Brightstar sighed deeply as the Friendship Express steam train steamed its way into Fillydelphia City Station. Even in the dark, the multi-coloured carriages seemed to light up the night brighter than the lights. The royal blue unicorn sighed again, preferring to look out of the window of their compartment than look at the very pregnant griffon laid on the bunk bed next to him.

Upon reflection, he supposed it had been a hard, trying five weeks since their date at Gino’s Steakhouse. The time had flown by, thanks in no small part to his hectic, arduous police training at the Fillydelphia PD Academy. Long hours there meant he had hardly seen much of Moonbeak and her eighteen month old kitten Athena. Added to that, the fact he was worried about his sister in Canterlot…well, he’d had a lot on, of late.

For the third time, he sighed. He hardly noticed the train starting to slow down for the station. He hated himself for the way he had left Darkstar in Canterlot with Air Raid. All the way back he had tried to justify it in different ways. Ultimately he knew, following her suicide attempt, that Darkstar was better off in Canterlot with specialist help that he just couldn’t provide for her.

Still, it didn’t make him feel any better.

“Let's visit Selene before we go home.” Moonbeak spoke up, finally speaking after being silent for the whole journey back from the capital city. The dark grey furred griffon shook her white feathered head as she got up from the bed. At first, yes, she had been angry with Brightstar; so angry at the wasted trip to Canterlot that she could’ve spanked him and she wouldn’t have stopped spanking him until her sharp talons had stripped the fur from his hide.

When her young lover nodded absentmindedly though, still looking out of the window, she felt such a surge of love and sympathy for him she couldn’t put it into words. Having met his mother in the asylum, Moonbeak couldn’t even begin to guess what Brightstar was going through. All she knew was, she had to be there for him, as a friend, lover, soulmate and Mistress. “Momma has Athena for another night as we couldn't be sure when we got in,” she continued, hoping that he would at least look at her.

Finally, the steam train came to a halt and blew its steam across the station platform. Hesitantly, expecting to see…what? Resentment, hate, anger, in his griffon’s green eyes, he looked at her and instead was greatly surprised to see affection, love, understanding. He nodded to her as he stretched his legs, “Moonbeak, are you alright?” he paused after asking that as after so long being quiet, his own voice sounded strange in his ears. “You um, you haven't said much on the way back…”

Delicately, Moonbeak ran her clawed hand over her vastly swollen belly. Ordinarily, yes, she would be upset with him but she just couldn’t bring herself to. Especially not when Athena had started calling him ‘daddy’. “What is it with me to not be alright about?” she asked kindly, laying her claw on his shoulder, “you, pony, you are the one that is not all right.”

“I'm sorry.” Brightstar hung his head, knowing full well that he had apologised to her for what felt like a million times on the train back from Canterlot. He felt so guilty for dragging her straight back here. “I just...I couldn't stay in Canterlot. Darkie was...she was so...she was like mom was…”

Moonbeak sighed, “will any of this change your love for her or for your mother?”

“No,” Brightstar shook his head, “Moony of course it won't.”

“And me?” Moonbeak asked gently, her claw squeezing her lover’s shoulder, “what about me?”

Brightstar smiled, actually smiled, for what was possibly the first time since the train had departed Canterlot. “I love you more than I can properly put into words.”

“So,” Moonbeak smiled, apparently satisfied with that, for she knew he spoke the truth of it. She knew he worshipped the very ground she walked on. Now, after almost three months, so did she for him, though she’d be hard pressed to admit it. “Does the pony want a drink or two, or shall we just go home?”

Brightstar was amazed. ‘She's really not mad at me?’ he thought, a tremulous smile playing over his lips. He had anticipated being ripped apart on the train ride here, both literally and figuratively, but no, here she was comforting and understanding him. “I ah...” he rubbed his grey collar with his hoof, “the pony could use a dalwhinny or two, please, before we go home.”

“Good,” Moonbeak smiled as she slid open the door to their compartment. The guard had gave the last call for disembarkations and she didn’t fancy a mystery tour. “We need to depart before they take us to some strange pony city.” With that, Moonbeak gathered up her unused luggage and walked out of the compartment and left the train.

“Allow me, Mistress,” Brightstar, a step behind her now on the floodlit platform, which would have been dark but for the lights, lit his horn and levitated her bags up in his glowing yellow aura.

Moving off of the short platform, Moonbeak looked cautiously around her. The parking lot beside the station was mostly in darkness. Darkness that could easily be hiding a thug like last time. “It seems the city can't keep the parking lights working.” she amazed herself that she managed to keep the unease from her shrill voice. “Will somepony be able to help me find my van?”

“I would be honoured, Mistress.” Not knowing where exactly she had parked, for he had made the ill-fated journey to Canterlot alone ahead of her, Brightstar nodded and scanned the parking lot. Thankfully there were only two white vans there, and only one had the signature patch of scuffed paint above the left rear wheel arch.

Brightstar, his ears perked right up, walked through the darkened lot towards the van. Every step he took his ears swivelled, alert and ready for any and all unusual sounds. For good measure, as per his police training, he had his horn pre-lit with a defence spell ready. Seemingly without concern, Moonbeak followed her pony, but she had her beady eyes ready for any sign of another ambush attack. “Here, Mistress,” Brightstar announced as he stood by her van, “your ride awaits.”

Moonbeak was pleased they got there without incident. She assumed, correctly, that if there were any bad ponies watching, they would think that they were both too diligent to bother with. “You have found my van!”

“I have, Mistress.” Brightstar nodded briefly, though his guard was not let down in the slightest. “She appears to be where you left her, safe and sound. As are we.”

Running a condescending claw along his jaw, Moonbeak patted his head like a teacher rewarding a pre-schooler, or an owner rewarding her pet, and silently she got into her driver’s side. Conspicuously though, she left her door wide open. “Allow me, Mistress.” Using his hoof, not his magic, he closed her door for her before putting the luggage in the back of the van and getting into the passenger side.

Starting the van up, with its spluttering engine coughing into life, Moonbeak pulled out of the dark parking lot and drove off. “You may have two of your dalwinnies in the bar, while I enjoy a club soda.”

“Thank you Mistress,” Brightstar replied quickly, now she had said it, he was rather looking forward to his brand of whiskey. “You are most kind.”

“It has been a hard couple of days.” Moonbeak stated in a manner that didn’t invite any argument. The past few days – and weeks for that matter – had been hard for all of them, especially since her lover had started at the police academy. “I want my stallion relaxed in bed, but not snoring.”

“It has, yes.” Brightstar nodded, his left forehoof resting gently on her right leg.

Moonbeak grinned, her grin reached her bright green eyes and made them sparkle. “Do you want to put on a show for the locals, or keep this low key?”

Brightstar’s smile could’ve split his head it was so wide. “I do fancy a show, Mistress. It has been a good week since the last one we put on.”

“Good pony.”

Brightstar chuckled as he noticed the direction they were going. Straight towards the Twisted Tail. “Might your pony suggest we put on a show at Miss Selene's?” he said with a wry grin, seeing as they were going that way anyway, “I think we need to give Gino's Steakhouse a break.”

Quietly, without answering, Moonbeak steered her van through the dark streets until she pulled into the bar’s parking lot. Killing the engine, she reached over and ran a talon of her right claw along the edge of his collar. “With this, you cannot use magic in the bar.” It wasn’t a question.

“I understand, Mistress.” Brightstar’s breath hitched a little as he replied, “no magic in the bar.”

“Such a smart pony you are.” Moonbeak smirked before turning and looking at her unopened door. Immediately catching on, Brightstar got out of the passenger seat and, trotting around to her driver’s side, he pulled it open for her. “I will credit your slowness to the train travel.” she let out a shrill little giggle as she imperiously got out of the van and headed for the faded weatherworn blue door.

“My apologies, Mistress.” Brightstar said quickly, trotting along behind his Mistress’s wide swaying ass and swishing leonine tail all the way to the door then, just before they entered, he paused. “Before we put on a show they'll surely talk about for many days, how're you and Zephyr doing?” he asked, his yellow eyes directed at her distended belly.

Moonbeak laughed – not a condescending, superior laugh, but a natural, kind laugh – and ran her clawed hand delicately along her belly. “I have sent him an eviction notice, but I'm not sure, he either read it or he ate it.”

“Knowing your kitten,” Brightstar chuckled, looking at her belly he was sure he saw a kick, “I'd say ate.” Smiling, he got himself back into his well-practised submissive role now that he was sure his griffon was alright and comfortable. “Allow me to get the door, Mistress.”

Nodding, Moonbeak allowed her lovely pet to push open the creaking door and walked in. “Hello Selene,” the dark grey furred griffon greeted her friend behind the bar, “two double dalwinnies in bourbon glasses for the pony please, and a club soda with ice for me.”

As she walked over to her regular table, she looked around the two-bit bar. Slummy in a nice way, the Twisted Tail had its own rustic kind of charm about it. She noted there weren’t many in tonight, Forge and Blossomseed, the old earth pony blacksmith and his much, much younger earth pony marefriend, were in their usual booth while a pale green earth pony stallion with a red mane that she didn’t know propped up the bar nursing a beer.

“Welcome back, Moony,” Selene greeted her old friend as she got busy pouring the drinks out. “I thought you'd be gone longer.”

Entering and closing the door behind him, Brightstar trotted over to their regular table. “Good evening, Miss Selene,” he nodded to the jet black barmaid and smiled at Blossomseed who was cuddling Forge in their booth.

Sitting at her table, Moonbeak let Selene deliver the drinks, which the diligent griffon did in short order. “Our trip to Canterlot was sadly cut short,” she said by way of explanation, with a look in her eye that said right now that was all the explanation she would be getting, “and you know how much my momma spoils Athena.”

“Isn’t that what moms do?” Selene smirked as she set down the two bourbon glasses with very generous double shots inside them and a large club soda with ice on the table.

“Indeed so, Miss Selene.” Brightstar spoke up, taking his usual spot sat on his haunches on the floor – pets didn’t get to sit on seating pads - opposite Moonbeak who, thanks to her belly, barely fit anymore and he took a long slow sniff of the whiskey in front of him.

For a few moments, Moonbeak didn’t move a muscle. Then, and only when she saw her pet reach a hoof for his shot glass, did she move. Quick as lightning, she shot out her clawed hand and sunk her razor sharp talon deep into his hoof. “Aaaah!” Brightstar hissed with the pain of the stab, the talon still embedded in his foreleg. “Ha-aaave I displeased you?”

“You have, my pet.” Moonbeak’s green eyes never left his yellow ones as she removed the talon from his hoof and dipped it into the glass before lifting it up and holding it in front of his lips. Two little drips left the tip of her talon and splashed onto the table top. “You know what to do.”

“My apologies, Mistress.” Brightstar leant forward and, sticking out his tongue, he carefully licked and sucked her talon until it was dry.

Over in the booth, Blossomseed whispered in Forge's ear, “they're doing it again!” the young earth pony flower seller nudged her coltfriend, pointing out to him the couple of whiskey splashes that had landed on the table. She couldn’t hide her giggles when, obediently, Brightstar lowered his head and licked the drops off of the table top, leaving it clean in the wake of his tongue.

“Good little pony.” Moonbeak smirked and, patting his black mane with her recently cleaned claw, she dipped a primary feather of her right wing into the glass and she left it for a moment to soak before lifting it up high, forcing her pet to stand up on his hind legs in order to reach it.

‘Oooh yeah, I'm a good pony!’ Brightstar thought, purposefully leaving the feather to drip for a moment before finally rearing up to stand on his hind hooves. He was only aware, when he had done that, that his somewhat throbbing sheath was on display for everypony to see as he sucked on Moonbeak’s wet feather.

