All around the Friendship Castle and all through the town, the street party that had encompassed much of Ponyville, all the ponies had hurried into conversations. Talks of who would be best to dance with which human and how to get them nominated. Benny and Lumberman looked at each other, lost as to where this announcement even came from. Not that they seemed upset about it, given how their dance intros came out of nowhere, and they had fun doing that. They'd have to break the news to Cerb and Kelly that plans for the night would include three random dance partners.

Unlike the others, though, Chris knew exactly where this came from. And to compound the insult to injury, Rainbow Dash returned with a proud smile and pranced her way back to Becky. They immediately exchanged a fist bump/hoof bump before returning their gaze to Chris.

"I don't know what you're both so proud of," Chirs announced. "For one, I think Derpy is awesome. Two, I'd love to hang out with her-"

Becky silenced him as she held up her finger. She brought her phone back out and again started to type something out. After a flurry of taps, she handed the phone to Rainbow Dash and motioned for her to give it to Chris.

He read it too quietly to himself.

"You needed the push. I know you would want to avoid anything in public. That's why we're all doing it. You're not getting out of this, for her sake and yours."

Chris couldn't argue with that. He was still shy when it came to being with other women. Even more so with ponies if he was around his friends. Thinking about it was already making him anxious, and realizing how much he did want to back out and slip away.

Angry, but accepting, he tossed the phone back to Rainbow Dash.

"Right or wrong, you should have given me more than five seconds to say yes before you made me look like an asshole."

Becky went back to her phone to type out a response.

As much as Chris loved Becky like family, this wasn't something he was going to debate.

"Choke on it."

The bitterness and spite struck Becky and even shocked Rainbow Dash. It was rare for Chris to get mad and even more rare for him to be angry at any of his friends. Even with all the shit they tend to give him, this was different.

For the moment, Chris was too angry to be around Becky and needed to step away.

"I need a drink," He told her in just as cold and spiteful of a voice as he removed himself from the table and walked back up towards the castle.

All the while that exchange was happening, Rainbow Dash was trying to figure out what she was supposed to do. Who was wrong in this scenario? Chris refusing to do the kind and proper thing of asking Derpy to dance was a rather jerk thing to do. However, Becky never told her that Chris wasn't given much of a choice nor enough time to choose for himself. Not to mention he said he wasn't against doing it in the first place. Even still, he told her to choke on it. She wasn't going to stand for that.

"Hey! You can't just-" Rainbow Dash was about to jump out and cut off Chris to give him a piece of her mind but was stopped by a firm grip from Becky. She didn't understand why she was being held back. "Wha? But?... I thought?"

They both watch Chris continue off to find his drink, flipping them off in the process. The sound of Becky's thumbs tapping on her phone took Rainbow Dash's attention, and she looked to the screen, assuming the message would be for her. And it was.

She read it out loud.

"I fucked up bad. We fix later." She looked up to Becky, now more worried about what she might have done than she was angry about what Chris had said. "How bad is that? Back in the Everfree, you said that word can mean more than one thing."

Kelly slowly typed up another message.

"Starlight's screwups had a baby with breaking a Pinkie Pie promise kind of bad."

"Wow..." Rainbow Dash didn't want to imagine what that unholy union would look like. "You really fucked up."

Up in the distance, they could see Starlight had caught up with Chris and was trotting up close to him. Her posture and mannerisms showed she was worried about something. More than likely, knowing something was wrong with Chris for how pissed off he rightfully was. At least he won't be drinking alone.

"You know what's funny," Kelly asked Big Mac.

"What's that?" Big Mac asked, careful not to take his attention away from making the descent down the hill wasn't too steep for Kelly.

"Without a saddle for me to ride on, that means I'm riding bareback."

"Okay?"

"Bareback also means fucking without a condom."

That sent a tingle through Big Mac, enough to almost make his legs buckle. He shook his head, trying not to lose concentration. "Not a good time, Kel."

She giggled, still having far too much fun toying with him. "Oh, please. The worst that would happen is I'd slip off and land on my back for you."

Big Mac grunted out his frustrations. "Kelly, please. Good Girl or Bad Girl. Just not Cruel Girl."

"Awe," Kelly sweetly tried to play down her teasing ways. "I'm sorry, baby. - " She laid herself forward and wrapped her arms around his neck - "Really. I am. I dunno what it is that comes over me when I'm alone with you. I think... I think I like the idea of knowing I can excite you and have you wanting me, but also not worry about you taking advantage of me and losing you after you had your fun."

"Yer putting me in a real pickle of a position here, ya know that?"

"I know."

"I don't think you do, Miss Kelly."

Kelly had gone over a lot about sex with Big Mac. Not just the basics for making babies, but told him of all the other ways to please each other's bodies. Retold a lot of her experiences, things she enjoyed, what worked, what to look forward to once, or if they thought about crossing that bridge together. However, she hadn't asked him much in regard to how he really felt about her. At least not what his concerns were. She didn't even know how far he was willing to go, if at all.

"Could you tell me?"

"Well," Big Mac tried to stay as calm and collected as he could as he expressed his feelings on the topic. "Ya done got me running in circles around ya. You go from Good Girl to Bad Girl at the drop of a hat and pull me in just ta let me push you away. You tell me all about the ins and outs of... the ins and outs. And you tell me how much you miss it, but also that you don't want to live that life again. Plus, worst of all, you keep saying you don't know if you could go through do'en none of that with me, but keep... ya just keep doing what yer doing. And yer doing it so well that I start tuh tell ma' self that if it's you, I wanna do it. And you know I'm already running circles around in muh own head about wanting it."

That was the reality check Kelly needed to hear. She wasn't just toying with him playfully. He had his own serious issues about their relationship that he needed to work through, and she wasn’t making it easy. All the teasing wasn't helping either of them.

"I want to tell you to just tell me to stop when I go too far. But if I'm being honest... I want you to want me... I'm such a bitch. You should just drop my ass off on the couch and run for the hills... Save yourself."

"Now," Big Mac huffed and groaned. "I ain't gonna up and leave ya. And I ain't even saying that I don't like how ya flirt so hard with me... or that I look forward to the teasing being... ya know..."

"I know what?" Kelly asked, just slightly trying to be cute.

"Oh, come on now," Big Mac strained to keep his composure.

Kelly stroked her good hand up and down his neck as she continued resting against him. "I'm only half-joking, Maccy... I actually do want to know what you might want from me."

A reply should have followed, but Big Mac seemed to be lost in his thoughts, pondering the question himself.

"I've thrown so much at you. And you're really just starting to understand this new side of yourself. I know you keep saying me being different doesn't matter, but we both know it does. But even still... we both want to... you know... At least try something with each other. More than kissing and holding."

Big Mac was fighting with his thoughts. She was right; he didn't really know or understand these new thoughts. But the temptation he felt was real. There were things Kelly told him about that he wanted to try. Things that excited him in ways her company alone didn't give. What else could it be other than the feeling of lust she had told him about? Even then, she explained how she regretted letting her lust and desires turn her into someone she didn't like, despite how much she enjoyed it. How much she fought it with him was another concern.

