“Good mornin’ to the both of yah.” Ginger was alone at the family table, a half-eaten plate of stewed apples and oats resting before him. The sounds of Leafy preparing breakfast echoed from the kitchen, a mix of clinking and her cherry humming.

“Good morning Goldy, and good morning to you as well Leafy.” Cadence’s lively voice and appearance were a stark contrast next to the bleary Shining. One of his hooves was attached to an eye, constantly rubbing the sleepiness away.

“Seat yourselves, I’ll be out with food in a moment,” Leafy called from the kitchen. Shining was already half-asleep on the table by the time Leafy bought two more plates of oats and apples out, Cadence resorting to tickling to wake him.

Taking her own seat next to Ginger, Leafy pecked at her husband’s bowl as she spoke. “It seems Shining isn’t much of a morning person.”

Taking a glance at Shining hunched over his bowl beside her, Cadence giggled. “Mmmhmmm, but he’ll get over it in an hour or so.” Her comment was met with a tired stare from Shining, his eyelids barely halfway open. The expression elicited another giggle from Cadence, her hoof ruffling his mane gently.

The sound of hooves on the floorboards above signaled the descent of Applejack, the filly rushing to climb onto her father’s back. “Papa,” Applejack exclaimed, stealing the hat from Ginger’s head and putting it on her own. Chuckling, Ginger twisted his body to grasp Applejack between his hooves before lifting her above his head. A wingless pegasus she flew through the air, giggling the whole time.

Silently, Leafy rose and stole back into the kitchen, the sounds of her cooking resuming. Another pair of hooves descended the stairs as father and daughter played, Mac seating himself at the table’s foot, as far away from the others as he could.

Cadence resisted the urge to instantly question him, instead keeping her eyes on the joyful pair before her. Applejack’s jaw never closed, always hanging wide open in awe as she zoomed over the tabletop.

Eventually Ginger’s arms slowed their movement and Applejack’s flight came to an end, her body still vibrating with laughter. “Ah gotta be going now sugarcube,” He said as he took his hat back from Applejack’s head before standing and walking towards the door. “Ah’ll see ya’ll later.” A kiss from Leafy was the final farewell before the door closed behind him, the room falling silent.

Taking her chance, Cadence turned to face Mac, the stallion’s eyes buried in his bowl. Just ease into the question slowly, make him feel comfortable. “Are you feeling good this morning Mac?”

Big Mac’s eyes rose slowly to meet Cadence’s. “Eyup.”

“I was wondering if you wanted to do something different today?” Mac shrank away from Cadence’s words, eyes flicking around the room, looking for somewhere else to rest. You’re losing him, come on, think of something “Would you like to meet a mare in town?” Cadence finally blurted.

Green eyes froze at the mention of mare, Mac’s breathing growing noticeably louder. Silence retook its hold on the room, the only sound Shining’s sloppy eating. Big Mac’s confirmation came slow, the single word drawn out, a wavering note in the air. “Eyup.”

“Great, will you be ready to leave in an hour?”

“Eyup.”

A sigh escaped Cadence’s lungs, the tension in her stomach fading away. Her eyes widened as she spooned breakfast into her mouth. Excitement tickled the ends of her nerves, every limb feeling as if it were on fire, the beating of her heart a drum sounding throughout her body. Apple and oats has never tasted so sweet.

“Now you three have fun,” Leafy cooed, farewelling the three with the wave of her hoof as they walked out into the mid-morning sun. Big Mac had been surprisingly eager to get going, his normal slow and steady self replaced by a jumpy and excited stallion. Shining had been the one to slow them down, his joints still sticky with the glue that was sleep, mouth used more for yawning than speaking.

“We will Leafy, see you later,” Cadence called over her shoulder, a smile splitting her lips, revealing the white teeth underneath. The sun’s warmth was magic against her coat, standing her fur on end, sending nervous shivers down her limbs.

Mac drifted further and further back as they walked, until he was so far behind Cadence could no longer hear his hoofsteps. “You don’t want to get left behind Mac!” The call jolted Mac’s body, his pace picking up instantly, a sheepish smile on his lips.

“Sorry,” Mac mumbled.

Unable to help herself, Cadence giggled at the word, Yes, I’m making progress. Looking to the side she found a questioning stare from Shining.

“Why are you giggling?”

“No reason whatsoever,” Cadence replied before continuing down the road, a cherry humming emanating from her body. Shaking his head, Shining followed the cherry princess, Mac a few steps behind.

Ponyville creeping over the horizon flicked a switch of realisation in Cadence’s head, We still have a while before noon. “Is there anything you want to do in Ponyville Mac?” She questioned, Please don’t ask any questions.

“Ah thought.” Two words were all Big Mac managed.

You thought? Oh. “I know you thought we were going to meet a mare,” Cadence spoke quickly. “And we still are. It’s just we arranged to meet her at noon, and we’ve still got a while to wait before then. So is there anywhere you’d like to go while we wait?” Please don’t freak out like yesterday.

Mac’s whole body paused, his gaze frozen on the town in the distance, the only sign he was still alive the movement of his breathing.

“What about Sugarcube Corner?” Shining suggested with a sly smile.

Eager to have the weight of decision off his shoulders, Mac nodded quickly. “Eyup.”

Sighing, Cadence flashed Shining an irritated look before returning her focus to Mac with a smile. “Let’s go then.”

Shining was the one trailing the group as they continued, his mind populated with fantasies of chocolate cake, gooey caramel and sweet cupcakes, mouth hanging open in anticipation.

Opening the sweet store’s door to the ring of a bell they found the same lanky, yellow stallion waiting for them, filling the glass display cabinet with treats. “Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, would you like anything to eat?”

