Chapter 24

Château de Fleur Dorée, Upper Canterlot

The Dragon Lord sat next to his fiery-haired companion in comfortable silence, holding her hand while they made their way to the estate of Lord Fancy Pants. Seated directly across from them were Rarity and Coco. The former was busy reading some trashy dime novel about forbidden romance in the guard. The latter’s legs were pressed firmly together and she had placed her hands protectively over her crotch. Occasionally, she would glance out the window and observe the local scenery as it passed by. Mostly because she just wanted to avoid looking anywhere else.

Spike’s heart went out to Coco. He could easily tell that she was extremely nervous, uncomfortable, and apprehensive. How could she not be? Everyone else in the carriage was completely naked, as she currently was. Spike, quite frankly, was surprised that she’d even agreed to come along at all, given her attitude towards nudity. However, it appeared as though Rarity’s sincere, honest confession had managed to win her over in the end.

Like Rarity, she too had chosen to forgo wearing accessories or makeup of any kind. Her hair was styled in its usual bob cut, sans the red flower clip. Coco’s round breasts were of average size, full, and well-proportioned in relation to her demure stature. If Spike had to describe her physique, he would say that her body was much softer than Rarity’s, lacking the muscle tone that came from a strict exercise regimen. Although her skin wasn’t quite as pale in complexion as her partner’s, it was just as smooth and blemish free.

An inverted pyramid of teal-colored pubic hair graced her nethers. It was much thicker and less organized than Rarity’s, suggesting that she wasn’t a big fan of grooming herself down there or she simply preferred to let it grow out. Spike couldn’t really blame her. He wasn’t a fan of man-scaping either. Not that he had much body hair to deal with in the first place. Such was life as a Wyvertii. In the Dragon Lord’s humble opinion, he thought it suited her quite well and served to further enhance her natural beauty in a girl-next-door sort of way.

Spike’s brow knit in confusion as he witnessed Rarity, while still engrossed in her dime novel, place her free hand on Coco’s bare thigh and stroke it tenderly like a lover might do. He knew that Rarity had always been a physically affectionate person, but this was a step beyond her usual repertoire of gestures. It was much more intimate. Almost as if she and Coco were—Spike mentally shook his head—it couldn’t be that… could it? Loathe as he was to bring up such an awkward question, Spike’s curiosity got the better of him.

“Hey, Rarity. I’m sorry if this—ah—comes off as a weird question but… are you and Coco together? Like, as in, a couple?”

The fashionista immediately put down her book and gasped. “Blast! I knew there was something I’d forgotten to tell you! We are indeed a couple, darling. I’ve been dating Coco for about the past eight months or so. She’s the love of my life and I can scarcely image doing this without her support. That’s why I was so adamant about her attending the ball with us.”

Coco leaned over and kissed Rarity’s cheek. “I’m sorry that I hesitated so much about going to the ball with you, Rarity. But this isn’t… easy for me.”

“I know, my love. I know. And I’ve very proud of how brave you’ve been so far. You can’t even begin to imagine how important it is to me to have you by my side tonight. You’re my rock, Coco. You give me strength when I would otherwise falter.”

Coco rested her head against Rarity’s shoulder and sniffed. “What did I ever do to deserve such a beautiful, talented woman as my girlfriend? I’m so average and plain. Not to mention, a neurotic mess all the time, I—”

“Shhh. Stop that nonsense this instant! You are none of those things,” Rarity admonished, “I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: I have always loved you unconditionally for both who and what you are. You’re my sexy little marshmallow puff and nothing shall ever change that!”

Coco blushed fiercely and buried her head into Rarity’s chest. “You promised you wouldn’t ever use my pet name in public! It’s embarrassing…”

“We aren’t in public, dear. Merely amongst good friends for the time being. You can trust that the two of them won’t reveal our little secret. They aren’t exactly the gossiping type.”

Coco began to hyperventilate. “Ok, but what about when we finally do step out of the carriage a-and everyone sees us… n-naked? What then?! This is the exact sort of situation I’ve had nightmares about before! What if I end up wetting myself too? I’m terrified, Rarity! Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh—”

“Then they’ll see us,” Rarity replied while brushing her hair, “We’ve nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of, I assure you! However, if you’re still weak in the knees, as it were, feel free to lean on me for as long as you need to. Spike and Sunset are also here to lend their moral support. Take a deep breath, my love. Everything will be fine.”