"I do," He admitted. "I do want you to—"

It was hard for him to be this honest and direct.

"—try some of them things with me."

Not knowing what he wanted felt like a terrible tease. Turnabout is fair play, but she thought of offering a trade.

"Tell me one thing you want to do. And I mean, one thing you think you wouldn't be scared to do with me. And I'll tell you one thing I know I already want."

"Oh?" He asked, sounding more timid than excited. "Well... Uck... Part of me wants to say... I don't know what you called the normal baby-making way. Me on top, and you looking up at me. But, then, something about it seems scary. I'm scared I'd either hurt you or find out yer wrong about the whole not getting pregnant with me, theory. Then everypony will know about us and how slow we didn't take it."

Kelly chuckled.

"Yeah... There is something about it that does seem hawt, but like you said... scary."

They both took a moment to let the air clear on their own insecurities.

Big Mac took a deep breath to help ready his next admission.

"I know you said it was more about foreplay and just getting the guy ready for the real stuff. But... just using yer hands." He looked back, a bit shy now that he'd opened up this much. "I already love the way it feels when you touch me normal like now. And I wouldn't be scared about hurt'n ya."

"No oral? Just hands?" She asked, almost sounding disappointed.

"I, uh—" He didn't want to push his luck or admit his unfounded fear, but if he wasn't going to hold back if she wasn't. "—I don't want ya having ta go an do that... gross thing on me."

"You think it would be gross for me to go down on you?"

"No," Big Mac lowered his head, feeling some kind of guilt for making her think he was grossed out by her. "I'd hate fer you to do something you'd think is gross."

"Oh," Kelly knew what he meant. "Cuz, the whole bathroom thing."

Big Mac nodded his answer.

"I can't say that—" Even Kelly wasn't sure at this point she could consider it. "Well, fuck. Now I feel bad because that's what I really want from you. Just the other way around."

"You'd really like that?" Big Mac asked, not a hint of disgust or resistance in his question.

"I... yeah? You're not grossed out by it? Even you think that me sucking—"

"I know. I know," Big Mac groaned, knowing his own hesitation was already given for her doing it to him. "But you said it's easy for a girl to be clean down there. And I can't think of much anything else ya told me that wouldn't hurt you somehow."

There was a recurring theme with his answers she was noticing.

"You keep saying you don't want to do anything that'll hurt me. You worried about that because of what happened to me or because you think you'll be too big or fuck me too hard?"

Big Mac felt like he was being put on the spot about this.

"Well, you said horses have huge dicks."

"Yeah, on Earth," Kelly snapped with some sarcasm. "I mean, okay, sure. I have no idea how big you really are. I know your balls are a fuck load bigger."

Big Mac lowered his head, grinning and blushing.

Kelly tapped his cheek playfully.

"Oh, yeah. Now you're bashful about yer boys down under. But at the same time, you don't even know how big you can get, which is such a weird fucking concept to me. A guy not knowing how big his dick is."

"Sorry," He apologized. "I only saw it for a second this morning for the first time. And I was more worried about the mess and waking you up—"

"Don't worry, doofus," Kelly padded his chest, trying to comfort him. "It was an impressive load. So be proud of that. And I told you. If they ask why there's a bedsheet and blanket in my shower, I'll bite the bullet and say I couldn't get up in time and had an accident."

They finally arrived at the house, and Big Mac led them into the garage.

"I still hate myself for all this."

"Hey," Kelly chided to try and put down his resistance. "I told you. I'm looking out for you until you get a hold on this. Or learn how to take care of it before you go to bed, instead of in your dreams."

Big Mac grumbled in response, pressing Kelly to continue her attempts to turn his attitude around.

"Besides, no one's gonna bother with questions about me pissing myself after getting impaled on a stick and blasted with magic that almost killed eight superpowered horses and maybe even me a second time. I could shit my pants in public, and they'd be like, 'Oh, don't mind her. She's still a little messed up from one too many spears to the chest and a boss-killing dose of magic' And then apologize for my inconvenience."

"How can you even joke about that?"

"You ever meet Cerb?"

"Of course I have. He was there when—"

"It was a rhetorical question, jackass. He does the same thing."

"Oh," Now he did feel like a doofus. "How was I supposed to know?"

"It's fine," She mumbled as she looked around the garage. "Can you take me into the living room? As much as I like riding you bareback, I could use a minute or two with my legs closed."

"Uh... do you have to get down right now?" Big Mac asked, clearly hiding something.

"I'd much rather... No, fuck that." Kelly wasn't going to humor his piss-poor delivery of deception. "Why don't you want to put me down?"

Suddenly, she felt stupid for even asking and even worse for snapping at him.

"Oh, you got to be kidding me."

Big Mac didn't answer, hoping she would guess wrong if he didn't say anything. But the red that glowed through his coat and the expression he held was a dead giveaway.

"Oh, Mackie," she gleefully spoke out his pet name as she leaned down and hugged him around his neck as tight as she could. "I wanna see it."

"No," he meekly pleaded. "You're not ready. I'm not ready. And you said it won't stay that way if—"

"Mac..."

"Yes, Miss Kelly?"

"I want to see you."

"Kelly..."

"And I'll show you mine."

"You... What? Why all of a sudden—"

"It's only fair," Kelly answered, stopping him from asking too many questions, speaking in a soft yet pleading voice. "And you're not the only one who's been turned on."

"But you said that you'd let me see your breast if I danced you out for everypony. I don't want to make you do anything more than what we agreed to."

Kelly was unphased by his integrity.

"Then, I'll show you both."

If Big Mac ever learned anything in his life, it was five things. Never give up on family. Always trust an apple. You can't get away from Granny Smith. Don't let a good thing pass you by. And whatever the cost, Kelly was worth it.

He led Kelly into the Living room and carefully let her slide off onto the couch.

"Well?" Kelly asked, waiting for Big Mac to face her or present himself in some fashion.

Big Mac was more than simply hesitant to show himself to Kelly as she asked.

"I'm nervous. I... I-I don't know what I'm doing. What if you don't like what you see?" He waited for an answer or some release from this arrangement, even if it meant giving up seeing her. "Miss Kelly?"

A warm piece of cloth landed on his back with no warning given.

"Turn around," She spoke to him in a much softer and more natural voice than usual.

The tone of voice intrigued him. This tone was different. It wasn't her normal speaking voice, nor some mock voice she would joke with, or even the sultry voice she used when she was acting badly. It was almost like the voice she used when she first confessed how she felt about him before being so horribly wounded. At the same time, it wasn't sad or guilt-filled. This voice sounded vulnerable yet trusting. He had to turn and see her now.

What he saw was something he never thought could have been much of a sight to trigger such a reaction as he was feeling. Kelly was shirtless, having thrown it on his back to get his attention. There was another piece of clothing that covered her chest, but she was pulling it down for him. Her breasts were slowly revealed, and they were nothing like a pony's at all. They were so much larger and curvaceous. Then the nipples and areolas, they didn't fade away behind a thin layer of a coat or blend in with the same color of skin underneath. These were pronounced and complimented the flesh they surrounded.

