Ari

I believe I have said before that this world seems to love throwing me curveballs, like waking up with the dragon mare that was part of the slave traders we fought earlier. Now I know that sounds bad but don’t go jumping the gun, I did nothing to her, in fact I hadn’t seen her since I sent a gryphon hurtling at her. No I didn’t hit her with it, the thought of hitting her repulses me. I mean she just seems so sad, i hate seeming someone in tears. Okay now she is scared, but she has every reason to be, I know I would be.

While I was in a daze, wondering how I slept through her crawling under my wing among other pressing questions, Azure was having a panic attack. Her panic attacks happened to be bomb alarm grade screams, They caused the dragon mare to flinch, her eyes scrunching and ears pinning back. her body started quivering slightly, She must be expecting pain. I don’t really wonder why, Jabbar’s attitude made her life pretty clear to me. One can only hope he dies, if I ever see him again…

Azure’s cries of panic did more than send the mare under my left wing into a state of panic they woke Barium and Chrissy.

Barium jumped to his feet a dazed look in his eyes as he tried to look around our small alcove. The poor stallion had got the screams right in his ear, good thing he loves her. After His eyes found the odd mare out, he pinned his ears at her, squaring up in preparation for action. Very understandable, she may have been part of the reason he was captured by the slave traders, not that he stood a chance against them. But, she just made it embarrassingly easy. Apparently with just her voice but I have heard her, it isn’t exactly hypnotizing but I’m an alien, what do I know?

I DO know that you should never make a PMSing mare angry.

When Chrissy heard the screaming she shot up from under my wing looking around wildly before she looked down at me. To be specific she saw the mare that was attempting to disappear under my wing. Surprise morphed to annoyance, then her nostrils flared and anger dominated her face. With her ears pinned her horn started to glow green and I had flashbacks to the cave when I had accidently levitated her into the ceiling. Pain was in the future.

I needed to defuse this situation now, not because I enjoy waking up to strange mares but the mare wasn’t hurting us and therefore we probably shouldn’t attack her. It could also be that last time I saw her she broke down into tears for no reason and got kicked by her… I don’t know what Jabbar was to her but he called her a whorse so I can assume some interactions took place, still hating him.

Standing up I tucked my wings in but kept the body contact with the trembling mare, Chrissy’s eye twitched. “Chrissy, calm down, let’s talk-“ I didn’t have a chance to finish as I was pushed to the side and Chrissy charged at the terrified mare, she quite understandly ran out away and out of the alcove.

Getting off of Azure I left the cave, closely followed by Azure and Barium. Outside the sand storm may have left but a new type of chaos was happening in its place. Chrissy was galloping after the dragon mare and she she didn’t seem inclined to stop anytime soon, the mare was holding her distance dspite having slightly shorter legs.

“what just happened?” I really meant that, I go to sleep and wake up with a new mare by my side that my marefriend is now set on chasing down. This didn’t make any sense to me.

“if I read her correctly she is having a mare challenge right now.”

My head cocked as I looked at Azure, shouldn’t she be freaking out or something? She was too calm for my liking. “I’m really not from here you know. What exactly is a ‘mare challenge’?”

Now they cocked their heads back at me. “So you didn’t kn-“ Azure stopped herself and glanced at Barium “It is when a mare wants in a herd or to be with a stallion and challenges the head mare or marefriend to a fight over the right. The loser doesn’t get into the herd or get a chance with the stallion.” I blinked at that, they were fighting over me? “Usually it doesn’t last long, since it’s mostly instinctual the fights don’t usually have any magic involved. Since you don’t have herds in Equestria anymore, I mean didn’t have herds, you don’t see it anymore. But I have read about it in some romance novels and Equestrian Discovery magazines.”

“Really Azure? And here I thought you bought those for Opal…” Barium grumbled and Azure pinned her ears back before a squeal of pain echoed in the archway stole our attention.

Looking back I saw that Chrissy was gaining on the dragon pony, having just bit her rump, before adrenaline helped the mare launch herself forward again. They both seemed to be slowing down, I hoped so anyways.

“So they are fighting over who gets to be my marefriend? That doesn’t make any sense, I mean I should get to choose who I date. Not ro mention I only met that mare once! She never even spoke to me.” I glared at the scene infront of me, this wasn’t like the Chrissy I know.

“Well in a herd the stallion still can veto the results of the challenge…She lasted longer than I thought she would.” What does that mean? “I actually expected her to do this to me when I started traveling with you to rescue Barium. With her heat starting and her not having consummated her claim on you her nerves must have been going crazy.” Azure was blushing now and looking away from me.

Oh hell no, she did not just say heat, that meant there wasn’t periods here but estrus cycles, I didn’t anything about horse estrus.

My eye twitched as I thought the implications this new twist in life meant. Azure had apparently been wanting to be my marefriend earlier…Well that might explain the look she was giving me and how angry Chrissy was acting toward her.

Chrissy was squealing now as the dragon mare executed a sharp turn to grab her tail. Should I stop this?

