Dusk turned slowly as his gaze swept around the quiet streets of Canterlot. A thick fog hung in the air and turned everything to shadows at even a short distance, leaving almost all landmarks scattered and confusing. However, he could swear something was out of place today. Setting an easy pace, he started the walk uphill, using the one good rule of thumb on a misty night in Canterlot. The University and the palace were up the mountain, everything else spread out below.

Even as his easy stride ate up the blocks, his gaze passed with lazy inspection over the figures of others who milled in the streets despite the deep fog and dark night that lay overhead. A few streets further and he should reach the mid-court plaza, and from there, he could easily catch a cab. “Why am I down here? I never go south of mid-court!”

A voice spoke out from the sparse crowd who stood to the side of the road, around doors, and in clustered groups of friends. "Except that one time."

Dusk halted in his stride and twisted to look around. The voice was oddly familiar, yet he couldn't quite place it. As his eyes swept over the crowd, a few who had been behind him, matching his swift pace brushed past, muttering darkly at him for suddenly forming a roadblock in the middle of the street. Yet, no one stepped forth or even looked out of place. Swallowing, he brushed off the distraction and began marching once more on his path, his destination so close.

And yet as the blocks fell away behind him, it was always the same five streets he passed, looping over and over again, with those same crowds standing before the same doors. Realization setting in slowly, Dusk shifted to hunch his shoulders and started to walk faster, in hopes this was still just self-deception on his part. Barging past those before him and earning shouts of annoyance and anger he attempted to stalk off, bursting into an outright sprint in hopes of outpacing what he now knew was coming.

Again that voice whispered from a street corner, soft and calm yet eternally distant. "But she is waiting just behind you Dusk. You need only turn around." He stumbled and collapsed face first into the bricks. Breath came in a rapid panting gasp while his eyes squeezed shut. His lower lip had been cut... not by a fall, but by the backlash of the blast which had thrown him into a wall.

Vividly, the memories flared up once more and he slowly wiped at his cheeks. Turning and standing slowly, he spoke low, not to the two mares behind him, but to the voice he knew was following his dream. "Why would you want me to remember this night? It is not a good memory; it is a painful one. I was sixteen. Sunset Shimmer and Beatrix Lula had been fighting to show off who was stronger. They asked me to judge."

From the shadows a cloaked woman's towering figure stepped forward, a hand on his shoulder as he took in the sight of the fight before him. It was strong, and comforting, yet never gave him a second chance to turn away, or to see who she was as she forced him to face this memory. "And you tried to stop the fight with your brother’s shield spell. Both turned on you at that moment. It's an important day Dusk, because it is when Sunset Shimmer admitted she had only been using you as a study aid. She had no interest in you personally. And your report to Princess Celestia helped her learn the truth of Beatrix Lula's actions around the school."

Swallowing, Dusk let the memories return from the dark corner into which he had shoved them. He had been asked by Sunset to be the girls’ judge; the contest of power between the two strongest mares in the school had to be kept secret, so they had gone all the way to the low-court plaza on a foggy night. Nopony should be around with the weather so foul, so no one else was around to report their illegal magic duel. With a quiet voice, he watched the fight start over again from its beginning. "Sunset was so proud of her place as Princess Celestia's only other personal student. To see anyone, even me get that level of attention made her jealous. When Beatrix was promoted so swiftly into the same classes as us after finding her cutie mark, it made Sunset angry. For days, she had ranted and raved about how only she should have that level of attention from the teachers. All this, while I helped her with her studies, and she treated me like I was not even present." He shook his head softly

"And then when you interrupted their fight, she got angry. Instead of striking at her opponent, she blasted you instead. Then suddenly, their fight was over and all you got for your trouble was a boot to the gut. But not all mares are like Sunset. Many really do wish only the best for you. Your newfound friends, for example."

Suddenly, things shifted, and he saw himself and the other Elements of Harmony from a viewpoint outside his body. He stood beside the proud figure of Nightmare Moon as she started to flinch at the burst of rainbow magic that poured forth from his activation of the Elements. His voice was hollow as he shook his head slowly. "I understand that. But Princess Luna, why do you show me this in my dreams? Would not a letter have been easier?" He still couldn't turn, yet felt the hand on his shoulder squeeze and a low voice whispered with care a question that went unanswered.

