Feeling her throat go dry, Honey swallowed loudly as she made the effort to knock on the door to Luna’s chambers. She’d been here so many times already that it felt a little awkward to knock, almost like asking permission to enter her own house. But tonight was different. Tonight she was a mare asking for a date as part of the first formal steps in courting and joining a herd.

“Coming,” Luna’s melodic voice replied from the other side.

Honey breathed heavily as she glanced down at herself. Her dress was a simple orange with green highlights, a circular cutout for her cleavage, and a skirt that hung down to her knees with holes cut for her cutie marks. She wore her swankiest pair of cowboy boots and her curly gold mane had been tied back in a braided ponytail. She wasn’t normally the sort to fret over appearances, as her herd noted more than once back in their apartment, but she’d insisted that this was a special case.

“Relax,” Silver said gently. “You look beautiful.”

Honey gave the smaller mare an appreciative half smile. “You ain’t so bad yourself, sugar.”

“Oh, this old thing?” Silver gestured down to her own gown in modesty. It was a relatively simple ocean blue strapless dress that completely covered her cleavage. The slits cut in her thigh-length skirt was reminiscent of the strips of fabric used in their loincloths, only much wider. The tightness was far from flattering as it hung loosely from the smaller mare’s body. Her mane and tail had been combed shiny smooth and indigo horseshoes adorned her hooves. “It is nothing to write home about.”

“Still looks cute on ya,” Honey asserted.

“It is meant to be more functional than fashionable,” Silver clarified. “I am here to simply help make things go as smoothly as possible.”

Honey chuckled, catching the less than subtle implications.

“In a way, I am more of a chaperone than anything else.”

“Yer still comin’ with us on the date, though,” Honey reminded. Gently she bumped her hip to the smaller mare and touched tails. “Far as Ah’m concerned, that makes ya part of it, too.”

“I suppose,” Silver agreed, straining to keep from giggling as her tail lingered against Honey’s for slightly longer than necessary..

The door clicked and Honey felt her heart jump into her throat as she stared into the gateway to her future. Even knowing what was coming; Honey still had to do a double take on what she saw. The mare on the other side was an unusually tall sky-blue unicorn with a violet mane and tail done up in curls. Her starry indigo dress clung to a body that, to any casual observer, would have been the spitting image of Luna’s. The Princess could, no doubt, have adjusted her figure to something different, but Honey figured that, despite seeing her naked already, the not-alicorn wanted her date to have a good impression of what she was getting into… possibly literally.

“Pr-er-Blue Sapphire?” Honey stammered, causing the other mare to giggle cutely.

“Blue will do,” she said as she offered her hand.

Collecting herself, Honey lightly took the offered hand and kissed ‘Blue’s’ knuckles. “Well, ain’t you just the bell of the ball.”

Luna furrowed her brow in confusion. “I admit I am not familiar with this idiom.”

Honey shook her head with a gentle smile. She stepped forward, lightly touching her breasts to the bottom of Blue’s as she gazed up into the taller mare’s teal eyes. “It means Ah think you’re pretty.”

Silver gave a soft hum of approval, but otherwise said nothing. Despite the earth mare’s beliefs, Silver knew that this date was primarily between Honey and Luna. She was along primarily to deal with her Princess’ more carnal urges, should they arise.

“Aww,” Luna cooed as she patted Honey’s head affectionately. “That’s so sweet.”

Honey was left momentarily flabbergasted by Luna’s response. It was sweet, a little maternal, but also slightly condescending, like her date was treating her like a foal. “Thank ya kindly, Blue. But could ya not… pat my head like that while we’re out?”

“Oh dear,” Luna gasped, sounding genuinely worried. “Do not tell me I have already caused offense.”

Honey could swear her stomach turned as she listened to Luna’s worry. It just felt so wrong to tell the Princess to not show her affection, but this was something that needed to be said. “You want us ta be equals, ta date me like ya would any other mare, right?”

Luna nodded eagerly.

