Chapter 12

Spike’s House, Brimstone

Spike winced as he pried his weary carcass out of bed. The previous day had been difficult for him both physically and emotionally. He was, of course, glad that he’d talked with Lord Torch about his parents. Despite Torch’s openness, Spike still felt somewhat embarrassed about crying on the big man’s chest.

When he finally trudged back home a few hours later, red-eyed and exhausted, Winter ran up and embraced him without saying a word. She then guided him towards the bed and cuddled up against his back as soon as they found a comfortable position. The gesture went a long way in easing his mind and helped him gain some much needed rest.

He glanced over at Winter Silk’s still slumbering form, and frowned. The young man wanted nothing more than to curl up next to her once more and sleep the day away. But he couldn’t. He was still sore from yesterday’s training. If he didn’t at least do some stretches, it would cause his muscles to stiffen up painfully and cause issues later.

Spike gently brushed back a strand of her hair and kissed her on the cheek. She sighed happily for a brief moment and continued to snore in that adorable way that always reminded him of a kitten. Once his morning exercise routine was complete, he vowed to make her breakfast. It was the least he could do to show Winter how grateful he was for her presence in his home.

By Spike’s reckoning, it was roughly about two hours past dawn. There was no way to be certain because the Wyvertii didn’t use clocks. Their concept of time tended to be more fluid than the strict, to the second account that Equestrians kept. The odd thing was though; they seemed to have an innate sense as to when important meals needed to be served.

In all honesty, Spike was totally ok with that. He had grown weary of how strict his sister (and everyone else for that matter) was about keeping everything on a tight schedule. It was nice not to have to plan your day out, minute by minute.

As per his breakfast routine, Spike brewed some coffee and started to fry up some wild boar he’d bought from the market. It was great for making bacon and a whole host of other porky delights. One of the best parts about living in a more primitive society was how fresh all the produce was. None of it was mass produced or processed, like the stuff back in Equestria.

The goat’s milk he put in his coffee, for instance, was always smooth and creamy. The Wyvertii even had a viable substitute for sugar! Granted, it tasted a bit odd compared to the sugar he was used to. But that was only because it was derived from the nectar of a plant called Sirytaa.

Spike was no botanist, but he had to admit it was remarkably similar to the Agave plants they occasionally grew in Appleloosa. The only thing that was a bit off putting about the nectar was its dark red color. Spike panicked when he first saw it, much to the collective amusement of Ember and Winter. At the time, he thought it was blood! Otherwise, it smelled and tasted similar to honey with a pleasant, citrusy aftertaste.

Just as he was about to enjoy his first sip of coffee, Spike felt a familiar tingling sensation spread across his right palm. It could only mean one thing: an incoming letter from Equestria. After putting down his clay mug, he allowed the letter to materialize before him. Sure enough, the scroll bore the wax emblem of the Equestrian diarchy.

My Dearest Spike,

How is your training going? I hope that your new friends aren’t working you too hard. I… imagine that I’m worrying too much. You’re obviously quite capable for your age. Twilight, Luna, and I miss you more and more as each day passes. But we appreciate you keeping in touch with us so frequently.

If you happen to return to Canterlot with Ember, I will make it a special point to greet her with the utmost hospitality the Equestrian crown has to offer. I—probably shouldn’t mention this, but the Element Bearers have a little bet going on as to what she actually looks like.

As for me, I have no doubt that she’s beautiful. You’re too much of a handsome and charming young man not to catch the attention of the fairer sex! Regardless of her appearance, I’m happy that you’ve found someone special to share your heart with.

Love,

Sol Invic Mom

Spike couldn’t help but chuckle after he read the letter. Celestia was getting better at being informal with her correspondence, but she still had a habit of using her title at the end. He supposed it simply came with countless centuries of habit. It was an easy thing to forgive because not so long ago, he’d called her Princess instead of mom too.

Spike carefully folded up the letter and set it aside. Later, he would write back to her but for now… he needed to focus on getting some food into his grumbling stomach. While he certainly could have eaten more, the young man settled on a few morsels of pork, a chunk of bread, and an assortment of fruit to balance everything out.

It was never a good idea to perform any sort of exercise on a full stomach. He learned that lesson the hard way one morning when he’d practiced with Ember. However, the one thing he never compromised on was coffee. Every morning, he stubbornly insisted on drinking at least two cups. It was really the only way he ever felt motivated enough to do anything so early in the day.

