Applejack spent the next week trying to figure Dash out. Nothing seemed to add up. Dash was having kinky sex with call mares who looked like AJ, but grumbled when AJ wanted to have sex with her, and never mentioned wanting anything odd. But during the sex that she didn't even want to have, Dash begged for more, then grumbled about that afterward. Then she turned around again and got all pushy about giving AJ a turn.

The turn Dash had given her was never far from her thoughts either. It had been a very long time since AJ had a time like that, and she had never had one near as good. But that just made her wonder if her own feelings were getting in the way of understanding what Dash was thinking.

She was going to have to talk to somepony about this. She couldn't explain the situation, but maybe she could tell them just enough to get some advice, a second opinion. As she left the farm and headed towards Ponyville, she rubbed her coat against a few trees. She always tried to be a little extra scruffy when she went to the Carousel Boutique, it kept Rarity from trying to put fancy dresses on her.

A little while later, she quietly opened the door to the dress shop. Rarity was magic-ing things and dress-making her little heart out. Applejack stood and watched for a moment, before speaking up to get Rarity's attention.

“Ya' know that fabric ya' got there's all full of holes.”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “It is lace, darling. It's supposed to be full of holes.”

“I know that. I'm just messin' with ya'. I actually came to ask ya' a question, if ya' got a minute. I need your advice.”

“You do? Of course I have a minute,” Rarity said, dropping her magic and trotting over happily. “Do tell!”

“Well, it's kinda long, and complicated,” Applejack said nervously.

“I'm all ears.”

Applejack took a deep breath. “Say you got this dress, and you were tryin' to sell it, but you don't really wanna sell it.”

“Why not?” Rarity interrupted. “I could always make another.”

“It's a. . . special dress. Folks don't like to sell this kinda dress. And you kinda gotta sell it, cause you really need the money. So you find another pony who's lookin' to buy a dress, and it turns out to be your friend, and she knows you don't wanna sell it. So she offers to just give ya' the money and let ya' keep the dress.”

“Why didn't I ask my friends for the money in the first place?”

Applejack blushed and avoided Rarity's eyes. “Cause ya' didn't want your friends to know you were sellin' the dress. And if they knew ya' needed money, and they couldn't get it all, and you'd have to sell the dress anyway. Then they'd start askin where ya' got the money, and you'd have to tell 'em you were sellin' your. . . dress.”

Rarity's eyes went wide. “Applejack, are you talking about-”

“Dresses!” Applejack rushed to interrupt. She looked Rarity in the eye, pleading. “I'm talkin' 'bout dresses, Rarity.”

“Right. Dresses. Go on.” Rarity said, calming herself and paying much closer attention as AJ went on.

“So, your friend gave ya' the money without takin' the dress. Then ya' get to feelin' bad cause your friend's spendin' all her dress money on ya', and she ain't even gettin' the dress. And really, it ain’t wrong to be sellin’ your dress to other ponies who need one. So you talk her into takin' it. But she makes you take her dress, and it's real nice.” Applejack remembered the feeling of feathers. “Real, real nice.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “I get the picture, darling.”

Applejack shook her head clear and blushed. “Um. . . yeah. So then you find out that even though she didn't want to take your dress, she's been out buyin' a bunch of fake dresses that look kinda like yours, so it's obvious she’d always wanted your dress. Oh, and she's been gettin' these fake dresses even more special, and she never asked ya' to make your dress more special for her.

“So, would you think she really wanted your dress, even though she'll only take it as a favor to you? Or would ya' think that she maybe cares about ya' a lot and maybe that's why she gave ya' hers? But if she cares about ya' that much, why wouldn't she just tell ya and take your dress?”

Applejack finished and bit her lip. Rarity stared at her for a moment.

“With great difficulty, I shall leave aside the questions of why one has been attempting to sell one's 'special dress,' and which of ones friends has been out purchasing that kind of dress.” Rarity said with an emphatic look.

“Thanks,” Applejack said softly.

Rarity’s face melted into sympathy. “I'll try to answer your questions. It sounds as though one's friend does care about one, quite a lot, to the point where she was willing to give one money so one would not have to part with one's dress, even though she has no problem paying other mares to part with their dresses.”

“Rarity,” Applejack said, a worried warning.

“But, I'm afraid, there's not really enough information to guess whether that was intended as a friendly gesture or more than that.”

Applejack nodded sadly. “But, why's she gettin' all them other dresses more special?”

“If I'm following the metaphor correctly, I would say that while it certainly appears that she likes one's dress, sometimes it's difficult to tell the ponies you're closest to exactly how special you like your dress. They may think it’s strange, or even ugly.”

Applejack just stared for a moment, and a grin spread across her face. “Rarity, you're a genius!”

“I'm well aware of that, darling.” Rarity smiled smugly.