“Then please don’t treat me like I’m some foal with a crush.” Her words were as gentle as possible while still being just stern enough. It was a careful balance, but Honey felt reasonably certain she’d pulled it off.

“Oh,” Luna said, realizing her faux pas. “Then how about this?” She leaned over, closing the distance between her face and Honey’s. The earth mare was stunned, her body rendered temporarily immobile as Luna blew a gust of cool air that tickled the green mare’s cheek. This was followed up by planting her soft, pillow-like lips just below Honey’s jawline for a longer than average kiss. Honey squeaked softly in her throat. She eventually pulled back and smiled down at the green mare. “Better?”

“D-don’t know,” Honey stammered and offered her other cheek to Luna. “M-maybe one more, just ta be safe?”

Silver chuckled to herself, optimistic of how this date was starting.

**********

Honey groaned in want as she sat in Luna’s lap. The disguised Princess had made it quite clear that she had an appreciation for the green mare’s earthy scent and insisted that no cushioned seat could compare to the softness of her thighs. Even if Honey was willing to argue the point, she lacked the ability as Luna’s hands snaked their way into her dress to caress her body, making her moan. This left Silver to fidget and whimper in envious want as she watched from the opposite seat, her only consolation being Luna’s insistent hoofsies.

Pressing her nose into Honey’s mane, Luna inhaled deeply, emphasizing just how much she was enjoying the mare’s scent. She then exhaled just as heavily, sending chills down Honey’s body as her neck was pelted with the alicorn’s hot breath.

“So tell me, my scrumptious little apple,” Luna cooed, easing up on her teasing. “What exactly does your herd think of your lessons thus far? It occurs to me that we never got around to discussing that in our last encounter.”

Honey squirmed in place, though her movement was still partially limited by Luna’s hands. “They’re, uh, really supportive.”

“Supportive?” Luna asked, somewhat disappointedly. “Are they not curious of the mysterious wiles of their long-lost Princess?”

Honey chuckled. “A little, but they know stuff’s on a need-to-know basis.”

“That is good to hear,” Silver affirmed politely.

“Surely they have asked thee some questions?” Luna pressed.

“Well, yeah, but mostly about when Ah plan on bringing ya’ll over for a nice, family dinner. Ya know, returnin’ the favor.”

“A fair enough inquiry,” Luna agreed. “So?”

“So?”

“So when do you plan on inviting us over for dinner?” Luna’s words were expectant, insistent. The simple act of spending time with the families of her concubines was yet another of the simple joys she had missed out on for far too long. “The potluck was most entertaining and I would love to see them again.”

“S-soon enough,” Honey stammered as her body writhed underneath Luna’s hands. “Ju-jus’ gotta get through this so we, ya know, know where we stand.”

“Where exactly do we stand?” Silver asked as she continued her epic battle with Luna.

“Ah don’t follow,” Honey admitted.

“Your views on being in both the harem and the herd,” Silver answered. “I have spoken a little with Celestia’s concubines on the matter, but I’m curious on your personal views as well.”

Honey hummed thoughtfully as Luna eased her molesting assault, likely just as curious. Eventually she settled on an answer. “Ah guess it’s like havin’ two herds, in a way. At least that’s what it’s felt like courtin’ ya’ll. Thomas asked the same thing not too long ago. Mostly we talked ‘bout the differences between humans ‘n’ ponies, but he seemed extra curious on if Ah had any issues with divided loyalties ‘n’ such, but Ah told ‘im Ah didn’t.”

“Thomas once made the same inquiry and I gave him much the same answer.”

“‘Tis difficult for most outsiders to grasp, but those within the harem understand it, emotionally if not intellectually,” Luna informed. Her words were not that of a teacher giving a lecture, but more akin to a priest giving a sermon on spirituality. “‘Tis a drive nearly on par with the satisfaction one takes from fulfilling one’s cutie mark. Destiny shapes all of our lives, and while it does not demand blind compliance, it does behoove us to listen when a higher power offers us guidance.”

