'Dear Spike,

I don't know if the others have told you yet, but I passed my test! There was a big fight, it was more than just a test, but everypony made it through okay. Something amazing has happened, and I really want to show you in person. The others know, because they saw it, but I'd like to show you myself, if you can stop Pinkie Pie telling you.

Please come to Canterlot as quickly as you can, and I'll explain everything when you get here. You'll probably be here for a few days, so pack some spare clothes. Remember to pack a snack for the trip, tidy up before you set off, and don't forget your jacket.

I'll see you soon, Spike. Thank you for always being there for me.

With all my love,

Twilight'

Twilight shook her head as she folded the letter neatly. Sliding it into an envelope, she wrote Spike's name across the front, moving with a distracted air.

She was going to have to tell him about all her lovers, this time. He was going to be confused, and upset. Particularly about Rarity. As for her becoming a Princess... she had no idea how he'd react to that.

She set the letter aside in a tray, to be sent out later, absently tugging her loose white dress straight. It was another of Celestia's; she'd given up on the clinging, barely-there outfit she'd cobbled together from her own clothes, and asked for something proper to wear instead. She and Celestia were very different shapes, but she'd made do. She had other things on her mind. Not only Spike, but Cadence. She was going to arrive within a day or two, as well.

They were going to have to talk, too. With Cadence, she could tell her more of the truth, but she still probably shouldn't let her know about the charm. Twilight couldn't help but feel guilty at the idea of hiding something so important, but instinctively, she was deeply reluctant to reveal what had been happening. Anypony that knew of a spell so powerful would surely have to do something about it, and the last thing Twilight wanted was another tussle over the charm.

Oh, for Celestia's sake, she was going to have to tell her mother and father about her ascension, too... and Shining Armour! Except he probably knew already, since Cadence had been summoned to Canterlot for the coronation. It was so soon!

She'd barely finished breakfast, when Celestia had told her that her coronation was to be held in three days time. The divine pony had been amused by Twilight's wide-eyed panic, playfully telling her that even if Twilight charmed everyone in the castle, she still couldn't stop the preparations that were already underway for her big day. Then, while Twilight was still reeling from that, she'd innocently remarked that while she was more than happy to take care of everything, perhaps Twilight might wish to write some of the invitations herself.

Celestia just shouldn't be allowed to be having this much fun at her expense.

Twilight had spent the rest of the morning writing invitations, including a heartfelt plea to Rarity to consider making her an outfit for her coronation, before she'd finally plucked up the nerve to ask Spike to come and see her. She missed him, of course, but she was also a little uncertain what to do when he arrived.

The distant sounds of hammering broke her train of thought, and she winced again. Celestia had, with a perfectly straight face, remarked that the collection of guest rooms and scarcely-used chambers around Twilight's childhood tower room happened to be just perfect to be adapted into a full suite befitting a Princess. The work was already underway, and would require surprisingly few alterations to the Castle's structure. Almost as if the area had been designed to be repurposed, as far back as when the castle was first built. Celestia certainly did have one eye on the future at all times. It was an admirable trait, and slightly terrifying.

Twilight's ascension hadn't formally been announced yet, but the presence of builders sealing up doorways, knocking through new connecting passages and erecting violet banners had quashed any doubt that something big was happening, and Twilight knew her name was on the lips of everypony in sight. It was only a matter of time before the rumour leaked out into Canterlot city, if it hadn't already.

Celestia had promised to show Twilight some of the secret passages, too. At first, Twilight had hesitated, but the more she thought about it, the more she'd wanted a way to the bedrooms of the Princesses without alerting the entire castle that the three were sleeping together.

She was beginning to find that being a Princess involved a certain amount of pragmatism.

It also involved having personal guards.

Twilight hadn't given in easily on that point. She'd flatly refused to have a royal escort following her around, especially in Ponyville, and had told Celestia that she wasn't above ordering her to drop the subject entirely, before Celestia had shifted the conversation to the topic of how the guards would feel.

Why, if Twilight scorned the idea of having guards - at the very least, for her suite in Canterlot Castle - then they would feel as though Twilight didn't respect them, or the work they did to keep the Princesses safe. They would feel as though Twilight was personally telling them that she didn't need them. They might be right, of course. Twilight was well known for having defeated many enemies of staggering power, and that was before she'd ascended to become the avatar of magic. Why, with the power she now held, personal guards would only get in her way. Everypony could see that.

With a certain amount of grumpiness, Twilight had given in. Celestia really needed to be punished for all this. It was her fault, in so many ways, that Twilight was now stuck waiting for guards to audition, actually audition, to protect her. In theory, the guards wouldn't even know who they were volunteering to protect on special duty, not until they spoke to her.

Well. It was - Twilight consulted her pocketwatch again - a minute before the appointed time for volunteers to see her began, and when she'd peeked out into the hall, there wasn't anypony in sight. No pony was going to give up protecting Princess Celestia to look after some unknown spoiled noble, and that was probably for the best. The second hand curved up to the top of the hour, and ticked past it. Twilight sighed in relief.

A firm knock sounded at her door. Twilight yelped.

"Um - yes? Come in!" she called, resisting the urge to hide behind the table, or better yet, under it. She didn't know how to be a Princess!

The door swung open. Framed in the doorway and nearly filling it was a huge, rusty orange-brown stallion, coated in golden armour, with his helm under one arm. For a moment he froze, before marching up to her writing desk and saluting rigidly.

"Hail, Princess Twilight!" he barked, at deafening volume. "I have come to volunteer for your personal guard, your Majesty!"

Twilight winced at the loudness of his voice, trying to keep her panic off her face. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Twilight Sparkle. You don't need to call me Princess or anything. I've not been officially made a Princess, anyway."

"I would never address you with anything but the full respect for your station, Princess Twilight!" he barked. A thread of dust trickled from the ceiling.

Oh, gosh. A little more of her panic creeping into her expression, she fixed a glassy smile on her face and suggested, "Perhaps you could tell me your name? A little quieter?"

He smote his chest with an armoured fist, producing a loud clang. "As you wish, Princess! I am Guard First-Class Autumn Stone! I am honoured to be in your presence, Princess!"

Was his cutie mark talent knocking down autumn leaves with his voice alone? Twilight peered around him, trying to catch sight of his cutie mark, but the armour covered it. "Really, please call me Twilight," she said weakly. "Autumn - why did you come here today?"

"The guard corps were offered the chance to volunteer to serve as your guard, Princess! After all you have done to protect Princess Celestia, I could not refuse the chance to repay you, Princess!"

"But it was a secret that the assignment was going to be for me," she protested. "No pony would resign from Princess Celestia's guard just to look after me, anyway."

Autumn drew himself up a little straighter, and focused his gaze slightly past her. "Begging your pardon, Princess! Everypony in the castle knows that a new Princess has risen, and it's you. Furthermore! Over a third of the guard wanted to volunteer, so we drew lots, Princess! We did not want too many to volunteer, to protect the feelings of Princess Celestia who we all adore, Princess!"

Twilight blinked. So everypony did know, and... and the guards had been drawing lots for the chance to volunteer? "But - if you love Princess Celestia, how could you volunteer to protect somepony else?"

"Because you are precious to Princess Celestia and everypony knows it, Princess! To protect you is to protect her, Princess!" Before Twilight could think of a reply, Autumn lowered his voice a notch to merely thunderous, and added, "I remember when you were a filly attending Princess Celestia's school, Princess. I will fight to protect you from all harm!"

"You - you do?" The idea wasn't impossible, Autumn did look older than her - perhaps as old as her father, now she looked more closely. Still, it threw her off balance.

Autumn nodded solemnly. "Yes, Princess. I guarded the school many times. I have also seen you visit Princess Celestia, while I was on duty at her side." A small smile tugged at his mouth.

A dim memory came to Twilight, faltering and uncertain. When she was a filly, the guards were mostly lumped into one category, big, stern presences that she didn't speak to, but there was a hint of familiarity about this pony's face. He'd been watching over her for years, long before she was ready to protect herself. Had she ever thought about the ponies that might be unable to protect themselves, that could get hurt while she was busy fighting? She shouldn't be picturing guards that stood around as symbols of status. She should be picturing the Cutie Mark Crusaders, hiding behind a guard who was using his body and life to shield them.

A strange feeling of gratitude welled up inside her, and she suddenly realised that she hadn't even touched this pony, who was earnestly doing his very best to pledge himself to protecting her. Pushing herself out of her chair, she stepped past her little writing desk to take Autumn's free hand in both of hers.

He jerked slightly, taken entirely off-guard, and his rigid posture faltered. His mouth opened, but he seemed momentarily lost for words.

