Princess Celestia had lowered the sun and Luna had raised the moon by the time Ratchet and her older brother Wheeljack arrive at the Trixie's Place night club that was situated in downtown Manehatten. Both siblings were almost giddy with excitement – though Wheeljack wouldn’t ever admit it – as they made their way up with a small party of three mares and two stallions to the second floor reception.

Tonight was going to be a rather good night. “We're lucky,” Ratchet nudged her brother’s ribs, and pointed out the bright gaudy flyer on the wall that was advertising the party on the same sex floor. That was why they were here. “I didn't know it was a traffic light party tonight.” She glanced down at her green lanyard with the black ‘Dom’ stamp on it that she and her brother had received at the main door. That was why she knew that night was going to be a good night. “You going green too, huh?”

Wheeljack sighed, the dark red unicorn rolling his eyes as he did so. “As if you didn't know, Ratchet.” He hadn’t spent an hour trimming his white beard and mane for nothing.

“Ooooh,” Ratchet giggled, the maple coloured unicorn mare subconsciously straightening her burnt umber mane, though no straightening was necessary, “I'm so looking forward to tonight. I need a break, Jackie.”

Nodding his head, Wheeljack understood where his sister was coming from. From dealing with Sparkplug, the school, Air Raid, Air Raid’s flagging career, as well as everything else and now the move to the east coast, he was ready for a break too. “I hope this works out better than the one in Canterlot. I just want somepony cute. May as well split up, so nopony thinks I'm dating a mare.”

“And Cadance help me if anypony sees me with a stallion!” Ratchet gave her brother an affectionate dig in the ribs with her elbow before they shared a hoof bump. “Good luck, Jackie.”

When the thirty five year old stallion parted from his sister, he made a beeline for the main stage where a troupe of stallions were putting on a show. He wasn’t one for dancing, but he did like to watch. Similarly, when Ratchet went her own way, she spied a likely looking mare way away hugging the wall with a green card and white stamp.

On the stage was a dark blue pegasus stallion dressed in pink socks, pink mini skirt and panties dancing on his hind legs like it was the most natural stance in the world for him. Getting close to the stage, Wheeljack found himself a nice spot from which to watch the pretty stallions. He found himself drawn to the dark blue one again and again as he sipped on the Stable Hopper beer provided by a waitress, in particular he liked the pink highlights on his feathers and his pink makeup. Maybe Ratchet was right. Perhaps this would be a good night after all.

Going her own way along the second floor of Trixie’s Place, Ratchet chose to skirt the crowded dance floor in favour of a couple of empty tables she had spotted that were quite close to the shrinking wallflower. Passing the summer green earth pony mare, Ratchet gave her a wink. The effect was instantaneous. The mare blushed and giggled behind her hoof, so surprised was she that somepony had noticed her. Hearing that, Ratchet stopped in her tracks. “Something funny?”

With Ratchet’s question, the mare’s giggle became a panicked meep. She silently shook her head and mouthed 'nothing, Miss'. She spoke, but her voice was all but swallowed up by the loud pounding disco music. The mechanic was sure the mare’s voice sounded funny, but she wasn’t sure. “Cat got your tongue?” she asked, stepping closer she again noted her lanyard. “Not the response I was expecting from a sub.”

The earth pony mare caught the unicorn looking at her lanyard and she blushed. While hers was green, there were a few around her that were orange and even red. Why wear red at traffic light party? She shrank back to the wall a teeny bit, “I-I'm de-deaf, Miss.”

Blinking, Ratchet processed that as she sat at the empty table and motioned for the other pony to do the same. She hadn’t expected that as a response. Still, she was cute as a button and a disability was far from a deal-breaker. “Do you read lips?” she asked, making sure to look at her.

The summer green mare fiddled with her pale green and yellow mane as she nodded her head. When she replied, she spoke and signed with gestures of her hooves and flicks of her ears – that weren’t entirely dissimilar from the sign language employed by the members of Caffeinated’s herd, but that was by the by. “Yes Miss, I can read lips.”

Getting comfortable, Ratchet made a decision to carry on. Yes, she couldn’t speak sign, but communication wasn’t impossible and, as it often got very loud in the pit lane, Ratchet and all her family could read lips. “Deaf from birth?” she asked curiously.

Taking the other seating pad, the earth pony mare nodded her head again. “Yes, I’ve been deaf from birth, Miss.” Then, she saw her green card with black stamp and blushed again, deciding it was time to introduce herself. “I'm Buttercup.”

Ratchet smiled broadly. Well, that at least explained her odd sounding voice. She could understand her speech, just. “It must be hard to talk when you can't hear yourself.” She spoke slowly and deliberately, allowing the mare to read her lips. “How do you usually talk?”

“I usually sign, Miss,” Buttercup replied, signing as she spoke as was her way, “Using my ears and hooves.”

For a split second, Ratchet was tempted to change her mind. She played mother to Sparkplug at home, the last thing she wanted was to do the same here. Quickly though, she stomped on that thought. That wasn’t fair on her sister or Buttercup. She at least deserved a chance. “Show me the sign for yes and for no, please.”

Straightaway, Buttercup gestured with her hooves. “That was yes,” again, hardly daring to believe she might just have a potential date at last, she performed a second gesture. “And that was no, Miss.”

“I think I got that,” Ratchet responded after having committed the gestures to her memory. It seemed simple enough, but she had only learnt ‘yes and no’. “Do you come her often?”

Sadly, Buttercup shook her head, so hard she almost shook out her ponytail. “No Miss, I just come here once a month, when there's a party.”

“Do you usually leave alone?”

Nodding, Buttercup signed ‘yes’. She wasn’t expecting the unicorn, for she thought she knew who she was, to get so close to the mark so quickly. Was she that easy to read? She guessed she must be. “Usually all I talk to are the bar ponies and the waiting ponies.”

“Do you like racing?”

Sighing, Buttercup waved her hoof in a so-so motion, then her eyes went very wide and she smiled a very genuine, excited smile. She thought she recognised her before, now she knew for sure who she was. “I know you!” she signed excitedly, “I saw you in the newspapers!”

“Really?” Ratchet was prepared to be sceptical, well aware that a story in a newspaper could tell a million lies and convince a million ponies. Still, this mare didn’t seem the type to blow smoke up one’s chimney. “Can you dance, Buttercup?”

“Your team were news for days,” she paused in her signing and thought for a moment, casting her mind back to the Manehatten Times of the past week. “You’re Ratchet, right? I'd love to dance with you, um...please.”

“Nice to know you can read, Buttercup,” Ratchet nodded, affecting her very best ‘dom’ voice before mentally kicking herself when she remembered that the poor mare was deaf as a post. “Dance with me, then dance for me.” the chief mechanic didn’t give her the chance to reply before getting up and moving to a relatively uncrowded part of the dance floor.