Honey breathed deep as she listened. As a pony, she had always thought of destiny as something common and even a little mundane, almost like cutie marks: a big deal when absent, but things just sort of fell into place when they became part of one’s life. Thinking about it now, though, Those within the harem understand. Those were Luna’s words.

Reflecting on them, Honey thought back to her younger years. “When Jona, Plow, ‘n’ Ah finally hitched up, our family ‘n’ friends were so glad fer us. Back then, mah younger self would’ve called me plum crazy fer even thinkin’ ‘bout bein’ part of two separate herds. Mah younger self would’ve asked why the two couldn’t jus’ merge ‘n’ become one big proper family.”

“And now?” Luna asked. “How does older Honey compare to her younger counterpart?”

Honey snorted. “Well, besides bein’ much more o’ a mare these days,” she gestured down at her figure, making the other mares chuckle, “older me knows better, Ah guess. Ah understand the technical of it; that you alicorns got special needs ‘n’ preferences, but you also gotta deal with all kinds o’ political crap that just mucks things up. Regular herds jus’ don’t work for ya, so ya make do with the secret weirdness of the harem. More ‘an that, though, Ah guess Ah understand the feelin’s of it. Like Ah told Thomas, Ah can love Jona ‘n’ Plow as mah herd family, mah parents ‘n’ siblin’s as mah natal family, and…” She paused, swallowed, and licked her lips before looking Luna right in the eye. “Ah can love Luna ‘n’ the harem as a separate, weird kind o’ meaningful harem family. Not sure how, but it jus’ makes sense.”

Luna was breathing heavy now as she and Honey stared deeply into one another’s eyes. No words were spoken, but they did breathe each other’s breaths.

Those in the harem understand. After much naval gazing, it finally clicked in Honey’s brain. The force of it hit her with what she imagined to be the weight of a certain indigo alicorn. If Ah understand, does that mean…?

“Why do you ask, Silver?” Luna inquired, breaking Honey of her reverie.

“I’ve just been thinking about family, lately,” Silver admitted. Honey’s words, rustic yet charming as they were, still had a profound nature to them. “To be honest, I never put much thought into a herd of my own. I was always so certain that I would end up in Luna’s harem that nothing else seemed to matter as much. In hindsight, I can see how that was terribly naïve of me, focusing so much on a dream that I nearly let life pass me by.” It was a hard thing to confess, for it skirted the bat’s secret fears that her prayers wouldn’t be answered, that she wouldn’t be allowed the chance to carry on the family legacy and serve their beloved savior.

“I am happy you see it that way. It shows great maturity,” Luna said softly. “While I do appreciate the faith you have shown in me, it pains me to think of your predecessors who shared in that faith and devotion, but at the cost of their own happiness.”

“Guess we’re all lucky things worked out the way they did,” Honey offered as she craned her head back and touched her snout to Luna’s. “Hard ta think of a better word fer where Ah am now.” She adjusted herself in Luna’s lap for emphasis.

Luna’s breath caught in her throat. “Please refrain from doing that, dear Honey.”

“Please?” Honey asked back. “Why do you get to touch me all ya want but Ah can’t have any fun of mah own?”

“Because,” Luna said with a gentle firmness as she pressed her lips to the mare’s ear. “If you provoke me, I will not be held responsible for what happens to that pretty dress of yours.” Luna finished by slapping her hands down on Honey’s thighs, right where her cutie marks were beneath her dress.

Honey gave an affirming squeak and the ride was allowed to continue in relative peace.

**********

The restaurant was by far the least refined eatery Luna had eaten at since her return, but that wasn’t to say it was cheap. Wild Ropes was, unsurprisingly, rodeo themed with the tables arranged around a small arena in the center. The wait staff dressed like cowponies, the furniture was decorated with a classic rustic look and a heavy emphasis on browns and tans, and the barbeque aromas filling the air instantly made all guests’ mouths water. Yes, Wild Ropes was unrefined, and Luna could barely contain her giddy excitement at it all.

