Author's Notes:

Special thanks to Troposphere, Kiro, Wendy Crescent and everyone else at Clocktower Society for helping edit and proofread this to perfection. I couldn't have done it without you guys!

The grand hall held its breath. Ponies stood rooted in a wide circle, practically pressing into the walls to stay out of the impending blast zone. Only eyes dared move, darting between the alicorn princess’ herd and the slate gray unicorn bearing down upon them like a dark thundercloud.

"The one that involves the very leader of Clocktower Equestria East, you!" The stormy unicorn declared with almost theatrical flare, the kind of delivery that probably took plenty of practice in front of a mirror.

‘Doc is the leader of this society?’, Twilight’s mind reeled at the revelation. ‘And my snooping around might have caused him trouble?’ She still didn’t trust the society, but right or wrong, she felt a pang of guilt at putting her beloved coltfriend in trouble.

Moreover, there was something odd about the way Jet Set had worded his declaration, as if he was providing overt exposition to somepony. That was when she noticed him eyeing her, his smile widening at her look of surprise. He had been gauging her response and, judging from his sneer, had obviously found what he was seeking. Twilight remembered how her parents had given her a list of Canterlot elites to be wary of and Jet Set was right at the top of that list. Now she could see why. ‘What have I given away? She panicked. She looked to her stallion worriedly. He stood silent, giving the offending unicorn a cool look.

“Typical. As always, letting silence speak for you.” Jet Set sighed, dropping his dramatic air with a headshake of disgust. “I swear, we might as well have a boulder lead us. At least it’d have a little more presence than somepony who can’t be bothered to turn up on the shop floor for six months straight.” He looked around the crowd that had stopped to watch the commotion. “That’s all they’re going to remember you by, Doctor Horse. Silence.” He scoffed at the doctor.

Twilight felt Rarity brush past her as her fillyfriend moved up to press her side against her stallion’s in a show of support. Twilight felt just a moment of hesitance before quickly joining her fillyfriend, flanking her stallion’s other side reassuringly. She felt his tail curl around hers and Rarity’s, giving them both a grateful squeeze as he finally found his voice. “The security breach was my fault.” Doctor Horse said, simply. “I will take steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Twilight spotted the stalwart-looking guard stallion from the gates as well as the lazy guard colt who had given her the visitor badge watching from a corner of the room. They flinched with obvious guilt at Doctor Horse’s admission but were quick to bow their heads, blending away into the crowd.

“I’m sure you will, Doctor Horse,” Jet Set said, leaning in. “The question is, are you enough of a leader to get everypony to step with you?” He sneered at Doctor Horse’s impassive glare.

“I certainly don’t have to make a scene to gain attention,” Doctor Horse said.

Jet Set deflated visibly at the doctor’s words. He was just about to open his mouth to retort when he was cut off by a loud voice.

“Ah, Princess Twilight Sparkle, how it honours us to finally be graced by your royal presence!” The crowd quickly parted to make way for a unicorn mare dressed in a very officious white robe trailing magenta vestments. Despite the heavy robe, nopony missed the way her hips sashayed dangerously beneath the flowing cloth like the snaking of an approaching shark. While the rest of her body slithered along, her long slender neck somehow remained still enough to keep her tall priestly hat and the blinkers attached to it from falling off.

“We’re having a discussion here, Reverend Passionate.” Jet Set muttered at the cream yellow mare as she approached.

“Obviously you don’t mind audience participation, considering where you decided to have your little tête-à-tête,” she smiled coldly as she tossed her stiff-cut brown mane at him.

“These are matters beyond your little cult. We’re dealing with a security breach.” Jet Set growled at the new arrival.

“It’s certainly no security breach when royalty graces us with a visit, a potential new member we’ve been waiting for no less. I am sure the royal princess was simply taking the routine tour of our facilities before she decides on joining us. Is that not so, your royal highness?” She smiled sweetly at Twilight. Twilight felt a sudden twinge of hope. It was the lifeline she needed to help her coltfriend out of this mess. All she had to do was agree with this mare. But there was something about that smile that unsettled her – the way her predatory eyes gleamed like embers before a forest fire.

Twilight felt Doctor Horse subtly half-step in between them. At that very moment all her uncertainty over supporting her coltfriend dissolved into nothingness. Her stallion had sensed her discomfort, putting her above this opportunity to ease himself out of trouble. It was enough for her to throw caution to the wind. “Y-yes, that was exactly it,” Twilight said, shakily.

“Twilight,” Doctor Horse whispered worriedly.

“See, Jet Set?” The robed mare gave the gray unicorn a smug leer. “Perhaps you’re just getting paranoid? The church has weekly meditation sessions that can help with that.”

“If this is what things have devolved into, I want no part of this.” Jet Set muttered before thundering away.

“Poor colt. Must be his wife’s influence,” Passionate chuckled at his retreating back. “I shouldn’t keep you either. Mr. Chairpony, Ms. Rarity, your Highness, have an excellent evening.” Twilight didn’t miss the wink Passionate gave her as she sashayed off. The shiver running down her spine made sure of that.

“Are you alright, darling?” Rarity asked as the crowd began to dissolve, finally leaving them alone.

Twilight forced a smile. “I am.”

