“Come along, Slave,” Twilight said, tugging on the leash locked to the collar of the mare behind her. “We don’t want to be late for our appointment.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Twilight Velvet said, as the pair walked through a quiet side street on the outskirts of Canterlot. The duo had been forced to use the side streets to reach their destination. Twilight Sparkle’s tight black bodysuit and silver collar naturally drew every eye to her on their own, but combined with the sight of the mature, trim form of a collared Twilight Velvet being led on a leash, it became a choice of take to the side streets or summon the Guard to clear a main route.

“I’m not familiar with this area, Slave,” Twilight said, as they came to an intersection. She frowned slightly and biting her lower lip asked, “Which way do we go from here?”

“To the left, Mistress,” Velvet said, tilting her head as she studied the indecisive mare who held the end of her leash. “Dandelions,” she said, coming to a decision. Twilight sighed loudly in relief as she heard Twilight Velvet say the “timeout” safe word for their exercise.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” Velvet asked her daughter.

“That’s a funny one, Mom,” Twilight said, stepping closer to her mother. “I’m walking my mother on a leash, through Canterlot, while addressing her as ‘Slave’. What could possibly be wrong?”

“Dear, are we getting a little hysterical again?’ Velvet asked, putting a hoof on her daughter’s shoulder. “We’ve been at this for four days now, you know why we’re doing this.”

“We’re reversing the dominant/submissive paradigm that Alyss built up in me,” Twilight said, in a sing-song voice. “By doing so I will re-internalize my self-determination and no longer be dependant on commands from those I have been conditioned to see as having power over me.”

“Straight out of the textbook, dear,” Velvet said. “But I know that look. Something else is nagging away at you. Come on. Out with it.”

“This is going to sound weird...” Twilight said, looking down as her voice trailed off.

“Weirder than my daughter travelling to an Equestria dominated by Flim and Flam, of all ponies?” Velvet asked, snorting. “Weirder than the two of us looking like a mother-daughter spread in the fetish edition of Playmare?”

“Yah, um Mom...don’t get offended by this,” Twilight said. “But are you attracted to me? Physically?” Twilight Velvet looked her daughter in the face like somepony that had just been blindsided by a wagon. Then she collapsed to the ground in laughter, holding her sides.

“Mom!” Twilight said, leaning over her mother. “I’m serious here.” No response came from Twilight Velvet, except laughter that got even louder.

“Mother,” Twilight growled, pulling Velvet’s head off the ground by her leash, and holding it so that the two were nose to nose. “Answer me. Are. You. Attracted. To. Me?” Velvet, half-choked by the collar around her throat, stopped laughing and shook her head, but her broad smile remained. At the response in the negative, Twilight blinked, and realized that she had her mother in a slow strangle.

“Ponyfeathers, Mom!” Twilight exclaimed, using her magic to lift up Velvet’s head and relieve the pressure on her mother’s throat. “Why didn’t you safeword or something? I could have hurt you.”

“Dear,” Velvet began, pausing to clear her throat and rub it a bit. “First off, I trust you. You would have stopped yourself in time. Second, I could have stopped you at any time. My magic isn’t bound in any way. Third...um, may I stand, Mistress?”

“What? Ah, yes, of course,” Twilight said, flipping her mother to her hooves and helping her stand up.”

“Thank you,” Velvet’s smile, if anything, was even more satisfied. “Now then. Third, to answer your question: I can appreciate your physical beauty and how well you fit certain fetishes of mine, but only for the split seconds when I can pretend you’re not my daughter. So, no. I’m not physically attracted to you. Fourth, and finally, that was the most dominant and in control that you been since you got back.”

“Wait, what?” Twilight asked, trying to absorb what her mother was saying.

“You weren’t submissive,” Velvet said, twirling a hoof around her leash. “You weren’t faking dominance to look good for me, you were in control. In control of the face and the voice you were trained to submit to.” Twilight blinked.

“I was, wasn’t—” Twilight began to say, in realization.

