When we entered the meeting room, I was surprised to see that Princess Luna and Rarity weren't there yet. There were only three stallions here (not counting Moon Black): Shining Armor, Flash Sentry, and a second nightwing I had not yet been introduced to. All the stallions (including Moon Black) were wearing a small onyx earring at the base of each ear.

The nightwings were otherwise nude, but Flash had on a thin onyx collar and a black denim jacket. My brother was wearing his Equestrian royal armor, despite the obvious fact that he rules a different kingdom now. As a former Captain in good standing, he is entitled to wear Equestrian armor as long as he isn't misrepresenting himself in an official capacity (which he currently is, I sadly suspect). I've already described what Cadance and I were wearing (a couple of entries back).

This room housed a large, central table (very long and reasonably thin, like a grand dining table), and there was a lot of extra space for pacing about. I suspected this was a "situation room" of sorts, partly from the layout, partly by context, and partly because Princess Celestia had never shown me this part of Canterlot Castle.

I tried to use my horn to peek at Moon Black's earrings. The empty void of magic sense (along with the incessant buzzing at the base of my skull which now commanded my attention) served as a bitter reminder of my disability. It's hard to get used to not having access to magic (I've already done this numerous times throughout the day). To be fair, most unicorns do rely on magic too much. As a pegacorn, I'm certainly no exception.

The mood in the room was tense. Flash Sentry seemed relaxed, and he winked at me as I entered, which should have creeped me out but instead made me blush and feel giddy for some reason. I guess it was the idea he might find me attractive, but I highly doubt this was the case. Unlike Flash, the other three stallions appeared stressed to the gills. Nopony was using what Cadance had called "the stance", either. I suspected that Brother was trying to be on his best behavior because he was worried about me reacting negatively to my confinement. I felt sorry for him (and I still kind of do, stupid though that may be).

"Hay, Babe," he said to Cadance, who quickly trotted around the table to tightly embrace her Master. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling a lot less certain about things now that Cadance was no longer right by my side. It hurt, even though it wasn't a gesture that had been aimed at me.

"And you too, LSBFF," he added to me. "I hope your arrangements have been comfortable." I opened my eyes, and saw him staring at me. He had a very nervous smile.

"They're... fine," I said, unsure whether I meant it. "And to kill this tension, I obviously can tell you're going to a lot of trouble to avoid freaking me out, and I want you to know it's okay. At this point I'm not going to be squicked by anything short of the grotesque." (I would later regret making this false claim.)

It worked! Everypony relaxed. Shoulders slumped, smiles returned, and the social guards of everypony seemed to drop. (Idea: what if vamponies are as easily manipulated as sex-naive ponies like myself? Would that give us the upper hoof?) Both nightwings took the Master stance, doubling in height as they stretched their upper legs in the air. Cocks emerged from sheathes, including Brother's, but he and Flash remained on all-fours rather than standing upright like an awkward, partly-shaved rainbow monkey. Flash Sentry's cock had already been erect when I'd arrived, though. I guess I didn't mention Flash's "sentry" (heh) being at attention at the start of this entry, because WHY THE BUCK WOULD I WANT TO MENTION SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

(I really hope ponies in other dimensions aren't reading this. If they are, at this point you are all officially perverts beyond compare. Yeah, I'm talking about you, unscrupulous pony reader. Shame on you!)

Flash was the first to say anything. "Princess Twilight Sparkle, the pony standing over there is Master Shadowbane. He's Lady... er, Princess Luna's owner," he explained.

Shadowbane smiled, took a slight bow, and waved with one batty wing. "It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance, Princess Twilight Sparkle," he said, in a voice with a vague foreign-sounding accent (a very attractive one, at least to my currently and hopefully forever non-poofy ear). I noticed that Moon Black and Shadowbane looked quite a bit alike: both had dark gray pelts and dark manes, along with muscular barrels and legs that seemed... interesting, for some reason. However, Moon Black's mane was coal-black and short-cropped, whereas Shadowbane's was navy blue with silvery streaks, slightly curled, and long (for a stallion). I suspect it may be harder for me to pick up on variations in nightwing appearance because I haven't met many. Facial and muzzle recognition are innate to ponies, naturally, but it's easy to miss subtle differences that stand out among people from a different culture if you haven't spent enough time around them.

