With Thomas and company out shopping, Silver had seized upon the opportunity to experiment with, as the uncouth youth on the streets would say, putting her mare in her place. Several hours had passed as Silver made good on her vow, leaving several whip marks on the larger mare’s perfect flanks. By the time she was done with the cooler, both her thighs and Luna’s flanks had been slapped pink. The sight of her work made the noble born mare grin in pride like a common fool. Too weak and sore to move, she merely cozied up to the mare beside her so they could enjoy one another’s warmth.

“You are improving.”

At the sound of Luna’s even compliment, Silver found the strength to crane her neck up.

“You appear to have a solid grasp of the fundamentals of power play,” Luna continued. “I could recommend a few books for you to study, though at this point all we can really do is practice until you find something we are both comfortable with.”

“W-what do you mean?” Silver asked with equal parts befuddlement and exhaustion.

“There is still hesitance in your actions,” Luna said compassionately as she magically undid her ropes. “You still view me as some delicate idol to be worshipped and it shows in your bucking.” With her body now free, the mare sat up and gave her back a satisfying pop.

Silver tensed at the criticism, her mind racing with self-chastisement as she contemplated her failure. “Harder,” she muttered. “I should have been harder, harder slaps, harsher words. Oh, Princess. I apologize for my mmph…” Silver’s remaining words were lost as she was embraced by Luna and her face was encompassed by alicorn cleavage.

Luna shushed her gently as she stroked the smaller mare’s back. “Be still, my little mistress,” Luna cooed. “No pony starts out as an expert.” She pulled Silver up between her breasts to better look her in the eye. “That you are willing to put in the effort is what pleases me the most.”

Silver felt her eyes begin to water as she strained to extract herself from her breasty prison and nuzzle her Princess. “I just want to make you happy.”

Luna giggled as she met her halfway and touched noses. “I know you do,” she hummed. “Though I suspect that there is more that you wish to say.”

Silver licked her lips apprehensively. “You are just so… you,” she said reverently, ashamed of her inability to be more articulate. “I will gladly be your mistress if it makes you happy, but…”

“You wish to be the pet too?” Luna finished.

Silver nodded silently.

“The weight of the crown is a heavy burden to bear, my little Silver. What you and the others do for me is relaxing in a way I cannot even put into words, but if there is more you wish to do, then you need only ask.”

Silver hummed as she nuzzled under Luna’s chin. “This. I like being like this with you.”

Luna felt her heart swell, along with a mix of maternal instincts as she held the smaller mare close. “I like this too,” she purred contentedly. And for a while the two just stayed like that, enjoying the feel of the other’s softness and warmth.

“You know, I have had this very conversation with Thomas more times than I care to count.”

Silver tensed at the mention of Thomas’ name, which did not go unnoticed by her captor.

“He has struggled with his confidence since that very first night, and, perhaps, always will,” Luna said wistfully. “It is his nature, and part of why I love him.”

Silver swallowed as Luna bore down on her with those grand, teal orbs of hers. Does she know? She was almost thankful that the massive alicorn breasts held her head in place, lest she give something away.

“Your nature is very different from his, but no less dear to my heart,” Luna informed, never losing her kind smile as she kissed Silver’s forehead. “Where he is creative, you are cunning. I do not imagine he would ever have much of a chance to best you at chess. At the same time, I think we are many years away before any of us are no longer impressed by his foreign and exotic way of thinking. And yet despite your differences, you two share many of the same fears. You fear my disappointment, that your lack of ability would mean loss of my feelings for you.”

As best she could, Silver kept her gaze firmly on her alicorn.

“But, and though my sister surpasses me in this regard, I like to think of myself as a very patient mare.”

“Luna?”

“Patience and understanding are key to any relationship. I am patient with you for your lack of expertise, and you are patient with me for my, admittedly, needy tendencies and occasional lapses in judgment,” she giggled softly as she adjusted Silver’s head to face her once more. “So tell me, my little mistress-to-be, do you think you can show patience with him?”

