Thomas lay in Luna’s bed with a pillow propped against his back, naked as the day he was born. In his lap Silver, also naked, rested her head as he gently combed her mane. Across the room Moonlight, stripped down to her linens, was catching up on the daily news. The sight of the mares’ nude forms, though beautiful, was no longer enough to give him an erection on its own. The thought of them in skimpy lingerie, however…

“Hey,” Silver chided, adjusting her head so that his cock no longer poked her ear.

“Sorry,” he beamed.

“No sexy thoughts when brushing my mane. The last thing I need is stallion seed in my ear.”

Thomas grinned wryly. “You’re a concubine to Princess Luna. I’m pretty sure ‘no sexy thoughts’ isn’t something you’re really allowed to say.”

Silver snorted. “I’ll say what I like and you can’t stop me.”

“Careful what you wish for,” Moonlight warned, never looking up from the paper. “He might just take that as a challenge.”

“It’s true,” Thomas conceded. “I might.”

Annoyed at being ganged up on once more, Silver blew a strand of hair out of her eyes, only for it to fall back into place. Thomas removed it for her, caressing the side of her head and up her ear as he did. Her vision now clear, she looked up and narrowed her eyes on him. “I’m mad at you.”

Thomas’ brow furrowed. “Any particular reason?”

“You make it very hard to stay mad at you,” she snorted.

Grinning, Thomas leaned down and kissed the bat mare’s nose. She just let out a contented sigh and cozied back into his lap.

“Silver. Were you aware of this?” Moonlight asked.

Silver looked up to find Moonlight’s nose still buried in the paper. “Aware of what, Moonhoney?”

“Apparently there’s a new trend of sexual practices that’s been getting a lot of traction as of late.”

Silver grabbed hold of Thomas’ hand when he had stopped petting and gently guided him back to work. “This is news to me. What’s happening?”

“They’re calling it a ‘sexual revolution’,” Moonlight read from the paper, skimming back to find where the story began. “Canterlot is experiencing what some are referring to as a ‘sexual revolution’. Ponies across the city have been engaging in unprecedented levels of oral sex. What makes this so revolutionary is that it is the stallions who are using their mouths on mares!” Moonlight flipped the paper around and pointed at the line in question. “See. They even put a little exclamation mark and everything.”

“Oh my,” Silver gasped softly as a suspicious eye turned up at Thomas. “Wherever do you think such a bold practice might have originated?”

Thomas glared back at the gray mare. “Why does it sound like you’re accusing me?”

“The practice is believed to have originated in the herds of Celestia’s concubines,” Moonlight informed with a shit-eating-grin, sealing Thomas’ guilt.

“But… she… how?” Thomas’ stammering was short lived as he met the knowing looks of the other mares and face palmed. There was no need to ask how this had come about. Luna, without a doubt, had blabbed to her sister, who in turn had passed it on to her concubines, who brought it back to their herds, who finally could not help but gossip.

Moonlight read on. “Apparently the nobility thinks the Princess is starting a new trend and they’re all hopping on the bandwagon,” she tittered.

“These are exciting times we live in,” Silver commented idly. “First Luna, then the Elements of Harmony, and now Equestria’s first human is sharing with us the practices of his homeland,” she hummed contentedly as she nuzzled into Thomas’ lap. “I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

I most certainly can, Thomas thought uneasily. Imagining all the catastrophes depicted in the show was worrisome enough, but the uncertainty of all the different ways they might unfold just added to his anxiety. He averted his gaze, but not before catching Moonlight’s worried look.

“Speaking of interesting times,” the unicorn interjected eagerly. “I just got word from the patent office. They’re very excited with the Twister game. It shouldn’t be much longer until the deal is sealed.”

“What then?” Silver asked, not catching on to the sudden change in topics. “I admit I’m not all that familiar with the patent process.”

“The guy at the office said we should find a distributor,” Thomas answered. “We talked it out and he gave us a list of companies he thought could do the trick.”

“Thomas seems to favor Plan to Game over some of the bigger companies,” Moonlight added contemplatively. “They’re a family owned local toy store. While a little on the small side if you ask me, they also produce all their toys and games without industrial machines. Everything’s either handmade or crafted by small scale unicorns.”

