Fredrick gave everything one last check. Noodles, still waiting, water, near boiling. Bread and sauce, long done. Salad and other greens, ready and waiting. Wine list, picked out, cheese, grated. Himself? He gave his form a quick look in the mirror and nodded. Not his best, but it’d do. Deep breaths. This was only a mare of high standing that wanted to be treated like a mare. It’s not like he was trying to court nobility, after all.

The commoners were so much more fun, anyways.

The small bell above the door chimed as Narrow Gaze walked in. She looked... a little nervous, an unusual look for her at the very least. She wore a cream-coloured dress that complimented her peach coat nicely. Her dark mane was tied up into a ponytail, while her bangs had a cute little prench curl. A simple silver necklace adorned her neck, while a pair of matching earrings glinted gently in the candlelight. Fredrick turned his head towards the sound of the bell and smiled widely at his date’s arrival.

“Ah, dear Narrow, so happy you could join me for dinner,” the gryphon said as he walked closer to the mare. He’d washed, brushed his coat out, preened his feathers, and made doubly sure that he didn’t smell of anything he shouldn’t before starting work on dinner for them both. The avian drew close, then bowed his head to the mare. “Milady,” he said.

She returned the gesture and smiled back. “Thank you for having me tonight,” she replied. She sniffed the air and hummed, “Mm, something smells wonderful~”

“I do try my best, dear lady,” the gryphon said, before he rose from his bow...and took one of Narrow’s forehooves and giving it a peck. “Do you have a preference on where you would like to be seated?”

“Anywhere is fine,” she replied, before spying a nice table for two in the centre of the room. As she walked past him, her tail brushed up against his leg and she winked. “Oh yes, the dinner smells good too~”

“That is hardly fair, trying to turn my own tricks back on me,” the griffon lightly protested. “If it is a game you desire, though, it is a game you shall have.”

“All is fair in love and war, and I have already been to war,” she grinned. She thought about something and shook her head slightly. “And Midnight Song is a terrible influence...”

“I found her to be a pleasing breath of fresh air,” Fredrick said with a smile as he drew out a chair for the mare. “She at least did better than most during our little verbal bouts.”

Narrow sat down as the griffon tucked the chair in. She smiled lightly and shook her head. “You don’t have to work with her, so you're getting off easy.” She took one of the napkins with her magic and folded it neatly in front of her. “So Mr. Fredrick. What’s on the agenda for this evening?”

“To start with,” Fredrick said as he stood next to the mare, in imitation of one of his wait-staff. “I have a choice of first courses. A salad, or some simple fried spinach, whatever the lady desires. Music shall be provided, as well as a choice of drinks, also in accordance with the lady’s preference.”

“Mm, the spinach sounds nice,” she murred as she looked over the wine menu. “And this one, the ‘Chateau le Blanc’.”

“Ah yes, a fine choice. I shall return with the bottle in a moment after setting the spinach to fry during my sonjourn below...once the lady picks out a song she desires,” Fredrick said, motioning for the mare to turn the wine list over. She did so, and a list of albums with their songs presented themselves.

“Ooh, nice selection.” She scanned the list and found one that made her smile. “This one here,” she said, pointing at one particular album. A griffon one.

“Ah, not a bad choice,” Fredrick mused. “Certainly one of our...less volatile ones. I shall put it on momentarily.” With that, the griffon was a blur of activity. First to the phonograph in the corner, putting the record on. Then to the kitchen, to turn on the flames beneath the spinach. And finally, to the basement, to find the bottle of wine his date had requested.

Narrow sat in her chair, thinking on the events that led her here. Celestia above, she hadn’t been on a date in years, and now she was all dolled up and being wined and dined by that handsome griffon.

I am going to make an ass of myself at some point, she thought to herself. Still, he’s trying quite hard, and tonight has been pretty good so far…

The first semi-soothing tones of Griffic came from the phonograph, to go with the instruments that had been playing for the past minute or so. Just as it seemed the singer was getting to something that could resemble a chorus, Fredrick emerged from the kitchen, holding a tray that had two wine glasses and a bottle atop it.

“Almost forgot to turn on the light before going down there,” the griffon chuckled. “That would have put a damper on things.”

Narrow giggled, yes, giggled. “It most certainly would have, a date in the emergency room isn’t really romantic.” Why did the griffin feel like she knew a little too much what that was like?

“I think they purposely make those places to be as uninviting as possible, to ensure you do not desire to return,” the griffon mused before placing the tray on the table. With a quick stab and a flex of one of his talons, the cork popped free. The avian wiggled his newly corked claw about, before pulling it off with his other talon. “Never gets old, having a built-in wine-opener,” he jested, pouring them both a drink. “Shall we make a toast?” he inquired.

“A toast then,” Narrow nodded, raising her own glass with a hoof, rather than magic. “To good health? Or perhaps love?”

“To friendship and finding new friends to spend time with,” the griffon said, before winking. “Of course, what sort of friends we’ll wind up being and how we spend our time is all up to you, dear lady.”

Narrow clinked her glass against his. “Hmm, or perhaps this mare will be the one to tame the wild griffin hmm?”

“Many have tried,” Fredrick replied with a chuckle as he sipped at his wine. Once he tasted the drink, he nodded, gulped, and set the glass down. “None have succeeded. Much to the frustration of the stallions of this fine city, I’m sure.”

“I’m sure,” she smiled back. “You know, I have been approached a few times regarding you. A few stallions claiming you took their wives... And one or two of them were actually married!”

“Nonsense!” Fredrick said, brushing the claims off. “I do ask every mare that finds her way into my bed before we engage in such activities if they have any significant others. Should they be taken in any fashion, I back off. I would never intrude on another’s relationship!”

“And I’m aware of that,” Narrow nodded. “I’m well aware of your noble creed Fredrick, which is why I told them it was nonsense, and if you somehow did, then the mare lied. So the fault doesn’t lie with you.”

“And I thank you for that,” Fredrick said with a smile and a bow, before perking up and looking at the kitchen. “Ah yes, the spinach!” With that, he was bounding off again.

