Twilight's eyes hadn't strayed anywhere but the floor while Rarity explained everything to her, or as much as Twilight could hear without her mind going crazy with possibilities, simply sitting down against the door of the room and hugging her knees close to her body, almost as if she was forming a barrier with herself to protect herself from everything she had heard.

"... Twilight, darling? I know the question might be irrelevant but... Are you faring well?"

Twilight's breath trembled softly when she opened her mouth to speak, not even finding it within herself to mutter a single word with the storm raging on in her mind.

"... P-please, Rarity... Explain it to me... Once more... And slowly, if you could."

Rarity frowned at that, already being the third time she had told Twilight of what she had passed through for the past few weeks, possibly even a couple months prior to the events of the past three days. Though, of course, she herself had gotten barely any sleep when she realized what had happened, so she could understand poor Twilight.

"Alright, darling. It all started about two months ago..."

Rarity started to speak slowly, procuring to keep her eyes on Twilight for as much time as she could while she spoke about what she knew.

It all started about two months ago, when i was invited to Canterlot by Fleur de Lis herself to join an "exclusive" group recently founded. She didn't say exactly who they were, only mentioning they were from a country far away, one which almost no map had told about.

To say i was excited for the prospect of making business with foreign creatures, one which could possibly even promote my dresses and clothing outside of Equestria! Can you imagine it, Twilight? It sounded like an once in a lifetime opportunity! You could call it a "rarity" of an opportunity~

Without even considering, i accepted. Fleur had never done anything to harm me or anypony else, for the matter, so i didn't know what she was getting me into... Until i was too deep.

Even to this day, i still can't believe what i had been made to do, to take a part into all of this, even if i didn't know it.

I never got to see any of those Brutes you so vehemently describe as the Caribou, mostly being Canterlot's most prominent members of nobility, and some other who had somehow gotten inside, though the place consisted mostly on females submitting themselves to debaucherous acts or acting as pets for their "masters".

It was only a couple of times i entered in that place, each time with the sole objective and hope of seeing one of those famous "foreigners" Fleur had spoken about... But no such chance was given.

It was only when i returned to Ponyville after all that when i was finally finally able to relax and forget about everything and going back to being me in my dear home, as before, though not completely... Pure and innocent as i believed, as i once had been. My libido did increase, Twilight, even if i have somehow managed to keep it in check for the time being.

But then... About two weeks ago... I was contacted by Fleur again. Not to invite me to that place again, thank Celestia... But rather... To tell me an opportunity had been given to me! I grew excited when the letter said a foreigner had heard of me and wanted to make a large custom order with a very handsome payment!

Of course, at the start, said order was... Curious, by a lack of a better term to describe it. In itself, it looked more like a layout of an outfit made to surround a mare's body and secure it so it could not be removed so easily... And also, with what was once described to me at first as a choker, object now i know it's actually called "collar".

I was ordered to do about fifty of said outfits, all of them with a deadline of about six days ago... And i did them, Twilight. At first, i sent Fleur a picture of the outfit, having taken some... creative liberties with it.

But the next letter arrive just an hour later, telling me such an outfit would never please the commissioner. How could that be? The design was fabulous, and several mares would have really liked wearing that outfit! I myself tried it, and was delighted to see it fit, though a bit risque, but still looking good and respectable!

But the answer Fleur gave me got me thinking...

"It has too much fabric in it! It needs to show more skin!"

At first i couldn't believe it. I had heard of lingerie, some of it even still considered as dresses, even if they weren't... Very public.

But, you know what they say, "the client is always right". So, i did what Fleur asked.

I took the outfit and took some of the fabric away, leaving even more skin exposed for whoever wanted to use... That.

With the new design, i sent a new picture to Fleur, pretty sure i had done it right now.

But the next letter threw my hopes to the ground.

"Still too much fabric. It needs to be more revealing, more appealing, more... Sexy."

It went on a cycle for the next hours and even turning to a full day or work lost, having stripped almost every bit of fabric i had designed for it. Admittedly tired and annoyed, i sent one more letter to Fleur.

"Please, do try and help me understand better, Fleur. I have made several changes to the design i was sent, and yet you keep asking for it to be less concealing, and more revealing. Darling, if it were even more revealing that what it is already, the mare would be completely naked and leaving nothing to the imagination!"

That was what i thought at heart, believing Fleur would finally understand and even support me in that decision in front of the commissioner.

But the next letter she sent me was short and to the point.

"And that is the point, dearie~ That's exactly what our dear friend wants."

That was only when i understood i wasn't doing something only "risque", "sensual" or a new brand of night clothing, no. The commissioner had ordered me to do something... Erotic.

At first, i felt deeply conflicted at this, having not done anything like it before, and never, even in my wildest dreams had i thought i would be doing something like that!

And yet... I did what Fleur asked. I did that wretched leather outfit and sent a picture with it to Fleur. Even when i did it in the middle of the night, Fleur wasted little to no time answering to my letter.

She was pleased with how it looked, and said the commissioner was happy about it, too. And so, they ordered me a large order of that same outfit, but several more for an specific date.