Twilight looked up into his eyes and smiled warmly. "I'm not sure I really understood why anypony would want to come today. Not before I spoke to you. I feel so, so honoured by what you feel, and what you want to offer me. Will you please be my first guard, and protect my friends and I from harm?"

"...Princess," he said more quietly, roughly. Straightening to attention once more, though not daring to pull his hand away from hers, he announced, "I am truly honoured to join your personal guard, Princess! I promise you, I will not let anything happen to you or those you care about!" Rough sincerity filled his voice, and his jaw tensed as he rigidly held his composure.

Twilight squeezed his broad hand again, feeling the strength in it. "Autumn, do you have a family?"

Visibly wrong-footed, Autumn blinked. "I - yes, Princess. A wife, and two fillies. Growing up to be good girls." Pride touched his voice, covering some of the uncertainty.

"I once met a guard, and - for a minute, I thought he wasn't ever going to go back to his family." Because I accidentally wiped his mind so thoroughly, he didn't care about them anymore. "He was okay in the end, but it scared me. Just... don't be too brave. Don't rush into danger. I know you'll protect everypony I ask, and I know it's your duty, but - don't take risks if you don't absolutely have to, okay? I want you to be able to go home to your family, too."

Autumn tensed, then slowly relaxed and declared firmly, "I understand, but I won't hold back in doing my duty, Princess. Thank you for your kindness and consideration!"

His volume was rising again, and it was clear that no matter what she said, nothing would dissuade him. Twilight found herself smiling fondly, and she stepped back towards her desk. "Celestia asked me to send anypony that I accepted down to the armoury. She didn't tell me why. Could you do that, please? Thank you, Autumn. Thank you very much for all you've done to keep the ponies around you safe."

"Yes, Princess! I will not let you down!" He smote his breastplate once more with a ringing clang, then stepped backwards towards the door. "Shall I send the next guard in, Princess?"

"...there are more?" Twilight asked cautiously.

"Yes, Princess!" he bellowed. "For every guard here today there are ten that were willing, Princess!"

"Um. Could you ask the next pony in line to wait a minute, then come in? Thank you. Thank you very much."

Twilight slumped back into her chair as he left, footsteps ringing on the stone. The door closed behind him, and all was quiet.

After a moment, she began to giggle to herself, with a faint note of hysteria. That couldn't have happened. She couldn't have taken the single loudest stallion she'd ever met as her personal guard. She couldn't have a personal guard! This was crazy!

Except, she did understand. Maybe if her life had gone differently, she might have seen little foals grow up, and wanted to protect them. She could have been Celestia's guard, loving her from afar, wanting to protect her. And everything that was precious to her.

Celestia had been right. This wasn't about what she wanted. This was about realising that there were ponies that, even though they didn't know her, wanted to be there for her. And respecting that.

A firm knock sounded on the door.

Twilight straightened up in her chair. "Come in!"

Two interviews later, Twilight was beginning to feel a little frazzled. The second guard had been a neat pegasus, pale blue, called Zephyr. He'd told her about his part in the battle for Canterlot against the changelings, and with rigidly repressed nervousness, had explained that he'd always felt indebted to her for her role in uncovering the treachery of Chrysalis. Now he had the opportunity to repay her.

She'd argued that he didn't owe her any gratitude at all. This had gotten her nowhere in the face of his polite, stubborn insistence that he did. She'd accepted him into her guard.

The next pony through the door had been a crisp white unicorn, slender, with distinct grace. His name was Argent, and he had addressed her as the Princess of Magic. The castle had to be buzzing with gossip. By his account, he was amazed, and honoured, to have lived in the time when a great power of the world had been embodied, and wanted to protect her while she grew into her new role.

That had given her pause for thought. She'd accepted him, too.

As Argent had left, she'd had to ask him to have the next pony wait a few minutes. Apparently, there were two more to come. Well, she'd had an earth pony, a pegasus and a unicorn, all colts, so she was probably due a mare by now.

Two more ponies. If the first three had taught her anything, it was that every guard had a reason to want to do what they did. If the other volunteers had reasons like theirs, then there was no possible way she could turn them down.

Five, that looked at her not just as a pony, but as their task. Their purpose. It was hard to imagine deserving that.

Celestia was adored by every pony in Equestria. How heavy must the sheer sincerity of that love weigh?

A quiet knock sounded. Apparently, her couple of minutes of time to think were up.

"Come in!"

The door opened, and Twilight leaned forward slightly, idly curious to see whether it was an earth pony, pegasus or unicorn this time.

A woman stepped into the room, and closed the door behind her. Her skin was deep blue, a shade darker than that of Luna's body. Two large bat-like wings lay folded against her back, and in place of a mane, she displayed a wing-like crest like a mohawk. Her armour was glistening blue-black, and stark yellow eyes with slit pupils gazed from beneath the brow of her helmet.

Twilight's hand rose to her lips instinctively in surprise. One of Luna's guards.

Coming to attention in front of Twilight's desk, the bat-winged pony lifted her helm free, and held it under one arm. "I am Guard First-Class Ob.. Obscura," she announced, her voice breaking in the middle of her name. Though she was already standing rigidly, she stiffened a little further. Hints of red grew under the deep blue along the lines of her cheeks.

Feeling quite intimidated by the pony, Twilight was snapped back to reality by the stammer, and looked at her more closely. Oh, Celestia, this pony was more scared of her than the other way around. "It's very nice to meet you, Obscura," she said gently, trying to put her at ease. "I'm Twilight Sparkle. Please call me Twilight."

"Yes, Princess Twilight! I will!" she declared firmly, staring a fraction to the left of Twilight's head.

"Just Twilight, please." She hated to correct the jittery guard, but if she caught things early enough, maybe she could avoid spending the rest of her life trying to make them stop.

"Yes, Princess!"

Apparently not.

Twilight looked up at Obscura, and said as gently as possible, "Don't worry. I'd just like to get to know you a bit." She stopped herself from telling the guard to relax. That would only make her more conscious that she couldn't relax, which would make her more tense. Maybe if she ordered clearly, 'Be a nervous wreck,' Obscura might become less nervous out of sheer confusion.

Leaning back in her chair to try to convey lack of tension, Twilight asked gently, "Obscura, could you tell me why you want to be part of my guard? Isn't protecting Luna more important?"

Obscura's eyes widened slightly. She seemed at a loss for words, her lips parting. Twilight waited patiently for her to speak, giving her time. Finally, the bat-winged pony said in a slightly uncertain tone, "Princess Luna wanted one of us to volunteer for your guard, Princess. I volunteered, and I was chosen to come and present myself to you. And it's... you."

Twilight wanted to be slightly cross at Luna's intervention, but she couldn't stop a fond smile from crossing her face instead. Of course Luna would want one of her special guards to come and keep an eye on her. If Twilight was in the opposite circumstance, wouldn't she want somepony she trusted to look after her lover? Still, if Luna had chosen Obscura, it had to be for a reason. And what did 'it's you' mean?

"Did you know who you would be coming to see?"

"Uh - no, Princess!" Obscura stiffened, if possible, slightly more.

"Obscura," Twilight said chidingly.

The dark pony's slit eyes darted back and forth as if looking for a way to escape. "Yes, Princess! Sorry, Princess! The whole castle is talking about you, everypony knew exactly who Princess Luna was talking about, Princess!"

Oh, good grief. "Is the castle, uhm. Saying anything else about me?" Twilight braced herself. If the gossip mill was this efficient, it seemed unlikely Luna's staying in her room for the night hadn't been commented on.

Obscura stayed silent for a long moment. Seconds ticked by. Her lips kept trying to shape the word 'No', but she couldn't quite push it out. Finally, she blurted, "Lately, Princess Luna has been happier than she has been in months and we all know it's because she keeps sneaking away to visit you, Princess!" The instant she finished speaking, she cringed slightly.

A fluttering happiness welled up in Twilight's chest, and she found herself instinctively pressing her hand over her heart. Her voice came softly, as she asked, "Is 'we' the Castle staff?"

Jerking in surprise at the question, Obscura shook her head rapidly. "Princess Luna's personal guards. We would never tell anypony anything about it."

Rubbing her eyes, Twilight murmured, "I'm glad about that. Thank you." She hesitated, but she really had to understand Obscura's reasons. "Could I ask - what did you mean when you said 'it's you'? I didn't understand."

Obscura blinked again, a look of confusion on her face, before she spoke slowly. "Princess, you and the other Elements of Harmony - you brought our Princess back to us. We waited a thousand years for her, and you brought her back. The real her, the way she used to be. I don't - how could you not understand that there is nothing we wouldn't do for you?"

