Author's Notes:

This is a bit of an experiment. A lot of my friends have been urging me to try my hand with less conventional ways to steal a stallion's will, so I decided to challenge myself and try a touch/massage based induction. Enjoy!

Trenderhoof's hooves thumped rhythmically against the hard-packed dirt road of Ponyville's leisure district. He greedily drank up the clean, cool air of the small town. It was just so cozy, so idyllic compared to the hustle and bustle of Manehattan and the enchanted towers of Las Pegasus. Canterlot, far enough away on the nearby mountain range to look like a gleaming marble toy, gave the skyline an air of majesty and national pride that accented the country atmosphere without drowning it out. He took a deep breath, and continued to trot past the quaint little restaurants that lined both sides of the road, the gentle sounds of ponies chattering filling the air with a sense of familiarity and comfort.

The writer eventually arrived at his destination, the Ponyville Spa. No sign announced what it was; there was no need. In a town numbering only a few thousand individuals, everypony knew exactly where everything, and everypony, was. It was such a comforting change from the confusing maze that was the city of Trottingham. Still, Trenderhoof knew that he would have time for musings later. He had an article to write, one about the mysterious new spa treatment that was the talk of the town. He wasn't one to eavesdrop on conversion, and directly asking a mare was simply met with giggles and replies saying that he needed to see for himself. This, perhaps above anything else, drove the trendy stallion to pay the spa a visit. His curiosity burned inside of him; this town had not yet disappointed him, and he doubted it would right now.

"Good afternoon!" Trenderhoof bellowed as he flung open the front door of the spa and cantered inside, meeting the aquamarine receptionist at the front desk. "I'm here for the new treatment! I heard it's a blast!"

The ponies inside turned their heads as the city pony cantered inside. The receptionist, Aloe, smiled at him, chuckling at his bouncy persona. "Ooh, you want the new treatment, do you?" She smirked a bit, her eyelids dropping just a touch to give him a momentary lidded stare. "How fortunate! Lotus and I just finished with the last fellow who wanted it. Do not worry about paying. For you, no charge!"

She shot him a little wink, her accent even marking that little laugh she gave afterwards. It was hard to tell where it was from but it was certainly exotic. "Just a moment, and I'll prep ze room, hmm?" She turned and trotted off into the back of the spa, turning to another spa pony, this one a slightly shorter green mare with a small gap in her teeth. "Scented Oil, do be a dear and get our gentleman here into one of ze spa robes. I wouldn’t want his fabulous outfit getting in zee way of ze massage."

"Y-yes Aloe." The mare said with an odd hint of trepidation in her voice. She stepped up to Trender, putting on a smile. "So, you're here for the new treatment, are you?" she asked. She wasn't the prettiest mare, but had a friendly, attractive face. She gestured with her muzzle towards the changing rooms. "I hear it’s gotten quite a few…um....good reviews… do be careful, though," she added. "It can be a bit… much for some ponies."

Trenderhoof chuckled heartily as he cantered towards the changing rooms. "My dear, nothing is too much for me. I don't know if you've read my travel articles, but I most certainly get around. From the hills of San Palomino to the rushing rapids of Neighagara Falls, there's no local custom that can make me flinch," he boasted. After all, Ponyville was a pretty homely hovel within a day's journey to the capital. What might be considered extreme for the mild and conservative tastes here, Trenderhoof wouldn't bat an eye at, he thought. Still, the stallion wagered that it would be a fun way to spend some time. It mattered little what this mysterious treatment actually WAS, it was the thrill of the unknown, the allure of enchantment that came from wandering blindly into these spheres of local culture.

Although, it seemed like the owners and operators of this spa were anything but local to here. As Scented Oil followed him inside the changing room, its walls dotted with little cubbies filled with fuzzy robes, Trenderhoof began to think more and more about the receptionist. The way she slicked back her mane seemed to imply that she wasn't from around here, but her Germane accent wasn’t hard to pin down. After all, Trenderhoof had been around all of Equestria as a travel writer, and had gained particular insight of some more exotic regions. Perhaps he’d ask her of her past during his treatment. After all, she was a long way from home, and it would be awkward to sit in complete silence for the entirety of this mysterious massage.

"So, how long you been working at this place? You from around here? Your boss didn't sound like a local," Trenderhoof said as he stood up on his hind legs, beginning to channel the arcane energies within his horn. His beloved shirt glowed with an ethereal yellow light as it quickly flew off of him, ruffling his posh mane and folding itself neatly into a square. He had his lucky travel shirt for years, and he took only the best care of it.

His eyes gravitated to the robes that lined the walls, but he stood still. After all, this assistant would know best. Besides, it gave him a chance to size her up. Trenderhoof loved giving his articles a personal spin, often weaving in the lives and stories of the ponies he met on his travels.