The bra she wore had been removed and dropped to her side. She folded her arms, perking up her breast.

"Do you like them?" She asked in the same cautious and almost timid voice. "They're not... weird? Or ugly?"

Big Mac turned himself to completely face her; his own arousal hidden under his stance.

"No," he told her with no southern drawl or slang, only the purest and most honest answer he felt. "There... better than how you described them."

"Okay," Kelly replied, sounding just as defenseless as he did.

She then started working the button and zipper in the front of her jeans, keeping true to her second promise.

As much as Big Mac wanted to be the good stallion he prided himself on being, the temptation of seeing Kelly nude was too strong. Just the thought of her exposing herself excited him with a guilty sense of violating some moral he should have known. For the moment, though, he was so fixated on watching her, anxious to see how different she could be from what had grown so passive to seeing. Even standing there in front of her, he felt himself growing harder. Something he didn't even know was possible, or the intensity it could have, almost painful.

Kelly managed to pull her left leg out from her jeans but struggled with her right. Still just a little too sore to manage without some assistance. Or perhaps she wanted Big Mac to be a bit more engaged with this show she was giving.

Kelly extended her foot out to Big Mac with the pant leg dangling.

"Can you... help me?"

Big Mac took a moment to think out his action and ran it over silently to himself.

"Step forward, grab the pant leg with my teeth, pull it off... why am I thinking so slowly?"

For probably the first time with Kelly, he didn't nod or voice his intentions. He robotically stepped over to her foot, but a new distraction blindsided him. With every step, his erection rubbed up against his belly. It was a sensation that was remnant of his dreams from the previous two nights. With the sudden realization that these were the kinds of sensations he could expect, then perhaps there would be more he'd be willing to do. On second thought, maybe he could see the reason Kelly had allowed herself to indulge in these exchanges of physical lovemaking for so long.

Big Mac continued on his path, letting these tingles and pulses that enticed him to endure. He gripped the fabric in his teeth and slowly pulled it back, carefully dragging the clothing off and letting it fall to the floor.

"Those are cute," Big Mac complimented the display of Kelly's panties but was so nervous that it sounded forced.

"Thanks," She nervously answered back. "You probably don't see a lot of these here."

Kelly spread her legs wider, revealing the damp fabric and letting the thick scent of her wanting sex drift into the room.

Big Mac was past the point of modesty or needing encouragement. He was ready to give in; deal with the fears and concerns after the fact.

"Oh, Sweet Merciful Celestia."

Truth be told, Kelly had become the one more apprehensive in this relationship. However, having him this close, and finally, this invested into having her as she had so many other men lust for her, the temptation to encourage him was stronger than her insecurities.

"Can you show me?" Kelly asked, running her fingers up her legs until they found their way to the sides of her panties and playfully tugged them away, only the faintest hint of what lay below revealed.

Again, Big Mac only acted as requested. He took a step forward and turned his side to her. Right away, his member came into sight, and her excitement grew with the quickening of her breath slightly. Big Mac didn't stop there. He relaxed his back legs and lowered himself to the floor, sitting down but then rolled slightly to present himself in full view of the woman tempting him out of his innocent mindset.

"Holy... oh shit," Kelly hushed, her voice not clearly stating what she was feeling about what she saw.

Big Mac was worried now; all the concerns Kelly held of his size were valid, and their aspirations for pleasing each other would be superficial at best, if even appealing any longer.

"Well?"

"Big Mac," Kelly sounded worried; even her face couldn't hide it. "Please get up and move back away from me."

"I'm sorry, Miss Kelly," Big Mac carefully rose back to all fours and backed away, his tail tucked low and his ears folded back. "I understand if this won't work, and we can't be together like you wanted. But I don't want this to come between us."

"No," Kelly sunk her face into her hands and tried to rub some reason into her mind. "If you get any closer, I'm going to make you fuck me. One way or another, I know I'd make it happen."

Big Mac's raised his head with ears perked upright, and his erection refortified itself with the prospect of losing his virginity here and now.

"Does that mean what I think it means?"

"Mac," Kelly pulled back her hands to see Mac sitting down, his erection still on full display for her. Even this far away, it was tempting her to cross that line and fuck the reservations she fought. "It's so workable, and I'm so fucking horny right now... but I know we're not ready. I've never allowed myself to... I don't want to fuck this up. I don't want to fuck this up so much more than how badly I want to feel you bury your cock inside me. Fuck... "

If Big Mac was any less of a gentlecolt, he'd already have made his way over and plunged his face between her legs. It was a tempting thought to see what would come of it. However, the short-term gains of a moment of pleasure and service to this woman who had opened up his eyes to so many new worlds, he would never risk hurting her.

"Miss Kelly—"

"Big Mac, no," Kelly was afraid of what he might ask. "Believe me, I want you to eat me out so bad right now I can already taste it on my lips from kissing you after I make you plow me longer and deeper than you do your garden... Jesus fuck, this is torture."

"Uh," Kelly's pleas were making it harder for him to focus and not give into temptation. "I was going to suggest you do that mater bathing thing. Because if we're not going to do anything with each other... well."

He looked down to his engorged member.

"I know I can't walk back to the party like this."

Now there was an idea that could work... or backfire and still end with Kelly wrapping her legs around his back to pull him in deeper.

"We could watch each other," Kelly offered earnestly. "I mean... we can see each other enjoying ourselves without... fucking things up in the process."

"Okay," Big Mac looked down to his groin to reassess what he was working with. "Uh... Miss Kelly?"

He looked up to his painfully horny partner in shame.

"I can't make a fist like you said."

Kelly had already started feeling herself over her panties; she knew this wasn't going to take long.

"Just feel around, Big Guy," She instructed him in a seductive voice.

As much as she wanted to reverse roles and give him the pony ride, she also could help but enjoy the idea of teasing him.

"Be slow and gentle with yourself. You'll figure it out. Every guy does."

Big Mac looked on in earnest as Kelly dug her thumbs under the waistband of what little cloth protected her remaining modesty. He could see that these were far easier to remove. No chance for him to be called closer to help her pull the last article of clothing free. No chance of getting close enough for poor choices to grant him any favors. But the distance didn't hide any details that he couldn't take in.

Kelly lowered the band over her thighs and rocked her hips just enough to work herself free from their protection and quickly had them around her knees. She dropped the garment down to her feet and held herself still to better entice her stud.

"You start."

She slowly let her butt slide closer to the edge of the cushion and parted her knees, revealing the secret behind the cloth.

"That way, we can do this together."

She ran her hands up from the inside of her knees to her pussy, pulling three fingers over her wet outer lips. Two fingers spread herself open while she dragged her middle finger into her shallow depths and over her clit. She pulled her hand away with a trail of her liquid eagerness, stranding along and snapping free as she brought her fingers to her lips. She tempted fate and her own resiliency by licking her finger clean of the taste Big Mac wished he could sample.

"Put on a good show for me, and you might win yourself a kiss." She ran her tongue over her lips, no misinterpretation as to what she intended for him to taste.