He’s certainly spry for a such a large fellow...

“I bet that’s not all that’s large and spry about him~”

Narrow gasped and blushed, putting a hoof to her mouth. Where in the hell did that thought come from? She barely had any time to think about it before the griffon had re-emerged from his kitchen, two plates of steaming green leaves atop them.

“This is something I and a friend worked on together,” Fredrick admitted. “He helped me perfect the balance of the spices, and I provided the base greens. We eventually found this combination worked the best.” With a small flourish, the plate of fried spinach was placed before the mare, and Fredrick was sitting opposite her with his own plate.

She gave the plate a sniff, then levitated her fork and raised some to her lips, taking a small bite.

“Yes, I’d say perfect is a fine word to use for this dish,” she hummed. “The spices are flavourful, and the spinach is perfectly cooked. You truly are a master of your craft Fredrick.”

“Hardly,” he said, though he did smile. “I am good with dinners and breakfasts, yes. Lunch I am not terrible at...but do not ask me to make anything sweet on my own. Co-incidentally, I had to have one of my chefs make tonight’s dessert, but I did at least come up with the plan for it myself.”

“When one can admit their faults, they can then improve on them,” she quoted from her days in the Guard Academy. “Still, I think you are plenty sweet on your own.”

“Quite a few mares have called me as such,” the griffon retorted with a smirk, not looking away from her eyes. “My usual reply is that they are far more cloying than the best honeys I could hope to find.”

“Hah! I know I’m far too much of a hardass to be called ‘sweet,’” she chortled. “Nice try though.” She took another bite of her greens, a larger one this time and chewed slowly to savour the taste.

“Perhaps you’re like some of those rock candies?” the griffon offered. “Hard on the exterior...but fun to suckle on?” His grin could not be wider, or else his face might crack in half.

Narrow suddenly coughed, her food going down the wrong pipe as she blushed fiercely. After shakily grabbing her wine and downing the whole glass she stared at him. “W-wha... ohhh, that was mean!”

“Plus you could still be called sweet,” he observed, as though she hadn’t just had a coughing fit, his smirk never leaving.

“You are a scoundrel,” she coughed lightly and looked at her empty glass. “And I just made a fool of myself...”

That’s gotta be a new record.

Oh shut the hell up…

“Plenty more wine where that came from, and it’d take more than that to make yourself look like a fool in my eyes,” Fredrick said as he refilled her glass. “And if you’re only just now realizing I’m a scoundrel, I’m afraid I’m going to have to doubt your observational skills.”

“Oh I was aware the moment I met you,” she smiled as he refilled her glass. “Just making sure you knew it as well.” She had finished the rest of her greens and pushed her chair back. “Do you have a bathroom I could use?”

“Of course,” he said, pointing at one corner of the floor, where signs for the restroom were clearly posted. “If you do not mind, I shall clear our plates and check up on the main course while you powder your muzzle.”

Narrow just shook her head as she disappeared into the room. She checked for spinach stuck in her teeth and washed her muzzle of the hastily gulped wine. Once she was satisfied that she was presentable once more, she returned to the table and sat back down, waiting for her date to return.

Fredrick came back out of the kitchen and sat across from her with a smile. “We have a minute while the noodles boil,” he said. “So, I believe this is traditionally the time one of us asks about the other, yes? As a gentlegriffon, I shall permit you first question.”

“Very well,” Narrow replied. “Tell me Fredrick, why Las Pegasus of all places? A griffin of your talents could have a place in Canterlot or Manehatten.”

“I went to Canterlot once,” the griffon replied, before sticking his tongue out and shuddering. “Never again. Nopony there knows how to loosen up and have fun...or fun. So many of them have worn the ‘polite’ or ‘uptight’ noble mask for so long, it’s ceased to be a mask. As for why not anywhere else?” The avian looked around and gave a wistful sigh as he looked from one place to another. “This was my parent’s place.”

“Huh? I never knew that,” she replied. “I’ve only been in this city for a few years.” She sipped at her wine and smiled. “How about you? Any questions for me?”

“None at the moment that won’t offend, I fear,” the griffon replied before perking again and sighing. “And our dinner calls. I’ll be back shortly, with both food and hopefully a pertinent question.”

With that, the gryphon had stood up again, quickly vanishing back into his kitchen.

“Questions that could offend? What does he mean by that?” she wondered aloud as her mind went to work, analyzing the conversation so far and determining what he already knew about her. Her life wasn’t an overly secretive one, so she had nothing to hide... well, other than ‘that’. But there was no way in Tartarus he could have figured that out.

She suddenly decided to stop thinking, she was on a date, not an interrogation. The sound of dishes clattering about got her attention, before she heard wheels starting to squeak. Upon looking at the kitchen again, the mare would see Fredrick pushing out a small cart in front of him, with a covered tray on top.

“Well now, what do we have here?” she asked curiously. “It certainly smells good.”

Fredrick whipped the top off, to reveal two bowls of spaghetti covered in a thin red sauce. Between them was a small bowl filled with grated cheese, parmesan, Fredrick said.

“And to serve as something to help us mop up the sauce when we are done,” the griffon said, reaching under the cart. “I present, my herb and cheese bread.”

It didn’t look like much. Just a lump of dough that had been baked and sliced.

But oh Celestia, the smell!

“I think I just went to heaven,” she sighed. A cheeky glint shone in her eyes and she looked up at the griffin. “Mmm, it almost looks as good as the one serving it~”

“Flatterer,” he said, only slightly flustered by her repeated compliments...and he’d not gotten anywhere close to broaching that topic yet! Usually the mares reserved their praises for him after he’d served them, one way or another! Speaking of which, he took the chance to set the table before replying to her. “Though if you think this looks nice, then you will certainly enjoy dessert...or perhaps you should look in a mirror sometime and get as lost in your beauty as I almost was when you walked in the door.”

“Oh you,” she blushed slightly. “I’m not Midnight though, so I think I’ll bask in ogling your flanks for a little longer if you don’t mind.”

