Seven days later, which was a Saturday, found Brightstar, Moonbeak, Athena and little Zephyr enjoying a quiet day in Fairmount Park situated in Fillydelphia’s north-west, away from most of the gang activity rife in the city. Both unicorn and griffon needed this weekend to recharge, and the summer sunshine in the park was just the ticket. Brightstar had again been kept at the police academy for the week, as the Shadowbolt training had intensified now he was close to graduation.

Moonbeak, likewise, was wound tighter than a new spring. The dark grey griffon had spent the week not only caring for her two kittens but she had also conducted three photoshoots for her business. One of which was for the mayor who had publicly opened Rarity’s new clothing store in Fillydelphia, named Anthropologie, a Boho-chic store aimed at mares. That had been a toughie.

Now, snuggling in the long grass by the shore of a crystal clear lake, Brightstar breathed in the clean air and sighed happily into Moonbeak’s fur and white feathers. This was what life was all about. After a solid week of Olive Branch’s advanced combat techniques, which Lemon Zest and Sugarcoat were only too happy to test him on, he needed the gentle quiet time in the park.

Sadly, the peace and quiet of the family weekend was not to last. Saturday evening and Sunday disappeared in a blizzard of almost non-stop nappy changes as Zephyr decided to conveniently have an upset tummy. ‘Upset tummy’ was rather an understatement, as it happened. Fountains spurted out of both ends of the two week old kitten. Brightstar was frankly amazed at the sheer pressure that could build up inside a body so small. Indeed, at one point the unicorn had to use his shield spell to avoid getting splattered by bight neon green kitten poo.

Moonbeak thought this was highly amusing, as did Athena. Especially when, after lowering his shield, Zephyr was suddenly and astronomically sick. It was as if the kitten was re-enacting that scene from the Exorcist movie. Brightstar didn’t stand a chance. When Zephyr had finished, it was dripping from his muzzle and chest.

Several very long showers later and the unicorn still smelled of vomit.

Consequently, when Monday rolled around, Brightstar was rather looking forward to going back to the academy. Especially with Moonbeak unsympathetically laughing her feathers off at the way he had been spattered the night before. Brightstar did have to admit, after his tenth bath, that it was quite funny after all. Unfortunately, as Brightstar was to discover, this week at the academy was affectionately known as ‘Tartarus Week’.

Tartarus Week, as it turned out, more than lived up to its name. Two days in the Everfree Forest, Two days in the Badlands and one day in Ghastly Gorge. The simple aim, survive all three locations. The rules, such as they were, were even simpler. Use whatever skills and techniques you could to get out in one piece.

Teleported en masse by the police academy instructors into the heart of the Everfree Forest, the recruits faced their first challenge. As it turned out, manticores didn’t like it when twenty five police recruits were suddenly and without warning dropped into the heart of their nest. One, a minotaur bull by the name of Garrus that Brightstar rather liked, was bitten almost immediately. Brightstar had to use his shield to save them both while he was being medevaced out by two instructors to Ponyville hospital.

Ghastly Gorge was no better. One earth pony mare, Revolver, was seconds away from being lunch for a quarray eel had Brightstar not leapt into the monster’s jaws and again cast his shield before teleporting them both out to relative safety.

By the end of Tartarus Week, not only was Brightstar still at the top of the academy teat scores, the royal blue unicorn had earned himself two commendations from Olive Branch for his heroism and bravery, not to mention resourcefulness. Still, when Friday afternoon came, in spite of everything, he was more than looking forward to getting home to luxuries like hot running water and cooked food.

It was very late in the day when he had got back to the treehouse on Friday, though thankfully he was far cleaner than the week before, so there was no need for a hosing down outside. There was, as it was a Friday and Moonbeak had no photography to do over the weekend, time for a late dinner and then mercifully it was bed.

Saturday morning came with Moonbeak biting Brightstar’s ear to wake him up from his peaceful looking slumber. The griffon let him know, in absolutely no uncertain terms, that she wanted to ‘play’ with him later on that night now that he was finally home. Brightstar was up for that now he was home. They laid in bed together talking about where they should play.

Names of places were offered up and subsequently refused. Gino’s Steakhouse was a no because, as Brightstar pointed out, Gino was tired of their shit, at least for a little while after the last time. Gustav’s was definitely a no, because that was their Binding Place, and was to be kept sacred. Eventually, finally, they picked a place. Chora’s Den, just over the Delamare River, was a place they had both discovered quite by accident on a magical mystery tour a month ago.

Thus it was decided. The rest of the day was spent playing with both of their kittens ‘till it was time to drop them off to Astraea for kitten-sitting duties under the pretence of enjoying a ‘quiet night in’ with each other. Back at the treehouse, they were getting ready together for their night out. “Before we go to Chora's,” Moonbeak asked as she opened the master bedroom door, “should we wear clothes or really dress up?”

“For Chora's Den?” Brightstar asked, his mind racing, thinking. Chora’s Den was located up over the river, in an area that the Fillydelphia PD affectionately called The Citadel due to the whole area being a neutral ground for the city’s gangs. It was a decent part of town. “Yeah, we can dress up, my love.”

Moonbeak raised an eyebrow at that. She of course knew of The Citadel’s safe upmarket reputation. While it was by no means Canterlot, the area was nice, for Filly. “Anything you'd like to see me in, in public?” she asked as seductively as she could manage.

Brightstar answered so quickly that his fiancé had barely finished her question. He knew just what he wanted to see. “That cut out bra is a must, and those bright pink stocking you have would look amazing on your legs and...they'd ah, make your paws even sexier.” He could picture the look in his mind even as she delved in her closet. “What about me, love?”

“Something smart, but no sheath lock.” Moonbeak said once she had emerged from the closet with her bra, stockings and, for good measure, her cape. “I want them to see you at attention. The collar is a must, of course.”

“Of course it is!” Brightstar smiled and, once Moonbeak had her chosen things laid out on their bed, the royal blue unicorn took his turn in the closet. It wasn’t long before he settled on an option, one he knew his lover liked. “Aha, tux, do we think?”

“What about your cadet uniform?” Moonbeak offered instead. While she did like her pony in a tuxedo, there was just ‘something’ about him in his uniform.

“Even better,” Brightstar agreed, as he much preferred his police uniform to his tuxedo, “Although I think you just like a pony in uniform, Moony.”

“I like you in uniform.” Moonbeak gently corrected her lover. Once he had emerged from the closet with his uniform held in his glowing yellow aura, the thirty three year old griffon decided it was time to get dressed. The pink stockings went on easily enough, as did the fingerless gloves that went over her talons. However, when it came to the cut out bra, she began having trouble.

Brightstar found that the more she struggled with getting her heavily swollen teats into the bra, the less he was able to concentrate on getting his uniform on. “Aaah...” he couldn't help but stare at the scene that Moonbeak was making with the bra, indeed it seemed she’d never quite get it on at all. “Ooooh my, Mistress...”

Try as she might, Moonbeak soon realised her teats weren’t going to fit as they were. “I don't think Zephyr did his job in draining me today,” she purred.

“Gaaah n-no...I ah, I don't think he did…” Brightstar found it was hard to comment at all, seeing as how his jaw was hanging open like it was, and how he was definitely showing between his legs. He hadn’t even thought before now that he had a fetish for teats and milk and drinking it from the source before he had tried it. Now it was a firm favourite.

“Whatever will I do?” Moonbeak purred, turning her most dangerous bedroom eyes to her lover, thoroughly enjoying the effect she was having on him. “Maybe we should cancel?”

“No!” Brightstar squeaked, “no, no we definitely shouldn't cancel.” He both hated and loved the fact that he was so mesmerised by his fiancé’s milk swollen teats, as well as her paws, which were close to them. “I ah, I could always help you out there, if Zephyr couldn't drain you, Mistress.”

