Knights of Iron

A couple days passed after Natah’s wing was set in place. The nerves took to each other like sugar and water as the feeling in his wing was as authentic as a real limb. It didn’t take long for folks to see this in a gold streak with an amber core, as Natah has been flying through the skies frequently to find his new limits. The sense of freedom, the taste of the sky and the vastness of the horizon were his to experience all over again, joy welling up in him to the point of tearful elation. No one could deny the feeling they got off of him, not even a certain orange filly who looked at this development with renewed hope.

Scootaloo, who was in the same position as other pegasi with genetic defects that ranged from brittle wings to smaller wings or even feather defects. She’d grown accustomed to the insults and got used to using her scooter to get around at the same speeds, even getting her cutie mark of a burning wheel when she joined a sports contest out of an interest and a drive. Even with her accomplishments, seeing Natah in the air and seeing his speed rekindled her desire to be in the air, even thinking of the ways she can race if she could fly.

Arriving at the schoolhouse later, her friends could not stop gushing at the possibility that Scootaloo has a real chance to fly. They were so genuinely ecstatic that they could not stop wondering what Scoots would make her wings look like. “Big deal. At least if the ‘surgery’ fails then you can pass as a functioning terran.” The whole schoolyard could hear a record scratch as they looked at Diamond Tiara, who has the same smug grin as Silver Spoon for making anything close to a ‘wingless’ comment.

Scootaloo, thankfully, did not budge, as she hasn’t gotten the surgery so she is still a pegasus. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, however, were fuming at that comment as they began to argue about stepping all over Scootaloo’s one dream only to say she needed to face reality and accept her disability. This back and forth would be stopped as some students gasped and the schoolyard was silent again. Natah had arrived to see the filly in question as she would be the more long term patient for these wings. The filly could not hold her excitement as the wing was bare when drawn in to conserve mana but majestic when it’s unfurled. “Heya Scootaloo. How’s tricks?” The filly was just stunned the prince was even taking the time to talk to her. The rich fillies tried getting his attention before shutting them down. “No thanks. I have neither the time nor the patience for those that have to raise the stakes to win against a cripple.” The prince, practically shutting the door on any chance of nobility at the fillies, looked back at Scootaloo before handing her a card. “When you are ready, please plan with him so he can get set. Your wings will be the first long term set, so consider your choice carefully, okay?” She nodded in awe before his wings unfurl and he takes to the sky once again.

Sweetie and Bloom hugged their orange friend with cheerful faces as the filly felt her own wings rise from the joy. As if a silhouette of her new wings were there, she was ready to take flight, with her friends as the wind to support and push her. The day at school felt slow from her excitement, but she immediately bolted out of the classroom before arriving at the shop, and just in time to see a standard model made after Natah’s new wing. The forge looked up to her and waved to the filly with a smile as Iron kept his eyes on the apparatus. “You’re rather excited to be here, but that’s good.”

“I couldn’t sit still all day. My wings are buzzing from the excitement to finally get to fly.” She meant it literally given her disability but the smile on her face was bigger than the sun. “So are they ready? Are they ready?” The owner finished an adjustment as he sat up.

The white stallion, prepared for the operation, with a doctor this time so they can learn the full procedure, looked at her with a stern glare, making the filly lock up. “The better question is, are you ready?” He managed to stop Scootaloo for a moment with that question, making her ponder the implications of getting the operation. If it fails, she’ll lose the skill that helped her get her mark. If it succeeds…what would change? She took a deep breath before looking at him with a resolute expression and firmly nodding her head. He returned the nod with a smile and said, “then take off your shirt and lay on the table so we can start. The sooner you get your wings, the better.”

Scootaloo showed bravery in the face of her fear, exposing her back to the world before climbing on the table as the nurses pulled the curtains around the site and Iro formed a low density barrier to give the operation more cleanliness. Iron begins with numbing the site of the wings as the doctors follow along, giving them a chance to work with him as he explains the process. Scootaloo, keeping her fear planting firmly in the ground, gave the doctors and Iron as still a body as she could while they worked.