I’ve got to make Mac feel comfortable. “Why don’t you choose first Mac?” Cadence suggested with a nudge.

The red stallion’s eyes filled with color as he stared at the plethora of sweets before him, mouth opening as if he was going to answer before snapping shut. The moment stretched longer and longer, Mac’s brow growing dark with sweat, his legs shaking.

“Maybe you’d like some time to think about it?” The yellow stallion suggested.

Maybe if I save the moment, Cadence will let me have a little extra? Stepping forward, Shining pointed towards the cabinet. “I’ll have a raspberry brownie, a banoffee pie, a-”

“Just one Shining,” Cadence cut in with a chuckle, I’ll need to thank you later for that. “I would like the orange cupcake.”

The yellow stallion placed the first of Shining’s choices and Cadence’s on a tray before shifting his gaze to Mac. “Have you decided yet?” Mac’s hoof lifted, pointing towards the display cabinet. “So you want a raspberry brownie as well?”

“Eyup.”

“Is that eat here or to go?”

Cadence chose a window table, the passing of ponies outside visible through the glass. Shining’s brownie was gone the moment it left the tray, while Cadence picked at hers absentmindedly, her mind consumed by thought.

His treat already gone, Shining watched Mac as he ate, the spectacle causing him to chuckle. The red stallion’s pupils dilated as he took his first bite, the rest of the brownie soon following

“Have you ever had chocolate before Mac?” Shining questioned, a thoughtful smile on his muzzle.

“Nope.” Mac’s voice was a few octaves higher than his normal drone, the hints of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

The almost cherry response evoked a giggle from Shining. “Cadence can I buy Mac another brownie?”

Still looking out the window, Cadence shook her head. “No, I wouldn’t want him getting full before his lunch with Rose.” Her jaw dropped, eyes widening. “Rose?” She stood in an instant, leaving the bakery at a speed that would put the Wonderbolts to shame.

Confused, Shining followed Cadence’s path through the window. I can’t believe it. A cream colored mare was standing outside the window as well, her movement halted by Cadence’s calls. The sight of Cadence spread a smile across Rose’s muzzle, the rose petals that were her mane dancing as she nodded at Cadence’s explanation.

“Rose, this is Mac. Mac, Rose.” Cadence’s hoof pointed from pony to pony as she introduced them across the table. Rose’s smile had lessened in size, the color of her cheeks matching her mane. Mac looked exuberant, though if it was from meeting Rose or the raspberry brownie Shining couldn’t tell.

Rose and Big Mac held a look for a few moments, sharing a smile without words. The silence chipped away at Cadence’s confidence, Come on, one of you say something. Another moment passed, Cadence patience finally snapping “Why don’t you talk about something?”

The suggestion fell on deaf ears, Mac and Rose continued to stare at each other, taking in the features of the pony opposite to them. “Maybe we should just leave them alone for a while?” Shining whispered, his eyes focused on the sweet cabinet, mind already sampling each flavour.

“I suppose we could go for a short walk.” Standing, Cadence readjusted her saddlebags before walking straight outside, leaving Shining to look forlornly at the rows of treats. Stepping out into the streets, Shining spotted Cadence standing underneath a small oak opposite Sugarcube Corner.

“What are you doing over there?” Shining called as he dodged between ponies to meet her.

She was twisting and turning her head, squinting like an old blind stallion trying to recognize another pony. Following Cadence’s gaze, Shining found himself staring at one of Sugarcube Corner’s glazed pink windows, the silhouettes of two ponies behind it.

Shaking his head, Shining draped a foreleg over Cadence’s withers, turning her away from the peeping hole. “I thought you said we were going for a walk.” He felt her body lift and fall underneath him, a sigh escaping her lips.

“I know I shouldn’t be doing this,” She admitted, stealing one final glance back at the window. “I just want to make sure everything’s going perfect for them. What if Mac really can’t say anything but eyup and nope?”

“They’ll be fine.” Shining drew small circles on Cadence’s neck with his hoof. “Now let’s go for a short walk around Ponyville, I want to see if there are any other sweet shops around here.”

The joke brought a smile to Cadence’s lips, her eyes meeting his. “Fine.”

They spent the time following Shining’s nose from restaurant, to cafe, back to the food market, Cadence absentmindedly denying each of Shining’s requests to purchase something. Her mind was still occupied by Mac and Rose, terrible fantasies of how everything could go wrong flooding her thoughts.

When Shining’s hungry stomach eventually led them back to Sugarcube Corner for the third time Cadence couldn’t resist any longer. “Can we check on them now?”

Shining’s mouth opened to deny her request, his jaw shutting as his eyes meet her begging expression. Why does she have to be so adorable? He nodded, “But only if you promise not to interrupt them.” Cadence was bounding away by the time he spoke. She didn’t even hear me did she?

Cadence’s stomach was bubbling with nerves as she pushed open the swinging door, keeping her gaze straight ahead, not daring to look at the table where Rose and Mac sat. Please be having a good time, please be having a good time.

The door clicked as it opened and shut behind her. “Uh Cadence, they’re gone,” Shining said.

Turning her head to confirm for herself, Cadence found the table empty, the lanky yellow stallion clearing plates from it. “Excuse me?” She questioned, raising her voice to reach the stallion. “Do you know where the couple who sat at this table went?”

Swinging his gaze towards the voice, the yellow stallion spotted Cadence striding toward him. “I can’t say I do sorry, maybe if you told me what they looked like?”

“One was-” Stopping Cadence’s words with his hoof, Shining smiled apologetically at the stallion.