Okay, not that I’m complaining, but where is this coming from?

...I dunno. I blame the wine.

Speaking of which, Fredrick refilled his own glass before raising it. “Another toast, perhaps? I’ll even let you start~” he offered.

Narrow had to think now, the sudden announcement snapping her out of her thoughts. “W-well, then shall I toast to, um?” She saw the food and nodded. “Good food and better company.”

“To a beautiful night spent with a far more stunning mare,” Fredrick rejoined, before clinking his glass against hers and taking a sip of the wine. Fortunately, the record in the background started playing what could be interpreted as a love ballad...if you knew Griffic.

Narrow’s ear twitched and she smiled. “Ooh, I haven’t heard this ballad in a while. It’s a rather romantic one though.”

“You know Griffic?” Fredrick asked with a raised eyebrow, pausing himself from taking a bite of his sauce and cheese covered pasta.

“I’m quite fluent, yes.” Her accent was a little rough, due to the lower tone she used, but the pronunciation was flawless. “I also know a little Thestrali and Hippocampi.”

“A mare with a talented tongue,” Fredrick replied, smirking before adding, “Isn’t that my job?”

“It’s all about how you use it,” she smiled back as she twirled some pasta around her fork and ate it. “And I can use it very well~”

“That remains to be seen, but you are currently one surprise after another,” he said as he began eating his own noodles...which only looked a little like a bird eating a worm when he got a rather long noodle and started slurping it up.

Narrow chuckled at the sight, as she dipped her bread in some of the sauce. She took a bite and her eyes widened. Sweet Celestia above! This was the most delicious thing ever!

“Okay, now I’m impressed,” she murmured.

“My bread tends to do that,” the griffon chuckled. “I only make it on special request, or when a mare really needs comforting. It takes hours of the day to mix and rise properly before it can be baked. Still, it’s all worth it for that moment,” here he pointed to Narrow’s face, “so I tend to keep a small amount on hoof that I replenish once it goes stale.”

“Well, I could eat your loaf all day long,” she sighed. The wording was meant as innocent, given that there was no underlying seductive tone. But still...

She dipped the remaining amount of her slice in the sauce and hummed happily as she ate it. “The perfect antidote to a day like mine.”

“I would imagine any day in a job like yours would have more than a modicum of stress involved,” the chef observed, before clicking his tongue once and shaking his head. “But that is not what I wish to ask about.” The griffon seemed to think for a moment, before asking his question properly. “A mare such as yourself could have had any stallion she desired. What made you choose me, milady?”

“Because you’re confident,” she replied. “And you don’t seem concerned about my position or pay bracket.” Yeah, she’d dealt with a few of those too. “But, the main reason... I guess there’s just ‘something’ about you that I like, something I can’t quite place my hoof on.”

“Well I do hope you figure out what it is by night’s end,” the griffon said, raising his glass to the mare before taking another sip. “And you’re right,” he started once his mouth was empty. “I don’t care about what you do or what you make. A mare is a mare is a mare. A goddess to be respected and venerated however she asks, assuming she is in fact polite about it...unlike those snobs in Canterlot.” The avian had turned to muttering half-Griffic curses at the end of his statement.

“I am inclined to agree with you there,” Narrow nodded, she didn’t like the capitol much either. Her thoughts wandered to a certain batpony and she chuckled. “At least not everypony that comes out of there has a stick in their flank.”

“True, but the ones that do don’t stop at sticks and apparently decide an entire tree is an acceptable suppository,” Fredrick chuckled. “At least you can tell by the way they walk which ones they are.”

“Aye,” Narrow nodded. “Hm, I think I’ve already figured it out actually. What I like about you the most.”

“Oh, do keep it a surprise until after I serve you dessert at least,” Fredrick said as he looked at their near-empty bowls. “Which...might not be too long now.”

“Oh, I intended to,” the mare smiled. “Gotta keep some surprises after all.” She used her remaining bread to wipe the plate clean, the meal soon completely gone.

“Ah, that was wonderful Fredrick. If dessert was half as good as that, I will be most happy.”

“Then allow me to fetch it,” Fredrick said as he put their dishes atop his cart. Before he pushed it towards the kitchen, the griffon leaned in to the mare and gave her hoof a soft kiss and a wink.

“Be right back,” he said, his voice as smooth as silk, before he vanished again.

Narrow fought down the blush as she looked at her hoof. Her main concern now was how this date was going to end. She knew of Fredrick’s reputation, especially since he boasted about it every other minute. Question is, would she go that far after just one date?

The reappearance of the griffon snapped her out of her line of thought for a moment, and then she saw what he was carrying.

Small, chocolate cookies, with some sort of chocolate topping. They looked a little lumpy, but the griffon urged her to try one with a slight claw gesture.

Narrow paused when she laid eyes on the dessert. Did he? No, he couldn’t have. There was no way he could have known how much she liked chocolate....

Midnight! That sneaky, little-

She gulped and picked one up with her magic. It hovered in front of her for a moment, she she took a generous bite, ie, the whole cookie.

Flavour exploded in her mouth as she savoured the sweet chocolate and cherry cookie. The chocolate base just melted in her mouth and she moaned in a way that could easily be mistaken for another kind.

“Soooo, gooood~”

“I had the idea after a certain little bird told me you liked chocolate,” Fredrick said, grinning and having one himself. Fighting back his own pleasured moans, he added on to his earlier statement. “I had to give it to one of my more adept baker apprentices, but I’d say he pulled through with aplomb.”

“There are no birds in this city, just mouthy bats,” Narrow replied as she devoured her fourth cookie. Oh gods above, she could eat these forever! “My compliments to your baker.”

“Mine as well,” Fredrick said, nibbling on his second cookie. “They turned out better than I imagined.”

Narrow nodded, already having lost count on how many she’d had, but the plate was rather diminished. “I will have to request these for our next date as well~”

“I intend to make them a regular menu item, if he is willing,” the avian pointed out as he polished off his third cookie. “My, they are rather too good for their own good,” he chuckled.

