“Wake up Shining, we need to be leaving soon if we want to make it anywhere before sundown.”

Groaning, Shining rolled from his stomach onto his side before cracking open white eyelids, a view of Cadence’s smile greeting him. “Just give me a little longer.”

“You said that last time I woke you, now up.” A ringing filled the room, blue glow creeping around Shining till it covered him. Allowing herself a small smile, Cadence jerked her grasp upward, watching Shining as his eyes sprang open and hooves panicked, flailing in mid air.

“Alright, I’m up, I’m up. Now let me down.” Hooves once again touching the ground, Shining yawned, stretching the remainder of sleep from his body. “You really need to find a better way to wake me.”

Bringing a hoof to her chin, Cadence lifted her eyes in a thoughtful gaze. “I think you’re right Shining.” The stallion breathed a sigh of relief. “A bucket of water would be a much more appropriate way to wake you.” Chuckling, Cadence shook her head at her own joke before stepping towards the barn doors. “I want to see you inside soon, otherwise I’ll be back with the bucket.”

Blinking and yawning, Shining followed Cadence out into the bright sunlight, his pupils shrinking away from the harsh glare. Slowly he adjusted until he could open his eyes to the cloudless horizon before him. The smell of apple and cinnamon caught his nose, tugging on it and leading Shining inside.

An empty table waited for him as he stepped through the door, sounds of Cadence and Leafy coming from the kitchen. He peeked inside just far enough to meet Cadence’s stare. “Go sit at the table,” She shooed him with her hoof. “I’ll bring out breakfast soon.”

Resisting the urges of his nose and stomach, Shining slumped down beside the dining table, roaming the room with his eyes. They sure so have a lot of pictures. Framed images of a multitude of ponies covered the wall beside the front door. Coats colored shades of red and green and yellow, all standing in front of the house they hung inside.

Pink caught the corner of his eye, Cadence walking towards him with a steaming plate of pancakes suspended before her. Behind her walked Leafy, a mug held in her mouth. “I made these especially for the both of you,” Leafy said as she sat.

Looking at the pancakes Cadence had placed before him, Shining leant down and smelt the aroma, a sharp hint of cinnamon catching in his nose. Snapping his jaw shut, he turned to Cadence, “Do you want to have some first?”

Cadence giggled, eyes scrunching up as her head bobbed. “It’s good to see you showing some restraint.” She took one of the pancakes in her magical grasp before rolling it into a tube. “The rest is yours.”

On Cadence’s word Shining dove at the pile, like a rabid dog as he tore a chunk from the stack with his teeth, cheeks bulging as he chewed.

“It’s always a joy to see someone enjoying my food.” Leafy sat across the table, mug held between her hooves as she sipped from it.

“I just don’t know how he eats so much,” Cadence shook her head, her pancake barely nibbled at while Shining had already devoured a third of his stack. “It’s like something overcomes him and changes him into a different pony.”

Leafy chuckled, head tilting back and eyes looking up. “Goldy’s much the same, he’s just learnt to control it.” She blew over her mug before taking another sip. “That reminds me, you’re leaving today right?” Cadence nodded, a bite of pancake in her mouth. “Well then could you stop by the apple stall, I know he’ll want to say goodbye.”

A satisfied gasp caught Cadence and Leafy’s attention, their eyes finding Shining on his back, bulging stomach in the air. “I’ll make sure to remind Cadence,” He said before groaning. “And maybe next time, just a few less pancakes.”

Cadence giggled, poking at the white hill that had formed on Shining’s stomach, eliciting more groans from him. “Now that’s he’s topped up I think it’s a good time for us to go.” She stood, pulling Shining with her, his belly almost dragging along the ground as they strolled towards the door.

“I guess this is goodbye for me then.” Leafy pulled both ponies into a hug, leaning against them, forelegs wrapped over their withers. “Good luck with your journey, and when you get back maybe you can visit Ponyville again? Ginger and I would love to have you stay.” She loosened her grip on Shining and Cadence, dropping her hooves back to the floor as they turned to go. “Oh, one last thing. Thank you for taking Mac out yesterday, I can see by the way he walks he’s so much happier.”

Shining and Cadence turned to face each other, eyes locked together they shared a smile. “It wasn’t us who made him so happy, but I’m sure you’ll find out who it is soon, when he feels ready to tell you,” Cadence said, turning to step outside.

