In the center of town, the sun was nearing its peak, and the mid-day rush had much of town closing up to break for lunch. As the streets began to grow more crowded, a small purple dragon and an unlikely patron exited a quaint little bakery with an unnecessary excess of bread.

An excitedly happy female unicorn exited behind the two.

"Are you sure I can't convince you to take some of my dinner biscuits with you? I'm sure your friend that's ill would love them."

Sniff turned back, all smiles, but also anxious to leave, and answered back to her.

"Come on now, Oven Fresh. You're killing me here. I already feel like I've taken advantage of your good nature by all the free samples. It wouldn't be right to take anything more from you if you're not going to at least let me pay for them."

"It's really no trouble at all," Oven Fresh tried to reassure him. "If you like, you can always stop by at the end of the day and pick up a bunch. You can even come in the back, and I can show you just how I work my magic in the kitchen."

"Keep smiling that beautiful smile of yours, and you might not be able to keep me out of your shop. Then I'll be eating up all your bread and your profits." Sniff answered back with a wink.

Oven Fresh had a giddy laugh before waving them off.

"Come back any time, Mr. James! You're more than welcome to a sniff of my buns whenever you like!"

Even if Spike didn't have the same perverted mind as Sniff, he still ended up laughing at that terrible unintended pun.

Sniff, on the other hand, did have a perverted mind and didn't want any more unnecessary attention drawn to him.

"Don't worry; you'll see me again."

"So," Spike piped up, and Sniff could already see the jokes coming. "Gonna come back and sniff her buns, huh?"

"Shut up, dork," Sniff fired back with a smirk. "This is all your fault."

"My fault?" Spike asked accusingly. "Come on, man. You were sweet-talking her the moment you could start a conversation. And I gotta say. For a guy who isn't into ponies, you sure can't stop yourself from flirting with them."

Reluctant to accept any blame, Sniff countered with restrained childish angst.

"You pointed out every single item she baked and said, 'Hey Oven Fresh. Can you have Sniff try this one? I bet he'll love it.'" Sniff recited in a mock Spike voice. "And you wouldn't stop calling me Sniff. Even after I told her my name was Peter."

"But all your friends call you, Sniff?"

"Yeah, they're my friends. They gave me the nickname. It makes sense for them to call me that. I don't need every pony here calling me Sniff."

"Maybe, but Sniff just sounds funnier."

"Not as funny as-" Sniff looked down to see Spike looking up to him, with a smile far too lovable to insult. "Never mind. Spike is a fitting name for a dragon like you."

"Is Peter a fitting name for you?"

"More than you know, kiddo... And Spike- " Sniff thought about their short trip together, and all Spike could end up telling Twilight or the others about. "Please don't bring up all the sweet-talking I do. It's just a force of habit. I don't need a bunch of crazy accusations being tossed my way. Don't want Twilight thinking that I'm just out here showing you how to pick up chicks."

"What's the point of teaching me how to pick up chicks if you're just going to date 'em all anyway?" Spike joked.

"Oh my god, kid. I'm gonna punt you like a football."

The duo continued their walk back to the castle with idle chat about more trivial things and some of Spike's interest. That was until Spike noticed the third vehicle that was now parked in front of the castle. Now it was a guessing game of who all had shown up.

Two of the guards still standing post opened the doors to let them in, and they both made their way straight to the map room with everyone else.

"Yo, Sniff's back," Benny called out to the table.

Becky waved, still trying to finish another bite of her itty bitty sandwich.

"Hey! Look who all decided to show up," Sniff announced as he walked in. "You guys missed all the fun."

Twilight looked on in disbelief at the four large bags Sniff and Spike carried in.

"What in the? I thought you said you were going to buy some bread. Did you need to buy out the whole bakery?"

Sniff peaked over his bags as he approached.

"Jokes on you Twiggels."

He set his bags down on the table and promptly moved to unload what Spike was carrying.

"For one, I didn't empty out the whole bakery. And two, get ready for the kicker, I didn't buy anything."

Twilight sat silently still, looking like a nervous wreck, and a slight twitch flickered in her right eye and left wing.

"Okay... So I can only guess you're going to tell me that you had Spike pay for your food, or that on your first day with Spike, you had him help you steal four bags of bread."

"Bread, rolls, and buns," Spike proudly corrected her.

Sniff took a seat in Rarity's spot since she wasn't there to use it. He shifted to a more comfortable angle and let his legs extend over the armrest.

"Twilight, I'm crushed," He feigned in despair. "After all this time we've known each other, you still think so poorly of me to believe I would guide our dear young and impressionable Spike down the path of darkness?"

Benny put down his glass of water to chime in.

"Why wouldn't she? That's what you said that you planned your whole day around."

Becky wanted to gang up on Sniff as well.

"Yeah, Sniff, You made us listen to all the elaborate details of your plan this morning."

Rainbow Dash was a fast learner as to how these friends prank each other and jumped in as well.

"Wait? He was serious? I thought he was just joking back at your house?

"What the hell, guys!?" Sniff shouted, fearful the Princess might actually believe them. "Do you not remember the time they brought the whole army to our doorstep because they thought there was a chance we could be a threat?"

"It wasn't the whole army, ya scaredy-cat," Rainbow Dash set him straight before laughing at his sudden surge of fear. "We're joking Twilight. Sniff doesn't have any secret plans with Spike."

"None that you know about," Becky joked, just quiet enough for only Rainbow Dash to hear.

Twilight was still sitting motionless across the table, fending off what could have been a panic attack.

"Oh... Good... No need to get the dungeon prepared."

Spike, who had been silently laughing along with the whole charade, dropped his smile and turned to Twilight with confused concern.

"We have a dungeon?"

"I'd make one," Twilight answered back, smiling more deviously than Spike thought possible. She even winked, though no one could tell if it was meant to imply a joke or that she was that dedicated to protecting him.

"So..." Benny spoke up again, clearing the air and hoping to change the subject and overall feel of the room. "Besides missing out on some fun activities in the dungeon, what did you do today?"

Sniff wasn't gonna let that fuck dungeon joke just slide like that.

"Eat uh-" He remembered Spike was still in the room and had managed to climb his way up to the tabletop and was still watching him intently. "... sandwich."

Or perhaps he would have to let this one slide until it was just the adults in the room.

Sniff's failure to launch was something beautiful to behold, and Becky slowly lowered her head to the table, snorting and chuckling to herself. There was just something utterly hilarious about watching Sniff having to restrain himself and be left with such inept and bottled up rage. She didn't even care if she looked a little buffoonish in front of the others. The shame was worth watching him suffer like this.

Spike, confused as to why the conversation had stalled in the first place, announced, "Oven Fresh was so pleased to have a new customer in town, and after hearing about Chris not feeling well, gave us a bunch of samples. She also sends her warmest wishes."

Twilight was relieved to hear an explanation, finally. "Oh... Well, that was rather nice of her. But even still-" She eyed the bags of baked goods. "Isn't that a bit excessive?"

Spike grinned and shined a glance to Sniff.

"Nah. I think the final offer Sniff turned down for her buns was the only thing excessive."

Sniff turned a glare at Spike.

"Spike... Like a football. Ten-yard running start."

For as much as Sniff appeared to enjoy good food, Twilight was surprised to hear he would turn down the offer.

"Really? You took all this but turned down her buns?"

More snickering escaped from Becky and was starting to infect Benny.

Still not ready to eat, herself, even Pinkie was confused by the decision.

"Yeah? What's wrong with Oven Fresh's buns? She's got the best buns in town. You should have been all over those things. I would have."

The snickering was approaching the threshold of being unavoidably distracting, and even Lumberman couldn't fight it now.

Just as curious, Applejack couldn't figure out what the secret joke was.

