James steered the SUV down the final curve heading into Gate Valley. The lake spread before us, holding the massive dome of the Gate facility in its center.

We slowed at the bridge, where an additional automated security gate had been installed. James pulled slowly forwards until the robot approached our vehicle.

"Identification, please."

James held up his wrist band, and the robot stared at his face, scanning his retinas.

"James Ruttege. You do not have authorization to enter this facility-" the machine began.

"Hey, over here," I called, leaning out the back door window.

The machine looked at me, then rolled over.

"Identification, please."

I held up my hoof, and waited while it scanned my wristband and eyes.

"Eris Sky. You are cleared for entry. Do you wish to register other vehicle occupants as guests?"

"Yes."

The machine leaned closer, scanning Mia as well. It then rolled back.

"Three occupants registered. Have a nice day."

"That's the exact same thing the last robot did five minutes ago," Mia grumbled.

"Multiple layers of security," James said. "This is still a wide area. If something or someone got past the perimeter fence, then now they'd be faced with another gate or a swim."

The gate lifted and we drove onto the bridge. Several weapon turrets mounted at the far end confirmed that it had been turned into a security kill zone. As I looked further, I could see turret emplacements overlooking the entire lake from around the base of the dome. ProteC was evidently doing their part to protect Equestria from unwanted visitors.

As we neared the Gate, we entered a traffic queue. Construction equipment, cement mixers, trucks full of steel girders, and several buses waited in line to use the Gate, filling the room with the heavy growl of large diesel engines and the intermittent squealing hiss of air brakes.

"They're building a lot of new stuff on Equestria side," James commented. "I've heard about it. Like a facility to house the Equestrian side anomaly, roads, that kind of thing."

We inched along, watching traffic heading back down the road towards the main ProteC campus as well. After several minutes we reached the final checkpoint, where human and Equestrian guards carrying slung rifles checked our identification and biometrics a third time. Once we got the hand wave from them, we were cleared to enter the Gate facility itself.

Now that we were past the final ID check, things moved faster. James took us slowly under the edge of the massive dome, and we followed behind the tail of a dump truck. I looked around the big circular room, noting the armed guards and some mounted weaponry. Traffic lights had been installed to prevent vehicle collisions at the Gate anomaly just ahead of us. As I watched, they turned yellow and the dump truck ahead of us hit the gas, rumbling into the Gate anomaly in a burst of diesel smoke. James brought us to a halt at the red light. Seconds later, a semi tractor materialized and headed into the outbound lane, dragging an empty flatbed trailer behind. A van, two pickup trucks, a car, and a bus rolled out afterwards and continued on past us. The anomaly stayed clear for a few seconds, then our side turned green, and we hummed into the Gate itself, approaching the shimmering anomaly field.

I could see both James and Mia were nervous as we neared the trans-dimensional rift. I leaned forward in my seat and put a hoof on both of their arms. "Relax you guys. It's easy."

"Guess we're about to find out," James replied, gripping the steering wheel.

We rolled against the bubble-like field of fluidly shimmering energy, and it engulfed our car. Once again I felt the falling sensation in the pit of my stomach, and light flickered around us as though the SUV had suddenly become a submarine, sinking into a tropical ocean under an alien sun.

Then our tires rolled onto a concrete pad and we were through, driving out of the Gate anomaly and into a busy construction site. Men and ponies in hardhats bustled about while heavy equipment rumbled, pouring concrete, lifting girders, and constructing the building around us. A chain-link fence had been placed around the perimeter, and I saw numerous armed guards both at the fence line and roving through the site, providing security for the workers.

"That's it? This is Equestria?" Mia asked, staring out the windows eagerly.

"Well yeah, but it just looks like a forest here, and well this is an industrial site so you can't even see much of that yet."

"But we're on an alien planet! I have no idea how far we are from home. This is Equestria! Oh Eris, I've dreamed about this moment for years and years and-"

I leaned forward and put a hoof on her shoulder. "Relax, sweetie. Just breathe."

Mia put her hand on top of my hoof, giving me a squeeze. "Eris baby, I'm just so excited I want to scream!"

James was smiling, but in contrast to Mia's outburst, he stoically steered the SUV along the marked roadway, heading to a small collection of temporary trailers near the Everfree Forest security gate. We paused there to use the temporary currency converter ATM, exchanging virtual US dollars from our bank accounts into Equestrian bits. I hadn't received my first paycheck yet, but the retainer bonus ProteC had given me for signing on was enough to cover any expenses I might incur, and then some.

