Dusk awoke in a daze. His body ached as he stood, seeing Nightmare Moon in her great and terrible glory, now with the Elements orbiting in her grasp. As lightning clashed around the mare, the stallion lowered his head and scratched his hoof at the ground, seemingly preparing to charge.

Nightmare tilted her head in disbelief. “Thou must be kidding. Dost thou truly believe so strongly in thy abilities as to challenge us?”

“Not challenge. Bargain,” Dusk corrected. “You’re Queen Celestia’s sister, an alicorn, so I know I don’t stand a chance against you in terms of power.”

Nightmare narrowed her eyes. “Then what is thy game?”

“Politics,” Dusk answered. “I’m Celestia’s Royal Protégé, a title I earned after impressing her with my magic by hatching Barb, the dragon you knocked out,”—he endeavored, keeping his tone even and free of resentment—“something no one had ever done before. However, my friends made an interesting point a little bit ago. I’m nowhere near Celestia’s level, but I’m good enough to be her consort. However, since she’s not interested in claiming me, I’m free for any other interested parties.”

Nightmare blinked, taken aback by this turn of events. “Elaborate.”

“Power alone can’t rule a nation. You’ll need support and recognition of your legitimacy. As the Royal Protégé, I can give you that. Having me by your side will bolster your claim to the throne. Also, by common interpretation of the term, I’m technically a virgin.” Dusk then adopted a more submissive stance as he imitated the males he hated, turning his body to enticingly wiggle his rump at the much larger mare. He interpreted his adversary’s small bit of drool as a good sign. “Like you said, it’s been a thousand years since you’ve been with a stallion. I’m honestly a little curious how I compare.”

Nightmare Moon swallowed. “Well, ahem, W-We find thy form quite appealing, and We are most glad the spell continues holding strong.”

“Spell?” Dusk asked while turning his back and bending over.

“An enemy, Discord, cast one final spell before his defeat, rendering most stallions younger in appearance. It was little more than a prank in a last-ditch effort at spite. However, the spell backfired, as he likely did not expect how readily mares would take to their new stallions. Our sister and We agreed, so we bolstered the spell to ensure its reach and longevity would extend. Stallions in this state were not only more aesthetically pleasing, but they were easier to control. Coltish stallions were so much more agreeable, and they also seemed to appreciate the added attention from their female peers. ‘Tis what those in our day called a win-win.”

Dusk blinked as Nightmare so readily confessed one of the greatest mysteries in Equestrian history. The purple stallion had always favored the theory that an enemy monster had cursed the population, but even he’d laughed at those who suggested the queen was responsible, let alone her and her mostly forgotten sister. “A-and the swallowing?”

“An unintended, but welcome side effect to mingling alicorn magic with a spell interwoven with pony essence. Before, only the alicorns had sufficient magic to know the pleasures of swallowing a being whole and alive. However, as We saw upon our arrival, We art elated to learn that modern generations still indulge in our gift, though they know not to whom they must thank for this blessing.”

Abandoning all pretense of flirting, Dusk’s scholar switch had been flipped, and he sat down while facing Nightmare Moon like the dutiful student he was. “So, when you said your actions extended the original spell’s longevity, can I assume that meant the original would have eventually worn off, and stallions would be allowed to age normally?”

“Indeed. A sharp mind on thee, our future mate,” Nightmare reminded, licking her lips in anticipation as the orbiting Elements slowed. “Although, now We are curious. Has the spell waned in our absence?”

“Last I checked, the number of larger stallions has been steadily declining over the centuries. I’m slightly shorter than average,” Dusk informed.

Nightmare sat down and clapped her hooves. “Huzzah!”

“So, you permanently augmented an entire species to better fit your… inclinations,” Dusk pondered, gaining insight into the alicorn mindset.

“For thine benefit, of course,” Nightmare confirmed.

“Of course,” Dusk replied with a nod, now knowing that most of the frustrations in his life could be attributed to a couple of overpowered mares normalizing their fetishes upon a species. “But why just stallions, though? Why not have filly-looking mares, too?”

“We had discussed the matter with Tia many times. While We favored such an experiment, Tia refused. Miniaturizing a tenth of the population had been strenuous enough on the nation, meaning We needed every mare to pull her weight plowing the fields, repairing infrastructure, maintaining civic order, etc. Even a small percentage of mares becoming fillies would have been unsustainable, not to mention the complications of birthing from such small bodies. Alas, little one, a nation of adorable youngsters ripe for devouring shalt never be more than a lovely dream. Additionally, while the changes were generally accepted by the majority, there were still detractors who did not appreciate this alteration. So, We kept the secret and foisted all blame on Discord.”