Just like Natah, her back was opened up after the nerves were numbed and cut, the wings detached cleanly as they moved them from the sight. A connector socket was put in place and connected to the muscles before the nerves were drawn to the socket interior. The wings were brought down and slowly inserted as the mechanism clicked into place, creating a perfect bond and seal. The nerves were stimulated and the magus engine was brought between the new wings, cycling the mana like with Natah as Scootaloo felt something, her back felt…larger. She could begin to feel her new wings before the sensation fueled the mana, letting her feathers teak form on the apparatus as purple wings.

Once the site was cleaned and the wings checked for feeling and delay, Scootaloo’s operation was called a success. “Remember doctor, I walk you through the next one so you can learn it more directly, then you do it without guidance.” The doctor nodded as he looked at the marvel that was born today. The young filly looked at her wings with tears stinging her eyes before the stallion pet her, getting her attention. “Give your wings a full day to settle and bond before you do any flying. The mana channels will feel much bigger so you’ll need to adjust some. Give them a few flaps every two hours until tomorrow and you’ll be good to go.”

The filly, unable to hold herself, lunged up to Iron and hugged him. “Thank you…thank you for this gift, Mr. Iron.” He smiled at the joy of a foal and petted her again. She was soon dressed and out the door as she ran full speed, her excitement making the feathers appear again as she let off a slight purple trail. She made it to the club house and had to physically stop herself from pumping her wings before climbing in. Her friends were ecstatic to see the wings. They were a Burnt Sienna orange while the manna that coated the limbs and made the feathers were a rose pink, about like her mane. They were the basic model as opposed to the one Natah got which had a guard on the outside joins. She didn’t mind or care and told them that if she followed the instructions she was given, she could fly tomorrow afternoon.

Back at the shop, Iron was putting the tools away after cleaning up the floor. A sense of pride and dread filled his veins as the immediate aftermath of the operation proved more than promising but the real stress begins, as anything can happen with those wings now. Looking at the gun on his bench, he finally decides to finish that one and maybe a variant at the very least. He started with the superstructure and focused on the inner workings to see if there may be a problem either with the mechanism or the throughput. Next was the cartridge, exchanging the clear crystal with a metal pearl. This would make it a little more efficient overall, is the hope, as he took his spot and fired off a shot, startling the ponies in front of the door. The first shot reached the target, so he pulled the trigger again and was dejected with a spent pearl.

To his annoyance, he found an issue with the capacitor as it was taking too much energy and burning through the resistor. Exchanging the parts and trying another shot, too much energy was held back now. Finally he decided to try two guns, one with a resistor, one with a capacitor. This was the fix he needed as the problem was staring him in the face. The resistor was acting as a limiter but the power it held back countered the spooling energy in the capacitor that wanted to go all out. Now going with a resistor first then a capacitor in a larger weapon may work for a different construction, but this one solution made him happy to see the fix to make these two guns; a heavy shot magnum and a rapid fire combat pistol.

As Iron was resting after finishing the guns, he heard yet another sonic boom and smiled as Natah was pushing his safety limits again. Natah was enjoying his freedom again and poor Rainbow was struggling again but now she had a new ceiling to reach for. The said mare saw Iron looking and gave him a thumbs up with a big smile, approving of this as she got to test her limits again. Fluttershy came by after hearing about Scootaloo’s operation when she heard the sonic booms as a reminder. “Did the operation go well?”

He nodded before looking back to the speeding pair saying, “she’ll have the same safety net as him. If she gives it twenty-four hours and beats her wings every two during that time, she should be adjusted enough to fly with Natah at the least.” She smiled before realizing what he said, snapping her head back at him.

“So you are asking him to slow down?” Iron nodded, with Fluttershy trying to fathom that arrangement for the life of her. She soon came to see his reason, as Scootaloo would want to speed up like Rainbow but the new wings will take some getting used to, so Natah will have to slow down so he can help the filly catch up. In a way, the two are kindred spirits. “Maybe,” she started, a worried face on her before she looked up, a smile replacing the dread with hope again as she continued, “that’d be good for him.” Iron could not agree anymore, hoping to see the filly take her place in the sky.

In canterlot, the sisters were busy with delegations of their politics, hearing the noble’s issues and complaints while a pony of equal importance was looking in a sphere of space in a separate room, her eyes fixed on several points before there was a gentle knock on the doors. “Come in.” The mare let the space vanish as she did up her mane. The door opens as she uses her magic to draw open the curtains, the rays of sunlight illuminating the faint midnight blue in her otherwise black mane and tail as her sand brown coat catches every beam of light in a faint shine of sand gold, the same light reflected back in her indigo eyes. The only decency on her person is a simple black dress with gold trim around the hips and bust.