“Agreed,” she smiled, fighting hard to not just lick the whole plate clean. But that would be very unladylike. “Whew, I’m going to have to work hard tomorrow, or these cookies will ensure that I no longer fit my armour.”

“Well if you want to wait that long to get some physical exercise in, that is your decision of course,” Fredrick said with a wink. “But I believe there was something you said you had figured out about me that you enjoy?” he reminded the mare.

Narrow’s eyes widened a little and her cookie fell from her telekinetic grasp. “Ah, I did say that didn’t I?” She smiled as she took a sip of her wine, the mellow flavor balanced out the cookies quite nicely. “Well, above anything else. I’d say that I like that you are so true to yourself. You don’t pretend to be anyone or anything other than you. And in this city... that’s a rare thing.”

“Indeed,” Fredrick said with a nod. “I learned long ago that not many are true to who or what they are...so I endeavored to find out who and what I was. I went on a small journey around Equestria, with my parent’s permission...and found out quite a lot about myself, that eventually boiled down to the griffon you see before you.” He swirled his glass before continuing.

“I found I liked fine food and fine wine...and that I enjoyed fine company even more. I found I had a knack for cooking...and that above all else, I could and should always be honorable.” He indicated the restaurant around them before finishing off his statements. “Because while all these physical goods are well and beautiful...my word, my honor, the things I can always carry with me? Once they’re lost, they can never be recovered.”

Okay, Narrow’s heart may have skipped a beat or two there. That was beautiful. And, she could relate as well. “I know how you feel,” she replied. “I was raised to be a farmer, picking trees, tilling soil... but, I wanted more out of life. Something exciting and maybe a little dangerous. It’s why I became a Guard. Turns out, I was good at it. Met a lot of friends, even changed my name...” Whoops, hopefully he wouldn’t dwell on that bit.

“I still wonder what might have happened if I’d stayed on that farm, but I’m happy where I am.” She raised her glass and took another sip.

“It’s no use dwelling on might-have-beens and what-ifs. If I did that, I’d never move on when my bedmates do,” the griffon replied as he stared at the last cookie on the plate. “I find that while every pony has a skill they’re good at and that they enjoy...that’s only a starting point. How they choose to define themselves from then on...is entirely up to them.”

Narrow also stared at the cookie and then a mischievous, spur-of-the-moment idea popped into her head. She lifted the cookie with her magic and placed half in her mouth, before leaning forward with her eyes closed. Fredrick took the hint and drew the mare in for a deep kiss, the flavors of chocolate, cherry, and mare perfectly complementing one another as he ran a claw through her mane.

Wow! She wasn’t expecting this level, but she wasn’t complaining. And his claws running through her mane felt amazing~

After a simply delectable kiss, she pulled back, a little breathless. “Wow... that was.. something.”

“We may have to invent words to describe just how deep and rich that kiss was,” the griffon said...before showing off that he’d gotten the cherry from the cookie and gulping it down.

“Ohh, you stole my cherry you naughty birdy,” she smiled, giving him a come-hither gaze.

“I didn’t see your name on it,” he replied, giving her his own seductive look. “Then again,” he mused, “I wasn’t examining it with much beyond my tongue.”

“So, you have other methods then?” she asked innocently. “I must say that I am a little curious. But our date is not quite done yet, yes?”

“It depends on what the lady wants,” Fredrick said as he ran a claw through her mane again. “If she desires to leave me be, then all she has to do is walk out those doors. If she desires for me to accompany her, I shall. If she desires to stay, then I live upstairs, and how far we go is up to her.”

Narrow Gaze hopped down from her chair and straightened her dress. “Tonight has been wonderful Fredrick, the best night I have had in a very long time... but...”

“And I am happy to have given it to you,” the avian said, already internally sighing. And she’d been so pretty once you got past the Guardmare exterior…

“I have a small complaint,” she remarked as she walked around to his side of the table. “I believe I was promised a wonderful dessert, and yet all I got were those delicious appetizers...” She leaned in close and whispered with a wicked smirk on her muzzle. “When do I get my dessert Fredrick~?”

“What more do you desire, my lady?” he whispered back. “If it’s something sweet, I will be inept in its conception, and my baker is home for the night.”

Narrow resisted the urge to facehoof. “Well, you’ve already been plenty sweet tonight,” she said back. She glanced at the stairs and nodded her head. “I wonder if you can provide a more... wild menu?”

“My lady,” he said, hopping down from his chair and giving her another kiss. This one was less deep, yet the taste of chocolate lingered still. “Merely make what you want of me plain...and I shall provide. Set limits for me, and I shan’t exceed them.”

“It’s quite simple really,” she said as she headed for the stairs. “Simply prove that there is truth to those boasts of yours. How and what you do to prove that is up to you.” She gave her tail a playful flick and began to trot up the stairs.

After only a few seconds, which she took to be the griffon rebooting himself, she heard the sound of a huge, thunderous beast chasing her up the stairs of the restaurant. She shrieked and ran up the remaining stairs, wondering just what she’d gotten herself into. Once she reached the top, she started looking around for his bedroom, wondering which one was likely to be his. The griffon used that time to catch up to her and bodily pick her up, holding her close to his chest while causing no damage to her dress, shockingly enough.

“You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, milady,” Fredrick growled into her ears as he began turning towards one door, cargo secured against his fluffy chest. “But I can think of a few things that are going to get into you instead.”

“W-well, I’d say this is assault against an officer. But I fear that I am no position to argue,” she smirked. “Still, I’m impressed you can lift me so easily. I am over half your size.”

“You would need some of your uniform, otherwise you are off-duty and fair game,” Fredrick responded as he nudged the bedroom door open with his head. “And I do tend to keep myself in shape.”

Narrow may or may not have been gushing a little about being swept up like that.

Pft, you’re so into this.

So are you...

...Touche.

Narrow squeaked in surprise when she was tossed onto a large, plush bed however. “Aw, is the ride over already?”

“Au contraire, milady,” Fredrick replied as he began his slow, perhaps slightly sensual search for the best way to remove the dress from his date. “The ride has only just begun.”