The mare was hanging on as Chrissy started spinning, the golden tail just inches from her muzzle. She started to buck, her hooves just inches from dragon pony’s head. That was close, I need to stop this. Dragon mare had the same thought as she let go of Chrissy’s tail and lunged forward trying to bite her neck. Unfortunaely for her, she didn’t realize how hard chitin was and couldn’t get a hold. Chrissy knew this and swung her torso around to bite her neck which was also hard and smooth, scales to be exact.

Now at a impasse they separated and started circling, snorting at each other.

“Hu mutajahatun, wanahn min almftrd ‘an yakun. Hu alfahi alwahid limuqawamat ‘ayi waqt madaa baladi alsihr.” The dragon mare said almost desperately. I didn’t know enough Arabian to translate it all, she did say stallion so I assumed I was still the main topic.

In response Chrissy snorted, “Hu baladay alfahl!”

Circling like that it went back and forth between the mares for a good ten minutes, if anything they were gaining their breaths again.

I needed a way to end-.

Azure interrupted my thoughts with a great point, “You know you could just settle this so we could get go-.” She was interrupted as more squealing broke out, they were now reared up and grappling with their hooves.

I knew the result as soon as they reared, Chrissy was the taller mare and had the advantage. Chrissy hit her in the withers, knocking her onto her side. Chrissy placed herself over the losing mare and seeing the dragon mare close her eyes, Chrissy got off her

While I was concerned for the losing mare I was also thinking how adorable it was to see Chrissy do a victory prance around the mare, her tail was held high.

Maybe a high tail meant happiness or pride?

As if seeing me for the first time she nickered at me, forgoing words in what I can only assume was instinct. I really needed to ask them about the heat later. Anyway she was now heading my way and to be honest I was a little nervous, I mean what do I say after this? I still liked her but I didn’t understand the culture completely and this kind of unnerved me. It also brought up a whole slew of questions and facts that I had to accept, like the fact that I was a stallion and it looked like I would be in this world indefinitely. The implications sent a tingle in my sheath, it probably didn’t help that Chrissy smelt amazing, cinnamon, just like my favorite food.

She was now standing in front of me, sneaking up on me when I was lost in thought, I looked to Azure and Barium for a idea what to do. They were gone, I looked around and saw that they stood at least one hundred feet behind me. She wasn’t that scary was she? Turning back to see why they had moved back I came face to face with Chrissy’s raised bottom. Her tail was raised out of the way giving me a perfect view of her dripping lips, they were a glistening ebony and I couldn’t help my jaw from unhinging. This was a first, now I was the stallion, and my instincts told me take in her scent.

My instincts have never proven me wrong yet, so I went with it. Leaning forward I took a deep breath of it, feeling my sheath stir from it. Her personal smell of cinnamon was so strong I nearly licked her to see if she tasted like cinnamon buns. I was always hungry now. My thoughts felt mildly hazy as the smell of her marehood took over my central focus, whimpering dragon mare, and other couple forgotten for this moment.

What could a little taste hurt after all?

Glancing at her face for askance I was shocked to see her face in a red blush, she was panting and looking back at me with unfocused eyes. It made me hesitate, was this of her violation? Did she even know it was me?

“Azure, are mares aware of what they are asking during the heat?”, not taking my eyes off Chrissy I waited for her answer.

“Y-yes Ari, we are very much aware. It is more like our inhibitions go down, if we thought how cute a colt is but never acted we are more likely to act during this time. But at this point Chrissy is practically all instincts, the last stage of estrus.” I tried to listen but Chrissy had started swaying her hips, wafting her already strong scent into my face and I felt my cock start to drop. Nope, this didn’t feel right without her asking me. Or me asking her, it was the same point: permission. Not that I could help my body’s reaction much but I still had to snap her out of it.

Shaking my head I walked up to her muzzle and gave her a light kiss. “Chrissy are you sure you want this? I mean we only just started being special some ponies recently. We can always do this another time.” I glanced pointedly at our audience. The dragon mare had her tail up and was looking at us in anticipation, while Azure and Barium were trying and failing to look away.

Blinking owlishly at me Chrissy followed my gaze, her blush darkened, and her bottom lowered with the tail still raised. I think I now understand the tail raising and I feel like an idiot for missing all the instances, while she preened me and after I disciplined that colt in the market being the first that come to mind…

“What?” She asked quietly, looking a little dazed.

Whispering, I explained, “I would love to continue at a later date. Without an audience preferably, plus we still have to deal with the mare.” At the mention of the mare Chrissy pinned her ears and focused on her. Looks like there was still some issues.

I laid down beside Chrissy, folding my wing over her, causing her to lean into me with a moan, It was the least I could do when she was soo aroused and most likely hungry. Like I told her, I don’t like an audience and need a little time getting over the whole fact that we are still getting to know each other. It didn’t mean I wasn’t interested in having sex with her, make no mistake about that.