With no guidance or practice, Big Mac quickly tried to figure it out.

Kelly watched intently at her stud, hurrying to please her and fulfill her request. He no undoubtedly intended to win that kiss, but for now, she wanted to better assess what a braver future with him would entail. She was already familiar with his hooves. The hardened edges could be rough, but the soft pads underneath were surprisingly smooth and had their own particular appeal. Even the way she swore they moved over her body was different, but in a good way she hadn't figured out yet.

His balls were cartoonishly oversized, though, after the last two nights they weren't drastically larger than a pony his size would logically consider proportionate. They were at least, in presentation, more visually appealing, with no clear signs of pubic hair. Their mass and shine given off from the texture made her imagine what they must feel like racking against her in the doggy position. Although, she might consider it the pony position from here on out.

Then, what she was really focusing on from his show. His cock was not what she was expecting. The shaft was smoother and seemed more cylindrical than a human's, but not so indiscernible either. The head was what gave her the most relief. It was practically human-shaped. Perhaps a bit larger with the tip angled higher than centered, but it still looked the part. Of course, the overall size couldn't be ignored. He couldn't be much more than just over eight inches. Certainly not more than nine.

His size wasn't necessarily ideal, but in her many experiences, she'd tackled cocks of his caliber before. With a little warming up, maybe a little practice, and some lube... Why did she want to hold off again?

Big Mac started slow and gently, working his fetlock from the bottom of his shaft and up his length. The reaction was instant, and the feeling was all but mentally debilitating. It was almost overwhelming to the point where he had to fight to keep his eyes open, not wanting to lose sight of the woman in front of him, especially now that she was sharing her display with him.

Kelly had lived quite the adventurous life, but this was a new taboo. Teasing men and women alike while face to face or over the phone was an excellent tactic for enticing them to play harder or lure them back to bed. However, all those kinks were compounded now that she was using them on Big Mac. Even just the sight of his cock, so exotic and from such a forbidden world of debauchery and degeneracy, it only turned her on more for some twisted reason. It was as if there was something in the hair that amplified her desire with every breath she drew in of his presence.

"How does it feel?" She asked the stallion as she spread her legs wider and dove two fingers in for him to see.

"Oh, Kelly," Big Mac was in an altered state of being, and his words couldn't be less filtered. "I've never felt anything like this in my life. It feels so... " He shuttered with another course stroke down his shaft. "Wonderful and strange. But watching you is hard to not want ta just... how does it taste?"

That question added some fuel to the fire for Kelly, but it was a hard question to answer.

"My pussy? " She started to withdraw her fingers, spreading herself, displaying the juicy goo she had been building up. "You want a taste?"

"Eyup," Big Mac boldly answered, too distracted to notice a bead of fluid building up out from himself for Kelly to see.

And notice she did. How could she not? This was all becoming too much for her. Now it was a race for her to finish before her resistance gave out.

She grinned devilishly.

"Naughty, boy." She slid her fingers down inside again, edging them along her clit. "Mmmph, cum for me and find out, Bad Boy."

The promise of his reward again bolstered his lust. His efforts and grip tightened, but his motions appeared hurried and awkward. Having no practice and only working off of a limited set of instructions for those with hands.

"Slow down, Big Boy," Kelly coaxed him, seeing his struggles. "You're doing fine. Just... feel it out."

She watched him follow her words, slowing his pace, letting his strokes find themselves out.

"Imagine my hands on you."

She continued to work him up as she edged herself closer.

"Back in the tall grass, me on top of you. You... licking my pussy. Your tongue pressing deep inside, tasting all this sweet, sweet, pussy juice. All while I stroke your big dick and tease the dip of your cock with my lips and lick you back... does that sound nice?"

Big Mac could picture all of what she had painted in his mind. He closed his eyes for a moment to let that fantasy replace what he had before him for the moment. How amazing it would be, how fantastic and exciting to have her in all the ways they desired. Just the thought alone only excited him more.

"I would like that. Emm-Hmm."

"Use your other hoof for me," Kelly requested, excited to see what all this stallion could do. "Pretend it's me kissing it. Show me where you want my lips on you."

Big Mac was the perfect subservient plaything. He sat down deeper with his back against the wall with his legs sprawled out and brought his other hoof up to the head of his cock. He didn't know what to expect before pressing down on the tip. A groan and a grunt echoed in the room as he was treated to his stimulation doubled.

"Oh, sweet apple pie... Kelly," He carefully started to pivot the frogs under his hooves, exploring all the new pleasures that made him twinge and jerk as the jolts of pleasure rocked over his cock. "I can't believe... Ohh... Holy apple sauce. Kel... I... Ugh, something—"

Big Mac didn't know it just yet, but he was about to experience something that was going to put his wet dreams to shame.

"That's right, baby," Kelly could tell by his body tensing and the motions of his strokes growing stronger he was about to climax. "Show me how you want me to suck you off. God, I want to taste your cock so bad. Cum for me. Show me how good you can cum so I can fucking cum, and you can taste me, too."

Her worlds only speed up the inevitable. Big Mac gasped in a sharp breath before arching his back against the wall and all but yell out his first real orgasm. The eruption was about as intense as his voice. His cock pumped out the first few gushes of cum that mostly shot out the back of his hoof and hit his abdomen. The rest squirted out from under the front of his hoof and down his shaft.

It truly was a sight for Kelly. So bestial, but Big Mac made its intensity and otherwise inhuman appearance so desirable and erotic. Watching him peak and show him what a stallion could do pushed her over the edge.

"Oh, fuck! Mac! Come—" She was about to make a demand for Big Mac, but her own climax took control - "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Gawd. Ffffff- Oh!"

After nearly a week of pent-up stress, lack of sex or masturbation, sexual tension, and random unanswered episodes of arousal with no release accumulated into an orgasm she so desperately needed. Both hands went to work doing all they could. One hand rapidly abused her inner walls, arching her fingers up into her g-spot while her other hand circled over her clit. Her eyes clenched closed with the thoughts of how much better it would be with Big Mac taking over and fucking her properly. The thought of his thick crank spreading her open and filling her with all that hot cum he was packing would have to feel so much better than this. If only she could speak and beckon him over to discard all her previous warnings and hard lines.

She opened her eyes to see him panting and gawking at her as she slipped farther out from the couch. They were both trapped in the moments of bliss that came from this long-awaited release. Both enamored and captivated with how much the other drove them wild; wanting and wishing the other would give up on their morals and give in to the temptation to violate the other. The slightest hint of weakness or a request would have had either of them crawling across the floor to let the other burden their mouth with ravishing the last bit of ecstasy or to do all they could to force his deflating cock into her.

Sadly, all they could do was please the other with the visual of their own release as it ebbed away.

"Mis... Kelly..."

Big Mac was light-headed with a rush of feelings in his head and in his heart he couldn't explain. An overdose of contentment and gratification and the afterglow that held him.

"That was... I can't even... why does every word I know not sound good enough to describe how amazing that was?" He continued panting until he had the strength to hold his gaze on her. "How amazing you are."

