"So," you said afterwards. You and Glimmer Wing stayed at a table at the cafe after Rarity and Spike had finished their lunches and left, both of them parting with waves and smiles and wishes of good luck. The finer points of the discussion had taken around forty-five minutes, and your head was spinning with Equestrian terminology and strange questions about behind-the-doors goings on of ponies in everday life. Rarity's attempt to answer your questions may have only brought on more.

"Let's repeat this again to make sure we've both got it right," you said.

"Again," Glimmer Wing said, sounding more determined than agitated.

"So in Equestria," you said, "whenever a pony—bat-pony, dragon, changeling, whatever—comes of age—that is to say, enters their first season of puberty, heat, bodily changes—again, whatever—they become 'legal' in all Equestrian versions of 'consent'."

"Right," Glimmer Wing said, nodding.

"But not before that."

"Right," she said again.

"So what are you supposed to do to figure out who you like and don't like before you're of age?" you asked.

"I think you're allowed to date and stuff, but you're just not supposed to have sex before then..."

"So we're in the clear?"

"I dunno. My parents were pretty 'anti-us' last time I checked..." Glimmer Wing smiled apologetically but quickly turned to a frown, her brow knitting as she combed through the conversation for ways she could wheedle in a loop-hole. "They said they didn't want me seeing you so close to my season... I guess I'm only a few weeks away." She looked up at you with bright, delicate eyes, then turned away quickly, attempting to hide her blush.

Despite yourself, you felt your cheeks getting a little warm as well.

"Well, that's not a problem," you said, sounding more certain than you felt. "I'm sure if we talk to them calmly and explain our position, they'll come to see reason eventually..."

"Have you met my parents?" Glimmer Wing raised an eyebrow. "Bat-pony families are a little more... intense than other species." She sighed and looked up into the clouds. "Makes me wonder what life would have been like if I was a pegasus."

"You might have been too busy flying overhead to notice me," you said, giving her a pat on her mane and running your fingers through the delicate, silk-like silver.

She giggled at you, her cheeks starting to gain a perpetual flush whenever the two of you were together.

"What if we just... keep things on the down-low for a little while," you suggested. "We don't have to tell your parents right away. And there's no reason we have to do anything, um... 'ethically compromised' so to speak?"

"You mean sex?"

When you looked at her then, her eyes had the focus of crystal rays harnessing sunlight, and for the first time, maybe, you thought you caught a glimpse of a dark, passionate flame burning behind the petals of the flower you'd already come to know. Maybe there were much deeper roots underneath.

"Uh," you said, grabbing awkwardly at your shoulder. "Yeah. Sex. We don't have to... do that. Necessarily. Right away."

"Right. We don't have to."

"Just what exactly are you suggesting?"

"Nothing. Do you wanna go on a boat-ride at the pond tomorrow? The ducks are really cute, and maybe we could cuddle for a bit... if you wanted."

"That wouldn't upset your parents?"

Glimmer Wing smirked at you, her fangs glistening in the sunlight.

"I thought what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them?"

She stuck her tongue out at you and winked.

Author's Notes:

you know, like bat-pony-spray, bat-pony-houses... holy perverted pegasi, pony-batman!

eh? eh?

sorry :x