“I’m sorry this happened, Twilight. But I...I appreciate you covering for me. Thank you,” Doctor Horse smiled at her, though the heaviness in his voice told her his smile was just as forced as her own.

Twilight lapsed into thoughtful silence as she followed him out of the building and into the starry night outside. She had so many questions. Big ones, trivial ones, silly ones. But it felt like there was a wall between her and her herd. And she didn’t know where to even begin. Should she start by apologizing? Or idly asking more about the society? Or maybe even ask how Rarity and Doctor Horse were holding up? She felt herself spiral into a standstill as she imagined every way each question could go wrong and end with her losing her beloved herd. Before she could make up her mind on what to do, she was already in front of her palace in Ponyville.

“Twilight,” Doctor Horse ended up the first to finally break the oppressive silence. “So horseapples happened, can’t deny that,” he said with a sheepish grimace, “But all I care about tonight is that you and Rarity are alright. I know it feels like a lot of secrets just came out all at once. But I’m sure Rarity has already told you that we had long planned on telling you everything, though I certainly imagined it’d involve more chatting over tea and less plummeting to our deaths.” He received a sharp nudge in his side from Rarity.

“What Horseykins is trying to say, darling, is that there are no secrets between us. There were simply things I failed to bring up. And the fault is all mine.” Rarity said, somberly. “I know tonight has been overwhelming, so we want you to take the rest at your own pace, darling. Think of the two of us as open books you can read at your leisure, anytime, anywhere. We’ll answer everything you want to know.”

“And ultimately, Twilight, we love you. The society doesn’t matter to us. You do. If you don’t want anything to do with it, Rarity and I don’t either.” Doctor Horse said to a chorus of nods from Rarity.

“Thank you, both of you.” Twilight said, summoning the courage to reach up and hug her herd tight. They felt like the same old Rarity, same old Doctor Horse. For a moment it felt like nothing had changed. “Would you...would you two stay with me tonight?” She suddenly found herself asking. She wasn’t sure why, but it felt like she simply must stick to them tonight, lest she lose them both forever.

Rarity and Doctor Horse shared a smile before nodding. “I would love to, Twilight,” Doctor Horse said.

“Absolutely, darling.” Rarity nuzzled her herd sister. “But Horseykins is still banished to couchland.”

“Ouch.”

Twilight stared at nothingness. There wasn’t much else to do as she lay sleepless in bed. It had been hours since Rarity’s breathing lapsed into the gentle rhythm of sleep. The sweet unicorn continued to cuddle her even through sleep. She couldn’t hear Doctor Horse in the guest room next door but it was safe to assume he had long since fallen asleep too.

Not having to sleep in couchland certainly helped.

Twilight certainly felt calmer, lying in her familiar bed with her herd sister. But sleep still felt far from her as she lay and stared out of a crack in her curtains. The calm night sky outside was as devoid of answers as her mind, even when she was abuzz with questions. No matter the situation, she was first and foremost a creature of knowledge. She must know. She would repeatedly remind herself of Rarity and Doc’s open offer to answer all her questions. But no matter what, she simply couldn’t bring herself to ask them. There was something holding her back, some invisible wall she couldn’t surmount. But she couldn’t for the life of her figure out what it was.

The first telltale haze of Celestia’s colour was seeping into the sky outside when Twilight finally gave up on the prospect of sleep altogether. She desperately needed answers, and she needed them now. She tossed her blanket off with a frustrated growl. She was Twilight Sparkle, the scholar, the scientist, the one who speaks to books. She does not wait for answers to come to her. She hunts them down and grip them by the appendices.

Where else would Twilight Sparkle seek out answers?

She made up her mind. With a surreptitious wiggle she managed to slip out of Rarity’s cuddle. Her fillyfriend whined softly, groping for her missing hug pillow. Twilight quickly substituted a pillow for herself. “Mmm, lovebiwd~” Rarity cooed, nuzzling the pillow as she settled back into peaceful slumber.

Twilight couldn’t help but smile fondly at her as she carefully crept out of the bedroom. Once safely outside, she lit up her horn and teleported down to her library. The crystal lamps flared to life, lighting up an entire hall filled with column after mighty column of bookcases. Her library was only second to the Canterlot Royal Archives and Celestia’s own personal library. If the answer was to be found in a book, it’d be here.

“Search.” Twilight cast her search-and-display spell. “Key words: Clocktower, Secret Society, Fire of Friendship, Cult.” Spindles of light shot out of her magical glow, seeking out points of interest in her repository of knowledge. One by one, books flew out to her. Twilight licked her lips as the first book landed in her forehooves.

’1000 Secret Hearthswarming Recipes For The Family’

She sighed. It was going to be a loooong morning.

Twilight had to give the society credit. The sun was already creeping in through the windows to peek on her book fort and still she had yet to find anything definitive on the Society. There was certainly mention of a mating cult that once worshipped the Fire of Friendship and the six founders of Equestria, but they reportedly disbanded after they were outlawed for alleged Nightmare Moon worship in the post-lunar-rebellion era. There was mention of a mating cult providing refuge for ponies cursed with hermaphrodism, sexual disorientation and gender confusion by Discord during his reign of chaos. Interestingly, the cult appeared to be protecting these victims from persecution by fellow ponies, a practice that seemed to continue for centuries after Discord was sealed away. There was also mention of a secret society sheltering ‘Lunatics’; the thestrals, astronomers, scientists and mages who were witch-hunted for being alleged worshippers of Nightmare Moon, yet another practice that continued for centuries after Luna’s banishment.

