The fun in the gardens lasted until well after midnight, when both Flurry Heart and Shining Armor were well and worn out.

The childish game of tag was oddly more exciting with her in heat… She could smell her father’s musk as well as he could smell her pheromones. It made running and hiding almost pointless but also more fun. Still, by the time they were done, she could barely walk, she was so exhausted.

Thanks to still being in fit military shape, her father had the stamina to carry her to her room and tuck her into bed. Kissing her forehead good night and retiring for the evening, he had left her with more questions than answers.

Flurry sighed to herself as she leaned onto her pillow. Her out loud musings sounded loud in the quiet room.

“Dad made some very good points tonight and wearing me out with a game worked in taking my mind off my heat. The real question is… in the hypothetical situation he proposed… would I not want him to fuck my daughter, or… his daughter… because it’s wrong to further the incest or is it because I want to keep him for myself? Will these desires fade once I’m no longer in heat or will they continue? Couples that are in love have sex all the time… not just to make foals… is that what is in store for us if we continue down this path?”

As she finally succumbed to sleep, all she knew was that she didn’t trust her mother to answer these questions. She would have to figure it out on her own… or with her father’s help.

* * *

Shining Armor returned to his bedchambers well after midnight. His wife was already in bed, and he cozied up next to her. His gentle kisses on her neck were met with a giggle and a soft sigh.

“I’m sorry, Shiny, but I have a headache. If you want little shiny to get some attention, you need to sleep in Flurry’s room. I’m sure she would indulge you after your little play date activity.”

Shining frowned. “We never skip love making on important dates, like anniversaries. Did you forget that this is the 17th anniversary of Flurry’s conception? Are you working that much?”

Chrysalis shuddered, not realizing the significance of today. Her plans were near ruins from the simple mistake of not reading all of Cadance’s diaries and checking her official calendar. Cadance clearly wouldn’t have scheduled sex on a calendar, but she would have noted an anniversary. Most stallions expect sex on important dates… that transcended species.

She gulped and pleaded in a sincere tone. “I didn’t forget… but I seriously can’t do it today… I’m sorry… I’ll make it up to you, but you know how backed up my workload has been in the last 3 weeks. Flurry wouldn’t deny you; you know. It might even be more special with you doing her for the first time on the same day we conceived her.”

Shining shuddered. “I told her the significance of the plaque for the first time today and told her of the significance of the anniversary. She won’t fuck me today no matter how much you might wish for it. I am disappointed, though.”

Chrysalis made a good show of being regretful. “I am sorry… maybe doing a second date with Flurry would make you feel better… and get your dick wet…”

Shining glowered, a little mad about the incest prompts being thrown into his face now of all times.

“Maybe it would…”

Shining made plans to finalize previous plans to be handled first thing in the morning.

As Shining huffed to himself, he took a deep breath through his nose and then frowned.

I don’t smell anything… Cadance isn’t in heat? How odd…

* * *

The next morning, Flurry woke up late and groggily brushed her mane. The days of her running around the castle like a wild filly was long over, though brushing all this hair was a pain.

She glanced over at the golden plate that held personal invitations and stopped mid-stroke when she noticed a calling card.

She squealed with joy as she ran over to it and looked at it.

‘Princess Flurry Heart,

If it were to please you, I would respectfully request that you attend the Opera with me tonight at 1800. You will need to wear a formal ball gown that is both fashionable and eccentric.

Yours sincerely,

Prince Shining Armor’

Flurry quickly jotted down a reply.

‘Prince Shining Armor,

I am pleased to accept your generous invitation to the Opera tonight at 1800 hours. I shall wait for you.

Yours,

Princess Flurry Heart’

Brushing her mane with a speed that borderline ripped out parts of it, she quickly went to the kitchen for a quick brunch and then spent the entire day trying to find the most eccentric ball gowns that she owned. She owned more gowns than she cared to admit but her mother had insisted on her having a gown for nearly every occasion, which was in turn tailored to her size every time she had grown.

There were gowns for castle balls, birthday parties, coming-out parties, and she had several specially for the Opera… as the type of production as well as the time of year dictated what she should wear…

With a gasp, she realized that she wasn’t told the type of production it was going to be… she was simply told to wear something eccentric…

She tried on a purple dress with pink puffed sleeves that looked absolutely ridiculous on her…

“Yup… it has got to be this one. It’s the most eccentric thing I own…”

* * *

Shining Armor arrived at Flurry Heart’s room at 1700 hours. Flurry Heart was dressed in her eccentric purple and pink dress, matching Shining’s Red and Blue military suit. The color’s clashed as much as they matched. Truly eccentric.

The walk to the Opera House was quiet but pleasant.