With a sufficient amount of caffeine now coursing through his veins, the young man set about his exercise routine. Spike stretched out his muscles first by doing some squats, then a set of jumping jacks to kick off his cardio, and finally some martial arts to work on his coordination. Once he’d worked up a good sweat, he set about doing push-ups. Mere months ago, he would have been gasping for air on the floor from such exertion.

Now, however, he was not only physically fit enough qualify for the Equestrian Marine Corps, but would have bested them in hand to hand combat if given the chance. Onyx’s gravity bracelet had helped immensely to improve his speed, endurance, and strength far faster than what he could have achieved on his own.

He was still amazed at all the progress he had made. Because at the end of the day, he was the one who had shed all the blood, sweat, and tears necessary to transform fat into hardened muscle. The other change he made to his appearance was to cut his hair military style, much like Guardsmen preferred in Canterlot. It had quickly become apparent that the length he typically kept it was far too hot and itchy for the warmer climate of the Ebonwood Forest.

The Wyvertii only possessed rudimentary hair care products, and a trip to the barber was more often made out of practicality rather than for stylistic choice. Just a few days ago, Winter Silk had been complaining that her hair was too long for her liking. A quick trip into town later, and her hair had been cut from just below the shoulders all the way back up to her neck.

Spike was completely shocked when he first saw her with short hair. She shrugged it off as being a completely normal occurrence, stating that the vast majority of Wyvertii women preferred their hair to be shorter because it took less effort to wash, style, and maintain. Ember’s trademark tomboyish cut and Onyx’s braided bun seemed to lend credence to her claim.

Just as Spike was finishing up his last set of pushups, he heard the distinct pitter-patter of bare feet against the floor directly behind him. He slowly rose to his feet and grabbed a cloth to wipe the sweat off of his face. When he finally turned around, he saw Winter shamelessly ogling him with a predatory grin on her lips.

“Good morning, Winter. Is everything alright?”

Winter nodded. “Everything is perfectly fine, Master Spike. I’m simply enjoying the view.”

“You were watching me workout, weren’t you? How long have you been standing there?”

“Just long enough to sneak a peek. I probably don’t say this often enough, but you look so incredibly manly~ You were relatively easy on the eyes before, but… THOSE MUSCLES!”

“Oh—errr—well, thanks. I’m glad you noticed.”

Winter ran her hand along his pecks. “You really need to start being more assertive about your relationship with Mistress Ember.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Winter clicked her tongue. “Master Spike, you may not realize this, but you are the living embodiment of what Wyvertii women find desirable. Trust me. I’ve seen the hungry looks you get in the marketplace when we pass by the stalls.”

“Seriously?!”

Winter rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m being completely serious! The Wyvertii… aren’t strictly monogamous when it concerns romantic relationships. If you don’t openly declare your intention to bed only a single partner, then other women will think you’re fair game.”

“I’ve always wondered why Silica gives me discounts whenever I buy meat. SWEET TARTARUS! Now that I think about it, she was definitely flirting with me the other day. This is bad!”

Winter sighed. “Well, I suppose I can’t fault you for your ignorance. You weren’t exactly a muscular buffet of manliness when you first arrived here. And our more relaxed attitude about these sorts of things is, in part, why Ember allowed you to have sex with me in the first place. But I’ve known her since she was just a child, so she trusts me.”

“I guess that kind of makes… sense? Sorry, I’m still trying to get used to all of these cultural differences. What should I do?”

“Honestly, the best way to show that you only want to be with Ember is to announce your intention to make her your wife. Luckily for you, the celebration for the Gauntlet is happening tonight. You could simply announce your intentions after Lord Torch finishes his speech.”

Spike blushed. “We haven’t even had s-sex yet! I’m not sure if I’m ready to make that kind of commitment on such short notice…”

“I didn’t say you had to marry her right away, Master Spike. It’s nothing more than a public declaration. Think of it as an engagement of sorts. You can either make it official later, or not. All you’re doing is sending a clear message that you only desire a single partner.”

Spike felt like his tongue had turned into cotton. “Haaaaaaa—this is too much! What if she doesn’t want me to become her husband? Ember already has a difficult time showing affection in public as it is. She’ll freak out if I say that in front of the entire village and her father!”

“Maybe, or perhaps you’re underestimating her. Ember has never been a fan of attending any sort of celebration, even important ones such as choosing a new Dragon Lord. Like I mentioned before, the sole reason she’s even attending is because you’ll be there with her.”

