My first night sleeping in my new home was pleasant, if not a little lonely. I’m used to having roommates, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. At least Key Peg was getting Strawberry to take my room at his place, which made me feel better that I hadn’t left him alone. The herd instinct runs deep in ponies; they don’t like living alone. It’s considered one of the biggest drawbacks to being a stud.

Ruby dropped off the books she wanted me to read this morning. This included a reproductive anatomy book, a history of the House of the Rising sun, and a small stack of romance novels...

She also gave me a better rundown of the House’s policies: pretty basic stuff and common courtesy, really. The slightly murky ethics of having relationships outside the stable was the only tricky part. Even that boiled down to keep personal and professional life very separate.

At the end of that lecture Ruby handed me three baskets brimming with strange little packages. Two of them I couldn’t identify, one of them I was sure were condoms. “Birth control?” I asked picking at the stranger products.

“Yes, you’re required to keep three forms of birth control visible at all times, but it is the mares’ responsibility to use them; if they want.”

“Going to show me how they work?” I asked, smirking when she hoofed them over.

“I suppose I could find time this evening. If you haven’t figured them out yourself,” she said feigning to look bored, but her ears were pointed straight at me.

“I have that practice date tonight,” I said, giving her my best sad look.

Her ears relaxed, but didn’t fold back. “Well, I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I doubt you’ll be using them much anyway.”

Once she left, I put the baskets on my coffee table, and began investigating what they were. This was kinda my profession, I needed to be familiar with this stuff. Reaching for the only familiar looking thing, I peeled it open to see how different it was.

I’d like to introduce you to the most demoralizing thing I’ve ever had the privilege of holding; a pony condom. To my relief I was correct about the girth, but fully unrolled it was almost the length of my forearm. Looks like I was going to have to learn to make the most with what I had. No complaints so far though, that was a good sign

Moving on to the next basket, I picked up what looked like a wrapped candy. Inside was a pellet that stunk of chemicals: I could only assume it was spermicide. The last basket was the real riddle. Neatly packed glass vials, with waxed over stoppers. They had a greenish glow to them and the liquid swirled around inside, whether I was moving the vial or not. An honest-to-god magic potion. Was this for me, or her? Oh well, I’ll figure that out when the time comes. I left the vial sealed, as curious as I was about the enchanted contents, I wasn’t ready to dabble in magic till I’d gotten a little instruction in it first.

Not that I didn’t intend to learn what I could about their magic. What boy didn’t dream of riding dragons, and throwing fireballs? Wait, are their dragons here? Either way, magic—it was real here, and I was going to play with it.

Picking up the books, I pondered which to read first. I’d been reading a lot of history lately, so I sat that book aside. The anatomy book seemed interesting, but dry. After glancing at some of its anatomical panels, I sat that to the side, too. I’d read that in a day or two.

That left me with the smut—real bodice-ripper stuff by the looks of it, cheesy covers and all:

A Cloud Forgotten. A lonely mare finds a forgotten city populated entirely by immortal pegasus stallions. Think I’m going to pass on that for now; gangbangs aren’t my thing.

The Apprentice. When Orchid Glow gets a young colt apprentice will she be able to separate pleasure form business? I slid that one over as a maybe. The magic part being more interesting than the romance.

A Prairie of Our Own. A small herd of earth ponies stake a claim on the edge of... Okay that sounds interesting. Herd dynamic, I need to learn about that.

The last book was also the newest looking one, The Twilight Between Them. Ruby told me she included this one because it was the current best seller. The cover art had some purple alicorn I had never seen, posed between Luna and Celestia. I’d just flipped it over to read the blurb on the back, when someone knocked on my door.

“Be right there!” I called.

Opening the door I found two mail mares with a little mail cart. “Shane?” the one not yoked to the wagon asked.

I nodded. “Yea.”

“Where do you want this?” she asked, pointing to a wood crate on the wagon. “It’s heavy.”

Walking around the cart, I inspected the mailing label; it was from Luna. Setting the book on the ground, I fumbled with the crate to try and peek inside.