Scented Oils nodded as he boated, smiling a bit. His confidence was a bit charming, if slightly annoying. She led him to the back of the changing room, approaching the fuzzy, fluffy robes in their receptacles. She was about to grab one for him, but she stepped back as his shirt and sweater flew off and came to land on a nearby table. It was certainly a spectacle; despite not having a talent related to magic, it appeared as though Trenderhoof was a skilled magician. She refocused on her task, picking out a particularly soft- looking robe, and put his clothes in the hole where it had once been, flipping over a little sign above it that said 'Taken', before bringing the robe back over to him. She poked and prodded at him until he was in the proper position, then draped the soft garment over his body.

"Me?..." Scented Oil's brow furrowed. "You know...I...can't quite remember..." There was a brief chuckle. "I guess a long time then, huh? It's nice, I'm from around here yes, I live in Ponyville, but I spend so much time at the spa it's almost like I live here."

She tilted her head. "Oh, Aloe? Yeah, she's from pretty far away. I think somewhere in the mountains. She's very nice, but you have to be careful living up there, all kinds of creatures live up that way." Her brow furrowed a bit. "I think I remember that she told me once....but when she talks I find I just kind of zone out you know?" She chuckled a bit. "Oddest thing."

The mare's brow furrowed a bit more as the robe was tied around Trenderhoof's waist, she stepped back and allowed him back onto all fours. "You know....this massage has some....odd effects? I've heard… I've never had it… I think." She opened her mouth to say something else, but at that moment Aloe came from a door at the back of the changing room. She stepped out into the open area and sidled up besides Scented Oils, Trenderhoof might notice the way she rubbed her side against the smaller pony's almost like a cat might.

"Oh dear, I zee our dear Oil is babbling again." Aloe chuckled, and the small earth pony's eyes got just a bit vacant as she was touched, her fur standing on end. She stiffened before all her joints grew just a bit lax, a little smile spreading over her face. "Overworked, poor dear, why don't you head into ze back and we can give you a little R&nR after we are finished with our current project." She smirked at Trenderhoof. "Are you ready Mr. Trenderhoof? If so, right zis way." She trotted off towards the back room, past where Scented Oil was standing with a dopey grin.

Trenderhoof diligently followed, his robe brushing against his hind legs as he trotted as he passed the glossy-eyed mare. The way that spa mare came in and rubbed up against her...it was definitely a little "closer" than you'd expect of an employee and her boss. The stallion chuckled. They must have a secret relationship! How romantic! How spicy! Oh, this would go great in his article! The names would be withheld, of course, but this would be lovely!

Then again, something in Trenderhoof's mind was a little on edge. Being the adventurous romantic that he was, Trenderhoof knew that he could spot love when he saw it. The gentle flinch, standing straight, and the warm smile, it was all there, yet it was Scented's eyes that seemed a little off. They lacked that certain light that a lover would have, the certain spark that would fuse them to the object of their desire. As they moved, Trenderhoof noticed that Scented seem to be looking less AT them and more THROUGH them. It was strange, to say the least.

Perhaps, Trenderhoof thought, Scented's probably just overworked. After all, managing a good spa would take a lot of effort. To do all the wither-breaking work, day in and day out, must take its toll, even if the heat of romance softens the blow. Whatever her problem was, Trenderhoof hoped that she felt better later.

"Thank you, Ms. Oil," he said, giving her a quick nod as he exited the room. Following the mare he presumed would give him his special treatment, Trenderhoof thought that it would be best to get to know this expert. After all, his articles demanded a nice dose of local personality.

"So, Ms...I didn't quite catch your name earlier. My name is Trenderhoof, and I'm a travel writer. You may have heard of me? Even if you haven't, I'd like to hear more about you, what made you come to Ponyville, anyway? And, if I may ask, what specifically is this mysterious new massage you're offering? A local tradition? A practice from your homeland? Oh! Perhaps a fusion of cultures? Whatever it is, it should make for an excellent article."

Aloe threw back her teal mane, craning her head around to bat her eyes at Trenderhoof as they trotted. “You can call me Aloe, please, and we definitely have heard of you, Mr. Trenderhoof. Who hasn’t? In zis line of business, your words can make or break somepony’s reputation! But, I’m SURE zat you’ll write a good article of our establishment once you zee what we offer.”

Aloe giggled darkly. She was sure, alright.

“But, enough business for now. Too dry for normal conversation, wouldn’t you agree? My sister Lotus and I…we came to zis town many years ago. We actually have family here, though they are, how do you say, not in zis business? However, zey told us of a demand for exotic and professional therapy, and our parents were more than happy to give us ze startup funds to purchase a place. It was a shaky first year, but ze ponies of zis town keep coming back once zey zee what we have to offer.”