But no matter where she looked, all she could find were disjointed accounts. It was as if somepony had taken steps to erase all significant mention of the society.

Come to think of it, that was probably exactly what happened. ’Secret’ society indeed.

Twilight was just pulling another book out of her to-read pile when a voice spoke up. “Don’t bother, you won’t find it in that book either. Pretty good account of the great Cake Depression of 200 A.C. though.”

Twilight almost jumped out of her seat. “J-Jet Set?!” She gasped, retreating up against a bookcase at the sight of the slate gray unicorn. “Wh-what are you doing in here?!” She demanded.

“It’s a public library, isn’t it? Your assistant even showed me the way here.” Jet Set shrugged his withers with a smile. “Now, please don’t worry, I’m not here to have another fight with the good doctor. I just want to help answer some questions and, seeing all this…” He gestured at the towers upon towers of books surrounding the book fort. “...Doctor and Ms. Rarity still haven’t told you much at all.”

Twilight wanted to tell him that wasn’t any of his business. But if there’s something she’s learned from Celestia and Luna, it’s to keep your enemies close, just in case they let something useful slip. “Why do you want to help me?” She asked, giving him a guarded look.

“Perceptive, succinct, assertive. I like that in a pony.” Jet Set pushed the pair of sports sunglasses up and over his jet black mane as he leaned back on a bookcase. “Simple, really. I think you’re what the Society needs to start changing. Failing that, at the very least I need Horse to sort out his insecurities so he’d come back and actually show his face on the shop floor. We’ve been running without our chairpony for six months and it’s starting to show.”

“Doctor Horse...hasn’t been coming to the society for six months?” Twilight frowned.

“Not on the shop floor he hasn’t, neither has Ms. Rarity, not since they started dating you. Out of respect for you, I suppose,” Jet Set said. “Not going to lie, it’s a pain for me and the society, so it’s in our best interests that you three sort out your problems.”

“So you’re going to tell me everything about the society?” Twilight cocked a suspicious eyebrow at him.

“Nah. I can tell you trust me about as much as a changeling riding a hungry hydra. That’d be a waste of time for both you and me.” Jet Set chuckled, slowly turning to leave. “I’m just here to point you in the right direction. You’re here turning your own library upside down because you’re too afraid of asking your herd one key question - how knotty they prefer their naked pretzels. Am I right?” He gave her a knowing sideways glance.

Twilight almost bit her own tongue at that. She felt a bolt of shame as she realized the infuriatingly smug stallion had hit the nail right on the head. On something she hadn’t even realized about herself, no less. He was reading her like a book, a madly blushing and furiously trembling book. Looks like Jet Set hadn’t earned his reputation as Canterlot’s most cunning nouveau riche for nothing. “How did you….I-I mean, what are you suggesting?” She demanded hotly as she struggled to choke down her blush.

The unicorn gave an amused chuckle. “You need somepony you trust, somepony who knows about the society, but also somepony who has little to no bearing on your relationship with your herd.” Jet Set summed up for her with an effortless ease that left her speechless. “Why don’t you write your sister-in-law a letter? I think you’ll find it most helpful.” He gave her one last mischievous wink before slinking out the door.

Twilight sank back into her chair with an exhausted sigh at the mysterious stallion’s departure. She couldn’t tell whether he was friend or foe, which, to an extent, summed up everything she felt about the society. But he was at least honest about serving his own interests, whatever they were. And he had also helped put to rest the difficult question of whether or not her herd had been going to the society behind her back, something she was sure she could never have asked Rarity and Horse herself.

Twilight closed her eyes as she carefully gathered her thoughts. Infuriating as it was to admit, Jet Set was right. Sure, she had a lot of questions about the Society. But thinking about it carefully, she was already beginning to get a picture of what it was in her head. Rarity had described it as a ‘playground for adults’, a description that painted an overall picture in her mind. The question of the society’s sheer size and scope as well as the mystery of the Fire of Friendship she saw in that immense cavern remained, but those were things she could very easily ask her marefriend and coltfriend. Even the mystery of whatever schemes Jet Set and Reverend Passionate were plotting and whether or not they threatened her coltfriend were things she knew she could better investigated from within the society than without. No, what was stopping her asking them was the question of the sort of ‘games’ the adults played in that ‘playground, whether or not the two of them involved themselves in that and, most importantly…

...most importantly why was Twilight herself so, well, interested, especially in what Tree Hugger, those sisters and Rosemary were put through? Could she...could she herself want that? To be collared and made her Mast-....Doc’s slave? To belong to him? To serve his every whim and desire as she is made to….to….

Twilight gasped as she flailed her hooves, batting away the fantasy along with its intoxicating miasma. ‘Yep, can’t ask Rarity and Doc. Nope. Nope, nope, nope, nope,’ she thought, deciding she’d sooner jump into a Twittermite nest with a metal umbrella than ask her herd about that.

