>...What?
>"Why-"
>She takes a step toward you.
>"-do you-"
>And then another.
>"-smell like-"
>She Flutters up to eye level with you.
>"-other mares."
>Shit. Shit. Shitty shit shit shit on a shit cracker.
>You decide to just come clean with it. After all it wasn't your fault and nothing really happened. Rainbow listens to your story quietly, her eyes never leaving your own.
>As you finish she stares at you with a scrutinizing gaze before dropping out of sight.
>Before you can even move you feel your gym shorts pulled down.
 
smell  v. smelled or smelt, smellˇing, smells:
To perceive the scent of (something) by means of the olfactory nerves.
taste  v. tastˇed, tastˇing, tastes:
To distinguish the flavor of by taking into the mouth.
>Um...
>After her "inspection" of your jimmies, she floats back into view with a smile on her face. "Sorry, I just had to make sure." She nuzzles you. "But I know you'd never..."
>You wrap your free arm around her and pull her into a kiss. Of course you wouldn't, shes your special somepony and your bro. And you don't cheat on your special somepony and bro.
>She sighs in response and nuzzles her face into your neck. As she does you look over her shoulder.
>The blinds are still open.
>Your shorts are still down.
>And your would be gym paramours are staring at you through the window, trails of saliva dripping from their mouths.
>It never ends this shit.
 
>Rainbow notices that you are staring out the window and turns her head.
>She goes dead still in your arms.
>"Are they-"
>Yep.
>You can't see her face, but judging on how fast the looks of arousal turn to terror on the mares' faces you can only imagine shes put the fear of Celestia in them with her rage.
>She makes the slightest move to leave your arms and the mares bolt out of sight.
>She angrily darts over to the window and draws the blinds. You take the opportunity to jump into the bathroom and finish getting ready.
>As you are showering shes starts banging on the door. "Anooon, cmon let me in."
>Nope. You promised the captain the two of you would be there, you can't get distracted.
>"But-" you hear her rubbing her cheek against the door. "-I drove those mares off, don't I deserve a reward~?"
>Of course, and you'll be happy to give it to her later tonight.
>A pause. "But...but I'm horny noooow~"
>Oh wow. You almost never hear her whine for sex...probably beacuse you almost never give her a reason to. Still, its fucking adorable.
 
>You almost cave. Almost.
>Nothing doing. Shes just going to have to wait.
>"But- but tonight-!"
>Hm?
>"...nothing. Just finish getting ready." You hear her move away from the door with a huff.
>Fucking mood swings. Fucking estrus. Fucking ponies. Fucking Equestria.
>Some shampoo gets into your eyes.
>Fuck everything.
>You finish your shower without further incident and dress quickly. A few minutes later you and Rainbow are making your way toward the dining hall.
>She seems distracted by something, tense. Everytime you ask if shes alright she just blows off your concern.
>This is something more than a sulk, something more than being denied sex. You don't push it.
>You find your thoughts stray back to your dream. It had been so vivid, so real. Most of it is lost to you now though, what with all the excitement upon your awakening.
>You put it from your mind as your stomach punches your current thoughts in the teeth.
>Anonymous needs food badly!
 
>Soon you are seated. They apparently went all out with decorating the place. It was swanky before, but now it is beyond opulent. Massive crystalline chandeliers now hang over the room, casting soft arcane light.
>Artistic tapestries line the walls, and the plain lunch tables have been transformed into decorative spreads of aesthetic grandeur. Every single one is adorned with a unique enchanted ice sculpture that not only doesn't melt, but casts the same light as the chandeliers.
>Your own table, the only rectangular one in the hall, bears the most impressive sculpture of all: a painstakingly sculpted scale model of the ship, floating in a basin of water. The water even seems to mimic the seas outside, causing the ice sculpture to gently rock and sway.
>Its all incredible, and yet Rainbow is still distracted. She is scanning the room for something...or somep0ny. Perhaps your earlier assailants?
>You leave it be, since the captain has just made his way to your table. He addresses the hall again like he did this morning, but you only half listen; Rainbow's nerves are starting to itch your own. He seats himself after the applause at the head of the table, right next to where you and Rainbow were instructed to sit at the corner.
>Dinner begins simply enough. High class appetizers lead into higher class entrees, and you wash it all down with top shelf wine. Your tablemates are an interesting crowd. Most are sailing ponies like the captain, but there are a few gryphons and diamond dogs there as well. The one sitting next to Rainbow even has a top-hat and monocle.
 
