This is another adult chapter. So expect more of the same from the previous two! —Firesight

Music: A Second Waltz

On the top floor of the Gatewater, Maya Fey and Vinyl Scratch slept soundly, oblivious to everything except each other… until their eyes snapped open as they both sensed a large but distant release of mating magic. Both were familiar with the aura’s owner, and both instantly knew what had happened.

“Well now… guess Sparks was pretty pent up!” Vinyl chuckled softly to her new human lover, then immediately worried how Maya would take it, knowing of her feelings towards Phoenix and the fact that the magical release was confirmation he’d just made love to Twilight again.

To her relief, Maya’s only response was to snuggle closer, a look on her face the pony DJ could only describe as wistful. “Yeah… if it was that strong, she must’ve been a pony when it happened!”

Vinyl blinked as she realized her human lover was correct. “Whoa… so that means he did her as a pony? You know, I think I’m starting to like him myself!” she teased, to which Maya gave her a playful bite to the nape of her neck, eliciting a sound not far from a nicker from the pony-turned-woman. “Come on, filly, you have to admit he cuts a fine figure in that blue suit of his!”

“Yeah, he does…” she granted as she wrapped her arms more tightly around her normally equine friend. “Still, I wish he’d be more willing to upgrade. Rarity made him a new suit, but he hasn’t even opened it yet. If you ask me, he’s way too attached to that threadbare old thing.”

“Eh, he’s entitled. I imagine it was his first suit and by now it’s probably like a second skin he’s comfortable in,” Vinyl suggested as the two began lightly kissing, hands starting to roam anew and Vinyl’s horn starting to glow weakly again, casting Maya’s face in a pinkish light. “Feeling frisky, filly?” the now-human unicorn mare asked as she felt her friend’s hand close on a breast, teasing a teat to tautness, amazing her again with how deliciously tight and tingling its flesh became.

“Well, Sparkle’s not the only one who’s been pent up…” she said as her kissing got a bit more urgent under the growing glow of Vinyl’s horn, leaving her amazed in turn at the effect the magical light had on her, raising her arousal quickly. “Between you and Nick and not being willing to do anything about it…” she reached a hand between Vinyl’s legs, delighted to already feel fresh heat and wetness gathering there.

Vinyl shivered, thinking again that unicorn aura had nothing on human fingers when it came to manual dexterity. “Well ya know, we just might be able to do something about that now, fillyfriend…” the pony DJ suggested mildly, suddenly shifting her weight to roll up on Maya, straddling her and letting the blanket slide backwards off them both so she could see her young human body in the light of her horn. "I seem to recall making a promise to pay you back earlier… and DJ-PON3 is a mare of her word!” She charged her hands with what magic she could muster and closed them on the young mystic’s still-maturing breasts.

Maya give a shuddering gasp and arched her back against them. “Don’t…stop…” she emphasized her statement by reaching up to clutch Vinyl’s hands to her chest and closing her eyes tightly for a moment to drink in her friend’s magical touch.

“And it only gets better, filly…” Vinyl all but purred, delighting in Maya’s reaction and her long-awaited acceptance of her sensual side. “I’m gonna give you everything I got, and believe me, I got plenty!” she promised, demonstrating by example by using a weak tendril of aura to reach between Maya’s legs and brush the outer lips of her human marehood, gently but not insistently probing at the entrance as Maya squirmed helplessly beneath her. “I see you’re still a virgin, fillyfriend…” she noted from the resistance just a little ways inside. “I’m honored, then. And I won’t take it unless you want me to…”

“I think you kind of are already, V-Jay!” Maya answered breathlessly, as her friend’s sensual assault continued, driving her excitement steadily higher. “How’d you get so good at this?”

“Lots of practice. Plenty of partners. But there ain’t been none like you!” she promised. “I gotta say, ain’t nopony just gone aggressive on me like you did earlier! Can’t say I didn’t enjoy it, though…” Kinda fun to have somepony else be on top for once…

“You really liked it?” Maya had to ask again, to which Vinyl gave a reproachful look and a gentle tweak to her nipple, now rubbing them with her aura-charged thumbs that sent fresh shivers through her human mystic friend.

“You even have to ask? You’re something else, filly. And if that really was your first time, then I gotta say you’re a natural at this!”

“And I liked doing it…” Maya realized in some wonder, kissing one of Vinyl’s magic-charged hands, letting her aura likewise soak into her head and tongue. The additional magic made her feel heady, a hot haze now suffusing everything in her awareness, making her ever-more amenable to Vinyl’s advances. “Don’t stop now, V-Jay…” she requested, and the Pony DJ instantly obliged, resuming her efforts and love talk, telling Maya over and over how desirable and beautiful she truly was.

“I wasn’t just saying that the other day. I meant every… word… of it.” she said as she laid a trail of kisses down the top of Maya’s body, starting at her forehead and then hitting her nose and lips. They kissed deeply for a moment more before Vinyl resumed her journey down Maya’s body, leaving her shivering in anticipation as she worked her way down over her neck and onto her chest, kissing between her petite breasts and then suckling each nipple in turn. Maya responded by all but cooing and finally clutching Vinyl’s head to her, though she couldn’t help but wish aloud she had bigger breasts like her sister.

“You’re still growing and right now they’re enough for me, fillyfriend! I like you just the way you are…” she promised. “Young… pretty… and oh so ready…” she shifted lower on Maya’s body so she could kiss Maya’s sternum with the first word, her navel with the second… and found the top of her swollen marehood with her third, her aura prying apart her lips and exposing the tiny hood of her clit.

“Ah!” Maya gasped as her equine-turned-human lover went to work on her very essence, leaving her unable to do anything except lay back and accept the erotic assault on her senses, the efforts of Vinyl’s lips and tongue enhanced exquisitely by her mating magic, driving the young mystic to ever higher levels of ecstasy with each passing second.

She writhed. She squirmed. She called her friend’s name repeatedly, leaving no doubt of her enjoyment or her desire for more. And Vinyl only too-happily obliged her, bringing all her considerable sexual skill to bear, ones that not even Octavia herself could resist. Her magic electrified every inch of Maya’s marehood, leaving her lost in her own passion and pleasure as she was brought to the brink repeatedly… and then over it, the pony DJ enjoying immensely the young mystic’s reaction as she grabbed a pillow and muffled her scream of pleasure with it, a sudden surge of fluid coating Vinyl’s human muzzle as Maya’s legs clamped down on her friend’s head, holding it to her marehood and riding her all the way through her climax, easily the most intense she had ever felt.

It was another minute before she settled off her orgasmic high and her body relaxed back into Vinyl’s embrace. “Wow…” was all Maya could immediately say when she was capable of talking again.

“Enjoy yourself, fillyfriend?” Vinyl asked, now holding her human friend closely, pulling Maya’s head against her chest, now fully able to appreciate the intimacy of the gesture.

“Like you wouldn’t believe, V-Jay…” Maya said, amazed she had enough cognizance to answer. “I’m calling us even after that!”

“I didn’t do it to be even, fillyfriend. Like you said earlier, I did it because I wanted to,” she kissed Maya’s forehead. “I did it because you’re you. Because right here, right now… I want to be with you.”

“And I want to be with you too, V-Jay,” Maya quickly replied, blinking back tears as she fell asleep in her friend’s arms.

Fifteen miles away, Phoenix and Twilight awoke on the beach an hour later, still in a very compromising position.

With muttered apologies, and relieved to find her privacy spell was fading but still present as there were still people on the beach despite the late hour, she teleported them back to the villa. Upon arrival in the living room, they disentangled quickly, finding themselves covered with sand and sweat, immediately heading for the washrooms, trying not to think too much about what had just happened—again!

“Phoenix, I am so sorry…” Twilight gave him a hangdog look after they cleaned off in separate showers and met back up, as the villa had two. “I swear I didn’t mean for that to happen. I just started thinking about it, and then…” she had to look away.