The moment he reared up and placed his forehooves on the table for balance, Moonbeak extended her other wing and very gently stroked his sheath. For encouragement, of course. Her smirk did widen when Brightstar let out a “Hmmmm!” and trembled, his tail flicking up high as his mottled shaft started to emerge.

When Brightstar finished sucking her feather dry – and making her pussy wet – Moonbeak looked down pointedly to where the drops fell and motioned with her green eyes. Brightstar, seeing where the drops landed, sat back down on the floor and bent his neck to lick them up, hearing as he did so Blossomseed giggling in the background.

No sooner had Brightstar once more licked the table clean than Moonbeak adroitly placed the fluffy tip of her dark grey tail into his glass. Brightstar, noting the skilful use of her tail, was ready and as soon as it emerged from his glass, having soaked up a good amount of whiskey, took the tufty bit in his mouth and sucked it dry. Appreciatively, Moonbeak ran a claw lovingly through his chest fur. “You are learning well. Such a good pet.”

Brightstar’s cheeks flushed and, he noticed, he was quickly getting hard thanks, in no small part, to his lover’s praise. “Thank you, Mistress.”

Nodding silently, for she loved this game as much as Brightstar did, Moonbeak picked up the almost empty shot glass in her claw and she held it up to her now swelling teat and then she rolled back so the remains emptied all over her.

Seein this, Blossomseed whispered excitedly to Forge, “That’s new!” Forge, smiling, just ran his heavily callused hooves through her mane. He was far more concerned with his young mare’s lips kissing his belly and her hooves caressing his heavy balls.

Quickly scooting around the table, Brightstar made a rather good show of licking up her dark grey fur around her pregnancy swollen teat with a loud “Hmmmm!”

‘Oh yeah, right there, pony!’ Moonbeak thought, letting out an involuntary little purr. ‘Damn he’s good with that tongue!’ she had to really focus to maintain the ‘Mistress’ façade and not give in to the pleasure coursing through her body. “Stand while you lick,” she ordered sharply, “I don't want anything crushed.”

“Yes Mistress!” Brightstar knew full well his lover just wanted him on display. He was quick to oblige her. Standing up, he made sure his legs were bodywidth apart and, he even lifted up his tail for good measure as he licked and sucked her hard erect teat.

Selene whistled from behind the bar. “I knew the whisky was good, but wow!” she had stopped serving, her right claw dancing deftly between her leonine legs as she watched avidly as Moonbeak took the other glass of whiskey and dip her beak in it. The unknown pony at the bar had, by this time, moved to another spot for a better view, leaving Selene and her claw to get busy.

“Mmmm, tasty, Mistress!” Brightstar passed his judgement, popping her hard nipple out of his mouth with a loud smacking noise before moving up her body and licking her beak, even going so far as to steal a kiss from her.

With speed belying her size, Moonbeak dipped a primary feather into the shot glass while Brightstar kissed her and she ran it, dripping whiskey all over his hard shaft. As she broke the kiss, Moonbeak finished anointing his rod with the cold moisture, the griffon went all dramatic with a claw over her forehead. “Oh my! With my pregnancy I just can't drink alcohol! How will my pet ever get clean?”

Brightstar, who was about to answer that he'd rub it dry, was quickly interrupted by Blossomseed, prompted by a nudge on her head from Forge. “I could clean him for you, Moony?”

Moonbeak, still in her overly dramatic voice, declared to the tavern, “Thank Celestia for coming to my pet's rescue!” she beckoned the young earth pony mare over to her and, as she came over, she whispered in her ear, “I'll have to reward you if my pet comes.” she then looked pointedly at Brightstar. “And I’ll punish you if you do come. Good luck to you both.” with that, she leant back to enjoy the show.

“I want a proper show, Buttercup!” Forge called out his young mare’s nickname from his booth, his old hoof straying to his semi hard cock.

Blossomseed wasted no time at all. Moving forward, she wrapped her lips around Brightstar’s hard cock and slowly, very slowly, she bobbed her head all the way down the royal blue unicorn’s shaft. “Mmmm oo-ooooh oh my!” Brightstar whimpered, his hooves caressing her mane.

“Twenty bits on Buttercup!” Selene called out huskily, her talons moving like a blur between her legs.

“I'll cover all bets on Buttercup up to a hundred bits,” Moonbeak announced as her own claw found its home between her legs.

Selene quickly changed her mind. “I'll raise mine to fifty, then.”

“I'll go fifty on my little mare!” Forge added his bid to the mix, very confident as he saw Blossomseed was giving Brightstar her very best, very sloppy wet blowjob. He knew from past experience that the poor young unicorn wouldn’t be able to stand much of that. His Buttercup was a pro at this.

“Mmmmm AaaaaAAAH!” Brightstar groaned loudly and, after several moments of sheer torturous bliss at the mercy of Blossomseed’s mouth, his black tail hiked up sharply and his balls tightened. Sensing her prey was close, Blossomseed went harder and faster, now deep throating the royal blue unicorn. Each downward thrust of her mouth sent his flaring head deep into her throat and had spit and drool pooling on the floor between them.

It didn’t help any that while Blossomseed was treating him to a world class blowjob, Moonbeak was rubbing her soft wingtip along his balls. “GAaaaaAAAH!” Brightstar couldn’t last under that, and a moment later he had climaxed, shooting rope after rope of his sticky white seed deep into her mouth.

Before her lover could fill too much of her young friend’s mouth though, Moonbeak pulled her off and smirked at the puddle of cum and drool on the wooden floor. “Such a bad pet you are, making such a mess.” she then smiled at the young earth pony. “Let me help you, Buttercup,” she said, slowly licking the pony’s face clean.

Blossomseed, just happy that she’d gotten to taste the unicorn’s semen, moaned as Moonbeak finished licking her face clean. She was especially proud of herself when Forge started applauding her performance. Brightstar however, still a little stunned in his post orgasmic bliss, groaned, “Luna's mane...that was…wow...”

“You may finish what is left in the glass yourself while I think of your punishment.” Moonbeak said in her calm, dominating tone as she quickly paid Selene and Forge their fifty bits. Quietly, she slipped Blossomseed an extra one hundred bits for her fine performance.

Letting out a delighted little squee of excitement, Blossomseed gratefully took the bits and, with a nuzzle to Moonbeak’s cheek, she pranced back over to her booth and to Forge, who rewarded her with a long hard passionate kiss.

Brightstar, once he was ‘recovered’, gave his Mistress a polite little bow. “Y-Yes Mistress, I’m sorry, Mistress.” Thoroughly admonished, he picked up his glass and took a long sip. ‘Damn,’ he thought to himself, ‘that was hot, an amazing, and awesome! I’m so lucky to have Moony…’

Once the payments had been meted out, Moonbeak leant back on her seating pad and finished off her soda. “Naughty pet. Naughty, naughty pet.” She couldn’t help but giggle and, when Brightstar had finished what was left of his dalwhinny, she had decided on her lover’s punishment. “We shall not leave a mess,” she stated authoritatively, “you may clean the area with your tail.”

At that, Brightstar looked all around at the floor around their table, seeing the cum stains and the drool spattered all over the hardwood floor. A blush, a wonderful heated blush, coloured his cheeks. It was going to be humiliating and embarrassing, and the exhibitionist in him couldn’t wait. “The ah, the whole area, Mistress?”

“With. Your. Tail.” Moonbeak repeated clearly. She grinned a sly grin as over in their booth, she saw Blossomseed was now enthusiastically blowing Forge like she had done to Brightstar. This was too wonderful for words! “If you are too slow, there may be another area for you to clean.”

“Y-Yes Mistress…” Brightstar, playing his part well, even managed to have a convincing blush that showed up even on his royal blue fur as he got into position and, using his black tail, started to sweep up the mess.

“Mmmmm my lil’ B-Buttercup...Mmm darlin' I'm close!” Forge panted and moaned, his old hooves buried in her mane as he thrusted his length deep into her mouth.

Although it wasn’t a big area, to be sure, Moonbeak ‘helpfully’ slowed him down by pointing out and directing him to non-dirty spots on the floor. “Thank you for your assistance, Mistress.” Playing the game, Brightstar went over a spot that he previously thought 'done', his tail all dirty and stained.

Minutes later, Forge let out a loud pleasured groan and the old stallion climaxed, ejaculating deep into Blossomseed’s mouth. She did, of course, spit out a good amount of her coltfriend’s semen and she made an even bigger mess over their side of the tavern.

“Pet!” Moonbeak screeched the moment Forge came, “I should not be surprised, but I am. Your powers are well known to me, but to have sprayed all the way over there…” she pointed a talon over to where Blossomseed was licking Forge’s cock like it was a popsicle, “Forge, please excuse my pet's mess. He will be over directly to clean up. Maybe you can use this table,” she indicated the one she was sat at, “while he does.”

Forge grinned a wide grin that split the master blacksmith’s muzzle as Brightstar’s blush just got warmer and warmer. “My pleasure, Moony!” lovingly kissing his young marefriend’s lips, the old earth pony got up and made his way over where Moonbeak was sat while Brightstar walked over to the mess on the floor. Still rather aroused, he didn’t even bother trying to hide his erection as he used his now filthy tail as a mop to clean the floor. “You got the young officer there well trained, Moony.”

“I try,” Moonbeak replied to her friend, “though sometimes he slips up.”

“Admit it, you love him slipping up,” Forge commented with a wry grin as he watched his young mare blowing Brightstar kisses while he dutifully tail-mopped the floor.

Moonbeak smiled, “I might admit I love him. Even when he slips up.”

“High praise from you, Feathers,” Forge retorted as Brightstar, now with a very, very dirty tail indeed, walked back over to the table he shared with his griffon.

Moonbeak took one look at him, and then at his filthy sticky tail, and she held up a clawed hand. “You ride in the back of the van.”

“Yes Mistress,” Brightstar breathed out a sigh of relief that he wasn’t being made to walk all the way home with his tail like it was.

“Thanks, Selene,” Moonbeak said, heaving herself up slowly from her seating pad. “I’ll see you later this week. Take care of Buttercup, Forge,” she continued, placing a friendly kiss on the earth pony stallion’s cheek, “so that you always stay on my good side.”

“Always,” Forge smiled, returning the kiss with an affectionate nuzzle, “you know that.”

“I do,” Moonbeak nodded, “but it is always good to be sure.” With that, and another round of kisses and nuzzles, the dark grey furred griffon left the Twisted Tail without a backwards glance. She didn’t need to look to know that her special pony was following close behind her. She also didn’t need to look to know that the shame he was feeling was keeping him very hard between his hind legs.

“Please stay standing,” Moonbeak stated, opening the doors at the back of her van, “I don't want what is on your tail on my van.” she didn’t give him much time, as soon as he was in and standing in the back of the van she swung the doors closed and got in the driver’s seat.

Brightstar scoffed, “Easy, Mistress,” though he had to steady himself in the back once the engine coughed and spluttered into life.

“Did you have fun, pet?”

“MmMmm, yes Mistress.” Brightstar replied quickly, bracing himself as the van steered around a corner in the road. “The scene we played was perfect, and I enjoyed entertaining our friends.”

“Is that why you came?” Moonbeak asked with a grin on her face, “to give Blossomseed a good time?” she knew of course that there was no way at all he wasn’t not going to climax, and she had to admit it was one of the hottest things she’d ever seen. Idly she wondered what it would be like to watch her stallion properly mount the young mare.

Hot, if her wet aching pussy was anything to go by.

“Sometimes it's good to be a bad pony, Mistress.”