Aloe turned a corner, leading Trenderhoof deeper into the building. As they did, another spa worker pushed a cart filled with oils and ointments by. Trenderhoof noticed that he seemed unusually focused; he didn’t even glance at the pair as they trotted by.

“However, zis new treatment, we have only been offering it very recently. My sister and I took a vacation south a couple of months ago. We do need our rest too, but we also chose zat vacation spot to discover new and exotic treatments to offer to our loyal customers. Where you may ask?”

She turned her head back and winked.

“Zat is a secret!”

Trenderhoof mentally stored each and every detail for his article later. Rags to riches, boldly pioneering, with a hint of the exotic, how juicy! “Sounds like a lovely story!” He exclaimed. “Boldly venturing forth, supported by a loving, caring family, oh, my readers will love it! Here’s hoping your special little treatment will be just as good!”

Aloe stopped suddenly in front of a white wooden door. It was plain, except for a small bronze plaque that said “Massage Room S” on it.

“Alright, zis is ze room. My sister Lotus will be giving you ze treatment today. Do not worry, I have fully acquainted her with who you are, no introductions necessary. I would join you, but ze spa is very busy today, you understand, no?”

Trenderhoof nodded. “Don’t worry, I completely understand. Besides, I look forward to meeting your sister.”

Aloe giggled. “Don’t worry, I will come check on you two towards ze end of your treatment. For now, just relax and enjoy yourself.”

“Will do,” Trenderhoof said, pushing open the door without waiting for Aloe to show him in. Humility was never his forte.

The room was very spacious; Trenderhoof had to turn his head to see both sides. Despite its size, however, the room was sparsely furnished; a pair of cupboards lined both sides, with nothing on them other than rows of multicolored scented candles, which made the air tickle his nostrils. To the left, there was a large, circular bed, more than big enough to accommodate a single pony. Focusing his eyes, it looked like it was covered in some fuzzy white sheet. Lamb’s wool, perhaps? His hooves clopped against cool black and white checkered tile, broken up only by a large, circular, bath inset into the floor. The water was clearly warm, steaming in fact, which made the air hot and heavy as Trenderhoof approached the pink-maned mare lounging within it. Her blue fur blended in almost seamlessly with the rippling water, its surface shimmering with oils.

“Ah, Mr. Trenderhoof, I have been expecting you,” Lotus said. “I am Lotus, it is a pleasure to be serving you today.”

“Likewise, Ms. Lotus,” Trenderhoof replied graciously, quizzically eying the half of her that remained above the water. “You, uhh, look a lot like your sister.”

“Me and my sister are very close,” she replied curtly. “Besides, it helps with brand recognition. Surely you understand.”

“Well, I can’t blame that,” Trenderhoof noted.

“Either way, let us begin. I’m going to come out of ze bath now. Please do not be alarmed, rest assured your treatment will be nothing but blissful relaxation.”

With that, Lotus put her forelegs onto the rim of the tub, pulling herself out. Well, a little bit of herself at least. But then more followed, and more still. Trenderhoof’s mild fascination turned into wide-eyed horror as he realized that Lotus’s lower half was a scale-covered tube. It was a seemingly endless train of serpentine flesh, as the blue mare piled “herself” onto the checkered floor, her oil-covered scales shimmering in the light. It took a decent amount of time until Lotus finally pulled the last of her snake tail out of the water, dripping water from the tip. She quickly shook to get rid of the excess water, before flopping it onto the pile of coils with a wet plop.

Trenderhoof had seen a lot of bizarre things in his travels, but a half-pony, half-snake creature definitely took the cake. The shocked stallion stared aghast at Lotus’s monstrous form, his mouth agape.

“Uuh..,” he muttered, finally breaking the silence, “your picture looked…different.”

Lotus put a hoof to her mouth, stifling a giggle.

“Yes, I hear zat a lot. You see now why we have to keep zis treatment a secret?” She asked, rearranging her coils to spread out more along the floor, to make it easier for her to move as well as subtly showing off her length. Light raced across her shimmering scales as they moved, and through the sheens Trenderhoof could see the repeating pattern of a lotus flower in a diamondback pattern. “Do not worry, I’m not really like zis. We discovered a supplier for a transformation potion during our last vacation. Zey also taught us a few…tricks…as well, tricks zat we now like to show our customers.”

Trenderhoof pouted. “Well, I must admit, that is a very good reason. However, I must say that this is where I draw the line. I think I’ll go back to my hotel room, thank you very much.”

Trenderhoof turned around. He enjoyed the bizarre and the exotic, but these mares were playing with some pretty freaky magic. Transformation potions seemed like something that would be reserved for highly-specialized purposes, like magic study at a university, not some earth pony masseuses in some Podunk backwater town.