But it was the one question holding her back. She could easily find out everything else about the society if she could just clear this one hurdle. If only there was a pony she knew well enough to ask something that, well, intimate. Somepony who she knew understood the society and the things ponies did there. Somepony she could trust. And, most importantly, somepony who wasn’t her herd.

That was when she remembered the other thing Jet Set had suggested. She wanted to facehoof, but it felt like one facehoof wasn’t enough. She settled for a double facehoof and facewing for completeness. Jet Set had already given her all the answers on a silver platter.

Cadance!

She was obviously a member of the society from what she had overheard the previous night. Plus who better to ask than the very pony who taught her the hooves and the bees? Or was it birds and the cheese? Well, that stuff.

She made up her mind, pulled out a piece of parchment and began to write.

Or at least she tried to. Explaining how she stumbled on what she thought was a big evil slavery operation before proceeding to disguise herself as slave and ending up secretly enjoying imagining herself as an actual one was more difficult that she expected.

"Hi Cadence. Turns out I like being tied up and... no, no, that won't do!" Twilight tossed the draft into the wastebin. “Cadance, I’m wondering what it’s like to be used as urinal and...nope, nope, nope!” It took ten drafts before she managed to get what she thought was a readable letter. She incinerated the others, making sure nopony would ever discover her wildest fantasies put to paper.

After a lot of pondering, debating and assorted hoof-wringing, Twilight finally opted to have the letter sent via snowflake-post. She didn’t dare ask Spike to send it. It wasn’t so much that she was worried about him. The drake had come of age after all, a little fact that was finally hammered home in Twilight’s mind when she witnessed him become the dragon lord for all of five seconds. No, rather, she was worried that, going by the rather uncanny trend, she’d find out he was a Society member too. She would rather not have to deal with any further revelations, at least not then.

No sooner had Twilight sent her letter did the reply-snowflake float through her castle window. It landed gently on their breakfast table just as they were cleaning up. Rarity and Doc shared a grim look at the sight of the letter. Twilight had explained to them how she was going to ask Cadance for some advice. She had to sit down and explain it to them twice more before Rarity managed to hear her through the shock and horror.

‘Dearest Twilight,

I will be at your palace within the hour.’

Love,
C

“Are you sure about this, dear?” Rarity asked as she reread the reply from Cadance for the umpteenth time.

“Yes.” Twilight lied with a smile. “There are some questions I need to ask her.”

“Oh.” Rarity’s ears drooped. “I-I understand, darling.” Doctor Horse quickly placed a comforting forehoof on Rarity’s trembling withers. “I’m sorry, I know how hard it is to trust the two of us at the moment, but...”

“N-no, I didn’t mean it that way. I trust you both completely!” Twilight gasped, backpedalling frantically, “I-it’s just that, um, well, you know…” She gave a resigned sigh. Rarity had already apologized for hesitating to tell her everything. There was no reason for Twilight to have to apologize for the exact same thing. She turned as red as a tomato threatening to violently self-combust as she willed herself to speak up. “...can’t ask...sex slave stuff…” She barely managed a whisper.

“Pardon me, darling?” Rarity’s ears perked up.

“I can’t, you know, ask you two about...the whole sex slave thing.” Twilight mumbled ever so softly.

“Dear, I’m afraid I didn’t catch that.” Rarity crept closer. “What was that you…?”

Twilight bit her lip as she leaned in and whispered in Rarity’s ear. “Hmmm, I see,” Rarity nodded understandingly, “Oh, yes, yes, off course, darling…” She nodded some more as a soft blush crept into her cheeks. “...O-oh my, yes, hmmm, I-I see how that might be a difficult topic to discuss….” Rarity began to fidget in place, her hind legs rubbing together. “O-oh, my, darling, I-I didn’t realize y-you had given it that much thought. O-oh, a-an entire list you say?” Rarity’s eyes widened. “Weights? Riding crops? A-and, o-oh my, t-toilet brushes, where?!” She began to twitch perceptibly, her hindleg-rubbing intensifying. “O-oh, T-twilight, songbird, darling, I...Twilight! Mmmmhhh...darling, Twilight, I…..”

“Rarity.” Doc cleared his throat, giving her one of his rare stern glances.

“O-oh my!” Doc’s prompt sent Rarity flying clear off her fillyfriend as if she had been zapped. “Sorry, sorry, darling, I didn’t mean to interrupt your dirty ta-....I mean, your concerns.” She stammered awkwardly. “Yes, I can see how discussing….all that with us could prove difficult.” Her marefriend. pawed at the floor awkwardly for a moment before finally summoning up the courage to look at Twilight in the eye once more. “Um, are you sure you don’t want to discuss some of it with us? At least that thing about the riding crops?” Rarity asked with a hint of hope.

“Rarity!” Twilight wailed in despair.

“Yes, understood, Twilight. Rarity, down girl! Down!” Doctor Horse pushed his fillyfriend out the castle door. “We’ll give you two some space. Take all the time you need.” He paused to give her an encouraging smile. “I think you’re taking a very brave step here. Thanks, Twilight..”

“You two are worth it.” Twilight gave him an awkward but tight squeeze around the withers which he returned with his usual gentle smile.