A mare of lesser resolve would have caved in right then and there, vowed to do whatever Luna said and defer to her wisdom. However, Silver’s sense of duty would not waver so easily.

“You need more than he can offer,” she said resolutely. “You need more than any one pony could ever offer, but you also need somepony capable of bringing it-us all together; somepony capable of taking charge and accepting the consequences of their actions. At this time, I do not believe Thomas has the fortitude to handle that responsibility. He was inadequately trained before receiving his title.”

Luna nodded along, her face free of any emotion as she listened. “At this time?” she asked evenly as she loosened her grip, allowing Silver to sit directly in front of her.

The little bat stared resolutely up at her beloved alicorn. “Firstly, I would like to ask how you discovered my intentions.”

“Fair enough,” Luna agreed. “I had suspected for a while now, and given your rather frequent talks with Sun Dancer…”

“You asked her to spy on me?” Silver asked, sounding hurt.

“No!” Luna insisted urgently, losing her cool. “I… She had suspicions of her own and conferred with you independent of any order I gave. We conferred shortly after.”

Silver nodded, swallowing down any feelings of betrayal, especially when she imagined how Thomas would feel in her position. It left her feeling dirty to think of what she’d been planning. “Then… was this all some sort of test from Celestia?” she asked, feeling powerless at the prospect of being maneuvered around like a pawn, and not even by her Princess.

“Sun Dancer has overstepped her bounds, interfering with my harem as she would her own,” Luna said coldly. “I have brought this up with my sister, so I am reasonably confident that it should not happen again.”

**********

Meanwhile, in an undisclosed location…

“Nnngh!” Sun Dancer cried through her gag. The matronly mare was hanging from the ceiling, wrists and ankles bound behind her as her tits hung freely. Though her horn was free of any ring, her bonds were a test of her devotion in accepting her Princess’ will.

“I do not enjoy this,” Celestia said solemnly as she stood beneath her beloved, holding her stick in one hand and sinisterly tapping it into the other. “I do not enjoy disciplining you as though you are some foal who doesn’t know better, but that is how you’ve acted.”

“Nnngh!” Sun Dancer moaned pleadingly as she struggled against her binds.

“Tis one thing to give advice to a peer,” Celestia began as she walked circles around the bound mare, teasing her with the continual tapping of the stick. “If I didn’t know you better, I might say that you attempted to play mistress to two harems, perhaps even going so far as to incite a coup.”

“Nnngh!” Sun Dancer shook her head vehemently.

“Thankfully I do know you better,” Celestia sighed as she nodded. “You believe you were doing what was best for all, including Thomas, but this insolence cannot be overlooked. You understand that, yes?”

Sun Dancer slumped in defeat and gave a resigned groan.

“Good,” Celestia said firmly as she extended the end of the stick, the part with the feather attached, up to Sun Dancer’s breasts, resuming her tickle torture. The bound unicorn writhed and thrashed in her bound state. A few times her horn even lit on reflex, but she suppressed the urge to cast any spells, to which Celestia smiled gratefully. “Only a few more hours, and you will be ready to issue a formal and sincere apology.”

**********

Silver nodded remorsefully. “A part of me wishes to pin it all on Sun Dancer, to blame her for putting those ideas in my head, but that would not be fair. She merely put to words what I had been thinking for some time.”

Luna nodded her understanding. “Had she approached the matter more delicately, perhaps in a more educational manner, I might not be so upset,” she informed. “Generally, the position of Senior Concubine has been decided by both the Princess, and the harem as a whole.”

Silver’s ears perked at this. “I was led to believe the alicorn was the one who made the final choice.”

“The final choice, yes,” Luna concurred with a remorseful sigh. “In the past, an aging Senior Concubine would pick and groom a successor, somepony both loved and respected by the harem. Their trust in the old would pass onto the new, so by the time the decision came to me,” she touched the top of her breast, “the decision had, in essence, already been made years prior.”

