Ruby led me up to a flat deck; it seemed like something you’d find in a large back garden or maybe a secluded park. A gazebo type building with a cone roof of white tiles with a deep brown fence. It was quite large by gazebo standards but probably normal for lamias. Ruby slid into the centre and curled up, she lay facing west, my right, and glanced at me.

“Come on, you have to see this, sit down.” Ruby tapped her piled up tail beside her and I gulped “Come on Bolt, I won’t bite.” Ruby made a cute little nipping sound with her teeth, giggling.

It was her laughter, a proper sincere laugh, at her playful joke that convinced me to move forward.

I walked up beside Ruby’s tail and she looked up at me, her tail flexed as if in anticipation for coiling me up and I hesitated. Ruby’s face fell slightly.

“You don’t have to be scared Bolt.” She whispered I bowed my head.

“I feel like... If I agree to this I’m surrendering my freedom... Like I did when I let you hypnotise me. I’m a Pegasus Ruby, we don’t like being confined or trapped... It frightens us.” I said and gasped when Ruby draped a loop over my neck.

“Sometimes... Being held to the ground can be a good thing Bolt, sure the view from the sky might be beautiful... But you can only see the details up close. Just find somepony you trust, to hold you down, someone you know will let go if you ask.” Ruby whispered.

“Would you let go?” Ruby paused and smiled.

“Maybe...” she purred pulling me forward towards her tail.

I sat down, turning to face the same direction as Ruby and she backed up slightly and coughed strangely.

“You okay?” I asked Ruby looked at me funnily.

“Yeah, fine... Anyway, enjoy the view.” She said it disappointedly, what was she disappointed about?

I just shrugged and followed her gaze. Celestia’s sun was beginning its decent behind the distant mountains, the opposite side of the badlands, in the west. The sky slowly turned orange and, as the sun was slowly falling out of sight, it broke through a set of tree leaves in front of us and beams of light radiated around the gazebo roof and I stared up in awe.

Have you ever seen a disco ball reflect different colours at a party? It was like that but more beautiful. Shades of the rainbow dancing in beams spinning down slowly like spotlights, it was amazing, they reflected off Ruby’s scales like tiny little lights at the bottom of concert stages. The colours turned darker and grew larger as the sun descended more behind the mountain, then they flashed white and faded and the stars began to appear along with the moon.

“That was amazing.” I whispered Ruby chuckled.

“Glad you enjoyed it.” She said her tail pushing against my body. Ruby pushed my head to face her with her tail, grinning “You know I could show you some even prettier colours than that if you want.” She purred. I looked forward at where the sun had set.

“Please don’t Ruby.” I whispered, and I glanced back at her and she looked disappointed then smiled faintly.

Ruby’s tail coiled over my back and pushed me down further into Ruby’s coils.

“Hay, what are you doing?” I asked.

Ruby ignored me piling more coils over me, beginning to form something that resembled a blanket out of her tail. I tried to stand, I was nervous enough just sitting down on her tail but this, I’d told her I didn’t like feeling trapped, but when I tried I found I was pinned by the sheer weight of Ruby’s tail

Rub.

“R-Ruby please stop this, it’s not funny.” I whispered.

“Just be patient, I promise you’ll enjoy this.” Ruby whispered tightening her tail around me.

Ruby draped a final coil around my neck, pushing my head down, and then squeezed. I gasped, not from having the air forced out of my lungs, from the amazing feeling of Ruby’s scales pressing into my body, contracting as I shifted. Ruby relaxed her tail and I breathed in and her tail rubbed against my body as my chest expanded, like a constant full body massage.

“You enjoying this?” Ruby asked slowly constricting again.

“Yes.” I mumbled resting my head on Ruby’s tail and submitting to the work of her tail.

Ruby’s muscles pressed into my wings, brushing below them until I unfolded them and let them rest between two coils, which clamped down on them. Ruby’s tail began sliding across my body as if continuing to coil around me, before reversing as if uncoiling. The feeling of Ruby’s scales sliding over my body was heavenly and I felt like putty in her hooves, or would that be tail?

