The wheels of the cart squeaked quietly as it rolled through the grass, apple trees whispering overhead with each swell of the breeze. Applejack pulled the little wooden cart with casual ease, pulling on the wooden shafts with her bare hands. She wore a red shirt, tied off in a knot beneath her breasts, knee-length blue shorts that had faded in the sun, brown boots, and her ever-present stetson. The contents of the cart were hidden beneath a blanket, though out in the middle of the orchards, there hopefully wouldn't be any ponies to hide them from.

"Here?" asked Twilight, glancing around herself. An edge of nervousness tightened a knot in her chest, but no matter where she looked, there was nothing but endless rows of apple trees, rising and falling with the gentle curves of the land. Some underbrush broke up the landscape, providing shelter, but even so, there was nopony in sight, and almost certainly, nopony other than the two of them for miles.

If only she could be sure they were safe from being seen. But that risk was part of playing outdoors.

"Naw, not quite yet." Applejack jerked her head back at the cart, as it bounced over an unseen obstacle in the long grass. "Too many roots, hereabouts. Ah know this nice lil meadow up this way that's smooth as Pinkie's butt. That'll do."

Twilight broke into giggles, quickening her pace a little to keep up with the farm pony's strides. "As Pinkie's butt?"

"You put your hands on that ass? We've all got our talents, Twi, but dang, she has a butt that could win prizes." Applejack flashed her a wry grin. "Gonna put on a pervert county fair? Ah'd be a real star. Come in first in the self-hogtie, Ah guarantee it."

Twilight broke into laughter, her nervousness easing a notch. "I think that the ponies of Equestria might not be quite ready for that kind of thing just yet."

There was something faintly regretful in the way that Applejack's green eyes slid away, turning to the greenery all around them. "Yeah, you're right about that."

They walked on quietly for a moment, as Twilight wondered whether to ask what was on her mind. It was so wonderful to just relax, with just the two of them, out in the orchard chatting and laughing together. But she owed it to Applejack - to all of them - not to shy away when she felt like they were avoiding something. "Is there something the matter?" she probed gently.

Applejack sighed softly. "Oh, you know, Twi. Ah was jest thinking about how no folk're supposed to know what's going on with you'n I. Figures that y'don't want to confuse folk, and heck, Ah don't begrudge the others wanting to be with you. But when folk say to me are we dating or aren't we, well. Don't rilly know what to say."

"...you're right. It's not fair," Twilight replied slowly. She'd thought - hoped - that by getting away alone with Applejack for a while, she could put all the complexities of her harem aside for a while. That had probably been hopelessly optimistic. "Applejack, I don't know what to say either. I'm really proud of being with you. I'm so proud," she added more softly, her hand pressing against her chest. "You're incredible. You always have been. My first love. So strong and kind, and you care so much. Yes. It's not fair."

She was coming to a decision, she knew. It was forming as she spoke, growing more and more certain. "Luna keeps telling me that I can't keep this secret forever. I shouldn't be trying. I don't need to tell all the world who I'm dating, but I shouldn't be pretending I'm not." Her eyes moved to Applejack's, and she came to a stop. "Applejack, you can tell anypony that asks about you and I. About you and Rainbow. About the whole thing, if you want to. It's big, and it's complicated, and some ponies might judge us for it, but if you're happy to tell other ponies that we have a circle of lovers, so am I. ...and I hope your family will accept that. Because... when you have your next Apple family gathering, I'd like to go with you. As your date."

The twin shafts of the cart dropped from Applejack's hands as she stared at Twilight, the cart tipping forward with a creak. Her voice went deep and soft. "You really mean that?" she whispered, stepping towards Twilight slowly. "Y'want to be mah partner, at the family gathering?"

Twilight felt a wobbly smile curve her lips, her eyes tearing up. "Yes. I want everypony to know how much I- whoof!" The air was knocked out of her as Applejack stepped up and hugged her hard, squeezing her with surprising strength. Stunned for a moment, she felt Applejack cover her cheeks and lips with kisses, the brim of her hat bumping against Twilight's forehead.

"Oh, Twi, that'd mean so darn much to me. Ah'm proud t'be with you, and Ah want everypony to know. Ah want to dance with you in the circle and have all the Apples'n Oranges'n whatnot know that this here beautiful mare and I, we're made f'r each other. Ah know it ain't how most folks live, but if we're happy, if we love each other, then there's not a pony in Ponyville that'll say otherwise. Not in my family, neither." She kissed Twilight hard, her arms tightening. "An' if they do, well, Ah reckon Ah'll let Big Mac stare at them some. Nopony gets all uppity when Big Mac gives'm the hard stare."

Applejack pulled back from Twilight for a moment to give her a menacing stare, as if to remind her what one looked like. Twilight gulped a mouthful of air, then had it immediately crushed out of her again as Applejack pulled her close once more and lifted her off the ground.

"Oh, sugar, we're going to be such a pair! The whole family's going to think you're the best. Heck, they already do, and that's before Ah tell them how good we are together."

Twilight would have been turning purple, if she hadn't been already. Nonetheless, she managed to squeak, "Breathe!"

"What? Oh. Right." Applejack loosened her grip a little with an abashed look on her face, letting Twilight's feet touch the ground once more. "Sorry. Guess Ah got a bit carried away. But Twi, Ah can't tell you how much Ah've wanted you to jest - acknowledge me. F'r every pony to see that you and me, we're a thing. Ah know it's going to make life more complicated, once ponies know the whole arrangement, but Ah'd rather that than all this sneaking around, pretending nothing's going on."

Twilight's shoulders relaxed, and she shook her head. "I think I'm going to still have to avoid doing anything intimate with the Princesses in public. It might seem kind of strange for me to be dating both sisters, as well as everything else. ...but no, I'll ask them. That's what I always do wrong; I try to make decisions on behalf of everypony instead of finding out what they want. I'll do the same for all of our friends, too. No pony has to be out about dating me unless they want to."

Applejack released Twilight, and a wry grin curved the farm pony's lips. "Twi, turn around f'r a second, would ya?"

Blinking, Twilight nodded. "Uhm. Okay?" She turned around, facing away from Applejack and the cart. The breeze touched her face, ruffling her hair. It really was nice to be-

Smack.

Yelping at the sudden sting on her ass, Twilight twisted back around, her face a portrait of indignation. "Hey!"

Applejack was laughing, leaning against the cart. "Y'keep making the same screw ups, Twi, there'll be more of that."

With a single stride, Twilight closed the distance between her and Applejack. Her left hand gripped the other mare's right breast, squeezing roughly through the fabric of her shirt. The other seized Applejack by the throat, pressing just hard enough to gently restrict airflow. Her voice was light, an arch smile on her lips. "You think you can spank me, Appleslut?"

Rising up on the toes of her boots, her breathing accelerating rapidly, Applejack whimpered, her eyes half-closing. "N-no, Ma'am. Sorry, Ma'am."

"Are you the one that spanks, Appleslut? Or are you the fucktoy that gets spanked?" Twilight rubbed her palm back and forth over the subtle bump of Applejack's nipple through the cloth, her fingers kneading firmly. A thrill was racing through her body, overlapping and amplifying itself with every hint of her slave's growing submission; the way her lips parted, her eyelids fluttered. Colour crept into the farm pony’s freckled cheeks, growing redder.

"Ah'm your fucktoy, Ma'am," Applejack whispered, swallowing beneath Twilight's hand. "Your bitch. Tamed, made all your own. Oh, Celestia, Ah want this..."

"I want this too," Twilight breathed, a hot, sharp intensity underlying her words. At that moment, nothing had felt more true in her whole life, feeling this mare she loved tremble in arousal, gripping her throat unyieldingly. "I want to force you to your knees. I want to make you beg me for mercy, Applejack. I want to fuck you, oh, how I want to fuck you... it's frightening how much."

"F-fuck me," gasped Applejack, her green eyes rolling back. "Anyway y'want me... Ah'm yours. Can't resist. Must obey. Ah'll do anything you want."

With a twist of her hand, Twilight suddenly released Applejack's neck. The farm pony bent forward, caught off-balance, sucking in quick breaths. In a harshly imperious tone, Twilight commanded, "Strip, slut. I'm done waiting for this meadow. We're doing this here, now."

Applejack moaned thickly, her hands instantly tugging at her shirt and fumblingly undoing the knot she'd tied in the tails. "Yes, Ma'am, Ah'm stripping, Ma'am." Her freckled breasts spilled out as the fastenings parted, smooth and firm, capped with tight, hardened nipples. Shrugging out of her top, clumsy with her haste, she tossed the shirt into the cart and began tugging at her waistband, yanking down the zipper.

"No underwear," purred Twilight. "Very fitting for a horny slut, that's always waiting to be fucked and played with. You're a dirty fuckdoll, pretending to be this perfect, wholesome farm pony. I can't let that go unpunished."

"No, no Ma'am, Ah need to be punished," panted Applejack, tugging down her shorts. Her shaven cunt gleamed in the sunlight, betraying her wetness, as she struggled out of her boots and stood naked before Twilight, completely exposed to the breeze. "Your bitch is naked, Ma'am," she managed, stiffening to a formal pose.

"Mm, she is. But you're not nearly finished getting ready, are you?" Twilight said with luxurious lack of haste. "Let's get out the rest of your outfit." Turning to the cart, Twilight pulled back the blanket that covered the contents. A black, leathery harness lay beneath, fixed together by shining silvery metal rings and studs that gleamed in the sunlight, draped over the back of a comfortable, padded seat that was mounted in the centre of the cart. Various other sexualised tools of punishment lay in the bottom of the cart, arranged neatly so they wouldn't get in the way of whoever sat in the centre.