Silver nodded, absorbing this new information like a sponge. “But this time is different. This time there is no old Senior to pass on their knowledge to the new.”

Luna shook her head gently. “That said, I cannot argue with your prior points. It is true that, at this time, Thomas is too tender-hearted to accept responsibilities that, I must admit, were foisted on him without the necessary training. I… He was the first true friend I had in a thousand years, and I wanted him to be happy. But that is no excuse and I take full responsibility for his lack of preparation.”

“Even so,” Silver picked up, “when I first applied, he did everything in his power to make me feel welcome. He was not so ashamed of his ignorance that it stopped him from asking for help, at least when it came to the harem. He was kind, considerate, and loving.” Silver exhaled heavily. “Yet despite his tender heart, I cannot think of any outright mistakes he has made.”

“All true,” Luna agreed thoughtfully. “Be that as it may, do you still believe you would make a better Senior Concubine than Thomas?”

“I… I am less certain than I was,” Silver admitted shamefully.

“I see. In that case,” Luna continued, “if we are in agreement that Thomas is in need of proper training, would it not follow that you should be the one to train him?”

Silver blinked in surprise. “You… would trust me to do that?”

Luna smiled, leaned forward, and softly pecked Silver on the nose. “If I did not trust you, my little mistress, you would not be here,” she said with a soft sigh. “If you sincerely think you would handle the job better, I will not stop you, but I will insist that you speak to Thomas directly and discuss the matter like adults. But if you are willing, I think it would be best if the two of you work together to better each other. Perhaps you could even share the role with him?”

Silver sighed in defeat. Her attempted coup, for that was how she now saw it, had been discovered before it could even get off the ground. Though, if she were being honest with herself, she didn’t really mind. In fact, she was actually rather relieved by this turn of events. “I… yes. I think I would like that.”

**********

“Hey guys,” Thomas greeted as he entered Luna’s chambers, followed shortly by Moonlight and Talon. “What’s… going on?” he asked apprehensively.

Luna and Silver were sharing drinks at the table, wearing unsettlingly somber looks as they turned to face the newcomers.

Oh shit, Thomas thought. Did someone die?

Moonlight and Talon must have held similar thoughts as they shared worried glances with one another.

Luna turned from the trio to look down at Silver. “Shall I begin?”

“No,” Silver sighed in defeat. “I need to take responsibility for my own actions.” The bat mare stood and bodily faced those by the door, focusing her eyes squarely on Thomas.

Talon lifted her chin and cocked her head to the side, turning a wary eye on Silver. “What’s this about?”

Moonlight said nothing, though she did take a protective step forward.

Silver nodded to the females to either side of Thomas, acknowledging their gestures and wordlessly submitting to their authority. “Senior Concubine Thomas. I have a confession to make.”

Formal titles, Thomas thought warily as he nodded his acknowledgment. This must be serious.

Silver breathed deeply with closed eyes, silently psyching herself up before once more meeting Thomas’ eyes. Though it was never easy to admit one’s guilt, Silver’s mother had taught her the dishonor of avoiding one’s responsibility. “I confess my doubts in your suitability as Senior Concubine, as well as my own desire to replace you.”

“You what!?” Moonlight shouted and took an angry stomp forward. Silver flinched back in anticipation of the mare’s blow, only for them both to be surprised when Moonlight had been stopped by a claw on her shoulder.

Talon said nothing as her eyes roamed the scene. At Moonlight’s furious look, the griffon cocked her head over to the table, indicating Luna and the stern look she was giving them all.

“P-Princess?” Moonlight asked.

“Allow her to finish,” Luna said evenly.

Silver nodded appreciatively at Luna before resuming. “If I can, I wish to be blunt with you, Thomas,” she said, ending with a questioning inflection.

