Moonlight’s fingers were working their magic on Thomas’s shoulders as he sat on his cushion next to Luna’s. The curtains in Luna’s office had been partially opened to let in a bit of light from the nearly full moon, but the magical lamps were as bright as normal, giving the room a fairly nocturnal look. The room was empty of guards, secretaries, or any nonessential personnel save for, from left to right, the unicorn, human, alicorn, bat pony, and griffon. Even the furniture had been moved to the outskirts of the walls, leaving only a low sitting table in the middle surrounded by large cushions to serve as seats.

It was Saturday, so they didn’t have to worry about the aristocracy and the issues of governance. Tonight was to be dedicated strictly to two interviews. Thomas, Silver, Talon, and even Moonlight wore their formal concubine uniforms, while Luna wore a dark blue gown that exposed a modest amount of cleavage and opened up around the legs to allow her to sit comfortably. With considerable aid and pressure from Silver, Attentive Eye’s staff had muscled through the vetting process of all current applications; they were finally ready to begin interviewing the new applicants for Luna’s harem.

Thomas’ anxiety was compounded further by the knowledge that this was no simple job interview, but a marriage meeting. Any minute now a mare would enter through the doors of Luna’s office with the intent of joining the Princess’ harem; and whether she knew it or not, marrying her, and by extension, him. Still, they’d drilled the routine enough times, not to mention the presence of his closest friends provided considerable security.

“Never had a marriage meeting before?” Talon asked sarcastically from across the row.

“I didn’t even know I was married until a few weeks ago,” Thomas explained as calmly as he could.

“As Princess, I’m inclined to say that you’re doing quite well so far,” Luna comfortingly put her hand on his shoulder. “You’ll do fine.” She looked from the human to the other members of her harem. “You all will.”

“Well she is the Princess,” Talon quipped. “She probably knows what she’s talking about.” Talon followed up by leaning across the alicorn and briefly kissing Thomas’ cheek (a peck if you’ll pardon the pun). “Just relax, act natural, and it’ll all be fine.”

“Verily,” Luna nodded. “Remember, Thomas, you are the Senior Concubine of Princess Luna’s Royal Harem. If this mare fails to impress you, any of you,” she looked to everyone in the room, “then she has failed to impress us.”

“Right,” Thomas nodded. This is for Luna. I have to do my best and make sure this mare’s a perfect… fit. Gah! Thomas internally swore as his mind began exploring all possibilities involving the words ‘mare’ and ‘fit’. Now’s not the time to be thinking about that stuff… or is it? If she catches a whiff of my scent, would that help things along? Would that technically be manipulative? Damn it. I should have thought about this earlier and asked Luna. “No time like the present,” he sighed, resigning himself to the inevitable. “Okay, I know I said I wanted to go in blind, but you think we can go over who’s who real quick?” he asked Silver.

“Of course,” Silver agreed as she whipped out a clipboard from seemingly nowhere. She’d disagreed vehemently with Luna’s suggestion of allowing their first meeting to be as informal as her own. As such, she requested access to their application forms so a proper interview could be carried out. Of course, she’d only done so with Thomas’ permission, though she had anticipated he’d cave in eventually. “The first is a pegasus mare named Surprise.”

“What was that?” Thomas asked, eyes bulging in surprise.

“Surprise,” Silver repeated as she scanned the papers. “Born in Cloudsdale, she’s spent most of her time working in her family’s joke shop, but has also done some volunteer work for the city guard.”

Moonlight’s ears perked in interest. “I like her already.”

“As do I,” Silver said as she turned the clipboard so that Talon could have a better look. “She lists as strengths her up-beat personality and ability to make ponies smile. Sounds fun,” she smiled, muttering to herself as she read on. “Weaknesses include a hyperactive personality that some ponies might find abrasive. Basically she’s an extreme extrovert.”

“That does sound like fun,” Talon added.

