I woke up to the sun glaring at me through the window. A low groan emanated from my throat as I rolled over, trying to get a few more precious minutes of sleep. Sadly, I wasn’t given that chance as the mirror that was placed on the other side of my bed reflected the sun back into my eyes. I growled angrily and threw the sheets off of my body, rubbing the sand out of my eyes as I moved to sit on the edge of my bed. Massaging the back of my neck, I glanced over at my clock to see that it was only noon.

Sighing heavily, I moved off of my bed and headed for the shower. I closed the bathroom door, locking it as well so I wouldn’t have any walk-ins. It wasn’t that I was expecting Fleetfoot to walk in without knocking, but I did it as a precaution so I could think to myself. I turned on the hot water, stepping inside and not even testing how warm it was before letting it wash over my body. I suppressed a small yelp as I stepped back and turned down the temperature a little.

I leaned my head against the wall, closing my eyes as the warm water relaxed my muscles. Many thoughts and feelings ran through my mind, but one seemed to make its presence more well known than the others. Joy squashed down my emotions, getting a huge smile to spread across my face. I never realized it before, since I never really had an interest, but I was more alone than I led myself to believe. Sure, I enjoyed hanging with the friends that I made and talking with them about this and that, but in the end, it was just me once they left.

Thanks to Fleetfoot’s interest, I actually found something that was missing from my life. I actually had a chance to enjoy my life a little more, albeit with a pony, but who gives a fuck. I liked Fleetfoot, and she liked me. I was going to cherish this date, enjoying every second I got to spend with such a kind mare that actually isn’t afraid of what others might think of her. My eyes opened as I stared up at the showerhead, imagining how much my life would be different if it wasn’t for Cadence’s help. Granted, I was still going to get her and Luna back for the pictures, but that wouldn’t be for a bit until I could get some help.

Shaking my head to focus on my day, I proceeded to wash my body. As I was gradually covered in suds, I remembered that I still had one more stop to make before being prepared for my date. Realizing what I had to do, I slowly banged my head against the wall as I let out a small groan. I had to head back to the castle and see Silk about my clothes. Deciding to just rip this off like a band-aid, I cleaned off my suds and turned off the water. I then wrapped a towel around my waist while unlocking the bathroom door. As I took one step out of the door, I froze. Standing on the other side was Fleetfoot, and she was frozen in the air.

Silence filled the space between us, my heart racing as I worried about what would happen. I barely caught it, but I saw Fleetfoot’s eyes roam over my body, stopping somewhere at my waist before she looked me in the eyes.

“Spitfire isn’t around, is she?” I asked as I tried to act as though I wasn’t half naked and dripping slightly with water in front of my date.

“Um… she…” Fleetfoot stuttered, shaking her head before collecting her thoughts. “She’s actually gone for the next two days. She needed to head to Manehattan to make sure the other Wonderbolts still have their show premiering scheduled.”

“Awesome,” I said, tapping the wall with my fingers for a few seconds before walking away. I wasn’t really sure what else to say. “I’m just going to change into some clothes and go see Silk at the castle.” I turned around to look at Fleetfoot. “So what time is the date?”

Fleetfoot landed on the ground, her gaze moving away from my eyes as she scraped at the floor with a hoof. “We’ll head out at seven,” Fleetfoot said, her wings seeming to tremble slightly as a blush formed on her cheeks.

“Then I’ll see you at seven,” I said as I turned back around and closed the door to my room.

My breathing was heavy as my heart hammered in my chest. I felt flustered because this was the most a pony had ever seen me naked, besides my regular check-ups with Nurse Redheart and a few with Twilight. Taking a few breaths to ease my tensions, I unwrapped the towel around my waist and finished drying off my body as I grabbed a change of clothes. Dressed like normal, I threw the towel into a corner as I debated going through the door or just jumping out my window. I quickly shook that thought out of my head because of how silly it was. Fleetfoot and I are two perfectly healthy adults, at least by pony standards I guess she would be, so it didn’t matter.

I practically saw ponies naked every day, so why should I feel worked up about her seeing at least my body in partial nudity? My mind quickly went to what Fleetfoot could possibly do with the mental image I had given her, and it went further than I wished for it to. Slapping myself in the face, I quickly got rid of a very vivid image of Fleetfoot on a bed with her hoof between her legs. I started to laugh a little at how easily my mind went to something so lewd now that I was accepting how beautiful of a mare Fleetfoot really was.

As I was ready to step out of my room, I started to wonder exactly why I had such a thought about Fleetfoot. Sure, she was an outstanding mare that was beyond beautiful compared to other mares, but there wasn’t any chance of us of going that far. Was there? I hesitated at my door, actually pondering if Fleetfoot would ever want to be intimate with me. Shaking my head, I pushed the thought to the back of my memory to figure out later. I swung my door open, looking around for any sight of her. Fleetfoot was nowhere to be seen, so I guessed she either went out to do something or went to her room.

Shrugging my shoulders, I exited my room and left the house via the front door rather than a window. Stepping outside, the sun seemed to be a bit brighter today. I could feel the warmth radiating off my clothes as it heated the fabric, giving me a pleasant feeling. I headed down the road, smiling to myself as a bit of excitement started to fill me. My walk to the castle was faster than usual, the guards at the front waving to me as I waved back. They stepped aside as I walked through the gates, entering the castle to see a few maids trotting about. Everything seemed a bit brighter now that I was finally going out with someone, albeit a talking pastel-colored pony.

I could just imagine how people would react if this was back on my planet, but I honestly couldn’t find a reason why it would be so bad. The ponies were sapient like normal humans, but I could only guess that the problem would be that they were equine. Honestly, as I thought about it more, from everything I’ve learned and seen, I couldn’t find a reason to find them unattractive. Hell, if I had to be honest with myself, the princesses weren’t bad looking either, but I understood that our love was more platonic. My friendship with them was great enough and I wouldn’t ask for anything different from them.

I was pulled out of my cultural thoughts when I ran into a door. Letting out a loud groan of pain, I rubbed at my face as I looked at my surroundings. Apparently, I was so deep enough in thought that I did not register the fact that I had reached Silk’s room. Looking at the door, I felt a pang of worry about how Silk was doing. From all my time that I’d spent with her, yesterday was the first time I ever saw her actually be more open with her feelings. She seemed okay when I left, but from what she told me, there were a lot of memories that were running through her mind.

I also couldn’t really be upset with her because even with her very teasing antics, she wasn’t a bad mare to be around. She was someone that I could call a friend who would probably help me if I ever had a problem. Then again, she’s actually helping me right now with making me a set of clothes for tonight. I smiled a little, happy that Silk, even with her very lewd behavior, could always be counted on. I opened the door, stepping inside to see Silk hard at work at her station. I knocked on the hardwood, getting her attention as her ears swiveled back.

Silk spoke in a calm tone, none of her playfulness layered on as I closed the door. “Good morning, Mark.” Silk turned towards me, a content smile on her muzzle as she put down her pencils. “If you’ll follow me, I have your clothes finished and just need you to try them on so I can make adjustments.”

“Ladies first,” I said as I gestured for her to lead, her body going a little tense. There was something obviously on her mind, but I couldn’t quite figure it out. I also didn’t want to pry because I didn’t want to open anymore personal wounds.

Silk trotted ahead, her wings flapping a little in excitement as she spoke. “I hope you like what I designed,” Silk said as she gave a quick look back at me, her smile still present. “I had to go through at least twenty different designs before finally deciding on one that I thought would be perfect.”

“Silk, I know that I’ve never said this before, but you make amazing clothes. I’m pretty sure I would be permanently naked if it wasn’t for both you and Rarity,” I said as I ruffled her mane.

Silk playfully batted my hand away before fixing her mane slightly. “Please, I should be thanking you for giving me a chance to create something different for once.” Silk looked up at me, beaming a grateful smile at me.

I raised a curious brow at her. “Don’t you get to create whatever you want, though?”

“Sometimes I do, but that’s when I’m making it for ponies that actually want a bit of different style,” Silk said as she gave a small frown. “Most of the nobles here pretty much want the same type of clothes, but in different colors. If it wasn’t for the princesses and a lot of the castle staff, I probably would have retired and moved away.”

I was saddened to hear how underappreciated Silk was here in Canterlot. Rarity at least had a diverse community of ponies in Ponyville to create clothes for, but Silk was just limited to mainly those at the castle. I gave her a nudge, getting her attention and a small smile from her as I smiled in kind. “If you want, I could possibly get Rarity to have you come help her in Ponyville. I can’t say much about what you’ll be paid, but you’ll at least get to meet more ponies that would probably enjoy your works.”

Silk gave a slightly lecherous grin as she bumped me with her flank, swaying her hips in an enticing manner as her tone took on a slight seductive edge. “If I were to do that, then who would give you such a lovely view.” Silk punctuated her statement by giving a sharp smack to her right flank. My face was burning slightly at seeing her do that, thinking about how Fleetfoot’s flank would feel under my palm.

“You really love to be a tease, don’t you?” I said as I smiled at her playfulness, slightly shaking my head.

“You know that you love it,” Silk said, returning my smile. “Although, thank you for the offer. I’ll talk to her about it when I get the chance.”

“Good, because I don’t need to lose a friend who does amazing things for someone she hardly knows,” I said as I scratched behind her ear.

Silk let out a small coo as she pressed further into my fingers. “Believe me, Mark, I wasn’t entirely sure about you at first, but I could see there was something different about you.” I raised my brow at her, Silk waving a hoof lazily while I continued to scratch. “Besides the obvious. I also want to thank you for listening about my little past. It really means a lot to me, even though we don’t see each other that much.”

“Listen, Silk,” I said, moving in front of her and crouching so she could look into my eyes. “It’s true that we don’t see each other much, and most of the time it’s just you teasing me. If there’s one thing that I can say for certain, you’ve been a very good friend.” Silk gave me a smile as I rose to my feet, giving her a quick scratch behind her ear before gesturing for her to continue leading.

It was nice to see Silk in such a better mood. It seemed to take a lot from her to talk about her past, especially if what she said was true and that she never really told anyone about it. I was being honest with her, though. Despite her very provocative behavior, she was a kind mare that had been more than willing to help me if I needed it. I don’t really expect that part of her to change, but with everything as it is, I don’t think I would say she would need to change anything. The two of us reached the dressing room, and I easily spotted my clothes on a hanger in the far back.

I watched as Silk quickly sprang into the air and pulled my clothes off the rack. She then disappeared behind the curtain, leaving me to wait for her return. Thankfully, she wasn’t gone long as she came back out and opened the curtain for me.

I looked at her with a raised brow as I refused to move. “Are you going to stay out here this time and not try and get a peek?” I asked, looking at her intently.

“I think we both know the answer to that,” Silk said, a mischievous smile on her face.

I could only shake my head at her as I moved towards the changing room, looking down at her before grabbing the curtain and closing it. Even with that smile, I knew she wouldn’t ever really look inside. She would always attempt to look inside, something that seemed to never stop, but I learned that she enjoyed the mystery. She seemed to enjoy trying to get a peek, but she would never succeed because I would either stop her or she would stop herself. This antic of hers took a bit of time to get used to, but seeing there was never any real harm, I learned to relax about it.

With the curtain closed, I took my time looking at the clothes that Silk had laid out for me. I was actually very impressed with how well they looked. The shirt was a button-up and white in color, but there was a bit of arctic blue along the seams and edges that matched Fleetfoot’s coat color. My pants were cargo designed, but were made to be a little nicer looking so I could get into most restaurants with them. I honestly didn’t mind not being able to go to the high end restaurants, since it was never about how expensive the place was. What really got me, though, was their color. The pants were a dark shade of artic blue, but what really pulled my attention was the golden seams and edges. I wasn’t really an expert with fashion and I thought they looked great, but I did notice that one thing was missing.

“Hey, Silk?” I called out as I started disrobing.

“Yes?” Silk called back, probably watching my silhouetted form.

“I like what you did with the clothes, but I don’t see the feather anywhere.” I looked into the nearby mirror as I slipped on the shirt. “Were you able to find something to do with it?”

“Sadly, I was unable to work it into the designs the way I wanted to at first,” Silk answered, her wings flapping, indicating that she was in the air. “So I redesigned it to be used in one of two ways. I’ll let you decide on which you would like after you finish getting dressed.”

