Honey and ‘Blue Sapphire’ headed due south.

“Where we headin’?” Honey laughed as she allowed herself to be dragged along by the tall and full figured unicorn.

“To a place I have been aching to visit for, well, a long time,” Blue replied absently, her attention focused elsewhere.

“Ya hesitated there.”

“What?”

“When ya said a long time. It sounded like ya hesitated.”

“Your imagination,” Blue dismissed.

“‘N’ now yer bein’ all defensive,” Honey observed, her bullshitometer rising steadily. “What’s goin’ on, an’ should Ah be afraid?”

Blue stopped abruptly, inadvertently causing Honey to collide with her. She spun around to face the green mare, opening and closing her mouth a few times as she considered what to say. Honey waited quietly, her patience tested when Blue surveyed their surroundings and leaned in close to whisper something.

“Say again?”

Blue repeated her words, now only barely perceptible.

“Correct me if Ah’m wrong, but did ya’ll say: comic store?”

Blue pursed her lips and nodded. “Ever since we went to Ink Con, I have found my thoughts drifting back to that marvelous place. ‘Tis like the bazaars of old with wonders and wares from across the known world, not these overpriced markets with overregulated products.” She gestured to a perfume shop that smelled distressingly similar to a freshly fertilized field.

“So that’s why ya picked me,” concluded Honey, recalling Blue’s peculiar insistence earlier.

Luna nodded shamefully. “I asked for directions before we left, but it appears I have gotten myself lost. Do you think you could-eep!”

Turning the tables, Honey grabbed Blue by the wrist and gave her a good yank over to the nearest vendor. The earth mare tipped her Stetson politely when the vendor directed her to 3232 Cherry Street, and the two were off.

“Should I feel bad that you, the newcomer, are more familiar with this city than I?”

“Nah. Honestly, Ah have no idea where we are right now. Ah jus’ know where mah favorite comic shop is. We can get our bearin’s there.”

“Okay. Now I absolutely feel bad for not considering such an obvious strategy.”

Honey chuckled. “Ain’t the same without a planner ‘n’ a driver ta haul yer fat plot around.”

“Fat? Fat!? You dare refer to the royal moon as fat?” Blue asked, utterly aghast at her friend’s blasphemy. “I will have you know my bottom is pleasantly plump.”

Honey stopped and turned around, her puzzled gaze flicking between Blue and her rump. Although Blue was smaller overall, the glamour ensured that everything stayed proportional. Blue’s backside was lusciously round and had a subtle but enticing bounce when she walked. Even a passing glance could tell her cheeks were firm enough to bounce a quarter off of. However, having grown up surrounded by bodies sculpted by a life time of hard labor, Honey believed herself to have a keen eye when it came to determining how much of a body was muscle or fat. In Blue’s case, she had what most would consider a balance, the ideal that most strived for, but that still meant her big butt was pretty fat. “Isn’t that what Ah said?”

“Technically,” Blue conceded, peering over her shoulder in a sudden onset of self-consciousness. This new body was making her just a little insecure, and she didn’t want Honey to disapprove. “But my way sounds more complimentary,” she added defensively.

Honey’s eye roll was almost audible. “If ya can smother a full grown stallion, ya got a fat butt. Deal with it.”

“Careful,” Blue warned. “I am not a mare to cross lightly, especially when the crosser gives me ideas for retaliation.”

Honey straightened and balled her hands into fists. Her eyes narrowed to dangerous slits and stared uncompromisingly at the mare before her. “Yall wanna get serious ‘n’ settle this in the park,” she gestured to a patch of green across the road, never taking her eyes off her opponent, “or do we go to the comic store?”

Mirroring Honey’s aggressive stance, Blue stepped forward in blatant challenge. Their breasts were compressed between them, somehow with their nipples aligning perfectly. But Honey did not back down, acting as an immovable rock standing in defiance of her opponent. Their noses were almost touching and each could taste the other’s breath as they stared deeply into one another’s eyes. Each breath inflated their abdomens and strengthened the pressure on their chests to nearly painful levels as they felt the texture of the other’s fur rub across their own. It was almost obscene how intimate they were being. Neither mare could be blamed for their blushing at such contact.

