A certain centaur stood in the courtyard. She had a delicate but athletic figure, her coat and hair brushed to perfection, her skin cleansed and perfumed. Her attire was a blend of light armour and a dress. There were plates protecting her sides, pauldrons, and padding, but also delicate fabrics. Cloth clung tightly to her upper body like a second skin, and a frilly skirt swayed gently in the wind. The best name for her attire would be a battle dress.

This mare stood in the courtyard, her presence strong and imposing. Her whole body radiated an aura of lethal beauty. She was the most beautiful of all the mares, her charms undeniable. She was also the strongest, her speed and grace were unmatched. She was the Centaur Champion, a mare who could only be ridden by a King.

“Go ahead, I’m all yours,” she bubbled, standing at the ready.

In one quick swoop, the Spider King mounted her.

“How is it? Are you comfortable?” she asked, adjusting her posture.

“Your back is surprisingly comfy.” He basked in the warm sensation between his legs. Her shape was perfect, as if her body was made for the sole purpose of riding. “But are you sure we should be doing this without a saddle?”

“Yes, the saddle would spoil it. We’ll ride raw, just like nature intended.”

“Ah… but there are no stirrups or a bridle for me to hold on.”

“I didn’t know you were into that sort of thing…” she neighed softly, blushing ever so lightly.

“I just need something to hold on to, that’s all,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Then, go ahead,” she encouraged.

“….”

“Go. Ahead,” she insisted.

“….”

“Better,” she gave a satisfied smile. “But hold tighter!”

Tighter he held, basking in the soft sensation in his palms. Her shape was perfect, as if it was made for the sole purpose of holding on.

“Let’s start it slow this time,” he suggested, still slightly afraid of her speed.

“Good idea. Let’s enjoy this.” Her body moved, her gait slow.

Together, they moved toward the castle gate. A small escort of Centaurs and spiders followed after them. The Centaur Champion picked up her pace, going quicker. He couldn’t see it, but she wore a warm, sunny grin on her face.

“When we’re like this, it’s almost like our bodies are connected. Don’t you think?”

Indeed, he could feel her muscles moving, the warmth of her body, and even her heartbeat.

“I agree. In battle, the rider and his mount are one.”

“I like this feeling,” she bubbled, her hand pressing his closer to the warmth of her chest.

He felt her heart starting to beat faster. Was she nervous about something? If so, that made two of them.

The stroll was casual, but they were out of the castle walls in no time at all. Time flies when you enjoy it, right?

“Let’s go faster. Ready?” she asked, her neigh mischievous.

“Yes!” he pressed close to her, holding tight.

She galloped with grace, her body somehow not shaking much. But perhaps it was a stable ride because he sat just right, he held just right, he also helped her to stabilise. Either way, this was a soft and pleasant ride.

“My King, go ahead, lean into my back, make yourself comfortable. It will be a while until we reach the Spidery Outpost.”

He did as she suggested, pressing close, resting his chin on her shoulder. By now, he wasn’t just comfortable—he felt secure, protected from all stress and worldly dangers. He realized that he trusted this mare, trusted her with his life. As she galloped, cold gusts of wind brushed past him, but he didn’t need to worry about the chill—this ride came with its own heating function. It was very luxurious.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the Centaur Champion smiling. "We've grown closer, haven't we?" she asked.

"I think we have."

"Do you think we could grow... even closer?" she asked with a hint of hesitation.

"Why not? But can we even be closer than we are now?"

"Well, it's up to you..." she implied something deeper. "And then there's my wish..."

"Ah yes, you haven't told me what you want. What is it?" He felt her heart beating faster.

"I believe, a long time ago, you wished for something similar. And you have it, but... not quite the real thing. I believe I could do better. So much better." She took a deep breath, gathering her resolve. "My wish is to achieve the Ultimate Cream Cheese! Please, allow me to gift it to you."

That was surprising! And it was so much like her. To put it simply, her wish was to give him a special gift. This centaur was a very cute mare, no doubt about it. So kind. Too kind! And he didn’t deserve her.