I grabbed my pants and slipped them, taking a quick peek at the mirror to see if anything was wrong with them. With my full ensemble, I had to admit that I didn’t look half bad. The colors were a good contrast with each other, and really made me stand out a bit more than what I would usually wear. One final look into the mirror to see if anything was out of place or still needing work, I walked out of the changing room. I had to stop before almost colliding with Silk as she hovered at eye level.

“So what do you think?” Silk asked as she flew around, giving my outfit a critical look.

“I love it, Silk,” I said as I smiled at the outfit. “This is probably the best thing I’ve ever worn for any kind of date.”

This got Silk to beam brighter as she did one final pass. “Thank you, Mark. I won’t lie, I had to rethink it a few times because of who is courting you, but I think she’ll like it just as much as you do,” Silk said happily, flying towards a stand and grabbing something. She flew back towards me, her hooves behind her back as she spoke. “Like I said, I can make this in one of two ways, depending on what you prefer.”

“Let’s see what you have to offer,” I said, excited to see what she might have planned for the feather.

Silk moved her hooves to her front, the feather glimmering slightly in the little amount of sun that was in the room. “The first option is to create a sort of clip that you can use to clip onto your shirts. The second option is I have it made into a necklace,” Silk offered, but I felt there was something she wasn’t telling me.

I put a hand to my chin, going deep into thought about which I wanted, but my curiosity for the necklace got the better of me. “There’s something more about the necklace, isn’t there?” I asked, looking at her with a curious expression.

“Very good, Mark. Looks like you’re finally starting to catch on to a few things,” Silk said, giving a knowing smirk. “While it’s an old tradition and most ponies don’t do it that often, a necklace is a little more intimate,” Silk started to explain, already making my choice for me. “You could use a clip to state that your relationship is casual, but with a necklace, you’re showing that you’re wanting a very intimate one.” Silk finished tying a couple of strings together before giving me the necklace. “It also helps to show that you’re serious about being with her.”

I looked at the necklace, seeing there were a few spots surrounded by various jewels that were open, making it look like something could be put in there. “What’s with the open spots?” I asked as I tried on the necklace, liking the way the feather felt against me.

“Those are for if you end up turning your relationship into a herd,” Silk said, flying next to me and looking at the necklace to make sure it looked nice. “If you don’t end up having one, you can just close them off by moving these closer together.” Silk demonstrated this by grabbing one of the gems and sliding it close to the feather before moving it back into place.

“Thanks, Silk,” I said, a small smile on my face as I played with the feather between my fingers.

“Although,” Silk spoke up, pulling my attention away from the feather. “If you don’t want something like this, I’ll change it to the clip. Though if you want my honest opinion, I think it looks better this way, Mark,” Silk said, running a hoof over the feather before looking at me.

I stayed silent, looking down at the feather. Thoughts of doubt were starting to form, but before they could even manifest into something more, I shoved them down. Looking at Silk, I gave her a determined smile. “I promised myself that I would take this seriously, so I’ll keep it as a necklace.

Silk started clopping her hooves together in excitement as her smile grew. “I’m so happy to hear that, Mark. I know she’ll appreciate you doing this,” Silk said as she grabbed a nearby bag from where she made my necklace. “Now, I bet you want to keep your clothes a surprise until the date?” I nodded my head. “Then get changed back into your regular clothes and put your date clothes in the bag.”

I did as she said and disappeared behind the curtain. I took off my new outfit, carefully folding the items before putting them away in the bag. Changing into my regular clothes, I ran my fingers across the necklace. I was debating if I should leave it on or take if off to keep it a surprise for Fleetfoot. Looking at the necklace, it didn’t seem right to take it off now. Grabbing the base of the feather, I tucked it underneath my shirt so I could feel that odd warmth coming from it, keeping it hidden from view.

Placing a hand over my chest where the necklace was hidden, I looked into the mirror before giving a sharp nod. I grabbed the bag that held my new clothes and exited the changing room, only to notice that Silk wasn’t here this time. Confused, I walked towards her workroom to see her sitting at her worktable. She still had that bright smile as her tail swished in excitement. It was really nice to see her this happy, then again, most ponies looked nice when they were happy. I made to leave, but was stopped when she collided with my body and embraced me in a tight hug.

“Good luck on your date tonight, Mark. I’m hoping for the best for the two of you,” Silk said in a soft voice, her head nuzzling my back.

“Thank you, Silk. For everything I mean,” I said, grabbing a foreleg and giving it a gentle squeeze to show my appreciation. “Also, thank you for the kind words. I hope the date goes well too.”

Silk held onto me for a while, her head nuzzling my back as I patted her foreleg. I was certain there was more to this closeness than just her happiness for my date, but I wasn’t going to question it. We stayed together for a few minutes before she finally released me. I turned around and gave her a quick hug before giving her a reassuring smile. Silk gave me a nod as she gestured with a wing that I could leave. I rustled her mane a little before heading for the door again.

I reached for the door, but was stopped when Silk spoke up again. “Mark, I know we’re friends, but you better treat Fleetfoot right, or else you’ll have somepony else to worry about other than Spitfire,” Silk said in a serious tone.

I was surprised to see how serious she was, but at the same time it was nice to see how caring she was for Fleetfoot. “Don’t worry, I will,” I called over my shoulder. Chuckling a little to myself, I decided to pay Celestia a visit. I knew that I should probably be worried about what Silk said, but honestly, it was actually nice to hear. Seeing Fleetfoot only interact with ponies that she mainly works with gave me the impression that she didn’t really know anyone else. Thanks to Silk’s concern, it was nice to know that Fleetfoot had friends beyond the workplace. Although, as I thought about it some more, I could be wrong about my assumption, but either way, I had nothing to fear. I was going to see this date through the end and see where Fleetfoot wanted this to go.

I waved at a few guards and maids that weren’t busy doing anything. Most of them were just wandering around, talking amongst each other. Many of them were happy to see me like always, and I guess it was nice to see them as well. It didn’t take long before I reached the dining room. Most days were usually like this for Celestia. Her day court was open once the sun has risen into the sky above, but it took a few hours before any ponies showed up to talk with her. There was a single guard that was sitting next to the dining room’s doors. She had a plate in front of her and her helmet was off, showing off her electric red mane that parted around her horn, her coat an interesting shade of indigo.

The guard looked up at me, her piercing left orange and right blue eyes staring at me intently before she smiled and waved at me. My lips pursed as I tried to put a name to her, but I was drawing a blank. I knew most of the ponies that were always at the castle, and the fact that I didn’t know who she was must have meant that she was new. Reaching the dining room doors, I stopped next her and looked at her curiously.

She looked up at me, her smile still present as she finished off her toast. “Hey there,” she greeted as she extended a hoof. “You must be Mark?”

I reached out for the offered hoof and shook it. “That would be me,” I answered, letting go of her hoof as I shook my head slightly. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ve seen you before. If I had, then I would definitely remember because of your interesting mane color.”

This seemed to draw her attention as she ran a hoof through her mane, only making it look messy as she laughed nervously. “If you think that’s something, then you should see my tail color,” she said, but her eyes widened as she remembered something. “By the way, my name’s Starburst.”

I smiled as I greeted her properly.

“Pleasure to meet you, Starburst,” I said, getting her to return the smile. “Anyways, how exactly is your tail any different?”

Starburst gave a quick nod as she got off of her chair, allowing me to finally see her tail. Her tail was a dark blue, a yellow streak going along the side like a shooting star. She turned around to allow me to see the other side had the same streak. Looking at her tail, I took notice that her cutie mark was a white star that was exploding like a firework with several small red-orange stars surrounding it.

She turned back around and took her seat again as she rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. “Yeah, kind of overplaying my name a bit with that,” Starburst said, giving a small laugh.

“I personally think it just makes you stand out more,” I said, getting Starburst to raise a brow at me. “I mean, I know it’s normal to have swirls in stripes in most manes and tails, but seeing an actual design that you are born with adds a little more personality.”

Starburst giggled behind a hoof before lightly shaking her head. “Celestia said you were a fun person to talk with, but she didn’t say anything about how bold you are in complimenting a mare.”

I shrugged as I smiled at her. “I think I could thank a few ponies for that kind of confidence, but if you don’t mind, I have a question,” I said, and Starburst gestured for me to continue. “Shouldn’t there be another guard here?”

“Yeah, she should be back in a few moments. She went to get her own meal,” Starburst explained as she went back to her food.

True to her word, a pegasus mare showed up with a brown paper sack on her back. Her coat was beige with her eyes being a deep indigo. Her mane was a mint green and shaven completely on the right side with her left being long enough to hang over and cover her left eye. Her tail was a dark green and her cutie mark was an emerald shield. I was very certain that if many of the upper nobility of Canterlot saw some of these guards, they would try to have one of the princesses try and get them to look uniform.

She seemed to notice me quickly as she stopped her trot forward and stared at me with wide eyes. I looked at her, not moving out of fear that I might somehow scare her off. She seemed to get over her initial shock as she peered around me and glowered at Starburst.

“Starburst, why didn’t you get me when Mark showed up?” she asked, her glower only becoming heavier as Starburst continued to eat.

Starburst finished off her toast before swallowing and answering her. “Because, Emerald, I was busy introducing myself to the nice human.”

“Then would you care to explain why you’re acting so unprofessional? I mean seriously, you took off your armor and we’re not even on a true break,” Emerald said as she trotted past me and took a seat at another table.

Before Starburst could say anything, I stepped in with a question of my own. “So you’re both new to being guards for Celestia?”

Both of them nodded. “Just got positioned with Princess Celestia yesterday. We’re the replacements for Shield and Strongheart after they moved, sir,” Emerald answered as she opened her bag lunch and began to organize its contents.

“Listen, I know that you’re taught to have all these rules and procedures, but can you do me a favor?” I asked, getting their attention. “Drop the sir part and just relax around me. Starburst at least has the right idea,” I said as I pointed to Starburst.

“Obviously you don’t know Starburst, sir,” Emerald said, giving a flat look to Starburst.

“Emerald, if I told you once, then I’ve told you every time since boot camp. You really need to loosen up if you want to connect with anypony,” Starburst said, finishing off her breakfast.

“Then why did you agree to be partnered with me for this post?” Emerald asked with a raised brow.

Starburst got off her chair, dressing in her armor and making sure it was on properly before turning towards Emerald. “That’s because I enjoy your company. You may be a real rule stickler, but I know there’s a fun side to you,” Starburst said happily, giving her a big smile.

“I sometimes wonder how you made it this far with that laid back attitude of yours,” Emerald retorted, taking her first bite into a rose sandwich.

“You’ve seen how well I did in basic. I’ve just learned to unwind a bit more than you have,” Starburst said jokingly, setting her chair to the side and standing at attention.

I could see that Emerald was about to say something, but I cut her off so I could get on with what I wanted to do. “We’ll work on the ‘sir’ thing later. I just want to see Celestia for a few minutes before I head out,” I said, massaging the bridge of my nose.

Starburst gave me a curt nod as she pushed the door open and gestured for me to go through. I returned her nod with one of my own and gave a small salute to Emerald before entering the dining hall. The door closed behind me with a soft bang as I looked at the end of the dining table. I saw Celestia with the morning paper floating in front of her along with her cup of coffee. There was a slice of banana cake on the table, half of it already eaten. My attention was pulled to another guest at the table, and I was surprised to see her here.

“MARK!!!” Surprise yelled, waving her foreleg frantically and startling Celestia.

I waved to Surprise as Celestia placed down her newspaper and took a bite of her cake. I joined the two of them at the table, placing the bag on the ground as Surprise bounced excitedly in her seat and Celestia ate delicately. Surprise seemed eager to say something, if the way her smile was reaching her ears was any indication. Looking over at Celestia, it seemed that she wasn’t going to say anything soon, so I gestured towards Surprise for her to speak.

“Congratulations, Mark!” Surprise said, jumping from her seat and zooming right in front of my face. “So how long until your date?!”

My eyes widened in surprise as I heard Celestia drop her fork. Ignoring Surprise’s comment at the moment, I looked at Celestia with a neutral expression. “Really? After the many things I’ve done and that you’ve heard, this catches you by surprise?” I asked, getting Celestia to blush a little in embarrassment.