This sort of posturing was very primal, and easily ignored by passing pedestrians. Even in the most loving of herds, or even groups of friends, mares still had their disputes. Exchanging blows was rare and frowned upon in most circumstances. When words failed, the socially acceptable means of resolving conflict came down to posturing with displays of dominance. In modern times, such displays were a favorite among romance writers and erotica illustrators.

“Comics first,” Blue growled in answer, pulling her shoulders back and pushing her chest out to show that she was not backing down. “Wrestling for dominance later.”

“Good priorities,” Honey replied, matching Blue’s growl and body language.

At once the pair took a step back from one another and Honey directed them back on track. Neither mare said a word for the rest of their journey. Their eyes focused forward and expression stayed stern as they purposefully marched to their destination. They did, however, walk close enough that they frequently brushed hips and elbows. This kept them both in convenient range to frequently exchange tail whips to the other’s bum. It was a very serious exchange of blows, a matter of pride that absolutely no pedestrians dawed at, and no undercover guards responded to with exasperated groans.

Their conflict had merely been postponed. It could not simply be forgotten. The inner beast normally kept docile by the trappings of civilization would not allow it. The beast had been awakened, and would not, could not rest until a resolution had been found.

Honey and Blue relaxed almost instantly upon entering the Sorcerer’s Tomb. The overhead lights were dim, drawing the eye to various figurines and memorabilia in the display cases. Deep, thrumming music played in the background as patrons and service ponies quietly chatted about this and that. Shelves were lined with equal parts books and boxes, and interspersed with the occasional video game. It was a veritable treasure trove of anything and everything a nerd could want.

Blue, slack jawed, managed only a few steps forward before being jostled out of her awed stupor. Honey smiled at her and quietly gestured for her to follow.

“So what was some o’ the stuff ya liked back at Ink Con?” Honey asked, gesturing to a wall lined to the brim with books, but most notably the Fable Mable series. “What tickles yer fancy?”

Not needing to be told twice, Blue grabbed the first two volumes of Honey’s favorite book. “You have talked this up so much, I am dying to see what the appeal is.”

Honey beamed with the pride of a cultist having converted a new member. “That’s a purty good start, too. Ah’ve heard folks say Fable Mable’s a good gateway story?”

“Gateway?”

“Ta manga. That’s what comics are called in Neighpan, remember?”

“Ah. Yes. Very good.” Now just a little wary, Blue flipped the first book open, only to have Honey’s hand block her view.

“Manga reads right ta left.”

Blue blinked. “… Why?”

“That’s jus’ how they do it, which means ya start here,” she directed.

“So many new rules,” Blue commented as she skimmed the story’s proper beginning.

“Hey. If a bumpkin like me can figure it out, you ain’t got no excuse.”

“The last time I even thought about Neighpan, we had only just signed our first nonaggression pact and trade treaty.” She turned the page. “It seems our cultures have grown considerably close since then.”

“Ah ain’t too sure ‘bout that, but Ah know there’s a growin’ lot ‘f us that can’t get enough o’ their stuff.”

“You make me wary with these allusions to addiction,” Blue informed as she turned another page. “This isn’t some elaborate marketing scheme where you draw in new customers in exchange for a fee, is it?”

Honey snorted and shook her fist. “Damn! Ah shoulda thought o’ that earlier.” She concluded with a cheeky grin.

Blue replied with a raspberry, hardly paying the green mare any mind as she casually flipped through the pages. “Pray tell, what genre is this?”

“Ah guess ya could call magical foal its own genre.”

“How is that possible?”

“There’s jus’ that many out there. Although most o’ the time its colts. Ah think it’s supposed ta be a power fantasy for the male readers.”

“And the female readers?”

“Cute boys in cute outfits fighting evil between cute scenes.”

“Ah.”

“Stories with a filly lead usually have more action.”

“Ah.”

“But Fable balances it out with a good bit o’ heart ‘n’ character scenes.”

