------------- Melody’s Tale - Respite -------------

“Alright, I’m here.” Melody grumbled as she ascended the steps onto the top of Eyriewatch. Since the return of Gale and Hurricane, the top of Eyriewatch was kept completely bare at all times. Anyone that stood up there did so at their own risk. Melody was perhaps more cautious than she ought to be whenever she stood atop the massive tower, but she was learning to relax. Celestia had sent a message via a flying courier to ask Melody to come to the top of the tower. As it was, she was in the middle of a bath when the avian had poked his head into her bathroom. He was unceremoniously thrown out of the window by her magic, but not before delivering his message.

Bath ruined, Melody had dried and dressed, and had climbed up to the tower’s top. Her annoyance was soon forgotten, though, as soon as she realized everyone was there. Noth, Twilight, Lily, Verse, Celestia, the stand-in commander, and half a dozen other important non-changeling officers. She swallowed a bitter comment and stood next to Verse quietly.

“She’s coming.” Celestia said, pointing a long, delicate finger. Melody followed it towards the horizon. Her vision was keen, but it wasn’t on-par with a goddess’. All she could see were the shadows of the treetops on the far-off woods. It was late-evening, the sun was nearly fallen. Celestia dropped her hand, but Melody continued to look at the horizon.

“Who’s coming?” She asked quietly, leaning in to whisper quietly in Verse’s ear.

“The next commander. Luna is sending an avian from Canterlot to take Spitfire’s place.” Verse returned. The mention of the previous commander made Melody nearly choke. The vision of the bright orange-haired avian, and her violent end, flashed through Melody’s mind before she could stop it. She shuddered and pushed the image back and away, into the corner of her mind where the things she would just as soon not visit lurked. They had buried her along with the others who had died in the changeling’s attack.

“There they are.” Lily said gently. Melody returned her eyes to the horizon, squinting to try and determine the difference between the shadow of the trees and whatever else was approaching.

“Woah.” Melody saw them then. Hundreds. Dare she say… Thousands. They swarmed over the horizon, a mass of them. In the darkness, she nearly mistook them for changelings… The swarming black mass she had seen in the streets of Eyriewatch just under a week ago… The only thing that set this swarm apart from the other was the glittering pinpricks of light. Lamps and torches, carried by flying avians. That, and this procession seemed to be much more orderly than the last. It took them a long while, but each minute, the horde grew and came closer and closer. Other avians began to notice. Melody saw them take to wing and fly high in the sky, watching their backup arrive. Soon enough, cheers began in the streets. Melody saw humans and magi fill the streets, line the high walls, all of them watching the massive avian force grow closer and closer.

Melody could see it now. They were MUCH more organized than anyone had originally thought… There were dozens of units, all of them spread out in organized squares and flying at even intervals. There was maybe enough space for one avian inbetween each square of what Melody could guess was the Equestrian Airborne Calvary’s individual units, but that gave them definition. In front of them all though, flew a single triangle of six avian. At the fore, Melody recognized the one that stood above them all. A smile broke out on her face as that one avian led the five behind her up to the top. The gathered group all stepped back as Rainbow Dash landed, five avian following her.

“Princess.” She said, immediately falling to one knee in the traditional bow. The five avian behind her, all of them wearing officer’s uniforms, followed suit.

“You may rise, General.” Celestia said with a soft smile. “And there is no need for military formalities with me, I can assure you.” Just as Rainbow Dash rose up with an embarrassed smile, Celestia wrapped the slender avian in a warm hug. “Thank you, Rainbow Dash. If it were not for you, things would have ended much worse than they did.” Celestia spoke softly, just loud enough to be heard by those close by. Dash hesitantly returned the hug, even as Celestia pulled her face close. They broke after a few long moments, riding that moment between where the hug grew awkward and uncomfortable for present company. Celestia stepped away with a smile, addressing all six of the avian present. Now she was being formal.

“I hereby instate General Rainbow Dash as commander of Eyriewatch. This is my decree as Princess of Equestria. To challenge her command is to challenge me. Any of you who have any objections to this, speak now.” The resulting call from the six avian before her was unanimous. They all snapped into crisp salutes, the six figures completely in sync as they shouted as loud as they could.

“None, my princess!” Melody felt a shiver. The salute was dropped, and Rainbow Dash executed an about-face. She turned to the five behind her.

“At ease.” She commanded. From a position of attention, all five of them spread their feet and clasped their hands behind their backs. “I am Commander Dash. I am not Commander Spitfire. I do not know the area of Eyriewatch as well as she did, so I am going to need a lot of assistance. Should any of you five be replaced by a standing officer, I will hear no complaints. All will have their part to serve in the coming months. Understood?”

“Yes, Commander!”

“Good. Gather your best intelligence operatives and meet in the Commander’s board room at oh-nine-hundred tomorrow morning. Dismissed.” The five snapped to attention, saluted, and proceeded to dive off of the side of the tower. Celestia smiled as Dash turned around to face the group present.

“Thank you for showing proper courtesy, Commander.” Celestia said gently. Dash arched an eyebrow, her lips spreading in a teasing sort of smile.

“There are officers here that are probably better suited for the title of Commander than I am, princess. If I can’t serve them, I’d rather have them as close as they can to serve me. It’d be my honor and privilege to have Spitfire’s former staff keep their positions.” Celestia cast a glance over her shoulder at the stand-in commander and the other seven officers with him, each of them standing in the position of at-ease. Melody felt oddly out of place in the military proceeding. It was all she could do to avoid rushing forward and tackling Dash in a warm hug. In all seriousness, Melody owed Twilight’s life to the reckless avian. Indeed, Dash was the savior of Eyriewatch. Every bit as much as Celestia and Twilight were.

“Well, don’t let me hold you back, then.” Celestia laid a hand on Dash’s shoulder as she strode past her. “Luna saw fit to send you, and I don’t think I could have picked anyone better for the job. I need to return to Canterlot. You have your orders, Commander. I know you won’t let us down.”

“Never in a million years.” Dash saluted Celestia once more as the princess spread her wings wide. Twilight, Verse, Melody, Lily and Noth knew Celestia was going to leave. The other officers had assumed as much. Celestia gave them all a warm smile over her shoulder before she tipped over the edge of the tower, disappearing from sight for a few moments before she swooped back into view, her wide wings carrying her away fast from Eyriewatch. Melody was sad to see her go, but happy to finally have met the goddess her mother had spoken so much of…

“Commander.” The stand-in commander, a colonel by the name of Hanson, saluted crisply.

“At ease, colonel.” Dash said, waving her hand. “You’ll find there’s no need to be so formal with me, either… You’re welcome to speak with me freely.” The salute was dropped, and indeed, all of the officers behind Hanson sagged a little, as if from relief.

“We… Would like to speak with you about some of the changes.”

“What changes?” Dash said gently, shrugging. The colonel stuttered for a moment, but Dash continued to speak. “You know Eyriewatch probably better than myself. As I told Celestia, I would be honored if you would all keep your old positions. The same you served Commander Spitfire with. If any of you sees fit for a promotion, you’re more than welcome to ask for it. There is a lot we need to hash out, colonel. But there will be no changes in the old rank-and-file.” Dash held up a finger. “Just some additions.”

“Additions…?” A gold-leaf major spoke up hesitantly. Dash smiled.

“Did you not see the force I just flew in with? That’s easily four times the standing force that Eyriewatch has hosted in the past thousand years. I don’t expect seven of you to help me organize a force of one hundred twenty-five thousand avian. Your ranks will be supplemented with assistants, aides, secretaries, and couriers. I will assign each of you, and the five officers I brought with me, others to assist them. In two week’s time, we’ll be running scouting and flanking maneuvers into Featherhome and then into Hearth. What’s more, I expect you all to attend the meeting at oh-nine-hundred tomorrow. I understand you’ve gone through a lot. Not every city could withstand a changeling attack that large. The protection of Eyriewatch and her citizens is my first priority. Restoration second, and military operations third. With close to a hundred and fifty thousand avian, do you think we can manage that?” Melody listened to Dash speak, her eyes growing wide. She looked over the edge for the first time since Dash had arrived. The avian force was STILL flying in towards the city. They covered the streets below, the mass of flapping wings and units still looked organized and well-kept. This wasn’t just a large force of avian… This was a large force of ELITE avian. The best of the best. They were organized. Unified.

