A Pierced Heart

Chapter 6: Indulgences

Rarity was heading for Pokey's home. She was eager to make her way to the theatre to see Frankenstallion, more importantly to spend time with the charming blue stallion that was Pokey Pierce. She had gone through her day with a vigour that she seldom felt, and could point to no other contributing factor save her new found companionship with Pokey. She stood before the blue unicorn's house and lifted her hoof to knock.

"One moment!" Rarity heard Pokey's voice ring out from the interior. A few seconds later and Rarity beheld Pokey, looking dapper with a red tie adorning his neck.

"Good evening Pokey, shall we be on our way?"

"Certainly." The stallion led the two of them to the Ponyville theatre, it was a few minutes and Rarity took to looking at Pokey's stride. Pokey was at least as tall as Big Macintosh, but far slimmer, but in no way epicene or androgynous. He still had a shapely chest and barrel. Slender was the word best used to described his legs, they were quite long and not a trace of fat hugged to the four limbs.

Rarity ceased her fond glances as the theatre loomed ahead, a neon back lighting illuminating a grand sign declaring "Mare Shelley's Frankenstallion the Motion Picture" was the movie on show for tonight. The movie had been acclaimed both critically and popularly as an Equestrian feat in cinema horror. The two stepped up to the booth and Pokey declared, "Two tickets please." The booth clerk accepted the bits offered and gave them two ticket stubs.

As the unicorns white and blue entered the theatre, the clerk declared, "Enjoy the show!" Pokey went to buy the two of them refreshments while Rarity went to the theatre proper to acquire some seats.

Pokey asked for two medium popcorns and two medium drinks.

"DO THEY WANT THE CHERRY COKE FOR THEIR DRINKS?" called the
stallion in the back and the mare at the counter turned to Pokey.

"Do you want the cherry coke?" With Pokey's nod the mare turned back and yelled, "YEAH THEY WANT THE CHERRY COKE!"

Twitching his ears, Pokey made his way to through the lobby and saw Rarity waving at him to sit with her. She had acquired seats smack dab in the middle of the arranged seats, not too high and not too low. Neither of them had to crane their necks to have a proper view of the screen before them. A half hour later the theatre was full of ponies. Pokey could feel several dozen couples in the theatre, emotions running from the platonic, to the barely contained passions. Pokey didn't need any of it though, the white mare to his right was nestled against him, he ate very little of his popcorn, the flavor teasing his lips and tongue when he did crunch into a mouthful.

Soon the movie began and the audience was entranced. Screams were elicited at the horrid visage of the Frankenstallion monster. Tears were shed as the Doctor's monster killed his nephew. In the movie the Doctor had just tracked the monster into a frozen tundra where he fell into an ice cave, knocked unconscious as his head struck a piece of ice.

*****

Doctor Frankenstallion raised his head to note a fire casting light onto the cerulean ice packed walls around him. There before him, working a flute with his wings, was the monster. The creature's yellowed eyes cast an upward glance at him, causing the Doctor to flinch.

"You're awake," the monster stated simply.

"You speak," the Doctor responded, not as a question but a statement.

"Yes, I speak, and read and write, and know and understand the ways of ponies," the monster replied morosely. "And then there is this." The monster hoofed the instrument. "Not so much things learned as things remembered. Where in me do these memories reside? These lips? These wings? This brain? This heart?" The creature gestured to all the mentioned parts. "Who am I, or mayhap, who are these ponies of which I'm comprised? Good ponies? Bad ponies?"

Frankenstallion was leaning away from the monster as the a sickly stench emanated from the creature. "Nothing but raw materials..." was all the Doctor could offer in reply.

"And so you have created something more, and must now account for your mistakes. I shall leave you be, on one condition. That I might have a partner, a companion, one to love and be loved by," the monster spoke eloquently, a far cry from its babbling the night of its creation.

"You have no idea what you request."

"Don't I?" the monster returned. "I've a love, the likes of which you cannot fathom... and a rage the likes of which you dare not imagine. If I cannot satisfy one, then I shall indulge the other."

*****

The rest of the movie passed as a blur for Pokey, his mind too preoccupied with internal dilemmas. That monster... I could have ended up like him if I wasn't able to... to disguise myself. Pokey looked at an extended hoof as the credits rolled, seeing it as a great and terrible thing.

Pokey and Rarity were walking to Carousel Boutique when Rarity turned to Pokey and spoke. "That certainly was a horrifying movie, but it played on other emotions too. Oh, that poor Doctor, how his nephew was murdered? Pokey dear? You're staring off into space. What are your thoughts on the movie?"