“Yeah, but this time somepony else thinks so too.” Applejack chuckled. “I know just what I gotta do now.”

“Yes? And what is that?”

“I gotta go pack some rope.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “That's going to be quite a dress, isn't it?”

Applejack grinned as she started towards the door. “She wants it fancy, she's gettin' it fancy.”

“Just don't hurt the poor dear!” Rarity called after Applejack.

Applejack ran back to Sweet Apple Acres, the pieces finally in place. She had been so thrown by Dash's taste in call mares that she kept missing the other thing she'd learned, about Dash being kinky. It wasn't just the weird sex, it was the kind of weird sex. Rarity had reminded her of what Marmalade said, that she had clients who were scared to tell other ponies their fantasies, and how it was their job to be there for those ponies, to give them what they needed.

Rainbow Dash, the self-proclaimed toughest pony in Equestria, got off on being tied up and bossed around. That wasn't something she could have ever told AJ, or anypony else who knew her, she probably would've taken it to her grave if she could have. AJ knew Dash couldn’t help it, anymore than AJ could help what feathers did to her. But Dash couldn’t just make do with a feather duster for her desires, and she wanted it bad enough to go all the way to Canterlot and pay a pony she could trust with her secret.

But when Dash went out looking for ponies to take charge in bed, she thought of the one pony who could really do it, the one pony she would grudgingly admit might be as tough as her. The only pony she'd call Boss. A blonde, cowpony-type who was tough and good with rope.

In the barn Applejack gathered several pieces of rope and packed them in her saddle bag for Friday. She hoped she could get Dash to trust her, because she wanted to give Dash the night she'd been trying to buy all along, her fantasy. For the first time, Applejack was proud that it was her job to do that, and she wanted to do it right.

Applejack smiled as Dash opened the door to the hotel room.

“Hey AJ. . . so, um, you wanna get this over with now?”

“We ain't gettin' nothin' over with tonight, sugarcube,” AJ said in a sultry voice, as she walked into the room. She winked at Dash. “I got plans for you.”

Dash's eyes went wide, and her wings popped straight out as AJ came closer, until they were almost nose to nose.

“I hear tell you ain't been all the way honest, Rainbow Dash. I hear ya' like a girl to take charge. Is that right?”

“I- uh-” Dash started backing up, panicked, her cheeks turning bright red. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Your wings are sayin' different.” Applejack smirked and stepped forward as Dash backed up. “'Yes ma'am' will do just fine.”

The blush on Dash's cheeks deepened, but the panic melted away. “Yes ma'am.”

“Now, you know I don't like liars. So I'm gonna haveta make sure you know better next time.” As AJ looked into Dash's eyes, she used her tail to pull a rope out of the saddle bag and drape it over Dash's back. “I'd say you need a good, long lesson, missy.”

“Uh-huh.” Dash said, barely capable of coherent thought as AJ moved to her side and tied the rope around her wings. With a final tug that bound them firmly, AJ dropped the rope from her mouth and gave Dash a smack on the flank.

“What was that now?”

“Yes, ma'am!”

“Good girl. Get your flank on that bed.”

Dash left a rainbow trail rushing the few feet across the room to the bed. She hopped up on it and stared at AJ with a mixture of hope and fear that made Applejack's heart melt.

“Now, lay down on your back.”

Dash followed the order quickly, and Applejack took her time taking off her saddlebags and taking out four ropes. She tied each of Dash's legs tightly to the corresponding bedpost, then leaned over and nuzzled her cheek. “That feel good, sugarcube?”

“Yes, ma'am. It's-”

“I told ya' to hush up. You want another spankin'?”

Dash blushed, and seemed to be forcing herself to look at AJ. “Um, please, Boss?”

Applejack chuckled. “You really are a kinky little thing, ain't ya? You ain't gettin' a spankin' yet. First, there's a little somethin' we need to talk 'bout. See, Marmalade told me what all you been askin' those other girls for.”

Dash nodded. “I kinda guessed that.”

AJ looked Dash straight in the eyes. “She also told me what kinda girls ya' been askin' for.”

Dash's eyes went wide. “I can explain! I-”

“Quiet. Just tell me true. Why have ya' been lookin' for a blonde cowpony to have sex with?” Applejack held her stare, while Dash clearly fought the urge to get away.

“'Cause. . . I wanted. . . you,” Dash said the words as if AJ was somehow forcing them out of her, but her eyes never left AJ.

“Good. Cause you're gettin' me tonight, just like ya' like it, and I ain't hearin' a word otherwise.” Applejack smiled at Dash, and for the first time that evening, Dash smiled back at her.

Applejack shifted, so she was sitting between Dash's spread hind legs. She could see the pegasus was starting to get aroused already, and she watched Dash as she started stroking Dash's helpless, exposed slit with her hoof. She kept it gentle, too gentle to do anything but drive a pony crazy, and sure enough Dash whimpered in response.

