After disembarking the Friendship Express at Manehatten Central Station at precisely ten a.m., Dusk Melody and Wildfire slowly made their way from the bustling busy station and into the warm welcoming sunshine of the mid-morning. Through the streets they walked in a happy silence. Not the awkward icy silence of the first few hours of the train ride, this was a pleasant comfortable silence shared by the two friends.

Trotting along the paved streets with her left wing over Dusk’s back and her right wingtip brushing the concrete surface of the sidewalk Wildfire decided almost instantly that she preferred Manehatten over Canterlot. Sure there were a few startled gasps at her acid-scarred face from the odd passer-by but nothing like the dramatic screams she was accustomed to while running her errands for her Mistress Amethyst back home.

“How you doing, Wily?” Dusk asked after a few more minutes of quiet walking, he slowed to a stop close to the edges of a main road near the crossing point.

“I got this, D.” Wildfire replied, stopping with her friend. The little yellow pegasus recognising the crossing point from the little raised nodules built into the street surface, not uncomfortable they were there to let the sight-impaired ponies know there was a crossing there.

“Good, because just over this road, it has two lanes then a central reservation, then two more, there’s Caffeinated’s coffee shop.” Dusk said with a smile, already smelling the scents of tea, coffee and assorted pastries and desserts from the zebra owned shop across the street. “Here we go, careful now…” Dusk started as he gently nudged his friend forward with his right wing.

“D, I can do it on my own, alright?” Wildfire snapped, a little too harshly than she intended, perhaps, but she’d been walking and steering herself around Canterlot unaided for just under four years now and she was still here, crossing a road was foal’s play. But…‘He’s only trying to help, he doesn’t know everything does he?’ She thought to herself as they started to cross. “D…D I’m sorry, it’s just…I’m used to doing it on my own.” She said when they reached the safety of the crossing’s central reservation.

“Hey, it’s cool.” Dusk replied, removing his midnight blue wing from his friend’s back. “I’m gonna go ahead, alright?” The stallion said with a grin at his friend’s independence. “It’s about twenty five feet from here to the coffee shop, walk in a straight line, there’s no traffic coming, you’re good.” Dusk dragged his wingtip along Wild fire’s flank as he started to cross the road.

“Yuppers, I got this, D.”

Crossing the empty street ahead of his friend Dusk Melody hoofed open the coffee shop’s door and entered the splendid shop. Breathing in the heady aromas Dusk was reminded just how much he loved it here. From the shiny floor, a chequerboard patterned black and white tiles, to the bright red bench seats along the sides near the large windows and the pale blue serving counter, Dusk loved this place. “Hey, Stripes!” He cheerfully greeted the larger orange coated zebra stallion, “An earl grey for me, and can you get a black coffee with three sugars on for Wily?” He asked, taking a seat three tables down on the right. “She'll be here in a sec.”

“One tea and coffee coming up.” Caffeinated rumbled in his deep voice as he turned to fill out the order, his cutie mark of a white coffee mug with a stylised red heart displayed on his flank.

“Looking forward to the rope party tonight my friend?” Dusk asked, shrugging off his saddlebag and making himself comfy on the bright red seat.

“Always look forward to using my ropes and hoof-cuffs, Dusk.” Caffienated chuckled, bringing over the tray with the two drinks on it on his back and laying it with practised ease on the table.

Wildfire approached and fumbled with the door, trying to hoof open the wrong side of it before she managed to open it with her left forehoof “Yes! I'm here!” She cheered good-naturedly as she stepped into the coffee shop. “Told you I could do it on my own.” She flicked her ears and sniffed, trying to make out her friend’s scent but amongst the other smells in the shop it was next to impossible. “Dusk, make a noise so I know where you are.”

Obligingly Dusk stomped a forehoof on the black and white chequered floor tiles. “Over here Wily.”

“Ah…there we are, I got you.” The yellow mare turned her head and using the sound of her friend’s hoof trotted along to the third table down on the right from the door.

“Good morning Wily, there’s a coffee dark with three sugars on the table for you.” The orange zebra greeted the young mare with a smile.

“Ooh, thank you Caffeinated.” Wildfire replied as she felt for the bench seat with her right forehoof and carefully sat herself down, extending her left wing to find her steaming mug. “Now, I heard you talking about ropes when I came in?”

“Yes, you heard the voice of experience.” The zebra agreed, making sure his newest customer was comfortable. “Bondage tonight, a solid spanking and bondage for tomorrow.” He gave a gleeful little snicker, “If only to watch you mares wiggle.”

Wildfire giggled as she lifted her mug to her lips and took a confident little sip, ‘Sweet Luna this is gorgeous!’ She thought to herself, allowing the hot bitter liquid to slide easily down her throat. While she was more at ease now than she had been on the train, she found this taste was still taking some getting used to. “Oh…I'll wiggle alright, Caffeinated.”

Dusk smiled, taking a sip of his earl grey, “Wily has told me she plays her part very well.”

“There is playing the part,” the orange zebra smiled wisely, “And there is struggling to find a way to sit on the hard floor without the knots digging into sensitive areas while keeping your inflamed cheeks as comfortable as you can.” He chuckled as he noted a couple of ponies enter his shop.

“Hmm…now that I want to experience.” Wildfire said, setting her mug back carefully on the table. ‘Ha…that’s nothing, I can take that any day…’

“Indeed you shall, you can talk to my wife Thespian about the experience.” Caffeinated then looked around the coffee shop over to the doors, as if expecting another entrant. “So, where is Rover?” He asked, referring to Dusk’s coltfriend who had accompanied him the last time he’d visited his humble establishment. ‘Hehehe…’ he sniggered internally; that had been a very memorable visit, indeed the barista had a bowl of water ready for the submissive little pup.

“Oh, um…Mom arranged for Vocal’s band to have a comeback gig tonight, Stripes.” Dusk explained his coltfriend’s absence. “He and the band are practising in Canterlot for it right now.”

Wildfire took another sip of her coffee, “I can't wait to meet Thespian, Caffeinated. Your wife sounds cool.”

Dusk Melody shook his dark grey-maned head. “To be honest I’m still getting my head around all the stuff you want done to you Wily, you sure?” He asked with no small amount of concern. Though the majority of the trip from Canterlot had been silent, the little yellow mare had been rather vociferous on this topic. Not that Dusk was too worried by this per se, he could well recall the antics Wildfire and Air Raid used to get up to.

“As sure as I’m sat here, D.”

“Once you realize Dusk what a rush it is for the bottom you won't hold back, nor will you think of it as abuse.” Caffeinated smiled as a large earth pony entered the shop. “That was my biggest issue, that it was spouse abuse.” He sniggered, turning towards the newcomer. “There’s nothing like a ruined dinner to let you know you have neglected somepony.” He trotted off towards the counter to serve some clients, with the promise he’d be back soon.

The two friends drained their respective drinks as Caffienated led the grey earth pony stallion over to their table. He was mid grey in colour with a bright sun yellow mane, he wore a smart black suit blazer over a white shirt and a red cravat, and looked to be well into his late middle age, though his eyes had a youthful energy to them, not dissimilar to the zebra he accompanied. “Baron, I'd like to introduce you to Wildfire, another friend of Dusk's who will be joining us tonight.”

Baron approached their table and bowed to both Dusk and to Wildfire, although the later just noticed the movement of the air and turned to face that general direction. “A pleasure my dear,” he said in his Manehatten accent as he took her left forehoof and placed a gentle kiss upon it. “But, do tell how long ago did you lose your eyesight?”

“Hello!” Wildfire gasped a little in surprise when she felt her hoof lifted up, which quickly became a fillyish giggle as it was kissed. “It was an accident in school science class roughly five years ago now. Long story short I ended up with sulphuric and hydrochloric acid thrown in my face, which melted my eyes.”

“Hmm…” Baron very gently released the yellow mare’s hoof and stood up to stand as tall as the zebra beside him, “Maybe I can hear the longer version tonight.” Turning to Dusk, the earth pony inclined his head in a polite nod, “Good to see you again Dusk, will the other gentlecolt be joining us later too?”

Dusk returned the nod with one of his own, “No, Mom got Vocal and his band a gig at the newly rebuilt and refurbished ‘Trixie’s Place’ club, they’re getting ready for that tonight, unfortunately.”

“Excuse me, Baron?” Wildfire spoke up, “I don’t mind telling you the story, if you’d like.”

“It would truly be a joy my dear, but alas duty calls.” The grey earth pony smiled as he turned towards the elevators over in the far corner of the coffee shop. “See all you tonight, thanks for the brew Caffeinated.” With a wave from Dusk, the stallion trotted off with his beverage to the elevators.

“Well, Wily, that was my father-in-law.” Caffeinated smiled, watching the earth pony board the elevator for the Manehatten Times building located above the shop.

Wildfire thought about it for a moment before passing her carefully considered verdict; “He sounds nice.”

Caffeinated chuckled, “We had a rough start in the beginning, but we're best buds now.”

“Protective dad, huh?”

Dusk leant forward, taking Wildfire’s hoof in his own for a brief moment. “Stripes, about what you were saying earlier about abusing Wildfire,” the midnight blue stallion started, stroking his friend’s fetlock protectively, “I'm ok with tying her up, what shocked me was the 'wanting to be used by three at once until I can barely walk' idea that she mentioned on the way here.”

“Yes, that is one of those fantasy things.” The zebra agreed seriously. “I'm as protective of my wife as Baron was of his daughter, Wily.” He said, hugging Wildfire’s shoulder. “He first saw me as a gold digger out for the money. Newly arrived in Equestria, and being a zebra didn't help me any. As I say, that is all water under the bridge now.” Looking around at the clock behind the counter Caffeinated turned to head back to his coffee machine. “And, I need to prep for my next client who now saves me a trip of delivery. Omega will be down from the Times offices in a minute.” He chuckled as he got to work prepping three coffees.

“Omega!” Dusk exclaimed, “I remember him, he did my interview when Vocal and I came here last week, Wily you’ll like him.”

No more than ten minutes later, and right on time, Omega, a white unicorn stallion with a short pale green mane and tail and brown eyes, entered the lobby from the street. “Good morning Caffeinated!” The white unicorn greeted the barista with an easy smile and almost immediately diverted to Dusk and Wildfire’s table. “And, a very good morning to you, Dusk.” Omega looked at the little yellow mare. “Is Vocal Chord not with you?”

“Hey Omega!” Dusk greeted his favourite reporter with a hoof bump that the white unicorn was all too happy to return, “No, I’m afraid he has band stuff in Canterlot going on today and tonight, I have my best friend Wildfire here with me instead.” He said, indicating the yellow pegasus with a wave of his foreleg.

“Hi!” Wildfire smiled, swivelling her ears and using the new sounds and smells to hopefully point her head in Omega’s direction.

“A good morning to you, Wildfire.” The white unicorn then turned to Dusk, “So, that is good news. Will he and the band be going back on tour?” He asked, sniffing a potential story in the making.

“Yeah, hopefully!” Dusk nodded, “Mom's sorted him and the band out a bit of an ‘easy starter’ at a club in Canterlot to get them going again.”

“I hope both of you enjoy your stay in Manehatten.” Omega said with a smile as Caffeinated passed him over a serving tray holding three precious, and in this case, life-saving, mugs of zebran coffee. “I best be going before Airmail sends a search party.” Lighting his horn he lifted the tray and its cargo in his pale brown aura. “A pleasure to meet you again Dusk, and I hope to see more of you Wildfire.” With that he and the coffees headed off to the elevators.

Wildfire grinned, “I'll hear more of you I’m sure.”

Dusk waved his hoof, “Pleasure as always, Omega.”

“I still haven't told him you'll be there tonight.” Caffeinated said quietly as Omega turned and smiled at Wildfire’s return quip before boarding the elevator. “And that was the stallion that asked me out on a date not so long ago.”

“He sounds...adventurous,” Wildfire smiled at her friend, feeling rather more at ease here in Manehatten now she had met three ponies and none of them had reacted in anyway like the ignorant nobles back home. “None of them were weirded out by me. Manehatten is way better than Canterlot, D.”

Dusk merely grinned in response. “Now you sound like Vocal.”

Caffeinated gave a snicker, “I think Omega was more interested if Dusk had traded you for Vocal.”

“So he's into stallions huh?” Wildfire smiled, “That's cool.”

“His partner, Sunshine, will be there tonight.” Caffeinated said with a grin, “Sunny also enjoys being tied up, and just so you know, Omega is the Manehatten Times political reporter.”

“Oh, awesomes!” Wildfire exclaimed excitedly, “I recall on the Friendship Express from Canterlot Dusk said he gave Omega an interview.” She leant over the table, “Sooooo Dusky, did you bring the toys?”

Dusk Melody sighed, rubbing his temples with his forehooves. “Yes, Wily I bought the toys. Rest assured my saddlebags are weighed down with the sheer amount of them.”

Before Wildfire could respond she heard the now familiar ‘ding’ of the elevator and two mares, one an azure blue pegasus and the other a tan coloured earth pony stepped out of it into the coffee shop. “Looks like Omega spilled the beans, you are about to get company.” Caffeinated said as he – somewhat wisely – ducked back behind the counter.

Turning her head to the sound of the elevator Wildfire heard one of the sexiest voices she’d ever heard in her life.

“Hello Caffeinated, Omega forgot the scones.” The blue pegasus said, her summer green mane held in a ponytail bobbed as she walked.

“Yeah, he is such a silly unicorn.” Her friend giggled, though Dusk wasn’t surprised in the least that both of the mares stopped at their table.

“Hi Dusk, Wildfire. I’m Airmail,” the azure pegasus smiled at the Prince, though her brown eyes were focused squarely on the little yellow mare in front of her. “And this is Lavender. Enjoying this zebra's coffee?” She asked, while Lavender merely smiled and looked intently at the two visitors.

“I always enjoy the tea.” Dusk grinned in reply.

‘Oh sweet Luna’s mane her voice!’ Wildfire thought to herself, ‘It’s beautiful!’ She tried to place it, this mare’s accent sounded Manehatten, but there was another element to it that her trained ears were struggling to recognise. If she had to put a hoof on it she’d say it was ‘northern’, but the north of Equestria was a pretty big place, stretching from the Crystal Empire and Yakyakistan in the east to Vanhoover in the west. “Hi Airmail, Lavender, nothing but strongest coffee here.” She pointed a hoof to her empty mug.

Lavender smiled a warm smile that lit up her twinkling blue eyes, “Always nice to see such handsome and beautiful visitors to our fair city.”

“Yes it is lovely.” Airmail crouched down to Wildfire’s left side. “Wildfire, do you like to touch to know a pony?” She asked, her brown eyes drinking in the details of this young looking mare. ‘By Luna she’s a beautiful pony…’

“Y-You mean us?” Wildfire blushed a faint red. “Um...yeah if you don't mind, Airmail.”