With the prospect of having all that money to perhaps upgrade my materials, my sewing machines, or even maybe getting enough to open a new shop somewhere else, i got to work.

With only a couple days remaining for the arranged date, i finished the order and immediately sent it to Canterlot, finally believing i could take a well deserved rest and perhaps enjoy the coming festival with you and the girls...

...But i was ordered more outfits, with even a bigger payment if i completed it in the same time or less, with Fleur promising me to pay once i travelled to Canterlot in a future date.

I must admit the ambition consumed me, Twilight... remember why i told you i couldn't go with you this time? I assume you already know it, but... That was the order i had to complete and the reason by which i did not go with you to Canterlot...

Though, if only i had known of what would happen... I-If only... I h-had known...

Twilight finally looked up to her friend, who looked just as mortified as Twilight had felt several times in the past few days. She clearly understood how she felt... Unknowingly, Rarity had been used by the Caribou to help them achieve their goal.

She had been made an accomplice unknowingly, with her talent being used to create such monstrosities that caused so much pain and unwanted arousal in others, even to the point of torturing them.

She had been used. She was innocent and nothing like the monsters the Caribou were.

With that thought in mind, Twilight slowly lifted a hand towards her friend's thigh, right where her hand was laying to take it into hers, giving it a soft squeeze. Rarity lifted her eyes to look at her friend, finding a supportive smile on her face, as well as some tears forming up in her eyes, just like the ones forming in her own eyes.

"... Twilight, i-i'm... I'm so sorry... If i had known before-"

"I know, Rarity. I know. It's not your fault. It's theirs. They are the ones behind all of this."

As reassuring as those words could be, Rarity still felt a big weight of guilt in her shoulders, knowing she had been used as a mere puppet, and her friends were suffering because of it. Because of her. Because of everything she had done, because of her talent being used by those brutes!

While Rarity slowly felt a dark cloud forming above her Twilight slowly stood up and walked towards a mannequin. Almost as if fearing it could suddenly become alive and lash out at her, she slowly stretched a trembling hand to take the cloth covering it and move it aside.

Rarity sniffled very unlady like for a moment before she noticed her friend removing the sheet from the mannequin, feeling a repulsion in herself upon seeing her own handwork, that wretched and perverted outfit she had been paid to do.

She clearly wanted nothing more than to simply soak it into something flammable and burn it to ashes, and then never in her life speak of it again, ever!

But meanwhile, Twilight had fallen silent, watching the outfit with an ever growing feeling of concern within her.

Slowly unclasping the collar around the figure's neck, she watched it for a moment before several ideas started to merge in her head, some of those being quite concerning and worrisome.

"Rarity... The one who gave you this order... Did he asked you to... Add a charm, a spell, an enchantment of any sort to this?"

Thought the question seemed out of context to her, the noticeable fear and/or shock in her friend's voice compelled at her to answer, even getting up from the bed to be at her friend's side before answering.

"I'm afraid the answer is no, darling. The customer only asked for a very specific material for this... Thing to be made: leather. Somewhat difficult to get, considering its gruesome origin."

Twilight nodded at that. While not uncommon in itself, Leather was very difficult to come across in Equestria, unless you knew where to look for it. Most of the time, it was used to do very expensive clothing, or those designed for harsh environments.

But it was still sought after quite fervently for one specific characteristic: its easy capability to be enchanted, as well as a rather large time for the spell to weaken.

If Twilight had one thing to give the Caribou was their stubbornness in getting what they wanted and now realizing they also knew exactly what to ask for and how to do it.

The next question was one Twilight started to fear when Rarity spoke of her story.

"... I know you've already told me about this... But how much time ago was the last order asked for... And how many of these... Outfits did they ask from you."

Once again, Rarity took a moment to think about it, though not being able to tear her eyes away from the mannequin.

"... About two weeks ago, and i was ordered to do about fifty. I did a few more than what they asked out of generosity, in hopes of them appreciating my work and good will... And then the next order was of doing the same number in less time..."

While Rarity vociferated lowly about something else, Twilight kept repeating the numbers in her head. They just didn't match at all!

Canterlot had a population of several hundreds, if not thousands of ponies with a very balanced ratio of male-to-female, though having almost 2-5% more female population. And even so, she could swear she had seen more than fifty of those outfits during the parade. How had they managed to get that many outfits and other things if they had been planning it for only two weeks?

Of course, unless they hadn't been planning it for only two weeks. And unless Rarity's work wasn't the only one at play.

Seeing the outfit Rarity was doing, it was one of the darkest tonalities of Black she had seen, the same one they used on the rebel mares, or at least those who hadn't been subjugated, like Applejack. Meanwhile, there were also the red collars, which she had no doubts, also had outfits like those but in that sickly red color, much like the wing binds Cadence and Fluttershy had been given.

And then, there were also the purple collars. Did they also have an specific outfit for them? How many other wretched things the Caribou had in their arsenal to subdue ponies?

Once again, the numbers didn't match at all... And that concerned Twilight, making her consider the idea that Rarity might not had been the only pony they had toyed with!