Pokey looked over to Rarity's ocean deep eyes, taking them in before answering earnestly. "I pity that monster, he was brought into a world that wasn't ready for him, and when he wanted to live, truly, he was declared despicable. What he did to try and get what he wanted was disgusting and unnatural, but nopony around him was willing to give so much as a thought as to why he did the things he did. He even told the Doctor and was still thought of as an abomination."

Rarity tilted her head. I didn’t think about it that way. Then she nodded. "You make a good point, if somepony had been given the opportunity to speak with him early, all that pain could have been avoided, but instead... Everything everypony had came crumbling down on them."

The two reached Carousel Boutique and Pokey smiled. "That's a very educated assessment Rarity, thanks." I'm glad I haven't destroyed anything for love.

The two sat down at a table for the evening, Rarity glanced at the clock and noted the time was getting late. "Pokey, I have to ask you something, my friends and I are going to be going to the park tomorrow with our pets and I wanted to invite you. I would love it if I got to introduce you to my friends."

Pokey took a sharp intake of breath. Taking me to see her friends? I'd be surrounded by ponies who have every right to despise me! But still, Rarity wants me to go, I can't deny her that, besides, it would be good to have some friends. "I ... That sounds like a great idea Rarity, so, I'll meet you at the park tomorrow at ten?" Pokey offered.

"That's a little early." Rarity began and Pokey winced. "But some time together before we meet with the others would be good."

Relieved, Pokey smiled. "Thanks for inviting me, I look forward to it. Well, I better get going, it's a little late." The blue stallion stood and stretched. "Good night!"

"Good night!" Rarity called out to him as he strode off into the night on those long legs. Oh, they go on for days. Rarity shook herself, and tended to a few remaining details in the shop before retiring for the night.

*****

Pokey opened his eyes as a slight pressure was applied to his side, with a start he looked to his right. There beside him was Rarity nestled beside him, head pressed firmly to his side. Peculiar, why is she here? Not that I'm complaining. Pokey thought, the nuzzling was not unwelcome. "Hey Rarity, I'm up here?" With this the purple mane frayed as the alabaster mare pressed harder into the stallion's side. "Ok then, that's enough, if you want a kiss my mouth is up for the - OW!"

A sharp pinch cut off Pokey's attempt at humour. "What are you doing there Rarity?" The white unicorn did not respond, she only began moving her muzzle about on Pokey's side with enhanced fervour. "Alright Rarity, I'm not one for the silent treatment, look at meEE!"

Pokey screamed at the end as he felt a pulling from his side that stretched into his innards. He looked down angrily. "Rarity whatever you're doing sto-!" The white mare pulled her head from Pokey's side extracting a long strand of flesh from his side that glistened in his blood. He looked in horror at Rarity's eyes, filled in with black.

Pokey was paralysed as the mare sucked on the muscular tendril and spoke from her gored mouth. "You taste marvellous darling, just wait till my friends find out! They'll all want a piece!" The scene shattered as five sets of teeth enclosed themselves around his body.

Pokey was once again standing in the black chamber, breathing at an ever so slightly elevated rate as a voice laughed in the distance. "I told you she was dangerous, you should just drain her and move on, but no, like all grubs you shoot for more than you can stomach."

"I just want to be with Rarity, if her friends want to be my friends as well, I won't object," Pierce replied, just wanting to be rid of the vision.

"They never will, they'll find out what you are, that Twilight? She's found ways of detecting changelings in the past. Applejack? She's the Element of Honesty, do you really think you could pull a fast one on her? Still, I suppose that's better than trying to outrun that garish, multi-hued upstart Rainbow Dash." Pierce's mother tried assuring him of this fact. "You're in too deep, and you never take my help, so I'll just leave you to be torn apart by your vaunted friends." The blackness became omnipresent before Pokey opened his eyes.

*****

Pokey looked at his clock to see that it was 9:45 in the morning. Crud, no time for a shower, at least I don't need food. the azure stallion quickly examined himself, his disguise had lasted through the night. He took a brush and organized his mane, tail and coat, before heading out the door to the park as he floated his saddle bags into position along his back.

Pokey looked around for Rarity in the park and, spotting her at the base of a hill in the shade of a birch tree, Pokey ran up to her, grinning widely at the beautiful mare.
Rarity stood up and gestured her head to the crest of the hill. "Walk and talk?"