"Don't worry, Mackie," Kelly cooed through the huffs of weary breaths she drew. "It only gets better from here."

She eyed his member, slowly falling limp in his hold.

"Oh, fuck me... I don't know how long I'll be able to hold out when you got a monster cock like that."

Big Mac toyed with his still-leaking cock, toying with himself for her amusement.

"I don't know why, but I've seen so many mares and never once wanted them like I want you. And I don't think I could ever care to be with one if I could be with you. I'll wait as long as you want me to."

There was a moment Big Mac almost took his confession to the final logical level. To confess something so profound and permanent, but a fear of their uncertainty had him hold his tongue. Maybe another day, another time, when he was more certain she felt the same way, and he could share those three words.

Kelly withdrew her hands and closed her legs, barely managing to pull herself upright.

"Come here, Mac Daddy. Kelly needs a kiss from her big, strong pony."

Big Mac awkwardly brought himself up to all fours. He was still in a bit of a haze, which made his steps a bit more haggard than usual. But from this more lacked position Kelly could see his half-hard cock sway and drip as he paced himself up to her. It was such a turn-on.

"Just as promised, Big Guy," Kelly greeted him before raising her hand and dragging her tongue along her saturated fingers.

She was so wet that Big Mac could see the juices she had pulled from her snatch pool at the tip of her tongue.

"Heh," Big Mac huffed out a short chuckle. "Drip. I get it."

Kelly was too into the moment to agree or laugh along with him. She wanted this more than he did and pulled him in close, eagerly mashing tongues together and forcing a taste of her nectar in with their kiss. The taste of herself was something of which she had grown accustomed to. A trait from all of the years of debauchery she had experienced with her many lovers. Men and women alike were always pleased by it, and she was banking on Big Mac becoming ensnared in her alluring ways as well. But even she had to admit; this kiss was sacrilegiously sweet. She could feel from Big Mac's more intense passion he delivered, trying to find more of that divine flavor from her, that her tactics were working.

Big Mac pulled back from their makeout session, stepping back and collapsing flat on his ass.

"Oh, shit. Mac? You okay?" Kelly asked, a million concerns blanking through her mind of what could have possibly gone wrong.

"Oh, Miss Kelly," Big Mac said with a smile. "I feel like I'm swimming in butterflies and laying on a million of your kisses. We might need to hold off, or I think I'm gonna need to do another repeat of what we just did."

Kelly giggled at the thought of how powerful their little show-and-tell event was.

"I suppose you're right, and I'm sorry if it feels like I'm being cruel, only going this far."

"Kelly," Big Mac looked up to her with love-drunk eyes. "Maybe... that's all we can handle at the moment, and so it's all for the best."

"You might be right," Kelly looked down to what bit of his cock was still lying out of his sheath. "Though it probably would have been fun to find out the hard way."

"That the Good Girl or Bad Girl talk'n?" Big Mac asked with a sly grin.

"That's me talking," Kelly answered with a coy smile before bopping his lips with a finger freshly pulled from between her legs again.

The scent and flavor hit Big Mac's senses instantly, again returning those weak limbs and intoxicating thoughts, even stirring a little rise in his cock again. Before he could say boo about it, Kelly was already on his lips with another kiss.

"Now come on and help me clean up," Kelly playfully requested as she pulled away. "I really didn't fucking think this through. But hopefully, they're having so much fun at the party they won't notice how long we've been gone."

She noticed the splatters Big Mac left on the carpet.

"Or notice any stains when they get back."

"She did what!" Starlight shouted. Furious at how Becky and Rainbow Dash had entrapped Chris. "She's your friend. How could she... Gah! Pour me a drink too, please. I don't even want to—" She sighed heavily. "I'm so sorry, Chris. I know this must be extremely frustrating for you."

"She should know," Chris barked. "At least know how easily I get in situations like this."

Starlight added a little more orange juice to her Screwdriver, the vodka being too strong this early.

"Does she know about your other issues?" She gave him a sympathetic look. "That you might want to do more than having a dance and be friends?"

"No," Chris sounded more hurt than angry. "We were drunk when we were all about sixteen or so, playing a game of kings, and the topic came up of cartoon characters we would sleep with."

Chris didn't know if she understood that context but moved on with the conversation.

"I named a Digimon character. Imagine a yellow fox mixed with a human body. But... they gave me so much shit for it, I stopped bringing it up with them. Kelly only knew I liked the show about all of you. Never... Never anything beyond that."

"I'm sorry, Chris," Starlight put down her drink to hug Chris, getting only a slight lean into as a return. "Maybe we just need to be honest with your friends. Let them know how you really feel. Both about how Kelly treated you and how you might want to find a special somepony of your own while you're here."

"Do I even have a chance at that?" Chris asked, sounding more like it was a rhetorical question. "Sure, Sniff probably could. He could talk a Nun out of a convent or sell ice cubes to a polar bear. He could sell imported sand to Saddle Arabia."

Starlight laughed.

"Oh, please. He's good at working a crowd, that much is clear. But he's not that good." She took another drink of her Screwdriver but noticed how unconvinced Chris was. "Is he?"

Chris eyed his drink but put it down and pushed it away.

"I once went to a bar for an after-hours office party. By chance, Sniff was there on a date. He introduced us as she was leaving. And when I say she was leaving, I mean he told her that he had another date after hers. Not only was she okay with it, she apologized for taking longer than she was supposed to. Then the other girl showed up early, and she apologized for making it awkward for him."

"Is that... supposed to happen?"

"No!" Chris blurted out. "Neither was me seeing all three of them leaving together that night. I still don't know how he does it. Sniff—" Chris went for his drink again, sloshing it slightly while pondering. "He is an anomaly. Something not to be understood, only accepted."

"Ugh," Starlight put down her drink. "I'm only starting to feel this, and I don't want to feel anymore." She turned her full attention to Chris and laid a hoof on his shoulder. "But fine. You know him a lot better than I do. And if you say he falls outside the realm of understanding, then he is. But I have a pretty good understanding of you. And you have so much to offer the ponies here in Ponyville. Even more outside of Ponyville. If you really want to find a special somepony while you're here, if you really apply yourself and just give it a shot, I know you'll find one. And if that's what you really want, I'll do whatever I can to help you."

"Thanks," Chris raised his arm to pull her in for a proper hug. "You're the best pony ever, Starlight."

"Awe," Starlight blushed. "Save the mushy stuff for your special somepony."

She reached her forelegs around him and returned the hug.

"But... thank you for saying so."

"Hey," Chris broke off from the hug. "Mind helping me find Cerb? I thought he came in here, but I have no idea where they all might have wandered off to in this place."

"Don't suppose you have a clue where he might have gone off to, do you?" Starlight asked. "He didn't stay here last night, so I doubt he went and found a room to lay down in."

"Not with a Princess and two of your friends, at least," Chris added. "Someplace quiet, maybe?"

Starlight noticed a new plate that was out of place from the others.

"It looks like they were here for a while, at least."

"Maybe they all did lay down? Cadence said she was tired, and Fluttershy and Rarity seem to be attached to the hip with Cerb." Chris thought out loud.