“N-no, Commander. I see your point very well. I… I thought-“

“Thought what?” Dash’s laughter drew Melody’s attention back to the discussion taking place atop the wide expanse that was Eyriewatch’s peak. “I’d demote you? Completely replace Spitfire’s staff? You have all lived and worked in this city, probably your entire military career. I’m not about to take that away from you. I need as much local help as I can get. And speaking of getting, it’s getting late.” Dash smiled at the colonel, reaching out to clap him on the shoulder. “Get some rest, colonel. I’ll expect to see you and your staff at tomorrow’s meeting. And don’t worry about the backup.” Dash gestured at the still-shifting mass of avian flying below them. “Luna told me Eyriewatch was made to house two hundred thousand avian long, long ago. We’ll all fit. You’ll see.”

“R… Right… Well then. Good night, Commander.” As a formality, the present officers saluted, and Dash returned it with a smile. They left, leaving Dash, Lily, Twilight, Melody, Verse, and Noth atop the tower. As soon as the seven of them were gone, Dash rushed into Noth’s arms.

“Don’t you EVER-“ Noth scolded in between kisses. “EVER leave me like that again.”

“Shut up.” Dash grunted, pressing her lips firmly against Noth’s, holding him close, their shame completely forgotten. Melody wasn’t the only one blushing. After a few moments, though, Lily had to say something.

“Okay, you two…” She mumbled. Noth pushed Dash away at arm’s-length, smiling faintly as he nodded towards the rest of them.

“Oh… Oh! Twilight!” Dash wheeled around, running forward and heedlessly throwing her arms around the giggling woman. This time, Melody smiled instead of blushing, watching as Lily joined in on the hug. She and Verse stood on one side of the reunion, Noth on the other. “There’s SO much to talk about!” Dash said, her hands still resting on her friend’s shoulders, still touching them, keeping herself close. “What HAPPENED to you, Twilight? You… I mean, you were…”

“Dead. I know.” Twilight said with a soft sigh. “Trust me… There’s a whole lot we need to talk about. But I think I owe you a thanks-“

“To you two!” Dash cut her off, spinning around to smile at Verse and Melody. “C’mere.” Verse took a step back, but Melody unceremoniously pulled him forward. Dash grinned as she pulled him into the hug, squeezing both of them tight. Rainbow Dash was half a head shorter than Melody, but she was whip-tight and hard as a rock. Her grip crushed the breath out of both of them.

“I don’t know what you did,” She said gently. “But you brought Twilight back. I know it’s probably some fancy magic mumbo-jumbo, so I’ll never understand it, but thank you. Both of you.” Melody wheezed as Dash let her go, offering a brave smile as she and Verse fought to avoid rubbing their sore ribs.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do it without Celestia.” Melody admitted. Verse nodded his consent quietly, probably afraid to talk thanks to his ribs. “And Celestia wouldn’t have come if you didn’t fly to Canterlot. Really, we should be thanking you.”

“Just don’t ever make me do that again. My wings are still sore.” She grimaced as she spread them slowly. “But, I flew here from Canterlot in a day and a half. I’ll live. Leaving you guys was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done… I’m just glad Celestia was able to make it on time…”

“How badly WERE you hurt?” Noth said gently from the other side of Twilight and Lily. Dash grimaced as she turned to look at him, her sheepish expression betraying how bad the injury was.

“It was… Not pretty.” She admitted.

“How bad?” Noth pressed.

“Can we… Excuse ourselves?” She asked gently. Twilight and Lily shrugged indifferently. They had the link. Melody wanted to talk to Dash some more, but she couldn’t deny the poor woman another minute away from Noth. Verse looked too winded to say anything more. Silently, Dash and Noth slipped away. Even a few feet down the stairs, and Melody could hear as Noth reaffirmed his question. She sighed and shook her head, joining Lily and Twilight close to the edge. Beneath them, the rest of the avian reinforcements had entered the tower, the skies relatively clear once more.

“Things are still changing, aren’t they?” She asked quietly. Twilight glanced at her before heaving a soft sight.

“Probably more than you know, kiddo…” She muttered. “Verse, why are you so quiet?”

“I think…” Verse grunted, laying his hand flat on his side. “She broke a rib.”

----------

After that, it was a lot of training, and a lot of research. With her newfound ability to shift into an avian and fly, Melody spent at least half her time taking lessons from one avian or another. The rest of her time was spent in one of the four libraries, researching her mother’s material, or other reference books. Whenever Lily was free, she gave lessons on how to shift, how to change into animals and such. Before long, Lily and Verse could pass off as anyone else. It wasn’t perfect, but they had a natural sort of talent for it. The only problem Melody had was changing her sex. Becoming a male was tricky. Lily put her thumb on the problem one day.

“Hang on, hang on… Go back.” She muttered. Melody obediently shifted back to her normal form, giving a slight harrumph. Shifting was nothing like using her magic. She could study and practice and grow better with spells. To shift, she had to FEEL it. “Verse, you too…” Her brother shifted back, wincing slightly. His ribs had, indeed, been bruised. Sensitive fellow. Melody smiled bravely at him as Lily chewed her thumbnail, pacing back and forth.

“I think I know what the problem is.”

“It’s not our study subjects?” Verse teased, dropping into his seat. Lily had given them various people to study surreptitiously, to try and shift into. She could pull it off without a thought. For Melody and Verse, it was like being a new changeling. They had to study body structure, physique, behavior and speech patterns, little things like hair color, the length of their fingernails and such. Verse was given a young avian lieutenant, one of Dash’s couriers. Lily was given a guardsman, one who was stationed at the southern gate every day at four PM to Midnight.

“No, it’s not that.” Lily sighed and looked up at Verse. “Shift into Melody’s target. Connor.” The guardsman was named Connor Hearthfire. A northern avian from Stalliongrad. Verse blinked but stood and shifted anyways. “See? Perfect. You even got the muscle tone on his forearm down.” Lily said, walking around him in a circle. “Melody, shift into Verse’s target. Sam.” The courier’s name was Samuel Hanson, younger sister to the colonel who had been the stand-in commander. She had told Verse one day that her parents thought she was a boy when she was born, and had named her Samuel. She kept the name, but preferred Sam. Melody followed Verse’s example in reverse, shifting into his target. “See, even you got it! I know what the problem is.”

“Do tell.” Melody grumbled, shifting back to herself. Verse did the same. Lily grinned at her.

“You need to get laid.”

“PPHBTH!”

“Bad time to take a drink, Verse. Aww, you got it all over my jacket!” Melody shook out the water-covered garment, trying to ignore her mother’s comment.

“I’m serious!” Lily said, reaffirming herself. “I didn’t know how to do it until after my first time.”

“Do changelings HAVE a first time?” Verse wiped his mouth and set the glass of water down carefully.

“Of course we do. Just… Not in our normal form. You know, the changeling form. I already described we have a normal way we look when we want to be relaxed, right?”

“Right.” Melody said, taking her seat carefully. Lily pulled her chair up closer to Melody and Verse’s, all of them sitting and getting comfortable. It looked like it was about time for ‘the talk.’

“Well, this is mine. My first was with another changeling lieutenant named Ajax. His normal form was male. We both felt inclined to be shifted as such. The first time we made love, it was intense. I didn’t have a hymen, so it wasn’t painful at all. In fact, it was kind of nice. The first time.”

“What happened later?” Lily waved the question off.

“Another story for another time. But before that, I couldn’t shift into anything male. Not even animals!” She chuckled and leaned back, crossing her legs. “I know you should be uncomfortable discussing this with your own mother-“

“Trust me, we are.” Verse quipped.

“Shush.” Melody hushed him.

“But I think you’re both grown up enough. You’re eighteen, for fuck’s sake… There are kids out there that lose their virginity at fourteen. Some of them younger. Trust me,” Lily leaned in. “Once you get a feel for it, you’ll know what I’m talking about. You can’t imitate the other sex until you know about them. Every. Little. Bit.”