“I can read, Miss!” Buttercup wore her blush and hoped she looked as indignant as she sounded, then she realised the dominant unicorn had her back to her and thus couldn’t see – and likely couldn’t hear – what she was saying. Instead, she pushed it from her mind and followed Ratchet to the dance floor.

After the first dance, Ratchet’s not-so-sneaky plan was to dance with her the first time and then, use the second dance to see how erotic she was. Safe to say, she wasn’t disappointed when the first disco number came to an end. “You dance well,” she complimented her sincerely, “now dance so that I want to take you home.”

“Take me home‽” Buttercup exclaimed, signing like crazy. She hadn’t expected to even talk to anypony, let alone be taken home by somepony. But, here she was, with the offer literally on the table. Like her old momma said, all she had to do was grasp the nettle. Thankfully, she had many DVD's back in her tiny apartment. She resolved to put her many hours viewing – and clopping – time to good use, gyrating her hips on her hind legs.

As it happened, Ratchet did enjoy the dance and she wasn’t afraid to let it show on her face. It had been a fair old while since she had gotten the chance to scratch her dominant itch, and she was determined to make the most of it. “Follow me,” she ordered simply when Buttercup had finished her dance. Confidently, she led her back to the table by the wall where she sat and let her hind legs slide forward with her back on the wall. “Now, give me a lap dance.”

“Yes Miss,” having signed her reply, Buttercup proceeded to dance as sexily as she possibly could, just like those mares in her DVD collection. At one point in the lap dance, she summoned her nerve and, with her pale green tail up high, ground her ass in the air inches from Ratchet's muzzle.

Behind her date, Ratchet proved to be a very hooves on mare, although tantalisingly she was very much muzzle off to see how the earth pony would react. For a split second, Buttercup froze at the touch of the unicorn’s hooves on her ass. Then, seizing the moment, she swayed that ass and flicked Ratchet's nose with her tail. ‘I can do this...this is why ‘'m here...and she's nice!' she gave herself the much-needed pep talk, making herself stay where she was.

After the lap dance, Ratchet held onto Buttercup’s flanks and, with her cheeks pulled apart, she placed her nose very close to her exposed marehood so she could breathe in and out and take in the earth pony’s scent. The dominant mare made sure she could feel her breath. Buttercup, in a supreme act of nerve, and wanting to show that she wasn’t a wimp, and in a move she hoped would impress her potential date and Mistress, moved back just a little, placing her crotch in Ratchet’s face.

Ratchet was understandably surprised when Buttercup pushed back. The first thing she noted was she smelled very strongly of roses and bluebells, amongst other flowers. The second thing was the moist snatch planted on her muzzle. She liked this mare. Supressing a smirk, she pushed her a little bit and turned her around, keeping her on her hind legs. “Did I say you could touch me?”

“No Mistress…” she signed her reply, her eyes downcast towards the floor. ‘Oh buck!’ she kicked herself in the head, cursing her rash decision. ‘Buttercup, what have you done?’

When she saw the downward turn of the mare’s eyes, Ratchet felt immediately guilty. She carefully lifted her chin with her hoof until they were looking at each other muzzle to muzzle. “You are a naughty pony. You may now demonstrate if you know how to kiss.”

Not even daring to believe she still had a ghost of a chance with her, Buttercup leant in and, though she was admittedly a little amateurish, she gave a good effort when she pressed their lips together. “You require practice,” the maple unicorn said when they parted, “See anypony here you'd like to practice with?”

Buttercup only paused for a moment, and that was to get her breath back. She pointed her hoof to Ratchet and said, not signed, “You, Mistress.”

“Good to know you're an intelligent pony.” Ratchet purred, her muzzle still scant inches away from the other mare’s. She had to admit, it felt damn good being called ‘Mistress’ again. It had been a while. Too long of a while. “Buttercup?”

“Yes Mistress?”

“Do you drink alcohol?”

“I do, Ratchet,” she signed before stopping herself in mid-sentence with a sheepish grin plastered on her face, “I mean, Mistress.”

Now, Ratchet was sure she had made the right choice when she had winked at the beautiful wallflower. “Yes, such a naughty pony you are.” She placed a very delicate little kiss on Buttercup’s nose. “You may bring me a beer and get something for yourself.” It felt just as good giving the order as it did being called by her title. Although, she just wanted to see what Buttercup drank.

“Yes Mistress!” Trotting to the bar, Buttercup was almost giddy with excitement. Being ordered like that was such a thrill! Once she was at the bar, she ordered two beers, a relatively inexpensive local one for herself and an imported Canterlot beer for her partner. She just ignored the hefty price tag. Ratchet was worth it.

Back at the table, Ratchet drank her beer and watched Buttercup carefully to see if she really did like beer. While she was slower than her, she did seem to genuinely like it. “Let's take a break from our lanyards for a moment,” said Ratchet when she had swallowed half of hers. She wanted to get to know this mare a little better. “What do you look for in a dom?”

“One who listens to and respects my safe word, and doesn't try to force things on me. Somepony who wants me for me and is kind.”

Listening, Ratchet heard a mare who’d had a bad experience with a dominant in her past. She resolved to not be ‘that’ mare. “Seems your likes are a shorter list than your dislikes. I like control,” she looked at her potential submissive’ face to judge her reaction. “I like to control what you eat, what you drink, what you wear, as well as when you eat.”

“I want that, Ratchet.” She replied quickly, for a moment looking at the table then back up at the maple coloured unicorn. “I like a dominant controlling mare. I can be naughty on my own. I eat the wrong things, do the wrong things, like touching myself when I shouldn't.”

Ratchet’s smile almost split her face. The Cheshire Cat would’ve been proud. “Short list, what is off limits?”

“I don't like poop, or sick, or bleeding. They are out.” Never again would she do or be involved in anything like that. She did respect Ratchet though for even asking. The other mare hadn’t even bothered asking or taking her feelings into account. “I’m willing to try pee, and anal. I like toys, and um...breath play, but I don't do that alone.”

Now, that caught Ratchet’s attention. Breath play was exceedingly dangerous. “Only bad naughty ponies do it alone. Want to test drive me for a suitable dom?”

“Yes please!” Buttercup answered way too quickly, so eager was she. “Would you like my place or yours?”

“Eager, are we?” Ratchet giggled, although she too was eager, if she was honest with herself. She didn’t even take her disability into account. To her it was a complete non-issue. “Starting now you can't masturbate unless I'm there and say you can. You can't drink alcohol unless I'm there and say you can. For now you can eat what you like. Your place, tomorrow seven p.m. Can you cook?”

All of that was music to Buttercup’s eyes. “Yes Mistress, I'm eager.” She smiled and giggled in turn. “I can cook for us, Mistress.”