>Across from you however is a very intriguing couple. Not so much themselves as individuals but their species. A dapper looking pegasus stallion is sitting next to his gussied up gryphon wife. Upon realizing that you and Rainbow were also in an interspecies relationship the four of you immediately strike up a rapport.
>Between the food, the booze, the company, and the Captain's various sailing stories that hes been telling over the past hour with less and less inhibition you and Rainbow have finally begun to enjoy the evening.
>"Sho, I looked that damnable hellshpawn of a shea dragon dead in hish eye...and told 'im if eh wanted mah ship, hed haf'ta come aboard and take it from me himshelf! An' you want ta know jusht what that misherable shnake did?"
>The entire table is hooked, sitting on the edge of their seats to hear the end.
>"He swam off like tha shishy little coward he wash!"
>The table laughs raucously. You have to hand it to the captain, hes really been around.
>"An' dont'cha forget it. I've shailed all the sheas of thish world, and encountered all manner of danger and oddity alike. But for all I've seen, good and bad, I wouldn't trade it for the world lad."
>Blue March dons a look of whimsy when he says this, as if he is looking far off into the horizon. It doesn't last long as a crewman trots up behind him and whispers something in his ear. The captain sighs.
 
>"I apologize, but I am needed at the helm for a short time. I will return after dinner hash concluded, and when I do I would mosht definately like to have a drink with ya lad. Discuss what I mentioned earlier..."
>You nod in assent as the captain departs with his subordinate.
>The only thing left is dessert, and while waiting you've been chatting with the couple across from you.
>"So-" the stallion starts. "-how did you two meet?"
>You and Rainbow take turns telling the story, with Rainbow embellishing here and there.
>"And then, just before he hit the ground- SWOOSH I Dashed in and caught him in the nick of time!"
>The couple across from you laughs and quietly applauds your special somep0ny. You merely roll your eyes and drain the last of the wine in your glass. Its not that you didn't like the story, and certainly not that you were ungrateful, but after hearing it for the millionth time it grew stale.
>Dessert finally arrives. You had settled for a light sorbet. Rainbow had gone all out with a fuckhueg sundae complete with all of the fixin's. Fucking hormones.
>Now it was the other couple's turn to share their story. The two apparently met on the border of the gryphon kingdom. The stallion had been part of a mission to strengthen diplomatic relations between the two races, the gryphon much the same. Just like you and Rainbow the two of them just seemed to click and, well, the rest was history.
 
>You feel good. It was nice to know there were other happy interspecies couples in the world. Being the only one in Ponyville had brought a bit of static against you and Rainbow, not so much from  the ethics of the relationship but the jealousy of the other mares who felt they had 'missed their shot.'
>"Still, while I have grown to...accept a lot of Equestria's traditions, that hasn't stopped me from dragging this one's sorry flank back to Aviara during the, um...'season.' "
>You couldn't blame her. There was a reason most of the older stallions fled into the surrounding environs and beyond during estrus, you being one such example.
>"And, while I was a bit apprehensive, I decided to indulge my husband's culture just this once and take this 'Estrus cruise'. But he better believe that I am going to be watching him." The gryphon turns toward her significant other with a half-lidded smile. "Like a hawk."
>The stallion sighs and nuzzles his wife's beak. Reassuring her that she has nothing to worry about. But you don't see this. No, your gaze slowly turned to Rainbow at the mention of 'Estrus cruise'.
 
>The state of your rapidly deteriorating jimmies isn't helped by the fact that your mare's gaze is locked foward, with a rapidly brightening sheen of sweat appearing on her brow. You open your mouth to ask just what the fuck is going on here when a loud chime indicates dinner is over.
>"Oi, Laddy!" You turn to see The Captain making his way towards you as most of the hall's patrons make their way for the doors. You turn back to your special somp0ny and find nothing but an empty seat. Wonderful. The nice couple bids you a good night before departing as well.
>Blue March finally reaches you, and quirks a brow when he notices Dashie is missing. "Wheresh ya marefriend?"
>You shrug. So about that drink? You could sure use one...
---
>You and the captain are now seated at one of the ship's bars. Apparently there were several, each one done in a different theme. The one you are currently seated in is done up as an old timey sailing pub. Fitting.
>The bartender places your drinks in front of you. "The usual for you Cap'n. Shaken, not stirred-" You giggle inwardly at that. "-and a whiskey for the stranger."
>Taking your glasses you raise them high. To health-
>"-And to new friendsh."
>The two of you klink glasses and swig.
 