“Wait,” They turned to find Leafy with one hoof raised. “What do you mean by who?”

Cadence’s lips parted, her eyes glancing sideways to meet Shining’s before she nodded. “It wouldn’t be right if we told you Leafy, it’s best if you wait for him to.” She lifted her foreleg to wave. “We’ll see you again, someday.”

Their saddlebags waited for them outside the barn. Lifting the blue pair onto his shoulders Shining shrugged, his features twisting as he swung the bags from side to side. “These feel a little heavier than they were, did you put something in them?” His blue glow encased one of the flaps, neck straining as he look backwards.

“It’s just some food Leafy gave us for the journey,” She slammed the flap down on Shining’s snout, causing him to jump. “Now come on, I want to be at least out of town by the end of today.”

Shining’s bloated stomach slowed their progress, the fast pace Cadence originally set making him groan with each step. The bulge had eased by the time they reached Ponyville however, allowing Shining to straighten his neck from its slumped position.

The sight of Sugarcube Corner lifted Shining’s head another notch, his eyes widening and mouth opening slightly. “Can I buy one last thing?” He turned to Cadence, poking out his upper lip and tilting his head, like a dog begging for food.

Oh how can I resist a face as cute as that. “Fine, but only something small.” Cadence giggled as she watched Shining bound off towards the store, his mane sailing in the wind. She stepped slowly after him, giggling again, He doesn’t have any bits to pay with.

Clang! Cadence stopped, rubbing her sore hoof as she eyed the offender. A bent and dented bit of metal lay before her, one end opening out into a curved cone, the other a small hole. Curled pipe connected the two, a cylinder attached at the centre, the other two scatter around it. Why is there a trumpet out here?

Taking it in her magic, Cadence lifted it to the path’s side, leaving it underneath a small, single story home. Peeling blue paint showed the wood underneath, a smashed window giving her view inside. The walls were bare, cracked and peeling much like the outside, a young pony lay atop a stained mattress, his blue coated back to her and darker mane sticking out at strange angles.

Stepping closer to the window, Cadence poked her muzzle inside. “Noteworthy.” The colt shifted slightly, his ear twitching for a few moments before becoming still again. “Are you okay Noteworthy?”

Rolling over, Noteworthy’s eyes widened as he spotted Cadence peeking through the window. He stood, moving across the room to his open door, shaky blue hooves shifting a hingeless piece of wood to cover the opening.

“Don’t you even think of closing your door on me you brat!” The voice rang through the house, jolting Noteworthy, the door falling from his grasp. A bedraggled grey pony stepped through the once again open frame. “I told you to lie still until lunch!” A hoof flew through the air, knocking Noteworthy onto his back, his legs curling round him defensively.

“Uh miss, I don’t think you should be treating him like that.”

The mare swung her head towards Cadence’s voice, frizzy black mane falling over her eyes as she did so. “Celestia,” She grunted, brushing the hair away to reveal white eyes pinpricked with black pupils behind. “You’re that pink one who gave him the coin aren’t you?” Grey lips twisted as she spat, Cadence catching the glob of saliva with her magic before it hit her.

“I just wanted to help hi-”

“Help him?” The grey mare stomped toward the window, forcing Cadence to pull her snout out from the cracked glass. “You’re just taunting him, making him think he has a chance as some musical performer when all he’ll be good for is rock farming like his father.” The raging mare stormed back to the doorway, picking the panel of wood up before slamming it in front of the window, blocking Cadence’s view.

That can’t be real, that doesn’t happen in Equestria. Cadence scrunched her eyes closed, the wide-eyed mare’s face burned into her mind. I should go back and help him. A pink hoof rose to take a step, freezing in mid-air. No, if that’s what happens when I try to talk with him, how much worse will it be if I try to rescue him?

Shaking the image away, Cadence continued to walk towards the bakery. I hope he gets what he wants some day.

Inside Sugarcube Corner Shining was waiting in line behind a couple, his wide eyes glued to the glass cabinet, tongue lolling from his mouth. The sight brought a smile to Cadence’s face and she stepped forward to kiss his ear. “What would you like dear?” At least I can please one pony easily.

His eyes flicked from side to side, mouth closing as he swallowed the lake of saliva that had formed there. “Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, would you like anything to eat?” The yellow stallion behind the counter questioned Shining again before he could answer Cadence.