Taking a deep breath, Ratchet forged ahead, taking to her role like one who hadn’t ridden a bicycle for a long time. You never forgot how to get back in the saddle. “I want dinner when I get there, you can make a broccoli and cheese casserole, with fried sliced potatoes and onions. A garden salad. I'll bring the drinks. Where am I bringing them to?” Damn that felt good!

“I have an apartment here,” Buttercup blushed when she gave Ratchet her address, because then she was confronted with the very real possibility of having to take her new partner to her cheap and tiny place.

“Good,” Ratchet made a note of the address in her smartphone. “Any allergies I need to know about?”

Quickly, Buttercup shook her head. “Only my alarm clock, Mistress.”

Caught unawares, the chief mechanic snorted her expensive beer, almost choking. “You are very good at being a very naughty pony. Safe word?”

“Thank you!” Buttercup did look suitably proud of herself. The more time she spent with Ratchet, the more the other ponies on the second floor all melted away. Whereas normally she would be self-conscious about being there at all, now she hardly noticed anypony else. Her universe was this table. “My safe word is Monday. Because nopony likes Mondays.”

Ratchet couldn’t fault her logic there. “You okay financially?” it was an awkward question, perhaps, but one that needed to be asked. Best to get it out of the way early. “I'm not going to break you to meet my needs and desires.”

It had all been going so very well. When Buttercup saw that question though, she felt the wheels come off the happy train. She went very quiet and very still for a long few minutes. “I have a small flower stall in Times Square. I don't have much, but I have enough to get by.”

Ratchet’s eyes narrowed, not at the fact her partner didn’t have a lot of money – money wasn’t an issue. She had more than enough – no, what she was concerned with was the earth pony would be so enamoured with her she would leave herself short. She didn’t want that. “You can make the dinner I want?”

Buttercup nodded her head and signed, “Yes Mistress.”

Satisfied, and not wanting to be too indelicate by prying, Ratchet accepted her reply with a smile. “Tonight we will dance. Then, we will each go to our own homes. You will put clean sheets on your bed before you go to sleep. You may dream of me, but you already know what you may not do.”

As soon as Ratchet had swallowed the last of her beer, Buttercup leant over the table and kissed the unicorn’s lips harder than she had done before. “Yes Mistress.” She savoured the taste of the ridiculously priced beer on her tongue and held the kiss as long as she could.

During the time they spent in each other’s company, Ratchet bought two more rounds of beer. First she tried the one that Buttercup bought for herself the first time, then she bought them both a Canterlot brand. Diplomatically, she didn't ask which was better, rather she made that decision for herself. When it got to just after ten p.m., they both collapsed on their respective seating pads by the table. “What time do you go to work in the morning?”

“I open my stall at eight, there's an early rush through Times Square, you see.”

“What time is your allergy attack scheduled?”

About to say she didn’t have any allergies, Buttercup looked puzzled for a moment and then she giggled, cottoning on. “Oh, the allergy attack comes on at six, Mistress, every morning.”

“Good, here’s my number,” Ratchet reached into her saddlebag and pulled out one of the business cards that her family carried. “Call if anything happens and you have to cancel.”

“I won't cancel, Ratchet.” Buttercup was determined that no matter what, she would have the dinner ready for tomorrow. “I've been looking forward to this for a long time.”

As it happened, Ratchet liked it when Buttercup forgot to sign and just spoke. Yes her voice was odd and she only barely understood her, but there was a beauty to her voice that the mechanic was quickly starting to love. “I have learned that life happens. Better you tell me something has gone wrong than not answer my knock. I need your contact number too.”

“Life has a way of happening, doesn’t it?” Buttercup commented with a wry smile as she gave her partner her number. Once she had the contact stored in her phone, Ratchet called the number she had been given. She was curious to see how Buttercup was notified that it was ringing. It was then she noticed for the first time the earring on her right ear. When the phone rang, it vibrated and there was a big red light flashing on her phone, too.

“Kinky, a personal vibrator and red light district!” Ratchet giggled, the maple coloured mare treated to the most priceless blush she had ever seen. The guilty look on the summer green mare’s face just screamed out loud and admitted that she had placed it on her crotch there before and called herself. With that blush, Ratchet leant in and sniffs the earring and gave it a tiny lick. The taste confirmed her suspicions.

When she had stopped blushing, Ratchet helped herself to a kiss. “It’s getting late, I won't keep you up. I'll be at your door at seven p.m. tomorrow.”

“Ratchet,” Buttercup bravely took a kiss from her new lover as well, not wanting the night to end but realising it had to. “I want to thank you for tonight. I had a really good time.”

Standing from her seating pad, Ratchet glanced about the second floor. She was looking to see if her brother was still there or not. While there weren’t as many ponies still there, she couldn’t see him anywhere. She assumed he had either met and gone with a stallion or gone home empty hoofed. Nuzzling Buttercup good night, she took her leave of Trixie’s Place and went to catch the subway home.

It was just past eleven when Ratchet got home. Stepping into the living room she saw Hoist asleep, her brother snoozing on Candyfloss’s lap. The very pink mare gave her a silent cheery wave, which the unicorn returned before dragging herself upstairs. After checking on Sparkplug and listening at Wheeljack’s door, she was pleased to see her sister asleep cuddling her bunny and brother absent, she decided to have a quick shower and a clean-up before heading off to bed, where she set her alarm for ten minutes to six.

~ ~ ~

The next morning, Ratchet awoke in the darkness of her spacious bedroom to the sound of her alarm clock. As she fumbled for the light switch and had to resort to lighting her horn just to see, she wondered why in the name of Cadance’s sainted ass crack she had set it for this unwholesome time. Looking around in the half-light though, she saw the note she had left herself on her nightstand.

Now she remembered. Levitating her phone over, she scrolled through her photos and saw her pretty earth pony smiling back at her from the screen. Hers was a face worth getting up at five fifty a.m. for. Smiling warmly, the dominant mare sated her need for control as she texted her. ‘Do not shower or bathe today. I like bright red flowers. Have a good day at work’.

Without so much as waiting for a reply, Ratchet reset her alarm for eight a.m. and promptly went back to sleep. Her submissive would either obey and get rewarded or disobey and be punished. Either suited her. When next she opened her eyes, she woke to a message from Buttercup, sent to her at six fifteen, saying that she wouldn't bathe, and that she would see her later.

Ratchet was tempted to go back to sleep, but the scent of breakfast cooking downstairs, no doubt it was Hoist making vanilla and chocolate pancakes, teased her from her bed. One quick look in Sparkplug’s room told her that her sister was still fast asleep. Her first port of call, after snaffling down three pancakes and a coffee so hot it almost burnt her throat, was a much-needed shower.

“I didn't hear you come in last night,” Hoist commented as Ratchet came down from the shower, the unicorn fluffing her mane. “Jackie hasn't come back either,” the stallion continued, “But he did message me saying what needs doing on the car. Just general maintenance, nothing too hard.”