"What's so funny about Sniff not want'n tuh chow down on Oven Fresh's-"

She couldn't even finish her question before Sniff's friends filled in the blanks and busted out laughing. All the ponies sat back, silently watching the three laugh it up like fools, and Sniff only lounged deeper in Rarity's chair, misery and impotent anger boiling inside.

Finally, Lumberman stood up and walked behind Sniff, and hugged him from behind. The position was not a natural one, and it looked a little uncomfortable for both of them, yet Lumberman didn't let up and softly padded his hand on his disgruntled friend.

"It's okay, buddy. We're just so proud of you showing self-control and not taking advantage of the poor pony-" Lumberman had to wipe away a few tears before continuing the secret mockery only his fellow humans would understand, "It must have been so... hard turning down her goods."

"Ah, right!" Sniff shouted, pushing off Lumberman's arms. "We get it. I've been a good boy all day. No buns and no poaching all day."

He turned in the seat and sat up straight.

"And just so you know. We did more than just get bread today."

"We also got ice cream!" Spike was happy to shout into the conversation.

"That too..." Sniff admitted, almost having forgotten about that. "We had some real man-to-man conversations. Kinda stuff a growing boy needs to learn."

"Like what?" Twilight asked, genuinely curious as to what someone as 'unique' as Sniff could offer Spike.

"Twigs," Sniff proudly spoke as he pulled Spike over and dropped him on his lap, holding him upright by his thin little shoulders. "When I say we had a 'man to man' conversation, that means it's the kind of stuff only guys talk to other guys about. You can't just go and break this sacred bond we've established."

"Sacred bond?" Twilight scoffed.

"Nah. Hold up, hold up," Lumberman interjected. "Sniff? Are you fur real, fur real? You-"

"Yeah," Sniff showed that he was serious. "For realsies."

"Spike?" Twilight wasn't ready for her little baby dragon to start keeping secrets from her.

"No, no!" Spike carelessly answered as he waved his claws. "It's nothing bad. I promise. It's just-"

It almost hurt to Spike just thinking about what he was about to say as he turned and surprised everyone in the room with a surprise hug around Sniff's chest. For the first time after so many years.

"I never met another pony that understands how I feel about being a dragon and living with ponies."

There it was. He said it, but the real hurt was actually coming from Twilight.

"Spike? You never said-" She tried to think of anything outside what little was discussed after meeting up with Princess Ember that she might have missed. "You know you can talk to me, Spike. I'm always here for you."

She thought he was perfectly happy with her.

"I know," Spike released Sniff and turned his full attention to Twilight. "I just feel more comfortable talking to another guy about what's been on my mind."

Every female in the room, with the exception of Sniff, could feel the emotional tension string itself across the two. Nothing against the other guys. They just didn't have a good understanding of the kind of relationship Twilight and Spike had shared over the years. Even Spike was too caught up in the moment of bragging about his new mentor that he missed it. That sadly made things worse for the Princess.

"Actually, Twilight," Spike spoke again over the emotional damage he was ignorant of causing. "Since we got the bread for Chris, and we both already ate, can we go out again? I want to show more of Ponyville to Sniff."

"Oh..." Twilight's voice softened as she realized she was suddenly taking the back seat to a creature that was still largely a stranger to her until this morning. "That was the agreement."

That was music to Spike's little earholes.

"Awesome! Come on! " He hopped off Sniff's lap and tugged on his hand to follow him. "I got some bits we can spend at the arcade. Then I can show you where to get the best milkshakes in town."

Lumberman watched the two rush out together.

"Have fun, you two. Stay out of trouble!"

Benny leaned over to shout down the hallway to them.

"And stay away from the bakeries!"

"Okay, dad!" Sniff jokingly shouted back.

Twilight's horn started to glow as she picked up the bag of bread closest to her and slid out of her seat.

"I'm going to check up on Starlight for a moment. See if she'd like something else to help settle her stomach."

Becky eyed a bag of freshly baked goods.

"I should go check up on Chris. Get a good diagnosis of how much stupid he had today."

"I got the bag for ya, Becks" Rainbow Dash announced.

Lumberman stood up, grabbing his plate.

"Well, if you got a handle on things over here. I might as well get back to the Apple's place."

"Fine, just abandon me here, bruh," Benny joked, pretending to be offended.

"Awe, does itty bitty baby Benny-wenny need a fwend and a diaper change?" Lumberman answered back in baby talk.

"Don't touch me. You're not my real dad," Benny took the joke into a much dumber running gag.

Lumberman followed along with the gag.

"Hey!" He raised his voice and pointed a finger to Benny. "We don't know that yet. The twenty-one and me papers got lost in the mail."

That did it. Benny was done and surrendered to the better joke.

"Get the fuck outta here. I'll stick around for Chris and Becky in case they need anything. Maybe wait and see if Cerb will stop in late for a bite to eat."

"Good deal," Lumberman approved. "No idea how long this'll take. See ya back tonight, though."

Suddenly, it was just Benny and Pinkie Pie in the room. They turned and eyed each other.

"So..." Benny tried to think of what to say to start up a conversation. "What you got going on for the rest of the day?"

Pinkie perked up in her seat.

"Oh, nothing, really. I got a bunch of work to finish up back at Sugarcube Corner. I stepped out for a delivery, and when I got back, Mrs. Cake told me that she just sold half of the store's stock in a single sale. I couldn't believe I missed such a big sale like that. Actually, come to think of it. I think I saw a bunch of those cupcakes in those pictures of Starlight Lumberman was showing off."

Benny looked at his watch. "So when do you have to be back into work?"

Pinkie answered back with just as happy as could be.

"Oh, I only have a thirty-minute lunch. And I actually started it early when I heard Starlight call me over for the party."

She shuddered, remembering what happened as soon as she arrived.

Benny prepped himself to break some bad news.

"Pinkie... You were here before I got here. I've been here almost an hour."

"Yeah. Time sure has been going by really fast today. I'm not careful I'm going to end up being I'm late!" Pinkie's uncanny sense of hindsight finally kicked into gear. "Oh, my gosh! I'm so late! I gotta run! See you later tonight!"

Just like in the cartoon, one second Pinkie was sitting next to him, the next second, she was gone, and a gust of wind took her place. So, now there Benny sat alone, in one of the biggest rooms in the entire castle. He looked to where the others had left to check up on the hangover twins but had no idea where to go to find them. Having next to no other options, he pulled out his headphones and hit play.

Sitting alone and listening to music. He silently thought to himself,

"Almost feels like a normal day like this."

He closed his eyes and let his mind wander. There was still so much to think about and decompress over.

"So, how does that fit?" Rarity asked, sizing up the new shirt she put together for Cerb.

"It feels nice," Cerb flexed and moved himself into various positions to test the mobility of the fabric. "And passes the flex test."

"It looks like a nice fit," Fluttershy complimented the look of the new t-shirt.

Rarity dawned her glasses again and trotted back over to her workstation.

"Well, now that we've solved that problem, I can get back to work on my next project. Hopefully, even get a few other items for your friends done before we leave for the night."

"And you don't mind if we step out for lunch without you?" Cerb asked, feeling bad about leaving Rarity off to her own after the scare he put her through.

"No, dear. I'm perfectly fine," She kindly answered back.

"We can bring you back something if you like," Fluttershy offered.

"That would be lovely, dearie," Rarity answered back, already deep into her work and not really knowing what she was agreeing to.

Cerb flipped the closed sign back to open and exited with Fluttershy as his guide.

"Think there's anything left for us at Twilights? We're pretty late."

Fluttershy looked up and smiled, happy to have some one-on-one time with her potential stud.

"Well, I would like to think so. Pinkie does like to over-prepare."

Just as luck would have it, they would get their answer from two reliable sources. Lumberman was taking a trip over to the local hardware store in his truck, which just so happened to let them cross paths. Cerb waved down the truck.