“I just… wasn’t expecting this so… soon,” Celestia explained, picking up her dropped fork and setting it on the plate.

“Is there something that you don’t like about this?” I asked, feeling Surprise press against my face, but I ignored it for now.

Celestia’s eyes went wide at what I was saying, and she quickly lifted her hooves as she shook them in a defensive gesture. “That’s not what I meant. I was just hoping for a few more weeks for your feelings to develop before going out with somepony,” Celestia explained, her eyes showing a bit of worry that she may have offended me.

“Sorry about that,” I said, reaching for Celestia and rubbing along her neck to help ease her tension. “I guess I still have a few jitters for the upcoming date. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Celestia smiled as she moved her head to my hand, nuzzling it warmly. It was actually nice to see her like this. It wasn’t often she was able to let loose unless she was with her sister or Cadence, but after my arrival, I was glad that she trusted me enough to let her guard down. Now that I actually thought about it, it was getting close to our appointment. It wasn’t anything big, but she would just stop by and talk about the day’s past events. I would listen to her, but it was more of a one-sided conversation since it was a chance for her to vent as opposed to really having a conversation.

The appointment was more for her to vent away her troubles. It probably helped that I also allowed her to lay on my lap and I would pet along her neck and body to help soothe her. I was pulled from my musings when a sudden pressure around my chest started to tighten. It was starting to get hard to breathe and I looked down to see a pair of white legs wrapped around me. I looked over my shoulder to see Surprise hugging me from behind, her poofy mane hitting me in the face as she tried to get my attention.

“Can I help you?” I asked, spitting out a few hairs.

“I asked when your date was and you haven’t answered me,” Surprised whined, looking up at me with tear filled eyes.

Surprise was lifted off of me in a golden aura, being placed in front of me again. “Sorry about that,” Celestia said, releasing her hold on Surprise after setting her down. “Her hormones are making her a little more emotional.”

“That would explain this,” I said, gesturing to Surprise, who was already nuzzling my chest.

Celestia could only offer a sheepish smile as she shrugged. “Anyway, is there anything you want to talk about?” Celestia asked, offering a way to ignore Surprise’s antics.

“Let me settle this first, and I’ll see if there’s anything,” I said, getting a nod from Celestia as she summoned another fork and began eating her cake again.

Grabbing Surprise’s head, I pulled her away from my chest, earning a whimper from her. She flailed her hooves out, grabbing the neck of my shirt and trying to pull me closer to her. I had to give it to her, she was stronger than she looked. Thankfully, I was able to get her to let go, my curiosity about how their hooves could grab things being pushed deep down into the area where I should never question things about this world. Sadly, she was able to pull out the necklace I was hiding underneath my shirt.

Surprise’s eyes went wide, her eyes darting between the necklace and me for a few seconds. I saw something twinkle in her eye, something I noticed only once in Fleur, but many times in Rarity, and knew what was coming. I quickly plugged my ears as Surprise took a deep breath.

“AHHHHHHH!” Surprise screamed, startling Celestia for the second time this day and getting the guards to barge through the doors. I couldn’t hear anything, Surprise’s scream somehow still audible and causing my ears to ring. Celestia moved away from the table, probably going to tell her guards that everything was fine, while I tried to get rid of the irritable ringing that persisted in my ears.

“Ow,” I said, trying to fight off a possible headache that might come in the future.

“This is so exciting! Fleetfoot is so going to love that you did this!” Surprise cheered joyfully before realizing something. “I need to tell everypony the good news!” she yelled as she took to the air.

This easily got my attention as I reached out for her and grabbed her hind leg. She looked over her shoulder to see that I was pleading with my eyes that she not leave. She quickly settled onto the table, sitting on her haunches as she folded her wings back in. Taking a few seconds, I collected my thoughts, breath, and my hearing before looking back at the dining hall doors. Celestia had closed them, her horn giving a quick flash before she joined the two of us at the table again. She didn’t say anything, but I could see that she still gave a few glances to the necklace that I was wearing. I ignored her for now and focused my attention on Surprise.

“Surprise, please keep this a secret until after my first date?” I asked, hoping that she would have enough sense to do that.

“How come? I thought you liked Fleetfoot?” Surprised asked, a confused expression on her face.

“That’s just it, though. I’m not sure exactly what I’m feeling. This date is just to see if there’s anything that could work between us,” I explained, hoping this was enough to convince her.

Surprise crossed her forelegs, shutting her eyes as she hummed in thought. Silence settled between the three us before she spoke again. “Fiiiiiiine. I’ll keep this a secret until you know what you’re feeling.” Surprise gave me a smile as she trotted forward. She pulled me into a hug, moving the necklace back into my shirt as she nuzzled my cheek. “Also, good luck with her and I wish the best for the both of you,” Surprise said, patting my back a few times before letting go and flying out of the dining hall.

Looking over at Celestia, I could see that she was giving me a questioning look. What made it a little scary was that the look was one of those silent ones that required no words. I didn’t want to give in so easily, so I matched her with a neutral expression, waiting to hear her question. Sadly, she had more experience than I did, and I was slowly beginning to crack. It didn’t take long before I slumped over and let out a deep sigh. A wing was soon draped over my back and I looked up to see Celestia offering a small supportive smile.

“Do you know what it means to wear that necklace?” Celestia asked as she kept her wing draped over my back.

“Silk explained it to me,” I answered, smiling a little as I felt the feather tickle my chest.

“Are you sure about this, though?” Celestia asked, giving a worried look.

“I want to try,” I said, meeting Celestia’s eyes. “She went this far to ask me out, and it probably took a lot of willpower to do this. I thought I should show the same amount of conviction.”

“Then I hope for the best for the both of you,” Celestia said, placing a hoof on my shoulder as she smiled at me encouragingly.

“The good thing is that I have several hours until the date to hopefully prepare myself for anything,” I said jokingly.

This earned a laugh from Celestia as she shook her head slightly. I couldn’t help but join in her laughter as well, as it helped to ease some of my tensions. As our laughter died down, the room became silent, Celestia still offering me some comfort with her wing.

“Is there still something troubling you?” Celestia asked, worry evident in her tone.

“Nothing too big that I can’t handle myself,” I answered, scratching behind Celestia’s ear to show that everything was fine.

I received a small hum of contentment from Celestia before she pulled her head back. “Then take care, Mark. Let me know how your date goes the next time we meet.”

“Sure thing, Celestia. You have a good morning,” I said, grabbing my bag and heading for the door. I stopped short and looked back over my shoulder at Celestia. “Also, I think your two new guards are a nice addition to your ranks,” I said, smiling at what my interactions with Emerald and Starburst will be like as time goes on.

“Thank you, Mark. I think they’ll be a nice addition as well,” Celestia said, smiling as she cleaned off her table and headed for the door.

Starburst and Emerald opened the doors, Celestia exiting first with me following close behind. Celestia and I shared a quick hug before we parted ways. I easily caught Emerald staring at me with a confused expression, but Starburst gained her attention back as they caught up with Celestia. Shrugging at Emerald’s antics, I headed out to leave the castle. I wasn’t really worried that Emerald would do anything since she’d probably learn that it was normal for Celestia to act affectionate around me whenever we spoke. I did have to give it to her, though. She was really committed to her job, and that wasn’t something I hadn’t seen in a while after getting acquainted with most of the guards.

Exiting the castle, I walked back to the house, wondering if Fleetfoot was home or not. I made a quick stop at the market district to see if Razor was around, but sadly, she wasn’t. Her stand was closed for the next couple of days, so I continued home. I waved to a few ponies that I passed, a few foals running around my feet joyously as they played some game. A few feet from my house, the following foals ran back to wherever their parents were and left me to my own thoughts.

I entered the house to see the lights were off and no noise coming from anywhere. I walked up the stairs, placing the bag on the floor of my room and flopping out onto my bed. Staring at the ceiling, I let my mind relax as my eyes closed. The soft mattress helped to relax my body as I decided to get a few more hours of sleep before having to go anywhere. Opening my eyes, I grabbed the clock off the shelf and set it for at least an hour before the date started. Turning on the alarm, I set it back on the shelf and let myself drift off into sleep.

Several Hours Later

I awoke well before my alarm went off, but I was still alone in the house. I went about doing little tasks that consisted of cleaning the house and making at least a meal for Spitfire if she got back from Manehattan later tonight. Thankfully, time went by quickly as I did these few chores, and I was able to fill in the last bit of time with a shower. Oddly enough, Fleetfoot hadn’t been by the entire time I was busy with the house. I ignored this for now as I continued to wash myself, only to be disturbed by a knock at the door.

“Mark, are you in there?” Fleetfoot asked, her voice higher so I could hear her over the water.

“Yeah, I’m just washing up so I’m presentable,” I replied, going back to washing my body.

“Okay. I’ll be downstairs in the living room when you finish,” Fleetfoot said, a hint of worry just barely heard in her voice.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at hearing her slight worry. Fleetfoot, from what I always saw, was caring, strong, and determined whenever she set her heart to something. There were those few times where I saw her at her most vulnerable, but she still saw things through. Actually hearing that she was worried was a good thing since it helped to let me know that I wasn’t the only one worried about the date. Quickly finishing up my shower, but making sure that I was still clean, I turned off the water and grabbed my towel.

I dried off my body, throwing the towel into a corner, and started getting dressed. Once I was fully dressed, I looked into the mirror to make sure that everything was in order. I looked closely at my face to see some stubble starting to form. Sighing a bit, I grabbed my razor and started to groom myself. There wasn’t much to shave off, but I went over everywhere my hair usually grew to make sure it was gone. There probably wasn’t much need to actually shave, especially since it made a lot of these ponies think I had fur, but I never really much cared for it.

Finishing my shave, I washed off my face and did a quick dry. I spotted no cuts along my face and smiled at how nice I looked. Looking at the necklace on the sink counter, I debated whether I should wear it or not. I know I told Celestia that I was committed to meeting Fleetfoot’s determination in this, but I felt like I would be bringing her hopes up too much. Then again, I wasn’t very sure about her past relationships, but if any of those ponies weren’t willing to be with her, then it’s their loss. Picking up the necklace, I held it in front of my neck as I thought about what to do.

I pulled the necklace away from my neck, only to frown to see how empty it made my ensemble. Gripping the necklace tightly, I slipped it around my neck and made sure that the feather was still in place. The feather glinted softly in the light of the bathroom, getting me to smile as I ran my fingers across it. Happy with my choice, I moved towards the door, exiting the bathroom and heading for the living room. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I turned towards the couch, only to freeze in place.

I still didn’t know what it was about this world, but even with ponies walking around naked all the time, clothes really had an effect on them. Fleetfoot was already very beautiful, but the dress she wore made her truly stand out. The dress was a darker purple of her eyes, and covered her entire body, even her hind legs. I assumed there were holes in the dress as her tail and wings were sticking out. The dress had short sleeves for her forelegs, but the rest was covered in silk stockings that were shear. On her hooves were arctic blue slippers that sparkled a little.

I wasn’t really sure what she could possibly be wearing underneath her dress, except for the same stockings and slippers, but I couldn’t control one thing that popped into my mind. I only have Echo to thank for this coming to mind since she brought it up not long after my arrival to Equestria, but I started to wonder what kind of panties she was wearing, if any. Pushing those thoughts deep into the recesses of my mind, I took a look at Fleetfoot’s face. Surprisingly enough, she wore a dark orange eyeliner, her lips a lovely shade of dark blue, and to tie it all off was her mane. Instead of its regular windswept look, she had it straightened out and tied back into a ponytail.

I found it very hard not to drool or even pass out from how beautiful Fleetfoot looked. I probably would have continued to stare if it wasn’t for the nervous look she was giving. Quickly shaking my head clear, I cleared my throat as I offered her a smile.

“You look lovely tonight, Fleetfoot,” I said, my smile never leaving.

“T-Thank…” Fleetfoot started, but stopped as her eyes went wide. “Are you wearing my… feather?” Fleetfoot asked, a hoof placed against her lips.

“Yes, I am,” I answered, moving closer to her. “Do you want me to take it off?”

“No!” Fleetfoot exclaimed quickly, her eyes wide.

