StarStep wandered into his parents house and paused half-way through the living-room. His mom held large green knitting needles in her magic. The rods of metal clicking softly, crafting what appeared to be foal-booties. She was a unicorn with a silvery coat and lilac mane with a white stripe. A pair of golden shooting stars on her flank. Light wrinkles around her eyes betraying her otherwise youthful appearance. She looked up from her knitting as he entered and just smiled broadly at him. A beaming a sense of pride and motherly love. He'd not seen that look in many years. He returned a warm smile, neither speaking a word as he wandered to the kitchen, his throat dry from the flight. His father, sitting at the kitchen table, was partially hidden by the evening paper. He was charcoal-grey pegasus with sky blue mane, his cutie-mark a stylized tornado. He glanced over the paper as Star stepped in and smiled faintly before turning a page in his paper.

Star walked over to the fridge jerking on the handle-strap with his teeth as his father spoke, “Thought you might visit back before long. Got you a little something in the fridge there.” Star glanced over his shoulder at his dad before peering into the coldbox. Sitting on the top shelf was a case of vitamin water. The marketing logos proudly proclaimed it was full of proteins and perfect for highly active pegasi. Though Star wasn't much for vitamin water, his mouth did seem to crave what it offered. He nabbed one of the cool plastic bottles and popped off the lid with his teeth. With a faint sigh he settled into the chair across from his father, tipping back the drink for a swallow. It wasn't too bad, slightly thicker than water, odd after-taste, but he found he was gulping it down.

He father gave a soft chuckle from behind his paper as Star clunked the empty bottle down with a gasp. “I was the same way with your mother, son. I have to hide after the second full day just to recharge. Trust me...” he turned a page, “those pegasi drinks are a blessing.”

Star blinked, not quite catching the meaning. “I donno what you mean, dad.”

The paper rustled as his father lowered it just below eye-level, an eyebrow raised in disbelief. He pulled his paper back up and chuckled, “You're lucky, son. At least Miss Cheerilee can't hold you down with magic so you can't get away.”

“Cheerilee, what...oh...you know huh?” He found himself craving another one of those drinks. Star wandered to the fridge and grabbed another of the cold beverages, plunking his rump back down in his seat.

“Son, it's a small town. If you wanted to keep it quiet, you shouldn't have been wearing her sunflower in your mane. Ponies here like to gossip, you know that. But they also respect privacy if you want it. You were broadcasting your attending to Miss Cheerilee like a billboard.” He chuckled and turned another page.

Star felt at his mane and sighed. The sunflower was still tucked up there. “That would explain mom's odd look when I came in. But dad, there's not gonna be any foals. Her mare-friend, Twilight Sparkle, saw to that with a spell.”

His father nodded, “I figured you wouldn't get yourself caught up in something like that without a plan. You love your job up in Canterlot too much.” He lowered his paper and smiled at his son. Pride in his eyes, “I don't often tell you this, but I'm really am proud of you. You're a Royal Guard and you serve our Princesses with honor. I'm not so foalish as to think you don’t need a private life. You are still a young colt after all. Just be careful you don't get yourself pinned into something you don't want. There's a lot of fillies out there looking for a well-off colt to latch onto, with or without love involved.”

Star nodded, the image of the two ponies from Luna's night court flicking through his head. “Well, at least this explains mom picking her knitting back up. Will you please tell her there's not going to be a foal?”

His dad laughed, “Well, I can try. But she seems pretty determined to see grand-children. Careful son, she'll set you up with every good filly she can get her hooves on to make it happen.”

Star grimaced and struggled against a yawn, “I'm not expecting any foals for a while yet, dad. Too much to do. Anyhoof, I'm gonna get some rest while I can. Thanks for the drinks.” His father nodded and resumed reading his paper as the blue-grey colt trotted off to his room. As he laid in bed, he couldn't help going back over the evening. The talk with Apple Bloom and the encounter with the unicorn in the orchard. Whoever he was, he might be dangerous to AB or others. Picking apart the incident yielded no further clues and at last exhaustion overtook his tired mind.