“So true, and then again, I was pleased with your performance, so I'm pleased to administer the correct punishment for your 'failure'.” Moonbeak giggled, though in her head she had worked out exactly how she was going to get herself rutted senseless by her pony, first things first.

“Oh...” Brightstar made an exaggerated look, deciding then to be really naughty, “was that the punishment, Mistress? I assumed it was the reward...”

“That was clean up.” Moonbeak replied after several moments of silence and a few corners. Looking in the rear view mirror, she made sure her lover saw her dangerous eye roll. “Do you want fun time punishment or not fun time punishment?”

Seeing the eye roll, and correctly deciphering its meaning, Brightstar decided not to push his luck any further than he already had. “Fun Time punishment, please, Mistress.”

“The pony shows wisdom!” Moonbeak shot back as she pulled at last into her parking spot by her treehouse. “I will come and let you out,” she announced before getting out of her driver’s seat and opening the back doors for her passenger.

“Thank you, Mistress.” Taking care not to smear the gunk on his tail over the back of the van, doing so would earn himself a not-so-pleasant punishment from his partner, he disembarked onto the dark parking lot. At least here, the street lights were working.

“Follow me.” without waiting to see if he was following her or not, Moonbeak turned and walked a little ways away to a nearby grassy area.

‘What in Equestria is she up to?’ Brightstar thought, puzzled as to what his lover had in mind. He was hoping, given the revolting state of his tail – which was now starting to smell just like it felt – that whatever she had in mind involved a bath. Unlikely out here though. “Yes Mistress!” he said, obediently following her onto the grass.

“Stay,” Moonbeak whispered dangerously in his ear, “and stay standing. If you can.” Giggling dangerously, she went back to her treehouse and entered the studio that she kept at its base.

‘Stay? Easy...’ Brightstar thought to himself. On the grass he stood perfectly still, though the giggle from his griffon sent a shiver all the way down his spine that reached his flaccid shaft.

“Oh, my pet is so naughty!” Moonbeak called from inside her studio. Thankfully, she quickly found what she was looking for. “Makes a mess and has to clean the mess, now I have a naughty messy pet!” she grumbled away noisily, making sure he heard every word. “What in Equestria should I do?”

Brightstar, hearing every word, like he was supposed to, flicked his ears in the direction of the treehouse. It was only then that he realised where he was standing was in the middle of the streetlights. “You ah...you should um, clean, your naughty pet, Mistress?”

“Yes!” Moonbeak screeched as she flew out of her studio carrying a hose she held in her claws. “The naughty, messy pet gets the hose!” giving him no time at all, she turned it on and with full force blasted the rather unsuspecting unicorn with a jet of very, very cold water.

“GAaaaaAAH!” Brightstar, who had been expecting a warm bath, or something, jumped a clear few inches in the air at the freezing cold water, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

Somewhat sadistically perhaps, Moonbeak now aimed the jet of water at his black tail, specifically, for what was under said tail. “Are we having fun, my pet?”

Doing his very best to lower his tail, without much success, Brightstar shivered and dithered under the freezing torrent. “F-F-Fun...l-lot's, Mistress!”

Laughing hard, Moonbeak made sure to cover every square inch of his coat with the deluge of water. “You can tell the truth, pet.”

“N-No Mistress!” Brightstar stuttered, unable to keep up the pretence any longer. “I-It's b-b-bucking cold!” he spat, though when his hind leg slipped on the now very wet grass, his tail hiked up even further.

Aiming one last jet of water straight at her lover and pet’s unprotected stallionhood, Moonbeak shut finally off the hose. “Starry, do you know a spell to dry yourself?”

“Yes, Mistress,” came a very sodden reply.

“Use it then, so we can take a bath together.” Moonbeak requested as she turned her back on her soaked partner. “I'll just put the hose away.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Brightstar watched his griffon fly away back to the studio area under the treehouse and he muttered a little unsavoury ‘something’ under his breath before he lit his horn and, surrounding himself in a glowing yellow aura, he proceeded to cast a variation of the spell he used to speed up Moonbeak’s cooking, in a moment he was bone dry.

“Ahh, such a sour face, Starry.” Moonbeak giggled when she returned to the sodden grass. “Your face when I first hit you with the water was priceless.” She was concerned however that she had gone a teeny little bit too far, even though he hadn’t used his safe word. “Shall I give my pony a ride?”

Brightstar pouted, somewhat playfully, though a little bit not. “It was cold.” He said, a little grumpily as he walked over and nuzzled her cheek. That said, he did prefer a little ride over teleporting right then. “Yes please, Mistress.”

“I made sure it was cold.” Moonbeak stated with a roll of her eyes like she was explaining something very simple to somepony very simple. “Punishment for a naughty pet, but now a reward for a loving pony.”

“I can live with that.” And, just like that, Brightstar decided he wasn’t all that grumpy with his lover after all. Of course, the fact that she had obligingly lowered her head and raised up her very wide, very sexy ass for him to get onto her back. Once he was on and securely in place, he leant forward and kissed her white feathery cheek.

Spreading her powerful dark grey wings, Moonbeak took off and flew up to their treehouse. Opening the main door, she walked in and, closing it sharply with her hind paw and marching straight into the bathroom. “Could you start the bath going love, while I set up some candles for ambiance and aroma.”

“Of course, I can, my love!” Quickly, Brightstar got busy turning the faucet on, and even after living in this house for a few months now he was still constantly amazed that there was plumbing and everything in a treehouse of all things. “That scene in the Tail was amazing fun, by the way.”

“I thought my pet was getting ahead of himself,” Moonbeak grinned, setting the first of ten scented candles around the sides of the large oval bath, “And a bit randy, though I'm sure the hose put that to an end.” She laughed her shrill, high pitched laugh and kissed her way delicately along Brightstar’s cheek and jawline. “Now, my lover can join with me in each other's sweet embrace,” reaching his lips she placed another tender kiss, “besides, you can deliver a note to Zephyr that it is time to leave.”

Brightstar returned each kiss he received in kind, “In my defence, it has been four days since we did it, so yeah, I’m kinda randy.” He kissed the tip of her beak, “would my sexy like the note delivered in the bath?”

“Bath, yes.” Moonbeak lit each candle, “Bed, yes.” She poured scented oils into the steaming hot bath, “Wake up call, double yes. Is my pony up for that?”

“Moony,” Brightstar’s stallionhood instantly emerged from its sheath and stood at half mast, “I'm in the mood to take you as many times as you please, wherever you please.”

Lighting the last jasmine candle, Moonbeak reached up and flicked off the light switch. Instantly, the wood-walled bathroom was thrown into darkness, lit only by the light of the many candles arranged strategically around the bath’s edge. Stepping up and over the edge, the very pregnant griffon heaved herself into the hot water, candlelight dancing off of her wide belly. “I'm very much in the mood,” she said, laying on her back and displaying herself, “I have been since Buttercup locked her lips on you.”

“I know, my love,” Brightstar replied, getting in the bath with her, his cock still showing, “I recognised that look on your face,” he smiled, kissing his way passionately up and down the white feathers of her neck, “The one like you've just sighted prey.”

“You are the tastiest pony I know.”

“Sweet talker.” Very gently, Brightstar pushed his lover a little further up the bath so that the sloping sides of the tub were better supporting her back and, in the slopping hot water, kissed his way down over her swollen belly to pay some attention to her engorged teats. Once there, he started to suck one after the other until they were standing hard and erect. In response, Moonbeak lightly ran her claws along his ears and through his black mane.

Sucking her bullet sized nipples, Brightstar didn’t stop until she let out a delightful little squeak, whereupon he moved upwards, finally prodding his now-hard tip at Moonbeak’s sopping wet entrance. Moonbeak, fully relaxing in the tub, allowed her wings unfold, adding them to the gentle caress on his flanks. “Mmmm…” Brightstar moaned lustily, bucking his hips forward, he entered her in one fluid motion.

As his erect member entered her and stretched her pussy, the royal blue stallion reached down and lifted up his panting griffon’s leonine legs so that her paws were positioned either side of his head. Adjusting himself just a little, he licked all the way up the sole of her left paw while he thrust himself deeper inside her.

In response, Moonbeak’s claws flexed out, and though she tried to keep them in, she failed when she felt his wondrously rough tongue lap all over the pads of her toes. “Hmm, sexy feet on a sexy griffon,” Brightstar grinned before he took the largest toe in his mouth and sucked on it hard as he got a steady rhythm going.

“GAaaaAAAH!” Moonbeak screeched in pure pleasure when, with a particularly hard thrust, her pony inserted his medial ring inside her. Her wings, already spread wide, were fully erect as she was spread open all the more. “My very sexy pony!”

Brightstar simply smiled and he thrust himself into her a little harder, just a little more and he would be tapping her cervix. He could tell, by the contractions of her muscular tunnel, that she was close. “My sexy griffon!” he cried, holding both of her legs together he sucked the largest toes together at the same time.

Moonbeak’s green eyes rolled in her head. “I'm-I'm going to come!” she screeched as loudly as she could. She loved the fact she could get him to heel just by flashing her paws at him, but she hated the way he could get her like a mewling kitten just by licking them. Right now, she loved it! “Take me, take me hard!”

“M-Me too!” Brightstar cried, thrusting himself harder and harder, deeper and deeper. As he used his magic to vibrate her feathers, his flat throbbing head tapped her cervix.

That did it. Arching her back and thrusting her distended belly into her lover, Moonbeak screamed, “Ahhhhhh yeeeees! Brightstar!”

A second later, the royal blue unicorn hilted himself inside her as came as well with a loud, “I love you!”

Feeling his hot sticky seed blasting through her tunnel, splashing against her cervical wall, Moonbeak clamped down on his throbbing stallionhood with her inner muscles for all she was worth. Lost in her orgasmic throes, her claws came up to hold onto his shoulders. So tight did he hold him, she drew blood from ten little wounds.

“Gaa...aaaah!” Brightstar moaned. He was coming down from his climax when the pain from the talons digging into his flesh made him squirt all the harder. “AAaaAAGH YEEES!”

“My pony is a very good pony,” Moonbeak purred, pulling her young pony lover in close for a sloppy kiss.

Brightstar returned the kiss and nuzzled into her embrace, “My griffon is a very sexy griffon.”

Moonbeak, noticing where her claws were currently imbedded, removed them and then she licked at the minor puncture wounds. “Hmm, still best tasting pony.”

Brightstar chuckled as his partner passed her judgement on his edibility. He was in no doubt, after having spent the year amongst the griffons in their home city-state, that she could, if she so chose, dismember him in no time flat and feast on what was left. That was part of what excited him about them as a race. “Still the sweetest talking griffon,” he kissed her beak, “You want round two in the bedroom?”

“Yes,” Moonbeak smiled up at him warmly, “after we clean, I still have train sweat on me.”

“Then, allow your best tasting pony,” he lathered up his hooves with the scented shampoo she had set out for their use and started little circular cleaning motions on her neck and chest.

Moonbeak nodded graciously, “I shall, but I get to do the same to you.” She said with an appreciative purr when his gentle hooves reached just above her belly. Obligingly, she moved in the flickering candlelight as needed for him to wash her completely and thoroughly.

“Deal, my sweetheart,” Brightstar paused and sniffed after a few moments of diligent cleaning, “You smell better now anyway.” Moonbeak gave a snorted breath through her nostrils and treated him to a happy eye roll, “Of course, after I've bent you over the bed and mounted your cute ass from behind, I'll have to clean you all over again.”

Playfully, Moonbeak tapped his nose with her primary feathers, “Yes, but it will be a tongue bath, then.”

Quickly, Brightstar sucked on the feather that had tapped his muzzle, “You got it, oh clean and sweet smelling goddess of mine.”