I let my eyes close and a smile spread over my mouth as Ruby pampered me with her tail.

“So, do you want this to get even better?” Ruby asked constricting once again. I opened my eyes and managed to look at Ruby.

“Please Ruby stop asking, I don’t want to be controlled.” I said though still smiling faintly at the massage.

“How’s about I just... Put you under a light trance, you could look away and still think but it’ll still make you feel better.” Ruby offered I closed my eyes and tried to think up an argument as to why I didn’t want to be hypnotised even slightly.

But I couldn’t, maybe it was some post hypnosis thing making me crave it, or Ruby massaging me so I was more suggestible... Or maybe I just trusted her at last...

“Y-You promise to stop if I ask, right?” I asked Ruby blinked, surprised, then smiled faintly and crossed her hoof over her heart.

“Promise.” She whispered.

“Okay...” I managed.

Ruby piled a bit of her tail in front of me and lay down, resting her head on her hooves, so we were eye level and within touching distance, if I could have moved my hooves at all. Ruby closed her eyes, flexing her tail and curling a coil under my chin to rest my head on, she then opened them again. It wasn’t the same bombardment as the previous two times, where Ruby had tried to collapse my mind as fast as she could. Her eyes with pulsing with two slowly changing colours, they were still beautiful and very much captivating but it didn’t feel like they were forcing their way into my mind to take control, more like they were stroking it. I let my eyes half close and just stared, my breathing slowed and Ruby gently pressed her tail in around my shoulders.

“Isn’t this relaxing Bolt, you don’t have to be scared of hypnosis. It’s something you can enjoy, you just have to let me help,” Ruby whispered “Bolt, if you don’t mind me asking, what made you decide to let me do this?” Ruby asked.

My mind had to work hard to try and form thoughts around the clouded mist that had formed from watching Ruby’s eyes. The hypnosis was weak and wouldn’t ever put me under fully but still... It was relaxing and made me simply want to be quiet and enjoy it

“I... I guess I decided you... Really wouldn’t do anything I didn’t like. I’m still scared but... It is very nice just to... Relax.” I whispered letting my body go limp and sink slightly into Ruby’s soft muscly tail.

My mind was pretty much a slightly solid mush at this point, I felt incredibly relaxed and almost wanted to drop to sleep, but didn’t want to tear my eyes away. I felt like I could, I just didn’t want to stop feeling so good.

“Hay Ruby...” I managed.

“Yeah, what’s up Bolt?” she asked.

“Would you mind... Stopping so we can go back to your house... I’m tired but... I don’t want to stop watching your eyes.” I said the words forming slowly. It was also a small test to see if she would keep to her promise.

“Course Bolt, the ground isn’t as comfortable for my tail as you’d think.” She said standing up.

Ruby pulled me up from the mass of her coils before standing me on my shaky hooves, her eyes slowly returning to normal, it was actually kinda upsetting for her to stop, but I didn’t want to think I’d be so easily controlled... I doubt she bought it. Ruby stared at me as I walked up beside her.

“You look exhausted,” Ruby muttered.

“I’ve just been mentally and physically assaulted amazingly for several minutes, it’s quite tiring.” I said Ruby smiled softly.

“You looked cute snuggling up to my tail, you know at one point spirals started moving over your eyes too.” Ruby said.

“My eyes spiral too?” I asked.

“Yeah, it’s an effect of hypnosis, light trances generally don’t reflect the spirals in victims eyes, because they still have a lot of control but you... Let go a little at one point.” Ruby explained.

“So what would happen if I was fully hypnotised?”

“Fully blow reflective spirals covering your eyes pulsing rapidly, it’s how ponies can tell you’re under a spell, that, and you generally smile a lot under full hypnosis from all the blissful relaxant...” Ruby blushed “Sorry that probably sounded kinda weird.”

“No it actually sounded... Tempting.” I whispered then blushed myself.