“Could I have a piece of that cake?” Shining pointed his hoof towards a chocolate-cream smothered cake, small swirls of solid chocolate decorating the outer edge.

“The chocolate-cream cake?” The stallion pulled a slice from the half-missing cake and held it above the counter for Shining to nod at. “Would that be have here or-”

“To go please,” Cadence cut in. We’ll never be out of town before noon at this rate.

The mid-morning sun greeted them as they stepped back outside, its hot embrace attacking Shining’s cake, causing a dollop of cream to slide off as they walked down the street. “Now all we have to do is say goodbye to Goldy at the market,” Cadence thought aloud. “And then find Rose, I’m sure she’ll be in the garden.”

They joined the slow stream of ponies heading towards the town centre, the bubbling conversation coming from the market growing louder with each step until the hit a sea of ponies.

“That’ll be two bits.” Ginger’s twang cut through drone of other ponies, allowing Cadence and Shining to find him easily. Blue eyes lit up as Ginger spied the pair, his hoof waving them over. “Ah guess this is the last time ah’ll be seeing you for a while.”

Shining took the outstretched orange hoof and held on for the ride, Ginger’s rough shaking rocking his whole body. “Ah know my wife will miss yah Shining,” Ginger chuckled. “She always loves watching ponies enjoy her cooking.” Red tainted the white of Shining’s cheeks, the taste of chocolate still strong in his mouth.

“And Cadence,” Ginger tipped his seston. “Ah must thank yah cheering Mac up yesterday. I know he won’t tell you, but he appreciates it.”

A smile spread across Cadence’s muzzle. “It wasn’t just me,” Her eyes flicked to the side. “I couldn’t have aided him as much as I did without Shining’s help.”

“Ah’m sure you couldn’t have, the two of you sure make a fine couple.” Shining and Cadence’s eyes met, their cheeks sharing a fiery blush. “Anyhow,” Ginger pointed towards a basket that rested on the stall’s edge. “This is for the two of you, just some food to hold you over on the journey.”

Shining peered into the basket, his eyes popping out at the crispy brown and gold pastries stuffed inside, their tantalising aroma tempting his nostrils. “Thank you very much,” Cadence said as she snatched the basket away with her magic. “And thank you for your hospitality Goldy, I hope we can see Leafy and you again.”

“Have a safe journey,” Ginger called after them as they strolled off, white and pink hooves waving back.

They dodged through the bustle of ponies as they left the market, Cadence walking straight into the rear of a purple coated mare as she looped the basket through her saddlebag straps. “Sorry.”

The mare turned to face them, a friendly smile on her lips. “Don’t worry about it, I’m sure you didn’t mean to.”

Finally free from the frenzy of ponies, Cadence allowed herself a sigh of relief. “Now all we have to do is say goodbye to Rose and we can leave.” They found the garden after only a few wrong turns, Rose standing at its entrance.

“Hey Shining, hey Cadence.” Rose waved them over, her teeth showing through a grin, a white lily resting over her ear.

“How did you know we were coming?” Cadence questioned. “Did Mac tell you?” Rose confirmed her suspicions with a nod. “Well make sure to tell him thank you, I was starting to worry we weren’t going to be able to say goodbye.”

“It seems you managed to after all.” Stepping forward, Rose wrapped her forelegs around Cadence in a hug, the pink mare returning Rose’s embrace after a moment of surprise. “Thank you for organising Mac for me,” Rose said over Cadence’s shoulder. “I’ll never forget you two.” Pulling away from Cadence embrace, Rose stepped toward Shining and planted a kiss on his snout. “Thank you too Shining, for convincing Cadence to give us some alone time.”

Shining rubbed the wet spot with his hoof, a tinge of pink forming on his cheeks. “You’re welcome, I guess.”

Stepping sideways, Cadence draped her foreleg over Shining’s shoulder. “Anyway, we need to be leaving soon, so I guess this is goodbye Rose. I hope you-”

“One last thing.” Rose held up her hoof, stopping the two ponies. “Mac!” She called into the garden, the red stallion appearing with two rings of flowers hanging from his neck. “We made these for you this morning.” Rose pulled the first one off with her teeth and stepped toward Shining.

Shining stood staring at the necklace Rose held as she strained her neck upward. Flowers of deep blue and rich pink twisted into a chain and connected. Oh, she wants me to. Lowering his neck, he felt the soft touch of petals brushing over his ears and resting against his neck.