Moonbeak nodded, a sly look on her face. “If you think you're able. Help would be good, then I could squeeze them into this bra.” Her unicorn didn’t need any further encouragement. He practically galloped over, closing the distance between them in the bedroom and he started suckling on her heavy teats like a hungry kitten, making sweet little ‘hmmm’ noises as he did so. “Mmmmm,” as she had come to realise, “Your pony lips are much softer than griffon beaks.”

Ten minutes later, Brightstar did make sure to drink his fill, taking his time to empty both heavy teats so that they were even, the royal blue stallion at last pulled away with a lick of his lips. “I suppose I'm just your soft pony, Mistress.”

The dark grey griffon considered that for a moment. “You were pretty hard during the birth. Happy you've tendered up!” she said with a giggle. “Now, let me see if these teats of mine will squeeze into this thing…” she tried again to put on the bra. This time, with her milky teats emptied, she managed it with little effort, but she still put on a good show.

Brightstar did indeed applaud the good show that his Mistress put on, aware that it was entirely for his benefit. Once she was dressed in her cape, he then levitated over his pale grey collar to you so she could put it on him. He was careful to not actually touch it, though. “Last thing to put on, Mistress.”

Solemnly, Moonbeak took the collar from the glowing yellow aura and, for a moment, she played with it, turning it over in her claws. It was such a nondescript, plain, simple thing, really. ‘Strange’, she thought, not for the first time, ‘the power this thing has’. That thought in mind, she carefully placed it around Brightstar’s neck, buckling it in place. “I'm expecting a very bad pony tonight, and that you'll be good at it.”

“Of course, Mistress.” Brightstar stood once he felt the weight of the collar around his neck – he had bowed for easy access – and smoothed his black mane with a hoof. One thing was niggling at the back of his mind. “Are you sure we won't get away playing with another griffon? This is Filly, Mistress.”

For a response to that, Moonbeak carefully selected eye roll number one. The one she reserved for very special occasions. She deemed this one of them. After all, she knew perfectly well that her pet knew exactly why they couldn’t play with another griffon. “You can put a griff in Filly, but you can't put Filly in a griff.”

“I know, I just thought the usual fight-to-the-death-honour battle might be reduced to a light maiming, seeing as we aren’t in Griffonstone.”

“You want to be police. Why do you think so many griffs live in Filly?”

Brightstar knew the answer, of course he did. He wasn’t the star of his class for nothing. “Why, it's because Tribal laws stand up in local courts, as per Interspecies Law subject five paragraphs seven, eight and nine, Mistress!” he answered in much the same way as he did in the academy teaching rooms.

“So,” Moonbeak nodded, “if you did something that would warrant death in Griffonstone, would the courts here be much upset if you were killed by a griffon?”

“Point taken, I'll be careful whom I chose to play with, Mistress.”

“Again you show wisdom. Momma may be okay with frozen meat, but I like mine fresh and warm.” She affectionately nuzzled her fiancé, lover and pet before kissing his lips. “Need a ride down to the van?”

“Yes please, Mistress.” Brightstar kissed the tip of his Mistress’s sharp yellow beak. “I am unable to cast with the collar on, after all.” At that, Moonbeak simply shrugged her shoulders and turned so he could climb up on her back. Once he was in place, she walked through the treehouse, turning off the lights as she went. Outside, she locked up her front door and flew down to where her van was waiting. She was certain this night was going to be perfect!

As soon as Moonbeak landed on the sidewalk by her driver’s side door of her battered looking white van – really though all the rust patches were merely paint effects made to look like the van was a thousand years old – Brightstar hopped off of her back and, illuminated by the street lights, he hastened to open the door for her. Straightaway she got it and waited for him to get in before firing up her engine and setting off. “Just so you know, I may bloody you up a bit tonight.”

Brightstar bit his lip, the promise of the pain to come arousing him greatly. “D-Do you promise to, Mistress?”

Steering from Horsehead Square onto one street then the next, Moonbeak moved her clawed hand from the gearshift to her pony’s leg and poked at his fur until she pierced the skin underneath. She held it there until she drew a bead blood, which she duly licked clean. “You are a sweet pony.”

“Aah!” Brightstar gasped and shuddered with pleasure that the pain provided. “I'm your sweet pony, Mistress.”

After that, Moonbeak drove on the rest of the way to Chora’s Den in silence, but she certainly did have a happy contented look on her face all the way there. Even when she pulled into the parking lot, she had the look of a kitten on the Feast of the Long Night which, Brightstar knew, was the griffon’s winter solstice festival celebrated on the longest night of the year.

The unicorn knew from his studies and his time in Griffonstone that the Feast of the Long Night most likely stemmed from a community need to share resources during the leanest hunting season; although in modern times the holiday was marked by a large feast, exchanging of gifts and a tradition of charitable giving. Moonbeak looked that happy as she parked up and killed her engine. “Last chance to safe word out, Star.”

“Thank you, Mistress, but I want to play as much as you do.” Brightstar replied, and while he appreciated the concern and the opportunity to not do this, the exhibitionist in him really wanted to be the centre of attention. No sooner had he said that though, than Moonbeak rolled her eyes and glanced at her door. “Oh!” he immediately scooted out and around to the driver's side to open it for her. “Forgive me, Mistress.”

Moonbeak exhaled a very deep and heartfelt sigh as she got out of her van and she motioned for her pet to lead on. Brightstar, taking his cue, gave her a little bow and obediently he led the way inside the Den. Inside, it was very much like Trixie's Place, with; dancers on the central dance floor, a number of private booths along the sides, there were bars and tables situated along the edge of the dance space. It was 'fun', though it was far more neon and techno than Brightstar cared for. “There’s much eye candy in here.” Moonbeak observed, casting an eye around the mixed species in the Den, “I don't think you said anything about that. Make sure we get a center of attention table.”

Brightstar blushed, just enough so that the griffon could tell. “Oh, didn't I, Mistress?” the young police recruit grinned and, as he led the way inside, the whole dance area looking rather like a Countess Coloratura performance with all its gaudy flashing lights, smiled and flicked his black tail up to give her a good view.

When they were seated at a table at the edge of the dance floor, not too far from the bar and in a prime position once the play started, Moonbeak snapped her talons to summon the attention of a passing waiter. “Menus.” She requested simply of the earth pony stallion. “Draft beer for me, and something for the pony.”

“I'll have a dalwhinny, please.” Brightstar placed his order for his favourite whiskey, though he affected a disinterested tone as he did so. To further aid him getting into character, he turned and scanned the crowd for likely candidates. He did spot a couple of likely young mares over at the bar, but he discounted them. They’d used ponies before. Turning to the dance floor, he found his target, an attractive, electric blue minotaur cow, her hair done up in dreadlocks and possessed of rather impressively sized breasts.

Moonbeak caught the tone of her pet’s voice and, knowing what it meant, she tracked where he was looking to see which one she should be most offended by. Her emerald green eyes went wide as saucers as she beheld the young, pretty, big breasted and young specimen he had chosen. She leant over the table, and whispered, “Dare you…” she let that hang in the air, her claw tapping at some minotaur dishes on the menu the waiter had left.

Brightstar smiled conspiratoriously. In kind, he leant in and whispered, “I do dare, hmmmm, those dishes to look young and tasty, don’t they?”

Moments later, the earth pony waiter returned with their drinks and set them on the table. Before he could speak, or do anything else for that matter, Moonbeak spoke up to place her order. “I'll have the eggplant, tripe, and goat cheese dish. The fried okra as a starter.” She gave a steely eyed look to her partner.