There was truth to her words. Melody had to agree on that much… She didn’t know what a male penis really looked like, let alone how it felt, or how a man acted when he was aroused. Sure, there was Verse, but he was her brother. That didn’t count. A quick glance and a grimace affirmed that Verse felt the same about her. No, if they were going to do this, it had to be with someone else.

“But… How?” Verse asked at last. Melody shook her head and focused on Lily.

“I’m going to give you another assignment. Trust me, kids… You’re both old enough. You’ve felt it. You know what your hormones are doing to your bodies. Melody, when you started menstruating, that’s your body’s way of telling you you’re ready to have kids. Verse, remember when you were fourteen? Thought you had started wetting the bed?”

“You said-“

“It’s natural. Do you remember?”

“Y-yeah…”

“Those are called nocturnal emissions. It’s your body’s way of purging built-up sperm. Granted, you probably took to doing that on your own once you got Applejack’s picture-“

“Hey!”

“Shush.” Melody had to quiet him again, though she was on the verge of bursting out into laughter at his face.

“It’s natural, like I said. But that was your own body’s way of telling you you’re ready. Your body is ready. Both of yours are.” Melody giggled a little, but pushed the girlish thoughts aside. This was serious.

“But… What about love?” Melody said gently. That caused Lily to sigh.

“Look, it might be because I come from a different culture-“

“Species.”

“Shut it. Than you two. But to me, sex isn’t about love. Let me put it this way. Do you think I could love Twilight the way I do if I didn’t accept what Celestia had already done to her? Or the inverse. Do you think Twilight could love me? For ten whole years I was a whore. I slept with hundreds of people. That’s a realistic figure, yes. Do you think Twilight could love me if she didn’t accept that fact? Look,” Lily leaned forward, speaking much more intimately between the two of them. “If you aren’t comfortable having sex before you’re fully, completely in love, that’s fine. I won’t push you. No parent in her right mind could.” She sighed a little, obviously struggling with herself.

“But from a teacher’s perspective, it’s different… I need you two to be able to shift at will, especially where we’re going next.”

“Where ARE we going next?” This was the first Melody had heard of going anywhere.

“Fillydelphia. That’s besides the point-“

“Fillydelphia?! Aren’t we going home?!”

“We are. But we’re stopping in Fillydelphia on our way there. Now shush, and let me talk. We’re getting sidetracked.” She sighed and rubbed her temples, trying to find where she had left off. Melody silenced her questions, knowing they would be answered in time. “Okay… Look. As your mother, I want to support you both, whatever your decision is. So I can’t tell you to do this. But I can ask.” She leaned in again, close enough to lay her hand on both of theirs. “Try? If you do it right, it feels incredible. And at the very least, you’ll know what it feels like period. I get the feeling Chrysalis doesn’t know that you two can shift yet. She’s seen you, or at least gotten a description, so she’ll be looking for you. If you can shift, it will make travelling to dangerous cities easier. Cities like Fillydelphia, Appleoosa, Las Pegasus.”

“Why are we-“

“Shush with the questions about where we’re going, okay? Sheesh. Just tell me your answers, okay?” Lily sat back and rolled her eyes with a groan, crossing her legs. She and Verse shared another look, both of them fighting with their emotions…

For Melody, she wanted it. She understood what her mother said about love and sex. If she herself had been a whore for ten years, sleeping with so many men, how COULD Twilight love her so? Sex and love may share a connection, but sleeping with someone didn’t mean you loved them. She came to her solution quicker than Verse.

“I’ll do it.” She said. “Or at least, I’ll try.”

“That’s my girl.” Lily said with a smile, patting her knee. “I’ve honestly been looking forward to this day for a while… With how open Twilight and I are… Trust me, it’ll be great. Look, you know I’m not like any other parent. You can talk to me about stuff like this. I dare say I could give you… Ahem… Pointers.”

“I…” Melody was about to protest, to say she was too embarrassed. Then a thought hit her. Lily WAS unlike any other mother out there… No one on the planet could boast they had a changeling mother, one who was also the element of generosity, and one of the two who had fulfilled a very important prophecy. Lily knew more about love and sex than, realistically, anyone… Except perhaps Twilight. Melody was in good hands. “Okay.” She admitted with a slight blush.

“Fuck it.” Verse muttered quietly. “If I can resurrect three dead gods and live through all the shit we’ve encountered, I think I can get laid.”

“Atta boy.” Lily teased. Melody smiled at him. It seemed the twins were of like minds. “I knew I could count on you two. It seems silly and odd coming from your mother, but I’m proud of you. It’s a mature decision you’ve made. Sex, like I said, is a wonderful thing. Just because you have sex with someone doesn’t mean you love them. There are people who think sex is a thing to be shared between couples. And only themselves. They aren’t wrong, I’ll tell you that now. It’s a personal decision, and I don’t blame a single one of them. But they’re missing out.” Lily sighed and leaned back a little further, her thoughts obviously wandering. “I’m getting sidetracked.” She muttered.

“Okay, so… I have a new assignment for both of you. If you can, and I’m not saying they should be your only goal, but I want you to TRY and have sex with your current targets.

“With Connor?! He’s twenty-five!” Melody objected. There was a 7-year gap.

“He lied on his draft papers.” Lily waved her off. “He’s only twenty-two. He joined the military when he was fifteen.”

“R-really?”

“You’d know that if you talked to him beyond just asking his name.” Melody grimaced. “And Verse, try and sleep with Sam.”

“She’s so… Skinny…”

“Oh you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Lily chuckled.

“What?” Melody was honestly interested now. The look on Lily’s face was one only a very pleasant memory could bring back.

“It’s… It’s nothing.” Lily tried to wave her off, but both Verse and Lily were interested.

“No, come on. Tell us.” Melody nudged Lily’s knee. Her mother chuckled and shook her head.

“Me and Dash.”

“What?!” Verse nearly shouted, his eyes wide. “No way, really?!”

“Before Twilight and I were officially together, yes.” Lily chuckled. “Twice, actually… Might have been three, even.”

“Woah… My mom and Rainbow Dash…”

“We were both different people back then, Melody.” Lily said, chuckling again. “In fact… I’ve done it with-“

“No, don’t tell me…” Verse’s expression was defeated.

“Applejack? Yeah. Twice with her, too.”

“Oh man… Don’t even tell me…”

“And Pinkie Pie. And Rarity. And Fluttershy.”

“Wow. Really?” Melody asked, arching her eyebrow. “How did you pull that one off?”

“Well… The first time-“ Verse groaned again. “-was her idea… The second, shut up Verse, she wanted… Well, she wanted to try a threesome. So Twilight and I helped her out. Oh shush, you, it was good.”

“I don’t even wanna know.” Verse grumbled, getting to his feet. “I’ll give it a try, but I don’t need to sit here and listen to all of my mom’s old sex stories.”

“Good, get going.” Lily threw a water bottle at him, laughing as he caught it and flung it back at her. “I’ll check in on your progress in a week!” He waved in acknowledgement, leaving Lily and Melody alone in the room. There was a pause before Melody spoke, very quiet and hushed.

“What happened with… Applejack?”

Lily grinned.

-------------

Melody felt prepared. For the first time in her life, she was off to mingle on her own. Twilight had been shocked when she first heard, but a quick discussion with Lily had not only swayed her to the idea, but made her rather accepting. Downright helpful, if Melody had to pick a word. She, Lily, and Melody had spent the rest of that evening chatting about all the little things. Melody had so many questions… About foreplay, what to say, what to do, how she should go about it, the virtues of wearing a condom, everything… She was so worked up she used her hairbrush three times that night. Though she had learned to do so in the bathtub, to avoid making too much of a mess. The next morning, she awoke and dressed for another flying lesson, this one from Rainbow Dash herself. She was getting more and more proficient, and Dash said with practice she would make a good flyer. Good enough to keep up with most of her units, even. Admittedly, though, Melody wasn’t completely focused on the lesson. She and Dash took a lunch break atop Eyriewatch, their legs dangling off of the edge of the massive tower.