Shining Armor kissed his wife on the cheek, then turned back to stare at me from across the table. "Hay, um, Twily... It's totally okay if you say no, but... could... would you mind if I gave you a hug?"

I sighed and rolled my eyes, then walked slowly around the large table and up to my insane brother and his equally-insane wife (heh, I think "batty" is an amusing pun for "insane vampony", but I'm pretty sure nightwings who aren't nightborns would consider that super-racist). They quickly sandwiched me in a warm glomp, which felt nicer than I wanted them to know. When they pulled back, I could see my brother was holding back tears.

"I'm so glad you're okay, Sis," he said. "Oh, and there's somepony else who wants to see you, too."

"Is this the friend you were talking about?" I asked Cadance.

She shook her head. "No, she'll be by later this evening." Internally, I felt relieved, because 'she' means it can't be Spike. (Well, probably. Bleah. I have no desire to ponder this further, since the mystery mare still hasn't shown up as of this writing.)

Moon Black walked up to one of the side doors and opened it, and in stepped two distraught-looking ponies who I know even better than my closest friends.

"Twilight?" gasped Mom. She and Dad trotted up to me. Mom looked like she was about to jump on me out of desperation. She wore her coppers, and Dad was nude and erect (of course), but on all fours.

Dad blocked her with a hoof. "No, Velvet," he said.

"Oh, Little Tee, we're so sorry!" Twilight Velvet blurted out, tearing up. "This is all my fault—"

"We've been over this, dear. It isn't your fault," said Night Light, his face showing the same lines of worry. He kissed her cheek. "If anything, it's mine, because I'm the Master between us. But neither of us wanted this to happen, and our daughter surely understands this."

Mom closed her eyes tightly and nodded, brushing tears from her cheek with a handkerchief.

"We really did screw things up, Sparkle," said Dad, looking up to me. "We're just happy you're okay. We were afraid we might have..." he stopped, his voice choking up.

I expelled an irritated sigh and walked up to them both for a hug. This was dirty play, Journal. It probably wasn't intentional, but they were making me feel guilty for my rape! I wasn't going to tolerate it, but... in the middle of an emotional hug was not the time.

My parents held me tighter than Bro and Sis had, and I held them back. I still miss them, Journal. I miss them more than anything. But these ponies, in my legs... I won't believe they're my parents. I can't. If I do, I'll just give in to the Order right then and there, because my parents are ponies I trust, more than any other. (Well, except for Applejack or Rainbow Dash, I suppose. And the most trustworthy pony of them all, Princess Celestia. But Mom and Dad are up there near the very top.)

After I pulled back, I frowned and looked up to them. "You guys okay?" I asked, half-heartedly.

"We're wonderful, Princess," said Dad. "Everything right now is perfect, except for the mistakes we've made with you."

"Raping me was not 'a mistake'," I said. "Er, wait. You know what I meant. Rape isn't a mistake, it's an intentional."

"But, but... you enjoyed being close to us, sweetie," said Mom, and Dad yanked down sharply on her collar. "...I'm sorry, Master," she whispered, face downcast.

"It's fine," he said. "But we need to focus on Sparkle's needs now. If she feels like we violated her, then we did. Not intentionally, however." He looked right at me when he said that, his brow wrinkled in exasperation. I looked back at Night Light, feeling equally incapable of sorting this out.

"Okay, family, can we face the obvious truth? It doesn't matter what any of us are going to say. There's no way I can convince you that you've gone insane, and there's no way you can convince me that you aren't. Yes, obviously, I grok that you were trying to help me. That's what makes this thing so difficult. None of you," I said, motioning to the entire room, "are intentionally being evil. But that doesn't mitigate any of the things you've done to me. You're all so fucked up in the head you think sexual assault on your own daughter is somehow acceptable, let alone a good thing! My parents have been replaced by two ponies who look and sound like them, but... you're not them. You can't be. I really don't know who you are."