I was startled by her outburst, but I quickly regained my composure as I knelt in front of her. Fleetfoot shuffled nervously in place as I reached out with hand, gently cupping her cheek as I tried to make her meet my eyes. She did so a little reluctantly, but her slight shaking stopped as she looked at my smiling face. She wrapped a hoof around my wrist as she nuzzled into my palm, letting out a small sigh of comfort. Happy to see that she was starting to calm a little, I let her continue to nuzzle my hand until she was feeling better. Fleetfoot finally pulled away after a few minutes, but not before giving a small frown at having to do so.

“You feeling better?” I asked, getting a nod as my response. “Then are you ready to go?”

“Yes, let’s head out and have some fun,” Fleetfoot answered, her smile returning as she trotted for the door.

I smiled at her retreating form, following closely behind in case she wanted to start any conversation. She held the door open for me, something I still didn’t like having done for me, but was able to push aside to see how things worked out. Once I was through, she exited the house, making sure that she had her purse with her before closing the door and locking it. My mind jumped to how Spitfire would get inside, but I just assumed that there was either a spare key that they kept hidden or she had one herself.

Fleetfoot stood next to me, smiling before beginning to trot off. I followed by her side, enjoying the cool night breeze and savoring the look of the night sky. Looking over at Fleetfoot, I took notice of the moonlight hitting her dress, causing her to shine a little. The light of the moon even made her makeup shimmer, giving her a very sexy look that I didn’t think was truly possible. Fleetfoot turned her head in my direction, and I was pulled from my staring when she spoke.

“See something that you like?” Fleetfoot asked in a slightly teasing tone.

“Yes! I mean no!” I let out a deep sigh as I rubbed my temples. “I’m sorry,” I apologized, trying to keep my eyes off of Fleetfoot.

Fleetfoot bumped me with her side, getting my attention as she smiled at me. “You don’t need to apologize, Mark,” Fleetfoot said, her smile never wavering. “It’s actually kind of nice to know that I can still get that kind of reaction.”

I looked around to see if there were any ponies out and about before turning towards Fleetfoot. “Are you not able to have nights like this?” I asked, hoping to not get too personal.

Fleetfoot slowed her trot a little, and I was about to apologize before she spoke up. “Not as much as before,” Fleetfoot said, her smile still showing. “I just kind of stopped dating after a while.”

“What made you stop?” I asked, wondering if there was something more to why she asked me out.

“A culmination of things, really,” Fleetfoot answered, moving closer to me as she continued to smile. “It was either just a bad relationship or we just wanted different things. I mean Spitfire and I even gave each other a shot, but it just didn’t work out.”

I think I might have startled Fleetfoot when I nearly tripped over myself. “Sorry, that last bit just really took me by surprise,” I apologized, regaining my footing so Fleetfoot could continue to lean against me. “After all of that, then why did you decide now to begin dating again?”

Fleetfoot went to answer, but silenced herself after we arrived at our destination. The restaurant was three stories and was obviously Cloudsdale-themed with all the clouds that were around it. There were marble columns on the first and second level of the restaurant, while the third level had more cloud-related themes. Looking over at the raised sign, I read the name of the restaurant. It was called Three Tribes and had a pony of each race on the sign. There were alicorns positioned at the top of the sign and had their horns touching with a wave of magic coming down on the other three races.

I was pulled from my musings when I felt something tug on my pants. Looking down, I noticed a white tail wrapped my leg, and following it, I saw Fleetfoot giving me a smile as she gave another tug. Laughing a little to myself, I followed her inside. My ears were hit with a soft melody as I stepped through the door. I looked passed the greeter to see a stage at the far back, and I was surprised to see who was there. Octavia and Lyra were up on stage, their signature instruments in their grasp. The song that they were playing was obviously romantic as my eyes moved to the table in front of the stage.

Sitting at the table was Bon Bon and Vinyl, both of whom were watching their marefriends playing. My eyes continued to scan the front of the room, where I saw a stallion watching Octavia. It seemed that he didn’t have any ill intent towards her, but something about him said that I shouldn’t get involved with him. If anything, it would be something that Maurice would get in trouble with if he was here. Ignoring the stallion, I moved along the front for another surprising sight.

I honestly couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Sitting in a corner table were Rainbow Dash and Rarity. I was literally at a loss for words as Dash sat close to Rarity, the latter leaning against the former. Even more surprising was how Dash was dressed. Rainbow was in an actual dress, something from many past conversations that I learned she didn’t like. Not really sure how she was in one, but assuming Rarity had something to do with it, I couldn’t help but smile at them. I didn’t try to draw any attention to myself so I wouldn’t disturb any of them, since they all looked happy at the moment.

Returning my attention to Fleetfoot, she had spoken with a pegasus mare that I assumed was the hostess and was grabbing menus before directing us to follow her. Our hostess had a pink coat with a coiffured mane and tail that was dark pink. A quick glimpse at her eyes showed that they were a deep blue and her cutie mark was a bunch of rose petals. Fleetfoot continued to lean against me as we followed our hostess up to the second level. I gave a small frown, knowing that my inability to walk on clouds was the only reason we were not being seated on the third floor. Unfortunately, it was something that I just had to deal with in Equestria. Had I known that we were coming to someplace like this, I would have grabbed that other necklace that allowed me to walk on clouds.

As we reached the second floor, I took notice of the few ponies that were around. I could only assume that most of them were on the first floor so they could watch the performance, but I could still hear it. The hostess led us to the middle of the room and set our menus on the center table. I was about to pull out a chair for Fleetfoot before she pulled one out and gestured for me to take a seat. Accepting this as it is, I took the offer and waited for Fleetfoot to take her own seat. Fleetfoot grabbed her chair, but instead of instantly sitting down, she handed her menu to the hostess and pulled her chair next to mine.

She sat down, her tail resting against my leg as she leaned against my side. I had to keep from laughing at how affectionate she was being as she hummed a little to herself. She seemed so peaceful as she leaned against me, her eyes glinting in happiness as she gave a slow look at the menu.

The hostess cleared her throat as she set straws on the table before speaking. “My name is Evening Rose and if you have anything to ask, don’t hesitate to let me know. Your waitress should be with you shortly to take your orders. Before I go, can I start you off with anything to drink?”

“May I have a Sea Breeze and a water?” Fleetfoot asked.

“Of course, and what about you, sir?” Evening Rose asked.

“I’ll take an apple cider and a water as well, please,” I said, smiling.

Evening Rose nodded her head before trotting off to the first floor. Once she was gone, Fleetfoot opened up the menu and held it up so we could look through it together. Feeling a little bold, I moved one of my arms around her side, eliciting a surprised gasp from her. I was about to pull my arm away, thinking that I may have done something wrong, but her hoof on my hand told me that everything was fine. Taking a few breaths, I returned my attention to the menu and scanned the available options. Surprisingly, a lot of the food items catered to many species, so I easily spotted a few things I thought I might enjoy. The only problem that I had was if Fleetfoot was okay being around me if I ate it.

“Hey, Fleetfoot…” I was about to continue before she cut me off.

“I’m fine with whatever you order. You forget sometimes that we have griffons on our team, so we just kind of got used to it,” Fleetfoot said, giving me a playful jab to the side.

Rubbing at the spot she had hit, I gave a kiss to her head as I settled on my choice of a meal. Fleetfoot looked up to me, and with a single nod, she closed the menu and leaned closer into me. I gently ran my hand along her barrel, getting her to sigh some more as she gave tiny nuzzles. We were silent together for a couple of minutes before the sound of hoofsteps gained our attention. Turning to the side, we were greeted with an old friend.

“Hey there, Cinnamon Spice,” I greeted with a smile.

“Mark, Fleetfoot, it’s so great to see you two!” Cinnamon greeted joyfully.

“What are you doing here? Did Clover already run you out of her bar?” Fleetfoot teased with a small smirk.

Cinnamon giggled behind a hoof before shaking her head. “Please, it would take a lot for me to quit that place. Clover’s a really nice boss to be around,” Cinnamon said, smiling happily. “As for why I’m here, my herd sister needed some help tonight and asked for my assistance. You actually met her already.”

“Herd sister? What is that?” I asked, not really familiar with the term.

“Oh! I forgot you probably didn’t know,” Cinnamon said, her ears drooping a little before she perked up. “We have the same father, but different mothers. Our mothers are in a herd with our father and they each had us,” Cinnamon explained.

“Ah, so you’re half-sisters,” I said, hoping that was correct.

“Exactly,” Cinnamon said, her smile never wavering. “Anyway, what exactly can I get the lovely couple tonight?” Cinnamon asked with a knowing grin.

“What makes you think we’re a couple?” Fleetfoot continued to tease, looking away from Cinnamon as she crossed her hooves.

I think Cinnamon’s laugh was infectious, because I couldn’t help but laugh myself as she chortled at Fleetfoot’s attitude. “I don’t know, but maybe it’s because you’re dressed up nicely and practically nuzzling him like crazy. There’s also the fact that he’s wearing a necklace with your feather on it, and I don’t think this is some kind of joke you’re pulling on him since I understand how personal something like that is,” Cinnamon said, smirking at her small victory.

Fleetfoot uncrossed her hooves as she shook her head slightly. “Looks like you got me there,” Fleetfoot said with a little laugh, a smile spreading across her face.

“Both of you look really cute together, and it seems like you’ll want some alone time. What can the kitchen get started for you?” Cinnamon asked, pulling out a notepad and pen.

“I’ll take the fettucine alfredo and a side salad,” Fleetfoot said, continuing to lean against me.

“Very good choice. I have that every time I stop by this place. So what about you, Mark?” Cinnamon asked, turning her attention towards me.

I rubbed the back of my head nervously, not really sure how often Cinnamon received an order like this. A hoof to my other hand helped to calm me as Fleetfoot smiled up to me. “I’ll take the salisbury steak with some corn and a small salad,” I said, smiling to Cinnamon.

“Very good choice for tonight. Our head griffon chef is here tonight, so it will turn out very well for you,” Cinnamon said, tucking away her notepad and turning around. A tray with our drinks had been balanced on her back the entire time without me noticing. Fleetfoot and I grabbed our respective drinks, thanking Cinnamon for her service before she finally left.

I watched as Cinnamon went down the stairs, and once I couldn’t see her, I turned back around to see Fleetfoot had already finished off half her drink. It seemed that she was still slightly nervous if her half-missing drink was anything to go by, but it probably could have been worse. The soft melody that Octavia and Lyra were still playing seemed to ease some of Fleetfoot’s tensions.

We probably could have had a conversation as we waited for our food, but just being next to each other was enough for now. We had the entire night together to talk, and decided to enjoy the calming silence with the music playing in the background. I closed my eyes, letting the music seep into my body and relax me. I could feel Fleetfoot’s breathing lighten as she probably did the same, her hoof still on my hand as she gave small nuzzles. My hand ran along her mane, enjoying the feel of her silken strands. She gave a contented hum as she rubbed my arm with a hoof.

Our musings were short-lived as the sound of approaching hoofsteps disturbed our moment. I cracked an eye open to see that it was Cinnamon and Evening with our food. Both of them smiled at us, doing their best to keep silent as they placed the food on the table. Both of them gave a small curtsy before turning to head out. Before the two of them left, I called out to them.

“Hey, Cinnamon, Evening, can I ask you to do me a favor?” I asked, keeping a close hold on Fleetfoot.

“Sure thing. What do you need, Mark?” Evening asked with a smile.

“Can you get Rainbow Dash and Rarity a nice bouquet of roses?” I asked, reaching for my money.

“Of course we can,” Cinnamon answered, but held a hoof as she saw me reaching for my money. “You can wait to pay us for that after you finish your meal.”

“Thanks,” I said, smiling at the two of them as they left.

Once they were gone, Fleetfoot and I adjusted ourselves so we could eat. Fleetfoot grabbed her fork, stabbing into her pasta and taking a bite. I could hear her hum in satisfaction as I looked at my food. Grabbing my own fork and knife, I cut off a piece of my steak and ate it. I couldn’t help the slight hum that escaped my lips as the juices filled my mouth.

“Looks like somepony is enjoying themselves, and here I thought I had your affection,” Fleetfoot teased as her tail brushed against my legs.

“You did have my attention, but then another love came into my life,” I teased back, scratching behind her ear.

“Then maybe I should up my game a little,” Fleetfoot said, her voice going slightly sultry.

I almost choked on my food as it became stuck in my throat for a few seconds from what I heard. “W-What?” I asked, my face giving off a slight blush.