“Not at all sweetie.” Airmail leant in so close to the yellow pony that Wildfire could feel her breath. “Right beside you now.”

“Ooh…let me move over to the other side and I can be next.” Lavender said with a playful giggle in her voice as she scooched around to the other side of the bright red bench seat, her hooves sounding on the black and white tiled floor.

Wildfire shivered at the touch of Airmail’s breath on her muzzle. Carefully, slowly, she extended her left forehoof until she felt the warm soft fur of the other mare’s neck. Gently she moved it upwards to feel the bone of Airmail’s jaw beneath the sensitive frogs of her hoof. She frowned in concentration as she felt the angles and contours of her jawline, her cheekbones and her muzzle. Running her hoof over her nose Wildfire felt up the bridge to Airmail’s forehead, noting the absence of a horn. Feeling down the sides of her face now from her ears Wildfire could feel an inches long scar under the fur on the right side, as well as little nicks and scars over her left eye and on her left jaw. Carefully, she felt down the pony’s neck and to her back, feeling the pair of folded wings. “Airmail…you um, you're a very pretty mare,” Wildfire stated finally with a little flush of her cheeks.

“Thank you love,” Airmail smiled, “You're quite fetching too.”

Wildfire raised her eyebrows in what she hoped were a flirtatious manner, her hoof still resting tenderly on Airmail’s right cheek just below her eye, feeling her warmth through her frog. “Flattery will get you everywhere.

Lavender rested her hoof very gently on Wildfire’s right shoulder, carefully so as not to frighten her. “Me next, please, before Airmail takes up all your time.”

Wildfire’s flushed cheeks flushed a little warmer. “There’s um…there's no rush.”

“Pfft, I know Airmail,” Lavender giggled, brushing aside her cherry red mane with her right foreleg, “So I have to seize the moment when I can.”

At that Airmail leant in front of Wildfire to blow a very loud and very long raspberry at Lavender, causing the tan earth pony to break out in a fit of giggles. “You have a thing for wings, Airmail.” She said between her giggles.

“And, your point is?” Airmail asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh…oh nothing,” Lavender smiled, “I’m just sitting here waiting.”

Wildfire giggled, “You'll make this blush permanent, you two.” She whispered, feeling her flushed cheek get redder and hotter. “I’m…I’m sorry Lavender.”

Suddenly Airmail nuzzled Wildfire’s right cheek, “She is nice and warm, Lavender.” She commented, eliciting a very fillyish giggle from the blushing yellow pegasus.

“What they hay was that Wily?” Dusk asked from his seat across the table. “I swear I never heard you make that noise before.”

“Hush you,” Airmail sniggered, not looking away from Wildfire. “Males never can understand real mare speak.”

“Ignore him, Airmail.” Wildfire smiled, earning herself a bemused stare from the midnight blue stallion. “And, you can do that again, if you want...”

Lavender laughed a gentle tinkling laugh, “He has two moms so there’s a chance he might figure it out over time.” Lavender then leant across from where she was sat on Wildfire’s right and nuzzled her cheek. “Oh you’re right, it is warm.”

“I'm telling your hubby on you.” Airmail giggled from behind her azure blue hoof.

The very next thing that Wildfire felt was a very soft hoof touching the feathers on her left wing, on the side that Airmail was sitting. Her yellow wings twitched involuntarily under the amazingly gentle touch as it stroked along the leading edge, the toe and sole of the blue hoof tenderly caressing the primaries. “Hmm…Airmail, that's nice…” she cooed as her wings twitched a little harder. Used to only harsh and brutal treatment at the care home, Wildfire found she couldn’t control her wings when they popped up with an audible *Poomf!* “Nggh…stupid wings!”

Dusk, who was about to make a sarcastic quip at the expense of Wildfire and her wingboner suddenly found himself quiet when he saw the warning glare that Airmail was shooting his way. Recognising that look from long experience with his mom playing her kinky games with his mum knew better than to argue.

Caffeinated looked over from the pale blue counter and noticed the very impressive display the orange zebra put down his mugs he was just about to fill with fresh drinks for the table he called, “No shouting now, girls.” His quip earned him a glare from Airmail and a giggle from Lavender.

“Um…Lavender,” Wildfire muttered, trying to desperately get her errant wings under some sort of control, and failing miserably, “You um…wanted to say hi?”

“Yes please then I'll let Airmail have her time.” The tan earth pony mare chuckled as Airmail let out a pronounced "humph".

“Alrighty,” Wildfire felt the mare to her right shift a little closer on the bright red bench seat, placing her cheek nearer to her hooves as the yellow pegasus lifted them up and carefully touched the tan earth pony’s face, making a mental image of Lavender’s face as she ran the frogs of her hooves over the contours and lines of her face, neck and back, noting that she was an earth pony. “Huh…” she said presently, when she was happy with her image. “Another pretty mare. Do you all hide out in Manehatten?”

“Not hiding, Wildfire, no.” Lavender giggled, “Just living. You have a very soft touch. Caffeinated, I'm getting good vibes here, you should invite these two to dinner.”

“Promise you won't tell Omega, because they will be there.” Caffeinated replied as he carried over a serving tray with three mugs of coffee and a cup of earl grey tea to the table.

“Oh, really?” Lavender smiled, her blue eyes all alive and twinkling. “Did Caffeinated tell you about what goes on?”

Dusk laughed out loud as he took hold of his teacup with a hoof. “Wily, your chat up lines are awful!”

“Like yours are any better, 'questionnaire colt'.” Wildfire shot back her retort automatically, sniggering as Dusk spluttered his tea over the table with an outraged ‘hey!’ “Oh…yeah, he told me, Lavender.” Wildfire replied to the tan mare.

“Not everypony shares your hobbies, Lavender.” Airmail said quietly, sticking her tongue out to her friend, still in her position next to Wildfire.

“Do either of you play?” Lavender asked, returning the raspberry to Airmail.

Dusk nodded, taking a more refined sip of his tea than he did before. “We do, my coltfriend Vocal and I, on weekends he likes to be my little puppy.”

“Well um...I kinda like being tied up...” Wildfire murmured softly, but loud enough to be heard by everypony at the table. Idly the little pegasus wondered if these Manehatten ponies would be as harsh as Lotus or Amber. ‘Probably not…’

“Ooooh,” Lavender squeed with a soft clap of her forehooves, “I love it really tight and my hubby, Topper, does it just right. Airmail and her partner Tempest don't play, but they like to watch if you know what I mean.”

“Ha, ha.” Again Airmail pouted at her friend, then quickly turned her attention back to the yellow mare she was busy flirting with. “So Wily, I don't mean to be rude to you, but lover colt across the table doesn't do a very good job preening, and you'd think he would.”

“I can preen very well thank you!” Dusk protested.

“Yuppers, your own wings...hmm…” Wildfire moaned with pleasure as she felt Airmail’s soft gentle azure blue hoof lightly stroking her left wing. “Speaking of which, Mmmm…sorry these don't seem to want to behave. Wildfire shuddered happily at the light touch. Indeed, she had forgotten what a gentle touch had felt like.

So gently and tenderly was Airmail running her hoof along and under the base of Wildfire’s left wing that the little yellow pegasus was almost purring in sheer delight. Other ponies came in from the street and the elevator for their coffee and pastries and seemed to ignore the display at the table, a few taking the time to look, but none actually disturbing them. Airmail bent her head to whisper in Wildfire’s left ear, “I'll not push, but if you're interested, Tempest and I like to share.”

“So Dusk,” Lavender said as she moved over to Dusk’s side of the table and sat next to the Prince, “Will your coltfriend be there at the party tonight too?”

Wildfire backed away slightly, her face pointing down at the black and white tiled floor. “You...you don't mind my face, my scars?” She asked hesitantly, her voice full of nerves.

“Hmm?” Dusk looked over with concern at Wildfire, then back at the tan earth pony now sat next to him. “Oh no, he was, but he's got band stuff to take of at home. Mom’s sorted him and the band out a gig at a club in Canterlot tonight.”

“Awww,” Lavender pouted, a little playfully, a little seriously. “He is a good singer too, I was looking forward to meeting him.”

Airmail nuzzled her azure blue cheek gently along Wildfire’s yellow one and whispered, so that only she could hear, “They are a part of you, so no, I don't mind at all and, I must apologise...” she placed a very tiny chaste peck on the yellow mare’s cheek, “I’m sorry, I really didn’t notice your scars till just now.”

“You…you aren't put off by them?” Wildfire asked, genuinely puzzled, not just by Airmail’s reaction but by most ponies out here in Manehatten.

Airmail’s hoof lightly touched under Wildfire’s chin and lifted it, moving her yellow muzzle to face her. “Are they sensitive to the touch?” She asked gently.

Wildfire nodded, as much as the blue hoof under her chin would allow, “A bit, they still hurt sometimes, but I have meds for that. And, well...I never said I wasn't interested Airmail.”

Airmail then did something that Wildfire completely and utterly did not expect. Very lightly, so gently the yellow pegasus barely felt it at all, she kissed both of the heavily scarred empty eye sockets. “May I ask you a very personal question?”

“Um…s-sure, of course…” Wildfire gasped, shuddering as she flinched a little at the touch of the mare’s lips.

“What colour were they?” Airmail asked simply.

Once again Wildfire lowered her head, her wings drooping a little. “Before the accident, they were brown, chestnut brown.

"You have such beautiful eyes." Airmail lifted Wildfire’s hoof to her own smiling face, allowing the blind mare to feel her wide broad smile. “Does this tell you how I feel?”

Wildfire smiled in Airmail’s direction. “I’m…I’m getting a fair idea, yes.” She nodded, still smiling. “This...is a bit new, I’m sorry.”

Airmail gave a little fillyish giggle, “I've been told I'm a bit over the top.”

Lavender nodded, “Lots of times.” She agreed.

“No…not that, being treated like I'm a normal pony, I mean.” Wildfire muttered quietly, almost under her breath.

Lightly, very tenderly indeed, Airmail brushed Wildfire’s lips with her own, holding the kiss for a few heartbeats before pulling away. “I'm a lead editor, Wildfire. I've seen horror. I've also seen that beauty can survive.” Airmail kissed her lips again, “Your beauty has survived.”

Dusk shot Lavender a curious look as he felt the tan earth pony mare shudder beside him.

Wildfire blushed furiously as Airmail kissed her lips. “In um…in uh…Canterlot, mares would pull their foals over the street to avoid getting too close to me...”

“Then…I can only pity the foals for not getting the chance to know you.” Airmail whispered kindly.

Dusk nodded his agreement. “Ponies aren't a very accepting lot back home, indeed, Vocal and I have had our share of opposition to being together.” The midnight blue pegasus sighed deeply, shaking his head at the stupidity of the ‘noble ponies’ before he finished off his cup of tea. “But, Lavender you shuddered, are you alright?” He asked in concern.

“You can find them everywhere, even here. I guess in Manehatten they are outnumbered compared to Canterlot.” Lavender nodded with a sad smile, “Sorry, Dusk, when Airmail talks of seeing horror, it is not a pretty sight.”

“Um...Airmail?” Wildfire asked hesitantly, “Can you um, would you mind, touching my wings again? Please, it was nice?”

Lavender lifted her head and raised her voice to make sure she was heard. “Caffy! Get the mop! Airmail is going to preen a mare's wings.”

Airmail shot her friend a pouting look, “Hey!” The azure blue pegasus sniffed loudly in feigned outrage. “I resemble that remark.” She giggled, excited at the prospect of preening. “I’m moving behind your wing, Wily.”

“Only if it's no trouble, I don't want to put you out...” Wildfire said quietly as Dusk watched with a smirk on his muzzle.

Airmail began her preen of the yellow mare’s left wing by using her lips and tongue to arrange the misaligned feathers into some semblance of order, which in turn stimulated the gland at the base of her tail. “Put out?” Lavender sniggered, “Yeah she puts out alright. She's the only pony I've seen orgasm by preening instead of being preened.”

Caffeinated finally came over to the table with bag in his mouth. “Here are the scones you wanted.”

Airmail seated herself behind Wildfire on the left side of the pegasus on the bench, and ran her hooves up her back from the dock of her tail to the shoulder joints, slowly circling her hooves around the bases of her wings to further stimulate the uropygial gland at the base of her tail.

“Oh...oh, OH my, that's really nice…” Wildfire murmured as Airmail lowered her hooves to the base of her tail. The azure blue mare coated her hooves in the oily substance and returned them to the yellow mare’s wings, spreading the diester waxes over the feathers. Starting with the primaries she made sure that each was coated in the oil that would help waterproof the feathers and keep them flexible.

Symmetrically she moved each hoof to the secondary and tertiary feathers in turn until her task was completed. Wildfire felt herself relax onto the table top in front of her as Airmail took the feathers in her mouth, moaning gently as she got into the preening which added a nice vibration to her work.

“Wow!” Wildfire moaned in delight, sensual pleasure shooting through her sensitive wings with every delicate little nibble and tweak that Airmail performed, every minute realignment of a feather sent fresh spikes of bliss through the yellow pegasus. A couple of times Airmail used her teeth to remove the tough sheath from a newly moulted feather, or to gently remove a damaged feather altogether. “Dusk...nggh, how come, aah…your preens don't feel this good?”

“Airmail has a feather fetish.” Caffeinated explained simply.

Lavender giggled up at the orange zebra, “Yeah, Tempest's wings look like she has been in the rain when Airmail is done with her.”

“Sweet Luna that's good!” Wildfire moaned, panting hard as she felt her climax fast approaching with the very skilful sensual preening. “Woe…this is…WOW!”

“Yeah the better she does the more she gets off. Of course right now she is in the zone and a bomb wouldn't distract her.” Lavender said with a smile, sliding from the bench seat and taking up the bag of scones in her foreleg. “Well it has been a pleasure, and I look forward to comparing knot work tonight. I'll take these up and let the office know our manager is 'busy'.” With that Lavender put the bag’s handle in her mouth and headed off to the elevators.

“T-That's...okay, I don't want…” Wildfire panted heavily, “Her distracted!” She moaned and panted, “Sweeeet Luuuuna!” She screamed out loud as she reached her climax at the same time as Airmail, both mare’s soaking the bench seat and the floor underneath it with their cum.

Airmail finished her preen with a loud moan as she sunk to her rump, her cum still dripping to the tiled floor. “Thank you, Wildfire, thank you.”

“No...th - thankyou...” Wildfire gasped, resting her head on the table as her breathing started to finally come under control.

“How does your wings feel?” Airmail asked, concerned that the younger pegasus was alright.

“Where are you?”

Airmail leant her head against Wildfire’s left cutie mark. “I’m right here.”

Very carefully Wildfire turned around on the bright red, now heavily stained, seat and used her hoof to find Airmail’s muzzle, before kissing her tenderly on the lips. “They feel like that, Pretty.”

“Your feathers were lovely.” Airmail giggled as she lovingly returned the kiss. “Almost as lovely as you.”

