"Mom, how do ponies have sex?"

Cookie Crumbles spit her morning coffee out all over the table, then pounded on her own chest to stop coughing. After a few moments, during which Sweetie waited patiently, she sputtered, "What did you say, dear?"

"I want to know how ponies have sex."

Struggling to regain her composure, Cookie said, "And...why do you want to know?"

Sweetie shrugged. "I'm just curious. All my friends told me their parents told them; I just wanted to hear it from you." She put a hoof to her chin in thought. "I suppose I could ask Dad."

Cookie waved her hooves, "No, no! Your father wouldn't like this any more than I do!"

They were both sitting in the kitchen of Hondo and Cookie's home. The Sun shone brightly through the windows and glinted off the retro furniture Cookie favored. She sipped at what was left of her coffee as she looked at the clock shaped like a cat, the old-style refrigerator, the frilly curtains over the sink, anything other than her daughter. Finally, she closed her eyes and sighed, then said, "I probably should have had this talk with you before, but I always thought you were too young." She looked at her daughter and gave a weak smile. "How much detail do you want to know?"

Sweetie didn't smile back as she stared at her mother. "Everything."

Sweetie finished her bath and slowly got out of the tub. She was still in a lot of pain, but it was now bearable. She dried off, then went to her room. Just before she got there, she heard Opal frantically meowing from Rarity's room. She went to let her out, and the cat immediately began wrapping herself around her and purring, which surprised Sweetie. The cat had always been indifferent towards her; this was the first time she'd ever seen her being affectionate.

Maybe she knew what had happened.

Sweetie picked her up and placed her on her own back, then made her way into her bedroom. The cat hopped off her back and jumped up on the bed. Sweetie stared at her, then got up and laid down. The cat snuggled herself next to her, while she stroked her fur. Soon, she fell asleep.

That was how Rarity found them when she returned a few hours later. "Why, Opal! What are you doing in here?" The cat stared balefully at her, then hissed. Rarity took a step back and said, "Opal? What did I do?"

Sweetie awoke, rubbed her eyes and said, "I think she just wants to be with me, for now."

Something must have seemed off about her sister, for Rarity then said, "Is everything alright, Sweetie? You seem sad."

Sweetie turned away from her and lay back down. "I'm fine. Just leave me alone."

A look of concern crossed her features. "Sweetie, dear, you know you can tell me anything. What's bothering you?"

Sweetie kept facing away from her as she shouted, "I said I'm fine! Go away!"

Shocked at her outburst, Rarity took another step back. After a bit, she quietly said, "Alright, Sweetie Belle. Whenever you want to talk, I'll be here for you." She then turned and left the room.

As she eventually climbed into her own bed, she thought frantically about anything, anything at all, that could make her sister lash out like that. The first thing that came to mind was the tutor, as the only new thing in the house. Maybe Sweetie wasn't doing as well as she'd hoped? Maybe he said something to her that upset her? She'd have a long talk with him the next time she saw him.

As she drifted off to sleep, one other dark thought entered her mind.

But it couldn't be that.

The days of the week passed quickly. Far too quickly. He'd be there in two afternoons, and Sweetie wasn't ready. She now knew how her parts were supposed to react when aroused, but there was no way she'd feel like that, she knew. So she needed a substitute. She'd grilled her mother for hours about sex, so now she knew about certain...enhancements ponies used. And she knew somepony that probably used them. Though her sister had tried to be discreet, Sweetie knew she'd had many..."gentlemen callers," as she called them, stay the night. Which meant she most likely had what she was looking for. All she had to do was wait until her sister went out, then search her room, particularly the "forbidden drawer."

Her wait wasn't long. Rarity cautiously entered her sister's bedroom and said, "Sweetie, I'll be going out for a while." But Sweetie remained unresponsive as she faced away from her. Rarity swallowed, then tried again. "Would you...would you like me to bring you something?" she asked hopefully. But Sweetie shook her head. Rarity turned to leave but was struck by a thought. She hesitated, then asked, "Sweetie, dear, is there a problem with your tutor?"

Fear raced through the little filly, but she managed to keep a steady voice as she answered, "No. Why would you ask that?"

Rarity frowned and said, "I'm just worried. You've been acting strange...I thought he might have said something that upset you."

Mustering her strength, Sweetie turned and looked at her, with what she hoped was a neutral face. "No, he's fine. In fact, I'm not sure we'll be needing him much anymore, I'm doing so well."

Rarity managed to smile for her. "That's good. I guess you just needed a tutor's little help." Rarity startled when an unreadable expression crossed her sister's features, then she turned away again and laid down. "Sweetie? Did...did I say something wrong?"

Still facing away from her, she mumbled, "Weren't you going out?"

Rarity sighed. "Yes. I won't be long." Then, to comfort her sister, she stepped forward and stroked her mane.

Sweetie stiffened, then jerked upright and spun to face her. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"I...I was just...just trying to..."

"Well don't! Leave me alone!"

Rarity stepped back, her heart in tatters. Tearfully, she said, "I'm so sorry, Sweetie. I'll go...just...be well. Please?"

Sweetie faced away from her again, trying to hide the tears of her own that were beginning to fall. She heard her sister sigh one more time, then listened as she left the room, then the house. She strained her ears for any sign she was still there, then slowly got out of bed. Making her way to Rarity's room, she opened the door and stood there. Her sister's room always made her feel grown up, the way Rarity had arranged the huge four-poster bed, to the elegant vanity covered with articles of makeup, to what she referred to as her "fainting couch." Opal looked up from her place on the bed and meowed at her. Sweetie put her hoof to her lips and said, "This has to be my secret, Opal." Sweetie then went straight for the closet. Opening it, there was revealed a small chest of drawers built into the bottom. Her heart beating rapidly, she slid open the bottom drawer and gazed inside. There, neatly arranged, were all manner of devices and bottles. Some were distinctly phallic in nature, so she could guess how those were used, but some baffled her completely. She shook her head and examined the bottles; now wasn't the time to try and figure out everything in the drawer.

Soon, she found what she was looking for: a plastic bottle marked 'lubricant'. She then carefully arranged the other bottles so the one missing was replaced by the others in order. Hopefully, her sister wouldn't notice. She closed the drawer and closet, said goodbye to the cat, then went back to her room.

The first thing to do was to read the instructions. But they weren't much help. Apparently, the makers of the lubricant figured their customers would already know how to use their product, so the label mostly consisted of glowing advertisements on the "pleasure enhancements" and the "satisfaction guaranteed!" statements. She kept reading.

Finally, there was a small blurb at the very bottom that said to "apply liberally to the genitals and/or anus." She opened the bottle and sniffed the top. There was a slight plastic-like smell, but it wasn't unpleasant. She then took a small amount and rubbed it between her hooves. It was cold and slippery, but not sticky. She then took some and rubbed it where it was needed the most. In another time, under different circumstances, she might have enjoyed the sensation. But right now, all she felt was relief that this substance might keep her from the agonizing pain she'd gone through before. She didn't know how much she'd need, or how long the bottle would last, so she put the top back on and hid the bottle under her pillow.

She'd be ready for him this time.