"What do you think, Lisa?" Greg asked the girl as she stared in wonder at Terminus Village.

"It's awesome!" she said happily. "It's just like Ponyville!"

"Well, actually, it's quite different from Ponyville. For one thing it..." Twilight Sparkle hesitated at seeing Greg making a cutting gesture with one hand behind Lisa's back. "It's a lot safer," Twilight quickly finished.

Lisa seemed not to have noticed. "And I can be a changeling here? I want to be called Chatter! Chatter and Chitter," she said, nudging her friend with an elbow. "That's cool, right?"

The changeling grinned, though her long fangs made the expression seem less friendly than intended.

"Yes," Greg said, "I've worked out all the bugs in non-pony transformation. You can be any of the sapient Equestrian races you want, though if you want to be a dragon, you'll have to start out small. If you change your mind, just ask Princess Twilight to change you back. She'll be in charge of all body-swapping, because I can't trust the humans here with alicorn amulets." He reached up and tapped the one around his own throat for emphasis.

Lisa waved a dismissive hand. "If I'm a changeling, I can change myself!"

Chitter looked over at Greg with a doubtful expression. "Was that 'worked out all the bugs' comment supposed to be a joke?"

Greg grinned. "Maybe." He turned back to Lisa. "Twilight will look after you and keep you aging at a normal rate until you're an adult. Then it's all up to you. Scary grown-up shit. Nothing I can do about that, sorry."

General Greenwaldt took his usual sidewalk table at the café and moments later his usual coffee appeared. The earth pony delicately used his teeth to lift the tray off of his own back and set it down on the table.The general couldn't help wondering, again, how a creature with no hands could be such a good waiter. The coffee was perfect and went a long way to easing his discomfort at patronizing a restaurant named The Feed Bag.

He used the café as an unofficial office in the mornings and quickly became accustomed to all sorts of people dropping by to talk about the various business going on in the town. As might be expected in a village full of politicians, there were many different factions making many different plans for the future. The General had brought together a good group of military men under his influence and was courted by many of the other groups as a powerful ally.

That day he expected to be approached by the President... ex-President, he reminded himself... who was desperate to gain some influence with a faction, any faction, but his first visitor that morning was someone wholly unexpected.

"Good morning, General," Greg said cheerfully. "Mind if I join you?" While the General was still gaping in surprise, Greg dropped his backpack next to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Luna didn't sit, but stood behind Greg with her neck arched, and her cool gaze fixed somewhere in the middle distance.

"Why are you here?" The General demanded, bluntly.

"I hear they make a great alfalfa omelet," Greg said, glancing at the menu, distractedly.

"I don't have time for your bullshit," the general snapped. "Are you here to help us or harm us?"

Greg sighed. "General, you have nothing but time. You may not have realized it yet, but because all of you in this world are now digital constructs, you won't age or even die... unless you're killed or... well, I'll let you find out for yourselves. Anyway, forever is a very, very long time."

"You've underestimated us before," the general said, though in a more subdued tone of voice. "We're already making plans—"

"Plans to help those people who are still so frightened of this place that they won't leave the platform at the train station? Plans to explore this world? It's been nearly a week and nobody's even been as far as the hot springs in the mountains above town!"

The General glared at him for a moment and then growled out, "Escape plans."

Greg laughed out loud. "Oh ghod, have you started a tunnel yet? I'll save you some trouble, General. This isn't Equestria, it's an entirely separate sim. You're on an island about half the size of Australia, surrounded by about 200 miles of ocean on every side. If you sail north far enough, you'll just come back to the south coast and vice-versa. This is a self-contained, rather small universe... there is no escape."

"If there's a way in, there's a way out," Greenwaldt insisted.

"Tell that to a black hole," Greg said.

"So... you're staying with us, then?" the general asked, watching keenly for Greg's reaction.

"Ah... not so stupid are you?" Greg said, leaning back in his chair and lacing his fingers behind his head. "I suppose there could possibly be a couple of ways out of here that people might find if they are smart enough, persistent enough, and prove themselves to be worthy of friendship with—"

"Is that what we are to you?" Greenwaldt growled. "Rats in a maze?"

Greg grinned. "More like orangutans. Rats are cute. Think of it as a game! You might even enjoy it."

"You arrogant little prick! You're going to pay for treating me like this!" the general bellowed, going red in the face. "I'm going to make you pay!"