A deafening silence filled the air. I sniffed, and realized I'd started crying at some point. Then Mom looked up to Dad with expectant eyes, and he nodded back at her. She stepped forward a little, lifted her head up high and wiped away a tear of her own. Then she spoke.

"Little Tee, I promise you, Mother to Daughter, that everypony else in this room firmly believes you would have been as happy as the day you'd earned your mark if you had simply submitted to the Order from the outset. We honestly, truthfully believe that. And even now, we still believe you will be that happy once you finally accept your place," said Twilight Velvet. She smiled, belying her bloodshot, tear-filled eyes. "We shouldn't have tried to force you, but that damage has been done. Now we need to earn back your trust. I'm not sure how we can do that, but we will be a family again, and your friends will join us, and life will go on. Love is going to win this conflict, honey." After the mini-speech, Mom stood back a pace, but kept her eyes locked on mine.

Nopony spoke, so I took that as my cue. I rolled my eyes and shook my head before speaking. "Look... I love you, Mom and Dad. Fine, I know you're in there somewhere. I just... I can't support foal molestation. That's really the bottom line, that and my duty to Princess Celestia and Spike."

"Twily..." said Shining Armor, "would you still feel this way if Princess Celestia willingly submits to the Order?"

I paused in thought for a moment, then I turned to face my brother. "If Celestia willingly submits to you, of her own sound mind and body, then yes. I suppose that would do it, because I wouldn't have anything left," I said, holding back another volley of tears. "Even if I couldn't understand any of this, I would be forced to believe her. But that's irrelevant, because she will not submit. Princess Celestia is the strongest pony in two kingdoms. In multiple senses of 'strong'. Under no circumstance would she ever support fucking children, or siblings, or any of the crazy fluid-swapping games you play."

I thought I nailed it, but there were sighs of relief all around. Shining Armor and Cadance grinned wide.

"That's incredible news!" said Shining, as Cadance hugged his shoulders. "We're already certain that Celestia will submit to the Order. If you still have faith in Celestia, it doesn't matter that you've given up on your friends and family. Once she submits, you can finally stop suffering—which is what all of us want. Then you can have your life back again, only better than you've ever imagined."

Those words bit me deeply. Once again, I was tempted to give in, to ask my family to turn me, right then and there. I mean, if they're right about any of this, even the tiniest piece of it, then what's the bucking point of all the torture I'm putting myself through? There's nothing noble about having to manage these horrid, radioactive emotions! Nothing! Nothing at all! I hate this!

And yet, I must persist.

I can't betray Princess Celestia. I just can't do it, under any circumstance. I also can't do it to Spike, or to any of the other foals in Equestria. But, mostly, I can't do it to Celestia.

I realize something valuable as I'm writing these words, something new that reframes my place in this conflict. Princess Celestia is my Master, Journal. Even after she abandoned me as my mentor, which pains me to this moment, I accept her completely. I shall continue to fight, and I shall continue to do whatever she may ask (or demand) of me. No matter what. No exceptions. That form of submission is what will keep me going through this time of darkness. My sweet Celestia is the only Order this pegacorn needs. She is my purpose in life. I shan't be dissuaded by anypony or anything else. I belong to that beautiful alicorn, all of me: mind, body, heart, and soul.

(I meant "beautiful" non-sexually, of course. Obviously.)

Anyway, I wasn't in the mood for pointless arguing about somepony who wasn't there to defend herself. "I guess we'll find out," is all I said. Then I took a nearby chair and sat down in it (facing my family, not the table). Cadance took a seat beside me so she could rub up against me, which was awkward, but not nearly as awkward as what happened next... something so disturbing, I wouldn't even notice when Cadance began to molest my body.

Dad took the stance, and so did Brother. It appeared they were rearing up for a two-legged hug. "Wonderful to see you, Son," he said, with a mischievous grin.