"Huh. These always look like gold in the show," Mia said curiously, gazing at the variously colored metal coins in her hand.

"Well, gold is kind of a precious metal here too. Copper and brass are commonly used for coins." I shoved my pile into a small coin purse, then stuffed that into my own little backpack, which I chucked in turn onto the back seat of the truck and scrambled in after. "You guys ready?" I called out, latching my belt. "I'm starved dead!"

James and Mia quickly got back in and we headed for the Everfree security gate, which had a sign posted on it.

The men and Equestrians at the security shack opened the motorized chain-link fence, and we drove out. Outside the gate, the forest had been cleared back at least fifty feet, creating a standoff perimeter. The road through the forest was paved in black asphalt, with additional cleared areas on either shoulder. James pulled us out onto the empty road, then romped the accelerator, pressing us back into the seats.

"This truck has balls," he commented with a smile as the forest flashed by on either side of us.

"I like balls," Mia giggled, glancing away from the window long enough to run a finger up his thigh. "Mmm."

"Hey, I'm trying to drive here!"

"Well do it later! Pull over, I want to suck your dick."

"We just got here! We haven't even gotten out of the forest yet! You do realize that's how horror movies begin, right? Driving down an empty road in a creepy forest, and then someone pulls over for a blowjob?"

"And I'm hungry," I added.

"You can eat my pussy," Mia suggested hopefully, stretching her seat belt and twisting around to look at me. "Your tongue is longer than his dick anyway," she added with a sneaky sidelong glance at James, who simply ignored her comment, concentrating on the road in front of him.

I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Okay, but later. After we eat some actual food and find a hotel or something."

"Oh, fine, whatever," Mia grumbled, dropping back into her seat and folding her arms over her pert breasts in a pretend huff, her poorly concealed grin betraying her actual feelings. "Spoilsports! Grr, I should just take care of it myself right now."

I dragged my hoof down my face. "Oh jeez. Looks like you really are excited to be here, after all."

Mia giggled again, squirming in her chair. "You have no idea, love."

"Right, because you totally didn't just tell us or anything."

James waved a hand. "Pipe down, you two. We're almost there!"

Mia and I both looked out the windshield as the truck hummed on the blacktop towards the rise just past the edge of Everfree Forest. As we crested the top, we looked down and saw-

"OH MY GOSH!" Mia shrieked abruptly. "IT'S PONYVILLE!"

If I hadn't been wearing my seat belt, I probably would have jumped through the roof.

"Mia! Please!" James yelped, holding his ear.

"I'm sorry, I'm just so excited!" she squealed, bouncing in her seat. "We're really here! That's Ponyville!"

I sighed and reached out to give her thigh a squeeze. "Calm down, baby. You're gonna make James crash and kill us all before we park. And I don't want to die hungry."

"I'll try," she said in lower tones, although I could easily see she was shaking with excitement. "Wow, I can see Twilight's castle! It's beautiful! And look at all the pegasus! Pegasuses? Pegasi!"

It wasn't the first time I'd seen this view, but I guess she was right, it WAS pretty, and it made me warm inside to see her so thrilled, once the adrenaline spike wore off. "I'm glad you're happy, Mia. There's a lot of things I'd like to show you."

"I can't wait!"

James slowed the vehicle as we approached Ponyville, driving carefully so as not to run over any of the ponies wandering about the streets. "So, Eris, where are we headed?" he asked me as the rustic buildings rose on either side.

"I, uh..." I paused, not really knowing how to answer. "I'm not from around here. I'm not sure." I looked out the window at the ponies going about their business, paying little mind to the white SUV crawling past them in the street, although a few did give us friendly hoof waves. It's funny how quickly unusual things become routine. Although I guess that includes me and my two humans. Talk about taking the strange for granted.

"Eris? You okay?"

I blinked. "Oh, uh, yeah, sorry. Well, I can ask somepony, I guess." I unbuckled my seat belt, then rolled down the rear window and leaned out. "Excuse me!" I asked a nearby pony.

"Oh, hey there. How can I help you?" she replied, smiling as she turned to me.

"Would you happen to know a good restaurant around here?"

It didn't take very long to find the place the helpful mare had directed us to. James parked the SUV in the street near the restaurant, a cheerful affair with both indoor and outdoor seating. As it was an off time and well past lunch, the place was relatively quiet for the time being. A few other ProteC cars and trucks were visible, also parked along the sides of the street. Since Equestrians don't use vehicles like humans, there is not much in the way of parking spaces, so the few visiting cars are mostly just stopped along the edge of the street.