“Forgive my intrusion, Princess Suda. I bring some…interesting news that you may find startling to-”

“Spare me the foreplay, guard, and get to your point.” The princess cut the guard off with a dry tone as she never liked long or drawn out introductions to something that can take seconds to explain.

“Right, your brother,” she already felt a tick coming to her forehead, her hand reaching for a drink as she was ready to hear whatever trouble he got into now. “We have received word from the guard in Ponyville that he’s been seen..flying.” She took her first sip before her fingers slipped, the shock filling her eyes as she forgot she was holding a cup. Her fingers lost support as the cup dropped.

The glass shattered and the guard’s armor was grabbed within that same moment. “Excuse your mouth? Flying? This better not be a joke, guard!” Her immediate response of rage was to be forgiven as Natah had been grounded for years after the infection took his wing. The strain it put on his horn forced Twilight to invest in the winged armor, which did alleviate the burden some, but his speed would be permanently stunted.

“Even more ma’am is that he’s been seen flying faster than the Element of Loyalty as of late.” These words had her worried as someone was either pushing him emotionally with blackmail of his disability or making up a story to piss her off, both of which were working. She let the guard go as she waved her hand, the space around her opening like sands making glass. “Princess, where are you going?”

“To Ponyville.” She walked through and dissolved the gate before the guard could stop her, appearing outside the town’s border before she began to walk into the town, looking for her brother.

Said brother was currently racing with Rainbow and keeping just a few paces ahead of her outside of town, leaving the sister to wander the roads as foals play and ponies work away, bringing and keeping an atmosphere of invite as they offer Suda their wares. She politely turns them down as many are just trying to be hospitable to a new face. The mare soon hears a buzzing rumor of a filly who just got her wings amputated. Some are appalled by this information while others are happy. The reasons are obviously varied but she did have an interest to see what the filly is like. Or, rather, what the operator’s intentions were, but she didn’t know where to go. As if on cue, she felt a shivering sensation and turned to a flower pot with a smirk before out came the pink party pony herself.

“Okay, Alter, can you please stop that?” My story, my rules. And don’t start doing Deadpool with me, young lady. “Um, I am 1,946, so you are the young one here.”

“Pinkie as much as I enjoy your conversation with your imaginary friend, could you point me in the direction of someone?” Suda knew Pinkie was a bit of an oddball, able to charm folks into a smile with charisma that seemed to beam off her like a rainbow. “I’m hearing talk of my brother flying and some rumors of someone named Scootaloo getting herself some new wings is my only clue.” She saw the mare slither out of the pot before springing up to her feet.

“Oh that is an easy one. There is a stallion, Iron Wrought, who worked on the new wing your brother now has before he did a ful surgery with Scootaloo.” At least that gives her a name to go off on but no locations. “You can find him at Iron Forge Workshop where he works, Sweet Apple Acres with Applejack or Carousel Boutique with Rarity.” Suda’s face dropped ever slightly from her normally pleasant smile at the sound of this. A stallion with a herd, nothing new there. She knew where two of the locations were, at least.

“Thank you Pinkie. I hope I’ll have some time left in the day to have some cake with you.” Pinkie jittered with a wide smile before hugging Suda, the party mare then disappearing in a puff of smoke and allowing Suda to check the two locations. She took the route to the acres first as she liked the smell of the farm there anyway, sweet and rustic with a hint of citrus.

Walking around, the mare soon spotted the farm mare in question while Rarity was chatting it up with her and working on sorting using her magic. The terran was the first to notice as she felt a presence before looking to see Suda, waving her over with a smile. Rarity took notice and felt her lips curl up. “Suda, darling it is good to see you.” The two mares greeted the princess of space with a hug as Rarity looked her over. “Goodness, you seem to be doing well. I take it that you don’t need any new dresses?”

“Not at the moment, Rarity.” Suda answered, her smile dropping into a serious expression. “I’m actually here regarding some serious news. I heard my brother is flying again and wanted to hear from you.”