"Well, at least it's something to do and keep you away from all the drama outside," Starlight told Chris, hoping to cheer him up.

"Yeah... God, I still can't believe she did that and threatened to have Dash kick my ass if I backed out." Chris ranted. "I know I'm... well, you know how awkward I can be—"

Chris threw the point out, knowing Starlight understood, but a little too late to hope she wouldn't expand upon it.

"I just would have wanted to let this be something I accomplished on my own. But—" he turned to Starlight, looking surprisingly happy. "I'm glad that we patched things up and are friends. I've never had someone to talk to about this stuff with before. I mean, relationships and dating wasn't an issue with the others. But how empty I feel inside. How bad I wanted to actually be here... That I fantasized about being with a pony and my fear of being judged by it. Thank you, really."

Starlight was happy to hear this validation. She was a friend and was appreciated. It didn't even take a common enemy or shared history of poor life choices. All he got out of this friendship was just her company and support. She couldn't hide the amount of joy it brought her to finally have this.

"It really means a lot to me to hear you say that. After Twilight helped me see that I needed to change my ways, all the mistakes I made with her friends, and how bad everything went with Trixie... Did I ever tell you about that?"

Chris didn't take his eyes off the stares they were climbing.

"If you mean her using you to get back at Twilight and almost getting swallowed by the manticore, no. But I saw it the day before we all ended up here." He turned back to Starlight, following just behind him near the top of the steps. "Where'd she even leave to? I thought her wagon was all messed up?"

From cold to hot and hot to cold, these emotional rollercoasters were going to give her motion sickness.

"I don't know. Next town or anywhere from Las Pegasus to Saddle Arabia. Twilight and I helped fix up her wagon and then she thanked us for everything and left."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Chris said, sharing his sympathies. "Any idea when she'll be back? Not that I don't mind hanging out with you, but you and her did have a good thing going at the end. I thought you two would have gone on tour together or something like that."

Starlight did miss Trixie, but there was still a lot of clout in her afterthoughts for how they first even became friends. However, in retrospect, she couldn't help but feel how her new friendship was almost just as much of a disaster, but only it was her fault this time.

"I... I do miss her a little already. But I also have no idea when I'll ever see her again. She was really shaken up after getting hurt in the explosion that brought you here. I worry about her. Enough that I even wonder if I should have gone with her."

"Left or right?" Chris asked, not sure which way to start off in for their search. "Our rooms were right, but none of the others would have known that."

"Egh," Starlight shrugged. "We got the whole day to waste if you'd rather spend some more time in here."

"Let's find Cerb first," Chris looked down the closest hallway. "I need to talk to him before I'm gonna head back out there. Make sure he's okay, and then deal with Becky's bullshit. I don't want to deal with her or Rainbow right now."

"Sure," she replied with a cheerful smile.

Starlight's heart was going out to Chris. For such a large fella, he was incredibly sensitive and insecure. Although, there was something about his anger that seemed to emanate some of the same frightening vibes that Cerb gave off when he lashed out at Applejack and Rainbow Dash on their first day here. She had to appreciate how extreme these humans could be in so many different facets, even when they were hiding them.

"They shouldn't be hard to find. This castle is big, but it's... actually easy to get lost in. Let's go this way.

Cadence opened the door to a room normally set aside for her and Shining.

"Here we are. Nice and private. Also, far away from all the noise outside."

Cerb looked around the room.

"So... is this, like, your husband's bedroom from when he was a kid or something?"

The three mares giggled.

"Oh, no, silly," Rarity corrected him. "Twilight and Shining grew up in Canterlot. This castle is relatively new."

"Yes," Cadence stepped up onto the oversized bed and turned to sit and face the three. "This room was set aside for when we visit. And I think it's probably the most calming and comfortable room available."

"Plus, the bed is big enough for all of us," Fluttershy added.

Cerb started to speculate that the help they were going to offer him was going to be conducted on the bed.

"Doesn't this seem a little inappropriate? I mean, anyone walks in on us and—"

"It's perfectly fine, Justin," Cadence quickly hushed him. "For what we'll be doing, we would normally have large cushions or pads to sit on. Or a smaller bed for you to lay on, and whoever is presiding to be just as close."

Fluttershy took Cerb's hand in her wing and softly pulled him towards the bed.

"This is all about being close to loved ones and ponies you trust. We're here to help you stay strong while you work through your bad memories."

Rarity walked ahead and took her spot on the bed. She sat just off to the side of Cadence and at an angle.

"I've never taken part in one of these sessions, but I've heard they're very helpful."

"And just what is it we're doing?" Cerb asked, still very uneasy about how this would look.

Not to mention that this would be the third, if not the fourth, time he would be willingly pinned between two ponies. This would be the first time with three ponies, though.

Cadence guided Cerb up against her chest as he sat down and worked his way back further onto the bed.

"You've had some horrible events in your past that have hardened your heart. Made you afraid to let love and trust flow freely." She slid her forelegs under his arms and held him close to her. "Imagine a box that you've thrown angry letters into and locked it up. The box is your heart. And now you want to put some happy letters in that box, but you're afraid of all the angry letters getting out and having to read them all over again. We're going to help you open that box, pull out the angry letters and toss them away so you can replace them with better ones."

"Some things are better left locked away," Cerb warned with a sad tone.

"We can start slow. Not go into the really scary nightmare things," Fluttershy softly cooed, comforting Cerb before turning to Cadence. "Right?"

"Yes," Cadence warmly smiled and nodded. "Now, Rarity, Fluttershy, get close to Justin, and we can begin."

Fluttershy and Rarity scooted in close to Cerb again, resting their heads against his chest with his arm draped over them. They interlocked a foreleg together around his waist and the other around his back. Just to be sure they were as close as possible, they worked a rear leg over his thighs and laid against him.

"Now, Justin," Cadence rested her chin on Cerb's right shoulder. "Think back as far as you can to when you last felt your heart was open. No hardship to close it off or pain to make you protect it from the world around you... Close your eyes and tell me where you are."

Cerb shut his eyes and did his best to recall such a time. It was hard to tell when he even felt anything like that. As he thought about it, Cadence's horn started to glow softly, encompassing all of them in a soft pink aura.

As Cerb sat in the aura, surrounded by the three mares, his thoughts started to clear.

"I'm still in the war... I'm with my squad. Garcia is still there."

Cadence breathed gently, moving her face a little closer to Cerb's, drawn in by something still emanating from his core.

"What are you doing with your squad? And how do you feel?"

Cerb smiled.

"We're cleaning our gear and celebrating. We just finished a debrief of taking down one of the lieutenants that was hiding in our AOR... I feel... happy... proud of my boys. Safe..."

Cadence could feel that something starting to shine out from Cerb. Only now, it was more clear. It was love. Unbridled and vibrant love in such a concentrated form that she could physically feel it passing through her.

"That is a very powerful memory you have." She moved in even closer, letting her cheek press up against his, and squeezed a little tighter, somehow silently influencing Fluttershy and Rarity to hold tighter as well. "I would like nothing more than for you to have that feeling again. Tell me what made you lock it away."

