked her face, she was not spared from ingesting a sizeable amount of his slobber. Their tonuges even brushed passed each other a number of times as he licked her from chin to forehead along her left side.

Rover, meanwhile, changed his tact, going from gentle, delciate smooches to full on longing licks, just like the others. He coated Nora's abdomen in spit, marking her. Eventually he settled his attention on her navel, forking out his tongue and tormenting her with it, burying it in her belly button and swirling it around.

As Nora screamed and squealed like a giggling schoolgirl, she melted under the care of the crew, sinking further back into her chair. Already sapped of energy, this was draining her further, and she hadn't the will to fight it. At least it was better than them all wanting a turn at rutting her, right?

Eventually the dogs calmed down, though Rover lingered close to her side still, looking at her lovingly. This was a mad turn of events. She had been his fuckmeat not hours ago. Now she was his... queen?

"Drink, drink," he tried, picking up where the others had left off. He prized the bowl off of the ground where she had set it down, before the licking fest. She took it again, staring at it. Sensing now that he wouldn't deliberately harm her, she drank it. It was unexpectedly refreshing - it must have been natural spring water.

"Now, eat," he said, clapping his hands together. Fido and Spot, in a flash of logic-defying lightning, appeared out of nowhere with stone serving trays, topped with various subterranean delicacies - glowing mushrooms, cave moss, and raw fish. Yuck.

"I, uh, already ate," she said, pushing the trays away with her hands as they drew in.

"Eat, eat! My pups will need the strength, you eat for half a dozen now."

"No, I uh, really am fine," she insisted, and he backed off.

After a silence hung in the air briefly, it was dispelled by another clap from Rover. "Fools! Where are your manners?!" he said, turning to address his underlings. "Our queen needs to be made comfortable. Fido, shoulders! Spot, fan!"

"Wha-" was all she could get out, before they darted into position with impossible agility yet again. Fido found his place behind her, bringing his mighty claws down on her upper arms. This was a familiar feeling, and one that sent alarm bells ringing, until he started slowly rubbing them, massaging her sore muscle tissue.

Spot, meanwhile, appeared with a comically large leaf, wafting a gentle breeze her way from a short distance.

This was certainly a thing that was happening. What a day.

Perhaps it was a bad thing to think, given the circumstances that brought her here, but Nora felt she could get used to this. Sure, they were crude in their attempts to comfort her, but the effort was there, and after the rough romp she'd suffered earlier, even a modest pampering was a pleasant reprieve. She sighed.

"I bring you gems, my dear. An expression of my affection."

Rover bowed at her below the stone throne, holding his palms out flat above his head, a small pile of sparkling jewels balanced on top. Ironic that he would give her these, since that's what she came here for in the first place.

"Very good," she said, getting into the role. "Your queen approves."

His eyes lit up, deadly tail wagging behind him as his jaw hung agape. Despite his rough appearance, it was a cute display.

Nora relished in the peace for a bit, though her internal peace was not yet secure, even with the immediate sense of danger now quashed. She had no intention on becoming a forever-bride to this mangey mongrel, even if he intended to dote on her. And even if he could fuck her into unconsciousness. After all, for all his fretting over her, he was still a dog, and even if he treated her well, he'd still be treating her like a dog, too. A classy dog, but a dog nonetheless. And outside of certain moments in the bedroom, that did not fly with her. Having to subsist on cave grub and drink from a doggy bowl for the resit of her life certainly lacked any tangible appeal. She'd have to find some way to distract them, then slip away.

She closed her eyes, pondering her situation, before being awoken from her near sulmbering state.

"For you," came a familiar gremlin-esque voice. She opened one eye, before being met with two items, one held in each of Rover's paws. The first, a red jacket, not unlike his own. The second, a matching diamond studded collar.

"Oh, uh..." she said, taking them. She slipped the jacket round her, Fido pausing his massage so she could move. It was completely open at the front, just like theirs - it wouldn't cover her chest even slightly. It hung around her life a life jacket that was several sizes too small. Although she was already practically naked before, wearing this, she felt even more exposed. It just highlighted her assets.

Before she could finish assessing her look in the jacket, a collar was clasped around her neck, snapping into place. Rover placed it on her, not waiting for her to do the job herself. It clung to her, slightly too tight to be comfortable. Nora tried to find the right descriptive words. She felt like an exhibitionist punk chick.

This added to her desire to leave. Sure, it was a fashion statement, but one she doubted Rarity would approve of. And speaking of Rarity, she needed to get back to her. Back to all the ponies.

For now, though, she considered, she would have to play a part to build their trust.

"Excellent," she said in a faux haughty voice. "Now, bring me more to drink!"

She figured making demands may signal that she was the one in charge here, now. Though she had no doubt that if push came to shove, Rover and the others wouldn't hold back from asserting their authority over her... by any means necessary. She felt a quiver down below just thinking about it.

They did as she asked, forking over another bowl of the clear liquid, which she sipped idly. How could they think she was one of them? Man, they were stupid. The idea of proving them wrong now, though, seemed outright dangerous. Rover thought he had sired his pack's future. They had waited on her like a queen. If she spilled the beans after all this, they would be pissed, and who knows what they'd do to her.

She was between a rock and a diamond dog's cock, so to speak. She needed saving. A mircale. Anything.

"Yikes, look oooout!" creid a voice from the chamber's entrance. An unfamiliar dog walked in, kitted out in armor. Nora hadn't realized there were more. They had said 'pack', though. This one was male - apparently like all the rest. "Rhinestone Pack marching through the upper levels! They're getting ready to attack!"

Rhinestone Pack? Nora may have recalled Rover ranting about them before, but she had bigger, fleshier things on her mind at the time. Sounded like a rival group of dogs. This could be bad. Or, it could be just what she needed - some confusion which would allow her to give them the slip. These two groups could slug it out, and she'd be half way back to Ponyville.

"Protect the queen!" yelled Rover. "If she falls, so does the pack!"

The trio of hounds stopped what they were doing and readied themselves for battle, marching on the natural doorway.

"Wait," she said. "I'm coming."

"Unthinkable! You're too precious to risk!"

"I can negotiate," she said. "You've got leverage, now. A new queen, right? They don't know your - I mean, our true strength. We can make them think we're more powerful than we are and talk them down."

The three of them glanced at one another.

"Queen is smart!"

"So smart!"

"We bring!"

They scampered up to her and grabbed her by the arms, pushing her along.

"Hey, I can walk myself, you know."

Nora could tell they were set on making things difficult for her. She'd just have to think on her feet.

She'd been ushered up to a more central cavern on a higher level. A few armor-clad dogs from Rover's pack accompanied them. If this was the fullest extent of their numbers, however, she could see why he was worried about the pack's future. They were spread thin, and the daunting force of the opposing side was something to behold. Nora stood across from them - legions of dogs - two dozen, easily. Many of them were also kitted out with primitive weapons and armor. It was a fierce display. They barred fangs, snarling and snaffling at Rover's smaller assembly, raring to tear into them but forcing themselves to hold back.

"You called for... negotiations?" said one of their representatives, stepping forward. He was unarmed, likely to indicate he was safe to talk to. Well, maybe safe for the other dogs, at least - Nora had seen the strength these things were capable of. If it came to it, she couldn't even fend off one on her own. His tone betrayed some confusion on the final word, as though he was using it for the first time in a very long time, and had to remind himself how.

"Yes," she began. "I-"

"Ahem," called Rover, clearing his throat. "Our queen will be negotiating on our behalf."

He chuckled to himself proudly. At this news, the Rhinestone Pack members began muttering and whispering to one another, an air of discontent sweeping over them. It seemed their bluff was having the intended affect, at least for now. If they had had run-ins with the Rhinestones before, Nora figured, they must have known the relative strength of their forces. This news was sure to shock them. She still wasn't sure how to spin this to her benefit, though.

The Rhinestone representative recoiled slightly, expression one of shock, before composing himself. Sure enough, his collar, like that of his pack, was studded with the eponymous jewel. "Pack leader on his way to speak for us," he explained succinctly, before scratching himself with his leg.

Nora felt an air of uneasiness flow through her. While she waited, she shifted her weight underfoot, sensing something off with her stance, before realizing the problem. One shoe was throwing her balance. She took off her remaining one and chucked it. The other was long gone, anyway.

She coughed into her hand. "What's taking so long?" she asked Rover, still hovering close to her side.

He looked fearful. "Rhinestone Pack leader is a big deal. Strong fighter. Stole many of our females!"

That didn't sound good.

As if on cue, a hulking figure ambled in. He was bigger than any other dog in the room, even Fido, who was the tallest of her own 'team'. His arms rippled with muscle, veins barely kept under wraps by skin and fur. Speaking of fur, his was dark, somewhere between navy and midnight, and his eyes glowed a radiant crystal blue. He meandered slowly to the center of the pit, standing opposite them.

"Why do you dogs talk instead of fight?" he demanded, speaking out in a low tone. Now this was how Nora would have imagined the diamond dogs would speak. The cave walls practically shook at his words.

Rover gulped and tapped her arm, indicating it was her time to speak.

"We come before you as one pack to another, and ask you to turn away your weapons."

The Rhinestone leader craned down to her level, seeing here eye to eye. He lingered for a good ten seconds, before laughing.

At this, his pack emulated his example, bellowing out in rauccous sneers and chortles. Given their demeanor a moment ago, Nora wasn't sure if they really felt that confident, or if they were just following the leader. Then again, she'd feel assured as hell with that monster on her side.

"And what," he began, mockingly, "Are you supposed to be?"

Nora found it was her turn to gulp.

"I... I..."

She couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Our new queen! We make strong pack, fight you!" chimed in Rover, working up some courage suddenly.

The Rhinestone leader leaned his head back and gave a low hum of consideration. As he shifted, his pecs flexed effortlessly. He was naked, minus the collar, showing off his form in all its glory.

"This a dog?" he said. "Shaved, chest to toes, only fur on head. No tail. Small, puny," he assessed. "If she's your pack's broodmother, your pack is finished."

Yes, daddy, she thought to herself. Tell me how worthless I am.

She had come here with a plan, and it was falling apart fast at the sight of Mr. Best-In-Show over here. Now HE was a pooch she wouldn't mind pounding her.

She brought a hand up to her face. What was getting into her? Surely she wasn't hung up on diamond dog dick after earlier, right? But the thought of being held down by this prize made her rut with Rover look like a dip in the kiddy pool. And she was ready to get wet.

If she could do that, and secure a way out of here, all the better. An idea came to her.

"We don't need to fight," she said. "I have an offer to make. But we need to speak alone, leader to leader."

At this, Rover and the others clung to her protectively. "No, he'll take you!"

"Relax," she said. "Our strong pack is waiting to burst in any moment if things go bad, right?"

Rover looked at her in awe, then at the Rhinestone alpha, then back to her. She had him. He couldn't contradict her there without giving the game away. "I'll be fine," she assured.

Reluctantly, they let her go, and she took a few cautious steps closer. The alpha called off his troops, singalling for them to fall back. At this, the dogs behind Nora followed suit, retreating to the rear of the cave.

And so, she was alone, relatively speaking, with the canid hunk.

"What do you think can possibly save you mongrels?" he asked. "You waste our time. My patience wears thin."

Seemed he was a bit more well-spoken than the others. That was a pleasant surprise - she had expected the leader to be the strongest, but not necessarily the brightest.

She motioned for him to come closer, miming listening with her ear. He did so, slowly.

"You fuck me," she whispered. "And you call off the attack."

He sneered, amused. "You overestimate your value, runt. A bitch like you would be lucky to be rutting fuel in our pack, you are not worthy to sire any of my pups."

"Then I won't stick around," she replied, trying to talk her way into freedom. "You fuck me, then I bounce. Rover and his gang are utterly defeated, no need to go in and crush them."

He laughed a deep, belly laugh at this.

"You'd have to offer yourself to my whole pack before that deal is worth my time."

"Done," she said.

At this, he actually seemed taken aback.

"What?"

"Done," she repeated, tone still low. "I'll be your pack's obidient and willing toy for the night. Just let me leave after, and leave these dogs be."

He tilted his head, considering her proposal. It was perfect, from Nora's standpoint - as much as she resented Rover and the others for keeping her against her will, this looked like it could get bloody, and she didn't want any of them to come to actual, serious harm. The Rhinestones put on a display of dominance over his pack, so they're happy, and she-

...She would have to fuck every single damn, stinky dog in the pack. Like she had just agreed. Okay, maybe not perfect.

"It is agreed," said the alpha, loudly, no longer keeping their conversation private. "You will accompany us back to our den."

Upon hearing this, Nora's original captors cried out in fury.

"What?!" exclaimed Rover, paws clasped around his head in disbelief.

"I'm sorry, my love," said Nora, lying through her teeth. "It was the only way. They will let me return to you on the morrow," she wailed in a breathy voice, hamming up the acting. "I do what I must for our pack. Just remember that do matter what they put me through, I was yours first, and always will be."

She threw a hand over her head and leaned back.

"But... but..."

The poor pooch looked to be on the verge of an existential crisis, but upon scanning the cave and reminding himself just how outnumbered and helpless his team truly was, relented.

"Fine..." he let out with a whine.

"I was not done."

The Rhinestone leader's words rang out in the underground halls, shaking them. Everyone - Rover's gang, the other Rhinestone grunts, and Nora herself, turned to face him, shaken by his commanding tone.

"I have one more condition."

Was this guy serious?

"I am not wasting my time with some lost pup. You show me that you're worth my pack's time. You will attend to me here, and now."

"No!" yelled Rover, adopting a fighting stance. He made a few steps towards the Rhinestone leader before Spot and Fido held him back at each arm.

"Don't do it, boss!" whispered Fido. "He'll mop the floor with us."

"Yeah," agreed Spot. "She's still your queen, right? Besides, she was used when we found her, haha!"

Rover shot him a glare, the comment not helping. Nonetheless, his arms went slack like noodles, aggression leaving his body, the mutt's better judgement clearly kicking in again.

When the show was over, Nora looked back at the Rhinestone Pack leader. He motioned for her to approach, enticing her in with the wave of one finger. "Come here, little one."

She approached with caution, feeling exposed and vulnerable. She was naked in a veritable arena, dozens of pairs of eyes upon her, and facing down the biggest brute she had ever had the pleasure of meeting. Her feet acted slowly, but her gaze never left the alpha's face. He stared her down, unflinching, with cold, piercing eyes. She wondered how many times he had done this - how many times he had waged war on other diamond dogs, snatching away their women. Rutting them wild in front of their old mates, before taking them back to his lair, never to be seen again. She supposed in a way she was lucky to be going free at the end of all this.

When Nora got within touching range, she stopped, giving him one last look. His chiseled chest was his defining feature, almost seeming to burst beyond his fur like natural body armor. His upper torso had a series of long scars marking it; scratch marks. Likely from past battles, hard fought. Her eyes ran down his body, to his lower half. Big, beefy legs - digitigrade, like all the diamond dogs, though with much more mass. While the others seemed to have shorter, stubbier legs, leading with their oversized arms, this guy seemed more balanced in his form. He kind of looked more like a werewolf, something more traditional looking than these mis-matched hybrids. his tail was a long, heavy club, rdiges forming around its tip, no doubt able to break up small boulders when flailed with speed. And then, there was his groin; a furry sheath greeted her above two hanging balls, each as big as a balled up fist. They rocked slightly when he tapped his left paw impatiently, waiting for her to begin.

"May I know the name of the warchief I am to service?" she asked.