>"Aaaaah. Alwaysh hitsh the shpot after a long day."
>Hes got that right.
>"Hm? Somethin' troublin ya junior?" He leans closer and lowers his voice. "Problems with the lass?"
>Sort of...
>"Care ta talk about it?"
>You sigh. You came onto this cruise to relax and get away from the estrus...just spend time with your special somepony y'know? You had no idea this was an...'Estrus Cruise'. Shit, you don't even know what an 'Estrus Cruise' is, but it sounds terrible.
>A throaty chuckle is all you get for your thoughts. Whats so funny?
>"She likesh ya more than you could know lad..."
>What?
>"She'sh the one you should ashk." He takes another swig, the bartender slides you another shot. "And regarding tha cruishe...you can find more information all over the ship."
>You stare at Blue March for a few seconds before bringing your shot to your lips. Whatever.
>"Sho...about what we discusshed earlier while you were getting shome shervice under the table."
>Your shot had been halfway down your throat when he finished his sentence. You cough and splutter, sending whiskey all over in a fine mist. The captain chuckles while you regain your composure.
>Yeah about that. He hadn't seemed too surprised by you.
>The old stallions nods, nursing his drink. "Probably becaushe you aren't the firsht one of your kind ah've sheen."
>Ah. Yeah you guess that does make sen- What the fuck did he just say?
>Blue March smiles at your shock with amusement. "I don't think I shtuttered lad. You aren't the first....er-"
>Human.
>"-aye, human ah've sheen."
>There is a moment of silence...and then you channel Pinkie Pie. Where? When? How? How many? What were they doing? Where were they doing it? W-
>"Relax lad!" the Captain cuts you off with a wide eyed stare. "I'll tell ya everything...right after another drink." And another drink is indeed levitated onto the bar in front of the captain. The barkeep glances at you but you shake your head. You don't want to get too shitfaced for this...you could only hope the captain shared your sentiment.
>Your hopes crumble as the Captain drains the entire drink in one go. "Ahh...right then." He takes a deep breath. "It wash...twenty- no- thirty yearsh ago if memory shervesh." You doubt it does but hold your tongue.
>"I wash the captain of a shmall charter vesshel  in theshe very watersh. Thingsh were going fine, ash they usually do...but that changed quickly, ash it usually doesh."  You nod, hanging on his every word.
>"Y'shee lad, in certain partsh of the world the skiesh, the windsh, they remain untamed...uncontrollable." You nod again, and add your two bits mentioning the Everfree forest and your own world as examples.
>"Right...well ash I shaid thingsh were going fine...then the skiesh began to change." His eyes narrow. "We were beshet upon by a shquall most foul...a roiling tempesht from the bowelsh of tartarush itshelf." His gaze softens. "We losht good poniesh that day...damn fine shailorsh."
 
>You offer your condolensces, which Blue March waves off with a hoof. "Itsh fine Junior, ah've put it behind me. Though...that day shtill hauntsh me now and again..." The captain takes a moment to recollect himself before continuing.
>"It wash hell boy-" he continues. "-...a hell that we could not eshcape. All of our navigational equipment had gone haywire, compasshesh shpan without purposhe, and without a view of the shky we were dead in the water."
>"Eventually day turned to night. All the while we pitched and rolled in the dark sheash. Cresht was tha firsht of ush to go over...left a wife and filly behind." He slams down another drink. "Next wash Shunshet. Good bloke he wash...one by one the crew dwindled till it wash jusht me, our helmshman and our navigator."
>At this point even the barkeep is hooked, trying to look busy cleaning a mug while keeping his gaze locked on the old stallion.
>"And then it happened. A rogue wave, taller than thish ship...-hit- ush. No...to shay that it hit ush would be to imply our little vesshel shtood a shadow of a chance. It rolled ush over boy, capshized us and smashed the ship to pieces." He shivers.
>"Shomehow, we shurvived. We clung to a piece of the ship, tosshed about by the shtorming seas. Then..." He looks back to you for the first time since he began this chilling tale. "I shaw it."
>Saw it? Saw what?
>"A ship. Through the rain and the wind I could make out another vesshel. A masshive one. I shtill had my shpyglassh on me. Imagine my shurprise when I gazed through it and shaw this ship'sh crew."
>You hold your breath in anticipation.
 