They had reservations near the edge of the arena and were seated quickly enough. However, Luna seemed much too anxious for Honey’s liking. More than once the earth mare had tried asking her disguised Princess what was wrong, but she repeatedly dodged the question, only asking when their orders would be taken as she stared intently eyed her menu. Silver seemed to realize what was wrong, but was also reluctant to explain in such an open setting. In time the waitress arrived and took their orders. Not a second later Luna bolted for the nearest bathroom, lifting Silver off the ground as she carried the bat behind her.

“When ya gotta go ya gotta go, Ah guess,” Honey said to herself as she eyed her surroundings, puzzling over why Luna had dragged Silver along. “Maybe she’s shy about strange bathrooms?” she suggested to herself. “Though the way that mare took off, you’d think she had to… oh. Oh!” It finally clicked in Honey’s mind. They’d done all that teasing in the carriage and Silver said her dress was functional, after all. Honey felt her ears go hot as she did everything to not imagine what the two must be doing.

It was difficult.

There’s silencing spells, right? She inevitably wondered after a sufficient amount of time had passed. Ah guess they could get a stall, though Ah don’t imagine that’s very comfortable. Maybe… Maybe Silver sits on the toilet while Luna lifts her dress? That seemed plausible, but didn’t account for why Silver had put such emphasis on her own dress. Maybe they both strip down, Luna’d have ta stand, and she’s holdin’ Silver upside down while they… Honey cut that line of thought short by biting down on her own thumb. Her herbivore teeth didn’t break the skin, but the pain helped to clear her head. It wouldn’t have been necessarily wrong to fantasize such things, even if she weren’t a concubine applicant, but her arousal would likely bother the restaurant’s other patrons.

“I hope you did not miss us too much,” Luna announced on her return.

“Aw, nah,” Honey assured as she tucked her bitten hand under the table. Her eyes quickly scanned both mares as they retook their seats. At first she couldn’t spot a single hair out of place, their dresses lacked any noticeable creases, and they smelled perfectly clean. As Honey readied to chastise herself for just assuming what her friend and Princess were getting up to, her ear flicked as she heard Silver’s grunt. It was a pained huff as the bat mare carefully, oh so carefully, lowered herself into her seat, only to finish with a pained hiss as she settled into the chair. Honey couldn’t help but smirk at the familiar sight, recalling the last time her plot got a good rutting. “What about ya’ll? Have fun?” she asked knowingly.

Silver had the decency to blush at being found out so easily, but Luna just gave a chipper smile, looking like she didn’t have a care in the world.

“Silver,” Honey began. “About what you were saying earlier about not havin’ a herd.”

“Yes?”

“Well, has that changed?”

Silver pursed her lips in thought. “I do not believe so, no.”

“Why not?” Luna asked.

Is she asking because she wants me to have my own herd? Silver wondered. She knew most of Celestia’s concubines had their own herds, but it was, as she’d seen, equally acceptable for them to fully devote themselves to their Princess. “I suppose I am still adjusting to life in the harem. While there’s no doubt in my mind that my dame would be pestering me to start herding properly, I just don’t see it happening any time soon.”

“As is your right,” Luna said as she placed a supportive hand on Silver’s back. “Though I must confess a little disappointment.” It was a hard thing to admit. Luna knew full well Silver’s sense of duty would compel her to do whatever she thought would please her Princess, but that wouldn’t do at all. If Silver was to join a herd, it had to be for love, not a sense of obligation.

Damn it! Silver winced at Luna’s admission. It still hurt to even think about disappointing her Princess.

“It is for the foals,” Luna elaborated with a concerned smile. “The harem offers my sister and I many pleasures of family, including foals. Moonlight was raised as a niece to ‘Tia, and I confess my own desire to know the joy of motherhood once more.”

“Oh,” Silver said simply.