Lumberman pulled alongside Cerb and Fluttershy with his window rolled down. "Hey, hey, there, big sexy. Find yerself a rip-proof shirt finally?"

Cerb lowered his head and laughed off his embarrassment. "Yeah. Last one wasn't ready for this flex I got." He raised his arms and flexed, proving his point.

"Yeah, yeah," Lumberman jested. "Keep bragging, ya jackass. But come on, man, you missed a hell of a morning."

Cerb scoffed with a smile.

"Doubt it."

Not swayed in the slightest, Applejack sat forward in the front seat.

"I don't think you know just how much you missed there, bud."

Lumberman was already bringing up the pics on Kelly's phone. "Dude... it's like his twenty-one for twenty-one on steroids, but with cake and Starlight."

"Starlight?" Cerb reached for the phone, wondering how she got involved.

"And them duds she got 'em in," Applejack added.

"Holy!" Cerb had to censor himself. "There ain't no way these are real."

Fluttershy floated up high enough to see.

"What are you looking at? ... oh my goodness."

Returning the phone, Cerb asked,

"Okay... how?"

Lumberman chuckled as took back the phone and plugged it back into the charger.

"Dude, I didn't get the full story, but it sounds like she took over the farm work Chris was gonna help out with today so that she could fugg'n apologize and try to make amends with a couple'a bottles of Chris's favorite bottle of Grey."

"Ha! Nice. How she gonna do that?" Cerb asked, not even knowing the faintest of possibilities.

"Bro..." Lumberman leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "She already made it happen."

"What? How did-"

"Bro! I dunno, man. But Star Power got some ways, man. Know what I'm saying? Magic horsepowers or some... something, man. I dunno. But hell, I hope those two patch things up. Lord knows we need an in like that."

"Jesus Christ," Cerb didn't know the extent of what Lumberman was hinting at, but he could tell it involved them getting more booze with Starlight's help. "But how's chubs? Did he go down and take the whole flock with 'em?"

Lumberman smiled a big toothy grin and leaned back in his seat.

"Crashed. And. Burned... But he'll be aight. Just like turning twenty-one, again."

Cerb shook his head in comical disappointment.

"God... what a retard."

Lumberman was glad to catch up with Cerb but was about ready to go.

"Yeah... but at least Becky is there taking care of 'em. Oh, and you missed lunch. Like all of it. Plus, Starlight having her first white girl wasted moment all over Pinkie Pie."

Fluttershy was losing track of the conversation.

"What's white girl wasted? Is it something-"

Thankfully, Applejack butted in to try and save her friend.

"Fluttershy... just know that in the future, we all need to be mindful not to drink too much of them funny drinks of theirs. Also, don't ask Starlight or Pinkie Pie about it. Yer lucky you up'n left when you did and missed it."

Fluttershy wanted to trust Applejack but was still worried about her friends involved in whatever this 'white girl' event was.

"Was it that bad?"

Cerb could only guess the actual meaning but was pretty sure he knew, just not how bad.

"I'll explain it to her later, but how bad was it?"

Lumberman grinned.

"Like Exorcist bad."

He let that thought stew in Cerb's mind for a moment before opening his mouth wide, groaning out some noise like that of the famous scene of the movie.

"It was bad... Bad enough, the Princess yerked too. Got it all over Chris, and then he blew chunks."

"Oh my god," Cerb cupped his hands over his face. "We ain't getting evicted from the country over this, are we?"

"Nah, they're cool, man," Lumberman explained, not feeling too concerned. "But yeah. We're going to price out some supplies and head back to her place, and just about everyone else is off doing their own thing again... Need a ride?"

Cerb turned to Fluttershy, still fluttering at eye level with them. "I dunno. We were just going to grab something to eat. Any recommendations?"

"I'd offer ya something, but the house is still pretty much a wreck, and we used the last of our dishes on breakfast," Applejack spoke out, sounding sorry for not being able to cater a meal to them. "But there are plenty ah places here in town."

"Figured as much," Cerb huffed. "At least I got the cash for it. See ya tonight, man."

"Have a good one, bro. And keep the Starlight booze gift thing under yer hat," Lumberman replied, waving him off as he started to pull away. "And stop breaking shit!" He shouted out as he drove off.

Watching the truck pull away, Fluttershy lowered herself back down to the ground, eager to see where they could venture off to next. The anticipation only increased as she watched Cerb look down at her, then face forward and raise out his hand, offering her to lead the way.

"Well, what are you in the mood for? We have plenty of places to choose from," Fluttershy was more than happy to announce.

Unfortunately, Cerb wasn't just new to town; he was new to the local diets and didn't even know what to ask for.

"You know the place better than I do. Whatever you think I'll like is fine with me."

"Okay," Fluttershy answered before she started to mentally run down a list of what might work best for a non-pony giant like him. "Well, if you'd like to keep it simple, we can grab some fruits or veggies from the market. There are a few small bakeries to make some sandwiches, of course. If you have a sweet tooth, we can always stop by to see Pinkie. There's a few cafes, or even the Hay Burger, for something simple. I don't know what might be best for you for your normal diet. It's not going to be a problem that we don't have meat here, is it?"

Cerb was mostly half listening to Fluttershy, hoping that maybe she would mention something that at least sounded tempting.

"I should be fine with whatever, really-" That last sentence finally registered that she referenced meat. "Wait? Who said anything about meat?"

Bless her heart. She didn't even break her stride as she continued. "Oh, you don't need to worry. I've taken in a lot of predators. I'm not going to judge you just because you need to eat... well, um... other things than what ponies eat. But you've all been so nice, and haven't even complained at all about eating our pony food."

"You're not gonna freak out over it?"

"Well, if you were out trying to eat every pony, or trying to gobble up every critter. That would be a problem."

"Yeah. Can't really say that was gonna be on our to-do list," He actually laughed at the absurdity of even considering it. "So, what gave it away?"

"It wasn't something I noticed right away," she admitted. "It wasn't until you and all your friends were having fun and laughing with each other. Then with every smile, I couldn't not see it."

"See what?"

Fluttershy giggled before she looked up with a cheezy smile. She held the smile, thinking Cerb would get it, and of course, he didn't. She giggled again.

"Your teeth, silly. Only predators have incisors."

It took Cerb a second to think about it and rub his tongue over his teeth.

"Awe, damn... so much for that secret, I guess."

"I don't mind. I trust you, Justin," Fluttershy admitted as she nuzzled into his had dangling off to his side.

The sudden contact caught him off guard, but after the day he's had and what she had done for him since arriving, he couldn't find a reason to pull away. In fact, he was starting to enjoy the contact. Something about them, or at least Fluttershy and Rarity, was so comforting and calming. He couldn't even deny it if he wanted to.

"You know, Flutters," he spoke out to grab her attention. "For such a little thing, you got one of the biggest hearts I've ever seen."

"Oh, you're just saying that," She answered back, trying her best to pretend not to love the compliment.

The tone and overall pony anatomy of Fluttershy's face made it a bit challenging for Cerb to gauge if she was being serious or trying to be modest. "No. I'm serious. I mean, come on. Look at me. I'm a big, tall, freaky-looking monster to all of you guys."

Fluttershy turned back to Cerb, surprised and suddenly worried he might actually think that's how she and her friends saw him. "You're not a monster. And I would never say that about you."

"Okay, now you're just saying that."

"Justin, we've all seen monsters before. They can be big, or tall, and dangerous, but it's what's inside that makes a monster. And I don't think there's anything inside you that makes you a monster. You care about others way too much to be a monster."

"Alright, I won't fight ya on it."

"Good," Fluttershy responded with her head held high in victory. "I'd hate to have to kick your butt if you did." She joked, before playfully sticking her tongue out at him.