Wildfire kissed the azure blue pegasus on the lips again, lingering longer this time. “You can turn a mare’s head you know, if I knew to look.” She whispered seductively with a raise of her eyebrows at Airmail.

“Lavender is holding the fort for you Airmail.” Caffeinated informed her, when he was sure she was back in the room.

Airmail smiled warmly, “I think you know how to look at me just fine,” she raised Wildfire's chin and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. “And, I'm sure Lavender is doing fine Caffy.”

Wildfire carefully raised her forelegs and draped them around Airmail’s shoulders for a hug. “I um…I hope you didn't mind me kissing you, just then.”

Airmail shook her head, pecking the yellow mare’s lips again. “I don't think I can get enough of that. I hope you don't mind sharing with Tempest.”

Wildfire smiled, “Not at all, Pretty.” She said confidently. With everything she’d had to live with back at the care home, a shared threesome with another mare would be nothing.

“Have you ever played the stallion?” The azure blue pegasus asked, again kissing Wildfire’s lips.

For a moment Wildfire looked confused, “Played the stallion?” She asked with a frown, before realisation finally came to her with a bang. “Oooh…you mean with a strap-on?”

Airmail giggled, “Yeah, I mean with a strap on, silly.” She laughed, bopping the yellow mare’s nose gently. “Me and Tempest swap. I don't mind stallions, I just don't like how they smell, that’s all.”

“Oh…oooh, no I’ve never done that.” Wildfire smiled and gave an embarrassed little giggle, “Silly me, I thought you meant actually playing with a stallion…um, ignore me I’m just being dumb,” she laughed, hopefully covering her error. While it was true at the home that she’d serviced many a stallion in her time, she didn’t really want to go into it, and besides, her Mistress had warned her against revealing anything about the home to any unwanted outsiders. ‘They won’t understand how I love you, slave,’ Amethyst had whispered in her ear.

Dusk sniggered over his cup of earl grey, “Wily, you silly filly.”

“Dusk, I think I should show how silly I am…” Wildfire grinned an evil grin in her old friend’s direction as she reached a hoof onto the table and felt for her black coffee. “Oh I know…I can tell Airmail the questionnaire story...”

Airmail stroked Wildfire’s yellow-furred back affectionately, “Hmm, I'd just love to hear the questionnaire story.”

Wildfire paused for an agonisingly long moment as she took a long sip of her now cooled coffee, all the better to let the torture sink in for her best friend. Even after all this time away she knew Dusk hated this story above all others. Indeed, the yellow mare was certain that when she eventually was a drooling elderly mare with no memory at all, she’d remember this. “Well, did you know,” she paused for dramatic effect, “That when he got together with Vocal Chord he was so nervous he went to Twilight for advice on what to do on a first date, and she advised him to do a questionnaire? Hehehe, it was seventy questions over twenty five pages!”

“Twilight?” Airmail asked when the little yellow pegasus stopped for breath and for another dosage of coffee.

“Oh right, I mean Princess Twilight Sparkle, sorry Pretty. And, he actually gave him the questionnaire on their first ever date!” Again Wildfire paused in her story, this time to allow her giggle fit to subside before continuing, “He expected him to fill it in right then and there in the basket of a hot air balloon!” She laughed out loud as Dusk made a valiant but ultimately futile attempt to hide in the seat.

“Yes. Yes I did actually do that.” Dusk admitted, completely red-faced and to the amused sniggers of Airmail and Caffeinated, although the latter did already know the story from Dusk’s visit the week before, when Vocal had taken great pleasure in his coltfriend’s embarrassment.

“I like to interview by taste,” Airmail whispered into Wildfire’s left ear, causing her wings to pop open to a decent ‘semi’.

“You interview by taste huh?” Wildfire giggled, wiggling her flank a little, “Did I pass?”

Airmail suddenly wrapped a foreleg around Wildfire's neck, bringing her into a tight embrace as she tilted her head to one side, kissing the yellow pegasus full on the lips. Wildfire returned the gesture, placing her own leg at Airmail’s summer green mane, running it through her ponytail as she ran her tongue across the azure blue lips, silently asking permission to enter. The lead editor granted it, parting her lips for Wildfire's tongue as she ran her own over and around it, eliciting a few pleasurable moans from her. A second or two later Airmail thrust forward with her tongue into the younger mare's mouth, running it around the inside before briefly wrestling Wildfire’s tongue into submission. Finally the need to breathe forced them to break the kiss, their lips coming apart with a wet smacking noise. “You taste nice front, back, and on the sides.” Airmail said with the release of the kiss.

“Hmm…” Wildfire moaned pleasurably, noticing that once again her wings were fully erect, again. “I think these wings are permanently gonna be like this today.”

“And now?” Caffeinated asked, having fully enjoyed the impromptu kissing session between the two mares.

Airmail looked over at the zebra, a look of complete and utter seriousness. “Tempest trusts my judgment, Caffy.” She said, checking the ticking wall clock with a slightly shocked look. “I do however need to get back to work. Be seeing you tonight Wily?”

Wildfire leaned to where she was sure Airmail was, sniffing her scent to make sure, and laid her head on her azure blue shoulder. “I want to feel your tongue in me tonight.” She whispered in her ear.

“I'm sure that can happen,” The editor whispered back, “Though it will be more than just me.”

“Well, in for a bit, in for lots of ‘em, right?” Wildfire giggled nervously.

“Yes,” Airmail said, lightly pressing her lips to Wildfire’s, giving a last delicate little kiss. “I do hope you'll be touching me later tonight.”

“Yuppers, I will, but you might have to guide me in though, if you don't mind.” Wildfire looked down at the floor, her quiet nervous aspect from the Friendship Express threatening to return. “I um…I uh, I might not be very good though.” Wildfire blushed, suddenly very, very nervous; it had been a long time indeed since she’d done anything to please anypony other than be chained to the floor and allow them to use her body like a toy, a mere receptacle, nothing more.

“I don't mind, Wildfire. Tempest and I are good at sharing.” Airmail said reassuringly.

Wildfire gave a small tremulous smile, her previous confidence all but waning under the prospect of all the new interactions she’d be expected to partake of later. All of a sudden she wished she was back in the home with Amethyst, Lotus and Amber. At least there she knew what to do and how to behave. “Um…Airmail…will you let me know if I'm doing it wrong?”

“No, Wily,” Airmail said, stroking her back, “Becuase you won't be doing it wrong. You'll be doing it with us.”

The little yellow pegasus gave a slight sigh as she relaxed with the backrub. “You know what I mean, I just don't want to mess up…” Wildfire shuddered involuntarily. ‘If I mess up, then D might tell Mistress, if D tells Mistress I’ll be in trouble…she might…she might put me in the box again…’

Airmail felt the shudder under her hoof but as she had no idea as to what was causing it, she put it down to simple nerves. Casting a look over at Dusk she said, “You ever tell her she worries too much?” She asked, cocking her head back at Wildfire. “To mess up is to not try. As long as you try you will be fine. We will guide you, but if you know how to please yourself, you can please others.”

Caffeinated placed a hoof gently onto Wildfire’s shoulder. “I think you'll find that Airmail and Tempest live up to being loving and kind.” He said kindly, his deep voice going a long way to soothing the yellow mare’s frazzled nerves.

“Oh, that earns you a kiss, Caffy.” Airmail giggled, “I'll be sure to give you that tonight when your wife is there.”

Dusk shook his head with a sigh, running his hooves up and down his empty teacup. "I’ve told her, I told her all the time on the Express here Airmail, trust me.”

Wildfire pointed her head to the tiled floor again, this time slicking her ears back to her head and shuffling her yellow hooves. “I’m sorry...I guess, I shouldn't be so nervous, should I?”

Airmail stopped stroking Wildfire’s back and once again lifted her head up from the floor and turned it to ‘look’ straight at her, the brown eyes searching the scarred face. “You shouldn't worry if you’re good enough. Being nervous is fine, it adds to the cute that is you.” She said with a gentle kiss of the lips. “Caffy, you'll let us have the Mare’s Room, right?”

“Of course Airmail,” Caffeinated rumbled, a foalish twinkle in his green eyes, “Can I sell tickets?” He asked with a snicker, earning himself a stuck out tongue and a raspberry from the azure blue pegasus.

“If you like, Wily,” Airmail said with a little kiss, “We can make the room dark and do it all by feel.”

“Really?” Wildfire asked, genuinely taken aback and surprised by what she’d just heard. “You'd really darken the room and come down to my level?”

Airmail shook her head, causing her ponytail to sway over each shoulder. “No, it would be bringing you up to our level.” She said with a boop of her hoof to Wildfire’s nose. “Think positive dear.”

“I’m sorry, Pretty,” the yellow mare blushed a faint red. “I'm not good at this am I?”

Airmail smiled, “One step at a time, Wildfire. One step at a time.”

“I’m…I’m um…a lot more confident when I'm instructed what to do…” Wildfire whispered quietly, thinking of how much simpler and easier things were when her Mistress took charge of her and ordered her daily routine, gave her errands and beautiful punishments when she was a bad slave.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot, you're a lot like our friend Serenity.” Airmail giggled, “Well, I can base off of that. Do you like forceful Mistress stuff, or just general guidance?”

“Oooh…you can be as forceful as you like!” Wildfire gushed, perking up and clapping her forehooves together excitedly. “And, could you maybe, call me names and stuff?” She asked eagerly.

“Wily gets off on that, don't worry.” Dusk said with a smile from the other side of the table. Certainly he easily remembered the things Air Raid and Cyclone used to get up to with Wildfire, and the fun times they had together, mainly because his friend would tell him in excruciating detail about it the day after. No, what surprised the stallion was the mention of the derogatory name calling…that was new. Still he shrugged, paying it little mind.

“Yes, a lot like Serenity.” Airmail nodded affirmatively. “Don’t you worry, we will introduce you to the mare's club. Tempest and I enjoy the show and like to get in a few licks,” the azure blue mare winked to Dusk and to Caffeinated, who merely rolled his eyes, “But, Mapper can be a harsh Mistress and Serenity is her little slave pony.”

Wildfire’s ears perked up at the mention of the word ‘slave’ from Airmail. ‘A harsh Mistress? Ha!’ Wildfire thought to herself with not a small amount of pride at her own ability, ‘Wait till she sees what I can take!’ She smiled, even her owner was sometimes proud of the punishment she could take. “That sounds fun! Don't worry about being too rough, I can take anything, anything at all.”

“Well, if you're willing, Mapper can use another slave for the evening.” Airmail said with a gentle hug, hanging her foreleg around the yellow mare’s shoulder. “And, if you get comfortable enough with us mares, you could let Dusk join the Stallion's Club.”

“He has only met one of them.” Caffeinated said, slightly concerned.

Airmail shrugged, “Wily has only met one of us.”

“Um…can we see how we go, please?” Wildfire asked uncertainly, feeling herself unconsciously nestling into Airmail’s warm body. She didn’t know why, exactly, she’d only known her for something like an hour or so, but…there was just…something about this mare that made the little yellow pegasus feel…wanted. It felt strange, not ‘wanted’ like her Mistress wanted her, but wanted nonetheless.

“Of course, love.” Airmail noticed the little blind mare nestling into her, she couldn’t not notice really, strangely though, to say they’d only just met, it felt…okay, just right. “Just let Mapper know your safe word, and don't be afraid to use it if she goes too far. We will always respect that.”

“Okay, I will.” Wildfire nodded, “And, thanks for the preening earlier.” She was genuinely happy, flexing her wings she ruffled her feathers, loving the way they felt. If she was honest her wings hadn’t felt this good in years, since before they were broken at the home.

“That really was my pleasure.” Airmail let out a fillyish giggle. “I do happen to have a serious feather fetish.”

Caffeinated let out a loud chuckle, unable to keep in his mirth, “Yeah, that’s like calling the ocean damp, Airy.” The orange zebra nudged Dusk and they both shared a giggle, which developed into a full laugh when the azure pegasus stuck out her tongue at the two stallions.

“I noticed.” Wildfire giggled at the joke, and at the sniggering stallions. “Pretty, is there anything I can do for you later, at the party?”

“Yes, there is, and we can talk about that later.” Airmail nodded with a smile, “A hint, it has to do with your wings stroking me everywhere. I will be happy to clean them again when you're done.”

“Ooh! I can do that!” Wildfire said a little more confidently. After all, back home her Mistress used every part of her for her pleasure. She was used to that, that was easy. “And, after, would you be alright, if you, I mean, could you spank me?” The yellow mare asked hopefully. The vibes she’d been getting was this Airmail cared for her, and the care home staff always beat her to show her how much they loved her.

The tone of Airmail’s voice changed a little, though it was still upbeat, “I don't want to disappoint, but that is more Mapper's thing. Me, I like to nuzzle and lick the red marks afterwards.” The azure blue mare said with a lick of her tongue up Wildfire’s left ear with a nip at the end that caused her wings to twitch again.

Wildfire somehow managed a resigned sigh and a pleasured moan all at once. “My wings are staying erect all day today aren't they?”

“And mine never popped up once.” Airmail giggled behind her hoof, “Practice dear, practice.” A thought struck her then as she checked the ever-ticking wall clock, a constant reminder to the lead editor that she really, really should be back at work by now…and, ‘I would be back up in my office, if this beautiful little pegasus wasn’t so magnetic…what is it about her?’ Airmail really didn’t know, she couldn’t put her hoof on it, but there was ‘something’ about this young mare. “Are you going to be here tomorrow for the Open Mic?”

Wildfire nodded, “Oh yes! Dusk told me about that, on the Express here. I write poems, Pretty. I’ve…got a book full of them.” She said a little sadly. ‘Or at least, I had a book of them.’ She thought miserably. ‘Mistress Amethyst took my book from me, but I was a very bad slave, bringing Dusk back like I did.’

Airmail smiled at that. “Good that zebra needs some competition.”

“Oh, um…I doubt my poems are as good as Caffeinated’s are.” Wildfire started when thought of her old leather bound poetry book gave her an idea. “I've got an old photo in my saddlebag, if you'd like it?”

“I'd like to look at it,” Airmail said, all of a sudden very interested as her curiosity was piqued. “But, I don't want to keep it from you.”

Wildfire reached a forehoof into her saddlebag and for a few moments fished around until she felt a familiar touch of the old wrinkled photograph. It had been one of the photos from her poetry book, Amethyst had slid it from its page and let her keep it. Probably as an added punishment for her transgression. “Here, Pretty. You can have it, I don't need it anymore.” She passed over the picture, unaware it was one of herself and Air Raid in much happier times, so very long ago now.