“Maybe in future when you’re more comfortable... I don’t think we should blow it now,” Ruby whispered.

“Agreed...” Then smirked “You can still relax me with light trances though...” I looked at Ruby lowering myself down and trying to look pleading “Mistress.” I whispered dragging out the s’ in the word, Ruby blushed and I burst out laughing and she giggled slightly.

“Not funny Bolt... I might make you actually call me that.” She threatened.

“No way, I’m calling you Ruby, in or out of trance.” I said.

“Good... Because I don’t want to treat you like a slave, you aren’t one.” Ruby said seriously.

Silence fell after that line for a minute as we... Em... Was going to say walked but Ruby is half snake so... Travelled through town? Yeah I’ll go with that, anyway; the fact that I was a slave in this city, even if I wasn’t treated like one, still made it the truth.

“Bolt... Would you want me to fight Midnight? I mean if I win you could...” I trotted in front of Ruby and put my hoof to her mouth silencing her.

“When we, both of us, fought Midnight I broke my leg and you nearly lost your life... Please, I love Equestria a lot but it’s not worth risking your life over. So promise me you won’t fight Midnight, promise?” Ruby looked at me sadly.

“I’m sorry... But I also want to see Equestria... I can’t promise that... Besides The Queen didn’t specifically say who I’d fight.” she said.

“You know Midnight would volunteer and the Queen would accept, she wants to win that wager. But-but, since your serious, promise you won’t fight Midnight until my leg has healed, okay?” Ruby looked at me debating it “It’d give you time to practise at least, if you truly want to do this.” That seemed to win her over.

“It would be best to be prepared... Yeah okay, I promise I won’t fight Midnight until your leg has healed.” Ruby said then gasped.

Ruby gasped because I hugged her... I don’t know why maybe I thought my leg wouldn’t ever heal but... I didn’t want to see her get hurt... I don’t know why, maybe because she’d already done so much she didn’t need to risk more for my sake. But she wanted freedom too, and I couldn’t deny what she herself wanted, I could only help prepare her any way I could... No matter how little I could help.

I broke the hug, my face flushed.

“Em, sorry about that dunno where it came from...” I cleared my throat “Should we keep heading back home now?” I asked Ruby managed a nod as if in shock and followed beside me. I didn’t find out till later our conversation hadn’t been very private.

Ruby pushed open the door slowly poking her head in.

“We have to be quiet if my mum is awake...” Ruby mumbled.

“You should let her know you’re back or she might be more worried in the morning.” I whispered Ruby looked back to retort then somepony screamed and Ruby was pulled inside, I followed after her.

Ruby was struggling against the crushing hug her mother was giving her, Diamond looked at me and smirked at her daughter, loosening her hug and pulling back. Now she wasn’t hidden by her daughter I could see she looked pretty bad, Diamond had likely waited by the door for Ruby’s return growing more worried, her fur was slightly frizzled and her eyes puffy and purple as if she hadn’t slept at all.

“Your friend is right, you shouldn’t have tried hiding from me and talked to me!” She said hugging Ruby again sobbing “I was so worried Ruby... I’ve lost you once, not again please. Don’t run off or I’ll tie you to a leash.” Diamond threatened.

Diamond took several minutes to calm down before heading up to her room, Ruby groaned.

“She’s so over-protective.” She grumbled.

“Well you did run away from home, I’d guess that would make anypony protective.” I said.

“Guess so... Anyway, we were going to carry on from before, right?” Ruby said leading the way upstairs. Ruby led me to the room I’d woken up in.

“Wait... this is your room?” I asked.

“Yeah, why?” Ruby asked and I blushed.

“I slept in your bed... Didn’t I?” I asked Ruby nodded smirking.

“We only have the two bedrooms, so we have to share, anyway come on,” Ruby grinned “I want to wrap my tail back around you.” She purred.

Ruby climbed onto the massive bed, curling up in the centre and I slowly walked around. Ruby lay her tail down against the left side of the bed like a second mattress and I climbed on top, lying on my back, hooves at my side.