“Looks perfect.” Rose nodded before stepping back over to Mac and grasping the other. Cadence’s was a tangle of pink and yellow and purple, the blending with her mane as Rose lowered the necklace over Cadence’s head before stepping back. “You two make quite a cute couple.”

“Thank you very much for this Rose.” Cadence lowered her muzzle, lifting the necklace into view with her hoof. “It’s lovely.” Lowering her snout a little further, Cadence breathed deep, inhaling the soft concoction of scents.

“I couldn’t have done it without Mac.” Twisting to the side, Rose nuzzled the stallion’s neck. “He helped pick the flowers and he made Shining’s chain. He even decided to put the pink flowers in to help brighten up Shining’s one.” Mac lowered his eyes and kicked the ground softly with his hoof.

I didn’t realise it had pink in it, Shining thought as he lifted the flowers around his neck into vision. “Uh, yeah, thanks for that Mac, it’s nice.” A jolt went through Shining’s body, his neck straightening and eyes widening like a colt caught making trouble. “I mean, it’s wonderful, I love it.”

“They sure are lovely, but we really need to go.” Cadence turned away from Mac and Rose before twisting her neck back round to see them. “Goodbye you two, I hope everything works out.”

Mac and Rose stood at the garden’s entrance waving as Shining and Cadence strolled away before disappearing back into the world of plants.

“You didn’t have to kick me,” Shining complained as they rounded a corner, wincing each time his back leg touched the ground.

Cadence shook her head, chuckling. “Oh don’t be such a big foal, it was only a soft touch because you weren’t being grateful.” She grasped his flowery necklace in her magic, lifting it for a better look. “Don’t you think it looks wonderful.”

“Maybe if it didn’t have pink in it. I mean yours matches your mane, so why not mine?”

“Because you’re mane’s boring.” Cadence swept Shining’s fringe aside with her hoof. “So I guess Mac decided to match your cutie mark.”

“But-”

Rolling her eyes, Cadence sighed. “If you really don’t like it you can take it off once we leave town.” The sentence silenced Shining, his shoulders slumping. Oh Shining, you’ve still got much to learn.

It was a long while before either of them spoke again, the edge of Ponyville in sight when Shining reopened his mouth. “Where are we heading to next?”

Cadence sighed with relief. Finally he talks, I guess he’s not angry after all. Magically unbuckling one of her saddlebags, she pulled the stack of paper from within. “Next Celestia has us heading for the Dragon Lands.”

Spluttering, Shining stopped in his tracks, coughing on the saliva caught in his throat. “Did you say Dragon Lands? As in the fire-breathing, meat-eating monsters?”

Halting to wait for Shining, Cadence flipped through page after page. “Celestia assures that they are a friendly nation, and that they won’t eat us.” Paper sounded against paper as she searched for the information. “Ah, here it is. She’s given us three months to get there.”

“Three months?” Shining’s head tilted sideways as he stared out onto the plains before them, a vast expanse of green grass and light forest stretching until the towering mountains beyond. “She surely can’t mean three months walking?”

“It sounds like she does.” Flipping through a few more pages, Cadence stopped and pull one from the stack. What’s this? Tucking the itinerary between her foreleg and chest she held the colored piece of paper before them in her blue glow. Names were dotted across the green and blue picture, numbers running along two of its sides. “I think this is a map.”

Watching Cadence turn the thick paper over and over, her face twisting with confusion, Shining eventually rolled his eyes. “You need to unfold it.” He took the map in his own magic, lowering it to the ground as he unfolded it, the small patch of green they first could see expanding into one a hundred times the size. “Like that.”

Bending her legs, Cadence sat on the path beside the sheet of paper, placing her hooves on the closest corners to protect it from the winds tugging grasp. Oh my, Celestia sure planned a lot. “It’s a map of Equestria and all the surrounding lands, and I think that red line is where we are supposed to go.”

Cadence hoof followed the trail, looping and swirling across the whole map, from corner to corner and back again. “There’s got to be a better way to do this than walking,” Shining mumbled, his jaw hanging open.

Standing, Cadence lifted the map magically, refolding each crease with care. “We have five years to do this, so why don’t we do as much as we can today?” She walked off, sliding the itinerary and map back into her saddlebags.

Shining groaned softly as he followed. My hooves already feel heavy.