Airmail looked down at the old photograph she now held in her azure blue hoof, of a younger Wildfire – younger even than she was now – and some other mare, a lime green pegasus who looked familiar from somewhere but she couldn’t place it. Airmail though didn’t care for the other pony. She only had eyes for the smiling face of the yellow pegasus looking up from the picture. The smile, how it reached and lit up her large beautiful chestnut brown eyes, she could virtually feel the happiness emanating from the picture. Sniffing loudly she used a hoof to wipe her own brown eyes, eyes she hadn’t realised were wet. “That…that’s what I pictured when I asked for your eye colour.” Airmail leant in close to nuzzle Wildfire’s cheek tenderly. “You're as beautiful now as you were then, because the beauty is there in your heart.”

Wildfire returned the gentle nuzzle with one of her own, “You're sweet for that, Pretty. Canterlot could use your ideas of beauty. Maybe then my marefriend wouldn't have left me...” she trailed off, thinking once more of how Air Raid had screamed at her before she had left her in the hospital.

“She was a prize bitch, Wily. Not worth your time worrying about.” Dusk said from his seat, getting protective of his old friend.

“Maybe you just need learn what it is to be a friend.” Airmail said to the midnight blue stallion. “Friends are the ones left behind to pick up the pieces.”

“I did my best…” Dusk whispered, though in his heart of hearts, of course, he knew this to be an utter lie. “Especially as it was my fault it happened.”

“No!” Wildfire protested adamantly. “No it wasn't, D.”

“Friends don't argue over blame,” Airmail said with a silencing hoof over Wily's mouth. “For there is enough to go around.”

Dusk looked down at the table. “The stallion who threw the acids was aiming at me,” he said glumly, his shoulders slumping with the change in his mood. “Wily got herself in the way. It…It should be me scarred and blind, not her.”

“You hush too,” Airmail barked sternly at the young Prince. “Will this change the past?”

“Airmail...” Caffeinated rumbled warningly, taking a step towards the blue mare.

Dusk Melody sighed again, wishing the empty teacup was a mug of moonshine. “No...No it won't, Airmail.”

“Now…I really do need to get back to work.” Reluctantly the azure blue mare released the hug she had maintained around Wildfire’s shoulders for the past several minutes. “We will play tonight, and if he’s lucky we’ll let your stallion watch to see how it is done.” She giggled playfully, planting a delicate little kiss on the yellow pegasus’s lips.

“I look forward to it, Pretty.” Wildfire giggled as she returned the little kiss, not wanting the mare to leave.

“Later all,” with that Airmail turned, making sure to playfully stroke Wildfire’s nose with her summer green tail, causing the little pegasus to wrinkle her muzzle and giggle like a filly as she waved a goodbye. “And Caffy, don't you let them escape tonight’s fun.” She smiled, particularly at Wildfire, taking a very long last look at the little mare before heading over to the elevators.

Caffeinated looked around, his sparkling green eyes following Airmail to the elevators at the far end of his coffee shop. They didn’t leave her until the doors closed shut and the lights began to flash, indicating the car was in motion. Only once the orange zebra was sure she was gone did he return a rather solemn and unusually serious gaze back to the table and its occupants. “Some things you both should know about her that she may, or may not, share with you later.” The stallion began, taking up a seat next to Dusk as he took a deep breath. “Airmail is the most compassionate pony I know, and also the most dangerous.” In response to Dusk’s questioning look he continued, “She did a long tour in the Equestrian Special Forces as a top class sniper. She has over two dozen confirmed kills. She also killed a stallion that tried to rape her. She has seen the worst that ponies and griffons together can produce.”

Caffeinated paused for a moment to allow what he’d said to sink in to the two ponies. Judging by their expressions, he safely, and quite rightly, assumed it had. “Since she took the lead editor job here at the Manehatten Times, there is nowhere she won't go. Hiding in that compassionate heart is some pain that she keeps well managed. It's part of her total focus on pleasing others to please herself.”

“Wow...” Wildfire put her hoof to her mouth in wonder. “I had no idea she’d done so much…” while it was true that Wildfire had seen her share of death and physical pain during her time as a firefighter in Canterlot and again at the care home, it was also true she’d never killed anypony, unless you counted Heatwave her old partner from way back.

“She is one of three friends of mine that have killed in the past.” Caffeinated explained, still with the sombre expression on his face.

“I guess…it does put things in perspective, doesn’t it?” Dusk commented quietly beside the larger stallion.

“You guess?” Wildfire asked incredulously, “I can’t begin to imagine that, at all.” Just then a spike of pain, deeper and more intense than the standard background pain she endured, lanced through her head from the nerves around her eye sockets, causing her to wince in agony. “AAaaAH…D-Dusk, ugh…can you get my painkillers? My scars are hurting me something rotten.”

“Sure thing Wily,” Dusk said, immediately searching through his saddlebag for the co-codamol pills that the care home had provided her with. Seizing them in his midnight blue hoof he pulled them out and passed over two of the strong paracetamol and codeine medication. “Here you are.”

“I’ll get you some water to take those with, Wildfire.” Caffeinated said with a smile, bustling over to the sink behind the counter to fill an empty glass.

Wildfire grimaced a little with the pain from her face, a thought occurring to her while Caffeinated was away at the counter. A thought that worried her somewhat about the party later and what she’d been told. “Um…can we have it just us five mares for this first time?” She asked as she smelt the zebra’s scent get stronger, signifying his return to the table, along with the clink of the glass of water on the table top. “Is there a dimmer switch where the lights can be turned down, but not off altogether?”

“Wily, this is for you.” Caffeinated replied with a warm smile, “Everypony wants you to be comfortable while they make you uncomfortable.”

Wildfire popped the two co-codamol’s in her mouth and proceeded to wash them down her throat with the freshly delivered cold water. “I um, I don't want to be a bother to anypony.”

Dusk leant across the table and rested his midnight blue hoof on his friend’s yellow one, and saw her smile at the contact. “Wily, you’re many things but you aren't a bother. Listen to the zebra!”

“You'll definitely be a bother if you eat all the cake before I get a slice.” Caffeinated chuckled, his shoulders shaking as he laughed. “Wily, you will have a private room as the mares like to play that way. Since you can't tell they may make it totally dark for their own fun.” He said, his deep voice sounding reassuringly, “Mapper and Serenity are both unicorns so they will give any needed light. Just make sure you set any ground rules for what you do not want to happen.”

Wildfire gave a tentative smile at the orange zebra’s comforting words. She couldn’t explain why but every time he spoke she felt calmer, it was as if his deep rumbling voice was like a balm for a wound. “I’ m really interested in the hard floor and the ropes you mentioned earlier.”

“I can certainly let Mapper know to abuse you in a loving way.” Caffeinated smiled as he reached a hoof for the coffee he had bought over for himself when he’d bought the water for Wildfire.

“She doesn't have to hold back for me.” Wildfire stated confidently, sipping the rest of her water from the glass. “If I'm doing it I’m doing it properly.”

“You haven't heard my motto I shared with Dusk,” the barista said gently, setting his coffee mug back on the table. “Love with discipline is what you show a child. Discipline with love is what you show a trusted partner. Without love there is no discipline. Without love there is only abuse.” The orange stallion smiled such a smile that Wildfire could hear the amusement in his voice, “Mapper will try to get you to use your safe word; she gets off on that, just let Mapper know ahead of time if you want special consideration. Serenity will do whatever she asks, the other two, Airmail and Tempest, have let their limits be known already.”

“I don’t want any special treatment, Caffy.” Wildfire said quietly.

Dusk sighed deeply into his cup of earl grey. “Wily, it's not a contest to see who can take the most.”

“Wily,” Caffeinated started with concern colouring his deep voice. “I hope you can understand that Airmail and Tempest are not into bondage, but they do like to play with the prey. Serenity will not hold back simply because she is Mapper's slave, and Mapper will do what she can to get that safe word out of you.”

“I didn't mean it like that, I want them to like me…” she said, her voice almost a whisper. Her Mistress Amethyst had always told her that whenever she did whatever the care home staff wanted her to do the more they liked her. “I just don't want to disappoint, everypony always assumes I'm fragile and I'm not.”

“Wily, blindness doesn't make you fragile.” Caffeinated said with a bit of a sigh, “If you were eighty, or had some bone disease then that might make you fragile.” He paused for a brief moment while he took a measured mouthful of his coffee, before deciding to try a different tack. There was something off about this young mare, something bothering him that he couldn’t put his hoof on. It was as if she was desperate to please and show what she could take, with little regard for herself, and that worried him. “Has any of my friends treated you with foal gloves?” He asked, “Even Airmail surprised me with the eye colour question, but she is like that.”

Wildfire smiled like a filly on her first date at the mention of the lead editor’s name, a smile that didn’t go unnoticed by the two stallions. “Airmail was...surprisingly sweet. I liked how direct she was. It’s just…I'm not used to being treated like a normal pony…”

“Yes, she can be sweet, and she can be a hard ass at times.” Caffeinated smiled ruefully as he got up to prepare some refills for the table. “I trust her judgement in how to handle a situation. I also trust Lavender on reading a pony and her thoughts on their temperament.” The orange zebra checked the clock as he worked, noting the early afternoon time. “Tempest will be in soon with Topper, that's Lavender's husband.” He grinned, pulling a tray of watercress and cucumber sandwiches from a shelf beneath the pale blue counter. “Topper makes me look small…” the stallion chuckled, bringing over the three refills and sandwiches on a tray balanced perfectly on his back.

Wildfire carefully reached her left forehoof for her black coffee with three sugars when Caffeinated placed it in front of her so she could use the aroma to zero in on it. ‘Five years without coffee, now I’ve had like, five in as many hours…least I’ll be energetic for later,’ she thought to herself with a grin, thinking of the things she and Airmail would do; then again, this Tempest sounded like fun too. “I am looking forward to meeting Tempest,” she said after she’d swallowed a mouthful of hot fresh zebra coffee.

“Most of the time she doesn't live up to her name.” Caffeinated laughed, thinking of the one time that her play with Mapper had gone a ‘little wrong’. “Tempest is the balance to Airmail, she is a sweet, softly spoken pegasus.”

“So, the dinner and party,” Wildfire started as she breathed in the heady scent of her drink, “Are we going to your place?”

“Yes, I live on Stallion Island” Caffeinated explained, taking up his own mug of coffee from his seated position next to Dusk who was happily nursing his earl grey. “The subway will take us there under the river.”

“Ooh a train?” Wildfire exclaimed, sounding just like a little filly, “I like trains.”

“It will be crowded to start with but taper off toward the end.” The orange zebra warned cautiously, unsure how the blind mare would cope with the smaller, more compact carriages of the subway train that were, by necessity of design, smaller than those of the Friendship Express. “Ah, here comes the Storm and Tops,” he noted with a grin as a violet pegasus mare with a spikey unruly looking black mane that reached her shoulders walked into the coffee shop alongside a truly huge chocolate brown earth pony stallion with a short electric blue mane. “That should keep Dusk in place for a bit.”

“Hi Caffy!” The blue-eyed violet mare called out as she headed straight for the elevator without sparing the table and ponies there a glance, probably going to see her marefriend, Dusk safely assumed.

“Yo, Caffeine, got some left over muffins?” Topper said by way of a greeting as he approached the counter. It was only when he was stood next to the zebra that Dusk realised what the shop owner meant when he had said that the earth pony made him look small; Topper stood at least four hooves taller than Caffeinated at the shoulder.

“Of course I do,” the barista replied with a ready smile, “Go fetch Lavender and then get them.”

Dusk Melody paused, his cup of hot earl grey held inches from his midnight blue lips. ‘Sweet Aunt Tia’s sainted mane…it’s like Applejack’s barn grew legs!’ The Prince thought to himself as he watched the titanic earth pony follow Tempest over to the elevator.

Walking over to join his violet friend Topper chuckled, “I'm sure Airmail will lead a special delivery to get them back down here fast.”

Wildfire almost dropped her coffee mug when she heard Topper say the azure blue pegasus’s name, her ears perked up in his direction. “Airmail's coming back!?” She squeaked out, just catching her half-full mug in both forehooves, “I mean, um...isn't that nice…” she muttered, a fierce crimson blush colouring her cheeks, the heat not staying on her face.

“I’m sure Airmail will be talking about you all the way down the elevator with Lavender backing her up.” Caffeinated smiled as he made his way back over to their table, Dusk obligingly making room for him to sit down next to him.

“Sounds like sompony's quite the smitten kitten…” Dusk sniggered as he teased his best friend, enjoying her intense blush.

Caffeinated snickered from his position next to the royal pegasus, “Do you blame her for that Dusk?” He asked, taking up his own coffee for a quick sip.

Dusk Melody shook his head, “No Stripes not at all, doesn't mean I can't tease her for it though.” He grinned a wide grin, “Consider it revenge for the questionnaire thing earlier.” He said, taking a satisfying sip of his tea.

“Wily,” Caffeinated started with a snicker in his voice as he leant over and playfully nudged her yellow hoof that wasn’t holding her coffee mug, “When I found out about the questionnaire, I fell down behind that counter and couldn't breathe, my ribs were hurting so much.” He chuckled, his green eyes sparkling at the discomfort the pegasus stallion was in.

“I…I just couldn't believe he followed Twilight’s advice!” Wildfire laughed out loud, setting her mug down on the table just in case. “Of all the ponies he could’ve asked!” She shook her head, her laugh dying to a snigger. “Twenty five bucking pages! Priceless!”

“I've meet Princess Twilight Sparkle once over in Baltimare.” Caffeinated said with a smile as he recalled the memory, “I liked her, a straight forward and to the point pony, got things done.”

Wildfire smiled as she thought about Twilight, about the times long ago when she’d see her around the castle in Canterlot. Always a very approachable pony, always had time for everypony. Wildfire had liked that about the youngest Princess. And, of course, she was the best teacher they’d ever had. “You should have seen her teach, Caffy. Best Professor at Canterlot University by far.”

“And…here comes the horde!” Caffeinated announced after a few minutes of silence with a wry smile, watching the lights on the elevator flash down to the ground floor, heralding the arrival of four ponies. “Let me go get refills, drinks and treats.” The orange zebra got up from the table’s bench seat and headed over as with a now familiar ‘ding’ the descending elevator car disgorged its cargo.

Dusk looked over to the crowd and had to fight hard to stifle and snort of laughter; for Airmail was attempting, in the manner of a filly eager to get the new toy from her mother, dragging a somewhat more composed Tempest over to Wildfire’s side of their table while Lavender and the massive Topper followed closely behind them. “This is her, this is her!” Airmail squealed, reinforcing the filly image in Dusk’s mind, “And she’s a lot of fun!”

“Hello Wildfire,” Tempest greeted the blind mare with a smile, causing the mare’s ears to track her and she turned her head to the sound of her voice. “Airmail says you're a tasty treat.”

“Don't forget poor Dusk over here…” Lavender gave Dusk a sympathetically tight hug, making him splutter for breath as her earth pony strength squeezed his slight frame. He perished the thought of how strong her partner was, given his sheer size. “This is Topper, my hubby!”

“Hello.” The mountainous chocolate brown earth pony said simply, for all Equestria looking and sounding like a larger version of Mac, just as Caffienated returned to the table laden down with assorted drinks and flavours of muffins.