“Don’t worry about it, I’m sure we’ll find them later.” The lanky stallion nodded before zooming away, Shining waiting till the sound of his skates faded behind him before unblocking Cadence’s mouth. “Are you sure we even need to find them?”

“Of course, they could be having a bad time.” Panting, Cadence raced for the door, leaving Shining to follow. Back outside, Cadence scanned the streets for any sign of Rose and Mac, her searching fruitless. Shining stood beside her, watching the bustle of ponies as they passed without paying attention, his mind recalling the previous day.

“Are you sure you want to interrupt then?” He questioned, Please say no Cadence, you’re acting crazy. To his disappointment Cadence nodded frantically. Sighing, Shining pointed down the street. “Maybe they went to the garden we were in yesterday? Rose said she went there all the time.”

Cadence’s eyes brightened at Shining’s words, her forelegs wrapping around his neck as she nuzzled him. “How could I forget that, of course that’s where they are.” Releasing her grip on Shining, Cadence tried to bound away, only to find her tail tugging her backwards. Looking backwards, she found Shining holding the multicolored length of hair like a leash.

“Why don’t we just leave them to themselves?”

Cadence’s lips twitched with protest before a sigh pushed through, her neck drooping. “I know I seem a little obsessed, I just want to make sure they end up as happy as we are.” She accepted Shining’s waiting hug, rubbing her muzzle against his shoulder. She stayed pressed against him for some time, breathing in his smell, enjoying the stroking of his hoof down her mane.

“They’re grown ponies like us Cadence,” Shining said eventually. “You can’t babysit them like Twilight, and you can’t expect their date to turn out perfectly, some ponies just aren’t meant to be together.”

Cadence lifted her eye to meet Shining’s, a proud smile on her lips. “Do you want to get some chocolate?”

They decided on a hollow duckling sculpted from it. The window table where they had sat previously was occupied, so Shining picked out a secluded corner where they could lie out of view.

“So what are we going to do for the rest of today?” Cadence queried as Shining lowered a splinter of chocolate into her mouth. The pair lay so close they were almost one, feeding each other with morsels of the chocolate animal.

“I was thinking we could just stay here and eat until Rose and Mac return.” Shining’s breath brushed across Cadence’s snout as he spoke, the rich smell sending chills down her spine.

Rolling her eyes, Cadence chuckled as she fed him another shard of chocolate. “I was thinking of something more like,” Cadence snapped her mouth shut before the thought could escape, a heat rushing through her body. What am I thinking, we couldn’t do that here.

“Something like what?” Shining questioned, Why does she look so uncomfortable?

Cadence scrunched her eyes, trying to push the fantasy from her mind, the blush from her cheeks. “Forget about it, it’s a silly idea anyway.” Another shiver rolled through Cadence’s body as Shining nipped her ear, the intimate touch fueling the burning on her face.

“Tell me,” Shining begged with a breath, his soft nuzzles against Cadence’s neck threatening to go further.

“Okay, fine, I’ll tell you.” Feeling her body twitch in reaction to Shining’s tickling touch, Cadence eased his muzzle away, looking deep into his eyes. “Just promise you won’t think I’m crazy.”

Adopting a serious expression, Shining nodded. “I promise.”

Taking deep breaths, Cadence flicked her gaze around the bakery, to be sure no one was in earshot. “I was thinking we should, uh, become one, right here at this table.”

Shining felt a pulse of blood rush to his groin, his length twitch with the warmth of arousal. “That seems like a crazy idea,” Shining admitted, instinctively casting a glance around as well. “But sometimes crazy ideas are fun.”

Like a goldfish, Cadence’s mouth opened and shut, her mind a mix of shock and excitement. Finally she decided, her lips forming a sultry smile. “Do really want to do this? What if we get caught?”

Shifting backwards, Shining felt his hardness growing underneath, his shaft wedged between belly and cushion. “Isn’t that half the fun?”

Shifting her body, Cadence rolled onto her side, pushing her back into Shining. Following Cadence’s movements, Shining moved his body in line with hers, back hard up against the wall behind him. His shaft rested against Cadence’s rear, twitching with anticipation every now and then.

“Do you want me to start?” Both scanning the bakery to make sure no one had noticed, Shining asked the question in a whisper.

Cadence gave the surrounding tables one last glance before nodding, “Go slowly, you know how loud I can get.”

Shuffling his body down Cadence’s, Shining felt his hot muscle twitch in reaction to the rubbing sensation, each movement causing him to gasp. Finally Shining pulled clear, his length hanging free behind Cadence’s rear, begging to be used. “Has anyone noticed?”

“No,” Cadence whispered over her shoulder, body tense, bottom lip tucked underneath teeth, waiting for Shining to move.

Shining bent his lower body, shifting his hips towards Cadence, angling his tip for a perfect entrance until he could feel her heat against his own. One final thrust followed by a muffled grunt and he was inside, Cadence tightening around him.

Moving slowly, inch by inch, with Cadence keeping watch, Shining filled her with his length, both of them barely suppressing their urges to moan and groan. Eventually Shining’s snout was in line with Cadence’s neck, the cramped corner table not allowing him enough room to enter any further and even less to move.

Unable to do anything else Shining and Cadence lay together as one, each breath of the other pony sending sparks of pleasure through their bodies. “This is di-different,” Cadence said, a twitch from Shining’s length causing her to gasp. “I wonder if anyone knows what we’re doing?”

From his awkward position, head pressed against Cadence’s neck, Shining could see a little more than two tables, both filled with with colorful groups of ponies. “I don’t know, I can barely see.”