“You have to pull it over my head,” Narrow informed him, once it became evident on what he was doing.

“Then it is a good thing you did your mane in a ponytail,” he said with a slight smirk. “Otherwise I would worry about ruining whatever style you used.” The griffon pinched the collar of the dress between two talons, lightly...but this wasn’t a one-pony job. Or rather, it’d be easier with the one wearing it helping him with the removal of the article.

“Hmm, I have a better idea~” Narrow rolled out from under him and onto the floor. When the griffon frowned, she just raised a hoof and smiled. She moved her body slowly and sensually, to some unheard tune as she painstakingly raised the dress along her flanks and then up past her chest. Her hips waved hypnotically with each move and twirl, her tail was positioned just so, as to hide the gem that lay beneath, as her eyes twinkled with youthful mischievousness.

After what seemed like forever, the garment was tossed aside, leaving the mare in just her jewelery and slippers. “Mmm, like what you see?” she purred.

“Mmm, quite so,” the griffon replied, raising an eyebrow before patting the spot on the bed next to him. “Though, I always did prefer to examine things up close.”

Narrow crawled up onto the bed, sashaying across the blankets until she came to rest next to the large griffon. “Well, you’d better make it a thorough examination then.”

Fredrick responded by drawing one claw, slowly, carefully, down her back, almost right on top of her spine. Another claw hooked her necklace and drew it over her head before laying it to rest on the nearby nightstand. Once that was done, both earrings were swiftly removed, and the griffon kissed her again. “I always find it most interesting that it is only when a mare is removed of all her other finery and jewelry...does she truly outshine them.”

“Flattery,” she murmured as she kissed his neck, “will get you everywhere.” She suddenly paused as she realized something that was far too shameful to admit. It had been so long since she was with a stallion last, she honestly had no idea how to lead.

“I do try,” Fredrick said as he gently slipped her left forehoof’s slipper off, before giving it a kiss. The process was slowly repeated with its twin, and the Gryphon never took his eyes off of her.

Narrow just blushed as the griffon continued his ministrations. She bit into her left hoof as he moved to her hindhooves, his clawed talons pressing lightly against her thighs. “Far too long...” she murmured.

“Then allow me to show you what it is like with a griffon who knows what he is doing,” Fredrick said as he kissed against her left hindhoof, the slipper having been slipped off already. As he moved from left to right, he let his claws trail along her form...though on the outside, of course. Wouldn’t do to get her too worked up, too quickly...

She squirmed slightly under the touch, her body already feeling a little heated. “Mm, then I leave it to you Fredrick.” She felt a little bad that he was doing all the work though. Perhaps she would return the favor when given the chance.

Once the mare had been divested of all her accessories, Fredrick returned to sitting in front of her and smiled. “And there we have it,” he said aloud. “One mare, unwrapped, and as beautiful as when she walked in my door.” The griffon then gave her a soft peck on the lips before he spoke again. “Really, all those accessories just detract and distract from the beauty and splendor that is the mare underneath.”

Narrow just blushed harder and turned her gaze away from him. “There’s a difference between flattery and just laying it on too thick,” she said. She wasn’t exactly a young mare, she was in her mid thirties for Celestia’s sake. “Though I appreciate it all the same...”

“I believe I said this before, but apparently it bears repeating,” Fredrick said with a soft smile as he slowly brought Narrow’s gaze back to him with one of his talons, running one claw over her right cheek. “So long as you take pride in who and what you are...that is beautiful to me.”

“I’m proud of who and what I am,” she smiled back, tracing a hoof along his chest. “Guess I’m just a little sore about my age is all. You make me feel like a much younger mare though~”

“I tend to have that effect,” he winked, murring lightly at her touch. “Mmm, how about a wager, milady? Guess my age, and I’ll let you have first go.”

Narrow looked at him and tilted her head. How was she supposed to figure that out? Her mind wandered, wondering if he’d had a file at some point, but came up empty. She took into account the way he spoke and the way he carried himself. Could he have...?

“I’m going to say... early thirties?”

“Actually, my thirtieth birthday is in a few months,” he answered. “Still, very close! Closer than most. All the mares I’ve offered this to or asked later seem to think I’m in my mid-thirties.”

“Well you’re quite the gentlesta- er, gentlegriffon,” Narrow said. “So I’d say it’s a fairly common misconception. I thought our age gap was a lot bigger, to think you’re only a little younger than me.”

“Age is just a number, and just because you have class doesn’t mean you have more years than another...and vice versa: just because you have aged, doesn’t make you classy.” He softly drew one claw through her mane before undoing the tie at the end of the ponytail, setting it on the nightstand with all the rest of her accessories. Fredrick then started drawing an entire talon’s worth of claws through her mane like some sort of brush, enjoying the feeling. “Personally, I hope to age well and with my class intact.”

Narrow hummed at the feeling of her mane being brushed like that. “You’re like a fine wine,” she smiled. “You’ll simply get better with age and ponies will get drunk off of your personality that much faster~”

“Better than some other things that age at least...like cheese,” he said, snickering lightly.

“Or milk,” she giggled, remembering that one carton that lived in the back of her fridge for four years... that wasn’t a pleasant experience. Contrary to this brushing, ohh, she could get used to this very quickly. She hadn’t even realized that one of her hind hooves was rubbing against his inner thigh, while her tail coiled around his own.

“Somepony likes my improvised brush technique,” Fredrick observed wryly. “And I haven’t even had a chance to use my specialized massage yet~” he then teased.

“As amazing as that sounds,” Narrow purred, finally feeling more relaxed and just a little more confident. “I believe you and I are here for a different reason tonight.”

“Seeing as how you got the closest any mare has gotten to guessing my true age, along with the fact that I am a gentlegriffon, I shall permit you first move,” he said with a slight smirk. “Do make it a good one.”

Narrow paused, this was the moment she’d dreaded. What the hell was she supposed to do. It had been a while and she’d never been with a Griffon before, or anything that wasn’t a Unicorn.