Lifting up the harness in both hands, Twilight turned to Applejack. Slipping one shoulder strap up her muscular arm, Twilight wrapped the corset-like body of it around Applejack’s body and slid her other arm into the remaining shoulder strap. “Breathe in,” Twilight instructed, then began doing up the myriad tiny buttons that fastened the back together. It was so beautiful watching Applejack’s warm orange body progressively coated by glistening blackness, transforming her nudity into something more sexual than mere nakedness, more fetishised.

The straps over Applejack’s broad shoulders were studded with silver, strands leading down either side of her bare breasts to frame her cleavage while another pair led inwards, to encircle her throat in a broad, tightly buckled collar that kept her head posed upwards. A v-shaped corset pulled her stomach in, forcing her into an hourglass figure that emphasised the fullness of her ass and the fountain of tightly bound blonde hair arcing out behind her. Broad loops either side of her hips were perfectly sized to slide over the cart shafts. The back of the corset was minimal, curving down into a couple of thin straps, leaving as much of her back and ass as possible exposed.

With loving care, Twilight worked long, thigh-length boots up Applejack’s legs, feeling the other mare shift and squirm in anticipation. Elbow-length gloves strapped her wrists back against her shoulders, her hands trapped in broad mittens that made her fingers useless, even if she could have reached anything with her arms bound. Finally, tenderly, Twilight eased a thin headstall made of crisscrossing straps over Applejack’s head, careful to get her ears settled comfortably through it. Small black panels blocked out the wearer's peripheral vision, forcing them to look straight ahead. A bit gag dangled loose, only connected at one side for now, with a set of reins leading back towards the seat.

Few ponies would have even recognised the headstall at first glance; such things were almost forgotten. They were from the secretive, darker corners of history, when pony had fought pony and captives had been forced to work for their jailors. It stripped a pony of her dignity, her autonomy, made her into a beast of burden. It took a scholar, or a pervert, to know it at once. Fortunately, that caught Twilight coming and going.

Applejack’s lips parted yearningly, and she leaned forward, as if trying to take the bit between her teeth before Twilight had even presented it to her. “Mmmn!” she groaned wordlessly, quivering on the spot.

“So desperate,” teased Twilight huskily. “Do you want to be gagged and forced to be a mindless animal for me?”

“Mmmh! Yes, Ma’am! Please, Ma’am!” Applejack panted, her eyes glazed with lust. Wetness gleamed at the tops of her thighs, and her bare tits rose and fell rapidly with her laboured breathing.

“Well, seeing as you asked so nicely...” Twilight purred. “You know I’m your friend, Applejack, and friends help each other be everything they want to be. Just like you want to be a horny, fuckable animal.” Lifting the bit, she eased it between Applejack's parted lips, and clipped the loose end into place. "Perfect. Back up between the shafts, now. That's good."

Lifting the shafts and tilting the two-wheeled cart back to an even keel, Twilight fastened Applejack in place between them, standing upright and ready to pull. "Good pony," Twilight praised her, smacking the other mare's firm ass with her hand as she walked past.

Climbing into the cart, Twilight settled herself on the seat, arranged her skirt neatly, and picked up the reins with one hand. With the other, she bent forward and picked up a soft, many-stranded flogger, swishing it through the air experimentally to test its heft. She wasn't exactly practised with the thing, but it was part of Applejack's fantasy, and even though it flavoured Twilight's arousal with a touch of nervousness, there was a part of her that couldn't wait to try it.

"Is my dumb animal ready to pull her Mistress's carriage?" she asked softly, feeling her nipples ache with stiffness beneath her delicate white blouse.

"Mmfh!" groaned Applejack, trying to twist enough to see Twilight, and shuddering with fresh arousal as she found herself too trapped in her harness and headstall to do more than turn her head slightly. She stamped her booted feet against the soft grass in eagerness.

Crack. The flogger lashed out, strands striking Applejack's ass with a loud, clear sound that was almost covered by the captive mare's muffled cry of agonised pleasure. Jerking into motion, she leaned forward and began to pull, towing the cart after her as she accelerated to a brisk jog.

The cart jostled and rattled, bouncing as it went over small tree roots extending out into the grass between the trees. Twilight didn't care. All that mattered were the little gasps and moans escaping her slave, the way her mane and tail swayed, her ass on perfect display. Twilight caught her breath, dizzy with excitement as she saw droplets of wetness inching down Applejack's inner thighs.

"Anypony might see you," Twilight said huskily, over the rattle of the wheels. "Your pretty tits bouncing, your cunt on display, your ass getting redder with every-" crack, "-strike of my flogger. Dumb animals don't care how exposed they are. But you're just smart enough to know that you're a depraved, horny slut, degrading yourself every moment you're strapped into your suit and made into a beast. This is what your hard, fit body is for. So you can pull my carriage, be my mindless animal. I know you want this, I know you've dreamed about this over and over, night after night."

Her voice grew more throaty, more intense, as she heaped abuse on Applejack, the gagged pony’s moans growing louder and more yearning. Twilight lashed out with the flogger again, every strike cracking louder than the last, burnishing her slave's ass to a warm pink. The surrounding trees parted as they burst out into a clear meadow, and the jolting settled down, the cart rolling smoothly through the grass.

"If you do really well, if you really please me, I'll push you up against one of these trees and fuck you," Twilight promised with a gasp of arousal, wanting desperately to touch herself but needing both hands for the reins and the flogger.

The cart accelerated, Applejack's booted feet hammering into the soft grass. The blonde pony's head tilted back, and though her words were thick and distorted by her gag, Twilight could just make out the yearning words, "Hurt me, punish me!"

A shudder of need ran through Twilight, her fingers tightening around the flogger. "Yes," she breathed, "Oh, yes." The flogger cracked across Applejack’s ass and back, laying reddened stripes across her skin with hungry eagerness, and every moan and cry that the blows wrenched out of the firm-muscled mare thrummed like a caress to Twilight’s clit. It felt so good to hurt her, knowing that Applejack loved it, wanted it, was begging for more.

Every strike urged the gagged, moaning pony to greater efforts, leaning into the drag of her harness to pull the cart faster as they circled the long, oval meadow. Twilight wrapped the reins around her fingers, letting Applejack steer around the curves, and stood up in the cart. The wind of their movement blew her mane out behind her, her tail flicking with each delicious twinge of her arousal, and at that moment, more than any before, she felt like a Princess. An Empress. Some secret, darker corner of herself pictured being drawn through Canterlot by a team of naked, panting mares, in a triumphal parade. She pictured Luna and Celestia, pulling her cart side by side, whimpering and gasping with each crack of a long crop. Though if she was going for a complete set, Cadance should really be there too...

Eventually, despite herself, Applejack began to slow, and sensing her slave had been pushed as far as she could safely go, Twilight lowered the flogger, and tugged gently on the reins. The cart coasted to a stop, Applejack stumbling the last few steps as she came to a halt, flanks heaving. Her head hung low, panting loudly in the sudden quiet, body coated in glistening sweat. Red and pink marks carpeted her back, ass and thighs.

Delicately, Twilight stepped down from the cart. "Good pony, that’s so good," she praised Applejack warmly, stepping around to stand before the panting mare. Her lips and gag were wet with saliva, and her breasts heaved. Her green eyes were slow to focus on Twilight, but as they did, a look of exhausted adoration came over Applejack’s face, and she mumbled something into her gag.

Gently, carefully, Twilight unhooked one end of the bit, and eased it out of Applejack’s mouth. "There... is that better?" Once, she wouldn’t have, couldn’t have understood wanting to hurt somepony she loved. But now, tingling with delight and warmth, she knew better. There was a kind of love in the punishment she’d unleashed, a pleasure in cruelty matched only by the depth of her warmth and caring. To make sure that her lover was safe, that she wasn’t hurt or upset, was just as much part of those feelings as bestowing the blows in the first place.

"...thank you. Ma’am. So much," breathed Applejack, slowly sinking down onto her haunches. The cart tipped forward with her movement. "Love being your beast. Love you. Ah’m yours."

Twilight’s horn glowed. With careful self-control, she levitated a flask of water out of the floor of the cart into her hands, then lifted it to Applejack’s lips, letting her drink a little at a time. Little by little, she was regaining dexterity with her magic, even if it was a constant effort to use only the lightest touch of it. "There. You’re going to need some water after all that exertion. I wouldn’t want you to get too hot." Searching Applejack’s face, she asked with a touch of sternness, "Have you over-exerted yourself? I don’t want to see you hurt yourself showing off what a good pony you can be."

Shaking her head slowly, Applejack tilted her body slightly to let Twilight unhitch her from the cart, collapsing gratefully to rest on the soft grass. "Whew. That was one heck've a workout, Ma'am. Mah thighs are on fire, a bit. And mah ass, come to that. Ah'll be alright. Jest need some time to catch mah breath." Rolling onto her back, her arms still tied up uselessly, Applejack let her legs sprawl loosely across the ground. Looking up at Twilight, she asked softly, "Ah did well?"

"So well, Applejack." Twilight settled into the grass and shifted up to lie against the other mare's side, kissing her shoulder. "Get your breath back. You'll need it in a moment."

"Y'want me to pull the cart some more, Ma'am?" Despite her evident exhaustion, Applejack's face took on a determined look.

"No, no. Not that at all." Twilight smiled, with an edge of predatory playfulness. "I just need you to be able to stand up and bend over. You've earned a good fucking."

Cadance rolled onto her back, shuffling a little to find a comfortable position with her wings beneath her. The enormous bed did all it could to help, as soft and yielding as a cloud. Rainbow shards of light coloured the room, where the sun shone through an enormous stained glass window. Beside her, Shining Armor lay sprawled untidily beneath the covers, murmuring a sleepy sound.