“And altering the spell too much more, or even starting a new one, would have shifted suspicion back to you,” Dusk reasoned.

“Goodness, thou art a clever one,” Nightmare moaned, her hoof moving dangerously close to her inner thigh as her desires became impossible to ignore or deny. Looking down at her lower half in shock at the glistening around her sex, she added. “Stars above! W-We had no idea our cravings had grown so strong.”

“I seem to have that effect on mares,” Dusk remarked with a slightly smug smirk. It was one thing being proposed by petty nobles who cared more for his title than him. However, seeing that he was successfully wooing an ancient alicorn of darkness with only his words was an ego boost he had not expected. “So, if making more ponies younger was out, did you ever try anything else?”

“Why doth thou ask?”

“Honestly, I’ve always kind of resented being so small and having mares push me around all the time,” Dusk admitted. “However, I’ve recently learned that mares can also lift you up, which is easier when they’re bigger. While the overall act of inflicting such a spell was, at best, ethically dubious, I can, at least, appreciate the practical thinking that keeps you all-powerful beings in check… sort of. Besides, while the spell was wrong on an objective level, subjectively, I was raised in this culture. I don’t hate the idea of mares dominating coltish stallions on principle. Honestly, I’ve always been secretly envious of such relationships when they seemed healthy and happy, such as my father and mothers. However, the more I think about it, the more the concepts grow intriguing as I separate them from any ethical constraints. Just picturing how these spells might actually work and thinking through the surrounding logistics is fascinating. It kinda makes me want to see if there are other spells that could be cast to make ponies’ lives better in ways neither you nor Celestia even considered.”

“Ngh!” Nightmare moaned as her hoof finally contacted her shiny, drooling marehood. “Th-thou art killing us.” Shifting as she sat, she added, “Wh-what spells didst thou have in mind?”

“Well, Celestia taught me this one for getting a dragon’s motor running.” Then, before elaborating, Dusk teleported behind Nightmare Moon, his magic concentrated in the shape of a golf club. As if in slow motion, the mare faced the stallion, locked eyes, and lit her horn to retaliate, but it was too late. “Fooour!” And he delivered his most devastating blow onto the big black booty, making it ripple as the mare was sent flying to the opposite wall.

Nightmare Moon hurriedly pulled herself out of the alicorn-shaped hole in the wall, only to find her infuriatingly clever adversary kneeling in the center of the five Elements, horn lit. She could scarcely believe how easily she’d dropped her guard and been bested. On top of physical age, the spell was supposed to make grown stallions as timid and controllable as their foal selves. It was part of the aesthetic. Regardless, despite claiming to be below average, this stallion, the one she’d overheard called Dusk Shine, had demonstrated a level of boldness that outmatched many of Equestria’s greatest heroes. Him being granted the title of Celestia’s Royal Protégé was more than a mere token, it seemed. And now that he was mere seconds away from sealing his victory over her, Nightmare Moon had one thing on her mind. She needed to claim this stallion!

Dusk had tuned out the rest of the world as he concentrated, his magic zapping between the spheres to trigger a reaction. He didn’t notice Nightmare Moon having teleported before him until it was too late. She knocked him back with a minor force spell that sent his small body flying, skipping over the broken tile floor like a stone across water. He looked back, heart swelling with hope as the spheres lit up, only for the light to fizzle and die. Then, as if to rub salt in the wound, Nightmare Moon cackled as she reared up and brought her hooves down, smashing the spheres into shards.

“Nooo!” Dusk wailed.

“Weep not, little stallion, for thine words and deeds have swayed us,” Nightmare Moon said as she stalked forward. “Thou shalt be our consort, but not a mere plaything to be used and thrown away in a toy box. Heavens, no. Thou art too valuable to waste on such trifles. Instead, thou shalt be our partner. Together, we shalt craft new spells that will forever change Equestria into a paradise. Further, thou shalt be awarded the title of stud. Thine cleverness must pass on to the next generation. However, perhaps that is thinking too far ahead,” she amended, calming her cadence. “In the more immediate, it is time that We claim our prize.” Now standing directly before Dusk, she licked her lips, ready to consummate their arrangement. Then, just as she’d pressed an armored hoof to the unicorn’s chest, ready to push him onto his back to make him watch as she asserted dominance, a clamor from the stairs behind him caught her attention. “Oh, come on!”