For such a simple joke, Fluttershy was proud of herself. It's not every day she gets to act so boldly. She only hoped the joke would be something that he would find funny and fall in line with how they all seemed to joke with each other. At the very least, she wanted to believe that she had earned enough trust not to frighten or insult him.

"Kick my butt?" Cerb had to laugh at that. "And here I thought you were just some cute, little, sweetheart. You think you can take me down?"

Her mind quickly went from the fear of fighting, or even potentially hurting Cerb, then back to the guilty fantasies of pinning him down and toying with him. Again her ears went on the fritz, and her body became hot and fuzzy all over. She slowed her pace and tried to hide her blush behind her bangs.

"I... I don't. I can be pretty strong when I really want to be. I wouldn't want to hurt you."

Cerb snorted, trying to envision this shy creature next to him as some dangerous brawler. She was about as intimidating as a damp washcloth.

"Well, I doubt you'd hurt me, even if you wanted to."

Fluttershy's whole being started to shrink and pull away.

"You're probably right. I'm sorry."

"Hey, hey, hey. I'm not trying to knock you down. Do you not know how to fight? I thought you were one of the Element Warriors or something?"

She didn't answer.

"I could teach you," Cerb answered, trying to remove the silence he created. "Then, maybe you really could kick my butt."

A gentle nudge to Fluttershy's shoulder broke her out of her shy bubble.

"Oh. I don't think I'd be very good at it. I don't want to hurt any creature."

"Not even to save your friends?"

"I'd just get in the way."

"Hey," Cerb's voice was suddenly strong and firm enough that it stopped Fluttershy dead in her tracks. "What's with all this down on yourself despair? When push comes to shove, and heaven forbid something, or someone, comes running up your hood, burning and pillaging, lashing out at any of your friends that get in their way, are you just gonna stand back and ask kindly for them to stop?"

"No... I'd... I would probably just run away."

"Really?" Cerb asked, though it wasn't a question.

He honestly didn't think one that was labeled as one of the strong warriors, part of a living weapon, would run from a fight to protect others.

"What would you have done if you were the one there with Kelly instead of Big Mac? What if it was me they got instead?"

She didn't know how to answer.

"I... "

Part of her thought back to when she was taken with her friends into the comic book world and went smashing all over Maniac's weapon. All because she hurt a defenseless fly. Perhaps she wasn't as timid as she thought.

"I'd probably lose control and keep smashing them and all their weapons until somepony could stop me."

"Well- " Cerb had to rethink his next line, thinking she was going to go to something more cowardice. "I don't think that was the answer I was expecting to hear from you, but I'll take it. Do you know karate like your Rainbow friend?"

"No, I just get really strong when I get angry."

"LIke... super strength, really strong, or are always strong and just choose to hide it?"

Fluttershy shrugged.

"I'm not really sure. I never paid much attention to it. I usually try not to think about it."

"Huh..." Cerb all but grunted as he had a thought. "You know, if you're not actually trained and you really are that strong, some training would probably give you a lot more confidence in yourself and how to use that power of yours. Plus, you'd probably be able to take an enemy down without even hurting them any more than you needed to."

She sat in the grass and looked up, somewhat in disbelief.

"How can learning to fight help me to not hurt them?"

"There are lots of non-lethal takedown moves and ways to disarm an enemy. Not every martial art has to be about killing or maiming someone. Most of it is self-defense anyway."

This somehow caught her interest.

"So... you can teach me how to fight without hurting others?"

"Well, you have to learn one to know the other."

"Uh..."

Cerb knelt down, bringing himself eye to eye with Fluttershy, and took her hoof in his hand.

"You have to know all the ways that are the most dangerous to strike. "

He moved her hoof and ran it over his temple, and then held it over his heart.

"So you know where not to hit them if you don't want to risk doing serious damage." He looked her in the eyes and padded her hoof against his chest - "You still trust me, don't you?"

She couldn't help but smile back. After all the years of the crazy adventures she'd been roped into, and all the dangers she faced, she never really wanted to fight. But she also never was given the option to help without hurting any creature. A better way of subduing the next crazed pony, a griffin with a grudge, or any other creature under mind control could be helped without the risk of injuring them, why wouldn't she take up the offer.

"I do..." She offered as her confirmation.

Cerb was relieved to say before finally letting her hoof go.

"Good."

He stood up and started walking back to the center of town Fluttershy had been leading him to.

"I'll have ya snapping necks and breaking backs before you know it."

"What!" Fluttershy shouted.

"I'm joking," Cerb called out back to her.

Seeing that Cerb had suddenly gotten ahead of her, Fluttershy sprang into the air and quickly closed the gap between them.

"That's not funny, just so you know."

Cerb tried not to laugh too hard.

"Yeah, it was."

"When do we start? Because now I'm really gonna kick your butt for being so mean." It was hard to tell if she was caught up in the moment and was being serious or if this was her attempt at playful banter again. She was still adorable no matter the reason.

Cerb had to look away so as not to stare at how cute she was acting.

"We can start training tomorrow if you want."

Almost too cute for him to admit that he actually enjoyed it.

"Work in some cardio, muscle endurance exercises, then move on to basic strikes and grapples."

"Grapples?"

"Yeah. Throws, joint manipulations, and submissions."

"Submissions?"

"Um... Think of it as wrestling."

"So I have to pin you? Like wrestling?" Her sudden rise in excitement was unmistakable.

"If that's what it takes. Go for it."

"Good!" Fluttershy chirped as she sped up her leisure pace with Cerb into a trot, already deciding on where to go for their late lunch. "I'm gonna pin your ass to the ground."

"What the fuck?"

"And about nine months later, she'll go into labor, and the baby is pushed out of the womb through the vagina. The same way the sperm came in, just in reverse." Kelly finished saying, explaining her surprisingly conservative explanation of the path from puberty of boys and girls to copulation and birth.

Big Mac stared out into nothing, looking as if he just discovered his whole world was a lie; or at least that he had learned of an entirely new part of his world that had existed these last twenty-nine years he never knew of.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeyup... That's, uh..."

"It's a bit much to take in, huh?"

"And push out."

Kelly rolled to her back and started to laugh.

"Oh my god, you big goofball. That's cute. Really though... Mac?"

Mac wasn't trying to make a joke, and he couldn't find a reason to laugh along with her. Everything she told him didn't seem to make any sense. Even the parts he had gone through before waking up this morning. Even if it fits, or if some of the parts made his heart race with excitement and he could almost start to see it as she was describing some of the acts, it couldn't be true.

A warm hand against his lower back pulled him out of his state of shock. "Huh? I mean. Yes, Miss Kelly?"

"Are you okay? That wasn't too much for ya. Was it?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Kelly," Big Mac verbally offered as an honest apology. "That just so much to try and understand. I... I'm no dummy, but how is this... why. Why would I have put my thing in another pony, and have her-"

That warm hand Kelly offered pulled away, but something unspoken somehow caught his attention; something bad.

" make me... "

Kelly had withdrawn into herself after pulling away from him. She looked hurt like he said something to upset her.

"Miss Kelly? You alright?" Big Mac asked, looking back to see her troubled appearance.

Kelly continued to stare back to the orchard.

"It's nothing. I'm being stupid."

Big Mac rolled himself onto his belly and crawled closer.

"Miss Kelly, if I said something wrong. I didn't mean it-"

In a brief moment of clarity, his hastily spoken words circled back in his mind to kick him in the teeth.

"Oh, Miss Kelly. I'm sorry." His words were spat out quickly in a panic. "I didn't mean I would want to go out and find some other pony to- I... I mean don't even think I'd want to... Not that you aren't the one I'd... I mean..."

Kelly sighed and flopped her arms down to her sides. "No, I'm being stupid. And clingy... and a hypocrite."

Another shift in the conversation only further confused Big Mac. He cocked his head slightly, wondering what he had overlooked this time.

Kelly struggled to put her thoughts into words, still not sure of herself or her commitment to this whole inner-species experiment.