“Oh you can lay your worries to rest dear. I partook in Natah’s operation, so the rumor is true of his new wing.” Suda’s eyes rose in surprise as Rarity admitted to her basically putting a sewing needle in Natah.

“Yup. He and Rainbow have been racing all day the past couple of days. I don’t think he’s touched the ground once, he’s so up in the clouds with joy.” The smile and hearty chuckle from Applejack was duly noted as the mare is seldom known for lying about anything this serious. “I don’t think I’ve seen him this happy in years and he just won’t uncurl those lips. I think I need Iron to make a new hip for Granny if his work is this good.”

That caught her attention and reminded her why she was here. “Do either of you know where this Iron or my brother is right now?”

“Natah and Rainbow are having a time attack right now. They won’t be back for maybe another half hour.” Applejack answered before looking from the farm to the shop. “Now Iron might be in his workshop. It’s on the other side of the train station some ways from the hospital.” Suda nodded, apologizing for turning up and running off but this business is serious to her. They told her they can perfectly understand, since this is her brother.

The unicorn walks all the way to the train station then asks for directions to the shop, confirming it with other ponies who get small works done for their own projects. She muses at the size as she recalls there being a forge in the area and thinking that the reasoning fits. She walks up to the shop and notices the door open as she hears grinding from inside the shop. Turning to enter the shop, its large sliding doors wide open, a white terran is seen filing down a blade to a fine edge with a small magus engine close by with a ring of gray sand hovering around it.

“Oh, a guest. Welcome.” Iro greets the mare after noticing her, giving her a friendly greeting as she waves back, still shocked these golems can be so kind for their size. “Would you like to place an order?”

She shakes her head as she says, “no. I’m sorry to be a bother at the moment, I’m just looking for a stallion by the name of Iron Wrought. Is he in right now?” The mare’s tone remained polite as she did not want to assume the stallion was the one she was looking for. That fact remained for a moment before she noticed the filing stopped.

The terran stood and turned to the nine foot four inch unicorn with a calm expression. “I am Iron Wrought.” The unicorn was taken aback that a terran could make something that could her brother fly again. Even the best unicorns in medicine and magic could not cure the underline issue or make him a new wing, yet this terran managed to do that.

The unicorn smirked and leaned down, letting her large breasts hang down as she crossed her arms behind them. “So I have you to thank for helping Natah fly again. Maybe a reward is in order.” Her eyes lowered into a naughty expression, the smile becoming hungry as she stared the stallion down.

“I’m down for that if you’re up for a little foreplay.” The sultry teasing cracked as she made a confused noise. “You do have a lovely figure and you look like a lady who knows her worth in men.” The mare could feel her heart skip a beat as heat began to build in her cheeks. “Though I’d have to get a shower first, unless you prefer I go as is for our first date.”

The startled smile was frozen on her face as she stood up straight and said, “I’m going to find my brother.” She left the shop as she and Iron had two different thoughts, Suda calling Iron an insufferable playboy while blushing at her own flirts being thrown back at her and Iron simply thinking she looked cute with her blush. The mare heard two sonic booms and in came a familiar black alicorn skidding to a halt as he looked back to Rainbow, sweat dripping down her body as Fluttershy came over, handing the both of them a towel as Rainbow, even in defeat, could not help but laugh at the reinvigorating challenge, even noting how they managed to both do the Double Booms with ease. “Well lookie, who managed to get ahead in life?” The mare teased as the pegasi looked to Suda while the alicorn snapped to her direction, surprised at first before crashing into her.

The short alicorn’s action startled the other two mares as they felt the hairs on their neck rise in territorial challenge before hearing, “Sister!” That word made them realize what they were about to commit before they flushed in embarrassment. Damn this mare grew like a tree or something. “What brings you into town? I sent you a letter a couple days ago, didn’t I?” Natah’s question was uncertain as he can forget small details like that sometimes, though he was certain he sent the letter, same time and day every week.

“I got your letter, and news of your wing.” She eyed up said wing and poked close to the socket, making Natah seize up. She thought it was defective as she jerked away, before seeing him holding a laugh. She poked again and he started running to Fluttershy, leaving the unicorn speechless. Natah, who Suda felt helpless to comfort or aid, now had a new wing and he could feel it. Even more, he can feel people touching it. Her eyes, full of surprise and awe, began to flow with tears as she didn’t know which intense emotion to focus on. All she knew was one certainty, someone, that stallion, helped her brother.