“I had a nice pleasant night. You may not hear me come in tonight either.” Ratchet giggled, very glad of a nice easy day of not a lot to do on the Audi. She had a plan for her Buttercup. “Did you sleep well, Sparky?”

“Yes Ratchy!” Sparkplug giggled happily from across the breakfast table where she and Mr. Flopsy were attacking their third stack of pancakes. She was enjoying watching Hoist sweat. “When I got home!”

Assuming that her little sister had been taken out for ice cream by her brother and his new marefriend, whom she approved of greatly, Ratchet smiled. Candyfloss was a very positive influence on the quiet stallion. “I’m glad you had a good time, Sparky.”

“It was great!” Sparkplug wasn’t about to drop her brother in it, but she was enjoying seeing him squirm. “We had ice cream, and cake, and we even played musical statues. Mr. Flopsy was best at that.”

Ratchet rolled her eyes at that. “I think Mr. Flopsy is the one that turns off the music so he is never surprised.”

Halfway through a pancake, Sparkplug snickered, though she made sure to swallow before she spoke. She didn’t want another lecture on manners. “You know his secret! Don't tell!”

“My lips are sealed,” Ratchet promised solemnly, “Jackie will never find out from me.”

In an attempt to steer the conversation away from secrets and not telling and keeping schtum, just in case a certain secret should get out, Hoist asked, “How was your night? By the silly look on your face and the goofy smile you’re wearing, I’m guessing you met a mare?”

Ratchet declined to answer that. She let the raspberry speak for her. The maple coloured mare even tolerated the giggles that came her way as a result. Once breakfast was done and the dishes washed, the three siblings headed over to Caffeinated’s place to start work on the car. As it happened, Wheeljack had been right. There was just the Manehatten Times decals to replace and the paint to reapply. At noon, after a very easy morning, Ratchet got cleaned up and prettied up before she took the subway to Times Square.

~ ~ ~

Buttercup, as it happened, was quite the distracted mare as she sold her flowers. All morning she had been making up baskets and bouquets, making her modest living like she did every other morning. Unlike those mornings though, that day the deaf earth pony mare had something on her mind besides flowers. A maple coloured unicorn shaped something that had consumed her thoughts and dreams since getting home the night before.

When she got to Times Square, Ratchet scanned the area for a flower seller. There were two stalls, but it didn’t take her long to find her mare. Once she found Buttercup’s older, more faded and weatherworn stall, she determined to just watch her. She took up a seat on a nearby bench that was out of the way and got comfortable. In the forty-five-minute period, Ratchet watched her serve four ponies.

One mare she served was a regular, who bought a basket of grasses and hardy flowers to graze on, and somehow during the morning Buttercup had ended up with a few twigs and leaves in her mane and dirt on her hooves. When Ratchet looked closer to see if she had some lunch or drink with her, the dominant unicorn noted she just had a drink of water and, as for lunch, she had a simple bucket of oats from home. Deciding that would not do at all, Ratchet went and bought two tofu dogs with mustard on both - as she liked mustard, so would Buttercup like it too. She also got two banana smoothies for good measure.

With the food held in her magical aura, Ratchet boldly moved to the front of the flower stall. So confident and assured was her step that the two ponies waiting before her didn’t object to her cutting in the line. Buttercup, who had her back to the counter making up a couple of baskets, jumped in surprise when she turned and saw her lover at last. “Ratchet!” so surprised was she that she spoke rather than signed.

“Hi there pretty mare,” Ratchet leant on the serving counter of the sun bleached wooden stall like she owned the place, “whatcha sell'n?”

Buttercup was that stunned that she responded like Ratchet was another customer. “Graze boxes,” she signed, indicating the different sized boxes with various grasses in them. “Flower boxes, bouquets and herbs. Can I get you anything?”

Extremely curious, Ratchet glanced over everything that her submissive partner had on offer. “What will a tofu dog and banana smoothie buy me?”

Now the initial shock was beginning to fade, Buttercup’s nerve returned. “Dragged inside for a kiss while I close and put the "Back in 10 Minutes" sign.”

Ratchet smiled, reminded again that while the earth pony was a sub, she wasn’t a doormat. She rather liked that. She wanted a pony that was going to challenge her and push back rather than one who was going to roll over. “Not quite a bright red flower, but a fair exchange.”

With a blush colouring her face, Buttercup hoofed the two regular customers behind Ratchet their orders – they had been coming to her for almost a year each. She knew the flowers and grasses they liked and had them ready to go. That done, and with the closed sign in place, she stepped aside and they both went inside her stall. “For you, Mistress.” She had remembered that Ratchet had requested red flowers and she had a basket with chrysanthemum, marigold, amaryllis and anemone in it, all different shades of red.

Inside the quite spacious stall, Ratchet passed over the food and drink and puckered her lips expectantly. Taking the tofu dogs and shakes, the earth pony placed them on a table and gave her marefriend a nice long kiss of thanks. “A very tasty treat,” Ratchet grinned, snuffling her way along her neck and shoulder to take in her smell. It quickly became very clear that she had been a good pony and not washed. There was an unmistakeable earthy smell as well as flowers about her. As she knew about flowers herself, Ratchet placed an anemone behind Buttercup's ear and an amaryllis behind hers. “I like the taste of chrysanthemums and marigolds.”

Buttercup wore a very cute adorable smile. “They're the only red ones I have, Mistress, I'm glad you like them.”

Ratchet, who had been listening to her admittedly odd and hard to understand voice, nonetheless found it completely enchanting. “Thank you, for thinking of me.”

Watching her lover, Buttercup was grateful that Ratchet was considerate enough to speak clearly and slowly so she could read her lips. Not everypony was that thoughtful. “I haven't thought of anything else!” it was the truth, too. “When I got your text earlier, it was like being kissed by you.”

“I'm sure I'll have a chance to 'kiss' you properly at dinner.” Ratchet kept her voice steady, though inside she was doing backflips. “Let's finish our snack while we still have some of that ten minutes left, hmm?”

Buttercup shrugged. “One pony's ten minutes is different to another pony's ten minutes,” she giggled at the frowny look on the unicorn’s face as she ate her tofu dog, mustard and all, without hesitation or complaint. “Lemongrass, my friend who lives next door to me didn't believe I'd found a mare, cos I always come home alone.”

“You did come home alone last night,” Ratchet reminded her with a wink, the same kind of wink she had given her back in Trixie’s Place.

The moment she saw the wink, Buttercup melted. It was like being held in a fluffy blanket. It was the kind of wink that made her go squiffy inside. “I know and, I'm glad you winked at me last night, Ratchet.”

Quickly eating her own tofu dog, in which she made sure to get mustard on her lips, Ratchet gave her sub a hot and spicy kiss. “I hope you stay busy, I'm off to enjoy my afternoon.”