"Heh. You know it, Dad." Then they embraced. A normal, friendly, family hug between fath—

WHAT. THE. EVER. LOVING. FUCK.

My father and brother started making out, right in front of me.

My brain froze. I didn't know what to think. The image before my eyes made no sense whatsoever. Erect cocks, glistening with oil, or precum, or something, pressing and rolling against one another, as two stallions I thought I knew better than anypony else... well, as they 'went at it'. Just like that. Hooves gripped and squeezed asses. Tongues wrestled. Literally, wrestled: forceful jostling on both sides, like a couple of dominant Rainbow Dashes. And the sounds of pleasure were completely unmistakeable.

"The... but, but... they're both stallions," I said aloud, my voice catching. To everypony else, it was like the sheer unreality of this was somehow not the most obvious thing in the world.

"They certainly are," said Princess Cadance, teasing a hoof along my ribcage. "You're very observant, Twilight." (The sarcasm was pretty thick.)

"But this makes no bucking sense? Why, Cadance? They're Masters! Why would Masters do this? Why would stallions ever want to do something like... like this to each other?" I asked, looking at my Sis-in-law, my face no doubt a mask of confusion.

The look of incredulity and pity that followed is the one facial expression I've come to dread most from vamponies.

"Fine, nevermind," I growled, feeling ignorant and stupid. My cheeks would have burned, had they not already been on fire like the rosy morning Sun.

It took Cadance a moment to recover from the shock of my naivete, but then she smiled gently and hugged me close. "Shhh," she whispered. "Just watch, and learn."

That's about when Mom came over and sat in a chair on my other side, flanking me, as all three Twilight mares (yes, Cadance counts) sat watching this family atrocity. It was like the three of us were sitting in an X-rated movie theater, less than a meter from the screen, as Cadance 'put the moves' on her own sister-in-law. (If Pinkie Pie had been here, I have no doubt she would be eating popcorn, even though there's no popcorn anywhere near this freak show. That's just Pinkie. Ugh... I miss her too.)

But guess what? As if that weren't bad enough, it gets much, much worse: my dear, sainted mother started openly masturbating! Right next to me, cutie mark to cutie mark! At least Cadance had the dignity and/or fortitude to resist doing that, although maybe masturbating would have been less creepy than how she was molesting me. No, wait; I take that back. Being molested was distracting me from the unknowable eldritch abomination on display, and that was very much welcome. It's true. Things were so bad, I was actually relieved that Sis was molesting me.

"Mom, do you have to do that?" I whined.

"Yes," she said, blushing. "You should try it, sweetie. I can tell you're aroused. You need to learn to love yourself, Little Tee. Would you like me to help?"

"No! I don't want to be aroused by this," I whispered. "Besides, this is infidelity! How can either of you stand to see your husbands cheating on you?" (Twilight Velvet rolled her eyes in response, though I couldn't tell whether it was out of lust, or open contempt in her daughter.)

Princess Cadance stifled a giggle, but poorly. "Twily... for Heavens' sake, I'm not jealous of Daddy!" she said. (Excuse me, but you meant Father-in-Law, you crazy bucking mare.) "That's just silly. And why would your mother be jealous of her own son? How does that make any sense? Seriously!"

She was right about one thing: I didn't have a clue how that made any sense. But that's only because NONE of this made any Sun-damn sense!

I looked to the other side, where Mom was licking and sniffing one extremely wet hoof. I tried to retreat mentally into a quiet place where I couldn't notice any of this unacceptable behavior. It wasn't working. Cadance gently stroked my nipples, and I felt myself getting hornier. And the noises, dear Stars above! The noises were so... raunchy, so filthy, yet they tickled my innards in impossible ways, and I can't understand why. I don't like this perversion, I don't... I CAN'T feel this way about my family, Journal. I refuse to.

Dad pulled free from the kiss and licked his own lips with his whiplike vampony tongue. "Oh fuck, Son. I want that thick horsecock of yours pounding my throat, right the fuck now," he snarled with a devious smile plastered across his muzzle. Night Light gripped the flared head of his son's penis with both forehooves, squeezing and kneading at it, while a clear liquid (precum, I would think) spurted and bubbled out the spigot and drenched its sides.