“Yeah, but I—”

Winter put her finger on his lips. “I’ve lived for many centuries, Master Spike. Believe me when I say that I know what a woman in love looks like. By the end of tonight’s festivities, I imagine that she’ll surprise you in more ways than one~”
“I don’t like it when you get all cryptic like that! Tell me what’s going on.”

Winter booped his nose. “Nope. Then it wouldn’t be surprise, would it? Besides, I promised her that I wouldn’t whisper a word of what we discussed to anyone. You’re just going to have to be patient and trust her, Master Spike.”

The rest of the day progressed at rather a sedate pace. Nothing of particular note occurred. Spike got in a bit more training with Onyx after lunch, but both Winter Silk and Ember remained conspicuously absent for the remainder of the day. When he inquired, Onyx simply replied that they were getting ready the evening’s festivities. The two of them parted shortly thereafter, when Onyx said that she had to get ready as well.

Spike didn’t exactly understand what his teacher meant by “getting ready”. While he understood that Wyvertii women often liked to bathe and maintain proper body hygiene, what other things did a bunch of forest-dwelling nudists really need to do in order to properly prepare for a party? It’s not like they needed to change into a dress or anything…

In any case, he realized that it would he in his best interest to head back home and take a bath himself. He didn’t want to show up to the celebration smelling like sweat. About an hour later (taking long, hot baths was a guilty pleasure of his) he toweled off and headed into town.

For the first time in his life, he was attending a party wearing nothing more than his birthday suit. And it wasn’t even one of those spicy nacho fueled nightmares where everyone laughs at you for being naked in public! Despite it being a bit surreal, he actually felt… comfortable doing so.

Spike chuckled to himself. The young man had to admit that it was incredibly convenient to be able to just take a bath, dry off, and go about town. He never would’ve gotten away with doing something like this back in Equestria.

When he arrived in the center of town, it was obvious that the festivities were well under way. A massive wooden table had been erected in the town square, and it held a feast that would’ve put a medieval king to shame. Meats, breads, fruits, nuts, and cheeses were laid out on every spare space available. The smells that wafted into Spike’s nose practically made him slobber like a hungry dog.

As was customary, everyone sat around the table on egalitarian, but comfortable cushions. In the center sat Lord Torch with the town leaders sitting nearby. When he saw Spike, he motioned for the young man to take a seat directly next to him.

“There’s no need to be so reserved, lad. Help yourself to some food and drink! That’s what the celebration is all about.”

Spike obliged and tore off the leg from a spit roasted pig. It was basically like eating a gigantic chicken wing, except that it was much messier. The Wyvertii did use eating utensils on occasion, but they weren’t terribly fond of them. For a feast like this, it was probably better to just eat with your fingers anyway.

A contented smile formed on Spike’s lips as he swallowed the tender chunks of swine flesh. Brimstone had some of the most delicious meat he’d ever tasted in his entire life. He was fairly certain it was due to how quickly the animals were butchered and cooked. With the exception of dried fruits and pickles, nothing ever sat around for more than an hour or two.

Torch handed him a wooden goblet. “Sepia always makes the most succulent roasted pork. It’s a secret recipe that’s been handed down in her family for generations.”

Spike started to take a sip from the goblet and noticed the distinct alcoholic aftertaste it had. Judging by how sweet it was, he concluded that it had to be the ubiquitous honey mead that the Wyvertii were so fond of drinking. He enjoyed drinking it, but the stuff could get you shit-faced drunk in no time at all if you weren’t careful.

Spike took another bite from his pig leg. “By the creator, this is pork is amazing! It’s so smoky and tender. I barely even have to chew it. My compliments to Sepia, although I’m not exactly sure who she is…”

“Ah, that’s right. I don’t think I’ve ever introduced the two of you. She’s in charge of cooking all of the food in the Hall of Flames. Technically, she’s my personal chef but… I don’t mind sharing her talents with everyone else.”

Torch smiled and waved to a woman who was busy stirring a massive stew pot. She immediately stopped her task and hurried over to where the Dragon Lord was seated. Sepia was, as it turned out, a complete contrast from most of the women he knew in Brimstone.

While her body wasn’t nearly as trim as Ember’s or Onyx’s, she wasn’t exactly fat either. That is to say, she was delightfully curvy in all the right places. Sepia was of average height, and her hair was a two-toned combination of rusty orange and dark red. She had it pulled back in a simple, but adorable ponytail that was interlaced with colorful glass beads.