Seeing his sister weeping in silence, the alicorn flew up and wiped her eyes. “Sis, are you okay?” His concerned voice could not be missed but she quickly regained herself, nodded as she simply had no words for what she was feeling. It was like a prayer had been answered at last, and she could not be more thankful for the outcome.

Once she was calmed down, she cleared her throat, straightening herself up. “I’d like to spend a little time in Ponyville. I heard that a filly named Scootaloo got her new wings as well.”

Natah stiffened as he almost forgot his arrangement. He’d have to slow down to help Scootaloo catch up on so many decades worth of flying she missed out on from her defect. “Yeah, it gives us some time to hang out and let us catch up with friends.” Natah was more than happy his sister came over. Though he did not know they met, he wanted to properly introduce Iron to her and just vibe with everyone in his circle. “You got somewhere you can stay?”

“I didn’t really think about that. I might just crash at Sweet Apple Acres with AJ and them.” Suda, ever the impulsive and loveable sister, was never one to make detailed plans if she didn’t have the time, like now. Otherwise she would have reached out to AJ, Rarity or Pinkie since they normally have the space. “When is Scootaloo flying?”

“The doctor said it’d be some time tomorrow afternoon, give her time to adjust to the wings like Natah did.” Fluttershy was the first to speak up, shocking Suda again for something new as she knew the pegasus to be rather timid. It should be surprising though, since she dealt with animals and foals better than most other ponies. The unicorn nodded in her stunned silence before hugging her brother and heading back for the farm.

“I feel like we missed some important context.” Rainbow was not alone in this opinion, as Suda seemed…off beat? It was like her usual game of teasing and flirting had been thrown out of sync as she didn’t tease Fluttershy for her confidence or even Rainbow after a ‘sweaty activity’ with Natah, something she’d never stop flustering them for until evening. While this would worry Natah, he figured he’d get his answer tomorrow.

The next afternoon rolls around before anyone is aware of it, Suda in attendance and the Elements looking on in the front with high hopes as Natah instructs Scootaloo about how this feels and is going to feel. She’d followed the instructions from yesterday and got a feel for the size but now came the weight and range, since her wings must feel like they underwent a sudden growth spurt. As this was going on, Suda spotted Iron between Applejack and Rarity with his arms crossed, one hand gripping the forearm firmly as he looked onto the two with investment. This gave Suda another round of confusion doubled with frustration as she could not seem to pin this man’s emotions very well.

Natah takes a few inches off the ground as his wing is wrapped in his natural mana, the wing guard at the end serving a practical and aesthetic role while the red that made up his wings served their functional purpose. Scootaloo was next, closing her eyes as her natural mana began to pour off of her in force, kicking up a small gust as the energy wrapped around the frame and extended outward into their magenta feathers before giving them a small pump. Much like an infant taking their first steps, Scootaloo took her first flight with timid flaps, all while the feeling in her and her wings grew stronger, a smile coming to her face as the vibrancy of her wings increased from their dull appearance due to apprehension. Her bravery shined through again as she started flying alongside Natah, who was keeping pace with the filly while the crowd was in awe. Suda’s awe was the most present from this miraculous accomplishment of engineering as she looked at Iron again, his attention fixed on Scootaloo with a bit of fear as if he were expecting something to go wrong.

The filly, following behind Natah, felt the force of her wings, like they were the size of a griffon’s compared to her smaller wings. She lost her balance and her bravery for a moment and began to fall. The action made everyone seize up as Natah dove for her. The filly, her mind now going with greater speed, felt something click in her, the fear replaced with a new spark of bravery as she furled her wings and rolled, extending them again to catch the air under them and use her weight to quickly pick up speed. This maneuver, which is often used by advance fliers, was followed by a second roll as she evened out before taking back to the skies, her feathers now appearing to catch fire as she rose again into the air in a single beat and proceeded to press Natah’s pace. The alicorn, seeing her talent extended to flying, followed her into a sky dance that wowed the town below.