Cerb sighed; his smile vanished, and the love that he was emanating immediately cut off.

"My platoon commander and CO came into our tent. We stood at attention and... right away we knew something was wrong. He put us at ease... He looked around the tent and told everyone to grab all the gear and weapons and take them back to berthing. At first, I thought something came up, and we were going on another mission. But then he told me to stop. Had someone else grab all my gear for me and said he needed me to stay behind. So then I started to panic. Thought maybe one of us screwed up with the lieutenant we took out. But then our platoon commander whispered to Garcia to have someone take his gear back, too. The CO tried to tell Garcia to ignore that order and leave, but commander said he needed to be here."

A moment of silence fell over the room. Cerb opened his hands to hold onto the mares next to him, hoping them being there would make this next part easier. He found their hooves as they readjusted.

"They had everyone take the gear out—" Cerb's eyes started to water as he felt the box inside start to open. "—because they were afraid of how I would react. Garcia was there to keep me under control. A Red Cross message had come in. My brother was killed in a firefight trying to protect a convoy... They sent word back home to my mom and dad first... my mom got the call and collapsed floor because the shock of the news gave her a heart attack... I was told I had to come home for the funeral and see my mom in the hospital."

"Oh, Justin," Cadence continued to hold him close. "I'm so sorry. Losing a loved one can be very traumatic."

"Two funerals," Cerb interjected. "I lucked out with getting a flight home, routed back the next morning. Every chance I got, I tried to call my father to get an update, but he never picked up. I thought he was maybe stuck in the hospital with mom and couldn't get a signal—"

"Signal?" Cadence asked, not familiar with the terms he was using.

"Phone signal," Cerb explained. "Long-distance talking machines... but the problem wasn't the phones or signals... My mother didn't make it to surgery and passed on before I made it home. He didn't... couldn't handle it, I guess. And when I finally got home... he was gone. He was there... but it was like his heart was broken, and he just said fuck it and threw the pieces in the trash."

"What do you mean, he threw them in the trash?" Cadence asked.

"He said he wouldn't bury his wife or lose another son... He then apologized to me... Said he was sorry. But he said he was sorry like he forgot to pick something up from the store. Like there was no weight to what he was apologizing for. Then he left... just... got in his car and drove away."

There were no words, just the holds they held around him. No words could have been said to make up for this. It was simply understood as a tragedy without correction or purpose, and nothing they could have said could make it any better.

"My dad drove away and left me to bury his wife and his son. All my friends were there. Even some family who never came around showed up... but I never found out where he went. My family wished me the best and vanished, but my friends stuck with me through all of it. Especially Kelly. She... she did everything she could to make sure I knew there was something worth coming home to. And then she made me promise not to die when I went back. That I had to come home alive."

Fluttershy and Rarity's hearts both stopped at the last part of Cerb's story. Something they knew but wouldn't dare bring up in front of Cadence. But at the same time, a whole new layer of emotional baggage became clear for the additional guilt that he carried.

"She said she would never forgive me if I died, that she couldn't lose another friend. That she couldn't be part of a family that kept dying on her. So I promised... Then we... Then she reminded me again that there was something worth coming home to."

There was something missing from the story. Cerb was holding onto one last piece.

Cadence softly caressed Cerb's chest, trying to comfort him.

"This is a long and difficult letter to read, Justin. If you don't finish it, you'll just put it back inside. How does it end?"

"I thought that everything she was doing was because she loved me. More than just a friend. More than just family by choice. I thought she was telling me to come home so we could be together... but-"

Cerb hit a mental wall and couldn't break through. He was holding back, too hurt, and too afraid to say the truth.

Fluttershy could see him struggling, silently suffering, and in a bold act of desperation, she moved to help him push through. She left his side and instead stood up and pressed her cheek against his chest, letting his chin rest over her head.

"It's okay. Just let it out."

Rarity followed suit, kneeling and sliding the side of her muzzle against his cheek.

"Whatever it is, Justin. We're here to help you through it."

Finally, the words came out.

"I was wrong... I wasn't special... Everything she did was... because it was the only way she knew how to show me she cared. She found someone else to be with before the end of the week. So I cut that part of my life away. I had my family in the Core and my family back home. That was it. That was all I needed. I stopped wanting anything other than that."

He was past it finally. A secret he held for years was finally out, and he was freed from the painful grip he held on it.

"I never even fell in love with her like I thought she did for me. I never got the chance... I gave up on anything more than what I already had because of something that never even happened. I didn't want love in my life. Not after my dad walked away from his family. Not after it gave me hope, and I realized I couldn't tell it apart from a fucked-up friendship."

"Justin," Cadence softly spoke his name, dropping the aura around them. "Just because someone doesn't love you more than a friend doesn't mean you can't find one that will."

Rarity pulled back and lifted Cerb's chin up, making him open his eyes to match her gaze.

"You have proven yourself to be one of the most capable and bravest warriors of your lands. You’re a dedicated friend the likes of I'm certain are rarely seen in either of our worlds. You’re handsome, charming, and just a delight to be around. Even with the dreams that haunt you, any lady with an ounce of common sense and appreciation for a stallion of value would be crazy not to want to have you."

"It's true," Fluttershy butted in. "Even if Kelly only loves you like family, that's still a valuable friendship to hold onto. And I'm sure even she would agree that you shouldn't limit yourself just to her. You've shown your value as a provider and a protector. All you need to do now is to allow yourself to love again. More than just friends."

Cadence relaxed her grip around Cerb slightly.

"Do you agree with them, Justin? Is this something you don't have to put back in that box?"

It was such a relief to get that out of his mind finally. Somehow, with the help of these three, he felt like the burden was gone.

"Yeah... I don't think I feel that way anymore. I think back then, I felt so abandoned by losing the family I grew up with that I thought of having Kelly as more than a friend was what I needed because of how I thought she loved me. But really... she was just giving me something more to hold onto. Then coming home..."

"The added guilt of feeling like you might have let someone special to you down," Rarity spoke for him, voicing her understanding without making him explain his mortality to Cadence.

"I felt like I wasn't even good enough after that." Cerb finished his thought with his secret intact.

"Which was never the case," Fluttershy added, finally pulling back.

"Yeah," Cerb agreed with a great feeling of newfound peace. "I can't believe none of the therapists they stuck me with ever worked as good as you three."

"Well," Cadence called to their attention. "As good as we three have been, I think that is a good start, but we are here for a party after all."

"Are you feeling up to it now?" Fluttershy excitedly asked Cerb.

Cerb felt like enough of the shock had worked its way out of his system.

"Yeah. I'm over the bangs, and now that I got that out of my system. I could totally go for a drink and see how you little ponies like to party it up."

With little hesitation, they removed themselves from the comforts of the oversized bed and ventured back out to the hallway. That's when a new problem presented itself. Actually, Chris presented it.

"Hey, there you are," Chris called out. "Been looking all over for ya. Everything okay now?"

Cerb nodded.

"Yeah. I'm good. Just needed to step away and get my mind off of everything, ya know."