“Are you sure it was good idea for her to come along with us? No offence, but Coco looks like she’s about ten seconds away from having a complete mental breakdown.” Sunset whispered to Spike.

“It’s too late now. We’re already over halfway to the estate. What about you? How are you holding up?”

Sunset fidgeted in her seat. “Can’t say I’m totally comfortable with the idea of hanging around so many uptight, judgmental aristocrats all night… but I’ll manage. By the way, I like the cologne Rarity picked out for you. It smells really good. And the mousse makes you look like a gentleman, a bare-ass naked one, but a gentleman nonetheless.”

“Oh—umm—thanks. I don’t usually slick my hair back but what the heck? You went to all that trouble to get yourself a makeover, so I figured I had to do something too. They did a great job. With the makeover, I mean! You look… really beautiful tonight, Sunset.”

Sunset felt her heart begin to race just a little bit faster as she rubbed her thumb along the back of Spike’s hand. “That’s very sweet of you to say so, Spike. Thanks. So, what’s Lord Fancy Pants like? I used to see his name mentioned in the papers back when… I lived at the school, but I can’t say I’ve ever met the guy in person.”

“Well, he’s actually pretty chill as far as nobles go. I think you’ll get along with him and his wife just fine. They’re both very open-minded and enjoy meeting new people.”

Rarity nodded in agreement. “Yes, I imagine they’ll both be quite amused by the veritable ruckus we’re bound to create amongst the other guests. No matter! At least we won’t have to worry about getting blisters from uncomfortable footwear, staining our ensemble, or if the ‘fabric’ is flexible enough for dancing. I, for one, intend to get back in touch with my inner party girl and enjoy tonight’s festivities to the fullest!”

“Oh gosh…” Coco squeaked.

Roughly ten minutes later, the coach pulled up to the courtyard of Château de Fleur Dorée. Both couples carefully stepped onto the path that led up to entranceway, admiring the elegant, yet minimalist Prench architecture of Fancy & Fleur’s residence. It was constructed entirely from gray basalt, and set in the style that harkened back to the grand chateaus of the previous century. The large, polished oak doors were left wide open to accommodate the incoming guests and manned by two attendants on either side.

As they exited the coach, Spike insisted that everyone travel along the pathway at a deliberately slow pace, simply because he knew that Rarity and Coco weren’t accustomed to walking around in just their bare feet. It would make the short trip a bit more awkward and drawn out, but he didn’t want the girls to accidently injure themselves on its rough, graveled surface. Spike had learned that particular lesson the hard way during his first week in Brimstone.

The ballroom was only a short walk down the main hall, and as such, it hadn’t taken long for the couples to reach the reception area where the other guests were currently mingling. Whatever pleasant chatter had been going on before, abruptly ceased when they entered the room. A wide array of expressions greeted the Dragon Lord and his sky-clad entourage as they approached one of the buffet tables to indulge in some refreshments.

The vast majority of the guests looked on in mixture of restrained embarrassment, curiosity, and outright shock. After all, it wasn’t every day that one witnessed: an Equestrian Prince, an Element Bearer, an award-winning fashion designer, and a two-meter-tall amazon all show up to one of Canterlot’s most exclusive charity events, wearing nothing more than a polite smile. Suffice to say, the tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Oblivious to the stares being directed at her, Sunset inspected the spread laid out along the buffet table and grabbed a couple of grilled chicken kebobs. Without a second thought, she devoured the meaty morsels and marveled at how delicious they were. Sunset had survived on a relatively bland diet for so many years that she’d almost forgotten what properly seasoned food tasted like.

Rarity glanced over at Sunset and Coco while the taller woman chowed down on a plate full of assorted hors d'oeuvres and winced. Despite breaking what many would consider a major social taboo, the fashionista still considered herself a proper lady and insisted on using the appropriate form of etiquette whenever possible. This, of course, included basic table manners.

Rarity shook her head while she nibbled on a slice of Quiche Lorraine. She had to keep reminding herself to cut Sunset some slack in that regard, no matter how uncouth she believed the fiery-haired woman was acting. If she were in Sunset’s shoes (figuratively speaking), Rarity knew that it could take quite some time to transition from living in a cave with bears to interacting with people and modern society. Such things simply did not happen overnight. Spike, on the other hand, conduced himself like the son of Princess Celestia.