“I like the idea of giving the little guy a fighting chance,” Thomas said with a shrug. “They’re doing alright now, but just imagine the boost when they get exclusive rights to this brand new game made by the Halloween maker.” He tossed his head in a mocking show of pride, earning small snickers from the mares. “As you’ve just shown, the ponies of Canterlot are suckers for trends. So if they advertise it right, their store should be getting a major boom in sales.”

“Not even an entrepreneur a month and you’re already a philanthropist,” Moonlight cooed with a sly look, causing her human to blush. “By the way, you might want to take a look at your bank statement if you haven’t already.”

“Oh?” Silver asked in intrigue.

“Yeah. I mean, I figured I had quite a bit but…” Thomas trailed off. “I didn’t expect I’d have that much.”

“How much?” Silver asked.

“Enough to start his own toy store if he wanted,” Moonlight bubbled giddily. “My bank statement might not have had as many zeroes, but it was still something. Let’s just say, if our last deposits are anything to go by, neither of us will be hurting for bits any time soon,” she chuckled.

Silver sat up and made a thoughtful sound. “My parents left me a little to live on my own and I’ve been getting a modest stipend from the crown as an attendant. Perhaps it is about time I checked in on my own finances.”

“Just make sure you have a fainting couch on standby.” At Silver’s puzzlement, Thomas elaborated. “Moonlight nearly passed out, and she nearly did it on me. If the guy behind me hadn’t been so fast, she might have squished me.”

“As if you’re not used to it,” Moonlight shot back, earning a chuckle from Thomas.

Silver sighed contentedly as the back-and-forth continued. The comradery and love these two shared was plain for any to see, and she was grateful to be a part of it. Knowing that the harem was meant to be a family, that this level of openness was all but demanded, Silver steeled herself for what she needed to say. “May I ask you two something?”

The pair paused and Thomas wrapped an arm around Silver’s side, pulling her close, silently grateful for her smaller size compared to the other mares he had to deal with. “What’s on your mind?”

Silver took one last calming breath before yanking the bandage off. “Am I doing a good job, with Luna I mean?”

Thomas wrapped an arm around her and held her close, “Of course you are.” Thomas assured, rocking her from side to side. “Or was the alicorn howling like an animal as you spanked her not a clear enough indicator?”

Silver chuckled, indicating she wasn’t Thomas-level down on herself. “I just feel like there’s more I could be doing,” she sighed. “I mean, Luna’s just so,” she held out her arms, approximating Luna’s grandness, “and I’m just so…”

“Cute,” Thomas finished for her, nuzzling her cheek. “I think Luna’s got a thing for things that’re small and cute.”

“I’m not small!” Silver huffed, pulling away from Thomas as he chuckled.

“What? I’m small too, so I’m allowed to say it.” He pulled her back into his arms and began kissing along her jaw. Her wings shifted in his grasp as she put up a token resistance against his advances. Eventually she surrendered and allowed him to do as he pleased.

“It’s still weird for a stallion to take the lead like this,” she grumbled halfheartedly. She’d already accepted that a good portion of what her family had taught to her of sexual etiquette was irrelevant in an alicorn’s bedroom, especially with her role, but some things were harder to shake than others.

“If you want him to stop, just say so,” Moonlight beamed over her shoulder, partially to tease Silver, but mostly proud of Thomas for coming this far in opening up.

Flushed, Silver turned her head in a huff. “I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.”

“Boy, you are upset,” Thomas said in concern as he ceased his kissing. “Want me to rub your shoulders while you talk about it?”

“Please?” she asked meekly.

“And the cuteness strikes again,” Thomas declared as he moved behind the mare and gripped her shoulders, mindful of her fidgeting wings. “Now why don’t you relax and tell Moonlight all about it.”

“Why me?” Moonlight asked, suspecting that her reading was about to be further sidelined.

“Because she’s facing you, Moonhoney,” he teased.

Also eager for the chance to annoy Moonlight, Silver held up her hand in pleading, giving her best puppy dog pout. After learning that she was one of Luna’s reincarnated lovers, Silver had begun looking at Moonlight with new eyes. Not that she hadn’t already been falling for the mare, but this revelation seemed to seal the deal for her. As she reasoned, if they had been intimate in the past, then neither had any business having any hang ups in the present.

“Cuteness,” the unicorn snorted as she turned around in her chair to face her smaller lovers on the bed. “So, sweet wings, what’s got your tail in a twist this fine evening?”