Phoenix blushed hard. “Well, uh… the truth is… at the point it happened, I was too, Twilight…” he admitted somewhat sheepishly, the memories of his unexpected entry and the intense pleasure it gave him still quite potent in his mind. “And since we now know your mating magic only acts in concert with what we both want, that means…” he shook his head in wonder.

Twilight picked up the chain of thought immediately. That means it helped make it happen because we BOTH wanted it? She felt both aroused and aghast at the revelation, trying not to let the memories hold power over her. But… why in the name of my mentor would I WANT to do something… so… so… she couldn’t even complete the sentence, fearful of what her friends or brother would say and praying Pinkie Pie hadn’t been able to pick up the act as she had their other ones.

“So… what do we do?” she finally asked, unable to meet his eyes for what he might see in them. I don’t want that happening every time we RUT!

“Well, uh… I think we’re both pretty spent by now, so there shouldn’t be any issue with it happening again tonight…” he offered cautiously, not wanting to suggest they slept apart for what had happened previously. “Let’s just… go to bed. Together, I mean. I’m not mad, I swear…” he quickly added, holding up his hands in a placating motion. I mean, how CAN I be if I was fantasizing about it too… he thought to himself, though he wasn’t quite willing to admit he still actively was, trying to block the memories of their actions as best he could. But it felt… so… despite how hard he’d come just an hour and a half earlier, he was surprised to feel a sudden twinge in his boxers.

Twilight looked relieved. “I’m not mad either, just…” she just as quickly reassured him, finishing her sentence by hunching her shoulders and giving him a motion she wasn’t sure if was more shudder or shiver, a feeling Phoenix shared. “Anyway… I’m tired and my magic’s nearly spent, so… let’s just go to bed and stick to ‘screwing’ as humans for a bit, okay?” she suggested, deciding it was best to remain a pony for the night to allow her aura to recharge more quickly from the ambient energy in the air. And was it her imagination, or did it there seem to be more near the water…?

“Deal,” Phoenix said as he rubbed his hand behind his head, though he couldn’t quite help but feel some disappointment. They went to bed after that, climbing under the covers with the window open and Twilight still a pony, resting her head on his chest and allowing Phoenix to stroke her until she fell asleep. He followed her into slumber soon after, fatigue from the long day and massive release finally catching up with them both.

Their dreams, when they came, were vivid and inevitably about their previous act; a mixture of fantasies and nightmares where the urge to mate as they had before became overwhelming and unavoidable. Phoenix imagined his enormous erection bursting out of his pants at the mere sight of her no matter where he was or what he was doing, dragging him towards her with his flared head pointed directly under her tail; Twilight could in turn all but feel herself being dragged backwards towards him, her hindquarters and then entire body lifting off the ground as she found herself impaled on him, helpless to prevent it from happening again…

Desperately denying her enjoyment of it even as her friends watched it happen, only to have the lie of her statement proven as her own aura betrayed her, pulling him ever further in as she approached climax. She awoke with a start at that moment only to find…

An equally surprised Phoenix buried to nearly the hilt beneath her tail, their mutual dreams having manifested in the waking world yet again, her magic having pulled him inside her as he spooned her from behind.

“Wha…? Twilight!” Phoenix shouted in alarm and pleasure as he awoke at the exact same moment to find himself deep inside her again and already too far gone to stop, his hips thrusting automatically and hands quickly finding her teats and winking marehood, trying to add to the overpowering pleasure they both felt.

“Not… a… GAAAAAAIN!” she cried out as an intense climax claimed her for the second time that night, her horn’s repeated eruption announcing her enjoyment of the taboo act for both Phoenix and the entire world to see.

It was 10 in the morning before Vinyl and Maya reluctantly rousted themselves, Maya pointing out that they needed to get up and get moving if they were going to make the fairgrounds by the planned meeting time of noon.

That didn’t stop them from showering together and engaging in several more rounds of lovemaking, though Vinyl at one point said she wanted to be with Maya as a mare so she ‘could have full use of her magic’, giving her friend a grin that suggested she had something in mind for them both. “If you’re willing, that is…?”

“For you? Always!” Maya replied by hugging and kissing her friend again as they toweled off, the pair holding their embrace for nearly a minute. They even started making out again briefly before Vinyl held up a finger to Maya’s lips.

“I really like that you’re so insatiable, fillyfriend, but we really do gotta get going…” she motioned to the room clock.

“Yeah, you’re right…” Maya said, deflating slightly. “Guess I just don’t want this night to end…”

Vinyl smiled at that. “Me neither, but there’ll be other nights, filly. I’m here until Celly and Sparks go home. Guess I really should get word to Octy of where I am, though…” she mused.

“You can ask Celly or use Nick’s dragonfire candle to send her a message,” Maya reminded her friend. “She’s not gonna be mad that you just up and left to be with me, is she…?”

“Nah. She’s on a concert tour with the Canterlot Philharmonic right now anyway. She wasn’t supposed to be back for a couple weeks,” Vinyl answered as she began pulling on a fresh pair of panties, ones borrowed from Maya.

“Just music? No prosecuting?” Maya asked while she did the same, wondering how the earth pony mare juggled both jobs.

Vinyl chuckled at that. “Octy’s not an everyday prosecutor. She’s so good they only bring her in for real important or difficult cases. She’s in a courtroom maybe once or twice a year. She’s really something else…”

“Better than Nick?” Maya teased as she began dressing, to which Vinyl had to pause and think.

“Put it this way, filly… if they ever got in the same courtroom together, I wouldn’t wanna bet either way!”

“Fair enough,” she granted, then turned thoughtful again. “Wonder what she’d think of being human?”

“Don’t know, but after I tell her how much I enjoyed this? It wouldn’t surprise me if she wanted to try it too!” Vinyl answered. “Octy’s serious and stubborn, and she’d hate me for saying this, but she enjoys the chance to loosen her bow tie once in awhile. And who knows, coming here and spending time as a human might be a way she can. Seriously, Trixie doesn’t know what she’s missing!” she decided, remembering the mare magician's less-than-favorable response to learning Twilight took human form to have sex with Phoenix.

Maya’s expression went sour at the showmare's mention, a fact not lost on Vinyl as she slipped on her sports bra. “Still don’t like her, do you?”

“Oh, you think?” Maya rolled her eyes as she pulled up her panties and went for her top next. “She’s the most obnoxious, insulting and outright infuriating mare I’ve ever met! She rubs me the wrong way like you wouldn’t believe. I really don’t get what Pearly sees in her!” Okay, actually, I do… she admitted with her thoughts, remembering her cousin’s favorite movie.

“Eh, Trixie’s not so bad. She’s got an ego and an attitude to be sure, but she can walk the walk both in the courtroom and on a stage. She did real well in that dream trial, and take it from me—she’s real fun when she’s drunk!” the pony DJ recalled with a wistful smile.

“Yeah, well, you can say she’s okay, V-Jay,” Maya retained her sour look as she pulled on her kimono. “All I know is that whenever I see her, I get this urge to drop a railcar on her head.”

“A railcar?” Vinyl blinked, giving her friend a look as the finished dressing, pulling her t-shirt on over her blue-maned head. “That’s oddly specific.”

“Maybe, but it’s…” she started to reply but then her head abruptly snapped up. “Wha? Sis?” she suddenly called out, looking around.

Music: Classic Suspense (Remastered)

“Sis? You mean… Mia?” Vinyl felt a sudden surge of apprehension.

“I can sense her. She’s… she’s here! She wants me to channel her. It’s okay, Vinyl, I don’t think she’s mad…” she quickly reassured her instantly anxious friend. “She just… wants to talk…”

Vinyl did her best to suppress a sudden urge to swallow, remembering how utterly intimidating Mia Fey had been when facing down The Nightmare… or Vinyl herself, as she’d done following their first slightly involuntary encounter. “Well… best not keep her waiting, then…” she gave a slightly nervous grin. “Bring her on, and let’s hear what she has to say!”