“HEADS UP!” came a sudden shout from above, as a grey and blond streak hurtled toward mother and daughter. The two tried to leap apart to get out of the way, but forgot the leash still connected them both. They leaped back a foot or so, the leash snapped taut and the pair were rebounded right back into each other, just as the blur impacted the spot they were pulled to. There was a thunderous crash, a cloud of dust and then all was silent for several moments on the quiet side street.

“Is...is everypony alright?” Twilight Sparkle said at last, as she lifted her head. The forms of two still ponies lay several feet to either side of her. One of them, a familiar grey furred pegasus began to stir and groan, but her mother’s form was scarily silent.

“Mom!” Twilight shouted, pulling herself up to her hooves and unsteadily moving to her mother. To Twilight’s relief her mother began to moan and stir as Twilight gently touched her shoulder.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Derpy exclaimed. “I’ve got letters for you and I got all excited to find you and I dove and didn’t realize—”

“Calm down, Derpy,” Twilight said, examining her mother’s body with magic. “I don’t think anything’s broken, she’s just knocked out.”

“I’ll call for help,” Derpy said, pulling out a flare from her work bag and launching it into the air, where it exploded with a satisfying “pop” of yellow sparks. “There should be a team of first-aid ponies here in a few minutes.”

“I think she’s coming around,” Twilight said as she magically unlocked her mother’s collar and slipped it off her neck so she could breathe easier.

“Ooh,” Velvet moaned, trying to raise her head. “Did anyone get the name of that delivery cart?”

“Lay still, Mom,” Twilight said, keeping her mother’s head down. “You’ve been in a collision, there are medics on the way.” Behind Twilight, Derpy fretted back and forth with a small parcel of letters under her wing.

“Is there anything I can do to make up for this?” the mailmare asked putting a wing over Twilight as she hoofed over the mail.

“Just stick with me, Derpy,” Twilight said, as she heard the siren of the medical services begin to approach.

“I’ll be fine, dear,” Velvet said, sounding much steadier. “You can let me up.”

“You should keep lying down, Royal Dam Velvet,” Derpy said. “The medics will take you to Canterlot General and get you checked out.”

“Royal what?” both Twilight’s asked, confused.

“Dam,” Derpy said. “No pony told you? As the mother of a princess, Celestia decided to give her the title of ‘Royal Dam'. She didn't want to make a big deal of it, but the Princess made sure all of the royal servants know.’” The medics turned the corner, an earth pony pulling a small wagon at top speed, with a unicorn hanging on for dear life.

“I haven’t spoken to Celestia since I got back,” Twilight said behind gritted teeth, as the wagon skidded to a stop. “Over here please, my mother has been in an accident.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” said the unicorn, hopping off the wagon. “Let me have a look at her.” Twilight backed away to stand beside a panting earth pony who was slowly unharnessing himself from the wagon.

“How did you know who we were?” she asked the pony, as he began to open up compartments in the wagon revealing various pieces of medical gear,

“Princess Twilight, every medical pony and artificer in Canterlot wants to get their hooves on you,” the earth pony said with a grin, getting out a stretcher to lay behind the unicorn that was carefully examining Twilight Velvet’s head and eyes. “That suit of yours is the topic of a lot of debate in the medical and enchanting communities.”

“Oh,” Twilight said, and her mind blanked for a moment from the memories. “How is my mother doing?” she asked the unicorn in an effort to change the subject.

“Stunned, it appears, Your Highness,” the unicorn said, concentrating on their patient. “I’m not seeing any wounds or broken bones, but I’d like to take her to Canterlot General for some tests and observation.”

“I’m fine,” Twilight Velvet said, but everypony present could hear the shake in her voice.

“Mom,” Twilight said, in a voice of command. “You’re going to the hospital, You’re going to get checked out, you are going to listen to the doctors, and after my appointment I will come to the hospital, and either take you home or bring you whatever you need.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Velvet murmured with a mischievous smile, laying her head on a small pillow the doctor had put there. The two medics shared a quick glance, cocking an eyebrow at each other, before quickly and professionally placing Twilight Velvet on a stretcher.

“Take good care of her, gentlecolts,” Twilight said, as the stretcher was carefully carried to the wagon. “She means the world to me.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” the unicorn said. “We’ll treat her as if she was our own mother.” They secured the stretcher and its cargo in place, and headed off at a more sedate pace then when they had arrived. Twilight turned to see Derpy bowing low to her, trembling.