The dirt trail continued until Ponyville was but a hooful on the horizon and even further, small bunches of trees walking with Shining and Cadence for a while before leaving. Holes lay in wait here and there, traps to the unwatching hooves of a pony. The sun rose to its peak and fell, its bright rays searing their eyes until it reached the mountains ahead.

“Don’t you think we should be finding somewhere to stop?” Shining questioned, scanning the surrounding plain with his eyes.

Chuckling as she heard the grumble of Shining’s stomach, Cadence ceased her walking. “I think you’re right, the only problem is there’s nowhere to take shelter.” She swept her hoof in a semicircle around them, eyes following its direction. “All I can see is grass and more grass, no trees or anything to camp underneath.”

“We can just sleep out in the open.” Shining took a few steps off the path before turning round and facing Cadence. “Anywhere round here will be fine for the tent.”

Gritting her teeth, Cadence glanced left and right, “Isn’t it a little exposed out here? I’d prefer somewhere with a bit of privacy.”

What would you want-” Shining’s words stopped, his mouth silently forming and O shape. “Why don’t we just use some invisibility magic to hide ourselves?”

Bringing her hoof to her face, Cadence kneaded her forehead as she shook her head. “Shining, neither of us know any invisibility spells, unless you picked something up in Ponyville.” Shining’s weak smile held the answer. I guess tonight we’ll have to go without.

Glancing up the trail, Shining found nothing but more of the same. What did I expect? An inn to suddenly appear? Turning his gaze back to Cadence he attempted his warmest smile, his features strained as the over exaggerated expression pulled at his cheeks. “I’m sure no one will see us out here, I doubt there’s even a pony within sight.”

Biting at her lip, Cadence glanced one last time up and down the path before joining Shining beside it. “I guess, but only if we walk a long way out.”

She truly meant a long way, the golden lining of sun on the mountains had faded to black by the time Cadence called for them to stop. They set up camp silently, Shining giving a real fire a second attempt with what little burnable material they had before resorting to the magical variant.

Cadence fiddled with the tent, absentmindedly playing with its expandable dimensions before eventually blurting, “Sorry for making you walk all the way out here.”

“It’s fine, a little more walking is good for us.”

Chuckling, Cadence stepped over to the fire before prodding Shining in the stomach, “Help you walk off all that fat,” She joked. Withdrawing her hoof, she shook her head. “No it’s not fine, we would’ve been fine by the path. I’m just a little paranoid after what we did in the cafe, almost being caught like that was frightening.”

Feeling a smile spread across his muzzle, Shining stepped forward, wrapping his forelegs around Cadence’s withers. “Making you feel comfortable is worth more than a little discomfort to me.” He leant his head down, pressing his snout against hers. “I’d walk for a whole day if you asked.”

Their lips met, a soft embrace, calming Cadences worries, sending a warm rush through Shining’s body. “Really?” Cadence asked, her eyes inches from Shining’s, wide and shimmering in the firelit.

How could I lie to that face? “No, I just thought it sounded romantic.”

Chuckling, Cadence tapped Shining on the snout, “Well it did, even if you were lying. Now why don’t we get something to eat?”

They settled beside each other, facing the ethereal fire. Cadence levitated the Apple’s gift basket and placed it on the grass before them, a pile of pies and pastries tempting Shining’s stomach. “Have no more than three,” She said. “I’d like this basket to at least last until tomorrow night.”

Nodding, Shining took his allowance, the three pies disappearing down his throat as if they were a glass of water.

Cadence chuckled at the display, “Someday you have to show me how you do that, we could join a circus as the Pie Eating Couple.” Her chuckles grew to giggles as she magically pulled a pie of her own from the basket, idly nibbling at the crust. Her stomach roared at the taste.

Laughing himself, Shining shook his head, “It sounds like a great idea, we could do a song with our stomachs before the act as well.” Another rumble from Cadence’s stomach sent another wave of laughter through his body, his hoof coming to his mouth to suppress the outburst.

“Sure,” Cadence mumbled into her pie, wincing as she felt another rumble bubble inside her, the sound toppling Shining, laughter spilling freely from his mouth as he rolled on his back.

“Oh come on Cadence,” Shining managed to breathe between a fit of laughter. “It’s just a joke, and you started it.” A soft growl pulled at the corners of his muzzle, the laughter eventually bursting free from the containment of Shining’s mouth.