Something that she'd refused to give up, when she'd become Princess of the Crystal Empire, were lie-ins. Not that she could have them every day, but she did try to take at least one a week. It was a time to wake up slowly, luxuriously, and completely forget her cares for a few hours before she took on the mantle of ruler once again. Today, however, something was bothering her. Something that had been bothering her for a while, at the back of her mind.

"Shiny?" she asked softly. "Are you awake yet?"

Shining Armor muttered something into the pillow. Undeterred, Cadance poked his shoulder, then lightly kicked his leg. "Shiny?"

Shining's eyes opened. "Mrrf. Hm?"

"Oh, you're awake. Can I talk to you about something?"

Yawning, Shining turned his body towards her, rubbing a hand over his eyes. "Did you want something, Cadey-wadey?" He grinned as he spoke the noxiously over-sweet endearment, obviously hoping to make her wince, only for his expression to sober as he saw she wasn't rising to the bait. "Is something wrong?"

"No... not wrong, exactly. I don't think." She spoke slowly, shaking her head slightly. Shining moved closer, wrapping his arms around her, and she felt herself relax a little more as his warm, firm body pressed against hers beneath the sheets.

"It doesn't sound like you believe that," he said gently. His broad hand squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "Tell me about it."

Cadance hesitated, as she had done several times before. It was probably nothing. But, now that she'd finally broached the subject, perhaps it was best to follow through. "It's about... Twilight."

Shining frowned slightly. "Is she in trouble somehow? Having difficulty coping with being a Princess? I know it's not easy on you."

"Not... like that." She sighed, looking up at the lovingly painted ceiling, with its stars and birds. "Look. How much do you know about Twilight's sex life?"

Shining gaped at her, his mouth open.

Despite herself, Cadance giggled. "I'm going to take that as 'nothing', then."

He coloured. "Well - she wouldn't talk to me about that. Besides, we're talking about Twilight. She doesn't have a sex life." Shining paused, then added more uncertainly, "Does she?"

Oh, Shining my darling, you have no idea. "Yes, she does." It was Cadance's turn to hesitate, trying to figure out how to ease her husband into the discussion. Shining had always thought of Twilight as younger than she really was, and even her ascension hadn't changed his tendency to picture her as barely out of her foalhood.

"Shining, you know those games, we sometimes play...? The kind where I'm a guard recruit under your command, or I'm a terrible tyrant?"

Shining stared at her, a bewildered frown slowly drawing his brows together. "Twilight is dating somepony? And... they're ordering her around in bed? I mean - you can't be serious." Comprehension touched his features, and he leaned up in bed to look down at her, asking more urgently, "Are you worried she's being taken advantage of?"

"No, no. It's okay. Nothing like that," Cadance replied hastily, gently pulling down on his bare shoulder to draw him back into her embrace. Oh well, there was nothing for it but the truth, now. "Twilight is... the one in charge, actually. And it's not just a sex game to her either. I can tell the difference, and this was a full-time kind of thing. She's living the lifestyle of somepony that owns others."

Again, Shining's face went blank as he tried to fit this into his mental model of his sister and found it didn't match anywhere. "Buh- wh- Twilight? But she doesn't have a kinky bone in her body!" he protested, spluttering. "She's not even interested in other ponies that way, let alone... dominating somepony! She... if she was dating somepony, she would have told me! And she just isn't... you can't picture her being commanding, can you? She wouldn't - I don't - Cadance!"

Cadance winced. "Actually, my love, she's not dominating somepony. She's dominating some ponies." She could feel the bewilderment radiating from him, and before he could ask, she said slowly, "All of the elements of harmony. She seems to have turned the elements into her... well, her harem." The words sounded ridiculous in her own mouth, as though they couldn't possibly be true.

Shining Armor stared at her, then slowly rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. Cadance waited a moment, then pressed her naked body against his side, hugging one arm.

"Shining?" she asked gently.

"Are you teasing me?" he asked eventually.

"No, I'm really not. I've known about it since the coronation, but I wasn't sure what to think."

"My Twily is... she's, with all those... that's impossible," he said plaintively. "Twily... she doesn't even like mares! And all of them dating her at the same time? She... a herd relationship? Where she's dominating them all? I just... Cadance, this can't be happening. Could it be some kind of Elements thing that's gone wrong? Some kind of magic? Something to do with her being a Princess?"

She'd wondered that, too. "I can't rule it out," Cadance said carefully, "but I felt real bonds of affection between them when they were together. Romantic bonds, not just friendship. Some of them stronger than others, but all of them are more than friends. If there was nothing there but magic, I'd know."

Shining rubbed a hand down his face, shaking his head once more. "But... Twilight hasn't ever looked at another mare that way! Or a stallion, either. And then she's dating five ponies at the same time? And she's..." he trailed off, before resuming awkwardly, "playing... that kind of... that? Cade, it just doesn't... that's not what she'd do!"

"...well. Sometimes, ponies can surprise you," said Cadance slowly. "I've known ponies that were just as outwardly uninterested in romance as Twilight, and behind closed doors, they were - um. Surprising. But, with Twilight, it wasn't just... it's not just the elements of harmony."

Shining let his head flop back against the pillow, then said with a kind of resigned incredulousness, "There's more? You can't be serious."

"...yes. I can't be certain that I've met all of Twilight's lovers, but she is certainly dominating the other elements, and Zecora from the Everfree Forest. And Trixie Lulamoon."

"Trixie? But Trixie hates Twilight! She took over Ponyville with an evil amulet just to get back at her! And Twilight doesn't even like her!"

Cadance bit her lip. There was a tone of pleading disbelief in Shining's voice that suggested he was, on some level, completely unable to process what she was saying, and she hadn't even got to the most unlikely part yet. "I know! But Trixie was there at the coronation, remember, and the bond between them was... it's a sort of devotion that's actually kind of unhealthy. She's completely desperate for Twilight's approval. Zecora was there, too. ...and that's not all of Twilight's herd, either. I'm sorry. There's two more."

He groaned. "Tell me."

Well, here it was. Cadance took the plunge. "She's dominating Celestia. And Luna. Sexually."

He lay in silence for a few moments, and she let him process the thought at his own speed. When he finally spoke, it was as though his words were coming from far away. "My little sister, Twily, is dominating Celestia and Luna, and Trixie, and Zecora, and all of her friends. In a huge lesbian harem. And that's only the ones you know about."

"It seems a little out of character," agreed Cadance meekly.

"They're sisters! They can't both be dating the same pony! And - and they're the Princesses, and, and Celestia has been teaching her for years, you can't tell me it's right for her to sleep with Twily, and - and Luna, she's never - I mean..." he stammered into silence, then rolled towards her, his mouth working as he tried to fit words around his vast, utter bewilderment. "How can you think this?" he finally burst out.

"Because... I saw them with her, after the coronation. And then I sat next to Rainbow Dash at the dinner, who had a lot to say." Cadance hesitated again. "Shiny, do you really want to hear this? I know it's pretty strange to hear things like this about Twilight."

He frowned again, then shook his head stubbornly. "I want to hear it. It just doesn't sound like Twilight. It definitely was Twilight, wasn't it?"

"If it wasn't Twilight, even if she'd tricked other ponies into loving her, she wouldn't love them back the way I sensed. Believe me, it was the first thing I thought of. But that was definitely Twilight." The thought of changelings was always quick to rise, after what had happened at their wedding. "So... I should tell you?"

"Yeah. You should. You'd better start with why you think that Celestia is in some kind of - of that relationship with my sister. Did she say something that makes you think something strange is going on?"

His tone was rich with doubt, but she knew she shouldn't take it personally. He'd always been very protective of his sister. Still, there was a certain selfish satisfaction in answering bluntly, "Celestia said something like that. It was when she dropped to her knees in front of Twilight, bowed her head to the ground, kissed her feet and invited Twilight to 'punish her slave' if her coronation wasn't to her liking."

Shining's mouth opened and closed wordlessly, before he stammered, "Wha-what? I... what did Twilight say?"

"She said the ceremony was wonderful." Cadance paused a beat. "Then she said that Celestia had been teasing her too much, though, and she'd punish her later."

"That was... that must have been a joke, right?" Shining semi-pleaded.

"Luna called her 'Mistress'. So did the elements, mostly. I think Pinkie was calling her 'Master', Rarity... I can't remember. Trixie was pretty frank, though. She was calling herself Twilight's slutty, submissive slave. Rainbow was angling to be ordered to sit under the banquet table so she could eat Twilight out during the meal." Celestia had actually said Empress. Cadance had decided not to mention that; it was troubling her a little.

"...you said that you were talking to Rainbow, during the banquet. Didn't you?"

"Oh, yes," Cadance agreed, a wry smile on her lips. "She had stories to tell, too. She told me about a time when she was going to visit Twilight to have a date with her. She was late. When she came in, I think she said that Applejack and Rarity were there already, both mostly naked. Twilight was using Rarity as a footstool. Twilight gagged Rainbow, and had the other two play with her, stopping her from orgasming until Twilight felt she was properly punished. I think Rainbow described her as 'an evil sex Goddess'."

Eyes closed, Shining had settled onto his back again as she talked, listening closely. He didn't say anything for a moment, before finally asking, "Did she tell you anything else?"

There was a certain tone in his voice that Cadance recognised. Her hand slid over his body beneath the sheet, and gripped his erect cock firmly. "Shiny," she said reprovingly, though with a note of humour in her voice. "You're getting off on this? You pervert."

His cheeks went red. "I'm not! -you know. It's not about Twilight. Just, you know. It's hard not to picture."