“Oh, hi!” Wildfire squeaked, only just realising that Airmail must’ve told her marefriend everything. “She...er...she preened me. Hope that's ok?” She asked tentatively, half of her expecting to get yelled at like back home, the other half unsure if she’d get praised for it.

Gratefully Dusk returned the hug with Lavender, nowhere near as tight as the tan earth pony mare hugged him. “Hey again! And, hello to you, Topper.” He grinned up at the chocolate brown stallion, “I stand by my first thought, that Applejack's barn has grown legs.”

“Of course it's okay, Wildfire, that makes it easier for me to follow up and get the drool off.” Tempest replied as Airmail merely rolled her brown eyes in response.

“Applejack?” Topper asked, confusion clear in his lilac eyes.

“One of the Celestia Six,” Caffeinated clarified as he pulled over a spare seating pad from an unused table and sat at the head of the table. “Owner of Sweet Apple Farms.” He continued as Topper finally nodded with a smile of understanding.

Dusk smiled, reaching a hoof for his refilled cup of tea. “It's not often I meet somepony who makes her bother look small.”

Wildfire ignored her friend’s conversation on the other side of the table, she had ears only for the two mares beside her to her left. Airmail, her Pretty, had called her fun! Her! Fun! Giggling like a love-smitten filly she smiled, “Airmail, you really think I'm fun?”

“I really do!” Airmail squee’d excitedly, “If Caffy hadn't cleaned up I could prove it too.”

Topper snickered from his now seated position next to Lavender – she had sat next to Dusk – opposite Wildfire and Airmail and Tempest, the latter two mares still stood to Caffienated’s right, “Oh, that kind of fun. Did you watch love?” He asked of his wife.

Wildfire couldn’t help but giggle. “We um, we did kinda did make a mess.”

Lavender, looking positively minute next to her husband, but then again everypony looked small next to the titanic earth pony, had wrapped her forelegs around his and was busy hugging him tight when burst into giggles, “Of course I watched, you know Airmail needs adult supervision.”

Standing to Wildfire’s left, and sharing a nuzzle with her marefriend Tempest joined Lavender in the giggle fit, “She does that, Lavender.” Listening to her speak Wildfire’s ears swivelled and strained, trying to place her accent. There was the Manehatten there, sure, but there was an extra element to it as well, an underlying richness that she was struggling, even with her trained ears, to place.

“It was an interesting show.” Dusk reached for his earl grey then thought better of it as he sniggered at his best friend.

“Dusk...questionnaire.” Wildfire said simply, using the sound of her friend’s voice to send a loud raspberry hopefully in his general direction. She loved having this over the royal pegasus, and she knew he hated it, which made her love it all the more. Dusk baiting should be a spectator sport, after all.

All of a sudden, Prince Dusk felt five pairs of eyes – and Wildfire – zero in on him. The midnight blue stallion assumed that since the group knew Airmail quite well, they naturally would focus on him. Not that Dusk could blame them any. Tempest merely raised an eyebrow sardonically, “Questionnaire?” The violet mare asked, her curiosity sufficiently piqued.

Dusk, despite the weight of the five stares he was receiving still took a moment to drink his tea. “Fine…” Even though he tried his best to frown he smiled in the end. “When I got together with my coltfriend I was so nervous at first I went to a friend for advice, and she advised me to give him a questionnaire about his likes and stuff, to find out more about him. So on our first date I did just that.” Dusk explained, looking from one pony to the other he could virtually see the laughter in their faces.

“Yeah…easy questions,” Caffeinated sniggered at the head of the table, his green eyes alive with mirth, “Like, what's your favourite colour, favourite number, what do you usually do on a Tuesday at two twenty eight p.m., that sort of stuff.” The orange zebra erupted in barely held back laughter, closely followed by Lavender and Topper, who both snorted laughs which sent their respective coffees everywhere, and their owners scrabbling for napkins to wipe up the mess.

“I am never, ever, going to live that down…” Dusk briefly considered hiding under the table, but ultimately decided against it.

“Nope!” Wildfire giggled happily. “Tell them how big was it was, D.”

Dusk sighed, though the sigh was lost somewhat amidst the assorted laughing, sniggering and giggling going on around him. “It was seventy questions, over twenty five pages...no appendix though, I’d left that back at the castle, y’know, for later…”

“And, what happened to it?”

“Vocal Chord took one look at it and used his magic to throw it over the side of the hot air balloon!” Dusk’s sudden indignance at what Vocal had done to his very carefully prepared and well thought out questionnaire only made the crowd of ponies – and one zebra – laugh all the harder, until he himself couldn’t resist any longer and he joined in with them.

“See,” Caffeinated said once his laughter had subsided sufficiently to allow him to speak, “Both of these characters fit right in.”

“They totally do.” Airmail agreed, though the azure blue pegasus’s brown eyes were solely for Wildfire.

“Are they coming tonight?” Tempest asked hopefully, sharing the object of her marefriend’s gaze.

“Yes,” Lavender replied to the violet mare, “But Omega doesn't know about it.”

“Why not tell him?” Topper asked, an eyebrow raised questioningly at his wife.

Caffeinated looked squarely over at Dusk, who in turn noticed the pointed stare and did a ‘what?’ shrug of his shoulders. “Omega covers politics and I wanted it to be a surprise for him.”

“So?” Topper asked, not getting it at all.

Dusk thought for a second and finally realised what the zebra was getting at. “Oh...Oh! I know…Omega interviewed me and Vocal the last time we were here, that time last week.”

“Oh!” Topper’s lilac eyes went wide as he realised just who this dark blue pegasus actually was. “I read that, so you're that Dusk? Cool.” The large chocolate brown earth pony stallion said simply, causing Tempest, Airmail and Lavender to all join in with a girly giggle fit, as they were in on the joke.

Dusk nodded with a broad smile, “I am indeed that Dusk.”

“Your parties are never dull Caffeinated,” Topper smiled down at the midnight blue pegasus. “So, Dusk, are you a top or bottom?” He asked as he reached a hoof for his own mug of coffee.

“I suppose I’m a top,” Dusk replied, thinking of all of his prior dates with Vocal Chord, leading him through the streets of Canterlot on his leash, all those times at the Café Diem with Vocal nestled under the table drinking from a bowl of water and then playing ball with him in the Royal Gardens. “Though a bit of a novice I'll admit.”

“I’m a sla…um...I mean I'm a sub…” Wildfire blushed hard as she joined in the conversation, almost making a slip of the tongue that her owner Amethyst had warned her against before Dusk had taken her to the train station yesterday afternoon.

“Airmail,” Dusk said gently with a smile, “I think your little smitten kitten there needs a nuzzle.”

Airmail caught Dusk’s comment and not-so-subtle nod in Wildfire’s direction with a grin and a twinkle in her brown eyes. “Double team!” She called out, nudging Tempest in her barrel and inclining her head so she got the idea as well. Flapping her violet wings to help her leap over Wildfire she landed with precision on the bright red bench seat and in perfect practised unison the two mares nuzzled the little yellow pegasus from each side.

For a brief moment Wildfire was confused at the sudden movement of the air to her left as Tempest flapped her wings and soared over her. “What th...” she wondered aloud as to what was happening…then she felt the dual contact of the double nuzzle and decided it was good. Very good. “Oooh this is nice...” she practically purred.

“I thought so, Wily.” Dusk laughed, pleased his friend was having such a good time, and that she was seemingly coming out of the shell that she seemed to be in while on the Friendship Express.

Wildfire only vaguely heard what Dusk had said, so absorbed was she being the filling of a mare nuzzle sandwich, again she found herself conflicted. Ponies just didn’t treat her this gently. It was…odd, strange, to simply be nuzzled instead of beaten. “Oh…walk your dog you, let me enjoy this, D.”

Lavender leant in to her husband with a slightly sad smile. “Vocal won't make it tonight Topper, since he is getting the band back together.” She explained, planting a kiss on his chocolate brown shoulder, the highest point she could reach.

“Ah…that is why you've been playing that CD lately.”

“Yeah, my Mom sorted them an easy starter gig in Canterlot to get back into it.” Dusk supplied, really, really missing his beloved coltfriend right now.

“I'll close up so you all can scoot,” Topper said to Caffienated with a nod and a smile as he checked the time on the clock behind the pale blue counter. “We'll ride on over with Omega when he comes down.”

“And, that is our cue to leave.” The orange zebra slid easily from his seating pad at the head of the little coffee shop table and stood to his hooves, standing taller than Dusk but not as tall as the larger earth pony.

Airmail got up and stood from the bright red bench seat, her summer green tail pointing towards Wildfire. “Let’s get a moving Wily, just follow my tail.” She instructed, moving forward a few steps to allow Wildfire then Tempest to exit the bench seat behind her, forming a mare chain in the coffee shop.

Tempest giggled behind the little yellow mare, “I have your rear covered, oh yes I do.” She said eagerly as they started to move out, Airmail already out of the door and holding it open with a hind leg for Wildfire to exit the shop as well.

Dusk Melody snickered from his seated position, “Want some filling in that sandwich Wily?” He asked with a giggle, flapping his midnight blue wings to rise up from the seat next to Lavender and land next to Caffeinated’s left side.

“See this?” Wildfire said over her shoulder without turning her head as she stepped out of the coffee shop and into the warm heat of the early afternoon Thursday sunshine, “I'm ignoring you. I have a tail to follow.” She said with a grin, stepping into line behind Airmail’s tail, her scent of jasmine just strong enough for her well-used nose to follow.

“Let's roll Dusk,” Caffeinated said with a sly grin, “We don't want the mares to get started without any witnesses.”

Dusk smiled up at the orange stallion, “That’s a good point, Stripes,” he chuckled, walking out of the coffee shop into the warm sunlight and hustle and bustle of early afternoon Manehatten. “Plus, I'm not missing out on teasing opportunities.”

From the map that Dusk had taken the time, during one of Wildfire’s quiet and utterly inexplicable mood swings, to read, the midnight blue pegasus knew it was a couple of blocks from Stripes Cup of Java coffee shop to the metro station from Manehatten to Stallion Island. Walking the clean paved streets side by side with the larger stallion, Dusk again was struck by how different this city was from Canterlot; high rise skyscrapers, neon street signs, the salty tang of the nearby ocean in the air.

“You two have tourist passes, Dusk?” Caffeinated asked, thinking ahead for when they would arrive at the train station.

Dusk patted his saddlebag with a wing, “Certainly do, Stripes. Got them right here.”

“Dusk has mine,” Wildfire said, from her position a few scant inches behind Airmail’s summer green tail. “Seeing as he's officially my 'carer'…” she spat the word ‘carer’ out like it had a bad taste to it. That at least was the story her Mistress had given her.

“It’s nice to have somepony if you're new to the city,” Airmail said over her shoulder from her lead position in the mare chain, “Although, the trains are very friendly to the handicapped.”

“True that, Airy.” Tempest agreed with her marefriend as, in front of her, Wildfire decided to be a thoroughly naughty little mare and flicked her black tail to one side, giving the violet pegasus a free and unfettered view of her marehood as she walked in front of her. “Now we're talking.” Tempest said with appreciation of the view, “I always like to see just what the tail is attached to.”

“Oops…” Wildfire said innocently as she walked along with her tail firmly hiked to one side, earning herself a delightful little laugh from Airmail in front of her.

Dusk, walking alongside Caffeinated just behind and to the left of the mare chain, rolled his pink eyes with a barely contained snigger at his best friend’s brazen display, wondering where she’d got the nerve from. ‘Although, it is nice to see her acting more like her,’ he thought to himself with a wry smile. “Oops…yeah right, Wily.”

Wildfire’s ears flicked backwards to trace Dusk’s voice and was just on the verge of unleashing a witty retort she’d just thought of when she heard both Airmail and Tempest together call out, “More oops, more oops!” simultaneously from her front and rear.

“And you weren't watching?” Caffeinated asked the midnight blue stallion with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.

Dusk blushed a deep red blush that was visible even on his dark blue fur, “Well…um, as a concerned 'carer', I looked, yes.” He admitted, still blushing.

Wildfire sniggered from her position between the two marefriends. “Dusk, the day you're my carer is the day I'll have foals.” She said as she started swaying her hips seductively with her walk, making sure to keeps her tail high and to one side, her Mistress Amethyst always liked her when she walked like that.

“You know I really like feathers?” Airmail asked over her shoulder to the little blind mare closely following the scent from her tail, “Well Tempest here really likes the pregnant look.”

Realising she was actually drooling at the beautiful sight of Wildfire’s exposed marehood and tail-hole Tempest blushed, bringing a faint red tinge to her cheeks, “I do like that full body look and I love to watch the foals kicking.” She said, licking her violet lips.

“Well, I doubt I'll ever have that,” Wildfire said quietly, dipping her tail as her head lowered slightly. Amethyst and the staff had found out about her long-held desire for a filly but they’d quickly squashed that. Still…she desperately wanted her little Fireflight. “But…you can enjoy the show if you, Tempest.” She said, regaining a little of her confidence and flicking her tail side to side, keeping it up high.

“No complaints back here!” The violet pegasus grinned, subconsciously wiping fresh drool from her chin with a flick of her wing.

“You alright there, Tempest?” Dusk sniggered, noting a few of the passers-by were shooting the chain of mares funny looks, most of which were aimed at Wildfire and her scarred face, but thankfully with the four of them around her none of them said or did anything but look. “You look a bit flustered, nothing distracting you?”

“Nope,” Tempest answered very quickly, “I'm completely focused, no distractions here at all.”

“Uh huh…” Dusk replied sceptically as he watched his best friend give Tempest a playful wiggle of her swaying hips, then he chuckled loudly and clearly when both of the violet pegasus’s wings sprung open and fully erect with an audible *Poomf!* “No...No distractions AT all, right Tempest?” He asked with a laugh, “Wily you are terrible.”

“I’m not distracted,” Tempest replied, not once taking her bright blue eyes away from Wildfire’s swaying hips and winking marehood. “Just more aerodynamic, that’s all.”

“I'm not terrible! I'm very good actually.” Wildfire breathed in Airmail's scent and giggled playfully, exaggerating the sway of her hips as she walked, now she definitely knew she was having such a positive effect on the mare behind her.

“Nice wingboner by the way...” Dusk muttered with a grin as he saw the metro station hove into view in the near distance, not too far from where they were now.

“I’m not distracted, so I can't look at you Dusk, but I'll take your word for it.” Tempest replied, entirely preoccupied by the sight of the mare in front of her, as Airmail and Caffeinated both shared a laugh.

Wildfire smiled and lowered her tail, intent on teasing the violet mare behind her. “MMmmm…” she shivered excitedly as she felt Tempest close the gap between them and her hot breath touched the base of her black tail. “Is everything okay back there Tempest?” The little yellow mare snickered, keeping her tail flat down.