"I'm sorry, I just... I know I said I want to take this slow, so sex isn't even on my radar right now. But what gets me is that when you thought about it, you didn't think about me. And I immediately got jealous, even though I'm not sold on the idea of it either."

"Come now, darl'n," Big Mac tried to comfort her and laid his hoof over her hand. "I only thought about that because you said it had to be a human and human or a pony and a pony."

"I know... I kind of set you up for that."

"I'm still not sure how I feel about this whole..."

"Putting your dick in a pussy and squirt'n out all stud sauce?"

Big Mac fought off a shutter he felt creeping up his spine. "I don't know what's worse. Your medical explanation or yer plain talking way of saying it."

"Sorry. I'm pretty tone-deaf with this kinda stuff normally."

"How can you be so... comfortable with how this all works?"

Here was the conversation she didn't want to have.

"Do you remember when I told you that was no good for you? Or however I said it."

"... I do."

Kelly took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, preparing to break the bad news.

"Before I got here, sex was a big part of my life."

She took a moment to let that sink in, trying to feel out how he was going to react to her promiscuity.

"I... loved it. Or at least I thought I did."

"So you had someone you tried to make a family with?" Big Mac asked, unaware of just how about much sex he still didn't know.

"No," Kelly groaned. "I made sure I wouldn't get pregnant. I just did it because I wanted it... and I wanted it from different people."

This was such a confusing and alien concept to Big Mac.

"How many other mans did you do this with?"

Kelly raised her free hand, giving a gesture that she was at a loss.

"I don't know. I've lived this lifestyle for so long that I never cared to keep track of all the men and women I've slept with."

"Men and... women? Do women have a penis?"

Kelly slowly turned to Big Mac, both embarrassed and frightened by the amount of common sense he lacked.

"You don't have one, do you?" He asked before letting his eyes dart back and forth from her eyes to her crotch.

"No, Mac. That's not-" She had to remind herself that she walked into this conversation with him having no understanding of physical aspects of sex or how procreation worked. "Look. I only told you about the basics of how reproduction works. There's a lot more to sex than just making babies."

"Like what?"

"Liiiiiiiike, uh-" Her eyes wandered away as she thought how to best describe the many pleasures that can be found in the carnal acts. "Like just making your partner feel good."

"Feel good? How?"

Kelly rolled onto her side, bringing herself on a more intimate level with Big Mac.

"Well, you like kissing me, don't you?" She asked in an innocent yet sultry voice.

Big Mac gulped.

"Eyup."

"Mmm hmm," Kelly stretched herself out and laid her head between his forelegs so she could stare up to him. "And you like it when I touch you like this. right?"

"I-" Big Mac was going to ask what type of touch she was going to say but was answered by her hands trailing across his jaw and down his neck. "Oh, you know I do. But that's not like the other stuff you were talking about."

"No," She admitted playfully. "But it can be part of it."

Instead of just trying to explain it, Kelly moved her weak hand up and cupped his cheek. She softly rubbed it and ran her palm down to his lips while her other hand continued to massage his neck, and her fingers ran through his fur, gently scratching at his skin. The crawling motions of her fingers continued to entice the crimson beast.

"Miss Kelly..." Big Mac softly spoke into her caresses. "I don't know how you do this to me."

"I would say practice... but this is new territory for me." She hushed while carefully using her hand to guide his lips down, dangerously close to hers.

"I don't want to be who I used to be." She brushed her lips for a kiss to tease him, pulling away as he pushed in farther, being denied another sweet taste of his secret love. "Can you help me be a good girl while I'm here?"

All his previous confusion and discomfort melted under her talented strokes.

"Mmm... Is this you being a good girl... or a bad girl?" He hushed in his softest seductive voice.

"If I was being a bad girl-" She lightly pressed her lips to his. "-would want me to be a good girl?"

She pulled him in for a for a deep kiss, letting her tongue explore his mouth and grind against his tongue.

"Or would you like to see how good a bad girl can be?"

"So long as it's you, Sugar Drop, I think even your bad sounds good."

Those were all the right answers she wanted to hear. Now, with those words and feeling more emboldened, she sat up just enough to turn herself around and propped herself upright leaning back on her arms in front of him. She tucked her left leg in and moved it around the front of Big Mac and let her legs rest over his forelegs.

A mix of fear and excitement sent Big Mac’s heart racing. This pose Kelly held in front of him was so enticing, just like she had been before. Only now, with the new knowledge he had gained, he had a much better understanding of why. He started to believe Kelly’s explanations of the body’s own natural desires and instincts. Why else would he be looking at her figure in front of him and have such strong feelings to be close and touch her. Be on top of her and press himself up between her legs.

There. Right there. His consciousness made the connection of all those loving thoughts and simple desires to nuzzle, and kiss, and hold each other were all given to take him to this new sudden drive to take her as she explained was needed for breeding. The word ‘rut’ came to mind, though the word seemed almost as unknown as it sounded familiar. That’s what he wanted to do now, and only his own familiarity with her body gave him hesitation.

For Kelly, she realized just how easily, almost robotically, she fell back on luring her new love interest in with the temptation of flesh and gratification. Or perhaps it wasn't an act of habit but something different that compelled her to court him in spite of her lingering doubts and mental barriers.

Then again, who was to say her body held no prejudice against the source of stimulation? After all the years of swapping partners, the sex toys, and the countless days of nights of lust and the revelry of the self-indulgence she had grown so accustomed to. It’s possible those experiences held more influence over her than she thought.

Whatever the combination of their stirring desires from her wanting to strip down and teach him all the ways to please her and his growing temptation to explore this new concept of intimate physical love, both faltered with their fear of the unknown.

Neither spoke a word over the rising tension and labored breathing that grew as they waited. Nore could either move closer and risk violating this phantom taboo of undefined lasciviousness. However, neither held the strength or conviction to pull themselves away. They were ensnared in each other's weaknesses, both silently coaxing the one in front of them to move past their displays of seduction and make the move they were too terrified to do on their own.

"Are you just as excited and scared as I am?" Kelly asked with a voice that shook from all the anxiousness that was building up inside.

Big Mac was relieved to hear he wasn't the only one stricken with the conflicting thoughts he was at war with.

"I... I don't know if I'm more scared that I might run away in a panic because I don't know what I'm doing. Or that I might lose control and climb on top of you without know'n what I'm doing. I don't know which would hurt you worse."

Kelly's libido spoke on her behalf as she spread her legs wider in front of him.

"Probably running away and leaving my crippled body out here alone. Because right now, I like the thought of you climbing up on top of me."

Those words resonated deep into Big Mac's core, stimulating a new feeling under his belly. Something fantastic blinded him to the rest of the world surrounding them and heightened all of his senses that made him aware of every aspect of the beautiful woman, vulnerable, and rousing him out of clarity, beckoning him to invade her. He couldn't resist and started to crawl forward.

Once in reach, she raised her right arm and reached around to the back of his neck, pulling him in for another kiss. This kiss was firey and wild. Her eager passion outpaced him at first, and he struggled to match her pace at first but was quick to adapt his momentum to hers.

Their lips reached a fevery pitch too fast for just one hand to control, and Kelly brought her second hand up behind him to keep him where she needed him. The exchange continued with Big Mac driving himself farther and farther up until his chest was pressing up to hers and forced her back to the ground. Even with Big Mac's body covering hers, the scent of her excitement drifted out between them.

The scent in the air was driving him wild. So much so that it was distracting him from what little focus he could keep to continue his mashing of lips and grinding tongues.

"Did you know-" He fought to speak between her assaults of kisses. "-how amazing you smell."

He was pulled into another kiss that she held him in long enough that they were left panting as they parted.

"... every time we kiss like this. I can't describe it. It's like the Want It Need It Spell, " he nuzzled his muzzle across her lip and softly kissed her again - "but so much nicer."