Silver sighed, seeing no point in delaying the inevitable. “I wish I were a unicorn.”

Moonlight blinked in surprise. “Why?”

“I mean no disrespect to my heritage, and obviously flying is a privilege I’d never want to part from,” Silver insisted. “I just wish I could, you know, cast spells.”

“What kind of spells?” Thomas asked.

Silver mumbled under her breath, causing the others to lean in and ask for clarification. “Mind control,” she whispered. “To be a better mistress for Luna,” she added urgently, wanting to dispel any questions in her motivation. Mind control spells were highly restricted for their potential for illegal use.

Moonlight relaxed, sighing in relief as she understood. “You think you need to make Luna your magic slave to make her happy?”

Silver shrunk. “When you put it that way…”

“Isn’t that like cheating?” Thomas asked.

“How so?” Silver inquired.

Thomas paused to collect his thoughts. “Stop me if I’m wrong, but the whole dom-sub thing is about giving control to someone you trust, right?” He waited for the mares’ nods. “But it’s still voluntary, something the sub agrees too of their own will, but can be stopped with a safe word. Magic just,” he frowned, “takes away that trust. It stops being about consenting adults having fun and starts getting into some really gray areas, making it more about you than them.”

Silver made a sound of acknowledgement and nodded. “The way you put it,” she laughed softly, “it really sounds like it is missing something.”

“Doing it with magic takes away the magic of the moment,” Thomas offered.

“Oh, that’s good,” Moonlight said, turning around and scribbling something down in her notes. “I knew it was a good idea to herd with a writer.”

Thomas chuckled at the unicorn’s remark. “Anyway, since it’s all just role play, you don’t need magic. Luna’s happy enough to take commands on her own, and you seem happy enough to give them.” He and Silver exchanged looks of understanding. “Seriously, though, it’s like you become a whole different pony when you’ve got Luna behind closed doors. It’s almost scary.” Thomas avoided accusing the mare of having little dog syndrome.

Silver averted her gaze guiltily. It was true that, once she was in the zone, the little bat had a tendency to get a little carried away. Luna had yet to use any of their safe words, so Silver never felt too guilty about doing things like leaving marks on the glory that was her royal moon, but Thomas had managed to touch upon what had really been bothering her.

“But should I be different?” Silver asked to the confusion of her lovers. “What I mean to say is that it doesn’t seem right to change like that. Wouldn’t it be better if I were a dom all the time, if only for the sake of consistency?”

Thomas threw his arms around Silver’s middle, earning a surprised squeak as he held her close. He laughed into her neck as he looked over at Moonlight. “Is this what it’s like dealing with me when I start getting down on myself?”

Moonlight chuckled as she journeyed across the room and onto the bed, snuggling up to Silver’s side. “A little, but hugs usually help you too.”

Silver tried to struggle against the combined warmth of her lovers as a blush took her cheeks. However, her heart simply wasn’t in it and she accepted her fate to be snuggled into submission.

“You’re fine as you are,” Thomas said into Silver’s mane. “It’d be weird if you started acting like a drill sergeant 24/7. You’re more fun when you can relax in your downtime.”

“Damn you and your logic,” Silver growled, exposing her fangs. When Thomas did not shy away, she seized his head and pulled him into a deep kiss, which faltered after Moonlight began tickling her.

Thus began a rather ordinary morning for Luna’s harem.

**********

Lunch was held in Luna’s office, where Silver took the opportunity to play with a few of the ropes she had the Princess wear under her dress. Luna agreed that magic, while fun, would be too much of a shortcut in the way Silver proposed; adding that being an alicorn meant that the bat couldn’t do anything even with magic.

Afterwards, the gang met with a contingent of lunar servants outside of Moonlight’s room in the barracks. By order of Princess Luna, they were to bring Moonlight’s possessions to one of the castle’s guest rooms. The unicorn stood alongside the lead maid as orders were given out, directing ponies this way and that as Moonlight asked them to be careful with the more fragile objects. However, the maid soon grew irritated with the unicorn and instructed her to help with the move.

“Thomas. What are you doing?” Moonlight asked as Thomas carried a small stack of books beside her.

“Helping,” he replied matter-of-factly as ponies bustled about around them. “Why?”