Brother moaned in pleasure, snorting roughly as he bore his glinting fangs into display. He performed 'the snarl' along with Dad as they continued to lewdly grope each other. If Cadance is to be believed, the snarl meant that my father and brother were releasing sex pheromones into the air to help make them want to fuck each other even more, because I guess being so fucking horny for your own dad's horsedick that you'll publicly start fucking him in front of family and total strangers isn't deranged enough for the Order! It seems that if you're a vampony, you need EVEN MORE JUSTIFICATION to fuck your own dad—so there's actually a special sixth sense whose entire purpose is to heap additional dadfucking reasons onto the insanity-dadfuck pile, even though you were ALREADY in the process of aggressively fucking your father in public!!!

...dear, sweet Celestia.

I can't believe ponies have access to true pheromones for a litany of reasons, but there was definitely a scent in the air. Not only was this a basic, non-pheromone-related scent, it was easily detectable with my non-vampony sense of olfaction. And it wasn't one scent, but a lot of distinguishable smells all mixed together. I could smell a veritable potpourri of foulness assaulting my flaring nostrils, all at the same time. Mom's pussy was the largest of the lot, and it was pretty overwhelming. She seemed to enjoy sucking on her filthy hoof while looking sidelong for my reaction, and I couldn't understand why something that smelled that fucking terrible was also making me wet.

The smell of sweaty cock was heavy in the air, naturally. I recognized this as what I smelled from Thunderlane. Scent is intimately tied to memory, and that musky flavor in the air sent me flying right back in time to when I was crouched under that poor colt's flanks. And there was another related odor on display, mingling with the cockstink. This one was rather nice, by comparison. It smelled walnut-like, with a little bitterness. I'm pretty sure most of that was produced by the precum, and whatever bacteria or urine or bile had accompanied the vile concoction as it oozed up and out, into the light of day where it had no business being, whatsoever.

Despite the violent attack on my senses, I could NOT move from my seat. I was entirely transfixed by what I was experiencing. I don't understand why, Journal. As the monstrosity before my eyes continued, Cadance kept stroking my teats, and then she started kissing the side of my muzzle. "This is love, Twilight. It's beautiful," she whispered in my ear. "This is right. Daddy and Master Shining love each other, the way all good fathers and sons should." My vulva twitched and winked, and my body started shivering like I was sitting on a block of ice. I was about ready to pop. I'm not sure if I mean "orgasm", or "physically explode into tiny, gory Twilight bits", but I had long-since passed the redline.

Shining looked over to me with a smile, then the smile faded. "Ah, Dad... we should probably take this outside," he said, panting deeply as his cock bobbed and drooled in the air.

Night Light frowned, but leaned down and sucked the wetness from my brother's cock. He swallowed, eyes rolling blissfully back in his head, and kissed the tip of his son's erection. "Yeah, don't want to squick Twily, I know," he said, his voice somewhat gravelly. "But you owe me that sweet fucking ass of yours later tonight, son."

As Dad turned to leave, Shining Armor playfully spanked his butt with a hoof. Mom stood up and winked at me, then left with him. I just sat there in my chair, totally dumbstruck.

"I don't understand any of this," I said, as Brother returned to all fours and Cadance rose to kiss his cheek.

"Don't worry, Twily. You will," said Shining Armor, with a knowing smile.

Oh Sun and Moon above. Please, please, PLEASE NO. Oh fuck no.

My parents left the room in good spirits (I suppose I prefer them to leave happy rather than distraught over my safety, but horsefeathers, was that disturbing). I walked to the other side of the room to get some space from the smell and from being next to my crazy family.

But then something equally delightful (sarcasm-o-meter: extreme) happened. Princess Cadance and Shining Armor started having sex, out of nowhere. Not just kissing like Dad did, or masturbating like Mom did. I'm talking full-blown, loud, messy, kinky sex. Naturally I didn't watch, even though they were doing it right there in the open where everypony (myself included) could bear witness to it. This time it wasn't happening a meter away from my muzzle, so I was easily able to look away.