The sight before him was one he could never forget. Those five mares all supporting him from behind while he drew on the Elements’ power, and thrust it into Nightmare Moon. He had never known if it really was going to work, but hope to save Princess Luna inside that darkness had pushed him to continue against the fear that the mounting power was going to be too much for him to mold into anything useful. It was their support that gave him the courage to wield that power. The endurance to withstand its wrath as the magic tried to melt his will. The wisdom to find a way that did not hurt Luna herself despite her being inside its target. The restraint to hold back letting all of that massive power free immediately to free his mind of the wracking pain. And the spark of hope that everything might be alright even if he faltered in the task. The shadowy woman's voice lifted gently but clear, repeating herself when he didn't answer, transfixed on the scene before him. "A letter is but words on paper. It can never convey the power of a moment like this, Dusk. Remember this well, for whatever may come they are your true friends, and will be at your side even when you can not see nor feel them." And then he was alone, and peaceful sleep returned.

Dusk could feel pressure around his hips as his mind began to wake. Not for the first time this week, he figured that Nurse Redheart had let herself in and was cuddling him in his sleep. The slow growth of his awareness hastened as he prepared to once again tell her off for treating him like a colt... until the shift of a cheek and the brush of scales across his spine made him realize it was not the nurse for once, but Barb who had snuck into his bed. A calm settled over him, a memories of life at school before Barb had insisted she was old enough to need her bed returned. It had only been seven years ago when she declared herself a big enough girl to sleep alone, yet on nights with bad weather, more often than not, he awakened to her curled up against him hiding from the bad weather.

The sweet memory helping to wash away the taste of bittersweet dreams, Dusk shifted slowly so as to not startle the dragon awake. Hands cupping her head gently to his chest for a moment, before he took to idly stroking her scales lightly. When she simply murmured and curled in closer, he let a warm sigh whisper free of his lips and lifted his gaze to the bedroom’s massive picture window, looking for the sun. Just cresting the horizon, it showed he had but an hour left before company started to arrive, and this slow thought set his mind into lazy motion. Lightly, he began to scratch his Number One Assistant around the curve of her jaw, a ticklish spot that was sure to get her attention.

As low mutters turned to giggles and struggling, Dusk whispered, "Come on now, my dear dragoness. I need my Number One Assistant's help this morning. So wake up before Applejack arrives and finds us still in bed!"

The teasing worked, as soon, the little dragon was yawning broadly while bleary eyes focused on him. Her voice was tired as she realized she was caught. "I guess I fell asleep. Sorry Dusk... I just wanted to sleep like we used to."

With a laugh, Dusk tapped her gently on the nose. "No problem at all Barb. You gave me a nice memory to wake up to, rather than the silly dream I was having. Now seriously, let us get going, I need a shower and you had better find me something nice to wear, I have too many guests coming over today."

It was hardly twenty minutes later when Dusk heard the bathroom door open. His head resting on the shower wall, letting the heat soak into his skin and wash down his back in a steady stream, the proud, young stallion was glad he had managed to get this far without Barb's aid. And yet, already he was exhausted, too tired to lift a scrub brush. As a soft whistled tune echoed through the bathroom he called out, shame dancing on the words. "I... I guess I spoke too soon. Think you can scrub my back after all?"

And without a moment's hesitation the figure outside the shower walked over, the shadow forming behind his back far taller than Barb's own. It might have been a good warning if he had been watching, but with his eyes shut and face to the wall while an arm supported his weight he had no hint at all until suddenly, the shower curtain was pulled aside, and warmly smiling AJ offered him a nod. "It'd be my pleasure, Sugarcube!"

Shocked at the candid nature of the cowgirl as she approached his naked body in the shower, he scrambled for a towel to cover himself in some way. Yet before he could get even that far, her hand lightly touched his. "You ain't got nothing I've never seen before, Dusk. Now turn around and let me have the brush."