He raised a hoof and brushed the hair from her eyes.

"But I'm not blinded by it."

He lowered his lips, kissing the center of her chest once and deeply inhaled as he drug his muzzle along her skin up to her lips, kissing her with more love than lust.

"And I love everything I see."

"Do you love only what you see?" Kelly softly asked.

"Oh. I didn't mean-"

"Because there's still so much of me you haven't seen."

She guided his hoof over her shirt, massaging it into her breast.

"There's a lot more of me to love."

"Kelly-" He took the time to really examine this new territory she was revealing to him. "-I think there's more of you to love than just what I can touch... Is that all you want me to love?"

"I... I don't- " Somehow, going against all her previous concerns, she still found herself doing everything she didn't want to do. "-I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm doing anymore."

Whatever heat and passion they had just up and vanished like smoke in the wind and Big Mac was left half-cocked, wondering what just happened.

"Did I hurt you? Or say something wrong?"

It was now hard for Kelly to even look him in the eye.

"No... I don't know how to take it slow."

"Is this not going slow?" Big Mac asked, perhaps lost in translation. "I'm sorry. I was just trying to follow your lead. Should I get up?"

As Big Mac started to lift himself up, Kelly yanked down on him much too hard to keep him with her.

"Oww!" She yelped from her tug, aggravating her still tender wound. "No, please, don't."

"Hey, hey, hey. It's okay," He tried to console her as he lowered himself down again, careful not to put too much weight on her. "I can stay. I just don't know what you want from me, now."

Kelly looked up with sad eyes.

"I don't know either, big guy. But... I'd still like to have you like this with me for a while."

Big Mac smiled sweetly, looking down the confusing little creature he couldn't help but adore.

"I think I would like that, too."

The soft touch of Kelly's hand returned to where they had started, running up and down his neck.

"Can I ask you something stupid?"

A smart-ass grin spread over Big Mac's goofy face.

"So long as it's a stupid question and not a smart question. I only got so much learning before I quit school to-"

Kelly balled up her fist and pressed it hard into his cheek.

"What did I tell you about being so likable, jerk?" She tried to say without giggling with only mild success.

"Would apologizing like a gentlecolt make me more or less likable right now," Big Mac asked, faring much better at holding back his laughter.

Kelly balled up her fist and shook it at him with a face that grew madder the more she tried to stop herself from laughing at his stupid joke.

"Ask away, Miss Kelly."

It took Kelly a moment to compose herself.

"I didn't really give you time to react, but does it not bother about all the sex I had before meeting you?"

With a grin, Big Mac asked, "Was I supposed to?"

He held the grin for a few seconds before dropping it and looked back at her with concern.

"Wait. Am I supposed to? I mean, how you did it with another woman left me with so many questions if neither of you didn't have a penis?"

Any concern she had about her big red stud left her with the laughs that followed.

"I don't know how it was supposed to make you feel, but I'm glad it didn't make you think any less of me."

"Why would it?"

It was hard for Kelly to think of a logical way to explain the concept of sex shaming when she didn't even believe in it herself.

"I don't know. Things about sex are a lot different where I come from."

Big Mac snorted humorously.

"It must be if you can do it without a penis."

"Oh my god," Kelly laughed before dropping weak punches wherever she could land them on his body. "For the love of whatever god you believe in, would you please get over the whole needing a penis for sex thing."

Big Mac laughed off the weak blows Kelly delivered.

"Well. Then explain it to me so I can stop bringing it up."

"Fine," Kelly mockingly groaned, abandoning her fake fight. "But I was actually going to show you personally before you hit me with all that lubby dubby 'more to love than what you can touch' stuff."

"So if I wasn't such a likable gentlecolt-"

"Oh, don't you worry, big guy," - she padded his cheek mockingly - "you were keeping me honest and on that slow path we agreed to."

"Ya know," Big Mac turned his eyes away with an agitated frown. "maybe chivalry should be dead."

"Awe, poor baby." She kissed his muzzle. "Be a good boy, and I might wanna be a bad girl again."

Big Mac pulled back.

"Okay, you gotta explain this whole good-girl bad-girl thing. I don't know which one is which and which one you're trying to be."

"I think it's fun to keep you guessing, but I suppose I should," Kelly answered before pulling his head down and resting it on her chest. "I wanna be a good girl and still try to take things slow. But the bad girl side of me wants to roll you over, strip make, and grind my wet pussy up and down your cock until you beg me to let you cum."

Big Mac imagined the mechanics of such a position and what it would look like, and all the excitement it created left him feeling pulled in many different directions.

"Your bad girl side... When can I meet her again?"

Kelly flicked his ear.

"Be nice."

"Oww," He yelped weakly and turned to face her again. "I've been nice. Nice brought me bad girl Kelly."

"Chased her away, too."

Big Mac narrowed his eyes. "I think nice girl Kelly is a lot meaner than bad girl Kelly."

"Awe," She cooed as she traced a finger up and down his neck in little circles. "But I thought you loved good girl Kelly."

Big Mac just grumbled.

Kelly had a short playful outburst of laughter at Mac's expense before cutting him some slack.

"Oh shut up and let me tell you about the fun stuff you can do that's not just for making babies."

Lumberman's truck drove up and parked in front of the house. He stepped out, and like a gentleman, opened the door for Applejack.

"Well, thank ya kindly, Woody," Applejack said with her warm southern hospitality.

"Ya ain't gotta thank me for every little thing girl," Lumberman joked.

"Awe, hush now," Applejack fired back. "No need raising a fuss over some pony having manners."

"Not complaining, Apple Hat. I'm just saying."

"It's fine," She said, sounding mighty pleased. "Ya be needing anything before getting back to it?"

"Nah," Lumberman answered as he entered back into the house behind her. "Just need to take a few more measurements, maybe put a few more holes in the walls to check out spots I can't see. Other than that, I just need to start drafting out the work I need to do, and then I can run the numbers with the prices we got from the hardware store."

"Well, I'll just be trying to tidy up some more while you're busy with that. Give a holler if ya need anything."

"Will do, Apples."

Spike raced ahead to scope out the area.

"And here it is. The hottest spot to be on the hottest days here in town."

"Yep," Sniff answered, unimpressed, as he caught up at his slow pace and ran his eyes over the empty water's edge. "Nice looking pond. Could use a tiki bar... some stripper poles... women in bikinis that need tan lotion on their backs and have a thing for men with dark skin."

Spike looked back, a little disappointed that Sniff wasn't sharing his enthusiasm.

"Well, if you can wait a few months, there will be plenty of single ladies on the beach."

Sniff shot a look that showed his disinterest.

"Do they all walk on four legs and have hooves for hands?"

"Well, duh."

"Then clearly, I'd rather drink napalm and swallow a match."

What should have been a great quip had gone straight over Spike's head.

"What's napalm?"

Equally entertained as he was annoyed, Sniff rattled off his response in a hurry.

"It's a really flammable gel used in flame throwers and bombs to burn commies, but that's not what's important, Because one, you're not going to convince me to start dating ponies while I'm here-"

"You were flirting with the mare that made us our milkshakes," Spike interjected.

"I told you I was just being nice to her."

"And before that, the ticket counter."

"Because you were a hundred and thirty tickets short for the Masked Matterhorn plushie. Which-" Sniff held up the Power Pony stuffed toy, which looked far too much like Twilight to be a coincidence, and shook it for Spike to see. "-again, I did you a favor."

Unconvinced, Spike rattled off another example.

"Button Mash's mom after you made him cry for beating him in Prance Prance Revolution."

"That was an accident, and he was talking trash anyway."

"Sunshower Raindrops when she said hello."

"I was making conversation. I thought she was a friend of yours since you insisted on introducing me to her."

While that could have been a good answer, Spike took it more as a confession.