"No," he said, bluntly. "You may not."

Well, that was that, then. She'd fucked dudes - well, ponies - without exchaning names before, occasionally. Never in front of an audience, though. Above ground, her sex life was her secret passion, her hidden double life that only a priviliged few would ever know. Down here, it defined her. She was breeding stock, a bartering chip worth as much as her holes. She was a prize to be won by the strongest pack, then passed around - to the victor, go the spoils. Ponies were pretty chill - little in the way of overt prejudice or sexism, though obviously such qualities did still exist. If anything, their society was more mare-dominated, with the gals making up the majority of the numbers. Diamond dogs, it seemed, were very much patriarchical. She was about to submit to this pack leader in front of all these hounds, and nobody seemed to find it unordinary. It was part of their society, treating her like property. Even the others, lavishing her with treasures and fine treatment, did so on the basis that she was theirs - in a way, she was little more than a womb to them.

She had considered, despite his choice words for her earlier, that he'd be more excited for this - to fuck something as exotic as her. After all, no one looked quite like her, even in this hidden world of talking dogs. She knew from her whoring herself out to the equid kind that that increased her value, markedly. Her 'client', though, wasn't hard at all - his red bone wasn't poking out of its sheath even slightly. Was he so unimpressed by her, or did her just get so much action that this was nothing to him? She opted to assume the latter, trying to cling to some modicum of self-esteem even in such vexatious circumstances.

"Are you... ready?" she asked shyly, giving a quick glance down at his groin.

"A leader does not do such things himself," he corrected sharply. "If you are worth my time, you will get things going yourself."

What a slob! Nora found it inconcievable. She had always felt like she had sexual power, of a sort. That is to say, no matter how much she may be drooling over a horse cock, or screaming the house down getting dicked down by a strapping stallion, her partners had always been into her, too. Very much so, usually - they were paying her for sex, after all. And if she had ever said 'no more, that's enough' - if she had deigned to blue ball a colt who was interested, they'd be scrabbling over their own hooves to get her to change her mind, to convince her they were worth a chance. Maybe they'd brag about how big they were, or how long they could last. Maybe they'd offer to pay her double, or even triple. She liked to tease colts, and she did see some of this desparation slip out when adopting a more dominant role. The point was, as much of a slut as she could be, if she really wanted to, she could call the shots. Her clients always had as much, if not more, interest in her than she had in them. That was what struck her about this interaction, this hound's cool arrogance, his genuine lack of care over whether she gave her body to him or not: he was immune to such dynamics. She had never met a male on this world or the last who had been so laissez faire that he would agree to fuck her brains out, but wasn't even worked up enough at the prospect of doing to be sporting even a semi. Nora was so low on this dog's priority list, that she was about to completely grovel at his paws, drive him wild with pleasure, let him claim her as his own, and he was acting like the whole thing was a chore.

She had never been more turned on at quiet neglect, at being ignored. Considered nothing. Now the only question in her mind was whether she could have him singing a different tune. He was being a Bad Dog... could she turn him into a Good Boy?

She knelt at his crotch, readying herself. Leaning forward, she brough her mouth closer to his junk, taking a cautious sniff of the air that lingered around it; it reeked. Pure musk wafted up her nose, sending her reeling back even before beginning. She coughed on nothing, the dry, salty taste of his scent overpowering her.

The Rhinestone leader looked down, unamused. "I certainly hope you can do better than this," he threatened. "Last chance, or I give the attack order."

"Y-Yes sir," she said.

C'mon, Nora, you can do this, she told herself. She had already survived one horndog... barely. And that wasn't exaclty by choice. She gulped at the implications; maybe she really was out of her element here. But still, she had to try.

She poked out her tongue, brining it tentatively to the pooch's sheath. With an open mouth, the smell seemed even worse, but she fought past it valiantly, braving the stench. As she made contact, she penetrated his sheath with her tongue, feeling it out. She came up against the tip of his penis, sequestered away. Opting to try and arouse him quickly, she ran her tongue along the edge of the inside of his sheath, giving him a deep clean in places she wondered if anyone had ever reached.

As her tongue toyed with him, his face shifted, softening an almost imperceptible amout, a barely audible noise escaping him, something between a sigh and a grunt. For now, she would consider that a success, though his cock was still taking its sweet time in making itself known to the outside world.

Feeling pressed for time, not wanting to truly test the boundaries of the chief's patience, she brought her lips closer, wrapping them around the sheath, encircling it fully. She sucked, stimulating the whole region, while her tonuge still worked away. In an instant, she felt movement, something pushing against her tongue as it danced over the canine's most intimate regions. Keeping the trend going, she pushed further still, increasing her speed and intensity. Soon the alpha's dick was poking out of its home and into her mouth, just slightly, forcing her tongue to beat a retreat.

She bobbed her head, now, having some shaft to work with. She shot a look up at the Rhinestone Pack leader, pleading for approval with her eyes. He gave a solitary, resolute nod, indicating that her performance was at least acceptable. She then shot a glance over at her former hosts, Fido, Spot and Rover. They looked on none too pleased, eyes betraying shame and fear at seeing their sole female - one they had regarded so highly - being used like this. Rover in particular looked morose, biting his claws on one paw as he watched on.

Nora couldn't pity them. They had taken her against her will, ravaged her, ruined her clothes, dotted her body with scratches. Being queen of the diamond dogs sounded like it would be fun, for about a day. But she was her own woman - and right now, being a queen seemed much less fun than being a simple, subservient little slut. The hulking hound she blew had given her something she hadn't faced often in her field - a real challenge. She needed to please him if she wanted his help, but more than that, she wanted to please him, to earn some glimpse of approval.

His length grew and grew in her mouth, pushing her face back. This was welcome, as it spared her lungs somewhat from the strong musk that threatened to melt her mind. In short order, the pack leader appeared to be at full size, his knot swelling up near his base. At last he moved of his own volition, though it was not what she expected; after teasing out his cock fully, he put one hand around her neck, pulling her off of him.

What's he doing? Did I do something wrong?

"You have performed adequately, for a lost pup," he began. "But the privilege of tasting my seed is earned, not freely given. Beg for it."

Nora swallowed hard, eyeing the thing, swaying slightly in front of her eyes. She shifted around to its side, facing Rover's pack. It was so big. Almost pony sized, and veiny, just as Rover's had been, but longer. She needed it.

He held it in one paw, bringing it over her face. The thing rubbed against her, marking her with his scent. It covered one eye, tip resting on her forehead. She held up her wrists submissively, bringing her hands down, miming the traditional puppy begging pose as she balanced his rod on her nose.

"Please..." she said.

He grabbed her neck again, this time dragging her back to face his meat, before plunging her face-first into it, Nora barely having the time to react and open her mouth. It thrust into her cheek, her mouth caressing it from the inside, even at the misaligned angle resulting from the alpha's haphazard lunge. He then let go of her, letting her resume work herself, still seeming content with expending as little thought or energy on her as possible.

Nora slobbered over his cock as though she were a dog herself. If she had a tail, it would be wagging swiftly. Drool poured from the corners of her mouth, finding no home in her throat, all available space being filled by the monster she gobbled with glee. Feeling one of these in her mouth was a different senesation to being penetrated with one - it was very different from blowing a pony. There was a more visceral taste, for one. She couldn't take his knot - that was far too girthy, so she tended his shaft instead. she felt no shame at the defeat, having grown long accustomed to not being able to take her fuck buddies all the way to the base when she used her mouth.

When Rover had ravaged her, that had been all about breeding. He wanted her to be his pack's savior, a mother to his litter. This, however, had no such perceived utility, Nora's mouth gracing the pack leader's shaft with wet, loving licks as she retreated up along his shaft. This was pure, simple pleasure. He didn't see her as a mate, or a mother - apprently she wasn't even worthy, in his eyes. She was what she had always been: a prostitute.

She moved her hands up to his groin, cupping his humongous balls. She rubbed them, massaging them, trying to tease out his cum, pleading with his reproducitve organs. Their weight made her tremble at first, thoroughly unprepared for the sensation. She wondered how many pups he had sired. Most of the troops in his pack's army were probably sons of his. A gene pool that narrow seemed bad for long-term sustainability. Perhaps that was why diamond dogs went to war, to rape and pillage. Their hierarchy demanded nothing less. It was a good thing they lived deep in the caves, away from Ponyville, though Nora wasn't sure if they'd see any such value in ponies. She was likely only here because she had two legs and front-facing eyes - to a society that had never heard of a human, in a land mostly populated by equines, a diamond dog was probably all they could even coceive of her as being, even if she did stand out.

Nora sucked and sucked, urging him to cum, using every technique at her disposal. The minutes went by, feeling like hours as he held out, not giving up his seed. This guy had clearly built up a tolerance. Eventually, however, her efforts were rewarded. She felt a familiar throbbing and braced for the worst, knowing that the moment of ejaculation would be the toughest part of this affair to deal with. She glanced up at the chief, and he met her gaze, eyes betraying some hint of emotion, for once, though what exaclty it said she did not know. Probably something like 'get ready'.

Nothing could have readied her, however, for what was about to happen. Without warning, he grabbed her head, holding her hair, and pushing down, shoving his cock firmly into her. She had no choice. He did not stop at his knot, forcing her over it against all odds, Nora's lips stretching to barely cover the thing. As his tip plunged over her tongue and down her throat, she felt tight, choking under both the legnth of the cock being plunged into her, and at the tightness of her diamond collar. The two forces fought one another, the dick probing her airways causing her neck to bulge out slightly, pressing against the fabric of the accessory that remained rigid, trying to hold back the expansion in her throat. Eventually, big dog cock won out, and her collar snapped off under his size. He had literally throat fucked it off of her.

Semen poured down her throat, finding no resistence along the way, getting a direct passage passed her uvula as the alpha's meaty member had done the work for his little swimmers, offering them safe harbor in her stomach. White goo shot out of the gaps between Nora's mouth and the Rhinestone leader's cock, but most of it made its home inside of her. As his balls writhed in her grasp, she brought one hand to her belly, feeling full.

When he relented, letting go of her head, she flung backwards, throwing herself off his penis and coughing madly. Drops of semen were hacked up onto the cave floor as she heaved, though she somehow held it together, avoiding throwing up.

"No! My queen!" she heard Rover cry.

Far too late for that, buddy.

"Good enough," was the only accolade she received from the Rhinestone chief. "You may uphold your end of the bargain and accompany us back."

He turned to address his troops. "Fall back. We leave these mutts be."

Diamond dogs everywhere lowered their weapons behind Nora, the armored squad turning on their heels and beginning to march out, back to wherever it was they emerged from.

He then turned back to face Rover and his boys, who were still reeling at what they had witnessed. "Your queen is to be my plaything tonight. Your honor is shattered, and your pack will not recover. We will not destroy you today or any other day, we no longer need to. You are free to go. She will be returned to you tomorrow."

Then, the brute stamped on the broken collar languishing at the bottom of the cavern, twisting his paw as he did so, hammering home the point he was making. The diamonds affixed to the fabric were dislodged and rolled away over the bumpy floor, while the collar itself frayed, splitting further under the pressure exerted by the Rhinestone leader. He had won - the very symbol of her supposed alliegance was destroyed, right in front of their eyes.

"If she does not consider you unwrothy."

Rover just stared blankly, his pack's guards still attentive under his lack of order to retreat. He looked at the remnants of the collar, then at Nora, then at the Rhinestone leader.

Fido rugged at this shoulder. "Let's just go, boss! We got off lucky - it not our hides on the line!"

"Yeah," added Spot, patting him on the shoulder. "Easy come, easy go. Let's book it!"

Seeming resigned, he turned, ordering his boys out. Metal clanked as diamond dogs marched in opposite directions at each end of the cave, the conflict now averted. Nora just hoped this mutt would make good on his word to her... she still had a lot of her promise to fulfil, and the night was young. This wasn't going to be easy.

She was left unable to ponder her circumstances much longer, however, being plucked up off the ground by the alpha, who wrapped a thick arm around her middle and hoisted her with ease. She was then flung over his shoulder, her face hanging over the chief's back, while her ass was pointed, raised in the air in the other direction.

As he set off walking, trailing his troops, she kicked her legs, annoyed at the unorthodox method of transportation.

"Hey!" she said, beckoning his attention, but it was no use.

Well... she thought, hope the pack isn't much bigger than what I've seen.

The reality of what she had bargained was catching up to her. Her eagerness to be free of Rover coupled with her, for lack of a better word, excitement at the initial sight of the hunk diamond dog heading the Rhinestone Pack had clouded her judgement. She had given away a lot. Too much. Perhaps more than she was even fit to deliver. But now, she had no choice. Her freedom depended on it.

Man, she pondered, maybe I should have hung out with Lyra today.

Nora was taken to the Rhinestone Pack's den. 'Lair' was also a fitting word for it. Around her, beds of straw dotted the cave, occupied by males young and old - those not of a fit age for fighting - as well as the pack's females. Nora had yet to see a female diamond dog - they were starting to seem like a myth, but here they were. She couldn't get a good look for two reasons, the first being that they were curled up, lazing away the evening or feeding their young, and the second being that she was still being given a fireman's carry by the pack leader, slung over his shoulder like luggage.

He hoisted her up over several rocky outcrops, climbing to the peak of the cavern, a raised plateau with a stone throne, not at all unlike that which she had awoken in earlier. Presumably, this was his seat. When they reached the height of their ascent, he removed her from his shoulder, placing her down on the floor - not with care, but not letting her fall and damage herself, either. When he took his position here, his trailing troops filtering in and lining the walls at the sides of the den, everyone in the room looked up in anticipation. He stood over her, muscles natrually curling and releasing as he idly moved his arms, stretching out slightly before addressing his pack.

"Den mates!" he began, and all noise in the room barring his own booming voice was snuffed out in an instant. "Today's scouting mission was a roaring success! Firstly, we finally tracked the pitiful pack on the lower east levels to their den, and amassed to attack!"

He was met by raucous barks, yaps and howls, signalling tremendous approval at his words. The cavern carried the sound well, Nora covering her ears at the intensity of the noise.

"And furthermore, we have eliminated their pride and crushed their spirits, for we have before us their matriarch!"

Again, the cave rang out with sound, this time with jibes and jeers directed at her, a high-status 'enemy'.

The pack leader wasn't done.

"Long have I looked after this den and its dogs. Long have I provided. Well, today is no different. A pack may judge its quality by its chief, and I say, when the chief eats, the pack eats too."

More applause of a diamond dog variety poured out.

"And when the chief takes a bounty, he shares what's left with his clan. I will deflower this mongrel, right here and now. And when I'm done, you are all welcome to have your turn with her. Make the most of it, she won't be staying put."

This statement, more than any other in his speech, won the people - well, dogs - over. They erupted in cheers, several tongues lopping out hungrily, eyes leering at her, lusting after her. She would have to satisfy a lot of beasts today.

He waited patiently for things to calm down, before glancing at her. She wordlessly took position, getting down on all fours, facing the crowd. Looks like they were doing this doggy style.

She noticed, before turning, that he was hard. No help needed there this time, eh? Either he was more in the mood than before, or he never lost his erection on the march back - Nora couldn't see from her vantage aloft his right arm.

As she spread out her hands, trying to gain a solid perch so as to brace herself for what was sure to be a battering, the alpha diamong dog placed his paws over them, locking her in place. He hooked his legs around hers as he loomed over her, bringing himself into a squat, snaking them around her thighs and then over her calves to keep to still. He wasted no time, and she felt the tip of his dick poking at her sex.