Thomas just nodded his agreement, not quite certain of his own feelings yet. Intellectually he knew he’d just been told he was shit at his job by the one seeking to replace him, albeit politely, but it just didn’t quite click for him on an emotional level. He wasn’t even certain if Moonlight had overacted just then, his feet laden with confusion.

“Had circumstances been even slightly different,” Silver continued bluntly, “there is no doubt in my mind that you would not have been Luna’s Senior Concubine. Though your love and devotion for Luna is without question, you have failed to properly execute the duties expected of a Senior Concubine and make the hard judgement calls that are necessary of any leader. You have shown little to no ambition, and your efforts to better learn the demands of your role have, more often than not, only come at the coaxing of those around you. You, Thomas, are not a natural leader.”

Thomas continued to silently nod, still unable to process what he should be feeling. Though he was glad that she acknowledged his feelings for Luna, somewhat relieved that this wasn’t some bid to kick him out of the harem, he simply could not think of an adequate rebuttal to her other points. Even Moonlight’s supportive touch and smile did little to lift his spirits.

This was not the first time Thomas had been left so dumbstruck. In the past, when he’d overheard people talking about emotionally heavy subjects, such as hardships of friends or deaths in the family, he’d always retreated. When he couldn’t physically move, he’d retreat into his own mind and just try to make sense of the situation. These moments always left him unsatisfied in the results. He need only glance around to anyone else in the room to see that his response was different from theirs. That was just how he was, but it had never been much of an issue… before.

“But I want you to understand that I did not do this out of any ill will,” Silver plead insistently. “I… I sincerely believed that it would be easier for you, with all of your other burdens, to not bear this responsibility on your shoulders.”

Thomas’ brow furrowed as he considered all he’d heard. He cared for Silver, not so much as he did for Moonlight or Luna, but enough that he wanted to give her a chance. “What exactly did you do?”

“Pardon?”

“You said that you didn’t think I made a very good leader,” Thomas clarified. “Fine. Can’t say I’m not guilty of that too.”

“Thomas,” Moonlight whispered in concern.

“But what exactly did you do?” Thomas repeated. “I guess this kinda just proves your point, but I’m a little sketchy on what all this even is. I mean, can you really just… take the role like that?”

Luna took her turn to speak, clarifying as she had with Silver about how the duties and responsibilities of a Senior Concubine were passed on through apprenticeship, then accepted through consensus of the harem and alicorn approval. “Silver is correct that, had I not given in to corruption,” Luna said stiffly, “or even if you had appeared even a month later than you had, there is every possibility that Moonlight or Silver would hold your station,” she explained as she gestured between the two mares.

“Harem’s like a herd, chimp,” Talon reminded tiredly. “Some herds get by without a clear leader, but the harem’s way too complicated for that. The job’s more personal than formal, which means it’s more open to change. All ya really gotta do is explain why the old lead ain’t so good anymore and it’s kinda left to a vote after that. In the case of the harem,” she continued, “the alicorn’s gotta listen to the arguments and at least try to remain unbiased, for whatever that’s worth,” she scoffed derisively.

“Indeed,” Luna agreed as she continued. “You did not ask for this role and its responsibilities. You came to me in my hour of need, for which I will always be grateful. Yet despite my feelings for you, I still selfishly foisted this position upon you without properly preparing you for all it entails. I foolishly rationalized how happy it made you and that all would work out in the end, even in spite of all the hurdles you were facing then and even now. And for that,” Luna swallowed as her voice momentarily wavered, “I am sorry.”

And there it was. Thomas was finally able to feel something. “I’m sorry, too.”

“You!?” Moonlight gasped. “What the hay do you have to be sorry for? She’s the one who’s been scheming behind your back,” she said, gesturing at Silver.

“Yeah,” Thomas agreed leadingly. “And I noticed she still hasn’t answered my question of what she even did,” he finished as his eyes fell back on the bat mare.