“You feeling alright today, Melody?”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah, I’m fine…” The thought struck her then. She piqued up a little and smiled at Dash. “What was Lily like when she was younger?” Dash sputtered on a bottle of water, coughing as she wiped liquid off of her tight-fitting vest.

“Where did THAT come from?!” She coughed, looking at Melody with wide eyes. Melody laughed and nudged her.

“We… Sort of had a little talk last night, all three of us. She mentioned you two had, in the past, you know…”

“Oh… That. Right.” Dash wiped the last bit of water from her vest with a sigh. It was early afternoon, and the early summer sun beat down on them. This high up, the breeze was refreshing and light, the sun warming them perfectly. Dash sighed and shared a little bit more womanly knowledge with her.

“She was pretty wild, I’ll tell you… Back when the Wonderbolts were a performing team and I was with them, Lily helped us out with our very first guest stunt. Spitfire, who had also used Lily to help draft me in a little bit of an… Uncanny manner… Decided to show Lily her thanks.”

“Sheesh…”

“What?” Dash furrowed her brow at the interruption.

“She really did get around a lot, didn’t she?”

“Hey, don’t talk like that!” Dash gave her a playful smack upside her head. To Melody, it felt like a hammer. She winced and rubbed the spot, feeling chided. “Lily slept with a lot of people, but she was the absolute best at what she did. No one would doubt that for a minute. Think about it, Melody. She was a changeling. Not just any changeling, but arguably the most powerful aside from Chrysalis herself. She could turn into anyone at any time in any place for any reason. And I do mean ANYone.” The thought struck Melody then. Lily was the absolute best woman there was to make love to. She COULD be anyone… Never the same experience twice. She wondered how many different persons Twilight had slept with, all without betraying the one she loved…

“Woah… I get it now.”

“Yeah. Our first time, Lily used someone I know you’ve seen before. She calls herself Dancer in that shape.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen her before… Black hair? Slender?”

“That’s the one. The second, Lily was shifted into Spitfire herself.” Dash flushed a little at the memory, sipping her water. “The third, it was Dancer again, but that was with both Spitfire and me. I actually stumbled in on the two of them. In a cloud.”

“… How was that?” Dash grinned again.

“Fantastic… Look, what I’m saying is, don’t worry about it. You’re young, beautiful, and horny. It’ll come natural to you.”

“Hey! Don’t-“

“What? Call you horny? Hon, Spitfire wasn’t the only one to read the laundry reports. Now come on. Twenty laps around the tower. And watch that updraft. You carry it up over the top, I’ll double it.” Dash laughed and slipped off the edge, plummeting a hundred and fifty feet before opening her wings wide. Melody stuttered for a moment before slipping off as well, off into the sky…

---------

Melody looked herself over in the mirror later on that night, fretting over the little things. Now that she could shift, she could fix things about herself she hadn’t previously really liked… Like her thighs. She thought they had always been a touch too scrawny. Carefully, she filled her form out a little, transitioning from the washboard-flat stomach and tiny hips into a full-bodied woman. She kept her bust a reasonable size, gave her rear a little more curve, and grew her hair another few inches. Where it used to fall to the small of her back, it now dangled just beneath the curve of her rear. She shaved, shifted a few minor things, and admired herself in the mirror. She was, dare she say, dead sexy…

She had a goal. And woe to the person that stood in the way of a determined woman and her goal. She dressed in a mid-thigh-length dress, modest heels, and only a small touch of makeup. With the dress, flying was out of the realm of possibility, so she surreptitiously slipped down out of the tower, having well memorized the guard’s patrol patterns a week ago. She was not expecting her brother, however.

“Verse!” She gasped, bumping into him as she rounded a corner.

“Shh. Patrol.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her into a dark doorway, both of them holding their breath as the guards rounded the corner. They weren’t in any danger, of course. The guards knew them well, but Verse was of the same mind that Melody was. Neither of them wanted to be seen dressed to impress on their way into the town. The smell of Verse’s cologne was heady, filling her senses. He wore a brilliant button-up shirt and what she had to guess were stylish slacks. They pressed close as they were comfortable as the patrol trumped past, holding their breath until the sound of boots on worn stone faded away.

“You too, huh?” She asked as they resumed their stealthy descent.

“Yeah… I’m about to ask Sam if she can meet me later tonight…”

“Same.” She admitted. Her plan had been to ask Connor out after he was off-duty.

“Well, I could always use a little backup. Where were you planning on taking him?” Verse asked gently.

“Uuh… There was a neat little restaurant, two blocks southwest of the north gate…”

“Wow. Birds of a feather, eh?”

“You too?”

“Heh… Yeah… Well, with any luck… I’ll see you there?” He smiled and nudged her shoulder.

“Y… Yeah. I guess so. Hey.” She stopped him as he turned to leave. “You look good.”

“You too, sis. Good luck.”

“Bye.” And with that, they split ways. Melody off to the southern gate of the city, Verse off to the courier’s barracks. Melody allowed her mind to wander as she walked. A trick she had learned from Lily. If she hyped herself too much, she’d come across as tense and unwilling when it came time to seal the deal. Best to just treat it as any other night. It was mid-week, and this late at night the streets were all but empty. A stray patrol of soldiers paid little attention to a beautiful woman walking in full view under the streetlights, and she only got one wayward look or another from a worker putting in some late-night hours on one building or another. The restoration was almost complete at this stage.

“Good evening, Connor.” She had arrived before she even realized it. She almost stumbled into him. Connor spun around gracefully, his eyes flashing around for a moment before resting on her.

“Oh. Hey, uuh… Uum…” His eyes drank her in. Long, full legs, pale, bare arms… Her teal hair hung straight and long, her bangs teased into a gentle curl. She smiled as he stuttered, his partner chuckling at his dumbfounded expression. “Melody.” He finally said, flushing a little. Melody had made a habit of dropping by the gate almost daily, chatting for a moment like many of the guards did with civilians entering and exiting the gate. They had come to first-name basis. She considered him a friend. Her first outside of home… Enough of a friend, even, to explain her situation. He said he knew about Lily fairly well. Apparently, her mother’s story was not unknown to the soldiers. So much so, in fact, that he believed her. What’s more, though, he treated her normally. Like any other girl. He had seen her some days with wings, others without, and all she had ever got from him was a blink, him registering the subtle change.

“Can… I have a word?” She asked, glancing at his guard partner. Her name was Straw, named for the color of her hair. She was a good soldier, Melody knew, a real fighter. Career military. She knew the needs of soldiers, and could see where this was headed in an instant.

“I’ll do a round. Keep it clean.” She hefted her spear and flapped off. Melody smiled and held the hem of her skirt down as the breeze kicked up from her powerful wings.

“What… Uuh, what did you want?” He asked softly.

“Honestly, I was going to ask you out.” Melody said softly. There was a moment of silence, his eyes wide. For Connor, the platonic friendship they had shared previously had held next to no indication of romance. To him, this came from left field.

“Uuh… I… Wow.” Melody’s heart sank as he started stuttering, his cheeks flushing a little.

“Don’t tell me…” She was defeated. Something was wrong already. He wasn’t attracted to her, or SOMEthing…

“No, no! Don’t get me wrong! I… I, uh…” He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. “I don’t get off until midnight.”

Relief. Like a wave. She sighed and held a hand to her fluttering heart. Focus. She reprimanded herself, smiling at him.

“I knew that. I was saying, after.”

“There’s… Is there anywhere open that late?” He asked. He was interested! Melody’s heart raced as she smiled at him.

“There is. You might have heard of it. It’s that restaurant-“

“Just a little inside of the North gate, right? Yeah, I know it.” He smiled at her. Smiled. “I can be there by twelve-thirty.” He said. Melody smiled and gingerly stepped forward. There was no one around. They wouldn’t see. She slipped her arms around his waist, giving him a gentle hug. He was so tall, her head rested just underneath his chin. Her mother’s words came back to her then. If you hug him, don’t stop until he hugs back. Men like that. He tensed up. She could feel how rigid his muscles were, the blood pumping through him, making his heart hammer against his breastplate… It took him a few seconds, but he awkwardly wrapped his arms around her. He was strong. Big, for an avian.