It was not her first time 'performing' in front of a crowd that day, but at least before she was mostly able to tune out their presence when she so desired - besides a few glances over at Rover's gang, she had hardly acknowledged another soul in the room when throating this monster cock before, vision filled only with a furry groin and abs. Now, though, she looked out over an audience of creatures, many of which were chomping at the bit for a peice of her.

Before Nora could so much as take a breath and steady herself, the pack leader's member slid into her, the woman arching her back on instinct, letting out a grunt.

He rammed her with force, not sparing a thought for the poor girl. He slid in and out of her in quick succession, for now leaving his fat knot outside. As though his size and power were not enough to contend with, the onlookers made Nora incredibly self-conscious. Here she was, in a den of overgrown mutts, getting throttled for all to see. There were few times she was ashamed of herself for having sex - putting her torn feelings over keeping the secret of her prostitute gig from her friends aside - but this was one of them. At least before when this had happened, the diamond dogs had taken her by surprise. She was cornered, ambushed by a bunch of savages. This, however, was a position she had negotiated herself into. Sure, she'd back out now if it were as simple as that, but she had agreed to this. And despite the height of her apprehension pooling in her stomach, manifesting in cramps and a sinking feeling, part of her may just have wanted it, too. That wasn't exaclty normal.

Then again, she mused as the towering diamong dog pumped her, freely fucking talking horses isn't exaclty so regular, either. She had taken time to adjust to that, so this wasn't so different, right?

The chief's knot battered her, smacking the outside of her pussy with each thrust, arguably doing more damage on the ourside than it would if he'd just put it in. Wails abound as the pack cheered him on; some of them even began masturbating. She saw red cocks being stroked by wanting paws, jerking at the sight of her. At least one female was getting off to the sight of her, too, rubbing her canine pussy without shame. The dogs yelled and howled and drooled over their chins, some jumping up and down in a primitve display of encouragement. Yeah, no. Her relations with ponies would be taboo back home, no doubt. Even she had had to come to terms with it, and that was after she was left pent up for weeks and weeks with no outlet, horny as can be. But this? This was not the same. Ponies had a society. This was a free for all.

Her face got flush and hot, her mind racing to make sense of any of this, to expalin it away in terms that would leave her feeling alright with herself, but there was little hope. Her pussy gushed fluids, coating the canine cock that assailed her, inviting it in. It was betraying her intent. She wanted this, no matter how ashamed she was to admit it.

Rhinestones shone under the faint light sources in the cave - lit torches and luminous jewels that lined the walls - dancing as collars bounced around below her, moving with their owners. The gems that gave this pack its name lit up her surroundings like glowticks at a concert. It was so... distracting.

She looked dead ahead, trying to blank them out.

Don't think about it, don't think about it...

"Me bet an emerald the bitch cums before he knots her!"

"She no look like any dog I seen, whered' the chief find her?"

"I haven't rutted in weeks, let me at that bitch first when chief done!"

The cries and the comments that abounded made it a trying task. She just had to be his good little bitch. A sponge for him to take his frustrations out on. Just breathe, stay calm, and ignore the stretching feeling in your pussy and the way it tingles so good. Let him use you. Let him use you.

Nora thought a mental battle with herself, willing herself into submission. She kept her head up, vision blurring as she was rocked in place, but remaining strong and resolute.

Without warning, the thick knot that had pounded her rear finally pushed itself in, making her nethers ache as it reshaped them, only to offer some reprieve as she slipped passed its thickest point.

"Yaaa~"

Instead of barking like a dog, she squealed like a pig, overcome with pleasure at the feeling. After her mouth opened, letting her lewdest noises escape, the pack leader brought his left hand round to her face from behind her, hooking the claw on his index finger into he mouth, tugging on it and keeping it open.

"Yesh, yeshhhh," she screamed, unable to articulate properly with the foreign object distrubing her. Her stoicism was fading fast - she was giving in to the pleasure now.

"I'm youw bitch, gib me a littah, gib me ten, I don't care, hahhh!"

Her words warped by the finger that invaded her mouth, she cried out in delight all the same, begging the bastard to mate with her. He complied, piledriving her with gusto, his other beefy paw resting on her arched back, claws digging into her skin in an oh-so-exciting way. Shivers ran up her spine and her ass seemed to vibrate, her quaking pussy unable to remain still.

"Do me, mastah. Yesh!"

The Rhinestone alpha shot into her, bullying her womb with his seed. Nora considered briefly whether it was possible for a human to go into heat. She sucked hard on his finger, suppressing her cires, as her head dropped to the ground, resting on the cave floor. The movement brought her tits downward too, smooshing them into the dirt.

I. Love. Diamond. Dogs.

Looks like ponies had some competition after all.

Not a single drop of cum was wasted, the dog's knot and Nora's own position ensuring it was funnelled directly into her. She gasped, desparately trying to catch up on breaths as she felt his cock twitch inside her. When he was done unloading, he held position, his knot still swollen. They held like that for a minute, before eventually, he pushed himself off her, a distinct 'pop' occurring as his knot exited her, leaving a vaccuum in its wake.

He plopped himself down on this throne behind her, breathing heavily. His face looked tired. Looks like she had finally given him a reason to exert himself. She scooted up to him, brigning her face over his cock, licking it clean. She then planted several kisses on his chest and neck, as the pack leader bathed in the unexpected aftercare.

He leaned into her ear and panted.

"Lucky."

"What?" she asked, confused.

"My name is Lucky."

If she was able to summon the eregy to, she'd have chuckled. Such a stereotypical dog name. Sure, that tracked with what she had seen of diamond dogs thus far, but still, it felt kind of silly to see such a heaving hunk be branded with such an innocent, cutesy name. Maybe that's why he kept it hush hush earlier.

"I'm Nora," she said, realizing that she had not introduced herself at any point in the day's sordid affairs: so far, she had ping-ponged between 'my queen' and 'that bitch' at regular intervals.

"Strange name," he remarked. "You did well... for a lost pup."

She'd take it. The big guy was not fond of compliments.

As she cuddled up to him, feeling his strong arms as she pecked his chest, his scent caught up with her again. She had been spared the brunt of his musk this time, facing away from him, but now she was in close, it was back with a vengance. She might just get addicted. Her face stuck to his chest, his fur becoming adhesive from his own sweat.

"But," he said, patting her ass, "Your work is not over. There's a good bitch."

She backed away, shuffling on her rear, as he stood up and addressed the horde, walking to the verge of the plateau which functioned as a stage or podium. He picked her up her the scruff of her open-chested jacket, the only vestiage of clothing she hung on to, dragging her along and lifting her slightly, presenting her to the panting crowd.

"As promised," he declared. "This bitch belongs to us all tonight."

With that simple fact established, he leveraged his hold on the thin cloth covering her back, throwing her from their raised position above the pack and into a waiting pit of tongues, teeth, noses, and cocks. Her fall was cushioned by fur - whose, she didn't know - as she landed atop the hungry mass, crowdsurfing. Instantly she was pawed at in every direction, mutts copping a feel of her breasts, rubbing her neck, gripping her hair, and fingering her between her thighs. Nora felt like a prized cut of meat at an all you can eat buffet, placed right at the head of the table. They wanted her, and they were all getting a piece.

"Nghh, ohhh," she cried, the paw that snaked its way between her legs penetrating her, while others swatted at her pussy from above, stray, glancing blows, some of which caught her clit. From below, diamond dogs scratched at her back, tearing her feeble jacket. Her legs were pulled apart, tugged at from opposing directions as each corner tried to claim her entirely for themselves. This only served to leave her vulnerable parts more exposed, however, granting ease of access to near enough any dog close enough.

She felt damp noses in close proximity, poking at her from all around, their quick-fire breath tickling her bare skin, drinking in her unfamiliar scent. They lingered all around and all over - at her feet, under her arms, beneath her raised ass - and they were often followed by the sensation of slick tongues sliding over her form. It was all foreplay - the canines probably said hello to one another with a sniff of the ass or a lick of the balls. They were feeling her out, exploring her body in their traditional way.

Eventually, when Nora worried they might legitimately tear her apart at the hips, she was seized at the crotch, and dragged down pelvis-first beneath the furry canopy of dogs. The rest of her soon followed, stray paws losing their hold on her at the change in angle, and she landed on her butt beneath a sea of horny hounds.

The one who had taken the initiative to drag her down was an old looking thing. Mangy, his coat lost the sheen and sparkle that the others had, instead looking matted and wiry. He looked like he'd be a sad sight at the pound, hunched over, his whiskers overgrown and his eyes droopy. Yet the one thing the dog hadn't lost was his get up and go, sporting a knotted erection that prodded Nora's cheek, solid as rock.

The mutt reeked. While the chief's musk had been pungent, its masculine virility overwhelming her back at negotiations, this dog just smelled nasty. Yet, she had a job to do. She swallowed all her hesitation and took the decrepit pooch's member into her mouth, lavishing it with the same attention and care she'd afford any client, despite her best wishes.

He sighed a happy sigh, likely not experiencing such a sensation for years. Nora's tongue worked his dick, coating it in saliva, and she popped it out of her mouth, planting a few kisses on it as it pulsed at the attention. Before she could finish the job, she was grabbed under her chin, head forcibly turned elsewhere, into the wanting pussy of a she-dog. This was something she had not seen before.

It jutted out from the bitch's form, impossible to miss, its lips thick and strong. Nora abandoned her focus on the cock she had treated seconds prior, bringing her face into the dog's folds. She sniffed at her a little, absorbing the intricacies of the female's scent, tasting its differences to those she had sampled thus far. Heat radiated from the mutt's groin, drawing her near.

Nora had half expected the old timer to try and drag her back over to him, but he had different plans, taking position behind her, bringing his lubed up cock over he rear holes. He plunged his polished meat into her pussy, rocking the woman forward nose-first into the dog coochie in front of her face.

Nora worried the pheromones of the dog in front of her would cause her to pass out. The female's scent was just as strong as the chief's had been, but at the opposite end of the spectrum, oozing femininity. She must have been in heat. As the nameless female brought a paw around behind her, she pushed Nora by her head, feeding her into her groin and forcing her to eat her out. She did so like a good girl, tongue-fucking the unusual organ while she nibbled on its tick outer lips softly, earning cries of delight from the bitch she serviced.

Nora's arms extended to her sides, reaching out blindly. While the mangy dog fucked her from behind and she continued eating the pussy in front of her face, her wanting hands found their homes, each meeting a dick from somewhere in the crowd. She stroked the cocks eagerly, not even seeing who they belonged to, totally absorbed in her task. It was a no holds barred fuck-fest, and she was the star. Her duties did not stop at the four diamond dogs she currently pleasured; even with all available tools at her disposal preoccupied, impatient dogs shot loads at, over and around her as they stroked themselves silly at the sight. Greedy tongues and inspecting noses still lapped at her and sniffed her intimate regions while she panted. She couldn't see any of it, but the sensations were apparent - nay, they were inescapable.

The old mutt behind her picked up the pace before cumming suddenly, clearly less of a breeding machine than the pack leader. Nora didn't mind - that was one down. His place was taken in no time at all, another cock finding its way to her rear, this time staking claim to her asshole. She did not stop slurping at the feminine folds in front of her all the while, work rewarded with a madly flailing spiked tail visible overhead.

When her hands milked their respective cocks dry, they grabbed out for more. If they couldn't find cocks, she grab at any flesh - balls, breasts - she even fingered one dog in the ass, all while not looking up. As the female before her gushed, oozing wetness, she came in Nora's face, spraying her. The musk was impossible to avoid. It permeated her, became part of her. She wasn't sure if the bitch's hormones were rubbing off on her by transitive property, but Nora felt their effects, becoming more volatile and jerky in her movements than ever.

When the female pulled away, having been satisifed, a ripped male took her place, likely one of the pack's warriors. Nora didn't wait for him to act, instead seizing the initiative and dragging her tongue over his torso. He tasted of little more than sweat, beads of which now clung to Nora's tonuge. She swallowed them eagerly, before going in for seconds.

Nora had no canine nose, no doggy tongue. She did not perceive the world through taste and smell as they did. But suddenly, it all just clicked for her. She got it. Even with her limited human senses, she had seen the light, drinking in the aromas around her, driving her body wild. She acted as though possessed by their group musk, a puppet of their sweaty, stinky bodies. It just wasn't fair. She stood no chance against such notions. To think, she used to perceive the world with her eyes and ears! Now, the sounds drowned out around her, morphing into one continuous hum. Now, her blurry vision was useless to her - she did not need to see the cocks she clutched and stroked to make them cum. Instead, she was living for the smell and taste of these creatures.

Nora grabbed the stud's hand, pulling him down closer to her level. When he met her there, she lifted up his right arm, raising it level with his head, before brining her face into his pit, basking in his warrior's scent. She licked at his underarm, cleaning him with her body, selfishly hogging his juices. He stroked himself as she did so, clearly surprised but turned on at the attention.

Meanwhile, as the dog behind her rode her ass, she felt claws digging in to her soft cheeks, the slight pain not deterring her, instead functioning as a motivator. She thrust her rear back to meet him as he humped her, the pooch propping up much of his weight against her backside. Her pussy was rubbing against the cavern floor, ground down under his strong arms, driving her mad with delight. Nora wasn't sure if all dogs really went to heaven, but she was certainly there herself.

"G, guuhh," she began, having to take a concerted effort to form words. "G-Get up, big boy, and turn round," she said, pulling back from the musky mutt before her. He complied, standing tall and spinning and the spot. She reclaimed her hands for this, spreading his cheeks, before diving into his asshole tongue-first, earning a mighty yelp from the amazed dog.

As she rimmed him, her two hands got to work on his member, hanging hard underneath him, stroking it one after another, cascading her palms over his rod rhythmically. How he didn't blow his load on the spot, she had no idea. After some time treating his meat with her gooey hands, she turned to a different tactict, jutting out her chest, clasping her breasts between her hands and bringing the swinging cock between them. Nora worked his dick expertly between her tits as she ate his ass, pleasuring the animalistic being, likely not even literate, in ways that would make him the envy of nobles and kings across Equestria.

Perhaps that was what was so hot about this, to her. Taking these savage mongrels, and treating them like royalty, offering her body to them in ways that any upstanding pony would blush at - it was a primal thrill. The pheremones of the diamond dogs devolved her thinking, sending her into a prehisotirc state of mind, where her only two immediate concerns were food and sex. And she had eaten a big lunch.

I smell like a diamond dog, she thought, bouncing hard on the dick that railed her ass.

I fuck like a diamond dog, she mused, burying her tongue deeper in the asshole of the stud who bent over in front of her, massaging his member with her soft tits.

I am a diamond dog!

Perahps Rover had been right all along, and she was just some exotic species, an offshoot from a foreign tribe. She just didn't know it; she needed to be shown her place. And it had taken the Rhinestone Pack to do that. And her place, she knew, was at the bottom of the pack's hierarchy, the group's own chewtoy.

Dogs didn't keep their tongues in their mouthes when the fucked. They didn't care where their semen spilled. They didn't gaze upon the face of the females they took. And they didn't say 'please'. And so, Nora fucked like a dog.

The brute behind her pumped her ass once more before firing off inside her, at the exact moment the schlong between her tits twitched with delight, before shooting a heavy load right down her front. They wasted no time in getting out of the way, shifting positions with other eager pack members. Another male took form behind her, grabbing her rear and burying his bone in her ass. Meanwhile, yet another approached her face with cock in hand, ready for her to suck his dick. Nora grinned. She still had much to do.