Her reaction was not lost on Maya, who put a reassuring hand on her friend’s shoulder. “It’ll be okay, V-Jay. If she was watching, she has to know how much I enjoyed being with you…” she promised as she stood up from the bed and grasped the magatama that lay around her neck. Its glow brightened as she drew on its mystic power reserves, causing her body to quickly take a new form…

Within seconds, where Maya Fey once stood was a much larger, older and decidedly more mature-looking Mia Fey, who instantly crossed her arms over her ample breasts which showed clearly through the lapels of Maya’s kimono. She stared down at Vinyl from a head above her, a stern look on her face even though there was a decided twinkle in her eyes as well. Despite that, Vinyl Scratch couldn’t quite suppress a cringe, hoping Maya was right about her not being mad as the powerful spirit of her passed sister loomed large over her.

“Uh… hey there Mia. Maya said you wanted to talk, so… what can I do you for, sister?” she summoned her nerve and offered a wan grin.

Mia didn’t reply right away, holding her glare for several long and uncomfortable seconds until the corners of her mouth abruptly crooked upwards. “Sorry, Miss Scratch, I couldn’t resist. Let me put your fears to rest here and now by saying I couldn’t be more happy to see you together, and I thank you for making sure you waited until Maya was fully ready and the time was right. You made her happy and made her true first time memorable, and in the end, I could ask for no more than that,” she brought her palms together and gave Vinyl a short Kurain-style bow. “As you have shown nothing but the utmost love and respect for her, you are more than welcome to be with Maya going forward; I only ask that you restrain her more… problematic fantasies until such time as she has fully figured out her boundaries.”

“Count on it, sister. I won’t be here all the time, but when I am I’ll treat her right and keep her grounded as much as I can,” Vinyl answered in some relief.

“Thank you. In the meantime, I did not come here just to tell you that. If you would please pass Maya a message, I would like her—and you!—to help arrange something for me,” she said, going to the nightstand to grab the pad and pen sitting there, using them to write out a quick note.

Vinyl cocked her head curiously in a gesture that was shared by both humans and ponies alike. “Arrange something?” she repeated. “What?”

In response, Mia gave a coy grin that was the equal of anything Celestia could offer as she completed her missive, passing it to Vinyl. “I’ll elaborate more when Pearly can channel me later today in Maya’s presence, but for now… let’s just say that I’ve learned some rather interesting things from the time I spent in the Summerlands, and if both you and my sister are willing, I’d like to put that information to good use…”

Music: “Together” by Andrew “MandoPony” Stein

Both Phoenix and Twilight cringed when a new dragonfire message appeared after breakfast, in the form of a scroll containing more mirror spell gems.

They’d slept apart the rest of the night apart out of fear of waking up to find themselves engaged in anal intercourse again, though that didn’t stop the dreams of it from coming, Phoenix quickly discovering he didn’t need the presence of Twilight’s aura for his manhood to turn stallionhood, finding himself with an oversized stallion erection for the remainder of the night. Great—all I have to do is THINK about screwing Twilight as a mare and I get it! he realized by night’s end.

Twilight was little better, unable to reconcile the fact that she’d enjoyed the act with it being generally frowned upon in pony society, she’d heard from more than one source that it was an act limited to colt-cuddlers and decent mares never did it. But… they said decent mares never give oral to males, either… some part of her reminded herself, but she still couldn’t help but feel this was somehow different; a line that just shouldn’t be crossed.

Finally, she was rousted by the smell of cooking bacon mid-morning and her nose twitched appreciatively even though she was still a pony, the sizzling sound finally drawing her downstairs to see a slightly-bleary-eyed Phoenix cooking breakfast on the stovetop.

His now-normal manhood twitched to see her, fresh memories of their two encounters the previous night flashing through his head. “Uh… hey…” he called to her tentatively. “I’m making omelets. And I just wanted to apologize again for…” he rubbed a hand behind his head and looked away in worry.

“Yeah, me too…” Twilight answered in a shaky voice and an identical gesture keeping her distance even as her eyes flicked to his groin, some part of her trying to will him to hardness again. She remembered the intense pleasure he’d given her, suddenly all but able to feel him inside her again and desperately restrained her aura before it could turn pink, though the magic she’d lost in her two powerful climaxes just hours earlier aided in that effort.

Despite everything, Phoenix was little better, unable to even look at her without remembering and his body responded immediately to her presence, the mere sight of her causing his blood to start flowing and cock to begin surging to its stallion dimensions, its engorged head almost immediately finding its way out of his boxers. He turned away, but not before she saw it, her cheeks going immediately flushed. “S-sorry…” he quickly offered, cursing himself for his lack of control. “It’s… just…” It’s just it all felt WAY too good…

Twilight’s eyes went wide, flickering between his eyes and still-growing organ; she couldn’t help but lick her lips at the sight. “Y-you don’t have to apologize…” She quickly said, then drew upon the mana contained in her crystal pendant now in the upstairs bedroom to turn herself human again as a precaution, morphing from mare to very naked woman before Phoenix’s eyes. His erection quickly retreated to merely human dimensions at that, and he sighed with relief as she pulled the crystal pendant to her with a summon spell and placed it around her neck. She then stood up from all fours and went to him, throwing her arms around his shoulders. “It’s flattering, believe me, and I’m not mad at all. But for now, maybe it’s best if we…” she kissed him deeply and he took his invitation to spend his tension on her human form, turning the stove off long enough to take her more conventionally on the living room sofa.

After a breakfast of omelets, English muffins and green melon washed down with orange juice and coffee, the new dragonfire message arrived in a puff of green smoke with a scroll-written note containing two additional mirror spell crystals; the note’s tone stern and accusing and worse, penned by all of Twilight’s friends.

Twilight Sparkle, you will contact us at ONCE! —Rarity

And HOW! —RD

Did you guys do what I THINK you did? —PP

Okay, just what in the HAY is goin’ on over there??? —AJ

Um… please talk to us, Twilight? I just want to make sure you and Mister Phoenix are okay? If you want to…that is….sorry… —Fluttershy

“Now what?” Twilight asked as they read through it, both cringing hard when they came to Pinkie’s line.

Phoenix closed his eyes and swallowed. “They know. Nothing for it but to face the music, I guess?” he grimaced, not even feeling up to giving a goofy grin. “Just remember, I’ll be right there with you…”

“No, Phoenix.” She shook her head. “They’re my friends, and I don’t want them ganging up on you. I’ll talk to them. Just… wait upstairs, okay?” she offered her stallion.

Phoenix felt a moment of shame at his own relief. “I understand. But call me if you need me, okay?” he kissed her on the forehead before heading to their bedroom.

“Promise,” Twilight said, then watched him leave. When he was out of sight, she pulled all the blinds and then reverted her transformation, deciding she needed to face her friends as a pony for the severe scolding she was certain to receive. She took several deep breaths, then turned towards the mirror and floated one of the mirror crystals over, tapping it to the exterior.

The surface rippled, there was a brief sense of going through a tunnel, and then… “Uh… hey, girls.” She couldn’t look any of them in the eye, but what her peripheral vision told her was bad enough, as they all wore angry and foreboding expressions while staring at her through the mirror of her basement lab. Pinkie Pie’s hair was flat, AJ wore a stern look, Rainbow’s forelegs were crossed in her hover, and Fluttershy was hiding her face behind her bangs. “I guess you know…”

“Oh, we know all right!” Applejack said sharply, almost theatrically. “And just what in the hay is wrong with you, filly?” She kept her tone disapproving but couldn’t quite keep the corners of her mouth from turning upwards.