A single, brave soul had managed to break away from the whispering crowd and approached Spike with a saunter in her step. She was, perhaps, in her early to mid-twenties. The woman was wearing a ruby-red cocktail dress that practically hugged her svelte form and a pair of violet high heels to match. Rarity suspected that she had forgone wearing any sort of undergarments; the silken fabric of her dress was entirely too thin to suggest otherwise.

The young socialite had glossy blonde hair that flowed down to her shoulders, a generous bust, and legs that ran for days; no doubt accentuated by the high cut of her dress. The longer Rarity watched the two of them interact, the more she doubted that this woman had the purest intentions at heart. After she grabbed a glass of champagne from one of the waiters, Rarity stood off to the side and observed the woman like a hawk.

“Good evening, Lord Spike. The name’s Honey Graham. My father, Golden Graham, owns the largest and most profitable biscuit company in Equestria. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?”

Spike nodded. “Sure have. I love Graham crackers. They’re really good for s’mores.”

“Ah… yes. Those. In any case, I’m glad to see that you’ve finally decide to grace us with your presence here in Canterlot. And, I must admit, you’re looking in fine form tonight. Despite what others may say, I happen to think that the natural look suits you. It helps you project a… visage of masculine strength.”

Spike chuckled bashfully. “Thanks, Ms. Graham! I’m happy to hear you say that. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure how everyone would react to… seeing us like this.”

“Well, I’m sure that you’ve managed to scandalize at least a few people in the room already. Hmm. What a pity that Prince Blue Blood refused to attend tonight’s festivities. If nothing else, it would have been amusing to watch him throw a childish tantrum over your presence here. He certainly wasn’t happy when he first got word of your aunt’s royal decree.”

“Quite frankly, I’m not surprised. That guy’s always been somewhat of a pompous jerk.”

Honey chortled. “Indeed! Of course, we mustn’t forget that Lady Rarity also regularly attends the charity ball. Those two have been quarreling like a snake and a mongoose ever since that disastrous Gala a few years ago. With her temper, I’d imagine we’d be seeing a Black & Blue Blood by night’s end. It’s no wonder he always avoids coming here! But enough about them, I want to know more about you~”

“Oh. That’s cool, I guess. What would you like to know?”

“For one,” Amber purred while she ran her fingers over Spike’s abs, “I’d like to know how you managed to get so big and strong. Was it the food? The rugged environment? The women?”

“A combination of all three, I think?”

Honey discreetly slipped her hand in-between Spike’s legs and started fondling his balls. “How very interesting. I certainly can’t argue with the results. Sweet Celestia! You’re really got a pair, don’t you? Say, would you like to sneak off to one of the guest rooms and have a little fun with me? I promise I won’t bite… unless you want me to~”

Spike jerked back at the unsolicited, intimate contact. “Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?! Just because I decided not to wear anything tonight doesn’t automatically mean that I’m interested in having sex with you.”

Honey, undeterred, proceeded to wrap her fingers around Spike’s shaft and stroke it. “What nonsense! Your cock is already starting to get nice and hard! Besides, I heard that your kind are fond of having all sorts of wild romps in the jungle. And with a marvelous body like yours? How can you not?”

“GET YOUR FILITHY HANDS OFF OF HIM, YOU TROLLUP!!” Rarity shouted.

“Well, isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? Even if you are a national hero, I hardly think you have any right to take the moral high ground in this situation. Especially, given your current state of undress. Why, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to draw attention to yourself on purpose, Lady Rarity.”

Rarity’s face flushed with rage as she put her hands on her hips. “I beg your pardon?!”

“Imagine what the tabloids will say tomorrow morning. It’ll be the most ironic headline of the century: ‘a second-rate seamstress scandalizes a scintillating soirée while showing up without so much as a stitch’. All of Equestria will know just how much of an attention whore you are! What will your clients have to say about this? That is, if you wind up having any left after tonight…”

Rarity let out a frustrated scream. “I’ll have you know that, yes, I do indeed go great lengths to maintain my figure. It is nothing less than the direct result of hard work and strict discipline. As far as I’m concerned, I have every right to feel proud of the way my body looks! However, that is not the primary reason why I chose to attend this ball in the nude.

“I did it to support my friends and out of respect for their customs, so they wouldn’t feel alienated. I also wanted to live up to the spirit of generosity, and demonstrate that I was willing to give the very clothes off of my back to those less fortunate than I. And Coco, bless her soul, decided to join me even though she was absolutely terrified out of her wits to do so.