The morning was quiet, his parents sleeping in on their off-day. He brushed up his mane and tucked Cheerilee's slightly battered sunflower over his ear. He'd have to get another one from her, he didn't mind showing his love for the mare. How strange it felt to not be embarrassed. Was that part of what love was? He packed the drinks from the fridge in his saddle bags and stepped outside in the slightly muggy air. He was feeling a lot more energetic now, refreshed and rested. A smirk played on his lips as he thought how long that would last around the relentless Cheerilee. At least these drinks gave him a fighting chance.

The pegasus turned towards the rising sun, the trees of Sweet Apple Acres on the horizon. Then he glanced west, towards downtown. Before he got himself tangled back up in the school-mare's hooves, he had work to do. He spread his wings, flapping to gain fair altitude before leveling for a slow glide towards the square. He hoped his instinct was right.

The little bell over the door chimed cheerfully as StarStep pushed it wide, stepping into Sugarcube Corners. It was early yet, no line for donuts or breakfast pastries for now. He smiled to the pink mare who stuck her head around the doorway from the kitchen. Her face lit up in her signature grin and zipped to the counter,

“Hey Star! I bet you're here for the fresh doughnuts I just made! Or maybe a bear-claw, Rawr!” She waved said pastry at him like a swiping predator, “Oh oh, I know! Or maybe a cherry turn-over!”

“Morning to you too, Pinkie Pie.” A faint part of him wondered if she was this wound up even during fooling around with AJ. “Actually...something with cherries does sound nice. Do you have cherry filled doughnuts?” No sooner than the words had left his mouth than the pink party-pony zipped into the kitchen and back again with a half-dozen of what appeared to be red-gel filled doughnuts in an open box.

“Is this enough, Star? Oh I hope it is! I hope Cheerilee likes cherries, I mean it is part of her name, that'd be kinda silly for Cheerilee not to like cherries, huh? That's like Applejack not liking apples!” She gasped, “Or me not liking pink!”

Star rolled his eyes and laughed, “I think the world might implode if that ever happened, Pinkie Pie.”

“OH NO! I better tell Twilight. She might have a spell to stop imploding! Imploding is a silly word, but it's not very fun.” The mare seemed dead serious about fetching Twilight and was aiming for the door when Star held up a hoof.

“Now hold on, Pinkie Pie. I didn't just come here for donuts.”

“OH, you want a cruller too? Well why didn't you say so?”

“Haha, no Pinkie, I'm looking for AJ.”

The pink mare put her hoof to her chin in heavy thought, “Hmm...might be fresh out of those. Let me check.” She turned her head towards the kitchen, “Hey Applejack, we have any AJ left?”

The called orange mare stuck her head around the door-frame, her face streaked with flour and mane with spots of something sticky. “What in tarnation are you talkin about, Sugarcube? I...oh, it's you.” She glared daggers at StarStep. “I got nuttin' to say to you, so you best take your pastries and get.”

Pinkie Pie flicked a look from one pony to the other, then pulled them both in for a hug. (Don't ask me how, she's Pinkie Pie.) “Aww, don't be like that AppleJack. It's not his fault he caught me in your recipe vault.”

AJ glared at her mare-friend then back at Star, a heated blush on her cheeks, “Now's not the time, Sugarcube. What I'm ah might miffed about, is this varmint getting Apple Bloom's tail in a knot. She's got this idea in her head she's gonna be getting a place ah her own.”

Caught in Pinkie's group hug, Star could do nothing but stare back at AJ, “She's a grown mare. As her sister, you should be supporting her decision to have a life of her own.” The pegasus colt shook off his rising irritation, “Look, AJ. I know you blame me for her changing how things are, but I'm not here about all that. I'm here because she might be in danger.”

The orange mare's eyes narrowed. It'd be a chilling look if she wasn't striped in flour. “Pinkie Pie, hun. Why don't yah go get some more donuts started? I got this.”

The pink mare looked between them. She seemed torn, but with a final glance from AJ, she bounced merrily into the kitchen.

AJ scowled at Star, “I highly suggest yah start talking, colt.”