Wait! Wings!

She moved out from under him and sat beside him, her hooves slowly working the space on his back, between his wings. The griffon cooed lightly as his wings instinctively began to twitch.

Okay, so far so good. And he was male, so this next part should translate well no matter the species. Her tail flicked up, the silky-smooth hair teasing his belly and the space between his hind legs, as her hooves moved along the wing bones, tracing small circles along the muscle.

“Oooh, you’re not half-bad at that, milady,” the griffon cooed, even as his wings started to unfurl under her attentions. “Kudos for being such a quick study on the similarity between myself and a Pegasus.”

“Well, I’m just winging it,” she chuckled lightly, not even realizing the pun she made. Her tail moved around his legs, torso and lower body like a silk ribbon.

Fredrick, on the other hoof, winced before laughing along with her. “I feel as though I ought to extract some sort of PUNishment from you for that…” he muttered, before sighing and shaking his head. “But I’ll wait to do that until you finish this delightful massage of yours.”

“Just a massage?” she asked him, as she nibbled on his shoulder. “Oh dear, you’ve gotten me started now. I’ll see this ride through thank you very much.” Her hooves, having finished with his wings, moved south until she had a firm grasp on his feline flank.

“And how you intend to be the one atop me is a question I’d like answered,” the Griffon said as he turned his head to quickly peck Narrow on the lips. She returned the kiss and smiled.

“Well, it seems I forgot something about myself. And I blame you for being such a handsome distraction.” Her horn fired up as she lifted the bird into the air, flipping him over gently as not to damage his wings. “Now it’s time to play~”

“I am nothing if not distracting,” Fredrick replied, not displeased with the situation at all. After all, he wasn’t one to complain how the mare got what she wanted. He was merely one to oblige~

“So much it should be illegal... in fact, I may just arrest you at some point for it.” She smiled as she straddled his waist and leaned forward to kiss him deeply. After a minute for the pair to enjoy the feeling of the other’s mouth, they came up for air, and Fredrick smirked as he replied to her statement.

“Surely being so handsome isn’t a crime, officer! I was merely born this seductive!”

“I’m afraid so, I guess you were just dealt a bad hand in life. Still, it’s not all bad...” She trailed her kissed down his neck and body, her own form sliding further down. “We have an excellent rehabilitation program~”

“I was almost afraid that you were going to take me into custody,” Fredrick said before moaning at the feeling of her form sliding across his belly. Oooh, that was nice. Nice enough to garner a reaction...

Something poked Narrow’s belly and her eyes widened a little. “Oh? Somepony’s eager~” she cooed when a thought entered her head. It was a wicked thought and one she never dreamed of doing. “Fredrick? Do you have anything you refuse to do here?”

“It’s more of what you refuse to do that concerns me more,” he said. “I have no more limits than what you set.”

An indirect answer to an indirect question. Well, there was one way of finding out. Her horn flashed as Fredrick felt a small tingle around his wrists, soon finding them bound to the bed frame with a Guard Binding Spell.

“Guess I have to arrest you after all~”

“Mm, not the first time,” he said, giving both limbs an experimental wiggle, finding no give at all. “Good thing my bed isn’t too large.” He then relaxed and observed the mare straddling him. “Well, I suppose it’s your move again, milady.”

Narrow paused for a second. She lived in the Capital of Sin. She’d seen more perverse things in her life than most ponies and it was time to call upon that knowledge. She wriggled a bit until his growing member rested between the two of them, nestled between her soft teats, as she slowly rocked her hips back and forth.

“Oh goodness,” Fredrick hissed, growing hard from both the show and the feelings of the mare grinding herself against him. “Mmm, you certainly know what buttons to push~” he teased, flexing his hips as well he could to add his own motions to the show.

She moaned lightly, not admitting that she was guessing all of this. Her horn shone in the dark room, as small orbs of magic kneaded his wings. This spell was usually used to train a Guards reflexes, but she remembered two she’d caught using it for other means. Her response was a quick caw from the griffon, as well as a throb from the member she was rubbing herself against. Apparently he approved and was as hard and big as he would get.

She was certainly having fun, but she was running out of ideas. Wait, there was one... but...

Well, you only live once.

She raised herself from him, but before the Griffon could protest in response, he felt a smooth tongue lick the length of his rock hard member.

“Oh pluck!” Fredrick swore in Griffic. “No mare has offered to do that in far too long!” He felt another throb run through his member as it released a small bead of pre onto the mare’s tongue in thanks for what she was doing.

“Well then,” she responded in kind. There was something about a mare speaking Griffic that sounded so... primal. “I shall have to give you a treat~” She licked it from base to head, while her magic teased the orbs that hung just below. After a few moments of this, she swallowed and closed her eyes before taking the first few inches into her mouth.

While the griffon hissed in pleasure and was sorely tempted to thrust into her mouth...he refrained. Not only because it wouldn’t be right according to his honor, but because she said she’d not had a stallion in some time. Ergo, her pace was the one he would move at.

“Oh plucking feathers, that feels so...niiiiice,” he hissed out.

Hey, nopony said he couldn’t encourage her.

She responded by humming around the member as she took more of it, bobbing her head slowly at first, but the pace soon picked up. The bonds around his arms weakened considerably as she focused on a new trick, using her telekinesis to rub the head of his cock as she suckled on it. It felt like the mare had three tongues, all made for his pleasure.

Slowly the bonds fell away in a shower of sparks, and once they did, a wicked gleam came to Fredrick’s eyes. She wanted to get into the oral game? He’d respond in kind. His talons slowly moved to the mare’s flanks, and he picked her up, gently repositioning her so that while she could service him, he could also service her. He let Narrow know his intentions by drawing a single claw around her lips, teasing but not penetrating.

Narrow squeaked, quickly pulling back so she wouldn’t bite him out of surprise. “Ahh~ W-wha?”

“Oh, just showing my appreciation for what you’re doing,” he said, before rubbing along her lips and flicking her clit with one claw. “And giving you an appreciation for my claws~”

“Heee,” Narrow bit her lip as he did that. “W-w-what did you just do?”