"I can tell it's hard," Cadance teased him, giving a firm stroke of her hand. She paused, then added, "I've seen ponies figure out what they wanted, and go for it. It can happen all at once, and very quickly."

It was obviously a struggle for Shining to think straight while Cadance was lazily stroking her fingers up and down his shaft, but he was clearly doing his best. "But this isn't just Twily. This is all the ponies around her, too. It's not like they were all into mares before this."

"Well... Celestia was, at least," Cadance replied slowly. "Once or twice, she and I..." She let the sentence trail off.

He blinked. "But you call her Aunt Celestia!"

"She's not really my aunt. It's just an affectionate thing. She gets lonely, the same as any other pony." Cadance smiled wryly. "Don't be jealous, it was a long time ago. But... I've felt her feelings before. For Twilight. And I know Twilight has always had a crush on her." Not to mention the occasional hints of more-than-sisterly overtones she'd felt towards herself, now and then. "Maybe they just finally got around to... consummating it."

She watched as his expression changed, visibly trying to get his mind around that image, and just as visibly gave up. He'd been introduced to quite enough new concepts without bringing Cadance's past sex partners into it. "Cade, you said that you were worried," he said finally.

Cadance sighed and let go of his cock, smoothing her fingers over his toned stomach instead. "Yes. I've been telling myself everything I've told you, about ponies suddenly finding themselves, and she was close to the other Elements, and Celestia has always felt something pretty strong for her. But Luna too? Zecora, I don't really know, but... Trixie? It seems like too much, too fast. Twilight shushed Rainbow once, and I think she was about to let something slip, but I'm not sure what it was."

Obviously, she'd given Shining a lot to think about. Maybe some of those thoughts might be rather guilty ones about Twilight and her harem - she wouldn't judge him for that. But if there was one thing that would always come to the fore, it was his deep and genuine love for his sister. "I'm worried for her," Shining said slowly. "Even if there's nothing unnatural going on, I don't want to see her go too far and get hurt. And if she's hiding something, especially from me, then I'm worried about that, too."

Cadance's lips quirked with wry humour. "How would you have liked her to have phrased it? No, no, I know what you mean. I think... I think I should visit her again, soon, and try to have a proper conversation about it."

"Not me?"

"She's probably pretty embarrassed about it. Let me talk to her, first. I can gently let her know that she's hurt your feelings a little by not telling her about it all."

"Well... okay. But what if something strange is going on?" he pressed.

Cadance shrugged her bare shoulders, and looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "I suppose I'll just have to keep my eyes open."

Rarity was always an impressive sight. Day by day, she came up with new outfits, sometimes bringing out entirely new creations, other times combining elements of previous outfits in novel ways. Today's look was a backless dress in a wine-coloured burgundy, with a straight cut neckline that bared her shoulders, and a pure white sun hat. It looked amazing on her, matching the delicately glittering eyeshadow that enlarged and deepened Rarity's eyes.

Twilight was wearing a grey sweater and some blue jeans. She felt severely outclassed. The only thing that stopped her from feeling downright frumpy in comparison was that her wardrobe was almost entirely filled with clothes from before her ascension, meaning that as sweaters went, it was considerably tighter around the chest than she'd have ever contemplated wearing a few months ago, and bared a small slice of her stomach. At that exact moment, she was sitting peacefully outside her treehouse, listening to the sounds of Ponyville going by.

It wasn't a coincidence to be outside when Rarity arrived; she'd been waiting for her. But even if she hadn't been, it was nice to escape Canterlot for a while and remind herself how quiet it was in the peaceful, frequently-attacked village where she'd made so many friends. And then enslaved them all.

Dismissing the thought, Twilight greeted the other pony warmly, "Hello, Rarity. You're looking lovely this morning."

"Good morning, Twilight," Rarity replied, smiling in response to the compliment. "Where is everypony this morning?" An almost imperceptible change came over her posture as she addressed her Mistress, pushing out her chest a little more and drawing her back up straighter. Twilight wondered if she was even aware she was doing it.

"Well, I've let Spike take Ember for a walk through the forest. He wanted to get to know her a little, and I think she wants to check on how much he knows about - well, dragons. I think she finds it a little weird that he wasn't raised by his own kind. I don't think that anything will cause them any trouble in the Everfree today, but I've asked Zecora not to stray too far from them, so she can help if needed. Trixie is still in Canterlot, as you know. Celestia is inside, but she's a bit occupied. And the others are around." Twilight's smile was playful, and more than a little teasing. It was always pleasant to have a little surprise to unleash, just waiting for the right moment. "But I wanted to sit and talk to you for a little bit before we go in."

"I'd like that too," agreed Rarity, moving around to settle on the prominent tree root beside Twilight. "I haven't really felt like we've talked very much, lately. I'd really quite like to have the chance."

"...I suppose not. Not alone, just the two of us," Twilight agreed. The reason for that was pretty obvious. If she spent a single day with each of her slaves in turn, it'd be a week and a half before she got back around to the first one again. One day in nine wasn't really good enough, which is why she preferred to let her slaves spend time with her together. But even then, all of them needed some time alone with her.

Which is why her faint, nagging desire to take others had to be resisted. She'd made things complicated enough for herself as it was.

Unless it was just a one-time thing, like Lightning Dust. She could probably manage a few more of those, scattered here and there.

Focus! she chided herself.

"How is the boutique?" Twilight asked, aware that a quiet had fallen.

"Very nicely, thank you. As a matter of fact, I have received considerable coverage in the Canterlot newspapers, since I discreetly allowed it to be known that I made your coronation gown. I've been considering expanding into a new location in Canterlot for some time. This may have provided the spur I needed to finally take the last step." Rarity crossed her legs demurely, her hands resting in her lap.

Twilight smiled warmly at her friend and lover. "Could I see the newspapers please? I'd just love to see what they said about your dress!"

Rarity blinked, looking slightly taken aback. "Why, you're interested? I had thought that you were rather too occupied to worry about such things, my dear."

"I'm never too busy to be interested in the things that matter to you, Rarity," Twilight told her earnestly. "If I ever gave you reason to think otherwise... I'm sorry. Really sorry, and for a lot of things. Please, bring them around so I can see."

"Well - I imagine you've seen many of them anyway. They were mostly about you, after all. Only the most fashion-centric news could be purely about your dress, and not about your coronation."

"I didn't read any of them," confessed Twilight with a diffident little shrug. "I knew that the ponies that mattered to me were happy, and that was all that mattered." She paused, then added wryly, "And because I was terrified. I didn't know what people would say, so I kind of hid in the castle and pretended it hadn't happened."

"Darling, really. The entirety of Equestria was united in praise and happiness about you. There was nothing to hide from." Rarity shook her head, and went on wonderingly, "The things some ponies would have done for that kind of coverage, and you didn't read a word of it..."

Twilight became aware that Rarity had an odd little smile on her lips, one Twilight couldn't quite figure out. After a moment, the fashionista shook her head ruefully and went on, "I'm glad, in an odd way. I feared that you'd become too occupied with your new life to trouble yourself with us. But ignoring all of the press is exactly what I'd expect my Twilight to do."

"I am your Twilight. I haven't changed. Well, I have physically changed, that's hard to argue-" she ruffled her wings slightly, the back of her jumper pushed down far enough so that it was below where they joined to her back, "-but I'm still the same pony I always was."

"...no, I don't think that's true," Rarity said slowly. "Darling, a year ago, you could never have imagined using a spell to control other ponies. I imagine that you would have blushed so hard you'd have passed out at the very idea of having sex with Princess Celestia, or Princess Luna. Let alone the kind of kinky dominatrix sex you have with all of us, on a regular basis. Ponies do change, and you've changed more than I could have imagined."

Twilight felt her ears wilting as Rarity went on, a hollow sense of awkwardness growing in her chest. Looking down, her cheeks hot with embarrassment, she said more softly, "You're right. I can't pretend that things haven't changed a lot. That I haven't changed. Or... that I haven't learned things about myself. Things that aren't so good, like how I act when I really want something I know I shouldn't. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm just a bad pony now."

"Oh, Twilight," Rarity said quietly, reaching out to stroke her cheek. Twilight looked up at her, hands fidgeting in her lap. "Twilight, you've done some bad things. I do see you trying to be better than that, though. I don't think you're a bad pony. You're still... you are still my Twilight."

"...thank you. That means an awful lot to me, it really does." Twilight absently rubbed her cheek, remembering the slap that Rarity had given her when the other pony's memories were released, and she'd found out what Twilight had done.

Not a happy memory. But at least the fact that she had let Rarity remember and make up her own mind was something she could cling to when she needed to remind herself that she could be better than her own desires.

Taking the other pony's hands in hers, Twilight asked softly, "Rarity... are we okay? Are things okay between us? I know that... it's complicated. But I really want things to be okay. And if things aren't, we can work together to find a way to make things better. Even if it means you don't want to be part of the sexy side of things, you can still be part of the cuddling and togetherness. And if you don't want to be part of that, and if you want me to, I can make it easier for you not to miss it so much. I really care about you. You're one of my closest friends. I don't want to ever make you do something you don't want to do again."

Rarity squeezed Twilight's hands, glancing aside. She stared at the grass for a few moments, before meeting Twilight's eyes again. "I'm not sure what I want, Twilight. You don't have my love, the way that you have Applejack's. You haven't earned those feelings. But you have my adoration, and my body, and my obedience." She smiled wryly. "I know that those seem contradictory. I can live with things being... not exactly just between the two of us, you know. I know now that Fluttershy carries a torch for me, and even at times, I've felt like Zecora and I..." She trailed off, then resumed slowly, "I simply want to feel that I'm valued for who I am. Not as part of a set. I want to be romanced a little, Twilight. I never had that, from you."