“What’s all in there?” Thomas asked, almost desperately curious to find out more about this pony who not only shared a name with a G1 counterpart, but also was Hasbro’s rough draft choice for Pinkie’s position in the mane six.

“The usual,” Silver answered. “Tribe, occupation, herd status, height, weight; these numbers seem more fit for an earth pony than a pegasus if you ask me,” she added, pausing to make a vague gesture of largeness. “Cutie mark, sexual preferences…”

“That’s part of the application!?” Thomas asked in disbelief.

“It is optional,” Silver corrected. “According to Sun Dancer, it’s there for the more serious ponies who know they are going to succeed.”

Thomas pressed a thumb to his forehead, suppressing a headache. “Out of curiosity, did you happen to fill that part out?”

Silver shrugged apathetically. “I left mine blank. Saying ‘whatever the Princess wants’ sounded too desperate, and ‘undecided’ did not seem very helpful either. Blank seemed safest since I really did not know what I liked.” She smiled up at Luna. “If somepony had told me a month ago that I liked spanking and being dom for the Princess, I might have slapped them.”

Luna leaned down and nuzzled Silver between the ears. “Some applicants are more in tune with their desires, but often the royal lovers do not know what they want until we show it to them.” Her touch earned a purr from the bat mare.

“Makes sense.” Moonlight said as she rubbed cheeks with Thomas. “I had a rough idea, but I never knew my taste for the young coltish look went this far.”

“Big girls,” Thomas chimed in as he nuzzled back. “I’ve always had a thing for big, strong looking ladies.”

“Lucky monkey,” Talon snarked. “I go for the flanks, personally. The bigger the better.”

Silver struggled to regain her focus as she held up the clipboard. “W-well… This mare says she likes smiles, that she’s happy so long as her partners are happy. She also adds that we shouldn’t be surprised if she decides to pull the occasional prank on us.”

“Simple enough,” Luna cooed, continuing to nuzzle the bat mare mercilessly. “Anything else of note?”

“Sh-she says…” Silver finally pulled away and cleared her throat. “She says that, after spending so long away, Princess Luna is owed a welcome back party and that it would be her honor to host it.”

Luna beamed in elation. “That sounds absolutely lovely. And the other?”

Silver flipped through the papers until she found the next candidate. “Apple Honey.”

“An Apple?” Thomas asked, earning a confirming nod from the bat mare. First a possible Pinkie Pie clone, and now an Apple? Is destiny trying to recreate the mane six or something?

“Member of the Apple Clan,” Silver read aloud. “Born and raised on an apple farm, no shock there,” she added sarcastically. “Strengths include physical strength and a hard work ethic. Weaknesses include a lifelong difficulty with reading. Apparently her family helped to fill out her application.”

If Thomas were a pony, his ear would have flipped. “She’s dyslexic?”

“What’s dyslexic?” Silver asked.

“A condition that makes it hard to read,” Thomas informed sympathetically. “And I should know. I had to take remedial reading lessons when I was little. You guys never heard of reading disorders before?”

“I’ve heard of ponies with reading problems, but I never heard it described as a disorder,” Moonlight said as a thoughtful look crossed her face. “That said, I think this mare just found herself a kindred spirit.” She smiled down at Thomas.

“Indeed,” added Luna. “The stigma behind such an inability can be rather harsh, depending on where she grew up. Having somepony who shares her plight would be a welcome boon.”

Thomas blushed under Luna’s gaze as he imagined this mare going through similar trials he had, but amidst less informed and patient surroundings. If Equestria was really ignorant of reading disorders, then it might have led to some very unfortunate possibilities growing up. Teasing from the other kids would have been bad enough, but an unsympathetic teacher or parents would have been even worse.

“Sexual preferences…” Silver continued. “Anal, belly to belly,” she licked her lips, “and mares with large breasts,” she snickered as she surveyed her audience. “That should not be a problem for this crowd.”

“What about final comments?” Talon added, peering over Silver’s shoulder. “She write anything there?”