“I wonder if anyone will notice this then.” Cadence clenched her inner muscles, tightening around the length of hot muscle inside, causing Shining to gasp. The breath was drowned out in the noisy chatter that filled the room, the wall of sound giving Shining and Cadence all the privacy they needed.

Cadence’s teasing jab of sensation sent the muscles in Shining’s groin into a spasm. Their want for more squeezing sent twitches down his shaft, swirling it inside her like a stick in a cauldron. The movement filled Cadence’s insides with pleasure as well, her body tensing against Shining again for hope of more.

The one squeeze from Cadence had set a snowball in motion, Shining’s shaft moving in reaction to Cadence’s clenching, her body tightening around him as a result of his movement. On and on it went, Shining’s twitching growing more violent, Cadence’s insides clenching tighter and tighter.

As the pleasure grew so did their struggle to keep quiet, Shining jamming a hoof between his teeth to muffle his grunts and gasps, Cadence biting her lip to control her moans. The overbearing noise in the room and the dimness of their corner table kept Shining and Cadence hidden, passing ponies not even sparing them a glance.

On and on the pleasure rolled, building to a point where it overcame Cadence’s will to resist it. Gasps escaping her mouth as she squeezed against Shining, moving her hips up and down.

Mind blank with pleasure, Shining’s hips thrusted into Cadence without thought, his hooves running along her body, snout inhaling her scent.

“Can I sit here?” The voice sent a shock through both Shining and Cadence, quenching their burning desire with fear. Cadence fluttered open her eyelids she couldn’t recall closing to find a colt standing before them, slice of cake in hoof. “Sorry if I’m bothering you, there’s just no where else to sit.”

Gasping, Cadence managed a nod, shock stealing her ability to speak. The colt shuffled onto the seat across from them, want for cake reflected in his yellow eyes. Breathing slowly to recover, she eyed the blue colt with a smile as he ate, the point of his dark blue fringe trailing in the cake’s chocolate brown icing. “What’s your name?”

Looking up at Cadence’s question, the colt looked almost surprised to see the two of them still there. “I’m Noteworthy, not that there’s anything noteworthy about me though.”

“I’m sure there’s something special about you, what do you like doing?” Cadence focused on her breathing as she spoke, Please stop twitching Shining, this is embarrassing enough.

“I don’t like doing anything,” Noteworthy mumbled through an angry mouthful of cake. Meeting Cadence’s eyes, he found an unbelieving smile on her face, beckoning him to explain further. “Well, I do want to do one thing, but no one will ever let me try it. They say if I can’t do math or play ball I’ll never be able to play an instrument.”

“Why don’t you-” Cadence gasped at a sudden twitch from Shining’s shaft inside her. “Why don’t you go buy an instrument?” With her blue glow, Cadence reached into the saddlebags beside the table and pulled out one of the golden bits. “Will this be enough?”

Noteworthy’s yellow eyes glinted gold as he saw the coin, his jaw dropping half a mouthful of cake onto the table. “I, I couldn’t take that, that’s more than enough to buy one hundred instruments.”

“What about this then?” Cadence replaced the golden disc with a silver one. “Is this enough for one?”

Chocolate cake icing flicked from Noteworthy’s hair onto Cadence’s face as he nodded, taking the bit from midair between his teeth. “Thank you so much for this miss?”

“Cadence.”

“Miss Cadence, I’ll never forget this.” Noteworthy rushed from the table, smile spreading his lips, his cake still left behind.

“Well that was close,” Shining mumbled into Cadence’s neck, nuzzling against her at the same time.

“Mmmm,” Cadence murmured, I can’t tell if I’m glad for the colt or just relieved he’s gone. Her face chose the former, a wide grin showing her teeth. “I think we should get out of this position before anyone else decides to sit with us.”

Cadence felt Shining shuffling down her body, a breath drawn from her lips as he drew his shaft from her. “There’s still one problem we need to deal with.” Cadence felt it as Shining spoke, his hot, slippery length falling against her rear as he pulled it out completely.

“I know, we still haven’t finished our chocolate.”

Half a hundred splinters of chocolate later, Shining’s member had retreated to its resting place, hidden away from the world. The chocolate duckling was a few brown crumbs left on the table, most of it melted in Shining’s stomach.

His craving for chocolate finally content, Shining found his mind drifting to things outside of food and Cadence, I wonder what Rose and Mac are doing? “Do you think we should try find Rose and Mac? They’ve been gone for a while now.”

Cadence gasped, a jolt of shock running through her body. “I completely forgot about them,” Cadence said as she stood, fearful fantasies clouding her mind. “What if something terrible happened to them, what if they didn’t like each other, what if-”

Blue magic clamped Cadence’s lips shut, Shining chuckling as he climbed to his hooves. “I’m sure they’re fine. If you really want to we can go check the garden Rose loves.” Cadence lifted a hoof to her lips, pointing at the glow surrounding them. “Oh, sorry.”

“I think that’d make me feel better.” Cadence spoke as she strolled through the crowded bakery, dodging ponies carrying treats every few steps.

The high noon sun greeted them as they stepped outside, no clouds in the sky to shelter them from its burning heat. Ponyville’s maze of streets was growing more familiar to Shining and Cadence with every loop they took of it, the pair recognising buildings here and landmarks there. Eventually they stumbled upon the expansive gardens they were looking for.

Wooden willow limbs tickled Shining and Cadence’s backs as they stepped from dirt onto grass, the bench they had met Rose yesterday waiting for them. Flowers were laid across the wood, yellow and gold and pink, a rainbow of petals scattered on the grass underneath.