“Oo! That’s a good one,” the yoked mare said looking at the book. “How far in are you?”

Cracking one of the planks lose, the smell of oil greeted me. “Just picked it up actually.” Peering inside, my suspicions were confirmed; it was the VW engine from my plane. “I was between reading this or A Prairie of Our Own,” I said picking my book back up. “I’ll need help getting this into the back bedroom.”

“Prairie is all drama, no action,” she said slipping out of her yolk. “No problem. Slide it off, and we’ll carry it in.”

Between the three of us, it was pretty easy getting the crate back to my room. I tipped them a few bits each as they left, then went back to look over the engine, I thought about making a work space in my room to get it running again, but no gasoline made that pointless. I’d figure out what to do with that later. It was almost noon, I needed to get going if I was going to meet Key Peg for lunch when he got off his shift.

Slinging on my backpack, I headed out the door. I really needed to walk around the House a bit and learn the place. Maybe I should host a dinner party and invite some of the studs over. I’ll have to ask Key Peg what’s the pony way of introducing myself to my coworkers and neighbors.

Plodding out into the road, I was still running good on time, so I ducked into a little shop I’d seen earlier. Heavy Petting, was a colorful little shop across the street from the house. It seemed like a place I should check out, maybe buy a few things from.

A bell announced my entrance as I opened the door. I had to laugh, the place looked like a bad mash up of the Co-op and Victoria’s secrets.

“Can I help you?” a little unicorn mare asked.

Scanning the shop’s shelves, I found my initial impression even more accurate. Brushes, combs, curries, dresses ... lacy things. Nothing I’d call lewd, though.

“I need some grooming tack,” I answered after a moment.

“Tack?” She seemed a bit insulted by my choice of words.

“Sorry, Umm...” Walking over to a shelf I picked up a nice looking brush; the bristles were glossy and soft. “One of these, something stiffer, a shedding blade, and a comb.”

“Oh! You want a mane-a-cure set.” She perked up after my explanation, and trotted over to some shelves. “We have several nice sets over here. What were you looking to spend?”

‘Mane-a-cure’, sure why not. Taking a knee besides the mare, I picked up one of the box sets. It was a nice wooden case, reminded me of what my grandmother kept her silverware in. Inside was everything I’d mentioned, plus a hoof rasp and some things I didn’t recognize.

“That’s our best set there.” she informed me as I looked over the contents.

It was a very pretty set, rosewood and silver. Not sure what the bristles were made of, somehow I think horse hair was out of the question. There were a couple of jars in the box too, one labeled coat gloss, the other preening oil. Coat gloss I knew, preening oil I’ll have to figure out.

“How much?”

“Sixty five bits.”

“Sixty, and deliver it to my stall at the House.”

She blinked at me for a moment, then shrugged. “Deal.”

Waving at the familiar faces, I made my way into the castle. A few hallways later, and I was at our meeting spot. Sitting on a bench, I shuffled through my backpack, and pulled out my copy of Twilight Between Them. Might as well start in on my reading assignment while I waited.

Somewhere in the middle of chapter two, I had the distinct impression that someone was reading over my shoulder. Turning my head, I was greeted by Celestia’s impish smile.

“Why Shane, I never knew you had such fantasies about me.”

“I, Ugh ... it’s homework.”

“How diligent of you!” Celestia’s eyes sparked with surprise before fading into a more contemplative expression. “My tastes are very different than what is in that book though. Sunburns, gets much closer.”

Time to change the subject. Dog-earing my page, I closed the book. “Is this Twilight Sparkle a real pony too?” I asked, pointing the the purple alicorn on the cover.

“Yes, and never let her see you fold a page like that: for both my sake, and your own,” she answered, her magic opening the book and ironing out the page. A little scrap of paper floated in from somewhere and tucked itself into the book before her magic sealed it again. I could feel a suppressed giggle within Celestia as I sat dazzled from the display of magic.