Taking her eyes of the fire and watching Shining as he struggled to contain his enjoyment, Cadence couldn’t help but smile herself. I guess it is somewhat funny. She felt a tension pulling at her cheeks, a soft chuckling shaking her body as she continued to nibble on her pie in hopes of sating the monster inside.

She ended up stuffing four pies inside her before the sounds stopped, both Shining’s laughter and the grumbling of her stomach. Stretching out on her side, Cadence rubbed her hoof over her belly. “That’s the best meal I’ve had for a long time.”

Mirroring Cadence position, Shining shuffled close to her, draping one of his forelegs over hers. “Of course it is, it’s the first time you’re allowed yourself to have as much as you want. You should try it more often.”

“While it is nice, I think I’ll stick to how I normally eat. Celestia always warned me against eating too many sweet things, she said all princess’s had a problem with it.”

A breath of laughter escaped Shining’s lips. “Of course she says that.”

Cadence’s brow lowered, her teeth chewing her cheek as she thought. “What makes you say that?”

Lowering his eyes, Shining brought a hoof to his muzzle to muffle his chuckles. “Never mind, if you haven’t noticed by now I shouldn’t tell you.”

“Please do,” Cadence lifted Shining’s chin, his eyes meeting hers. “If you don’t tell me I’ll be wondering about this all night.”

“Fine, but don’t get angry at me if you don’t like it.”

Cadence nodded. “I won’t.”

Sighing, Shining glanced out into the darkness, Now how do I say this nicely? “Haven’t you noticed how big the princess is?” He winced, That sounds worse when I say it.

“Of course,” Cadence said slowly, her brow creased, eyes staring off into the distance as she thought. “She’s easily the tallest pony in Equestria.”

“No.” Shining shook his head, lowering his hoof from Cadence’s back to her rear, drawing circles on her cheek. “I don’t mean her height, I mean her flank, it’s quite large.”

Jaw dropping, Cadence gasped. “Why have you been looking at princess flank?”

“I look at princess flank all the time,” Shining joked with a smile, earning himself a snort of laughter from Cadence.

“I mean Celestia.”

Nodding, Shining rolled his eyes into his head. “With Celestia I wasn’t the first one to notice. It’s actually a running joke among the guards, how we’re not defending the princess from enemies, but the dangers of cake.”

Cadence giggled, her eyes glazing over as memories long past filled her mind. “That does make a lot of sense. I always remember Celestia ordering a massive cake for my birthday, I had a piece or two and then never saw it again. One birthday I asked where it went,” A giggled stopped Cadence for a moment. “I recall her turning bright red and saying she disposed of it.”

The couple shared a chuckle. “I’m grateful she did,” Shining said, trailing his eyes down Cadence’s body. “Your flank’s turned out perfectly.” His hoof trailed around her rear to the base of her tail, eliciting soft murmurs from Cadence.

Cadence lifted her foreleg from her side before placing it on Shining’s hip, massaging his cutie mark. “Yours is almost as good.” Her horn lit with blue, magically tugging at Shining’s tail, her hoof nearing its base.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Shining’s body jolted away from Cadence, the stallion jumping to his hooves, rubbing his rear.

Rolling from her side, Cadence shifted into a sitting position, eyelids lowered, a small smile on her muzzle. “I was simply doing the same thing you were,” She tilted her head to the side, expression a mask of innocence. “Does that make you uncomfortable?”

Oh, no. Not this again. “A little,” Shining admitted “It feels so weird when you touch me there.”

“But wasn’t that what you were doing to me?” Standing, Cadence brought her snout close to Shining’s before whispering right onto his lips, “I find it extremely arousing.” She circled round him, Shining turning to keep her within eye sight.

“But that’s because you’re a mare and I’m a stallion, it’s different.”

“We can always change that.” Stopping her movement, Cadence lit her horn, light blue overflowing from its tip and encasing Shining’s snout, then his whole head, then his neck, then.

Throwing himself forward, Shining took Cadence lips in his own, slowing her magic with a kiss, “Please don’t do this.”

Stilling her horn, Cadence paused, the corners of her mouth spreading wider and wider until they burst, laughter erupting. “Oh Shining, you truly are fun to tease. I don’t even know how to transform a stallion into a mare, or if it’s even possible.”

“Thank Celestia.” Shining’s shoulders slumped as a heavy breath escaped his lungs. “I really thought you were serious.”