“I’m so sorry, Twilight!” Derpy said, in tears. “I just wanted to get your letters to you because Princess Celestia said everypony needed to be extra helpful to you and I just don’t know what went wrong with my approach and—” Twilight stopped the rambling apology by the simple method of putting a hoof on Derpy’s mouth.

“Derpy, it was an accident,” Twilight said, smiling down in reassurance. “But if you really want to make it up to me I need to know if you can work directly for me for the rest of the day.”

“Of course, Twilight!” Derpy exclaimed, happy that she could help fix what had happened. “You were my last delivery of the day, so I’m available for whatever you need.”

“Good, because I need you to be my submissive servant for the rest of the day,” Twilight said, with a smirk as she held up Velvet’s collar and attached leash in front of Derpy.

“Um, okay. I mean I already am a servant of the Crowns, Princess,” Derpy said with some obvious trepidation. Nonetheless, she stood and stretched her neck out for Twilight.

“It's nothing sexual, Derpy. I swear,” Twilight said, even as she buckled the collar around the mailmare’s neck. “But as part of my therapy, I’m supposed to be physically in control of another pony at this meeting I’m heading to. My mother wanted to do it for me, but she's too shaken up, so you’re doing me a big favour by taking her place. Plus, you'll be home in time for dinner with Dinky, and I can pay you extra. You can still say ‘no’, if you want though. I’ll understand."

“Your servant, O Princess,” Derpy said, smiling. “Command me, and I shall obey.”

“Well, Princess Twilight,” the tall champagne coloured mare said to her over a cup of tea. “I have to say I’m surprised at who you have on the end of your leash today. Would you mind introducing me?”

“Shaushka, allow me to introduce my servant, Derpy Hooves,” Twilight said, appearing to absently stroke the blond pegasi’s mane. Derpy obediently sat on the floor next to Twilight, leaning slightly into the caressing hoof of her princess. Shaushka opened her empathic senses for a moment. The pegasus didn’t taste of anything sexual, as one might expect from somepony who had allowed themselves to be leashed, collared and led into a brothel. Instead, the pegasus radiated friendship and support.

“Slave Derpy—” Shaushka began, hoping Twilight would rise to the bait and interrupt her.

“She isn’t a slave,” Twilight interrupted, with some heat in her voice. “Derpy is a Royal Mailmare, and she offered to be my personal servant for today. But she is not a slave. ‘Slave’ implies ownership and Derpy is here of her own free will.”

“My apologies, Princess,” Shaushka said with a slight smile. “I find myself corrected. Servant Derpy, may I ask how you feel, sitting here, while wearing a collar and a leash?”

“I’m here because Twilight is my friend, and my princess,” Derpy said. “I messed up a bit today, so it feels really good to help her in any way I can.”

“Any way you can...” Shaushka said, taking another sip of tea. She sent a gentle pulse of magic to the drawing room doors, locking them. Twilight cocked an eyebrow at the sound, but said nothing.

“Derpy,” the disguised changeling continued, with another sip of tea, “what would you say if I asked Twilight to take you, sexually, right here, right now.”

“I wouldn’t say anything,” Derpy said, as Shaushka's eyes widened in surprise. “I would wait for Twilight to refuse. She said nothing like that would happen, and I trust her.” Twilight’s face broke into a smile as Derpy voiced her confidence in her princess and Shaushka’s eyes narrowed in understanding.

“I asked Twilight to bring a pony with her today,” Shaushka said, deciding to push the issue. “A pony she could have complete command and control over. She brought you, so I am fairly sure that if I did ask her to bend you over and have at you, as part of her therapy, she’d do it. You’re a pegasus, and both Twilight and I can do magic. You wouldn’t be able to stop us from doing anything we wanted.” Derpy’s eyes widened a bit, but otherwise she didn’t move or try to escape and Shaushka did her best to hide her pleasure at Derpy’s confidence in Twilight.