Spike tried to be gentleman and look her in the eyes when she arrived, but that proved to be a difficult task. Her soft, plump breasts kept jiggling every time she moved and he found himself hypnotized by them. He felt his loins begin to stir, but fought his baser instincts by pinching himself.

The situation got even worse when he became curious about her hair color. For brief moment, he took a quick glance between her legs and had his hypothesis confirmed. A neatly trimmed strip of pubic hair with the exact same tones as her head stood out plain as day. When she finally got to the table, she bent over and placed her hands on her hips while giving Spike a warm smile.

“Oh, I see that you’re enjoying my cooking!”

Spike nearly choked on his mead. “Yes, it’s probably the breasts I’ve ever had!”

“Excuse me? Did I mishear you or—”

“Best I’ve ever had! THAT’S TOTALLY WHAT I MEAN TO SWAY—ERR—SAY!”

Sepia raised her eyebrow. “Normally, a man introduces himself before he starts ogling my breasts.”

“Hehehe… I’m Spike. You must be Sepia?”

“Yep, that’s my name. It’s a pleasure to meet you, despite all the staring.”

Spike’s entire faced turned red. “Look, I’m sorry if I was—”

“You’re not sorry and neither am I. Go ahead and look all you want, handsome. I assure you that the feeling is most definitely mutual.”

Spike nearly froze when he heard the curvy cook blatantly flirt with him. Just as he was about to try and collect his wits, Sepia grasped his hand and placed it on her right breast. Even though he tried his best not to purposely fondle her, the woman wasn’t having any of it. She went ahead and guided his hand through the motions.

The young man almost bit his lip hard to draw blood. Her breast was ridiculously soft. It was like digging his fingers into a giant fleshy marshmallow. Spike whimpered when he felt her nipple stiffen underneath his fingers.

Torch had mentioned that some of the women might proposition him at the party, but this was insane! She continued to let him fondle her for a few more moments, until a soft blush formed on her cheeks.

“Did you enjoy your free sample?”

“I umm…”

Sepia looked down at his erection and giggled. “That’s ok. I have a feeling I know what your answer is. My break is an hour, so meet me in the Red Tent if you’re up to it. I’ll be waiting~”

Spike watched Sepia (who sauntered towards the stew pot, in order to give Spike a good look at her beautiful bouncing butt cheeks) leave as she went back to her cooking duties. Much to his dismay, Torch roared with laughter and slapped him on the back. Even though it stung, the pain wasn’t enough to make his erection go away, or the embarrassment for that matter.

“I’ve never seen Sepia act like that before. You’re something special, lad.”

Spike groaned. “It’s not like I tried to do any of that on purpose! And what in the world is a Red Tent?”

“Well, to put it bluntly: it’s a place where couples can go to fuck themselves silly during the celebration. Sure, there’s going to plenty of kissing, groping, and cuddling going on but that’s the best place to really let loose.”

“At this point, I’m not entirely sure why this surprises me…

Torch chuckled. “It really is for the best. A cushion is a far more comfortable place to make love than on a wooden table or, goddess forbid, the hard ground. There’s also a makeshift bath setup nearby so you can clean up afterwards.”

“I’m going to hate myself for asking this, but does it have separate rooms?”

Torch shook his head. “It’s basically a large, communal room with a bunch of cushions set up inside.”

“You mean… there’s no p-privacy?!”

“No. Why is that a problem? It’s not like you’re going to witness something that you haven’t already seen.”

Spike blushed. “I actually like to have some privacy when I m-make love to a woman. It’d be super awkward and embarrassing if I had to do it in front of other people.”

“I’m sorry, Spike. I keep forgetting that you’re used to how things are in Equestria. I’ll try to be a bit more respectful of your preferences. But even you have to admit that Sepia is a gorgeous creature.”

Spike twiddled his fingers. “Well, of course she is. If I wasn’t already interested in Ember, I probably would have taken Sepia up on her offer. I realize that this is supposed to be a celebration, but I still have to be mindful of your daughter’s feelings.”

“Ah, you’re probably right. Ember is already wary of you sleeping with Winter Silk. I don’t imagine she’d be too happy if she found out that you had your way with Sepia as well.”