Honestly, I'd rather not describe it at all, but I need to at least point out some of the bizarre aspects of their obscenity. Naturally I asked to leave the room, but Moon Black shook his head, and Flash Sentry took charge of watching me. Oh, and the best part (this is also sarcasm): Cadance asked me to join in. Come help me fuck your brother, Twilight! Hooray! She asked me at least a dozen times. And it didn't help much that I wasn't watching them, because the moaning and thrusting and squirting noises were completely inescapable, even with my hooves over my ears. (I was very glad I'd moved to the other side of the room, because I'm pretty sure large quantities of bodily fluids were getting all over the place back there.)

Even though I'm not comfortable with the details, I should at least mention that I think my Brother was penetrating... um... his wife's asshole. Yeah. Like, not her vagina, where the nasty thing is actually supposed to go, but the place poop comes out? You know the one, right? I wasn't looking, I swear, but I could hear them moaning about it a few times, and also there was something about Cadance's horn, which was probably up her own ass again at some point during the horror show because oh, why the fuck not.

But wait: there's more! Both nightwings were masturbating (Flash called this 'jacking off'). Which wouldn't have been a big deal, except they were doing it onto my brother and his wife. Like, they were launching these thick, ropey streams of semen (regrettably, I did see some of that, because I didn't understand what they were doing over there at first), splattering their nasty batfuckseed all over my family's royal, married, already-in-the-process-of-fucking bodies. So that happened too. Holy horseshit, that actually happened. I couldn't make something like this up, Journal. And I am one-thousand and twelve percent done. (Exaggeration, obviously... but not by much.)

My poor mind was reeling. I was disgusted. Yet, somehow, I was horny as Tartarus. And I was disgusted by the fact that I was horny as Tartarus. This isn't something I ever wanted to experience. On the bright side, it's helped to steel my resolve against the vampony menace. All I have to do is accidentally have a flashback to some part of this, and after gritting my teeth in nausea, I immediately know I'm in the right.

I just can't think about it for very long, or it... it starts to... ugh.

Never mind, Journal.

Fortunately, I had a valorous defender who helped to save my sanity: Flash Sentry, bless his cursed, fuzzy eartufts (which he thankfully kept hidden, because those things are unforgivably cute—and I really shouldn't be staring at them like I'm sure I would be). As soon as Shadowbane had, um, 'squirted a load' (eww), Flash walked up to him and asked him something. Shadowbane nodded and left the room, trailing 'spunk' all the way as his cock comically swung left and right.

"What was that about?" I asked, holding my hoof over my eyes until Flash returned to me.

"I requested that he bring you something, Princess."

"Oh, um... Well..." (I was really dreading what that might be.)

"Don't worry, you'll be happy about it," he said. "Pinkie Pie Promise, even." He made the motions, and seemed sincere (I assume Rarity taught him).

Shadowbane returned and delivered me a small wrapped package. Then he nodded at us and went back to whatever perverted thing he was going to do next with the royal couple.

I opened up the package, and found four bright-green foam earplugs.

I took in a huge breath, just to be able to sigh it back out dramatically. "You are the wind beneath my wings, Flash," I said. I squeezed two of the plugs with my hooves (not easy without magic—I should probably learn to rely on it a little less) and inserted one into each ear. Within seconds the plugs had expanded, and the moaning and screaming and squishing sounds behind us grew mercifully distant. Flash pulled up two chairs, and we sat facing each other. I faced away from the presentation, obviously. He faced me, so he could watch me and (undoubtedly) enjoy the show at the same time.

His cock was twitching in the air, and I almost felt like I owed him something for his charity. I... I kind of... wanted it. Like, in my mouth? I know that isn't a natural thing to feel, because that clearly isn't what penises are FOR, but I was feeling it. I felt hungry for it, even. The smell, the taste, the hot, pulsing sensation of it stuffed into my lips, entering and claiming the entirety of the space within my muzzle... filling up my mind and spirit as well as my body, making me 'whole' for the first time in my life...