“You mean this?” he said, rubbing her lips again. “Or maybe this?” This time, he pinched her clit lightly between two claws, tweaking it gently.

“Haaaaaa~” she moaned as he pinched her. “Oh sweet gods above! N-nopony has-has ever... haaa~”

“Such a shame,” he said as he used her fluids to lubricate his claws before he gently eased one into her lips, spreading them. “That nopony has ever paid attention to your needs.”

“Mo-most stallions... don’t... haaah!” she sighed as she lowered her head again. She wasn’t going to be beaten like this as she engulfed his member once more, her magic flaring to engulf the whole thing and vibrated lightly.

“Hah...and most unicorn mares…” he said, panting as she resumed her attentions. “Don’t use their magic...nearly as well as you~’ With that, claw two joined the fray, and both sought her tunnel and eased their way in, even as he throbbed and released another burst of pre into her muzzle.

“M’captain... for a reason,” she panted as she freed her mouth and licked her lips. Her magical ministrations kept going though. She bucked her hips slightly, as Fredrick entered her. “Ohhh, that’s good...”

“I also use it for something else~” he sing-songed as the final claw on his talon rubbed at her lips. “To test to see how much any mare can stretch...to see if she can take me. If I can get all three in you, then you can fit your friend down there in here as well.”

“Ahhh~” Narrow dragged the flat of her tongue along his length, rubbing the base gently with her hooves. “Oh buck! I’m this close already?”

“To be fair, for you it has been a while,” Fredrick replied as he quickly rubbed the mare’s clit before barely sneaking his third claw into her pussy as well. It’d be a tight fit if she wanted to really ride him, but it’d be doable.

She groaned, wondering if she should keep going or not. It was impossible to tell if he was close or not, or if he could even go a second time once he had. Well, the time for subtlety was long past.

“Wha-what about you?” she panted. “Are you close?”

“Not really,” he said, moving his claws about in her. “I’ve had a long time to get used to this lifestyle, so while you have warmed me up faster than any mare in a long time, I think I can make you cum before I get my turn.”

Well, dammit... She suddenly shrieked as her body convulsed, her marehood drenching his claws as she fell to her chest, panting heavily. The orgasm seemed to last forever as she just moaned and panted, her body shaking with pleasure. At some point, she was dimly aware that the griffon had removed his claws somehow, and replaced them with his beak, lapping away at her and drinking the fluids she so readily provided.

“Hyaaa!? Are-are you... ahhhh!” Narrow was still extremely sensitive and every flick of his tongue caused another tremor in her body. Eventually she came down from her high, and the griffon only licked her a few more times before withdrawing his beak.

“Well when I see a leaky faucet, my first instinct is to stopper it,” he said with more than a hint of cheek. “At least until it stops running. And this way, the liquid didn’t go to waste.”

“Again... nopony.. has ever...” Narrow rolled off of him and lay beside him, her hoof draped across his chest. “That was the most amazing... but you, you’re not satisfied right?”

“Mmm, not yet, but before I begin,” he said, trailing one claw through her chest fur. “Are you protected?”

Narrow nodded, her cheeks flushed red. “I-I did, just in case this happened.” She smiled lightly as she remember the event earlier in the afternoon. “Saw somepony else there as well~ Well, somebatty else.”

“Mm, and while that is a delightful bit of gossip to hang over Level’s head, I believe you and I should focus on, well, you and I,” Fredrick finished, putting his whole talon to use…

...In giving Narrow a belly-rub, to help her calm down from her first real ‘high’ of the evening. Narrow hummed as she enjoyed the relaxing motions.

“This... being like this is something I could get used to,” she said with a smile. “Being close to someone.”

“The fact that you haven’t found somepony of your own is shame indeed,” Fredrick said, not stopping in the rubbing. “As it stands, I have been close to many, and while I will always shed a tear and a sigh when they move on, to dwell is to overlook the next mare in need of...companionship.”

Narrow looked at him, as a question sat on the tip of her tongue. “Can... I ask a favor of you then?”

“Ask away, milady.” Fredrick replied as he started to lightly scratch the mare’s belly.

“If I need someone... even just to talk with... do you think you could be that someone?’ she asked hesitantly. “I don’t want to pressure you into anything permanent, and I won’t be one of those clingy, jealous mares... just.” She sighed as she held his claw. “I’m so tired of being alone all the time.”

Fredrick paused and brought his other talon around, gently picking the mare up again and placing her back on his chest...before giving her a hug. “If you ever need me, my door is always open to you,” he said softly. “Just remember to knock if it’s after closing hours. And I’ll not begrudge you if you choose to make use of me often or never before you move on as well.”

Keep up sweet words like that, and I’ll move in instead~

Aw, somepony wants a birdy husband~

....Shutup!

“Thanks,” she said softly, as her tail brushed up against her new friend. “So, you still want to prove those boasts to me~?”

“Better question: still want me to? Last chance to back out before I take you for the same ride so many other mares have had,” he said with a wink.

Narrow frowned as she sat up on his chest, her dark, chocolate eyes staring into his own. “Take me, you sexy beast~”

With a soft, gentle push of one talon, Narrow felt Fredrick’s member poking at her flank...before he gave her a firmer shove, ending with her positioned just behind it, displaying his pride as it throbbed in front of her. “You choose where it ends up, but then I’m going to screw your brains out,” he informed the mare.

She grunted as she thrust her hips forward, impaling his member inside her marehood. “Ahh, goddam!” She moaned at the feeling of something so big inside of her. “Ooohhhhh~”

Fredrick let out a small burst of curses in Griffic on his end as he felt her marehood clamp down on him like a warm, wet vice. “Son of a Diamond Dog, plucking Tartarus!” he hissed. “Has any pony ever told you you could squeeze coal into diamonds with this thing?”

Narrow shook her head to clear it. “What? Oh, not... really.” To be honest, Fredrick was only her third lover. The other two? They were a case of wham, bam, thankyou ma’am.