Twilight's cheeks flamed crimson. She'd never even thought about that. After all her lessons in friendship, how had she managed to be so blind to the feelings of the ponies around her? Was there anypony she could speak to today that wouldn't blindside her with feelings she'd never considered?

A thought flashed into her mind. If anypony knew Luna's secret, it would be her guards. But if they didn't know, it wasn't Twilight's secret to give away. Her lips parted, and then, speaking slowly and carefully, Twilight murmured, "Obscura... have you ever watched over Princess Luna's bedchamber at night? Noticed anything... that troubled you?"

Instantly, the expression disappeared from Obscura's face. Her shoulders straightened, and her gaze shifted fractionally to one side of Twilight's head again. Tonelessly, she replied, "I am sorry, Princess Twilight. I do not know what you are suggesting, and I would never betray any confidence my Princess has placed in me."

The flash of fear and unhappiness was impossible to miss. How it must have hurt Luna's guards, knowing she was suffering, and unable to say a word about it. Twilight deliberately shifted to meet Obscura's gaze, and said softly, "It's gone. The thing that was giving her nightmares is gone. I persuaded Princess Luna to destroy it, last night. She won't have any more bad dreams. She deserves better than that."

Obscura jerked in surprise once again, her gaze flicking back to Twilight's. For a long moment, she simply stared, as her eyes welled up, disbelief painted across her face. Finally, she stepped towards Twilight, before hesitating and rigidly snapping back to attention. Her voice shook with emotion. "Princess, if you did this for her - thank you. Thank you. We all - I owe you more than I could ever say." With raw sincerity, she finished, "I pledge my service to you. Please accept it."

Frozen to the spot, Twilight's lips parted, then closed again. She hadn't meant to provoke a reaction like that, she just wanted to let Obscura know she didn't have to worry! But still, Obscura's feelings and wishes were sincere. She couldn't ignore or disrespect that. She had to try to convey what she felt, without hurting or upsetting the guard pony, and she had to get it right first time, because a single wrong word would devastate her.

This was what Celestia had described. The weight of a pony's heart in your hands.

Swallowing her protest, Twilight took a deep breath, then let it go. Resting her hands on Obscura's armoured shoulders, she said softly, "I love Luna. I want to make her happy. I'm so glad she has ponies like you. Obscura, I'm really honoured by the way you feel about me, and my friends. I respect that. I will accept you. I want you to be my friend. But - you don't owe me your life."

Obscura looked up at Twilight, and swallowed. Clearly fighting to maintain her composure, she said in a hoarse voice, "I feel that I do, Princess. Thank you. Should I report to the armoury?"

Twilight lowered her hands, and nodded slowly. "Yes, Obscura. Thank you, really."

Backing up a step, Obscura took her helm and placed it on her head once more, guiding her head crest back into the narrow slot through the metal. The armour seemed to help her self-confidence a little, and she bowed formally before turning to the door and quietly making her way out.

Slumping back into her chair, Twilight rested her head in her hands. She couldn't be a Princess. It was impossible. The pressure of her wings against the chair back nagged at her in mute counterpoint; she was a Princess, and no amount of protest was going to change that. One more candidate to go, too. What in Equestria was it going to be? A bear? A manticore? A manticore with a deeply emotional story that would make Twilight feel terrible for having neglected to consider its feelings and point of view?

A knock sounded on the door. For a moment, Twilight shrank from it, suddenly wanting nothing more than to call out that whoever and whatever stood outside would have to come back later. But she couldn't do that, and she knew it. "...come in," she finally said softly, half-wondering if she'd even be heard through the solid wood.

The door swung inward, admitting a golden-armoured earth pony. She was pale grey, with a cobalt blue mane and tail, and moved with brisk efficiency. Stopping in front of Twilight's tiny writing desk, she saluted crisply, and said firmly, "Guard-Captain Diorite, reporting for duty, Princess!"

Twilight gaped, then desperately tried to hide her reaction. Diorite? Forcing herself not to stammer, she replied as steadily as she could, "Hello Diorite, I'm glad to have you here. We've met, haven't we?"

If the guard remembered what had happened in Celestia's audience chamber, she gave no sign of it. "I have stood guard on some of your previous visits to Princess Celestia, yes, Princess."

She certainly had. Twilight could remember every detail of her body; her dappled flanks, her proud breasts, even the taste of her shaven pussy. Under Celestia's control, Twilight had been blocked from realising anything was unusual, and had explored the other pony thoroughly at Celestia's instruction. In return, Twilight had stood posed, nude, while Diorite had shaved her for Celestia's pleasure, then Twilight had masturbated Chert, Diorite's cousin, to orgasm all over the guard-captain's bare tits.

No one could be remembering all that, and have the kind of calm, confident expression that Diorite wore. She didn't remember a thing. Which meant that only Twilight was staring at her, blushing as the memories unfurled.

Aware that she'd let the silence drag on too long, Twilight added quickly, "Um, please call me Twilight."

"As you wish, Princess Twilight."

Twilight fought the urge to rest her head in her hands. Unable to banish the awkward awareness of her own arousal, she ploughed on, "Could I ask you why you're volunteering, Diorite?"

Diorite nodded, having anticipated the question. "Yes, Princess. I am one of Celestia's most experienced guard-captains. I have been present for every major engagement that has occurred in Canterlot city in recent years, and I have seen you in action. I respect your achievements. You will need a practised hand to guide your new guard unit, which will require considerable guidance and oversight to establish from scratch. I firmly believe that I have the skill, the knowledge and the ability to create a professional guard force in your service, Princess."

She was impressive, Twilight had to admit. She spoke with complete authority, and if she was unsettled by Twilight's transformation, she hid it well. Still...

"Did Princess Celestia ask you to volunteer, Diorite?" Even as she asked the question, Twilight knew, just knew, that Celestia had a hand in this somewhere. She was going to need a bigger paddle.

"I expressed my willingness to volunteer to her, and Princess Celestia agreed that I was highly suited for the task, Princess. I believe she has faith in my abilities."

That was a fair point. Perhaps Diorite simply was the best pony for the job. Twilight mentally downgraded Celestia's punishment a notch. Casting around for a way to check if their mesmerised tryst had influenced Diorite's decision, Twilight asked, "Have you... had any dreams, about me?"

That got a reaction. Even rigidly suppressed and covered with her professional expression, the flare of shock and guilt in her eyes was visible. A trace of pinkness darkened the grey of Diorite's cheeks as she replied, "I couldn't say anything about that, Princess."

Twilight winced. "Yes, sorry. That wasn't appropriate. Please forget I asked." Now there was a phrase that had taken on extra meaning since the charm had come into her life. Hastily moving on, she added, "Is there anything you'd like to ask me, Diorite?"

"There is, Princess. I understand that you have accepted all four candidates you have interviewed. Do you actually approve of them? If you are merely being kind, Princess, and either have problems with them or do not trust their capacity to protect you, please say so. If you cannot trust your guard, you will not bond with them. I will take full responsibility for removing any unsuitable candidates from your service."

Diorite's gaze was level and unflinching, and it was Twilight that felt a little awkward under her stare. "No! I mean, no, I don't want you to reject any of my guards for me." My guards. The phrase lingered awkwardly on her tongue.

"May I ask your reasons, Princess?" Diorite's back was perfectly straight.

"They all - all of them had reasons to volunteer to protect me. All of them believe in what they're doing, and what they want to do. They... surprised me. I still won't want to be escorted everywhere, but I really respect everything they feel. I believe in them." Twilight straightened a little, and said more softly, "I believe in you, Diorite. Please be my Captain."

Perhaps there was just a hint of relief somewhere in the guard pony's rigid body and disciplined expression. Twilight couldn't pin it down. Diorite simply replied, "It is my honour to serve, Princess Twilight. Thank you for allowing me to do so. By your leave, I will attend to your new guards, and arrange a rotating two-guard shift on the entrance to your personal suite. I will arrange an appointment with your scheduler to discuss which ponies are to be allowed unconditional access, and which are to be barred."

"But - I don't have a personal scheduler," protested Twilight.

"Then I advise you appoint one. Once your coronation date is announced, your new status will be official. Many ponies will insist on seeing you." Diorite stepped back, saluted, and exited the chamber. Twilight watched her go, with a slightly dazed look on her face.

She had guards now. Everypony in Canterlot was going to want to speak to her. She had to set up access lists. Oh, Celestia - whose fault all of this was! - this was all going far too fast. Her disorganised, off-balance thoughts were only tugged further off-kilter by repeated, persistent flashes of Diorite's nude, toned body, and the memory of her breathy pants of pleasure. Her body under Twilight's hands. The taste of her.