Glancing down the menu, Brightstar made his choice. “I'll have the Filly Cheesesteak, Minos style please.” It had been a week or two since he’d had a cheesesteak, and he’d never had one Minos style before. He figured one in the style of the minotaur’s homeland would wind up his partner.

Nodding, the waiting pony took menus and departed. “Not all that adventurous, but a good try.” Moonbeak commented, casually inspecting her claw. She knew what he was doing, and she hated to admit it, but it was working. “Have you had tripe?”

Once the waiter had departed to fill their orders, Brightstar’s yellow eyes wandered freely back over to the shapely electric blue minotaur. She was certainly attractive, the way she danced and her parts jiggled and bounced the way they did was most appealing. ‘Hmmm....she’s not as muscly as Brass...Moony would rip her apart I bet.’

“I asked you a question.” Moonbeak stated coldly, ice in her tone bringing Brightstar’s attention back to her, albeit reluctantly. “So,” she said, “you ignore me to stare at some other slut?”

“Yeah well, when you say something worth listening to, I'll listen to you,” Brightstar replied snidely, idly waving his hoof dismissively at her as he stared at the bouncing breasts of the dancing young minotaur.

‘How dare he ignore me‽’ Moonbeak snarled silently to herself. The fact that he was doing what she had wanted was neither here nor there at this point. Did he have to stare at a cow so…‘endowed’ as that one? In one gulp, she downed half of her beer and slammed the glass down. “The only thing you listen to is the ringing in your ears.” She said in an even voice.

Brightstar took a much more delicate sip of his whiskey and, not bothering to turn around, answered. “Love, do calm down, I'm trying to enjoy the view here.”

Annoyed, Moonbeak tapped her claws on the table but, for the moment, she said nothing. Presently, the waiter arrived with their food. “Is everything alright, ma’am?” he asked, having been a waiter for many years he could sense the underlying tension between the two diners.

“Soon yes,” Moonbeak replied with a very forced smile plastered on her face. “Let me see what your chef has turned out for us.” In contrast, Brightstar’s attention was firmly focused on the pretty young minotaur, he even gave her a most salacious wink, not even bothering to look at the food. Suddenly very jealous indeed, Moonbeak jabbed at his fetlock, hard enough to draw blood. “Your food is getting cold.”

“Oow!” Brightstar exclaimed, not expecting the very sharp pain lancing through his leg so soon into the play. He was unaware of the real jealousy coursing through his fiancé. “What the hay is your problem? I'll get to it, ok?” he asked, a little bit grumpily, he picked up his utensils and delicately picked at his food, though he looked solely at the minotaur as he did so.

Moonbeak glared pointy daggers at the electric blue minotaur cow, at her flat belly and her perfect breasts and pictured her without any skin. “I have no problem,” she fought to keep her shrill voice even. “I was just deeply concerned your food would grow colder than the hot number you are looking at!” she said, purposefully loud enough for the minotaur to hear.

Brightstar laughed and took a bite of his cheesesteak. “Heh, already happened, she's hot. You should take notes, love.”

The minotaur in question, having heard the strange griffon talk about her, turned to look and was treated to a trademark glare for her troubles. “You do fall for big tits, don’t you?” Moonbeak shot back, resentment colouring her voice as she ate her food.

“Hmhmm, yeah, if you say so…” Brightstar commented, though he made a show of not listening as he went so far as to blow a kiss to the minotaur who looked like she was unsure if she was confused or flattered. Although it was just a game he was playing, the unicorn was imagining sliding his hard cock in between those delicious looking breasts.

‘You hateful, hateful bitch!’ Moonbeak thought with a barely concealed snarl. She doubted at this point if her pet would hear her anyway over the techno music, the strobe lighting and the hypnotising sway of the cow’s hips. Feeling her temper rise, along with gouging little grooves into the table top with her talons, Moonbeak reached over and grabbed his jaw, turning his head to face her. Angrily, she squeezed. As soon as his mouth opened, she stuffed a clawful of tripe in there. “I thought I'd be nice and share!” A claw did slice his lip as she stuffed the food in. Once that was done, she let go.

Brightstar struggled to not spit the tripe out and, after a moment’s effort, he swallowed it, licking his lips to taste the blood. By Luna he was so turned on right now! The other dancers as well as a few diners were looking at them, as was the cute minotaur. ‘Oh blessed Stormclaw preserve me for what I'm about to do...’ he summoned all his nerve for what he was about to say. “Love please, thank you for sharing, but do you have to be so hormonal? It's most unattractive in you older griffs.”

‘He said WHAT to me? To me‽” stunned and amazed, Moonbeak narrowed her eyes dangerously, like she was sizing up her prey. Not bothering to suppress a snarl, she hooked a talon straight through his left ear and pulled sharply upon the new piercing, so that he had to come forward or the ear would tear. “Sorry, in my old age I've grown a little deaf. What. Did. You. Say?”

Brightstar winced in pain, a proper erection quickly forming between his legs both from the pain in his ear and the dancing he was watching. “I said,” in as confident and derisive a voice as he could muster, “old buzzards need to be careful lest a younger specimen take their place!”

“That’s what I thought you said.” Moonbeak’s voice was even and calm, dangerously so. With a deadly glint in her eye, she removed her claw without tearing her lover’s ear any further and she sat back down. While outwardly she was the picture of serenity, inside she was crying, broken and devastated. ‘Ho-How c-could he say that?’ Moonbeak thought sadly as she took a bit of food and a drink of her beer. ‘Goldie never said things like that when we used to play…’

“That's what I said,” Brightstar said loudly, ensuring that all the eyes within a few feet were focused on them. “Now, why don't you calm down, hmm? Don't want a scene do we?” That said, he was perfectly aware that they were the scene. Just as he liked it. He sat and returned to very obviously ogling the dancing minotaur, even whistling and unashamedly cheering her on.

Moonbeak, breaking apart on the inside with every mouthful she took and with every second that passed that her stallion cheered the minotaur. She had never ever felt so small and belittled as she did right then. This was so far outside what she had been expecting, she didn’t even know if they were playing right now. ‘Why does he have to leer at her?’ she thought miserably.

She did nothing but eat until her food was nearly gone and she had finished her beer. She was about to say the safe word herself to end the game, but unfortunately Brightstar had just whistled and shouted something quite lewd at the dancing cow.

That did it.

Pushing herself up to rear above the table, she reached across and, as hard as she physically could, she slapped Brightstar with an open claw straight across his muzzle. The sheer force of the slap, delivered with all her might, rocked the stunned unicorn in his seat. Before he could fall from it, Moonbeak grabbed his collar with her other clawed hand, jerking him back.

With the grey collar seized in her claw, she sliced it clean in half with her exceptionally sharp talons. “Fine then!” she screeched at the top of her lungs, her voice heard even over the pounding music. As angry as she was, and she was very, very angry, she couldn’t disguise the hurt, sadness and pain in her green eyes. “Maybe your minotaur slut will clean your wounds!” With all the ire in her, she tossed the collar at the minotaur.

“I'm sure Brass Knuckles would love to hear about tonight!” With that, Moonbeak slapped him a second time, this time with the back of her claw. The force of the slap on the opposite side of his face to the first, which had started to bleed, knocked Brightstar from his chair. Without a backwards glance, Moonbeak stormed out of Chora’s Den.

Thanks to the sheer force of the slap, Brightstar landed on his back on the dance floor. To say he was stunned would be an understatement. Moonbeak had never hit him like that before, then again, she hadn’t ever looked at him like that before either. He knew he’d bucked up. Badly. After several moments, during which the watching crowd went back to what they were doing, the minotaur wandered over to see if he needed some help. “Hey there, cute stuff. You need a place to sleep it off?”