“All is well at your six o'clock, Wily.” Tempest confirmed with a slightly dazed smile, her nose scant inches away from the dock of Wildfire’s tail.

“And, we are here.” Airmail said as they entered the Manehatten Metro Station; like most of the buildings in the coastal city it was a monumentally large grey edifice, however its façade was more open, with the entire front made of many panes of glass, allowing in acres of natural sunlight to the station inside, which in the modern style was gleaming white tiles and the turnstiles all shining silvered chrome.

Wildfire knew she was inside, the sound of her hooves was different on the tiles than it was on the concrete outside, added to that the noise of the traffic was dulled somewhat by the station’s walls. “Thanks for checking me out, Tempest.” She said with a gentle flick of her tail across Tempest's muzzle.

Airmail trotted through the centre turnstile of a set of five and waits on the other side for the small party to catch her up.

“Wily, stop you're at the turnstile.” Tempest said from behind her as the yellow mare lined up with the ticket barrier to the immediate right of the one that the azure blue mare had passed through just a few minutes before. “I'm passing on your right.” She said as she passed through the fifth far right turnstile.

“I'm following Tempest.” Caffeinated rumbled in his deep soothing tone as the orange zebra stallion followed his friend through the barrier.

Seeing Wildfire waiting against the fourth chrome turnstile barrier, Dusk Melody pressed the tourist day pass against the scanner at the side of the barrier and waited for it to beep green before nudging his best friend’s flank with a wingtip. “Alrighty…here we go…” the yellow pegasus carefully stepped forward, pressing her chest against the cold metal, feeling the turnstile move in a circular motion as she walked through to the other side.

Pressing his tourist pass on the sensor scanner and hearing the beep Dusk Melody took the turnstile to the immediate left of the one Wildfire had used. “Hmm…first time using these.” He said with a smile, as Canterlot had no Metro system.

“Works the same way at the exit,” Tempest explained as they all met up in their group at the other side of the turnstiles. “We have monthly passes.”

Dusk inspected his tourist pass briefly before placing it back in his saddlebag. “So, this buys the ticket then?” He asked curiously.

“Depends on the pass.” Caffeinated said, “For tourists it is either a day pass, or a weekly pass.”

Dusk smiled, taking up his place at the right of the orange zebra. “I’m so used to paying a conductor.”

“Too many ponies coming through the Metro Station on a daily basis to do that.” Airmail explained, “Jumping a turnstile will get the police after you though.” She added as an afterthought, in case Dusk was actually considering it. Flicking her summer green tail under Wildfire's nose she again took up her position in front of the yellow mare. “This way, Wily.”

“I've got your back!” Tempest called a little over eagerly, taking up her new favourite position behind the yellow mare.

“Canterlot only has taxis, right?” Caffeinated asked, turning to Dusk as they walked.

Wildfire happily began to follow Airmail’s summer green tail, immediately finding her now-familiar jasmine scent. “Um, Tempest, have I got dirt on my tail?” She asked with a sly grin, lifting her tail up, purely for the following mare’s benefit, of course.

“We do use taxis in the city,” Dusk nodded, “Then there’s the Friendship Express to get to the other towns.”

“If you take the subway uptown to the Grand Central you can catch a train overland.” Caffeinated explained, “We will have to make a change at Battery Park.”

Tempest, seeing the silky black tail lifted tantalisingly in front of her got her muzzle a little closer and made a grab for it, holding Wildfire’s tail firmly in her mouth between her teeth and proceeded to nom it as they walked to the platform, eliciting a cute little squeak of surprise from the yellow pegasus.

“Well, you did tempt Tempest, Wily.” Airmail said with a giggle as she once again led the mare chain to the platform.

“Did I?” Wildfire said as innocently as she possibly could, an innocence that was somewhat undermined by the violet mare presently latched onto and currently nomming her black tail, all the while listening to the giggles from the azure blue mare walking closely in front of her. “I suppose I did tease her a little…maybe more than a little,” she giggled, thrilling at the pleasurable sensations flowing through her tail to her dock and to her upper thighs. “Y'know, keep eating it, and I can't move it out the way...”

“Ah gotta cahvahed…” Tempest slurred from behind her still with a mouthful of tail.

With a little effort Wildfire tugged her now well-chewed tail from Tempest's mouth, and with a flex of her dock she held it firmly to the left side, exposing herself for the violet mare again. “Better view?”

“The view is nice, but your tail was fun to chew on.” Tempest giggled as Airmail began to slow down upon reaching the crowded platform.

With some gentle tail flicks across her muzzle the azure blue mare warned Wildfire to slow down and stop. “Turn to your right, Wily, and we'll wait for the next train.” Airmail said as she moved close to the yellow mare’s left while Tempest quickly moved up to stand by her right.

“At this time of day the trains are every five minutes.” Caffeinated said as he moved behind the three mares on the crowded Metro platform.

Turning to the right and waiting as she had been instructed, Wildfire once again found herself between Airmail and Tempest, this time with a mare to each side of her like they had been when they had double teamed her in the coffee shop. By smell alone she could identify it was Airmail to her left, her scent of jasmine was like a hoof-print. To her right she was beginning to associate the scent of rose and sandalwood with Tempest. Wildfire shivered at the mass of ponies, losing her former confidence somewhat she slicked her ears back to her scalp, lowering her head and kept her tail well down. She decided she didn’t like Metro Stations very much. They were noisy, crowded and confusing. As she trembled between the two marefriends they each draped a comforting wing over her back, and in the few minutes she had to wait for a train, Wildfire found she wasn’t so scared.

Two minutes later the subway train entered the station with a sudden strong gust of wind and a loud screeching of brakes. Above the instant clamour of hoof-steps, voices and other miscellaneous noises that threatened to overwhelm her Wildfire heard Airmail to her left speak calmly and clearly above the confusing din, her voice as a lighthouse beacon to lost ships. “Wait until the others get off, you're in front of the door.” A few seconds later she spoke again, “Okay Wily, straight in five paces then right two then right again to the wall.”

‘Alrighty…I got this…I got this…’ Wildfire told herself over and over and, despite wishing she was back at home she took a hesitant step forward, using her wingtip to keep her straight and counting down the five paces and turning to her right the two extra paces to wait where she had been directed.

Dusk followed Wildfire onto the train, noting with a satisfied smile that Airmail had directed his best friend to the designated handicapped zone just inside the door as the other three walked in after him, the azure blue pegasus loitering near them while Caffeinated and Tempest moved further into the train’s carriage to find empty seating pads.

“Am I in the right place?” Wildfire asked uncertainly as the train lurched into motion.

“Yes,” Airmail said, adding her voice to the reassuring scent of jasmine to her left, “You’re in the carriage’s handicap zone. You can turn around with your cute little butt to the wall. I'll stay next to you, the others have moved a bit further in. Dusk do you want to stand next to her?” She asked, moving protectively close to the little yellow mare.

“I was gonna follow Stripes and Tempest, Wily you ok with Airmail?” Dusk asked, reassured when his best friend nodded by way of reply, both mares leaning to the left with the motion of the train as it began to pick up speed. “Alright, well, behave you two…” he said with a grin over his shoulder as he trotted after the zebra and his friend.

“Is he gone?” Wildfire asked a few seconds later.

Airmail nodded, “About fifteen feet way seated with Stormy and Caffy.”

“Good,” Wildfire sighed deeply, “I know he means well, Pretty, but he can be a bit ‘much’ sometimes.” She said quietly, thinking of all the times Dusk had asked her if she was okay, did she need anything, could he help her with this, or with that…she knew her friend was only trying to help, but by Luna did it get under her feathers. More than it being annoying she just wasn’t used to anypony doing anything to help her, her Mistress certainly didn’t.

“Like an older brother?” Airmail asked, a definite giggle in her voice.

“One of those annoyingly helpful older brothers,” Wildfire said with a laugh as with another screech of brakes the train slowed abruptly to a stop and exchanged passengers. Unlike the Friendship Express there were no cheery announcements.

“Five more stops and we switch trains.” Airmail supplied when the train once more started moving.

Wildfire was about to reply to Airmail’s statement when she heard a young filly’s voice not more than a few feet in front of her and to her left caught her attention. “Mommy! What happened to her eyes?” She asked, her voice all squeaky, like she wasn’t long out of foalhood.

Wildfire stood there despondently and with a groan ready in her throat. From long experience in Canterlot she knew what was coming next. The filly’s mother or father would inevitably shriek, or gasp with horror and pull the child away in case Wildfire was contagious, or some insult or other would be thrown her way, or, more commonplace would be the shriek and the sudden relocation of the family away from the ‘monster with no eyes’. What Wildfire definitely did not expect was what she heard next, namely an older mare's voice with a Manehatten accent say; “I don't know dear, you will have to go and ask her.”

Wildfire heard the cutest little hoof-steps in front of her, then suddenly stop. “Excuse me,” the filly, a little white unicorn with a long curly tan coloured mane similar to Lavender’s coat, said as she pushed up her red-rimmed glasses.

Wildfire smiled, crouching down a little to where her ears told her the sweet little voice had come from. “Hi!” She said, somewhat rather surprised that she hadn’t received her usual reaction. “Can I help you?”

“What happened to your eyes?” The little filly asked boldly, completely unafraid of the mare now crouched in front of her.

“I had an accident, when I was in big school.” Wildfire replied, glossing over the gorier details.

“Oh…” the little unicorn thought for a moment, her white hoof tapping her chin. “Does it hurt?” She asked after a few moments deliberation.

“Sometimes it does, yes.” Wildfire kept her smile firmly in place as she answered. She liked this little filly, and she rather liked her mom too, for allowing her to come over rather than keep her away. ‘Manehatten’s awesomes!’ She concluded, smiling wider all the time.

“Do you want a hug?” The little filly asked, reasoning that when she was hurt her mommy gave her a nice tight hug and that always made the hurt go away, so there was no reason at all why a hug shouldn’t make this mare feel better either.

“Is…it ok with your mommy?” Wildfire asked hesitantly, before a not-so-delicate nudge to her ribs from Airmail at her side made her change her reply. “I mean, I'd love a hug, thank you.” She smiled, holding her hooves open for the offered cuddle.

Wildfire then felt two tiny little forelegs reach midway around her barrel and grip her tightly in the cutest most adorable hug she’d ever been given, before the hug was released and she heard the little hoof-steps diminish as she trotted off back to the mare with her. “Mama! She said she had an ask… an ack…” the little filly said to her mother, trying to pronounce the longer unfamiliar word.

“An accident?” Her mother asked, a hint of amusement in her Manehatten accent.

“Yeah, at big school!” The filly answered excitedly.

“Did you remember to say thank you?” Her mother asked her with a smile.

Again the light trotting sound of the tiny hooves returned to Wildfire’s ears, “Thank you for telling me, Miss.” The unicorn chirped.

“You're very welcome little one.” Wildfire smiled a very wide genuine smile, ‘If…when I have my little Fireflight, I want her to be like that, just like that…’ she thought to herself as the little filly trotted off back to her mother. “Airmail?” She said to the azure blue mare stood beside her, “I...I want one of those. I want lots of those.”

“That one was well behaved,” Airmail agreed, inching closer to stand to Wildfire’s right, as the handicapped box she was in allowed for one occupant and an attendant. “Wily, can I ask you another personal question?”

Wildfire nodded, “Of course you may, Pretty, you can ask me anything.”

“Why don't you wear wrap around dark glasses?” Airmail asked, genuinely curious as to why she didn’t wear these things. “You would attract less attention.”

Wildfire stood quietly for a brief moment, feeling the motion of the train carriage beneath her hooves. “I…I tried them, they hurt and it feels like hiding.” She replied with a little white lie. Truth was her Mistress wouldn’t permit her to cover herself up. Amethyst preferred the reactions that her slave garnered, it meant she was far more likely to be left alone in the streets of Canterlot while on her errands.

“Well, it is,” Airmail said kindly. “It’s hiding from the world something what you may not want them to see. Still, you must expect ponies to see the damage and some to react less politely than little fillies.”

Wildfire laughed bitterly, “Airy, I'm used to bad reactions. I remember one time in Canterlot a year or maybe it was two after the accident this colt came and hugged me, his mom pulled him away, afraid the monster would hurt him.”

“Well, that filly’s mom must be one of those that think real life should be learned when you're still little.” Airmail said with a gentle blue hoof resting lovingly on the little yellow mare’s right shoulder. “You will find others in this city as uncaring as those in Canterlot, they just tend to stay in the background and don't push their ideas here.” She started to stroke Wildfire’s black mane with her hoof, ‘By Luna she’s a pretty little thing…’ she thought, “Do you know why you got an easy spot to stand on this train?”

Wildfire ‘hmm’d’ as her mane was gently stroked, almost caressed. “I can guess…” She murmured quietly.

Airmail gave a little giggle as she stroked higher, to the base of Wildfire’s right ear. “I like guessing games.”

“Ponies here are scared of me? Or they’re avoiding me?” Wildfire guessed assuredly, justly confident as this was the usual reason that she was left alone.

“Buuuuuzz!!” Airmail sniggered, flicking the yellow ear and making a buzzing noise like that of a cheesy Saturday evening gameshow, “Guess again!”

“Then, I really don’t know.” Wildfire replied with a shrug of her shoulders and a flick of her ear.

“You're standing in a painted box marked ‘handicapped only’ which allows for one attendant.” Airmail smiled, rubbing the ear she just flicked, “Which is why I asked if you wanted Dusk to stand next to you.” She explained, “Every train carriage has this box, which is why you could easily travel here alone.”

“I…I see.” Wildfire said, smiling as her ear was rubbed. Travelling was something she wasn’t even permitted to use the taxis back in Canterlot, Amethyst had insisted she walk everywhere for her errands. “I'd much rather have you here, if you don't mind. Dusk is great, don't get me wrong, but he's a bit clueless. I don’t always need a carer, I want my best friend back.”

“You want us to work him over for you?” Airmail asked with a giggle, returning to stroking Wildfire’s mane, getting lower to her back. “Of course, there could be another reason...” she said as her azure blue hoof reached the mid-point between her wings.

Wildfire laughed out loud at that, “No, no it's ok, thank you.” She giggled, “I just want him to act like he did before this. To not walk on eggshells.” ‘Probably doesn’t help I yelled at him at the hospital,’ she thought sombrely. “He feels responsible I know he does.”

“I've seen others love someone so much they are blind to that pony's needs in their effort to protect them.” Airmail put her left foreleg around her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. “I've seen it in cult leaders, parents, and in companions. A hoof to the head often helps.”

“Ha!” Wildfire snorted the laugh, “He could use one sometimes, like when he blames himself for what happened.”

Airmail glanced at the yellow mare. “From that story, he is the one that started it, but you are the one that got in the way. What you haven't said is did you mean to get in the way?”