“Ah.”

Honey pursed her lips in skepticism. “An’ that’s when this hippo showed up ‘n’ tried ta bite mah head off.”

“Go for the jaw,” Blue answered matter-of-factly. “Hippos have notoriously poor dental hygiene. They might be formidable fighters, but one good blow to the jaw is generally enough to make them cry. Their greatest weapon is, in fact, a crippling weakness.” And she turned another page. “Never underestimate my ability to multitask.”

“Ah’ll remember that,” Honey agreed with a giggle. She made herself comfortable beside Blue, joining her in rereading the first volume. That way she’d be available to answer any questions Blue might have along the way.

Ponies entered and departed the store at their leisure. Some waded through the isles while others knew exactly what they wanted and took their purchases straight to the counter. Some asked questions about various products or just caught up with what seemed to be old friends. Luna figured at least one of the ponies in her vicinity was a disguised guard, but for the life of her she couldn’t tell which. They had perfectly blended in to their civilian guises. She made a mental note to pay her compliments to the Lieutenant once they’d returned to the castle.

As soon as Blue had finished the first volume, she was stopped by Honey before she could start the second. It was common bookstore etiquette, Honey informed, to buy whatever you finish. Blue agreed that this was a sensible courtesy and took the first six volumes of Fable Mable up to the counter for purchase. Honey bought the latest issue for herself, keeping it away from Blue’s peering eyes.

The pair left for a nearby park with Honey teasing Blue with the threat of spoilers all the way. Upon arrival, they found a relatively secluded spot to stash their books before moving out to an open area. They stood several meters apart with their backs turned to one another in a classic dueling stance. They spun to face one another and Honey was the first to speak.

“Fiend!” she proclaimed, gesturing animatedly. “Ah will put an end ta yer evil once an’ fer all!”

“Ha!” Blue threw her chin back and moved her hand near her cheek. Her laughter and smirk were the bitchiest she could muster, which she felt was respectable homage to a noble she’d met a few nights back. “Fool. Your powers are nothing compared to mine. I will have my way, and nothing will stop me.”

“Not this time!” Honey’s hand swept out before her. “Never again. If ya’ll plan on smotherin’ anypony else, you’ll have ta go through me.”

Blue’s grin grew even more sadistic as she sensually licked her lips. “Oh, so tempting.”

Some yards away, a father was taking his daughter for a walk to help her adjust to the night life. The daughter saw the scene being played out between the two mares. Naturally, she asked her father what was going on. Upon seeing the source of his daughter’s concern, the father covered her eyes and hurried her away. Once he was certain they were out of earshot, he imparted upon her the wisdom of the ages that it was not polite to stare at crazy ponies.

Honey began circling right while Blue matched her step for step. “Ya’ll know Ah’m right. You’ve got a big fat butt ‘n’ ain’t no pony can argue that.”

“My plot is full and ripe, and you will pay for your disrespectful remarks. Then all shall raise their hands to the sky to praise the glory of the moon.”

They were inching closer as they circled.

“Yeah,” Honey scoffed. “The moon so full it could eclipse the sun!”

Blue blinked, taken aback. “That was a good one.”

“Ya think so?”

“Indeed. Very versatile, depending almost entirely on the context as to whether it acts as a compliment or insult, and most fitting here.”

“Well thanks. Feel free ta have it.”

“The offer is appreciated.” Blue nodded her gratitude as she and Honey continued circling. Then their expressions turned serious once more. “But mere words shall not avail you, peasant. You shall learn the divine truth, by force if need be.”

Honey stopped, turned bodily to face Blue, and widened her stance. “Bring it!”

Blue brought it, roaring her battle cry and charging her opponent with the force of a stampeding elephant. The impact of mare-on-mare sent the faintest tremor into the ground. Birds in a nerby tree voiced their protest and being so rudely awakened. Honey’s hooves left skid marks in the ground, upturning grass as she was pushed back. Her stance held, however, and Blue’s momentum had been completely absorbed.

“Impressive.”