“WAIT!” Lotus shouted from behind as Trenderhoof began to trot from the door. She couldn’t let this one get away! The spa’s reputation was at stake! “Mr. Trenderhoof, you realize zat zis treatment is on ze house, no?”

“I do,” he said, turning his nose up. Suddenly, he heard the soft whisper of scales sliding on marble, and Trenderhoof jumped when Lotus suddenly moved in front of him. It was as if she appeared from nowhere; Trenderhoof couldn’t imagine such a large and bulky form could be that fast. Her serpentine body allowed her pony half to rise tall; so much so that Trenderhoof had to turn his gaze upward to meet her.

“Please, please, Mr Trenderhoof!” she pleaded. “Just give me a chance!”

Trenderhoof frowned. Lotus was definitely determined. Yet, when he looked into her big, soulful eyes, Trenderhoof saw genuine concern.

“Transformation magic is pretty dangerous,” he said. “Especially for non-unicorns.”

“I know, I know!” Lotus assured. “We did our research, we let ourselves be taught. Trust me, we approached this with ze utmost caution. I am VERY careful with my clients, and I haven’t hurt a single one.”

Her head hung down, dejected, her forelegs swaying idly as if she had given up. She had one last gambit.

“Mr. Trenderhoof, I understand your concerns. If you desire to leave, I cannot stop you, it’s just zat, well, my sister and I are big fans of yours. We always love reading your articles, and when we head you would be dropping by Ponyville, we just wanted to give you ze best, most impressive treatment we could offer.”

Truth be told, Lotus found Trenderhoof’s articles to be pretty self-absorbed and grating, but she suspected that stroking his ego would make him more willing to give the treatment a shot.

She was right.

“Hmm, well,” Trenderhoof said, his stoic demeanor melting under flattery. After all, where would he be without his fans? Servicing him would probably be the greatest day in her life; how could he deny her, even if she was some half-serpent abomination? “Alright, I’ll give it a shot. After all, I guess it’s my job to bring readers across Equestria insight into the rare tastes this nation has to offer. Besides,” he said, batting his eyes at Lotus, “how can I say no to such a lovely fan?”
It took all of Lotus’s willpower not to grimace.

“Alright, what do you need me to do? Stand still so you can wrap me up and give me a little squeeze?” Trenderhoof said, a part of him desperately hoping that wasn’t what she was going to do.

“Eh heh, not exactly,” Lotus began, scratching the back of her head with her foreleg as she drew her tail towards the pair. “Zere are two parts, ze dry treatment, and ze wet treatment. Ze full treatment does both, and ze are both vital for ze full experience. First we will do ze dry treatment.”

Trenderhoof nodded in understanding. Seemed simple enough. He was about to ask what the “dry treatment” entailed, but his attention was momentarily captured when the tip of Lotus’s snake tail shot up in front of his face. It danced in front of him, swaying side to side, curling and uncurling, before twirling around and pointing towards the large bed.

“Please lie belly-down on the bed. Then we can begin,” Lotus said, snapping Trenderhoof back to attention.

“Oh…heh…right,” he said, lazily trotting over to the gigantic cot. He ran his foreleg on the soft, sheet that covered it, feeling the thick wool give way under the lightest pressure.

“Griffon feathers, very comfortable,” Lotus said, once more slithering into view. “It’s amazing what some of them will do for easy bits!”

“Amen to that, sister,” Trenderhoof replied, hopping onto the bed. “I once visited Griffonstone. The tourism articles definitely over-inflate its ‘charms,’ but I’m sure you’ve already read THAT article. No wonder that every griffon that can leave does leave. However, I hear it’s doing a lot better recently. Perhaps I’ll visit again sometime in the future…maybe.”

Trenderhoof took a moment to inspect the softness of the fine griffon down, pacing around like a cat, before flopping down lazily onto the fine wool sheet. His chin, however, was cradled on an airy silk pillow. He couldn’t let that curly wool tickle his snout and make him sneeze, now could he?

“I must admit, this is pretty exquisite,” Trenderhoof commented.

“It feels good hearing that from you, Mr. Trenderhoof,” Lotus replied with a smile. “Just close your eyes and relax.”

Trenderhoof did as he was told, letting his eyes shut and his body go limp. His brow furrowed when he heard the gentle groan of something heavy slowly moving itself onto the bed with him, but it was so expertly made that he could barely feel another’s presence.

Suddenly, Trenderhoof felt something heavy press down on his outstretched hind legs.

Snapping his head around, he saw a rather thick portion of Lotus’s new serpentine form draped over her slender, bony cannons.