A whole hour passed and she finally sat down, her friends rushing to hug her with smiles as the crowd began to applaud from their collective astonishment. Applejack and Rarity clapped as Iron just collapsed, his fear draining from him as he didn’t realize he was holding his breath at times for so long. The mares help him up and even hug him as he smiles. Suda feels almost disgusted before seeing his hands go for the mares’ hands instead of their flanks. Her body language tensed a bit as this stallion was just one thing after another. He flirts back at her, made these wings for her brother and a disabled pegasus and now is holding hands over grabbing ass? What was his deal?

Natah, looking at the Elements with a wide smile, soon notices Suda’s frustrated seething and a smug grin came to his muzzle. Oh the things he is going to tease her with. But first, business. He walks the three fillies to the farm, Fashion and Stunt mares before he takes the time to tell the town what is what. “Thank you for coming out to see this today, everyone. I’m sure you all have a few questions so let me answer the obvious ones.” He walks to Iron and pats the stallion on the shoulder. “This is Iron Wrought, the one who made Scootaloo’s and my wing and a close friend for everything he’s done.” That would explain the ‘new friend’ Suda read about in his last letter. “And though this is his first accomplishment, I hope we can expect more in the future.”

The stallion dropped the even look for a genuine smile at Natah’s praise, making the unicorn’s heart jump again as she didn’t know he could look so handsome smiling-what?! Okay no! No he is not handsome! He’s a cussing playboy with no regard for mares or their feelings! And why is Natah smirking at her? The mare huffed and looked away from him before the alicorn snorted. This did make everyone wonder who the visitor was. “This also gives me the chance to introduce our special guest today, my sister, Suda Choro.” While the Elements knew that already, the rest of the town from the CMC to even Iron looked at Suda with surprise as Iron hung his head in shame.

Rarity and Applejack looked at him with confusion as Natah could figure out why. “She flirted with you?” He nodded. “You threw that flirting back at her?” He nodded again. “I don’t know about Rares and AJ but I don’t mind, my guy.” The three look at him with shock as he just died with laughter for a good few minutes. “Come on, let’s get some sweets and a drink at the Corner so we got someone to share this laughter with.” The alicorn, to the three in question, looked a little mischievous though Rainbow and Fluttershy could guess why, sharing a smile as they chuckled a little.

The group got to the corner as Pinkie was asking a lot of questions, some important, some loaded, others minor but all out of her natural curiosity. They placed their order and Natah began again. “So, I meant my words, Suda is my sister. She got more of the Alicorns height than I did from our parents. Dad’s an alicorn, mom’s a unicorn so it was kinda a lottery.” The girls nodded in understanding as genetics can be random when variables are involved. Heck those same genetics can jump generations, making the chances more random depending on the family tree.

“That still don’t explain why Iron is looking a bit ashamed for flirting with her.” Applejack was a bit concerned since Iron did admit to flirting with another mare and he’s done it with her and Rarity with such proficiency it’d make lesser ponies bolt in embarrassment. Okay that’s not fair, his absolute lack of a filter or restraint is the real reason since he’s normally never afraid to speak his interest. Heck he’s actually turned ponies down for one reason or another.

Natah snorted again as Suda looked at him with betrayal, like she was just stabbed in the back. “I promise Applejack it’s more hilarious than bad. You may not know this but my sister flirts with everyone she likes. Sometimes she flirts with people just to make them blush. And if she really likes you, she’ll just tease you.” The mares present look at Suda with surprise as the unicorn readjusts herself, arms crossed under her bust as she looks as composed as a noble. “So the fact she was flirted back with is both refreshing and funny.”

“Why would that be funny?” The lavender unicorn piped up, Twilight’s general curiosity of social cues getting the best of her as she tried to figure out why the act of flirting is so significant. “That sounds normal.” Normally she’s right, when it involves couples.

“Twilight, summer child, my sister will flirt with anyone just to mess with them.” Rainbow shot a knowing smirk to Rarity as the mentioned mare hid her face. She does mess with Spike but flirting is an issue. Now other stallions, that’s not an issue as she normally uses that tactic for her own gains. “She’s never been flirted with, which is making me wonder if Iron was just being Iron or if he said something direct, as usual, and she took that as flirting.”