“Do not think I am trying to pressure you,” Luna urged firmly. “For that is the last thing I want to do. If you are to have a herd, to have foals of your own, it should be for yourself and your stallion, once you find one,” she added. “Trust me. Political unions are rarely happy ones.”

Silver sighed in relief, grateful for her Princess’ wisdom.

“Ah know one thing, and its tha’ foals won’t be a problem on this front,” Honey announced proudly, unprepared for the swift swiveling of heads and pivoting of ears as the full and undivided attention of her dates fell upon her.

“You mean… you!?” Silver gawked.

“Not yet, but it’s happenin’,” Honey stated certainly. “We agreed that Jona’d carry our first, since she’s our lead, but after that it’s open season! We’re Apples and we intend ta do our part ta strengthen the clan.” She turned a beaming smile up to Luna. “An’ when that happens, Ah’d be honored ta bring them around ta meet their Auntie Luna.”

In the blink of an eye, Luna had firmly grabbed Honey’s chin and held her in place. Honey tensed, her heart hammering in her chest as Luna slowly inched towards the mare’s face, a playful smirk plastered on her lips. Luna’s face was nearing closer by the second, taking up more and more of Honey’s field of vision. Her scent was heavy in the earth mare’s nostrils. She licked her lips in anticipation, silently screaming at herself for not using more lipstick as her gaze focused on Luna’s own luscious lips. Silver found herself on the edge of her seat as she leaned forward, eyes focused on the ever shrinking space between the mares’ faces. Then, when their faces were mere millimeters apart, the cruel and villainous Luna veered to the right and lightly pecked Honey on the cheek.

Luna giggled softly as she pulled back. It was always such fun to tease ponies. However, instead of finding the green mare shocked or saddened, the Princess beheld a pair of fiery eyes glaring daggers back at her.

Honey’s hand snapped up like a striking snake and clasped firmly around Luna’s chin, halting her retreat. “An’ now ya done did it,” she said coldly. Without further ado, the earth mare lunged forward and forcefully took what had been denied her.

Luna had had many first kisses in her life, as should only be expected. She’d known and loved many ponies, treasuring the various firsts she shared with each of them. When it came to kisses, the first lip-on-lip contact was almost always a tender affair. More often than not her lovers, despite any past brashness, would feel terribly intimidated when it finally came time for intimacy. Luna would have to take the lead and slowly encourage the timid pony into letting go of their inhibitions and just giving in to the moment.

Apparently Apple Honey never got the memo for proper first kiss protocol. All of Thomas’ lessons on tender control had been thrown out the window as she passionately, fiercely kissed Luna’s lips. Her tongue forcefully pressed into Luna’s mouth, catching the alicorn off guard as her tongue was dominated by the intruder. However, Honey’s surprise was short lived as Luna, the far more experienced mare, readied her counter attack.

Silver ‘did not’ stare slack jawed as her beloved Luna was momentarily dominated by the upstart earth mare, though she did feel a flare of anger at the mare’s impertinence. She ‘was not’ on the verge of drooling when Luna turned the tables, employing her own earth mare strength on her opponent and put her on the defensive. And she most certainly ‘did not’ lick her lips in want when Honey somehow withstood Luna’s seeming overwhelming force, locking both mares in a temporary stalemate as the two started aggressively using their hands to feel one another’s bodies. Some ponies at nearby tables stared at them, however, and Silver ‘in all likelihood’ did try to shrink down into her seat to remain hidden. Thank Faust for illusions!

Their kissing match came to an abrupt halt when the waitress arrived with their food. Luna regained her composure almost instantly, politely thanking the mare for their meal as Honey and her disheveled mane struggled to regain her balance. Then, when the waitress was out of sight, Luna took Silver in her magic and raced back to the bathroom.

Regaining a bit of lucidity, Honey idly wondered why Luna had waited for the waitress to leave, yet didn’t pay a second thought to, as she estimated, the four dozen ponies at nearby tables.

This time, on their return, the pair of mares did not look so prim and proper. While there was no odor to be detected, no pony who saw their disheveled states could doubt what they’d been up to. Both were even limping a little as they retook their seats.