“It was nice to see you,” Buttercup said, abandoning her signing to lunge forward and kiss Ratchet’s lips. In the process she got a few twigs in the maple unicorn’s mane. If she was aware of them, Ratchet didn’t show it. She just smiled before turning to leave. Buttercup watched her go, all lovey dovey puppy eyes until a waiting customer finally got her attention.

Moving like she had a purpose, Ratchet trotted over Marecies, the nearby department store. She had things to get to show just whom owned who in this relationship. Thing was, everypony would expect her to get Buttercup a collar. Ratchet fancied something a little different. “I'm looking for a tail ribbon to compliment a summer green coat colour and a pale green and yellow coloured mane and tail,” she demanded of the mare sat at the customer service counter with her nose in a newspaper.

The shopping assistant looked up from her newspaper and fixed a practised smile on her styled made up face. “Why yes ma'am, of course.” Naturally, she had just the right one to hoof. “This blue one here would look lovely with those colours.”

“Excellent,” Ratchet agreed to the choice the other unicorn had levitated over. She then continued with her requests. Why should she go and look for the things if she had an eager assistant? “I'd like two sets of slipper socks suitable for outdoor wear in that same colour too please.”

“An excellent suggestion, ma'am!” the mare smiled that 'customer is always right' smile and once more she lit her horn and levitated over the blue socks that her customer had requested. Once she had paid for her purchases, and knowing when Buttercup would get off work, she decided to go and check out her new submissive’s neighbourhood.

It didn’t take Ratchet long to get where Buttercup lived. While it wasn’t a rough area – there were no ‘rough’ areas on Manehatten proper, as there was a strong police presence due to the tourist industry - it just wasn’t as affluent an area as others. The apartments, while structurally sound, all had weatherworn facades. It was clear which apartment belonged to Buttercup though as it was the only one with hanging gardens and window boxes everywhere.

Now she was in the area, away from the touristy shops and locations, Ratchet looked for a local coffee shop, preferably a mom and pop kind of a place, one she could watch the front of the building from. As it happened, the unicorn was in luck. She happened across a small café on the corner of the street opposite Buttercup's apartment. She then took up residence inside Silk Cut’s café, where she knew she was unlikely to be seen.

Ratchet was comfortable, and chatty, with the old stallion who ran the little café. Though she asked about racing, local events, restaurants and other tourist stuff, she was in effect just killing time until she saw Buttercup walk past on the far sidewalk on her way home. She was in no rush. Silk Cut was only too happy to listen to her stories and fill her up with local coffee. After some time, Buttercup did appear over the street walking home. She had full saddlebags packed with what the unicorn guessed were dinner ingredients to make the meal that she had requested.

Adorably, the summer green mare still had those twigs and leaves in her mane and the dirt on her hooves. As she walked past the little café, she didn't see Ratchet watching through a window, though of course she had no reason to look for her, lost as she was in her own world.

Up in her small horseshoe box of an apartment, Buttercup was admittedly a little naughty when he washed her hooves in the sink before she started to prepare the meal for her and Ratchet. While she had been instructed not to wash or bathe, she assumed her new Mistress wouldn’t like to taste dirt and soil with her afternoon dinner.

Determined to be a minute early, Ratchet timed her departure from Silk Cut’s café and walked up to the faded red brick apartment building and rang the buzzer at the main entrance for Buttercup's apartment, so she could get into the building at about six fifty-eight.

The maple unicorn was let in, a few seconds later, as Buttercup could see who it was at her door on her little screen. Unaware of that, Ratchet entered, all the time looking around and absorbing the details of the building. She was happy to take her sweet time going up to look at décor on the way, knocking on the earth pony mare’s door spot on six fifty-nine. It was a nice clean place, overall. It was well kept, though it could have done with an up to date paint job, but it wasn’t a roach pit by any means.

As she knew she was coming, thanks to the little screen on the kitchen wall, Buttercup was ready at the door. “Hello Ratchet!” she beamed, though before she said anything at all, the unicorn first inspected her hooves. She was pleased because, while she was forbidden to have a bath, she did expect the mare to be smart enough to wash her hooves before making dinner. Seeing them clean, Ratchet next inspected her yellow and pale green mane to see if she brushed it.

Buttercup didn’t know what to make of being inspected so personally on her own doorstep. Particularly she blushed when her hooves were lifted and inspected almost like she was livestock. It was embarrassing and rather hot, if she was honest. It was evident that she had not brushed her mane, it was a little wild, with the twigs and leaves still in it. Satisfied, Ratchet nuzzled her neck, savouring the smell of grass, dirt and flowers. “Show me your bedroom now,” she ordered simply.

Shuddering at the contact, one she had been waiting for all afternoon, Buttercup bowed on her own doorstep. “Yes Mistress, it’s this way,” she then turned and led her through her mis-matched but clean apartment to the single bedroom. Her place was clean, though everything in it was old and obviously came from a thrift store, as nothing matched, and even the TV was a boat anchor. In the bedroom it was the same story, the dresser not being the same make as the night stands and so on, but it was at least clean. There were flowers at the window box and a large wardrobe that housed her collection of toys.

Ratchet though was unconcerned about the mis-matched bedroom furniture. She went straight to the bed and shoved her head under the sheets to see if it smelled of Buttercup, but not a Buttercup that had pleasured herself. Taking a deep sniff, she then checked a bottom corner to see if it had a clean smell to it. She was curious to see if her mare had been a good pony or not. All the time, Buttercup stood like an army pony showing off her bed. She knew it was clean, with clean pressed sheets in place like she had been ordered. Satisfied that her orders had been followed, Ratchet straightened up and gave the earth pony mare a lusty kiss. “You are a good pony, and I'm ready to eat dinner now.”

‘I'm a good pony!’ was all Buttercup thought as she took the long hard kiss, her tail lifting up of its own accord as a result. ‘I like Ratchet's kisses!’ When she was able, she led the way back to the small kitchen / dining area and to the table with three odd seating pads. There were framed pictures on the wall, of Buttercup with other ponies, and a large building behind her. the ponies changed in the pictures changed, but the building and one older mare was the same.

Looking at all the pictures, the maple unicorn filed away the fact that Buttercup and an older mare were the only ponies who remained the same from picture to picture. “Dinner, Ratchet, I mean, um, Mistress…” the deaf mare blushed as her mind was elsewhere from the kisses and she set the food out on the table. Unlike everything else, the plates and crockery were all from the same set.

Seated at the battered old kitchen table, Ratchet was prepared to give her new partner the benefit of the doubt. It did at least look and smell very appetising indeed. Unless it was bad, of course, like Air Raid bad, she knew she would enjoy it. As it happened, the meal was very tasty. Not world shattering perhaps but compared to Air Raid she was a three-hoof cook. “My complements to the chef!” the unicorn declared as soon as she had consumed the last morsel.