Moonlight decided against starting a needless argument and settled for kissing her stallion on the cheek. Everyone did their part in carrying the mare’s few possessions through the halls and up to the lunar wing of the castle where the new room awaited. The room had been freshly restored and cleaned the evening prior. It was nearly identical to Silver’s, save for the lack of Luna posters. Moonlight was allowed to take command as she dictated to the staff where everything should go. After settling on a place for everything, there was no denying that the room felt a little empty.

“One side, please,” a stallion warned as he entered, carrying in Thomas’ typewriter, followed by a pair of unicorns carrying Thomas’ desk, and one last pegasus who carried the wooden sword. “Where would you like these, ma’am?”

“That spot over there looks fine.” Thomas pointed at the far left window.

“Perfect!” Moonlight clapped her hands and motioned for the ponies to set the items where indicated. The typewriter was set on the desk and the sword was hung up on a rack. When all was settled, the staff wished the concubines well and filed out, leaving the room looking emptier than ever.

“Maybe you should call home and have them deliver some of your old things?” Silver suggested as she wandered around the room, eyes surveying the bare walls as she imagined what could be done with the empty space. “That, or we could go shopping later?”

Thomas laughed under his breath, thoroughly amused by how naturally Silver said ‘we’. He looked back at the mares, his mares. Moonlight’s linens hung loosely and uncomplimentary from her body as she walked up to the writing desk. Thomas’ eyes drifted south below her tail, where memory painted a very vivid picture of the muscled mare’s bountiful booty that lay hidden. No doubt she was picturing them continuing their book, sitting side by side and, in all honesty, probably distracting one another with playful pinches.

Silver was also facing away, allowing Thomas to get a much better view of her rump and the loincloth wrapped tightly around it. Her wings fidgeted, letting the human know that she was also letting her mind wander. Perhaps she was considering loaning Moonlight some of her Luna posters, or maybe they’d go out and get some new ones. It was all so relaxingly domestic.

Guess I’m finally going native, Thomas thought with a chuckle as he walked up beside Moonlight, only to find her frowning. “What’s the matter?”

“It’s just… this is all becoming too real,” Moonlight sighed as she sat at the desk’s bench. Thomas set his hands on her shoulders, which she accepted appreciatively. “Moving here, living with you,” she bubbled. “It’s like it’s only now clicking that we’re really herded, but it still doesn’t seem real.”

Thomas considered reminding Moonlight that they were technically still courting, but was unable to find any evidence to back up that assertion. “Ya know, all things considered, it really does seem like living together is the final step.” Filled with contented happiness, Thomas began kissing along the crook of Moonlight’s neck, earning a surprised moan from the mare. “So how does it feel, finally moving in with your stallion?”

“She can’t answer, because you haven’t moved in yet,” Silver cut in, surprising the others with her blunt tone. “It doesn’t seem real because this isn’t really your space.”

Thomas straightened and frowned at the half naked bat mare. “How so?”

Silver fixed her gaze on Moonlight. “You really haven’t noticed?” She rolled her eyes when the unicorn shook her head. “It’s the smell.”

On cue, Moonlight began sniffing heavily. It wasn’t long before her eyes widened in realization.

“Now you get it,” Silver complimented.

“Um, can the local human get a little hint?” Thomas asked.

“You two haven’t officially moved in yet because the room doesn’t smell like you,” Silver explained. “It’s an old herding instinct. Mares seek out a safe space to nest and have their families. When they find somewhere, they have to mark it so the rest of the herd knows and other herds know the space is claimed.”

“Marking?” Thomas repeated as an ominous feeling welled up inside, telling him where this was going. “This is gonna lead to a sex thing, isn’t it?” His answer came in the form of a pair of firm hands gripping his shoulders and the slow lick of a broad tongue against his neck.

“You don’t have to say it like that,” Silver tittered at Thomas’ discomfort. “I’d say you should feel honored, but it’s really nothing so profound.”

Moonlight was guiding Thomas towards their new bed, her intent clear as he became aware of a certain odor in the air.

Silver watched with an ear to ear grin as the human was marched to his fate. “It’s actually terribly mundane. All herds do it when they move to a new place. Frankly, you owe your mare the peace of mind in knowing she has a home to return to.”