Fleetfoot didn’t say anything as she moved off of her seat and sat down on my lap. Her tail wrapped around my arm, leaving me only one to work with, which was very difficult. Fleetfoot didn’t seem to mind as she ground her crotch against my leg for a few seconds, giggling at the reaction she was getting. I was worried that she was going to go a little far, but she stopped her actions, leaving me panting as I tried to understand what just happened. While I was busy in my own world, I felt one of my silverware go missing.

Looking down, I saw that she had taken my knife. She placed the knife on my plate, moving my salad forward as she dug back into her own food. I really didn’t mind since the steak would still be warm after I finished my salad, and went ahead eating. As I brought my first bite of salad to my mouth, Fleetfoot stopped my hand with a wing. I raised my brow in confusion as she giggled at me, leading my hand with her wing to her mouth. She opened her maw, taking in my salad bite and eating it. I gave a playful frown to which she laughed at. She took her own fork, stabbing it into her salad, and offering it to me.

I gave a small shrug as I opened my mouth and allowed her to put the salad inside. I closed my mouth around the myriad of vegetables and fruit, humming at the freshness of the food. We continued our actions, feeding each other and smiling all the same. It was a nice little affair, even with the awkward beginning to this. It was beautiful to see Fleetfoot smiling so brightly. As we ate, we drank large portions of our drinks as well. If it wasn’t for the quick glimpses, I would have thought I was crazy with how often our drinks were being replaced. I actually had to hand it to Cinnamon and Evening, they were able to do their job and leave us to our own musings.

We finished off our salads, leaving our main meals for us. Fleetfoot seemed content with staying on my lap, but she happily gave me the freedom of my arm so I could eat. I did lift my leg, which she easily took advantage of and wrapped her tail around. I made sure that I could have my leg rest against the seat and avoid hurting Fleetfoot before turning back to my meal. We both ate happily, going easier on our drinks, but we already had a light buzz. Fleetfoot’s cheeks were a noticeable red, and mine were probably the same, but it didn’t matter since we were in good company.

“Hey, Mark?” Fleetfoot called, her attention still on her food.

“Yes, Fleety?” I asked, leaning down and giving her a nuzzle.

This brought a smile to her face as she nuzzled me back. “How much do you miss from your world?” Fleetfoot asked, setting her fork down as her ears drooped a little.

“That’s a pretty tough question, Fleety,” I said, scratching behind her ears to help brighten her up. “I miss my friends and family probably the most,” I answered, a frown spreading across my lips.

I think Fleetfoot seemed to notice the slight change in my attitude and she turned around. She looked up at me with saddened eyes, her lower lip trembling. It hurt to see her like that, a date that was supposed to be fun for us being brought down because of this fact. I cupped her cheek with my hand, getting her to nuzzle it as I pushed down my sadness and brought a smile to my face.

“Although, just because I miss them doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed my time here. There may have been some rough patches between a lot of us, but it has been a fun ride,” I said, getting a small smile from Fleetfoot.

“So you’ve been happy at least with all of this? Especially us?” Fleetfoot asked hopefully.

“Of course I have. I’ve made great friends, and now I’m actually having a date with a wonderful mare,” I said, moving my other hand to her side and rubbing her gently.

Fleetfoot’s face exploded in a large blush as she tried to cover her face with a wing. “Please, I’m not so different from any other mare,” Fleetfoot said with a slight whine.

“True, but you’re the mare that has my attention. You’re strong, confident, and extremely beautiful,” I said, laying my head on top of her.

“Stop, you’re going to make my face entirely red if you keep that up,” Fleetfoot whined playfully, trying to push me away.

“But you’re just cute when you get like that. Granted, you’re already cute just the way you are as well,” I said, giving a kiss to her head.

“Do you really think so?” Fleetfoot asked, looking up at me with wide eyes.

“Yes, but what’s wrong with that?” I asked with a raised brow.

Fleetfoot looked to the side as she bit her bottom lip. Cinnamon and Evening appeared next to the table and quickly grabbed our empty plates and trotted for the other set of stairs to leave. Fleetfoot seemed deep in thought as she refused to look at me. Giving a small frown, I pulled her head so she was looking me in the eyes. She tried to pull away from my grasp, but I refused to let her go. She sighed heavily as she gave in.

“Not a lot of ponies thought I was beautiful,” Fleetfoot said, her voice low.

“Now why would they believe that?” I asked with determined eyes.

“I wasn’t much of a frou-frou mare, and because of that, I intimidated most ponies,” Fleetfoot explained.

“Is that why you’ve been so nervous during this date?” I asked, petting her head and scratching behind her ear.

“Well why have you been so nervous?!” Fleetfoot asked, her voice getting slightly loud. Her ears lowered after realizing her actions. “Sorry,” Fleetfoot apologized, her eyes looking towards the ground.

“It’s okay,” I consoled, giving her a small smile before it turned into a frown. “As for why I’ve been nervous, it’s because I don’t think I’m good enough for you,” I said, turning my own gaze to the ground.

“What do you mean that you’re not good enough for me?” Fleetfoot asked, ducking her head so she could meet my eyes.

“I’m just an average person,” I answered, looking into her purple eyes. “I don’t have a lot going for me besides being acquainted with you, Spitfire, and the other Wonderbolts. I’m not even some famous person except being known as that weird hairless monkey bastard that’s stuck here!” The last part came out stronger than I intended, and as I went to apologize for my outburst, Fleetfoot spoke up.

“I don’t see you that way.” Fleetfoot put her head under my chin, nuzzling it affectionately.

“Then what is that made you want to do this? Is this some sort of pity after our conversation last night?” I asked, causing Fleetfoot to jerk her head back.

“No!” Fleetfoot exclaimed, shaking her head vigorously. “I wanted this because I care for you. Sure it was disheartening to hear that nopony has ever approached you, but I wanted this for a different reason.”

“What reason would that be?” I asked with my brow still raised.

“I actually want to be with you for just you. I think that you’re a wonderful stallion with everything that you’ve done. You’re kind, strong-willed, and understanding of others. I never saw it that way at first, but as we got to know each other, I actually started to like you. You’ve made me happy beyond belief by just being with me here today,” Fleetfoot said, smiling widely.

I smiled at Fleetfoot as I pulled her in for a hug, getting her to giggle in joy. As we embraced each other, I thought about how I could answer Fleetfoot’s question. Octavia and Lyra were still playing their music, and I’d lost track of how many songs they’d played, but it was still nice to listen to. Looking over the railing, I could see Rainbow Dash and Rarity still at their table, a half-missing bouquet of roses missing in the middle. Giving a few seconds of thought, I stood up from the chair, eliciting a surprised eep from Fleetfoot as I held her.

“Fleetfoot, look out at that table over there,” I said, pointing at the table.

Fleetfoot followed to where I was pointing as I continued to speak. “Do you see that table with Rainbow Dash and Rarity sitting there?” I received a nod as my response. “You say that ponies are intimidated by you because you aren’t frou-frou enough,” I said, getting a small frown from Fleetfoot. “Well, Rainbow is the same way, but she’s here on a date as well.”

“What does that have to do with me, though?” Fleetfoot asked, keeping her eyes locked on Rainbow and Rarity.

“It has to do with you because Rarity is what you would call a frou-frou mare,” I said, getting a raised brow from her. “Rarity is the most ladylike mare I’ve met, barring a few others, and she’s here with someone that’s her complete opposite. This might not mean much from me since I’m not even a pony, but those two are on completely different poles, and yet they seem happy together. Do you see the dress Rainbow is wearing?” I asked, getting Fleetfoot to look close at them.

“Yeah, and it’s actually a very nice dress. Probably even better than mine,” Fleetfoot said.

“It is a nice dress,” I started, getting Fleetfoot to whip her head my way with her mouth agape. I held up a finger so I can continue to explain myself. “The thing with her, though, is that she hates wearing dresses. She does whatever she can to stay out of them, but she’s willing to be out of that comfort zone to impress Rarity.”

“So you think that even though I’m in a dress, I’m still just as beautiful without it?” Fleetfoot asked, keeping her eyes on my two friends.

“Absolutely. If someone doesn’t think you look beautiful without doing yourself up like this, then they aren’t worth your time. You can dress this way if you want to, or you can stay yourself, and I’ll see you as the same beautiful mare like always,” I said confidently.

Continuing to hold Fleetfoot in my arms, I grabbed her drink and handed it to her. She drank the entire glass, myself doing the same with my cider as I glance around the second floor. The second floor was completely barren of any ponies, and I could see Cinnamon and Evening at the far end. I waved to the two of them and they gave me a quick curtsy before disappearing back down at the stairs. Listening to Octavia and Lyra, I assumed that they were nearing the end of their song, and I decided to do something special with Fleetfoot.

Placing Fleetfoot on the ground, she looked up at me curiously as I held out my hand. “Would the gorgeous mare like a dance?” I asked as I kept my hand out.

Fleetfoot looked at my offered hand with a raised brow before directing her attention towards me. “How is this going to work?” Fleetfoot asked with slight confusion.

“Give me your hoof and I can show you,” I said, smiling at her.

Fleetfoot gave my hand a quizzical look for a few more seconds before placing a hoof into my palm. I grasped her hoof carefully, giving it a quick kiss and earning a blush from her. Smiling, I moved to stand at my full height, pulling her up to her hind legs gently. She wobbled a little, not used to being on only two legs as much as Lyra was. I took her other hoof in my other hand and brought her close to me. She continued to struggle to stand on her back hooves, getting me to chuckle.

Fleetfoot pouted cutely at me as she tried to find her balance. “Hey, this is harder than it looks,” Fleetfoot said, keeping up her pout as she looked at her hooves. “I don’t understand how you can even stand on your two feet, and Lyra is able to do it herself without any problem.”

I held Fleetfoot close, letting her use me as support as she tried to figure out her footing. “That’s just because humans are born this way,” I ran a hand through her mane, playing with the smooth strands as her stumbling calmed a little. “Lyra has it mastered because it’s something she has always practiced. The only thing that still amazes me is how she sits on those benches like a human would.”

Fleetfoot still continued to fight with her hooves, unable to find her footing. “Can you put me down? I don’t think I can continue to do this without falling over,” Fleetfoot said with a small frown.

“Then why don’t you try using your wings?” I asked with a raised brow.

Fleetfoot’s face bloomed a cherry red from embarrassment as her wings nervously twitched. “Right, I forgot about that,” Fleetfoot said, muttering something to herself that I couldn’t quite catch.

Fleetfoot spread her wings a few inches away from her barrel, finally finding stability for her hooves. She gave a little squee at her victory, which was quickly cut-off as she looked up at me with her red-tinted face. I grinned at her as I lifted my hand away from her back and booped her on the nose. Her muzzle scrunched up in a cute fashion as she tried to give me an irritated look. Her look calmed down as she smiled, allowing me to lead her away from the table so we would have some room to ourselves.

A quick glance back at the table showed that our drinks had been replaced, and given my slight history with dancing, I decided to have at least one more bottle. Fleetfoot frowned when I put her on the ground, but followed me to the table after she saw what I was going for. I wasn’t really sure what she was getting a drink for, but I wasn’t going to question her. I took careful gulps of my drink while Fleetfoot just slammed hers back. After finishing her drink, she placed the glass down, swaying slightly and causing me to worry a little. My fears were slightly alleviated when she grabbed her water and drank all of it.

Sure, she was probably still going to suffer some kind of hangover in the morning, but at least she wouldn’t feel like shit when she woke up because of dehydration. With her water glass set aside, she looked up at me, tapping her hoof a little as she waited. Shrugging to her, I slammed back the last of my drink, feeling a little dizzy myself. I grabbed my water and downed the entire glass before setting it aside. Fleetfoot grabbed my pants leg with her teeth and pulled me away into an open space. She didn’t hesitate to jump up on her hind hooves and lean against me with her wings spread slightly.

I wrapped my arms around her, waiting for a new song to start up as we just held each other. I could barely hear her gentle breaths, but she sounded content with tonight. A couple of minutes rolled by before a new song finally started up and we started dancing. It seemed like Fleetfoot had the same idea as me as we just danced in a square pattern. I wasn’t one for dancing, never really having any coordination when I danced. Even if I did dance, I only ended up looking like a fool. I had expected Fleetfoot to probably know how to dance, but that didn’t seem to be the case as she seemed confused on what to do.