Darkly blushing he turned as she requested, glad he could at least use the weight of his tail's hair to give him some semblance of modesty. "You're early, Applejack, but um... thanks." As he spoke, she began take up the short handled back brush, starting with steady effort at his shoulders. Soon enough however he was quickly regretting those words, as the towering mare's method with the brush was far from tender. Leaning into her strokes, Applejack was like a mare possessed wielding an instrument of torture.

With a happy chuckle, she leaned in and said with embarrassing candor, "Oh, it's no problem. When Big Mac heard you were well enough for visitors, he an Apple Bloom got up early to get my portion of the day’s chores done for me." The cheery mare shifted to move back and hang the brush off the wall hook again, and a smaller tail brush was picked out, her weight moving to sit on the edge of the bath while her gaze lifted to watch him. "Barb wasn’t very specific about why the princess wanted you to start these little dates. Nothing's gone wrong, has it? You look like you're in much better shape." There was a pause before she suddenly slapped his ass, adding, "Though you could use a few good meals and some proper work to get you back in shape!"

Shocked by just how forward the earth mare was with him, Dusk had started to relax, the pain of her brushing technique pushed aside by how easily she treated the tangles in his tail. It wasn't until the slap landed and she started laughing, that he realized she was having fun with him in her way. A swift hand shut off the shower while his magic grabbed a towel and quickly wrapped it about his hips, he leveled a glare at her, though quickly enough her quiet happy mood infected his attempt to scowl. "You are a real piece of work, AJ. Next thing you know, you will have me down at the Orchard chopping wood just to keep active." He stepped from the shower, eyes attempting to remain level with her own, even as the titanic mare stood up once again, and stepped back.

Despite himself his eyes roamed a little, noting that she had gotten wet from the shower’s powerful spray, leaving her fine blond hair damp and sticking to her cheeks. Bead of water formed into a slow and steady drip that ran down over her strong jaw, and across her bare neck. Even her simple red and white dress shirt had gotten soaked, leaving it clinging to an ample chest that hung low and free without a bra to hold her flesh back. Blushing darker again, he lifted his eyes once more to her own, but she took the initiative, stepping in and wrapping a towel into his thick dark blue hair and ruffling it to help dry faster. This left his eyes inches from her throat, his breath a strangled panting. "Nah. Big Mac can handle the wood cutting. Little lad like you? You'd be better off helping me in the barn. It always needs patch work of some kind or another."

As she pulled away the towel on his hair, and stepped back to inspect him, the moment had passed. Suddenly she was just AJ again, in need of a dry towel or a new shirt herself, but no longer presenting him with a powerful attractive lure. Grinning, he nodded and took a step towards the pile of clothing she had brought in with her. "How about you step outside and let me maintain at least some of my dignity while I dress? I know you are not one to spread rumors and all that, but a gentleman does not need the Element of Honesty going around town telling other mares how he looks naked."

At last it seemed he had finally gotten her off-balance, her cheeks suddenly blushing as she offered a nod and moved to walk away, but her words came back to him as she hovered near the door, leveling serious gaze at him with something... exciting dancing in her eyes. "Now just because I'm honest doesn't mean I wouldn't happily be out there, bragging about just what you've got to show off, darlin’." She gave a playful wink before slipping outside and closing the door.

Alone at last, Dusk opened his towel, letting his gaze drop and inspect his manhood. A laugh escaped his lips and he shook his head. "I have no yardstick to compare it to, AJ... But I will stick with a 'Thanks' all the same." The warm laughter outside the bathroom door was the only answer he needed.

Standing before the bathroom mirror and combing out his hair, Dusk took a moment to inspect himself. He still felt weak, but his body was looking just fine. That toned layer of muscle which ran over his figure just as he remembered it seemed a little more defined than before thanks to the sudden weight drop. From the clothing Barb had given AJ to bring to him in the shower was a pair of simple, dark blue boxers. His cutie mark had been sewn into the bottom right corner on the backside. With one hand holding the bunched weight of his tail, he threaded it through the circle cut in fabric to let his hair hang free without getting caught on the clothing. Next, was his loose, black dress pants. The fabric was soft against his skin, and his tail again threaded through the backside to let it hang free, then hunted down his straight razor and shaving cream to apply to his jaw and chin.