“We’ll be at the Haybale Cafe as usual this afternoon so I suppose we’ll see you there.” He gave her a wink before slipping out the door. “Rarity, she said ‘no’. Now, keep walking.” Twilight overheard Doctor Horse shepherding Rarity away.

Twilight sighed as silence settled on the palace’s entrance hall. Unfortunately Rarity and Doc leaving meant she was left alone with her thoughts, and they were especially loud that morning. “Focus, Sparkle”, she reined herself in, “Let’s go over the questions we’re going to ask Cadance. Question 1, ‘why do I want Doc to tie me up and make me his….’ no, wait, that’s question 34. Uh, question 1 was how do I ask Doc to tie me up and….‘ Aaaah, no! Naughty brain! Naughty!” Twilight spent the rest of her wait wearing a new hole in the wall with her horn.

Thankfully for both her naughty brain and her insurance policy, she didn’t get to dig too deep into her wall. True to her promise, Cadance arrived within moments. In fact she simply teleported inside the entrance hall in a shower of baby blue sparkles. She didn’t have her usual royal regalia on and her mane was tied into a practical ponytail, looking less like the Crystal Princess and more like the lovely foalsitter who used to sing her to sleep. “Hello, Twilight,” She greeted Twilight with the tired smile of a battle-worn mother.

“Cadance!” Twilight returned the smile, albeit with a touch of uncertainty.

Cadance seemed to pick up on her hesitance. “Sunshine Sunshine~” She hopped on the tips of her hooves.

Twilight felt a rush of familiarity and reassurance flood her as she allowed herself to fall into the rhythm of their nursery rhyme. “Ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” She was surprised to find she felt all the better for going through the motions. It was familiar, and goodness knows she needed all the familiarity she could get at that point. “It’s good to see you, Cadance.” She couldn’t resist pulling her sister-in-law into a tight hug. She certainly needed it.

“I’m alway glad to see you, Twilight.” Cadance returned the hug fondly.

“How’s my BBBFF and niece?” Twilight asked.

“Shining and Flurry send their love as usual. Shining’s busy trying to manage the influx of changeling deserters. Flurry Heart’s learned her first word, ‘Hrp’. Shining’s been trying to add it to the Crystal Empire dictionary.” Cadance chuckled. “In fact Flurry was the reason I couldn’t rush over any sooner. The fastest way over from the Crystal Empire is through the teleportation hub you probably saw last night at the society. Obviously I couldn’t bring Flurry through there so I had to wait for Sunburst to come foalsit her.”

“I’m sorry for making you come over.” Twilight murmured as she rubbed a hoof apologetically.

“No, Twilight, this is very important,” Cadance said firmly. “I am glad you thought of me first and sent me a letter. Luckily for you I know the society you mentioned in your letter.”

Twilight felt a twinge of sheepish guilt at that. She had carefully omitted overhearing Cadance’s name mentioned or Jet Set’s suggestion. “Oh, eheheh, you do, huh?” Twilight gave a nonchalant chuckle that didn’t sound unnaturally nervous in the slightest.

“Yes, quite well in fact.” Cadance smiled, nodding towards the privacy of the throne room. “From what I gather from your letter, it looks like you’ve gotten quite well acquainted with it yourself, in your own way.” She gave a little giggle as they closed the throne room door behind them. Twilight couldn’t help but chuckle sheepishly herself as she invited Cadance to take Rarity’s seat at the cutie map table while she took her own. “What you did was quite brave, actually, Twilight.” Cadance said, giving her a grateful nod as Twilight poured out tea out of a service Rarity had prepared for their talk. “Ponies generally get introduced to the society gently with plenty of warning on what to expect before the actual visitor’s tour, much like how first time swimmers would wade into the shallow end of the pool with a guiding hoof. You, on the other hoof, have gone and leapt straight into the deep end with no life vest. Discovering the society for the first time is always a delicate matter. I’m sorry yours wasn’t the pleasant experience it was meant to be for newcomers.”

“Well, I guess my rushing my way into things didn’t help either.” Twilight chuckled sheepishly.

“Most often there is no replacement for firsthoof experience. Ponies have an easier time believing what they see for themselves.” Cadance nodded. “Unfortunately what you see isn’t always real, and that is certainly the case with the Society. Everything you saw the moment you walked down those stairs was make-believe, a game of pretend between consenting adults, one that can be stopped at any time with the use of a safe word.”

Twilight nodded. She had come to that conclusion as well, at the very least, but it was still good to have some confirmation. “So you’re a member of the Society as well, Cadance?”

“I am.” Cadance nodded. “In fact, I am something of the Society’s adviser. I help oversee the two Equestrian sites as well as the Crystal Empire site and sit on the Society’s worldwide board.”

Twilight nodded. She had already gathered that the scope of the Society’s operations was worldwide from that map she saw. “And they are all working together to maintain the Fires of Friendship.” She summed up.

Cadance looked impressed at her conclusion. “Correct. Or, as we in the society call it, the ‘Fire of Devotion’. I take it you figured it out when you saw it burning in the Cavern of the First Flame last night.”

“Is it the same one from the stories?” Twilight asked, her curiosity peaking.

“The very same.”

“Did it really drive away the Windigos?”