“In that situation, I would champion Derpy’s choice,” Twilight said, and the faintest shimmer of raspberry coloured magic began to coat her horn. “Derpy made a choice to put herself at my command today, and I choose to not betray the trust she’s placed in me.”

“How is it betrayal when she wears your collar, a token of your ownership?” Shaushka replied, keeping her tone conversational while setting down her teacup. “Whether she chose to put it on or not, she is now yours to command, to control, to use or abuse as you will.”

“No, she is NOT!” Twilight shouted, enraged, her horn blazing to full power. “Just because a pony wears a collar does not mean that anypony can do anything to them, and I will fight anypony who tries.”

“Who fights for you, Twilight?” Shaushka said, making absolutely sure she did nothing that could be construed as an attack. “You wear a collar, you were used and abused. Who fought for you?”

“I fought for me!” Twilight roared back. “I fought with everything I had, and I’m still fighting! For me, for 143, for all those ponies I left behind! I choose to fight!”

“Good,” Shaushka said calmly, and that word echoed into a sudden silence.

“What?” Twilight asked, blinking and rocking back in surprise.

“Derpy,” Shaushka said, as a confused Twilight extinguished her horn, “I need an outside opinion. How do you feel about Twilight right now?”

“Proud,” Derpy replied, instantly. “Everypony knows she got hurt on her last adventure, and we all know what she’s wearing has something to do with it. She got hurt bad, but she’s still the same brave Twilight Sparkle that’s saved Equestria before. She makes me proud to be a Royal Servant and I’ll help her in any way I can.”

“You...you goaded me into that outburst,” Twilight said, in a much calmer voice, taking stock of herself. “Why?”

“Two reasons,” Shaushka said. “First, I needed you to demonstrate that you don’t think of yourself as a victim anymore, and second, you needed to hear yourself say that. You kept fighting when a lot of other ponies would have given up and just tried to survive. Survival wasn’t enough for you. You fought back, for yourself and for the friend you made in that place.”

“So, just like that, I’m all better?” Twilight asked, some sarcasm in her voice.

“You know better than that, Princess,” Shaushka said, checking a clock on the wall. “You were hurt right down to your core, but thanks to your family and your friends,” she smiled at Derpy, who blushed, “I think you are indeed healing, and in time you will be all the stronger for your experiences.”

“Leave it to an emotivore to know emotions,” Twilight said, and Shaushka’s eyes grew wide.

“Wait, how did you—” Shaushka began, then cut off as a clock began to rapidly chime. “Quick, everypony. Up against the walls.” Twilight hesitated for a moment but then she heard the sound of a body rapidly falling from the sky and pulled herself and Derpy against the wall. A moment later, the ceiling fell in and everything was obscured by dust and debris.

As the detritus settled Twilight began to make out a tall figure standing in the room, directly under the new skylight in the ceiling. About ten seconds or so later the haze cleared enough to reveal the alabaster form of Princess Celestia, her horn ablaze with golden power as she held an unresisting Shaushka pinned up against the wall in her magic.

“Where is Twilight, Shaushka? I felt her magic flare here and then die suddenly. What have you—” Celestia was saying before Twilight interrupted her.

“Put her down,” Twilight growled at Celestia, coughing before continuing. “I mean it Celestia. Put my therapist down. Right. NOW!” Celestia turned to see Twilight, legs braced in a battle stance, completely envelop herself in a brilliant aura of raspberry coloured magic.

“Twilight, thank goodness,” Celestia said, still holding the now revealed changeling against the wall in her golden magic. Twilight’s response was a needle thin spear of flame that lanced over Celestia’s left shoulder, scorching fur and feather alike in its ravening course, before impacting on the wall.

“I won’t ask you again, Celestia,” Twilight said, her voice implacable. “Drop the changeling now, and if you even think of trying to bring up a shield, the next blast takes off your horn.” Celestia just stared at her former student in surprise, and then shook herself as she realized Twilight was in deadly earnest.

“Twilight...I...yield,” Celestia said slowly, setting down Shaushka as she did and powering down her horn. For a long, long moment Twilight stood there, ready for battle, mane and tail streaming in the flow of her magic. Bits of power, like St.Elmo’s fire, crackled and curled around her limbs, contained and controlled by the suit she wore. Taken as a single image, she was the very definition of the term, “Element of Magic.”