“You say you don’t want to be trapped yet you’re in the perfect restraining position if I coil you up.” Ruby noted smirking.

“I can sleep under the covers if you’d prefer...” I threatened and Ruby shook her head.

“No, I was just saying!” Ruby blinked then blushed “Real funny Bolt.” I smiled faintly.

Ruby coiled her tail slowly around my rear hooves then began coiling up my legs towards my body.

“I’m going to fully coil you up,” Ruby wrapped another coil around me, the previous coils getting thicker and pushing the rest of the tail higher up.

“Then, I’m going to use the cocoon around your body like a pillow and lie on top of you,” Ruby’s tail had reached my body and skipped to my stomach, pinning my front hooves down in the process, Ruby’s words were slightly scary, but I was slightly exited as well.

“Then I’m going to let my eyes spiral with hypnosis,” Ruby wrapped a further coil around me, reaching the middle of my body covering my wings, which I’d stretched out for her to coil around.

“Your mind will slow down, and your body will relax and sink into my tail, you’ll look back on this and have no better experience in your life to contemplate on,” Ruby’s tail reached the base of my neck slowing down as it curled around my windpipe, the rest of her tail already flexing, pressing into my body.

“And your warmth will leak into my body and relax me, you heart will flutter as I tighten my tail, it’ll all be so nice.” Ruby tightened the end of her tail around my neck, making me gulp for air, her whole tail squeezing me at the same time, before loosening. It felt amazing.

“So, ready to start?” Ruby asked climbing on top of her tail, lying on it her face inches from my own.

“Yes.” Was all I managed to say.

Ruby’s eyes were covered with slowly pulsing colours instantly after I spoke, I leaned forward slightly until Ruby pushed my head back down with her tail. Two colours consistently pulsed over Ruby’s eyes, making my head buzz pleasantly, her tail was pressing into my body and loosening to let me breath. The constant rubbing of Ruby’s scales against my fur was divine.

“You’re very good... At this.” I managed my eyes drooping, I couldn’t close my eyes fully unless I forced them too, and I didn’t want to really, this was too nice to stop.

Ruby disappeared from view for a second and I blinked as the faint fog in my head began to clear. I felt Ruby’s tail pull away from my body, then Ruby suddenly appeared beside me, snuggling up to me. She grinned, her tail pressing back in forcing us together and trapping my hooves again.

“Ruby not funny I’m not a... Teddy bear.” Ruby’s eyes lit back up into colourful pulsing spirals as I was speaking and my speech fell away “Can’t think... Ruby you said you wouldn’t... Fully...” I managed.

“Oh it’s no more powerful that before Bolt,” Ruby whispered rolling me over and wrapping her hooves around me in a hug. Her forehead pressed against mine I couldn’t see anything but the deep pools of colours in her eyes “It’s just you’re so close now, it’s harder to resist,” Ruby giggled and I moaned slightly as Ruby’s tail massaged my back “Your eyes are copying mine.” She whispered.

“S-stop... Please.” I begged my mouth falling open in awe.

It was amazingly relaxing but I was now afraid Ruby might put me under fully.

“Shh, Easy Bolt,” Ruby rubbed my muzzle with her own and my face began to feel much warmer “I said its no more powerful than before, means you won’t pass this point... Your just slightly further in because of proximity,” Ruby pulled back slightly so I could see her face “And tell me you’re not enjoying this.” She said and sure enough I couldn’t.

Her tail, pressing into my body, was making me go limp and feel so good cuddling me, her cool coils absorbing the warmth from my body and her eyes... Drawing me into a small place that was truly just bliss.

“It is... Very nice...” I managed “Just don’t hypnotise me... Fully, okay?” I asked.

“Not without your waking permission, don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of your weakened mind.” Ruby said snuggling up to me.

“Hay Bolt,” Ruby whispered after a few minutes of silent hypnosis.

“Y-yeah?” Ruby shifted slightly and looked up at me embarrassed slightly.