“Well, no, technically it didn’t. It gave ponies the power to fight back, armed them with its blaze and shielded them with its light.” Cadance’s expression turned serious. “Ponykind fought a valiant crusade across the known world, liberating all the other races from Windigo oppression, sharing the Fire with them and uniting the world against eternal winter.”

“But then why the secrecy?” Twilight continued on her train of thought. “If the Society is working to preserve the very thing that prevented the Windigos from returning, why must it do so in hiding?”

“That’s an excellent question, unfortunately one with a cumbersomely long answer,” Cadance said, “In brief, the Fire of Devotion is fueled by ‘acts of devotion’, ‘giving’ oneself in a relationship. While this occurs to an extent in love and even friendship, nowhere is it as marked as it is in the most extreme expression of ‘giving’, that is fetishized consensual domination and submission, as the founders of Equestria quickly discovered. But these acts have always been frowned upon, even during the post-unification era. Unicorns believed their race must bow to nopony. Absolute military conquest was core to pegasi doctrine. And Earth ponies were wary of being made to submit to the other tribes ever again. Despite their role in preserving the world, the Society and its members always faced prejudice and discrimination.

“Things took a turn for the worse when anything and everything connected to Aunty Luna became the object of persecution following the lunar rebellion one thousand years ago. That included the Society which was considered under Luna’s protection and patronage at the time. The Society went underground and has remained so since.” Cadance said with a grim look, “Today the Society remains in hiding to protect the privacy and discretion of its members. Plus everypony finds all the smoke and mirrors make it all the more exciting.” She finished with a giggle.

The scholar in Twilight was practically dancing on hot coals with all the information. For such a powerful magical artifact to still exist - Twilight’s mind raced with the possibilities. “So the Fire of Frien-...I mean, Devotion can share its magic with ponies?”

“We’re digressing.” Cadance observed with an amused chuckle. “But in answer to your question, any race can make use of the Fire’s power. That’s why every nation in the world has at least one Clocktower site of its own. You might recall the shield Shiny set up around Canterlot and the barrier I raised around the Crystal Empire. Those were both Fire of Devotion spells.”

Twilight had assumed the Canterlot shield was one of those top secret military-grade spell and the Crystal Empire barrier was Cadance’s own alicorn magic. She would have gone positively Want-It-Need-it at the revelation that it was all the product of an ancient magical artifact. That is, if only her mind hadn’t decided to go on a completely different tangent, one that involved mentally ramming her horn into a desk. ‘Cadance is a society member. Of course that means Shining Armour is too! Why didn’t I realize this sooner?!’ Twilight found herself idly wondering who ties up who before returning to ramming her mental horn against her mental desk in an effort to quash the mental image of her brother in a collar and Rosemary’s maid uniform. “Does that mean my BBBFF is….” Twilight left the rest of the question hanging awkwardly in the air.

Cadance only giggled pleasantly at that. “Now, now, Twilight, as much as I’d love to spend our rare moment together chatting away about Shiny, I think we’re straying further and further away from the issue at hoof.” She chided. “Now, you did mention that discovering the society has caused problems with your herd.”

“Oh, um, yes, that.” Twilight’s ears fell at the grim reminder.

“Oh, Twilight.” Cadance pulled her fellow Princess into a tight, sudden hug. “This is probably the first time you’ve ever hit a snag in a relationship, isn’t it? Well, in a way it’s a sign of your relationship maturing.”

“Uh, Cadance….” Twilight managed to squeak in Cadance’s vice-like hug.

“Herds go through rough patches all the time, Twilight. And getting through them together can toughen a relationship more than any amount of kisses and cuddles.” Cadance went on.

“Cadance, the problem I mentioned…” Twilight struggled to get a word in.

“I’m not just saying this as the Princess of Love, I’m saying this from personal experience.” Cadance went on regardless. “The whole thing with the changelings was a big hurdle and it took Shining and I weeks to work through that together. And trust me when I say the two of us have come out closer than in all our years of dating.”

“I trust you. But my problem is, I’m kind of interested in….” Twilight took another daring stab at speaking up.

“It takes communication, listening, and cuddles. Lots of it.” Cadance said, giving Twilight a quick demonstration with a squeeze. “I promise you there are no problems a loving herd can’t solve with calm, rational discussion. Your herd is no exception. Everypony simply has to sit down and listen.”

“The problem is IThinkIWantToBeTiedUpAndMadeDoc’sSexSlaveAndIDon’tUnderstandWhyAndI’mSoConfusedAndICan’tTalkToThemAboutItBecauseReasons!” Twilight seized upon Cadance pausing to take a breath and blurted her mind out all at once.

There was a pregnant pause. It gave birth to many more awkward little pauses. At least it gave Twilight enough time to actually listen to the echoes bouncing around the throne room.

‘Tied up and made Doc’s sex slave….sex slave….sex slave...slave....slave….’ The echoes bounced around like the dying wails of a horny book horse, mercilessly burning the words into her ears.

Twilight wished she could crawl into her tea cup and drown herself. Perhaps with the right mini-me-entirely spell calibrated to the tea cup’s dimensions she could do exactly that. But her guest had a different fate in mind. Twilight quickly found herself at the receiving end of a tight glomp straight to the heart.