"Sure!" he readily agreed. "So, are you missing the Ingredients or something like that?"

"Something like that..." she replied with a blush. "It's something only you can provide."

"I'm glad to help!" he piped up in excitement. "What is it?"

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"It's a cream, a very special type of cream..."

"Oh?"

"Yes... you know what I mean, don’t you?"

"I have no clue! What is it?"

"It’s a bit embarrassing to say..." she neighed shyly. "I can't... I can't say it."

"You have to say it! We must make that Ultimate Cream Cheese! I want it!" He hugged her tight, as tight as he could.

"Well..." Her face flushed deep red. "It's not just the cream. The cream is the easy part... It's... it's where you put it... and what happens after..."

"???" He wasn’t following at all. And it was unusual for her to be this flustered.

"Stop teasing me... I know you know..."

"I’m confused. Just say it. Say what you need of me," he demanded, holding on with authority.

"Ahh... I want you to ride me..." she neighed softly.

Well, that came out of nowhere. "..." He paused to think. "But I already am."

She snorted, her breath hot. "... Not like this, you silly."

"???"

"For my wish to come true..." Her cheeks burned red, her chest tense. "Spider King, please ride me through the night! Allow me to gift you the Ultimate Cream Cheese!"

"!!!" He almost fell off. "What sort of cream cheese is that!?"

"The Ultimate kind! Something which can only be achieved when a mare is expecting. So please, give me a foal, and I'll give you the best dessert ever!"

So, her real wish was… a foal. Why did she have to ask in such a roundabout way? He pondered the craziness of it all and the chaotic mess he had landed himself in. He should’ve known better than to accept her ride through those crimson clover fields. Now, he had a crazy wish to grant.

Mistaking his silence for something else, she whinnied softly. “Is… is that a no?” Her voice cracked, the corners of her eyes moistening.

“Sorry, that just took me by surprise,” he said, caught off guard by the situation. He had made the declaration to grant her wish in front of everyone, Centauri and Spiders alike. It would be very unkingly to back out now. He just hadn’t expected this development. “A promise is a promise… so it’s not exactly a no,” he added, surprising himself with his own words.

She galloped with more energy, her steps full of enthusiasm. “Then it’s a YES!”

It was a complicated yes. True, the Centauri Champion was capable of crafting sweet and near-unbeatable desserts. Her body was a bomb of flavour—almost lethally so. The connoisseur in him screamed 'yes!', a big, shameless 'YES!!!'. Truth be told, his heart desired the Ultimate Cream Cheese, the forbidden dessert. However, there was still reality to contend with. He might be a King, but he wasn’t free to do as he pleased. He’d need to seek counsel, whether it be spidery or of the Lamia kind.

“I’ll have to make proper arrangements. Can you wait until then?” he asked, hopeful for some time.

“Oh, you mean your wife? Don’t worry about her.”

“Huh!? What do you mean?” He nearly fell off again.

She grabbed his hands, pressing them back to her chest. “I sort of brushed this past her. She said it was alright.”

“No way she said that!” And yet, he felt her heartbeat going steady, her pulse – calm. She wasn’t lying.

“Yes, she did! We discussed this before I left for my Quest. Well, there were conditions, of course.”

“Even with conditions... I don’t expect her to be this understanding,” he slumped back into the warmth of her body.

“The Lamia Queen might be young, but she’s wise beyond her years—she knows her husband well. You should give her more credit.”

“So… what are these conditions?”

“Right. It all makes sense if you think about it. I won’t be your wife, I won’t even be your mistress. Not officially, anyway. My only duty is to birth a foal—an heir to all Centauri, an ever-loyal vassal to the Spider Kingdom. This would enshrine the Forever Alliance between the Centauri and Spiders for ages to come. Such was her condition. A condition I gladly agreed to.”

“This doesn’t sound like the Lamia Queen at all!” He couldn’t imagine his mischievous wife plotting such things. Then again, she was a troublemaker.