“Can... Can I...” Ruby bowed her head and I tried to shake the hypnosis away the best I could.

“Ruby are you okay? W-what did you want?” I asked Ruby looked back up with me, eyes still spiralling and I didn’t resist the urge to fall under again

sh.

“Can I...” Ruby looked down sadly “Can I sing you too sleep?” she asked, definitely not what she had in mind but I didn’t press her... Mainly because I couldn’t form the words too.

“Sure.” I said Ruby smiled and lay down against her tail as if it was a pillow staring at me her endlessly swirling eyes drawing me in.

“Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to lay your sleepy head,” Ruby sung the song gently dragging out the words slightly, flexing her tail whenever she did, her voice was certainly pleasant and relaxing and the hypnosis compelled me to listen.

“Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to go to bed. Drift off to sleep, leave the exiting day behind you.” Ruby was smiling faintly at me, her own eyes drooping, mine closed entirely until I forced them open to keep watching Ruby’s beautiful pulsing eyes more.

“Drift off to sleep, let the joy of dream land take you,” I’m sure it was ‘dream land find you’ but I was too exhausted at this point to care.

Ruby’s coiling, massaging, hypnosis and lullaby were helping me drift to sleep, Ruby herself leaned close, her breath on my mouth and she blushed faintly.

“Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to lay your sleepy head, hush now quiet now,” Ruby pulled back and I think she looked disappointed but my brain couldn’t figure out why. It couldn’t do much at that point it was pretty much liquid.

“It’s time to go to bed.” Ruby dragged out the final word to her song and smiled snuggling up to me and my eyes closed fully, I didn’t force them open, I let the spirals take me.

I managed to have a peaceful night with no nightmares, but I was still partially in hypnosis limbo but it faded after a while into blackness. I was shaken awake. My eyes fluttered open slightly before I closed them, still sleepy. I rolled over and cuddled up to the soft muscly wall of Ruby’s tail.

“Bolt, wake up.” Ruby whispered shaking me again.

“Hypnosis, making me extra tired.” I grumbled before being squeezed. I coughed for air then sat up.

“Okay I’m getting up.” I said Ruby’s tail fell down around me except around my neck, leaving me with a scaly collar.

“Er, Ruby I’m not a dog.” I muttered touching the collar.

“Think of it more a necklace that can massage you.” Ruby whispered I looked over at her sitting beside me and she gave me a silent pleading look.

“Okay, if it makes you happy, I’ll keep it on.” I whispered .

“When did I start caring what made her happy, even if it made me uncomfortable?” I wondered as Ruby clapped her hooves together then leaned forward, grinning, as her tail pressed into my neck.

I gasped softly as Ruby constricted my windpipe, restricting my breathing slightly.

“You really liked that, didn’t you.” Ruby noted grinning.

“S-Shut up, Ruby!” I said thankful for my red coat so my blushes were less noticeable, but Ruby still giggled tugging on her tail leash to make me start moving.

I think the most humiliating thing was seeing Diamond’s face, in the living room, she covered her mouth trying to not to laugh, blushing slightly.

“So are you two getting along better?” Diamond asked.

“He’s difficult to train.” Ruby said, my ears felt warm too now.

“I-I’m not a dog!” I said Ruby giggled and Diamond shook her head smiling.

“So, still believe your own lie Bolt?” Diamond asked.

“It’s not a lie.” I muttered Diamond sighed sadly.

“Aw well, you’ll both come around. Anyway I’m heading out again got a… Nice request today.” Diamond smiled faintly “A lamia asked for me to help treat one of the prisoners who’s developed a leg infection, probably from fighting another lamia… It’s nice to know word got around I’m willing to help regular ponies… Maybe next we can work on better living, let them have a little more freedom,” Diamond slid over to me and hugged me “I have to thank you again, you’re making this town better in ways you wouldn’t believe, Bolt. And thank you, I don’t remember seeing my daughter laugh much before you.” Diamond leaned close whispering in my ear “You’ll make a fine husband and father, for Ruby.”