“Do not worry, zis is simply part of ze treatment!” Lotus interjected before a single word of protest could escape Trenderhoof’s lips. “Just relax and enjoy!”

Trenderhoof groaned, but he reluctantly let Lotus do her work, once more resting his head on his pillow. He had to admit, despite the obvious weight of the segment of serpentine flesh, Lotus’s scales felt smoother than silk on his fur as she slithered over him. The plush bed also gave way easily, bearing some of the weight so Trenderhoof’s legs wouldn’t end up falling asleep from the pressure. He had to admit, in all of his travels, Trenderhoof had never felt a sensation like this.
Another segment of Lotus’s scaly body slithered silently over Trenderhoof, this time over the dip of his withers. His mouth opened, as if to saw something, but his lips quickly shut as he rocked his shoulderblades and relaxed into the silky caress of Lotus’s scales. The idea of using her serpentine tail as a substitute for warm towels put Trenderhoof’s mind at ease. He was slowly opening up to this new treatment, and there was a little part of his mind that was even excited for it.

Lotus finished by placing her hooves in the exposed middle of Trenderhoof’s back, in between the two rivers of blue scales that now flowed over his withers and hind legs. It was a little comforting for the travel writer to feel the familiar touch of a firm, well polished hoof rather than some mutant monstrosity.

“Just relax, Mr. Trenderhoof,” Lotus whispered calmly, before she began to work her magic. She was skilled with her hooves, but that simply came with years of being a masseuse. No, there was another secret to why the spa’s new treatment was such a resounding success. Through some bizarre pyschological effect, secret technique, or some sort of innate lamia magic, Lotus was able to make ponies relax deeply. VERY deeply. So deeply, that their world seemed to melt away, leaving them in a state of bliss, only focusing on her massage and, most importantly, her words. Ponies in this state turned out to be extremely suggestible, something that Lotus and her sister were not afraid to “dabble” in. Capitalism ho!

As Lotus began to slide her serpentine flesh, the silky smooth scales hanging loosely onto it, she knew that Trenderhoof soon be in La-La-Land. However, there was an art to her induction, and she knew that she had to guide Trenderhoof down to this state, without him knowing, ideally.

“Zat’s it, just relax, why don’t you?” she purred, letting her snout dip close to Trenderhoof’s ear. “Rest your eyes, but be careful to not fall asleep on me,” she added, with a flirty giggle.

Trenderhoof replied with a simple, breathless moan. Whatever Lotus was doing, it was heavenly. Her hooves delicately attended the small of his back, but her lamia body was the thing really working Trenderhoof’s weary body. The way her scales slid effortless across him made them feel like some sort of liquid; that bath had to have had special oils to make everything slide SO well over him. The fact that the spa robe seemed to suspiciously stop just before the spot where she was slithering over him made the flowing sensation all the more tantalizing. Trenderhoof even began to move his neck and hind legs, to get more of the wonderful feeling. He began to feel just how weighty Lotus’s snake tail was, but for some reason, that just made him want to press up into it more.

“Ah ah ah,” Lotus interrupted. “Mr. Trenderhoof is of utmost importance zat you remain still and not fidget. You must remain totally limp, otherwise you will not be able to experience ze true depths of ze relaxing massage. It seems zat you are enjoying yourself so far, you want more, no?”

Trenderhoof groaned, but Lotus did have a point. She was the expert here, not him, and this taste of her treatment already had him salivating for more.

“Uhhhn…yeah…sure,” he said, acquiescing to Lotus’s expertise and letting his body lie completely still.

“See? It will be much better zis way, I assure you,” Lotus said, continued her rhythmic massage. Her hooves continued to pamper her client’s back, but her real focus was on the sliding and pinching that her serpentine body provided. That was where the real magic happened, if those gurus from Tim-Buck-Too were to be believed. Lotus continued to slide her scales gracefully over Trenderhoof’s body, now motionless except for the occasional involuntary twitch. This was fine, just as long as he wasn’t actively doing something of his own accord.

“Do not be afraid to shut your eyes and let your mind wander” Lotus cooed. “I’ll be sure to wake you up if you fall asleep.”

“Mmmm…that won’t be necessary,” Trenderhoof said, not even bothering to lift his chin from the pillow. After all, it would be rude to conk out while somepony was servicing you. Although, Trenderhoof was feeling awfully relaxed. Why was it so relaxing, he thought. Lotus must truly be a master of her craft.

“Tell you what, why don’t you shut your eyes and imagine yourself on a beach? Warm, sunny, with the gentle breeze flowing through your mane…” Lotus said, crafting a paradise for Trenderhoof’s so-to-be-vulnerable mind. Her snake tail began to move up and down along Trenderhoof’s body, undulating like a proper serpent as it slid back and forth. “Imagine yourself as laying on ze beach, ze waves coming in to lap at your weary body in a steady rhythm. Back…”

Lotus’s tail slid all the way to the right.