“I’ll see you there.” She muttered softly, looking up at him. She had practiced this in the mirror. Hundreds of times. The smile. Not just any smile. It was the smile. The way her full lips curled, flashing half of her top row of teeth, the heavy set of her eyelids… She knew from the moment his expression turned completely dumbfounded she had nailed it. She hadn’t even forced it. It came to her naturally. Smooth as can be, she slipped away. She could feel his eyes burning into her from behind, watching her leave, watching the smooth and easy way her hips swayed. Melody turned a corner a block away, her back leaning against the wall. Her heart hammered in her chest, her cheeks flushed.

She had done it! Her very first date! The night wasn’t over yet, though. She calmed herself, peeked around the corner carefully. Connor stood with his back turned, and she watched as his partner returned. Straw poked fun at him, jabbing his side with the butt of her spear. She heard his laugh, soft and easy, all the way from where she stood. Smiling, she slipped away, a bounce in her step as she made her way back to the tower. It was ten-thirty. She had two hours to kill before she met him.

She made her way to the base of the tower in half an hour. Inside the walls, Eyriewatch was not a very large city. As she looked at the guard posted at the entrance, as they always were at this time of night, she debated flying up to her own personal balcony, when someone pressed against the wall beside her. She gasped and spun around.

“Verse! Fuck, don’t scare me like that!” She swatted at him, cursing as she fought to wrangle her pulse.

“Any luck?” He asked. She grinned, glancing over her shoulder at him before turning her attention back to the two guards. Good, they hadn’t heard her gasp. “Good. What time did he say?”

“Twelve-thirty.” She muttered to him, ducking back around the corner. “The guard’s out front, though…”

“So? We go in.”

“How? They know us. You know they’ll ask questions when they see how we’re dressed…” She shot back. Verse thought it over for a bit.

“Do you have the key to your balcony?” Shit. There was another problem. She wasn’t carrying anything in this dress. Even if she wanted to fly in her short skirt, she couldn’t get into her room.

“No… Fuck…”

“I have mine. C’mon, let’s fly.” Verse shifted so his wings expanded from his back, gesturing for her to do the same.

“I can’t.” She muttered.

“What? Why?”

“I’m… Verse, look at this skirt.” She said, lifting the hem just a little.

“Ooh… Damn, you’re right…” There was a pause for a moment, both of them weighing options.

“Aah, fuck it. Come on, you lead.” She shifted her wings out, and Verse shot her a look that asked ‘are you sure?’ She nodded in reply, her expression set. “Just… Go fast.”

“Alright.” Flapping hard, Verse took off into the sky first. Melody, cursing her poor fashion choice, went after him, her hands clinging the hem of her skirt firmly. It took them three minutes to ascend to the level the Commander’s quarters were on. They were still guests, staying in the same rooms they had when Spitfire was the commander. Verse landed on a balcony that was three down from hers. She recognized the handkerchief she had tied to one of the posts. Quite a few avians did that, it seemed. Verse’s was yellow, hers was a light blue.

“Right.” Verse said, closing and locking the balcony behind him. “See you in two hours?” He asked. He was obviously flustered, though probably not from the fast flight. At the base of the tower, something about him had seemed pretty off as well. He had to have been just as flustered as she was. And she was pretty damn flustered.

“Two hours.” She nodded. After a pause, she held her hand up. Verse grinned, and they slapped a high-five. Melody slipped down the hall to her room, closing and locking the door with an audible sigh of relief. Her hair was skewed, her dress was ruffled, and what’s worse, she was wet… She needed a bath. Connor wouldn’t mind the change of clothes. Afterwards, she changed into a similar dress, this one a little bit more modest in length. It was still tight, though, and clung to her curves firmly. At least it hung past her knees, so she could fly. The black skirt coupled with a loose white blouse that was so sheer it could be seen through in full light was her choice of garment for the night. That, and a new pair of panties. She suspected they would be ruined one way or another, though… Just the thought of Connor’s strong arms around her, holding her close to his firm leather breastplate…

Stop, Melody. Focus. There would be no slipping out unnoticed this time. During the dark hours, guards were posted both inside and outside the tower’s exits. She had to fly to get to where she needed to go. Thankfully, her skirt had a pocket that could fit her key, and a small wallet with money. At twelve-fifteen, Melody left her room and locked the balcony door behind her. Common changeling practice was to either guard open entrances or lock personal ones. Melody pulled her straight, silky-smooth hair over her shoulder, holding it firmly as she dove off of the balcony.

She flew to her date.

---------

“Haha! No way!”

“I’m serious!” Connor laughed with her, the simple and easy motion coming so naturally to him.

“What happened then?”

“Well, the bear just kept coming, right? So we-“ Connor had been sharing a story of his days in Stalliongrad, when he was still young. His family had been hunters and gatherers, their home an inn during the night and a hunting hall during the day. He was a good corn-fed northern boy, with stars in his eyes and a strong desire to serve his land from a young age. Connor didn’t know that she knew his secret, but according to Lily, it wasn’t exactly a very big one. He finished his story, and both of them shared an easy laugh. He had a way of making anybody he came across smile. Unlike his partner, who was almost always grim and dour. She liked it.

“So tell me a little more about yourself.” He asked, opening his hands to her. Melody smiled and leaned in a little.

“Well, I don’t have any really funny stories like that one,” She chuckled. “But I suppose I could tell you about me…” And so she did. Melody shared a lot about herself, where she came from, the sort of trials she and her family had faced. Connor grew more and more quiet during her story, and unless she was mistaken, a little closer… It was sometime when she started talking about their trek through the dragon territory that his big hand cupped hers gently. The motion was so natural, so fitting, she didn’t even realize that her fingers had curled together with his. When she told him how they were imprisoned at Nest, he scooted close until his side pressed against hers in the warm little booth. When she told him about Spitfire…

“Hey, hey… Shh…” His other hand wiped at her cheek, came away wet…

“I’m sorry.” She sniffled gently, turning her face away. The image of Spitfire, choking on her own blood… So much blood… She shuddered softly, the sobs fighting their way to the surface. They stopped. Abruptly. Lifting her chin with a single finger, Connor smoothly pressed his lips against hers.

Melody was shocked.

Her heart raced, thumping audibly in her ears. Her eyes went wide, her lips slack. Her first kiss! What did she do? What was happening? It all rushed through her mind in a second. But Melody knew one thing for sure. Spitfire was the furthest thing from her mind in that moment. Connor, sensing something wrong, pulled away, his mouth about to open with an apology. Melody stopped him with a finger.

“Don’t.” She whispered, her breath nearly catching in her throat. “Don’t… Don’t apologize… Just… Do it again.” This time, Melody kissed him. Their lips met tenderly. His kiss was a wonderful sort of man-like rough, his lips just a little bit chapped, not badly… It gave her a reason to wet them with her own. He opened his mouth just enough, his lower lip curving perfectly underneath Melody’s own. She moved her hand up, gingerly cupping his cheek, feeling the smooth, freshly-shaven skin slide under her fingers. Her groan came without warning, vibrating from her throat as she hesitantly pushed her tongue out.

From there, everything was a rush. His tongue slid out smoothly, greeting hers in the middle. They shyly, hesitantly met before rushing forward, past one another. He was slippery and muscular, his thick tongue forcing her jaw open an inch or two. She accepted it readily, sucking a little as her tongue pulled back to slide over his while she sucked. Then she returned the favor, her own tongue being pulled tenderly into his mouth. His teeth bit down just a little, making her whimper. Yup, gonna have to change her underwear again…

“Connor.” She gasped, pulling away. She felt dizzy. No thanks to the cocktail she had ordered, sure, but that kiss certainly wasn’t helping.

“Too fast?” He panted, pulling away just a little. That first shiver of coldness ran up her spine, made her cling to him firmly. Her nails dug into his arm, clutching him, holding him tight. She really didn’t want him to pull away any more.