“It looks like they’ve been here,” Shining pointed out. He took a bud of purple lavender from the seat and sniffed it, the strong scent making him sneeze. “Why don’t we leave them alone, it looks like they were having fun.”

Shaking her head, Cadence stepped further into the garden. “I need to see them for myself. Come on Shining, I’m sure they’ll be in Rose’s special place.” The untamed streets of nature proved harder to navigate than it had seemed yesterday with Rose leading them, every flower looking the same to Shining and Cadence’s untrained eyes.

After wandering blindly for some time the whisper of a familiar voice finally reached their ears, so soft it could be mistaken for birdsong. “This one’s a daisy.”

“Did you hear that?” Cadence questioned, flicking her ear round in attempt to capture the sound again. A white muzzle bobbed slowly as Shining nodded, barely breathing as he copied Cadence’s stance.

“And this one is a Rose, like me.” The wind carried the voice to them again, Big Mac’s unmistakable murmuring of approval following it.

Wordlessly, Cadence nodded in the direction the sound had come from before slowly stalking through the grass toward it. Shining followed her tail, the pair stopping whenever Rose spoke to correct their course.

Eventually the dead end hedge was before them, rustling of grass and Rose’s voice clearly audible behind it. Cadence reach her hoof towards the wall of leaves, meaning to push through but something was holding her back.

Turning around she found Shining holding her tail in his magic, his hoof held up. Stop, he mouthed, beckoning Cadence away from the hedge. “Don’t you think we should just give them a little more alone time, it sounds like they’re enjoying themselves?” Shining whispered as they stepped away

Eyes widening, Cadence suppressed her urge to yell. Instead she took a deep breath and whispered back. “We came all the way here and you won’t even allow me to check on them?” She turned away with a muffled grunt, stepping back towards the hedge.

Shining’s hooves on her shoulder halted Cadence’s progress. Walking in front of her, Shining pressed his snout against hers, looking deep into her purple eyes. “Cadence,” He breathed. “Just stop and think about this, we already know they’re doing fine. Don’t you think it would ruin their time if you just barged in like that colt did before?”

Cadence’s shoulders slumped as she sighed, her whole mood deflating. “I know, you’re right, I just wanted to make sure.” A smile found her lips. “I know, I’m a little obsessed, but, what if something goes wrong?”

“Then it goes wrong.” Shining wrapped his foreleg over Cadence’s neck, pulling her into a tight hug. “You don’t have to worry about every little thing that happens, sometimes it isn’t your fault.”

“You’re right, I guess we’ll ask Mac about it when he comes home.” Cadence’s soft smile twisted into a sly grin, her eyelids lowering over sultry eyes. “And until then, I think we have some unfinished business.”

“I think we’ve found out it’s best to do that in a secluded spot where no one will interrupt us.” Shining chuckled before adopting Cadence’s expression. “A place like this garden.”

He chose a random direction and started walking, Cadence following him through the garden’s twists and turns until they were lost once again. “Is this good enough?” She motioned towards a gap between two lavender bushes, a small dim space hidden behind.

Purple buds brushed against them as they squeezed into a small room that lay beyond. Pacing around the room, Shining found a different variety of flower greeting his eyes on each side, Cadence waiting for him at the entrance with a smile.

A pink hoof brushed Shining’s fringe back, pink lips touched against his cheeks with a wordless whisper, each movement sending a warm rush through Shining’s body. Cadence pushed him to the grass, the want in her eyes a greater stimulation to him than any touch.

Back flat against the ground, Cadence holding him down with her weight, Shining shivered at every kiss along his neck, down his belly. The pinpricks of sensation all swam towards his groin, tugging at the length hidden between his legs, exciting it into the open.

Hot white skin pressed against Cadence’s muzzle as she collided with Shining’s shaft, the length responding to her breathy kiss. Shifting her body, Cadence climbed onto Shining’s belly, his member resting against her rear.

With her magic she directed the burning length, positioning the tip against her wet lips. Propping herself up on her hind legs, Cadence leant backwards, letting Shining’s shaft slip inside her until she was sitting on his groin, the twitching muscle inside.

His gasps and groans filled the dim space as Cadence tightened herself around him, the familiar length inside her a comforting feeling. Opening her wings partially, Cadence flapped softly while pushing upwards with her legs. The motion propelled her halfway up Shining’s length before her hips dropped back down, a pang of pleasure spreading through Cadence’s body.

The rough impact drove the muscles in Shining’s groin into a craze, their movement causing his member to throb, begging for more. Fulfilling his desire, Cadence drove herself upwards with another flap, this time so high only Shining’s tip was still inside, before falling back onto his hips, the painful impact chased with the roar of pleasure.

Up and down, Cadence rode her stallion, listening to his lustful groans and responding with whines and moans of her own. The garden around her was gone from Cadence’s mind, her worries about Rose and Mac, her thoughts of the journey Celestia had planned for them, Shining’s body dominated her mind, the pleasure drowning out all else.

Shining was in a similar state, his brain dead to the world, the nerves lining his shaft thinking for him, tugging his hips upwards to push into Cadence’s drops. His mouth hung open, drool leaking down his cheek, eyes rolled back into their sockets, whole body concentrated on Cadence’s movements, clenching around him, pulling him toward climax.

Together they danced along the highway of sensation, gasping and moaning as they climbed the ever steepening incline. The end came suddenly, an abrupt drop into a pool of fulfilment. Communicating with twitches and squeezes, they chose to leap, climax overcoming Shining and Cadence as they fell.

Shining’s groin and Cadence’s inside spasmed simultaneously, releasing their final burst of pleasure throughout their bodies. Pulsing, Shining emptied his essence inside Cadence, coating her tight, wet inner walls in hot seed.