“And forth…”

Now all the way to her left, with Lotus making sure to press her belly scales into her client just a little bit so he could feel some scaly texture.

Try as he might, it was difficult for Trenderhoof to ignore Lotus’s tempting words. Slowly but surely, his eyes creaked shut, and he began to imagine himself on the sunny beaches of Horseshoe Bay. Lotus’s vivid imagery seemed to come to life with her massage, her cool, smooth scales mimicking the gentle rush of seawater exactly. He could almost feel his own fur getting wet.

In the real world, the content grin that had begun to form on Trenderhoof’s face told Lotus that he was falling for it, hook, line, and sinker.

“Yes, see how easy it is to relax when you try like zis? Just try to relax…relax…” Lotus repeated. “ A handy trick zat my other clients use sometimes is to match my rhythm. Just breathe in when I slide one way, breathe out when I slide ze other. It’ll enhance ze therapeutic effects.”

Without question, Trenderhoof began to time his breaths in sync with Lotus’s deep-tissue therapy. It was easy; the asymmetric texture of scales gave his body direct sensory feedback as to when he should breathe in and when he should breathe out. Lotus’s massage was skillful, but it definitely took its time. With how slowly she used her monstrous form to knead his body, Trenderhoof found little difficulty being able to breathe in deeply and exhale every last bit of air. With each exhalation, he felt just a little bit of energy flow out of him; he wasn’t complaining, Lotus said that it would relax him even further, and it most certainly did.

“That’s it, just let yourself become totally relaxed with my massage,” Lotus whispered into his ear, now at the point where she realized that she had to tread lightly, lest she snap Trenderhoof awake. Even if he still suspected nothing, it would be one huge opportunity tragically missed. “Just lose yourself in your daydream, ze rhythm of my caresses being ze only thing zat’s on your mind.”

Trenderhoof didn’t need Lotus’s sweet, gentle words to get him to further relax. He was rapidly losing himself to the relaxing pleasure of the massage. It tickled his senses; each pinch and slither was different from the last, but never broke the rhythm. It was like a poem that rhymed, each motion adding a unique twist while still maintaining a solid rhythm. Slide to the left, slide to the right. Despite the subtle twists and turns the flowing scales made, it was the rhythm that stood out about everything else. Back and forth across Trenderhoof’s weary body, making it melt into jelly under its touch. He thought about how great of an article this would make for, but every time he went to mentally plan what he would write, his mind drifted back to the steady rhythm of the massage. It was hard not to focus on it, each and every predictable motion sending a pulse of pleasure throughout his lanky form. One, two, three, slide, one, two, three, another slide. It was constantly distracting him from focusing on anything else. Not that Trenderhoof was worried in particular; he simply saw this as the manifestation of true skill.

Lotus, without stopping her treatment, raised her head and craned her neck forward.

“How are you feeling, Mr. Trenderhoof?” She asked coyly. She already knew the answer, her sensitive scales felt Trenderhoof’s whole body slacken, the only signs of life being his slow, steady breathing and the gentle beating of his heart.

“I’m…it’s grea…” Trenderhoof said, his tongue sticking out as the pure bliss from the massage even hindered his ability to form words. He was so relaxed that his whole body felt like iron, even moving his mouth felt like a monumental effort.

“I’ll take zat as a compliment,” Lotus replied with a flirty giggle. “Would you like to feel even better?”

Better? Was that even possible? Trenderhoof’s mind began to race with excitement, before it was once again reined in by the steady rhythm of Lotus’s touch.

“Uh…uh-huh,” was all that he managed to spit out before his head collapsed back onto its pillow, thinking of nothing more than the incredible way his body was being worked right now.

“Good, zen we will begun ze wet treatment,” Lotus whispered.

Lotus began to gather more and more of her serpentine form onto the large bed, never ceasing in her massage. Rhythm was important, and not breaking the tender motion was tantamount to whether or not she could induct a client fully. Still, her motions began to slide more snugly against Trenderhoof, almost pinching his body. He barely felt the subtle motion of being lifted so that the length of tail massaging his withers could curl around his front, the extremely soft griffon down absorbing any sort of bump it would cause. With another heave, Lotus wrapped herself around his bony hind legs as well. She finally had a solid grip on him, and now came the hardest part. Slowly, surreptitiously, the tip of Lotus’s tail crept up onto the bed near Trenderhoof’s head, lightly tracing itself along his jaw, before graciously slipping between his chin and the pillow. It curled up and around his skull, grasping Trenderhoof’s head in its scaly grip.