“No!” She glanced around, praying no one, particularly Verse, heard her whimper. Three tables away, it appeared her brother was wrapped up in his own little kiss. She turned her gaze back to Connor’s face, his wide brow, strong jaw… “Not at all… Do… Do you want to…” Connor, like someone who had played the game before, nodded with a husky ‘yeah.’ Suddenly, the distance didn’t matter. Connor paid their bill with a hearty tip, shoving his wallet back in his pocket as they stood. The night was warm as they left the restaurant. Melody let the only slightly cooler air of the night wash over her, clear her senses a little. This is happening… She thought, her body quivering with giddiness.

“You cold?” Connor asked, looping his arm over her shoulders. She started a bit, nearly forgetting about him. She stepped closer, nestling against his side with a poor, pathetic, girly excuse.

“I live way South… I’m not used to being this far North yet…”

“Then, when you were in Nest…”

“Worst time of my life.” Melody grunted, pressing closer. She wasn’t shivering from the cold, of course. It was excitement.

“I just realized… We can’t go back to the barracks… Too many guys…” Connor muttered, his step faltering. Melody smiled. This, she had well in hand.

“Who said we were going to the barracks?” She teased, smiling up at him. “I hope you’re up for a little… Flight…”

“Uuh… What…?” He muttered, looking down at her. Melody smiled and slipped out from under his arm, walking a short ways away and shifting into her wings. He stuttered at the sudden transformation, wings springing from her back where they previously hadn’t been. “Almost forgot…” He flushed a little and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. Lead the way.” Melody turned and flapped hard, leaving the bigger man in the dust. She heard his laugh of surprise dwindle away as he got a running start to catch up. Melody didn’t even look behind as she led the way off and into the night, circling the tower as they gained altitude. She was a decent flyer, Dash had said, but apparently Connor didn’t get where he was without flying well. As soon as she set down on her balcony, Connor smoothly landed atop the railing, smiling as he dropped with a graceful step onto her level.

“Woah.” She breathed, panting just a little in the aftermath of the frenzied, fast flight. She had honestly tried to dust him.

“Hmm? You’re honestly not that fast, Melody.” He teased, nudging her chin with a finger. She pouted playfully.

“Meanie.”

“Oh shush and kiss me again.” Connor grunted and wrapped his arms around her waist, making her giggle as he smoothly pulled her up into another kiss. This one, unlike the ones at the restaurant, was much more passionate, and quite a bit more rough. Melody grunted as she was pulled tight against his hard body, feeling every curve and contour of his hard chest… He was so… Solid. But tender. The way his arms looped around her, holding her but not crushing her… Pulling her tight, but not bending her backwards or in any uncomfortable direction… She was breathless. The kiss ended briefly, both of them panting a little in the aftermath.

“Connor.” She panted gently.

“Melody.”

“I can’t get the key.” His arms pinned hers. She couldn’t reach into her pockets, to get the key to let them in.

“Right.” Rubbing the back of his neck with embarrassment, he let her go. She smiled and kissed the front of his shirt, smoothly pulling the key from her pocket and unlocking the door. They slipped inside, and she let her wings fade off and away. The blouse she wore left her back bare, and she could feel Connor’s gaze roam up and down her bare shoulders, down to the middle of her back, where the hem of the top would just barely reveal the hooks on her bra.

“Nice place.” He said quietly, though Melody could hear the surreptitious click of the lock sliding home behind his back.

“Thanks. Want something to drink?” She went through the motions a usual hostess would, waving her hand to the table by the fireplace. She had made sure there would be water, wine and other drinks on hand for the night. Connor, though, took it straight out of left field. His one-syllable answer stopped her in her tracks.

“You.”

Melody would be lying to herself if she didn’t have to remind herself to breathe. With a slightly shocked expression, she turned around to look at him, her eyes wide and blinking very slowly. In a moment, Connor was there. His arms wrapped around her, she felt herself lifted… All she could think was she was glad her wings were gone. Otherwise, the landing on the soft quilt atop the bed would have been a lot more rough than she anticipated. Her hair fanned out beneath her, only a few stray strands having been caught underneath her.

His lips were everywhere. Melody gasped and writhed, not fighting, just squirming. Moving. He kissed her lips, her cheeks, her forehead, her nose, her jaw, moving lower and lower. They were feverishly hot, insistent and very wet. She could feel the spots he kissed cooling in the air, making her shudder and gasp as he worked lower, down to her neck. Then he started sucking. Oh, holy fuck… Melody’s thoughts were dull and muddled, the haze of desire making her thoughts foggy and not too coherent.

His lips suckled gently at her neck, making her back arch slightly as the tingling pleasure shot into her system, more direct than an injection. He could tell, too. His hands rested on her hips, massaging her skin, keeping her as relaxed as she could possibly be. Not very. Her legs still tensed and flexed as he hit these, these… SPOTS on her neck, each one making her gasp and jump a little. He liked it. His lips curled into a teasing smile. She could tell he liked it. So she didn’t stop.

At some point, her midriff was exposed. She didn’t know when, but the cool air brushing across her twitching stomach was some indication. Her own hands had been busy exploring his broad back, rubbing the joint of his wings where they met his shoulder blades. Another tip that came to her through the fog of thought, in the voice of her mother. If he has wings, massage the joint. Right here. It’s very sensitive, and if you’re gentle, it can even arouse him. Also, don’t roll over quickly. Give them time to tuck up, or else you could hurt them. Melody was gentle now, her fingers tenderly probing the soft tissue, the sensitive bundle of nerves.

“Haah…” She felt his breath pulse against her neck, washing over the flesh like a wave. The gentle motion made her sigh and close her eyes. She stopped, and he resumed, kissing with a little more passion.

“Can I?” He asked quietly, the soft question drawing her out of the haze a little. She realized his hands were slowly pulling her shirt up, exposing more and more of her flat, twitching stomach. She whimpered and nodded.

“Please. Both.” He smoothly stripped the sheer blouse off, discarding the simple garment over the edge of the bed before his hands slid under her ribcage, lifting her up just a little. This man was clearly no stranger to disrobing. His fingers unhooked the bra smoothly, all she had to do was raise her arms outward… She did, and his dexterous fingers pulled it off with ease. She lay under him, her arms crossed lazily over her stomach, her chest bare beneath him. His eyes were, of course, fixed on her bare breasts. Her legs dangled idly over the edge of the bed, a single one of his knees riding up onto the thick quilt beside them. Again, the question.

“C-can I?” He asked again. The husky, pleading tone, the soft inflection… They way his eyes flickered up to hers, begging for permission. She drank it all in, groaning as she gasped the one, breathy word.

“Yes!” Her back arched gently as his hands smoothly cupped both of her breasts, giving them the softest of squeezes. She felt fire ignite under his touch, her flesh burning, making her eyes close as he dove right in. “Aahn!” She couldn’t stop it. The breathy groan escaped before she could do anything about it. If she was lucky, she would be groaning a lot more in the moments to come…

“Haah.” Again, the hot breath. This time, it washed over her bare chest directly. She shuddered as the first touch of his tongue made her nipple rock-hard. It almost hurt, how hard it got. But the tender, smooth motions of his tongue… Ooh, he was good… He circled her areola smoothly, moving in slow circles, spreading saliva onto the area… Once she was hard as he almost invariably was, he flicked her nipple a few times, sending pleasure shooting through her torso. Melody gasped and arched up again, feeling something begin to build within her. It was so distant, but it was there, lingering, teasing her…

“Ooohhh…” She groaned and finally relaxed underneath him, submitting to his gentle touches. She was already on fire, desire oozing from her core, apparent in her motions. It’s happening… It’s really happening… Her passion-drunk mind formulated that thought on it’s own, no thanks to the sensations racing through her mind like a hurricane. She couldn’t stop them. She could just hope to enjoy the ride.

“Can I?” She hadn’t even noticed his lips had moved on. He asked the question again, sending a shiver down her spine. She had to look down, her half-lidded eyes blinking blearily as she spotted him somewhere between her stomach and the hem of her skirt. She didn’t answer, at least not vocally. She lifted her hips, fumbling with the zipper at the small of her back. She found it, slid it down halfway, groaning as his hands did the rest of the work. She wasn’t sure if she should be thankful or reluctant, but he stripped her panties with them, his hot breath chasing them down her legs. She was without his touch for a while as he fumbled with her heels. Probably the most intricate thing she wore, he struggled with the tiny buckles, but had soon enough pulled them off as well. It gave Melody time to think.