As she got to work, her breasts clapped, a heavy wet slush eminating from her chest with each thrust, the cum coating them dampening the sound.

"Anal again, eh?" she called back to the hound behind her between breaths as she came up for air from the girthy cock before her. "You boys... sure are eager."

She resumed giving head, before something interrupted her - a prickly sensation rang out in her upper back.

"Ow!"

She recoiled in alarm, looking behind her.

"Ooh," said the diamond dog she had been blowing. "You got Rex. He's a biter."

It was going to be a long night.

Nora lay there, naked, sweaty, sticky, fulfilled. Warm bodies surrounded her, rising and falling rhythmically. She reclined in the middle of the sleeping crowd, who huddled together for warmth in their cave. The chief was alseep on a raised bed of straw above them all, but she could not see him. He didn't really matter anymore. She ached all over, barely conscious. Most importantly, she was done.

The hormones, the pheromones, and the adrenaline had got her through it, but they exacted a heavy toll, which she was paying now. As she gazed up at the cavern's mossy ceiling, rocks jutting downward like teeth - a big, dog's mouth that cradled the pack - she sighed.

With all the willpower in the world, she rose, slowly. She was free. She stepped over the bodies around her with care - not for fear of waking them, which seemed impossible - but due to her exhausted demeanor. As she shimmied passed the furry crowd, she made her way to the chamber's main exit, looking at the climb she had ahead of her before she'd be free.

Her bare feet were black as soot from walking the rocky floors and dirty trails. They rang with pain. Nora pondered, assessing the risk.

May... just have to stay here... for the night.

It was decided. That is not to say it was her decision - rather, it was the decision. She had no alternative, unable to muster the strength and energy for an ascent out of this hole and then a walk back to Ponyville. At night. In the cold, naked.

And so, Nora slinked back to the mass of sleeping diamond dogs. The space she had left in her wake was soon occupied by sprawling limbs, but as she waded back into the center of the pack before sitting down, they gave way under the slight resistence of her body.

Strangely enough, she thought back to the first thing she had done that day - her conversation with Twilight. She was to be a friendship ambassador.

While Nora considered that her methods weren't exactly traditional, she had negotiated peace between two warring packs today, all by herself. Rover and his rowdy boys would be safe, thanks to her - not that they deserved any favors, but still... it felt good, knowing she had made a difference, even down here, in a place so horrid. Perhaps Twilight was right about her. Perhaps she just hadn't seen it.

She yawned, and with a brief stretch, she could stave off slumber no longer.

Stick in the Mud

Nora bounded over grassy plains broken up by trees and foliage, careful not to draw attention to herself. It was early; the sun was beginning to rise, but most ponies would hopefully not be up and about quite yet. She hastened her steps despite her aching posterior, while her hands covered her sensitive bits. She was naked, dirty, and the wetness that had coated her skin was dried and hard after a night's rest down in the caves, the slobber and semen both forming into a paste-like substance that covered her like a second skin. Still, Lucky had made good on his word and let her go, which was something.

As she darted from one tree to the next on the outskirts of town, desparate not to run into anyone in this state, she contemplated that they may well smell her coming before they ever saw her: she absolutely reeked. Having spent the best part of yesterday being passed from one dirty hound to the next, their juices glazing her over and over again, and then fermenting in it all as she slept in a pile of sweaty mutts, she was without a doubt in the dirtiest state she had ever been. Not metaphorically speaking - there, some of her nightly romps still took the cake.

Being treated like a communal table leg by the diamond dogs had left her weary, despite her night's reprieve, and the sticky coating over her body accentuated the cold morning air even further.

She wanted to prioritize getting home, but if she smelled like this, then stealth was a dead option. Her house was pretty central, so that increased the odds of her aroma attracting attention. And right now, she did not want attention. Even the weather pegasi would probably find their eyes darting downward if she walked underfoot, such was the intensity of her stench, and they worked all hours, so there would be enough of them around.

She contemplated taking a dip in the river that ran through town, but it, too, tended to snake through and around busy commercial districts and residential areas. It did run by Sweet Apple Acres, which was an option, but the Apples, again, were early risers. They were probably the first folks in town to open their eyes each morning, and the idea of getting caught by Applejack, or worse, her granny - or even worse, her sister - was too scary to consider. Besides, she was coming into town from the wrong angle, and if she wanted to get there sneakily, she'd have to circle half of Ponyville, plus some buffer distance. That would cost her too much time.

There was another option, she realized, clinging to the tree bark in front of her as she peered round it, making sure she was alone. Fluttershy had an outdoor shower unit for her critters. It was crude, but would surely fit the bill. And she lived pretty far away from town, and, most critically, totally alone.

Bingo, thought Nora, mind made up. Fluttershy's place, as luck would have it, wasn't far. It was perfect. She could stop by her garden, hose herself off, and be gone in two minutes, tops. Then she'd just have to stay out of sight, lest she give the pony populace more of an eyeful than they bargained for. She was pretty sure ponies weren't too averse to nudity - they practiced it, after all - but her own human notions of modesty wouldn't allow the thought. Besides, her nudity, in particular, was different - ponies had fur, and tails, and other camouflage for their privates. Meanwhile, her jutting breasts, perky nipples and shaved pussy were on full display. It wasn't comparable, not at all.

As she slinked from tree to tree, crunching twigs underneath her steps, she came up on the yellow pegasus' cottage rather promptly. As she approached, her pace slowed, more aware that she could encounter someone here. With each careful movement, she zeroed in on her target, until she was separated from the abode by only a single tree, which she hugged, staying slim behind the shelter of its wide trunk.

Scouting out the area in relative safety, she peered over the left side of the trunk, then the right. She couldn't see anything. Hearing was another matter, however, her own thoughts practically drowned out over animals chirping, squawking, panting, and other words ending in 'ing'. How that pony slept next to this racket was beyond her. Nora supposed Fluttershy must have just grown long accustomed to it, though she could never imagine such ease of familiarity herself. She grew up a city girl, and while cities were not quiet, their noises were... different. It was hard to explain. The countryside could be so silent one moment, and so loud the next. Still, it was nothing to dwell on right now of all times.

"This is it," she whispered to herself, deciding that the coast was as clear as it was going to get. She jogged on her toes, staying alert, swift but able to minimize any noise relatively well. Meandering around to the back side of the cottage, she found her target, a series of home-made animal pens with some caregiving facilities off to the side - including her prize.

Running water... she thought. It was almost enough to make her own eyes start running. How she'd missed it. She'd rinse off, and be out of here in a jiffy.

As she approached, the animals paid her some heed, but did not cause a ruckus at her presence. Fluttershy had it all, from the mundane to the exotic - snakes, birds, pigs, rodents, and even a few exotic creatures Nora wasn't sure she recognized. She presumed they came from the nearby Everfree. In better circumstances, she'd hang around and enquire about them. Hell, she knew Fluttershy even looked after a bear! Now that was impressive. Just how she didn't spend thousands of bits in property repairs each day with such a diverse and sometimes dangerous crew around her, Nora wasn't sure.

Most of the critters were penned, but some were free-roaming. She wasn't sure if they belonged to the pegasus, per se, or if they just liked loitering around her place for some free food. Since animals seemed more intelligent here, Nora wouldn't be surprised if her yellow friend had something of a reputation in the woods, however that worked. Did these animals have a society of their own? A common language? Fluttershy seemed able to communicate with them, somehow. And not just basic commands. Sadly, Nora lamented as she tried to push passed a wandering family of badgers, she did not possess the same quality.

"Go on," she urged on hushed breath. "Shoo, get."

They were a veritable parade, and they were between her and her Fluttershy's animal shower. She tried to scoot around them, but their impressive numbers made it hard work. They did not regard her at all.

Darn varmint, she concluded, borrowing a turn of phrase from AJ.

Eventually making her way up to the rusty pipe and her promised salvation, she looked it over, noting the main valve at the front of the contraption and the simplistic square shower head above her.

"Hey, I said go on," she uttered, badgers snaking around her legs as she stood, trying to get to grips with the device. Placing one hand on the control, she went to give it a turn, though the commotion at her feet riddled her with distraction.

"I said-"

Nora's words were cut tragically short by a heaving thump to her right leg, offered by a particularly big, clumsy badger bumping her as he waddled through the herd. It wouldn't have normally thrown her off balance, but she lacked the grip of shoes, and the ground here was soft and slick, particularly around the shower under which she stood. She was knocked off kilter, but what fully flung her was the badger behind her, acting as a tripping hazard which levereged her already shaky weight. She was sent careening off to her side, arms flailing all the while.

She landed in something soft, which would normally be a plus, but not this time. As her hands reached out to steady her fall, she glanced at exactly what she was falling into: a yucky puddle of mud and compost. As Nora touched earth with a splat, her body was coated in the grime. Now, not only did she reek, but she looked the part, too.

She wavered in disbelief at the accident, cursing everything and anything, and especially that one god-forsaken badger.

"You!" she started, pointing at the cluster of stripey-faced creatures, before stopping herself, realizing she couldn't make unnecessary noise.

The procession disregarded her anyway. It was clear that her fall had been an accident rather than some pre-meditated act of baseless spite, but that made the pill no less bitter to swallow. Ah, well, she concluded. It didn't matter.

"At least I can still-"

Her sentence died in her throat for the second time in one minute, as she stared down at her other hand, and at one metal valve in its clutches, broken off of the shower that had been within arm's reach.

No.

Nora jumped up to her feet in a flash, globs of mud dripping from her arms and elbows as she did so, before turning to the outdoor shower. There was no saving grace: no other lever, no tap, no hope, no chance. But surely the water had to be stored somewhere, right? She looked around, but the pipe just fed into the ground below. She could see no tank nearby. It could be underground spring water for all she knew. Or fucking magic, why not. That was how most things were hand-waved away in this place.

Nora breathed in slowly, catching her rising temper. This was not a good start to the day, but she could only control her actions going forward. She was still pressed for time; right now, sleeping ponies would be jumping out of bed, and into the streets. She still had to get home.

Well, so much for Plan A.

Nora leaned against the shower pipe and into her own muddy arms, letting out a silent scream.

"T...That feels better," she said to herself. Okay, she was ready now. Ponies would smell her coming a mile away, but if she could stay out of sight, her dignity could be preserved. She needed a disguise, or... or something. Ideas bounced around her brain, but none of them seemed particularly robust. Her resolve waned.

Deciding that she couldn't stay here, at any rate, lest a peeking pegasus catch her, she left the broken valve on the ground and moved out, longing for an end to this waking nightmare.

Nora hadn't gotten far, lingering by the woods near Fluttershy's house. She was at the border of the forest, not wanting to step fully into the road before her, lest somepony come trotting by, but the anxiety at her deadline was building. She stood there, thinking, formulating, but nothing came to her - no easy way through. As the mud mixed with the already strong smells of dried cum and drool, her head swirled. This was no way to go out.

"Well..." she said sadly to herself. "I had a good run."

Nora sighed, imagining scenarios of different ponies catching her like this. Would they laugh at her? Be disgusted? Embarrassed? Would word get out? Perhaps she could get away with being witnessed by just one or two ponies. The hypotheticals replaced the escape plans in her brain, images of complex stratagems and shcemes pushed aside for dreamt up ridicule and distress.

She looked back at the secluded safety of Fluttershy's cottage. Perhaps she should just bite the bullet and return to her friend for help? But then again, this was Fluttershy, one of her good buddies. One of the ponies she did not want knowing about her other life. Sure, right now she was just a naked, muddy mess, but how would she explain how this all happened? What is she smelled the male scents on her? Saw the cum stains on her thighs? No, it was too humiliating.

"Hot dawg, gurl!"

Nora's head turned with the speed of light to see the face of a stallion peering at her from the trail leading up to Fluttershy's place. His brown mane and tail were shaggy, the fibers of his hair straw-like and dry, while his cream-tan fur coat were covered in dark, dirty splotches. His cutie mark was a literal garbage bin.

"And I thought I liked it dirty, hehe."

Nora turned red under her brown, literally stepping backwards in the shock of being caught. She had been hanging by the treeline, mostly out of sight, but must have stopped paying attention to the road in her panic, which had cost her dearly.

"I... I..." she started, not sure how to continue.

"Hey, ain'tcha that haman everypony's been jabber 'bout?"

"H... Human," she corrected, scooting behind the shelter of a nearby tree, only her head poking out. She had nothing else to say.

"Well, gosh, ain't it an honor," the strange stallion went on, seemingly unperturbed. "Ah've been hearin' 'bout ya, an all..." he went on, a shy smile and a blush creeping over his muzzle as he scratched the back of his head with a hoof, sitting down on his haunches. "Meant ta give ya a courtesy call, I might say, but ah figured ya wouldn't want a slob like me. Didn't realize ya was a fellow dirt-lover, though!"

As his country drawl slowed to a halt, he puffed up his chest, beating on it his with hoof in an apparent sign of solidarity.

"Ah've been tellin' ponies round these parts for years they need to embrace the ways of dirt. To listen to its secrets."

Okay, this guy was nuts.

"To appreciate its beauty. Ah was always alone in that battle... till now."

Nora stared at him. Somehow, despite the state she was in, he was the oddball of the pair.

"Look," she said, mustering some sanity from the depths of her traumatized psyche, "I just need to get cleaned up and get into town, preferably in a nice set of cute and stylish human clothes, but if not, then without drawing the gaze of a single pony."

She asserted herself strongly, despite her bashful posture, raising her voice. "Can you help me with that, or are you just here to gawk?"

The stallion, still sat down, scratched his chest idly as he looked around at nothing in particular, as though contemplating her words. Eventually, he spoke.

"Reckon I can, missy."

"That's what I - wait, what?" she asked, stunned. Had she misheard him?

He looked at her once again. "Ah reckon I can help y'all. Though why you'd want to stay hidden is a mystery to me, doll, you're a real beaut, even under all those layers," he said, chuckling to himself. "Name's Pigpen. The town's garbage pony. I'd shake yer hoof, but ah'd just make it dirtier."

He ended his sentence with a familiar chuckle. It was clearly not his first time using that line. Nora could practically see stink lines eminating from the rough looking colt, and yet the way he carried himself... it had a sort of charisma to it, almost. Like he was completely undeterred by what others thought of him - he seemed the type to enjoy their reactions, rather than wallow in them. She wondered if he had many friends, or if his stench made that a difficult prospect.

Regardless, if he was saying he could help her...

"How?" she asked, earnestly.

"I know 'bout a store o' rainclouds near here, that got 'bandoned after some pegasus crash or summit," he said, chewing on something. "Reckon they'd spruce ya up somethin' nice."

Of course, the weather! Finally those ponies and their bizarre, planet-altering habits were useful in a real way.

"But what about getting home?" she went on. "I'd still be naked. I can't let everypony see me like that."

One is bad enough, she thought, still hiding her nude form behind her tree as she addressed Pigpen.

"Ah got a solution fer that too, missy, fret not," he said, tipping an imaginery hat whilst he continued to chew.

Nora stood stock still a moment, weighing her options. They were light. Imperceptibly light. Pigpen seemed her best bet, now.

"Well, okay..." she said.

"But ah've been savin' these clouds fer a special occasion, so ah'm not inclined to give 'em away just like that," he said.

"But-"

Nora's words caught in her throat, unsure how to object. Okay, he did have a point.

"What do you want for them?"

He leered at her, a wry grin spreading across his face.