"I'm sorry, Rarity. You deserve more than that. I promise, I never thought of you as just part of a collection. You're special." Twilight blushed as she added diffidently, "And you make me feel kind of embarrassed sometimes, when I'm standing next to you, because I'm wearing comfortable clothes, and you're just so effortlessly beautiful. I think in some ways, you'd have made a much better Princess."

Rarity blinked at her. "Darling, you're beautiful! You may not be wearing the latest in haute couture, but you must never feel embarrassed about how you choose to look. And... well. I don't think I should care to be a Princess." Though despite her words, she looked quite flattered, and rather taken with the idea.

Twilight gave her a sideways look. "You wouldn't enjoy the attention?"

"Well, I might appreciate just a tad more attention. But it's not as though I'd-"

"-fly about in front of everypony, showing off your shiny new wings?" Twilight interrupted, with a playful smile.

Rarity coloured at the reminder of the disastrous occasion she'd been granted magical butterfly wings. "There's no need to be snide, dear," she said with a pout.

"I'm sorry," Twilight apologised. "I didn't mean to be." Leaning closer, without really thinking about it, Twilight gently kissed the other pony. Rarity's lips were soft, yielding, and after a moment's surprise, she melted against Twilight, returning the kiss tenderly. Twilight's hand gently slid up Rarity's back, under her mane, and drew the other mare closer. She felt her heart beat faster, losing the thread of her thoughts as she drank in the taste of Rarity's mouth, and the subtle perfume that scented her skin.

Eventually, Twilight drew back, taking in Rarity's dazed expression and flushed cheeks with a surge of tenderness in her chest. "I love the way you look when I've just kissed you," Twilight murmured. "For just a moment, you look so transported, so far away. Like you're still wherever our kiss takes you. Your cheeks are pink, and your lips are just a little parted, and it makes me want to just kiss you all over again."

Rarity swallowed, nodding slightly. "I, um. Yes. That is... that is the sort of thing that I was talking about."

Wriggling sideways along the tree root they sat on, Twilight pressed her side against Rarity's, her hand trailing down the other mare's back to stroke and toy with her tail. "I was hoping that we could do something special together, today..." she breathed into Rarity's ear, feeling the stirring of a familiar delight. "I've made all the preparations."

A shiver ran down the alabaster mare's body, her nipples pressing visibly against the delicate fabric of her dark red dress. "Something just for me?" she asked, in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes. Oh, yes. Won't you come inside with me?" Twilight stood up, holding out her hand, unable to suppress the tingling excitement that raced up and down her body.

"...as you wish. My Lady." Rarity rose, and let Twilight take her hand, guiding her to the crimson doors of the library. A thick iron key slid smoothly into the lock, and small sparkles of energy glittered in the air as a warding spell was disarmed.

It might have seemed a bit much, if the door was only guarding a library. But even by Twilight's standards, there was something inside far more precious than mere books.

Twilight moved aside, letting Rarity step past her, then shut the door and re-sealed it. Silencing spells sealed the little library tight against the outside world, and elaborate illusion spells coated the windows, showing a building empty of ponies to any curious eye looking inwards. There was a deep, velvety hush.

Rarity broke it, her fingers covering her mouth in surprise as she breathed, "My stars."

A satisfied grin curved Twilight's lips. Celestia stood in the centre of the room, stark naked, her milk-white chest rising and falling slowly with her breathing. Her eyes were blank, expression empty, staring at nothing in particular. Every aspect of her was on display, to be touched and toyed with, to be used.

Nor was she alone. To her left stood Applejack, then Pinkie Pie, blank-eyed, bare breasted, and as still as living statues. To her right, Rainbow Dash stood motionless, Fluttershy beside her. The formal, straight-backed posture looked particularly odd on the soft-hearted pegasus, thrusting out her mammoth yellow breasts for inspection. All four of the elements were nude, except for one thing: each wore a thick black strap-on that jutted obscenely from their hips, gleaming with lubricant oil. Only Celestia's cunt was bare and ready to be taken.

"Twilight?" Rarity asked hesitantly, her tone rising with the question.

"They're not under the charm right now," Twilight told her, her grin widening a little. "But I did use the charm to make them very entranced. I gave them instructions on the state they were to enter. Would you like to know why?"

"Why did you need to do that? Isn't the charm potent enough already?"

"Because if they were charmed right now, they couldn't hear you. Tell somepony to do something, Rarity."

Rarity's eyes widened, and she looked back at the motionless ponies, her mouth opening and shutting. After a moment, she said lamely, "Ah- wave to me, please, Pinkie."

Without looking away from the middle-distance that her glazed eyes were fixed on, Pinkie waved slowly, then let her hand fall limp to her side once more.

Prowling closer on soundless feet, Twilight squeezed Rarity's shoulders from behind, and breathed into her ear, "Shall we play dolls with my lovely toys, Rarity? They'll do anything you like. You can touch them, and squeeze them, and have them fuck each other... or fuck you..."

Rarity swallowed. Her breathing quickening, she said in a low tone, "Twilight, I'm not sure..."

Reaching around her, Twilight took Rarity's breasts in both hands, squeezing them through the silky fabric and feeling how incredibly soft and yielding they were. Pressing her own body against the other pony's back, she nibbled at her neck, breathing, "I made you ride Celestia's face before, and she liked it. Touch her. You can look at her all you like, you can take as long as you want to. Touch her."

"I..." Rarity's voice trailed off, and she slowly stepped forward, Twilight's hands slipping from her body. With dreamlike slowness, she moved before Celestia, paying little heed to the motionless retinue of naked, sex-toy bearing mares, and reached up to cup the divine pony's cheek. "She's just... so beautiful, Twilight," she whispered reverentially.

"Yes, she is," Twilight agreed softly. In the face of Celestia's beauty, she couldn't be jealous. She knew just what Rarity was feeling, because she'd felt it herself. That perfect awe at being able to just touch Celestia, to explore her, to gaze at her face without fear of embarrassment and absorb every tiny detail. "The first time I charmed her – or thought I had – I touched her and looked at her just like you are. I kissed her, just where you're touching."

"And then?" Rarity asked, without turning her head, half-hypnotised by simply stroking her ruler's face.

"And then I touched her boobs," confessed Twilight, with a little blush of happy embarrassment.

"Twilight!" protested Rarity, glancing back at her

"Don't you want to do the same? She's not aware of anything right now." Twilight leaned forward slightly, feeling her own body tingling under her tight sweater. She wanted Rarity to know what it felt like. The absolute freedom of complete control; able to do anything, without regret or consequences.

Almost as though Rarity was simply watching her hands move of their own volition, the white unicorn slowly let her hands settle on Celestia's outthrust breasts. She squeezed them, and drew a tiny, shaky breath when the other mare's pink nipples began to stiffen under her fingers. "She feels things?"

"Oh, yes. She's not thinking, but her body is still reacting." Twilight drifted forward, maintaining enough distance to let Rarity have her own space with Celestia. In a tone barely above a murmur, Twilight went on softly, "Spank her. Touch her. Make her respond to you."

"I couldn't, couldn't possibly..." Rarity murmured distractedly, running her hand down the curve of Celestia's hip. Her fingertips slowly moved inwards, seeking Celestia's pink sex, and a tremble ran through her own body as she made contact. Goosebumps rippled up her arm as she began to stroke the Princess's cunt.

"She's already wet... she's so soft, and... hot. Oh, Celestia..." Rarity whispered, her fingers sliding inside the entranced ruler. A small, breathy sigh fell from Celestia's barely parted lips, and her nipples stood out stiffly. Drawing her hand away from the taller mare's sex, Rarity stared at her glistening fingers as though she couldn't quite believe they were real.

Voice quivering slightly, she said aloud, "Celestia, I'd like you to lick your pussy juices from my fingers, if you don't mind."

Smoothly, without a word, Celestia bent forward. Taking hold of Rarity's wrist, she lifted the smaller mare's hand, and slid her lips over Rarity's fingers, licking and sucking with gentle insistence. Her tongue curled around each individual finger, making sure she captured every last trace of her wetness, then Celestia straightened once more, with the complete mindless calm of the entranced.

Rarity released a breath she hadn't meant to hold. "Oh. Oh, my."

Twilight shivered pleasantly. Sliding her hands under her jumper, she unclasped her bra, tugging it loose. Pulling one arm inside her jumper, she worked the strap over it, then pulled her bra out of the other sleeve, leaving her bare chested beneath the top. It felt nice against her nipples, teasing them with every small movement. "You can have her do more for you," she murmured, enjoying her role as the tempting voice on Rarity's shoulder. "She can touch you, or kiss you... lick you. Or you can have her play with one of my other pretty dolls. All here, all ready for you to play with."

Swallowing, Rarity glanced back at Twilight, then up at Celestia once more. Her head turned, taking in the motionless figures of her naked friends. "This is... I don't know where to begin. Twilight, will you help me? What would you do?"

Stepping forward, Twilight let her body press gently against Rarity's back once more. Her hands settled on the other mare's hips, stroking slowly, and Rarity's head tilted back against her with a soft sigh of surrender. "Do you want me to tell you what to do?" Twilight breathed.

"...yes. Yes. Please. Tell me what to do, and I'll do it... my Lady." Rarity shivered once more, and her painted eyelids slowly closed. "Yes. That is what I want."

Twilight's hand ran slowly up Rarity's body, capturing one breast through her silky dress and squeezing possessively. "Command our friends to react to touches to their strap-ons like they're part of their bodies."

"Mhh," Rarity groaned, nodding slowly. Her lipstick-coated lips parted, and she spoke more loudly and clearly, "Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow, Fluttershy; the sex toys you're wearing are natural parts of your bodies. You'll react to touches on them as though they were your natural endowments." The ponies didn't move or react, but the slight flick of an ear here and there implied her words had been heard.