Outside the bathroom, he could hear the soft sounds of cooking, and soon the smell of rich apple tarts started to fill the air with its fantastic aroma. When he had a moment, he took the effort to support the razor with his magic, opening the bathroom door and letting in the smell... along with Apple Bloom, who wore a bright grin. Still busy with his razor suspended by his magic, Dusk was miles into the mirror inspecting each stroke of the blade with care, humming softly to himself. It wasn't until he heard light giggles that his eyes dropping and he realized the thirteen year old filly was standing beside him, copying his odd facial expressions as he shaved, trying to make each cut as clean and deep as was safely possible.

Realizing she had gotten quite deep into her little act, the stallion made two more fast strokes of his cheeks, cleaning the rest of the cream off and giving a satisfied sigh. Blade rinsed with care in the sink and dried, he turned his eye to the filly. "If you don't hold your jaw just right, lots of extra hairs get stuck in corners you can't see until you wash it all off."

Jumping at getting caught copying him, she simply began to grin warmly and pointed to his razor. "Maybe next time you need a shave let me try? I'm sure I could get my cutie mark in shaving!" The short filly grinned up at him, arms crossing over her chest while she offered a broad grin. Dressed in simple blue jeans and a once-white t-shirt, she rocked from one heel to the other in beaming glee. "Or a haircut... and try for a cutie mark in being a barber!"

Pulling his shirt on, Dusk laughed as well and reached out to fluff the little filly's hair, stopped mostly by the presence of the ribbon in her hair. "It's a deal Apple Bloom! Now let's go see what Barb and AJ made up for breakfast!"

As the little filly took up his hand in her and started to march proudly out into the rest of Dusk's library, she looked up over her shoulder, her for warm and light. "So Mister Dusk Shine, now that you run the library, does that mean that our teacher, Miss Cheerilee won't have to take extra time away from classes to look after this place anymore?"

Offering a light shrug, Dusk gave her hand a squeeze while following her into his kitchen. "I suppose so. I should go visit her sometime though, to thank her for taking such good care of the library and its books when nopony could work here full time. Is she a good teacher?"

A grin spread across her face as she released his hand and ran the last few feet into the kitchen to grab a chair and pull it back for him. "She’s the best teacher you could hope for. Come on down and sit! Applejack’s made just about every one of the family's best breakfast treats!"

And boy, was the young filly right. Spread before him and covering the table was an assortment of fresh baked dishes. Baked apple streusel pancakes formed into bars; apple yogurt cake with a cinnamon-sugar frosting streaked across the top; rosemary apple turnovers glazed with honey; apple & cinnamon whole grain oatmeal; crispy turnovers stuffed with apple, bacon, and caramelized onions; quince with apple chunks; dried apple chips lightly sprinkled with cinnamon; apple cardamom upside-down cake and cinnamon buns with apple chunks. His stomach's demand for food turned into a sudden, loud roar. Dusk accepted the chair Apple Bloom offered to him, shocked when the little filly pushed the chair back in with him sitting on it without any real effort. "You are quite strong Apple Bloom, do you help out a lot at the farm?"

Applejack stepped back into the kitchen from around a corner, her tightly braided hair held with a simple leather thong while her stetson hat stood tall on her head. With a grin spreading over her lips, she cleared her throat and straightened the fabric of an apron she now wore over her normal clothing. Spattered with bits of batter and hints of apple cinnamon, it was clear why she had taken the time to toss it on. "She does a great job for so young a pony. Me and Big Mac are as proud as peacocks of how far she’s come in just the last year or two. Soon, she’ll be able to buck a tree like nopony's business."

Her praise wasn't lost on her little sister, who blushed and tried to fan off the embarrassment that was pouring forth from a very proud older sister. Besides, she had a valid reason to feel ashamed. "But I've done everything around the farm and I ain’t got my cutie mark yet!"

Dusk took this opportunity to comfort the little filly. "Do not worry, Bloom. Everypony gets their cutie mark when the time is right. Nothing can make a cutie mark appear before its time, but when it does... it can feel like the greatest moment of your life." As he spoke, Barb walked in and he wrapped an arm around her hips to hug her close. "I was lucky, I got mine very young, and ended up with a great friend and a Number One Assistant in Barb here!"