Panting, Cadence lowered herself to lie beside the fire, eyes reflecting the orange-white glow. “I was a little serious,” She admitted as Shining retook his place beside her. “Don’t you think it’d be fun to switch roles for a night?”

A shudder rocked Shining’s body, eyes scrunched and teeth gritted. “Not at all, I don’t even want to think about how that would-” Shining stopped, glancing back at his tail, I could have sworn I felt someone touching me.

“Would what?”

Flicking his tail, Shining returned his gaze to Cadence. “How that would feel. Can’t we just do it normally?”

“Oh Shining, you’re so boring sometimes,” She said, rolling her eyes. “Trying different things is always exciting, and even if you don’t like it then at least we tried it.” Pausing, Cadence chewed at her lip before her eyes widened. “Like that massage parlour, you liked that didn’t you?”

“Yes,” Shining’s lips stretched into a smile as the memories flooded into his mind, Cadence’s every movement ecstasy to his body. He shook his head, clearing the pleasure from his mind, “But that’s different.”

“Only if you think of it that way.” Shaking her head, Cadence returned her eyes to the fire. How can I convince him that this would be a fun thing? After some time her hooves clapped together, teeth showing through a grin. “What about if I do something for you, then you do what I want.”

“Cadence, my answer is still the same as it was a few months ago, same as it was a few years ago. No.”

Sighing, Cadence chewed at her hoof as she thought. “What about if I covered myself in chocolate and let you eat if off? Would you agree to it after that?”

“The answer is still-” Shining paused, his brow creasing as he turned to Cadence. “Did you say covered in chocolate?” She nodded. “Well, I.” The night grew silent as Shining’s jaw dropped, eyes as wide as the moon as he stared into the surrounding darkness. All that chocolate. “No,” He said, shaking his head. “I’d still say no.”

Running a hoof through her mane, Cadence stood. “One day you’ll see how fun it’d be,” She nibbled at Shining’s ear before stepping toward the glowing tent. “But until then, why don’t we do it normally?”

The touch sent a rush of blood down Shining’s back, his groin growing tense as he felt his shaft peeking from it’s hiding place. “I think I’d like that,” He said, tasting the base of Cadence’s tail as he followed her.

“I think you’ve gone a little too far with the tent.” Ten steps from the doorway and Shining was still less than halfway across the room. “We could almost fit my house in here.”

Cadence shook her head, chuckling softly. “Maybe I did get carried away, but you never know when we might need the extra space.” Stepping alongside Shining, she ran her muzzle from his cutie mark to his neck, leaving a trail of soft kisses down his body.

Shivering at Cadence’s touch, Shining turned to meet her lips with his own. The air was alive with the sound of flaring nostrils as they closed their eyes, both minds focused on the point of contact.

Lifting his foreleg, Shining curled it over Cadence’s withers, playing with the ends of her mane as the two pushed themselves into each other, sharing their want for each other through the action. His hoof ran down her back, lips breaking away from hers as the rest of his body followed.

A white snout trailed over pink fur as Shining kissed his way down her neck, along her side and up to her tail, Cadence quivering with every touch. His hoof touched against the inside of her thigh, snout hovering close to her waiting lips, tasting the familiar aroma.

A spark of pleasure ran through Cadence’s body as Shining made contact, his tongue leaving one warm, wet place and entering another. She tightened around him as he stimulated her inner walls, Cadence gasping and moaning softly.

Just as quickly as he had entered Shining left, drawing his head away from Cadence’s legs, placing his forehooves on her rump with intent to mount. A yellow and pink tail curled around his neck stopped him, Cadence tugging Shining back towards her dripping desire.

Eager, Shining extended his tongue once again, tilting his muzzle forward to part Cadence’s lips, eyes closed. His tongue shrank away from the bitterness it tasted, his eyes starting open, Cadence yelping softly, I think I missed.

Running his tongue against his teeth to clear the taste, Shining lowered his muzzle, stuffing it between Cadence’s winking entrance, washing the bitter flavour away with her sweet nectar. His thirst sated, Shining pulled away once more, trailing kisses up Cadence’s rear and along her back as he mounted.

Standing over Cadence, the tip of his solid member burning against her lips, Shining thrust forward, pushing a gasp from her body as he entered completely.

A hot, wet fist, she clenched around him, locking his length inside as she breathed deeply, allowing her insides to adjust to its size. Shining twitched in response to Cadence’s tightening, his shaft sending jolts of pleasure along her spine with each sharp movement.