“Well, once you feel comfortable...or I feel like I can move, we can begin proper,” the griffon returned, panting and laying there, simply basking in the sensations for the moment.

Narrow nodded, as she bucked her hips a little. “This little flower is ready for you~” she cooed, chuckling at her joke. Well, until she realised that Fredrick wouldn’t get it. The griffon laughed a little all the same, though.

“I have heard mares refer to themselves as delicate flowers before...but you are not nearly so dainty as to pull that off,” he said. Still, he reached a talon up and lightly stroked her mane again...before taking hold of her back and gripping her to his chest as he used his other talon to rotate the pair of them. Now, she was on the bottom, he was on the top, and he was in control of the thrusting, which he demonstrated with a light buck of his own.

“Ah, it’s-to do with my name,” she grunted, feeling the large member thrust into her. “I guess that’s-not relevant now huh?”

“Unless you want to make it relevant, no,” Fredrick replied as he slowly drew out, before filling the mare beneath him again. “Not like it’ll change what’s going on.”

Narrow let out a long moan, as a thought filled her head again. She kinda wanted to hear it, even if it was just once. She closed her eyes as the Griffon teased her.

“....Peach Flower.”

“Well then, little Flower,” Fredrick said, bending his head to meet hers. “I will remember you quite fondly indeed.” With that, he gave her another deep kiss, even as he kept up with his pistoning into and out of the mare.

“Thankyou,” she replied softly, returning the kiss as she let him have at it. And by the powers, it was amazing. He really did live up to those boasts.

Fredrick reached one talon between their bellies, softly running his claws through the mare’s fur, before they slowly snuck southward, towards their conjoined groins. A soft flick of one claw to one clit let the mare know his intentions...though his smirk probably clued her in as well.

“Y-you really are a scoundrel,” she smiled back. “I may not be a Pegasus,” she moaned again as he teased and pounded her. “But let’s see if you can make me fly!”

“That was...the idea,” Fredrick said, deciding to try and give her everything he had. So few mares could stand up to his length, or his speed. Still, he decided to make those deep thrusts...just a little deeper. He could almost hear the comical thunk as he finally hammered home, balls-deep in the mare beneath.

“OH CELESTIA!” she screamed in pleasure as the beast atop her ravaged her. Her mind clouded as it was lost to the euphoria. She was near instantly silenced as the griffon drew her into another kiss...before he pulled nearly all the way out, and hammered right back in.

She screamed into his mouth as he continued, this was beyond anything she had ever felt as she came around him, her tight marehood pulsing around him. She wrapped her hooves around his neck as he ceaselessly pounded her and played with her clit.

“Ancestors, you know how to squeeze a male,” Fredrick muttered, getting closer all the time to his own peak. Maybe if she’d been into dirty-talk, or kept up with that wing massage from earlier, he’d already be there, but...

He suddenly felt her magic grip him again, while he was inside her! She moaned as she moved her mouth up to his ear. “C’mon Fredrick!” she said in Griffic. “Fill me up, give this little flower everything you have~”

The griffon moaned and gave her a few more deep thrusts despite the near-overstimulation she was providing. “Close,” he warned, feeling a familiar reaction start to happen as his cock twitched, hard. “You’re sure?”

She moaned into his ear she she matched his thrusts. “I’ve come this far. So breed me you handsome beast! Make me your mare!”

With that, Fredrick moaned into her ear and let loose his load inside his latest, most memorable bedmate. Though that didn’t mean he’d stop thrusting or playing with her clit, heavens no! Just because he was filling her, didn’t mean he had to stop stimulating her at all~

“Ffffeathersss!” she hissed as she climaxed again! “Oh my... I-I can’t.. aahhhhhhh~” She shuddered again, her vision blacking out for a brief moment. Eventually, Fredrick finished unloading into her, and he simply held himself inside the mare for a moment, letting her get used to the feeling, before he slowly started to draw himself out for the last time.

The mare panted heavily as their combined lovemaking pooled onto the bed, her chest heaving with each breath.

“I...guess, you can back it up...” she said with a cheeky smile.

“Three to one is not a bad ratio,” Fredrick observed aloud as he lay down on a non-wet part of the bed, slowly reaching out to draw the mare close for after-sex cuddling. “Best yet, actually.”

“Now you’re exaggerating again,” Narrow chuckled as she snuggled in next to him, burying her face in his soft feathers. “Forgive me if I choose to indulge in that though.”

“No, really!” Fredrick protested. “Most mares start out as six or seven to one, before repeated visits work them down to four or five to one. I blame the local stallions for being so bad at knowing what to do.”

“Heh, guess you have an easy time of it then,” she smiled, finally getting what he meant by ratios. “Perhaps I might even the score eventually?”

“If you did, you would be the first,” he said honestly. “No local mare...or any mare, actually, has gotten even close to evening the score with me.”

“You said it yourself, it’s been awhile for me...” she smirked as that thought set in. “Now what do you suppose would happen once I get a little practice in?”

“You might, might, get down to two,” Fredrick said, with just a hint of cheek. “I’ve more tricks that you didn’t see, milady. It’s been a while since I had to use them, but they’re potent ones all the same. And if you actually got to the point where we were both even, I might even consider going steady, for once.”

...wait! What?

Did he just...?

We need practice and some advice!

For once, we agree.

Narrow’s heart may have skipped a beat or three as she looked up at him. “I’m going to hold you to that,” she murmured as she felt the realm of sleep call.

“Ask nicely and I might even abstain from others while you try,” the avian jested as he ran one talon’s worth of claws through her mane.

“M’not worried,” she mumbled. “L’beat ‘em all...”

Fredrick gave her head a light peck as he spread one wing over her form, to serve as a fluffy blanket for her. “Sleep well, little mare,” he soothed. “For the sun comes all too soon.”

She mumbled something else, something he couldn’t really hear. But if one had listened especially close, it would have sounded remarkably like. ‘Love you.’

Author's Notes:

I may or may not know how to make all the dishes Fredrick uses in this date.