Silver made a sound of disapproval. “Nothing. I suppose that’s to be expected if she has trouble writing, but she could have at least put in something.”

“Something for what?” Thomas asked.

“The final comment section,” Silver pointed at the paper on her clipboard. “It is for applicants to give their reason for applying. While optional, I am not too sure about leaving it blank. Such inaction suggests lack of proper forethought and commitment, if you ask me.”

Thomas studied Silver’s expression carefully. Several times he felt her tone in reading Apple Honey’s application to be bordering on condescension. Remembering that she was a noble and that this new pony was an apple farmer, Thomas wondered if there was some degree of elitism at work.

The group shared a laugh before agreeing. With no further questions, they agreed it was time to begin.

“A Surprise to see you,” Attentive Eye announced from behind the door.

“Send her in,” Luna answered and the door opened to reveal no one. At first those in the office craned their heads to look past the door, then around the room in the hopes of finding the mare who was supposed to be there.

“Surpriiiiiiise!” The white pegasus cheered, materializing out of nowhere in an explosion of confetti.

Initially startled, Thomas quickly settled down and soon added his nervous laughter to the guffaws of the others at the mare’s impressive entrance. Thomas eyed her up as she hovered in front of the group. She had white fur with a poofy blonde mane and tail. Her body was full and pudgy in many places, especially the breasts and butt, suggesting a love of sweets, but overall she still looked pretty fit. As Silver had said, she had the height and relative build of an earth pony, though her wings were certainly large enough to hold her weight. Her cutie mark was that of three purple balloons and had a purple bow tied at the base of her tail. She was nude, unsurprisingly, and her pubic hair had been trimmed in the same poofy manner as her mane and tail. She held her presenting pose all the way down until her hooves touched the floor, all the while her violet eyes never left the Princess.

“Hello, Surprise, was it?” Luna greeted serenely and held out her hand. If she’d been remotely fazed, she hid it well.

“Is, was, and always will be, Your Highness.” Surprise tilted her head in a soft bow as she reached for Luna’s hand, kissing the back of her fingers. She then looked to either side of the alicorn, grinning giddily as she playfully batted her eyelashes at Luna, who responded in kind. Then she stood and turned her body to face each of the concubines, starting on the left.

“You must be Moonlight Shield,” Surprise declared as she snatched up the unicorn’s hand, shaking it wildly as she hovered above the table. “Easily the luckiest mare in all the royal guard, though not pony in the guard because Shining Armor is kinda contending the spot, what with getting all up in Princess Cadence.” Surprise explained with a thoughtful giddiness as Moonlight’s arm threatened to shake right off her shoulder.

“P-pleasur-ur-ure’s all m-mine!” Moonlight stammered against the onslaught until Surprise finally released her.

“I read all about the shield you used back in Ponyville. Real high level stuff if it held off an ursa, even if it was just a baby.” Her eager bubbliness evened out as she stood straight at attention and saluted.

Still sitting, Moonlight mirrored her action. “I’m just glad I was able to help.”

“Good soldier,” Surprise nodded the guards’ shared understanding before moving on. “And you must be Thomas, Equestria’s famous human.” She extended her hand, which Thomas carefully took, thankful that she was much gentler with him. “You’re the one who made the Halloween, that ride that made even seasoned guards pee themselves, right?”

“Guilty as charged,” Thomas admitted as he tested Surprise’s grip and studied her expression. If he didn’t know better, he’d suspect the mare to be Pinkie’s secret twin, though didn’t rule that option out of the realm of possibility. He continued to smile, even as his stomach tied into a knot in worry that perhaps this mare had the same powers as her pink counterpart. “I’m guessing you missed it.”

“Fraid so,” Surprise sighed, but kept hold of Thomas’ hand. “Nightmare Night’s a pretty big deal for a joke shop, what with all the last minute pranks ponies like to play. Do you think you can bring it back next year? Oh! Ohohohohoh! Or better yet, will there be something new?”