Looking up at the frankly beautiful cow, and her perfect breasts, Brightstar was suddenly worried. ‘Ooh...I hadn't considered this...’ This had never happened before. All at once, he really wanted his fiancé back. He resolved to get out of here sharpish, and to let her down as easy as he could. “Ah, no, thank you that's quite kind of you to offer though, miss.”

“What?” the minotaur’s nose flared in anger. That she had been used began to dawn on her. “I'm good enough to look at and leer at, but I’m not good enough to touch?”

‘Aaah horseapples!’ Brightstar thought, frantically he tried to fish in his mind for a non-offensive way of getting out of this in one piece and without being gored to death. Unfortunately his brain had deserted him at that point. Now that she had gone, all he could see was Moonbeak’s hurt face. “Um…ah, may I at least buy you a drink, miss?”

Since the unicorn was still on the ground, the minotaur placed a cloven hoof squarely on his chest, right in the centre of his uniform shirt. “Does she really know Brass Knuckles, pony?” she asked with a sickly sweet smile.

“Yes, she does, rather well, in fact.”

Just like that, the cow’s sweet smile turned into the most unpleasant thing that Brightstar had ever seen in his young life. “Well, so do I!” She then used the unicorn as a stepping stone to step over him and continue on her way to the stairs and the upper floor. “Maybe I can get you a ticket for your ride to Tartarus!”

The earth pony waiter chose that moment to appear at Brightstar’s side. “Your bill sir, I'm sorry, but we are fresh out of all desserts.”

“Ow...” Brightstar rubbed his chest, sure there would be a bruise there tomorrow. ‘Well, I suppose I earned that, didn’t I?’ he thought as he looked up and took the bill. “Thank you, I think I rather got my just desserts. Whiskey for the road?”

“Only at the bar.” The waiter did help the fallen unicorn up to his hooves. “You can pay that and get the whiskey there. There is a good hotel two doors down, I think you’ll need it.”

“Thank you,” Brightstar took the bill he had been given to the bar, he resolved to pay that up and get a whiskey to steady his raging nerves. The sliced collar he chose to take home as a souvenir.

~ ~ ~

Moonbeak walked out to the van and stood by the driver’s side door. She shook her head as she remembered no pony was going to open it for her. Once in the van she looked at her left claws. The blood on them had already dried. She licked at the blood as she waited. ‘What if he really was attracted to that cow? She did have huge tits.’ Her claws cleaned she started the van. Even dry his blood still tasted sweet. A soft sigh escaped her beak as no Brightstar followed her out of the bar. Moonbeak put the van in gear and headed home.

Once in the house it seemed even lonelier that it did during the week. With both Athena and Zephyr over at her mom’s it was quiet. Moonbeak sat on the couch and looked at the front door. ‘He is right about one thing. I’m old. So much older than him. He speaks well, and even acts like a griffon. Even griffons can grow tired of a mate and cast them aside.’ She closed her eyes to hold back the tears. The thrill of the moment at the restaurant was gone, now replaced by uncertainty.

‘We’ve played this game many times, and he always came home.’ With another sigh Moonbeak got off the couch and went into the kitchen. There the ice cream called out to her. With a bowl full, she returned to the couch to wait. ‘How long has it been? Gino’s is a lot closer than that Chora’s is. Maybe that is why it is taking so long.’ She ate the ice cream and waited.

The spoon rattled around in the empty bowl. ‘He still isn’t home. I’ve been on my own before, so I can do it again. Momma will kill him though.’ Moonbeak put the empty bowl in the sink. ‘I love him.’ Another sigh escaped her. ‘I love him enough to play this game. Do I love him enough to share my insecurities?’ Moonbeak laughed out loud. “No, I’m the Mistress and he is the pet. Live with it.” She debated waiting on the couch or going to bed, and then the door opened.

~ ~ ~

The cool chill of the night bit into Brightstar's fur as he left Chora's Den. The royal blue unicorn rubbed his chest where the minotaur - who he had learned was named Liara - had stepped on him. He was in no doubt there'd be a bruise there. Not that he didn't deserve it. All in all, as he shivered, his police cadet uniform precious little protection from the chill wind coming from the Celestial Sea, he supposed he was lucky Moonbeak hadn't done more than pierce his ear.

The first thing he noted in the dark, almost empty, parking lot was that his Mistress's white van was not there. 'Of course it's not,' he thought grimly, 'Why would it be?' He had waited the allotted twenty minutes before leaving the Den, now he was faced with a thirty to forty minute walk home.

Brightstar quickly abandoned the dark parking lot for the relative safety of the sidewalk. At least there it was well lit with street lights. Ever since that gang pegasus had tried to mug them that one time a little while back, he innately distrusted parking lots. As he walked along the street, not unusually devoid of life seeing as it was almost ten, he reflected on their 'game'.

'I did everything Moony wanted,' Brightstar thought, thinking of his ruined collar in pieces in his saddlebag, 'So why do I feel like crap? She even gave me the opportunity to back out and I said no!' He kept telling himself, with every hoof step that bought him closer to home, that he had just done what Moonbeak had requested of him, that it had been her who had pushed to play the way they had, just like all the times before tonight.

So why did the young unicorn feel like utter garbage?

Deep down, he knew why. Now that the thrill of the scene they had played out in Chora's Den had worn off somewhat, he was able to look back with the perfect 20/20 vision of hindsight. He saw, in his mind's eye, the hurt and sadness mixed in with the shock and anger that had clouded Moonbeak's perfect face.

That wasn't the face of one enjoying a consensual roleplay. His fiancé, lover and friend had seemed genuinely hurt by the unkind things he had said to her. He hadn't meant a word of them, of course he hadn't, he only said them because that had been what his Mistress had wanted. Even the whiskey he had drank afterwards hadn't been able to wash out the bad taste in his mouth from uttering those hurtful things.

What was he to do, though? He was at a complete loss. He did know, as he turned onto Horsehead Square, that he never ever wanted to be the cause of those anguished tears again.

Brightstar wanted to call Air Raid, but he knew that she and his sister were in Cloudsdale visiting Cyclone for the weekend. Air Raid had thought the time away from Canterlot to be a good idea since Darkstar had made yet another attempt on her life.

'They're probably all asleep by now...' he thought as he approached the dark treehouse. Still, had he called them, he knew what Cyclone's advice would be.

"We need a conversation," he said aloud to the air as he prepared his teleport spell.

~ ~ ~

Brightstar’s arrival at the large single storey treehouse was heralded, as it usually was, by the bright yellow flash of magic, the loud cracking noise that was, in fact, a tunnel being ripped through space linking where Brightstar was and where the unicorn was now. ‘Oh buck…’ he thought as the smell of ozone wafted up his nose, ‘the lights are off...this isn't good...’

Hesitantly, after taking a moment to collect himself on the specially marked teleporting circle, Brightstar hoofed the front door open and he took a step inside the dark interior. It was as he feared. Everything was dark, pitch black. There were no sounds, nothing, except the unmistakable smell of chocolate ice cream. “Mistress?” he asked, his ears were sharp and ready for any swooping attack.

In the dark, at the open bedroom door, Moonbeak paused. Turning to face the main door, the night and the stars barely illuminated the pony who had entered. Softly, almost inaudibly, she said, “You came home.”

‘That's not her ‘Mistress’ voice…’ was the first thought that entered Brightstar’s head. The second thought, that very nearly broke his heart, was the soft, timid and scared nature of that voice. If any more confirmation of just how badly he had bucked up was needed, that was it. “Well, but…of course I did.” Was all he could think to say.