“Just keep relaxing,” Lotus cooed. “Remember, I’m a professional.”

Trenderhoof remained silent, having resolved to let Lotus do whatever she pleased to make her massage the best it could be.
Another gigantic ripple was sent though Lotus’s body, making herself pinch Trenderhoof’s body. In a display of her tremendous new strength and otherworldly precision, she began to rotate Trenderhoof’s body. The spinning was extra slow, gentle, and deliberate, never making a single errant twitch as his body remained absolutely motionless is it spun. All the while, Lotus never stopped in her treatment of Trenderhoof’s body. Even as more and more of her long, serpentine tail coiled around him, Lotus made sure to always keep the rhythm going, sliding back and forth morphing into a corkscrewing action as he was trapped more and more by her scaly embrace.

Her client, however, was reveling in this new part of the treatment. He was so relaxed, and Lotus was so gentle, that the sensation of himself turning wasn’t met with even a word of protest. In fact, his whispered moans suggested the opposite; Trenderhoof reveled in this feeling of Lotus’s massage covering his whole body. He wanted more, NEEDED more. This was, bar none, the best massage he had ever felt in his life. The more and more Lotus enclosed him, the more Trenderhoof began to feel unnaturally cold on the regions that had yet to be coiled. Even through his spa robe, he felt like he needed to feel Lotus’s embrace, or else he would explode. Each scaly loop brought with it sweet relief, with Trenderhoof dancing closer and closer to the edge of sleep with each one. It was only when his body was fully coiled, only his head exposed to the warm air of the parlor, did Lotus stop twirling him around like from flywheel.

“Zere we go,” Lotus said as she shifted her coils around, making them hold snug against Trenderhoof’s body. “You’re doing very well, Mr. Trenderhoof. Now to move on to the next part.”

As if he was weightless, Lotus lifted Trenderhoof’s living cocoon off the bed, slithering over to the steaming pool in the center of the room. Lotus entered the oil and mineral-infused water first, the heat of the water sending an electrified shiver reverberating throughout her entire length. It took all her concentration to keep Trenderhoof’s now-full-body massage going as she lowered him in with her, his glasses fogging up from the intense humidity. His head rested just above the water’s surface, cradled by a thick cushion of serpentine muscle around his neck.

Trenderhoof, however, could feel the incredible heat of the bath through Lotus’s massive coils, even more so when her massage created slips and cracks where steamy water poured inside his scaly sanctuary. The intense heat tickled his fur, soaking his spa robe, but he didn’t care. The oils made Lotus’s coils slip even more freely around him. He was wet, he was warm, he was in Lotus’s caressing embrace. This was it; this was paradise. Every second, his brain shut down more and more. This was utter perfection. Why should he offer any word of protest? Lotus had shown him pleasure beyond measure; in this moment, there was nothing that he could comprehend being better for him that Lotus’s coils swirling around him in a timid whirlpool of scales. The rhythm was the one thing that stood out against the flurry of pleasure. Back and forth, back and forth, all around his body, all around his mind. It called him, compelled him to surrender to the rapture. Back and forth…back and forth…back…forth…

No longer able to stand the relaxation, Trenderhoof’s mind ceased to function and gave itself to complete and utter bliss.

Trenderhoof’s eyes slowly opened, revealing a glassy and distant gaze. His conscious mind was no longer active, having been relaxed into submission by Lotus’s mystical massage. The spa pony chuckled, reveling in yet another victory.

The quiet opening of the door heralded Aloe’s return. She quickly trotted over to her sister, who slithered her pony half further away from Trenderhoof to reduce the chance of disturbing him. Both sisters knew that the trance he was in was delicate, and the suggestions they had in mind had to be delivered carefully.

“Well done, Lotus,” Aloe whispered.

“Thank you, Aloe,” Lotus replied, her muted voice barely audible over the sloshing of her unrelenting massage in the heated bath. “So, what shall we do with him? Ze spa could always use more ‘employees’…mhm!”

“True, but I was thinking of letting him go.”

“Letting him go?”

“Yes, you see, we will tell him to write a great article. If you think business is booming, just imagine what it’ll be like when all of Equestria is reading about us and out ‘special treatment’…”

Lotus giggled. “Oh Aloe, you always were ze nefarious one! Sounds like a lovely idea…”

“Well, shall you do ze honors?” Aloe asked. “I’ll go fetch Scented Oil to clean him up.”

With a quick nod as her sister exited the room, Lotus slithered back over to where her client was staring into space. She leaned her snout in close to his ear, while the tip of her tail began to lightly trace circles on his temple.