She really, really needed a distraction. She should go and see how her slaves were getting on! Yes. Some soothing time in the presence of her adoring toys, a long roll of parchment and a proper, organised list would really help matters immensely. Assuming no other prospective guards were lurking outside her door.

Creeping over to the door, she eased it open slightly and peered out. No pony in sight. That made things easier.

Trixie's room was the closest. Stopping outside, she knocked on the closed door, then listened. No answer. She knocked again; straining her hearing, she could make out the muffled sound of Trixie's voice though the thick wood, but not the words.

Twilight tried the handle; the door swung inwards slightly, and she peered around the edge of it. The guest room was comically vast by Ponyville standards, with a four-poster bed, and several comfortable chairs. Trixie's outfit was draped over the dresser, but the showmare was nowhere in sight. Twilight frowned. Then, from out of sight, Trixie's voice rang out again.

"Ow! Curse you, that wasn't fair! I'll find a way to get revenge on you, just you wait - ow!"

Was Trixie fighting someone? Pushing the door aside, Twilight hurried into the room, following the sound of Trixie's voice towards the attached bathroom. The blue mare was visible through the doorway, naked, sat with her back to the door. She was bent forward, and muttering to herself.

Twilight hesitated. "...Trixie?"

Trixie jumped, her hand jerking away from between her parted legs. A small ceramic razor clattered into the granite bath, sliding to a stop among a thin film of damp suds. Jerking to her feet, Trixie tried inadequately to cover herself, and the half-scraped away foam between her legs. "Mistress! I - Trixie wasn't expecting you!"

Twilight hesitated in the bathroom doorway. She definitely felt like she was intruding. Still - "Trixie, are you okay? I thought you might be in trouble."

"Yes! Yes, of course! The magnificently sexy Trixie is just fine! Nothing to worry about! Punish this lying bitch, Mistress, bend her over and spank her till she isn't blue anymore!" A look of furious realisation came over Trixie's face as the words kept coming against her will, and she clenched one hand.

Oh, good grief. Something was the matter with Trixie, too. Twilight stepped forward and took her hand in both of hers. "I'm going to spank you to give you some relief, but then I want you to talk to me, okay? I'm worried."

"...fine, Mistress," muttered Trixie sulkily, turning to face away and bending over slightly. She yelped as Twilight's hand descended once to smack firmly against her exposed ass, then straightened up again without saying anything further.

"Trixie - I need you to think carefully, and tell me what's wrong." Twilight sat down on the edge of the bathtub, and after a moment, Trixie followed suit. The showpony remained silent for a minute, her face working as she tried to find a way to work around the command not to deceive Twilight, before visibly giving up.

"Trixie was shaving herself so you'd pay more attention to her! Okay, Mistress? That's what she was doing." Her tone was sulky.

Twilight blinked. "Why would you think you had to do that?"

"You haven't even fucked her yet! You made Trixie be your submissive sex toy, and you won't use her? She's beautiful! Isn't she? I know you've had sex with all your other slaves, and then yesterday I saw they were all shaven, like you, so I thought maybe if I..." Trixie stared angrily at the floor.

An aching pang lodged in Twilight's chest, thrust there by the words. This is what came of taking a pony to be her enthralled lover, and not actually using her. Once again, and appropriately for her new station, Twilight had royally screwed up.

"Trixie," Twilight began, then paused. Starting over, she tried again, "Trixie, you didn't have to do this. I'm sorry. I got so caught up with thinking about fighting Celestia, I didn't - I'm sorry. I really am." Twilight leaned into Trixie's naked body, wrapping her arms around her.

"Is it because you're still angry with Trixie, is that it?" the showmare asked defensively.

"No. No. Trixie - please." Twilight stroked her hand down the other mare's white mane. "I'm really pleased with you, and I'm so impressed at how clever you are, and how hard you worked for me. You're a very special pony."

A clump of soapy bubbles slowly slid down Trixie's thigh, and dripped onto the floor. Eventually, in a quieter voice, Trixie murmured, "You don't like my body, though."

"That's not true. Not at all. Trixie, you're... you're really beautiful. You have the most kissable lips, and you really light up when you smile at me. I used the charm to make sure there'd be lots of chances to spank you, I... enjoy that way more than I should admit to, really." Twilight's cheeks were growing crimson. "I really like your ass."

Trixie gazed at Twilight, searching her face, before saying in a small voice, "Trixie's body is perfect, you know. You're lucky to have her as your devoted fucktoy."

"I am! I really am. I've been thinking about where I'll have to live, now that everything's changed. I want to be near Celestia and Luna, but I couldn't leave my friends, either, and they're tied to Ponyville. I was thinking about trying a week here, and a week there, going back and forth."

Trixie frowned, looking confused, and opened her mouth, only to be forestalled by Twilight's raised hand.

"Let me finish. The thing is, Celestia and Luna, they have to stay here in Canterlot, at least most of the time. My friends all have reasons to stay in Ponyville, and even Zecora will be needed in the Everfree forest. But you - well, I thought you could stay with me. Travel with me, back and forth. So, you'd get to be with me the most, actually."

Twilight was cut off by Trixie, who seized hold of her and squeezed her tightly. Clinging to her, she declared in a breathless rush, "Trixie will stay at your side, and she'll be the most important pony, and she'll have her very own golden carriage, and-"

Breaking into giggles, Twilight put a hand over Trixie's mouth. "One thing at a time, Trixie. Let me help you, okay? Sit on the back ledge of the bath and part your legs."

"Oh, uh - yes, Mistress." Taken slightly off balance, Trixie stepped into the bath and sat on the rear ledge, parting her thighs to reveal her half-shaved sex. She bit her lip, looking aside in a display of awkward self-consciousness quite at odds with her customary brash confidence.

Turning on the tap, Twilight rinsed her hands as the water grew hot again, then held the small shaving razor under the flow. Smiling up at Trixie, she added, "You really don't have to do this, but now you've started, I'll show you how to do it. If you like it, there's a cream I can give you that will stop it growing back for a while. It stings a lot, though."

Trixie looked to one side, her cheeks growing crimson as she sat with her legs parted. "Do you like that way better?"

"I do," admitted Twilight. "Applejack did it because it made her feel like she was showing she was owned, and I liked it." Picking up a small glass vial, she poured some of the amber liquid within onto her hands, and rubbed them briskly, forming a frothing lather that she began gently rubbing onto Trixie's bared pussy.

"Well, why didn't you tell Trixie to - oooh." Trixie stopped talking as Twilight's warm, soapy fingers began stroking over her sensitive sex, a shiver running through her that raised goosebumps on her arms.

"I probably would have eventually, if you hadn't decided to." A fond smile grew on Twilight's lips as she spread the hot foam across Trixie's tender skin, probing her gently with her touch. Every shiver and short gasp from the showpony sparked a secret delight within Twilight, and she lingered a little longer over lathering her up than she really needed to. Finally, she placed the smooth head of the tool against Trixie, and began very carefully stroking it up and down her body.

"M-Mistress!" Trixie shivered, her eyelids fluttering.

"Stay still, Trixie," Twilight chided her gently. "This is delicate."

"Yes, Mistress!" Nodding hastily, Trixie leant her head back against the wall and concentrated on not moving as Twilight tenderly stroked fresh foam onto her body.

Bit by bit, stroke by stroke, Trixie's soft blue skin was revealed. It was strangely calming, intimate. Twilight lingered lovingly over the task, taking her time, until every hint of white fur was cleaned away. Rinsing the razor clean, Twilight set it aside, then gathered warm water in her cupped hands and gently poured it over Trixie's pussy.

"There. Beautiful," she sighed contentedly.

Trixie looked down at herself, then slowly looked back to Twilight. "Do you mean that?"

"Of course I do. But I'd better make sure I did a good job," Twilight replied with a warm, gently playful smile. Bending down, she nestled her head between Trixie's damp thighs, and gave a soft, lingering kiss to her soft folds. Hearing Trixie's disbelieving, joyous whimper, Twilight smiled to herself, and begin tenderly lapping at her pussy.

"Oh! Oh, yes, Mistress, lick your slutty fucktoy's pussy! Oh, oh yes, lick Trixie's pretty cunt, make her squirm, Mistress!" Closing her eyes, Trixie leaned back and spread her legs a little wider, pushing herself against Twilight's mouth.

Giggling, Twilight nodded her agreement, as she licked more firmly. Encouraging Trixie to use dirty language really had been an inspired decision. Her damp skin was incredibly soft, scented with soap. Every flick of Twilight's tongue drew a fresh, sharp little gasp or needy squirm from the naked mare, and she pursued those reactions with delighted interest, learning which spots made Trixie whimper the loudest.