"Are you going to hit on all my female friends?"

"Spike!" Sniff groaned as he facepalmed. "Look. We're moving past point number one and going on to point number two."

"What's point number two?" Spike asked, walking back up to his human mentor.

"Point number two is you need to apologize to Twilight when we get back."

"Apologize? For what?"

Sniff took a second to prep the speech he had been working on since they left the castle.

"Spike... what you told Twilight about talking to me about private stuff, or at least the way you said it, really hurt her. I'm actually surprised you didn't notice it."

Almost looking as if Spike knew he was in the wrong, he asked, "You think I hurt her feelings because I talked to you about feeling left behind by everypony instead of telling her?"

Even if Sniff thought Sniff might have been in denial of the truth, he still had to be careful with how he approached this.

"I can tell you now, even if she won't admit it, it hurt for her to hear that not only did you not tell her about something that's been bothering you for years, it's going to bother her worse that she didn't know about it if she's the one taking care of you."

"I... Well, that's not fair. I would have made her feel bad if I told her that's how I felt in the first place. That's why I never told her. I'm a dragon. She's a pony. That's just the way things are. She can't change that."

"Fair point," Sniff agreed and nodded along. "It's a lose-lose situation. But even worse, she was embarrassed by you admitting that you trusted me over her in front of all our friends."

Spike lowered his eyes to the ground and slowly wilted as the gravity of his actions started to weigh down on him.

"Oh..."

"She doesn't know me from the man on the moon. Or Benny and Becky, either. Then to lose face in front of Applejack and Pinkie for saying that? Plus, they also had to keep quiet since Benny and Becky were there... She's been your employer, your friend, your sister, a mother figure, and now your Princess. And if she's taken care of you your whole life and all of a sudden is told you she couldn't help you, while you were hugging me-"

"I get it," Spike admitted shamefully, dismissing Sniff with a wave and turning to walk away. "I'm... I'm just the worst."

Sniff could see he might have driven the point home a bit too far, which was never his intent.

"It's not all on you, kid."

"Yeah, it is," Spike answered back, flopping down on the grass, facing the empty waters of the pond. "Nineteen years old, and I haven't learned enough to avoid making such a stupid mistake like this. It's no wonder they all left me behind."

Spike wasn't responding to this teachable moment the way Sniff was hoping. "Kid, I really will punt you like a football if you knock that shit off."

"Go ahead. I feel like I deserve it."

This poor kid needed more help than Sniff had signed up for.

"God damn it," Sniff muttered under his breath.

"Spike..." He walked over and sat next to the young drake. "I shouldn't have brought up that we were having private conversations about sensitive topics. I didn't think you would have talked about it the way you did in front of everyone. And even for Twilight, she left herself open for injury by pushing you into explaining in front of everyone. Besides, did she ever talk to you about you aging differently than her and everyone else?"

"Sort of," Spike answered, still upset over his poor choice of words while he plucked blades of grass and carelessly tossed them away. "She told me plenty of times that I'm still just a baby. That I can do what her and everypony else can when I'm older."

"But did she ever tell you about how long it would take or what to expect?"

Spike plucked a few more blades of grass and tossed them without even looking at them.

"No... She was also in too much of a rush when she told me. And I never wanted to bring it up when they were done doing whatever it was they left me out of."

"Do you think that was fair of her to do?"

"No."

"Knowing what you know now, do you think it was fair what you did?

"No."

"Should I have brought up that we were having discussions about all of this to Twilight?"

"Probably not... No."

"If you apologize to Twilight when we get back, would you bring all of this up?"

"Yeah... I guess." He tossed another bunched-up wad of grass - "But I don't want to stop talking to you either. Nothing against Twilight. She's the only real family I have."

Sniff turned slightly for a moment, eyeing something out of the corner of his eye, but turned back to focus on Spike.

"I love Twilight," Spike continued. "She's done so much for me, and I don't think I could ever pay her back or thank her enough. I should have told her a long time ago how I feel about this."

"Perhaps," Sniff said, bringing his arm around Spike to pull him in for a side hug. "But it's in our nature to protect the ones we love the most. Sometimes that means keeping hurtful things from them until we can work them out. And she shouldn't force you to only come to her for all of your problems. As much as it might suck for her to have to hear, sometimes there will be things you just feel more comfortable talking about with someone other than her."

"What makes you say that?"

"That's just how we all work," Sniff answered, motioning his free hand between the two of them. "You can just look at me and all my friends for example. Becky and Kelly talk about things that not me or any of the other guys know about because they'd rather have it be something between just girls. Me and the guys, we have our little secrets we keep from the girls because it's the kind of stuff only guys deal with. Benny and Cerb."

Sniff scoffed. A mix of humor and something darker blending in with his tone.

"They both served in the military and saw some terrible things. I have no idea about all the things they've talked about because people like me who never served or had to put their lives on the line to protect others wouldn't get it. Even when they talk about going to boot camp, or deploying out far from home and the daily life working under the fear of being bombed or shot... I wouldn't know what that feels like."

"But aren't you all friends? Why keep secrets from each other?"

"Does Twilight have private conversations with her friends or the other Princesses?"

"Well, yeah. but-"

"Than you know, and sheeeee knows that everyone has different secrets and different things that they talk about with only certain friends or whoever. Right?"

Spike ran out of reason not to disagree with Sniff.

"Yeah... you're right."

"Good," Sniff agreed before standing up. "Well, then. Let's head back, pick up something nice for Twilight, and then you can patch things up with her. Tell her what's going on."

He extended his hand out to the little dragon.

"Sound like a plan?"

"Sounds like a great plan, bud."

Spike took his hand, stood up, and promptly wrapped his arms around Sniff's legs as soon as he could stand upright on his own.

"And thanks... For everything."

Sniff was taken aback by the sudden display of affection from Spike. Something he'd probably have to get used to receiving. Regardless, he patted Spike on his scaley head.

"Don't worry about it, kid. Now come on, it's gonna get dark soon. Let's get back. God only knows what kinda creepy crawlies and weirdos are lurking in the bushes out here."

The walk back to the castle was a somber one. Sniff was having a lot of mixed feelings about this new world he was in now. Sure, his days of chasing after tail and wooing women into on-again, off-again nightly affairs were pretty much dead, but he had some new things to distract him.

For one, practically every morsel of food here was amazing. Even something as simple as their soup and bread was fantastic. Probably because the produce they grew was not only fresh; they all had this incredibly rich and lush flavor to them. At least compared to the fruits and vegetables back home that usually came out tasting more watery and lackluster in taste.

Then there was this new little protege he had taken under his proverbial wing. Spike was adorable for a kid, but also hit home to him in a lot of ways when he was growing up without much of any real guidance. Spike also was good at listening and was quick to pick up on the logic and approaches to what he was trying to convey. It felt fulfilling to be able not just to help him on his complicated journey but also to be a value to him. Something he had tried to do with Chris but wasn't well received.

Finally, there was Twilight. Even for an inhuman lady, she was mentally stimulating. She presented a new kind of challenge for him. Primarily because she came from a society and culture that he never thought could have existed, but she was incredibly smart. He had only ever had a few other women he had engaged with on such a sophisticated level. None of which he couldn't match wits with. Although, it would be a lie to say he didn't cheat in some way by creating sexual tension between them to keep them distracted. That tactic didn't apply here.

All in all, there might be enough here to help keep him sane. However, he was also thinking that maybe Cerb was right about having to take care of his own problem. Time and place were going to be an issue for him if he were to sink back into doing what he had grown used to having others take care of for him.

"Evening, fellas," Spike greeted the guards at the castle doors.

"Welcome back Spike," Helix Ray returned the greeting. "And good evening, Smells."

"Sniff." Sniff corrected him, not even mad about it anymore. "Just call me Peter. It's a lot easier to remember."