Greg gaped for a moment in surprise before breaking into laughter, "Oh ghod, that's hilarious! Good luck with that!"

Greenwaldt snapped. He rose, overturned the table, and lunged for Greg, all in one movement. Neither he nor any of the crowd that had gathered saw Luna move. She didn’t bother to use her magic, she simply flung out one wing and there was the sound of a heavy impact. Greenwaldt smashed through tables and chairs as he rolled over and over, finally hitting a planter of flowers that separated the dining area from the street. He tried to rise but the world swam around him and he fell back against the planter, a thin trickle of blood dripping from one nostril. One small midnight-blue feather fluttered down to the pavement.

"Sorry about that, General," Greg said in a cheerful voice that belied his words. "Luna can get a little over-protective at times." Greg picked up his backpack and shouldered it. "I think we should be going now, anyway. Don't get up... I know the way out."

The crowd parted for the two of them like they were made of red-hot metal.

"I'm sorry to have started out our day together by smashing up a restaurant," Greg said as they hiked along a path that lead up into the mountains above the town. "I needed to plant that little bit of information about the hidden ways out of this world. Good thing the general played right into my hands while half a hundred people were eavesdropping. Well... nothing but fun from now on, I promise."

"Oh, that's all right," Luna said. "Getting to wing-slap the guy who kidnapped you was fun. I hope you noticed how much restraint I used."

"No missing body parts, hardly any blood..." Greg grinned. "Practically demure."

After an hour of walking they came to a quaint, rambling building at the mouth of a hanging valley. Luna paused and carefully sniffed the air. "Hot springs?" she asked Greg.

"Yep! Springs, baths, good food, massages... I thought it would be a good way to relax," he said. "In fact, I happen to know that they have a very good sushi chef who makes terrific kappamaki and... hey! Wait for me!"

Greg picked up a bit of sushi rice, made a little ball, and flicked it at Luna, who had leaned back from the table. She snapped it out of the air and held it in her mouth, rolling it between her tongue and teeth for a while before she swallowed it.

"That's it." She sighed. "If I eat another bite, I'll explode!" She patted her stomach in satisfaction. "Would it be slothful to take a nap before noon?"

Greg shook his head. "This is our vacation... we can do what we like, sinful or not!"

"Oh, good!" Luna said, and self-levitated across the room to the futon and flopped down on her side. "Join me?"

"In a minute," he replied. The room had grown warm as the sun climbed into the sky, so Greg slid aside the screens that served as its outer wall, revealing a large porch and a spectacular view of the valley and village below. A cool, gentle breeze made the temperature perfect and set the wind-chimes hung along the eaves to tinkling softly. He summoned one of the inn's ponies to clear away the remains of their meal and left instructions that they were not to be disturbed except for something dire. By the time he knelt next to the futon, Luna was breathing slowly and deeply. He gazed down at her lovingly, slipped out of his robe, and lay down next to her. She mumbled something in her sleep and slipped her wing around him.

A while later Luna woke him, with her lips and magic caressing his body. He turned to her eagerly and they made love in an intense, energetic struggle and then fell asleep in each other's embrace again.

When they finally got up it was late afternoon. They showered, and then Greg led Luna down to the massage rooms. Two massive earth ponies were waiting for them, towels draped over their backs.

"I'm not sure about this," Luna said doubtfully.

"I've done it for you often enough," Greg said. "These guys are experts."

"Yes, but I trust you," she grumbled, looking dubiously at the blocky masseurs.

"Don't worry, they're very professional," he reassured her.

"I suppose..." she said, as she lay down on the massage table. And then to her masseur, "A hoof goes someplace I don't like... and you're vapor, understand?"

"Of course, Ma'am," the stallion said, sounding a bit offended.

A few minutes into the massage and Greg was having doubts. Not about the skill of the masseuses... they were just as skillful as he'd promised. Their hard hooves were seemingly able to put just the right amount of pressure exactly where it was needed. No, what bothered him was the noises that Luna was making. She was gasping and giving out soft little moans of pleasure like she was... well... getting something more than a massage. But as his own muscles were being tended to just as well, it was hard to concentrate on anything else.

At the finish the earth pony mare rubbed scented oils into Greg's skin and Luna's fur, Luna first sniffing at several bottles until she found one she liked enough to choose for them both.

"A walk before dinner?" Greg suggested as they left the room.