"Yeah, great," Chris replied but seemed to pass over that rather quickly. "Okay, so. Two things. One... Well, three things. One, I lost Starlight while looking for you."

"Oh," that struck Cerb as something rather odd. "Where'd you see her last?"

Chris snapped his fingers and pointed to Cerb with finger guns.

"Two floors down, when she said she was heading to this floor and working her way down."

"Well," Rarity stepped in to offer her assistance. "We can look for her on the way out. This castle is big, but it's... actually easy to get lost in."

Chris let his head tilt back and rolled his eyes.

"So I've heard."

"Okay," Cerb spoke up, ready to get outside again. "We'll scout the hallways on the way out for her. What's issues two and three?"

Chris drew a deep breath and collected himself.

"Two, is that we all have to dance with three ponies tonight. One for each of us, nominated by the Mane Six and Starlight. The second as nominated by votes from Ponyville, and the third by charity auction."

"You know what," Cerb wiped his eyes in a flustered case of confusion. "I'm not even gonna question it. I'm sure I'll find out later and still not get it. What's number three?"

"Hello?" Starlight called out into another empty, unlit room. "We really need a better way of keeping track of guests in this place."

She closed the door and made her way to the next door.

"Hello," Starlight knocked on the next door. "You in here, Cerb? Chris is looking for you."

She opened the door and peeked into yet another unlit empty room.

"No. Of course not."

"Starlight," Rainbow Dash's voice called from around down the staircase. "Hold on, you guys. I really need to talk to—"

Rainbow Dash zipped in around the bend in sight of Starlight.

"Chris. Wait... Chris isn't with you?"

"No," Starlight answered rather coldly. "And why? What do you need to talk to Chris for?"

Rainbow Dash dropped down to the floor, frustrated by the fruitless efforts thus far.

"Becky wasn't finished talking to him before he stomped off in a huff. I need to tell him the rest of what he didn't stay behind to hear from Becky."

"Right," Starlight eyed Rainbow Dash up and down. "I think Chris has already heard enough, and you've certainly said enough. So, no. You're not going to be talking to Chris anytime soon."

"Ugh, I wasn't asking for your permission," Rainbow Dash snapped. "And if anypony's already said enough to Chris, it's probably the pony who almost drowned him in vodka."

"Excuse me?" Starlight brazened up from the insult, taking it very personally. "I said something wrong and hurtful to Chris on accident, and he got sick while drinking with me because we were having a good time together. Because unlike you, I actually let him talk, make his own decisions, and never once did threaten to hurt him if he didn't do what I said."

Rainbow Dash wasn't going to back down to no pony when she was this determined.

"Hey! I never said I was going to hurt him. Becky said, I would."

"Oh," Starlight batted her eyes playfully. "And what did the poor innocent Rainbow Dash say when asked?"

"Well, of course, I said I—" Rainbow Dash spoke a little too fast and a little too honestly. "Shut up! What was I supposed to do?"

"Really?" Starlight countered, unable to believe Rainbow's response. "That's the best your little pea brain could come up with when asked to hurt one of our guests? Do it or 'Oh, gee. What other options do I have?' Pathetic. And to think I was the one who thought they had problems figuring out how to treat friends."

"You know what? Forget this," Rainbow Dash spat as she rose into flight again. "I'll find Chris without you, and he'll listen to what Becky has to say, even if I have to drag him kicking and screaming outside to her."

Rainbow Dash turned and sped down the hallway. Before reaching the bend, a magic aura started to glow around her. It flashed a light that blinded her just long enough to see a wall appear in front of her as soon as her eyes adjusted. She tried to stop but collided and folded up, crumpling in on herself. She dropped down to the floor just in front of Starlight.

"Actually, I don't think you are going to find Chris either," Starlight boasted, mocking the downed pegasus.

Rainbow Dash shook her head, clearing the daze and turned back to Starlight, anger burning bright in her eyes.

"What's the big idea, Starlight? I could have been really hurt by that."

Starlight shrugged with a mocking smile and rolled her eyes away.

"Well, better you than Chris!"

"That's it!"

Rainbow Dash jumped up, ready to put the uppity unicorn in her place just as another flash blinded her. She opened her eyes to see they were outside.

"Hey! What the?"

Starlight dropped the fake smile, looking just as mad and determined as when she fought Twilight.

"It's a long flight back to Ponyville. More than enough time to cool off and take your message back to Becky."

They were a great distance from Ponyville. Rainbow Dash didn't know exactly how far, but she knew the area, as well as the way home.

"Not that far. I'll be back in twenty seconds flat. And you're not fast enough to teleport me away a second time." She took a moment to watch Starlight's expression change. "Yeah. That's right. Once I know it's coming, I can move fast enough to dash out of the teleportation bubble you unicorns make."

Starlight didn't know how she learned such a trick or if she was bluffing, but it did nothing but make her all the more determined.

"Then maybe I'll just make sure you can't fly back until tomorrow."

Starlight brought up her magic to manipulate the environment around them. Vines start to move towards Rainbow Dash, glowing in Starlight's aura. The vines shot out, but Rainbow Dash easily avoided them, already up in the air and out of their reach.

"Watch it!" Rainbow Dash threatened, out of patience for the impasse they found themselves in. "Twilight might of had her hooves full going spell for spell with you, but I don't need magic to kick your flank. And believe me, unlike Twilight, I don't have a problem with put'n the hurt'n on you as payback for all the trouble you caused."

"Oh, please, Dash," Starlight groaned, sick of Rainbow Dash's arrogance. "I took it easy on Twilight, just to prove how much better than her I was, and I was angry when I did it. But you're right that I screwed things up with Chris the first time around. I learned the hard way what it takes to be a friend. So right now, I'm going to do whatever it takes to stop you and Becky from hurting my friend, again. And just so you know, if you force me to do this, I'm not gonna be mad... Because I'm already furious."

Rainbow Dash was actually looking forward to doing this now.

"Ha! You think you scare me? I've been getting my hooves dirty doing this hero gig for years, pounding bad guys and monsters bigger and tougher than you. But this time, I don't have to hold back and worry about Twilight or Fluttershy, or somepony else telling me not to hurt you too badly. And you know what, little filly?"

Rainbow Dash cracked her neck and jumped up, hovering in the air in a karate fighter stance.

"I'm gonna make sure this hurts."

Starlight flared her horn, magic glowing and arcking with static sparks discharging off.

"You wanna do this, Rainbow Crash?! Bring it!"

So much is going on. Chris and Becky are off on bad terms, Kelly all but crossed that line, and now even Starlight and RD are about to throw down. Not to mention the drama between Cerb and Kelly from years past... and what might have brought Cadance's attention in on Cerb like this?

All this and more on the next episode of- no I'm just kidding. These are chapters, not episodes. But with that, A special note to all of you who fallow along and may end up reading these follow up notes.

There was a big chunk of text that didn't fit into this chapter and felt like it was eating up too much time. So, there will be a chapter 33.5, as an interlude addition AFTER chapter 34 is published. It will make sense after you read 34.

So! Keep an eye out for the next chapter: 34. A Human Worth Fighting For