“Oh, Twilight!” Cadance sent Twilight flying out of her fur, albeit not quick enough to escape her surprise-glomp. “That was the most adorable thing I’ve ever heard!” Twilight was very acutely reminded of the fearsome boa constrictors of the Amarezonian rainforests.

“E-eepp...G-glad...ulp...y-you like….agh...it….” Twilight tried to make herself heard over the sound of her ribs creaking under the rising snuggle-pressure. “C-Cadance, s-safe word thing! Safe word thing!” She croaked.

“Oh? Ah, yes, sorry,” Cadance giggled, quickly releasing her hapless captive. “You learn quickly, Twilight.”

“Th-thanks.” Twilight coughed, taking a sip of tea to clear her throat.

“So all you’re really worried about is telling Doc you want him to tie you up and make you his personal sex slave.” Cadance summed up neatly in the same tone one might use to comment on the weather or the coal prices in Zebrica. “The solution is simple. Just tell him you want him to tie you up and make you his personal sex slave.”

Twilight spurted her tea all over the cutie map. She hacked and coughed what little was left as she struggled to give Cadance a look of disbelief. She managed watery twitching at best. To her amazement she found Cadance was staring levelly back at her. ‘Sh-she’s not joking,’ Twilight gasped inwardly.

“What’s stopping you?” Cadence asked, simply.

“Wha-?” Twilight balked at the question. “Well, that’s entirely because it’s all so...so…” She stared at Cadance. She hadn’t stopped to even consider why it was so difficult to discuss in the first place. “...you know, wrong.” She finished lamely.

“Is that so?” Cadance gave a solemn nod, allowing them a moment of silence as she sipped her tea. She looked up from tea cup to give Twilight a look. “So, tell me, Twilight. What’s ‘wrong’ with wanting to be tied up and made a sex slave by your coltfriend?”

Twilight was thrown even more off balance. It was such a painfully obvious question. And yet the more she pondered it, the less certain she became. What’s wrong with wanting to do things like that with Doc, the stallion she loved? He was obviously partial to it. Hay, he’s the leader of a secret society devoted to such things. And she kind of, sort of, maybe, possibly, totally wanted it too. And what’s wrong with that?

“N-Nothing.” Twilight gasped as the answer struck her like the sudden opening of a heavy door.

Cadance smiled at her answer. “Indeed, Twilight, there is nothing wrong with wanting to share something special and intimate with your loved ones as long as it’s safe and you both want it.”

But Twilight’s doubts simply refused to be put to rest. “B-but, still, asking Doc to be rough with me, to hurt me, that’d be, well, horrible.” She shuddered at the thought.

“Twilight, honey, It isn’t horrible.” Cadance said, firmly. “It is simply asking a stallion to pleasure a mare he loves, something he too would no doubt enjoy. It is an act as innocent as cuddling and kissing your loved one.”

“But what would everypony else think?” Twilight murmured, uncertainly.

“There are indeed ponies outside who will try and tell you that it’s wrong, that it’s dirty, that you should feel guilty for expressing your love in your own way.” Cadance completed her thought for her. “But I promise you Twilight, on my honour as the Princess of Love, there is nothing wrong with ponies being more adventurous in their intimacy as long as it’s safe, sane and consensual. That is what the Society stands for - Making that, all of that, not only ‘not wrong’, but right. It is a place where you can openly express your desires and devotion freely without fear or shame. At the very least, it’s a place where you can do all that in secret.” She gave Twilight a mischievous wink.

Twilight blinked as she sat back, letting all that slowly sink in. “S-so there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be tied up…?”

“No.” Cadance smiled.

“Being made into a sex slave?”

“As long as both of you want it.”

“Being spanked on my flank until I scream?”

“Nothing wrong with that either, as long as you know to use your safeword if it gets too much.”

“To be ridden by doc like a wild mare until he breaks me with his big….”

“Yes, Twilight, that’s perfectly, absolutely, completely alright.” Cadance interrupted, her voice firm, her face the colour of a tomato struggling for self-expression.

“Oh.” Twilight’s face was a picture of either enlightenment, rosy arousal, or both. The door in her mind was open, if only just enough for her to squeeze through. But she could see past it, see all the possibilities that lay beyond. That guilt she felt in envying Tree Hugger, the twins and Rosemary melted away into a sense of jealous happiness for those submissives who had found the dominants they belong to. But she felt her heart fluttering at the knowledge that her jealousy would be short lived. The two ponies she knew she belonged with were already Society members.

The two ponies she belonged with….Doc and Rarity…

“Doc! Rarity! I-I need to speak to them!” Twilight gasped, realizing there was nothing stopping her from finally lifting the awkwardness hanging upon her beloved herd.

“Uh, Twilight? Don’t you want to know anything else about….?” Cadance’s question hung awkwardly in the air like the shower of sparkles left in the wake of Twilight’s sudden teleportation. “I guess you don’t.” She murmured awkwardly to her new friend, thin air.

“Oh, by the way, thanks, Cadance!” Another burst of sparks and Cadance found herself on the receiving end of a sudden hug. “My love to my BBBFF and my BNBFF! Sorry for rushing but I need to go tell Doc I want him to tie me up and make me his sex slave!” Another blinding flash of light and a shellshocked Cadance was once again left alone with her conscience.

“What….” Cadance quavered, her face a picture of horror, “....have I unleashed?”