Once he switched the vehicle off, we pushed the doors open and got out, the doors locking behind us automatically when we closed them. I stood next to Mia in the street while James walked around the truck. She looked tall in her red heels, and her miniskirt barely reached below her panties, making her legs look even longer than they already were.

Ponies were openly staring at her on the street, and, to a lesser extent at me, since I wasn't nearly as exotic as the beautiful human female walking beside me. Still, my own short skirt counted for something, and I felt a few eyes on myself as well. Unlike humans, Equestrians have no nudity taboo. Our tails do cover us somewhat, but nopony cares, regardless. The closest thing I have seen to describe it is how African tribal women walk around with their breasts hanging out, and not a care in the world. That's how Equestria is. Nopony gives a crap about seeing each other's junk. Well, until you put an outfit on like mine. That changes everything, and to tell the truth I was a little embarrassed by the attention I received. To tell the truth even further, my own embarrassment made me a little aroused. Hey, I never claimed to be normal, and it seems like since I met James and especially Mia, I've been finding out things about myself that I never suspected before.

Anyway, when we entered the restaurant, several other human ProteC employees were seated at a table with their pony counterparts. I smiled, it felt good to see other members of my company. Being part of ProteC was more than simply having a job, even after such a short time I had the sense of belonging.

One of the humans at the table spotted me staring and gave me a nod, the kind of acknowledging gesture one reserves for a teammate. I wondered briefly how he knew I was a ProteC employee when I had my ARHUD in my backpack, then I remembered the wristband and the pistol on my belt. Not too many Equestrian civilians wore Glocks. Feeling stupid at my own dimwitted train of thought, I gave a quick hoof wave and a dorky smile before directing my attention to the hostess waiting to seat us. "Um, yeah, just the three of us."

"Right this way, please."

She led us to a small circular table near the window, where we could see outside easily.

She placed three menus in front of us, then took drink orders and bustled away.

I glanced out the window, noting the sun hanging low in the sky. "It took us awhile to get this far, didn't it?" I mused.

Mia let out a small sigh. "But it was totally worth it. This place is amazing."

I grinned. "It's pretty nice here. You know, I never spent time in Ponyville before."

We all looked out the window.

"It's very picturesque," James finally commented. "And at risk of sounding sappy, I can feel the magic in the air."

"That's quite literally true," I replied. "Magical permeates everything here. It's almost like the hydrogen that fills the gaps in your world. It's a basic component of matter itself."

"I don't see how that works." James leaned his chin on his palm, staring intently at me. "I mean, don't you generate magic? Is that different from the other magic around us?"

"In a word, yes. All ponies generate magic, as you can see with the telekinetic hoof grip we use. Unicorns in particular generate more and additional types, which we can direct, concentrate, and control using our horns. The environmental magic has many varieties and properties, in fact natural magic is as complicated as chemistry is Earthside, if not even more so."

"You mean the combination of magic and science."

"Yes. See, because magic is infused into all matter here, it's natural that magic and science are inseparable. Our study of magic is not like the dark demonology and witchcraft of Earth. Gosh, the things called 'magic' on your world are terrifying to me."

"I don't blame you," Mia interjected. "I avoid such things on Earth."

"As well you should," I continued. "The magical energy we use is a force of life, not of darkness and evil. That's probably why we are effective against the monsters. Their power is purely destructive."

"You know, I've wondered why Discord hadn't helped more," Mia said thoughtfully. "I always thought he's basically a god in the show."

"Ah, Discord. Yes, he did try to help in the beginning, but apparently his chaos magic is easily converted by creatures of darkness, or so I've read. As to his being a god, well, he is immensely powerful, but you'll find your show exaggerates some things. I'm not the best pony to ask on the subject though, I only know what I've read. I've never actually met Discord or any of the so-called 'Mane Six' myself," I said, resting my muzzle on my hooves. "Although I have seen Princess Twilight here and there about Canterlot from time to time. And maybe Rarity, I'm not sure, I never talked to them."

"I wonder if we'll meet any of them," Mia said.

"I don't know. Think about it though. There's only six of them, and a growing group of millions of human fans, pretty much all of whom want to meet their favorite ponies. It's not feasible."

"Unless they join ProteC," Mia grinned.

"Yeah. And no guarantees there, this isn't exactly an easy job," I said thoughtfully. "Hell, we almost got ourselves-"

Mia reached out and poked my nose, making me go cross-eyed. "Boop. That's enough of that kind of talk, babe. Let's forget work for a while and live in the moment, shall we?"