Even so, the moment was nice because it was just the two of us, and no one could take that away from us. I could hear a low purr emanate from Fleetfoot as she dug her head deeper into my gut. I ran a hand along her back, getting a small coo of appreciation as I kept her close. Cinnamon quickly stopped by, using her wings to glide past us and not disturb the moment. She left a piece of paper on the table, along with two more glasses of water before taking our dirty ones and flying away. I let my eyes drift closed, letting the music guide me with Fleetfoot’s movements, matching each step as we continued our square. I was pulled from my musings when Fleetfoot’s voice reached my ears.

“I didn’t get to say this earlier after you saw me, but you look very handsome,” Fleetfoot said, giving a joyful sigh.

“Compared to you, I feel slightly underdressed,” I said, giving a slightly nervous chuckle.

“Actually, by our cultural standards, you’re dressed just enough,” Fleetfoot said, pulling her head back a little so she could look up at me. “I’m the one courting you, so I need to make sure that I stand out enough that I have your attention. Granted, a lot of this is also pegasus culture rather than regular pony culture,” Fleetfoot explained, a smile on her face.

I laughed a little as I ran my fingers through her mane. “Well, you have my full attention for the rest of the night. Possibly more if you want after this night is over?” I asked with a little hope.

“I think I would like that very much,” Fleetfoot said, smiling brightly as she nuzzled my gut again.

We continue our dance, both of us lost in its melody again as we enjoyed each other’s warmth. I’d only noticed it a few times during my interactions with the princesses, but if a pony is really happy, they give off a comforting warmth that spreads to another to make them feel comfortable. I looked off into the distance, seeing a few stars in the sky from a nearby window as a thought came to me.

“Hey, Fleety?” I asked, not breaking step.

“Yes, Mark?” Fleetfoot replied, keeping her head against my gut.

“You mentioned before that you had a relationship with Spitfire. How exactly did that come about?” I asked, stroking her mane to keep her at ease.

I heard Fleetfoot release a deep sigh as she gave me a small nuzzle. “Would you believe me if I said that she was the first pony that I actually dated?” Fleetfoot asked, looking up at me as I started to move us around the second floor.

“I’m not really sure,” I answered, holding her head close.

Fleetfoot let out a soft giggle as she closed her eyes again. “We were both still young at the time when we dated each other,” Fleetfoot started, and I kept quiet as I listened to her story. “Our relationship was actually pretty steady with the occasional date, but I guess we got ahead of ourselves. I still care for Spitfire, but I’m unsure of how far it goes. I actually entertained the idea of going on another date with her after our failed attempt, but I guess it just became a little weird with our jobs.”

I felt Fleetfoot shudder a little in my grasp, making me hold her tighter against me. “You were at least still able to maintain your friendship with her, so that’s at least a positive,” I said, hoping to encourage her.

“I have been thankful for that. I do hope that she can find somepony that makes her happy,” Fleetfoot said in a hopeful tone.

“I believe that she will. She’s a smart, strong, and free-spirited mare that will find her special someone,” I said, giving Fleetfoot a smile.

“Thank you, Mark,” Fleetfoot said in a happy tone.

The song slowly came to an end, and as it did, I decided to do one final thing that I’d seen other dancers do. As we reached our table, I grabbed Fleetfoot’s hoof and pulled her off of me. This caused her eyes to open wide as I let momentum take her away, my hand still holding onto her hoof. After my arm was fully stretched, I pulled her back, making her spin a little and having her back land against me. Her wings were spread wider than before, almost reaching their full length as I could feel her heart hammer in her chest. The final note played off, echoing in the restaurant as I held Fleetfoot close.

After the note died off, I gently set Fleetfoot to her hooves. She turned around to look at me with wide eyes, her face a very dark shade of red. Her eyes darted around the area, allowing me a chance to step away and look at the bill. Seeing the price, I shrugged as I pulled out my bits, making sure to grab extra as a tip for Cinnamon Spice’s and Evening Rose’s services. Grabbing the glasses of water, I walked back to Fleetfoot and offered her a glass that she gladly accepted. We drank from our refreshing, cool liquid before letting out a satisfied sigh. We placed our glasses on out table, Fleetfoot standing next to me as we left the restaurant.

As we reached the first floor, Cinnamon and Evening were at the door with huge smiles. “Thank you for stopping by. Please come again,” Evening said as she opened the door.

“Yes, please stop by again, and also stop by Clover’s Bar again whenever you get the chance,” Cinnamon said happily.

“We’ll make sure to stop by,” Fleetfoot said, stumbling a little, but was able to catch herself against my leg.

The two of us walked out of the restaurant, leaning against each other for support. We took a slow walk back to the house, the moonlight and stars lighting up the entire area. Even after seeing it for seven months, it still amazed me to see Luna’s night sky. Fleetfoot seemed entranced by the stars as she pawed at my leg. I chuckled to myself as I lifted her up and placed her on my back. Her forelegs gently wrapped around my neck as she placed her head on my shoulder. I could get a glance of her shimmering purple eyes as she stared at the night sky.

The cool breeze that Fleetfoot created by gently flapping her wings to keep us cool felt good against my skin. I wasn’t sure what led me to my next action, but as I carried her under the moonlight, I gave her a nuzzle to the cheek, feeling her shudder slightly. We finally reached the house, and I let her get off before she pulled out a key. She unlocked the door and we walked inside. I closed the door behind us, and I looked around to see that Spitfire still hadn’t returned home. I was worried a little about her still being gone, but I relaxed myself, knowing full well that Spitfire was able to take care of herself.

The two of us walked for the stairs, both of us dizzy from how much we drank. I hadn’t kept track of how many drinks I had, and I just hoped my hangover wouldn’t be bad in the morning. Fleetfoot was leaning against my leg again as we climbed the stairs. She was giggling to herself, making me smile at how happy she was. I couldn’t help but laugh myself, her infectious, joyful attitude making me feel giddyy. Fleetfoot’s tail was swishing happily, but as we reached the top, I couldn’t help but smell something in the air. I wasn’t really sure what the smell was, but I ignored it. Looking around the hallway, there was still no sign of Spitfire, fully confirming that she wasn’t home.

“I’m glad I did this,” I said, looking down at Fleetfoot and making sure I didn’t stumble on my way to my room.

“I’m glad as well,” Fleetfoot responded, leaning against me for support.

We reached the top of the stairs, both of us still kind of leaning against each other for some form of support. It was saddening to see that the date was over now, and it was clear that it bothered Fleetfoot slightly as well. I smiled as I put a hand on her head and started to stroke her mane a little, getting her to nuzzle my palm.

“I guess I’ll see you in the morning?” I asked, stopping in front of my room and kneeling so I could look into her beautiful eyes.

Fleetfoot’s eyes shifted back and forth, never looking at me as her wings twitched nervously and her body shuddered. I was starting to grow worried that something might be wrong as silence settled between us. I was about to ask if she was okay, but I was cut off by something warm, wet, and soft pressing against my lips. My brain was having a hard time registering what was going on. It took a few seconds before Fleetfoot pulled away from me, her cheeks a nice shade of red as she refused to look at me.

Processing what was going on, it took my brain a few tries before finally realizing what just happened. Fleetfoot had just kissed me! Oddly, though, I wasn’t disgusted by it. She felt so soft against my lips, and I could only guess what I felt prodding my lips was her tongue before she pulled away. I was quick to notice that she tried to leave, probably from complete embarrassment over what she had done. I caught her foreleg, getting her to jump a little before I pressed my lips against hers again.

I wasn’t really sure what was coming over me, but the small moans coming from Fleetfoot, and her tongue pressing against my closed lips only brought more desire. My lips parted for her tongue, her wet appendage quickly fighting mine for dominance. A small part of my mind said that I should stop, that I wasn’t thinking right because we were both a little drunk after our date, but I didn’t care. Along with that voice was one that said I should stop entirely because she wasn’t human. Honestly, I couldn’t care less that she wasn’t human. Fleetfoot was an attractive mare, and I wanted to show her that she was.

I deepened the kiss, grabbing the back of her head as I continued to battle her tongue. She moaned openly in my mouth, her wings stretching out to the sides as she wrapped her forelegs around my neck. Wrapping an arm around her barrel, I continued to hold her head as I stood up. I removed my hand that was holding the back of her head so I could open the door to my room. When the door opened a crack, I grabbed the back of her head and kicked the door the rest of the way open. I carried Fleetfoot into my room, continuing to battle her tongue and nearly pinning it to the roof of her mouth.

Her hooves pawed at my shirt in a needy attempt to rid me of the article of clothing. I couldn’t say I wasn’t doing the same as my fingers worked at her dress, digging firmly into the fur that was covered beneath. Our kiss had to sadly end as we parted, breathing heavily on each other’s faces as we tried to recover the oxygen we were depriving our bodies of. Reaching the foot of the bed, I was able to get Fleetfoot to release her hold on me, getting a whimper out of her as I laid her on her back. I made sure to be careful of her erect wings as she tried to reach me for another kiss.

I happily gave her another, her enticing eyes bringing me closer and falling into her trap. I felt her hooves wrap around me as her tongue invaded my mouth. Even though her tongue was broader than a human’s, it was still a pleasure to feel. Her body shuddered as her wet appendage passed over my canines. I playfully bit her tongue, getting her to release a moan into my mouth. My hands moved to her barrel, rubbing along her sides as I tried to find a way to get rid of the accursed dress that she was wearing. As I continued to search for whatever was holding it together, Fleetfoot placed a hoof on my chest and I backed away.

“Mark, please, no more teasing,” Fleetfoot said in a husky, demanding tone.

“If you show me how to get this dress off of you, then I’ll stop,” I teased, moving close to her ear and giving it a gentle nip.

I was rewarded with a moan for my action, Fleetfoot arching her back as her wings strained to their full length. As I continued to tease her, I wasn’t prepared for what happened next. The only thing that I understood was that I was hovering above Fleetfoot, my size alone dwarfing hers, but the next thing I found was that I was on my back. Fleetfoot loomed over me, giving me a predatory smirk as she kept me pinned to the bed. This was the first time where I had experienced a woman, or I guess in this case a mare, take such control. Her tail brushed against my aching member that was trapped in my pants.

“Looks like somepony is getting very excited,” Fleetfoot said sultrily, her warm breath hitting my face.

“I think there would be many others that would agree if they had such a beautiful mare on top of them,” I said, moving my hands towards her flanks, giving a firm squeeze.

“Ahhhn!” Fleetfoot moaned, slumping over as she panted heavily. “Why don’t you get that shirt off while I deal with this dress?” Fleetfoot said, running a hoof in a circle on my chest.

I nodded my head in a dumb fashion as I grabbed the hem of my shirt and started to pull it up. I had blocked my own vision, but I could hear the sound of a zipper unzipping. Fleetfoot’s tail continued to tease my clothed member, making me groan at the slight pain. With my shirt removed, I threw it to the side, my eyes widening when they landed on Fleetfoot. She had removed her entire dress, but my eyes were drawn to what she was wearing underneath it all. My assumptions had been right about her wearing the same stockings that were on her forelegs, but her panties were what had my full attention.

They were as white as her mane, little frills adorning the hem. Her tail was pulled through a hole that raised it a little higher, almost like she was presenting herself. The thing that set these panties apart was that they didn’t cover her moist slit. There was an opening that put her marehood on full view for anyone that was lucky to see it. Apparently I was the lucky person, as I couldn’t have seen it through the dress that she was wearing during the date.

Fleetfoot giggled, gaining my attention as her tail wrapped around my leg. “See something you like, big guy?” Fleetfoot said huskily, grinding herself against my stomach.

“Maybe I do,” I started, rubbing her flanks and getting another moan as I leaned up so my hot breath hit her ear. “Then again, I’ve been seeing something I’ve enjoyed even more,” I said, finishing my statement with a nip to her ear.

“Would you like to show me your little friend?” Fleetfoot asked, continuing to grind against me. “He seems pent up, aching to come out of his little prison,” Fleetfoot said, giving me a quick kiss on the lips.