“This is all just so… difficult to get used to! Back when I lived in Ponyville, most women hardly ever gave me the time of day. Now, practically everywhere I go, they try to flirt with me! A lot of guys would envy my situation, but here I am complaining about it. I sound pathetic, don’t I?”

Torch refilled his goblet. “It’s not pathetic to cherish a woman so strongly that you only have enough room in your heart to love her alone. Allow me to be frank, lad. I feel very much the same way about Onyx. In fact, I haven’t bedded another woman other than her for the past eighteen years.”

“Really? That’s… I just kind of assumed that you had a harem. “

Torch laughed. “That much is true. Or at least, I’m entitled to have one. But no, I don’t have one anymore. Onyx shouldered the burden of carrying me through the lowest point of my life. If it weren’t for her I’d—never have overcome my grief over the death of my wife and your parents. She deserves nothing less than my full devotion.”

“I never knew you cared that much about Onyx. That’s so romantic!”

Torch actually blushed. “Keep your voice down, lad! This is a strictly a conversation between the two of us, you understand? I can’t have everyone in Brimstone thinking that I’ve grown into a soft, sentimental old man.”

Spike chewed on another chunk of pork and rolled his eyes. Everyone knew how much Torch loved his daughter. That was as plain as day. Therefore, it was not an exaggeration to say that everyone was also well aware that their lord was in a deep romantic relationship with the head attendant. Why was it such a difficult thing for Torch to admit?

The young man simply dismissed the statement as one of Lord Torch’s many quirks. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t witnessed Ember do the exact same thing when she delved into matters of romance. The more he thought about it, the more clear it became that Torch’s attitude had simply rubbed off on his daughter over the years.

Unfortunately, stubborn pride wasn’t exactly the best personality trait for a young woman like Ember to emulate, even if she did come by it honestly. The Wyvertii could think their current Dragon Lord was sentimental and soft all they wanted, but Spike doubted that anyone would have ever said so directly to his face.

Most of the people living in Brimstone (including himself) probably thought it was a blessing that such a behemoth actually had sentimental feelings in the first place. Otherwise, Torch would have been a monstrously brutal tyrant, the likes of which would have made King Sombra look like Fluttershy by comparison.

Spike shuddered as he imagined spells and bullets wildly bouncing off of Torch’s naked form, while the big man smashed down the walls of Canterlot. After seeing him effortlessly snap an Ebonwood staff upon his forearm, it was well within the realm of possibility that such a thing could happen.

Torch shot him a concerned look. “What’s wrong, lad? You look like you’ve see a hydra.”

“Oh—umm—everything’s fine, sir. I was just thinking about something… unpleasant.”

Torch wrapped his arm around Spike’s shoulder. “Try not to dwell on it! This is a celebration, not a funereal. Prepare yourself, Spike. We’re in for a real treat.”

“What do you mean?”

Torch grinned lasciviously. “The finest women in Brimstone are about to dance for us! Do you see that large bonfire right in front of us? That’s what they’ll be dancing around.”

Spike directed his attention towards the fire and noticed a group of musicians beginning to set up some cushions a fair distance away from the fire. It was the first time, in the two months since he’d arrived, that Spike had ever seen so many Wyvertii musical instruments gathered in one place.

Their instruments were simple, but very well crafted. He noticed a few pan flutes made out of wood, animal hide drums, bone flutes, and something that resembled a medieval lute but had several more strings. Twilight probably would have had a field day observing how such an isolated culture managed to create such complex instruments.

Spike’s eyes widened in surprise when his gaze shifted to a woman holding a pan flute. It was none other than Winter Silk! Not once had she ever mentioned that she was a musician. When she finally noticed him staring at her, the albino woman gave him a sheepish smile as an apology. Spike crossed his arms and huffed.

“I take it that Winter Silk never told you about this?”

“No.” Spike grumbled.

“That woman loves to brag about her prowess under the sheets, but seldom does she ever mention her skill with the pan flute. I assure you that she is quite talented. And her singing voice is lovely as well. But I suppose that simply comes with century’s worth of practice.”

“I just don’t understand why she kept it a secret from me! If you have talent like that, why not use it every once and a while? I enjoy listening to music too…”

Torch stroked his chin. “Hmm, I don’t believe there was any malign intent behind her secrecy. She probably just forgot to mention it, lad. I imagine that there are still things that she doesn’t know about you either. It’s best not to dwell on it. Just relax and enjoy the performance.”