Trixie's hand settled at the back of Twilight's neck, and in a half-disbelieving tone, she gasped, "Mistress...! Please!" Her free hand rose to her chest and began roughly squeezing, spreading her hand across both breasts and rubbing against her stiff nipples. The smooth stone of the bathroom gave an echoing quality to her sounds of pleasure, amplifying every gasp.

Looking up into Trixie's eyes, Twilight gasped into her body, "Let me feel you cum for me, Trixie! Do that for me!"

"Oh - yes - she, she - she obeys!" Trixie's eyelids squeezed closed, and with a howl of pleasure that rang from the walls, she arched back in shuddering release.

Feeling Trixie cum under her tongue, feeling her former enemy and devoted slave completely surrendering to the pleasure she was given, flooded Twilight with fresh heat. Oh, why hadn't she done this sooner? Panting, delicious shivers running through her, Twilight lifted her head, and breathed, "Did you like that?" Catching Trixie's eye, enthralled with her own daring, Twilight licked her damp lips with playful sensuality.

Stumbling for words, Trixie managed, "I - yes! Yes, Trixie liked that, very much!" Her head sank back to rest against the wall, her pink cheeks hot. After a moment, she gathered herself enough to add, "Now that you've tasted the gorgeous, sensuous Trixie, you will of course taste her lovely body again and again."

Sensitive to the plea under the over-the-top boast, Twilight leaned up to kiss Trixie's parted lips. Smiling against the other pony's mouth, Twilight said softly, "Of course I will. Would you like to come and play a game with me, Trixie? I think you'll really enjoy what I have in mind."

A giddy smile on her face, Trixie nodded dazedly. "The slutty and submissive Trixie would love to... do that thing. That you said."

Twilight grinned, and pushed herself upright, backing away from the bath. Straightening her dress and adjusting the loose bodice to properly cover herself again, she said demurely, "If you'd like to get dressed, just enough so you won't scare the maids if they see you, I'd like to go and speak to a couple of ponies. You'll have fun, I promise."

Shaking herself out of her daze, Trixie grabbed at a towel and began hurriedly drying. "She'll be right there, Mistress! No one can dress quicker than the amazing Trixie!"

"How quickly can you undress?" Twilight teased. "I'll wait for you outside."

"Hey Twi! Hi, Trixie." Rainbow's greeting was slightly more resigned in Trixie's case, but she waved from where she sprawled loosely atop a lounger. She lay stretched out on one of the castle's innumerable balconies, on a delicate piece of furniture she'd probably dragged out into the sunlight herself.

Oh, Rainbow looked good in her tight blue shorts and black tank top.

Twilight's body simmered with arousal, the taste of Trixie's juices lingering on her lips. She was too turned on for shame, or hesitation. She wanted Rainbow Dash. More than that, she wanted her to be a mindless, obedient sex toy. It would only take three words. All she needed was Rainbow's permission, and for that, a little persuasion was required.

Slinking over to sit on the end of the lounger, Twilight purred, "Are you enjoying the sunshine, Rainbow?" With a flick of her fingers, she gestured Trixie to the floor, and the submissive showpony dropped to her knees instantly at Twilight's feet.

Rainbow looked down at Trixie, then back up at Twilight, trying not to show her reaction to the display of obedience. "Uh, sure I am. I flew rings around the castle, watched the Wonderbolts run through a practice routine, and now I'm-"

"You're not doing anything that can't wait, are you Rainbow?" Twilight interrupted smoothly.

"Uh - no, just building up an appetite for lunch. You want to do something?"

Speaking in softly smouldering words, Twilight leaned forward. "I do, Rainbow. I want to do you. I want to play with my wonderslut pony."

Rainbow pressed back against the couch, her eyes widening and a flush rising on her cheeks. Forcing herself not to stammer, she managed, "Yeah, okay. I'm not busy right now. Guess I can fit you in."

"But that's not all. I want to charm you, Rainbow, and play with your mindless body. I know you'd prefer to be awake, but I want you to listen closely to this." Twilight brought her lips to Rainbow's ear, half straddling the other pony on the reclining couch.

In a soft, hot whisper, she breathed, "I'm a pervert. I get off on commanding your beautiful, toned, firm body to obey my every whim, knowing your mind is totally, utterly under my control. It makes me really, really horny. So do this for me. Do this for me, and I promise, you're going to be very glad you did when I reward you later. I'll make you cum, very nicely. So, will you?"

"Hhnng," whimpered Rainbow, her face red, her nipples jutting against her black tank top. Her mouth worked soundlessly, before she finally pushed out, "Yeah. Okay. Do me any way you like."

"I'm so glad you feel that way, Rainbow. You won't regret it." Twilight's voice was suffused with lust, and she seized hold of one of the pegasus's small breasts, squeezing firmly. Rainbow gasped, arching into her hand, only to go rigid as Twilight whispered huskily into her ear, "Obey your Empress."

"This slave obeys," Rainbow Dash recited blankly, in a mechanical monotone that was all the more thrilling to Twilight for the abrupt contrast with how she'd been speaking a moment before. Unable to kneel without disturbing the pony atop her, Rainbow froze in place.

"Oh, Rainbow. You have no idea how good that makes me feel." Pushing herself up off the lounger, Twilight stood straight, and panted, "Rainbow, on your feet. Until your trance ends, you will reply to all orders with 'Rainbow Slut obeys'."

Moving with a smooth, mechanical grace, Rainbow sat up and swung her legs off the couch, standing upright. Her pink eyes were glazed and entirely blank as she droned, "Rainbow Slut obeys."

Trixie whimpered aloud, biting her lip. Her hands clenched at her sides in an effort not to touch herself. "Oh, Mistress. She'd dreamed about it, but the way it makes your submissive and slutty fucktoy feel to see you doing this... Is she - is Rainbow Slut going to play with her? Please let Trixie stay awake for this! She wants to remember everything you do to her!"

Reaching down to her kneeling slave, Twilight caressed Trixie's face affectionately. "Of course you're going to stay conscious, Trixie. I'm going to put on a show for you. Now get up, and follow me. Rainbow Slut! If we meet any ponies in the hallway, you're going to act naturally while you are in sight of them, unless I say otherwise."

"Rainbow Slut obeys," Rainbow recited blankly.

Twilight giggled, placing a finger under Rainbow's chin and leaning in to kiss her. "Yes, you do. Come on, my cute fucktoys. Let's go take control of Zecora."

Getting off the floor, Trixie hurried after Twilight, Rainbow following behind with smooth, mechanical strides. Trixie wore an expression of incredulous disbelief, which made Twilight giggle to herself each time she glanced back.

Twilight knocked hard on Zecora's door. "Zecora? Are you there?"

The door drew inwards, revealing Zecora in her simple brown tunic and leggings. She smiled warmly at Twilight, then her gaze flicked to Rainbow's rigid, empty-eyed body and a subtle tension entered her posture. Stepping back inside, she beckoned them in. "Welcome, Twilight. I had hoped you would call. Is Rainbow Dash now in your thrall?"

Twilight moved into the room after Zecora, pressing up against her without hesitation. One hand rose to cradle the back of Zecora's neck, resting against the gold rings, and she gazed into the zebra's eyes. "Yes, she is. Watch her, Zecora. Watch what she will do for me. Rainbow! Play with your tits."

"Rainbow Slut obeys," droned Rainbow Dash, shoving up her tank top to bare her small breasts. Her hands slid over them, squeezing, before she began to squeeze and pinch her pink nipples.

A visible tremor raced through Zecora, her lips parting soundlessly. Her breath quickened.

Thought so. Even if the command to find mind control arousing had been removed with all the others, it had been in force long enough to leave echoes. Twilight stepped around Zecora, moving up behind her and pressing against her back, delighting in the sensitivity of her newly enhanced body. Speaking softly into Zecora's ear, Twilight murmured, "Don't look away from her. She's completely under my control, Zecora. A pliant, obedient toy. She'll say anything I want, do anything I command. She's my plaything, my Rainbow Doll. It's so arousing, so hot, to see her like this."

Zecora's eyes squeezed shut, the zebra sucking in a breath, but Twilight's finger settled on her lips before she could reply.

"Ssh. Just nod."

Nodding jerkily, Zecora turned her head to glance back at Twilight. Her lip trembled, but she held her silence, face full of yearning.

Twilight smiled, her hands sliding up Zecora's stomach to gently cup her pierced breasts through her top. The other mare's exotic body was hot under her hands, and as she squeezed, Zecora shivered with need again. "Look at her. It turns you on, so much, to see her so helplessly under my control. Completely in my power. Doesn't it?"