"That's right," Twilight purred approvingly. "Now, tell Celestia to go give one of them a titfuck. Let's say... Fluttershy. She's so cute and shy. I think it'd be nice to see, don't you?"

"Yes, my Lady," Rarity breathed, her eyes flicking to the yellow pegasus instinctively. "If you wish it, it will be. Celestia! You will wrap your breasts around Fluttershy's endowment and pleasure it. Our Mistress commands it." She jerked as Twilight's fingers pinched her nipple in reward, and groaned aloud. "Thank you, my Lady."

Celestia stepped forward with the thoughtless smoothness of trance, moving to stand before Fluttershy. Sinking to her knees before the blank-eyed pegasus, she leant forward and cupped both breasts in her hands, pressing them together around the oiled black shaft, before beginning to rock up and down. The gleaming black head of the artificial cock appeared and disappeared smoothly into the pillowy whiteness of the divine pony's cleavage, smearing her skin with lubricant.

A deep, husky moan escaped Fluttershy's lips. Her eyelids fluttered, breathing quickening, and her dark yellow nipples grew stiff. A pink flush rose on her cheeks. Each stroke of Celestia's breasts against her shaft forced another groan of wordless pleasure from her.

Sliding her fingers into the top of Rarity's bodice, Twilight peeled down the top of the other pony's dress, releasing her bra-clad breasts. "Isn't that hot?" Twilight breathed into her ear. "Two mind fucked, huge breasted fuckdolls, doing just as they're commanded. But it's a shame to ignore all the other dolls, isn't it?"

Still massaging Rarity's tits through her lacy bra, rocking her hips against the other mare's soft ass, Twilight turned her head towards Rainbow. "Hello, Rainbow. In a moment, when I tell you, you're going to wake up. You'll know you've been in a trance, but it won't matter. As Rarity told you, your shaft is part of your body and always has been, you won't notice it's new. The only thing you'll pay attention to is Celestia and Fluttershy, and what I've made them do. It's so hot, you're going to play with yourself. You're not paying attention to anything else, or thinking about anything else, but if Rarity or I give you a command it'll slide right into your head and you'll obey it. Okay?" Twilight paused, then said with a wide smile, "Wake up, Rainbow."

A spark of awareness flashed into Rainbow's eyes, which immediately turned towards Celestia and Fluttershy. "Oh, wow, that's hot," she breathed, her scratchy voice laden with lust. Stepping out of line, she circled around to the side to see the two of them more clearly, her wings flaring. "Oh, fuck, just look at those tits. I'm so hard," she gasped. Her hand wrapped around the thick shaft jutting from her hips, her fingers unable to fully close around its girth, and began pumping back and forth. Her body jerked, her hips pushing forward against her hand, and she panted, "Fuck, it feels so good to stroke my cock, oh fuck."

Rarity swallowed as she watched Rainbow urgently stroking the strap-on, her tongue flickering over her lips. "There's something almost obscene about watching her do that," she murmured huskily. "That small hand and that large girth. I wonder how it feels." She seemed to be mostly talking to herself, but after a moment, she seemed to realise what she'd said aloud, and a rich, crimson blush darkened her cheeks. "Ah - please forget I said that, my Lady."

"Oh, I don't know if I should..." teased Twilight, grinding her body roughly against Rarity's back. Her hands reluctantly left the other mare's perfect breasts to undo her own pants, wriggling them down her legs and carrying her underwear with them to bare her tingling, damp cunt to the air. "I think you could look wonderfully obscene like that, Rarity. Maybe I'd get down and lick your cock. I've never done anything like that before, but for you..." she trailed off significantly, and was delighted by the shiver of arousal she felt run through her slave.

"I... perhaps that could be... desirable. If I were alone with you. And nopony ever knew," Rarity managed. Her gaze flicked back to Fluttershy, moaning heavily despite her blank, vacant expression, then to Rainbow, who was gasping with arousal as she frantically stroked her gleaming black cock. "Though this is very impressive as well." She bit her lip. "Should I... have the others involved?"

"Do it," Twilight encouraged her, a flare of breathless excitement tingling through her body, her nipples hard as pebbles. "I want you to take advantage of what I've given you."

Taking a deep breath, Rarity said clearly and carefully, "Applejack, Pinkie Pie, I would like you to carry out the commands Twilight gave Rainbow Dash as though she had addressed you by name instead, and wake up now."

The effect was immediate. Applejack let out a deep, low moan of approval, her hands moving to her breasts and her cock as though nothing could be more natural. Stroking her shaft with long, firm strokes, she groaned, "Oh, stars above, that's so darn hot. So, so darn hot. Can't believe Ah'm watching Celestia titfuck Fluttershy. Feels so darn good."

On the other side of Celestia, Pinkie immediately bounced forward, chirping, "Oh my gosh, she's all swirly eyes and naked and Fluttershy is just right there, and oh gosh, I want to see her sucking Fluttershy's cock, and wouldn't that be hot? Wouldn't that be so great?" Her breasts and shaft bobbed with each springy movement, and for a moment, it seemed like she'd forget to touch herself. Then, perching on the end of a sofa arm, she wrapped both hands around her shaft and began sliding them up and down, clear lubricant smearing over her fingers. Her dark pink nipples standing out stiffly, she gasped approvingly. "Ooooh, that's nice. Doesn't it feel nice? I think the Princess would feel really nice against me, too."

"They look like they're really having fun, don't they?" Twilight breathed into Rarity's ear huskily. Her hands stroked up Rarity's thighs, sliding up her silken dress to crumple around her waist. "You seem to be enjoying it, too... all our cute friends, jerking off over Celestia and Fluttershy like that. I almost wish they could cum with those things, and paint the two of them with it..."

Rarity swallowed, her full lips quivering as she whispered, "That would be so depraved..."

"Mm, it would. You're shaking under my hands..." Twilight gently bit Rarity's neck, then again, harder, sucking hard enough to leave a love bite. She wanted to mark the elegant pony as her own, her very own property. "You have a beautiful body, Rarity. I just love to press against you, stroke you, touch you... every part of you." One hand grazed the other mare's soft pussy, finding no panties in the way, and Twilight sighed with delight at the hot wetness that greeted her touch. "Your beautiful cunt, oh, yes... I can't imagine how it felt not to know I wanted this. I'll never have enough of you."

"OH! Ohhh... oh, Twilight..." Rarity's eyes slid closed, and she rocked her hips against Twilight's hand, her ass stroking against the pony behind her. "I think... perhaps... I'll never be able to resist you. Resist this. I feel so... floaty. So terribly turned on, and floating, and... the only thing I can do is surrender. Surrender to you..."

"That's right," hissed Twilight through her teeth, feeling her body tense pleasurably. Filled with hot lust and the craving for dominance, she roughly yanked Rarity's bra undone, tugging the straps down her arms, and tossed it aside. "You'll obey me. Now be quiet and listen. Pinkie, Applejack, Rainbow! You're aware of me and Rarity, and each other. You're still focused on Celestia and Fluttershy, but you'll notice if we touch you. It doesn't matter that you only just noticed we're here."

"If we touch them?" breathed Rarity, her eyes flicking instinctively from pony to pony and drinking in their naked bodies. Without seeming to really think about it, she wriggled out of her crumpled dress, leaving her nude in her tall white heels.

"That's right. I want you to go and stroke Applejack and Rainbow's cocks," Twilight told her with playful casualness. Then, as Rarity hesitated for an instant, she added in a calm, hard tone, "You are my obedient fuckdoll. You will obey."

Rarity gasped with arousal, her tail arching upwards to show off her bare ass. "Yes, my Lady!" Rubbing her thighs together with every step, she swayed over to stand between Applejack and Rainbow, turning to face the same direction as they were. Voice thick with arousal and excitement, she managed to speak in a casual, matter of fact tone. "Let me stroke you instead, darlings."

Her small, elegant hands wrapped around the slick black shafts adorning each of her friends. Squeezing firmly, she began to stroke up and down them, her chest rising and falling rapidly with her breathing. Her long eyelashes fanned her pink cheeks as her eyelids fluttered, her soft, full lips parted in a wordless gasp. Even her nipples seemed to have been delicately brushed with a hint of rouge, darkening their purple.

Rainbow and Applejack groaned in unison, jerking with each stroke of Rarity's fingers. "Oh, yeah, stroke me just like that," gasped Rainbow, her words overlapping Applejack's deeper voiced moan of approval. "Oh, damn," whimpered the farmgirl, her free hand moving up to join the other in twisting and rubbing her nipples. "Y'got such soft hands."

"That's it, my darlings," Rarity panted. "Just let me take care of these big, firm cocks."

"Mmm," hummed Twilight delightedly as she watched Rarity's hands slide up and down the prominent shafts. "It feels good to caress them, doesn't it? It's so nice to hear their gasps and moans, and know that you made them feel that way." In fact, her body was beginning to feel a little lonely, without Rarity to grind against. Glancing over at Pinkie, Twilight commanded coyly, "Pinkie, I'd like you to come and rub your toy - I mean, your cock - up and down against my ass, please. You should play with my breasts, too. But keep focused on Celestia and Fluttershy."

"Whatever you say, Master," Pinkie replied brightly, barely glancing away from the two brainwashed ponies grinding and moaning against each other in the middle of the floor. Stepping behind Twilight, Pinkie pushed herself up against her, and Twilight groaned pleasantly as she felt the cool slickness of Pinkie's oiled strap-on begin grinding up and down against her bare ass. Warm hands slid under her clinging jumper, pushing it up over her prominent breasts to begin kneading them as Pinkie watched the other ponies over her shoulder. Despite hardly paying attention to Twilight, Pinkie giggled at the sensation, and gasped, "It feels really great to rub my cock against your body, Master!"