“Blue,” Honey said evenly.

“Honey,” Luna replied with equal calm as she clasped her hands together. “You do have my gratitude, though. I cannot confess enough my anticipation at seeing the little darlings.”

Honey gulped. Damn it! Something about the way Luna looked at her made her want to drop everything, go home to Plow, and make him rut her until she couldn’t walk for a week. Double damn it! Her heat was still a ways off, meaning she’d have to wait a bit before she could fulfill her oath. Feeling frustrated, the apple mare decided to focus her sudden surge of energy on more constructive pursuits, like putting a pampered Princess in her place.

The announcer spoke up, signaling the start of the rodeo show, but the mares paid it no mind.

“Ah asked ya ta treat me like an equal, so Ah’d be a shame of a mare ta not give as good as Ah get. Yous pulled a dirty trick on me, so Ah’ll tell ya somethin’ mah gran’pappy told me once,” Honey explained, turning her hayseed drawl to full power and smirking at the way it made Luna fidget. “Mess with an Apple, ya get the horns.” The threat, while poorly constructed, spoke for itself.

“Now hold on!” Silver began, feeling quite irate that anypony but her would dare to speak to the Princess like that. “I’m not sure that’s-”

Luna raised her hand, instantly cutting the bat mare off as she stared down at her aggressor. She was still taller than the earth mare, even while in her disguise, but that didn’t stop her from making herself look as large as possible as she sat across from her. A pair of blurred, nearly invisible wings sprung out from behind her in a show of dominance. When Honey did not back down from the display, Luna tilted her chin up and smirked approvingly back at the green mare. “Challenge accepted.”

And so it came to pass that, through the duration of dinner, instead of watching the show while sharing polite conversation like normal ponies would, the two mares went to war. A tail whip to the bum when she wasn’t looking here, followed by dropping ice down the other’s dress there. It was an utter bloodbath as the two mares never ceased impishly grinning at each other. Silver was not at all pleased with this turn of events, and that wasn’t just because of all the times she’d been caught up in collateral damage.

“The two of you are acting like foals,” the bat chastised.

“Verily,” Luna bubbled, either not hearing or ignoring Silver’s tone as she kicked at Honey’s shin. “Most exhilarating, yes?”

“Not the word I would use,” Silver seethed.

“Aw, don’t be like that,” Honey said apologetically as she flicked one of the beans on her plate, hitting Luna square in the eye. “Aw yeah!”

There was a thud beneath the table, followed by Honey’s eyes growing to the size of saucers as she gripped desperately to the table. After a moment, she started moaning softly as her face sported a dopy grin. Confused at the way the two were moving in their seats, Silver decided to peek under the tablecloth to investigate. There she found Luna’s hoof prodding between Honey’s legs, only to drop the tablecloth and go back to eating, muttering many words of disapproval. As much as the little bat loved Luna, the overgrown, oversexed immortal could be so frustrating when she was worked up like this.

Somewhere down the line, the mares tired of their game and decided to watch the tail end of the show as they wrapped up their meal. Honey did her best to answer all of Luna’s questions, describing the many different techniques for lassoing and emphasizing the importance of reading and anticipating the bull’s movements.

“I wish to try,” Luna declared with subdued enthusiasm.

“Pardon?” Silver asked.

“I wish to try riding a bull,” Luna elaborated with a foalish grin. “It sounds like fun.”

“I am sorry, Blue,” Silver said evenly. “But I do not think they allow-”

“There’s the mechanical one,” Honey cut in and pointed off to the side.

A number of ponies in varying states of sobriety had gathered around a large, mechanical bull, laughing their asses off as the latest rider was hurled several feet backwards.

“Verily!” Luna proclaimed, almost tipping into Royal Canterlot Voice territory as she stood. “Come friends. Let us partake of the-” Luna was cut off by Honey grabbing her wrist and giving her a sobering look. “Ahem. What W-I mean to say is…”

“Let’s go ride the bull?” Honey finished for her.