“Twilight,” Celestia repeated, in a calming voice as she knelt. “I yield. I’ve put down the changeling.” Something seemed to pass out of Twilight as she actually saw that Celestia had stood down and she relaxed, releasing her magic.

“I’m...I’m sorry, Princess,” Twilight said, putting a hoof over her face. “Please, get up.”

“Thank you, Twilight,” Celestia said, getting to her hooves, continuing in that same calm voice. “Do you mind if I clean things up a bit? I seem to have made a bit of a mess.”

“Please Celestia, will you stop being so kind and understanding,” Twilight said, frustration plain in her voice. “Get mad at me or something. I just threatened you, for pony’s sake.” Celestia walked around the room a bit, flashes of magic in her wake where things had been knocked over or broken, restoring them.

“Twilight, I’m relieved, not angry with you,” Celestia said, as her magic fixed the hole in the roof. “Shaushka has lived in Canterlot for a long time under a very strict set of guidelines. She’s never broken them, but when I felt your magic flare and then cut out, I feared the worst and came rushing in. Perhaps a little too hastily.”

“It’s okay, Princess” a voice said from beneath a tablecloth. “I know all about being too hasty!”

“Derpy!” Twilight exclaimed, pulling off the table cloth. “Are you okay?” The mare appeared to be lying on her side. As Twilight bent to examine Derpy, it became apparent that the leash attached to her collar had wrapped around the mailmare’s hooves, effectively hogtieing her. It was the work of a moment to undo the leash.

“Derpy Hooves,” Celestia said, to which Derpy bowed low. “I did not think such games were something you were interested in.” Derpy blushed.

“No, Your Highness,” Derpy said, “but Princess Twilight needed a servant for this meeting and I already am a Royal Servant so...”

“So you put yourself under Twilight’s command,” Celestia said, thinking for a moment. “Very well then, until she has no further need of you, Derpy Hooves, you are officially seconded to the Princess of Friendship.” A subsonic growl echoed through the drawing room, coming from the lavender alicorn.

“Twilight, why are you so angry with me?’ Celestia asked, concern on her face “I know you’ve been hurt terribly and the report you sent to court explains your pain, but not your fury. Talk to me, please.”

“My anger isn’t rational,” Twilight said, deflating visibly as she seized control of her emotions. “It’s wrong, and it’s unreasonable, and you are totally not to blame. But every time I hear your name or see you I can’t help but feel mad at you.”

“You know,” Shaushka said, closing the door after assuring those outside that everything was alright, “the anger Twilight is feeling is an entirely normal response. I was going to start working on it during our next session but seeing as all the players are here now...” She trailed off, spreading her hooves wide. Twilight nodded jerkily in acquiescence, while Celestia took a seat.

“Derpy,” Celestia said, as Derpy took her place beside Twilight’s chair, “I should point out that everything you are about to hear is an official secret.” Derpy nodded to her sovereign in understanding.

“Celestia,” Twilight began hotly, “I will thank you not to—” cutting herself off before her tirade could truly begin.

“Twilight, you said you knew your anger was irrational, unreasonable and wrong,” Shaushka said, preparing a fresh pot of tea. “But do you know why it is focused on Celestia?”

“Yes, yes I do,” Twilight said, and then looked Celestia in the eye for the first time since she returned home. “You deserve to know why I’m so furious with the mare who was almost a second mother to me. You see...”

For the next half an hour Twilight explained to her listeners how another Princess of the Sun, in another world, had become a ruthless, obsessive, absentee despot and how that had been the overall cause of her capture, conditioning and sexual enslavement there. When Twilight ended her story, a grim faced Celestia set down her still steaming hot tea.

"Twilight, I think I understand your anger now, at both myself and that other me," Celestia said, her jaw slightly clenched. "I admit just hearing about it makes me rather upset with that other 'me'."

"Why do you think I've been avoiding you?" Twilight asked, sadness on her face. "Right now, even hearing your name makes me angry. Seeing you here in the flesh just makes me want to—"

"Smack some sense into me?" Celestia interrupted. "Beat me silly? Vent your anger on my body?"