“I...” Moonbeak didn’t know what to do or think. She had been convinced, while she had been comfort eating the ice cream, that her pony would’ve wound up in the arms and breasts of that minotaur. Now he was here, at home, like they were still playing that infernal game. “She...by Stormclaw’s Honour, you did.”

“Moonbeak,” As Brightstar lit his horn for an illumination spell, seeing as it wa still dark in the treehouse, he put a name to the tone of her voice. Hurt. “This is my home, with you, of course I came home.”

“For...For how long?” Moonbeak asked tentatively, not wanting to hear the answer.

With his horn lighting up the treehouse interior as he walked up to the stricken griffon, he could tell she had been crying when he nuzzled her cheek. That just served to make him feel even more wretched than he already was, if at all possible. “Until my mortal vessel withers and dies, and my soul enters the Grey Spires, Moonbeak.”

That gave Moonbeak cause for pause. For Brightstar to swear on the afterlife for the griffon honoured dead, where all true warriors went after they died to fight an eternal battle against their greatest enemies, was no small thing. Still, that didn’t erase what had transpired at Chora’s Den. “Tonight...Goldcrest and I did this, but tonight, your words cut me like the sharpest talon. I...You spoke truth.”

Now it was Brightstar’s turn to be cut like the sharpest talon. A talon straight to his heart. “I spoke dreadful, hurtful lies to you, because I thought that was what you wanted. I cannot describe how sorry I am for making you feel that way…”

There was remorse in his voice. Moonbeak’s sharp ears could detect it a mile away. “No, I could hear truth in your words. Goldie didn't...” she trailed off as she sniffed back another tear, “When we played this game, there were no insults, just his eyes would wander and I'd get his attention till I grew tired of it and let him know in sharp terms. He liked the pain and I liked giving it, but he...he didn't hurt me with words, and I'm sorry.”

Brightstar realised what he said next would determine everything. Namely, everything he stood to lose. “Moonbeak please, there was no truth in what I said to you. I sincerely thought it was part of the game. I am to be blood bound to you. You and the kittens are my life. I love you all more than my next breath…”

Suddenly, Moonbeak interrupted him by walking past, her tail brushing against his lips. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe him, but words meant little to her right then. All that mattered were actions, and she was determined to see what mattered. “Come with me, then.”

Silently, Brightstar nodded and turned to follow after his fiancé, extinguishing his light spell once he was outside in the dark night. ‘I've dishonoured her…’ he thought miserably with every step he took.

Without bothering to wait for him, Moonbeak spread her wide powerful grey wings and flew down to the van but, once there, she did wait at the driver's door. Outside, Brightstar teleported down and he obediently – more from habit than anything else - opened the driver's door with a bow. Once Moonbeak was in, the royal blue stallion got in the passenger side.

As Moonbeak fired up the old engine, and they had listened to the regular backfire and belch of exhaust smoke, the old griffon drove off, remaining silent while she negotiated the dark Fillydelphia roads. After a few minutes of travel, it soon became apparent to Brightstar that they weren’t headed for Astraea’s place.

The fact that they weren’t going to Moonbeak’s mother’s calmed the unicorn somewhat, at least he wasn’t going to become food. Tonight, at any rate. As they drove along though, he did have a sneaky idea where they were going. “Moonbeak,” he said, his mouth dry and unable to stand the overbearing silence any longer, “I have dishonoured you. I will do what you demand to remove that stain.”

Resolutely, Moonbeak said nothing, instead electing to stare out at the road ahead. Thankfully, there wasn’t much traffic at eight in the evening. Though she was quiet, it soon became apparent to Brightstar where they were going. Judging by the route, there was only one place she was going. ‘The MiAC store?’ the unicorn thought, ‘huh...I hadn't expected that...’

Still not saying a word, Moonbeak parked her white van and she just sat there in the very empty parking lot. She offered up a silent prayer that the MiAC store was still open. After a few moments of complete and utter silence, Brightstar suddenly realised what he should be doing. He shook his head and, cursing his foolishness, he got out and opened Moonbeak’s door for her.

As soon as her door was opened, Moonbeak got out, but she didn't wait for her partner. She walked directly into the store without looking back. Brightstar, after closing the driver's door, followed her rapidly disappearing rear into the store, immensely curious as to what his penance will be. Inside, the griffon went directly to the collar section and she selected a gray collar.

Holding the almost perfect replica of the collar she had sliced in half, she turned to face her lover. “Brightstar,” she started, summoning what remained of her nerve and her dignity, “would you join your blood with mine, and grow stronger from the joining?”

Whatever he was expecting, Brightstar was not expecting an abridged version of the Binding Ceremony. He answered without a thought with the correct response. The same response that she had given him at Gustav’s. “I would be honoured, Moonbeak, that my blood may be strengthened with yours.”

‘He said yes!’ Moonbeak fought to steady herself, to keep up her façade. Still, she couldn’t keep the giddy thought from her mind, ‘He said yes!’ While internally she was performing several backflips, she forced herself to remain calm as she placed the new collar around his neck. That done, she leant forward to nip at his ear. She lapped up the spot of blood there then she looked at his horn. “Your horn is rounded at the tip, not too good for drawing blood.”

“Aaaah...” Brightstar hissed at the sweet pain that lanced from his ear straight to his head and all the pleasure centres therein. He knew perfectly well his horn couldn’t draw blood as it was but, over the course of his police training, he had learnt a few things. “If I may be allowed magic, Moonbeak, I can do something about that.”

Moonbeak touched the index talon of her left claw to his throat. “This collar has no rules. Yet.”

With permission given, Brightstar lit his horn and, after a second's concentration, he formed the glowing yellow light into a solid cone around his horn, a cone with a very sharp point at the tip. This was a spell of Indigo Zap’s own design, that had been approved by the police department, as a last resort when a unicorn found themselves in a combat situation. “Now it has a point, Mistress.”

Impressed, Moonbeak held up her forearm to her fiancé’s now sharp horn. Brightstar moved his head slightly, so that the magical tip pierced her arm. The moment a bead of blood appeared he lapped it up. The griffon sighed deeply, “I love you, Brightstar, but I'm so unsure of my own worth.”

“I love you, Moonbeak, and you are worth so very much to me.” He kissed the tip of her yellow beak. “But I am aware my words are cheap unless my actions back them up.”

“True.” Moonbeak nodded in agreement. “Let me pay for that and we can test your words back at the house.” She licked his cheek. “My tasty pony.”

As she headed for the counter, which was staffed by a very disinterested earth pony stallion who was watching the clock for nine p.m. when he could finally close up and go home, Brightstar followed after her, deep in thought. ‘That look she had back in the Den, I know where I've seen it before, on Darkie's face when they took mum away from us. Later...we really need that conversation…’ as he thought that, he resolved to comply with whatever penance she deemed fit. It was the least he could do.

Honour demanded it.

Moonbeak paid for the new collar that didn't need to be wrapped as her pet was willing to wear it. She motioned for him to lead the way to the van which, obediently, Brightstar did, at once. He even made sure to keep his black tail up high, as he knew his Mistress liked, so that she had a clear view of his undercarriage. The royal blue unicorn led the way out of the store and to the van where he opened the driver's door with a low bow. “Thank you,” Moonbeak granted him a smile before getting in and starting her van.

Brightstar quickly got in the passenger’s side and, as soon as his seat belt was on, they drove for home. With the van in motion, he ran a hoof along his new collar. “Thank you Mistress, for my new collar. It felt…strange, coming home without it.” On the drive back home, Moonbeak was as quiet as she was on the way to the MiAC store, although she looked a lot happier than she did before.