“Yes! That!” And the two walked hand in hand to join the crowd. Silver followed close behind, hanging her head in exasperation. It was terribly infuriating to watch Honey’s countless improprieties and not speak her mind. She told herself that these two needed to bond on their own, that insisting that Luna be treated like the Princess she was would more than likely spoil the mood. The point was to create a companion for Luna who wouldn’t walk on eggshells around her, somepony with whom Luna could be herself. It hurt just a little for Silver to think that she wasn’t enough, but that feeling was quickly suppressed as unwarranted insecurity. Ponies had herds. Ponies needed herds. And right now, Luna needed a herd where a mare like Honey felt comfortable enough to be as brutish and uncouth as she saw fit.

Taking one last breath to steady herself, Silver found solace in the idea of making it up to the Apple mare at a later date.

There was no real line, as anypony feeling confident was free to jump in after the last player dismounted. Honey took the first try, boasting that she was an expert and they deserved to see a pro at work. A red mare set the timer and Honey was tossed this way and that.

“This is… ah!” Honey stammered as she was tossed about. “… a lot different from the – whoa nelly – the bulls we had back home.” In the end, the proud green mare managed to last the full thirty seconds before the bull sent her flying, right into Luna’s arms, where the two shared a brief nuzzle.

Silver sighed in acceptance as she watched. As much as this was not her venue of choice, it was still nice to see her beloved enjoying herself with her future concubine. As she watched the two staring into one another’s eyes, she knew the pretense of this being a test had dissolved entirely. The decision had been made and all that was left to do was wait.

Luna rolled her dress up and pushed up her nonexistent sleeves as she readied for her turn. Unsurprisingly, the mare’s beauty earned more than a few wolf whistles from the audience, much to her delight and Silver’s silent agitation. The timer was set and Luna was very nearly thrown off on the first good buck, causing her dates to tense in preparation for catching her. However, as Honey and the crowd shouted words of encouragement, the alicorn felt emboldened enough to see this through to the end. Alas, when the bull finally threw her skywards, she wasn’t quite able to make the thirty second mark. You wouldn’t know it by how the smile refused to leave her face, though. She’d set out to try something new and had a blast in doing so.

Even Silver let out a most unladylike cheer at Luna’s accomplishment, much to her immediate regret as Honey looked down upon her with mischievous eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Honey said nothing as she hefted the bat up over her shoulder. Silver’s struggles and words of protest were ignored as the larger earth mare carried her over to the bull and sat her down upon it. “Lowest setting,” she said to the pony at the controls. “She’s new.”

Silver was ready to flap her wings and dismount the moment Honey’s hands left her form. In her mind’s eye, she imagined her family stumbling upon her in such an uncouth setting and disowning her. Her mood was not helped by the jeers from the audience: calling her too small. She kept her composure, though. These ruffians didn’t deserve the satisfaction of their words affecting her.

“You can do it!” Luna cheered excitedly, her melodious voice drowning out all others. “I have faith in you.”

Ultimately, Luna’s enthusiasm proved too much for Silver to bear and she nodded her consent. The timer was set and the bull began to buck, Silver couldn’t hide her disappointment at the lack of action. Sure the bull looked like it was moving to the same degree, but it all just seemed lacking as her body was lightly tossed about. “Is this the best you have?” she called out in challenge. “Feels like somepony’s giving me a piggyback ride!”

Feeling proud of her friend, Honey nodded and turned to the operator, ready to tell her to turn things up, only to hesitate when she saw the stunned look on not only her face, but those of the audience. “Uh, this is the lowest settin’, right?”

“Yes,” the operator said with a nervous smile. “Same as it’s been all night.”

“What!?”

“Yeah,” the operator shrugged as she watched Silver’s expression turn from boredom to shock at the revelation. “It’s been on level one the whole night. We only crank it up of ponies can last the minute markers.” The timer beeped. “Like now.” Without thinking, the operator mechanically pulled the necessary levers to reach the next level.