Zecora nodded again, jerkily. A small, desperate whimper escaped her lips as she greedily drank in the sight of Rainbow Dash thoughtlessly squeezing her bare breasts.

Twilight crushed Zecora's breasts together through her tunic, luxuriating in the way they filled her hands, and rubbed her palms slowly back and forth over the bumps of the golden rings that pierced her nipples. "But that's not all. You don't want to just watch Rainbow Slut obey me. You want to be like her. You want me to show you how total my control of your mind is... you want to be my enthralled fucktoy. When you look at her, you're looking at yourself. I'm here to do that to you."

"Nnnngh," groaned Zecora, her knees weakening. Small, sharp gasps escaped her lips with every squeeze of Twilight's hands, shuddering. Her hips bucked slowly, grinding her ass against her Mistress.

"Listen. This is what's going to happen. I'm going to say the words, and you're going to stiffen. You're going to sink to your knees, reciting 'This slave obeys'. You're going to be able to focus only on my voice. You'll fuck me any way I want. You'll degrade yourself, fuck yourself for my pleasure. You will be a pliant toy in my hand." Twilight's lips curved into a smile. "I won't leave any lingering orders or changes. I just want to play with your perfect puppet body, and your empty mind. You're going to agree. You're going to agree, and you're going to play with yourself roughly later, knowing how I've used you. You can agree out loud, now."

"Yes! I will be your puppet, my thoughts confined! Take over my body, control my mind!" Zecora half-cried, half-gasped the words, pressing back more urgently in an ecstatic display of need.

Twilight's gaze flashed to Trixie. The blue mare stood by the doorway, her cheeks crimson, unable to take her eyes off the scene. With a conspiratorial smile just for her, Twilight breathed into Zecora's ear, "Obey your Empress," and released Zecora's soft chest.

Zecora immediately froze in place, then, with small, mechanical steps, turned to face Twilight. Sinking to her knees, no longer able to care about the livid lust flooding her body, she recited blankly, "In a mindless daze, this slave obeys."

Catching her lower lip between her teeth, Twilight hissed, "Yess. Rainbow Slut, Zecora, strip naked immediately. I want to see those gorgeous firm bodies on full display. Trixie. Here, now."

Jerking with surprise, Trixie hurriedly crossed to stand beside Zecora, unable to keep herself from glancing at the two enslaved ponies as they stripped themselves with simple, unadorned efficiency. "Y-yes, Mistress! The slutty and submissive Trixie obeys!"

The power. The lust. Twilight's body was on fire with desire, a slick heat aching between her legs, her nipples almost painfully taut beneath her white dress. Reaching out to Trixie, Twilight gently cupped her chin, stroking her thumb across the other mare's lips. "I love this feeling, Trixie. Two naked, mindless fuckdolls waiting for my command, and my pretty blue slave ready to be played with. I'm so, so horny. How do you feel? Truthfully."

Her mouth opening and shutting, it took a minute for Trixie to gather the words. "She - she's turned on, Mistress, Trixie's slave body is so hot for you right now." Hesitating for a moment, she visibly felt compelled words coming, and spoke hurriedly to forestall them. "She's horny, and she's - kind of intimidated. In a good way! The slutty and submissive Trixie still can't believe what she saw you do to Princess Celestia, and now she's seeing it again, with your friends... so powerful, and sexual. Before you enslaved Trixie and made her into your obedient bitch, she thought you were just-"

Trixie cut off the words hurriedly, but Twilight just smiled, and let her hand run down Trixie's body. Without taking her eyes off the showpony, she said, "Zecora, when I command you, respond that my bitch obeys, okay?"

"Anything you say, your bitch obeys." The words came out coloured by Zecora's accent, even through the flatness of her mindless response. Her striped breasts rose and fell slowly with her steady breathing, the golden rings gleaming in the light.

Sighing with pleasure, Twilight nodded. "That's good, Zecora, reply to all commands with that, please. Rainbow, Zecora, take hold of Trixie's arms and hold them out straight."

Rainbow relaxed from her parade-ground attention stance and stepped forward with Zecora, the two slaves droning their overlapping, humiliating compliance. Trixie barely had time to move before Zecora seized one arm, and Rainbow took the other, holding them rigidly outwards from her body. Trixie tugged at her captors, eyes wide, dizzy with fear and need. "M-Mistress?"

Twilight leaned forward and kissed Trixie deeply, breathing a soft groan of delight against the other pony's mouth. Catching at Trixie's lower lip with her teeth, she bit gently before she finally released her to ask in a teasing voice, "What did Trixie think I was 'just'?"

Swaying in the grip of Twilight's enthralled slaves, Trixie's cheeks burned with desire and embarrassment in equal measure. "The slutty and submissive Trixie thought that you were a stupid goody-goody, with no ambition, no skill and about as sexual as the tree you lived in."

"Oh, dear. That's not very nice," chided Twilight playfully.

"She doesn't think that now," Trixie added quickly.

"Rainbow. Zecora. Strip my cute blue fucktoy of her clothes. Be gentle, please, I don't want them torn."

"Mistress!" Trixie protested over their blank recitations, grabbing at her clothes as Zecora firmly pulled down her skirt and Rainbow began undoing her tight corset.

"Trixie." Reaching behind herself, Twilight pulled a pin free, loosening the oversized dress. Taking hold of her bodice with both hands, she slowly pulled it down. Her rounded breasts fell free, one after the other, the silken fabric slithering off her smooth skin with a sensation that filled Twilight with tingling delight. Cradling them with both hands, she said softly, "Let your arms go limp, Trixie. Let them undress you. You don't need to look away from me."

Frozen to the spot, Trixie stared, completely enthralled by the sight. Her arms slowly fell loose, and she stepped out of her skirt at Zecora's urging in a distant, preoccupied way. "Y-yes, Mistress. Anything you say..."

"Do you want to play with my tits, Trixie?" Twilight asked her pleasantly.

"Yes," Trixie replied hoarsely, nodding. Almost without realising it, she'd been stripped of every last piece of clothing, her warm blue breasts on full display, framed by her tumbling white mane. Her shaven cunt glistened between her legs, still a little damp from Twilight's attention. "Yes! Please!"

Twilight narrowed her eyes playfully, letting her gaze run slowly up and down the trio of nude ponies before her. Squeezing her breasts firmly, Twilight sighed with pleasure. "I'm not sure I believe you. You used to think such unflattering things. Slaves; seize her."

"Rainbow Slut obeys."

"Anything you say, your bitch obeys."

"What- wait!" Trixie protested as Zecora gripped her arm and anchored it against the zebra's grey stomach. Rainbow was even quicker, jerking Trixie's other arm out horizontally and gripping with surprising, wiry strength. The captive mare struggled, her bare breasts jiggling enticingly as she tugged this way and that, to no avail. "You know she's telling the truth! She apologised! She-"

"Shhhh." Twilight's finger came to rest on Trixie's lips. "Celestia took away all of my toys. She took away my ropes, and my strap-on shaft, and all the things I had so carefully, shamefully ordered and hadn't even had the chance to try out. I'm going to have such fun tying you up and teasing you, for hours and hours. You're going to feel things you had no idea you could feel, Trixie. But right now, my cute mindless fucktoys are going to be your restraints. You don't mind, do you?"

"Nuh-" Trixie gulped.

Twilight leaned closer, placing her hands on Trixie's bare shoulders. Her breasts were almost brushing those of her slave, and the tingling tension, the anticipation, was delicious. "What was that?" she cooed.

"Nuh-no, Mistress! I don't - Trixie doesn't mind at all!"

"That's a good little pony." Twilight inhaled deeply, and she felt her stiff nipples brush against Trixie's smooth skin for just a moment. Both ponies shuddered. The temptation to push forward, to grind herself roughly against the captive mare, was almost painfully intense. No. Savour the anticipation. Twilight drew back a little, and Trixie took a shuddering breath as she unfroze.

Looking up at Twilight, Trixie tugged gently at the ponies gripping her arms, in a half-hearted, absent-minded kind of way. After a moment, she blurted incredulously, "You - you have a strap-on, Mistress?"

"Oh, yes." Twilight's hand ran down her own body, to stroke along her thigh. "I did the most wonderful, terrible things with it."

"You - you did?" Trixie breathed.

"I lined up my closest friends... the elements of Loyalty, Honesty, Laughter, Generosity and Kindness. I stripped them naked. Then I bent them over my bed, bare asses in the air, and I fucked them, one after the other. Oh, Trixie. The way they cried out, and begged for me to take them..." Twilight's voice trailed off in a husky whisper, her fingers moving to firmly caress her slick pussy.