"Has been a while since mah last roll in th' hay," he said, scratching his chin. This guy scratched a lot, Nora observed.

Okay, ew, she concluded, but also, what choice do I have?

"You mean after I clean up, right?"

Silence befell the clearing.

"...Right?"

They two had absconded deeper into the woods. The stallion had rather gentlemanly offered to take her home, but he lived in town, which kind of defeated the objective here. So instead, she insisted they do this somewhere far away from prying eyes. Unfortunately, their options were limited.

Pigpen, for his part, had the cheery disposition of a ball of sunshine. Somehow, Nora got the impression that getting a quick rut from her was only a small part of the reason. He did seem the optimistic happy-go-lucky sort, from her brief interaction with him.

"So what were you doing up here anyways?" she asked as they walked, eager to take her mind off of things. The muck covering her continued to shift over and between the creases of her skin as she walked, oozing out, around, and between her flexing muscles with each stride. She was not covered head to toe, but her arms, were mostly drenched, a good splodge had gotten her torso, and her feet and lower legs were pretty much a lost cause. This was disgusting.

"Oh, that kindly Fluttershy mare lets me wrassle the pigs," he said with pride. "Ahm the only one who ken keep em good an' tired. An' it's fun as heck, too!"

Nora rolled her eyes at his antics. How anyone could enjoy living like he did was beyond her. She was fed up after less than 10 minutes of it.

"Ugh, I'll never be clean again," she bemoaned.

"Heh, not when ah'm done wid yer, missy."

Nora hadn't even wanted to think about sex today. After yesterday, she was spent, yet here she was, needing to give more. If the dirty pony was worried his hygiene would put her off under normal circumstances, he had a good judge of character. She'd seldom had to say no to a client, but he would have been a no, at least if he was unwilling to bathe first. Trying circumstances eroded her luxury of choice, however.

"This'll do," he declared, stopping. She looked back the way they had come; it was a fair walk, and not a creature stirred in the secluded woods they inhabited.

Pigpen plopped his flanks down on a tree stump, his stallion meat on full display. It seemed he was already hard. He seemed to sense Nora's surprise at this, justifying himself.

"Yer so purdy lookin', all dirty like that..."

Nora winced. "How do you want to start?"

"Ah reckon ya can start with yer mouth," he said.

She knelt in front of his stump, bringing herself level with his dick. He was small by pony standards, which still meant he was huge. His cock was mottled, which reminded her of the blotches of grime on his body, making her feel queasy.

The smell of his genitals hit her at once, somehow overpowering both his body's aroma, and her own rank smell.

"Ugh," she said, coughing.

"Take yer time, now."

Nora composed herself before bringing her face closer. When had he last washed? The thought of putting her tongue on his cock made her feel sick.

"I... I can't," she said. "I'm sorry."

She sat there, broken, defeated at the first hurdle.

"Now, now, don't you fret none. Actually, ah'm glad ya said no."

"You are?"

She looked up at him.

"Yep! You'd only clean it anyway, hehe! Now turn round, let's get the real show on the road."

Nora obeyed, showing him her ass. As she turned her head back, she saw him rubbing his hooves together.

"That's it, come to papa," he said, putting one hoof on each of her rear cheeks. Whilst this was still less than thrilling for her, at least the stench was less unbearable from this end, and at least her mouth would be spared the ordeal. Still, when this was over, soap would not be enough.

She felt Pigpen position himself over her, his tip feeling its way to her folds.

"Pussy or ass, miss?" he asked, as casually as someone ordering a latte.

"Umph," she said, adjusting to his weight on her back. "Pussy, please."

How could he be so polite and yet such a slob? He really was a pony of extremes.

She opted for pussy, not wanting another ramming in her sensitive ass, which was still reeling from last night. Somehow, though, the diamond dogs were cleaner than this fellow.

He entered her with gusto, their trade now officially underway. Nora rested on her arms, grunting at his thrusts, taking an abnormally passive role. Sex, for her, wasn't usually a chore, but this was just a means to an end.

As his groin met her rear end, she felt the tickle of his greasy fur. His balls, which were actually on the larger side, slapped her each time her entered her.

"Ah needed this," he said in a rabid tone, his decorum disappearing momentarily. "Shoot, ah didn't even know it! Yer amazin', miss!"

He would not be the first to tell her so.

Despite Nora's despair at the state of her body, and the body plowing her into next Wednesday, mechanically speaking, sex was sex. While she never would have selected the filthy colt as a playmate, the basic motions felt good, biologically speaking. Her cunt ached at the penetration, already worn out from a series of poundings but given no leeway. The pain felt kind of... pleasant.

Pigpen's male form smooshed up against her muddy back, spreading it around and mixing with his own grease. Nora moaned, bringing a hand to her face out of habit, before realizing she had just smeared mud on her cheek.

"Ah... unf... that's a dirty girl... yeah, you like it, don'tcha?"

Pigpen's rutting motions came fast and hard, not letting up. Unlike most of her clientele, he did not seem preoccupied with pacing himself. It suited her.

As his assault on her pussy continued, her pushed her form forward, and she leaned further, unable to support her head. Eventually, her face was hanging just a thread from the ground.

"Hnnng," she moaned.

"Moan for me, babygirl," cooed Pigpen. "Ah don't just live in dirt, ah talk real dirty too... yer a little piggy, ain'tcha, wallowin' round in the mud? Gimme a squeal, piggy."

"~Aaah," Nora let the second moan escape before biting her lips. Hardly a squeal, but it seemed to elicit a positive response nonetheless.

As her body swayed, the parts which escaped her muddy encounter earlier began to peel, the hardened cum-infused concoction that graced her skin cracking and crumbling. Pigpen seemed to take notice, now that he was getting a good look at her form.

"You've been up ta no good, ain'tcha, missy?" he grunted. "Ah wonder how ya ended up like that, indeed. Dirty gal."

It was true, was the worst part. She had been slutting it up last night. Though that was due to trying times. Much like now. Nora missed the comparatively mundane jobs with her regulars. She'd have to take a 'me day' after this.

Still, the pounding Pigpen was giving her was something. As he snorted through his nostrils, she felt the warm air on her back. He was close.

Before she knew where she was, Nora found her face pressed against the floor of the forest, covering her in more dirt. A strong hoof held her down.

"Wow, miss, ah... ah..."

He could not compose himself enough to finish his sentence, so he instead settled for finishing in Nora.

"Shoot!" he cried.

As she felt his hot cum ooze out inside her, she squinted at the sensation. After he let loose his first rope, he pulled out, propping his meat on her rear and shooting the rest over her back, putting cum on top of grime on top of cum and spit and sweat.

Nora groaned into the ground, her own heat reaching its peak. She did not climax, but was closer than she would ever care to admit. While his technique was suitable, the whole, y'know, mud and dirt thing was just too distracting for her. She was only thinking about her rain shower.

As they both breathed frantically, calming down, she propped herself up again shakily.

"Sorry 'bout that, miss," he said, his eyes betraying that he meant it. "Got a little caught up in the moment, ah reckon."

"It's fine," she said, about to dust herself off before realizing there was no point.

"Yeehaw!"

The sudden excalamation caught her off guard, making her jump. Pigpen was screaming at the sky.

"I reckon that's about the best and only sex I've had these past five years," he said.

"Now," she said. "About those rainclouds?"

"Right this way."

Well, the lug delivered.

Nora stood under a cloud that unloaded heavenly wetness over her. She scrubbed as best she could the disgusting filth from her body, basking in the water.

The stash had been in some crate sequestered away further into the forest. How it had ended up here, who knows, but Nora was just glad it had. Pigpen watched on as she cleaned herself up, smiling.

"Shucks, as much as ah enjoy the mud, seein' y'all so happy bein' clean like this has got me smilin'", he said, sniffling. "Maybe ah'll turn over a new leaf, an' clean up mah act from now on."

"Really?"

"Heh, nah."

Glad that their relationship was now 'light banter buddies' and no longer a copulating pair, Nora relished in the moment. This had been a hell of a 24 hours. This time just yesterday she'd have been making herself breakfast, planning her little visit to Twilight's. She wondered idly how different her day would have been if the alicorn had been free to hang out after all.

Nora exhausted one cloud, then another, and another. Before long she had used every last one in the cache. She had needed it. She still didn't feel clean, just... cleaner.

"Welp, that's all of them," she said, dripping. "How are you planning on getting me home, by the way?"

Pigpen, who had been staring off into space, snapped to attention, looking at the human.

"Glad you asked. A little ingenuity, is all," he said pridefully. He waddled over to Nora, reaching for a cloud that had been rained out and tossed to the ground, wispy and deformed.

Ho took it in his hooves, and his face scrunched up in concentration as his body swayed. He appeared to be... squeezing it?

"Hnnnnnngh."

"Um," she began in awe. "What exactly are you doing?"

She got no response, only more grunts. But as she eyed the cloud in his grasp, she noticed it started to change shape. It clustered into more of a ball. When he was done, he threw it over her arm without warning.

Nora stood transfixed, gazing at the thing, wrapped around her arm. She wore it like a sleeve. Most importantly, it concealed her form entirely, the fluffy white thing opaque enough to preserve her decency.

"It's tough for anypony other'n pegasi to shape 'em," he said, admiring his own handiwork. "Not that anypony else'd normally get the chance. But they're softer after bein' rained out, ya see, so even though it's tough work for an earth pony, ah can mould it."

Nora looked at the pile of disused clouds she had tossed to the ground, eyes lighting up in understanding and appreciation.

"Now get tah helpin'!"

Nora walked into town with equal parts trepidation and confidence. The confidence was mostly external, forced to not draw attention. It had been working, however.

Before they said their goodbyes, Pigpen had suggested she walk behind him as far as she was able on her way home, since ponies usually cleared the streets when he strolled by. She could tell why. Still, she was grateful - he had actually delivered on his word, and seemed happy to be doing so. He wasn't a bad guy. She still wouldn't romp with him again any time soon, though.

As she strutted down the highstreet, one or two ponies regarded her. Her unusual attire didn't seem to warrant too much fanfare - a glance here, a gawk there. It had to be considered strange, to be wearing clouds, but hey, it worked. They tickled her skin as she walked. It was sort of cozy at first, but the sensation was growing old. Still, she was basically home free now, rounding out the last turn to her street.

She had never been so happy to see home. Going back to Earth may elicit less of an emotional response from her than this did right now. Finally, safety from prying eyes, boorish beasts, and foul smelling yokels!

The sun had creeped up over the horizon. Her little excursion had taken time, but it was still early - some ponies were only just heading to work. Nora longed for the comfort of her warm bed, where she fully intended to spend the rest of her day.

As she arrived at the door, she savored the feeling of touching the doorknob, holding her head high.

Then, something very unexpected happened.

A gust of wind accosted her from behind. She turned to look, and saw a gray blur bounding downward like a shooting star. The object landed, hard, on the ground behind her, the force of the air blowing her way dissipating the clouds protecting her.

"Ah!" she screamed, opening her front door with haste and hiding behind it. She looked at the crash site, only to realize that it wasn't a thing at all, it was a 'her'.

The mail pony, the one with the... eyes. Nora wasn't sure exactly what her deal was, medically, so it was an awkward point for her. She hadn't had any run ins with the goofy gray pegasus yet, but had seen her around Ponyville, usually leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. As she picked herself up by her hoozes, her pupils rattled in their sockets, before coming to a stop at their 'natural' position.

The mail mare, who held a bundle of letters in her mouth, turned and regarded her, apparently undeterred by the physical ordeal she had been through just now.

"Hewwo!" she said cutely, words masked by paper and stamps. "Pfft," she spat out the envelopes into her hoof, walking up to Nora.

"Oh, hi there," she said.

"Mail for you!" the mare replied, holding out the bounty.

"Gee," said Nora, trying not to touch the slobbery parts, "Thanks."

Just what was this mare's name again? She was sure she had heard it.

"I'm Derpy!"

Recollection hit Nora. She had heard other mares call the pony that, but wasn't sure if it was her name or just a descriptor.

"Hi, I'm Nora," she said, conscious of her nudity, luckily concealed by the door.

"You're not usually in when I come by, so it's nice to meet you! Welcome to Ponyville!"

Derpy gave a salute and took off into the skies once more.

Well, that was abrupt.

A bit late for a greeting given she had been here for months, now, but Nora appreciated the gesture anyway. As she made her way inside, she dumped off the letters - probably junk mail as usual - before heading upstairs. At least she didn't have to dispose of the clouds herself, now. They had been completely vaporized by Derpy's crash.

She made for the shower, where she prayed to see no badgers.

When she was done, she would take a well deserved rest. Perhaps more than ever, she felt, she had earned it.

Essential Oils

Nora relaxed with her hands behind her head on the hillside, savoring the afternoon sun. A gentle breeze billowed in over the valleys, swaying the grass to and fro around her. The grass underneath her own reclined body tickled the back of her neck, caressing her, as though the earth itself was acknowledging her presence. It was one of those picture perfect days, the kind not so uncommon in Equestria. The weather here was certainly more consistent than back home.

She had not a care in the world, such was her disposition. After going through something of an ordeal with her impromptu gem hunting excursion and everything that came after, she was content to just relax and whittle the day away. Such was the one perk of working nights, she mused - all this time to herself. She had ditched the comforts of her own bed, to her own surprise, for this outdoor lounging. As welcome as her soft sheets had been this morning, it was too hot to spend all day cooped up inside.

Normally she'd make the most of a day like this by heading into the town market, chatting it up with some of the sales mares, maybe picking up a trinket or two - then maybe she'd bother one of her friends. Help AJ out with the farm, or let Twi talk at her for an hour or so...

But today, her bones were heavy, and her muscles ached. Today, her mental state was simply not in the mood for ponies, and especially not for work. Heck, she wasn't even remotely horny. She had started to wonder, half-jokingly, if she had been cured of her want, such was the extent of her commitment to bolstering cross-species relations lately. She was sure that the feeling would go away in a day or two.

Her sores and scrapes from her fall in the cave pained her a little, but it was no biggie - she just needed time to relax, and she was making good headway on that already.

Nora watched the weather ponies darting about in the sky from one cloud to the next, their routine flight patterns soon becoming familiar to her from her observational post. They were the only life she could see, save for the birds, the view of Ponyville below requiring a slight downward tilt of the head to enjoy - far too much effort to expend on a day like today.

Nora ran no internal monologue right now, thinking about nothing in particular, however this blissful semi-aware state was soon disturbed by thought - one thought in particular...

Is that one... getting closer?

Sure enough, there was but one weather pony that had not been following the tight formations of the team, instead spiralling out in loops and flipping about all over like a mad thing. Nora squinted. This was no weather pony, it was a Wonderbolt. The rainbow trail which soon became visible to her as the blue dot expanded confirmed her theory in short order.

The rainbow menace seemed to have noticed her, zooming to her approximate location in a shape that stood as an insult to straight lines everywhere. When she was close enough that Nora could discern the specifics of her facial features, she called out.

"Hey, Nora! What did you think of those slick moves?"

Rainbow Dash struck a dynamic pose with her hooves, showing off to the crowd of one. This mare...

"Very good," she called back, loud enough to hear but quiet enough as to not expend any unnecessary effort with her vocal cords. "I'd clap, if I had the energy."

Dash scooted a little closer in the air to converse with her better. "Bet you ain't seen skills like that before?"

"I have, actually."

"What?"

The pegasus' face was aghast, a pair of hooves clasping her open cheeks as she gaped in shock, before her competitive spirit quickly caught up with her.