Things calmed down as everyone tucked in to the meal, with all agreeing that the dishes AJ had made with Barb's assistance were a true treat for the tongue and nose. Conversation over breakfast was light and easy, and soon enough, Barb left to escort Apple Bloom back to the farm with the leftovers for Big Mac and Granny Smith. Alone at last, Dusk and AJ moved into the library, each picking one of the deep cushioned chairs with soft red fabric and a lacquered wood frame.

His voice calmer now, Dusk began to flip through the folder on his lap, inspecting the pages and finding the one he had jotted down for AJ with the facts he had already known. His eyes met hers as he asked, "So, to make it all simple, Princess Celestia has asked me to collect more information about all of you, since as the Elements of Harmony, she and Princess Luna need to know everything they can about you. I already filled out a few basic things I knew already. You are twenty now, yes?"

Leaning forward, an eyebrow lifted and she nodded slowly. "Sounds simple enough, and important too. Yeah, I had my birthday back in late March. So I'm twenty now. What else?"

Soon, a swift and simple back and forth of basic info was swapped. "Pureblood Earth Pony?"

"Yes."

"Height?"

"6'4.""

There was a pause as he collected his willpower. "Weight?"

AJ let a brow twitch, while her other arched higher. "Pardon, Sugarcube? I don't think I heard you there." A darker hint of the threat in her glare got through to Dusk quickly enough and he moved to scribble at the page to fill in a few details he wasn't comfortable asking just yet.

"Right, thanks. So the more detailed things. I put you down as the lead hand at Granny Smith's orchard. Do you have any other jobs you do?” A bead of nervous sweat ran down his neck, in hopes she might let that previous question drop.

Letting the issue pass, AJ sat back again in her chair and offered a nod. "Yeah, I took over as lead hand about five years ago, after my parents passed away. It's been hard but with Big Mac's help and Granny Smith’s advice and know-how, we’ve kept things together and brought the orchard back to its full glory."

Dusk stopped and lifted his gaze to look to AJ his voice soft. "I'm sorry AJ. I did not mean to bring up any bad memories." When she waved him off, he took to nodding quietly. "Alright, lets continue. Your cutie mark?"

Here AJ spread her warm smile, and shifted to stand. "I think it’s easier to show you, than tell about that one, Dusk." With a few steps she closed the short distance between them and turned so her right side faced him, fingers slipping down to her belt and unclasping it with quiet care. The cutoff denim shorts were tiny and clung tight across her hips and over her ass. Fingers unclasping the buckle and drawing it down across those round hips allowed them to drop to the ground at her feet. A tiny, white thong clung across her ass and over her sex yet the proud mare didn't hesitate for a moment to draw her fingers across the curve of her ass revealing her cutie mark. Tattooed into her bare flesh were three bold red apples. She gently said. "After my parents death, Granny Smith sent me to live with some relatives in Manehattan, But when I got powerful homesick, I came back a few weeks later to see them once more, and when I realized how much family meant to me, and how much they needed my help, my cutie mark appeared." Her breathing was faster now, deeper too. A sudden soft look of pleasure spread over her cheeks even as she gave Dusk a show.

Writing quickly, Dusk could only nod as she spoke, though his eyes soon returned to gaze at those strong and shapely legs, which inevitably led to the curve of her ass. Letting his tongue draw slowly across his lips as he finished swift scribbling, he slowly placed his quill down at last. His eyes wandered up as he he leaned forward, and with one hand softly traced his fingers across the curve of AJ's cutie mark, whispering softly, "It is dedication to your family and duty to your home. I admire your strength of will, AJ." Lightly tracing the design, he realized the mare was whimpering at his touch. Something in the air was tickling at his nose, and made his blood begin to boil, roaring in his ears. Why was he being so forward? His fingers drifted across her hip...

As his fingers continued their dance over her curvy flank, she turned slowly and sat in his lap with her hands wrapping around his neck, while her eyes looked deeply to his. Breathing swiftly though half parted lips, she gazed deeply into his eyes. "You know Dusk... I gotta go back to the farm soon. Got lots of work I need to do." Hissing a moan between her barely parted lips as his finger traced across her ass, his hand shifted to stroke the blond hair of her tail. "But... I don’t mind if you've got a question or two left."