“Ruby and me, married… And kids… I-ugh… Brain does not compute!” I swayed slightly on the spot and fell backwards onto something soft, which began to move around my body.

“I’ll leave you two alone to get even further acquainted.” Diamond said grinning at me.

Ruby tilted my head up to I could see her.

“So let’s start on some more hypnosis, shall we?”

I suddenly realised I was very much aware of her fur brushing against my back, her hooves resting on my shoulder and her warm sweet breath on my face. I mumbled something in protest my brain in lockdown.

“Bolt are you okay?” Ruby asked I managed to nod slightly “Do you want me to hypnotise you?” I shook my head then blinked.

“N-no, please don’t.” I whispered finally recovering speech.

“Aw but Bolt,” Ruby pressed her nuzzle against my ear “It’ll feel so good.” She purred and I shivered.

“Stop that!” I cried backing up slightly. Ruby just smiled innocently “L-Let’s just start with your training, shall we.” I said trying to distract Ruby. Ruby nodded.

“Okay… Well I think we can use the park we visited yesterday night, to watch the sunset, to train, let’s go.” I agreed because I wanted to make sure Ruby kept up her practise… Plus I didn’t want to stay in Diamond’s house alone with nothing to do.

Ruby watched the horizon where the sun had set the previous night, it was now about midmorning so the sun was behind us but it was still a beautiful view.

“So how are you going to practise?” I asked Ruby shifted slightly.

“Well Midnight has been trained as a guard, so she’ll be a much higher tier combatant. She’s more accurate and stronger then I am, what strengths do I have?” Ruby asked sounded hopeless, defeated before she even began.

“Speed,” I muttered Ruby looked at me confused “Think about it, how did we both end up beaten up, me more so?” I asked Ruby shrugged “We tried head on confrontation, we fought Midnight on her terms, in her element where she’s strongest. She is much bigger, stronger and more trained… But that is also her weakness,” I said grinning.

“How is being trained to fight her weakness?” Ruby asked.

“She’s never fought ponies before, they always cower from her. Remember her surprise at me attacking, more from me just surprising her. She isn’t used to it. She is trained to fight lamias more sophisticatedly.”

“So we fight dirty?” I nodded.

“Exactly, we make up our own style of fighting, a new one nopony knows yet, and we exploit her overly large size in combat and make use of your agility, she fights head on, it’s unlikely she knows any other way too, so let’s give her something new.” Ruby smiled warming up to the idea and I actually felt hopeful.

We might just pull this off, sure we’d need a damn sight lot of luck, but I was still alive which proved I couldn’t have terrible luck.

Then Ruby sort of deflated.

“But how do I practise hitting anything, or knowing I’m faster than Midnight?” Ruby asked.

“You manage to consistently hit me.” I suggested Ruby gasped.

“Bolt you can’t seriously be suggesting… I use you like a punching bag.” Ruby whispered.

“You make it sound as if I’ll be easy to hit.” I muttered fluttering my wings and zipping around Ruby.

She blinked turning to me and I flapped my wings jumping from side to side, I held back a little bit wanting to work up to the harder tiers first. Ruby easily managed to follow me, her tail shifting and coiling back as if to strike.

“Stop waiting to hit me and hit me!” I said flying right past Ruby and patting her back, it was no more than a gentle touch, maybe one you’d use to get someponies attention, but it proved I could hit her.

This darting around continued for a minute before I charged forward, hoping to boop Ruby on the nose, she caught my hoof in both her own and flipped me onto her tail.

“I take it catching an airborne Pegasus is difficult, no?” Ruby asked grinning down at me.

“Normally, yes. Once we’re fully in the air we’re as hard to catch as a butterfly barehoofed, mainly because of reach.” I said “Anyway let’s get back to it.” Ruby shook her head grinning suddenly.

“Hold on… Bolt I want to make a bet,” She said. Considering the Queen’s wager this sounded a little scary.

“Em what sort of bet?” I asked.