"Oh gosh, yes, it does, it does," groaned Twilight. For a moment, she abandoned herself to grinding back against Pinkie, feeling a delicious thrill of depravity sweep over her. All these beautiful, brainwashed mares, totally under her control, doing such wonderfully dirty things, watching her Princess mindlessly titfucking a big black strap-on... she needed one. She needed to fuck all her slaves, especially the ones she hadn't before. And Ember, too... that cute dragon would definitely lift her tail if told forcefully to get on her knees and yield her cunt, she just knew it. She could even try out a want it-need it spell on one, that could produce some interesting results, and she was pretty sure she knew what she'd done wrong last time...

Her gaze met Rarity's. The other mare was shivering with need, her eyes unfocused, and her hips squirmed with arousal as she pumped both hands back and forth, gripping the shafts firmly. Applejack and Rainbow jerked and whimpered with enthralled lust under her grip. The white mare seemed lost in her own arousal, almost as entranced as the ponies she was pleasuring.

"Rarity," Twilight said lightly, a depraved smile curving her lips, "don't you think it's a waste for Fluttershy not to be appreciating what she's doing?"

"Yes, my Lady. Of course," replied Rarity compliantly, nodding with dazed agreement.

"I'm so glad you think so," purred Twilight. "Fluttershy - I want you to remember when I had you wear a strap-on before. I want you to remember how forceful and domineering you were. You're going to be that way with Celestia again, right now. Begin."

Watching with fascination, her lips shaping around a moan as Pinkie twisted her nipples, Twilight saw the light of awareness enter Fluttershy's blank eyes. The yellow pony looked down at Celestia as if seeing her for the first time, then her eyes narrowed.

"If I wanted you to be quiet, I'd have put it in your mouth. Praise me while you serve my cock, Celestia."

"Yes, Fluttershy," Celestia replied at once, maintaining the steady strokes of her glorious breasts up and down the pegasus's strap-on. "You are better than me. You deserve to fuck my tits. I look up to you. I adore your breasts. You are superior. You are perfect."

Fluttershy moaned aloud, nodding along to every word that slipped into her ears. "I'm superior, I'm better than you..." Her hands rose to cup and squeeze her mammoth breasts together.

Rarity's lips parted in surprise as she stared at Fluttershy, and for a moment, the pumping of her hands slackened. "She can command Celestia, my Lady?"

"Mmhmm! All of them will do what they're told, though I can override anything anypony else says," confirmed Twilight, shivering with delight. Of course it had the potential to get out of hand, so she couldn't totally relax, but a shout of 'Stop moving! Silence!' would effectively freeze everypony in the room, so as long as she didn't completely lose herself to how good it felt - so good - as Pinkie's hands massaged her breasts and ground the strap-on against her ass, it should all be fine.

"Then..." Rarity hesitated, then glanced at the farm pony she was slowly jerking off. "Applejack, you think that Rainbow should put that shaft of hers inside the Princess. Tell her to, won't you?"

"Mmmh, yeah..." groaned Applejack, her gaze flicking to the colourful pegasus. "Yeah, that'd be so hot. Rainbow, sugar, you see that big assed Princess on the floor right there? You should go fuck her pretty pink cunt. Give her a right good seeing to, right now."

"Oh, wow. I can't believe I didn't think of that before. I'm gonna fuck Princess Celestia's cunt, right now," Rainbow instantly agreed. Stepping forward, heedless of the fact that Rarity's hand slipped from her oiled strap-on, she dropped into a crouch and positioned herself behind the Princess. Gripping her toy in one hand, she guided it to Celestia's entrance, and with a smooth, forceful movement of her hips, shoved it inside the divine mare.

"Nnnhg!" groaned Celestia, her body seizing in place for a second as the shaft thrust forcefully into her. Rainbow's gasp of pleasure mingled with hers, the flier's pink eyes rolling back in her head before she began thrusting firmly back and forth, her colourful tail swishing with the movement of her hips.

"I didn't tell you you could stop," Fluttershy snapped, releasing one breast to grab a handful of Celestia's mane. "What do you think you're doing, Rainbow? I deserve to fuck this cheap whore's tits without interruption."

Before Rainbow could react, Twilight broke in quickly, "Fluttershy, you want Rainbow to keep fucking Celestia while you use her."

Fluttershy's expression shifted, and she glanced at Twilight with exasperated acknowledgement. "Of course I do! Rainbow, fuck her nice and hard! I want you to keep her cunt occupied, understand?"

"Sure thing - Fluttershy," Rainbow panted as she accelerated, grabbing Celestia's hips and slamming the toy in and out of her. A bright pink flush on her cheeks, her lips parted, she trembled with pleasure. The growls and gasps that escaped her betrayed her escalating arousal, wetness drooling down her thighs.

"I can't take it anymore!" gasped Rarity. "Applejack, darling, get on the floor right now, with your head towards Celestia! This very instant!"

"Sure, sugar," Applejack replied, her breathy words oddly casual. She released her own breasts and turned around, putting her back to the spectacle, then settled down on the floor, arms and legs slightly spread. The shaft jutted up from her body obscenely. "Like this?"

Without even bothering to reply, Rarity stood over Applejack's hips, and lowered herself to the ground. Seizing the shaft in one hand, her white fingers standing out starkly against the glistening black surface, she guided it into her dripping pussy and sank down to the hilt. "Oh, oh, oh," she gasped as Applejack arched beneath her. "Oh fuck, oh fuck me, oh fuck me darling, fuck me, fuck me!"

Applejack's firm, calloused hands gripped Rarity's milky thighs, her fingers indenting the identical diamond patterns that adorned her pure white skin. "Whatever you say, Rarity. Can't imagine why Ah've never fucked your brains out before now. Dang but that feels good," she growled, a deep, husky tone of approval. She shifted her back slightly against the ground, positioning herself under Rarity squarely, then her toned thighs flexed smoothly with a single thrust upwards. "Ah'll fuck you," Applejack vowed, her green eyes intense as she began to build a quick, forceful rhythm.

"Oh my stars, oh darling, oh darling," whimpered Rarity. She abandoned herself to the powerful thrusts of Applejack's hips, bouncing like a doll on her lap, tits swaying, her eyes wandering between the farm pony's powerfully built body and the sight of Celestia being fucked roughly by Rainbow.

Twilight sighed a long, soft sound of desire, dreamily grinding back and forth against Pinkie. She simply didn't know who she wanted to be more... Rainbow, fucking Celestia roughly, or Rarity, bouncing up and down on top of Applejack. The farm pony looked so hot like that, focused intensely on the mare she was fucking, not caring about anything else. Not even noticing anything else.

For a moment, she wondered about letting Pinkie fuck her. It felt right to join in with the festival of debauchery she was putting on, becoming a real part of it, and she'd never been more wet. But... even as she tried to persuade herself that it was no big deal, a larger, deeper part of her refused. She wasn't ready for her first time, and not like this. Something else. She could think about it later.

"Pinkie," she said with a shiver of lust in her voice, "it'd be just lovely if you got down in front of me and licked me out."

"That sounds nice, Master! I'm kind of busy watching Celestia, though," Pinkie chirped, squeezing Twilight's breasts together as she continued kneading them.

...right, Pinkie was still entranced, and that hadn't been phrased as an order. "Pinkie," Twilight said with more deliberate authority, "you're going to get on your knees in front of me and lick me out, right now. Play with yourself while you do it," she added dismissively.

"Yes, Master!" Pinkie replied at once, pulling away from behind Twilight and bouncing around to drop to her knees as commanded. She didn't hesitate; the moment she hit the ground, her head was between Twilight's thighs, her tongue prying into her owner's cunt. With a free hand, she grabbed her rubber cock and began stroking it quickly and firmly, groaning eagerly.

"Ohhh, that's it..." gasped Twilight, pulling Pinkie's head against her by the enthralled pony's fluffy mane. "Fluttershy, it's time to fuck her mouth. Fuck her mouth, now."

"I'll decide when- yes, I deserve to fuck that hot mouth too," Fluttershy groaned, her initial objection immediately crushed by the command. "Open your mouth, you lowborn whore. You're a receptacle for my cum."

"I'm made to take your cum," Celestia repeated, before opening her mouth wide and looking up at Fluttershy submissively. The usually meek pegasus pulled her shaft from between her ruler's enveloping tits and slid it between Celestia's divine lips, wasting no time in beginning to roughly fuck the enthralled alicorn's face. Rainbow's thrusts fell into rhythm with Fluttershy's, the two ponies pushing Celestia's body back and forth as their shafts drove alternately into her cunt and mouth. Her tits swayed heavily beneath her, muffled noises escaping her mouth as she mindlessly tried to keep praising Fluttershy.

Twilight's gaze flicked towards Rarity. She was bouncing on Applejack's cock, the two of them moaning and gasping in unison as the brainwashed farm pony convinced herself moment by moment that she could feel every twitch of Rarity's slick cunt. Perspiration glittered on their skin, Rarity's breasts bouncing with every thrust, her expression dazed. She looked so utterly, thoroughly fucked, Twilight could have watched the two of them all day. If she wasn't busy watching Celestia being pounded from both ends, that was.

Her eyes closed, a shuddering moan forcing its way out of her. Celestia's mane, Pinkie was really licking for all she was worth."Are you - having fun, Rarity?" Twilight gasped, feeling her knees weakening. Her free hand gripped the pink pony's shoulder for support, ramming Pinkie's face harder against her cunt with the other.