I’m doing it. I’m here, naked, with Connor, about to lose my virginity… Like mom said, it’s going to hurt at first. Don’t scare him. Encourage him. It will feel better soon enough. Then it will feel great… Then it’ll feel like anything you’ve ever experienced. It’ll feel like- “AAHN!” The last came out as a cry, a soft gasp of both pleasure and surprise. Pleasure shot through her like an arrow, lancing straight from her crotch up into her chest. She tensed, her muscles shuddering as she flexed. Something had touched her clit, and she had NOT been expecting it. What’s more, the pleasure didn’t fade. Fast and rough, it poured into her, filling her from back to front with hot, steamy desire. She gasped and shuddered and whimpered, feeling the wetness in her core spread all over. It coated her thighs, dripped down her rear, slipped up onto her pubis. It was everywhere. His tongue was everywhere. It flicked her clit, slid inside of her, spread her apart, slurped her juices up. He was so good!

“Aah! Connor! I’m… I’m!” She couldn’t get the word out. She knew the word, of course, but it just wouldn’t- “CUM!” her back arched in a second, just as the first wave of pleasure crashed through her. She gasped and panted, chest heaving as he licked at her smooth and easy. His tongue lapped up every drop, not missing a beat as he nuzzled into her crotch, his open mouth sucking and licking eagerly at her wet, dripping slit. The pleasure buzzed through her mind long after that initial shock passed, making her pant and groan, her open mouth gulping air hungrily. At some point, she felt him pull away, making her lift her head to look down at him.

“Good?” He asked teasingly. Melody couldn’t justify him with words. So she put her desire into action. Sitting up, her hands hungrily started unbuttoning his shirt from the bottom. He started from the top, meeting her halfway. With a rough motion, he stripped the garment off, such a sexy act… The way he pulled it off, sliding it down his long, muscled arms, revealing the flat tones of his core… Oh, he was so fit… Her hands roamed, running over his skin, her lips hungrily kissing his stomach. She sat on the edge of the bed, groaning into his stomach, kissing the soft fuzz underneath his belly button, making him gasp. His feet worked at removing his boots, even as she pulled at the buckle of his belt. It slid smoothly through her fingers. She only fumbled twice before yanking the tongue free, loosening the fabric and exposing the button on his jeans.

What was she going to do once she had his pants off, though? The thought made her hesitate, but it didn’t really matter. He took care of the rest. He pulled the button free, pushed the zipper down, and let gravity handle the rest… Melody gulped as the bulge in front of his boxers rose before her eyes, a small bit of the flesh peeking out of the slit. Was she ready for this? Was this what she really wanted?

A quick glance upwards was all she needed. In her mind, she answered the question she asked.

“Can I?”

Connor smoothly pushed his boxers down. Melody’s vision was filled with it… Every contour of the throbbing veins against his skin, the way it curved upwards from base to tip… He was circumcised, the flared head of his shaft very pronounced and thick. Like her, he was shaved, the hair stopping shortly after his waistline. None of it around his testicles. He was smooth, hard, and ready… Melody knew what to do. Knew what he wanted. She wanted to do it. She tried to remember every tip her mothers had given her…

Start slow. Stroke him a few times, maybe kiss it. But don’t just shove it in and start moving. Build him up to it. When you do start, tease him a bit. Drag your tongue up the entire underside, from base to tip, and if you’re not too freaked out, massage his testicles. Gently. He’s going to emit a bit of shiny stuff, it’s called pre cum. Lick it up, and don’t grimace at the taste… It’s kind of… Intense. Not every girl likes it. I don’t mind it, but Twilight loves it. When you start, mix it up. Don’t just move in and out. Use your tongue, rub him in a circle, suck and move in equal measure. Everyone has their own specific style, so do what feels natural, but don’t just move in and out.

She started slow. Connor looked down at her. He could feel his eyes burning into the top of her head, making her cheeks heat as she fought to pay him the same amount of attention he had paid her. She kissed the rim of his head, teasing the soft skin with a soft touch. Her hand cupped his smooth testicles, massaging those twin orbs in gentle, slow circles. The slit at the tip of his member was already shining. Caution to the wind, Melody hesitantly licked it up…

It was… Musky. She didn’t hate it, but she didn’t know if she wanted another taste. Instead, she pulled his head into her mouth, running her tongue around it once, twice. The taste of his flesh was slightly salty, kind of like sweat, and metallic. Not unlike the taste of blood in her mouth. Not a sickening amount, or even unpleasant. Mixed together, it just made her want it more… She couldn’t help it as she dragged her tongue up his base fast as she dared, exhaling once before pushing him in. She wasn’t expecting the sensation. The way he filled her mouth, made her jaw stretch, it was so intoxicating… She groaned and let her tongue push out between her lips, caressing him even as he rested inside of her mouth. She pushed deeper, trying to take him all. His head brushed against the back of her throat, triggering her reflex. She retched a little, not enough, but had to pull him out.

He slid out with a wet, slick sound, the kind that she hadn’t been expecting to make her wet. Her ragged breathing betrayed the close call and her own arousal. His shaft looked so slippery, she couldn’t help but stroke it a few times. That showed him she was eager, willing to try again. And try she did. She pushed him in again, this time expecting the touch at the back of her throat. Melody rode it, letting it happen, and took another inch.

“Hng!” Connor’s throaty gasp came from above her, and she smiled around his shaft. It was a silly move to make, as her saliva dripped out around her lips, falling to her thighs. She didn’t care, though. This… This was good. She enjoyed this. Eagerly, she began to slide him in and out, taking him all the way to the back of her throat and out again, groaning in time with his own panting breath. Somewhere along the lines, her senses blurred, making her move faster, recklessly. She heeded her mother’s advice, though. She never did the same motion more than four times in a row. She would twist her head, use her tongue to tease the rim of his head, and suck him down now and then. The effect she got was both priceless and one hundred percent arousing. Connor gasped and twitched inside her mouth. She didn’t stop until his hand laid on her head, gingerly pulling her off. She was loathe to let it end, but she knew what came next. Smiling up at him with passion burning in her eyes, Melody gave his throbbing shaft two more strokes before she smoothly slid up onto the bed…

Undiscovered territory. Terra Incognito. Lands unknown. As her head rested back on the pillow and Connor gingerly crawled up in between her spread legs, Melody felt her heart race. They kissed, the new mixture of tastes making them both groan and cling to one another. Melody’s hands slid under his wings, pulling him down atop her, while his smoothly slid under her shoulders, pulling her up against him. She felt her breasts press into his flat chest, squished against his muscles. He held her there, their lips and tongues wrestling eagerly. Something, though, was amiss. She pulled her lips away with a gasp, remembering what it was.

“Do you have…?”

“Yeah… Hang on…” Connor pulled away, quelling but not quenching the flames. Melody shamelessly stroked her fingers up and down her soaked lips, keeping the pleasure going for herself. The sight aroused Connor, making him scramble with his discarded jeans. The soft crinkle of a wrapper opening, and the smell of something slightly acrid reached her nose. No, not acrid… Pungent. It smelled like plastic, kind of… In his hand, Connor held a small circle. She watched, slightly aroused, as he pulled it over his head, rolling the ring out with smooth, even strokes. He stroked himself, pulling the condom on. Melody stroked herself, keeping the fires hot and ready for him.

He didn’t have to ask this time. They were well beyond that. Their lips met once more, his hands sliding under her shoulders. She welcomed him into her arms, feeling his hips bump against hers as he settled in between her legs… One hand left, plunging into the space between them. She remembered her mother’s words here, too, even as she felt the rubber-encased head of his member slide up and down her wet, ready lips.

I’m not going to lie, Melody, it’s going to hurt… But it’s that good kind of hurt, you know? Don’t let him stop. If he feels, he knows it’ll be your first time. Encourage him, but only when you’re ready. Even if your hymen is ruptured, it’ll still hurt. It’s new, it’s different, but oh believe me, girl… It’s good. Encourage him, and let your natural juices flow. Don’t flex, not if you can help it. Not until later. Then just let it happen. Once you’re ready, he’ll know. Trust me. He’ll know.