“The very fact that you only seem interested in throwing around your father’s clout and finding someone to bed proves to me just how shallow and narrow-minded you are. Since I’m sure that EVERYONE else in the room is listening in on our conversation by now, know that I don’t give a damn what all of you think about me. But I won’t allow ANYONE to bring further harm to my friends. Physical or otherwise. Is that understood?!!”

Alerted by all the commotion, a tall man dressed in a tuxedo with baby blue hair and an impeccably styled moustache arrived on the scene and glared at Honey Graham. “I invite you into my home, offer you my hospitality, and this is how you treat my guests? What do you have to say for yourself, young lady?”

“Why are all of you making such a big deal out of this? Everyone knows that the dragon folk are little more than a backwater rabble of naked, lust-driven savages. Lord Spike may be the adopted son of Princess Celestia but he clearly has no intention of—”

“Having sexual intercourse with you,” Fancy interrupted, “Furthermore, you infringed upon his person without consent and molested him twice! I will not tolerate such disrespectful behavior from you or anyone else for that matter. You have two choices, madam. You may either remove yourself from my property voluntarily or I shall have you thrown out. Choose quickly.”

Honey Graham had enough sense to realize that this was a battle she couldn’t possibly win. Instead of making an even bigger scene by being dragged out of the estate, kicking and screaming, she chose to leave the premises of her own volition. But not before making a very rude gesture with her middle finger while she walked out the doors.

Everyone in the surrounding crowd murmured amongst themselves and got back to drinking, snacking, or whatever they had been talking about before. Rarity was so upset that she shuffled over to a nearby couch and immediately began hyperventilating, nearly on the verge of tears.

Spike raced to her side and tried his best to comfort her by rubbing gentle circles along her back. This only seemed to make the poor fashionista even more distraught. Unsure of what else to do, Spike wrapped his arm her around shoulder in a half-hug and tried to calm Rarity down as much as he could.

Fancy Pants bowed his head down in shame. “Lord Spike, Lady Rarity. I’m—terribly sorry that the two of you had to experience all of that. There’s really no excuse for my inaction. I should have come by sooner to investigate. If there’s anything I can do to make it up to the both you, you have but to ask. I just hope that… you can find it in your hearts to forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Fancy. You couldn’t have known that Honey Graham was going to behave the way she did.” Spike assured.

Fancy rubbed the back of his neck. “Ah, well… you see old boy, her father might have mentioned that she was a bit of a wild child. But I honestly had no idea that she had become so crass and ill-mannered over the years. I’ve half the mind to press formal charges against her.”

“Let’s just put it behind us and move on, ok? I don’t want this ruin our entire night.”

Fancy nodded in agreement. “If that’s what you wish, then I shall oblige. Hopefully, the little scene Ms. Graham created will convince the rest of my guests to be more respectful of Wyvertii customs. And, by extension, discourage any further unwarranted physical contact.”

Rarity leaned over and kissed Spike on the cheek. “Thank you, darling. I feel terrible about getting so upset when I should have been the one to comfort you instead. You didn’t deserve to be treated that way. No one does, regardless of their social standing or beliefs. Why can’t the rest of Canterlot see you in the same light as I do?”

“I had the same problem with Spoiled Rich back in Ponyville. Well, it wasn’t quite as bad as what happened tonight… but I’ve found that people are often hostile towards things that they don’t understand or if it goes against what society tells them is normal. Don’t get me wrong: I’m happy to have the support of my friends and family, but I don’t expect everyone to be on board with the choices I’ve made. That’s just how life works.”

“Wise words to live by,” Rarity admitted while she placed her hand on Spike’s thigh, “I want you to know that I’m very proud of how mature you’ve become, Spike. Were your mother and sister here with us tonight, I’m certain they’d both agree with me.”

Spike’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Oh—umm—thanks, Rarity. It means a lot to me to hear you say that.”

“You’re quite welcome, dear. Now, let us not dwell on the past and put our best foot forward! It was nice seeing you again, Fancy Pants. Even if the circumstances weren’t nearly as pleasant as I would have preferred. Let your beautiful wife know that she’s more than welcome to come and chat with us if she’s so inclined.”

Fancy took a moment to wipe his monocle with a monogramed handkerchief. “Certainly, Lady Rarity. I’ll also instruct my security staff to keep a close eye on all of you in case any further issues should arise. Please enjoy the rest of your evenings.”