“Is the guilt really necessary,” Thomas groaned as they arrived at the bed. Moonlight had climbed in front of him, stripping with her magic as she shook her rump for his entertainment. It had an effect. “I mean,” he giggled as he crawled slowly after her, “it’s not like I need much coaxing.”

“Have fun, you two.” Silver waved her fingers playfully as she made for the door and Thomas got into position. “But you might want to check the cabinets for herbs. Don’t want to tire yourselves out and leave nothing for your Princess.”

Moonlight blinked, rethinking her plan. Unceremoniously she bolted from the bed for the bathroom, her suddenness causing Thomas to lose his balance. Silver just laughed at the whole situation and closed the door behind her.

**********

Later in the evening they moved to the gym, where Talon waited with their practice swords.

“Step one, two, three, four,” the griffon instructed as Thomas stepped to the beat, swinging his sword with each step. “Step again. Step, two, three, four.” Thomas stepped back as Talon advanced, taking smaller steps to accommodate for her smaller opponent.

On a nearby mat, Silver and Moonlight were practicing their own sword play. Silver, as it turned out, was rather adept at fencing. It wasn’t quite combat ready, but it still granted Moonlight a more even match than Talon had with Thomas.

“Tell me chimp. How’s the new girl working out? Two, three, four,” she mumbled, never losing the beat.

“Been five days,” Thomas panted, “and nothing’s exploded.”

“Hear that, sweet wings!” Talon called, advancing. “Boss says you’ve got some serious work to do.”

“Shut up,” Thomas groaned, advancing right back. “She’s doing just fine and she doesn’t need you harassing her.” Thomas retreated. “That’s my job.”

Talon beamed proudly. “You’ve come a long way, little buddy. I’m almost tempted to start calling you by your real name.”

“But only almost, right?” Thomas asked and Talon nodded. “But in all seriousness, she’s doing really well, at least that’s what Sun Dancer told me.”

“Did she really?” Silver asked, narrowly avoiding a blow in her moment of distraction.

“She plays the part well,” Thomas said in an approximation of Dancer’s voice. “She said it’s fine so long as it’s just a game, and that you’ve got real potential as a lead-oof!” He grunted as Talon tackled him to the ground.

The griffon grinned cheekily as she lay atop him. “You weren’t paying attention.”

“I managed to not notice the massive girth that was Tali’s butt,” Thomas bemoaned dramatically. “How will I ever live down the shame?”

Talon chuckled as she climbed up off the human, offering a claw to help him up, and they resumed sparring. Once they were good and sweaty, the group moved to the showers where the females grouped around Thomas in a protective wall. He still had issues with public nudity.

“What word of the next applicants?” Silver asked as she scrubbed Thomas’ back. “Surely they must be growing anxious for their turn to apply.”

Thomas grimaced as he ran a wash cloth over Moonlight’s toned stomach. “Shouldn’t there be more of a grace period to, ya know, let the new members get used to things?”

Silver frowned in dissatisfaction. Thomas’ answer was far from unexpected, but his timidity seemed inappropriate for his station. “As Senior Concubine, such a policy is your prerogative to instigate, and I am grateful for the consideration on my behalf. However, I can assure you I have no qualms with expanding the harem further. Quite the opposite actually.”

“She ain’t wrong, chimp,” Talon said as she massaged shampoo into her head feathers. “As a soldier who’s been bucking alicorns for a decade, take it from me that I can tell when they’re getting antsy. My advice’d be to start the next interview as quickly as possible, but also try something new with Moonbutt.” Talon explained, giving a half smile when she spotted Silver giving her a grateful nod.

Thomas sighed, once more accepting the wisdom of Talon’s words. They finished cleaning themselves off before agreeing to continue this rather sensitive discussion for later. For now, Silver had lessons with Sun Dancer.

**********

“Again!” The tyrant unicorn bellowed, her normally trim and shiny peach coat largely hidden beneath the black leather of her dominatrix bikini. She held a riding crop in both hands, twisting it as she watched her student work.

Silver nodded. Rearing her arm back, feeling the way the leather chafed around her thighs and shoulders, she brought the paddle down on Steel Hoof’s rump once more. His toned backside rippled under the impact that reverberated off the walls while he cried into his gag. They’d been at this for some time, and the diminutive bat pony was taking to the routine rather well. “Count, slave!”