“My turn,” Moonbeak purred, taking the shampoo up in her clawed hands. “I don't think the hose got everything out of your tail. You did do a good job though, that floor was cleaner than when we came in.” she giggled as she began to spread the jasmine scented shampoo over his hind quarters, though she made sure to spend a little extra time with his mane and tail as she just loved to play with the long hair.

“Mmmm…” Brightstar purred and lifted up his tail to allow her better access to his crotch, “To be fair though, that's not hard,” he giggled, thinking of the state of the Twisted Tail’s hardwood floor after they had left. Once his griffon was done with his mane and tail, she skilfully cleaned his balls and his sheath. “Hmmm…” as she worked to clean him, he gently and lovingly stroked her white head feathers, “You are good at that.”

“I found a sweet tasting pony to practice on.” Moonbeak replied, “He is a cute thing with a horn.”

“You forgot handsome, witty and obedient…”

“I'll stay with cute.” Moonbeak interrupted him sharply, that flash of the ‘Mistress’ returning for just a moment. “Don't want him to bump his ego going through a door.” Giving him a tender peck on the cheek that ended in an affectionate nibble, Moonbeak stepped out of the tub to the insulated floor. “Drain that please,” she asked, turning on the dryer, “and join me in drying.”

~ ~ ~

Following the very sexy bath, and with all ten candles safely extinguished – treehouse fires were very real hazard – Moonbeak lead the way to the master bedroom, provocatively swaying her wide ass as she walked along the wooden floor. Reaching their bed, which was wide enough to fit five ponies, Moonbeak dimmed the lights and climbed upon it. “However can my pony top that performance?” she asked, giving Brightstar her best bedroom eyes over her shoulder.

Getting upon the bed behind her, Brightstar smirked, “Spread your wings and find out…” he purred, leaning in close to her and placing a solid kiss on 'that' special spot between her powerful dark grey wings.

A moment later, in which Moonbeak purred and her wings fluttered, the pregnant griffon rolled over onto her back, seeing as being on her belly was uncomfortable after a little while and once more she spread her wings out wide. “I do have a feeling I'm going to enjoy your follow up.”

All confident, Brightstar moved to kiss his way along the arm of her left wing, “I have a feeling you will too.” Once he reached the tip of her left wing, the royal blue unicorn began to kiss and lick up and down her secondary feathers. Spreading her wings to their fullest span, a good eight feet, Moonbeak closed her eyes and many happy ‘Mmmm’s’ came from her beak as her lover preened her. “Told you so,” Brightstar smirked as he made his way up to her fluttering primaries, gently sucking and teasing feathers back into alignment and even tugging a broken one out.

As he worked to lovingly preen her left wing, Brightstar noticed, as his lover’s chest gently rose and fell, that his plan may have had one rather minor drawback. Namely that Moonbeak was relaxing so much that she was falling asleep. Finishing off her left wing, Brightstar grinned at her drooping eyelids. A plan of action formed in his mind and, lighting his horn, he sent a series of vibrations rippling through her feathers. “Sleepy, are we, sweetie?”

“OooOOhhhh,” Moonbeak moaned on the bed, writhing in pleasure under her unicorn’s ministrations, especially the vibrations coursing through her feathers, “keep that up, it was a long train ride.... mmmmm!”

“Weeeeell...seeing as you ask nicely,” Brightstar smiled, increasing the vibrations now in waves so that it rippled all the way down from her wing joints to the very tips of her feathers.

In response, Moonbeak gasped and fidgeted her leonine legs, “Ohh, yeeeess, there, right there!”

“There, or how about here, instead?” Brightstar said, using the toe of his hoof now rubbing wide circles around her aching pussy as he increased the vibrations in her wings.

“Ohhh, oh yeeeees!” Moonbeak squeaked in sheer pleasure, she was amazed her wings could feel that good. It was as if the vibrations rippling through her dark grey wings were straightening and aligning her feathers one by one. They were. It was literally the most magical preen she had ever experienced in her life. “There! Mmmm right therrrree!”

His hard tip rubbing against Moonbeak’s wet and ready entrance, Brightstar smiled, “Ready for round two now, my love?”

“RawR!”

“Your wish is my command.” Taking a moment to carefully fold away her freshly-preened wings, Brightstar rolled his lover over onto her side facing away from him and he spooned alongside her and, with a gentle thrust of his hips, he thrust his hard cock inside her once more.

“Oh, yes,” Moonbeak’s beak hung open and her tongue lolled out as she felt his impressive length fill her up and spread her open. “Fill me, my beloved pony, fill me!” Immediately, once he had hilted himself in her sopping wet tunnel, Brightstar got a thrusting rhythm going, kissing and biting the back of her feathered neck.

At first, Moonbeak was happy to allow Brightstar to do the work but, after a few minutes, she was soon adding resistance and pushing back against his deep plunging thrusts. “Hmm…Th-There's my sexy griffon!” he cried, pleasure blossoming through his core from his cock as he bit down hard on and licked her neck. “I thought you were asleep!”

“It is improper to... Muuuummmm! That is good!” she screeched as Brightstar reached his hoof around her body and played with her milky swollen teats, “To sleep with some pony is soooo attentive. Ahhh, yess!”

Brightstar, thrusting hard inside her, moaned with wanton lust as he bucked his hips ever harder now. He didn’t have the words to describe how he felt. No, he did. He had just the right words. “I...aaaaaaahn...ngggh I love you!”

Moonbeak finally reached her peak and one last hard thrust from her young lover sent her over her edge. “I love you enough to eat you!” she screeched at the top of her lungs, clamping down with her pussy muscles as hard as she could, squirting around his hard cock as she came. That little manoeuvre served to send Brightstar over his crest too and with a hard jerk of his shaft his head flared and shot his cum deep inside her. “Y-You are m-my dream come true!”

“You are my dream, my waking moments, my everything…” Brightstar whispered when he at last released the bite he had held on her neck to kiss up her head, especially in that sweet little spot that he knew made her purr like a kitten.

“Love you,” she smiled, “but I want to be the big spoon to snuggle.”

At last getting soft as his orgasm receded, Brightstar chuckled, “Well, you are bigger than me at any rate.”

“You best not be calling Zephyr fat.” Moonbeak said, her tone warning and her green eyes narrowed dangerously.

In the little spoon position, Brightstar smiled. He just adored that predatory look on his griffon’s face. That look that just screamed he was an inch away from being food. “Not at all, light in my darkness, I just meant you're taller than me.”

Moonbeak simply rolled her eyes in response to that. He was cheesy, but he was a good kind of cheesy. And she loved cheesy. “I'm sure that is what you meant, pony.”

Chuckling, knowing his luck was pushed as far as he dared, Brightstar nestled deep into his griffon’s feathery embrace and tilted his head back. “Depends if I get a spanking or not.”

Seeing her opportunity for some fun, Moonbeak leant in just so and took his horn in her beak. Deep throating the appendage, she bit down ever so slightly, the very tip of her beak clamping at the base of his forehead. Hearing him whimper, she lathered his horn with her tongue, “Tasstie raock canda!” she slurred, feeling every little cylindrical ridge.

“Uuuu...aaaaaah!” Brightstar trembled and shuddered, helpless to do precious little else under the circumstances. Slathering her tongue all over his horn, Moonbeak was determined to make it spark again like before. “Ooooh...” he murmured as little multi coloured sparks started shooting from the tip, making him look like a roman candle, and a moment later dim little lights began to pulse upwards.

Grinning in satisfaction, Moonbeak slowed down on the biting and eventually she stopped with that, but she continued her long slow licks of his horn. “You are my safety nightlight when troubles come,” at that she planted little kisses all the way up his horn, “you graduate soon, yes?” she asked, referring to the police academy.

Brightstar, who was thoroughly enjoying having his horn sucked and licked, didn’t answer straight away. As the pulses sped up in time with the licks he was receiving, he found it was quite hard to answer, especially as he was drooling into the fluffy duvet. “Gaaaa y-eea-yes...ah, yes, end of next week,” he replied, wary though due to how he knew Moonbeak felt about the police.

“I…I worry,” Moonbeak admitted with a reluctant sigh, letting go of his horn, “Don't make my worries become true. I love you too much to lose you.”

“I ah...hmmm, I know my love,” Brightstar replied, somewhat grateful that she’d released his horn – not that he hadn’t enjoyed it, mind you, “and I won't say don't worry, or that there's nothing to worry about, but I'm doing well in my training,” he smiled proudly at that, “I’m in the top five in the class.”

Affectionately, Moonbeak nuzzled his left ear, “Starry, when I go to your graduation, I don't want a big deal about me being there. Okay?”

“MmMmm, w-well, if you're sure, my love.”

Moonbeak let out another heartfelt sigh, a sigh that ruffled the back of his neck, just above his grey collar. “Why I seldom visit, they all want to remind me of Goldie,” she said sadly, all of a sudden thinking of her dead husband, Goldecrest, who had been killed on duty by a ganger. “Like I'd ever forget him. I have you now, but he will always hold a place in my heart.”

“As he should, and I understand completely, Moony.”

Pulling him closer into her embrace, pressing her belly into his back, Moonbeak wrapped her left wing over her royal blue lover like it was a protective feathery blanket. “Sleep well, my pony, for tomorrow you have Athena to deal with,” she giggled into his ear and kissed the base of his horn.

“MmMmm!” Brightstar squeaked as a series of larger sparks shot off of his horn, and he nestled even deeper into his feathery furry blanket. He even felt a kick from Zephyr. “Sleep well, my griffon.”

~ ~ ~

The next morning, a Sunday, and Brightstar awoke to warm sunlight streaming through their bedroom window. Try as he might to hide beneath Moonbeak’s wing, the sun still roused him from his slumber. About to go back to sleep, he remembered his lover’s request from the night before. ‘Wake up call, double yes’, he thought with a grin and, after carefully disengaging himself from her warm, loving embrace, proceeded to kiss his way down her swollen belly to her teats. “Good morning, my love,” he whispered. Moonbeak didn’t wake up, but she did roll over onto her back.

Licking his hoof until it was slick with his spit, Brightstar began to rub his hoof gently around her pussy as he alternated sucking each nipple in turn. Twitching, Moonbeak snorted but still she refused to wake up. “Hmph...challenge accepted,” the unicorn muttered, going lower and licking up her crotch from her tail hole to her clit.

Suddenly, with Brightstar’s hot, wet tongue slathering up her crotch, Moonbeak’s leonine legs clamped tightly together, effectively trapping her young lover’s head with his lips at her pussy. “What‽” she exclaimed in surprise, her green eyes flying open as she tried to process what was happening. “Oooh…” literally a second later she realised it was her ‘wake up call’, “I think I like this alarm clock…” she purred, releasing her death grip she had on the unicorn’s head so that he could continue waking her up.

“Th-Thank you,” Brightstar gasped, “for allowing me air.” he snickered and wasted no time at all in going back to slurping his hot wet tongue all over her puckered tail hole, licking around the edge of the ring as his hoof began to rub over her hard exposed clitoris.

Reaching forward around her belly, Moonbeak ran her claws gently around the cylindrical ridges of his horn, “Yes,” she giggled playfully, “though I'm not sure how well you're breathing now.”

Taking a welcome lungful of air, Brightstar couldn’t help but inhale a waft of his lover’s crotch. He smelled her scent, her arousal and her tail hole, a heady mixture of scents that combined in a dirty cocktail of aromas he was determined to remember forever. After giving said tight hole one last lingering lick, the unicorn delivered a lick straight up her slit. “Better now.”