“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” Having grown up in a rowdy family with several siblings, it was as though Honey had been training for this moment her entire life. She slipped free from Blue’s grip and quickly circled behind. From there she wrapped her arms around the big unicorn’s middle, directly beneath her breasts. With a slight adjustment to her hoofing, she hefted her opponent upwards. Any other mare in her position might have been surprised by Blue’s weight and misjudged the proper application of force required, but Honey had the advantage of prior experience. Blue was heavy, but nothing the earth mare hadn’t dealt with in the past. It almost looked easy the way Honey lifted her opponent well over her head.

Blue gritted her teeth in frustration. She’d made the classic villain’s mistake of underestimating her opponent. Perhaps Honey’s lessons in holding back had worked too well, resulting in her never showing her full strength before, not even when it was just the two of them. The mere thought of such a prospect sent a thrill through the blue mare’s core. Finally she could have a true sparring partner to test her physically instead of just magically. Truly earth ponies were magnificent creatures.

Honey allowed herself a slight smirk, glad that her opponent hadn’t tried any cheap tricks by using wings or magic. They were doing this the traditional way, the honorable way, the earth pony way. As such, Honey honored the blue mare’s courtesy by following through with her suplex. With Blue at the pinnacle of her arc, Honey’s knees bent, increasing her move’s momentum. Between the natural force of gravity and the earth mare’s natural strength, Blue was accelerating downwards at dangerous speeds.

Honey grinned. She was leaning back and her move was less than a meter from full completion. Already she was playing out her encounters with the others. Jona and Plow might have a conniption. Silver might do an impression of an angry Chihuahua, which would probably be a little funny, right up until the little scrapper started using teeth. Most, Honey thought, would just laugh it off and give her a pat on the back. For truly this was an accomplishment few had ever been able to achieve. This was a feat of great power, a victory that would surely cause the country to wail in despair if carried out by a villain. But here, out in the open, and looking like this, Honey was about to do the unthinkable, and suplex a P-

*CRASH*

“What?” Honey gasped. By her reckoning, she was still a fraction of a second from realizing her ultimate triumph. A lifetime ambition condensed down into less than a minute. Looking down, she could see the ground, her finish line, was mere inches away, yet she could not reach it. Gravity had abandoned all but her hooves, leaving the rest of her and her opponent suspended in midair. Did the unthinkable happen? Had Blue cheated? Honey didn’t see any magical glow and unfurled wings would have been hard to miss, not to mention blocked by the earth mare’s grip. There was nothing. No signs of illegal action. Honey tried to look further, but the angle of her neck inhibited her from seeing past Blue’s back and ample assets. “H-how?” she stuttered.

“Pitiful farm mare,” Blue cackled maniacally. “So used to foes who know nothing but raw strength. But your time in the harem has been short, so perhaps your ignorance should be forgiven.”

“Say… what?” Honey growled back. Her position wasn’t ideal with her knees at a 90 degree angle and her heavy breasts weighing down her torso. She managed what leverage she could, grinding her teeth as Blue refused to budge.

“The harem teaches discipline,” Blue intoned stately. “It teaches endurance, the hidden strength of compassion, but above all else…”

When Blue parted her legs, Honey’s mouth fell agape. She understood, now. The picture was clear in her mind’s eye. Blue’s back had curved, bringing her pelvis downward slightly. Her knees were straight, but she’d folded herself at an angle even less than 20 degrees. Blue’s hooves had been planted firmly in the ground. Honey understood the true severity of her mistake. Although Blue might have held back a little in her initial tackle, Honey had committed an even more egregious error by focusing on the body projected by the glamour and completely forgetting her opponent’s true proportions. She’d failed to calculate just how tall Luna was, and how long her legs were. And even with her body in this awkward position, it was still sturdier than Honey’s.

Blue’s grin grew wide and toothy. With bottomless pride she proclaimed the true secret of her impending victory. “Flexibility!”

Without warning, Honey felt the ground suddenly and quickly leave her behind. It was disorienting and made her stomach feel weightless. Now it was her turn to be lifted high into the air. All the world appeared upside down, even if her innards had momentarily lost track of gravity’s pull. A small crowd of ponies had gathered around the obnoxiously loud pair and stared on with the gleeful and bloodthirsty amusement of spectators at a pro wrestling match.