~ ~ ~

Once she pulled into the parking lot at the base of her treehouse, Moonbeak didn’t say a word, not one word, when Brightstar opened her door for her. As quietly as she had been on the whole drive back, she flew up to the house but she did deign to wait for her pet to open the door. Brightstar, checking the van was locked up tight – this was Filly, after all – teleported up and, after opening the door, followed his Mistress inside.

Flicking on just the living room lights, the grey griffon walked straight over to her couch and flopped down on in with a somewhat tired groan. She felt she had earned the exhausted sigh she let out, it had been a quite difficult day. Moonbeak took one look at her pet stood in the doorway and wiggled her toes at him. “My paws are sore.”

“I can do something about that, Mistress!” Brightstar knew he shouldn’t appear too eager, but he couldn’t help it. There was no way in Stormclaw’s Grey Spires that he could ever resist those toes. Kneeling before her, he took a moment to feast his eyes on those wondrous paws and then, as sensuously as he could, he rubbed his hooves over her leathery soles.

Moonbeak slumped into the comfortable couch cushions, another sigh leaving her beak. This one though was one of pleasure. Her pony did know how to treat her paws. Still, she knew she had to talk to him. She owed him an explanation. “One day, years ago, Goldie told me he wanted to earn his bleeding. I asked how, and he said he should do something that would earn it back in the homeland.”

She felt Brightstar tense up ever so slightly when she began speaking, but he didn’t pause in his massage, instead he listened, really listened, as he pressed his hooves to her soles and her heels. It was heaven. “I thought of many things he could do for that, but he wanted it public. So it had to be something I wouldn't outright kill him over, but still enough that I would punish him in public.”

Brightstar, very gently massaging the balls of her paws, muzzle so very close but not actually touching, breathed in her sweaty scent. “I do understand, Moony....aaah, Mistress.” He corrected himself, but she didn’t seem to notice. “I too enjoy the public aspect of our play. I like being watched.”

Moonbeak continued as though he hadn’t said anything. “He suggested inattention. Letting his eyes wander to another, but when I did something to chastise him, he'd apologize, only to let his eyes wander away again. It would get to the point where I'd publicly humiliate him, and he'd be all apologetic, but I'd storm off.”

“I'd wait at the van while he did damage control, and paid the bill.” Moonbeak sighed, somewhere between pleasure and regret, for Brightstar’s hooves were literally magic on her paws. “I'd only wait five minutes though, after that he had to find his own way home. I don't think I ever explained to you just what we did, and why.”

Moonbeak paused a moment before she spoke again, steeling herself and collecting her thoughts. “He wanted to be bloodied, and I liked the taste of his blood.” She giggled at that. “I like the taste of yours too. Goldie was never mean or insulting, but always apologetic. He did egg me on though as he looked at the eye candy.”

“But…with you...” now, when she paused, the silence was almost deafening. “Brightstar, I'm a decade and a bit older than you, and the eye candy you look at is really very nice. It…Understand, it was your attitude today that put me in a bad place.” She leant forwards and ran her index talon of her left claw along his new collar, a collar that did not have rules, yet. “This commits you to me,” she then ran the same talon along her griffon gold necklace. “And this commits me to you.”

Brightstar did understand. He got it, very clearly. “Aah, no, I don't think you have ever have explained all this,” he paused for a moment and rubbed his nose over the sweaty soles of her paws. “Moonbeak, I put you in a bad place because I didn't think. I will apologise again, and submit myself to the blood penance for my thoughtless actions. Mum would be ashamed of me. That look in your eye, I've seen it before, just one time.”

“I was ready to carry on without you.” Moonbeak giggled at the touch of his nose to her paws, though she was curious to what her pony was referring. “My only fear was what my mother would have done to you when she found out.”

“By griffon law I should go to her, confess my actions and take her judgement,” Brightstar said before taking a long, slow lick up her whole left paw from heel to toes. “I saw that look on Darkie's face, that day when they took mum away from us. Hurt, confused, scared. She didn't know what was going on. I cannot believe I was the cause of that look in you.”

“I was confused, as I thought you were rejecting me.” Moonbeak confessed as the unicorn licked up her other paw. Stormclaw, but he was good! “This went a lot further than it had before. I had doubts before, but not like tonight.”

“I could never reject you, Moonbeak,” said Brightstar as he paid very close attention to licking the pads of her toes. “I love you with all of my being.”

The soft sigh that came from Moonbeak was almost a sob. “So did Goldie, and he is gone. Now you're here, and Athena does love you. I'm sure Zephyr will too, as do I. I'll not stand in your way, but I will worry.”

Brightstar didn’t want to guess what that admission had cost her. More than a lot, for sure. “I'm here,” he licked in between each toe, before sucking on each one in turn, largest to the smallest. “I will always be here, 'till I journey to the Grey Spires. I know my words must sound cheap, but I will prove with my actions. Forgive me, please?”

Noting his swollen lip, a gift she had left him with, Moonbeak leant in for a kiss and then quickly she nipped his lip and lapped at the fresh coppery blood. “You are still the tastiest pony I love.”

The royal blue unicorn shuddered happily, with an aroused sigh thrown in for good measure. “Bloody me, please Mistress. I do so love the feeling of your claws in me.”

“You are far too eager to pay your penance, Brightstar.” She scanned him with her sharp green eyes, her griffon in a pony’s clothing. “Seems you want to be rewarded rather than punished, hmm?”

“I definitely need to be punished Mistress. I was such a bad, bad pony…”

Moonbeak interrupted him by licking him all over his face, dragging her tongue over his muzzle, his nose and everywhere else. “You were, then I wasn't the best griffon either.”

“The fault was mine, Mistress.” Brightstar insisted on taking all the blame for this, as he sucked on the toes of her other paw, taking one claw-tipped digit in his mouth after the other.

Leaning forward once more, Moonbeak nipped at his ear where her claw had poked a hole clean through it and she lapped hungrily at the blood with her warm wet tongue. The taste was most arousing. “Yes, yes it was, pony.” She didn’t argue as she moved over a bit to run her beak along the ridges of his horn and, reaching the rounded tip, she took it in her mouth.

“Aaaaaah...” Brightstar shuddered with a little barely contained excitement as his horn disappeared into her beak, wet tongue and hot breath making it tingle. Although, when one horn vanished, a second appeared between his legs, his arousal impossible to hide.

As Moonbeak deepthroated his horn again and again, all the while slathering her tongue around the ridges, she delighted in the adorable little whimpers her pet was making. She was determined to keep it up until she got to see the light show she had seen in the past. Thankfully, given her unicorn was already aroused, it didn’t take long. “Ooooh...aah M-Mistress...” he moaned, his tongue hanging out of his mouth and, after several moments, his horn started to vibrate and glow, shooting off the fireworks of an impending orgasm.

With a very, very satisfied look all over her face, Moonbeak removed herself from Brightstar’s horn and sat back on the couch. “Know what? My toes feel neglected.”

As she sat back on the couch, Brightstar had a devastated look on his face as his light show faded away like a cock softening with the loss of stimulus. “But...M-Mistress...I was close!” Still, he went back to licking her toes, he pressed both paws together and he sucked on both of the largest toes at once.

“Oh, yes, you are very close to my paws. I like that.”

“Ooooh...” Now the bit dropped, Brightstar pressed her paws together and swirled his tongue around and between each toe. In response, Moonbeak unfurled her powerful grey wings, reaching up with her primary feathers to stroke and caress his warm tingling horn.

“MmMMmmmm!” Brightstar moaned, his horn quickly starting to glow and vibrate with each stroke, so much so that after a few moments he stopped licking and kissing her toes and he moaned when a few drips of pre-cum appeared at the head of his iron hard cock.