‘Oh sweet Stormclaw’s sainted talon!’ Moonbeak thought, though vocally, she just let out a pleasured murmur. Internally, the pregnant griffon was running photo illumination calculations in her head in order to prolong her stallion’s excellent work at her crotch. Noticing her quivering legs, Brightstar snickered for he had an idea what she was up to. Lowering his horn to her slit, he rested its tip at her clit and determined to test her resolve by vibrating it.

“Ten thousand Lums!” Moonbeak screeched just as Brightstar’s skilled tongue entered her slit at the same time as the vibrations from his horn rippled through her core.

Grinning, the unicorn reduced the vibrations but increased the rate of which he tongued her, now entering into her tunnel proper before pulling out. “I hope you aren't going to cum so soon.”

Moonbeak tried hard to concentrate. She didn’t want to climax too quickly. “Distance equals Guide Number over FStop at ISO 100!” Chuckling at her efforts to stave off the climax he knew was coming, Brightstar once more started up the vibrations on her hard exposed clit, this time he gently caressed her labia with his hoof.

Losing all concentration, in the throes of her ecstasy, Moonbeak reached down around her belly and grabbed the horn that was tormenting her and exciting her in equal measure, the goal to force him deeper inside her. Turning up the vibrations, Brightstar did just that, sliding his horn into her dripping wet pussy.

“GAaaaaAAAAH!” Moonbeak screamed, arching her back upwards from the bed as she allowed his horn to slip from her grasp in anticipation of where it might be heading. Pulling out half the way, Brightstar slid it back inside, rutting her with his vibrating horn again and again. Writhing, Moonbeak held her belly. “H-Here comes the light show Zephyr!”

At her sopping crotch, her pussy swollen with desperate need, Brightstar had a brief thought to tease her by stopping but then he went faster, the vibrations harder as is horn filled her up to the hilt. “AAaaaAhhh, I can't hold it anymore!” no sooner had she said that than she screeched the loudest yet, her cum gushing out around his horn.

After a few moments, in which his lover climaxed yet again, Brightstar decided to pull out. “Good morning, my love.” He greeted her once her green eyes were open and focussed on him, “Your wake up call, as requested. Was it to your liking?”

In response, Moonbeak seized his collar in her clawed hand and pulled him forward towards her as she rolled onto her side for a deep kiss. “Yes,” she replied simply.

“Hmmm!” Brightstar moaned into the kiss, wrapping his legs around her larger body and hugging her tight.

“Are you free today?” Moonbeak asked once she’d released the kiss and again allowed him to breathe, “I'm going to call momma to make sure Athena is ready for pick up.”

“Tis a Sunday, my love.” Brightstar smiled, thinking immediately of the tiny excitable bundle of golden brown feathers that was, for all intents and purposes, his daughter. She had after all called him ‘dada’, the other day. One of the proudest days of his life. “I'm not back at the academy till tomorrow. Today my body is all yours.”

“Kitten sitter extraordinaire.” Moonbeak affectionately pecked his muzzle and, when he smiled, she continued, “What do you think of taking my momma out for dinner, with Athena?”

“As long as I'm not on the menu,” Brightstar replied quickly, “I'd say it’s a great idea, love.”

Moonbeak chuckled at that, reluctant as she was to let him go from her embrace. “Times are good, though you are still our emergency rations.”

Brightstar giggled, playfully kissing the curved tip of her yellow beak, “Can I leave the collar on today?”

“Yes,” Moonbeak agreed, then a thought occurred to her, “but then you need to wear something with it. A jacket or a shirt.” She did so love him in a uniform, and admittedly her stallion did look good in a shirt. “You may choose which,” she paused before looking at the time. Seeing it was already past ten in the morning, she reached for her cell phone on the nightstand.

“Hi, momma,” she greeted her mother when the older griffon picked up, “No, we're back early. Yes, I’ll tell you about it when we get there. Is Athena ready? Okay, about an hour then.” She paused for breath, grinning when she heard her little kitten in the background. “You free for dinner tonight? No, you don't have to cook! Okay, we'll pick you up about six this evening then. Okay, see you in an hour or so.”

Brightstar, his head in the closet looking through his shirts, couldn’t resist a dig. “Last time she cooked she threatened to cook her neighbour!” he called out loudly, making sure he was heard on the other end, “There's only one griffon I want to eat tonight!” with that, he levitated out one of his pale blue police shirts from the closet.

Moonbeak snickered when she heard her mother’s reply. Helpfully, she relayed it to her stallion, “She says she isn't on the menu.”

“Aww...” Brightstar whined playfully, fully prepared to duck for cover behind the closet door as he used his magic to dress himself, “I was hoping she'd teach you a few things too!”

“No, momma,” Moonbeak deadpanned, “you still can't cook him. Yet.”

“No!” Brightstar exclaimed, “She said I was for emergency rations only!” Moonbeak just laughed at that, and the royal blue unicorn, now dressed in his plain pale blue shirt, fancied her could hear Astraea laugh over the phone. “How do I look, sweetie?” he asked, closing the closet door.

“Tasty!”

“Excellent,” Brightstar chuckled, hearing more laughter over the phone, “I hope I'm as tasty as you!”

Hanging up the call, Moonbeak put her cell phone away. “We can do some shopping before we pick up Athena. Any place you'd like to eat at? Momma is pretty open to food choices.”

Brightstar cocked his head, apparently deep in thought. “Well,” he started, an idea occurring to him from his supervised police patrol practise last week, “I noticed there's a new griffon place opened up just over the Delamare river, do you want to go try that?”

“I love your adventurous spirit.” Moonbeak nodded her approval as he heaved her bulk off of the bed and stretched her arms and legs, getting a welcome pop from her muscles and bones, “Please see if they take and then make a reservation for, hum, with traffic, let’s go for seven p.m.”

Nodding, Brightstar got his cell from his bags that had been dropped beside the bed the night before while his griffon went to make use of the bathroom. “I'm curious to see how they serve the blood wine,” he commented as he called up the restaurant and made the reservations. He knew from his time spent in Griffonstone that you could always tell the quality of a griffon eatery by the quality of the blood wine. “Anything you want while we're shopping? We can drop by the MiAC store?”

We can, if you'd like to browse.” Moonbeak recognised the hopeful sounding tone in his voice and, while admittedly she was still learning this whole ‘Mistress and pet’ thing, she also had to admit it was a lot of fun. Especially the way Brightstar liked to play. It was her kind of game. “Maybe I'll buy you something. Hum, yes, maybe. Does my pony need a ride down to the car?” she asked, coming out of the bathroom.

“Only if my griffon is asking,” he replied, rubbing an appreciative hoof over her wide ass.

“It was an offer,” Moonbeak said with an affectionate smile, her clawed hand caressing his cheek, “as I'm unsure if your magic is capable after such a rigorous challenge of playing alarm clock.”

“Then, I shall avail myself of your kind offer,” Brightstar smiled, gratefully climbing upon her back. Now she mentioned it, it probably was a wise idea to ride. “I don't want to be splinched…” Moonbeak looked over her shoulder, a puzzled expression on her face, “What we call teleportation accidents. These occur either from lack of concentration, lack of power, or both. In my examination, one mare teleported and appeared without her forelegs.”

Carrying him through the treehouse, Moonbeak nodded. “Hind legs are tastier,” she snickered, closing the door behind her and taking off for the short flight down to the van waiting in the parking lot.

Brightstar shuddered at the memory of the teleportation exam, and the bloodbath that had been the result of the poor mare’s splinching accident, but he smiled, feeling his lover’s warmth under him. “The worst I've ever had was leaving my tail behind one time.”

Moonbeak laughed at that. “Did somepony pin it back on you?”

“As best they could, yes,” Brightstar laughed, “until it grew out naturally a month or so later.”

“I can see the foals playing pin the tail on Brightstar,” Moonbeak commented, she was still laughing when she landed by the driver’s side of her white transit van. Conspicuously, she tapped her claws expectantly on the pavement.

Blushing a little, Brightstar replied, “Darkie thought it was highly hilarious,” he said, obediently opening the driver’s door for her to get in, “for ages afterwards she'd cast her invisibility spell on my tail and tell everypony I'd lost it again.”

Moonbeak grinned. From what she’d heard of her lover’s sister, she could easily believe that prank. “Now, that is familial love.”

“Just Darkie and her pranks,” Brightstar muttered, though for a split second his face darkened over but that quickly passed and, as soon as Moonbeak was seated in her van, he trotted around the front and got in the passenger’s side.

As fast as the shadow passed from his eyes, Moonbeak still noticed it. When he sat next to her, she rested her right claw on his shoulder before she started up the van. “I hope she will be able to prank you again and we can all laugh over it.” She said kindly, turning the keys and forcing the van’s engine into spluttering life.

“She will.” Brightstar managed a passable smile and rested his hoof on her leg as she pulled out of the parking lot, “I’m sure of it. Air Raid's looking after her.”

“Do you know where this MiAC store is?”

Brightstar nodded, “Yes love, we found it over the other side of Horesehead Square a few weeks ago, remember when we got my collar and shackles?”

Moonbeak kicked herself. Inwardly she cursed her memory and blamed the hormones. “Oh, yes, that princess pony store.” Making sure she was going in the right direction now she had been reminded of where they were going, she attempted to cover her error. “I think I was distracted that day.”

“Distracted by a cute black tail?”

“A cute, attached, black tail.”

Brightstar actually laughed at that. “And it's stayed attached ever since, too!”

Moonbeak laughed along with him, “Maybe Zephyr will pull harder than Athena.”

“Maybe he will,” Brightstar agreed, “You ready for him coming?”

Moonbeak responded with eye roll number seventeen, the one she reserved for special occasions. ‘Am I ready?’ she thought, “Only for weeks now.”

Brightstar moved his hoof from her leg up to her very pregnant belly. “Shame, I'll miss this.”

She utilised eye roll number twenty five now. “I could wear a pillow for you.”

“Would you?” Brightstar clapped his hooves together, “That'd be great!”

“It will definitely kick less,” Moonbeak grinned before pulling into the MiAC store’s parking lot. “So, here we are, now for some fun shopping.”

“You're sexy no matter what shape you are,” Brightstar chuckled before getting out of the van and, without being asked, he quickly went and opened her driver’s door for her to get out, adding, with a little bow, “Mistress.”

“Pet,” Moonbeak said in her haughty, imperious tone, “lead on.”

Brightstar smiled, immediately and easily sliding back into his submissive ‘pet’ role. A role he very much enjoyed assuming, especially for her. “Thank you, Mistress. This way, please.” Leading the way to the bright gaudy pink storefront, he used his hoof to push open the door and, once it was open, he stood aside for her.

Without warning, Moonbeak landed an open-clawed slap across both of Brightstar’s cutie marks, a slap that landed with all of her talons fully extended. “I did say lead!” she admonished him, “What if there was strange perverted pony into griffons just beyond the door, hmm?”

“Uuuuh...” Brightstar shuddered happily from the slap, his black tail hiking up a little, “S-Sorry Mistress!” the warning in his mind, he promptly led the way into the store, ears alert for such a pony.

Suppressing her giggles, Moonbeak quickly followed him inside. She was glad that at least inside, it was a regular store. Bare white walls and black shelving. The gaudy almost neon pink exterior was starting to hurt her eyes. In front of her, Brightstar made sure to keep his tail well up, an act she appreciated as it gave her an unfettered view of his ass and his balls as he scanned the many shelves, taking in the wares. She heard him breathe out ‘I love this place’, whereas Moonbeak found it amusing. Back in Griffonstone, these implements were not meant for fun. “It is...interesting,” she agreed, finally.