Then the spectators started going away. Why were they going away? They weren’t moving, so why were they shrinking? The answer made Honey’s heart sink and anus clench in horror. In all the confusion, she’d forgotten about her hands and had loosened her grip. As a result, with nothing to anchor her to the ground, she was sent flying straight up, and up, and up.

Earth ponies were not meant to be this high up, and especially not upside-down. This was an immutable truth of the world, as certain as Celestia’s sun. Earth ponies were meant to have their hooves on the ground at all times, or at least some kind of floor. Honey wondered why the fundamental laws of creation were abandoning her. What terrible sin had she committed to be banished from the universe like this? What color would her breakfast be when it inevitably came up? And, perhaps most perplexing of all, why was she thinking about lunch?

When gravity finally came back, it was most unhappy with Honey’s innards and punished them accordingly. Truly her sin must have been great, for now even her remaining sense of direction was abandoning her. Ground shifted to near distance, then far distance, horizon, sky, a sweeping view of the sky, a different horizon, and it was a little hard to keep track after that. Gravity, malicious and unforgiving, had decided to play around with Honey’s momentum. Her outers were being pulled down, but her innards were being pushed up. Was Honey doomed to see her stomach as well as its contents?

Like any sensible wingless creature, Honey began to frantically flail once it fully dawned on her that she was falling. She opened her mouth to scream, but it came off rather quiet and confused. “Aaaahhh?” Her brain hadn’t fully caught up with what her body was telling it. She was disoriented and starting to panic. Exactly how high was she? Would she go splat, or get away with just a bruise? The ground was back. She could see it coming close, the collision imminent. There was a tower, though. A tall, blue protrusion sticking up from the ground directly beneath her. Was she doomed to be skewered instead of going splat? Would that be worse? Why did the tower have two poles sticking out from the sides, like arms open in welcome? Equally puzzling, why did the tower have a pair of pillows with a strange, almost mystical magnetic pull to them? Certain that her doom was imminent, Honey reflexively closed her eyes and braced for the worst.

Then everything stopped with an audible slap. There was no great lurch like Honey had feared. No splat or gruesome skewering. Nothing, except that the front of her body hurt as if she’d belly flopped into a pool. The world had gone dark. No lanterns or starlight in sight. There was still sound, though. Voices were muffled, but sounded far away. There was a steady ba-dum, ba-dum sound, which struck Honey as somehow familiar and calming. Honey also heard a low grumbly, churning sound. It was the sound you still heard even after you cover your hands over your ears. Her hooves were still dangling in this mysterious void; a fact she hoped to rectify soon. Something pressed down on Honey’s back, pushing her front into something warm and soft. But the softest things of all were the swollen masses of flesh that had encased most of her face. They had an aroma that tickled the mare’s nose with their familiarity.

Then she knew. Even before she heard the voice, it all became clear.

“Honey,” Blue cooed. “Are you well?”

Honey stirred, humming softly as she finally found the wherewithal to open her eyes. Most of her peripheral vision was obscured by bountiful mounds of breast flesh, but her vision was focused squarely on the soft smile and loving eyes of the mare staring down at her. Confirming where she was, Honey kicked a little in the open air until her hooves finally returned to their rightful place. She held her position, though, finding the feeling to alluring to abandon easily.

“Fine,” she exhaled in exhaustion. Now that the adrenaline had fallen, she was able to think clearly and fully understand the ramifications of her position.

Blue’s grin twisted a little, replacing kindness with a mad tyrant’s evil. “Then… you yield?” She tightened her grip around Honey’s back for emphasis.

Honey returned the gestured, wrapping her arms around Blue’s back and pulling deeper into the embrace. That would have been answer enough, but there was more she wished to say. Mindful that they still had an audience, she whispered, “Did ya’ll make yerself taller?”

Blue averted her gaze and hummed an unfamiliar tune.