“My pucker puckered hard last night—twice! And you know what that means!” Pinkie Pie explained in exact terms, the ends of her flat mane starting to curl upwards again as she spoke.

“It means you have engaged in behavior most unbecoming a mare, Twilight Sparkle!” Rarity kept her eyes closed and nose in the air, though her mannerisms were greatly exaggerated, even for her.

“Okay, egghead, enough is enough! You wanna rut him, that’s your business, but what kind a pony are you that you wanna take it… there?” She stuck out her tongue but Twilight could have sworn for a moment she heard a stifled giggle.

Despite their strange behavior, Twilight couldn’t help but cringe. “Girls, please, I…” she trailed off when it finally registered on her that their words did not match their body language and when she finally looked up at them, she saw barely contained mirth and glee around the edges of their expressions.

Realizing they’d been found out, to Twilight’s great annoyance and equally great blush, her friends suddenly started tittering, giggling, and finally broke out in open laughter as if they could no longer restrain themselves from revealing a great joke, Pinkie’s hair popping back to full floofiness again while Rainbow fell to the floor, unable to keep herself aloft while laughing so hard. Applejack lost her hat as she seemed to let out some hearty laughs of her own while Fluttershy tried desperately to hide her muzzle behind her hooves; only Rarity managed SOME level of decorum, and only because she laughed behind a hoofkerchief.

”Girls!” Twilight shouted at them, her cheeks hot.

“Sorry, egghead. We had to!” Rainbow said between guffaws.

“Well, I didn’t want to…” Fluttershy said quietly, the only one who wasn’t laughing.

“Oh, Twilight, you should’ve seen the look on your face!” Pinkie was rolling on the floor laughing.

“Yeah, sorry, Twi. It was Dash’s idea for a joke and we couldn’t resist!” Applejack took off her Stetson and rubbed the tears from her eyes. “So seriously, filly… we’re all just curious. We didn’t think you’d do that with him!”

“And as a pony, no less!” Rarity said with utter glee.

“Oh! OH! Did you like it? Was it fun? Huh? HUH?” Pinkie asked in rapid fire, jumping up and down as she spoke.

Instead of immediately answering, Twilight stared at them in disbelief and a strangely fervent hope. “Wait. You mean… you’re not mad at me?”

Applejack stared at her with a lopsided grin. “Mad? Over that? Come on, filly, do ya really think I ain’t done it before? That I ain’t enjoyed it something fierce?” Applejack announced, causing Twilight’s jaw to drop open. “Sure, it’s different and it’s naughty, but that’s what makes it fun! And so what if some ponies think it’s wrong? What business is it of theirs? Tell her, Rarity!” She turned to the fashionista at her left.

Rarity looked startled, but then harrumphed. “My dear Applejack! A lady would hardly offer herself up for such foul and uncouth treatment from a colt…”

“Oh, really?” Applejack asked in a tone that said she knew better.

“Unless the stallion in question was truly a Gentlecolt and she was feeling particularly kinky and randy…” she closed her eyes and grinned, to which Applejack gave her a playful swipe with her Stetson.

Fluttershy spoke up next. “Oh, um… I never have, but maybe someday… I might want to…” her quiet words were belied by very fierce blush.

Rainbow Dash facehoofed at that with a loud smack. “Well, you girls can have it, but sorry, I ain’t doing it!”

“Your call, but you don’t know what you’re missing, Dashie!” Pinkie Pie waited until last to speak up. “You already know what I’m gonna say, Twilight! If you and Feenie both like it, just do it! It’s fun! And I like fun!” she started jumping up and down again.

“It was fun, wasn’t it, Twilight?” To Twilight’s surprise, Fluttershy asked the question with a tone almost akin to hope, half-hiding behind her bangs again like she was afraid of the answer.

“Yes…” the violet unicorn finally admitted as much to herself as to them, braced by the presence and acceptance of her friends, but still went downcast, shivering, speaking in an unusually quiet voice. “Like you wouldn’t believe…”

“Well… then why so sad, sugarcube?” Applejack asked in sudden concern, then gave her an askance look. “You saying he didn’t treat you right?” she asked, to which Twilight frantically shook her head.

“NO! No, he did, I swear. It’s just… what happened caught us both by surprise…” twice…

“What do you mean, by surprise, darling?” Rarity gave her an odd look. “You didn’t choose it?”

“No! I mean, well, it kind of was… an accident…” she cringed again, realizing how that sounded, and thus explained quickly despite her deepening embarrassment and blush.

By the time she finished, Applejack wore an odd smile. “I getcha. So neither of ya meant to, but since you were both thinking about it…”

“Your mating magic acted on your mutual desires and worked to bring it about!” Rarity went absolutely giddy at the idea; even Fluttershy looked suddenly lost in her own heady thoughts.

“Wow! That is so cool!” Pinkie beamed.

“Not to mention romantic!” Rarity all but gushed.

“Not the word I’d use…” Rainbow Dash stuck out her tongue, and Twilight couldn’t help but agree.

“Look, girls. I’m relieved at how happy you all are with it, but as taboo as it is, I’m still trying to come to terms with it! And please tell me Spike doesn’t know about this!” she belatedly remembered that he would have had to be the one to have sent the message, implying he would have read it.

She wasn’t sure at first whether it was a good thing that they giggled. “Give us some credit, Twi. He had a late night and he’s sleeping it off now,” Applejack assured her. “We rousted him just long enough to send the message. Pinkie only told us about ten minutes ago what happened. He doesn’t know, and we ain’t tellin’ him,” she explained to Twilight’s relief.

“He was lonely so I invited him over to Sugarcube Corner to help out! I fed him plenty of crystal cupcakes, and then hosted a sleepover with him and the CMC!” Pinkie explained.

“The CMC?” she blinked, suddenly worried for Spike’s safety.

“Oh, he’s fine, Twilight. Though he’s still wearing a great deal of poorly-applied makeup from when the three tried to earn their cutie marks as beauticians…” Rarity explained to the laughter of the others, to which Twilight couldn’t help but stifle a giggle as well.

“So then… where’s the big guy himself?” Applejack asked, looking around the room behind Twilight, to which she immediately called upstairs to Phoenix then turned back to her friends.

“He’s upstairs. I didn’t want him here because I was sure you girls were going to yell at him…” she explained somewhat sheepishly, to which the others gave her a surprised look.

“Yell at him? Not hardly! All I wanna do is…” the country mare’s voice was lost as the mirror image dissolved as the first crystal’s mana was spent. So Twilight quickly picked up the second one they’d sent her to restore the connection; by the time Phoenix arrived, the mirror portal was working again.

“Uh… hey, girls…” Phoenix gave a tentative wave, showing up in his t-shirt and boxers. “Listen, about last night…”

“You gave our dear Twilight the time of her life!” Rarity went starry-eyed.

“Took her by the tail, and rode that filly like there was no tomorrow according to Pinkie!” Applejack piled on, delighting in his deepening blush.

“Yepyep! It’s true! Judging by how much my tail and mane poofed—twice!—she had a doozie of a good time!” she announced with several jumps into the air, causing Phoenix and Twilight to turn not just one but several shades of red.

“Oh, my. It all sounded very… nice.” Fluttershy hid her own blush behind her bangs.

Despite her embarrassment, Twilight turned to Phoenix and announced for all to hear: “It was. And I really did, Phoenix,” she told him, nuzzling his side, to which he could only put a hand on her withers. “And you know… since they say it’s okay, I think I just might want to do it again later…” she told him with a wry grin, causing Phoenix’s hands to immediately go to his crotch to conceal the sudden surge of blood to his equine loins.

The reaction earned giggles from across the portal. “Well, now, don’t be shy, Phoenix Wright! I’d love to see that new equipment o’ yers up close and personal! So why don’t ya give us all a show?” Applejack tipped her hat to him, the request only causing him to flush further and oversized cock to grow harder.