“Yes Mistress, it is certainly...interesting,” Brightstar replied, though his focus was directed to the shelves. Looking about, he had thoughtfully levitated a basket in his glowing yellow aura and paused, seeing the assorted riding crops hanging on the wall. Moonbeak, on the other hand, was looking around at everything, trying to take it all in at once.

Noticing her looking here, there and everywhere at once out of the corner of his yellow eye, Brightstar asked, “Having fun, Mistress?” she nodded when he saw the selection of sheath locks next to the crops and he smiled, bringing one down to look at.

Moonbeak smiled her approval at the device her lover and pet had selected. “That may be useful for some role playing.”

Brightstar, who was looking at the lock, ignored the other ponies in the store as he showed it to his Mistress. “They do a white one, like your feathers, Mistress.” He supplied, knowing full well that it would stand out against his royal blue fur. “What about a sturdy crop, or a cane?”

Moonbeak eyed the crops warily. This was all still pretty new to her. “You wish to save some of your precious blood? If you do, I'd like something with more heft,” she declared, pointing her dark grey wingtip at a rack of paddles with holes.

“Not at all, Mistress, I love having the honour of bleeding for you.” Brightstar replied quickly, floating over the sheath lock as well as a grey paddle and a crop to the basket he was holding, “Although I approve of the paddle. I was thinking they would be safer to spank my crotch with than your claws.”

Moonbeak's eyes narrowed at that. “You want me to slap your balls?”

“Yes, Mistress,” Brightstar answered with a definite blush, “Remember the time after Gino's, when you had me tied in ribbons? You kept crushing them under you, it hurt, but it was a good hurt.”

Moonbeak shrugged. While she had enjoyed crushing his balls and his cock under her weight, was he was suggesting was something else altogether. “There is a difference between squeezing and slapping, but I'm willing to give it a try,” she said with a loving nuzzle along his cheek, “for my pet.”

Smiling, Brightstar returned the nuzzle, “I love you…ooh look, blindfolds!”

“I approve, but make it grey.”

“Of course Mistress!” still smiling, Brightstar levitated a dark grey blindfold into the waiting basket before he moved onto the next rack of items, something that interested him very much. “Would you like ropes, to go with the ribbons?”

“Ropes?” Moonbeak questioned, all of her hackles raised up at once, “That is serious play, I've never done that. Ribbons were just fun. Do you know about ropes?”

“Not personally, Mistress,” Brightstar admitted. He knew Air Raid had tied up Wildfire, and his sister had tied up Cyclone, even Cyclone had tied up Air Raid, but he didn’t have first hoof experience. Still, he appreciated her reluctance. “Look, they sell guide books as well, and I trust you to take this step.”

‘Trust?’ Moonbeak thought, a huge swell of love and affection for the nineteen year old stallion before her. Her lover, her friend, her pet, he trusted her. ‘By Stormclaw’s talon I love you!’ she took the guide book, one of many from the shelf beside the ropes and looked at it. “Oh, it even has pictures! For both stallions and mares, too. Yes, get the book and you get the ropes as well.”

Grinning, Brightstar made sure to get several lengths and thicknesses of dark grey ropes along with the beginners and intermediate guide book and deposited them in the basket. “Anything you'd like, Mistress?”

Moonbeak rubbed her chin thoughtfully, “I hear they have flavoured gels here.”

“They do, Mistress.” Quickly, Brightstar led the way around the MiAC store past an actual pony-sized full latex isolation suit, a suit designed with no eye pieces, no mouth and covered up ears. Next to it was a separate mask piece with detachable coverings over the eyes and mouth, “Oooh...” he shuddered at the very thought of it, “I ah, I don't think I could enjoy that, Mistress.”

Looking over the latex suit, Moonbeak had to agree. “It would be hard to lick you in something like that.”

“Agreed, Mistress,” Brightstar shrugged as they reached the gels, “but to each their own, I suppose.”

“I want one that is spicy like a chili, and on that is sweet, like a melon.”

“Hmhmm…” Brightstar muttered, scanning the selection of gels, reading their various flavours until he found two that fitted the bill. “Aha!” he bought down a habanero flavoured one and a melon one into the basket.

“Now I can have an even tastier pony,” Moonbeak purred into Brightstar’s ear as they navigated the store over to the checkout to pay for their purchases. Doing so, they passed the fancy dress aisle.

“You know, Mistress,” Brightstar said as he paused at a particularly long black cape with a bright red lining that would easily reach the floor when worn, “I think you'll look rather fetching in that cape.”

“Really?” Moonbeak raised her eyebrow, though she did admire the cape. It was very…regal, looking. “How's that?”

“Well, it's rather royal looking, isn't it?” he bought it down off of the rack and waved his hoof over the red lining in particular, “Why, you could be Queen Aureli Stormclaw herself, Mistress!”

Moonbeak’s eyebrow was still raised. She didn’t look or sound convinced but, the cape was very ‘her’. “Right. So, you want to do some different type of role play?” she giggled, seeing the appeal of playing Stormclaw. “Are you buying a pointy hat and fake beard for yourself?”

“I could indeed!” Brightstar saw the Starswirl the Bearded costume hanging on the rail a few items along from the cape. All in all, it was a very good imitation of what the famous wizard wore, hat and all. Oh yes, he could see himself wearing that. “After all Starswirl attended the Griffon Kingdom many times over his lifetime. You'd need that cut-out bra to complete the look though,” he chuckled, “Oh yes, very Stormclaw.”

Moonbeak, halfway to reaching for the cut out bra that her pet had pointed out, paused and turned to him. “Wait a minute. I'm onto your game pony. You just want others to stare at my teats! My big. Milk. Swollen. Teats!”

Brightstar hung his head in utter fake abashment, making a very good show of being ashamed and embarrassed at being caught out. “Guilty as charged, Mistress.” The voyeur in him absolutely loved the idea, “It ah...it would be so hot, to see you being looked at and...admired,” he explained, his breathing noticeably quickening.

Moonbeak giggled at that. As much an exhibitionist as her lover, the griffon did love that idea. A lot. “As if you won't be looking as well. Yes to buying, but not to wear today. One of our walk in the park days.”

“Your pet agrees, Mistress. And, I will be looking, and trying to walk straight with the sheath lock on.”

Now that, Moonbeak did most certainly approve of. “Oh, yes, something I can enjoy looking at.”

“If I may, Mistress, one last and final purchase,” Brightstar requested after the cut out bra, the cape, the pointy hat and beard were safely stowed in the basket along with everything else they had taken off of the shelves on their trip, while Moonbeak simply gave him a questioning look. In answer, Brightstar levitated over a set of stockings made specifically for griffons, which had open claws on the front legs and open toes for the leonine legs. “I've been imagining you in these, Mistress.”

“You have a perverted mind, pony.” Moonbeak took the stocking set and personally added it to the basket. “I'm liking that.”

“Thank you, Mistress.” Brightstar chuckled, “Is there anything else? If not, we can go pay for this little lot.”

Moonbeak shook her head. “I'm good.”

“Well, I know that, Mistress.” Brightstar turned and, with a flounce of his black tail, he led the way over to the checkout where he used his police allowance to pay for the bill. “So,” he announced once the sale had been rung up and their purchases were secure in his saddlebags, “on to my second favourite griffon's house, Mistress?” when Moonbeak nodded and gestured for him to proceed, Brightstar walked ahead of her, his tail well up, back to the white van. Like a good pet, he did of course hold the driver’s side door open.

“Well done my pet.” Moonbeak looked on appreciatively at how well her lover had performed for her. Although, now was not exactly the time for a pet. She needed her lover, especially when she felt Zephyr kick inside her. “Pet time is over for now. Let us see what my daughter has gotten into, shall we?”

Brightstar smiled a wide smile at that. “You know, I still can't believe 'Thena called me daddy the other day.” He closed the door for her and got in the passenger side once more.

Somewhat nervously, Moonbeak rubbed her pregnant belly. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was scared – although, she was less so now that she had Brightstar in her life – of how she would raise her kittens. “This one will call you daddy too.”

Settling into the seat, Brightstar rested his hoof on her belly too, getting a hard kick for his trouble. “It is an honour I will strive to live up to.” And he meant that, with every single fibre of his heart and soul, he meant it.

“You are daddy for both of them,” Moonbeak said softly, far more softly than Brightstar had ever heard her speak before, “but I'll not let them forget their father.”

Brightstar smiled, “I wouldn't let you.” Not just because Goldcrest was a fellow police officer, but because it was the honourable thing, the right thing, to do.

“I love you, my pony.”

“I love you, my griffon.”

The drive from the MiAC store over to Astraea’s condo building was one of reflective silence. Moonbeak was happy to drive in the relative quiet, the silence broken by the spluttering of the van’s old engine. Brightstar, sat next to her, was reflective for an entirely different reason.

Today was going to be the day.

In spite of everything going on with his sister in Canterlot, he knew today was going to be the perfect day. For six weeks he had planned this, ever since Moonbeak had told him she loved him enough to eat. Ever since that day that Athena had called him “dada”, he had planned this.

Now, with the necklace finally made, Moonbeak completely clueless, and the reservations made at Gustav’s new place over the river, he knew the time was right to ask ‘the’ question. As his lover drove on and pulled up at her mother’s condo, he grinned, imagining the blood joining ceremony in his head.

Once Moonbeak pulled the hand brake and killed the engine, she brushed his hind leg with her wing tip. “Now, Brightstar, time for you to face the music.”

Brightstar smiled, his thoughts brought back to the here and now. “I'm ready, my love, with you by my side.”

“Ride up, or are you teleporting?”

“I should teleport up,” Brightstar replied as he got out of the van and helpfully opened his partner’s driver’s door for her. “I haven't done it for a few days…” Moonbeak silenced his fretting with a quick kiss to his lips and flew up to the landing outside her mother’s front door. Lighting his horn, Brightstar concentrated very hard and, with a loud crackling ‘popping’ sound, he left the place he was occupying and appeared next to the pregnant griffon waiting for him. To his great pleasure, he discovered he had avoided the dreaded splinching.

As soon as he arrived, Moonbeak gave him a welcome kiss before pushing open her mother’s door to find said mother waiting for her in the hallway beyond the door. “Right on time, Moon!” Astraea greeted her with her easy going smile, Athena bouncing around her nana’s paws.

Athena, in mid-bounce, saw Brightstar on the landing and squeaked happily. “Dada! Ba!” the little bundle of feathers reached up her grasping little claws, earning herself a giggle from her mother as she asked for her favourite toy.

Quickly recovering from the teleport, Brightstar grinned, “who asked for a ball, huh?”

“Me!” Athena squeaked ever louder, her little voice going higher pitched than normal as she fluttered her golden brown wings, “Me! Me ask!”

Smiling a very proud smile indeed, Brightstar lit his horn and fashioned the illusionary ball from his glowing yellow aura. Once it was made, he rolled it over to his excited little kitten who pounced it as soon as it was within range. “Here you go, sweetie!” Brightstar’s smile only grew wider when Athena giggled as the ball changed colour with every pounce she made.

~ ~ ~

Several hours later, Brightstar once more found himself in reflective silence sat in the passenger seat of Moonbeak’s van. The afternoon, after the collection of Athena from her nana’s, had been spent at the park in the middle of Horsehead Square. While the little kitten had spent a lot of time on the swing sets and roundabouts, all she had been really interested in was her really cool magical ball.

Brightstar had smiled at that, a lot. While she was a good kitten, and had learnt not to peck, claw or bite, she was still very griffon, as was indicated when a young colt wanted to play ball with her. There was no way in the world Athena was giving up the ball to anypony.

After an hour or so spent at the park, it was back home for her nap when she had gotten tired, while Moonbeak and Brightstar had relaxed on the large fold out couch / bed in the treehouse’s living room.