“Hwenhee!” The minotaur muffled, which Silver took as twenty. Steel Hoof had been chained down to a special chair that propped his backside up in optimum spanking position. His cock was left free to dangle, half erect and occasionally shooting out globs of pre.

“Good,” Silver purred as she set the paddle down on the table before strutting up beside the powerful beast. He flinched as she set her hand on his tender red buttocks, but she soon eased him into relaxation with a gentle touch and a melodic hum. “I like my pets to be happy.”

“Very good,” Sun Dancer slapped the riding crop into her palm, indicating it was time to stop as she walked over to inspect. Leaning down for a closer look at the minotaur’s ass, she made a thoughtful sound. “Your punishment technique seems adequate enough, but your rewards leave much to be desired.”

“Ma’am?” Silver stood at attention.

“Pain is a useful motivator for obedience, but unless the subject is a true masochist, it will not be sufficient to satisfy them,” Dancer lectured. “Further, you must consider alternate punishments besides the physical. Anypony can spank, but to be a true top you must inspire loyalty in those who trust their bodies to your care.” She began massaging Steel’s backside as a finger slipped into his anus. “Be rough if you must, but never let the subject doubt that you act out of compassion,” she said over Steel’s moans. “They must want to please you, must understand that the punishment is necessary so that they can be ready to receive the pleasure you want to bestow.”

Silver watched Sun Dancer carefully, committing the actions to memory. “Luna generally prefers the punishment aspect of our games; ropes, embarrassment, and especially the spanking,” she chuckled.

“All fine for the time being, but the novelty of the pain will only last so long.” Sun Dancer had extracted her finger and moved on to teasing the bull’s fully erect penis. “Trust and compassion are the key. So long as Luna trusts you to have her best interests at heart, you’ll both be able to play to your hearts content.” She smiled serenely.

“Does, um…” the bat averted her gaze. She wasn’t embarrassed about watching the unicorn masturbate the minotaur, but the personal nature of her question.

“Does Celestia like these games?” Sun Dancer finished for her, continuing her rhythmic pumping. “Not often. Mostly it’s a few of the others that like this play, and she plays along for their sake, but it’s not really her preference. Again, acting for the sake of others is but one aspect of the trust and compassion you’ll need to embody. What does Luna do when she’s not playing the sub?”

Silver nodded. “When she’s not playing as a ‘pet’, Luna tends to be the one in charge. It’d be really easy for her to just force herself on us, but I think I can tell when she’s holding back.”

“That’s not good.” Sun Dancer frowned, her pumping slowing. “If she holds back too much, that can cause tension to build in the worst way possible.”

Silver stepped forward, worry clear on her face. “What do we do?”

“I don’t do squat,” Sun Dancer dismissed flatly. “But you’ve got two options. One: up your game and get into the really kinky stuff. Two: get on to the next interview and recruit reinforcements. If you ask me, I’d recommend both.”

“Talon said the same thing,” Silver agreed. “And while those do seem to be the obvious solutions, Thomas seemed rather hesitant about the idea.”

Steel Hoof gave a muffled howl as Sun Dancer brought him to climax. Idly licking her fingers clean, she sat on a nearby bench and motioned for Silver to sit beside her while Steel came down in front of them. “I want to talk to you about him.”

Silver’s ears folded back. She had a good idea of where this was going. “You want to talk about Sir Thomas’ suitability as Senior Concubine?”

“Then you’ve seen it too?”

Silver nodded. “He’s a very sweet little colt, always eager to please and put others first, and his loyalty to Luna is beyond question, but he is not fit as a leader,” she sighed. It felt like a betrayal to say these words, and the bat could only hope that Sun Dancer could ease her doubts.

“Nail on the head,” Sun Dancer relented as she stretched her arms up, only to let one fall around Silver’s shoulders. Keeping her eyes on Steel Hoof, she asked “Does it bother you to say these things?”

Silver slumped against the bench. “Yes.”

“Good.” Sun Dancer rubbed at Silver’s shoulder. “What we do is no ordinary job. It’s basically a family with pay checks, and that means stuff can get pretty personal sometimes,” she sighed. “You want to make everypony happy, and it can get pretty frustrating when that can’t happen, especially when tensions rise and somepony says something they regret.”