“Your friend should be out shortly, the ceremony finished a few minutes ago,” she said. With no other comment, she gave me a parting smile before turning and wandering off into the halls of the castle.

Sure enough, only a minute or two later, I spotted Key Peg sauntering towards me. Sweat-matted fur told me he had just peeled off his uniform. “You ready to eat?” I asked.

“Yea, I need something heavy.”

We ended up at a place called Tender Tuffs. It was a popular little lunch spot; one of the few places I had known about before venturing outside the palace walls. Ms. Hooves would eat here for lunch at least once a week, and she always brought me back one of their famous smoothies.

Why the concoction of wheat grass and apples was rainbow-striped, I still haven't figured out. The creepy part is that no matter how much you stir it; the colors do not blend!

Taking a seat inside I looked over the menu. Key Peg was cooing at the selection, but everything sounded like yard clippings to me.

“How was work?” I asked, browsing the menu, hoping to spot something edible. Hmm, alfalfa sprouts and tofu in red curry, that sounds good.

Key Peg gave me a pleased smile, “It was Graduation day. That’s always fun.”

“So when do you get a new batch to terrorize?”

We paused our conversation as the waitress approached. I took a gamble on the curry, Key Peg ordered something that sounded like what I pulled out of the lawn mower.

After our meal, I got a zap smoothy to-go, and we started our preparations for the night. The streets were already starting to buzz with a festival air. Food carts were popping up on street corners, along with little carts selling paper lanterns. Ponies were stringing up rows of the colorful lanterns between anything they could reach.

“This is really going to be pretty, once the sun sets,” I said watching two pegasus hanging lanterns.

“It’s a celebration for the summer night. You should have come out and joined us last month for the Summer Sun celebration.”

I probably should have gotten out that night. Celestia had seemed disappointed that I had hidden in my room. Next year I’ll make a point to go watch her raise the sun.

We went back to my place to get ready for our dates. One of the mares on the gardening staff had asked Key Peg out. His date sounded a good bit more serious than mine. Camellia was both the lead gardener in the tea garden, and part of a small earth-pony herd. A good date could land him not one girlfriend, but four.

A shower, nap, and grooming later; and the seven o’clock hour was near. I waved goodbye to a very-glossy Key Peg as he left to meet his date at a nearby tea house. I used more of that coat gloss than I meant to. I thought it made him look plastic, and offered to wash it out, but he seemed to like the effect.

Picking my book back up, I read to pass the time till my date showed up. I’d just finished another chapter when I heard a knocking on my door. Looks like Twilight Sparkle’s love confession to Luna will have to wait till tomorrow.

Winter greeted me with a sheepish grin when I opened the door. “Hi,” she said, fidgeting with the hem of her yellow dress. She had that adorable beauty I associate with prom season.

... actually.

“Winter Squash, how old are you?”

Tilting her head she looked up at me. “Sixteen, why?”

My arm twitched to close the door and go back inside. “I’m twice your age. Exactly twice your age actually.”

“Okay, so?” she answered with a shrug.

I rubbed my eyes for a moment. It’s not like her mother didn’t know where she was, what she was doing, or who she was with. “Sorry, culture shock, again,” I mumbled, stepping outside, and closing the door behind me.

“So where to first?” I asked. Standing beside her, I offered my arm to her out of habit, before thinking better of it.

“There’s a midway set up in the park.”

“Lead the way,” I said with a smile. I was suddenly rather self conscious about what I should be doing with my hands, and how couples were supposed to walk together.

The park was a few blocks away. It was the normal plot of land given to parks and fairgrounds: land that could be used for nothing else. Between the mountain and the castle, it had a beautiful view, and about three hours of sunlight a day.

With all the activity on the street, I was curious to see what they would have setup in the park. Along the way I watched the other strolling couples that had come out in the late day sun. I really couldn’t find anything to distinguish strolling lovers from friends, save for a few pairs with flowers tucked behind their ears.

“What’s up with the flowers those two are wearing?” I asked.