Finally, the five mares found their missing stallion, and upon seeing him in such a position, all looked ready for blood.

*Ting*

Feeling this last little sound in his head, Dusk turned a smirk up at Nightmare Moon as it finally clicked what he needed to do. “You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony that easily?”

Nightmare Moon shook her head in dread and disbelief. “… Nooo.”

“Well, you’re wrong, because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony—”

“No-no-no-nooo!” Nightmare Moon shook her head in denial, having been on the other end of these heroic speeches enough times to know where this was going.

“—are right heeere!” Dusk declared as he teleported back to rejoin his friends. “Apple Jack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of—”

“NO!” Nightmare Moon screamed as the stone shards began flying toward the five interlopers and her almost-husband. “No! No! No! Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit!” she screamed with increasing volume, drowning out Dusk’s speech. She just kept swearing and stomping her hooves in a tantrum as her adversaries ascended in the air, empowered by the ancient magic that congealed into fancy jewelry for the new wielders. So blinded by rage, was she, that the mare in the moon didn’t see the rainbow attack coming until it was too late to escape. An explosion of blinding magical light followed, enveloping the alicorn and sending the others flying back.

“Ugh, is everypony okay?” AJ asked as she dizzily climbed to her shaky hooves.

“Everyb-body,” Dusk woozily corrected.

“Dusk!” the mares cried in unison and rushed to embrace him, making sure to grab each other along the way for good measure.

“Well done, my little ponies,” announced an angelic voice as the sun finally poked over the horizon and cast the ancient castle in a brilliant light. Out from the glow emerged none other than Queen Celestia in all her radiant glory.

While five of the six heroes awkwardly separated from the group hug to bow, the smallest ran up. “Queen Celestia, it’s good to see you.”

“Dusk, my faithful student. I knew you could do it,” Celestia warmly replied.

“Uh-huh. Thought so.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Nightmare Moon told me all about you modifying Discord’s spell,” Dusk accused, amazed when Celestia’s ears splayed, and she rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment.

“Yes, well, ahem, th-that’s beside the point. I see you took my advice and made some friends,” Celestia added, pointing insistently at the mares behind her student in the hopes of changing the subject.

“Friends, huh?” Dusk skeptically parroted. “Cuz I’m pretty sure they already decided they were my fiancés,” he said to their elation before resuming facing Celestia. “However, now I’m wondering if maybe that’s what someone planned from the start.”

Celestia slumped her shoulders and sighed. “Clever, as always. Yes, I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return, and I knew that you’d be the one to defeat her. So, I told you what you needed to hear. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a long overdue appointment I must meet.” Long and graceful legs carried the white alicorn to where Nightmare Moon had stood. Amidst the debris of the villain’s armor lay an alicorn filly the size of a mare. “Luna,” she neutrally greeted.

The smaller mare blinked the sleep out of her eyes as she looked up at the larger alicorn. “Tia.”

An awkward silence followed as the six mares watched. They still recalled Dusk telling them the story of Luna’s fall to darkness, so all wondered how the situation would be resolved. Would Celestia forgive her sister? Did darkness yet linger in Luna’s heart? Would there be atonement?

“You just had to tell, didn’t you,” Celestia accused. “A thousand years, I kept the secret, and you go blabbing to the first doe-eyed stallion to flash his flanks at you.”

“Um, excusith mwa, but who just got back from being condemned to a thousand-year-long dry spell?” Luna shot back, sounding like a petulant child. “Can you blame me for being a little needy?”

“Did she lose her fancy talk in the blast?” Dusk wondered aloud.

“A little?” Celestia retorted. “You were ready to start reading from your old diary if Dusk didn’t act when he did!”

“Okay, first of all, I only told Dusk, so keep yammering as loud as you can until the rest of Equestria knows,” Luna retorted. “And second, if the plan was really to keep Dusk single so he could do what needed doing now, does that mean you’re done and I can have him? I wasn’t lying about turning him into a breeding stud.”

“Uh, pardon me, Yer Royal Highnesses,” AJ politely cut in. “But, uh, what the buck is goin’ on right now?” she asked, gesturing between the alicorns. “Ah thought yawl were taken over by darkness ‘r somethin’.”

“That’s just what I call it when Lulu gets into one of her moods,” Celestia dismissed. “She’s always been a drama queen before the queen of the night, so I have to put her in timeout from time to time until she mellows out. Although, this time wouldn’t have had to be such a doozy if somepony—”

“Someone,” Dusk quietly corrected.

“—didn’t merge with a freaking demon!”