Honey turned to Silver, awestruck at how the bull’s bucking seemed to double in intensity. While the bat was initially caught off guard by the sudden increase in intensity, looking momentarily like this might be the end; she adjusted her grip and was soon smiling as she secured herself.

“Whoa!” Luna cheered, bouncing up and down in excitement as her enthusiasm quickly spread and the rest of the audience joined her cheer. “Go Silver!”

“Yeah Silver!” “Ride it, little bat!” “Show that bull whose boss!”

Not one to disappoint, Silver flashed a toothy grin and nodded her acknowledgment as her competitive side took hold. “Alright then! Show me what you’ve got!”

The bull operator nodded her agreement, an impressed grin parting her lips as the machine beeped once more and she turned it up to level three.

When Silver refused to be dislodged, ponies all around threw their Stetsons at her. She caught one and began waving it wildly overhead as she hooted and hollered to the crowd’s cheer. Level four came and the tiny bat was forced to bring both hands back down. The Stetson slipped through her fingers as she was becoming increasingly less sure about her grip. Alas, level five would prove to be the end when Silver was sent straight up into the air and nearly hit the ceiling. The bat thankfully managed to remember her wings, stopping herself in midair and descended back down with a graceful glide to the cheering uproar of the crowd.

Silver’s moment in the spotlight, basking in the praise of these earth ponies in recognition of her greatness, was short lived as she saw two very large and concerned mares charging right for her. She was scooped up in Luna’s arms as Honey checked over her body for any signs of harm.

“Hay on a hamster wheel!” Honey declared in pride as the two mares began walking away with their passenger. “You got some teats on ya, filly! Ah ain’t never seen no pony ride a bull like that.”

Silver sat up as straight as she could in Luna’s arms. “Thank you kindly, Honey. It was… surprisingly enjoyable.”

“Most certainly!” Luna proclaimed through barely contained giggles. “This was quite the exhilarating evening.” Her eyes roamed lazily over to Honey, where upon she gave a contented sigh. “Your selection of venue was delightfully exotic.”

“Ain’t no thing,” Honey said with a beaming smile. “Just glad everypony had a good time.”

“Oh, I most certainly did,” Luna said with a deep, sensual purr as she walked hip-to-hip with Honey, batting the mare’s tail with her own.

Apprehension appeared on the earth mare’s face for only an instant before being replaced with a confident and challenging smirk. “Oh reeeeeealy?”

Luna giggled sweetly and pressed her lips to Honey’s. It was relaxed, not as rough or passionate as their earlier kiss. It wasn’t a kiss of lust, but one that spoke of contentment and acceptance, of affection, the sort of kiss mares sometimes shared before or immediately after bucking and agreeing to herd together.

Silver watched and cooed contentedly. Luna had had fun, and it was all thanks to Honey doing as she pleased. Recalling her earlier frustrations at the mare’s uncouthness, Silver realized that, in fact, this had all been for the best. Honey had approached this date from a stance of honesty and sincerity. She’d chosen a venue she believed to have best represented who she was and what kind of upbringing she’d had. Without a hint of shame or reservation, she’d pulled Luna from her comfort zone and gave her a new experience that they both could share and treasure. It was just like the mare had said all the way back in her interview, of wanting to give Luna a taste of homegrown apples to break up the monotony of all the fanciness. All in all, the bat would have to say that this night was most productive, and that she would (not) be paying future visits to this establishment.

And that’s part 2, folks. Honey takes Luna and Silver out to a dinner and rodeo show, and the show was the least of their interests all night. For Silver’s patience in dealing with the overgrown foals, I decided to give her a little reward at the end. Simple yet casual interactions all around. Good times.

Also, while all of my authors are great, I’d like to say a special thank you to AuthorGenesis https://www.fimfiction.net/user/93692/AuthorGenesis for the concluding paragraph regarding Honey’s honesty. It really helped to tie things together with a nice, pretty bow.