“Yeah... I’ll pass, thanks…” he mumbled, quickly stepping out of view to the evident disappointment of the others before his renewed erection burst out of his boxers again, not understanding why the suggestion of showing it to them only seemed to make things worse.

“Phoenix…” Twilight called after him in concern, then turned back to the mirror in some annoyance.

“Uh… did I say something wrong?” Applejack suddenly worried.

“Mister Wright is not that kind of colt, Applejack!” Rarity admonished.

“He’s really not,” Twilight shook her head. “And you shouldn’t tease him like that. He’s just as embarrassed as I am over what happened.”

“Embarrassed? But why?” Applejack was genuinely confused. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with it! And he’s a stallion! So why wouldn’t he want to show off his wares?” she cocked her head at Twilight.

“He’s a human,” Rarity quickly corrected. “You mustn’t think he’s going to react as a stallion would. And have you forgotten about human nudity taboos, darling?” she pointed out before Twilight could.

“Naw, I haven’t, I just… well, I don’t get them,” she told her friends. “Far as I’m concerned, if you got it, ya flaunt it! That ain’t nothing but honesty! And the honest truth is that I’d love to see up close and personal what he’s packing!” she announced loudly, causing Phoenix’s erection to become even more insistent from the other room.

“Ooo! Me too! Me too!” Pinkie added in excitement, causing Twilight to wince.

“Oh, um… I might like to as well…” Fluttershy offered tentatively, causing Phoenix’s eyes to go wide at the suggestion, his stallionhood growing more rigid by the second despite how many times he’d already come.

“Ew, why?” Rainbow Dash asked from her hover.

“Why do ya think, marefriend?” Applejack asked. “Because he’s…” her voice was lost to Phoenix as he hastily retreated upstairs again, trying to avoid further embarrassment and arousal.

The next several minutes of the conversation was lost to him as Twilight spoke with her friends alone. At length, she came upstairs to retrieve him and asked him to return, though he only did so after he’d pulled on a robe to hide the still-noticeable bulge of his stubbornly persistent erection.

He arrived back downstairs to see Twilight’s friends wearing apologetic expressions. “So listen… I’m mighty sorry if I made you uncomfortable there, Phoenix Wright,” Applejack told him, removing her Stetson and looking hangdog, the others nodding their agreement. “We’re all just real happy for you and Twilight, and believe me, if I say if I wanna see what you’re packing, I don’t mean it anything but the highest kind o’ compliment!” she told him, to quick and eager nods from the others, who, he couldn’t help but notice, were all stealing glances and trying to see inside his robe.

Phoenix’s cheeks grew warm again and his only-half-flaccid stallionhood started to harden once more, making him shift slightly to keep it hidden. “I know. And I’m flattered, believe me, it’s just…” he rubbed his hand behind his head as he tried to express his thoughts properly, not understanding why the idea was so strangely tempting to him. “It’s just I’m really not used to being teased like that, and remember that… well, nudity and having a stallionhood isn’t exactly normal for me,” he explained, still trying to get the oddly insistent idea of displaying it to them out of his head.

“Clothed or unclothed, stallionhood or no, we appreciate your treatment of Twilight, darling,” Rarity told him gently, favoring him with a smile. “And we ask nothing more than you continue to give her the best time possible, and be assured we all look forward to seeing her—and you!—again!”

“Thanks, Miss Rarity,” he acknowledged in gratitude, favoring her with a smile of his own. “Believe me, I look forward to seeing all of you again as well…”

Music: Let The Games Begin!

One of the advantages of the beachfront villa was having plenty of good things in walking distance, including the pier-built fairgrounds they’d been admiring from afar for days.

So they simply walked down the beach until they arrived at Pacific Park, Santa Monica’s longtime oceanside amusement park. They reached the front gates to find that Maya and Vinyl had arrived first, Phoenix guessing instantly what had happened between them from their held hands to the obvious glow they both had, blushing slightly for it as Maya gave him a heartfelt hug that lingered a second too long. Pearly arrived next, running all the way from the bus stop—“No, we don’t worry about her traveling alone, because she’s insanely strong for her size and got a wicked right that could floor anyone!” Phoenix said in response to Twilight’s query—then all but leapt into Twilight’s arms to give her a huge hug, asking if she was taking good care of “Mister Nick”.

“I am, promise!” Like you wouldn’t believe, she didn’t add, glad she didn’t have to hide her affections around the young girl any longer.

Celestia, Ferro and Cypreus appeared next, the former pair looking quite content as they introduced the latter, who Twilight couldn’t help but take an instant liking to, finding herself nearly as adorable as Pearly. She made fast friends with Ferro Stabile’s daughter, both girls delighted to meet someone their own age as they headed as a group into the hustle and bustle of the fairgrounds.

Being Saturday and the inland weather being quite warm, it was packed, but that scarcely mattered to Pearl, who loved people and activity after her previous mother-enforced isolation at Kurian village—to say nothing of getting to gorge on junk food like cotton candy, roasted nuts, and funnel cakes.

With the entire afternoon to work with, they alternated their activities between rides, games, and food carts, Celestia introducing Twilight to the challenge of Skee-ball—“You might say I’m something of a fanatic. You mustn’t use magic, or it’s cheating, my student!” she admonished as her practiced roll won a slew of tickets which she used to get a new stuffed animal for Cypreus—while Maya introduced Vinyl to video games, taking her into the arcade where she proved herself a master of all sorts of fighting, racing and shooting games.

Me, I never progressed past Pac-Man… Phoenix thought as she watched Maya play, working up a surprising sweat on the dancing games and even enticing Vinyl to try. Given her affinity for music, the unicorn mare DJ did surprisingly well for her first time despite her human form—“seriously, this’d be a lot easier on all fours!”—Maya picking out songs she knew her pony friend would like.

For her part, Twilight was startled and somewhat perturbed by the violent theme of certain games, but quickly discovered the simple joys of an older Tetris box, going head to head with Phoenix and beating him handily once she had figured out the rules and controls. She quickly took to some of the pinball games as well, though Phoenix caught her using very quick flares of magic to redirect the balls at times to score extra points and bonuses.

“I’ll tell the Princess on you, Twilight!” Phoenix mock scolded her, to which she only grinned on her way to the high score… only losing a ball when the machine went tilt from another magical nudge, to which they both looked up and saw Celestia giving them a wink.

Working further down the pier, they stopped next at an attraction that wasn’t Phoenix’s favorite—the bumper cars, and not just because he didn’t drive. It was because Maya loved them a little too much, and she and Vinyl quickly teamed up to try to hunt him and Twilight down. It was to some minor embarrassment that Twilight seemed to master the controls more quickly than he did, and scored at least one solid hit on the princess, who laughed and promised her ‘appropriate punishment’ later but otherwise took it all in stride, spending the bulk of her time with Ferro and the two younger girls.

Roller coasters and other rides were next; Maya found them ‘WAY too tame!’ but they were perfect for Pearl and Cypreus, who squealed with joy as they hit each one in turn. At Maya’s insistence, Phoenix got dragged onto the largest roller coaster even though Twilight initially wouldn’t let him on until she’d had a chance ‘to study the forces involved’ and was convinced it was safe. Finally, she was, but she insisted on joining him, riding up front with Maya so she could ‘save them if anything went wrong’, leaving Phoenix a seat behind with Vinyl.

Nothing did… except for Vinyl giving Phoenix a wink and then turning her mating aura on Maya on the way up the initial hill, causing her to squirm and squeal while a smirking Celestia did the same to an equally startled Twilight from below, telling her with a telepathy spell that “the penalty for assaulting a princess is severe, my student!”, leaving them flushed in the face and unbearably aroused as they reached the top and began the initial plunge, the sharp wind and sharper movements of the roller coaster felt very keenly against their sensitive areas.