Cadence’s lips tightened around the base of his shaft, relishing in the feeling of being filled. Each spurt of the warm liquid caused her to clench harder, squeezing out every last drop.

Panting, exhausted, she allowed herself to fall forward, her muzzle finding Shining’s neck, his softening member slipping out. The entrance unplugged, his seed spilled from Cadence’s lips, trailing down her rear and pooling on the grass.

“I think I needed that,” Cadence breathed into Shining’s coat, feeling the touch of his lips against her horn.

Bodies hot from the activity, the pair lay in the shade of the surrounding bushes, Cadence nuzzling Shining’s neck, Shining stroking her mane.

“These purple ones are lavenders.” The voice startled the resting couple, hoofsteps rustling the grass outside their private space. “Here, smell it,” The voice was unmistakably Rose, Big Mac’s deep murmurs of assent following it. “There’s another flower over here I want to show you.”

Cadence breathed a sigh of relief, Rose’s voice and the sound of shifting grass moving away, each step lowering their chance of being caught. “We should clean ourselves up and get out of here before they get back.”

“Just a give me a little longer,” Shining protested through a yawn, his eyelids drooping, breathing slowing. A prod in the cheek from Cadence’s hoof jolted him from the sleepy state, her blue glow pulling him to his hooves.

“You’re not going to sleep here, come on, get up.” Obedient to Cadence’s commands, Shining stood, stretching the post coital tiredness from his muscles, another yawn pushing between his lips. Stepping back out into the sunlight, they found no sign of Rose and Mac. “Now how do we get out of here?”

The singing of birds and buzzing of bees accompanied the pair as they stumbled through the garden, attempting to navigate the maze of trees and flowers. “How does Rose find her way in this crazy place,” Cadence exclaimed after they found themselves back at the lavender bushes for the third time.

“I just follow the smell,” Rose’s voice responded from behind.

Turning, Shining and Cadence found her strolling some distance behind them, a wide grin showing her teeth. Mac walked a few paces further back, his eyes lowered to the grass. “Have you been following us the whole time?” Cadence questioned.

“Only for one loop.” Rose burst into a fit of giggles, a soft rumbling that could have been a chuckle coming from behind her. Recovering from the laughter with a sigh, the grin shrank from Rose’s face, “I’m sorry we left without you back there.” Rose twisted her head back, eyes meeting with Mac’s. “We just wanted some time alone.”

Annoyance flared on Cadence’s face for the briefest of moments before fading into understanding. “I think I know what you mean,” She felt Shining’s leg sneaking over her withers, pulling her in close. “The best memories are made when its just the two of you, not surrounded by a crowd of ponies in a bakery.”

Cadence felt chuckling rolling through Shining’s body, the soft movement bringing a smile to her muzzle. I think we’ve learnt our own lesson from this. The smile grew into laughter, Rose and Mac’s eyes meeting as they waited for the chuckling couple to finish.

Their shared laughter dying out, Shining pulled his foreleg from Cadence’s shoulder, directing his eyes towards Mac and Rose, “So, how’d it go between the two of you?”

The pair shared an extended look, both faces holding a smile when they turned back to look at Shining and Cadence. “We’ve found a common interest to be sure, time will hopefully fill in the rest.” Rose reached her head up to nuzzle at Mac’s chin, like a cat rubbing itself against its owner’s hand.

“I guess we should leave the two of you alone then,” Cadence said, glancing at the surrounding garden. If only that were possible. “After you show us the way out of course.”

Rose navigated the twisting garden maze with ease, taking turns that seemed random to Shining and Cadence. The names of many different flowers filled the air as Rose listed them off, pointing each one out as they passed them.

The scent of white roses grasped Mac’s nose, the red stallion lingering behind the group until he disappeared the haze of green. “Shouldn’t we wait for him?” Cadence asked. What if he gets lost in there?

“Don’t worry about him,” Rose said, a grin on her lips as she gazed back. “He just needs to spend some time with the flowers, I’ll find him once I’ve led you out of here.”

The sounds and sights of Ponyville came upon them quickly after that, a soft whisper raising into the buzz of the marketplace, outlines of rooves growing into buildings. “I guess this is where we say goodbye.” Rose halted her movement, letting Cadence and Shining walk a few steps past her.

Turning back, Cadence felt herself smile, She looks so happy, like she has something to look forward to. “We’ll see you again tomorrow won’t we?”

“I,” Rose’s smile faltered, her neck swinging back to the garden behind. “Mac and I kinda had something planned for tomorrow.”

“We could accompany you.”

“Something alone, just the two of us.” Rose’s eyes met Cadence’s. “Like you said, the best moments are just the two of you.”

“You have fun then.” Cadence turned to walk away, but Shining tugged her back. “What?” She whispered.

Shining glanced at Cadence out of the corner of his eyes, his head shaking subtly. “We’re going to be leaving town in a few days Rose, I know we’d both like to say goodbye once more before we go.”

“Oh yes.” Cadence resisted the urge to hit herself. “We really would appreciate seeing you one last time.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, where are you going?” Rose questioned.

Instinctually, Cadence leant back to look at her saddlebags. “I don’t actually know, Celestia actually planned the whole trip and I haven’t read too far ahead yet.”

Rose’s jaw dropped and eyes popped out, “Celestia, as in Princess Celestia?” Cadence nodded, Rose’s green eyes widening even further. “You actually know her?”

“Yes,” Cadence fluffed her wings, extending them outwards. “I’m actually a princess myself, I thought you would’ve noticed?”