“Don’t worry it’s not that bad, I want to make a wager that if I tap you five times first I win, and vice versa. Anyway possible is fine.”

“What’s the prize?”

“Different for each of us, if I win I get to fully hypnotise you, what do you want if you win?”

“…I’ll choose later.” I said softly after a minute of thought

“So it’s agreed?” I nodded and Ruby grinned “Alright then, either side let’s start.”

I took off, hovering slightly above the ground and slowly circled Ruby. Ruby charged forward and I did a mid-air roll, tapping the centre of her back.

“One, nil.” I said backing away, Ruby growled slightly and did the exact same tactic.

I hovered backwards out of her way and tapped her head, as if petting a dog, grinning. Ruby backed away and it was my turn to charge. Ruby ducked to her left trying to bring her tail down to pin me, but I folded my wings, flying through like a thrown dart under her tail, tapping it as I went. Ruby coiled her tail into a large ring around her, raising various parts like hoops.

“Three, nil by the way.” I taunted, hoping to distract her.

Sure enough Ruby opened her mouth to retort and I shot forward, between two rings which immediately clamped shut between me.

I struggled fruitlessly, kicking my hooves before looking up at Ruby in front of me. She lightly prodded my nose before pushing me away, returning to the hoop tactic. I hovered slowly around Ruby watching her, this seemed like a much more defensive stance. We were mostly playing, I doubted this would even help but it was fun, and it was nice to keep my weight off my uneven legs. I charged forward then barrel rolled between a hoop as the original one I aimed for closed, I tapped Ruby’s tail and put some distance between us. Ruby groaned then sighed, flattening her tail along the ground in a straight line across from either side of her. I gained a little bit of high and dived towards Ruby, she jumped forward her tail rising with her and I tried folding my left wing to turn away from her but Ruby caught me. The pair of us tumbled to the ground and rolled over like a barrel. I felt Ruby’s tail, that connected to her pony half, wrap tightly around me then we lay still. My breathing quickened as I realised the situation I was in.

Ruby was lying on top of me her muzzle pushing mine up slightly, her breath, going almost directly up my nose, was addling my brain. Ruby’s face looked similar to how mine felt, meaning very red. Ruby pulled back slowly.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to…” I slowly raised my hoof and touched Ruby’s nose cutting her off.

“Five, two… I win.” I whispered then burst out laughing, Ruby followed after a few seconds.

It was nice to have something to laugh about despite my situation, but I think we mostly used it to avoid the awkward situation that had formed. I managed to climb up into a sitting position beside Ruby.

“Well we didn’t really get much practise in,” I noted “But… It was fun.” I said Ruby smiled faintly.

“So what now?” I stood up stretching my wings

“We go again?” I asked “But no wager this time since I’ve already won.” I mocked Ruby groaned then smiled.

“I’ll get you this time.” She threatened as I took to the air.

I’m not sure how long we stayed there, at one point we stopped and went back to eat then returned (We pinched some vegetables from my wagon this time since, whilst I like meat, my stomach can’t handle it repeatedly) Ruby lost almost eight times out of ten, which wasn’t the best but she managed to get a decent streak of up to six wins in a row at one point. Ruby finally collapsed and waved her hooves in the air in defeat, sighing. I landed beside her.

“So I’m the overall winner?” I asked grinning Ruby nodded.

“Here have your victor’s crown.” She said placing a ring coil on the top of my head. I blinked raising my hoof up.

“I’d prefer a medal.” I muttered pulling Ruby’s tail down around my neck where it fell down the front of my body, hanging like a medal of glittering red and white.

Ruby stared at me then squeezed my neck and I sighed softly, I felt my mouth twitch up into a vacant smile then blinked.

“That, right there, is why I want to hypnotise you so badly.” Ruby said I flinched slightly in fear and Ruby must have noticed “Bolt, I’m not going to without your permission!” Ruby said.

Ruby smiled faintly and squeezed my neck again. I rested my head against the coil closing my eyes.

“Let’s start heading back now.” Ruby said.