Sunset sat next to Coco at the bar, idly sipping on her Lime Rickey. She was grateful that the bartender had been willing to make the non-alcoholic version of the cocktail without raising too much of a fuss. The fiery-haired amazon had never been a big fan of booze before she stared living in the Everfree Forest and she wasn’t entirely certain what kind of effect it would have on her body now that she was a full-grown adult.

Or, more precisely, Sunset didn’t want to be surprised and find out that she was a total lightweight when it came to holding her liquor. Getting shit-faced drunk and embarrassing herself in front of Spike and a good chunk of Canterlot’s elite wasn’t exactly an experience she wanted to mark off of her ‘life goals’ list.

Coco seemed to have much the same idea. The shy fashion designer had ordered a cup of hot chamomile tea and was currently nursing it while she nibbled on a cucumber sandwich. Both of the nude partygoers had witnessed the commotion in the ballroom between Spike, Rarity, and Honey Graham… but neither of them thought it was a good idea to get involved. Coco because she hated conflict and was paralyzed by fear, and Sunset because she wasn’t sure if she could hold back her temper if a physical confrontation had arisen.

“I’m sorry if I haven’t been a very good conversationalist, Sunset. It’s just that I feel so… out of place here. And everyone being able to see my naked body with all its imperfections is making me a nervous wreck! When I was bending over to pick up a napkin that I’d dropped on the floor earlier, I swear there were a few people staring intently at my… y-you know what.”

“What? You mean your butthole?”

Coco’s cheeks turned beet red. “Yes! But you don’t have to say it out loud!”

“Oh, shit! Sorry, Coco. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I’ll try to be a bit more careful about how I phrase things. Never been much of a girl for polite euphemisms, ya know?”

Coco took another sip of tea to try and calm her frazzled nerves. “I understand. In fact, that’s one of the reasons why I enjoy your company so much. You’re been nothing but straightforward and honest with me the whole time we’ve known each other. It gets tiresome always having to read in-between the lines whenever I’m talking with Equestria’s supposed ‘elite’. They don’t ever seem to say what they really think. At least… not directly to your face.”

“I hear ya, sister. Do you wanna know a little secret?”

“Umm… sure.”

Sunset leaned back on the stool and popped a bacon-wrapped scallop into her mouth. “For a while, I was really self-conscious about other people seeing me naked too.”

“But you look so strong and beautiful! How can that be?”

Sunset let out a rueful chuckle. “I spent the better part of a decade living in a cave with a couple of Ursas, you see. As such, there weren’t any other humans around to judge me for being nude all the time. I mean, I’d occasionally glimpse at my reflection in the water. But otherwise, I wasn’t too concerned about my image.

“That is, until Spike and Ember decided to take me under their wing. When we finally traveled back to civilization, deeply-ingrained taboos that I’d been taught as a child came flooding back to me. I was worried that we’d be harassed everywhere we went and that people would be disgusted by all of the scars I’d accumulated over the years. Turns out: we were officially protected under Equestrian law, thanks to Princess Luna. Go figure!”

“Goodness, I never really thought of it that way. I can see why you’ve been having so much trouble adjusting to modern society, given your… unique circumstances. Umm… if you don’t mind me asking: those claw marks on your tummy, how did you get those? If it’s too painful or personal to talk about them, you don’t have to answer me …”

Sunset absentmindedly rubbed the scars along her stomach. “Nah, I don’t mind. The story itself is actually pretty straightforward. Right around my sixteenth birthday, I went out to forage for some berries and wound up stepping into a manticore’s territory by accident. Me, being the dumb teenager I was, had completely forgotten that it was mating season. Let me tell ya: Manticores are no fun to deal with when they’re horny and pissed off.

“The big, ugly bastard came charging at me, roaring, claws drawn. Next thing I know, I was knocked flat on my back, struggling to keep him from tearing me to shreds. I managed to grab hold of his arms, but I didn’t have enough strength or time to immobilize his legs. That’s when he raked me right across the gut with one of his hind claws.”

Coco put her hands over her mouth and gasped. “Oh no! That’s terrible! Did it hurt?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe. Quite frankly, I’m lucky that he didn’t cut me any deeper or I probably would have died right then and there. With all the adrenaline coursing through my veins, I was able to push through the pain, roll off to the side, grab my spear, and jam it straight into that fucker’s skull. I felt guilty about leaving a perfectly good carcass behind, but I was in no condition to be carrying it around with me. When I finally limped back to the cave, it took me several weeks to recover. I survived. He didn’t. And I’m stronger today because of it.”