"Where? From who? Just lemme at 'em in a fly-off, I bet I'd make them like a chump."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Dash," Nora called back with a slight smile. Even as lazy as she was feeling, she had the energy to dole out some gentle teasing.

"Huh?" she responded, confused.

"It's you. I've seen skills like that from you before, silly."

The pony coughed into her hoof as her wings fluttered.

"I, uh, knew that," she lied. "So what are you doing?"

Dash zoomed down so that she was hovering about six feet above the sleepy human, staring her in the face, her magenta eyes widening in curiosity, as was usual for these cute little equines.

"Nothing," she replied plainly.

The pegasus hovered in place for a while, looking quizzical, before shrugging, as though indicating she accepted this response.

"Cool," she said. "Mind if I help?"

"Be my guest."

Dash landed, before quickly rolling onto her back next to the human, splaying out at a different angle on the hill. Their heads were almost touching, while their hooves and feet were veering off into opposite directions.

"It's cool that you've been showing your face more again," she said, light on tact. "Y'know, I was worried, before, that you and Twi weren't cool anymore, or something..."

Nora reached up, moving her arms for the first time in about 40 minutes, in order to give her nose a playful scrunch. She didn't have eyes on the pony, so she may have bopped her a little in so doing.

"Aww, you were worried about me, Dash?" she teased.

"Uh, not 'worried', exactly," her partner in idleness quickly assured, "Just, you know... you two seemed..."

She trailed off, and Nora started to worry that she had made her feel more awkward than intended with her joke, but Dash swooped in and saved the day with an abrupt topic change.

"Rarity said you went gem hunting with her yesterday. Glad you're keeping busy, and all that."

You don't know the half of it.

"Since you're a human, you could easily miss out on a lot of these pony things. But I guess we got you covered, since we're such an awesome group of pals, and all..."

Heh, typical Dash. Somehow it all came back to being awesome.

"Hey, now that I mention it, you've never been to a Wonderbolts show! You should totally come next time!"

"Uh, easier said than done, Dash," Nora replied, bemused. "No wings..."

She mimed flapping her hands in a lame display, as though mocking the very idea, though her gesture probably went unnoticed from this position.

"Nah, we can just have Twilight cast a cloudwalking spell on you. It's easy, really!"

Huh. Now that was unexpected. Nora wasn't aware of the existence of such spells. That did sound fun to try, for the experience of walking on air as much as, if not more so, than the idea of seeing the Wonderbolts perform. Both, however, were tantalizing prospects.

"Neat," she said, genuinely impressed. "Didn't know that was a thing."

"Yup! Totally easy-peasy! Now you've got no excuses, it's settled! You're gonna see how amazing yours truly is!"

The human chuckled.

"Don't you show me that every time I see you?"

"Well, it's different in the Wonderbolts," she said.

Nora could believe it. Surely it was like the contrast between watching an athlete do warm-up exercises, and watching them performing in a professional event. More focused, higher stakes, the energy of the crowd - a totally different vibe.

"Okay, then," she said. "We'll do that some time."

Minutes passed in silence, the duo enjoying Celestia's warm rays in utter tranquility. Until...

"Hey, Nora."

"Yeah, Dash?"

"Don't take this the wrong way, but... you kind of smell like wet dog."

How exactly, she wasn't sure. She had spent longer in her shower this morning than ever before - even longer than during her 'special time' with that one hung stallion a few weeks ago... man, shower sex was awesome...

Nora's mind began to drift, the memories flooding back, before she snapped out of it.

"I was, uh, at Fluttershy's earlier."

Technically, it wasn't a lie.

"Ah," she said. "I get that."

Her tone carried a slight undercurrent of annoyance, as though she herself had dealt with the same problem before and wasn't too thrilled by it.

Still, Nora brought a forearm to her face, taking a slight sniff. She felt she smelled fine. Did equines have her beat on smell? Probably. Ah well, she had them beat of touch by a factor of ten, so things more or less evened out in the end. Go, team opposable thumbs!

"Welp," came a sudden declaration from her conversational partner, who jumped into the air with a gust, startling the woman. "That's all for now."

Nora sat up, her spine creaking, stiff at the lack of recent movement. "Already?" she pleaded. "But who'll I do nothing with now?"

A shrug answered her question, before she elaborated. "Sorry, I got work to do. Not only do I have these flight routines to get down, but the friendship school's re-opening soon, and Twi gave us all these boring study guides to memorize. I've gotta save time to skim the footnotes so I can pretend I read it."

Her plan was almost comical, but she delivered it with the utmost seriousness. This pony really put hard work into slacking off, huh?

"See ya!"

Without leaving her the chance for a proper goodbye, Rainbow Dash soared off, leaving Nora alone. As slight as her brief social interaction had been, it had energized her; left her craving more than just laying outside all day, despite her initial plans. Nora resolved that she would wander into town after all, and see what the day had in store for her.

...Just another five minutes, first.

The market bustled with activity, a veritable hive of cute quadrupeds. It was a classic Ponyville day. Nora sidled along, looking at the varied stalls with half interest. She had thought about bothering one of her other friends, but the candidates were slim pickings. She knew Twilight and Rainbow were busy, AJ and the pink one would probably be working, she'd already picked on Rarity a lot lately, and she'd had enough of animals for one week, so that ruled out Fluttershy.

With a sigh, she resigned herself to solitude. The tables sure had turned on her, huh? So much for her being the unavailable one in the group. It's not that Nora couldn't enjoy spending time by herself, but she didn't really have any goal in mind...

Well...

She eyed the building at the end of the street for what may have been the tenth time since she entered the town square, before her head swiveled away.

No, no, they wouldn't cater to you...

She clung on to her own wrist, embarrassed. Dash's parting comment on her scent still played on her mind a bit. Sure, Nora couldn't notice a thing, but there were a lot of ponies here. She wanted to freshen up a bit. And a touch of pampering did seem like it would be nice...

"Heya, Nora!"

The increasingly familiar voice broke her out of her stupor. As she moved her chin upwards, she caught sight of the pony it belonged to - mint green, musical cutie mark, eyes wide as saucers at the sight of the human - there was no mistaking this one...

"'Sup, Lyra?" she asked, casually. She quickly decided to ask a follow-up question, lest the unicorn interject with an invasive one of her own. "You off work?"

"Yep!" she said with undue pride, as though it were some kind of accomplishment. The mare almost seemed to puff out her chest a little, like Dash does when showboating. "Free as a bird, hehehe."

Her erratic laugh, a blatant attempt to play it cool, was kind of cute.

"Are, uh, you off work?" she asked flirtatiously. Nora nearly choked, caught off guard. She was used to the pony being direct, but she seemed kind of shy about that side of their relationship. Upon seeing what must have been one flabbergasted human face, she dialled it back. "I mean, uh, y'know, enjoying the market? He, hehe..."

Nora looked around, partially to avert eye contact after the awkward moment, and partially because she earnestly felt the need to assess her position before she could deliver an honest answer to the question.

"I guess?" she said, her questioning tone betraying her true feelings.

She hadn't bought a thing, and was really just killing time. She would have been on the verge of retreating to the comfort of her lush hill, except...

Again, two eyes drifted to a building behind her for all of a second.

"Are you looking at the spa?"

Nora's heart skipped a beat. This perceptive little pony had caught her, just like that.

"I, uh, I, well..."

She was floundering. Lyra didn't seem to notice her unease at the question, or perhaps she simply pushed through it anyway.

"Oh, do you want to go get a treatment?"

"Well, it's just, how do I put this..." she searched for the words. "They wouldn't - I mean, I assume they wouldn't serve someone who's not, well, a pony. Or at least someone not four-legged and furry."

Lyra tilted her head in confusion, a habit that was becoming familiar. "Why not?"

"Well, nopony in town has ever seen anything like me before. And my anatomy's totally different. What if they don't have anything that's good for my skin? And hoof treatments sure are different to what I've got down there," she said, pointing to her feet. "And ponies are strong - what if they hit a pressure point during a massage and make me cramp up? Or what if they just don't want to open their doors to someone they consider a freak?"

There it was, insecurities laid bare. It was uncharacteristic of Nora to get so worked up about something like this, and she wasn't sure why it was eating her, but she just couldn't get passed the imagined scenario of her walking through the spa's front doors, and them being totally dumbstruck by her human proportions and not knowing what to do with her.

She was pretty accepted in Ponyville, and had no particular reason to doubt that the staff of the spa would adopt the same welcoming attitude she had known most everywhere else, but she didn't know them, and it felt like a slightly vulnerable position to put yourself in. Perhaps it was strange that this was something of a mental barrier for her where a roll in the hay was not, but there it was.

Lyra's head re-oriented itself. "Naw, no way! You don't have to worry about something like that! Of course they'll see you. Business is business, right?"

"But they won't have any human-ready treatments! I just don't want to burden them..."

"Don't be silly," Lyra insisted. "C'mon, where's that confident go-getter?"

"At home, in bed," she replied sarcastically.

"What if I book it for you? We could go in together..."

Nora paused, considering the offer. She had been wary about spending too much time with Lyra ever since her clinginess started to manifest, but then again, she did feel kind of guilty for avoiding her yesterday - perhaps it was just the insanity of how her day had played out that was driving that, but still, she kind of wondered if it was karma.

Eventually, she relented.

"If you're sure..."

Lyra reared up on her hind legs and gave a little gallop, whinnying in delight. Nora took a step back, stunned. It always took her off guard when ponies put on more bestial displays like that - it did happen, but it was pretty rare, usually when they were excited, scared, or... well, let's just say she had seen it on a few occasions in her time here.

"Yay!" squealed Lyra girlishly. She galloped past Nora headlong into the spa. Nora waited for a few moments, before cautiously making a move towards the building's entrance, stopping a little way's outside. She turned her back to the building. As silly as it was, she kind of wanted plausible deniability on her association with this plan in the event that Lyra was told to take a hike.

After what felt like a small eternity but was probably no time at all, her pony companion trotted out of the establishment wearing a smile.

"So?" asked Nora. "H-how did it go?"

"Aloe and Lotus will see us now."

"What are we getting?"

"Everything!" she beamed. "With all the trimmings!"

Nora reclined on a comfortable lounger, soaking in the sensations. A mask of mysterious beautifying chemicals clung to her face, filling her pores with needed nutrients and other goodies, no doubt. So far she hadn't been able to procure skincare products like she would have back home - different species, and all - so this blend on her face was a welcome change of pace. Lotus had very kindly assured her it would be safe for her.

To her left, a pony diligently worked away at her fingernails, her outstretched hand lazily dangling over the side of her lounger. To Nora's amazement, they did have a file that was well suited to her needs. She had assumed they would only have pony-sized ones, and given how, for lack of a better word, chunky hooves could be, that hadn't boded well in her mind. But again, her worst fears were allayed, making her wonder what she had been so worried about to begin with.

"Oh, it's so nice getting to work on somepony so unique," said Aloe as she rubbed down her nails. Nora would have assumed sarcasm if not for how pleasant and accommodating the pair of spa ponies had been to her so far. "These stubs on the end of your hooves - fingers, you said? Their cartilage ends in such fine, delicate points! It's precision on a whole new level!"

Lyra, seated to her right and sporting a matching mask of her own, murmured sagely in agreement. "Yeah," she said, wistfully, "Hands sure are great..."

Nora rolled her eyes. The mare did seem particularly fixated on her anatomy. But Nora owed her for organizing this. She wouldn't have had the nerve to herself, but having soaked in the delights of the spa, she realized just how badly she needed it.

After some minutes eroded in silence, a voice in the vicinity piped up.

"Done!"

Nora felt the file move away from her fingers, and the hoof holding her wrist retracted its grip. She opened her eyes and brought her hand to her face, splaying out her fingers wide, admiring Aloe's hard work.

"You did such a good job..." she said, almost in disbelief.

"We're professionals, after all."

Of course. Well, that was that, then.

"Now, it's time for your deep tissue massage," said Lotus, trotting around from the back of Lyra's lounger. Nora sat up, paying attention. Lyra herself was laying on her front, her face propped up against the head rest in what looked like it should have been an uncomfortable position, but her expression screamed contentedness. She, too, pricked up at the spa pony's words.

"Ladies," gestured Aloe, waving a hoof to see them up. Nora stood, though it took some willpower to do so - she could have managed another 5 minutes laid there in bliss.

As the duo plucked themselves up from their relaxed postures and strolled into another room of the facility, Nora met Lyra's eye as the unicorn shot her a patented side-long glance. She did that a lot, almost like she had to make sure the human was still there periodically.

"Hey," she said to the mint mare, grabbing her attention. "Thanks for talking me into this. Really."

Lyra beamed.

As the pair reached the massage area, a series of specialist tables greeted them, each uniform in appearance. Lyra hopped on one immediately with a familiarity that showed she had done this before. Nora, however, stood still, realizing something. As if on cue, Lotus piped up.

"We'll need you to remove your clothes, dear."

Nora hesitated for a second, but swallowed the feeling of awkwardness. These were professionals, and Lyra had already seen her naked once. Besides, she wouldn't get too much of an eyeful when they were both on their tables. And so she started shedding apparel, placing it neatly in the corner of the room.

"We don't usually receive such well-dressed clients," said Aloe, questioningly.

"Yeah, I get that a lot," replied Nora without elaborating. Her non-nudist lifestyle was usually one of the first five aspects of her being that was questioned whenever a pony she hadn't directly interacted with before spoke to her for the first time, along with her height, her 'mane', and her weird hoof-things. She didn't feel like getting into the details of human societal expectations again right now.

Nora did catch Lyra looking her way as she strutted up to her massage table bearing all, but the mare's pupils darted away when Nora made eye contact. To be fair, Nora noted, the spa ponies were looking, too, though their gaze seemed more one of genuine curiosity than... whatever Lyra was thinking.

As she got to her table, she took note of another problem.

"Ah..." she said lamely, having stopped half way to putting one leg up. She was too tall. These things were clearly designed for ponies or, failing that, pony analogues.

"Oh, my apologies, miss," said Lotus, eyes darting around as she mused about how to proceed. In an instant, a light bulb appeared above her head and she sparked with inspiration, raising a hoof triumphantly. "Got it!" she declared, more to herself than anyone in the room.

She took off with a gallop that was stymied after all of two seconds, the cyan earth pony only making it about 10 feet before stopping at her destination. She then proceeded to drag another one of the massage tables towards Nora.

"Uh, would you like help with that?" she asked, concerned. It looked like a hefty job with hooves.

"Not at all!" cried Lotus. "A customer never lifts a hoof under our roof!"

The diligent worker did get the second table to its destination in short order, though looked to have exerted herself in doing so. Nora felt bad. As the two tables were haphazardly slotted together, one in front of the other, she blushed, prior insecurities about her physical differences creeping back into the forefront of her psyche. This was embarrassing.

As Lotus finished up with a flourish, she bowed. "Please, miss."

Nora complied, being careful not to dislodge the tables as she mounted them. As she laid face-down across the surface, she found ample room for her head in the designated hole, at least. Ponies were kind of big-headed, which was playing to her advantage right now. If her head hadn't have fitted after the table incident, she'd have about died from shame.

"Please, settle in, and relax," cooed a spa worker's voice from... somewhere. The acoustics were weird when you had your head in a hole, it turns out. Nora stared at the tiled floor and waited.