Spike had to admit that he was still a little peeved, but ultimately Torch was right. It was pointless to obsess over something that may not have been intentional to begin with. Instead, he took a deep breath and smiled at Winter, signaling that everything was alright between them. She smiled back and took her place amongst the remaining musicians.

The lute player quickly began to strum his instrument, while Winter Silk blew a few notes on her pan flute to accompany him. They paused for a few moments, until the lute player began to play a steady succession of chords with the other flute players occasionally adding in some harmony. Once a steady rhythm was established, the dancers slowly gathered around the fire.

In that moment, as the women began to dance, Spike finally understood why Ember and Onyx had been absent and what they needed to get ready for. Every dancer’s entire body was painted with distinct and colorful patterns that seemed to writhe along with them as they danced. Whirls, dots, lines, and zigzags covered them from head to toe. Spike was completely entranced from the very moment they started. It was like nothing he had ever seen before, nor would he likely ever seen again.

As they moved their bodies to the steady rhythm of the music, Spike felt something primal stir within him. It was almost indescribable. The entire routine was equal parts ballet, martial arts, and erotic temptation. Spike felt a rush of blood go straight to his loins as he continued to watch.

The young man was far too absorbed in the sensuous display to really care about his renewed arousal. For a brief moment, he spared a glance towards his fellow party goes, and noticed that he was far from the only man now sporting a full erection.

The dancers made a conscious effort to show off their beautifully toned bodies from every possible angle they could. All of them smiled when they turned towards their audience and noticed the fruits of their labor. Much to Spike’s disappointment, the dance was over before he knew it and the women dispersed amongst the crowd to enjoy the remainder of the celebration.

His breath caught in his throat when he saw Ember saunter over to where he was sitting and chug an entire goblet full of mead. Once she was finished, she bent over the table, grabbed Spike by the cheeks and gave him a passionate, but extremely sloppy kiss.

He was surprised, but returned his lover’s kiss eagerly. The two of them continued to wrestle with their tongues for another minute or two, until they started to hear whistles and whoops coming from the crowd. After that, they quickly separated and Ember took a seat next to him. Both of their faces were beet red.

“Sorry, I get really worked up whenever I dance.”

Spike gave her a peck on the cheek. “Don’t be. I enjoyed every second of it.”

“Good! Because it took me forever to muster up the courage to dance like that in front of everyone. I did it as a special good luck charm for when you compete tomorrow. You’d better not expect me to do it all the time!”

Spike wrapped his arm around her waist. “Thanks Ember, I loved it. And you looked incredibly sexy while you were dancing. But I’m sure you already figured that out…”

Ember gently poked his erection. “Did I really do that? I-I mean it’s not like haven’t seen your penis before, but—umm—it’s a little different when I’m actually trying to excite you on purpose.”

“Eh heh… that part of me has never been very good at lying.”

Ember rolled her eyes. “You can say that again. So… would you mind accompanying me to the lake for a while?”

“I don’t really mind. But why?”

Ember nervously twirled a strand of her hair. “Ah, well I’m all sweaty from dancing and this paint is starting to make me itchy. I’d like to clean up a-and spend some time with you! That is, you know—just the t-two of us.”

“I’d like that. Everybody is starting to get a little too drunk and rowdy for my taste anyway.”

“Thank Delmira.” Ember whispered under her breath.

“Hmm? Did you say something?”

Ember got up and grabbed Spike by the arm. “N-Nothing! Let’s get going.”

Spike was slightly confused as to why Ember chose to come all the way out to a secluded lake in the Ebonwood forest, instead of just going to the baths to clean up. It had taken a while to reach it, but he immediately understood why once they arrived. The spot was like a slice of wooded paradise that would not have looked out of place in a fantasy novel.

The moon happened to be full that night, so it cast a reflection upon the still surface. From a distance, it looked as though a gigantic pearl was resting on the bottom. Surrounding the lake was a copse of trees, but the boulder strewn shore contained little plant life other than moss and short grass. The only sound pervading the air was the constant drone of cicadas and crickets.

Spike took a moment to admire the natural splendor, but Ember didn’t seem too interested in the scenery. Instead, she climbed on top of a rather large boulder and dove headfirst into the lake. Spike sighed when he heard the accompanying splash. It ruined the ambiance of the moment somewhat, but he got over it rather quickly when he heard Ember laugh.

She slid underwater once more, and did not surface again for quite some time. Spike was beginning to get worried, until he noticed that all of her body paint had been washed off. She also happened to be holding a colorful crystal in one of her hands. The princess wadded over to where Spike was standing and presented her prize.