“Okay.” I whispered sighing contently.

Ruby’s tail seemed to find every little cranny to push into to make my neck relax. I didn’t realise we were back until Ruby tapped me gently.

“Bolt, we’re back.” She whispered softly I blinked yawning slightly.

I pushed open the door and walked slowly into the living room, collapsing on the pile of pillows. I felt Ruby coil her tail around my torso, her breath on the back of my neck.

“What are you so tired about suddenly, I was the one doing gymnastics to catch you.” She said as her tail rolled me around, I felt a lot like a fly in a spider’s web but I didn’t mind, it was really comfortable.

“It’s a lot harder and more taxing than you’d think flying around your attacks.” I whispered snuggling up to Ruby’s tail, rubbing my cheek against the cool scales.

Ruby squeaked and I looked at her, she was blushing faintly. I grinned rubbing my cheek against her tail again and she visibly shivered in delight, I wiggled my good hoof out and began gently rubbing it along her tail. I froze realising when I’d done this before.

“You hypnotised me into doing this…” I mumbled looking at Ruby whose eyes shone with deep guilt.

I did something so random and crazy that it stunned even me. I gently pressed my lips to a segment of Ruby’s coils and whispered.

“I’m sorry for shouting at you.” I looked up and Ruby looked adorable.

Her eyes were twinkling with tears and her face and ears were bright red and she was covering her mouth with her hooves. I smiled, blushing myself, and began running my hoof over her tail. Ruby remained silent until I heard something like a snake hissing when mad. I froze thinking I’d done something wrong, I look at Ruby, who was producing the sound. Eyes close with a vacant smile I realised what she was doing.

“Are you purring?” I asked Ruby blinked still red.

“S-sorry I just… I like this, it feels nice and I… Hiss when I’m happy.” She whispered I laughed.

“You hiss-purr? That’s adorable!” I managed to stop laughing and Ruby puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, I stroked her tail a little more and she scrunched her eyes close before letting a hiss out, she whimpered in embarrassment.

Ruby pinned my hoof down and pressed her muzzle against mine.

“I’ll hypnotise you if you keep forcing me to make those sounds.” She threatened. I smirked looking up at her, I wasn’t sure what caused my sudden bravery but I whispered.

“What if I put you under my spell first?” Ruby blinked confused.

“What kind of hypnosis can you do, Bolt?” She asked.

“Uncoil my hooves and I can show you.” I said Ruby blinked, suspecting a trap no doubt.

But Ruby was a curious one so she slowly moved her tail around to accompany my request. Ruby still looked unimpressed but a little curious, she was probably wondering how a regular Pegasus could put her under some sort of spell. It wasn’t the hypnosis kind that’s for sure. I took hold of Ruby’s right hoof with my own, smiling at her as she raised an eyebrow. I gently pressed my lips to the front of her hoof and Ruby gasped, freezing up.

“Consider yourself under my spell.” I whispered.

Ruby’s face was bright red like a flare and she looked like a cross between; pure embarrassment, happiness and confusion from my actions.

Finally Ruby recovered her ability to speak.

“W-What… How did you… Why… My hoof…” Okay so maybe not, I chuckled softly at her embarrassment whilst my mind did a little happy dance .

“She tastes so sweet I wonder what her… Lips would taste like…” I felt my brain slow down as I processed this. Ruby managed a complete sentence.

“You kissed my hoof.” She stated I nodded slightly, managing to smile.

I wriggled out from Ruby’s coils, which were now limp as her body shut down from surprise and shock, and stood up, offering my hoof to Ruby.

“Come on, this isn’t something to lose your head about.” I joked trying to push my previous thought away.

Author's Notes:

Wanna know what I did literally just before Ruby and Bolt's training... Listened to Team America "Gonna need a montage!" talk about ironic.

Anyway, since you all seem to think the title to this story is inspired by spice and wolf, even though it isn't, I decided to give you an actual quote from Spice and Wolf. A cookie for first person to get it! :)