With her weight settled in his lap but mostly balanced on her knees on either side of his hips, she bit her lower lip as her hips ground against his groin. Attempting to take his mind off the suddenly flirty mare, Dusk let his fingers drop from her hip and tail and turn over the page on the book, his voice shaky as the aroused mare's unbound chest rested against his cheek. "Just... some confirmation on a few things... You have shown great strength; honestly I remember seeing you kick down a tree while we were in the Everfree Forest. Besides that, I can tell from today you are a great cook. Do you have any other skills or hobbies?"

And somehow that question was apparently just what she needed, as the mare swallowed once and reopened her eyes, realizing she had nearly mounted Dusk forcefully, and in a public place, no less. Drawing back and quickly pulling her denim shorts on once more, she blushed and turned away to avoid looking to him, her voice unsure and with shame coloring her words. "Well... me an’ Rainbow Dash love to compete every so often. And I’m always getting blue ribbons whenever we host a rodeo..." Turning to face him again, she suddenly shrank back a little after taking a deep breath which once more brought Dusk’s attention to her impressive bust. She turned and swiftly locked her gaze upon the door. "I... think I should go Dusk. I'm sorry, but somethin’s come up." And before Dusk had time to answer, the mare rushed out of the house, pulling her stetson low over her face to avoid meeting eyes with anyone who had passed her on her way out of town.

Struck by the sudden change in the mare, Dusk looked down and realized his pants had discolored where she had sat. He drew two of his fingers down across his lap and over the dress pants he was wearing. An even breath hissed free of his throat, moisture meeting his fingers and his eyes spread wide in realization. The cowgirl was leaking heavily, a sign she had slipped into her heat sometime recently. That explained why she had suddenly gone so soft and cuddly. A sigh escaped his lips. He’d have to go upstairs and change, the smell was already working its libidinous magic and tormenting his senses. He shivered as the pleasant warmth spread through his loins. "No wonder... poor mare... I hope she can find some relief."

Dusk quickly realized that his letter to Princess Celestia was incomplete. His gaze turned swiftly to look out the window to estimate the time of day. "It is still early... maybe nine. Lots of time before Pinkie should show. I had better finish this before I change." Working quickly over the page, he scribbled swiftly, filling out the rest of the details he had gotten too distracted to finalize. He paused for a moment to briefly scribble the last few lines before tidying up the letter and left it on his desk in the library in an outbox so Barb could send it off to The Princess.

As Dusk turned to start walking up the staircase, a rapid and cheerful knocking echoed upon the door, forcing him to pause. Dusk realized he had better answer the door first and make an excuse to go change before the smell got to him and started its secondary effects. Rapid steps carried him to the front door and upon opening it, he was hit in the face with a barrage of affection from the most energetic of his new-found friends. Pinkie was early and squeezed him tight in her warm hug. "I... err.. Good morning, Pinkie."

Rubbing her cheek affectionately across his chest, the cheery party pony flashed him her warmest of grins while her arms slipped up and around his shoulders to rest her head on his chest, her voice a swift waterfall of words that poured forth. "HI DUSK! How was your visit with Applejack? Was her breakfast as super-fantast-alicous as always? Are you feeling much better? And why are you blushing so much?"

Absorbed in the warm and plush weight that pressed into his body, Dusk swallowed sharply and turned his head up to offer her a grin. "Not so fast Pinkie, you're going so quickly and I can hardly keep up!" Gently lifting his arms up to peel her arms free of his neck and push them together between his body and her own. "I... err, yes, breakfast was great, Pinkie. And AJ and I had a great talk." He swallowed sharply, his eyes on hers as he tried to catch up with her swift chatter of words.

Before he could manage, the effort of sorting out the stream of thoughts with which she had inundated him was suddenly interrupted as she peeled from his grip and dropped to her knees, bright eyes having already picked out the discoloration in his pants. Instantly leaning in close so she could properly inspect the wet patch on his pants, a long slow lick of her tongue dragging across it and indirectly his groin beneath the cloth. Eyes wide, she stood up swiftly and grappled Dusk once more by the shoulders, her voice rapid and excited as well. "Dusk! Did you know that AJ was in heat? You didn't tease her too badly did you? You better not have been too mean to her; she isn't good dealing with guys and you shouldn't be so mean to her!"