Out of everything that had been happening up to this point, I was starting to become a little self-conscious. I wasn’t hung like a pony, but I wasn’t tiny either. I had a good size for myself, but at this point, I didn’t think I could possibly stand up to anything that Fleetfoot had taken before. I quickly shook my head of these thoughts, knowing better than to think that my friend, possibly even marefriend, would insult me so badly. It seemed that my silence concerned Fleetfoot as she stopped her grinding against me and placed a hoof on my cheek.

“Mark, is everything okay? Should we stop?” Fleetfoot asked, concern in her voice even with the heavy mix of alcohol in her blood.

“Sorry,” I said, my thumbs lightly brushing the fur on her flank as I looked to the side. “I guess I’m starting to feel a little self-conscious about myself.” I started chuckling a little at how awkward I was making this.

“Does this have to do with you being human?” Fleetfoot asked, laying down on my chest as she rubbed my arms comfortingly.

“Pretty much,” I admitted as I turned to face her. “I guess all those biology lessons kind of made their way into my thinking that I won’t be good enough for this. I mean I’m not even anatomically the same as a stallion.” I moved a hand off one of her flanks and caressed her cheek.

“Well I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Fleetfoot said confidently, holding my hand with her hoof.

“What makes you say that?” I ask skeptically.

“From what I’ve felt, it seems like you have a very good size going for you,” Fleetfoot leaned back up, looking down at me with a sultry smile. “Also, most of the stallions that I have slept with haven’t been that big either. There was one, but it hurt more than it was pleasurable,” Fleetfoot said, looking away at that last part.

“So why don’t you let me be the judge?” Fleetfoot offered, her juices still dripping on my exposed stomach as her tail began brushing against my groin.

I smiled at her, letting some of my worries go as I reached for my pants button. As I moved to remove them, Fleetfoot stopped me with her hooves. She gave me a predatory grin as she slid down my body, spreading more of her juices along my body and pants before reaching the end of the bed. I moved along with her, reaching the end myself so she could do whatever she was going to do. Her teeth clamped on the hem of my jeans, pulling them down to my ankles.

“Are you bucking kidding me?! Why do you humans wear so many clothes?!” Fleetfoot exclaimed as she tried to burn off my boxers with her intense glare.

“That’s because we prefer being fully clothed as opposed to walking around nude for everyone to see our junk,” I answered as I chuckled a little.

Fleetfoot surprised me as she gripped at my boxers with her teeth, pulling them down harshly to join my pants. She pressed against my legs and I raised them so she could remove both of them. She threw them haphazardly as she jumped on her hind hooves, staring at her prize. Silence filled the room between us, my cock throbbing in front of her, but I wasn’t sure of her expression as I refused to look down. I closed my eyes tightly, hoping that nothing had ruined this moment. I was so lost in my own world that I released a pleasure-filled groan as I felt one of her stocking-clad hooves rub along my shaft.

“So this is what a human’s penis looks like,” Fleetfoot said, some astonishment in her voice.

“Yeah, I said it was very different from a stallion’s,” I said, taking deep breaths as she continued to rub against my shaft with the frog of her hoof. “What do you think?” I asked, gaining the courage to look down at her.

Her eyes were locked onto my cock, inspecting every inch of it as she continued to rub it. “I think it’s kind of cute. Especially with the head having this cute little pink helmet. You’re also a bit bigger than those other stallions, with a decent girth as well,” Fleetfoot said, giggling a little as she leaned closer.

I could feel the breaths she took from her nose, tickling me and causing my length to throb. Fleetfoot gave an interested hum as she leaned closer to me. I had to shut my eyes tight as I laid back on the bed, the combination of her hoof and her hot breath making it hard to concentrate.

“Ahhhh,” I groaned out, feeling something press against my balls.

“Your musk, it’s so different from a stallion’s,” Fleetfoot said in a slight moan as she continued to sniff the entirety of my cock. “Oh, Luna, I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself with how strong you smell,” Fleetfoot said, her hoof now wrapping around my erect length.

I gripped the bed sheets tighter as I panted heavily. Her hoof began making slow stroking motions, causing me to groan again. I could feel Fleetfoot continue to sniff away at my musk as she drove me crazy with her slow strokes. I was pulled back from my pleasure cruise as I heard her moan. I leaned up with what strength that I could to see her wings twitching and her other hoof moving frantically. My eyes widened a little at seeing Fleetfoot touch herself to get off to my scent.

She pulled away from my cock, taking in a deep breath as her hoof continued to stroke. “I can’t take this anymore,” Fleetfoot said, removing her hoof from her pussy and jumping on top of the bed. “I need to taste you,” Fleetfoot said hungrily.

I watched as she opened her maw, her tongue hanging out as she licked my entire length. I could hear her moan from just the first lick, and with all her teasing, she got a bit of my pre as well. “Hm, a little salty and bitter, but not at all undesirable,” Fleetfoot said, smacking her lips a few times before staring back at my cock.

She looked up at me, her eyes asking if it was okay to continue. I wasn’t really sure why she was asking, but I gestured for her to go ahead, and she did with gusto. Instead of taking another long, sensual lick of my cock, she opened her maw and took the head inside. Her drawn out moan caused me to fall back on the bed, clenching the sheets as the vibrations traveled through my length and up my spine. Her tongue swirled around the head of my cock, collecting more of my pre that she drew out with her stroking hoof.

Her mouth was warm, wet, and inviting as she slowly descended down my length. Her tongue continued to lick at every inch of flesh that she could as she went deeper. Her hoof stroked away at the length that she hasn’t consumed yet as her other hoof moved towards my balls. My hands shot from the sheets and grabbed her flanks firmly, getting her to moan as my nails dug into her firm flanks. She massaged my balls with expert motion that I didn’t think was possible with hooves, but then again, this world had many aspects that I should stop trying to figure out.

Her sucks became needy as she took my cock halfway, saliva dripping onto my groin as I heard her breathe heavily. One of my hands stayed firmly planted to one of her flanks while the other traveled to her exposed marehood. I could feel the heat radiating off of her, and that slight smell from before was coming back with even greater strength. Fleetfoot started to pull back from my cock, letting it slip out of her maw with a slight pop as she looked at me lustfully. She was about to go back again before I stopped her. She gave an irritated huff, but kept control as she looked at me.

“Can you turn around so I can give you the same pleasure that you’re giving me?” I asked with a small smile.

This got an interesting reaction out of her as she looked back at her flank before looking back at me with widened eyes. “You actually want to lick me there?” Fleetfoot asked, dumbfounded.

“Of course. It just seems fair since you’re doing this,” I said as I gestured towards my throbbing cock.

“It’s just that most stallions don’t like to go down there. Plus, it’s embarrassing to show you,” Fleetfoot said, trying to play it off.

“Then those stallions don’t know what they’re missing out on. Come on, though. I only wish to return the same pleasure that you’re giving me,” I said, giving her a supporting smile.

“Well, if you insist,” Fleetfoot said, giving one last glance to her flank before turning around.

When she turned around, I was greeted by a beautiful sight. Fleetfoot’s outer lips were puffy, winking with a need to be satisfied. I licked my suddenly dry lips as I moved my hands to her pussy. My thumbs touched her labia, getting her to moan as she fell forward and her tail rose higher. I spread apart her lips and I could see her pink tunnel inside. It was interesting to see it go from her artic blue color to a bright pink, but the sight alone was heavenly. I leaned forward, inhaling her scent deeply and finally figuring out what I’d been smelling. Curious, I saw a helping of her juices getting ready to drip down. Not wanting to let it go to waste, I leaned forward and gave it a quick lick.

“Oh, Luna, yes!” Fleetfoot screamed, her back arching as she tried to press back further.

I licked my lips, finding it hard to place what I was tasting. If anything, I would have to say that it was a mystery flavor. Her juices were an abundance of different flavors where none remained dominant. An inclining would enter my mind, but before I could grasp it, the flavors would change into something entirely different. Raising a brow, I went back in, collecting more of her juices on my tongue and getting her to moan louder. True to what I was thinking before, the flavor kept on changing no matter how much I collected.

“You’re disgusted, aren’t you? That’s why you won’t say anything,” Fleetfoot said, her voice carrying a bit of disappointment.

I wasn’t aware of it, but I was lost in my own thoughts about her taste that I had remained silent for a long time. Grinning a little, I moved a hand towards her clit that was out, and brushed over it. Fleetfoot’s back arched high in the air as her body gave a heavy shudder. Her mouth was wide open, her tongue hanging out as she tried to collect herself. Stopping my ministrations for now, I decided to put her worries at ease.

“Actually, Fleetfoot, I like your taste,” I said, getting her to turn quickly in my direction with a raised brow.

“What?” Fleetfoot asked, her tone carrying her disbelief.

“You heard me,” I said, running a finger along her dripping slit and getting her to moan. “I enjoy your taste, and I would like some more.”

Fleetfoot continued to stare at me with widened eyes for several seconds before relaxing. She gave a soft smile as she leaned down, giving my stomach a kiss before her attention returned to my cock. She spread her legs apart on each side of my head, her tail flicking to the side as I was greeted once again by her pink slit. I traced along her, getting her to shudder as I felt her stocking-clad leg wrap around me. She began stroking, sighing happily as she listened to me groan in pleasure. I waited as I felt her hot breath hit my tip, teasing me as she tried to rile me up. It was working as I found it hard to keep myself in control.

It didn’t take long before I planted my lips against her pussy, my tongue taking long licks from bottom to top. I heard Fleetfoot give a moan of approval before my length was enveloped in her warm, moist maw. She quickly took half my length, bobbing her head as she hungrily lapped at my shaft with her tongue. Her clit was winking out of its hood, and I started to tease it with my thumb. Fleetfoot seemed to take this as a sign of competition as she removed her hoof and started taking in more of my length. I groaned in a pleasured haze as I squeezed her toned flank. I could feel her continue to take my length slowly, her tongue taking time to enjoy my taste.

She stopped as I felt my tip press against the back of her throat, a quick gag coming from her as I continued to lick at her dripping pussy. I couldn’t get enough of her juices, desiring more to come forth. I was expecting her to pull away, but her next action caused me to freeze up. I could hear her breathe deeply before she shoved herself all the way down. I felt my cock slip into her throat, her muscle massaging my length as it constricted around me. I was lost in a new world of pleasure as Fleetfoot kept her snout buried in my groin. She held herself there for several seconds before pulling back, letting go with a small pop as she panted heavily.

“Jesus, Fleetfoot. That felt amazing,” I said, panting heavily from that euphoric sensation.

“Then you should put those fingers and tongue of yours to good use,” Fleetfoot said, looking over her shoulder at me with sultry eyes.

I nodded as looked back at her begging marehood, pressing my lips against them and prodding it with my tongue. I could feel her body shudder before feeling her warm maw take in my length. She started off with slow bobs, slowly gaining speed. Not wanting to be outdone, I pressed my tongue between her lips, getting her to moan around my cock as I licked at her insides. Her pussy clenched around my tongue, trying to keep it inside of her as more of her juices came pouring forth. After she found her rhythm, she started taking me all the way again. She twirled her head along with her tongue, slathering me in her saliva as she tried to get at my seed.

Her insides were soft and warm as I licked away, my hands moving to her teats and grasping them. Fleetfoot’s moan probably could have been heard if she wasn’t busy taking my cock. Her moan though sent a powerful vibration through me as I felt myself nearing my climax. Her inner walls were grasping at my tongue with more force, signaling that she was nearing her end as well. I continued to fondle her teats, her erect nipple brushing against my hand. I grasped each nipple with my finger and thumb, pinching them as I moved away from her marehood and sucked at her clit. The flow of juices from Fleetfoot’s passage increased as she sucked harder at my cock.

I felt one of her hooves move back to my balls, massaging them as she tried anything to get at my seed. I began thrusting into her mouth when she brought her head down, trying anything to bring about my climax. I continued to suck at her clit, alternating between little bites and twirls with my tongue to bring her to her end. I continued to thrust, feeling my balls contract as I was finally ready to release my pent up energy. I removed one of my hands from her teats, moving it to her hot pussy and pushed a finger inside. Fleetfoot arched her back a little as I rubbed at her insides with as much energy as I could.