“I’ve got a few ideas,” Thomas answered, proud of the ear-to-ear smile he’d earned from the mare, only to blush when he saw the cheeky look Moonlight was giving him. Intellectually he knew that she, in all likelihood, was not jealous. However, it still felt terribly awkward to hit on other women in front of your kinda-sorta fiancé.

Surprise puzzled at the sudden embarrassment before spotting Moonlight and making an “O” face. “Keeping your stallion on a short leash, huh?” she whispered loud enough for all to hear. “I’m so jealous.”

“Make a good impression,” Moonlight whispered back good-naturedly, “and I might consider loaning him out to you.”

Thomas only barely extracted his hand in time to avoid the mare’s bone crushing excitement as she beamed down at him. Note to self. Watch out for excitable mares. They be crazy.

Moving on, Surprise knelt before Silver and the pair exchanged kisses on their cheeks.

“I’m surprised you know that custom,” Silver blushed.

“I do my homework, ma’am.” Surprise stood back to her full height. “I may not have a family claim to this position,” she glanced at Luna, “but you have my word that I intend to dedicate myself 110% to making everypony happy.”

“I can ask for no better,” Silver beamed proudly at the pegasi’s words.

Announcing loyalty to Luna sure seems a fast way to earn some brownie points, Thomas thought. Then again, since I’m the Senior, I’m pretty sure it’s my job to not be sucked in so easily.

When it came to Talon’s turn, Surprise made no immediate move to greeting as she hovered, but rather studied the wren from a respectful distance before speaking. “You’re Talon, one of Princess Celestia’s lovers, right?”

“I am,” Talon answered evenly, as curious as the others to see where this was going. “I’m stabling with Moonbutt until she gets her harem into shape.”

“If you’re a griffon, does that mean you’re going to bite my nipples?” Surprised asked with the innocence and curiosity of a child asking why the sky was blue.

Amidst the stunned silence, Talon gave the question much more consideration that it deserved before she answered with a shrug, “Probably.”

“Okay!” Surprise’s hand shot forward and the two shared a hearty shake, leaving the others to wonder if she was accepting the inevitable like a good sport, or had received the answer she desired to hear. “I look forward to being friends with all of you.”

“Well you’ve certainly made a fine start,” Luna said as she gestured to the designated cushion and the mare took her seat, cross-legged. The Princess glanced over at Thomas, signaling that it was time to do his job.

Thomas scrambled to reassemble his note cards under the table. Say or do something to break the ice, he read.

“Whatcha got there?” Surprise asked, leaning forwards curiously. “Now doesn’t seem the best time to be masturbating, unless this is some sort of test.” The mare’s brow furrowed. “No pony told me about a masturbation test,” she said in a growing panic.

“Note cards,” Thomas corrected before things got out of control, noting the way the mare’s heavy breasts hung low and wobbled as she breathed. “This interview is kind of a first for both of us. You for being the first of the job, and me for being the first on this side of the table. Well, technically second for me, but you get it.”

“So you’ve got the nervous-first-day-jitters too?” Surprise asked eagerly.

“Very much so,” Thomas agreed as he set the cards on the table. “The first one said I needed to do something to break the ice, but, and pardon the bad humor, but I think your personality’s too warm to let ice form in the first place.”

Surprise snorted her laughter as she fell over sideways.

“Nice opener,” Moonlight whispered. “A little cheesy, but nice.”

Emboldened by the apparent improvement in his flirting abilities, Thomas decided to go with the flow and see where it took him. He stood, walking carefully around the table as all eyes followed him. He knew what he was about to do was far from appropriate in polite human society, but something about the mare’s personality made it seem like a safe gamble. Surprise finally calmed as he stood beside her, her eyes watching him expectantly. After deciding he’d built enough suspense, Thomas gave the mare her name’s sake and sat in her lap, earning surprised giggles from her and the others.

“H-how is she?” Talon asked as her claw covered her snickering beak.