"Can you hear me with the earplugs in, Princess?" he asked, and I stopped staring at his penis (I hope I hadn't been doing that for very long). He spoke loudly, but it fell short of shouting. It was just enough that I could hear him over the muffled din of unspeakable demonic assfucking orgy.

"Yeah. Like, seriously, thank you so much," I said. "This is too much for me to handle right now, Flash. Nopony else seems to understand. And feel free to call me Twilight, or Twily, or whatever you want." (Deep down, I think my subconscious was hoping for cunt. But I sure as sugar wasn't going to tell him that.)

"Sure thing, Twily," he said with a genuine smile that melted my heart. (I don't understand why being called by a familiar family name felt right, especially if I'm, well... a little bit attracted to him. I don't want him to be my family. Do I?)

He continued, "To be honest, they probably do understand your needs. They just want to wear you down until you agree to join the fold, so we can end your torment sooner, rather than later. I want that too. But I suspect it'll be easier for us to turn Celestia first, and then you'll happily follow her. Either way, I figured you could use a break," he said. "And I'm pretty sure the others would agree with me if they weren't... distracted at the moment." He flashed me another rakish grin, and I blushed.

So Flash Sentry and I talked for a while, and it was kind of nice. The cock constantly bobbing and drooling in front of my face was distracting, but less distracting than the action behind me.

There wasn't much worth writing down about my discussions with Flash, though (and I can't automatically remember it because I lack the transcription spell now, meaning most of these conversations are best-approximations). We basically just chatted about our interests and stuff. It turns out he can play guitar, which shouldn't surprise me given that shaved-monkey-Flash could do it. What's more surprising is that he uses his wings in addition to his hooves when he plays. For nearly all pegasi, wings are much more dexterous than hooves, but they're not remotely strong enough to apply pressure in narrow places. Given the precision and strength needed to handle the strings of the average guitar, it's a pretty impressive talent for a non-alicorn (and yeah, he did the wing-thing long before the vampony stuff happened). This is assuming he's telling the truth, of course, but I have no reason to doubt him.

You know, at first I thought Flash was making an effort to impress me, or to show off or something. He talked a lot about himself, and about me, and I figured maybe he was really insecure and needed validation (kind of like yours truly, to be fair). Or maybe he was teasing me, just to see me blush? But that didn't make sense, because the extremely loud moaning and gross sex sounds behind me were already enough to do that. I also worried he might be making fun of me, but I don't think he'd have spent so much time doing that. Either way, his behavior seemed very suspicious, because it's obvious he isn't attracted to me. Flash could have any mare he wanted, I'm sure, even before the vampony thing. I'm just a homely, confused, helpless loser. The fact that I'm a princess is pretty much irrelevant in my current situation.

Eventually, though, I figured it out. I'm pretty sure he's just been acting this way to put me at ease. He's using humor and his good looks and charm to help me forget about the situation I'm in, out of simple pity. It's a welcome respite. Flash is just a nice stallion, and that's all there is to it. It's hard for me to believe he's really a vampony. Maybe he doesn't buy into all the crazy dogma Brother's been preaching? He might be a valuable ally, Journal. Perhaps I can convince him to help me escape... or maybe even to join Team Sanity! I should really probe this "relationship" thing we have (our rapport, I mean). I need to explore this angle as soon as possible.

For scientific purposes, obviously. I'm not "smitten" by him or anything. That would be stupid. Flash Sentry is waaaaaay 'out of my league', as Dash would probably put it.

Wow. I didn't think I'd write that many words about things nopony should ever write about, but there it is. I'll get to Rarity and Luna in the next entry for certain, because there's not much left to say at this point. The Lunar Princess has been waiting so patiently for me to finish all my writing that maybe I should skip over some of the details.

Just a moment...

No, Luna wants me to be thorough (she just said). Not a problem, but I still don't think the next entry will be very long. Most of the details from Rarity are already in the Glossary, after all.