Trixie's eyes were huge, her cheeks crimson. Her nipples jutted tautly, her breasts heaving with her panting breath. A single droplet of wetness ran down her bare thigh. "You, you're lying, you wouldn't do that..."

"Oh, but I would." Shifting her gaze briefly, Twilight demanded, "Rainbow Slut! Tell Trixie the complete truth. Did I fuck all five of you with a strap-on?"

"Rainbow Slut obeys. You fucked all of us with a strap-on," the mesmerised pegasus answered.

Twilight gasped softly as her finger slid into her heated cunt. "And what did I do then?"

"You made us fuck each other in front of you."

"And who did you have sex with?"

"Rarity dressed me up in a skirt and fucked me. Then I screwed Applejack."

"Thank you, Rainbow Slut." Twilight couldn't resist Trixie's body any longer, couldn't ignore those round, luscious tits just waiting to be squeezed. Her free hand settled on the proud curve of her slave's breast, and began to knead slowly. Trixie whimpered, a visible shiver running through her.

"It was so cruel of Celestia to take my toys away. Maybe she deserves to be one for a while. A tall, beautiful sex toy, her mind empty and pliant, a tight corset pushing out her bare chest, and a nice big strap-on to use on all my eager, slutty slaves." Oh gosh, that mental image. Twilight buried a second finger within herself, her thighs squeezing together. She had to spend some time with Celestia, soon. "Would you like that, Trixie? Would you like to be roughly fucked by a Princess?"

"Mmmmh," groaned Trixie, nodding urgently. Struggling to find words as Twilight caressed her bare breasts, she finally managed, "Yes, please, Mistress! Trixie would love to be fucked senseless by a Princess!"

Twilight giggled as a thought occurred to her. With a distinct effort of will, she slid her fingers from her tingling pussy, and placed them against Trixie's lips. As her slave whimpered again, lips parting to suck the wet fingers into her mouth, Twilight breathed, "You know, Trixie... I'm a Princess now, too. I don't have a toy to fuck you with right now, but I am still going to make you cum. Mm, your mouth is so warm!"

That was enough anticipation. Twilight wrapped an arm around her captive and crushed her body against the other mare, firmly rubbing their soft breasts against each other. Electric sparks shot through her with each tingling brush of Trixie's smooth skin against her stiff nipples, and she groaned, "That's right... that feels good. I never thought about fucking you before I charmed you, and then, when I had you mindless and obedient, I suddenly realised that I really, really wanted to suck your tits and punish your ass. How did I never notice what a hot, fuckable mare you were when we were fighting?"

"Oh, oh Mistress! Your body feels so good!" Trixie's eyes squeezed shut, and she tried to pull away from her mindless guards, straining to grind against Twilight. "I - I wanted to fuck you! Your horny, desperate bitch fantasised about breaking and humiliating you, forcing you to lick her cunt on stage, so everyone would see she was better! Trixie had no idea that it would feel so good to be your captive! Mistress, please! Bend Trixie over, fuck her, abuse her body, use her for your pleasure! She deserves it!"

Twilight found herself grinding her cunt against Trixie's thigh, smearing wetness against her blue leg as the enslaved pony begged and degraded herself. She couldn't help it, it felt too good! Her hips bucking jerkily, Twilight panted, "You're right, you do deserve this. You've done so well, served me so faithfully, that I really want to show you how much I appreciate you. Girls! Pin her to the ground!"

This time, Trixie didn't even protest. Forced to her knees by the inexorable grip of the entranced ponies, then shoved onto her back, she simply panted raggedly, hips bucking against nothing. Looking up at Twilight, she begged, "Fuck Trixie! Fuck your slutty slave! Please! She's wanted it so long! She's touched herself so many times!"

She was beautiful. Twilight found herself drinking in every inch of Trixie's prone body, gaze trailing over her soft thighs and freshly shaven cunt, up her smooth stomach to the heaving slopes of her breasts, and finally settling on her face. Stripped of her customary arrogance, cheeks flushed pink and eyes glazed with desperate lust, she was deeply enticing. And that wasn't even mentioning the impossibly arousing sight of Rainbow Dash and Zecora, stark naked, holding her down by the arms and shoulders with single-minded focus.

Even so, Twilight felt something more than simple arousal aching in her chest. Trixie had to know what she wasn't being fucked because she was attractive and available. She had to know this mattered.

"Oh, Trixie... " Twilight breathed, gazing down at her. "I want you to believe, really believe, that I'm attracted to you, okay? I really am. And I want you to know that I'm proud of you. You learned so much, so quickly. I couldn't have made all this happen without you. I want you to stay with me, and learn from me, and I think you have things to teach me too. You're special, Trixie."

Taken completely by surprise, Trixie simply stared at Twilight for a moment, before her purple eyes teared up. Panting for breath, she gasped, "Do you mean it? You didn't fuck Trixie for so long! She thought - she thought after everything she'd done, she hadn't done enough to be sorry-"

Twilight grabbed at the white fabric of her dress and roughly tugged it over her head, baring her nude body completely. Dropping to her hands and knees over Trixie, she kissed the prone mare roughly, and panted, "Never think that! I'm not angry with you, I promise, I promise!" She couldn't help the flashes of sharp pleasure that shot through her as she felt her breasts stroke against Trixie's, her hips jerkily bucking once.

"Trixie - Trixie believes you! Oh, Mistress, let Trixie pleasure you, she swears, she'll be your good fucktoy for the rest of her life, she'll try so hard, just let her pleasure you!" Trixie gasped, arching her back and trying desperately to push up against Twilight.

"You will, you will! Rainbow! Get between Trixie's legs and lick her cunt, I want you to pleasure her pussy the best way you know how!" Twilight commanded shakily, pushing herself up and moving off Trixie's prone body.

"Rainbow Slut obeys." Was there a hint of satisfaction in Rainbow's voice as she released Trixie's arm and crawled between her legs? Trixie barely had time to whimper in loss as Twilight moved away before she gasped aloud at the sensation of Rainbow's talented tongue.

"Zecora! Your turn. Sit astride Trixie's stomach on your knees, and play with her tits. Do your best to make it feel good, pay attention to how she reacts to your touch."

"Anything you say, your bitch obeys."

"M-Mistress! You - aaah! You're not going to, to, oooh, to play with Trixie's body? She wants you! So badly! Oh, fuck!" Trixie writhed against the floor as Rainbow's single-minded attention to her cunt made it harder and harder to think. A high, thin cry escaped her as Zecora straddled her stomach and firmly pinched her jutting blue nipples, the zebra's bare cunt rubbing against her body.

Twilight's hand curled into a fist, her nails digging into her palms as she rode out another shock of arousal. It was so hot hearing Zecora's mindless response in her exotic accent. It was almost too much to bear, watching them both pleasure Trixie at her command! With a quiver in her voice, Twilight breathed, "I have something for you to do, Trixie. I'm going to sit on your face and make you lick my pussy."

"Y-yes! Yes! Please! Make Trixie lick your cunt, she wants it, she needs it, she's your slut, Mistress!" Trixie babbled in ecstatic need. Her head tossed back and forth against the soft rug, spreading her white mane around her like a halo. "It - it's too much! Mistress! She-mmmfh!"

Twilight quietened Trixie in a single movement, turning to face Zecora, then straddling Trixie's head and sinking down to press her soft, damp sex against the helpless pony's lips. Immediately, Trixie began lapping at her pussy for all she was worth, moaning and gasping into Twilight's body. The sensation was incredible. No more anticipation, just pleasure, more than she knew how to cope with. Zecora's mindless body was directly in front of Twilight, squeezing and kneading Trixie's breasts, the sight made so much hotter by the desperately needed sensation of Trixie's wet tongue urgently pleasuring her. Grinding her cunt against Trixie's face, Twilight reached out and seized hold of Zecora's proud tits, tugging and twisting her nipple rings.

"Yes! Yes! You're my obedient fucktoys! You belong to me! You all belong to me, you'll obey, you'll be mine, you'll do anything I want, oh yes!" Twilight gasped in a semi-coherent rush of delirious pleasure. Letting her head fall forward, she began tonguing Zecora's stiff grey nipples, grinding her pussy faster against Trixie's mouth and chin. Desperate muffled sounds escaped the captive pony trapped beneath her as Twilight sucked on Zecora's tits, tasting the urgently arousing mixture of her skin, salty perspiration and metal. Unable to restrain herself, she bit gently, and heard the enthralled zebra jerkily gasp aloud.