A chuckle shaking her body, Rose shook her head. “To tell the truth, I haven’t been looking at much besides your eyes, I didn’t even notice your horn till now.”

Cadence felt a warmth coming to her cheeks, chewing her lip as her eyes wandered. What am I supposed to say to that? “Well then, I guess we’ll see you later Rose, have a good afternoon with Mac.” The couple spun away after giving Rose one last wave, the streets of Ponyville a few steps away.

“Thank you,” Rose called after them before dropping her voice to a whisper. “Thank you so much.”

“Where are we going now?” Shining asked once they had rounded the corner, the bustle of the market greeting them.

Stopping just outside the crowd of stalls and ponies, Cadence eyed the seemingly never ending sea of color before her. “Someplace far away from all this chaos. I think I just need peace and quiet after all the stress of this morning.”

“Why didn’t we just stay at the garden then?”

“I have a feeling Rose and Mac need their space as well.”

They walked away from the market, Cadence leading Shining away from the noise until silence finally met them. A great tree stood in the centre of the open area they had stumbled upon. A door was carved above its roots, windows between the branches, it almost seemed like a home.

Cadence sat underneath the tree’s shadow, Shining joining her. The couple sat wordless for a while, the only sounds the singing of birds and the occasional passing hoofsteps of a pony. Eventually Cadence spoke, “I think we’re ready to leave this town.”

“What?” Shining straightened his neck, daydreams of chocolate mountains fading from his mind.

“I said I think we’re ready to leave, move on the the next place in our journey.”

“But we’ve only been here two days, there’s still so many things to do, so many sweets I haven’t tried at Sugarcube Corner.” Shining’s tongue lolled from his mouth, a drop of saliva forming on the tip.

Pushing Shining’s muzzle away, Cadence giggled. “I’m sure there’ll be plenty of sweets to eat at the next place we visit.” She paused while the laughter faded, her shoulders drooping and breathing slowing. “Celestia’s itinerary only said we should stay three nights,” She joked. “But that’s not why I think we should leave. This town feels complete. It feels like we’ve done what we were supposed to do, like we were baking a cake and now its out of the oven.”

“We still need to put the icing on top.” Shining pressed his lips into Cadence’s, lifting her eyes to meet his with the contact.

“Ah, young love, what a beautiful thing,” A voice said from above. The comment was like and explosion between Shining and Cadence’s lips, the snouts shooting apart, red circles forming on their cheeks.

Straining her neck to look upwards, Cadence found an elderly mare with a baby blue coat leaning over the balcony rail above. Her free hanging silvery grey mane swung in the breeze, dawn pink eyes reflecting the sun’s light. “Have you been listening to us the whole time?”

A chuckle rippled through the mare’s body. “These old ears don’t miss much, but don’t worry, no one has the patience to listen to my crazy rambling anymore.” With that said she turned around, disappearing back into the tree’s trunk.

I wonder what that was about, Cadence thought as she returned her eyes to Shining. “Now what was that about icing?” She leant into him, allowing her eyes to close as their lips met, pouring her emotion into the touch.

The door behind Shining slammed open, jolting him away from Cadence again. The old mare peeked her head out, a sly smile on her lips. “You don’t have to stop just for my sake you know.” She giggled at her own joke, a strained sound, as if she was having difficulty. “Now why don’t you two come inside.” The old mare disappeared back into the tree, door hanging open behind her.

“Do you think we should go in?” Shining whispered as they stood, his hooves taking a few steps away from the library. “We could just go somewhere else, she seems a little crazy.”

Cadence shook her head, skirting the tree’s roots to peek inside the library. “Don’t be rude Shining, she probably just wants someone to talk with,” She said.

Teeth gritted, Shining took another step away from the library, beckoning Cadence with his head. “Please, I don’t really feel like going into some spooky looking tree.”

“I’m sure there’ll be something to eat.”

Sighing, Shining slumped his shoulders before following Cadence inside.

The tree had been hollowed out, its first room walled in by bookshelves. I haven’t seen this many books since I last went to the Canterlot archives, Cadence thought, her eyes roaming the rainbow of colors that lined each wall. There must be thousands in here.

Looking around, Shining spotted no one, “Where is she?”

“I’m in the kitchen dear,” The old mare’s croaky voice called. “Why don’t you two come in and have some tea?”

Shining turned to the side and spotted a doorway, half of an oak table visible in the room beyond.

Stepping through, the pair found the old mare swaying slightly as she stirred spoons in teacups, her soft humming greeting their ears. “Have as seat, the tea will be ready soon.”

The kitchen table was surrounded by plump white pillows, their soft embrace accepting Shining and Cadence easily as they sat. Tasting the air with his snout, Shining’s nostrils crinkled with distaste. “What kind of tea is she brewing?” He whispered into Cadence’s ear.

“It’s lavender dear, my favourite brew.” The old mare turned from her stirring, three teacups nestled between her neck are foreleg. Cadence quickly took two of the cups in her blue glow, placing them before Shining and herself. “Thank you dear.” The mare dipped her head slightly.

Bringing the cup to his mouth, Shining sipped, his features wrinkling as the sharp scent caught on the back of his throat. The old mare chuckled, “Don’t like my tea?”

“No it’s, great.” Tilting his head back, Shining downed the whole cup before forcing a smile to his face. “I’ve never tasted better.”

“Would you like some more then?” The old mare climbed from her cushion and strolled back to the kitchen bench. “There’s plenty.” She took the porcelain jug and shook it, puffs of steam floating from its opening as the liquid inside swirled around.

“I think he’s fine,” Cadence cut in, earning her a nod of thanks from Shining. “I’d like to know why you invited us in.”