It did hurt. Melody gasped as he pushed in, spreading her apart further than she had ever been able to herself. Two fingers didn’t hurt like this. This was a whole new type of pain. She inhaled deeply, tensing up with a shuddering breath. He could tell. He knew it.

“First time?” He panted softly, his breath washing over her ear. All she could manage was a soft nod, her senses swimming with this odd mix of pleasure and pain. “Should have told me. Relax… Shh.” She panted softly, felt his hand open her fist. They clenched together gently, twining their fingers together as she reconciled the pain.

It was over in a flash. Gone in an instant. Melody sagged underneath him, groaning as the pain fled away, filling her senses instead with this odd sense of… Fulfillment… It was good. Very good. Incredible, even. “Okay,” She gasped. She had to tell him. To say something. She was ready. She wanted him right then. Needed him. “HUUHH!” She gasped again. Connor slid the rest of the way in. She felt his hips bottom out, grinding against hers as his entire shaft sealed inside of her. Every little inch, every last contour and detail, she felt it… The tapered end of his head, the flare, then down to his shaft, the gentle curve, the way it fit inside her so smoothly… The way he widened out just a little bit at the base… She writhed beneath him, feeling her senses dull in that singular moment. Nothing could beat this. This was the best. How could anyone not like this?

“More.” She panted, feeling the heat build up deep within her abdomen.

“You sure?” He muttered, pulling back to look down at her. Melody snaked her arms up to his cheeks, grasping his head. Her eyes were ablaze with passion. She stared straight into his eyes, his brilliant green eyes.

“Please. More.” She was begging again. She needed it. She wanted it. He slowly pulled out, her muscles adjusting to the absence of the next few inches. She groaned again, the feeling of closing around him exiting was just so good... Then he slid back in. Nearly as intense and twice as pleasurable as the first time, she fought the urge to cry out in that moment. He repeated the motion again... And again... And again. Again. Again! Harder! The lines blurred between each thrust, making her lose track of when he slid out, and when he slid in.

Their breath mingled together, their lips hovering just over one another’s. She could feel each shuddering, grunting breath as he slid into her. There was an impact happening someplace underneath her hips, and she had a feeling it was his thighs against hers. It didn’t matter. She was lost in the moment. He was going as deep as he could possibly go with each wet thrust, making both of them jump a little when he slid in. Her breasts jumped against his chest, jiggling in time with each shuddering, grunting breath.

“Intense” Didn’t even begin to describe this situation... Melody felt him break out in a thin layer of sweat, the low musky scent of his exertion making her all the more wet for it. It was the smell of a man. Muscular, controlling, tender and concerned all in one. She whimpered and clutched him tightly, their breath mingling in that space between their mouths. She gasped and groaned and moaned, feeling her muscles open and close for him, inviting him in and seeing him out. Over and over. The lines blurred between thrusting and pulling out were completely lost now. Melody laid her head back against the pillow, and let it all go...

There wasn’t a care in the world for her then. She hadn’t left her home of eighteen years, she hadn’t had several near-death experiences in the past two weeks, she wasn’t running from a faceless changeling threat... She whimpered and gasped and groaned and cried out, clutching Connor tight. Connor. He was so solid. Like a rock. He needed this just as much as she did. He was a man, one who needed a woman’s attention, who needed to let the tension go one way or another.

“Close.” He gasped in a moment. Melody clutched him tightly, feeling the fire build in her chest as well. She felt something build up inside of her... It was a rush, a sensation unlike any other, this sudden feeling like she was going to burst.

“Me too.” She panted.

“Together?”

“Yes!”

“Haahn!”

“Uuh!”

She took the fall.

-------------

The morning after. A bath in Connor’s arms and breakfast in front of the fire, with bright sunlight streaming through the window. Conversation, laughter, dressing. A reluctant kiss goodbye. Connor stopped, one foot up on the balcony.

“Can we... Do this again?” He asked softly. Melody leaned against the doorway out to her balcony, smiling softly. She fished the key from her pocket and flicked it to him.

“I keep that blue handkerchief tied off when I’m here.” She said, nodding to the fluttering fabric tied off on the stone railing. Connor smiled and pocketed the key, blowing her a kiss before he dropped off the edge of the balcony and flew off and away. In his absence, Melody couldn’t stop smiling. She walked back to the bed, still ruffled and wrinkled, flopping onto the half-thrown quilt and inhaling deep the lingering scent of sex, sweat, and sleep. She savored the scent, groaning when she realized Rainbow Dash was going to read the laundry report on this one, too.

Dash! Ooh! Lily and Twilight! She was legitimately excited to tell them about this encounter. Verse, too, she was sure, had met with his own brand of luck. She stripped the sheets and tossed them into a basket, knowing full well Dash would tease her about it later, but she honestly didn’t care. She had just had sex. And it was absolutely incredible. Her hairbrush, she knew, would never do it for her again.

With a bounce in her step, Melody set off to look for her mothers, humming a soft tune as she searched one of the four libraries. As she thought, Twilight was there, reading a book already. As she watched, her mother harrumphed and set it down, moving on to another.

“Good morning, mom.” She said, skipping close and hugging Twilight warmly.

“Oh! Good morning, Melody. By The Family, you look positively radiant this morning! What... Oh no, don’t tell me...” Twilight’s hands glowed, and Melody couldn’t mistake the tingle of magic that raced over her skin.

“Ugh! Mom!” Melody shivered and ducked away, but the magic followed her.

“You did! I can tell! Your hormones are going nuts! You’re emitting pheromones like mad. Oh Chronos help me, you’ve lost it.” Twilight buried her face in mock defeat, shaking her head. Melody laughed and spun closer, wrapping Twilight in another hug.

“It was going to happen at one point or another.” She said with a soft laugh, kissing Twilight’s forehead.

“I can SMELL him on you.” She shuddered. Melody sniffed herself experimentally, smelled only soap from the bath some some perfume she had spritzed just in case.

“Huhn... You can smell him over that?” Twilight whimpered and nodded at her. “Is it that bad?”

“Not bad... Not really...” Twilight sighed, turning her gaze back to the books. “Just taking some adjusting is all... The body of a Goddess is... Very sensitive.”

“Oh? And does Lily know just how sensitive?”

“Shush you. You’re limping.” Twilight grumbled at her. Melody blinked. True, she was a touch... Sore... But she didn’t think it showed. Twilight was remarkably perceptive. It was kind of scary.

“Morning, girlie.” Lily’s entrance to the conversation was punctuated with a rough slap to the rear, making Melody jump, her mouth open.

“Owwww!” She gasped, rubbing her ass as the pain tingled through her.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Lily teased, sounding rather sarcastic. “Did he get that spot last night?”

“Really? You too?” Melody grumbled, rubbing her sore cheek.

“Hon, I was in the business for ten years. I think I’d know that ‘morning after’ glow.” She teased, padding over to Twilight to give her a soft kiss. Twilight smiled and returned it eagerly.

“Our daughter is growing up.” She muttered grumpily, faking a frown at Melody. Lily smiled, a stark contrast.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Oh I cannot wait to see how you two are going to treat Verse when he-”

“Speak of the little demon.” Twilight nodded towards the door. Blinking a few times, Melody and Lily looked at the closed door. They were alone in the library.

“What-” Lily stopped as the door swung open then, Verse walking in with a smile at them.

“Okay, that’s scary.” Melody said, pointing at Twilight even as she smiled at Verse.

“What?”

“Nothing. Twilight’s predicting people’s arrivals and telling whether or not they had sex last night. Verse’s eyes went wide and he turned to leave...

“Ah, ah, ah! Come here, mister.” Lily said, beckoning him forward. Verse lurched to a halt and turned around, looking not unlike a six-year-old caught stealing from the cookie jar. “Oh no, him too.” Lily sighed wistfully, even as Twilight threw her hands up in the air and tried to go back to looking for a book.

“Both of them! In the same night! Ugh!”

Behind her back, the soft sound of a high-five came from Melody and Verse.