Silver listened intently, feeling a lump in her throat. She imagined some of the worst fights her own family had gotten into and knew full well what Sun Dancer was talking about. Something as simple as a quarrel over a brush had the potential to spiral into something that could render two or more ponies unwilling to speak to each other for quite a while.

“But as Senior Concubine, it’s my job to push past hurt feelings, smack some heads around if I have to, whatever it takes until everypony remembers that they love each other and need to work together.”

Silver nodded absently as she took in Sun Dancer’s words. “And Thomas can’t do that. His… condition does not allow for it, at least not now.”

Sun Dancer nodded, her face free of expression. “But what about you? Could you do what’s necessary, to knock heads until everypony stops being stupid?”

Silver flinched. She opened her mouth, ready to protest that this wasn’t what she wanted, but a look from the old unicorn told her she’d get her own head knocked if she tried to deny it. Of course that’s where this is going, she thought to herself as she straightened up and met Sun Dancer’s eyes. “As it stands, I am the one most fit to serve as Luna’s Senior Concubine. However, I can’t just go up and, as you say, knock his head until he surrenders the position.”

Sun Dancer nodded, the corner of her mouth curving into a smile. “Good call. Pushing past hurt feelings doesn’t mean trampling over them. So, if you want this job, the first test’ll be to figure out how to get it without trampling any hooves.”

Nodding, it didn’t take long for Silver to think of a response. “It should be his idea. If I can show him that I’m the better fit, and let him suggest it, there won’t be any hard feelings.”

Sun Dancer nodded. “That’s certainly one idea. Thomas has regularly expressed a desire for ponies to be up front with him, but I can see the merit of your proposal.” She made a thoughtful sound. “In the end, our two harems are separate, so it’s your call to make. Just make sure you’re ready to live with the consequences.”

**********

In Moonlight’s new room, freshly marked, the mares sat to either side of the man on the bed while Talon sat across from them at the desk. “Attentive Eye has the list, right?”

Silver grimaced once more. “The list of applicants? Shouldn’t that be in your possession?” She said to Thomas.

Thomas flinched, but relaxed when Moonlight set a hand on his shoulder. She smiled at him reassuringly, only to give Silver a look of warning to be gentler with her words.

Silver’s ears folded back submissively, accepting Moonlight’s position above her, but she did not back down. “Perhaps you and I could have a talk with Lady Dancer, to learn more about how a harem is supposed to be managed. I know of what my parents told me, and you have the work experience, so together we might work to figure everything out.”

Talon silently watched the scene in front of her like an owl. Silver had made an obvious power play, requesting equal knowledge in leadership, as well as subtly requesting greater authority. Moonlight, Talon observed, was deeply conflicted. The unicorn’s gut instinct was to shut down challenges to her authority as lead mare; except that it wasn’t her authority being challenged in the herd, but her stallion’s in the harem. Her body language had already betrayed her confusion on how to react, leaving Silver to press her advantage.

“Thomas needs help,” Silver stated bluntly. “He hasn’t been properly mentored as a Senior Concubine should be, being forced into a position he hasn’t been equipped to handle.” The key was not to blame Thomas directly. The bat didn’t want Thomas’ feelings hurt any more than Moonlight did, but it was this very sensitivity that drove Silver on. She needed to act, not only for the good of the harem, but for Thomas’ own wellbeing.

“I think that’d be best.” Thomas conceded. “I’m never gonna learn until I start doing it. So, if you guys are willing to help, maybe the four of us could-”

“Not too sure you should count me, chimp.” Talon interjected. “I mean, I can consult, but this isn’t really my harem. It’s yours. That means you need to be the one to make the decisions.” She glanced briefly at Silver.

“I’ll do what I can, but I’m not too sure how much help I’ll be,” Moonlight offered. “This sort of thing isn’t exactly my specialty. Besides, technically speaking I’m only a part-timer here. I’m still a guard, first and foremost.”

Silver nodded, recalling this little detail. “That means the harem only has two full time members and two part-timers. We really need to be processing applicants more efficiently.”

In full agreement that this task was up to them to face, Thomas and Silver sat next to one another and began hashing out ideas. Moonlight and Talon occasionally made suggestions, but overall let the smallest members of the group make the major decisions, even as it was made clear to most that Silver was leading the conversation.

Just a simple bit of filler to help calm things down after the clop. A new concubine has been formally inducted and both she and the readers need to adjust to her new role. Enjoy.