The first contact she felt came from a liquid - some sort of soothing balm, no doubt. She felt a blunt hoof spreading it over her rear, coating her back, butt and legs. Even as the viscous substance hit her bare skin, it tingled. Nora inhaled, steadying herself for the upcoming massage. She hoped ponies would be able to deliver on this front - hooves were not exactly instruments of precision, and the twins had no magic to rely on. Still, she considered, they had surprised her at every turn thus far - she had faith that this would be pleasant.

Nora felt a pair of hooves on her shoulders, rubbing them and working the oil into her skin. She immediately sighed in relief, pressure she was unconscious of dissipating in real time. Okay, yeah, she was right not to be worried.

When her masseuse finished with her shoulders, she worked her way down to her lower back, firm presses stretching her out in all the right places. It was here that Nora started to feel a little... strange.

She wasn't sure if her head was playing tricks on her, but her breath felt a little short. Was it just a side-effect of laying down too quickly, perhaps? She also felt hot, and rather... what was the opposite of numb? She was hyper-aware of every touch, every sensation in the room.

"Say," she asked, licking her lips, her throat dry. "What's in that oil you used?"

"Just a blend of natural plants. It's designed to bring out tension and make the massage more pleasurable."

"And how does it do that, exactly?"

"Oh, the usual. It relaxes your muscles, makes them slightly more sensitive - stuff to underscore the release of pressure."

As the pony tending her - Lotus, she presumed, though she could not tell their voices apart - pressed down again on her back, Nora's whole body cried out in delight.

Slightly?

"And you use this on ponies all the time, yeah?"

"Of course, miss," she replied, sensing some concern from the specificity of the human's questioning, "Is something the matter?"

"No," she lied through clenched teeth, "Just... curious."

Nora's legs started trembling slightly. They may have been massaging her back, but every touch felt like an embrace over her whole body. She was too lucid - the slightest brushing against her skin sent shivers around her whole being and into her very soul. This couldn't be normal, right?

"Lyra," she called out. "How are you feeling?"

She tried to sound casual.

"Mmmm," sighed Lyra. "Great. This always relaxes me. I need to come here more often when I have the bits."

She sounded normal enough. Normal being a relative concept for Lyra of all ponies. Nora pondered.

Ponies had thick hides and fur. Perhaps this oil didn't really permeate them the same way? Like how an electric fence would tickle a cow but knock a human on its ass. She was sure she had heard that before.

As deft hooves smoothed over her body, Nora quivered. This was starting to make her feel... a certain way. She couldn't help it. As her body was peppered with tantalizing presses, each touch just made her yearn for more contact. It was a vicious cycle.

Nora sighed, perhaps a little too uncouthly. She bit her lip, suppressing further noises.

This was typical.

She had just wanted an earnest day off. No sexual thoughts, no clients, no desires... and now here she was, on the verge of getting off to a routine body massage. How did life always land her in these situations?

The pair of hooves that unknowingly teased her soon wandered south, to her posterior. As they rubbed her glutes, Nora clamped her legs together, worried that she may start expressing signs of her... appreciation.

"How is it, Nora?" asked Lyra.

"Uhh," was all she managed. Her trembling had increased, and she felt certain that the spa pony must have noticed by now, but their professionalism seemingly kept them from speaking up. She just hoped they didn't know the real reason she was acting strangely. They couldn't, right?

"Is it your first time?" her friend continued, trying to coax some conversation out of her.

Choice of phrase definitely not helping, there.

Nora convulsed slightly under another touch.

"Y... Yeah..."

Lotus kept paying attention to her glutes - why, oh why? Hooves rhythmically pressed down on her butt cheeks one after another, playing patty-cake with her ass.

"Such tender skin, miss. And your musculature - so familiar, yet so delicate. I'm in love!"

Nora's pussy started to quake a little, her toes curling.

"Oh, are you... shivering?"

Nora's hidden face turned beet red. Perhaps it was the blood rushing to her head that gave her her clever lie. She may have been laid on her front, but she was thinking on her feet.

"I'm just," she began, under slightly labored breaths, "A little cold. Used to wearing clothes, you know?"

"Ah, but of course!" Lotus cheered, seemingly not just content, but elated with this explanation. The spa twins really seemed to savor in soaking in her culture. She had enjoyed it before, but right now it felt a little out of place. "I'm afraid we don't really have much in the way of heating, at least not in here. Er-"

Finally the pony's hooves drifted down to her legs, but this did little to alleviate the growing pleasure brewing in her core. Why now, just why? Nora had kept her legs clamped shut to conceal her shame, but as one of her thighs jiggled slightly from the massage, it would rub against the other in a delightful way.

She was on the brink from all this touching against her bare skin. She needed an out, and this was as good as it was going to get, lest she humiliate herself right here and never live it down. Of all the ways her being a slut could get out, she never expected it to be from spa-induced climax.

"That's okay!" she blurted out, placing her hands on the sides of the tables, palms straddling the seam from where they were slotted together, making to get up. "I, I'll... I think I just wanna take a dip in the heated pool, warm up, 'kay?"

Nora didn't wait for a response, sitting up, resting her ass on her heels as Lotus - she was right, it was her - recoiled at the movement.

"Oh, but miss, your massage..." said the cyan mare somewhat forlornly.

"It's okay, really! You did a great job, real great!" she said, scooting off the table, facing away from her in case her pussy was puffy and swollen. "I just, uh, y'know..." she trailed off, coming up with nothing. Cutting her losses, she shrugged and shuffled out at a quick pace, barely glancing back.

"I'll come too!" she heard a concerned voice call out behind her, before four scampering hooves clopped against the tiled floor after her rapidly.

The pool was shallow, designed for a four-legger to stand comfortably in. The water stopped at her upper thighs, just short of her nether regions. The contrast of the warmth of the water on her legs and the comparatively cool air on her chest and intimate zone was abrasive, stroking the yearning feeling in her bones. She plunged herself deeper, opting to sit, there being no point in standing like this. She stretched her legs forward as her back nestled in against the side of the pool. Perhaps this quick soak would help.

Lyra quickly got in opposite her, wearing a face of concern.

"You okay? What happened?" she asked.

"Yeah, and nothing," Nora lied. "Just... cold. Like I said."

Lyra cocked her head cutely. "I didn't know you humans were so sensitive to the cold."

Nora's hardened nipples spoke for her in that respect, egged on by the disparity they felt from the warmth her lower body was subjected to. The balm must have been playing havoc with her sense of temperature, too, even if that wasn't the real reason she fled the scene just now.

Speaking of her chest, Lyra was staring again.

"Eyes up here," she said, matter of factly. The unicorn complied, but didn't look embarrassed to have been caught gawking.

"If your clothes are for warmth, I get it, but why don't you like being naked around ponies? We're naked all the time."

Nora sighed. Again, a bit of a tedious conversation for her, especially with her present... distractions. The fire in her nethers had not yet subsided. She was hoping the pool would wash off the salve, but it seemed to have completely soaked into her skin already, which had worrying implications.

"I... it's different for us," she said, pausing before elaborating, feeling she should add more. After all, she was seeing Lyra enough lately that she may as well try and get any such sticking points out of the way. "Ponies have fur, and tails. Y'know, modesty. I can hardly hide these without clothes," she said, bouncing her breasts under her hands to underline her point before wishing she hadn't. Her own touch had sent another shiver up her spine.

Nora rubbed her legs together slightly, stimulating her groin. Maybe she could take care of herself... stealthily. Another devious thought entered her head.

"In fact, it's a little rude to stare, would you mind turning around?" she requested, cocking her own head for once, perhaps at the ridiculousness of the request. "Just for a few minutes. To help me feel... comfortable."

Lyra seemed surprised, but relented, her snout twisted up in confusion. "Well, okay, Nora..."

As the unicorn turned in the pool, her back to the woman as she sat on her haunches with her head poking above the water, Nora brought a hand down to her groin at once and began fingering herself shamelessly.

"I'm just glad you're okay. Y'know, I've had a really fun time today..."

"Uh-huh," Nora replied absentmindedly, tweaking her clit with her thumb. So close. The heightened sense of touch was maximising how enjoyable this was, and that was in spite of her dread and fear at masturbating in a semi-public place, right behind her green unicorn fangirl. The oddity of that sentence didn't have time to strike her horny mind, however.

"I know I come on a little strong sometimes... Bon Bon tells me that all the time. But I feel like, and tell me if I'm wrong... you enjoyed today, too?"

"Yeah," Nora said, voice breathy. "That's right."

As she batted at her crotch, her pelvis tensed up. Her vision swirled. She could feel the sensitivity under every fold of skin, the oil working its magic. Perhaps in a literal sense, for all she knew.

Lyra's ears picked up at Nora's reply, her chin elevating slightly, seeming content but nervous. Details the frantic form behind her failed to pick up on.

"Really?" she said, turning her face back slightly.

Nora, seeing this more decisive maneuver, clamped her legs shut again tightly, splashing water around slightly, yoinking away her hand. Luckily, she didn't seem to have been caught.

"Ah, uh..." she said, realizing that she had been half listening. Pressing her mental rewind button, she caught up on the conversation she had been having. "Oh, yeah, totally fun," she concurred with seemingly faux sincerity. To be fair, it had been true, but she was certainly not enjoying this. Lyra turned around fully, a big grin on her face.

Having been denied right on a cusp of climax again, Nora's pussy quaked, yearning for a simple touch, something to send her over the edge. She sank deeper into the pool, shoulders rubbing against the side as her feet touched the other end, a bitter sigh escaping her.

It was no good, she'd die if she had to hold out any longer. She'd have to pack up and leave.

"I really should get going, though," she said, looking at her wrist, before mentally facepalming because she was naked.

"Oh, but we still have a sauna booked," said Lyra excitedly. "You've just got to relax in the sauna after a dip in the pool. And since you barely got to enjoy your massage, I simply can't let you miss this, too!"

Nora grimaced a little.

"Really, it's okay. I'm actually kinda tired."

"It's the middle of the day," Lyra replied with some uncharacteristic cynicism.

"I had a really rough day yesterday."

No word of a lie, there. Maybe if all the stallions in Ponyville got raptured one day she'd go back to the gem caves for round two, though.

Lyra looked crestfallen.

"It's me, isn't it? It's something I've done. Whatever it was I'm sorry, and..."

She actually looked on the verge of tears.

Oh, for fuck's sake!

"No, no!" Nora reassured, "It's not you, honestly!"

Lyra met her eye, though her expression didn't soften.

Nora sighed.

"I guess I can stay 20 minutes."

Her pussy throbbed once in protest, informing her that this would be a very difficult 20 minutes indeed.

The awkward pair sauntered over to the sauna, both opting to procure a towel for their troubles. Nora was relieved to have something to cover herself a little. She dripped a little from between her legs as they wandered in, happy at least that her recent dip would disguise the origin of the fluid, but rueful at her prolonged stay at this place. Things had certainly spiralled. Amazing what one unhappy accident could do.

She had almost cum from mere seconds of self-loving a minute ago, and the short time taken going from the pool to the hot little wooden room had done absolutely nothing to steady her.

"I'm so glad you didn't miss this, you totally made the right call! Me and Bon Bon used to do this all the time, it's great."

She talked about Bon Bon pretty often, Nora noted, considering she was just her boss. Perhaps she had few friends. Mind you, from the sound of things, the poor candy pony was subjected to even more talk about the resident human, so perhaps she should be content with her station.

Nora took a deep, resounding breath to anchor her emotions.

Okay, Nora, you can get through this. It's just 20 minutes of unbearable horniness. You lasted weeks without even masturbating when you washed up here, this is nothing.

Somehow, she wasn't fully convinced. It was hard to argue with herself - she could be so unreasonable.

"Do you feel tingly, at all?" she asked Lyra abruptly, unable to put it tactfully but not quite able to stifle her curiosity. It was apparent that the oil the spa ponies had used wasn't affecting her in remotely the same way, but she wondered if she could glean anything about the duration of its effects.

"Tingly, like?" she asked, a slightly nervous look about her. "Like... happy?"

Nora shook her head, hoping her question hadn't given the wrong impression. "Like, from the massage oil."

"Oh, that? Feels great, huh? My muscles always feel super relaxed and nice after it. Not so much now, though - we kind of made a quick exit, remember?"

"Eheh, yeah..."

"Why do you ask?"

"No reason."

The duo were seated on a long wooden bench, the room warming around them. Nora's extreme tenderness was acutely aware of that fact.

Lyra was positioned on her right, sat upright almost like a human would. Was she emulating her?

"Maybe if you're tingly, it's because you're... excited?" she asked, hopefully. Nora would have almost been suspicious she was on to her if she didn't know better.

Lyra placed a hoof tenderly on her leg, but over the part covered up by the towel, seeming to try and split the difference between familiar and respectful. She fell short, but Nora couldn't think of a way to shoot down the gesture politely, mindful of the mare's emotional state. Was this an advance, or just typical Lyra obliviousness? It was so hard to tell sometimes!

Her heart's beating quickened under the emotional pressure and the surrounding heat, her needs still not quelled. As she started to sweat, her oil-induced sensitivity flared up more than ever; she could feel every pore on her skin, and the sensation of droplets being pushed out from each of them. It brought a shimmer over her whole body; she felt like she was glowing. She wiped her brow and leaned to her left ever so slightly, subtly shrinking away from Lyra under her touch.

"So, tell me about yourself," Nora said hurriedly, eager to distract. "What's work at the candy store like?"

"Oh, it's great!" she replied chirpily, bringing her wandering hoof back to her chin in contemplation. "You get to taste everything! Well, not everything, hehe, we need to save some for the customers! My favorite are these swirly little cherry things that melt in your mouth and..."

Nora was glad to have sent her on a rant, zoning out as her sex cried out to her. She bit her lip, feeling the temperature in their climate continue to shift. She was trembling again a little, like she had on the massage tables.

"Oh, fuck," she whispered.

"What?" asked Lyra, stopping her story mid-word.

"Nggh~ nothing," she said, eyes rolling upwards as she rubbed her legs together. "Carry on."

While the yammering at her side resumed, Nora's vision blurred as she lost focus, unable to anchor herself to her surroundings. She felt flushed from both the sauna and the sensation of the oil leaving her so sensitive. It almost felt like a stiff breeze between her legs would do it for her, she was so close, but alas, no such luck. Just one touch could do it, and she'd be free. Just one...

"...And don't even get me started on the strawberry flavored-" spoke the unicorn, pausing abruptly. "N-Nora?" she stuttered.

Nora, snapped back to earth, turned to her companion, looking her in the face, only to note an amazed gaze. Bringing her own eyes in line with what Lyra was looking at, she found pupils wandering downward, to her thighs, and the hand that was buried between them, three fingers each two knuckles deep in her vagina, protective towel brushed to the side, rendering her sex bare. She also noticed that her digits were still moving, seemingly of their own free will.

She had been completely unaware of what she was doing. The desire burning in her was so strong, she must have zoned out and...

She looked back to Lyra, who at this point met her stare, before glancing down again. She was still going, sense of autonomy barely catching up with her dulled reflexes, though she could no longer resist the urge to stop regardless. Catching Lyra's sight once more, she pleaded with the mare.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I just - the oil, I... I needed this so badly!"

Lyra continued looking on wordlessly, face like a deer in headlights, while Nora brought herself to climax. It did not take long, such was her sensitivity. She squirted, coating the sauna floor in her juices as she came shamelessly in front of Lyra.

"Ahh..."