“Mr. Trenderhoof, you are so relaxed right now, aren’t you?” She whispered seductively. “ You deserve it, you were such a good patient. So relaxed, so thankful…so thankful that you’d like to help me with a favor, right? Just a teensy, weensy one, nothing to worry about. You cannot worry right now, because you are soooooo relaaaaaaxed…all you need to do is write about how good you feel right now…don’t you want to share zis relaxation with all of Equestria? It’s sooooo gooooood…you do want to share your article with as many newspapers as you can. I’m sure zat every newspaper would love to get a Trenderhoof piece, even just one…and zat’s all you need to do for me…”

That should do it, Lotus thought. It was hard to tell with her clients; they emotionless, vacant stare give little indication if they heard commands. Still, it worked 100% of the time so far, so Lotus was confident that Trenderhoof would do EXACTLY as he was told.
Slowly, Lotus allowed her coils to slacken, her scales holding less and less against Trenderhoof’s body. Each motion of her massage got lighter and lighter, to ease him up out of this relaxed state. It was a little difficult for her; after all, Trenderhoof was a very handsome and famous stallion, any mare would want him in her embrace…even if it was a bit “unconventional.”

“Mr. Trenderhoof,” Lotus whispered, her tail now fully limp in a pile surrounding him underneath the water’s surface. “Mr. Trenderhoof, please wake up, ze treatment is over,” she added with a little boop on his boxy snout.
Trenderhoof began to blink, his mind waking up from its hypnotic limbo. He shook his head, his eyes filling once more with the light of consciousness.

“Zere you are, it seems like you dozed off,” Lotus said.

“Oh…uh,” Trenderhoof said, his face growing red. Was he really so careless as to fall asleep on Lotus? How unprofessional! “I’m sorry! This is…embarrassing…”

“Oh ho, not at all!” Lotus cheerfully assured. “I take it was a compliment!”

“Still, that was absolutely incredible. Probably the best massage I’ve ever felt in my life! This new therapy is top notch!”

Trenderhoof began to climb out of the steaming pool.

“I can see it now ‘Laying it on with the lamia’! Oh, the press will eat it up!”

Lotus put a caring hoof on Trenderhoof’s withers, his spa robe dripping warm water onto the cool tile floor.

“Mr. Trenderhoof, I do appreciate your enthusiasm. However, I would like you to keep the nature of zis treatment a little secret. After all, it will ruin ze surprise!”

Trenderhoof paused when he felt the touch of Lotus’s hoof, hesitating for just a moment before realizing what an excellent idea that was.

“You’re right,” he said. “After all, I can’t say this wasn’t an experience, from start to finish. Still, I simply cannot sing enough praises of this place. Trust me, by the end of the month, this place will be a huge tourist hotspot!”

“Excellent!” Lotus exclaimed, feigning surprise. “You truly do flatter me.”

At that moment, Aloe walked back into the room, her loyal green employee in tow.

“Scented Oil,” Aloe began, “please dry Mr. Trenderhoof up, give him his personal effects, and…oh…throw in ze special gift basket for him, free of charge! After all, how could we not be generous to such an illustrious travel writer?”

“Right away, Miss Aloe,” Scented Oil said before turning around, beckoning Trenderhoof to follow her. “Please, follow me.”
Trenderhoof gave one last nod to the two sisters. “Well, I suppose this is goodbye. I’ll definitely be back though! Be sure to keep this treatment ready for me!”

“Don’t worry, we will!” the sisters called out in unison.

The two sisters waited until Trenderhoof was long gone and down the hallway, before Aloe casually trotted over to a thick log of her sister’s snake tail, sitting on the soft muscle.

“Well,” Aloe began. “Zat went well.”

“Indeed,” Lotus replied. “Zis treatment, I think it’s ze best thing zat has ever happened to us!”

“Mhm! All zese new employees, don’t have to pay zem more zen ze bare minimum to eat, and we certainly need them now zat every customer is a repeat customer.”

“Even outside of work, I’m finding ze benefits to be great. Why, just the other day, I went into Le Petite Feedbag, one gentle touch and ze manager told me that I can eat zere for free whenever I wish!”

Aloe playfully slapped her sister’s blue scales. “You are joking! Ha ha, I am going to need to start picking out ze better clients! Could you imagine our little trip down south having such success? To be honest, I thought of it as little more than a vacation!”

Lotus crossed her forelegs and pouted. “Well, I certainly believed we could find a seller for ze snake oil potion, and we did no?”

Her icy demeanor melted. How could she stay mad at air-headed sister?

"Still,” Lotus continued, “speaking of trips, I feel zat zere is another one we should make soon.”

Aloe’s curiosity piqued. “Oh, and where would we be going?”

Lotus slithered in close, placing her snout right up to her sister’s pink ear.

“We should expand our business. I hear there’s lots of cheap property selling in Canterlot right now…”