They sat in the Royal Box, guaranteed to have the best seat in the house. Some of the theater staff made sure to bring a bottle of wine, with two glasses already poured, and an assortment of hors d’oeuvres.

Flurry looked at the spread and frowned. “Wow. This is fancier than I had assumed it would be and that is a significant amount of food for two ponies. It’s like they expect us to be here all night…”

Shining snorted. “We are going to be here all night. Tonight’s Opera is a play and musical production all in one, set up in 4 Acts, with some of the acts having multiple scenes, with the final part being the longest. It’ll take about 6 to 8 hours for them to act it all out, complete with the singing and musical score.”

Flurry ate an hors d’oeuvres while considering what her father had said. “So… we’re here until anywhere between Midnight and 2 am?”

Shining nodded. “Yes. Continuing with your dating lessons… you need to understand that a date to a Theater or Opera is a good second date. The reasons for that are simple. Firstly, a play or musical production will last longer than lunch on the first date did, so you will spend more time with your date. Plus, there are intermissions in between each part of the play as props are switched out and the actors change costumes as needed, so there are prefect opportunities to eat and drink while speaking to your date during the lull in between scenes, which once again allows you to learn more about them and further test if they are a good candidate for a deeper relationship or marriage. Remember that Princesses aren’t supposed to sleep around so you are expected to create and maintain high dating standards. Any questions so far?”

Flurry had finished her snack and so she asked a question. “Are you going to be okay being couped up with me in the royal box for 6 to 8 hours? I don’t think my heat is any worse but it’s certainly no lighter than yesterday.”

Shining nodded. “The Royal Box is larger than any other box seat arrangement and there is good air flow in here, unlike the private reading section of our library. I will be fine. Any other questions before the play starts? It’s rude to talk during the play so you won’t be able to talk or ask anymore questions until the first scene break or intermission.”

Flurry shrugged. “What is the play about?”

Shining grinned in a way that might worry some ponies but to Flurry signaled that this was going to be epic in a way that her mother probably wouldn’t like.

“Do you remember about 5 years ago when your mother passed that law that allowed artists, singers and playwrights to include the royal family as characters within plays and productions or as the focus of a song?”

Flurry frowned. “I wasn’t paying attention to the politics much when I was 11, as we were still doing our regular play dates and I was trying to enjoy my youth. What does that old law have to do with this opera?”

In a nonchalant tone, Shining continued. “Well, this play is titled, ‘It Takes a Family to Raise a Flurry’ and was written and produced by the world-famous Unicorn Playwright and Author, Lord Shakespearicles. You’re about to see the production first hoof so I won’t ruin the highlights for you, but, in short, it’s an incest story written about our family where we pretty much all fuck each other. The main connections are Auntie Twilight and your mom, Cadance, having sex with Grandpa Night Light while I have sex with my mother, Twilight Velvet and by the end of the play, you. It’s supposed to be both a Father’s Day play and a coming-of-age story for your 18th birthday. I’ve read the book version before it was turned into a play… very ambitious.”

Flurry’s face turned as red as Shining’s military coat as she tried to hide under the railing of the royal box. She seemed to be panting in shock and panic.

“Why would you bring me to something like this while I’m in heat! I might lose control!”

Shining looked down and smiled at her. “I think your mother wants you to lose control. Me bringing you to something like this would have infuriated her 5 years ago… but now… she would probably kill to be able to sit in the background, eating popcorn, and watching you slowly lose control. Be careful sweetheart, hiding down there like that might give some ponies the impression that I’m getting a pre-opera blow job from you. Nice of you to act out part of the play in advance. I didn’t know you read my copy of ‘It takes a family to raise a Flurry.’”

She froze for a moment and then stiffly returned to her seat, drinking half her glass of wine once she sat down. Once she had settled herself, Shining answered her questions.

“To answer all your possible questions… This was the only play in the Empire long enough to count as a second date for a princess. Plus… culturally, you need to be aware that this type of art and theater exists, and seeing it for yourself was a good way to expose you to it. Also… before you ask, the reason why you’re 18 in the play is because the Age of Consent in Equestria is 18 whereas it’s 16 in the Crystal Empire. So, please remember that if you do travel abroad to visit your Auntie Twilight, you are still jailbait in Canterlot. It would be unfortunate to see some poor stallion arrested for responding to moves that you made first.”

Flurry didn’t respond as the curtain rose and the play started with a musical number and a frank conversation between the actor playing Shining Armor and the actress playing Cadance about Flurry coming of age and being in heat and what he should do about it.

She seemed glued to the dialogue.

It was a conversation that was starting to sound more and more familiar with how Cadance had been pushing incest recently. Shining had to wonder if she had seen the play without him. Or had at the very least read his copy of the book without telling him.