“Hmph. Not like that stallion is my type if he can’t decide on his head wife.” Natah smirked as the reason came out like a light from a cave. “I still do not understand why stallions need a big herd for status or bragging rights in the first place. Are the six of you really complacent with that?” The mares all looked stunned before the whole table burst into laughter, catching the mare off guard as Rainbow and AJ had their faces to the table, Rarity and Twilight were trying to calm each other, even Fluttershy laughed from childlike joy before falling out of her chair and still found humor enough to laugh at the confusion. “What the cussin-what did I say?”

Rarity, after managing to compose herself enough to speak, managed to say, “d-darling, he’s not dating all of us, just Applejack and me.” This statement would have held her point if Rarity didn’t put a hand up. “Iron has turned down ponies before, I went on a few dates with him, found I liked his frank style of speaking and started falling for him. We had wine for one date, with me dropping some conspicuous hints, he took me home, got my permission and proceeded to stress test my bed.”

Applejack chimed in right after saying, “same with me. I was smitten, got a little miffed, spoke my mind, got cratered in the orchard and loved every hour of it.” Applejack, remembering something, looked at Rarity. “He did the same for you?” Rarity nodded, getting that same moonlight date. She lost a nightie to his ravenous means of love making but that was worth it. “So don’t worry yourself about him, sugarcube. Iron may not be the most subtle or gentle of stallions but he ain’t a brute.” Iron’s face turned up with a bit of hope as the mares held one of his hands, making him smile with a blush.

“So… no head mare?” Suda’s question was given a head shake. With just AJ and Rarity, a head mare would be redundant at the moment. Suda, in her efforts to avoid herding like the princesses, is a little behind on how the custom has changed, if at all. She knows it was put in place to curb the declining population numbers, but some discoveries could help the Equine population rise again, if successful.

“Darling, when he gets a third mare, or more, then we’ll talk. Until then, it’s just me and AJ.” Suda didn’t detect any sadness or joy from the way the fashion mare talked, as if she were just stating a simple fact. Even more, the two have known each other for a while, so they often bounce off each other rather well despite their different fields of work. Iron smiled hearing those words, a sense of relief washing over him as the two weren’t pressuring him into forming a herd so soon.

Suda was rather confused by this information as most stallions can’t wait to get a size-able herd while this stallion seems content with what he has. “Wouldn’t a herd be beneficial, though?” The unicorn’s apparent confusion had her brother chuckling before she gave the alicorn a glare out of embarrassment.

“Sis, he’s just being him, spending time with his friends and lovers as much as he can. It’s not like they can cuddle in bed all day.” The mares smiled as Natah defended Iron while Fluttershy had a pointed smirk on her face aimed at Natah. Yeah, he’s not getting away with that comment, and he realized this too late before blushing himself.

Suda, getting her groove back seeing this, smirked at her brother’s expense. “I don’t know. It seems you got benefits and problems of your own, little bro.” The shorter sibling then adopted the same glare with a smirk as some form of war just started between them.

“Could you two take your prank war somewhere else?” The white terran interjected, separating the siblings before sitting them down. “We get enough from Pinkie and Rainbow.” Said pink mare discreetly put a rubber chicken away while just looking innocent. The siblings, looking at each other, couldn’t help but laugh at their own foolishness. This let the meal time pass by without another issue before Suda looked at the time.

She made sure the time was accurate before sighing. “Ugh, I have to go back.” She got up from the table and stretched before looking at the table of friends. “It was good seeing everyone here. And Rainbow, Fluttershy?” The mares looked at the unicorn curiously before she gave them a wink. “Make sure to wear your best faces when you fuck my bro, yeah?” The space around her folded as the mares and alicorn blanched from her brazen comment.

“At least she likes teasing you as well.” Iron’s comment earned him a glare from Natah but the alicorn said nothing beyond his blush, a smirk coming to his face as that did mean a good thing in many ways. “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to head back to the shop.” Natah asked what he’s got cooking this time, to which Iron only said he was on the verge of a potential breakthrough. He kissed Rarity and AJ, telling them he’ll wear something nice for their date and reminded Natah to fly with Scootaloo often so he can help her adjust. The alicorn nodded and Iron left for the shop.

While the ponies were enjoying their day, an army was moving deep within the borders of the Everfree Forest toward the small town. The footsteps were kept as light as possible while an evil glow of eyes looked onto the town with dark intentions. “Soon…”