Shocked by the sudden attention that Pinkie had given to his loins with that strange sudden lick, Dusk was frozen in place as she stood up and gripped him by the shoulders and locked his gaze with her own. "I ... err.. Pinkie... No I didn't torment her, she was polite until she ... um... until she realized what was happening and ran away."

A sigh escaped Pinkie as she released him, and turned to look out the door, searching for a minute before turning back and closing the door at her back. "Alrighteo, Dusk. Then until AJ says otherwise I will take your word for it and trust you didn't pick on her." A single finger jabbed him in the chest before she pointed across to the library’s main hall as he let her hands push him back to the Library hall. "Now time is short. I have our lunch order all setup for delivery in about two hours, and you know as well as I do that Fluttershy will use any excuse or delay to avoid having to come. She got SOOO nervous when Barb said this was a date!"

As Pinkie forced Dusk back to the main hall of the Library with a forceful grip, she pushed him to sit once more in the heavy, red cushioned chair. "Okay Dusky, we need to get started. I'll get a wet cloth and help you clean those pants, you start asking questions!"

Deciding to just accept her help at this point, Dusk moved swiftly to sort through the piled papers in the folder sitting on the table at his side. Sorting through them rapidly, he found the paper he had started for Pinkie Pie. His voice was still a little shaken at the odd situation that had so swiftly complicated his otherwise rather simple life. "Okay Pinkie. If you think this is the best answer, I will go with it. First, just how tall are you? And what is your weight?"

From the kitchen he could hear her pull out a rag and soak it in the sink. She bounced back into the room, the grin on her face as she kneeled at his feet and began drawing the rough fabric over the wet spot in his pants left behind by Applejack. The steady stroke of the rag across his groin was the oddest mix of enjoyable and distracting-as-all-hell, leaving him to struggle to get his mind back in order. "Oh I'm five foot ten and one thirty eighth, and one hundred and sixty eight pounds of FUN!!!" There was a pause as she continued to stroke the cloth around pulling it away and sniffing the air deeply several times. "Hmm... I think it's better. Did you need help filling out those kind of details for the other girls? I know that AJ is embarrassed about her weight. And I bet you didn't have the courage to ask her how big she was!"

Dusk blushed at her candidness, swallowing sharply even as his lips formed the words he hadn't realized were so suddenly on his lips. "Well, how big are you? How big is she?" He suddenly realized he had asked that, while her fingers drifted free of the thick bulge in his pants.

Her answer however, was just as suddenly serious and warm, while her weight shifted up and she rested her elbows on his knees, her low cut top allowing her breasts pop free and fully reveal their curves. Drawing a breath, she let him have a full view of her ample breasts. "You can guess if you want, but I wear a 38 F cup, and AJ is a 44 E and she weighs one hundred ninety six pounds." Dusk's eyes grew wide as he closely watched the display put forward by his friend, never for a moment shy about the fact she had so casually put her breasts on display.

Dusk's gaze grew more intense as he realized he was being allowed to study the heavy, exposed breasts now revealed in his lap. Tanned flesh on bold display, the smooth skin was lightly freckled in such a way as to make him want to connect the dots. Small areola circles surrounded the pert tips of brown nipples, the hard flesh semi erect. He noticed that one had been pierced with a cute three balloon cluster. "You are... very open with information... If I... cannot manage to ask the others a question do you think... I can ask you for confirmation?"

Laughing and rolling back to free up her hands and pop the shirt back over her breasts once more Pinkie offered a shrug. "It's no problem at all for me to try and offer you that kind of help Dusk! Now come on, we don't have much time left. What's next? Cutie mark?"

To his credit, Dusk only felt a little sense of loss as the exciting sight she had put on display for him disappeared once more behind the veil of cloth. At last relaxing a little himself, he leaned back, breathing a slow hissing sigh. "Yeah, some stuff about your work, if you have any scars, that kind of thing."

The door slamming, dusk Realized that Barb was home before her voice called out, making him suddenly thankful now that Pinkie had put her breasts away and sat tall once more. "Dusk! I'm back. has Pinkie shown up yet?"