Coco blushed while she looked down at her feet. “Celestia’s grace. I can’t even begin to imagine what that must have been like for you. The constant danger you had to face while living in the Everfee Forest makes my problems seem inconsequential by comparison…”

Sunset reached over and wrapped her arm around Coco. “C’mon, Coco. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be comparing your life experiences with mine. Apples to Oranges and all that. I—uhh—I guess what I’m trying to say is: it’s ok for you to feel scared about exposing yourself in front of other people. We all handle fear differently.”

“Maybe. I don’t know, Sunset. I just feel like such a coward…”

Sunset wracked her brain, desperately trying to find something encouraging to say. “That’s not true, Coco. You’re here, you’re nude, and trying your best to support all of us. Despite being scared out of your wits. Personally, I think that takes a lot of guts.”

“You really think so?” Coco asked.

“Yeah, I do.”

Coco rubbed her thighs together nervously. “Is there a technique to possibly—umm—build up my confidence? About my body, that is. It’s just that, you seem so comfortable being nude all the time that I figure there must be some kind of secret to it.”

“Hmm. Well, Spike told me that it has a lot to do with your attitude. Not exactly a secret, per say but more like a state of mind. I do have an idea if you’re up for it. But I gotta warn you: it might be a bit embarrassing. By Coco standards, anyway…”

Coco stood up and struck a confident pose. “Don’t worry, Sunset! I’m prepared to hear whatever advice you have to offer.”

“Ah… you see… I was thinking that we could hit the dance floor together. It really is the quickest way to get in tune with your body. By the time we’re done, you’ll feel a lot more comfortable in your own skin and a lot sexier, I’d wager.”

Coco meeped and fidgeted in place. “Oh gosh! I’m not sure if I could—NO! I promised that I would be brave tonight for Rarity’s sake! Although, I’m afraid that I’m not a very good dancer.”

“Neither am I, but that’s not going to stop me from shaking what my momma gave me out there. Look, the only things you need to worry about are: letting loose and having fun. Just feel the rhythm of the beat and do whatever comes naturally. That’s all there is to it!”

“I suppose it’s worth a shot,” Coco reluctantly admitted, “Just promise me that you’ll stay close by? I don’t want any unscrupulous characters to take advantage of my… nudity.”

Sunset gave Coco a thumbs up. “No problem! I’ll make sure to beat the stuffing outta any creeps who so much as even think about making a move on you. That’s a promise!”

Coco took ahold of Sunset’s hand as she led them towards the center of the ballroom. There were very few guests currently occupying the space but regardless of where Sunny and Coco stepped foot, whoever they ran into insisted on giving the two of them a wide berth. Whether it was simply because Sunset looked so tall and intimidating or that everyone wanted to avoid any accidental mishaps that might be misconstrued as sexual harassment, Coco couldn’t really be certain. Either way, the shy dress designer wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. She was quite content to have such a large bubble of personal space to experiment with various dance styles and ‘shake her groove thing’, as the popular vernacular went.

The lead violinist on stage, a dark-haired woman dressed in a purple and gray pantsuit, put her instrument down for a moment and surveyed the crowd. Coco felt a slight blush color her cheeks when she witnessed the musician cast her gaze upon Sunset’s (exquisitely shaped in Coco’s humble opinion) backside while they danced together. It was times like these that made Coco wish she that wasn’t so hopelessly attracted to confident, well-toned women. Not that the view from the frontside was any less distracting.

Coco was mesmerized by the voluminous pair of breasts laid out before her as they bounced ever so slightly from all the twisting and turning. Due in no small part to the taller woman’s lean, muscular physique. Coco was genuinely surprised that Sunset’s breasts were even moving to the extent that they were, given their apparent firmness.

On the other hand, Coco couldn’t help but take a moment to glance down at her own chest and notice how much more her breasts (and tushie, there was no doubt in her mind about that particular part of her body) jiggled by comparison. Such was the disposition of an average girl with a little bit of extra cushioning to spare, the fashionista reminded herself with a forlorn sigh.

Coco was brought out of her reverie when she felt Sunset tap her shoulder. “Hey, Coco! Are you doing ok? You look a little flushed. If you need to get a drink or take break, let me know.”

“Huh? Oh… umm, yes. I’m just not used to this sort of exercise. I’ll be fine.”

Sunset paused and gestured towards the bar. “C’mon, let’s go grab some water. Gotta stay hydrated. Dancing makes you sweat a lot.”