Silver tried not to fidget beneath the human’s surprisingly soft glare. “Nothing, yet,” she admitted. “I had spoken with Sun Dancer on the matter. She also believed I was more qualified for Senior Concubine and encouraged me to do what I believed was best for the harem.”

“Aw damn it,” Talon bemoaned as she rested her face in her claw. “What’s that crone up to, now?”

“I have already spoken with Sun Dancer on the matter, as has my sister,” Luna replied curtly. “While I believe the mare’s actions to have been terribly inappropriate, Celestia is confident that the crone, as you say, did not act out of spite.” Luna’s inflection did not sound as though she believed her own words.

“It was my intent to confront you privately,” Silver resumed, “to gently explain why it would be easier for you to relinquish your position to me.”

“Was?” Thomas asked as the knowledge that the mare who was basically his equal had also questioned his suitability.

“I did not want to be confrontational,” Silver replied. “You are a gentle stallion with a kind heart. You have been nothing but welcoming to me, picking me up whenever I stumbled. I realized, after Luna spoke with me, that it was selfish of me to be unwilling to do the same for you.”

“Silver?”

Much to everyone’s surprise, Silver then fell to her knees and softly bowed her head forward. “I prostrate myself before you, Senior Concubine Thomas. For my impertinence, I surrender myself to your mercy in the hopes of once more earning your trust. But please, if you will allow it, it would be my honor to stay by your side and help you up when you stumble.”

Moonlight opened her mouth to speak, but closed it when she had no words. It would not be appropriate for her to speak. This was an old pony social norm. When a challenge for lead failed, the challenger was deemed automatically expunged from the herd and had to request reentry. And while Silver was being a little overdramatic with the bowing, it was commonly understood that the act involved a lot of plot kissing. Granted it had never happened in her parents’ herd, but she’d heard the stories. As she reflected on this, making a mental note to explain what had happened to Thomas later, Moonlight looked expectantly to the human and silently awaited his answer.

At this point, Thomas was more than familiar with the weight of all eyes in the room bearing down upon him. It was like an annoying neighbor who would pop in every now and then to borrow his stuff. Though the human wasn’t 100% on the more subtle intricacies of what was happening, Silver’s apology was rather blatant and he could infer the rest through context. Silver wanted to be the lead, talked it out with Luna, and now she doesn’t. Simple enough, he thought uncertainly.

“Truth is,” he finally answered, noting the room’s audible silence. “The truth is, well, I really don’t know what I want,” he admitted bashfully. “I… If you had actually done that, come up to me and tried to explain things like equals, I might’ve agreed.”

Silver dared lift her head, but just enough so she could meet Thomas eye to eye.

“My last job before coming here was retail,” the human explained. “I watched what the managers and supervisors did and said. And even when it bugged me when they gave out orders, or were maybe a little too critical, I kinda understood that they were just doing what they had to, what the job of managing needed them to do. And I remember thinking that kind of responsibility wasn’t for me, because I didn’t think I’d ever be comfortable with saying whatever I had to, even when it made others not like me.

“But then I came here.” Thomas looked up to Luna, then around to those he held most dear. “I met all of you, and you were all more supportive than I could’ve ever hoped for. Even you, Silver.”

Silver blinked her surprise as her ears folded back in guilt.

“You helped me out a bunch of times, showing me stuff I didn’t really understand, and I was happy with that. I was,” he blushed, “happy being the center of attention like that. I know we’re all here for Luna, but that’s still how it felt to me. For the first time in my life I’m happy being where I am and doing what I’m doing. I think about all the new friends I’m basically fated to meet, and it makes me, I don’t know, nervous-cited.”

“An amalgam of nervous and excited,” Luna clarified for all.

“Silver, I can honestly say I’m glad we met. I was happy getting to know you and just hanging out. And the idea of doing the same with a bunch more ponies, of just being friendly and showing them the ropes is, well, something I think I can handle,” he admitted modestly. “And, now that I think about it, would that really change if I wasn’t Senior anymore?” he asked, leaving the question open for all.