Again, Moonbeak continued to fellate his horn until it started to spark just like before. Again, she pulled off and smirked, watching the multi-coloured light show fade away. “Oh, my poor forgotten toes…”

Brightstar let out a very strained whimper as once more the sparks died away. While one faded though, his erection was throbbing painfully between his legs at being edged for a second time. “Mi-Mistress please,” he begged pitifully, “please can I cum?”

Smiling cruelly, Moonbeak said nothing, but she did wiggle her toes tauntingly at her pet. The way he begged made her pussy so very wet and slick. Brightstar took the hint and, after another whimper, he went back to worshipping her wiggling toes with a vengeance. Moonbeak started to pant, she was very much enjoying this! That, and she got so turned on from teasing and edging him.

“Please Mistreeeeess!” Brightstar begged. He kept on begging and begging and, after the fourth time of almost achieving his much-wanted orgasm had been denied him, the royal blue unicorn was grovelling on the floor kissing her toes in order to earn his release.

Moonbeak took the worship as was her due as a Mistress. She did however see the very desperate state her lover and pet was in and knew he wouldn’t last much longer. Either he’d pass out from having the pleasure centres of his brain overloaded and denied or he’d cum. It was time for the endgame, as it were. “Fill me pony,” she commanded imperiously, “I want you in me belly to belly. Now.”

“Yes Mistress!” Brightstar didn’t need any further encouragement to heed his Mistress’s command. He didn’t even bother to wipe away the drool from his edgings as he surged upwards from the floor. Getting into position straightaway on his hind hooves, the very horny and aroused stallion entered Moonbeak, his throbbing erection sliding neatly into her sopping wet pussy as he lifted up her legs so that her paws were either side of his head.

Once he was inside her, Moonbeak used her wings to stroke her lover everywhere she could reach. Brightstar let out a low highly pleasured moan as a wingtip stroked under his tail, the primary feather dancing around his asshole as he gave a thrust of his hips and he hilted inside of her, medial ring and all. “AAaaaAAAH!” Moonbeak screeched, her head lolling on the couch. “Not t-too soon, pony. Make me cum and then you too can cum!”

“Ha...haaaahmmm y-yes Mistress!” Brightstar moaned, his voice full of lust, though, as he thrust inside her hard, he tried really very desperately to think of police process and parking violations in order to stave off the climax he knew was not very far away.

With each hard thrust, his medial ring stretched her pussy, making the griffon wail and screech with pleasure, especially as his flat head was exciting her G-spot every time. Already on the brink, aroused so much by edging her lover and hearing him beg for release, Moonbeak didn’t take long to climax. Several deep thrusts, one that tapped her cervix later, and she shouted out, “Briiiigghttttstaaaaaaaaar!”

When Moonbeak came, squirting around his plunging cock, Brightstar pressed her paws together and he got both of her large toes in his mouth and he sucked on them hard, at the same time he magically vibrated her clit as he thrusted inside one last time, cumming like a geyser released. His hot sticky seed splashed all around her vaginal tunnel, painting her insides white and swelling her belly. “MooOOOOOoony!”

Silently, as she was still panting from her orgasm, Moonbeak wrapped her pony up in her wings and she placed her claws on his ass to hold him deep inside her. Brightstar let out a pleasured whimper as he continued ejaculating inside her, further swelling her belly. “Hmm...mmmm... Mistress...” he couldn’t help but moan, her very sharp talons were close to his asshole and close to piercing his skin.

“You are forgiven, as long as you forgive me for my foolishness.”

“I-I Hmmm I f-forgive you, Moony, a-always!”

“You are a wise pony.” Moonbeak placed a light, delicate kiss on the stallion’s nose before letting go of his ass. “Now it is time to snuggle in bed. I'll be big spoon tonight, I think.”

Brightstar was in no way going to argue with that. Given how the whole night had gone, he was just pleased to have a fiancé to snuggle with and not the couch or a park bench. “Th-Thank you, I ah, I think I need a snuggle tonight, Moony

Moonbeak placed a talon on his lips. “I need to snuggle,” she corrected him gently. “Holding you holds me together.”

Standing up on his hooves, Brightstar insisted on carrying his lover through to the master bedroom in the treehouse, magically turning off the living room lights as he went. Once in the bedroom, the royal blue unicorn got into position on the bed. “Um,” he could tell the time for ‘that’ conversation was at hoof. He ran a hoof along his new collar for nerve. “About that, love. I know you have issues, maybe it would be an idea to see someone about them? A professional someone?”

Moonbeak chose not to say anything to that, but she did scoot over on the bed and she held her pony close and tight from behind, her wings extended over him in a feathery blanket. Brightstar shivered, fretting that he had overstepped his place. “There's no dishonour in seeking help, love.” He decided there was nothing to lose by trying though. “After mum was taken away, Darkie had to see a counsellor for a few months. She didn't take it well and I couldn't help her that way.”

Again, Moonbeak didn’t answer, not straightaway, anyway. “Will you go with me?” she asked after a long few moments of silence.

“I will be at your side, Moony.”

“You are a silly pony.” Moonbeak said, though there was a giggle somewhere in her voice. She appreciated him opening up to her. “You are part of my life, so you need to be there as what I feel has a lot to do with you.”

I'm your silly pony, Moony. I will be with you.” He promised, nestling deep into her warm grey fur.

Moonbeak lightly nipped Brightstar’s left ear, a gentle, affectionate nip. “I'll be with you, too…” following that, she was soon asleep, snoring soundly, hugging her pony close to her like she was guarding the sacred treasure of Griffonstone in her arms. She was, he was worth more than all the bits in the world. Brightstar too was soon in the land of dreams, aided by the strong steady heartbeat behind him.

After all, it had been a stressful day. He was hoping tomorrow spent with Athena and Zephyr in the park would be considerably easier than this day had been. He had completely forgotten about the minotaur going to see Brass Knuckles.

~ ~ ~

Following the dramatic eventful Saturday, the rest of the weekend couldn’t hope to match it. The whole of Sunday passed by in a slow uneventful haze of happy familial bliss. Brightstar, Moonbeak, Athena and Zephyr spent the whole day at Fairmount Park. Moonbeak, still reeling from the events of the night before, even allowed Brightstar to drive her van.

The park was as fun as ever. Brightstar spent most of the day massaging Moonbeak’s paws and creating the magic ball to play catch and pounce with Athena. Moonbeak busied herself with nursing Zephyr and thoroughly enjoying her pony worshipping her paws.

All in all, it was a most excellent Sunday. Even with Athena changing her little brother’s stinky nappy and somehow spreading the whole mess over five square feet – Brightstar was amazed the tiny kitten had that much waste in him in the first place – it was still an excellent time. Fortunately they were able to swim in the lake and clean Athena off and make her presentable.

Moonbeak floated on her back with Zephyr safely placed on her belly while Brightstar took the opportunity to play shark and chase Athena around the shallows by the shore. This game went on for a good hour, until Athena began yawning, which gave Moonbeak the idea for them all to have a nap on the picnic blanket under the shade of a large tree.

Monday saw Brightstar heading back early in the morning to the police academy, while Moonbeak had a photoshoot for a friend of hers, Snapshot, in her studio. Not a big job, she still had to get her mother to kitten-sit for her. This wasn’t an issue though, as Astraea loved having her grandkittens. Mostly she loved filling them with sugar and E numbers then sending them back to her daughter.

It was just after two in the afternoon when Moonbeak, her photoshoot complete, shoved open the door to her mother’s retirement condo and walked in. It was days like this one she missed her pony. Granted he knew next to nothing about photography beyond the basics, he was good for carrying, fetching and setting up her equipment, as well as opening doors for her. She liked that.