Wildfire took a long slow deep breath as she prepared to share her story. “Well, story is at university Dusk never hid his sexuality, this stallion at school took exception to it. I hated him for bullying Dusk. Honestly I was looking for a reason to hurt him. He and Dusk had an argument or something or other. Dusk showed the bully this ornate scroll he got from Celestia, and he lost it, like totally lost it. He knocked Dusk to the floor of the science lab, and as I went to see if he was okay I turned and got the acids in my face. I guess it was my fault.”

Airmail tightened the hug she had around Wildfire’s shoulder. “Now, you know that isn't true.” She said with a kind nuzzle, “The fault is with the one tossing the liquid. It was just bad chance it got into your eyes. So…what happened to the stallion that did this to you?” She asked, hoping the answer would be something equally as horrific.

“Princess Twilight arrested Blitzwing in the science lab, she was the teacher for that class, the police ponies came for him while the paramedics came for me.” Wildfire said almost mechanically, with little feeling. “Twilight supported his family’s claim of insanity and he was committed to Canterlot Asylum.”

For a few moments after that the two mares stood in silence, the noisy rattle of the subway carriage and the vibrations it sent from the wheels on the tracks through the floor to Wildfire’s hooves as soothing to the little yellow pegasus as the foreleg around her neck and shoulders. “Um...Airmail, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” Airmail smiled, retracting her foreleg and replacing it with her left wing. “Most I'll say is 'no comment'.”

“Alrighty,” Wildfire said, taking a breath, “What's your cutie mark?”

Airmail snickered, “Not much to do with my job for sure. It is a brown parcel on a white cloud.” She giggled, touching her flank to Wildfire’s own. “It does look cute on my blue fur, though. I have a green mane and tail too, and brown eyes.”

Wildfire’s heart all but skipped a beat, placing the colours along with the picture she had of the older mare she had in her head. “See, I said you were pretty.” The yellow mare aimed a nuzzle at Airmail’s cheek. “See mine? Those flames? I was a reserve firefighter in Canterlot. When I graduated university it was going to be my job proper.”

Airmail nodded in appreciation. Any worker in the emergency services was worthy of respect. “A dangerous job. My parents were in the courier service. I got my mark when I did a delivery for my mom, was supposed to be an easy one. There was some shoot out going on but I delivered anyways. That day changed my life and I joined the military.”

“I loved the danger.” Wildfire said, casting her mind back to five years ago for the first time in a long time. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d thought about her old life. Thinking like that just wasn’t allowed. “My part was to fly above the fire and use the Cumulonimbus clouds to rain water from above. When there were no clouds or they ran out I'd have to fly to the Weather Factory double time for more.”

“My nickname in the service and at the Times newspaper is 'On Time'. I wasn't afraid of danger, but I preferred to put a stop to it as soon as possible.” Airmail said, returning the nuzzle to the young yellow mare. “So, the name my parents gave me and the cutie mark just reinforce me being on time.”

“I won’t pry,” Wildfire said quietly, “You must've seen some awful things. My worst day was when I got my cutie mark, ironically. I was eighteen, I was at a four storey fire in Canterlot. I flew through flames to get to this earth pony family of four that were trapped on the third floor. My partner and I managed to get the two colts and the parents, but he died after they were safe.” Wildfire’s tone dipped a little as she remembered Heatwave, her old partner, and the unnecessary way he had passed away.

Airmail tightened the hug again as she nodded grimly. “Losing somepony like that is something that just doesn't go away. If you need some nightmares I can tell you some stories.” Brightening up suddenly though she grinned, “I'd rather talk about us, like Tempest, for example.” The azure blue mare smiled warmly as she began to describe her marefriend. “She is a violet pegasus with an unruly black mane and tail. She has a hurricane symbol on her butt and she is a captain of the weather ponies in Manehatten and she also does search and rescue during storms. I think the only thing she doesn't care for is clear sunny days, she finished with a loud snicker in Wildfire’s right ear.

“I have my own nightmares, thank you.” Wildfire laughed softly as Airmail tickled the fur of her inner ear. “You two seem made for each other.”

“We first met a few years ago when I was doing training in severe weather conditions, and she was the one making sure it was severe enough for the military. Did her job a bit too well.” Airmail laughed as she continued, “Mapper and Serenity are married, we've thought about it, but just haven't taken that extra step.”

Wildfire nodded as she listened intently, “I did have a marefriend, Air Raid her name was, but she left me as you know. There’s been nopony since then.” She said quietly, her tone changing as she though back to her time with Air Raid, and how badly it had ended.

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that, about her leaving you. Of course, Caffy will tell anyone that Lavender and I are outrageous flirts.” Airmail chuckled, her shoulders shaking with mirth, “It was our flirting with Caffy and Caffy not taking the bait that made Omega think he was gay. We never let Omega know so it was funny to let it play out.”

“Hehehe...” Wildfire laughed out loud, “I'm very definitely into mares. Definitely. It was...very nice when you preened me, and the kisses were lovely. It’s…certainly the most ‘intimate’ I’ve been in five years…” Wildfire trailed off to silence, not finishing her sentence, as she thought about her time in the care home. What she had said was perfectly true. Despite being forced by her Mistress to pleasure many ponies, some mares, some stallions, those encounters had hardly been intimate.

With a small amount of concern, Airmail noted her little companion’s change of mood and silence, and said, “The military is co-ed so I've been around lots of stallions. I'm not turned off by them, but I'm really not turned on by them either. It is a smell thing with me. I'll still preen a stallion's wings in a heartbeat though.” She smiled, “And, Tempest likes to play the stallion for me, and sometimes I'll swap with her now and again.”

After a few more minutes of silence, Airmail spoke up again just as Wildfire felt the subway train begin to slow down, with its now familiar and almost expected screech of tortured brakes. “It's our stop here so we need to change trains.” The azure blue mare whispered into her ear. “You can get off the train with no directions. I'll just follow.”

“Alrighty Pretty, I got this.” Wildfire replied with a confident smile. ‘Let’s see…I turn to the left first and head to the door, then five paces straight forward.’ She said to herself, mentally recounting her hoof-steps required to get off of the carriage. Stepping forward into the hallway the little yellow pegasus could smell the jasmine scent of Airmail to her right, the sandalwood of Tempest approach to her left no doubt with Caffienated and Dusk with her.

With a lurch the train came to a halt and with a gust of air the doors opened to the platform. Wildfire felt a gentle nudge to her right flank as Airmail let her know it was safe to leave the carriage, and with five confident hoof-steps she lead the little group onto the Battery Park Station platform.

“You girls talk about me?” Tempest asked with a grin as she sidled up beside them still to Wildfire’s left.

“I'm sure Airmail talked about all of us.” Came Caffeinated’s deep rumbling voice from his position behind her.

Airmail snickered, “Only the embarrassing things, right Wily?”

“Right Pretty, we gossiped about girls, stallions and Dusk.” Wildfire giggled as she heard the rumbling roar of train wheels and felt the rushing whoosh of air that heralded the arrival of another train.

“This is ours, and there is a wheelchair in the square,” Airmail said with another nudge of her wing to Wildfire’s flank. “It will be on your left when you enter the square from the hallway. There’s still room for me in there.”

From memory Wildfire took the five paces forward to board this second subway train and, feeling the surface change beneath her hooves she felt the raised edges of the handicapped box against the toes of her hooves. Turning to the right the little yellow mare was about to take a seat when a stallion’s voice behind her almost had her on the ceiling with surprise. “Careful there, don't sit on me, just move to your left a bit and you can back up to the wall.”

“It’s her first time in the Manehatten subway.” Airmail’s voice sounded again to Wildfire’s right side as she scooched along in the handicapped zone. “Still getting a feel for it.”

“No problem,” the stallion said genially, with a ready smile that Wildfire could practically hear. “I have ponies that see still run into me.” He said as the blind mare gave an indistinct mutter. “You're with the paper right?” He asked of Airmail, once he got a closer look at her. “I've seen you on the train before, Airmail is it?”

“Yes, that’s right.” The lead editor confirmed with a polite nod of her head.

“I'm Haymarket.” The terracotta coloured earth pony introduced himself, “I live near La Colt Park.”

“That’s not far from where I live,” Airmail answered with a nod as she watched Caffeinated, Tempest and Dusk move down toward the end of the carriage so as not to block the doors. “This is my friend Wildfire,” she said with a wave of her azure blue hoof to the yellow mare, “She is visiting from the capital.”

“That’s cool, I’m pleased to meet you.” Haymarket said, his good natured smile still in place. “My face is about three feet off the ground and a foot to your left.” The terracotta earth pony stallion kept his head as still as he could while Wildfire carefully felt her forehooves around his face and built up a picture of his features. “I don't have much chance to talk to many ponies sitting in this square. It’s nice to have company.”

“I’m pleased to meet you Haymarket.” Wildfire said as she lowered her hooves to the floor of the carriage.

“So, you’re from Canterlot?” He asked rhetorically, “I’ve been there, the mass transit is terrible, but then it isn't a real big city. Still, they could at least put in an above ground trolley.”

Wildfire nodded, a little bitterness in her tone, “They could do a lot of things.”

“And the hills!” Haymarket exclaimed loudly, “Plus the infernal cobblestone streets, I ask you, who still does that!?”

Airmail giggled behind a hoof, “It does makes it scenic and rustic-looking.”

“I'd be okay with that if they had a trolley to get my sorry tail up those hills.” Haymarket groused, though his green eyes had a pleasant cheer about them. “Are you enjoying your visit to Manehatten so far, Wildfire?” He asked kindly.

“Actually yes, yes I am, Haymarket.” Wildfire replied, using the sound of his voice to turn her head his way. “I’ve had a much better day here than five years back home.” Wildfire suddenly looked away, ‘Why did I say that? That was a terrible thing to say! Mistress Amethyst will punish me so much! I’m an awful slave…’

“This city cares about getting ponies from point A to point B.” Haymarket added with a grin.

“So, Haymarket,” Wildfire said, quickly recovering her composure hopefully before either of the two ponies near her noticed her slip. “How come you're sat in the special zone?”

“Haymarket,” Airmail said, “Do you know a zebra?”

“Well I've seen that one before that came on the same stop you did. I can't remember the name though.” He replied before turning to the little blind mare with his easy grin. “Well, Wildfire, I lost both front legs in an accident. There’s enough left to help me steer this chair. Makes my ass look tight though with all that work.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” Airmail said with a smirk as she admired the view. “Wildfire run a hoof over his flank, if that is okay of course?”

“Never a problem having a cute filly touch my glutes.”

Wildfire carefully and slowly ran a hoof along the terracotta stallion’s back to where Airmail directed, taking in the tight contours of his flanks and hind quarters, she had to agree he was finely cut. Moving her left forehoof back towards his chest she noticed the stallion’s missing front legs. “Damn…that’s harsh, sorry.”

Haymarket shivered, finding the soft gentle touch of Wildfire’s yellow hoof very pleasurable indeed. “Life moves on. I ain’t going to wallow over the loss.” He said confidently, “A few changes, better seating on the train, curse the idiots that don't put a slope on the curb at street corners.” He laughed easily, thoroughly enjoying his little audience and his brief massage. “I can even get up steps thanks to my hind legs. An essential skill to learn.”

For some reason she couldn’t explain Wildfire found herself laughing with the stallion to her left. “I’m still waiting for my other senses to go super powered so I can join the Power Ponies.”

“Harsh is loss of sight.” Haymarket chuckled, “I can see the steps that are a challenge. About the Power Ponies, I don't know if wheelie power is needed.”

Again Wildfire laughed, “I’m sorry if I sound bitter, I hate wheelchairs.”

“With those fine legs I don't think you need one.” Haymarket paused giving Wildfire a long hard look, taking in every inch of her yellow-furred body.

‘You wouldn’t say that if you only knew how many times my legs have been broken,’ Wildfire thought to herself, instead she said; “You're sweet, thank you. It’s a shame not everypony notices them past these.” She said, waving a hoof over her scarred face.

Haymarket grinned, “I noticed your legs when you walked on, and then when you almost sat on me. Life is a challenge, but some of us are more challenged than others.”

“Well, small as I am, you would notice if I sat on you.” Wildfire sniggered.

“Hmm…shouldn't I be on my back for that?” He asked with a raised eyebrow that had Airmail busting out laughing, as well as Wildfire, who had to bite back a filthy retort. “Do…do you get out to La Colt park much, Airmail?” He asked, breathing through his snorts of laughter.

After a few moments of sniggering laughter Airmail was able to control her breathing enough to answer. “For Luna's night and an occasional picnic. We live near Clover Lake Park.”

Wildfire made a ‘hmmphing’ sound, “I get out when the care home treats us to day trips.”

“Care home,” Haymarket perked up his terracotta coloured ears, “Are you on supervised meds?”

“Yuppers, I need them for my scars,” Wildfire explained, “Plus I have no family in Canterlot that want me, so home is Helping Hooves Care Home.”

“Woah, I was on narcotic pain meds in the beginning, those were supervised so I wouldn't get addicted.” Haymarket said sympathetically, “Off that now though, just have phantom pain now and again. I'm surprised they don't have an apartment complex that caters to the blind.”

“There is one on North Point, right?” Airmail asked curiously.

Haymarket nodded his confirmation, “Yeah, they don't move stuff around so the residents don't have to worry on tripping over stuff.”

“Helping Hooves might as well be a prison by a different name.” Wildfire muttered under her breath. ‘What the hay is wrong with me?’ Wildfire wondered, mystified at herself, ‘If Mistress heard this she’d beat me till her magic ran out…’ she shuddered at the very thought.

“That is what it sounds like for you in Canterlot.” Airmail commented, her ears picking up what Wildfire had said, as she draped her wing comfortingly over her back.

Haymarket smiled, “Yeah, the place in North Point is all about independence. Just it is easier when those living there have a common issue and the management is sensitive to the needs.” He flexed his hind legs to prevent pins and needles, “They had to make adjustments for me with this chair at my place.” He sighed, standing still again to Wildfire’s left as the train continued on its way. “You'd think the capital would have an advocacy group for that. I'd raise such a stink if I was living there. Then, I did over the streets and no trolley.”

“Heh,” Wildfire snorted derisively, “Canterlot doesn't give a buck if you don't fit the norm, I’m lucky Dusk managed to get me out for a few days.”

Airmail tightened the grip of her wing around Wildfire’s barrel, “It seems like Canterlot wants nothing but square peg ponies. Round ones can just leave.” At that she gave the little yellow mare a gentle nuzzle. “Caffy says that Princess Twilight gets stuff done once you can get her to see the problem.”

Haymarket snickered, “Yeah, the press usually has good things to say about Princess Celestia's general.”

“Here in Manehatten though it is the mayor that cares. Canterlot's mayor must have his head shoved up his own ass.” Airmail snickered, causing Haymarket laugh out loud as she gave another tender nuzzle to Wildfire’s cheek, then she felt a pair of gentle lips that she had come to know very well softly brush hers. “Nuzzles are just the beginning.”