"Love to." Pokey panted as he fell in step behind Rarity.

"How has work been going?" Pokey began.

"The boutique is doing fine, I was commissioned by Photo Finish to design some dresses for her entourage on her next tour, nothing for the actual models, but still well paying, and room for word of me to spread."

"That's great, I've been getting a lot of repair requests from Sugarcube Corner. Apparently between Pound Cake and your friend Pinkie the Cakes have trouble keeping up with damaged toasters and the like." Pokey chuckled.
"So you've met Pinkie Pie before?" Rarity looked back at Pokey as she reached the top of the hill.

"Tangentially yes, though I try to keep my distance from her." Especially after I heard what that cannon of hers did in Canterlot.

"Yes, she can be rather exuberant, but she is prone to bouts of seriousness when its needed. It’s just that with Twilight around, there isn't often a need for another voice of reason," Rarity replied as Pokey seated himself beside her. The view gave them a glance of all the Whitetail Woods, and to the East the barn of Sweet Apple Acres was visible. "Isn't the view lovely?" Rarity sighed, leaning into Pokey.

Should I risk the compliment? I don't want her to think I'm some drooling lecher. Aw, what the hell, nothing ventured, nothing gained. "Well in my opinion," Pokey began, "the view is all the better with you in it." He finished as he turned to look at Rarity, her cheeks flushed a soft pink as she smiled at the blue stallion.

"You’re very sweet, so few stallions can get out a compliment without ending up with a hoof in their mouth."

"That is the usual trend with us males," Pokey returned laughing good naturedly.

"Yes, but sometimes the praise they can think of when they take risks makes it worthwhile. Don't you think?"

"I suppose I am in complete agreement with you Rarity," Pokey returned, liking where the conversation was headed.

Now it was Rarity's turn to grin unabashedly. "So, what is it about me that you like?"

Clever boot, well, I better start with the mental and work back from that. "I'd have to say your most endearing feature is how you talk. Its just always so nice to listen to you, and I'm always interested in what you have to say. Then there's your attention for fashion, I always admire a mare who can keep track of the small details as well as the whole," Pokey finished.

I feel terrible for testing him like this, Rarity thought, but that was the first time a stallion didn't immediately just go for my eyes or mane, or my flank, those ones never got very far. I guess I better let him vent. "And what about physically? I mean, there must be something you like besides listening to me talk?" Rarity probed.

"I'd be lying if I said that your voice isn't the only thing I like." Rarity laid her head down on the grass as Pokey continued. "But it certainly would still be enough to get me interested. That said, I love how you're able to keep your coat so clean. I remember this one girl from school, brightest white highlights in her mane you ever saw, but the poor girl's parents insisted she wash it so often she decided to dye it brown instead." Pokey chuckled at the thought of Colgate's school picture that year. "Then there's your mane, you curl it very well, not a single strand out of place. Then there are your eyes."

Here comes the cliché, but then most colts would just say 'I really like her mane!' Rarity thought, thoroughly impressed by Pokey's adept skill in flattery.

"The whites are just so well defined and big." Pokey continued.

Well that is a different approach to the eye compliment. Rarity turned to Pokey and pressed. "And why is that attractive?"

"I ... erm, it makes it easy to read you, know what you’re feeling. When I was young I had trouble reading others, and I like to be able to know what a pony is like, eyes like yours make that possible." Pokey's own eyes were at this point scanning Rarity's. He was hoofing a dangerous line that might lead to rather uncomfortable questions that he would have to flat out lie about.

Rarity smiled and got up, approaching him until her face filled his view. "And what are my eyes saying now?" She asked coyly.

"Er, that you really like my - !"

With that Rarity brought her mouth to Pokey's and began sucking. Pokey accepted the gesture and closed his eyes. Rarity's lips were soft. Pokey then felt a moist sensation stroke his lips. Tongue? On a first kiss? Well, who am I to keep a lady waiting? Pokey parted his lips and Rarity's tongue entered slowly, playing along the inner edges of his lips as she pressed further. Pokey was salivating rather heavily and he worked some of the fluid back before swallowing. The ensuing tug on Rarity prompted her to make contact with Pokey's own tongue, trying to elicit the moist muscle to fence with her own on a much more literal scale. With a pleased squeak Rarity's tongue was wrapped by Pokey's.

The two held this position until a sound emanated from the tree above them. "MEUAW!" Was all they heard before a white ball of fluff planted itself firmly on Pokey's flank enticing him to break the intimate moment.