“Come on guys we need to talk about some things.” I looked back at the dragon mare to make sure she knew that meant her too. She galloped over to me, going to lay beside me only to freeze, Chrissy was hissing at her. Deciding she didn’t want a second fight the mare sat several feet to my left, Chrissy watching her over my back. Azure and Barium laid down in the sand across from us, getting settled in.

“Do you speak Equuis?” I looked to the pale yellow mare, hoping it was a yes.

“Y-y-yes I speak Equuis, it was my mother’s native tongue.” Well that helps, I nodded at her.

“Excellent, I’m sure you understand that we have soo many questions still about what just happened. The answer ‘the heat’ is not acceptable miss…” Now everyone was looking at her with perked ears.

After taking a deep breath she gave us a nervous smile. “Well, my name is Lyrical Dazzle and i'm…i'm half siren. I know I look a little odd but i'm just like you ponies. Um, I-I saw you resist my magic and it reminded of the story my mother told me about her one true love who was resistant to siren magic, a sign of a powerful stallion. After you left I started following you, I just had to be with-.”

What the…

“Hold up there, Lyric you need to slow down. Okay? First off: What is a siren? And Secondly: what is siren magic?” I could practically feel my brain melting from the heat out here, or was that a effect of what I was learning?

Chrissy answered for her, “A siren is a sea pony that uses mind magic through their voice, a feat no other pony can perform. She is indeed correct in saying that resisting her magic is a sign of a powerful stallion, BUT she is out of line to think that following any stallion that so much as resists her magic a little is a good idea. If you were to follow that principle you end up with anyone.”

Well that certainly is something to think about, there were sirens in this world. What was next, manticores? Hydras? Wait, I might have just jinxed myself, those are sounding very plausible right now. I was curious as to the magic, they used words almost like a spell. Should I have been using spells instead of focus and intent? Which was better?

My mind was swimming so I rested my head on the sand, I was just supposed to save the planet. Not be a rescuer, travel guide, and now ‘the one’ to Lyric. Not to mention the god wanted me to breed with the Alicorns like some brainless stud.

“Ari?” Lyric sounded worried, scooting closer.

“So, this is a lot to take in. What did you think following us would get you?”

Now she splayed her ears and looked panicked, “it wasn’t supposed to be like this! You were supposed to be the one, my stallion, and I was going to be happy again. I-I didn’t want to be a w-whorse for my whole life!”

I was planning a rebute that would send her packing but now she was sobbing. As if I needed more…

“Lyric-“ Her sobbing slowed as she and everyone listened in, “-I won't lie to you, that sounds very unrealistic. I can't promise what you want-“ Cue more tears and shimmering eyes, “-but if Chrissy and you can agree to get along and you pull your weight on the mission then you can come with us. We can see where life takes us.”

With that stupid idea out of my mouth I looked over at Chrissy, her muzzle was set in a frown as her ears went sideways. Lyric was looking at her with bated breath, water works forgotten at chance to be with us.

“Fine, but Ari is my stallion and I’m his marefriend.” I nuzzled her as Lyric started whinnying in joy, tears leaking from her eyes. She looked like wanted to hug us but wisely held back.

“What mission?” We turned to look at Azure; I glanced at Chrissy as she glanced at me, now what?

“Why getting you to the border of course, I like calling things missions.” I smiled at her, I hope it looked natural.

“But you said-“Chrissy interrupted to my relief. “And a personal matter, now, are we taking you to the border?” The tone she said it in was pretty final, they gulped under her look, before standing having decided the border was looking better.

“Let me grab my bags.” Chrissy stayed glued to my barrel, releasing me as I put my thobe and bags on, before reattaching.

With that issue settled we set out back onto the dunes, Lyric walking beside me with a happy look on her face.

Oh, why was I such a sucker for tears?

Now climbing what must be the millionth sand dune in this desert I felt like asking those burning questions. “So, not that I’m complaining, but why aren’t you freaking out over me being a Alicorn? And how did we never see you following us?”

Glancing at her, I saw a guilty look. “Well you see I was shocked at first when you spread your wings but then I thought it made sense, my stallion would have to be an Alicorn. As to your other question, I’m just really good at illusion magic.” She then disappeared in one blink, well that I had to learn! No question about it.

“What?!”

She reappeared, “Well I mean our species, or my mother’s anyway, are really magically powerful so it makes sense that I would need to find one who is also magically powerful. I sort of decided to ignore the 'where you came from' part since I had never heard of an Alicorn prince before. You know, don’t turn down a blessing and all that.” Great now Azure and Barium had thoughtful looks on their faces.

Question time was digging me a hole that I couldn't fill without risking the princesses hearing about it.

I ignored their looks focusing instead on the horizon; life would be easier without them around. For one thing, we could discuss the saving the planet/kidnapping the princesses mission. Now that we had Lyrical Dazzle on our team it would be easier, mind you she doesn’t even know what our mission is yet.

Another hundred dunes and I saw what I supposed was our destination, the city of Jozan. At least fifty clusters of tall buildings shimmered in the heat.

Chrissy was enveloped in a green fire and ‘Silver Stream’ now walked with me. To her credit Lyric didn’t even blink.