Winter looked up at me, then followed the direction I was point to. “They’re each other's special somepony.”

“So... is that like being married, or just a long-term relationship.”

“It means they're not available to anypony outside their herd.”

That was interesting. “There are humans that live on tropical islands, that have a similar custom.”

Winter perked up at my comment. “Really, are they earth humans like you, or another tribe?”

I had to let that comment soak in for a moment before I got what she was asking. “All humans are the same tribe. The culture just varies a lot from city to city.” Not really the truth, but hell if I could think of a better way to explain it. The skin-color conversation with Key Peg had only left him confused, I didn’t really feel like trying to explain that again. Instead, I explained how human couples would hold hands to her as we continued walking to the park.

Human couples... God, have I been here long enough that I speaking of my own kind in the third person?

Anyway, she found the idea rather cute. She told me pegasus had a similar habit of laying a wing across their lover’s back as they walked, but it was a bit more intimate than first dates usually went. As touchy-feely as ponies were, I found it odd that they had no real analog to holding hands. Then again, what could they do? They use all four limbs to walk.

Turning the corner, we entered the park and stood looking down the midway. If Norman Rockwell ran a fair, it would look just like this; right down to the ferris wheel in the background. The games were different but the sounds of bells, barkers, and popping balloons were the same. Booths selling funnel cake and candies apples filled the park with the same smell that always pulled my back to my childhood. Closing my eyes, I let the sound and smell wash over me: I was back in Henry county, for just a moment.

“You okay?” Winter asked. She was looking up at me with a worried expression.

“Yea. Just a little nostalgia. You want a candied apple?”

“Sure!”

The line to the candied apple stand was long, but moved quick. In the minute or so it took , I eyed the games and shows; had to get winter explain most of the to me. It was amazing how similar it all felt, despite the difference. The High Riser game summed it up pretty well; same tower, bell, and puck, but the pad was vertical. Ponies were bucking it, instead of swinging a hammer. Looked to have the same gaff too.

“I worked a midway like this one summer,” I told Winter as we stepped forward again. Only a couple of ponies were between us and the stand now.

“Really?” she asked seeming rather confused.

“Hurt myself in the rodeo. Couldn’t perform, so I got a gig running a game just like that,” I said pointing to the High Rise game.

Winter cocked her head at me as her ears went at odd angles. “What is your special talent anyway?”

Ahh... This conversation. It could wait till after we got our apples. Stepping up to the window a palomino pony greeted me “What’ll ya have?” she asked as an electric-pink pony darted around the booth dipping and rolling apples in various candies.

I opened my mouth to order, but Winter propped herself up to the window, and laid down some bits. “You can eat oats, right?” Winter asked me.

“Yea.”

Winter smiled and looked back to the palomino, “Two cracked oats and sorghum apples, please.”

Taking my apple as it was offered, I began to follow Winter away from the line, but paused. “Where did you get your hat?’ I asked the palomino. “I lost my old one.”

“Ugh... Appaloosa Traders?” she answered, already taking bits from the ponies behind me.

“Thanks,” I said, hurrying to catch up to my date. Winter headed over to a bench to nibble on her apple, walking and eating wasn't an option for her.

Chewing my first bit of apple, I watched her enjoy hers. It was really good: crisp tart apple, sweet gooey candy. I savored the treat, giving me time to pondered how to answer her question.

“We don’t have cutie marks,” I said, pausing my progress with the candied apple. I was only half way through mine, but Winter had almost finished hers. “But, I suppose fixing things has always been my talent.” I had Key Peg to thank for that insight. He’d grilled me about every job I ever had, and hobby I enjoyed till I’d admitted to a talent.

“Hmm...” Winter hummed, polishing off the apple. “That’s a pretty useful talent”

“Generalist don’t do very well in my world though.”

“They’re rare here, so they always have something to do,” she said, throwing the stick away. “Let's play a few games, I’ll try to win you something.”

“Sounds fun. so, tell me about this pet timber wolf of yours; Cedar.”