"Yes," Twilight growled, through gritted teeth as her emotional see-saw tipped again. "All that and more. I want Celestia, any Celestia, to feel the pain of her subjects on that world."

"Then go ahead," Celestia said, standing up and calmly facing the smaller alicorn.

"What?" Twilight asked, eyes widening.

"My dear Twilight. I am the one who is ultimately responsible for you going to that other world," Celestia said as she moved up to stand directly in front of Twilight, Derpy making room for her. “The way I see it, you need to get that anger out of your system before you explode or lash out at me in some way that you will regret for the rest of your life.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Twilight asked, concern for her mentor showing for the first time on her face. “I may not have Nightmare Moon levels of anger, but I’m pretty peeved.”

“Oh, Twilight, it’s comments like that which make you so dear to me,” Celestia said. “Let me offer you three options. First, we can go to the palace and talk this over tea and cake. I have a lovely red velvet just dying to be nibbled on, and I would love to share it with a good friend.” Twilight blushed slightly at that. “Secondly, the two of us can go over to the Royal Guard training grounds and spar. They have plenty of weapons there that we can beat the stuffing out of each other with, plus there is armor to make sure neither of us gets too hurt, and we won’t damage anything valuable.” Celestia glanced somewhat ruefully toward the repaired ceiling.

“Finally, I know Shaushka has a soundproof dungeon where we won't be disturbed, that has several devices more than capable of restraining me and causing me great discomfort." Twilight's eyes were as big as dinner plates now. "If it helps you, I’m more than willing to let you bind me in place, and be something of a punching bag for you. I can take it, for you, my faithful Twilight, who has been through so much."

“I...I,” Twilight’s mind was completely locked up. That Celestia was willing, even eager, to let Twilight vent her anger in the ways she offered had Twilight’s mind reeling.

"I'm sorry, Princess," Shaushka said, breaking the moment. "But I'm afraid I couldn't allow that. It violates the entire spirit of what that dungeon is for.”

"Make an exception, this once, if Twilight chooses that option," Celestia said, her expression enigmatic. "Consider it a favour to the Crown." Twilight opened her mouth as if to say something, but was interrupted by a curl of flame that suddenly appeared in front of Princess Celestia. A scroll appeared as the flame died out, and the sun princess caught it easily in her magic.

“It’s from Spike,” she announced to the room, as she began to read the short letter.

“Dear Princess Celestia, please let Twilight know that Shining Armor and Cadance are due here tomorrow morning to start working with 143. If you could, please ask Princess Luna if she can do anything about 143’s nightmares. The Guard has sent word that they have found Trixie, as well as Flim and Flam, and they are all on their way here as well. Finally, Starlight claims to have found a way to get Twilight’s suit off of her, but needs Twilight back here to try it. Let Twilight know that otherwise everything is fine or about to be fine. All the best, Spike.”

Spike watched in satisfaction as his flame breath licked away the last of the scroll, sending it on its way to Celestia, and by extension Twilight. His news should have Twilight back by tomorrow afternoon at the latest, and that meant he only had a short window of time to accomplish his goal. The Castle of Friendship was pretty much deserted right now. Starlight Glimmer was in the lab putting some finishing touches on her device to help Twilight.

He'd given 143 her dinner after locking her long leash to a bedpost in her room. That it was the only way 143 could sleep without having horrible night terrors still bothered him a lot, but like everypony else, he would help her in any way he could. Which left only one other being in the castle. Double checking the items he had with him Spike passed through one last door, locking it behind him.

“Hello Alyss,” he said to the changeling at the kitchen table. “We need to talk.”

A very character driven chapter with very little lewd, I know. One more Interlewd chapter only after this and our heroine should be heading back out into the multiverse. Also, this marks a second chapter with Patreon rewards built in.

Some of you may have noticed I'm not pushing my Patreon much anymore. This is due to a large commitment I have to The Canary Files and my unwillingness to make more commitments that I might not be able to keep.

Next Chapter: Spike confronts Alyss, Trixie meets 143 and Twilight unleashed.