“Thank you, Ratchet,” Buttercup beamed as she cleared away the dinner dishes into the sink and let them soak in the hot water, “I'm really glad you liked it.”

“Are you up for some company tonight?” asked Ratchet, doing a very good job of keeping the eager hopefulness from her voice, “Maybe all night?”

“Yes!” Buttercup answered way too quick, before Ratchet had even finished saying 'night'. “I mean, I wouldn't mind, having you...I mean company, all night.”

Getting up from her seating pad at the table, Ratchet kissed Buttercup’s lips. “I'd like company too. Where does this Lemongrass live?” she asked, a little plan formulating in her head for some fun the next morning.

“Next door, Mistress.”

“Does she work on Saturday?” asked Ratchet. She had noticed by now that when Buttercup was excited, she answered without signing, whereas when she was reading the question that was coming, she spoke and signed. “For that matter, do you work on Saturday?” she only asked because Air Raid had a race on Sunday, with qualifiers Saturday afternoon.

Buttercup shook her head. “We don't work at the weekends, Mistress.”

“What are your breakfast plans?”

“None, Mistress, beyond a bowl of oats, a coffee and the news on the TV.”

“I like oats and coffee.” Ratchet smiled sweetly, putting her little plan into action. “I think you should invite Lemongrass over for breakfast, and surprise her with your guest.” She giggled, for the look on Buttercup’s face was just too precious.

“I'd love that!” Buttercup beamed out a wide smile as she signed an explanation to her reply, “She doesn't believe I got a mare as sexy as you, let alone a Mistress as well.”

‘Well,’ Ratchet thought to herself, ‘We can do something about that assumption, cant’ we?’ There was no way she was having her mare called a liar. “Did you by any chance plan a desert?” it was a bit of a longshot, seeing as how she hadn’t requested a desert, but she did fancy something about now.

Quickly, Buttercup nodded her head. The look on her face said she had been waiting for an opportunity to show off her desert skills. “I made it for us.” Intrigued, Ratchet waited to see what it was. She knew what she wanted it to be, however. One trip to the fridge later and the summer green earth pony mare returned with a freshly made key lime pie, which she set proudly on the table. “In the newspaper you said you liked limes.”

Ratchet laughed at that. Not at Buttercup, and not to be mean. It just tickled her that her mare was such an avid news reader. “You read the paper on one of the few days they actually reported the truth! I do love key lime pie, Buttercup.”

“On the third day after your win, they were running out of things to say about you and the team.” Buttercup explained unapologetically as she cut a rather generous slice of the pie for Ratchet to enjoy. The news had finally run out of things to report about the upstart team from Canterlot by the fifth day.

“Tomorrow you will have lunch with me at the Speedway.” Ratchet said simply as they both ate the – quite frankly marvellous – pie. She knew her new lover was a keeper from this alone. “Dinner will be at my house. I enjoyed the meal, Buttercup, and the desert was excellent. I think I'll keep you.”

Buttercup’s blush was almost off the scale. This had gone so much better than she ever dared hope it would. “I'm glad to hear it. I really like you, Mistress.”

“You will teach me sign language. It may take a while, but you'll not give up. Now teach me what I need now. Teach me, ‘you are mine’.”

With her eyes lighting up in a very bright cute smile, Buttercup showed Ratchet the gestures she needed to make with her hooves and her ears. She made them slowly, and repeated them twice, getting a little more fluent with each repetition. Having watched it three times, Ratchet repeated the signs enough to commit them to memory. “My first gift to you is this,” with that, she pulled out the blue tail ribbon from her saddlebag. “I know some use collars, Raid has a collar. When we are together you will wear this tail ribbon. That way you can clean it as needed.”

When Ratchet came over and tied the blue ribbon on near her dock, Buttercup’s smile threatened to become wider than her head. It was so wide; Pinkie Pie would’ve been impressed. She had been claimed! She glanced over her shoulder at the symbol of her submission. “I love it, thank you Mistress!”

Tail ribbon firmly in place, Ratchet then pulled out the two sets of four blue socks with the hardened bottoms. “These you will only wear for work. I have two sets, so you can clean a set as needed. I know they won't last forever, and I expect you to tell me when a set needs to be replaced.”

Buttercup had a look on her face like it was Hearths Warming morning, especially when Ratchet laid the two sets of socks out on the now cleared kitchen table. It was all threatening to become too much. “Mistress...Ratchet, I love them, thank you so much for my gifts!”

“You will please me by wearing them when needed. Now, show me your home.”

The summer green mare let out a rather loud and completely involuntary squee, she was so happy. “There's not much to show, Mistress.” The first stop on the tour, such as it was, was the kitchenette / dining room they were already in, though she did take the time to properly show her the pictures on the walls. “This is the kitchen!”

Standing, Ratchet looked at all the appliances, and she opened two random cabinets. It didn’t bother in the slightest that nothing matched. It was clean. She looked at the pictures on the wall and saw that Buttercup was in them all, though the other ponies changed from picture to picture. Her mare also seemed older and older in each one, and her smile more and more forced the older she got. “My family, well my families, Mistress.”

“For now that is enough for me.” Ratchet didn’t care too that there was budget food in the cupboards. Cheap stuff was better than no stuff at all. “Is there anypony you could introduce me to?”

Smiling, Buttercup pointed to a lemon-yellow earth pony mare next to her in the picture where she herself was the oldest. “That's Lemongrass, my best friend.” She then pointed to the older mare, a unicorn. “That's Matron Candy Hearts. I called her momma Snuggles. She lives in the retirement home on Stallion Island, she's been my momma for twenty-five years.”

“Good, I'll meet Lemongrass for breakfast. After the qualifiers tomorrow, we will visit your momma. I need to let her know you are mine.” It made a lot of sense to Ratchet now. Buttercup had grown up in an orphanage. She could hazard a guess as to why she had been left there, but that wasn’t for now. “Oh! I need to know the sign for, ‘she is mine’.”

“Momma will like you,” Buttercup commented as she showed Ratchet the appropriate signs she had asked for. That done, she led her through to the living room. Outside the one window were plants and flowers growing in the hanging garden. Just like the kitchen, everything was old, fourth party stuff but it was at least clean. There was a lumpy sofa that looked like it was older than Celestia, an old TV and lots of chick flick movies stacked in neat alphabetical order next to it.

Casting a cursory glance over the DVD collection, Ratchet saw that she had The Alicorn Bride, and touched it with an affectionate nostalgic smile. “You like that one?” Buttercup asked, the mare smiling broadly at her collection that included more than a few cheesy romance movies for girly girls.

“Indeed I do.” Next, Ratchet opened the inward opening window and looked appreciatively at the flower boxes hanging outside. She certainly had some skill. “You do a wonderful job growing plants. I'll have to take you to meet Ms. Thespian. She likes to grow things too. Maybe you can share information.”