I smiled back at her. "Yeah. So, um, I heard the manicotti is good here, and has lots of cheese! What do you think?"

"I think you look the cutest when you're smiling like that, Eris."

I felt my cheeks get hot. "Aww."

"And pasta sounds delicious."

"How about we get the large pasta sampler, and we can all share some?" James suggested.

"Ohh! Good idea!"

"Are you folks ready to order?" the waitress asked us politely as she returned and began passing out our drinks.

"Extra large pasta sampler for three, please!" I stated grandly.

The pasta was amazing.

Sunset was approaching by the time we found a quiet inn on the outskirts of Ponyville to hole up in.

I had thought it might be a little awkward for the three of us to rent one room, but the desk clerk showed absolutely no surprise at our getting a room with a single large bed. He even cheerfully gave us a ProteC discount, which made me wonder how often groups like ours showed up. Regardless, we were all happy to have a place to relax.

The room was on the second floor and quite large, offering plenty of room for the three of us. And the bed was huge and inviting. James shut the door behind us, and we dropped our small bags and packs on the table and floor.

"Well, now what?" James asked, plunking down in a small chair.

"I've got an idea," I said. I set my pistol belt on the table next to James, then padded across the rug and dropped onto my back in the middle of the big, soft bed, looking up at Mia. "Hey you. Come here."

She unlatched her belt as well, placing her weapon next to mine, then clicked over in her heels, standing next to the bed and gazing down at me with a small smile.

"Sit down," I demanded, tugging at her little skirt with my hoof.

She did, looking at me curiously, then she took off her heels and put her feet up on the bed, stretching out beside me. We both stared up at the ceiling for a moment.

"If you keep this up, I'm going to put my tongue in your ear," she said calmly, softly poking the ear in question with her finger.

"I did make you a promise," I giggled, my ear flicking around involuntarily from her tickling.

"Oh?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I rolled and straddled her, reached up under her skirt and grasped her panties with both hooves. I pulled them down her creamy thighs, exposing her shaved pink pussy, then I leaned down and flicked my tongue against her flat stomach.

She inhaled sharply. "Babe?"

I gently put a hoof over her mouth. "You've done a lot of things to me. It's time for me to do some to you," I whispered.

Her eyes batted at me, then she smiled, putting her hand on the back if my head and pulling me in for a kiss. "You're the best, Eris."

"It's nice that somebody thinks so," I replied, carefully tugging her panties down past her feet with my magic. I then pushed her tank top up with my hooves, exposing her small breasts.

"So cute," I breathed, placing my muzzle on her left boob and sucking gently while I flicked my tongue against her nipple. She sighed and put her hands on my neck, stroking me up and down.

I worked my way over her body, licking her belly button, her inner thighs, all the way down to her feet. "You've got cute toes," I told her, inspecting her foot.

"What are you doing, fuzzpoof?"

"Oh nothing," I replied, placing her foot in my mouth and sucking on her toes.

"Eris! Hey! That might be dirty."

"Not anymore," I giggled, and ran my tongue all over her foot, holding her ankle in both hooves so she couldn't pull back. She finally stopped trying, and I could tell by the tension in her body that my tongue was exciting her.

"Eris? Stop messing around and lick my pussy already. You're driving me crazy!"

"Not yet. I have to lick your other foot."

"Eris! Come on-ohhhh!"

I tickled her sole with my tongue, then put it all over her toes. She was squirming by the time I pushed her legs apart and crawled between them, leaning down to smell her. "Mmm," I said, giving her crotch a long slurp.

"Oh baby, please," she moaned. "Please?"

I began licking her clit, dragging my long tongue up and down, pushing against her folds and tasting her wetness.

"Ohh. Yes. So good. Oh baby, you're so good."

I teased and slurped her a bit more, enjoying her pleasure. Then I slipped my tongue up inside her, pushing deep into her wet hole.

"E-Eris! Oh honey that's so good," Mia gasped, her whole body twitching beneath me while she put her hands on the back of my head. I kept exploring her with my mouth, my muzzle rubbing her pussy lips and clit, her juices making my face messy and slimy.

"Mmm," I hummed, fucking her with my tongue. While I was working on Mia with my rump in the air, I felt someone pull my skirt and tail up over my back. I wiggled my butt as James slipped his fingers inside my moist pussy, sliding them in and out. Then I felt his lips sucking on my asshole, and it encouraged me to a new level of frenzied tonguework inside Mia.

"Eris? Oh my! Oh gosh!" she moaned, gripping the bed with both her hands. I kept at it, shoving and curling, enjoying her taste.