“Ok, first, I need to know if you think Apple Bloom has been seeing any colts.”

“I don't reckon that's none yer business. Ain’t mine neither.”

“It ain't, but...” He took a deep breath, now was not the time to get into an argument with the mare. “Ok, look, I only ask because I was attacked in your orchard last night.”

Applejack blinked, “Say what now?” She was glaring at him suspiciously, but at least it wasn't anger anymore.

“When I was on my way home, a unicorn ambushed me in the orchard. Told me to stay away from AB or he'd break my wings. Claimed she was his filly. Now, I asked if she has other colt-friends because I need to know if this is just somepony being overprotective and jealous, or if she has a stalker.”

AJ expression flipped from disbelief, to shock, to anger, “Now look here, Star. I know we're not seeing eye to eye right now, but it ain’t right for no pony to be attacked on our property. And it sure as heck ain’t right for some pony to threaten yah like that. But why are yah saying Apple Bloom's at risk?”

Star took a deep breath, “Ok, look, part of my guard training involves crime prevention. One of the courses is on domestic violence. Couples and such. The fact that this pony attacked me unprovoked, then threatened far worse harm, suggests he's dangerous to ponies he thinks has slighted him. Now, I'll ask again, do you know of any other ponies, specifically unicorns, that AB has shown any interest in or dated or whatever.”

The orange mare sat quietly, eying him coolly, “I think I get what yer saying. No. I don't believe Apple Bloom has shown much interested in colts till yah showed back up in town. She was too busy with her new business.”

The pegasus nodded, “Alright, then she probably has a stalker. If he attacks a pony he thinks is getting in the way of him being with her. What do you think would happen if he approaches her and gets rejected?” He let that sink in a little, “I'm not trying to scare you AJ. And I know you're still kinda angry that AB is shaking things up. But she's my friend and I don't want her hurt. I can't stay, I'll have to head back to Canterlot soon. I doubt I'm gonna find this guy before I have to leave, so the job falls on you AJ.”

The earth pony frowned, “Well whatda want me tah do about it?”

“Just start making it a habit of you or some other ponies you trust, check in with her at work from time to time. Invites to lunch, a little chat, picking up supplies, whatever. I really hate doing it this way but I'm worried about this AJ. I'm worried about AB. This unicorn seems like he means business.”

She scrunched her nose, “Shouldn't we tell Apple Bloom?”

“I...don't think we should. Not yet. I still have very little to go on. No real suspects and having her afraid of every pony that walks in her door wouldn't be good for her or her business. Just, for me AJ, for your sister, keep an extra watchful eye on her.”

“Alright, Star. I'll get some friends to lend a hoof. We don't need no pony folk around here acting like that. Maybe we can catch tha varmint 'fore he really hurts somepony.”

He nodded and laid a hoof on her shoulder, “Thanks, AJ.” He nodded his head towards the box of doughnuts, “You know how much? I'll pay and let you and Pinkie get back to enjoying your morning.”

She sighed and shrugged, “Forget about it. I'll tell Pinkie to think of it as a 'welcome back to Ponyville' gift. Look Star, I still think yer part of the problem with Apple Bloom getting all these fool notions in her head of moving off the farm-stead. But...thanks for turning her down last night. She still has ah lot ah growing-up to do.”

Star trotted over to the counter to slide the box of pastries into one of his saddle-bags, “Maybe. It's Apple-family business so I'm not gonna stick my nose in it. But I think she's more mature than you give her credit for.” He shouted towards the back, “Later Pinkie Pie, thanks for the donuts!” He gave a respectful nod to Applejack and left the pastry store.

He took off from the square and banked around to the outer part of downtown Ponyville. Cheerilee's garden was unmistakable from the air. The golden flowers tilted to the radiant sun. He glided down gently to her door-step and checked the handle. Unlocked, so he quietly let himself in and very softly shut the door behind him. Apparently she and Twilight forgot to lock the door after the present drop-off. With that wild look in Cheerilee's eyes as she stood over her prize, he didn't blame either of them for being too busy to check. He smiled as he thought about that last moment before he'd left. A little part of him wondered if she'd ever do something like that for him. It was a little sexy to think of the fuchsia mare dominating him like that. He chuckled softly to himself as he slipped the doughnuts onto the counter and tip-toed to the bedroom door.