Rarity stared pointedly at the bread basket, willing it to show her some glimpse of the future, something, anything. Unfortunately all it told her was a future imminently devoid of breadsticks, all of which was being dunked into her coltfriend’s cup of coffee and left to sink to their soggy end. “Would you please stop that, darling?” Rarity frowned at Doc as he sought to drown yet another hapless breadstick.

“Oh, sorry, dear. I was just...living vicariously through our appetizers.” Doc murmured apologetically at the bread basket.

“You mean drowning yourself vicariously?” Rarity raised an eyebrow.

“That too.” Doc nodded, somberly. “I mean, I can’t use the sweet rolls. They remind me of her. So do the baguettes and the sesame buns. Even the sugar lumps and cream remind me of her.” He looked up at Rarity. “Maybe waiting at the Haybale wasn’t such a good idea. Everything here reminds me of her.”

“Darling, even the broomsticks outside remind you of her.” Rarity sighed. “It’ll be alright, surely.” She gave him a reassuring pat on the withers. At least looking after her lovesick coltfriend spared her from staring at the empty seat where their missing fillyfriend had sat just the day before. She bit her lip at the painful reminder.

It could have been her sitting down with Twilight to explain the intricacies of hardcore kink, discussing the sense of submission in having one’s safewords, sharing all her passions with her special somepony. She had had four months to make it happen. Four whole months! But what did she do?

Rarity growled at herself as she dunked a twirly cheese-stick into her tea cup, drowning it with vindictive fury. If only she could just turn back time to that moment four months ago when Princess Cadence summoned them both to her office, that titillating second when she and Doc were told of Twilight’s interest in their passion. She would do things differently. She would be open, honest, the ideal picture of the fillyfriend her beloved songbird deserved. She would, in Rainbow’s rather crass phrasing, grow a pair.

“We’ll do it right this time.” Rarity said determinedly, giving her coltfriend’s hoof a tight squeeze.

“I hope so.” Doc muttered morosely. “Because I’m running out of breadsticks.” He eyed the breadsticks consigned to the abyss of his coffee. “And I don’t think there’s a big enough bread basket for a ‘next time’.”

“There shall be no talk of ‘next times’, darling. Twilight’s heart is big enough for the both of us. And together we will do right by her.” Rarity said, determinedly.

“You always know what to say, dear.” Doc smiled, nuzzling his fillyfriend lovingly. “What would I do without you?”

“Silly question.” She booped him on the nose playfully. “You will never do without me, because we’ll always do everything together. Now, listen, when Twilight comes in through that door, we will…” She was just turning to face the door when she was struck by a sudden pause. “Twilight!”

“I like this plan.” Doc chuckled, watching as Rarity flung herself across the room so fast she set off a particularly impressive Sonic Rariboom in her wake.

“Oh, my dear beloved songbird, you came baaaAAAaaaack!” Rarity wailed as she struck the alicorn at the door with all the force of a bunny rabbit stampede.

“Ooof!” The impact blew all the wind out of Twilight. “Jeez, Rarity, I’ve only been gone a little more than an hour.” She giggled down at the unicorn clutching her chest.

“O-oh, is that how long it’s been?” Rarity looked up from where she had buried her face in Twilight’s chest fluff.

“Then it’s an hour too long, Twilight.” Twilight giggled softly at her coltfriend’s words as he pulled both his mares into a hug. “Especially when you’re telling the time with breadsticks.”

“It felt like ages. Oh, I’m so sorry for being ever so silly, I just…” Rarity stammered, nervously.

“It’s alright, Rarity.” Twilight giggled softly, curling her own hooves around her. “I know this has gone on far too long.”

“Wh-what do you mean, dear?” A touch of panic entered Rarity’s voice. Doc remained silent, though the sudden tension in his hug did not go unnoticed.

“I’ve decided.” Twilight said, her grin radiating nothing but confidence. “Doc, I want you to tie me up and make me your sex slave!” She declared.

Rarity and Doc could only gape at her in what may be disbelief, mayhaps abject horror, most likely both.

Twilight gave a soft pony-meep at the awkward silence. “Um, am I doing it wrong?”

Author's Notes: After much deliberation and backwards-and-forwardsing on my part about how best to undig the holes I had dug myself into unknowingly (which you all kindly pointed out for me), I have finally managed to put together what I think is a coherent attempt. I sincerely wanted this to be the best possible end-product it could be for you guys, hence the long wait. This was not without a lot of help and support from the wonderful people at Clocktower Society and all the proofreading, editing and general pushing along they did for me. I could not have possibly done it without them.

What's next? Well, now that the story's finally moving, we can get to the fun stuff of following Twilight as she discovers the society the way it was meant to be explored. Firsthoof clop, that is. You can also look forwards to a lot more extra Clocktower material in the form of more hot stories from other great authors. There's Razzle Dazzle, Extra Sprinkles by Double Rainboom and The Makings of a Songbird by Wendy Crescent if you haven't checked them out already. And there's even more on the horizon from Fimfic BDSM authors both veteran and new producing more CTS side stories as well as lore chapters and guest chapters. And if you haven't already, take a look at the CTS tumblr to catch up on all the art and other mini-vignettes too hot to post here.

See you all soon in the next chapter!