“Hmm…” the Centauri Champion neighed softly. “The Spider Advisor might or might not have whispered in her ear during our discussion. And, I may or may not have given the advisor all the blue jelly the Centauri had secretly stockpiled.” She admitted it quickly, as if it were of no consequence.

Now things were making more sense. “But why now? Why haven’t I heard of this?”

“There were other conditions. First, I had to liberate my people. Second, I had to secure the Centauri Territory. I did need some help with the latter—thank you for that. My Quest is now complete, and my reward… I mean, my wish... is soon to be fulfilled, yes?”

It seemed life had aligned as it should. He’d be sure to give the Lamia Queen more credit next time. But anyway, "Let's not rush into things. There is a… natural order to all this.” Now it was he who blushed.

“I think the natural order is progressing just fine. You are riding me, after all. Haha.”

“…”

“Aww, you're so cute when you're embarrassed! Are you excited for the dessert worthy of a King, the Ultimate Cream Cheese?” The Centauri Champion teased, her voice light and playful.

“…”

“Please look forward to it. I have great things planned.”

“…”

“Oh! And don’t worry about naming our foal. I already have the perfect name.”

“What is it?”

“Hmm… It’s obvious. It’s the thing you like the most!”

“Which is?”

The bold and brazen Centauri Champion suddenly turned shy again. “… you know. It’s the very thing we’ll be making.”

Something he liked the most… something they’d be making… If that were the case, the foal might end up with a rather obscene name.

“Forbidden Dessert?” he guessed, trying to stay mild.

“No, silly! It’s Cream Cheese! That’s the name I’ve settled on a long time ago.”

“Cream Cheese, huh? I do like it… But is this a boy’s or a girl’s name?”

“Obviously a boy’s,” she neighed, her confidence returning.

“And what if it’s a girl?” He hugged her closer, tighter. An embrace worthy of a King.

“Nope. It’s gonna be a boy, a formidable stallion! Don’t ask me how, but I just know it,” she neighed, her steps growing bolder with each leap.

“And what if… it’s a spider?”

“Huh!” She almost tripped. “Is that even possible?”

“Well, I am a Spider King, so anything’s possible.”

“…” Her gallop slowed, a serious look darkening her face. “A spider… Half-Spider, half-Centauri…” She was clearly imagining some grotesque abomination, her complexion paling.

“Hahaha,” he laughed, brushing it off. “Don’t take me seriously, I was only joking. It’ll be a handsome stallion. I’m sure of it.”

“Oh! Hahaha! Yes!” The spring returned to her steps, light and full of energy.

The Spider King couldn’t help but smile. Spider, Centauri, or a bizarre mix of both—either way, he was surprisingly happy about this whole development. Perhaps it had been buried deep in his heart all along, but for quite some time now, he had yearned to grow closer to the Centauri Champion. He was sure of that now, the throbbing heart in his chest was the proof.

“I feel that from now on, we’ll grow much-much closer.” He leaned forward, planting a soft kiss on her cheek.

“Oh my… careful now, or you’ll make me trip again.”

The Spidery Outpost was still a good distance away. Usually, long trips weren’t enjoyable, but the Spider King didn’t mind this one at all. It was so pleasant, so warm and soft—he didn’t even want to get off. It was as if the Centauri Champion had been made for the sole purpose of being ridden. Indeed, she was the PerfectMount. Perfect for him in every way.

The two—Spider King and Centauri Champion, rider and mount—felt inseparable, united as one as they rode toward their shared destiny. It wasn’t just about fulfilling a wish anymore. It was about their bond, one growing ever stronger, sealed by something as simple yet significant as the Ultimate Cream Cheese.

While they frolicked like a youthful couple, flirting at every given chance, a certain spider glared from the shadows. Four yellow eyes glowed with jealousy, but also with determination and resolve.

“I will not. Let my spot. Be stolen,” the spider chirped a whisper under its mandibles. “I will excel. I will Evolve.”