“The actress?” Buttercup asked, pointing to her window with pride on her face. “My garden. I went to see a play she was in once.”

“She and her husband are nice ponies. Bathroom next, please.”

Buttercup quickly wiped the fanfilly look off her face and walked the few feet to a door, which she opened revealing a modest sized bathroom. Against the tiled wall was a tub that looked just large enough for two ponies as long as they didn’t mind getting closely acquainted with each other, as well as toilet and sink. The wall nearest the bath held enough coat and mane products to open a decent sized store. “Tour complete!”

“Only because I barged into your bedroom earlier,” giggled Ratchet playfully before switching to the more dominant tone in her voice. “You will now bathe me. It has been a long day. You may join me in the tub to do so, but don't get your tail ribbon wet.”

“I liked you barging into my bedroom,” Buttercup said, rather than signed, as she pulled down her summer meadows fur and mane shampoo and conditioner. Products on the side of the bath, she turned on the hot water. Once the bath was ready, complete with bubbles, Ratchet stepped in to be pampered. As it happened, Buttercup was in the mood to do pampering. Since it wasn’t a large tub she could easily reach everywhere from the side. She started with pouring hot bubbly water over her Mistress’s face. “Have you done racing stuff long?”

Ratchet made sure that Buttercup could see her lips, though she was by now getting used to the strange sound of her voice. “I did my first soapbox derby when I was five. Later I learned I like to work on the cars instead of racing them. My two brothers and sister make up the rest of the pit crew.”

“I know their names from the paper. You look like a tight family.” Buttercup commented as she expertly massaged the mane shampoo into the maple unicorn’s mane. “You've been Air Raid's crew a long time?”

Ratchet purred. It was an actual purr of utter contentment. She could get used to being treated like this! It helped that Buttercup had the softest hooves she had ever felt. “Yes, we were her first and only crew. We’ve been running ten years now.”

“Wow…” Buttercup took several moments when she rinsed the water out of her mane to make sure it was completely shampoo free, before moving on to her neck and shoulders, “You're lucky having your family with you…” her eyes flickered for the briefest of seconds and then she was back to smiling.

Back in the bedroom, after the long relaxing bath had been completed and Ratchet had been suitably pampered to her satisfaction, the unicorn ordered her submissive to stand by her bed while she looked in all the drawers and, in the closet, to see if Buttercup had anything sexy to wear, and to find her personal toys.

She quickly discovered that the earth pony mare had the standard panties, socks and corset, she even had split crotch panties and a bridle. Ratchet found Buttercup’s toys hiding in the bottom of the closet in a trunk. She was impressed at her collection, which included a vibrator, another one with a suction bottom that could be stuck on a chair and bounced on, nipple clamps, a few vibrating eggs, a blindfold, cuffs and, perhaps most surprising of all, an all over latex hood with a rebreather for breath play.

During her inspection, Ratchet sniffed each item she came across – she even licked some of the items, like the bounce on dildo, to see if they had been cleaned before being put away after Buttercup had cum across them. All of the other toys were clean, apart from the suction cup dildo. The hood and rebreather were in a sealed bag so she could tell it hadn’t been used in a while. Pulling out the soiled toy, Ratchet turned to face her lover. “I'll have to take this home for cleaning.” She then produced the latex mask. “Who was the last pony you did this with?”

Buttercup looked at the featureless, eyeless mouthless hood and the tubes from the nostrils as well as the hose that was where the mouth should’ve been with a mix of desire and apprehension. “A mare I used to date. She didn't pay attention. It didn't go well…”

Nodding, Ratchet took the time to sign, 'You are mine'. “I will pay attention. You will forget this other pony, understand?” her tone then softened, and she smiled when her partner nodded her understanding. “I think I'll save it for another day, but for now,” she pulled out the nipple clamps and tossed them between her forehooves. “So, you like pain?”

“A little, yes Mistress.” Buttercup answered with a nod, “It lets me know I'm alive.”

Ratchet set the clamps down on the bed and she used her magic to bring in her saddlebags from the kitchen. She then removed her favourite riding crop and twirled it in the air where Buttercup could see it. “I find this useful in testing for life.”

“It is a nice crop, Mistress,” Buttercup took a deep breath and prepared to be a little naughty, a little insubordinate. She was nervous though, as she wasn't sure how far to go. “Do you know how to swing it, or are you just going to hold it?”

‘Oh yes,’ Ratchet thought, ‘I’m keeping you alright,’ she then took the crop and, moving back her hoof, swung it in a hard and fast arc that made it whistle through the air. At the very last moment she pulled and delivered the softest of love taps. “Is that right?”

When the crop lightly tapped her flanks, Buttercup let out a curious squeak before blushing. She had been expecting a stroke so hard it would have bought her to her knees. “Well played Mistress,” she conceded, though she thought, ‘Maybe she's not such a soft pony after all…’

“What is your safe word?”

Still blushing, she forgot to sign it, instead speaking in her odd sounding voice. “Monday, Mistress.”

“Okay, so that didn't change,” Ratchet didn’t really expect her to have changed her safe word, but it was better to check than not. “When we do breath play, and we will, how do I know you're done, or do I just use my own judgement?”

Buttercup’s eyes were all wide and a little sparkly at the mention of her favourite thing. “I hold a white napkin in my hoof, when I'm done, I drop it.”

“I think I'll be ready to do that next weekend. For now, on the bed, on your back.”

“Thank you!” Buttercup kissed Ratchet's nose and, once she was back in character, the summer green earth pony mare quickly got up on the bed, in the middle, and laid on her back. When she was in position, the unicorn applied the nipple clamps, one after the other, to her teats. Looking at them, she appreciated just how pretty she was. When the clamps went on, Buttercup hissed and bit her lip, her hind legs parting on their own. This was alright, here, with Ratchet. “Thank you, Mistress.”

Stepping back from the bed, Ratchet made sure her submissive could see her and she signed, 'You are mine'.

“I am yours,” No sooner had Buttercup said that than Ratchet moved into snuggle fest mode with a lip lock and tongue battle. She swiftly moved onto her neck and ears without pause, kissing all the time. Buttercup had her forelegs holding Ratchet in a loose hug and she kissed her back but her tongue was no match for the unicorn's. As soon as she reached her neck, the earth pony let out a series of cute moans. Hearing those moans, Ratchet worked her way down the mare’s chest, to her belly and eventually to her nipples where she added some teeth to the nipple clamps. Buttercup’s moans became a squeak of pain, a pleasured hiss, and her hind legs parted a little more, her marehood wet and moist.

When Ratchet got to just above the pubic mound, she pulled away teasing her pet with a wink. She completely enjoyed the frustrated whimpers that Buttercup was making and she waved a hoof to be sure she is looking at her. “You will make me cum.” She held the crop in the air. “In case you need encouragement…” she then leant back and spreads her legs apart.