I could feel myself about to cum, and as I tried to pull away to warn her, she would press against my face. Not able to hold back anymore, I released into her mouth, grunting as months of hold back finally released. Fleetfoot gave an appreciative hum as I heard her swallow my heavy spurts. The feeling of my hot, sticky cum was enough to finally set her off. Her juices sprayed against my hand, making me pull away from her clit and plant my lips against her marehood. I let my mouth be filled by her delicious arousal, swallowing what I could before it started to overflow and leak out of my mouth and down my chin to create a small puddle underneath.

I could feel my own cum slide down my length, probably overflowing in her own mouth. The two of us didn’t move from out positions as we waited for our climaxes to subside. I released a few more heavy strands into her mouth before she finally started to pull away. I let my head fall back, her rear following my head and smothering me in her enticing scent. It was hard to breathe with her sitting on my face, but I honestly couldn’t care at this moment. Thankfully, my lungs were filled with air when she removed herself from my face, turning around as she gaze down at me with her shimmering purple eyes.

She opened her mouth, showing a bit of cum that she had collected. I watched with rapt attention to see what she would do next. Making sure I saw how full her mouth was, she closed her maw and swallowed audibly. I saw a lump in her throat, showing my cum traveling down her esophagus and to her stomach. After giving a few more small swallows, she opened her mouth again to show no trace of my cum anywhere. It was probably one of the few hottest things that I’d seen, and I quickly pulled her in for a kiss. I didn’t care that I could still taste a bit of myself on her tongue, since her own mystery flavor was still present all over me.

We broke apart a few seconds later, laying down on the bed as we basked in our afterglow. Fleetfoot’s wings were still erect as she nuzzled into my chest. I held her close, rubbing my hand against her barrel as I panted. I gave gentle kisses to Fleetfoot’s cheek as I waited for her to regain her senses.

A couple of minutes passed by before she lifted her head, a bright smile plastered on her face. “That… was wonderful, Mark,” Fleetfoot said between pants.

“You… were wonderful, Fleety,” I said, giving her a quick kiss to the lips.

“Tomorrow morning, I want to see what you feel like inside me,” Fleetfoot said hungrily, grinning at me with a predatory look.

“Why wait till tomorrow? I’m good to go again if you’re able to go,” I asked with a raised brow.

“What? Most stallions can only last for at least one round before they need time to rest,” Fleetfoot said with widened eyes.

“Then it’s a good thing that I’m not a stallion,” I said as I caressed her cheek.

Fleetfoot gave me a hungry grin as she kissed my cheek. She pulled away, sliding down my body before she pressed her hot, moist entrance against my half erect cock. She lifted her hips up, placing her slit on my shaft and started to grind on me. I closed my eyes tightly as she teased me, her giggles making me chuckle a little as she still kept control. I heard her coo as my length hardened beneath her, becoming fully erect in several seconds during her teasing. She looked down at my cock, her wings twitching in excitement as she pressed her entrance against my tip. She held herself there as she looked back up at me.

“Make sure to warn me when you’re about to cum. I’m not ready to be a mother yet,” Fleetfoot said in a slightly serious tone.

“Well that’s something you don’t have to worry about,” I said, moving my hands to her wings.

“What do you mean? Ahhhhn,” Fleetfoot asked, moaning as I started to massage the base of her wings.

“I’m not compatible with ponies, and without any magic, I’m not able to get a mare pregnant,” I said, pinching the bases of her wings.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Fleetfoot said, her tone slightly disheartened.

I cupped her cheek as I smiled at her. “It is what it is. I came to terms with it when I was told, but then again, I wasn’t really interested in dating at the time either,” I said, continuing to smile at her. “Although, I’m still glad that I’m doing this with you,” I said truthfully, leaning up and kissing her cheek.

Fleetfoot placed a hoof on her cheek as she gave a small smile. Her smile soon turned sultry as she stared at me with half-lidded eyes. “Then you better make sure to fill me up good,” Fleetfoot said huskily.

I grinned at her as I grabbed her flanks firmly. She cooed lovingly as I massaged her flanks, teasing her entrance with the tip of my cock. As I continued to tease, I was greeted by a new sight as Fleetfoot loomed over me, her wings spread wide as she held me down with her hooves. She looked like a giant predator that found her prey and had it where she wanted it. My heart raced in my chest, threatening to break out as I was entranced by her look. Fleetfoot gave one final rub to my hard length before slowly pressing against the head. I grunted while she moaned as her lower lips were parted.

“Ahhhhhn,” Fleetfoot moaned out, getting the tip inside of her.

I could feel the intense heat of her insides warming my cock. Her svelte walls were massaging the tiny bit that was inside of her, already trying to milk me for more of my seed. Her hooves were still firmly planted on my chest as she slowly lowered herself. I gripped her wings, getting her walls to contract harder against my length as she slowly slid down. Her juices were leaking out of her passage, collecting with my cum that had pooled beneath me. I decided to help her on her descent as I gave a thrust upwards.

“Damn, you’re so tight,” I said between gritted teeth, getting half of my cock inside of her.

Fleetfoot was panting heavily as she kept her hooves on my chest. She looked down before looking back up at me with widened eyes. “You’re only halfway inside of me and I already feel so full,” Fleetfoot said happily, her hooves circling my chest.

I was lost in the warmth of her insides, massaging her wings as I slowly thrusted in and out of her. I could make out her whimpers as I would retreat, only to be replaced by a moan of appreciation when I returned. Our pace was slow as I tried to get her adjusted to my length, helping her to loosen a little as I ran my hands across her wings. Her wings twitched as I touched her feathers, noticing that a few of them were out of place after everything we’d done so far. It was going to be an awkward morning when she woke up with messed up feathers, but I don’t think she cared at the moment, if her moans were anything to go by.

“Come on, Mark! Shove your cock deep inside of me!” Fleetfoot demanded through clenched teeth.

I moved my hands from her wings for the time being, getting a whimper from her as I grabbed her flanks firmly. Gritting my teeth, I thrusted up, getting the last half of my cock deep inside of her. Fleetfoot screamed as I filled her hungry pussy, her walls acting like a vice to keep me inside of her. I didn’t move, waiting for her to get used to the full feeling she was experiencing. She gyrated her hips, releasing little pleasured coos as my cock hit the right spots. I release her flanks from my hands, and I looked at them with interest. I was curious as to whether she had any fat back there or if it was all muscle. Seeing her still dazed look, I pulled back one of my hands and slapped it against her flank.

“Oh, Luna, that’s amazing!” Fleetfoot exclaimed, her walls tightening around my cock even more.

Surprisingly enough, there was just a bit of fat that allowed for a little jiggle. Looking away from her perfect ass, I saw her looking down at me, nodding her head. I took the signal and started to pull out. Thankfully, with all of her juices coating my member and to the amount that was still dripping out of her, I was able to slide out with ease. I listened to her whimpers as I retreated, her walls trying their hardest to keep me inside. I pulled back until only the tip was left inside. I teased her by not moving, pulling down as she tried to lower herself. This was a mistake, as she let out a feral growl that only seemed to excite me.

“Enough teasing, Mark!” Fleetfoot said, staring at me with a serious gaze.

Listening to her, I slammed back in, getting her to moan out to the world as her back arched. I was sweating heavily as I thrusted into her. I could feel the sweat on her coat as I played with her wings. Heat emanated from our bodies, causing the room to be very warm as the scent of our combined climaxes and sweat filled our nostrils. Fleetfoot bounced on my erection, her walls massaging every part of my cock as I entered and left her tight passage. Her moans were music to my ears as I continued to please her.

Fleetfoot soon leaned down, her heated breath hitting my ear as she continued to bounce. Leaning close to her, I opened my mouth and bit down on her neck, getting her to gasp in pleasure. I bit hard enough that she could feel my canines, possibly leaving a slight mark if possible, but not hard enough to break the skin. She reacted the same way, biting against my flesh and sucking harshly. There was no way I wasn’t walking away without something appearing on my neck from how rough she was being.

Her tail wrapped around my leg, refusing to let her fully pull away until she had what she wanted. Her warm insides were inviting, begging to have their thirst quenched with my seed. I was sensitive from the blowjob that she gave me, but I held out for as long as I could. I didn’t plan on walking with two orgasms and leaving her with only one. Plus, knowing how she was, she probably wouldn’t let that happen until she got another orgasm, and then some if I came more than her. We soon pulled away from each other’s necks, staring into each other’s eyes. We met for a deep, passionate kiss as the smacking of our sexes echoed around the room.

I could feel myself getting close, and judging by how fast Fleetfoot’s breathing and bouncing increased, it seemed she was getting close as well. I was ready to release inside of her before her tail let of my leg and she jumped off my member. I groaned in frustration at being cut-off. I was about to voice myself, when I saw that she had her face planted into a pillow, her flank raised high in the air with her tail up and pushed to the side. I could glimpse her pleading eyes through the pillow and quickly moved to my knees. I was tempted to tease her by slowly pulling off the panties that she still wore, but that thought was quickly pushed to the side as I was reminded her by needy look.

Her tail swished in the air, pushing the scent of her sex into my nostrils and fogging up my mind. Plus, the panties kind of looked cute on her, and this probably wasn’t going to be our only time having sex if this relationship continued. I was pulled from my own thoughts as I heard her give a low growl. Before she could say anything, I gripped her dock and gave a slight tug. She gave a low moan as I pressed my tip against her winking pussy. I easily slid inside, hilting myself all the way. Once our groins met, Fleetfoot’s tail wrapped around my waist. This was to show that I wasn’t going anywhere until we were both satisfied.

Chuckling internally, I leaned down and began nibbling at the base of her wings. This got the desired result as she shuddered beneath me. Her wings flapped, giving off a cool breeze as I resumed thrusting inside of her. I let go of her tail, placing my hands on either side of her as I rammed inside of her, continuing to nibble along the entirety of her wing. It seemed like her whole wing was an erogenous zone as every little nip and lick seemed to get her to moan. It made sense since they flew around and they would need to be sensitive to sense changes in the air currents. I slammed into her with everything I had, both of us reaching the end of our limit.

“Mark! Please, fill me with your cum! I want to feel that warmth inside of me like I did in my stomach!” Fleetfoot screamed, her hoof rubbing between her legs.

I lost it at hearing that, shoving myself all the way in as spurt after heavy spurt of cum shot forth. Fleetfoot followed my climax with her own after feeling my first hot strand hit her walls. Her juices gushed forth as she arched her back, her mouth hanging open in a silent scream. Her walls clamped on my cock, milking me for every drop that I had to offer. I continued to fill her with everything I had. My cum soon overflowed out of her marehood, running down her thigh and pooling beneath her. My groin felt warm from her spray of juices as she shuddered.

I held myself inside of her, letting the last few trickles of my cum dribble out before finally pulling out of her. A lewd pop was heard as I slipped out, our combined juices leaking out her. Fleetfoot quickly placed a hoof over her pussy, humming contently as she basked in her afterglow combined with the warmth of my cum inside of her. I fell down next to her, sweat pouring off my body as I pulled her close. Fleetfoot nuzzled my chest as we basked in our final afterglow. We were both panting heavily, exhausted to the point where we were ready to pass out. I didn’t bother to grab the blanket, our combined warmth keeping us comfortable as it became hard to keep our eyes open. Several minutes went by, the only sound in the room our heavy breathing as we collected ourselves.

Fleetfoot was the first to recover as she pulled herself up and gave me a kiss on the lips. “Thank you, Mark. Thank you for this wonderful night,” Fleetfoot said, her eyes shimmering with joy.

I gave her a kiss back, running a hand through her mane. “Thank you for giving me this chance, Fleetfoot,” I said, smiling as I pulled her in for a hug.

“When we get up in the morning, you’re hopping in the shower with me to preen my wings after what you did to them,” Fleetfoot said lovingly, giggling a little to herself.

“I’ll gladly help you with that,” I said lovingly, chuckling along with her.

Our breathing slowly settled down as our eyes drifted close. Fleetfoot’s tail wrapped itself around my leg as she wrapped her hooves around my chest. Her face was buried in my chest, her cheek resting on the necklace as I held her close. Our heartbeats soon combined into one, and we used that to lull ourselves into sleep’s embrace.

Author's Notes:

I hope you all enjoyed. Really, though, a hand of applause to my editors, one of whom was sick and still did this. I wouldn't be able to make it this far without their help, so please give the love, respect, and recognition that both Word Worthy and Eppie Genetic deserve. So give these two some love, especially Eppie since she deserves it for being able to put up with my crazy antics sometimes.