Astraea was laid on the floor with Athena, who was busy drawing with her crayons. Judging by the stack of paper beside her full of her artistic creations, some more abstract than others, the kitten had been at this for some time already. “Did the job go well, Moony?” Astraea asked, looking up from Athena’s ‘art’.

“Yes momma,” Moonbeak smiled as she walked into her mother's condo and she slumped on the soft couch that threatened to swallow her whole. Her paws ached and she had no sexy royal blue pony to massage them for her. “Snapshot sent some competent models this time and the weather was nice. How's it gone here?”

“Our young artist is doing well.” Astraea smiled warmly at her grandkitten, playfully ruffling the white feathers at the back of her head.

Athena beamed a very wide smile and she held up her creation in her tiny clawed hands. “Look momma I drawed a pony!” she proudly showed off what may have been a unicorn, though there was equal chance it was a hippo, or a dragon.

“Zephie is napping,” Astraea smiled as she heaved herself up off the floor and beckoned her daughter through to the kitchen where she put the kettle on. “But, he wasn't at all fussy.”

“That's a very good pony Athena! I think that can go on the fridge at home.” Moonbeak smiled a wide smile when she saw Athena full of pride and joy at her picture. Her kitten immediately started another, intent on drawing a family picture set in the park. Walking through to the kitchen, she was grateful her mother had the kettle boiling, she was in the mood for a coffee.

“You set a date yet?” Astraea asked, her back to her daughter as she made the coffee.

“A date?” Moonbeak had to really think about what her mother was talking about and then, after a few moments time, when a fresh steaming mug of coffee had been placed in front of her, it dawned upon her. “No, not yet momma, I haven't spoken to Brightstar about it.”

Astraea shrugged, “That's okay, I just need enough lead time to get the tickets and the invites sent out.”

Moonbeak blushed heavily, her white feathered cheeks turning bright red. The events of the last two days were still at the forefront of her mind. She hadn’t even thought of the binding ceremony. “We've had other things to talk about, over the weekend, momma.”

The older golden brown griffon let out a giggle more suited to a kitten of Athena’s age than her own. “I could guess that when you had me kitten-sit for you on Saturday. Quiet night, my old behind! Still, not saying I'm packed or anything, because I am, but I'll be ready to go when you are. Not getting any younger by the way.”

That threw Moonbeak for a complete loop. She had her beak open, ready to tell her mother that she was at last going to see a psychiatrist about all her deeply sown issues, and that she had the number of a Doctor Rethink here in Fillydelphia ready to dial, when she blinked, slowly processing what her mother had said. “Ready? Ready to go? Go where, momma?”

As she took a long sip of her coffee, Astraea gave Moonbeak her patented eye roll number three. “To the wedding of course.” She couldn’t believe her daughter was being this dense. “Did you want to take the steam ship, or the air ship? I guess it is a matter of cost versus time.”

Again, Moonbeak blinked, once then twice. It slowly dawned on her what her mother was on about. She had hoped to avoid this particular conversation for as long as she could. Now it was here and she couldn’t just fly away from it. “In my van?” she said dumbly, though she had meant to say ‘limo’. “It's not that far to City Hall, momma.”

“What?” Astraea’s eyes were wide with shock. She almost dropped her coffee. “You'd never turn your back on the old tradition. You and Goldie got married in the homeland.”

Moonbeak shook her head. This was precisely why she wanted to avoid this conversation all together. Yes, she and Goldcrest had gotten married in Griffonstone, that was entirely why she wanted to do it here in Filly. This was her home now, tradition be damned. “Momma, please, Goldie was then. Brightstar is now. Equestria, wherever he is, is my homeland.”

“You can't be serious!” Astraea hissed, trying to keep her voice as low as she could so as not to disturb Athena who was busy colouring in her family scene in the living room. “He is more griffon than some griffons I know! The binding ceremony? Are you just tossing that away?” she demanded, not surprised in the least that she was defending Brightstar. She did like him.

“No, momma,” Moonbeak sighed, “we'll do it according to tradition, the binding will be done, just, here in Filly.”

“What about your cousins?” Astraea tried a different route to get through to her. “Think of the bits! The cost to bring them here is...it’s huge! My sister too, she isn't in good shape, Moony!”

Moonbeak hated this. Hearing her mother beg like this was not high on her list of fun things to do. “We'll bring them over, momma. The cost doesn't matter. I have bits, you know that. Star's friend has bits…” she let out a deep sigh, knowing full well that Air Raid would be happy to help with any costs they couldn’t cover. “Brightstar's sister, she wouldn't be cleared to travel that distance. She's on suicide watch, you know that.”

As it happened, Astraea did know that. She had met Darkstar a couple of times now, when they had all gone over to Canterlot for a few days away. She took to the sister just as easily as she had taken to her brother. Though she was loath to admit it, Astraea cared a lot for the troubled unicorn. “Maybe getting away from here will do her good. I'd even travel with her.”

“Maybe, and I know you would, but I've made my mind up, momma. Filly is my home.”

“Filly is where you live.” Astraea corrected her loudly, “Home is where you're born.”

Athena heard that. She couldn’t not, really, seeing as how her grandmother wasn’t caring to keep her voice down any longer. But, as her drawing was now finished and she really wanted praising for her latest art, she walked with it to the kitchen. “Me, nanna?”

Astraea smiled, beaming at her grandkitten. “’Thena, you're equestrian, and I'm good with that, but your momma is griffonian.” She looked pointedly at Moonbeak, almost daring her to argue with her.

Moonbeak didn't flinch, at all. She was though concerned now that her kitten was stood by the kitchen table, soaking up every word and the mood like a sponge. “Momma please. Can we not do this now?” she asked, draining what was left of her coffee in one swallow before setting the mug down on the table. “I don't want 'Thena to see us argue. Please, accept my decision.”

Astraea was indeed about to argue. Vehemently so, but she caught sight of Athena hopping from paw to paw with her drawing and sighed internally. “We can talk about it later. I'll go get Zephyr for you.”

‘Oh...I was going to tell you about the therapist...’ Moonbeak thought sadly as her mother walked on through to her bedroom to get her boy. She really wanted her mother’s input and advise too, especially as she had been pushing her for ages to go see a professional about her issues. ‘I suppose I'll tell you later…’ “Ah, thank you, momma.”

When Astraea came back with an awake, but sleepy, and not at all fussy Zephyr on her back, Moonbeak was waiting in the living room, most of Athena’s artwork safely in her bags. “He is such a good kitten!” the older griffon beamed with pride.

“Me?” Athena asked hopefully, tugging at her nanna’s arm.

“You're an extra good big sister!”

Instantly happy, Athena jumped up and down and buzzed her wings hard, getting a good foot and a half off the floor. “Yay! I extra good!”

Moonbeak’s heart almost melted with joy at her kitten’s antics. “Yes you are 'Thena, a very good big sister. Thank you momma, for sitting for me.”

“Any time.” Astraea leant in and kissed her daughter’s cheek, just to show there were no seriously ill feelings between them. “Talk to your pony about marriage location.” She still wasn’t quite prepared to let this go though, as she handed Zephyr back to his mother.

Moonbeak rolled her eyes, selecting eye roll number seven as she made sure Zephyr was secure on her back. The last thing she wanted was to restart the argument so soon. “Up you get, 'Thena.” She nudged her kitten, “Say bye to nanna.”

“Bye nanna!” Athena squealed, getting herself a hug before flapping her wings as hard as she could and landing on her mother’s back, just in front of her brother, who had his claws latched on.

“I still love you all, but think about it.”

Moonbeak made sure to hug her momma, at the door. “I love you to the end of the Grey Spires, momma, always.” With one last kiss to her cheek, a sigh and a reminder to herself to call Doctor Rethink when she got back to her treehouse, she flew down to her waiting van.