The next scene unfolded with actor Shining speaking to actor Night Light about his predicament, and Night Light hinting that if Flurry was anything like Twilight with getting what she wanted, it was better for Shining to be her partner willingly.

Flurry gasped at the insinuation and asked an urgent question during the brief scene break.

“Auntie Twilight would never use her magic to rape a stallion, would she?”

Shining snorted. “Of course not, sweetheart. This is just a play. Of course, as the Princess of Equestria, she doesn’t have to. Any stallion would be more than willing to be her partner. Now, that part of the play references Twilight before she became an alicorn, so I guess your question still stands. In short, non-consensual sex turns some ponies on so naturally the hint must be in a Lord Shakespearicles play.”

The next scene unfolded with actress Twilight and actress Flurry speaking in the kitchens. Flurry went red again watching a near replica of herself interacting with her Auntie with the topic of conversation being in love with and lusting about her own father. Taking a quick glance at him, she saw that he was smiling at the lewdness of the back-and-forth conversation and the implication that everything about it was okay. But then, he had read the book, so he knew what was coming.

The first act ended with Night Light about to detail how its okay for a daughter to be attracted to her own father when the scene ended. As the curtain came down to prepare for Act II, Flurry slumped in her seat.

Shining raised an eyebrow. “Not enjoying yourself? A real suitor would be crushed that you’re not enjoying yourself.”

Flurry buried her face in her hooves and Shining’s ear flicked as he noticed a dripping sound. Looking down at the floor, he saw an actual puddle of Flurry’s juices pooling under the chair.

He smirked. “Ah. Enjoying it a bit too much, I see… The real fun hasn’t even started yet!”

Flurry groaned as she nodded. “Okay, I’ll concede the point. I can see the appeal to the incest concept as art… but isn’t what makes this so… enjoyable as art, is the fact that the real act is illegal? The taboo is enticing… but… even as much as mom is encouraging this, and has even offered to change the law to make it legal… I just don’t see how we are supposed to really go through with this.”

Shining nodded and hummed. “Having second thoughts? That kiss after our first date had me worried. My own actions in the library worried me more. It’s normal for you to feel attracted to me because I’m supposed to be an example of a good stallion, the likes of which you would want to find for yourself as a husband and father of your foals. Colts are generally attracted to their mothers because their mothers are supposed to be an example of a good mare that can raise a family. What makes this hard and confusing is that you are a Princess. You won’t be raising your family… nannies will be. You can love your husband, but you will be ruling the Empire. You’ve seen what it’s doing to your mom. We didn’t even have sex for the anniversary last night.”

Flurry winced. She knew that after the play date in the gardens, her father would have been worked up because she knew she had been worked up. She could smell his musk from the build up of his lack of release. She was wavering and she wasn’t sure what she should do.

Flurry cleared her throat. “Isn’t it poor taste to actually like this though? Incest… as a concept or as an action. Even if we made it legal… would ponies ever accept it?”

Shining sighed. “Lord Shakespearicles has been known to say that ‘Incest art is a matter of taste… if you don’t like it… get some taste.’ As far as the law is concerned, drinking is legal, but not everypony drinks. Smoking is legal, but not everypony smokes, depending on where you are, age of consent is 16 or 18, but you aren’t required to lose your virginity until you’re ready. Half the reason I’m smiling at all this ridiculous sex is that unless Twilight became really good at keeping secrets, she may very well still be a virgin herself, and she’s 40. We can make incest legal but that doesn’t mean that everypony has to do it… but other than the existing laws on the books, it would be hard to criminalize the type of shunning some ponies might face for engaging in it. You can make it legal, but you can’t make society accept it.”

Flurry raised her brows. “So… how would you get some taste for incest art if you don’t already have some?”

Shining smirked at his daughter. “Shakespearicles would probably tell me to lick your pussy. I’m sure it has plenty of taste.”

Flurry’s blush hit lethal levels when her father kissed her on the cheek after making the lewd statement, but she dared not stop him. She had barely pulled herself together with wine and stuffing her face with more food when Act II started.

It was a single scene detailing motherly advice to actor Shining while he was effectively fucking his own mother. Lewd was putting it mildly, as nothing was covered or censored.

Flurry’s jaw dropped as she listened to the dialogue and watched the action. The illusion magic was so good that she couldn’t tell the difference between the actor playing her father and her father sitting next to her. Grandma Velvet was also well done, although the actress was clearly much younger despite the illusion magic.

As the curtain dropped to prepare for Act III, Flurry turned to her father again.

“How is this legal? Open sex at the opera?”

Shining shrugged. “This opera is age restricted. No ponies under 16, period. So, yeah, there is no law against public sex so long as minors aren’t watching.”