The door was ajar, so he slipped his head in the crack and peeked. The sheets were a jumbled mess, and sitting on the piles of wrinkled bedding, Cheerilee held her lavender unicorn in her hooves. The both of them sleeping soundly. He smirked as he noticed Twilight still had a bridle on, though the bit piece was out. He glanced over his shoulder towards the living-room, then back at the sleeping mares. Would it be wrong to join them? Another look at the happy mares and he pulled the door shut.

It was a couple hours later, as he was quietly eating a cherry-filled doughnut and part-way into a trashy romance novel. That he heard stirring in the bedroom. It was faint at first. A giggle, a rather loud moan, a few sharp noises he suspected was the riding crop again. Then it got louder, and very intense. He felt himself blushing at the mental images of what they must be doing and found himself rather aroused. His pastry finished, he debated leaving when the sounds abated and the bedroom door clicked open. He glanced up from the novel to find Twilight staring at him from the hallway, eyes wide in shock, a hot blush on her cheeks. She wasn't looking up at him, but down at his erection. She yelped and covered her eyes.

“Oh, Star, I didn't expect you to be here yet, oh, I'm so sorry.” She ducked into the bedroom as Cheerilee trotted out. Her mane a mess, coat matted in places, she beamed a happy smile at Star and raised an eyebrow at his obvious member.

“Good morning, Star dear.” She wandered over to kiss his cheek, “I see you brought me breakfast.” He thought she was referring to the doughnuts when her head dipped and she kissed the end of his colthood.

His wings flared out and he found himself backing away from the lust-filled eyes of Cheerilee as she stalked hungrily towards him. His rump found the oven, preventing further escape, “Um...Cheerilee, Twilight's still here you know.”

“So?” She purred and nuzzled at him affectionately, her mouth traveling up to kiss his ear, “Let her watch. She might learn a few more things I couldn't teach her last night.” She nibbled at his ear making him groan.

“I uh, oh, cherry doughnuts, fresh! You should try one.” He grinned, trying to distract her. A quick glance down the hall showed a wide-eyed Twilight peeking out the bedroom door at them. “Cheerilee, seriously, your mare-friend is watching.”

“Annnnnd?” He moaned as she sucked on his ear-tip,

“Ahhh...and no, no Cheerilee.” He squirmed away from her, “I...I don't feel right. Not like this.”

She smirked at him, “Oh my. I see. I think I understand the problem.” She glanced behind her towards the bedroom, “Twi, my sweetheart.”

The lavender unicorn poked her head out, “Yes Miss Cheerilee?”

“Have you ever been with a colt?”

Twilight looked down and blushed, tapping her fore-hooves together nervously, “No. Miss Cheerilee.”

“Would you like to watch and learn? Think of it as a lecture. Some research on pony courtship between colts and fillies?” The school-mare beamed a warm smile at her mare-friend.

“OH, that actually doesn't sound so bad um...ok. If you tell me what you're doing as you do it. Please?” She trotted down the hall to hop onto the couch. She looked over the back, fore-hooves on the top as she watched the two with curious eyes.

Cheerilee smiled at Twilight and gave her a wink. Then she turned to StarStep and giggled, “Is that ok?”

This was a really weird situation, but with the scent of Cheerilee still in heat, and with an agreement between the mares. He couldn't think of much reason to deny the fuchsia colored mare what she wanted. “Alright, Cheerilee. You know I love you, right?”

She giggled and pushed him hard against the counters as she kissed him. Her knack for taking his breath away still strong. He could hear Twilight giggle from the couch at his stunned expression. “I love you both very much. Now Twilight, pay attention. Class is now in session.”