>"Apesh. Leasht, that wash my firsht impression. They bore no fur, and wore clothesh. Their crew, like their ship, wash much larger than oursh, and they sheemed to have little trouble navigating the shtorm."
>"I tried to tell my fellowsh, to show them. Alash, their spiritsh were broken. They could do no more than cling to our makeshift raft and pray to Celeshtia that we would pull through. I couldn't blame them." he sighs. "We had no way of shignaling the vesshel either. The dishtance wash far too great and the noise far too loud for them to hear us."
>"Shoon, the phantom ship vanished into the shtorm and we were left to shurvive on our own." Another drink. "I blacked out after that...when I awoke we were being pulled onto tha deck of a shipping vesshel that by shome grace of the goddesses had been passing by and found ush adrift."
>"Tha very next day I found out why our passage had been doomed. We had unknowingly shailed into curshed waters, a part of the open sheash that any seafaring bloke with a grain of shanity did well to avoid...The Bermuleda Triangle."
>You gape. Was this shit serious?
 
>"The Bermuleda triangle doeshn't follow the shame rulesh ash the resht of the sheash. Navigating itsh watersh ish near imposshible, and it hash claimed countlessh livesh- you sheem shurprished junior."
>You are. You are because there is an area of ocean in your world that has the exact same phenomenon.
>Blue march blinks in surprise. "Intereshting. Perhapsh the two are connected shomehow?"
>It seems likely...
>The captain sighs. Telling his tale had obviously taken a lot out of him. Did he maybe...
>"Aye. I think I can wait a little before hearing your own tale junior. How doesh tomorrow night shound? Shame place?"
>Sounds fine.
>"Well until next time. If I were you I'd go an patch thingsh up with the lass. After all...life can be quite short."
>You agree, and after thanking him again you throw a fistfull of bits onto the bar to cover both of your tabs and leave the old stallion to his drink.
 
>Its night when you reach the deck. The cool ocean air does wonders to clear your mind.
>The sun may have set but the various decks of the ship are very much alive and still full of activity. You can hear jubilant voices over the sounds of music and dancing.
>You walk through several crowds before finally reaching the straightaway leading to your room.
>Despite the Captain's parting advice you cannot take your mind off what you learned at the pub. As you walk past door after door your pace slows and eventually stops. You look back toward the ocean.
>'Perhaps the two are connected shomehow?' Those words echo through your mind. During your time here in Equestria you had built a life under one assumption; there was no going back.
>Maybe you have just discovered otherwise...and if that was the case would you capitalize on such a revelation?
>'Even if, somehow, someway I were able to return home...I don't think I would, I don't think I COULD...because you wouldn't be there.' Those had been your words to her. Your oath. Your pledge that kickstarted your relationship with your special somep0ny.
>You smirk to nobody in particular. You've already decided; there is no going back. You are here for the long haul...but that doesn't stop other parts of your mind from wondering 'what if'.
>Nevertheless you continue on your way. As you walk something begins to prick at your mind, a question left unasked back at the pub. Something about what he saw...oh you are in front of the door to your room. You'll worry about it later.
 
>You open the door to find Rainbow, minus her gala dress, curled up on the bed. Not asleep, just resting. She jumps up as you make your way inside and close the door behind you.
>"H-hey Anon."
>Hey.
>Without a word you walk over and sit on the edge of the bed. Rainbow crawls across the sheets and sits next to you.
>For a minute neither of you say anything. You decide to break the ice.
"You know what I am going to ask."
>Rainbow winces. "Yeah...look Anon-"
"What is an estrus cruise?"
>A pause. A sigh. "A stupid bucking idea thats what."
>Her crestallen tone and sudden slouch draw your gaze to her.
>"When I was talking with Vinyl, she was totally amped when she heard about us finally getting together."
>You nod.
>"But she also heard about how...popular you are with other mares."
>You nod.
>Rainbow scrunches her eyes shut and shakes her head. "Im sorry Anon I don't know why I let her do it but she got in my head. She made me..." She looks away with tears in her eyes. "Doubt you."
>Ouch. That fucking stings. You stay quiet though and merely nod.
 
>"Don't get me wrong! She totally thinks your awesome its just..." Her eyes dart about the room as she tries to find the words. You say it for her.
" 'What if?' "
>Her head droops. "Im sorry Anon..."
You sigh. "Its fine. Having doubts comes with any relationship...but why the cruise? Whats the point?"
>She grins sheepishly. "Well...during estrus ponies tend to gather for...well y'know."
"Don't I ever. Go on."
>"Well, ponies tend to go to these...gatherings for different reasons. Mares for relief, stallions to...do their thing, and...couples...to test themselves."
"What."
>Rainbow's grin looks more like a painful cringing now. "Y'know...to test their...faithfulness...to eachother."
>Oh God.
"Rainbow...thats...thats really, really unnecessary. You know you're the only mare for me."
>"I know!" she cries. Her hooves wrap around you as she buries her face into your chest. "I know you would never cheat on me Anon, and I would -never- do that to you either! I should never have let Vinyl talk me into this..."
>You feel your shirt growing damp. You wrap your arms around her and hold her close.
 