“Very comfy,” Thomas said as he shifted around. The mare’s stomach and thighs made for some very comfy cushions. His head sat snugly between her breasts as the large orbs nestled comfortably over his shoulders. It was all a very cozy fit. In addition to her body heat, he was also surrounded by her sugary scent. “It’s like I have my own private heated chair,” he sighed contentedly. Surprise burst out laughing again, bracing herself with her hands to maintain her status as a comfy chair.

Fans like to call Rarity a marshmallow just because she’s white, but I’m pretty sure this mare is more deserving of the title, he thought with a snicker.

Moonlight fixed her stallion with a flat smile. “Is… there room for one more?” she asked with what the human could only assume to be envy.

“Me thinks you might be too big for this one,” Talon informed despondently. “You’ll just have to settle for the big foal’s ride.” She pointed a thumb at Luna.

Giggling excitedly, Luna snatched up both unicorn and bat mare in her magic and set them in her lap. It wasn’t quite the cozy fit Thomas had, but they weren’t complaining.

“Ha ha, wow,” Surprise chortled. “You guys are a lot of fun. Is it always like this?” she asked as her hands found their way to the human’s knees.

Thomas briefly tensed at her touch, but quickly relaxed. While normally apprehensive about being touched by strangers, Thomas decided that he had initiated and thus had no right to complain, especially with how comfortable he felt. “Nah,” he shook his head, feeling the soft texture of her fuzzy breasts glide across his head and shoulders. “Sometimes things get weird.”

“Beh,” Surprise waved a hand dismissively. “Weird is just another way of saying fun, but in a way no pony expects.”

“Like a surprise?” Thomas added.

“Hey, yeah!” Surprise beamed. “Ya know, you’re pretty clever.”

From virtually anyone else, Thomas’ cynical mind would question if they were being patronizing. From this mare, however, he felt fairly certain in her sincerity, and warmth. “Hey Silver. You’re about my size. Want to tag in?”

“Perhaps later,” she waved him off as she rubbed her back against Luna’s clothed stomach. “I’m good where I am.”

“Glad to hear,” Luna cooed. “In that case, if everypony’s comfortable…” her gaze lingered on Talon as the griffon shrugged unconcernedly, “then let us carry on. After all, this is an interview.”

“Surprise,” Silver spoke first. “Out of curiosity, what brings you here all the way from Cloudsdale? Your application said you wanted to throw the Princess a party, but I’d like you to elaborate on that.”

Surprise, never ceasing her smile, looked up from the bat pony to the alicorn. “Like I said in my application, I love making ponies smile. Jokes, parties, tickles,” she tapped her fingers threateningly up Thomas’ legs, “whatever it takes. But when I heard about what happened to Princess Luna, and all those years she spent hurting and feeling alone…” Her smile had finally vanished. “I knew I was needed, that there was somepony out there who needed a smile like no other,” she said reverently as she glanced around the room. “I can see you already have some ponies here to help you out, and I’m happy for that, but…” she trailed off.

“But?” Luna repeated.

Surprise chuckled softly. “Call me full of myself if ya want,” she fixed Luna with her most serious stare. “But I believe you need a professional smile master to help you through the bad times.”

Once more Luna’s horn lit, this time levitating both Surprise and Thomas up into the air. Luna drew them closer until the white mare was on eye level. Thomas had a good view of the tops of her dark blue breasts obstructing his ability to see the other mares. And then Luna surprised Surprise with a quick kiss on the lips. “That, my lovely Surprise, is a good answer.”

Surprise whinnied in her throat, her arms wrapped around Thomas like he was a life preserver as Luna set them back in place.

“Who wishes to go next?” Luna asked openly.

Moonlight snatched up Silver’s clipboard and flipped through a few pages. “It says here you were a volunteer city guard. I’m a little curious how one would go between a joke shop and a guard.”

“I’ll admit it wasn’t my first choice.” Surprise shrugged, inadvertently pressing her breasts tighter around Thomas’ head. “It was part of my parole.”