The next forty-five minutes were some of the most pleasurable and grueling minutes of Star's life. She took her time to tease and play with him, answering questions for Twilight and pointing out things about colts and anatomy and pleasure points. He felt like a living diagram. On and on the school-mare taught her lesson to the lavender filly. Twice she went down on him just till he was about to peak, just to show Twilight the flared tip, never letting him climax. It was beautiful torture at her hooves. And at last, with Twilight's questions satisfied, she turned around to present her rump and let him finish off inside her.

He didn't remember when he slid to the floor. He just remembered the ecstasy of finally being allowed to release. Then a soft prodding at his shoulder.

“Miss Cheerilee, is he ok?”

Through his hazy after-glow he could hear the school-mare giggle and kiss Twilight, “Of course dear. Colts just get like this after they finish.” He turned his head to see her push Twilight to the ground with a sly grin, “Not like us, sweetheart. Where we can go on and on.” She proved it by expertly bringing the lavender unicorn to climax quickly, twice, then relented with a giggle and a sticky muzzle. StarStep could only watch in disbelief. Twilight met his eyes once and blushed hotly before looking away.

At last, Cheerilee sent Twilight off to the shower as she curled up with Star and kissed at his neck. “Ok, Cheerilee. What was THAT all about?” He asked, enjoying the feathery touches on his coat..

“Oh? Did you not enjoy it?”

“I...kinda, yeah. But I still feel a little weird you wanted Twilight sorta participating like that.”

“Star, dear. Do you trust me?” He nodded instantly, “Then trust me when I say, it's ok. Twilight has a little submissive streak. She liked the teacher-student role-play very much. And if it makes her happy, I'm delighted to do it for her. She still only has eyes for me, but she's expressed curiosity about colts. I was just showing her another side of love with your help. Ok?”

He nodded and nuzzled into her coat, “Sure, Cheerilee. Whatever makes you happy, you know I'll do it if I can.”

She returned the affectionate nuzzles, “I know dear, believe me I know. And Twilight would do the same for me and I for both of you.” She nipped at his neck firmly, drawing out a hiss of pain and pleasure, “Now, she'll be leaving to return to her studies after cleaning up. Then you and I can resume where we left off.” She gave him a sweet kiss, “I hope your body is prepared.”

The colt chuckled, thinking of the drinks piled away in his saddlebags. True to her word, after she and Twilight had said their loving good-byes, and Twilight even gave Star a kiss on the cheek with a 'thank you' whispered in his ear. Cheerilee chased him to the bedroom, nipping at his flanks.

The next few days were filled with love, rutting, quick meals, and strange waking hours. He began to lose track of time as morning and night seemed to blur together from one waking love-making session to the next. He praised his dad's gift every time he reached for his vitamin water. The stuff was keeping him very hydrated and Cheerilee's body well-filled.

Then, melancholy fell on his heart as he realized it was the last morning. He had to fly back to Canterlot that afternoon. He glanced down at the peacefully resting mare, curled in his hooves. Her arousing smell had lessened significantly, no longer bathing him in her heat-scent. As he laid with the wonderful earth-pony, so happy with her head against his chest, he reflected back on the strange and exhausting week.

A sense of contentment uplifted his spirits. He could return to Luna with the answer she'd wanted, helped bring Cheerilee and Twilight closer together, soothed Cheerilee's terrible heat-ache, and helped to solidify his friendship with Apple Bloom. Despite his irritation at not being able to deal with the threatening unicorn, he considered his visit a fulfilling one.

His lover stirred in his limbs and nuzzled at his neck. Shortly, they would say their good-byes. StarStep would miss her. He knew he would. But his place was with Luna. There was no question in his heart about that. And Cheerilee's place was here in Ponyville with Twilight Sparkle. How strange it felt, to admit he could love her so much, and be willing to let her go for the sake of his stronger emotions for Luna. The heart was a mysterious thing indeed.

And so, in the early afternoon, surrounded by his friends and family. He wished them all good-bye, with a special breath-stealing kiss for Cheerilee and a brutal hug and peck on the cheek from Apple Bloom. He promised them all to visit again soon, turning to face the descending sun. He took flight, mind full of wonderful new memories and a heart less empty. Soaring on wings of determination and hope, he flew straight at the castle on the hill, far in the distance. He had a Princess to find.