"Ohhhh!" she squeaked finally, her pussy trembling as her whole body tightened. Liquid spurted up into my face from her hole, and I eagerly slurped it up, lapping at her with my tongue and swallowing every drop I could get.

"Baby, I came," she giggled, while I kept poking at her slit. "Babe, stop! It tickles!"

I growled, determined to get more. I kept licking her frantically, giggling while she tried to hold me off.

"James?" Mia called, laughing and pushing me back while I struggled to put my tongue back in her vagina.

"Yeah?"

"Can you do me a favor and wreck Eris's pussy? I can't hold her off much longer."

I started to break through her defenses, my sloppy tongue slapping enthusiastically at her thighs as I wiggled in her arms.

"Help!" she squawked.

"Sure thing." He grabbed me forcibly by the shoulders and dragged me off Mia.

"Hey!" I complained, struggling weakly. "I was busy!"

"Not as busy as you're gonna be," he scowled theatrically, shoving me down on my back.

"Oh my goodness," I gasped, laying limply on the bed while I looked up into his eyes, my skirt hiked up past my waist. "What are you gonna do to me?"

"Guess." He leaned over me, his muscular arms holding my forehooves down on either side of my head. I felt his hard dick tapping against my wetness.

"Uh oh," I breathed into his ear, pushing my muzzle up beside his head. "What is this, mister? You think you can just-"

He pressed down on me, and his cock slipped into my dripping pussy with an audible squelch.

"Ohhh!" I squealed, falling back onto the bed and spreading my back legs as wide as I could, my eyes bulging out of my head. "James! Yes! Oh my gosh yes!"

He grunted, ramming me powerfully and making me bounce rhythmically on the bed. I lay on my back, my eyes rolling back helplessly while James pounded me, my forehooves still trapped under his powerful grip. Wave after wave of pleasure poured through me, making me shudder every time his cock plunged home and bottomed out inside me. I pushed my hips towards his, gripping him inside me, wanting him to fill me.

"Yes! Yes! Fuck me! Oh my gosh, fuck me!" I moaned. "I need you inside me!"

I was aware of Mia laying on her side next to me, smiling as she put her finger in her mouth. She then reached down and-

"Eeek!" I squeaked as Mia wormed her finger into my butthole. "Ohhh! Oh my goodness!"

Between Mia's finger in my ass and James's dick thrusting into me, I couldn't hold on any longer. "Oh my gosh I'm cumming, oh baby I'm cumming!"

"Uh. Me too," James gasped, straining hard against my body. I could feel his throbbing cock buried deep, his hot jizz pumping inside me. "Oh baby," I moaned.

MIa carefully pulled her finger out of my butt, which probably wasn't easy with James laying on top of me. He then slowly rolled off and lay beside me on the opposite side, his arm cross my chest.

I sighed, then I noticed Mia staring at her finger.

"Uh, Mia? Maybe you should wash your-"

She stuck it in her mouth.

"Hands?" I finished lamely, staring as she licked it clean.

"Mmm." She slurped on her finger for a bit longer, then pulled it out, dragging it along her tongue before pressing up beside me. "You look so cute when you're cumming," she giggled, nuzzling me, then she leaned over me for a kiss.

I wanted to resist for a moment, but then I gave up, closed my eyes, and let her kiss me, her tongue teasing mine.

Finally she lay back beside me. "Eris, babe, even your butt tastes good."

I shook my head and snuggled up against her. "What the fuck is wrong with you, Mia?"

"Hmmm," she hummed at me, contentedly ignoring my question. "I really like it here, Eris. Thanks for bringing me along."

I thought about it. "Huh. Well it never occurred to me to do otherwise."

"You could've cut us loose and come here by yourself to visit your family or something."

"I... No way!" I was appalled at the thought. "I wouldn't do that to either of you."

James rubbed my chest. "Well good, because I don't want to be hanging out without you guys, either."

"I'm honestly not in a hurry to see my family," I continued. "They're nice, but a bit overbearing."

"How do you think they'd react to us?" James asked.

I shuddered. "They'd probably lose their minds if they knew the truth."

"Well we'll just play it cool if it ever comes to that," Mia cooed in my ear. "We've always got your back."

"For sure," James added, squeezing me a little with his arm.

"Thanks, sweethearts. But I'm enjoying just hanging out together. I'd like to keep it that way. I'm having more fun than I've ever had in my life, and I don't want it to stop." I paused, feeling James's cum start to trickle out of my vagina.

"Um, and I think I might need a towel."