“Vinyl!” Phoenix initially protested.

“Sorry, Phoenix. Celly’s orders!” Vinyl explained as the combination of the mating magic and roller-coaster driven stimulation drove them both to orgasm in the middle of the ride as even Phoenix couldn’t help but laugh at the sight and sounds of their mutual pleasure, lost in the screams of the other riders.

When the ride was done and Twilight and Maya stumbled off, still flushed and holding onto each other heavily, they both stared at the Sun Princess. “Enjoy the ride, my student and Miss Maya?” Celestia asked in perfect innocence and a wink while she held Ferro’s hand, who likewise wore a smirk.

“We’ll get you both for this…” Maya swore as a momentarily speechless Twilight stumbled over to Phoenix, her eyes never leaving Celestia’s, something stunned yet strangely lascivious in them.

“Promises, promises…” Vinyl teased even as she helped an overheated Maya to a nearby bench, letting her sit in the sea breeze while quickly getting her a cool drink. “Now what say we hit that Mare-is wheel, finally…?”

After they had left, a nearby couple stared after them. “What’s up with them?” the boyfriend asked, but his girlfriend could only shake her head.

“No clue. And what’s a Mare-is wheel…?”

Once the girls had recovered, They got on three different cars, Celestia and Ferro along with Cypreus in the first, Twilight and Phoenix in the second, and Vinyl, Maya and Pearl in the third. The ride went delightfully slowly this time, stopping to load and unload everyone before going into a slow spin, taking them high over the pier and giving them spectacular views of the park and the Pacific Ocean.

Finally alone with Pearly, and still somewhat unsettled after her intense and unexpected climax, Maya fulfilled her sister’s request and asked Pearl to channel Mia. “Anything for you, Mystic Maya!” she quickly said, and did so, the cart suddenly sinking a little more to that side from the abrupt addition of extra weight.

“Hello, Maya,” Mia Fey called with a warm smile, quickly sharing a hug with her younger sister, one that caused Vinyl to blush given how much flesh the older sister was showing in Pearl’s far-too-small kimono. “I must say, you seemed to be enjoying yourself a little too much there…” she winked.

“With a little help!” Maya gave Vinyl a halfhearted glare.

The pony DJ threw up her hands in a gesture she’d picked up quickly. “Hey, don’t be mad at me, filly. I was just doing what the Princess told me to! Remember, I’m a pony; I can’t disobey her!” she grinned impishly, not sounding sorry in the least.

In truth, Maya wasn’t upset either, but one of her ironclad rules of life was that if you were the victim of a joke, you always retaliated. “Yeah, well, I’d like to get back at her now! Don’t suppose you got any suggestions for pranking a princess, sis…?” she turned back to Mia, whose grin turned sly.

Music: Coming Karma

“Actually, I might…” Mia closed her eyes and grinned. “But it will take some effort to arrange. So if you two are willing…” she proceeded to outline her request, one that took most of the ride to explain but was enough to make them both blush.

“Whoa…” was all Vinyl could immediately say when Mia was finished.

“Sis? Are you serious?” Maya asked, initially shocked but liking the idea the more she thought about it. “I mean, this hardly seems all that angelic…”

“Not in the classic sense, perhaps. But as I seek to both punish the guilty and reward the worthy, I think the heavens will approve,” she replied, her sly grin growing. “But only if you’re comfortable with it, Maya. For what I’m asking, you should not feel you have to do this for me…” she quickly added, patting her younger sister’s hand.

Maya responded immediately and in way she wouldn’t have dreamed of just a few short days earlier. “Oh, don’t you worry about that, sis! After how much the princess did for me and after what she pulled out there just now? You bet I’m okay with it!” she grinned, rubbing her hands together eagerly. “Just sorry I won’t be able to see it…”

A hand on her shoulder stilled her. “Easy there, filly. Honored though I am, I gotta ask… what about Ferro?” he pointed out.

“I already spoke to him. With Luna’s help, I was able to approach him in a dream,” Mia replied. “He gave his blessing on one condition I will keep private, and will even do what he can to clear the decks when the time comes.”

“Guess we’re free and clear then! Don’t worry, filly, I’ll give you all the juicy details after. You can count on me, Mia! And hay, after what the Princess did out there, bet Sparks might be willing to help, too…?”

Mia chuckled. “If she is, so much the better. Since I think you both know what to do, I’ll take my leave for now. If for whatever reason you change your mind, Maya, just channel me and either leave me a note or have Vinyl tell me. I won’t be upset. And if you decide to go through with it…?” she grinned again. “Then I trust you two to have everything ready.”

“Oh, we will! Might take a bit of shopping first…” Maya glanced at her unicorn marefriend.

“Hey, we got plenty of money, remember?” Vinyl brought out the cash that the Princess had given them, holding it in a cheap blue Velcro wallet she’d bought earlier. “All Celly told us was not to spend it all in one place!”

“You’re right!” Maya grinned evilly. “So it’s settled, sis! We’ll go shopping tomorrow, and have it all ready for you by evening…”

The afternoon passed quickly, even though they took their time at each individual place, trying to get to everything the park offered before evening. But soon the sun was going down, and it was time to head out for their next activity, Celestia hiring another limousine to transport them to the Hollywood Bowl where Delta’s coming concert would be held.

As the group approached the outdoor amphitheatre and were led to their VIP box seats, they saw a frazzled-looking Five Stars pacing in front of the entrance to the venue, talking on her smartphone. “No, no, it’s okay, Byte, you stay with your wife, I’ll think of something… Okay, bye.” She hung up and blew out a breath, running a hand through her green hair.

“Hey, Five Stars! Is something wrong?” Maya asked as they came forward, Phoenix and Twilight looking curiously on.

Five Stars looked up in surprise, her eyes finding and lingering on Phoenix for a moment even as she bowed to the Princess. “Oh! You’re all here!” Glancing at her smartphone, she sighed. “I'm afraid something is indeed wrong, Miss Maya, but at this point, it’s not something I can really do much about. Our sound tech had to rush back to Equestria; one of his mares just went into labor.”

“And, lemme guess, you don’t have any backups?” Vinyl asked with the air of it having happened to her at various points in the past.

“You called it. We didn’t think we’d need one, since this was going to be a one-off performance before Delta heads back herself,” the green-haired manager explained. “Now it’s biting us in the flank. I call him a sound tech, but Sound Byte is, in effect, Delta’s entire band. Given the need for discretion, she doesn’t want to employ human musicians who’ll wonder where she goes whenever she’s not touring. But there’s not a lot of ponies willing to travel to another world in an unfamiliar body just to play their instruments. Sound Byte came along because he wanted a change of pace, and he didn’t really mind the change, since as an Earth Pony he can use his sound gear more easily as a human than a pony.”

Maya nodded. “That’s right. ‘Arianne’ never has a full band with her; just a guy on stage who runs a big set of synth equipment.”

“And lacking them, she’s going to have use recorded music, which she hates,” Five Stars noted in turn.

“Synth equipment, eh?” Vinyl mused, grinning. Flipping out her magenta sunglasses, she slipped them on. “Then it’s a good thing you invited me, eh?”

Five Stars blinked, looking suddenly hopeful but wary. ”You can do it? I thought you were mainly a disc jockey!”

“I am, but take it from me, there ain’t much difference between using synth equipment and being a DJ,” Vinyl replied easily. “I’ve done both. I may prefer the sound and feel of scratching records, but I can use a synth setup, no problem.”

Maya grinned, pulling out her own shades, ones she’d initially received as a parting present from Vinyl in Equestria. “And since I mix my own music, I can show her how to use them effectively as a human. Two backups for the price of one. You can’t beat that, Five Stars,” she said, exchanging a high five with Vinyl.