“What is that?”

Ember grinned. “A lunar crystal. The old folk tales claim that you can only find them when the moon is full. They also say that it’s a symbol of everlasting love. Go ahead. I want you to have it.”

“Ember that’s really thou—”

Poor Spike didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence. Ember started splashing him with water, which annoyed him at first, but he soon realized that she was just horsing around. In retaliation, he jumped into the water and dunked her. When she surfaced once more, the princess took it upon herself to turn the tables and dunk him back.

This went on for a few more minutes, until the two of them decided to just relax and enjoy the water. Spike swam behind her and carefully wrapped his arms around her body in a gentle hug. Ember sighed contentedly and intertwined her hands with his.

“It’s such a beautiful night, isn’t it?”

Spike kissed her neck. “Sure is. All the better since I’m spending it with a beautiful woman.”

“Spike, you know that I love you… right?”

“Of course I do. And I feel the same way about you. Why do you ask? Is there something bothering you?”

Ember tightened her grip. “I just want you to know that whatever happens during the Gauntlet, I’ll be praying for your success. Please… try to stay safe. Your life is way more important to me than some stupid title.”

“I promise that’ll be careful.”

“Well, I suppose that even an idiot can have moments of brilliance from time to time.”

Spike laughed. “Yep. But just remember that you’re the one who fell for the idiot.”

“Mhmm. My strong, handsome, kind, lovable idiot.”

Spike closed his eyes and became consumed once more by the smells and sounds of the forest around him. That was, until he felt Ember let go of his hand. Momentarily confused, the young man cracked open one of his eyes only to witness her hand slide towards his waist.

Ember hesitantly began to massage his shaft, slowly increasing the pace as she became more confident. Despite the coolness of the water, Spike’s penis quickly became erect as he found himself staring directly into Ember’s eyes. She had a satisfied smile on her lips, clearly pleased that ministrations were making her lover feel good.

Spike took the initiative and began to gently fondle Ember’s breasts. They were fairly large, but lacked the subtle softness he’d come to enjoy while playing with Winter Silk’s breasts. However, they were incredibly firm and… sensitive, as he soon found out. With every little touch he made, Ember seemed to whimper in pleasure.

She immediately stopped stroking his shaft when he took one of her nipples and rolled it between his fingers. In response, Ember moaned loudly and nearly went underwater because her knees began to buckle. At that point, Spike decided that they needed to go somewhere else if they intended to continue.

“Ember, we need to stop.”

The princess let out a frustrated whine. “What?! I’m way too horny to stop now!”

“No, no, no. I don’t mean it like that. We just need to get out of the lake. It’s not exactly a safe place to have sex…”

Ember blinked. “Oh. Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

“Although, I have to say: I didn’t realize your breasts were so sensitive.”

Ember blushed. “S-Shut up! They’ve always been that way! It’s because they don’t have a whole lot of fat on them and the nerves are closer to the surface. At least, that’s what the village healer told me when they first started growing.”

“Hey, I’m not complaining. It makes it easier for me to make you feel good, right?”

Ember crossed her arms. “Maybe. Just hurry up and carry me to shore so we can pick up where we left off.”

Not one to leave a lady waiting, Spike did as he was told and waded over to the shore with Ember in his arms. Once they were comfortable, the young man had to explain (despite being experienced, it was still incredibly embarrassing) to Ember how to get into the best position so they could both pleasure each other at the same time.

Spike lay down in the grass, and waited patiently for Ember to present her backside to him. She did so hesitantly, despite the fact that the both of them were quite familiar with each other’s bodies by that point. Much like before, she started to move her hand up and down his shaft, but it was clear to Spike that she was distracted.

Spike carefully spread her lips. “Just relax. I’ll make sure to be gentle.”

“It doesn’t look… weird, does it?”

“Hey, don’t be like that. You have a beautiful pussy, Ember. It’s a lovely shade of pink. Almost reminds me of salmon. However, I imagine it tastes a lot better…”

Ember moaned when she felt Spike insert his tongue. “Don’t say such embarrassing things, you I-Idiot!”

Rather than respond verbally, Spike took the opportunity to begin swirling his tongue in a corkscrew motion, in order to get every nook and cranny of Ember’s pinky, fleshy folds. She let out a soft gasp, but continued to diligently stroke Spike’s shaft. After a while, when she started to become more confident, Spike felt her wrap her lips around his cock and she began to bob her head up and down.