>She draws a raspy breath. "Its just...Its just I didn't want you to be near Ponyville...near -them-" she spits the last part out with contempt. "And...*sniff* and I wanted to show them. Show them ALL that we were meant to be together...that nothing can get between us, not even this."
>Of course. Rainbow is the element of loyalty; it only makes sense that she would want to show any potential competition the strength of your relationship.
>Rainbow continues to softly cry into your chest. "We'll just-" she chokes. "-we'll just get on a returning ship when we reach the resort. This was such a stupid-"
"Lets do it."
>She freezes, then extricates her face from your chest and stares at you with glistening eyes. "Anon?"
"You heard me." You say with a smile.
>"But...but aren't you mad?"
"A little. I would like to have known before we left that I would be spending the next two weeks being surrounded by potential rapists." She cringes. "But this is important to you...which means its important to me. So lets do it. Lets show them all just how strong our love is, show them that we are the only ones for each-"
>You never finish your sentence. Rainbow tackles you into the bed, lips firmly locked onto yours.
 
>The two of you writhe about, lost in eachother's lips. Her tongue invades your mouth and immediately begins to battle your own for dominance. Her hips grind into your waist making your pants noticably moist...and tight.  It only ends when the two of you need to break away for air.
>Rainbow smiles down at you panting. "Thank you Anon. You won't regret this."
>You hope shes right. Well, you would if you had enough time to think before she darts back down for another session of tongue tango.
>This time it lasts even longer. Your hands run down her back, to her wings. You gently massage and tease the joints of the turgid appendages eliciting a groan of pleasure into your mouth.
>You move lower, finding and squeezing her flanks. Despite being so athletic, they still have a slight cushiness for your hands to sink into. You grab hold and pull her down even harder onto you.
>She finally breaks away. "A-anon..." she gasps. Music to your ears.
"Yes?" You ask innocently before leaning up to nibble on one of her adorable pointy ears.
>She bites her lower lip with a whimper. Your pants may as well have been thrown into the ocean at this point, so you decide to commit one of your hands to the task of getting them off.
>"I- Nnf! I w-" She gasps as you abandon her ear and sink your teeth into her neck. Not enough to break the skin, but just hard enough to send her panting into overdrive. Theres a reason she loves your canines after all. Meanwhile your hand has finally gotten your belt undone and is starting to pull your pants and underwear off.
 
>She pulls away to look you straight in the eyes, her warm breath melting across your face. "I want you." The naked hunger in her eyes is more than apparent.
You grin. "Working on it sweetness."
>You finally have your pants down. Your hand returns to her flank as you revel in the damp warmth between her haunches.
>She hisses as her hips grind against your now bare waist. Her face is screwed up into an adorable grimace as she chews her bottom lip. You decide to up the ante and move a hand from her flank, slowly, to between her legs.
>With a shrill cry her back arches, her wings stiff and shooting straight off her back toward the cieling. You plant a trail of kisses from the tip of her snout and down her neck while your hands continue to work their magic.
>Shes shaking all over from your attentions. Its only a matter of time before-
>"A-Anon!!" Yeah, its time.
>You start to move her into position, but she stops you. "I want you...so badly." she breathes. "But..."
"But?"
>She gazes back into your eyes...while a wicked grin forms on her lips. "Payback is a bitch."
>Before you can even comprehend what she just said, she shoots off you and streaks into the bathroom laughing.
>...areyoufuckingkiddingme.jpg
 
>You attempt to stand but only succeed in falling face first to the floor, pants around your ankles.
>This was bullshit!
>"Deal with it bro.~" She coos through the door.
>What about her 'reward'? She couldn't honestly say she didn't want it!
>"Of course I wan't it! And ill be happy to take it later tonight!" she calls from the bathroom with a giggle.
>You get back to your feet, mentally cursing the universe for the pain of denied release.
>You kind of deserve this though...wait like hell you do! There were extenuating circumstances earlier! You had to get to dinner!
>"Anyway get changed!"
>What? Why?
>"We're going out!"