Honey’s eyes turned accusatory. “Ya did, didn’t ya.”

“In all fairness, I have been this tall for some time. ‘Tis your fault for not noticing.”

Honey chuckled. “Can’t argue that.” And she let her hands fall south. Her palms curved over the blue mare’s bulging backside and she treated herself to a playful squeeze. “Big.”

“Big?” Blue’s tone was wary and warning.

“Yeah. Big and full.”

“And is that all you have to say?”

The two were speaking so quietly that most of the spectators couldn’t hear what was being said. Those that could were clueless about the context. Still, most were able to infer from the mares’ body language what this was all about, and waited patiently for the smaller – yet still obscenely tall – mare to admit her defeat.

“That…” Honey paused for dramatic tension, her expression the very picture of ‘hold my beer.’ “‘N’ still big enough ta smother anypony he-GUH!” Her words were cut short when a hand pressed the back of her head into its new, boobelicious prison.

“I am done playing,” Blue announced haughtily. She planted her fists on her hips in an ‘I’m done with this’ gesture, pulled her shoulders back, and pulled her chest up high. Honey’s hooves were pulled from the ground and began to frantically kick as they dangled. Honey tried releasing Blue’s back in the hopes of using her hands to force herself free, but to no avail.

As far as the spectators could tell, the earth mare had been effectively suspended by nothing more than a pair of breasts, without any outside interference.

“You lost, now admit it,” Blue commanded sternly. Honey answered by pushing even harder against the bigger mare’s bosom, but they would not give. “Yield, lest I have to take you home like this and have your herd force your compliance!”

Honey’s screams were muffled. She wanted to call out Blue for resorting to such dirty tactics, but couldn’t say a word. Besides the obvious reason, she had technically initiated the foul play by failing to submit after her clear defeat. If Blue did end up going to Honey’s house, and if she ended up passing out from lack of air along the way, none would sympathize, for she was so obviously in the wrong. Eventually, Honey managed to swallow her pride and go limp. “Ah pheal,” was all any could hear.

Grinning in triumph, Blue set Honey back on her hooves and opened her boob cage enough for her prisoner to speak. “Yes?”

“Ah yield! Happy?”

“Very!” Blue released Honey fully, arms out and ready to catch her just in case.

Honey staggered a second, but quickly righted herself a short distance from her victorious opponent. Seeing the question coming in Blue’s expression, she figured she might as well head it off. “Biggest, purtiest plot in the land,” she boasted. “Big enough ta eclipse the sun, but that just means there’s more ta love.”

Blue looked mostly pleased, but motioned for more.

Honey heaved a defeated sigh and rolled her eyes. “‘N’ definitely ain’t fat.”

That got a chuckle out of their audience. Some were even whispering about how they’d figured from the start that this spat was over something petty. Others countered that such a dispute was the furthest thing possible from petty and that it was good that the squabbling pair resolved things so quickly. The squabblers weren’t really listening though. They’d gone over to a nearby tree and didn’t even notice when the crowd began to disperse. They had other, more pressing issues.

Blue had fallen to her knees. Her hands hung limply by her side as she stared in a mix of horror and disbelief. Honey’s reaction was less reserved, with her fists shaking in righteous anger. The earth mare quelled her thirst for vengeance when she saw Blue’s distraught expression and tried to offer comfort. Words failed, though. What words could possibly ameliorate this terrible tragedy? This was every collector’s worst nightmare made manifest.

The birds, the ones that had been awakened from their peaceful sleep, had pooped themselves in fright. And the bags beneath the tree, the ones carrying the precious books, were completely covered.

“NOOO!” Blue cried in defiance to the heavens. “It should have been me-he-he!” She doubled over, pressing her face into the grass and smashing her fist into the ground. Each blow unleashed a tremor of similar intensity to that which had caused this mess, although the birds had long since fled.

“It’s okay, sugar,” Honey cooed softly and wrapped the larger mare up in her mighty arms. “Ah know. Ah know. Jus’ let it all out.”