"Rarity... Did anypony else you knew that could do dresses or generally just seam some materials together was in those... Meetings?"

"If there was anypony like that, i do not know. Things were more on the... Debaucherous side in there, and not a lot of talking was done."

To Twilight, it all started to fit in in some places. The Caribou had been planning the attack for several weeks, if not months, and had been preparing themselves for the invasion with the help of poor, unknowing and unsuspecting ponies, some of those, Twilight was sure, had already been captured by the moment!

In that look, it all made sense... But there was another part, a very huge part Twilight just couldn't make sense of.

She knew Cadence had turned to them at some moment, which explained the lack of communications from the crystal empire, though it did not explain how they had been able to make their way from the north without anypony noticing!

Even the princesses should have noticed something, anything that could have put them in evidence!

The crystal ponies, the changelings, the Caribou... Such an unlikely alliance... And yet, there they were, together, and working as an invading force the likes Equestria hadn't seen before.

Were they really that powerful, skilled and effective at invading? Had Cadence and Shining shown them routes and/or hiding places they could use to slip undetected into Canterlot, as unlikely as it seemed?

And now, as she looked back at the several signs of an invasion, why had nopony done anything to prevent it?

Doubts kept filling Twilight's mind the more she kept thinking about it while the hands holding the collar started to shake in nervousness.

She could still see the memory vividly of how Celestia struggled and fought against their king, failing miserably, and even the defeated yet defiant look princess Luna had when she, too, was captured.

And then, the king's eyes came to her mind. Those blue, cold and frightening eyes staring directly into her soul! It sends shivers down her spine and wings when she thought about it!

Every thought she had suddenly focused in the King himself. If he had easily defeated one of the most powerful beings Twilight knew, what chances did she have? What chances did ponykind truly had against an enemy that could overpower so easily the avatar of the sun?

They would lose eventually, Twilight realized. They would all fall to their power and be collared with a collar very resembling to the one her hands were holding and her eyes stared so intensely and then they'd be turned into sex slaves, all of them, to be reduced into mindless, lustful animals, always craving for cock, always begging for more pleasure and–

"Twilight!"

The shout made the alicorn jump in fright and shock, sending the collar away from her while she took quick steps backwards, finally being able to focus back in the reality.

Rarity was looking at her with a concerned expression much like the one she had at the Wall, one of true worry for her friend.

"Oh, umm... Sorry, Rarity. I wasn't paying attention at all."

"I could notice. But Twilight, what were you thinking about so intensely that you didn't even blink?"

Twilight turned back to look at the collar, remembering every bit of information she had deduced before her... Trance, could she call it?

With a long sigh, Twilight got up before looking at her unicorn friend with a firm look, one that was already bad news even before she opened her mouth.

But it was necessary for her to know it. They all needed to know. The invasion hadn't started just three days ago... It had been going on for a very long time...

"TWILIGHT! RARITY! COME OUT, NOW!"

Rainbow's voice quickly broke the atmosphere, even making both mares flinch at the sudden interruption. Rarity quickly hid the outfit again under a blanket with her magic while Twilight opened a window to see Rainbow looking for them frantically from above a cloud.

"Rainbow Dash, don't you know it's rude to interrupt a private–"

"Yes, yes, i know, manners and all, but Rarity, talk to the hand!" Rainbow spoke rather quickly while she flew down from the cloud to float right in front of the window and facing Twilight with a serious and concerned face.

"Rainbow, what is happening? Is everything okay?"

"No, Twilight. It's them. We found some near the forest."

Author's Notes:

I really hope this connects some dots left behind by Ponkpank's story "a rare opportunity", as well as shedding some light to what i see as yet another side of the Caribou's "toxic" side.

Yes, we have talked about the misogiynistic and patriarchic system they have, using females as little more than broodmares and beasts for the more... Laborious tasks. That got me thinking, to one thing i have actually seen in my family (the one we're having issues with, ironically).

To force others to do things in benefit of only yourself. Be it by force, by blackmailing, or even lying to you about doing it for one reason when instead it's only in their own, selfish interests.

That is the way of the Caribou, always forcing others to do the "dirty" work unless it's strictly necessary to intrude to stablish a point (much like how they did with Celestia), conveniently remaining hidden or "covered" until they need to show their ugly face.

This was such an inspiration not only for this chapter, but by also figuring how the seemingly brute, stupid and otherwise very lucky Caribou acted even before this story.

Cadence, Fleur, and even the Changelings. They're all pawns for the Caribou, who merely wave a finger towards what they like and wait for those "below" them to get it for them.

Anyways, end of the rant here and continue on with the reading. Enjoy this bit of thought i get for the lore and even adding something to further wreck Twilight's poor mind in order to achieve the end we know this story will have.

As I said, I have a Ko-fi page now. If you like my stories, have money to spare, and find it within your heart to spare it in me, then i'd be grateful. And if you want to keep reading stories, then you can hit that "follow" button.

Leave a like if you want, and also a comment. Good ones help me to improve, and critics help me to correct mistakes. I'd really appreciate it.