Pinkie was the faster of them to answer, standing up swiftly and turning her back to him to shift her shorts a little lower and put her cutie mark on full display, even while speaking out with joy. "I'm here, Barbypoo!" The full display of her cutie mark was presented just above the curve of her ass, three balloons, one yellow while the other two were blue.

As Barb entered the room, Dusk lightly started to stroke his fingers across Pinkie's ass, just above her cutie mark. "Hello, Barb. I've finished AJ's report and wanted to send it to The Princess right away, in case she had any questions before I finished with Pinkie and we had to go get Fluttershy for lunch. Think you can send it?"

Wide-eyed, Barb glanced at Dusk's inspection of Pinkie's backside, before shifting her gaze back once more to give him a very dark and serious glare. "You're silly. When does Princess Celestia ever question your attention to detail you lecherous fool!"

Pinkie snorted at the words and rushed over to hug Barb tightly. "Don't worry, Barbypoo. If anyone's the lecher here, it's me!" She took a second to deeply kiss the smaller girl, holding her close and stroking her jaw softly.

Suddenly reminded about his sense of shock earlier in the day, Dusk laughed and shook his head. "Pinkie don't tease her, she doesn't know you're just joking."

The kiss ended, and Pinkie moved to step back from the now truly-befuddled little dragoness, softly stroking her cheek before letting go and stepping away. "I'm sorry Barb, you're just too cute when you're lecturing Dusk for being bad." Laughing gently, she hugged the dragon and pushed her to the desk where his letter sat. "Now send Dusk's note so he can finish mine!"

Still shocked and a little overwhelmed, the dragon began to wander wide-eyed over to the desk and with a burst of green flame, sent the note off in a trail of green smoke that sailed from the window, swiftly delivering the letter to the Princess. As the two ponies talked, she tried to process all the mixed and conflicting emotions that ran through her mind. Suddenly, a heavy sensation of weight built up inside her throat, and a harsh burp ripped the magic from the depths of her throat as a burst of fire was released suddenly. "Err... Dusk... I guess you were right."

Their discussion interrupted, Dusk step swiftly over to take the letter up, reading it swiftly with wide eyes inspecting the page, but that only took a second, as the letter was short. His shoulders slumped and he released a sigh from his throat as he shook his head slowly. "She wants me to go see Redheart again. She wants a reference to some specialist to get my head examined again. And she wants me to keep asking extremely personal questions of the other girls. I'll try, but Pinkie... I might need your help again after all."

Laughing and nodding as she jotted notes on the paper Dusk had been writing about her, Pinkie looked up and grinned. "Okie dokie lokie! It'll be my pleasure! But I think you should send this letter. It's done now and I'm sure the princess appreciates getting the letter so quickly. Plus, I gotta go get our lunch and Fluttershy."

Folding up Celestia's letter, he wandered over and started to scan the letter about Pinkie, at last nodding once and scribbling a few last notes at the bottom of the page. "I think you are right. This should go over well, Pinkie. Thanks for your hard work." He paused as he rolled the letter up, handing it to Barb. "I think we are as ready as we can be for Fluttershy."

The trio nodded, for once the same line of thought came to all three at the same time. Barb was the one who spoke up first after the new letter was sent off. "So it’s a casual lunch, not a date, and not a strip club visit." She leveled a glare at Pinkie, who appeared to not notice the dragon's evil eye.

Author's Notes:

Watch The World According to Garp. God damn its one of Robin Williams best works. Distracting the shit out of me as I was writing this chapter but damn it it still fantastic, a real pleasure to watch.

Alright. I know I said I'd do part 2 as AJ though to Fluttershy and 3 as dash and rarity but this was getting really long as it was. So I'd rather upload this section now, and do part 3 as Fluttershy and Dash. I might make Rarity part 4 all by herself. It's still so damn long-winded. Hopefully you all enjoy this tease and please leave me a comment!

March 21st, 2015 - Wrabbit Edition update!

August 10th, 2015 - Shawkthroian Edition update!

Version 2.0 posted April 29th, 2016. Focused on removing improper use of 'own' and 'would', as well as major formatting changes that have happened across the series.