And Blue wept into her beloved’s arms. She cried anger and sorrow in equal measure. Although she had not had them long, these books had already become something special in her heart. They were more than just an archive of a story that had pushed her to the edge of her perverbial seat. They were tokens, mementoes of the first night spent with this mare with whom she intended to spend the next few decades with. They’d traded blows, barbs, and interests. Without question, this had been a night the blue mare knew she’d remember forever. And now with this tragedy to top it all off, she could only hope that her bond with this wonderful, beautiful, and headstrong mare would only deepen.

A stallion cleared his throat. “Um, excuse me?”

“What do you want?” Honey asked more venomously than she’d intended. “Sorry. Sorry. Jus’… a little emotional right now,” she sobbed. “What is it?”

The stallion nodded and hopped nervously from hoof to hoof. “I um…”

Honey’s patience was wearing thin. If this stranger had something to say, then he should just spit it out and be done with it. He probably wanted to tell them to get lost for causing a scene or something. But Honey managed to swallow her anger enough to see through teary eyes that this stallion was holding something. It was a tall thing that covered most of his chest and required both hands to hold. Curious, Honey wiped her eyes clean for a better look. Her jaw dropped so fast that it almost dislocated.

“I, uh…” Once more the stallion attempted to use words as he cradled the precious thing in his arms. “You know what? Screw it. I had a feeling something like this might happen, so I decided to take them for protection. Here.” He held out the treasure.

“L-Luna,” Honey stuttered.

The green mare’s slip was enough to rouse Blue from her sobbing stupor. Her eyes were puffy and her cheeks were stained from the tears. She sniffled, searched for what had disturbed Honey so, and then her eyes nearly popped right out of her skull. “A-are those…”

The stallion nodded.

“Our books!” Blue and Honey cheered as one. They tackled the stallion to the ground and peppered him with kisses, words of gratitude, and other shows of affection. He fought at first, but he was a skinny thing compared to the much more powerful mares, and surrendered to his fate with a goofy grin. Once they’d finished showing how thankful they were, Blue and Honey decided that there was still plenty of moonlight left and that they should make the most of the remaining night, especially after their close call with heartbreak. They left.

“Are you going to move?” asked a mare. She wore a pink skirt with white frills and a red jacket. Her words were directed at the stallion still lying on the ground.

The skinny stallion made a sound like he was in serious thought, all while staring intently up the mare’s skirt. She rolled her eyes at him. He finally answered with a firm, “Nope.”

The mare rolled her eyes and planted her hands on her hips. “And why is that?”

“Pretty sure my back is broken,” the stallion replied in good cheer. “Probably happened when the green one hugged me.”

The mare’s expression shifted from bemusement to alarm. “A-are you sure?”

“Well, I can’t feel anything from my neck down, and there’s this itch on my nose that I can’t seem to scratch.” He wiggled his snout for emphasis. “Feel free to call a med-evac whenever.”

“Uh, right!” The mare pulled a communication crystal from her jacket pocket and gave it a squeeze, informing her commander what had transpired. “Don’t worry,” she assured, kneeling down beside him. “They’ll be here in just a few minutes. You’ll be right as rain before you know it.”

“Thanks, but I’m more grateful I remembered to numb myself before approaching those two,” the stallion informed casually. “Can’t feel a thing!”

“That’s some frightening foresight,” the mare admitted.

“Say, since I got injured in the line of duty, do you think they’ll give me a purple heart?”

The mare looked taken aback for a second after such a ludicrous suggestion, but then chuckled.

“I hope they don’t consider this mission classified,” he continued. “Getting the Princess to kiss me after I saved her from sorrow is exactly the sort of story I want to tell my grandfoals when I get old.”

“You’re awful,” the mare laughed.

“And I’m soon to be the envy of the entire division,” the stallion boasted, emphasizing his point with an eyebrow wiggle. “Beat that.”

I had never really planned on making Honey so confrontational. But since it keeps happening, I guess that’s just part of her character now. This was a fun exercise of nerd bonding, followed by an equally fun example of athletic bonding. That near tragedy at the end was a little tricky, but I hope I successfully captured the gravity of such a situation.