She panted heavily as her body reacted, her breaths not slowing down when the deed was done. Her body found release, but it was only a temporary blip, like passing through the eye of a storm. Perhaps it was the confused feelings of having been caught doing something so dirty... perhaps it was the heat of the sauna making her lightheaded and clouding her judgement... perhaps the balm that Lotus has used on her was just that fucking strong. Or, maybe it was a combination of all three things. Regardless of the reason or reasons, Nora's body did not clam down. Not by much, at least, and not for long.

She looked at the awestruck unicorn, who had been transfixed by her movements, and licked her lips.

"Lyra..." she cooed. "Can I... borrow your face, a sec?"

When the mint colored pony did not respond, Nora brought a hand to her shoulder, guiding her, pushing her gently and carefully onto the bench until she was reclined fully, laying on her back with her little hoofsies up in the air. Nora wasted no time in casting off her towel fully, the upper part clinging to her breasts slightly under her sweat, peeling off with a delightful pang as it tugged at her nipples upon departure.

Before the towel even hit the sauna floor, Nora moved in, straddling the mesmerized mare who sported a dopey look of disbelieving affection. Lyra looked like she had just won a once-in-a-lifetime jackpot twice in a row, shivering slightly as Nora lowered her crotch to her face, tingling with anticipation and delight despite the obvious heat of the enclosed room.

Lyra's tongue darted out from between pursed lips, making contact with Nora's pussy before she had fully seated herself over her... friend? Stalker? Client? Temporary stress reliever? This mare had been so many things to Nora in such a short time, but right now, she only needed her to be one thing, and that was willing.

The mare lapped at Nora's crotch with eager alacrity without so much as a word of encouragement, flicking at her clit between lavish licks up and down her folds.

No arguments there.

Nora's legs quaked under the sensation, made oh-so-enjoyable by whatever incredible, delightful, wonderful substance was coursing through her body. She'd have to meet the mare who owned the factory that made this spa treatment stuff and shake her hoof, and eat her pussy, and bend her over and fist her ass with appreciation. Or maybe it'd be a smart business stallion, and she could-

Wild fantasies were interrupted by a playful nip, Lyra biting softly on her labia, eliciting a moan of ecstasy from the upright human. As her legs shook more, her ass wobbled, making it look like someone had set her to vibrate by accident. She held on to Lyra's front hooves with her hands for support and encouragement. Despite the lack of fingers, holding them felt strangely natural.

With another long, needy lick from Lyra, Nora came for the second time in as many minutes, instantly gushing over the green snout below her. Lyra's enthusiastic tongue wasted no time in lapping up her juices as her jaw lowered, mouth opening to catch every possible drop of the woman's residue, collecting it as though harboring it as evidence of a job well done. When she had dutifully lapped up every drop on Nora's groin and upper thighs, and having licked her own muzzle clean for good measure, Lyra took to sucking Nora's pussy, begging for more droplets of love to come trickling out.

"Oh, Lyra..." she gasped wistfully.

The mere mention of her name sent the mare into overdrive, sucking and licking at Nora with what could only be described as deep seated affection pouring out of her eyes, which were half lidded and shone with love.

Detaching her right hand from its respective hoof, Nora brought it southward, bending her arm behind her back slightly and leaning to give her purchase. She soon found her target; a pair of slick mare lips, ready and waiting. Nora slipped a couple of fingers in, giving her some stimulation back, hopeful that it would somehow spur on her concerted cunnilingus effort even more. Despite the seeming impossibility of Lyra's enthusiasm ramping up any more, it seeming to already be past normal capacity, this little maneuver did the trick; it was as though Nora had just pulled the start cord on a lawnmower. Lyra's maw completely encased the woman's nether regions, taking effectively her entire pussy in her mouth and sucking, licking, biting and tickling with every morsel of her being.

Nora could not stand it, cumming almost instantly, squirting down the throat of the mare that served to please her while screaming in delight. Nora's fingering picked up its pace all the while, rewarding the unicorn's impressive efforts.

Each orgasm seemed only to heighten her sensitivity; to stockpile her desire. Sexual needs mounted rather than dissipated. Just how long could this go on?

Despite the worrying implications, Nora did not care one bit in the moment, instead continuing to enjoy riding her spa partner's face, grinding against her muzzle with glee.

Her whole body cried out with approval; the heightened awareness of her surroundings had not stepped aside to give way to her growing sexual appetite - rather, they accentuated it, the increasingly humid air attacking her skin, clouds of steam permeating her tissue cells, hugging her whole being, beckoning her to continue. Her head swirled as she felt every atom comprising her body tingle in this environment.

It was after contemplating this - and she wasn't sure how long for, time still continued to be an elusive concept under the effects of this stuff - that she realized Lyra had stopped. She realized then, too, that she was no longer fingering her, as though her body had become aware before her mind that the pony was trying to tell her something.

From underneath Nora's respectable thighs, Lyra called out between labored breaths.

"Hey, hey, let's... huff... try something else a minute. I've got an idea I... oh... think you'd like."

This was all the encouragement Nora needed.

She clambered off her dear, sweet, tender pleasure bringer, who rolled over on her barrel until she was laying face up, relaxing on the bench.

"Sit on my horn."

Nora, despite her still-very-much-a-pressing-issue arousal, cocked her head in confusion. "Wha..."

"Just trust me."

Nora complied, though her movements were slower, this time - more reserved. She squatted over the mare's head, directing her pussy to the tip of the unicorn's signature feature.

"Won't it... hurt?"

"No," Lyra reassured her. "They're pretty rounded. It'll be fine, I promise. But if you want you can stop any time, you'll be in control, after all."

Nora obliged, taking the tip of the magical implement inside of her, just an inch or so. It felt smooth. Structurally, pretty much what you'd expect a horn to feel like - hard cartilage, most likely, unless equines in this world had some funky anatomies because of magic. She slid down a little more, testing it out.

It was pretty small for what she was used to; horns may have hardly been inconspicuous in their normal locations, jutting out of the head of every unicorn in Equestria prominently, but Nora had been on the receiving end of many a length stallion cock. By comparison, Lyra's horn felt manageable, perhaps small, even by her human standards - she had dildos back home that were about the same size, some even bigger. Still, Lyra seemed adamant, and with her needs flaring again, body yearning for another orgasm, she persisted, trusting the mare.

Nora bobbed up and down on the horn, her inner legs tickled by long pastel and white locks. She was just getting into a rhythm, when suddenly...

"Ah!"

Something had shot through her; it felt like an electric shock, but milder, and not at all painful. It rattled her insides in a way she'd very much like to experience again.

"Wha, wha, whutwuzzat?" she managed.

Looking down, she saw the faint hint of a golden glow humming around the edges of her sex, pooling at the base of Lyra's horn.

"Just a little magic to make things more enjoyable," the unicorn replied matter of factly, seeming, for the first time since Nora had known her (inside or outside the bedroom), cool and in control.

"Do it again~" she pleaded. "Or else," she added, the threat playful in nature, mostly, she thought. It would not transpire that the validity of the menace underscoring her demand needed testing, however, Lyra quickly shooting another bolt of magic inside her, and then another, firing off twice in rapid succession.

"Ooooh..."

Nora's hips continued grinding, impaling herself on Lyra's head as the eager mare continued to stimulate her insides with magic. The harmless spectral particles bounced off her inner walls, doing nothing to upset or disturb her functions down there. She wondered if the spell was specifically for this sort of thing, or if perhaps all magic felt this good when applied the right way.

"I want you to cum on me, Nora. Let me feel your juices run down my face. Make me your mare, forever!"

It was as though these were the magic words; as Lyra underlined her point with another volley of feel-good magic, Nora's pussy twitched, more orgasmic fluids gushing out and down Lyra's horn, dripping over her face and down her muzzle. She made no effort to clean herself this time, seeming to bask in being coated in the human's scent.

"I want you," said Lyra.

"I want... more of this," she replied, desperate for the next round of magic. Lyra's horn seemed to vibrate, stimulating her all of its own accord, as another pulsing wave of magic shot up into her deepest recesses. This one was so powerful, she could see the spectral glowing inside of her, the magic shining through her skin.

What the fuck, this is cool, and super super hot!

Nora came again, this time all of twenty seconds separating climaxes. She couldn't last at this pace. Her ass twitched, making her arch her back as the horn hit her in just the right way. Her body still cried out for more. As the sauna continued to overflow with warmth, she wondered how much longer they could continue, for their own safety. She felt dehydrated, her last orgasm being a dry one. Her delicate pussy stung at the overstimulation, which started to hurt, but only added to her forced arousal.

"Mmmm," she moaned, trying to think but failing, her desperate mind not strong enough to overpower an even more desperate body. She shook her hips, riding Lyra as though possessed. She simply could not compel herself to do otherwise. It was probably a good thing she had Lyra for this; a stallion probably wouldn't have been able to last more than two, maybe three rounds if she treated him right. Nora would have dragged him back to bed by the tail kicking and screaming if she had too, feeling like this. Lyra, however, was pliable, accommodating, apparently very skilled with certain tantalizing magics, and, most importantly, absolutely obsessed with her. In the unique set of circumstances Nora presently found herself subjected to, this was indeed a winning combination.

"Oh fuck," she cried, still continuing her motions as Lyra's horn lit up again.

Before long, she was brought to the brink one final time, fluids cascading over Lyra's head, drenching the mare in an unmistakable mark of passion. Before Nora's pussy had stopped throbbing, she hopped off the mare, collapsing on her side over the bench, the last remnants of her juices trickling down with her.

She wasn't sure how long she laid there before Lyra scooted up, pushing herself between splayed out arms, nestling in as the little spoon in a cutesy cuddle.

"You were shivering," she explained. Once again, Nora hadn't realized. "This was... the best day ever."

Nora's head started to clear, and her body finally calmed down.

The oil... must have sweated it out by now, she assessed. She was coated in her own sweat, though without her towel wrapped around her it did not cling to her form, instead trickling down her sides and off the bench.

Finally...

Calm.

Thoughts freed up from impassioned sex, she came face to face with the reality that had just unfolded before her, and her stomach started to knot a little. She had been caught masturbating flagrantly in front of Lyra, and then prompted her for sex, seemingly out of nowhere. Then, she handily shattered her previous record for climaxes-per-minute, thanks in part to Lyra's magic, but mostly due to the effects of the massage oil that seemed to make her even more sex-crazed than usual, somehow. All this after telling her what a nice time she'd had with her... and given Lyra's previous tendencies for overfamiliarity...

Oh boy, this did not bode well for her. She may have given off just one or two wrong hints today. Teensy, weensy little hints. But it wasn't her fault! This whole spa thing had started as an uncharacteristically chaste method of relaxation, and she brought Lyra along because she felt she owed her a little kindness, plus she was the one to help her work up the courage. But now... would the socially awkward mare think Nora had this whole thing planned out?

She thought back to the massage room.

Had Lyra had this whole thing planned out? Surely she couldn't have known what the massage oil would do...? No, no, even the spa ponies assured her their products would be safe. Technically this was not untrue, though to save herself a very awkward conversation she would simply have to steer clear of any professional massages for the remainder of her time in Equestria. Unless she really felt like treating herself, that is.

...Perhaps she really should look into getting some of that balm, though. In a controlled environment, she could really make use of it.

As for her Lyra problem...

The unicorn nuzzled into her forearm, reminding her that they were currently cuddling.

Ah, crap...

"Did you two enjoy yourselves?"

Aloe beamed up at the pair after they had exited the sauna and meandered back to the lobby. Nora had found her clothes and was thankfully dressed, while Lyra just wore a big, dumb grin.

"Uh-huh..." said the mare dreamily.

"It was... nice," Nora put tactfully. "Thank you. And sorry again about running out on you earlier. You know, the-"

Aloe cut her off by waving a hoof dismissively, shaking her head. "Not at all, dear. We should have been more sensitive to your needs!"

The phrase seemed oddly fitting.

"After all, the customer is always right! But I hope your first Ponyville spa experience was, nonetheless, a pleasant one."

Nora smiled meekly, trying to save the professional feelings of the spa pony, who she still felt she must have hurt with her actions.

"Not at all, I should have known what I was in for. The treatment on my nails was divine, by the way. I'll definitely come back for more of that. And the face mask, superb. I've missed my skincare routine from back home, this was a nice reminder."

Aloe smiled at the compliment; the smile seemed genuine, rather than a mere act of professionalism.

"And how did you enjoy our fine sauna?"

"It-"

"Amazing," finished Lyra for her, rubbing her head against Nora's legs like a particularly tall and colorful cat. Ah, geez...

Aloe looked from one to the other, then back to Nora.

"Y-yeah," she agreed timidly. "By the way, next time you catch your sister, give her my compliments as well, please. You both did a wonderful job."

"Oh, I will, miss! Thank you."

The duo departed the spa, exiting to an afternoon market, seemingly no less busy than when they had left it.

Nora stood there, dumbstruck, no sense of overriding purpose calling to her, just as the day had started. She didn't know what to do or where to go, or most importantly, what to say.

"About-" she began, ready to go into a tirade of mitigating feelings, when she felt a jingling bag push itself against her arm. Turning, she saw it cast in an autumnal yellow glow, floating in her vicinity. A purse of bits.

"Here," said Lyra.

"But, I... why?"

"Because we... well, y'know," she replied, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Oh. OH. No, uh, I can't take this, Lyra. This wasn't a... y'know, a job."

Lyra's magic scooted the bag of bits back into her own hooves as she looked up. "It wasn't?"

Nora had found the words on instinct, spurred on by the truth. She hadn't gone into this expecting any sexual dealings, and, well, she made the move... still, she was left instantly regretting the statement.

Lyra danced on her hooves, squeeing cutely. She darted forward, closing the already short distance between the two, hugging Nora's leg, before bounding off, a skip in her step.

...And that was that.

It was rare indeed for Lyra to leave Nora in the dust, let alone looking happy to be doing so. This could only mean trouble. She thought back to her earlier internal monologue. Signals, Nora, signals...

She rapped her own skull lightly with a fist in a mild act of repentance at her stupidity. Of course, if she declined payment, it would sound like... well...

With a sigh, she wondered idly if she secretly liked being pestered by the seemingly omnipresent unicorn, because it was probably about to start happening a whole lot more often.

It's not like she'd had no experience at turning down relationship proposals, both back home and in Equestria. But that usually happened when she had more presence of mind. She had hit a real big bump of bad luck today, with the way the massage had affected her body. Sighing again, she reflected on the fact that she'd had an awful lot of bad luck lately.

Suddenly, she felt a little sad.

Sore, too. Now that the high of her horny fit was over, her exertions caught up with her. She was already feeling tender down there from, well, recent activities, but their romp in the sauna hadn't helped.

And so, she stood wondering if she had taken a wrong turn in life recently, made some key decision which had backfired on her, as all her choices were fucking things up for her, it seemed. Her little gig as Ponyville's first full-time whore had certainly been going well enough before. What changed? Was she getting too comfortable? Too bold? She felt like her recent luck had little to do with her, and more to do with some wild conspiracy against her, but she was too rational to entertain such ideas for more than a few seconds.

No, she supposed, sometimes bad luck just rocks up all at once.

At least her friends were finally off her back. That was one sweet piece of recent news. Too bad they seemed to be so far off her back she couldn't see them anymore, though...

Deciding to put her mind to more productive use than moping, she made for home. Too exhausted to feel tired, she figured she'd look into planning that little Wonderbolts trip Dash mentioned, rather than more sleep. Perhaps she'd be able to find a flier with their touring schedule on the way home; surely headliners like that would advertise, even in a country town like this.

Indeed, that was the way.

Chin up, Nora. I'm sure it only gets easier from here.