It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that dominating and fucking her slaves felt so good. She wanted more, and more, she wanted to fuck Spitfire, and Lightning Dust, she wanted to fuck the maids, Vinyl Scratch, Octavia, anypony, everypony, make them all fall down on their knees and worship her, nothing but sex and pleasure and gags and bondage and obedience, total, absolute obedience, and no consequences ever-

"Ahhhhh!" cried out Twilight, her eyes wide and glazed with lustful abandon. Her release pounded through her like an earthquake, like a fault line releasing a lifetime of accumulated pressure all at once, and it drove every thought totally out of her mind. It took a few moments for her scattered thoughts to coalesce once more, finding her half-slumped against Zecora, coated in sweat.

Muffled, pleading sounds leaked out from beneath her.

Trixie! Rolling off the prone mare, Twilight panted raggedly, "Stop, stop, Rainbow, Zecora. Let go of her, kneel beside her instead."

Trixie slumped bonelessly against the ground as the two chorused their obedience and released her, her head falling to the side and a thin trail of saliva leaking from the corner of her mouth. Her slightly reddened chest rose and fell rapidly with her heavy breath.

Oh, dear. It was just about possible she'd sexed Trixie to death.

"Trixie, are you - are you okay?" Twilight asked, wriggling up to her side.

Trixie's eyelids flickered, and she slowly focused on Twilight. An inarticulate croak escaped her, before she managed, "M-Mistress. Trixie, Trixie has..."

"Yes?" Twilight asked with gentle concern, stroking a loose strand of white hair away from Trixie's lips.

"Trixie has never cum like that before..."

Twilight broke into giggles, and kissed her. "You should get used to it. I'm going to do that a lot more in future, Trixie."

Trixie nodded quickly, before letting her head fall back against the rug. Her arm wrapped around Twilight, and she delicately stroked her fingers back and forth through the ends of Twilight's feathers. "She is... Trixie is really happy. Of course, you were bound to realise that Trixie was sensual and irresistible sooner or later."

"I was," agreed Twilight, stroking a finger over the curve of Trixie's breast and lightly rubbing her dark blue nipple. "You're going to have such fun with me."

Sighing with satisfaction, Trixie nuzzled into Twilight's body. For a moment, she seemed content to simply bathe in the alicorn's warmth, but eventually, she lifted her head. Gesturing with her horn at the kneeling figure of Zecora, she asked, "Mistress, what will you do with your inferior sex toys?"

Looking up at the motionless figures of the two, Twilight smiled to herself. "Well, first I have to make sure I haven't accidentally given them any lasting commands when I got kind of carried away, and then I have to live up to the promise I gave Rainbow. Don't worry, Trixie. You're going to get to see everything."

"Mmmh? Mmff!"

Awareness flashed over Rainbow's face, her eyes coming into focus. For a moment she continued slavishly licking Twilight's bare foot, before realisation set in and she jerked up into a sitting position. Beside her, Zecora was looking around herself, equally disorientated to surface into reality with Twilight's toes in her mouth.

Twilight giggled. She was sitting in a high-backed chair that she'd levitated over to sit in the middle of Zecora's guest room, lounging naked and at ease. Trixie sprawled across her lap and the padded arms of the chair, lazily kicking her heels in the air and grinning with smug satisfaction as Twilight stroked her smooth back and bare ass with one hand.

"Hi, you two. Are you feeling okay?"

Zecora was the first to recover enough to answer, shifting into a more formal kneeling pose and thrusting out her pierced breasts. Her eyes lingering on Twilight's naked body, she replied, "My body tingles with pleasure, I feel fine. I remember nothing, which must be by your design."

"Yeah... whoof. Never knew what hit me, when did I end up in here?" Rainbow asked, rubbing her head and mussing her mane. She couldn't look away from the naked ponies in front of her any more than Zecora could.

"Don't worry, both of you. I have a little reward for you both, to thank you for being such good sextoys." Twilight felt her body tense pleasurably as she looked down at them, then added warmly, "Rainbow, I'd like to start with you, if that's okay."

"Uh, sure. Sure! Whatever happened, I was definitely the best at-"

"Cum," Twilight interrupted her.

Rainbow doubled over, her lips parting in a thin, high gasp. "Uuuuhhhh! Ooooh, oh, oh, oh fuck, oh, nnnngh!" she groaned, rubbing her fist roughly up and down her shaven cunt. The storm passed almost as quickly as it began, leaving her breathing harshly. Looking up at Twilight, she managed, "Okay, that is totally unfair, you know that?"

"Cum."

"Nnnnnghh!" Rainbow's body convulsed again, her wings flaring open, and she cried out a wordless wail of pleasure and release. Sweat stood out on her forehead as the quakes began to die down, leaving her propped on one hand. "Twilight-"

"Cum."

Twilight's smile was pure sadism as she watched Rainbow helplessly writhe, the pegasus's pink eyes wide, unable to help herself desperately pawing at her body as charm-enforced pleasure threatened to overwhelm her completely. Zecora was watching the display of magic-enforced control with one hand pressed to her mouth, the other digging into her smooth thigh, her dark nipples rigid.

"Zecora? I wouldn't want you to feel left out. You may remember, now."

The zebra stiffened in surprise as memories flashed through her mind, revealing every instant of the sex she'd just spent being Twilight's mindless puppet. The sensation of Twilight kissing her, playing with her tits and biting her nipples replayed with perfect fidelity, wrenching a deep, sincere groan from her. One hand rose to her chest and squeezed roughly, tugging at a golden ring.

"I know you really love knowing how easily I can make you an entranced fucktoy, Zecora." Twilight firmly kneaded Trixie's ass as she spoke, prompting a quavering groan from the nude slave across her lap. "It's so hot to know you're under my control. But I still wouldn't want you to feel left out, compared to what I'm giving Rainbow."

Rainbow lifted her head, her eyes widening. "Twilight - Mistress - mercy!"

"Cum," Twilight told them.

This time, Rainbow and Zecora arched and cried out as one, filling the air with overlapping sounds of uncontrollable release. Zecora helplessly humped the air, her pierced breasts swinging freely, while Rainbow rolled onto her stomach, jerking and trembling.

Twilight giggled aloud, and murmured to Trixie, "I'm having a lovely time."

Unable to take her eyes off the display, Trixie breathed, "The slutty and submissive Trixie is in awe. She's never seen anything like it, Mistress."

"I think they're just about ready for the grand finale, too. Rainbow, Zecora - cum. Cum. Cum."

The chamber rang with cries of helpless female pleasure, each pony writhing around on the floor as their bodies were pummelled by shock after shock of pleasure. As the last of the magically-induced orgasms died away, Twilight couldn't help sliding one hand under Trixie and squeezing her round breast. "That was a wonderful show," she said softly, with deep satisfaction.

Rainbow lay on the floor, face down. Her body was coated in sweat, her thighs streaked with wetness, and a small puddle of drool had gathered beneath her slack lips. Zecora was little better, sprawled on her back with arms loosely spread, hips still jerking now and then with aftershocks.

Eventually, Rainbow raised her head slightly, and croaked, "Holy manure."

Giggling, Twilight pinched Trixie's nipple, prompting a low groan from her slave. "Did you enjoy that, Rainbow?"

"I don't know whether to ask you to never do that again, or do it every single day for the rest of my life. Fuck," she concluded, shakily retracting her wings and sitting up a little.

"I'd like you both to go back to licking your Mistress's feet, now," Twilight told them gently.

Rainbow didn't even pause to answer before she got down on all fours in a low crouch, and began urgently lapping at the sole of Twilight's foot. Zecora managed a dazed but sincere, "Anything you say, I obey," before joining Rainbow, her full breasts pressed against the rug as she lay full length and began submissively sucking Twilight's toes.

Twilight's hand slipped down to lazily stroke up and down Trixie's tender cunt, caressing between her thighs, prompting a short, sharp whine from the blue mare. "I think this is going to be a good day," she murmured to herself.

It wasn't until later that a fragment of memory presented itself to Twilight, of Trixie desperately begging to be used.

Let Trixie pleasure you, she swears, she'll be your good fucktoy for the rest of her life, she'll try so hard, just let her pleasure you!

Trixie, now that Twilight thought about it, couldn't lie. The conditions laid on her were loose enough to let her exaggerate a little before her compulsion against lying triggered, but swearing to serve Twilight forever? That was far past the boundaries of what she could lie about, and the charm hadn't demanded she apologise for a lie.

She was going to have to think about that carefully.

Five months to go.

Author's Notes:

Between her official duties, the explanations she needs to give important ponies in her life, and her harem of glorious sex slaves, Twilight's schedule is getting a little out of hand.

Proofed speedily and superbly, as always, by Setokaiva.