The old mare carried the jug to the table, refilling her half empty teacup. “Truth to be told I just wanted to talk. I’m an old mare who cares for a little used library, it gets lonely here sometimes.” She looked from Shining to Cadence, her soft smile deflating. “It makes me almost jealous seeing such young ponies so full of life, reminds me of when I was like you.”

“What was your life like back then?” Cadence questioned, causing Shining’s shoulders to slump slightly.

A smile returned to the old mare’s face as she eyed Shining, “I don’t want to bore your friend with the details, so I’ll just say it was like yours is now. A different town and different ponies yes, but the same feelings filled our souls and drove our lives.” She sighed, eyes looking past Shining and Cadence into the wall behind them, the smile on her lips widening. Eventually she shook her head, “Why don’t you two tell me of this journey you’re on?”

Cadence tightened her lips, cheeks bulging with tea as she resisted the urge to speak. Swallowing hard she finally said, “How do you know?”

“I heard you talking of leaving town, about how you’ve only been here a few days. Seems to me you’re on a journey.”

“I don’t think we’re on the journey yet, more like taking the first steps, readying ourselves for the true adventure.” Cadence nodded as she spoke. Yes, we’ve still got so much more to go.

“Well then I’ve got the perfect thing for the two of you, wait here.” The old mare climbed to her hooves and stepped back into the main room, the sound of her steps fading away. A groan of frustration and a rustle later her hoofsteps returned, slower. “This book is an old treasure of mine.”

She dumped the leather-bound tome onto the table, the wooden structure rocking underneath the weight of it.

The sight captured both ponies’ eyes, it stood two hooves high, border with silver and fastened with a clasp of similar metal. “I think this is a little too heavy to carry with us.” Shining said.

The old mare chuckled, shaking her head as she retook her seat. “Don’t worry, I’m not giving you the book, it’s the information inside it that I wish to bestow upon you two. This book is supposed to tell the future, but I cannot use it as it requires magic, and as you can see,” She tapped her forehead with a hoof. “I’m lacking that.”

Leaning over the book, Cadence coughed, the cloud of dust swimming above it catching in her lungs. “So what are we supposed to do with it?”

“There is an inscription on the back, I just need to turn it over.” The old mare leant over the table, wedging her hooves under the tome as she lifted it. She barely got one hoof under before she stopped, panting.

We’re going to be here for hours at rate, Shining thought as he lit his horn. “Let me help you.” His blue glow surrounded the book, its silver lining glowing the same color as he lifted it. The glow ran along the book’s frame until it reached the hinge and sunk into the keyhole, dispelling Shining’s magical grasp.

Shocked, Shining and Cadence leant away from the table, eyes glued to the book as its locked popped open. The leather cover slammed down against the table as if a gust had just blown it open, pages glowing with blue fluttering in magical wind. On and on pages flipped over, words and paintings flying by, all highlighted by a blue tint.

Eventually it stopped, the light dying, book stilling, left open. Peeking out from underneath the table, the old mare looked left and right. “My my my, that certainly was something.”

“What does it say?” Shining demanded, bending over the table to gain a better view. The sight he found brought a wrinkle to his brow. “What kind of writing is this?” His hoof traced the image embraced by strange symbols, an inked depiction of a pony eating an apple and a snake hanging from the branch overhead.

The old mare brushed Shining’s muzzle away, “I can’t read it if you’re leaning over it like that.” Once he’d retreated, she shuffled the book closer, bending her neck over the page. “It seems the text is written in Ancient Equestrian, just let me go get a book for translation.” She rose from her pillow and stepped into the main room, leaving Shining and Cadence alone once again.

“What do you think the picture means?” Shining twisted his head as he spoke, Hopefully it isn’t something terrible.

Cadence twisted her head also, straining to see the page upright. “I don’t know, I can barely tell what it is.”

“It is a pony eating an apple accompanied by a snake, the sign of poisoned temptation,” The old mare explained as she stepped back into the room, another, much thinner book tucked under her foreleg. Returning to her seat, she opened the smaller book on top of the larger. “Now let me see.”

Shining and Cadence waited, leaning across the table as the old mare picked each word from the small book, pages fluttering in a frenzy. Tension building in his stomach, Shining felt his heart racing. What does she mean poisoned temptation? That can’t have anything to do with us right?

“It seems your fortune is not a desirable one.” The old mare closed her book and lifted her gaze to meet Shining’s. “These symbols translate to a temptation so great you will lose everything you love for it.”

Turning his head, Shining met Cadence’s eyes, a ball of nerves stuck in his throat. “Don’t worry Shining, it’s just an old book, nothing will happen.” Cadence ruffled his mane with her hoof, the comforting touch easing his breathing.

“I hope.”

“I wouldn’t doubt the power of a magical tome like this if I were you,” The old mare pointed her hoof at Shining, the limb shaking. “Be very careful, and maybe if you watch your steps you’ll be able to avoid a horrible fate.”

Cadence stood abruptly, jerking Shining up with her. “I think we’ll be going now, thank you for the tea.” She dipped her head before strolling quickly from the room, Shining close behind. After the door slammed shut behind them, Shining released a sigh.

“You don’t think this is going to come true right?”

Lifting her eyes to the sky above, Cadence sighed herself. “I don’t know. Celestia always taught me to respect prophecies, but the ones she talked about were stained in glass, not hidden away in some dusty old book.” Forcing herself to smile, Cadence draped a foreleg over Shining’s withers. “Why don’t we go get something to cheer you up?”

Shining’s neck straightened, the corners of his mouth curving upwards. “Chocolate?”

“I’ll allow it this time.”