Buttercup spoke, “Yes Mistress!” Enthusiastically she rolled over to her front and kissed her way down Ratchet's body from her neck to her pussy, where she lingered at her breasts, her hoof rubbing around her labia. Unfortunately, while it did feel good, it wasn’t getting her off. Recognising she was toying with her, the unicorn promptly applied the crop to the earth pony’s eponymous cutie marks. Alternating sides as needed.

Guilty of toying a little, Buttercup found that the crop, expertly directed to her cutie marks was a helpful reminder of what she was supposed to be doing. After the fourth such reminder, and subsequent squeal, Buttercup at last got the hint to stop messing about and to get Ratchet off. She was just going to give her oral, then an idea came to her. As she wasn’t told how, she scissored her instead.

Whatever method Buttercup used was absolutely fine with Ratchet. The maple unicorn pushed in and rubbed back, as she wanted to get off and she didn't mind getting Buttercup off too at the same time. She did not hold back and after a few moments of frenzied rutting both ponies reached their climax at the same time, squirting and drenching each other’s crotches in their juices.

For Ratchet in particular it had been quite a while and now she had reached her climax she savoured every moment of it. Similarly, Buttercup slumped forwards and kissed Ratchet's lips, their crotches still pressed firmly together. “Now for me to see who tastes better, you or me.” She snickered before diving muzzle first into her submissive’s dripping crotch.

“MmmMMM!” moaned Buttercup, her back arched in pleasure. Ratchet took her time in savouring the flavours and she worked with her tongue to send her quickly over the edge once more. Like the unicorn, it had been a while since another pony did that to her, and in short order Buttercup climaxed, this scream louder than the first. Happy with her work, Ratchet nuzzled her thighs and she inspected the flower cutie marks to see if the crop left a lasting impression.

Buttercup, in a heady daze, didn’t notice the inspection. She was too busy riding out her orgasm. There was a couple of red spots on her hindquarters as a result of the crop’s attention, nothing to worry about though. Smirking, ratchet crawled her way up Buttercup’s prone body until her breasts rubbed and pressed against the nipple clamps.

The smile that Ratchet wore when she ground her bodyweight onto the nipple clamps was priceless. She adored the cute little whimpers caused by the pain of her rubbing the clamps bringing her back to the here and now, her eyes focussed on Ratchet and she smiled. The dominant unicorn applied soft and tender kisses as she continued to grind against the clamps. “Oh Celesssssstiaaaaa!” Buttercup screamed, the heady mix of pleasure and pain was doing it for her in a huge way, her crotch leaking like a tap, she mouthed 'harder'.

Only too happy to oblige, Ratchet put her whole bodyweight into the grind, pressing one hindleg into Buttercup's groin as she did so. Arching her back, her tongue lolled out as stars erupted across her eyes with the force of this third and strongest climax. Ratchet however would not and did not let up the pressure on the clamps. She continued to grind away, only going to stop when the safe word was used.

Buttercup did indeed climax for a fourth time, though this time she was spent. She barely quivered, she had nothing left to squirt and no energy. When it was clear that her Mistress wasn’t going to stop, the earth pony said, “Monday!” She actually had to say it as her legs wouldn't work for her to sign it. Straightaway, Ratchet stopped what she had been doing. She used her legs to push herself up, and she moved down to see just how red the clamps were.

It didn’t come as any great surprise, especially after all that activity, that the green teats were getting fairly red by then. Ratchet took pillow case and rubbed a teat when she removed the clamp so as to get the blood flowing. Then, when Buttercup let out a loud shuddering moan with the removal of the clamp, she went and repeated on the other teat. “Are your chick flicks subtitled?” she asked after a few quiet moments had passed.

Slowly, when she had her wits back about her, Buttercup nodded her head, “Yes Mistress, all of them…”

“Then I think it’s time for some more key lime pie, drinks and a movie, don’t you?”

“MmMmm,” by now she had all of her faculties back, in that stars were no longer popping in her eyes, said, “I think...mmmm that's a good idea, Mistress.”

When Buttercup kissed her, Ratchet was only too willing to return the gesture. “All my ideas are good idea, except the bad ones. Those become my brother's ideas.”

After a moment, the summer green earth pony heaved herself up to sitting, sweating mess. “Which brother?” she asked before she could think of a better question to ask.

“Does it matter?”

Shaking her head, Buttercup smiled. “No, not really. What do you want to watch?”

Ratchet knew which one she wanted to watch, however she was curious to see which one her lover selected. “Pick one you want to share with your special somepony,” she then signed, ‘You are mine’.

Instantly, Buttercup was up and off her bed, almost galloping off to the living room and, just a moment later she came back with The Alicorn Bride, a big smile on her face and then, when what Ratchet had said to her sunk in, she stopped dead in her tracks. The earth pony’s mouth hung open and she had a stunned look on her face, while Ratchet just waited as she didn’t see a TV in the bedroom. “You…You called me your special somepony. I'm your somepony? We're Someponies?”

Again, Ratchet signed, ‘You are mine’. “I don't know the sign for ‘I'm with you’.” Straightaway, Buttercup dropped the DVD and showed the unicorn the sign, which she repeated back to her. “I'm with you,” Ratchet spoke and signed, “I don't think we can watch the movie in here, and I don't see the pie!” she giggled as she walked past the stunned mare.

After a few moments, Buttercup picked up the DVD and slowly she walked out, dropping it on the arm of the lumpy couch and she went to get the pie, not saying a word. She was still processing what had been said to her. It didn’t seem real. Ratchet, waiting, put the DVD in the player and she made sure the boat anchor of a TV was set up so she could pause it at the title screen.

Quietly, Buttercup came back with the key lime pie in two bowls with spoons, and she sat on the couch. Only now it didn’t seem quite so lumpy as before. “I am with you. You are mine and I am yours?”

Taking a bowl in her magical aura, Ratchet started the movie. She was sure to look at Buttercup when she spoke next, clearly and slowly. “You are with me, and you are mine. I can be yours if you wish.”

With her own bowl held in her hooves, Buttercup sat and blushes hard. “I-I um…I want you to be mine, Ratchet.” She studied the opening title credits for a few seconds, “You're the first one to ever call me a special somepony.”

“It is a start,” Ratchet said kindly. The tone was of course lost, but the kind expression made herself understood. “Time will tell if it becomes more. I've only been in Manehatten a short time and I was not expecting something so soon. For now, I'll try to make this work and meet your needs.”

Happy, Buttercup took her pie and snuggled up to Ratchet’s side. “I'll try to do the same…”

Interrupting her, Ratchet lightly tapped Buttercup's nose with her hoof so that she was looking at her. “No, I'll meet your needs, you'll meet my demands.” She then smiled and turned to watch the movie, content to eat her pie and snuggle until they fell asleep where they were.

Next Chapter: Chapter 3 - Wheeljack's New Sky Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 56 Minutes