While they patiently waited for the bartender to finish up another customer’s order, Coco was sitting close enough to Sunset that she immediately caught wind of her natural aroma. It was an intoxicating mixture of spicy cinnamon, rose-scented perfume, and a subtle hint of sweat. There were unconfirmed rumors that the Wyvertii possessed unusually potent pheromones, but Coco had taken such hearsay with a grain of salt. Now that she was experiencing their effects firsthand, however, Coco could honestly say that it was true.

Embarrassing as it was, Coco found that she simply couldn’t help herself. She leaned over and took in a deep breath, relishing Sunset’s scent like a fine wine. The more she breathed in, the more she felt her loins begin to stir. It progressed to the point where she had to make a considerable effort to resist the temptation of sliding her finger in-between her legs. The incredible ease with which she could do so, on account of her nudity, only made things worse.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the bartender slid two pints full of water down the table. Coco found that gulping down a glass of ice-cold water not only helped quench her thirst, but served as an excellent way to cool down her lust-addled brain. As soon as she finished, Coco let out a loud sigh of relief and adjusted her butt on the stool in order to get more comfortable. She scrunched her brows together in confusion when she felt a wet, sticky sensation between her thighs while she moved. With a squeak of sheer terror, she suddenly realized exactly what the substance was.

“Coco, are you sure you’re alright? You don’t hurt yourself out there, did you?”

Coco shook her head violently and clamped her legs together. “N-no, I’m fine! I—umm—just got a foot cramp. Give it a few moments. I’m sure it’ll go away quickly.”

“Say, do you smell something funny?”

Coco’s entire face turned beet red. “Uhh… no? What e-exactly are you smelling?”

“Hmm. I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s really musky but sort of sweet at the same time. Someone around here must be wearing a bit too much perfume. Figures. They probably bought that expensive crap that uses beaver glands or something.”

Coco put on the biggest, fakest smile she could muster. “Ahahaha! Yeah, I’m sure that’s it.”

The flustered fashionista wracked her brain for any excuse that might allow her to clean up the mess she’d made all over the barstool without arousing suspicion. She noticed that Sunset’s glass still had about a finger length’s worth of water in it. Thinking quickly, Coco tipped the glass over with her elbow in order to direct the icy-cold water to spill onto her lap. The resulting squeal she made was entirely genuine and unrehearsed, despite the accident itself being staged.

“Sunset, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to make such a mess! Please give me a moment to clean all of this up. Then I’ll probably head to the restroom to dry myself off.”

Sunset shot Coco a sympathetic look. “Sure, take your time. I’ll be here when you get back.”

The fiery-haired amazon watched as her friend sped off to the restroom, only to have someone else take a seat right next to her. It was none other than the violinist from earlier, except this time she had a dirty martini in her left hand and was looking over at Sunset after each sip. Socializing with posh strangers wasn’t exactly her specialty, but Sunset decided that she didn’t have anything to lose and waved to the dark-haired woman.

“Oi! What’s a girl gotta do tah buy a such a handsome creature as yerself a drink ‘round here?” The violinist inquired in a heavy Trottingham accent.

Sunset chose to ignore the woman’s overt attempt to flirt with her. “Oh, umm—I don’t drink.”

“A teetotaler, eh? Just moi luck! Don’t suppose you’d be up fer one o’ them fancy fizz drinks with cherries an’ whipped cream on top? Cannea remember what the damn things’re called. Ah ha! Cherrie Jubilees! That’s it.”

Sunset chuckled awkwardly. “Sounds… interesting. I’ll take one, if you’re offering.”

“Cheese n’ crackers! Nearly forgot ta introduce meself. Name’s Octavia Melody. First string to the Royal Canterlot Orchestra. Most folk call me Tavi though. Rolls off the tongue better. What’s yer name, pretty lady?”

“Sunset Shimmer. I’m… not exactly from around here, in case you haven’t guessed. My friend Rarity invited me to come along with her to the ball tonight.”

Octavia rolled her eyes while she took another sip from her martini. “No kiddin’! Why, were it not fer the fact that yer traipsin’ about like a bare-arsed babe, I’d ‘ave mistaken ye fer a noble! Although, that teal-haired friend o’ yers seems familiar. What’s ‘er name? Hmm. Coco Pommel, I reckon it was. In fact, the suit I’m wearin’ is one o’ her designs.”