The night crawled on slowly with Act III detailing how the family incest started and how accepting everypony was with the parts in it that they played. The almost random incest pregnancies were hard to swallow, as they seemed to take the most extreme possibilities, but Flurry’s pussy continued to drip, and Shining continued to do his best to ignore it.

Act IV had Flurry ramped up to 11 as she watched the actress playing her fuck the actor playing her father in ways and positions that she had never even imagined. It was also the longest Act, so she was in for the show of her life.

Shining nudged her as she was staring wide eyed at the massive creampie that flowed out of her doppelganger.

“Don’t worry… all the Actresses are on birth control.”

Flurry sagged in her seat for the second time tonight, largely unable to control her emotions.

“Would you… would you fuck me if we used birth control with no risk of a pregnancy? Like they did in the play?”

Shining took on a look of deep thought as he considered it. He didn’t want to lie to her.

“It would make me feel better if there was no risk. I’m still on the fence about the whole thing but I’m open to ideas.”

Flurry leaped into her father’s hoofs as she gave him a big hug. “The play was lewd… but I enjoyed it. Unfortunately, the play also seems to double as a playbook for how we would do this ourselves…”

Shining nodded. “Your mother approved of the play being shown in Crystal City to give the Empire a clearer picture of consensual incest. Unicorns, more than any other tribe, seem to disregard incest as not a factor in considering love. I think part of that is that unicorn magic seems to limit incest birth defects. The play notwithstanding, you would be my first incest relationship.”

Flurry wiped her brow with a handkerchief. “I am quite tired. Perhaps… escort me home?”

Shining was more than happy to walk his daughter back to the castle and they arrived back at her room, seemingly at a loss of how to wrap this up from the emotions of the evening.

Shining cleared his throat, remembering his research. “Now… at the end of a second date, you could invite the stallion into your room for a post-date cup of tea and to reflect upon the evening, but a guard is supposed to be present to observe that the stallion doesn’t overstep his boundaries. This is especially important while you are in heat. You do not want to be truly alone with any suitor. What do you wish to do, Princess?”

Flurry sighed. “We just spend 8 hours together drinking and eating and watching ponies have sex with each other that resembled our family. I think I just want to masturbate and go to bed.”

Shining chuckled at the super honest answer from his daughter. He kissed her on the cheek and whispered into her ear.

“Well, sweetheart, don’t let me stop you. I hope you sleep well tonight.”

Flurry blushed as she kissed her father back, also on the cheek, and went into her room. It was both the best and worst second date she could have hoped for, if only because she was even more confused about what she was supposed to do now.

* * *

As Shining entered his bedroom and cozied up to his wife, he could feel his heart sink.

She smells nothing like I remember of Cadance in Estrus… what is going on?

Chrysalis smiled at him. “You’re back late… get some rutting in?”

Shining sneered. “Nothing of the sort. I need you to come clean with me Cady… why aren’t you in heat? Are you already pregnant? If you are... I know it’s not mine…”

Chrysalis felt her breath hitch. She had never had an experience with a stallion that knew what his wife specifically smelled like in estrus. Usually, it was a generic smell that she could mimic. She didn’t know if she should be touched or disgusted that he could tell that she wasn’t in heat, despite her attempt to mimic it, but then, Changeling Queens were never in heat… as they could reproduce as much as they wished.

She whimpered. “I didn’t want to tell you…”

Shining cast a fierce look towards her. “Tell me what?”

Chrysalis was reaching for a lie that sounded right… “I’m infertile. I can’t have any more foals. That’s why I’ve been pushing you towards Flurry. I know it won’t be my foals… but I’d like some grandfoals and since I waited too long to have a second foal… I guess I was just hoping that Flurry’s foal was also your foal so I could also enjoy the feeling of having more of you. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner and I hope you can forgive me.”

Shining gasped as the words hit him hard… “Are you sure…”

Chrysalis turned to face him in bed, still wearing Cadance’s face with perfect accuracy. “Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner but with my workload and with Flurry coming of age, I’ve been overwhelmed. I guess there was never a ‘good’ time to tell you, but I never expected you to confront me about it. I feel terrible that I couldn’t break it to you in a softer way…”

Shining hugged her tightly. “I would never go against your wishes… but I wanted to be absolutely sure that you weren’t just teasing me and that I wasn’t supposed to follow it down the rabbit hole.”

Chrysalis kissed him on the lips. “Follow it down whatever hole you find. I’ll only be mad if you use birth control. I want a foal… not just incest sex.”

As she settled down for sleep, it left Shining with more questions than answers.

Was this really the way?

* * *

Author's Note

The play, 'It takes a family to raise a Flurry' is based on the real story 'It takes a family to raise a Flurry' by Shakespearicles.

You can read the original story here. Posted with the author's permission.

https://www.fimfiction.net/story/537262/it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-flurry