"I-err, " Helix stumbled in his words but nodded apologetically. "Yes, Peter. As you say."

The two ventured further inside back to the gathering spot of the table room. Benny was still there, along with Becky and Rainbow Dash. Even Kelly and Big Mac had shown up, though Big Mac seemed back and forth agitated or nervous. Fluttershy was there but had pushed herself away from the group into a corner with a book. It was anyone's guess what everyone else was up to at this point. Aside from Starlight and Chris, who were more than likely still recovering from their fun-filled day of stupidity, everyone should have been accounted for.

"Yo! What I miss?" Sniff asked the room.

Benny gave a weak wave to his friend.

"A whole lotta nada. Chris is still down for the count. Haven't heard from Starlight, and apparently, Pinkie is staying late after work to catch up for overstaying her lunch break. Twilight's been AWOL for most the night doing god knows what. Lumberman and AJ are probably still working on the house, and... well... We'll find out later how things with Cerb and Miss Diamonds went."

Sniff mentally reviewed all the details and nodded back before looking over the room again.

"Aight, cool. I'm gonna go see if I can't find Twilight. Give her the rundown for the day and see if we can schedule another breakfast."

"Another what?" Becky asked faster than Benny could.

"Breakfast," Spike answered for Sniff. "Twilight said Sniff can take me out to teach me man things twice a week if I cook something up for him and he talks to Twilight about where he came from."

Benny and Becky shared the same look of concern, now knowing that set of details about this arrangement.

After the day Sniff had, he didn't care to engage in all the accusations that were sure to come of this.

"It gives me something to do, and Spike is like a bro. Anyway, let's go, bud."

Spike led the way up the stairs.

"If I know Twilight, she'll be back in her study. You remember the way?"

A clean getaway for Sniff.

"Lead on, my man."

Spike pushed the door open, and true to his claim, there sat Twilight looking over multiple books. She poked her head up after they walked in. "Oh. Back so soon?"

"Hey, Twilight?" Spike called out across the study, already sounding sorry. "I need to apologize to you about what I said this morning."

The books Twilight was holding all lowered back down to her desk, and she looked up with a vague expression of confusion and concern.

"Apologize for what, Spike?"

Spike then proceeded to explain all the nuts and bolts of the exchange that happened in front of the others that morning. How he didn't think about how it would have made her feel, and why he shouldn't have gone about it the way he did. All while never explaining what it was that he and Sniff had discussed.

Spike ended his apology with a sad slouch and his eyes to the floor.

"And for all of that, I'm sorry."

"Oh, Spike," Twilight was almost in tears as she rushed out of her seat to pull him in for a tight hug. "I'm the one that should be sorry. You've been growing up so fast that I just... I never thought that there could be anything I couldn't handle with you. But you have every right to seek guidance from any pony or any creature you want. I can't stop you from that. You're old enough that you should be able to make those judgment calls for yourself."

Spike was still getting over just how well she was taking this.

"So, you're not mad at me?"

Surprisingly, Twilight was adapting to this new change in Spike rather quickly, sounding refreshingly calm, if not still a little bit in emotional recovery.

"Oh, Spike. I was never mad at you. Just... sad that I wasn't there for you when you needed me."

"Twilight," Spike pushed back a bit. "You've always been there for me. I'm the one that didn't want to talk about it."

"And you don't have to if you're not ready to or have someone else you'd rather talk to instead."

Spike rushed back in for another hug. "Thanks, Twi. You're the best."

"Alright, alright, alright," Sniff interrupted the touching moment. "You did the right thing, and everything worked out. It's a beautiful ending to this mellow-drama we call life. But if you're both done, do you mind if I have a word along with Twilight?"

Spike looked back, still in the afterglow of such a pleasant turn of events, but not sure why he was being asked to leave.

"Uh, sure. I guess. Unless you needed me for something else."

"No, Spike. You're fine," Twilight reassured him, lightly tapping him with her hoof to usher him along.

Spike jogged his happy little feet out of the study and closed the door behind him, leaving his two mentors to discuss whatever private matters they wished.

Twilight turned and made her way back to her seat and the books she was looking over before Sniff and Spike had returned. "So, I must say-"

"You are the worst spy in the world. You know that?" Sniff blurted out.

"Spy?" Twilight started to stutter. "I'm not a spy. What would make you think... You saw me, didn't you?"

"Just your horn, hair, and wings," Sniff chuckled. "I might be new here, but I don't think there are many here that I could confuse you for."

"Sorry. I think I might have some trust issues with those that get too close to those around me."

The next question from Sniff was possibly a long shot, but out of respect, he had to ask.

"Do you want me to stop hanging out with Spike?"

"No!" Twilight immediately protested. "No. Just the opposite. I overheard what told him at the pond, and... I was impressed with how well you handled the situation and corrected him. I'm even impressed that you noticed what happened."

Sniff shrugged.

"It's a gift, I guess."

"I think it's more than that. You have a real knack for friendship."

"Ugh! Gag me with a spoon," Sniff feigned being insulted. "Twilight, we know a great deal about being friends. It's an intricate part of our society. We just don't dwell on it once we're adults. It's pretty much understood at that point."

"Well, it is here, too, you know."

"Then why has so much of your life been dedicated to learning it and teaching to others?"

"Well, I was tasked by Princess Celestia herself and chosen by the Elements of Harmony. Isn't that reason enough?"

"No, sorry." Sniff relaxed his posture and walked over to sit by Twilight. "I'm not trying to insult you or anything. It's just, where we come from, friendship is something so basic that we just kinda do it out of habit. So it's kind of strange to see a society that puts so much emphasis on it and trying to promote it when it's already such a big part of culture already."

"Maybe here in Ponyville, but there are a lot of other creatures out there that haven't really picked up on it yet."

"Oh... so you don't really do too much with others locally. More international-related stuff than I take it?"

"Something like that."

"Well then," Sniff happily spoke out as he drummed his fingers on the armrest of the chair. "Anything else? Any concerns?"

Twilight folded up the book in front of her and started to walk to the door, non-verbally inviting Sniff to follow. She also bore a small grin and chuckled just low enough it was barely heard.

"Well, I was a little concerned when you made Button Mash cry."

"Oh, for the love of-"

"But he was talking trash, wasn't he?"

"Oh my god! Right?"

Twilight giggled as they neared the door. She opened the door to escort Sniff back down with the others and did a quick scan to see if any of the others were around.

"Although Spike is right about one thing."

Sniff tried to think about what point Spike had covered that she would be addressing now.

"And what's that?"

Twilight looked up with her best interpretation of bedroom eyes.

"For a guy who's not into mares, you sure do flirt with them a lot."

"For the love of Christ."

"Should I be worried about our little get-togethers?"

Sniff didn't know how much more of this he could take.

"I dunno, Twilight. Can you make a fist?"

"A fist?"

Sniff held up his hand and clenched it.

"Yeah. A fist. Like this."

"Uh, hello?" Twilight glared at him. "Pony, therefore, no hands."

"Uh, hello?" Sniff smiled back. "Pony, therefore, no interest."

That answer didn't seem too convincing to Twilight.

"Well, you sure fooled me and the pony that served you your milkshake."

She looked up, trying to recall something.

"I can never remember her name, but she is way too nice for you to be leading her on like that."

"I wasn't..." Sniff nearly choked on his words, getting more and more aggravated as this topic kept on coming up. "Tell ya what. You don't bring this up again, to anyone, until our next session, and I'll tell you what's going on with that."

"It's nothing unheard of. There are plenty of creatures that come to Equestria and develop crushes on some of the ponies they-"

"It's the reason I gave up trying to learn psychology."

Ever thought what it would be like trying to explain the norms of human sexuality to a fictional character that didn't get it? Even something as simple as trying to explain a learned behavior can be complicated, as it is for Sniff.