Five Stars looked thoughtful as she considered their offer, then tapped her smartphone a few times with a finger before holding it to her ear. “Hello, Delta, it’s me. The Princess and the rest are here… Yeah, they heard about what happened with Byte. Vinyl actually asked if she could help out, and Maya volunteered, too… you sure? Alright, thanks.” Hanging up, she looked relieved. “Well, Delta seems to think it’s a good idea. Follow me, and I’ll show you the setup. With your permission, Princess?” she gave Celestia another bow before receiving a nod and smile. Glancing at the rest of the group, she added, “Your seats are near the front, but not quite in the mosh pit section. Oh, and… good to meet you again, Mister Wright,” she addressed Phoenix directly, giving him a wink as she turned away.

As she led the two girls away, Phoenix looked at Twilight and Celestia, feeling oddly perturbed. “Forgive me for asking, but… who exactly was that?”

“I don’t know her, except that I sometimes see her around Lady Requiem,” Twilight shrugged. “
Actually, I think she was there in the library with her when I sent you and everyone else home from Equestria?”

Phoenix thought back to their departure, and remembered there had indeed been a green-maned mare there with Delta… one who gave him a look he wasn’t exactly comfortable with. “I think I remember her. Does she… come here often?” he asked, uncertain why he was feeling the strangest sense of deja vu at the sight of her.

“Her name is Five Stars. She’s Delta’s business manager and agent for her concert tours,” the princess explained. “She’s an excellent businessmare, and she’s nearly as good an organizer as you, my student. She accompanies Delta on all her concert tours, whether that’s in Equestria or on Earth giving a performance as ‘Arriane Reichmuth’.” Celestia grinned mischievously, then couldn’t resist a tease. “She’s been coming here regularly for a couple years now. And in that span of time, she’s grown quite fond of human men.”

The sense of deja vu got stronger. “And… dare I ask why…?” Phoenix had to know, unconsciously holding Twilight a little closer.

Celestia’s smile faded. “She had some… bad experiences that soured her on stallions and traditional herds. So when she first came here, and discovered men… she felt something she hadn’t felt in a while. Just ask the British writer she bedded,” she chuckled, and then, noticing the human lawyer’s discomfort, she smirked. “Be at ease, Phoenix Wright. While she, much like me, enjoys the company of men, she is not the type to poach those who are already spoken for. She clearly likes you, but be assured that although she may tease, she won’t touch.”

That made Phoenix and Twilight relax, as the group entered the theatre grounds. As they found their box seats, they noticed that the amphitheatre was already mostly full. “Delta’s human guise must be popular,” Phoenix noted.

“She is. As a mare or woman, her songs can truly touch the heart,” Celestia said idly. “Her spellsinging power is quite potent, even here… as I believe you will shortly see.”

As if on cue, the lights in the area began to dim at that moment. Movement could be seen on the stage, though it was impossible to see exactly what was going on. When the music started suddenly, it caught Phoenix off-guard, especially since none of the lights had come back on. A spotlight then lit up, falling on Delta, who was wearing an elegant gown of the same color as her fur in pony form. She began to sing as the intro ended, launching into ‘The Power of Love’, the same song she had sung at the diner with Celestia, Vinyl, and Maya.

At the song’s end, everyone cheered as Delta bowed and smiled to the audience. “Hello, City of Lost Angels!” she called out. “I’m only here for a brief time, so we need to make the most of things, wouldn’t you agree?” A deafening roar answered her. “Sounds good to me, so… let’s just live!”

Music: “Let’s Just Live” by Jeff Williams (ft. Casey Lee Williams)

As the cheers spiked, the next song began, a hard rock guitar, drums, and bass sounding out, having a scarce few seconds before Delta began singing again. While the music was upbeat, the lyrics were somewhat somber, reminding the crowd that life wasn’t a fairy tale, that tragedy could strike without warning. But through all the downs of life, the song reminded the crowd to not get bogged down in their troubles, to let time mend their hearts and keep moving forward.

Partway through, much of the music cut out, as a very somber verse was sung. It was definitely a change from the very upbeat ‘Power of Love’ or even the earlier segment of the song. Yet again, despite the slow, sad pace, the song’s message remained; keep going forward. Finally, as the music picked up once again, Delta belted out the final chorus, which had different lyrics:

The crowd roared in approval, as Phoenix and his friends all cheered and applauded. It was one of the most powerful songs Phoenix had ever heard, and he decided it fit part of his life. He’d had a lot of low points in his life, particularly his trial, and the death of Mia. Yet he’d never truly given up. He’d come close, but he’d always found a way to press on. He decided that, if he ever got tired of the Steel Samurai theme, this song would make an excellent ringtone.

The concert continued. Many of Delta’s songs were about love, loss, and pressing on, though something odd was happening as well. With each new song, Vinyl got more and more into it, until suddenly her horn ignited brightly and she magically took control of all the lights and equipment, the sound becoming far more pure and light show more spectacular for it.

“Twilight? What’s going on?” Phoenix asked her as Delta gave her and Maya a glance and grinned, feeding off their combined energy and enthusiasm as well as that of the crowd, who didn’t know what was happening but could certainly appreciate the show.

“Her magic…” Twilight realized in surprise and excitement. “She could barely use it as a human before, but now she’s at full strength!”

“But how could that be…?” Celestia was just as surprised as her student, having never seen this effect before, watching as Vinyl played all the synth equipment like a maestro, sensing her magic flowing through the electronics themselves, enhancing and improving them.

“I think I know!” Twilight answered in excitement. “Magic flows from Harmony, and for a pony to be in Harmony, they have to act in accordance with themselves and their special talent—which for her, is music! By doing what she loves and is best at, she gets her magic back! Princess! Do you know what this means?”

Celestia understood the implications as well. “It means all unicorns or ponies, in general, could use their magic here, even as humans, as long as they were doing what they loved and acting in concert with their cutie marks!” the Sun Princess realized immediately. “Not just the most powerful of mages like us…”

“But… then how can that apply to you, Twilight?” Phoenix asked. “I mean, you don’t have a specific talent like singing or DJ’ing…”

“But it does apply to me! In my case, my special talent is magic, so…” she let him follow the evidence to reach his own conclusion.

“So in your case, you get more magic by simply using magic…” Phoenix paraphrased. “Wow…”

“I believe we will have to investigate this more upon our return, my student!” Celestia noted, to which Twilight could only nod eagerly, already planning a foray for information into the Canterlot Archives.

As the concert neared its end, however, the Sun Princess suddenly stood up. “Celly? What’s wrong?” asked Ferro, surprised.

“Even a Princess must occasionally use the little filly’s room. As humans say, when you gotta go, you gotta go,” Celestia replied, giving him a kiss. “Don’t worry, darling, I’ll be back.” With that, she carefully made her way out of the seats, and seemingly vanished into the crowd.

“Huh. Hope she hurries up, the next song’s the last one, according to the pamphlet,” Phoenix noted.

As the current song wound down, the group was nervous that Celestia wouldn’t make it in time. Up on stage, Delta bowed to the crowd. “Thank you, Los Angeles! I’ve had a blast here, and I hope you’ve all enjoyed yourselves, too!” The resounding cheer of agreement made her smile. “But, alas, all good things must come to an end, and so too must this concert. This final song is… an unusual one by my standards, and one I wouldn’t normally sing. That’s why I’m not going to,” she added cryptically. As the crowd murmured in confusion, she continued. “This song is an old one from a small nation, dating back to a time of war and strife. For those who suffer through such things and ask why they must… this song provides a few answers.”

With that, she, Maya, and Vinyl began a haunting chorus, pitched lower than the earlier upbeat songs of the concert. It was a mournful tune, a far cry from Delta’s other songs. As the chorus ended and some strings joined in, Delta spoke up. “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to welcome a special guest: Princess Celeste Alva of Equios!”

“Wait, what?!” blurted Phoenix quietly. The others of the group looked no less pole-axed.