“I had fun today,” Moonbeak said, finally breaking the pleasant silence as she drove them – Brightstar and Athena, who was in the back with her ball – on the way to pick up her mother so that they could go to Gustav’s for their dinner reservation. “From the wake up, to shopping to watching you play with Athena. Now we can have a nice evening out with momma to seal the day.”

Brightstar smiled, subconsciously making the ball change colour from red through the primary colours, which earned him a gleeful squee from Athena. “I agree, it has been a pretty perfect day, my love.” He thought then, of the package that was in his bag, he thought of presenting it to his lover at the restaurant. “I'm sure it will be the perfect night, too…”

“I will agree,” Moonbeak commented, laying a claw delicately on her pony’s hind leg, “But then you enjoy griffon cuisine. I don't think Forge or Blossomseed would care for this meal.”

Brightstar snickered, “Forge is so set in his ways I'm sure he was old when Celestia was young!” *

Moonbeak nodded, “Somepony had to make her regalia.”

Laughing at that, Brightstar patted her claw with his hoof, “Don't tell him I said that, I just got on his good side.”

“Blossom is his good side!” Moonbeak snorted and dissolved into a fit of giggles before putting her van into park. “Wait with Athena and I'll get momma, I’ll be about ten minutes.”

“You got it, love.”

Stepping out of the van, the pregnant griffon flew up to her mother’s apartment. She didn’t have the slightest concern leaving her kitten with Brightstar. She trusted and loved him so very much. Brightstar, sat in his seat, watched her fly, very much admiring her swollen curvy body from his vantage point in the van. Thinking of the evening to come, he was even more excited, today he’d propose, knowing from booking the reservations they have a modest little orchestra at the restaurant. “This day is going to be perfect...”

Ten minutes later, and the van’s side door slid open. Athena, who had been happily playing with the ball that Brightstar had created for her, looked up with joy all over her face when she saw Astraea. “Nana!”

“Hello, little one,” Astraea greeted her favourite – for now, only – little kitten with an affectionate little nip of her beak as she got in the back of the van, “Did you miss me?”

“Uh huh!”

“Dinner time!” Moonbeak declared once she seated herself back in the driver’s seat and firing up the engine.

“To dinner!” Brightstar then smiled to the back of the van. He liked Astraea, a whole lot. “And a good evening to you, momma.”

“Oh, so, Moon, we aren't eating pony then?” Astraea asked, a look of faux disappointment all over her face, though her eyes which were as green as her daughter’s were alive with twinkling mischief.

Putting the van in gear and pulling off, Moonbeak shook her head. “Not today, momma.”

Brightstar gasped, raising a hoof to his chest in mock alarm. “I'm the emergency rations, for emergencies only!”

Astraea laughed. She was again reminded why she liked this young pony. She didn’t know how he did it, but he was older than his years when it was required, sensible, down to earth and reliable but at the same time he had a mischievous streak that she adored. “Ah…so this isn't an emergency then. That is good, right Athena?”

“Dada taty!” Athena passed her judgement as she showed her nana her latest ball.

Moonbeak sniffed indifferently as she took a left then a right, “I taught her that.”

“Aaah,” Brightstar blushed very hard indeed. This was still so very new to him. Pet was one thing, partner was another. Being called a daddy was something he hadn’t been prepared for in the slightest. He had to admit though, he liked it. “Aaah, yes, tasty, that's me, tasty…”

“Yes,” Astraea snickered, seeing the opportunity for teasing to be had, “I've heard that pony milk is very good for you. Right Moon?”

“You know it, momma.”

“I've not had any complaints about my milk so far,” Brightstar sniffed with pride, though a part of him loved this banter. It reminded him of the sort he used to share with his mother and sister, and later with his friends. “Nor do I expect to receive any,” as Moombeak and Astraea both giggled, he continued, “Especially not when I'm Moony's alarm clock…”

Astraea snickered, noticing the very deep blush all over her daughter’s face, “Yes, my Moon is a heavy sleeper.”

“Really?” Brightstar grinned over at his lover, “I found she awoke rather easily this morning.”

“Sneaky pony,” Moonbeak muttered, earning her a delighted giggle from her mother.

Brightstar chuckled, “Not my fault it was horn o'clock.”

Lightly, ever so gently, Moonbeak laid her right claw on Brightstar’s hind leg. The squeeze was a simple gesture, but one that let him know the banter was a little too personal. Sadly, this was lost on her mother. “Yes, the longer horn?” she asked indelicately.

“No, momma,” Brightstar answered quickly, searching in vain for something, anything, to change the subject. He had a big something in his bag, but now wasn’t the right time. “Aaah…no, not that one.”

Astraea laughed again and, as she was about to ready another snarky comment, Moonbeak turned into the small parking lot beside the very upmarket griffon restaurant. Brightstar hadn’t been this far north into Fillydelphia as of yet, so far he hadn’t strayed much past the Delamare River. It certainly was a splendid looking place. “We are here,” she announced, killing the engine.

“Oh!” Astraea’s comment died on her beak. As griffon restaurants went, this was by far the most upmarket. “This is a nice place!”

Brightstar admired the restaurant from the passenger’s seat. ‘Posh’ for griffons was rustic utilitarian by equine standards. In Canterlot this restaurant would have been seen as low end. However, from his time spent at Stormclaw Academy, Brightstar appreciated the understated simplicity. It had a charm all its own. “It's new, only opened up the other week. Thought you might like it.”

Astraea nodded. She too was reminded greatly of the eateries of her homeland. Gustav, the owner, was authentic to say the least. “I have read the reviews and I saw it on the telly.”

Moonbeak shrugged, “The pony found it.”

Astraea nodded appreciatively. “Good work, pony.”

“Thank you, momma,” Brightstar got out of the van and, like a good little pet he was, he trotted around the front of the van to open the doors for Moonbeak and Astraea, making sure to take his little shoulder bag with him draped over the shirt he still wore from earlier.

“Did you tell them we are not brining the entree?”

“Not sure,” Moonbeak answered her mother as she busied herself getting Athena from her kitten seat, “The pony made the reservations. So they should know.”

Brightstar laughed, “I did forewarn them, momma, just in case they mistook me for a 'bring your own meal'.” He turned once more to the restaurant as Moonbeak and Astraea both broke out into fits of giggles. As he was the one who made the reservations, it was his duty to lead them in. Griffons were funny like that.

Stepping up, the royal blue unicorn led his little party through the gold oval archway with its stylised feathered that was reminiscent of the grand entrance to Griffonstone itself that formed the entrance to the restaurant. The building itself was entirely wooden, with white walls and a sloping yellow roof. It was very much in the style of the Griffonstone eyries, just bigger.

Inside, the restaurant was like stepping back into Griffonstone. Bare wooden floors, sparsely painted white walls and exposed beams. Various hunting trophies and skins adorned the walls here and there. Brightstar noted chimera, manticore and hydra hide amongst the decorations, with the skulls fashioned to hold the lights in macabre chandeliers.

Had Brightstar not known any better, he would have assumed he had left Fillydelphia altogether. Even the metallic tang of blood in the air was authentic. No sooner had they crossed the threshold than the Maître D, a middle aged griffon male wearing a very sharp black suit appeared from nowhere to greet them. “Good evening…” though his greeting was arrested sharply when he noted that the party leader was in fact a pony. This was new. “Sir,” he said as politely as he could, “you do know we only serve griffon cuisine here?”

“I do hope so,” Brightstar replied with a polite smile and a nod. The griffon’s reaction was, after all, understandable. “We have reservations for seven, Brightar, party of four.”

Quickly, disbelievingly, the Maître D looked down at the list he carried. He was even more disbelieving when he saw that ‘Brightstar’ was indeed there. “Yes sir,” he expertly covered his hesitation as he ushered them inside. Conspicuously, he steered the party towards a table that was not decorated with pony furs. “This way please. Madam, do you need a booster or high chair for the kitten?”

Moonbeak looked around at the décor, grateful that they had been led past the table with the unicorn hides hanging from the exposed rafters. She did have a suspicion that they – the pony skins – were at least fake. Hopefully. “Chair would be best.”

“Thank you,” Brightstar smiled as he followed the smartly dressed Maître D to their table. “I say,” the royal blue unicorn said, standing aside while the others were being seated, “I see you have an orchestra. Might I trouble you for a request?”

The Maître D paused while the waiter appeared, carrying the drinks and the meal menu. “As long as it is a griffon piece, then yes, you may.” Though he highly doubted this pony would know any griffon musical pieces. He didn’t even know what this pony was doing here, of all places.

Brightstar smiled. He recognised that sceptical look on his face. He’d seen it before in Griffonstone and more recently with Moonbeak herself at the Twisted Tail over two months ago now. “I would like to hear "Griffonstone Falls No More", if you please, in its entirety.”

To say the Maître D was surprised was an understatement. Stunned would be more like it. He actually did know griffon opera! ‘Wonders will never cease’, he thought to himself with a wry grin. “At what point during your meal would you like it to start?” he asked, his claw out.

“When we have the menus, please. I'm aware it's a long piece, and I'd like to have dessert when the climax hits. Grover and Stormclaw uniting the kingdom in marriage is rather stirring…” Brightstar noted that the Maître D hadn’t said anything, he just stood there with his claw out and an expectant look on his face. Understanding, Brightstar levitated a pouch of bits from his bag into his waiting claw.

Bouncing it once in his clawed hand to test its weight and judging it adequate, the Maître D gave the unicorn a polite bow. “It shall be done, sir.”

“Thank you, I appreciate it,” Brightstar thanked him kindly as he turned and bustled away to talk to the griffon female leading the orchestra. Said orchestra, who had been playing verses from the Skylar Waltz, stopped when they saw him take his seat at the table.

Moonbeak, her senses tingling, looked at her lover suspiciously. “What were you talking about?” she asked, the white feathers at her head standing up when she heard her favourite opera starting up. She did so adore “Griffonstone Falls No More”.

“Oh...” Brightstar examined his hoof casually, “just arranging a surprise, love. You like this one, right?”

Moonbeak, equally casually, flexed her claws, her talons popping out. “You only hold so much blood, pony.”

Astraea, on the other hand, beamed at her daughter and her lover. “Oh, I like this piece, very traditional!”

Moonbeak snorted, “I ordered the blood wine for you since you talk about it so much.” Though her tone was shrill, she had a mischievous glint in her green eyes, “I'm having the chicken and salmon gumbo.”

“I'm having the hydra chop,” Astraea interjected, passing Brightstar the menu to look at, “It has been moons since I last had that.”

“Thank you,” Brightstar took the menu in his glowing yellow aura and smiled at his lover, “I'll have the manticore heart, I think.” He didn’t even have to look at the menu, he knew that dish was a delicacy.

“I find that a bit gamy for my taste,” Astraea commented while her daughter nodded.

A couple of minutes later and the waiter reappeared at the table carrying their four blood wines on a silver tray, one of which was in a kitten cup. “Are you ready to order?” he asked politely, though surreptitiously he shot the unicorn a ‘look’, wondering if he was here on a dare.

“Ish!” Athena declared, squeaking as she banged the tray of her kitten chair. “Ish!”

“Yes,” Moonbeak snickered, “salmon for my kitten.”

Brightstar passed the waiter the menu, “Chicken and salmon gumbo for the madam, hydra chop for momma and manticore heart for myself, please.” He indicated each recipient in turn as he gave the waiting griffon their respective orders.