Luna scoffed. “Typical, Tia. Always shoving my problems under the carpet and never doing anything to actually solve things that doesn’t involve blasting magic at it.”

“I didn’t hear you complaining when I got rid of your last fiancé,” Celestia reminded.

“Yes, Sombra was a pain, but you’re the one who took things too far and almost made me blab about another secret. Way to go, smart one.”

“Oh, choke on a sandpaper cock!” Celestia shot back.

“The queen is a lot less… regal than I imagined,” Pinkie whispered to Fluttershy.

“Though, I have to admit that maaaybe I took things too far this last time,” Celestia continued. “You were absolutely right. Your nights are damn pretty. The work you put into painting the skies without disrupting navigational constellations is a work of art, and you deserve to be credited as such.”

Luna blinked, not expecting Celestia to actually admit her wrongdoing so easily. “Oh, uh, well, better late than never, I guess.”

Smiling, Celestia lowered her long neck and nuzzled her sister’s face. “You smell like you haven’t had a bath in centuries,” she whispered.

“And you smell like you haven’t had an orgy in minutes,” Luna whispered back, both mares sharing mischievous grins.

“Wait-wait-wait, an orgy?” demanded Rainbow. “Is that where you’ve been this whole time?”

Celestia held her head high and replied, “I was where I needed to be to give Dusk the chance to shine.” And when Luna nodded insistently to Rainbow, Celestia added, “And you can’t prove otherwise.”

“Wai-buh-wha?” Rainbow stammered, having trouble making sense of this revelation.

Pinkie, by contrast, got it pretty easily when she wiped the sweat from her brow. “Phew. We were worried you’d been kidnapped and locked in the deepest, darkest dungeon or something. It’s such a relief to know it was just an orgy. Although, confidentially speaking, eh, anypony you wouldn’t mind sharing?”

Celestia shook her head. “I’m sorry, but there is no pony”—she locked eyes with Dusk to ensure he knew this was for him—“that I wish to share. Besides, as a recently betrothed mare, you really ought to focus on your new fiancés.”

“Hmm, good point,” Pinkie conceded and threw herself onto Fluttershy. “Hey, has anyone ever told you you’ve got a butt like an earth pony?”

“Um, a f-few times,” Fluttershy stammered as the plush pink mare pulled her into a warm and sweet-smelling embrace. It was actually a few hundred times, but who was counting? Pinkie, probably.

Rainbow whistled. “I like where this is going!” And she yanked AJ over by the tail with her teeth, grinning confidently the whole time. “Ya know, for as long as I’ve been in Ponyville, I considered myself the baddest, toughest mare in town with only one worthy rival. Wanna guess who that is?” she asked while rubbing a hoof over AJ’s flank, teasingly close to her cutie mark without actually touching.

“Heavens! Don’t tell me you lot are actually planning on doing the deed in a place like this,” Rarity gasped in horror. “Have you no shame?”

“Says the mare who went straight fer the stallion,” AJ accused, pointing at Dusk as he sat bewildered on Rarity’s back, his legs crossed as he stared at the other mares. “Ya know, it’s normally good manners ta start with each other ‘n build up ta bringing the stallion in,” AJ reminded as she closed around Rainbow’s other side and nuzzled the blue mare’s wing. “Keeps things fair, ‘n all.”

“Wait, that’s a rule?” Dusk wondered aloud, only to blush when the others started snickering at his naiveté.

“Goodness, you are a sheltered one,” Rarity cooed. “But yes, we mares can’t let our stallions think they’re the center of the universe. So, when dealing with larger groups, such as these, it’s customary for the mares to get each other started while the stallions watch.” She glanced down to where Dusk’s hooves covered and grinned. “And I see you’re not opposed to this custom. However, fear not, for I have no intention of taking your virginity in a place as drab as this.”

“You let him stay a virgin for how long?” Luna asked Celestia in disbelief, although they kept their voices low and backed away, wanting to watch without interfering.

“Aww, why ya gotta spoil all the fun, Rars?” Rainbow whined.

“Yeah, we was jus’ havin’ a li’l fun workin’ the li’l guy up,” agreed AJ.

“Speak for yourself. I’ve been itching to bite into this cake for years, and I ain’t missing this chance!” Pinkie declared, having hefted Fluttershy’s flanks in the air and buried her face between those butter-yellow cheeks. The cheeks’ owner could do nothing but cover her muzzle with her hooves to suppress her moans.

“So, out of curiosity, who would you rather be right now?” Rarity inquired as she pointed. “Pinkie or Fluttershy?”