“Parole!?” Alarmed, Moonlight went back to flipping through the papers. “I don’t see anything here about a criminal record. Did the vetting miss something?” she asked accusingly.

“Ugh!” Surprise rolled her eyes. “That’s because I don’t have one. See, it went down like this.” She reached for a lantern, which Thomas was certain wasn’t there before, as the lights seemed to dim of their own accord. The light of the lantern was focused onto a single spot, allowing the mare to make gestures with the shadows as she spoke. “It was my shift at the joke shop, and I was just minding my own business…” In the shadows, a very detailed silhouette of Surprise stood behind a desk and waved to her audience. “When suddenly… Boom! A crooked crook broke in.” The silhouette of Surprise frowned as a pegasus with a zigzag body entered the scene.

“She said, ‘give me the money’.” Surprise deepened her voice. “And I said, ‘nuh uh. Stealing is wrong’.” Her pitch heightened for her own role. “So she said it again, ‘give me the money’, so I said again, ‘nooooooo’! And on and on it went until I got bored and pulled the crooked crook lever.” Surprise explained excitedly as her silhouette pulled a zigzag lever. “And then bam, whoosh, and kerplowee!” Each word had it’s turn in the shadows, until the zigzag pony was left trapped in a net hanging helplessly as a cheering Surprise waved her butt tauntingly at the burglar-turned-victim. “I got her.” The lights of the room turned back on, again seemingly of their own accord, as Surprise tucked the lantern under the table.

“That was…” Moonlight paused to search for the words. “You paint a very vivid picture.”

“Thank you,” Surprise beamed.

Reality warping Pinkie powers confirmed, Thomas thought morbidly. God help us all!

“But… the parole?” Moonlight continued.

“Oh that. Well, even though I had acted in self-defense, the defense attorney argued that I had acted illegally, something about unlawful use of party streamers and a whoopy cushion.”

I don’t even want to know, Thomas thought.

“Anyway, the judge saw right through him and gave me a deal. Instead of jail or a fine, I’d have to spend the next six months as one of the city guard reserves. The training was surprisingly fun,” she perked up. “And after it was all over, I decided to stick around and keep doing my duty,” she snorted. “Hah. Duty.”

Moonlight beamed at Surprise, although she was still shaken by the mystery of the shadow puppets. “I think that’s good enough for me,” she said acceptingly, only for Talon to seize her turn with the clipboard.

“Yeah, yeah,” the griffon murmured disinterestedly as she flipped through the pages. “Wanted to make the Princess smile, can make shadow puppets; all well and good. Now it’s time for a question that actually matters.”

Surprise gulped under Talon’s intense stare, only to yelp when she felt a tiny hand against her thigh. She looked down between her breasts to find Thomas smiling reassuringly at her, so she smiled right back in gratitude.

Talon nodded and held out the clipboard for emphasis. “I notice a distinct lack of sexual history in these papers,” she said in a mixture of condemnation and warning. “Care to fill us in?”

“Oh that!” Surprise visibly relaxed. “Guess I forgot to put in that part. Well, I’ve had lots of fillyfriends and coltfriends over the years; 752 for the former and 163 for the latter if I’m remembering right.”

Damn! Thomas thought. Here I am, supposed to be the professional slut, and I get outclassed by the freaking hobbyist. Glad I didn’t pay for a degree.

“I did whatever it took to make them happy,” Surprise bragged. “Hugs, tickles, talks, butt stuff, you name it. No seriously. Name something.”

Talon blinked, momentarily caught off guard, but grinned at the challenge. “Belly to belly with a stallion?”

“Most find it a little scary at first, but they really like it once we get going,” Surprise beamed.

“Groupings?”

“My current record is twelve,” she held her head high in pride.

Impressed, Talon decided to throw her opponent a curve ball. “The Catherine Wheel?”

Surprise blinked in befuddlement. “The who wheel?”

Talon beamed, ready to lord her knowledge. “The mare and stallion sit down opposite each other. She wraps her legs around him as he enters her, and then he wraps a leg over her to keep her in place as he guides the movement.”