As the waiter took their orders and disappeared from the table, Brightstar noticed that Moonbeak was keeping Athena's cup away from her and at the same time he noted that neither of them had tried the wine yet, mother and daughter both looking expectantly at him. ‘Of course!’ mentally, Brightstar face-hooved. Taking up his glass in his magic, he took a sip of the blood wine. All at once the warm coppery tang hit his tongue. “Hmm! That really is perfect!”

No sooner had he passed his judgement, than Moonbeak gave Athena her kitten cup and ladies took delicate sips of their glasses. “Yes it is,” she smiled, before leaning into her lover and whispering, “Athena's wine is fifty percent water.”

“Very good, love.” Brightstar approved. He smiled and took another sip of his wine, relishing the warm metallic taste as it slid down his throat. “Mmm…so nice to have it how it should be served. I hate it chilled.”

“Yes,” Moonbeak rolled her eyes, not at her partner but at what she was about to say next, “and in Canterlot they put some type of clear whisky in it too!”

Astraea looked disgusted, “Ew, that sound terrible.”

“Oh, it is,” Brightstar agreed, “it’s quite revolting, momma.” In his opinion, there was only one way to serve blood wine. Filtered and fresh from the source. If he had to hazard a guess, he thought this particular vintage was chimera, due to the kick and the aftertaste.

Suddenly, Moonbeak placed her claw on Brightstar’s hoof. “Most ponies I know are pretenders at our food, but you are not.” She paused and kissed his lips, “I love how real you are.”

Smiling, Brightstar raised up and kissed the back of her claw. “Only my talent is illusions, I am very real, my love.” Two seats away, Astraea put her claw over her beak as she smirked like a teenager and Brightstar kissed her claw a second time before lowering it down to the table.

Fifteen minutes later and their meal arrived and the waiter took care serving each of them what they had ordered. With a delighted squeal of ‘Ish!’ Athena dove into her salmon beak first.

“That is magnificent!” Brightstar’s yellow eyes were wide indeed, looking at his manticore heart in blood sauce. He swore it was still beating, it was that fresh. “That takes me back to my last day at Stormclaw Academy. They served us this in the feasting hall.”

Astraea, wholly curious, set aside her foul smelling hydra chop. “Pony,” she said affectionately, “may I try a piece?”

Brightstar nodded, “Of course you may.”

Astraea reached over and took a small bite from the manticore heart, selecting the fifth chamber. “Hmm…nice, but still too gamey for my taste.”

In return, Brightstar took a sample of her hydra, and the chop smelled even worse when he cut into it, just like he remembered. “Yes, well,” he smiled, swallowing the rare meat before taking a bite of his own meal, “Back at the academy it was served still in the body of the manicore that donated it, but yes I take your point, momma.”

After that, the meal went really well. Moonbeak leant in and tried some of the manticore heart and, having found it to her liking, she tried some more. Then again, she liked the smelly hydra chop too. Brightstar and Moonbeak ended up sharing each other’s plates and, much to Astraea and Athena’s glee, they even fed each other.

Copying them, Astraea and Athena also fed each other, the little kitten and the nana both making loud kissing noises with each mouthful, which earned them both an eye roll from the adults at the table. “Does the pony recommend a dessert?” Astraea asked, once all the plates were cleaned.

Brightstar, who noted that the part of the music he was waiting for was still a good five or so minutes away, nodded. He wanted to time his proposal when the dessert arrived, for maximum impact he wanted it just when the opera got to the bit with the wedding. “The pony does indeed recommend dessert, momma.” He squeezed his pregnant lover’s claw, “You know, I rather like this opera.”

Impressed with the pony’s knowledge, Astraea was again reminded how much she liked him, she nodded enthusiastically, “Yes, it is truly a classic, tragically lost to the younger generation.” She giggled playfully while Moonbeak gave her mother’s comment the eye roll it deserved.

Brightstar chuckled, “It certainly is lost to most ponies.”

Moonbeak sniffed indifferently, “Momma likes her music and I like my art.”

“Yes,” Astraea snickered, “you like silence and I like sound,” sat next to her nana, Athena looked back and forth between the two, not sure who to side with.

“If I may say,” Brightstar spoke up, effectively ending the argument before blood was shed with some equine diplomacy, “I'd say the bit coming up, depicting King Grover proposing to Queen Stormclaw is its own art form. It really is beautiful.”

Just then, noticing their plates were empty, the waiter seemingly teleported beside the table. “Might I interest your party in dessert, sir?” he enquired politely as he cleared up the plates into a neat stack so they could be removed.

“You may indeed,” Brightstar replied before turning to the table. “What would everyp...one, like?”

“Something with chocolate.” Astraea answered almost before the unicorn had stopped asking the question.

“Yes, lots of it,” Moonbeak agreed quickly, “and an Irish Coffee too, love.”

Astraea nodded, “Oh yes, one of those.”

Moonbeak pointed her clawed hand at her kitten, “Water for Athena.”

Taking a moment to peruse the menu, Brightstar smiled when he saw they had one of the best griffon desserts available, the main ingredients of which were; chocolate cake, sour cherries, whipped cream, and Kirsch. “We'll have the black forest gateau, please, with three Irish coffees and a water.”

“At once, sir.”

“I can see why this place has such good reviews,” Astraea commented as the waiter took their order and bustled off with the dirty plates.

Two other parties, a seven and a five, arrived then as Moonbeak looked around at the restaurant. She had to admit this was one of the best places she had been taken to in a long time. “I will agree that pony made a very good choice.”

“Thank you, my love.” Brightstar smiled, for he too was soaking in the atmosphere. For him it was a step back to his university time. “I'll admit, it's pure Griffonstone, even down to the chimera and manticore skins on the walls.”

“Yes,” Astraea agreed, “just like the old country.”

Moonbeak chuckled, “more like a frat house in Griffonstone.”

“Yes,” Brightstar snickered, pointing his hoof over to the far wall, “though here I think the pony furs over there are fakes.”

“Hmmm,” Astraea tapped her beak with her index talon, “I’m not so sure about that.”

Taking a look herself, Moonbeak squinted at the hanging pony furs. “Could have been donated from a science lab after med school teaching?” she offered.

“Hmm, I think you're right, sweetie,” Brightstar commented and, when he noticed the tempo of the orchestra pick up, he quickly drained the last of his wine, for courage. “Either way, I think we'll eat here again.”

Giggling, Astraea pointed to the bare white wall behind them. “That area there could use a touch of blue…”

“Momma!”

“Hmm...” Brightstar muttered thoughtfully, “but who would be your emergency rations then?”

“Tish and tosh!” Astraea snorted through her nostrils, “we do have a freezer, pony!” she giggled while Moonbeak simply face-clawed at her mother’s comment.

“Your dessert, sir.” The waiter announced as he came and placed a single large bowl with four spoons in the centre of their table along with the three Irish coffees and the water in the kitten cup down as well. “Enjoy.”

“Thank you,” Brightstar nodded to the waiter as he turned and walked away. ‘Okay...’ Brightstar summoned his nerve, ‘here goes nothing!’ the royal blue unicorn, about to ask the most important question in his nineteen year old life, found he had to speak up as the music increased in volume right at the moment that Grover joined with Stormclaw.

“Moonbeak!” he spoke loudly, getting the pregnant griffon’s attention – as well as her mother’s and her kitten’s as well - as he levitated the package out from his bag, “Would you join your blood with mine, and grow stronger from the joining?”

Whatever Moonbeak had been expecting, that was most certainly not it. ‘What?’ she thought, though her yellow beak hung open. As she blinked once, then twice, Astraea clapped her claws together in sheer joy that this pony whom she liked so much had taken this step. Little Athena simply covered her ears to guard from the noise of the music.

Seeing his potential mate pause, her beak still hanging open like he’d dropped ice cream down her back, Brightstar took his cue to magically open the package. Once it was opened, he revealed the ritual object of griffon courtship, a hammered gold necklace complete with his mother's horn ring on it.

For the fifth time, Moonbeak just blinked. It had been several long seconds since she had done anything else. Astraea, far more animated, clapped her claws and looked expectantly at her pole-axed daughter.

Several seconds stretched into twenty and then thirty seconds. Still, Moonbeak hadn’t said or done anything other than blink. Just when Brightstar was worried that he would be refused, Moonbeak slowly, very slowly, lowered her head to him.

Breathing a very deep sigh of relief, Brightstar adjusted his magic and levitated the hammered gold necklace – plain to most species but perfection to a griffon - out of the package and placed it reverently around her white feathered neck. Silently, Moonbeak lifted the ring on the necklace to look at it. “When ah…” she at last found her voice, “when shall the binding be done?”

“Woot!” Unable to contain herself any longer, Astraea jumped out of her chair and danced around the table. “Woot!” she screeched loudly, to the amusement of the other diners. Athena saw her nana was dancing happily and she clapped her little claws. At least until she realised the music was still playing and she immediately covered her ears again.

Brightstar giggled, “We have two happy younglings,” he smiled and turned to his still stunned looking mate. “I was thinking, we will go to the Court Eyrie in City Hall and proceed with the binding ceremony at the day of the second next moon.”

Slowly, Moonbeak nodded. “I accept your offer and I shall bind my blood with you.” No sooner had those words left her beak than the unicorn was wrapped up in a smothering hug, courtesy of his soon-to-be mother in law.

“Aaaaak!” Brightstar gasped after a few seconds once his air had run out, “M-Momma! C-Can’t breathe!”

Finally releasing her favourite pony, Astraea moved on to hug her daughter just as tightly. “I believe that momma approves,” Moonbeak smiled once she too had been released from her mother’s death grip.

“Y'know,” Brightstar chuckled, “I got that impression, too,” he smiled at that, for she was still dancing around the table, “you have made me an exceptionally happy unicorn this day.”

At last, Athena picked up her granddaughter and hugged her, both of them dancing around the table now. Taking advantage of the distraction, Moonbeak leant forward and lovingly nuzzled her new mate’s cheek and whispered, “there is always room in the heart for love, Starry.”

Brightstar thought of his own mother and his sister back in Canterlot, his heart swelling up. “Yes, there is. When we are joined, our hearts become one and I shall truly be yours.”

“You are mine now, pony.” Moonbeak smiled, a glint in her eyes, “but then I shall be yours, too.”

“There's that dangerous glint I love…” Brightstar placed a tender little kiss on the curve of his lover’s beak. “I do have a second proposal for you.”

“Oh?” Moonbeak asked, her eyebrow raised. Beside her, at last sat down, Astraea was listening intently.

Brightstar again summoned his nerve. “Well, we bought some interesting things earlier,” he paused long enough to kiss her beak, “we should use them to celebrate our intent to be joined.”

Casually, the dark grey feathered griffon waved her wing in the air, “those we can always use any time, but yes, I will indulge you this night.”

“Oh,” Astraea interrupted, her ‘mother’ senses for gossip and dirty details tingling, “and what are you indulging the pony with?”

All of a sudden, Brightstar blushed. The way momma called him ‘pony’ just then sent shivers down his spine straight to his core. “R-Ropes, momma…”

“MiAC,” Moonbeak explained to the blank expression on her mother’s face.

“Oh!” now Astraea really liked this young pony. Handsome, brave, honourable, reliable and kinky. “The pony sex shop. Who ties who?”

Reaching up with his hoof, Brightstar pulled at the collar of his pale blue shirt to reveal the grey collar buckled around his neck underneath. “Mistress Moony ties me, momma.”

“Oh my,” Astraea giggled, idly wondering if her daughter would be willing to share sometime, “how cute!”

Moonbeak shuffled her claws on the table, “I ah, I still need more practice…”

“Thank you, momma,” Brightstar smiled, very grateful that they had Astraea’s seal of approval for this aspect of their relationship. “Mistress Moony is excellent when we play.”