Finally released from her grip, Shining drew his shaft from Cadence’s sheath before sliding it back in again, moaning as her tightness locked him inside. Working her inner muscles, Cadence massaged the shaft, a rolling wave of clenching around Shining’s length.

Shining shivered, Cadence’s movements filling his mind with explosions of ecstasy, like a fireworks show, different colors and sensations appearing for a moment before disappearing.

Releasing him, Cadence felt Shining pull himself from her and drive back inside, the thrust flooding her mind with pleasure, washing away her worry, her fear of being seen. Again and again Shining filled and emptied her, pushing moans from her body, each thrust easier than the last.

“I’m, nearly, there.” Cadence spoke between each forced breath, her inner walls tightening as the last word left her lips.

Nodding, Shining worked his groin, pushing with his muscles, willing himself toward release. He felt Cadence loosen briefly before tightening again, locking him inside. Like a pony struck by lightning her insides spasmed around him, a wonderful pleasure that left him wanting more.

“Is something wrong Shining?” Cadence questioned, still playfully squeezing around him. “Usually you’re the one who finishes first.”

Shining clenched his length. “It feels stuck for some reason, like someone’s put a cork in it.” He squeezed once more before sighing. “Could we go again?”

A grin flashed across Cadence’s face before shrinking into a smile, “Of course, I couldn’t have you going unsatisfied.”

Working back into his rhythm, Shining concentrated on his shaft, imagining the relief he would feel when he finished. Cadence yelped at each impact of his hips against her rear, drawing circles in the air with her rump, stirring the length inside her.

Shining felt Cadence’s insides relax. Already? He thought as she released her ecstasy around him, his finish no closer. As her insides twitched and spasms, he pulled up memories from their time together, countless images of filling her with his seed, trying to coax one more release.

Feeling Cadence’s inner walls still, Shining drew himself from her, sighing as he fell back onto his haunches. “I think I’m broken Cadence.” Tipping backwards, he lay face up on the ethereal mattress underneath, shaft sticking straight up in the air.

A giggle burst from Cadence’s lips before being silenced by her hoof, her body shaking as she fought to contain her laughter. Eventually she collapsed onto her side, her muzzle holding a wide grin as she faced Shining. “Sorry for playing with you, I just wanted to see how it would feel going twice.”

Ringing filled the air as Shining felt a warmth rushing in his groin, his member twitching as it shot thick white, the load coming back down to land on his belly. Uncaring, he lay still, the only thing moving his spasming shaft and rapidly rising and falling chest as he panted.

The fountain finished, Shining propped himself up on his forelegs, his shrinking length blocking his view of Cadence. “What was that?”

“It’s a small spell I use to stop you from finishing too quickly.” Sitting between Shining’s legs, Cadence dipped her hoof into the pool that had formed on his stomach and licked at it like a bear eating honey. “Celestia gave it to me after I complained about your problem of finishing so quickly.”

Shining spluttered, “You talk to the princess about our, time together?”

“Of course, I talk about everything with her, why would I exclude sex from the conversation?” Cadence’s brow creased as she spoke, Shining’s seed dripping from the hoof she held near her muzzle.

“It’s personal, just between the two of us.” Shining allowed his head to fall back onto the mattress, watching the stars twinkle into view above as he thought. “I don’t tell Twilight about this, so why would you tell Celestia?”

Cadence giggled, “Shining, Twilight’s a little filly, barely even old enough to know of the things we do at night. Celestia’s one of my best friends, my only friend besides you. Don’t you have any friends who you share your secrets with?”

“Well,” Shining felt a smile forming on his muzzle, a soft warmth in his chest. “I have one pony I share everything with.”

Tilting her head back, Cadence swallowed before speaking, “Who’s that?”

“You of course.” Shining rolled forward onto his haunches, his snout colliding against Cadence’s. “I spend almost all my time with you. I’m not going to see anyone else I know for five years because of you, and I know it might seem a little obsessive, but I get jealous when I think about you being so close to the princess.”

“Oh Shining, you worry too much sometimes.” She touched her hoof to his snout, her eyes closing as she smiled. “Now why don’t we get some sleep, we’ve got a lot of distance to travel over the next few months, I’d like to get an early start.”

The mention of sleep brought a yawn to Shining’s mouth, his eyelids drooping as it pushed between his lips. “That sounds like a good idea.”