Thomas flinched as Surprise’s jaw dropped right on top of his head.

“Is… is that some secret technique known only to royal concubines?” Surprise licked her lips hungrily.

“Sort of,” Talon shrugged as she fixed Thomas with a cold, threatening stare. “Chimp’s got a lot of funky ideas swimming around that head of his.” She gestured at the human, smirking as the mare started panting thirstily overhead. “But the only way to learn such techniques is to make it to the final stage.”

“I will!” Surprise proclaimed as she stood to her full height, carrying Thomas along for the ride as she held him suspended between her breasts. “You have my word, Princess. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove myself worthy of you and these secret techniques of happiness.”

Luna tittered softly at Surprise’s antics. “While I’m happy to hear that, I’m afraid there is one last question you need to answer before you pass the first phase.” She indicated Thomas with her eyes.

Surprise looked down between her breasts, heart full of purpose as she stared down it him, almost daring him to ask a question she couldn’t answer. Whatever it was, come Tartarus or hail, with Faust as her witness, she’d answer that question and move on to the next phase.

“Can you put me down now?” Thomas asked meekly.

“Sure!” Surprise bubbled as she set the human beside her, allowing them to compare size properly. “Ya know, you kinda look like a little filly.”

“So I’ve been told,” Thomas sighed in exhaustion.

“Sooooooo… was that the question? Did I pass?” She asked with barely contained excitement.

“Dedication, resourcefulness, and a sense of humor,” he listed off. “Sounds like a winning combination to me.”

“Boo!” Talon jeered. “Ask her a real question. Make her work for the honor of the moon’s moon.”

Thomas narrowed his eyes on the griffon before looking back at the pegasus. “Surprise.” He motioned for her to lean down to his level, where he cupped his hands over his mouth and whispered into her ear. The others leaned in to hear, but their lack of reaction suggested he’d correctly estimated their hearing range. “Can you do that?”

“Sir!” The mare saluted before tackling Talon to the floor with a surprise attack. Not only was the griffon caught off by the suddenness of the attack, but the mare’s methods completely tore down decades of hardened military training as Talon burst out laughing, helpless before the tickle attack. Surprise, as she had boasted, was an expert in making ponies smile, including tickling. Talon’s weak points were quickly pinpointed and exploited.

The mares and man gripped their sides in pain as they watched their beloved friend suffer beneath the pegasi’s merciless fingers, until finally Luna called off the attack. Surprise tried to climb off, but a claw seized her wrist and pulled her back down into a deep kiss. The flyers moaned passionately as their hands resumed exploring each other’s bodies, but in a more sensual manner; except for Talon who grabbed hold of Surprise’s butt cheek and dug her claws in deep. In time Surprise was allowed to get up, her mane an utter mess, whereupon she was instructed to send in the next applicant and wait for further instruction.

“Wha…” Talon panted, her grin seemed near permanent. “What’d you say to make her…” But the labor of speech was proving too arduous.

“I said I’d tell her about three more positions in exchange for her service,” Thomas bragged as he offered a hand to help her up.

Apple Honey http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Apple_Honey

I knew I wanted a member of the Apple family, but it took a bit of digging to find the right one. All the other Apples are pretty much blank slates, so personality wasn’t an issue. Mostly I chose Honey because her color helps to balance out the rest. So far we’ve got orange, silver, indigo, and now these two make mint green and white. We’re building a nice balanced color spectrum. Going back to personality, Apple Honey is based mostly on AJ, not having much of her own presence so far but still being a solid support character.

Surprise http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Surprise

Even though she’s established as a background Wonderbolt, I’ve chosen to go with her original concept of serving Pinkie Pie’s role. She’s not as wild as Pinkie, a notoriously hard character to write, but she still fills the personality archetype. Given how I’ve set up social attitudes toward sex, this mare takes ‘being friendly’ to its logical extreme with her casual treatment of sex.