“They'd better be, Pretty.” Wildfire smiled as she returned the soft and tender kiss. “Now you know why I hate home so much. They shove you out the way where the high class can't see you, then its meals at six a.m., noon and four p.m. followed by lights out at eight p.m.” Wildfire muttered before being silenced by another little kiss.

“I say give them Tartarus or take away your tax bits!”

“Sometimes it isn't that simple Haymarket,” Airmail said, her muzzle still scant centimetres from her new friend, “But, I do agree I'd raise a stink if the mayor here did something stupid.”

Haymarket nodded as the subway train began to slow down. “Well, life does go on, but sometimes you have to be the one to make something of it. This is my stop. Don't be a stranger Airmail, us cripples like to talk too.” He said with a smile as the train doors opened. “Good day, gentle mares.”

“I'll try to remember that, Haymarket.” Airmail waved a good bye and watched as the terracotta earth pony made his way off of the train. “Two more stops to our station, Wily.”

Wildfire was silent for a few minutes as the subway train began to move again and pick up speed. Her thoughts were occupied suddenly by her dad. She had said moments earlier there was no family in Canterlot that gave a damn…and she was right, wasn’t she? If her dad had cared that much she never would’ve ended up with Amethyst. “Yeah, dad had no use for a sightless pegasus so I was kicked out.”

Airmail laid a comforting hoof on Wildfire’s shoulder. “My parents are gone, but Stormy's treat me well.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Pretty.”

“Hey…” Airmail said kindly, “Stuff happens and you move on. Sounds like your dad could use a hoof to the head too.”

Wildfire shrugged her yellow shoulders, almost hard enough to dislodge the azure blue hoof as the train passed through the next station without stopping. “It doesn't matter anymore,” she said in a small tiny voice, five years of Amethyst’s indoctrination returning to the fore of her mind in full force. “I’m nothing, I don't matter anymore.”

“Is that right,” Airmail said flatly, giving Wildfire a non-plussed look. “Well if that is true, they you don't want nothing to do with me.”

Wildfire shrunk visibly back to the wall of the carriage. “I um…I never said…I didn’t mean...sorry…” she whimpered, feeling just she did when her Mistress was scrutinising her performance of a given errand.

Airmail smiled a thin dangerous smile as she reached for the blind mare’s chin and lifted it up to place a kiss on her lips. “Must be my hearing playing tricks again.” She said, her voice recovering its previous warmth. “Before I can matter to you, you need to matter to yourself. Just saying…” she kissed the little pegasus’s lips again as this time the train began to slow down. “That you're still beautiful even when you're all sulky.”

Wildfire blushed a red so bright it matched the flames of her cutie mark. “Um…thank you, Pretty.”

“And…here's our stop.” Airmail announced once the train had stopped and the doors were open. “You lead I'll make sure your ass follows and watch so your tail doesn’t fall off.”

Wildfire couldn’t help but laugh out loud as she turned to the left for two paces and then took the five straight ahead. “I'll try and give you a good show.” She said, making sure to lift her black tail to the left as she exited the carriage.

“You're always a good view.” Airmail giggled, taking care to gaze long and hard at Wildfire’s exposed marehood. “Later I'll touch you where I'm looking so I can be a mirror for you.”

Wildfire giggled, keeping her tail firmly aside. “Promises, Pretty.” She said with a smile as she walked further onto the platform from the train, with Caffeinated, Tempest and Dusk following from the train in short order.

“Tempest you have lead,” Airmail said as the violet mare went to take up her position on Wildfire’s left. “It’s my turn to watch the six o'clock.”

“On it!” Tempest called out eagerly, both glad to be free of the confines of the subway train and at the same time happy that her marefriend was having a turn enjoying the excellent view behind Wildfire, as she took up the lead position with a flick of her tail to the yellow mare’s muzzle.

“Welcome to the Mare's club.” Caffeinated rumbled in his low deep tone of voice as he patted Dusk’s back with an orange foreleg. “Let's go Dusk, I think you'll like my place.” Nodding the two stallions fell into step alongside the three mares in their little chain of three as they left the Stallion Island Metro station.

They, the group of five, had been walking along in a comfortable easy silence, thoroughly enjoying the now mid-afternoon sun and each other’s company when Caffeinated gave voice to a niggling concern that had been bothering him since they had all left his coffee shop. “Wildfire, not to put a damper on things, but you sure you want to deal with Mistress Mapper?” He asked bluntly and as ever to the point.

Airmail shot the orange zebra a look from her position behind the yellow mare, “Me and Tempest will be there, it will go fine.”

“Mapper knows how to break a pony and put the pieces back together.” Tempest commented from the head of the chain, her flicking tail sending her scent back to Wildfire following behind her.

“I’m already broken Tempest.” Wildfire muttered, almost under her breath, as she flicked her tail from side to side for Airmail’s pleasure like she had done for the violet pegasus when she had followed her. “There’s no need to foalsit me!”

“Dusk, let her go.” Caffeinated interjected with a hoof to the Prince’s mouth just as the midnight blue pegasus opened his to argue with his best friend. “I trust Mapper or she wouldn’t be here.”

“Stripes,” Dusk whispered, skilfully removing the hoof covering his lips, “As you may have noticed, she has issues, and I don't know how to help…”

“Dusk, she isn't the first pony I've dealt with that has depression.” Caffeinated replied, comfortingly nuzzling Dusk’s cheek. “Wildfire, I just wanted to be sure you're in for this. Once it starts, only Mapper or your safe word will decide when it ends.”

Wildfire gritted her teeth determinedly, “I’m counting on it Caffy...” she said, making sure to keep her tail up high.

“See?” Dusk asked the zebra pleadingly, “It's like she wants to get hurt! I can't get to her when she's like this.”

Caffeinated nodded understandingly. “Pain is another sensation. Endorphins are another release. You'll be there so you can see how it is done, just never forget the love in this or it is game over.”

“I know Stripes,” Dusk said quietly, lowering his head and slicking his ears back. “I just worry about her, y’know? Where her mind's at…”

Caffeinated smiled at the younger stallion. “Tonight, you'll have a good idea where it is, and so will she.” The orange zebra took a deep breath before continuing, “Love comes with hurt, and it is all about trust. Not an easy thing that.” He asserted with a smile as the Metro Station disappeared behind them and they started to trot together through an upper middle class neighbourhood made up of single detached two storey houses and bungalows.

“Ugh…you get any more protective D, you’d think you watched me sleep…” Wildfire grumbled from between Tempest and Airmail.

“I'd watch you sleep.” Airmail said, her brown eyes zoned in on Wildfire’s hindquarters.

Up front Tempest giggled, “If I'm sleeping next to her you can only watch her half the time.”

In spite of her darkened mood Wildfire smiled, quite unused to the flattery and attention she was getting. “Would you now? And what bit would you be watching?” She asked with a snigger. “So, now I have two mares wanting to share my bed?”

“Wrong, Wily!” Tempest called out, “We want you to share our bed!”

“I would focus on your wings.” Airmail added with a giggle, licking her lips as she watched Wildfire’s hips sway seductively in front of her.

“I'm the one focused on your tail.” Tempest clarified as she led the chain along the sidewalk of the upmarket streets.

Airmail kept up her little giggle fit, “I put the 'ass' mare in front so you could watch hers for a change, Wily. I love how your wings fold so nicely to your body and how my talking about how sexy they are might make you lose control at any moment.” The azure blue pegasus gasped out a low barely held moan of desire as she gazed longingly at the moistening labia of Wildfire’s exposed marehood, impressed how the yellow mare brazenly held nothing back. “The smooth curve of the muscle, the delicate flow of the feathers. How much I want them to tickle me between my hind legs…”

Overhearing Airmail’s very detailed description of what she wanted to do to Wildfire, Caffeinated watched with an amused smile to see if Dusk could keep control of his wings. He was rather satisfied to see the Prince sporting a rather impressive wingboner.

“I'm thinking about my wings stroking between your hind legs too, Pretty.” Indeed, Wildfire’s desire to pleasure the mare behind her was rather obvious, given the position of her wings, which were currently almost at right angles to her body. Tempest’s violet wings were also erect, but Airmail, showing perfect control still hers down.

Despite her outward show of control Airmail was very, very aroused indeed. “Now I want to fly over you and let those feathers stroke my undercarriage in the softest way possible.” She panted from her position at Wildfire’s tail.

“What's stopping you, Pretty?” Wildfire said with a playful wiggle of her hips as she blew a breath of air at Tempest's tail.

“Absolutely nothing, dearest.” Flapping her wings Airmail took off to hover the few feet from the ground at the level of Wildfire’s extended wingtip. Savouring the moment of anticipation she flew through one wing from behind and then performed a picture perfect mid-air U-turn to take the other wing between her legs, then she landed, again behind the yellow mare. “Hmm…I might have gotten them a bit wet, so I'll preen them later.”

“Don't forget about me!” Tempest called from the front of the chain, and, not needing to be reminded twice Airmail obligingly took off and flew over Wildfire to repeat her performance on Tempest’s stiffened wingtips.

“Right Wily,” Airmail said as she landed once more behind her, “Your turn to do a flyover!”

“Oh….um…” Wildfire muttered, suddenly very unsure of herself – she couldn’t really remember a time in the past year at least when she had flown – with all the times they had been broken by Lotus Stripes and Amber Leaves she doubted they could provide any lift or support her weight at all… “My attempts at flight usually end with crashing and pain…”

Airmail however wasn’t about to take a ‘no’ for an answer. “Don't give me that crap. Get your ass in the air,” she commanded. Tempest, be her wing mare and she can do your wings after practising on mine.”

Tempest sniggered, “You just want to feel her up with your wings.”

“And?” Airmail replied with a raised eyebrow.

“But...but…oh ok, I'll have a go…” despite not wanting to, and being unsure of her ability, Wildfire was more afraid of disappointing her new friends if she refused. And, like Mistress Amethyst always told her, the only way to get ponies to like her was to do whatever they demanded of her, whenever they demanded it. Refusing them was bad, very bad, and Wildfire was a good pony, a good slave. Spreading her abused wings she gave a nervous flap, managing to get a foot off the floor before landing back down. “I'm scared...hang on I'll try again…” weakly she flapped her wings once more.

Turning to face the hesitant mare Tempest took off and hovered perfectly ten feet from the ground. “Okay Wily, you need more altitude. I want you at ten feet, how are you at hovering?”

Wildfire was trying not to panic. In the Fire Department she had been a precision flyer, but that was five years and a whole other lifetime away from where she was right now. “I-I'm ok...I think…I don't know!” Uncertainly she flapped her wings and hovered, fighting every single urge to land. “How high am I?”

“You’re three feet off the deck.” Tempest said clearly from several feet above her. “Fly to my voice that will gain you some height.”

“Oh…heavens!” Wildfire gasped as she flapped a little harder to fly slowly up towards the sound of Tempest’s voice. This was easily the weirdest thing she had ever done…every beat of her wings was a battle not to give way to disorientation and plummet ground-wards.

Tempest watched her rise up with a satisfied smile. “Good, that’s good, okay hover again.” Having no idea of her flying ability she was pleased at least she could follow directions. “One sec, let me piss on my tail.” Relaxing her bladder, which was now uncomfortably full from the coffee shop she released her stream and urinated on her black tail. “Ahh, there we go, can you smell that?”

Breathing in deeply through her nose Wildfire nodded happily, the heady aroma was distinct and very clear, overpowering the faint scent of sandalwood. “Oh yes! You smell gorgeous!”

“Okay, now follow your nose.” Tempest directed, turning her back to the blind mare. “I'm going to take you through some paces and then will see if Airmail's feathers tickle.” With her back to Wildfire, Tempest started to fly at a moderately slow speed, only twenty miles per hour, not even enough to trouble a below average flier, with added altitude changes ranging from plus to minus five feet and a few unexpected banks.

“Um…okay Tempest.” Wildfire wasn’t sure about this at all. ‘C’mon Wily…you can do this…flown through a burning building, remember? You got this…’ Wildfire concentrated hard, harder than she had done on anything for a very long time, doing her very best to follow the lovely smell in front of her. ‘I’m doing it! I’m doing it!’ She cheered herself. “How am I doing, Tempest?”

Looking back over her shoulder this time Tempest was actually impressed. “You’re doing good Wily, following nicely. Okay, time to slow it down for the fly over. Airmail! Incoming.”

“Okay, let's do it.” Spatially she had zero idea where she was, she – literally blindly – followed the scent of Tempest’s pee-soaked tail as it moved in front of her, getting lower and lower until… “Yoooow! Sweet Celestia!” The touch of Airmail’s feathers on her underside were wholly unexpected, wonderfully stiff and sliced right through her marehood like nothing she’d ever felt before.

“Woohoo!” Airmail cheered from somewhere below and behind her, “Wily, you did it!”

“Okay,” came Tempest’s voice from her left side, “Now for a U-turn and her other wing, can't leave that out now, can we?”

“I’m so doing the other one,” Wildfire giggled, eager to feel that feeling again, “Am I lined up?”

“Airmail coming in on your six.” Tempest instructed clearly from her hovering position on the yellow mare’s left. “Go straight ahead, you’re doing great Wily.

Taking a slightly more confident breath this time Wildfire flew forward, hoping somehow she’d be prepared for the feel of the feathers. Again however she was caught unprepared as the azure blue feathers ran under her body, slicing through her now sopping marehood a fair bit stiffer than the first pass as she was flying against the grain.

“Airmail to Wily,” She giggled from the ground, “Come in Wily, I have soggy!”

“Okay, Wily, follow my bank.” Tempest’s voice sounded once more, this time to the front and the left of Wildfire’s position. “Get ready to hover,” she said a few seconds later when they were coming back in to land next to Airmail and her soggy wingtips. “And…hover now.”

“Okay,” Wildfire smiled hesitantly, subtley altering the angle of her wings to hover in place where she was, “I'm hovering Tempest, is here okay?”

“And…very well done,” Tempest congratulated her, clapping her forehooves together, “You're a foot off the deck so you can drop.”

Doing as she was told Wildfire folded her wings and dropped the remaining twelve inches, landing a little ungainly on wobbly hooves. Immediately upon her touchdown she was mobbed by Airmail and Tempest, both mares full of praise for what she’d just accomplished. “I'll let you wash my tail later when we get to Caffy’s place,” Tempest whispered in her yellow ear, while Airmail’s hug was threatening to break ribs.

“See, I told you it was easy. Then Tempest knows how to do that far better than me.” She smiled, finally loosening her embrace when Wildfire started turning blue. “Anyways, you get the prize, Wily.” She giggled, placing her now damp aromatic feathers under her yellow nose for her to clean, which she duly and obligingly stuck out her tongue to lick.

“Okay, mares.” Caffeinated rumbled, standing next to Dusk, having thoroughly enjoyed the impromptu aerial display by the three pegasi, “You can save the happy dance for when we get to my place, before a search party is sent out.”