Dusk stammered when he realized he was the question’s target. “I-um, uh, P-Pinkie, I guess?”

Rarity nodded. “Good answer. Fluttershy is such a dear. Her body is as divine as it looks, which is matched only by the succulence of her honey, not to mention her melodious voice when she climaxes.”

“You can say that again,” agreed Rainbow as she and AJ moved to either side of Rarity. “Seriously, she’s not a screamer, but a singer. It’s freaking hilarious,” she chuckled. “She’s my favorite go-to for whenever I’m feeling down, while Pinkie is more the type that needs some energy drinks before I dive in.”

“Ah can’t speak fer Fluttershy, but Rainbow ain’t lyin’ about energy drinks ‘n Pinkie. That girl has a real poor concept ‘f pacin’ once she gets into it,” warned AJ. “Though, while she ain’t been with mah brother, Ah have it on good authority that Rarity’s a good blend ‘f fun ‘n fancy. Expect rose petals ‘n ropes if she ever gets ya alone. Or, Ah guess Ah should say when she gets ya alone.”

“Oh, darling, you flatter me,” Rarity tittered. “However, you should not sell yourselves short. Pinkie isn’t the only mare who requires a little pre-gaming before bedding.”

“Hey, Ah ain’t that bad,” AJ countered. “… Usually.”

“I definitely am,” Rainbow confirmed and bounced her eyebrows at Dusk. “Don’t be fooled when you hear I’m the fastest mare in town. I am, but I know how to slow down when it counts.”

“Ain’t heard a peep out ‘f yawl in a while, li’l fella. What’s on yer mind?”

“J-just processing everything, I guess,” Dusk admitted, sounding winded. “The last 24 hours have been… a lot. I got engaged to five of the prettiest mares I’ve ever met, I think I saved Equestria, and I’m not sure which is more impressive.”

“Hey, flattery will get you everywhere,” Rainbow warned with a playful smirk.

“If it takes the pressure off, ain’t nothin’ official,” AJ reminded. “We ain’t even said the proper words yet. Far as anypony else is concerned, we’re jus’ six friends who’ve gone through a serious ordeal together, came out closer, ‘n are now takin’ a healthy interest in each other’s lives. No big deal.”

“And by healthy interest, you mean I want to hurry and jam his dick up my pussy so I can move onto seeing how it feels up my butt?” Rainbow eloquently inquired.

“Also, yes.”

Dusk swore he felt the warming in his cheeks start spreading, and was reasonably certain Rarity was just as aware.

“WaaaAAAhuuuHAAAaaAA!” Fluttershy sang, catching the others off-guard with a voice fit for stage, yet the crass cause made it difficult for the others to not burst out in laughter.

After lingering in the yellow mare’s butt for several more seconds, Pinkie finally pulled free, her long tongue cleaning her face of any lingering sex juices. “Oh, yeah. Worth the wait.” She then noticed the other four very distinctly not fondling one another with their hooves and mouths, asking, “No orgy?”

“Not now, sugar cube. Now that Dusk brought it up, it’s been a long night. Ah say we rest up so we can do things proper later.”

“Yeah, okay, whatever. You slowpokes can rest if you need it,” Pinkie said as she threw Fluttershy’s barely conscious body over her back. “I, for one, have some very important errands to run regarding a certain returning royal.” She fixed her gaze where the alicorns had cast an invisibility spell, staring as though she didn’t care for the petty excuse for a visible obstruction. “The party in Ponyville is starting soon. I recommend you not miss it.”

Author's Note

So, that part with Dusk chatting up Nightmare Moon really got away from me for a bit. I have no idea where it came from and, while writing, no idea where it might go. Was the bad guy going to win after the good guy mellowed her out? It certainly could have gone that way. However, ultimately, I stuck with the episode’s story beats. Besides, it seemed like as good a place as any to drop the reveal of why this is a world of shota colts.

Although, the following bit of flirting should be a reminder to all that the story isn’t quite done yet. The ponies want each other, badly, and have pretty much accepted that the naughtiness is imminent.

Also, the interaction between the royal sisters was just as much of a surprise for me as I hope it was for you. I’m still undecided if I want to make this a longer story, but if I do, I definitely hope to deviate from the show more than MLO. With any luck, this world being so much more drastically different from the show, almost more so than MLO, should make that easier. One can’t exactly mount strangers in the streets in this world, but norms around sexual and social interactions are distinct enough that they should be a lot of fun exploring.

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