Having gotten used to Winter Silk’s professional grade blowjobs, Ember’s technique left much to be desired, but the effort she was putting into making him feel good outweighed any accidental scrapes she made with her teeth. She realized her mistake when Spike involuntarily jerked a few times, and began to use her tongue and lips to more effect.

Spike increased the intensity of his motions, using his entire mouth to eagerly lap the slightly musky flavor of Ember’s juices, while using his thumb to gently tease her clit. It was something that Winter had taught him about, and she insisted that it would drive any woman crazy. Immediately, Ember stopped sucking and let out a muffled whine.

Encouraged by her reaction, Spike kept up the intensity of his ministrations, until he felt her walls begin to spasm around his tongue. Barely a moment later, she took her lips off of his cock with a wet pop and arched her back as a powerful orgasm wracked her body. As a consequence, Ember collapsed on top of Spike in a sweaty, panting heap.

“I—I’ve never felt anything like that before…”

“Believe me; I haven’t always been this good. It took lots and lots of practice to get to where I am now.”

Ember’s face paled. “SHIT! I got so caught up in what you were doing that I forgot to finish pleasuring you with my umm… mouth. It’s really obvious that I’m a virgin, isn’t it?”

“Hey, stop beating yourself up. I know that you’re trying your best to make me feel good.”

Ember nuzzled Spike’s leg. “You’ve always been so patient with me, and—I just want you to know how much I appreciate that. It’s one of the reasons why I l-love you so much. But I still feel bad about it.”

“Well, you don’t have to. We can take this as slow as—”

Spike didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence. Ember was still on top of him, but she took the opportunity to flip herself around so that she could look him in the eyes. The moon was bright enough that Spike could clearly see her features, and what he saw was an expression of equal parts affection, lust, and determination.

Ember positioned her hips so they aligned directly above Spike’s still erect penis. She placed one hand on his chest to keep him down, and used the other to grasp his shaft. Slowly, she lowered herself onto him, until his balls squished up against her backside.

“Oh Goddess!” Ember whimpered, “It’s so much bigger than I thought.”

“Ember, we can stop if it hurts. I’m serious. I promise I won’t get angry.”
Ember violently shook her head. “No, I’ve already come this far! I’m not stopping… even if it is a little uncomfortable. I just—need some time to get used to it.”

Spike let out a barely audible sigh of relief and allowed her to continue. If he was being completely honest, being blue-balled was one of the worst feelings in the world. Not… that he was going to last very long once Ember got started.

Despite how slowly Ember was moving her hips, the inside of her pussy was so tight and wet that it felt like his dick was getting swallowed by an anaconda. That, coupled with the fact that he was achingly hard at this point, meant that his stamina was nearly spent.

It took Ember a while to find a rhythm, but once she did, the young princess really started enjoying herself in earnest. For a brief moment, she paused. Spike nearly whined in protest, until he felt Ember take hold of his face and press her lips against his.

The kissing session didn’t last terribly long, but it was passionate and sloppy. When they finally finished, Ember pressed both of her hands against his chest and rocked her hips back and forth as quickly as she could. The sounds of Ember grunting, and the lewd squelching noises his cock made as it slid in and out of her were too much for Spike to bear.

“Ember… I-I’m…. getting close to my limit.”

Ember let out a tired chuckle. “Cum whenever you feel like it. And don’t worry about getting me pregnant. I made sure to drink some Thistle tea this morning.”

Spike felt reassured by the news, but tried to hold out for as long as he could. Unfortunately, it was only for about another minute. The familiar clenching feeling in his balls signaled that his climax was imminent. With a loud grunt, Spike squirted several thick globs of his seed into Ember while she continued to ride out yet another orgasm of her own.

In the afterglow, Ember collapsed onto Spike’s chest and snuggled up against him. Spike rubbed his lover’s back and simply took a moment to get a good look at her. Ember’s hair was matted down, she stank like sex and sweat, and he was certain that he was in no better condition. But as he gently kissed her forehead, he realized that she couldn’t have been more beautiful to him than at that very moment.

Author's Notes:

Fun Medical Fact of the Day: Boiled Thistle was used by the Quinault Indians as a natural contraceptive. Hence, where I got the idea. Because I don't write "surprise pregnancy" drama subplots.

And with that we'll move onto the actual Gauntlet of Fire.