"Mn-hmn," she nodded, her eyes still somewhat unfocused. "Oh, that felt so good!" She stretched luxuriously, her back arched and her wings wide.

"Or maybe we could go back to our room," Greg said, watching her appreciatively.

She grinned wickedly at him and prolonged her stretch, cocking her hips just so. She was well aware of Greg’s eyes on the firm curves of her rump.

"Or maybe I'll attack you right here in the hallway."

"Haven't had enough of me, yet?" she purred.

"Never."

Luna glanced around and then grabbed the front of Greg's robe in her magic and pulled him toward a door marked "Linens". She shoved him inside, and closed the door behind them both.

After another shower, they went out into the formal garden where a table had been set for dinner in an open-air pavilion hung with multi-colored lanterns. The smell of spices and roasting vegetables flavored the air.

"I'm starving!" Luna said

“Yeah,” Greg agreed. “I could eat a horse!”

Luna swatted him with a wingtip.

He put on a look of mock surprise. “What? I thought you liked it when I—"

“Shh!” Luna hissed at him. “The waiters—”

“Oh, right!” Greg said. “If they find out, they’ll all want to—”

"Careful," Luna growled, playfully snapping her big, white teeth. "I might start with a large bite of wise-ass for an appetizer!"

They laughed and chatted through dinner, enjoying the meal as well as the lively music that several pegasi played on unusual instruments. The waiters had overheard their banter, and the inn's chef risked irking Luna by presenting Greg and her with a tiny chocolate cake for dessert...in the shape of a horse.

"Dibs on the hooves." Greg chuckled. "That's the best part!"

“That’s not what you said this afternoon,” Luna replied, flatly, causing Greg to choke on his bite of cake.

After dinner they returned to their room to pick up a robe for Greg and several large, soft towels for them both. "The hot pools are on the other side of the garden... a big public one, and several smaller private ones... but since we're the only guests we can have our pick." Greg told Luna as they left their room and strolled down the polished wood of the porch toward the hot springs.

The moon was rising, full and golden, as they eased themselves into the largest pool. Luna's short fur floated out around her, making her seem larger and fuzzier. Below the water, her tail waved along with the slight current of the pool. Greg reached down and ran his hand through the silky strands of her tail, making the starlight ripple and dance.

Luna turned and kissed him, then began to nibble her way down his throat and chest.

"Whoa!" He gasped. "Is it hot in here, or is it just me?"

"Hot?" Luna grinned evilly. "That would be me."

Greg laughed, "Yeah, you sure... are... " He trailed off as Luna reared up out of the water and swung one hind leg over him where he sat, leaning against the edge of the pool. Water cascaded from her fur and her mane sleeked down over her shoulders. The intensity of her icy gaze took Greg aback for a moment and then she was in his lap, wrapped around him, her mouth on his neck, licking, kissing and nibbling. He couldn't help but respond. The heat of the water still trapped in her fur soaked into him and he began to feel a little light-headed as he held her tightly, caressing her long, sleek torso.

She took the lead, making love to him with an intensity he had never experienced before until he spasmed beneath her. Then Luna shuddered and cried out. Her wings spread wide and her tail broached the surface of the pool, throwing a fan of spray into the air that caught the moonlight and sparkled... looking almost as if she had thrown her stars free. The sheer beauty of it all as her back arched and her powerful body trembled against his completely stopped any of Greg's rational thoughts and he let the moment wash into him and through him... one perfect moment that seemed to last an eternity.

Eventually, they dragged themselves from the pool before the heat and their own exhaustion made them unpleasantly light-headed. Luna shook herself, throwing off a fine spray of droplets and then summoned her power. Her magic rippled outward from her glowing horn across her body and as it went, small billows of steam wafted from her body until her fur was completely dry.

Greg was slowly towelling himself off, still watching his beautiful lover when the first blast of fire struck him.

Author's Notes:

Portions of this chapter were written under the influence of egregiously alcoholic eggnog. I will leave it to the readers to try and guess which. So, if there's a bit of Harlequin/Mills & Boon-ish flavor to certain bits, I cannot be held responsible. Please direct complaints to my legal council at Calvados, Demerara, and Peat.

And don't even think of blaming my most excellent prereaders and editors, Jordanis, WrittenWord333, and Fana Farouche. I am certain they were drinking heavily as well. (They must have been if they agreed to work on this... thing!)

Oh yeah, and a ridiculously happy new year to all y'all!