"Haah, I - I can't - my, my Lady, I - oooh!" groaned Rarity incoherently, her eyes fluttering closed. She bit her lower lip, muffled whines escaping her that rose and fell with each thrust of Applejack's cock.

"I think - that's a yes," panted Twilight with a breathy giggle. She loved, loved seeing all her lovers like this, fucking and moaning, slick with sweat, bodies gleaming, the air full of feminine arousal and the slap of skin against skin. In fact, there was just one thing she could think of to make it better...

"Celestia!" Twilight called out, struggling to speak clearly. "Keyword: moment of clarity!"

Celestia's body fell out of rhythm with her fucking, her pink eyes snapping wide open. Fluttershy's shaft gagged her pretty effectively, but even so, Twilight heard a distinct squeal of surprise.

"Don't you dare stop sucking," Fluttershy ordered harshly. Grabbing Celestia's head with both hands, she yanked the alicorn's head forward, burying her cock to the hilt in her mouth. "Keep fucking this slut, Rainbow!"

"I will! Are you kidding me? Fuck, it feels like she was made for my cock, she's really - fuck, that's good!" Rainbow groaned the words, gripping her Princess's broad thighs for leverage. Her palms were centred neatly on the sunbursts that marked each one. "I wanna cum in her so bad!"

Fluttershy's chin rose imperiously, ignoring the way Celestia was gagging on her shaft. "Are you talking back to me? You're a little bitch compared to me, Dashie, don't forget that just because I'm letting you fuck her!"

Rainbow's eyes fluttered and she bent forwards over Celestia, lowering her head as she focused on fucking the alabaster pony. Her voice softer and more breathy, she answered, "Sorry Ma'am, I'm a little bitch, Ma'am. I'll fuck her good for you, so so good..."

"Oh, yes, yes," gasped Twilight, riding Pinkie's mouth with urgent thrusts of her hips as she watched Celestia surrender to the pounding Rainbow and Fluttershy were giving her, knowing the Princess was fully conscious now but couldn't do anything about the humiliating, depraved position she was trapped in. Twilight's orgasm was breaking over her, unstoppable, undeniable, and there was nothing she could do except give in and embrace it fully. Her voice jerky, she managed to force out, "Everypony! Keyword - cum!"

Instantly, ragged cries of ecstasy filled the air. Fluttershy grabbed Celestia's face with both hands, shoving the full length of her strap-on down the other pony's throat, her back arching and wings flaring wide. The Princess managed to wail in orgasm around the shaft filling her mouth as the enforced orgasm ravaged her body, shoving back hard against the fake cock Rainbow was burying in her cunt. Rarity was caught off-guard by the sudden intensity and release of her own pleasure, collapsing forward across Applejack with desperate, throaty moans of release, even as the muscled farm pony cried out in climax, gripping Rarity's thighs hard enough to leave bruises. Sweat-coated bodies writhed, flushed cheeks and heaving breasts shuddering in release, unfocused eyes wide and lips parted.

For Twilight, it was like bathing in lust as the wave of unstoppable carnal release wracked her slaves, the sensuous tension and release of her own orgasm magnified by the cries of pleasure all around her. She smeared her cum over Pinkie's face and lips, even as the pink pony desperately stroked her own cock and whimpered in helpless orgasm, barely able to keep herself upright.

"Oh, wow," Twilight finally managed hoarsely, dizzy and unsteady on her feet. "That was incredible. Um, Fluttershy, let Celestia breathe now." Immediately, Fluttershy pulled back, her slick cock coming free of Celestia's lips with a pop, and the divine pony sank lower onto her elbows, panting raggedly for air. Before she could say anything, Twilight added, "Celestia, keyword: the moment has passed."

The Princess's expression changed as her true consciousness sank under the spell of the trance once more, her pink eyes flicking back to Fluttershy even as they glazed over, and she managed fawningly, "...thank you for fucking my throat, and bestowing your cum on me."

"You fulfilled your duties as my cum receptacle. Like my little bitch Dashy fulfilled hers in filling you up." Fluttershy replied arrogantly.

That was probably enough of that, Twilight decided. With a little grin on her lips, she declared casually, "Everypony, tell yourself aloud that you're Twilight's mindless fuckdoll and you're ready to obey."

With a slightly confused look on her face, Fluttershy said aloud, "Fluttershy, you're Twilight's mindless fuckdoll, and you're ready to obey." The words had barely left her lips when her arms fell loosely to her sides and her head rose, staring blankly into the distance. All around her, the others were doing the same thing, Celestia still on all fours, Rainbow's cock buried inside her. Pinkie mumbled something about her Master, then sat back on her heels, motionless and gazing at nothing.

Rarity was left bestride Applejack's limp body, supporting herself with one hand. Shaking her head to clear it a little, she looked around herself before her gaze flicked back to Twilight. "My goodness," she said weakly, sitting up straight and suppressing a gasp as the shaft shifted within her. Absently straightening her tangled mane with one hand, she added vaguely, "I wasn't aware that I was enchanted to respond to that particular command, my Lady. Though I must admit that isn't a complaint."

"I added the keywords to you all on the train back to Ponyville," Twilight confessed. Gently easing away from Pinkie, who swayed gently as Twilight's thighs moved away, she moved over to Rarity and bent down to kiss her warmly. Glancing down at Applejack, she added coyly, "I hope you enjoyed what I did with our friends. You certainly made it look fun."

Rarity's cheeks went crimson, but despite herself, she looked down at Applejack with a new note of desire. "She was... rather impressive. Very impressive. I think I may miss stallions less than I'd thought. I must confess, I've always appreciated a firm hand, and hers are very... yes."

"Rise, Rarity," Twilight told her gently.

The other mare nodded, and carefully gathered her legs under her, standing up. She gasped as the shaft slid free, then stroked her abused pussy gently. "No mess," she murmured. "Applejack so convincingly acted as though the toy was part of her, I almost thought she'd cum within me. That was quite something. And... to be the only one awake with you, that does make me feel special."

Rarity glanced to the side, her cheeks still pink from her exertions, her free hand brushing her lips. "Though... I'd like it if you stopped calling us your friends. Our bond is much more intimate than that, now. When you do, it makes me feel as though all of this is something you don't take seriously."

"I will." Twilight nodded in understanding, a wry smile curving her lips. "I suppose I'm still getting used to all of this. I feel a little embarrassed when I say that you're my slave ponies. But even as my slave and my lover, you'll always be my friend too, Rarity." Drawing closer, she gently hugged the other pony, a small part of her registering with a little note of surprise yet again that she was taller than Rarity now.

"And I yours, my dear Twilight, no matter what else time makes of us." Rarity let her head come to rest against Twilight's shoulder, relaxing against her. After a silent moment, she asked, "Will they remember what happened?"

"Mm, they will." This time. "When I release them from the charm, they'll remember all of it, but as though it was a fantasy they had. They'll know it happened, but won't feel guilty or self-conscious about it. Especially Fluttershy - it was part of our bargain that she wouldn't have to feel ashamed or embarrassed about sex anymore."

Rarity turned her head against Twilight's shoulder, glancing at the motionless Pegasus. "...yes. It is good that you can free her from those feelings, as she has asked you to. I wouldn't wish to see anypony changed, but... if you can help her feel happier and more confident, and that is what she wants, I cannot think of anypony that deserves it more."

"Me either," Twilight replied, with a fond glance in Fluttershy's direction. "I'd better clear away any lingering instructions and wake everypony up. Though I should dress them first. Apart from Princess Celestia. Do you think naked chair, or naked footstool?"

But even as Rarity laughed, Twilight's thoughts drifted towards Canterlot. There were other ponies that deeply deserved to be happier, and more confident in themselves. Princess Luna didn't trust herself at all, deep down. Twilight desperately wanted to help her find a deeper happiness. And then there was Trixie, too.

Rarity might not want to see anypony changed, but Twilight certainly couldn't pretend she hadn't changed Trixie.

The door opened under her fingertips. A cool breeze blew past her into the castle as the gap widened, pressing her delicate nightgown against her body and chilling her skin. Slipping out onto the balcony, she caught the door as it tried to slam shut, and eased it closed with a soft click of the latch. A quiet, hard tension gripped her, her movements stiff with repressed emotion.

There was a figure standing in the centre of the vast arc of the balcony, equidistant from the towers that anchored either end. Her star-laden mane danced and shifted against the deeper darkness of the night.

Slowly, quietly, the nightgown-clad mare approached the distant figure, barely noticing the cold that brought goose-bumps to her skin. It seemed at first as though the other mare hadn't noticed she was no longer alone, but when she finally reached the centre of the railing, Luna's eyes opened and turned towards her.

"Good eve, Trixie," Luna said softly. "Should not thou be abed at this hour?"

"The Great and Powerful Trixie wasn't sleeping." The words were flat, hard. Trixie moved to the railing, her fingers curling around the metal and gripping it fiercely as she looked out into the darkness.

Luna frowned, taking a step closer to the younger mare. "Trixie, is there something the matter?"

Silence descended, clung, cloyingly.

"...Trixie?"

Author's Notes:

Proofed by Djmill and Dbzordie
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After credits scene:

"Anything unusual? Well, let me see... there's that new village, being set up on the plains, on the other side of the mountains. I know a couple of ponies that went to help out with the building of it, but if they finished, they haven't come back, and that was a few seasons ago. I wouldn't think much of it, but I've heard similar sort of things from a few ponies in neighbouring towns. Perhaps they've all decided to settle there."

The two unicorns exchanged glances. "That sounds worth looking over," one said. "Do you know the name of the village?"

"No, if I heard it, I can't say I recall. I do remember the unicorn that was seeking volunteers to help, though. Her name was something to do with stars. Starlight something or other."

"Thank you for your help, ma'am. It's probably nothing, but we'll check it out."