Sunset took a sip of her own extravagant drink and found it cloyingly sweet. “That’s cool, I guess. Look, I don’t mean to sound rude, Tavi. But… I’m not really looking for a relationship right now. At least, not with another woman. I’m already interested in someone else.”

“That’s fine, lass. Neither am I. Happily married to the woman o’ me dreams.”

Sunset furrowed her brow in confusion. “Then, why the hell have you been flirting with me this whole time? I’m pretty sure your wife wouldn’t approve of us interacting like this.”

“Nah, the wife and I have an understandin’, see? Merely an old habit o’ mine. In all seriousness, I meant what I said earlier. Yer a fine lookin’ damsel if ever there was one. Hope ya don’t mind me askin’ but who’s the lucky bloke that managed ta spark yer interest?”

Sunset gestured back towards Spike, who was currently mingling with a group of other guests. “That’s him over there. I was—uhh—kind of hoping that tonight would be the perfect opportunity to confess my feelings. You know, since the atmosphere is all romantic and whatnot.”

Octavia whistled. “By Celestia’s dusty snatch! Yer shootin’ fer the stars there, missy! Never figured that Prince Spike, of all people, would turn out ta be such a hot piece of arse! Oooh and would’ya look at the equipment he’s haulin’ between them legs o’ his. Twig n’ Berries? More like Log n’ Oranges, I tell ya.”

Sunset blushed profusely, but couldn’t find a polite way to refute anything that Tavi had said. Instead, she decided it was simply easier to agree with the crass musician. Because, in all honesty, everything that she had said was basically true. While Sunset was left to stew with her own thoughts, yet another woman marched over to the bar and stood next to Octavia, glaring at the musician with what could only be described as pure, unbridled fury.

She was wearing an elegant white gown, a pair of ivory stilettos, and matching sash tied around her waist. Her spikey, electric-blue hair was held together with generous amount of styling gel and accentuated by a jeweled music note pin. Sunset had seen her fair share of people who were in desperate need of some sun (Moondancer included), but this lady looked pale enough to pass off as a porcelain doll. And her ruby-red eyes, only further strengthened the impression that she’d come straight from the pages of some trashy teen romance novel about aristocratic vampires who sparkled in the moonlight.

“I let you alone for ten minutes and you immediately start hitting on one of Lord Spike’s Wyvertii delegates? Have you no shame, Octy?!”

“C’mon, Vinyl,” Octavia whined, “There’s no need ta git yer skivvies in a twist. Cut me a little slack, why don’t ya? It’s not every day I get the chance ta converse with an exotic two-meter tall, nekkid amazon. Err… no offense, love. I meant that in the most complimentary way possible.”

Sunset rolled her eyes and sighed. “None taken.”

“My apologies, Miss…?”

“Shimmer. Sunset Shimmer.”

Vinyl offered her hand. “My name’s Vinyl Scratch, beloved wife of Octavia Melody, and purveyor of Equestria’s finest gramophones and records. Nice to meet you, Ms. Shimmer.”

Sunset accepted her handshake and smiled. “Small world, huh? Used to listen to your records all the time back when I was still in school. I’m afraid I haven’t had much opportunity to listen to any lately, though. Living smack in the middle of the Everfree Forest and facing mortal danger on a regular basis kind of limits what a girl can do in her spare time.”

“Man, that sucks! I’ll have one of the boys from R&D send our newest model to you ASAP! Along with a healthy collection of classical music records to accompany it, of course. Unless, you prefer other genres. Like jazz, folk music or… wubs?”

“Uhh sure (Sunset had no idea what wubs were). Go ahead and send a few of those too. Never hurts to have some variety.”

Vinyl clapped her hands. “Spoken like a true music aficionado! Come to think of it, I seem to recall that there was another naked chick sitting next to you earlier. Obviously wasn’t as ripped as you are, but still cute. Hehe. Not that I mind. She was totally bagnable! Umm… Coco, was it? Do you think she’s alright? She’s been gone for a while now…”

Sunset now understood why Octavia & Vinyl were such a good match for each other. They were both shameless horndogs. “Now that you mention it, Coco has been gone a pretty long time. She said she was going to the restroom to clean up a bit, but that shouldn’t take more than a half hour. Do you think she got lost or something?”

Vinyl scratched her head. “I dunno. Possibly. She definitely seems like the type to get flustered easily. I’d give her another ten minutes or so. If she doesn’t come back at that point, then I’d ask the security staff to search for her whereabouts.”

“Fair enough.” Sunset agreed.