There was a long, awkward silence as those assembled contemplated the question.

“If I may?” Luna spoke up as she finally stood from the table and walked over to where the others had assembled. “Thomas. You have spoken from the heart and I cannot deny how it warms my own. You sincerely want to help. And Silver. You were trained to lead since you were small, have displayed a profound sense of duty and honor. Both of you possess qualities that are crucial for an effective Senior Concubine. Yet where you have weaknesses, they are balanced out by the complimentary skills of the other,” she explained as she gestured between the kneeling mare and standing human. “So, for the time being, perhaps it would be constructive if the two of you shared in the duties and responsibilities of Senior Concubine?”

Luna’s audience gawked at her in befuddlement.

“Can you do that?” Silver asked.

“She’s the Princess,” Talon said matter-of-factly. “I ain’t gonna argue. Though I may have to kick Sun Dancer’s flank next time I see her.”

“Thomas,” Moonlight spoke. “Whatever your decision, know you have my support,” she finished with a brief glare directed down at Silver. She hated feeling this helpless to protect her stallion, but dared not wound his pride by taking the decision from him.

Slowly climbing back to her hooves, Silver slowly opened and closed her mouth until she eventually found her words. “I believe I would like that, but only if Thomas agrees. I would not wish to impose.”

Thomas made a thoughtful sound. “I’m guessing this is what you meant by all that ‘weight of responsibility’ stuff, huh?”

“Precisely,” Luna said. “As leader, the decision and its consequences are up to you.”

Thomas gave a sigh of acceptance. Que sera, sera, he thought as he stepped forward to the bat mare, ready to give his answer. “Silver.”

The bat mare tensed at the mention of her name. He was standing close, almost close enough for her nipples to touch his chest as his lovely green eyes bore down upon her. Silver swallowed nervously, knowing that whatever the human said would ultimately decide her fate.

Given his months of absorbing pony culture, Thomas gave his answer in the simplest manner he could think of. He took a half step forward, pressed his clothed chest to her bare breasts, and kissed her firmly on the lips.

Silver gave a muffled squeak of surprise, but it soon petered out as she surrendered to the feel of his lips.

All around the pair, their viewers exhaled their relief. Thomas had unequivocally accepted Silver’s apology, yet the other details remained unclear.

“So,” Silver panted after breaking off the kiss. “What are your plans, exactly?”

Thomas smiled and pulled her into a gentle embrace. “I kinda like the idea of us working together. We can do a chief and co-chief thing, and maybe rock-paper-scissors if we can’t agree on something.”

Silver hummed contentedly as she accepted Thomas’ naïve but simple answer. His warmth against her body was also appreciated, though she’d have preferred if he wasn’t wearing clothes. Clothes just got in the way. “As you say, chief,” she said playfully.

“Chief chimp,” Talon tested. “Meh. Seems to fit.”

Luna cooed as she scooped the pair up in a loving embrace. “You. I am so proud of both of you.”

That was the cue for Moonlight and Talon to join the hug. Though the unicorn not so subtly avoided actually touching Silver, the bat mare understood her friend’s feelings and vowed to make it up to both of them.

Oh boy, did this one go through some heavy rewrites. It had all started with Silver practicing BDSM with one of Celestia’s concubines, then the practice turned to the real thing with Luna, then I read everyone’s response to 84, and then this eventually came to be. Sorry to those who might have been wanting this to be an ongoing secondary arc, but that plan just didn’t work after I realized how much I underestimated the impact of such a thing. That sort of thing has happened before and will likely happen again.

Thankfully, unlike the reincarnation thing, I managed to keep a cool head this time. Originally Silver was supposed to avoid making a move until new concubines were added, recruiting them to her side, but I now see that such a thing would have made her too unlikable. There is still the possibility that Silver may replace Thomas in the future, though it’ll be on much gentler terms than what you guys were probably imagining. Hope you guys like.