Sure enough, walking onto the stage was the unmistakable figure of Celestia’s human guise. She’d changed from the casual attire she’d been in earlier into a beautiful flowing gown of white, her hair not blonde but in its usual flowing multi-colored locks. As she took center stage to uncertain murmurs, Twilight and Ferro just as surprised as Phoenix was that she was revealing her true colors, Delta passed her the microphone, falling back to be near Maya and Vinyl as the music started and Celestia began to sing:

As the song went on, the lyrics and the music grew more and more powerful, Celestia proving that she didn’t just have the body of a goddess, but the voice of an angel. The more she sang, the more the audience got into it, starting to sing the choruses even though they didn’t initially know the words, watching as images of dragons and destruction were projected by lasers through smoke and screens.

It was touching. It was moving. It was felt to Phoenix and all present as a tug on his very heart, a callback to an earlier time that involved a titanic struggle. He had no idea what it was, he just knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that it had happened, that for the emotion Celestia was displaying that she had been there, that many had fallen in battle—and worse, had fallen for her. Her sorrow was real; he could just see the glistening in her eyes, but could also hear the pride in her voice at how her nation and her beloved ponies had risen up in their own defense.

He held Twilight tightly all through it, listening as by the end they were both singing along with everyone else. And when the song ended, the applause was raucous, even Vinyl and Maya rising to offer their acclaim as Delta gave Celestia a heartfelt hug.

It was another hour before Maya and Vinyl returned from backstage, the princess following shortly after giving an impromptu interview to a music magazine, having changed back into her day clothes and reverted her hair to blonde to make her less recognizable.

“Quite a day, huh?” Maya offered, holding Vinyl’s hand again as they reappeared.

“That it was. And you both were something else!” Phoenix offered them the well-earned compliment. “So was Lady Requiem, for that matter!”

“She was, but she wasn’t the only one! That show you put on was amazing, Vinyl! And Princess… I had no idea you could sing!” Twilight gushed, still awestruck as her mentor went to Ferro and kissed him.

“Mare of many talents, my student. And it gratifies me greatly to know that Harmony can even find us here,” she said. “A truly special night, and one I was very happy to spend with all of you.”

“The feeling is mutual, Princess…” Phoenix told her, and meant it, having thoroughly enjoyed the concert and getting to share it all with Twilight and all his friends. So, guess we’ll all meet up again for dinner tomorrow?” he suggested.

“Actually, Nick, V-Jay and I were thinking…” Maya began with a glance at Vinyl, who grinned. “Since tomorrow’s the last full day before everyone goes home… why don’t we all meet up at the Villa and make a grand party out of it? There’s lots of room there and plenty of stuff to do! We could have a cookout, use the beach, cool off in the pool, soak in the hot tub…”

“Uh…” Phoenix exchanged a quick look with Twilight, who nodded and smiled. “Sure, but… do you and Vinyl even have a swimsuit, Maya?” he had to ask.

“Does Sparkle? I’ll buy one for me and V-Jay with the leftover money the Princess gave us!” she answered, hoping she didn’t sound too eager for a yes answer. “So what do you say, Princess?”

“A tempting offer, Miss Maya,” Celestia gave the response Maya hoped. “An informal beach party instead of stuffy afternoon tea with nobles at Canterlot Castle? I would like nothing better. And as it happens, I do have a swimsuit,” she announced, causing Maya to go giddy.

“Hey, if Sunshine’s in, I’m in,” Ferro said evenly, winking at Maya and Vinyl before kneeling down before the two young girls, putting a hand on their shoulders. “So how about it, Cyprey? Pearly? Do you two want to go to the beach tomorrow? If you want, Pearly, you can even stay the night and have a sleepover with Cyprey!”

”Yay!” They both said in unison, their antics reminding Twilight more and more of the Cutie Mark Crusaders Pearly was an honorary member of.

“Sounds like it’s settled, Nick!” Maya put on her smug look.

“Sounds like we’ve been volunteered…” Phoenix rejoined with a chuckle, rubbing a hand behind his head. Guess I’ll have to go get Twilight a swimsuit too… he thought, liking the idea of seeing her in a two-piece. “Oh, but there is one thing…” he belatedly remembered, and quickly explained that he’d checked his voicemail before the concert and returned a message from Edgeworth asking if he could come over the following afternoon to meet the princess and give Twilight her promised rematch in chess.

Maya’s eyes lit up at the news, despite the complication their prosecutor friend’s presence could present. “Oh, Edgey-poo’s gonna be there too? Cool!” Knowing him, I doubt he’ll stick around that long. He should be gone by the time sis shows…

Unaware of Maya’s thoughts, Celestia smiled. “You may inform Miles Edgeworth I would be more than happy to receive him and answer any questions he may have. But a chess match, my student?” The Sun Princess turned to Twilight and gave her an arched eyebrow.

Twilight nodded ruefully. “He’s really good, Princess. He beat me easily the one time we played!”

“Truly?” Celestia’s smile got broader as they headed for their waiting limousine. “How interesting. I might wish a match with him myself, then…”

With the hour approaching midnight and most of the group exhausted by the long day, they said their goodbyes with a promise to meet back up at the Villa at 2 pm the next day. Phoenix was already thinking about what they could cook to satisfy all tastes as he and Twilight walked back down the beach towards the Villa, hand in hand. He wondered at one point if he was just imagining hearing a faint buzzing noise overhead over the sound of the surf but otherwise paid it no mind.

With Maya and Ferro’s permission, Pearls went back with Ferro and Celestia to have a sleepover with her new friend Cypreus, having thoroughly enjoyed the day’s activities but starting to nod off for it.

“See you tomorrow!” Maya and Vinyl waved goodbye to them before Maya pulled up an app that summoned them a car to take them back to the Gatewater. Upon arriving, they went upstairs and collapsed on the made bed, too tired to do much else. “I’m beat, V-Jay…” Maya announced. “But it’s a good beat. Never mind the park and getting to talk with sis, getting to handle the sound equipment for Lady Requiem was a lot of fun… and that last song was something else!”

“You said it, filly…” Vinyl replied, reaching over to hold Maya’s hand. “I was so happy to get all my magic back there, but… think I may have overdone it. Feels like I’ve got a touch of magical exhaustion now,” she sensed, feeling weak and somewhat lightheaded after her energy expenditures at the concert. “I’d love a good rut, but at this point, I need sleep ‘fore I do anything else, sorry…”

“No problem,” Maya said evenly, rolling over to give her friend a kiss. “I’m ready for bed too. I’m just happy we got to spend today together, even if you and Celly did pull that little stunt on the rollercoaster earlier…” she mildly groused.

“And are you mad we did?” Vinyl asked in an impish tone as they tossed off their clothes and climbed up the bed to get under the covers.

Maya’s initial reply was another kiss. “It was fun, but… I’m still gonna get her back for that!” she promised. “Gonna feel almost guilty for it after the way she sang, though…”

“I know what you mean! But don’t worry. In the end, I don’t think she’s gonna mind! Well then, we better get some sleep, filly…” Vinyl grinned as she reached down to pull the covers up over them both, snuggling up close with her human mystic marefriend. “’Cause considering what your sis says she has planned for tomorrow, we both better be rested and ready…!”

Music: Classic Suspense (Remastered)

Author's Notes:

We're coming to the end, folks. Just two more chapters plus an epilogue to go! There will be one last respite before the final adult fireworks of the story, a grand finale which is certainly hinted at here!

Thanks as always to co-author Leo Archon, who wrote a very good concert section and made all the music selections there, AJ_Aficionado, for warning me off of including a scene that was a bridge too far, James Cyberlink for the remaining music and editing pass, and to Silentwoodfire for the many comments on the google doc. You guys are great, and you sat down with me all weekend to get this done. At long last, it’s ready, so... out it goes! Enjoy!