“So, when did ya' figure out how much you need me?” Applejack asked, smirking at Dash.

Dash hesitated, but answered, “After the running of the leaves. You tied up my wings, so I couldn't cheat, and whenever I thought about that it was sooo hot. I wanted you to do more, ya' know, tie me up, punish me, make me be good. . .”

“Ha! Tyin' you down's 'bout the only way to make ya' be good. Like, right 'bout now, I bet you'd like to be touchin' yourself.”

Dash nodded.

“And ya' know I ain't gonna let ya' do that.” Applejack smiled. Dash tried to buck her hips and drive AJ's hoof firmly into her sex, but AJ pulled her hoof away quickly.

“You didn't think you were gettin' away with that, did ya'?” AJ raised an eyebrow. “I think you're tryin' for that spankin'. . . tell the truth.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Well then you sure ain't gettin' one tonight.” Applejack grinned. “I'll have to find some other ways to punish ya.”

Applejack leaned down, and ran her tongue slowly up the inside of Dash's thigh, stopping inches before her sex. “Want more?”

“Oh yeah.” Dash panted, her eyes wide. “Please, more.”

“Okay.” Applejack smiled, but rather than continue, she moved to the bottom of the other thigh, giving it a long, sensuous lick that stopped frustratingly short.

“Unh, more!” Dash gasped, wiggling to try to connect her body with AJ's tongue.

“Like this?” Applejack smirked, and her tongue continued up the inside of Dash's thigh, but carefully avoided her desperate marehood. Instead, it traced the line where her leg met her body.

“No!” Dash moaned. “Please eat me out. . . Please?”

Applejack stood and carefully walked up over Dash's restrained body, and lowered her mouth to her ear. “I'll eat ya' out when when you've learned your lesson, Rainbow Dash.” She finished by nibbling the tip of Dash's ear, at the same time tickling between Dash's hind legs with her blonde tail.

“Aaaa!” Dash yelled, startled by the pair of sensations. “I learned! I know it! Totally learned my lesson, Boss, just get me off, pleeeease?”

Applejack chuckled. “Ya' know, this is awful fun.” She eyed Dash's wings, and moved to the side. “I wonder what all I can do here, leavin' these all tied up?”

“No! Don't!” Dash begged.

“No, cause it's gonna hurt ya'? Or no cause it's gonna make ya hotter than a summer bonfire, and you got no way to cool down 'til I say so?”

Dash opened and closed her mouth twice before answering, “Because it's gonna be hot?”

Applejack grinned. “In that case. . .” She leaned down and licked along the edge of Dash's folded wing. The limb twitched, fighting its bondage on reflex as it tried to spring out, and AJ felt herself getting wet at the sight of the powerful muscles working against the thick rope. The straining gave AJ room to carefully nibble on the joint, enjoying the feel and scent of the feathers in her face.

“Maah! Unh! Boss!” Dash thrashed against the bed, thrusting her hips in an attempt to find some sort of relief. Applejack looked up from her work with a devious smile.

“Need me to do the other one too? You got it.” Applejack stepped over Dash and settled on her other side, giving the second wing a matching treatment. As she licked the wing, her forehoof reached down Dash's body, between her legs. Dash was soaked by now, and AJ gently stroked the wet mound while her tongue teased Dash's feathers. Dash's cries suddenly turned to whimpers, and her squirming stopped. AJ looked up, hoping everything was okay.

Dash was straining to stay still, and she blushed as she caught AJ's eye. “I'm trying to be good, Boss.”

“Is that so?” AJ gave Dash's wing a nibble while her hoof barely traced a circle right around Dash's clit.

“Gah!” Dash gasped and threw her head back, but thanks to all of her effort, her body held still.

Applejack smiled. “Done tryin' to fight me?”

“Uh-huh.” Dash said with a sheepish nod.

“So ya' figured out I'm in charge?”

Dash gave a weak smile. “You're totally in charge, Boss. Whatever you want. Anything.”

“Sounds like somepony learned her lesson.” Applejack smiled and climbed on top of Dash. “Now, if ya' ask real nicely, I'll let ya' show me how good ya' are. You might even be good 'nough to get a little treat.”

“Please let me show you how good I am? Please? I'll be so good, Boss. Really awesomely good.” Dash grinned hopefully.

Applejack chuckled. “Okay then, you can have your chance.” She slowly lowered her sex to Dash's mouth.

Dash attacked her marehood like a starving pony, licking and sucking at anything she could reach. But raw passion more than made up for a lack of control, and AJ threw her head back and ground herself against Dash's face. Dash moaned her approval and rewarded AJ with long, firm licks across her most sensitive parts.

“That's good, Dash. So good. . . so. . . MMMM!” Applejack moaned as Dash's tongue bore down on her clit. She started rocking her hips, pressing onto Dash repeatedly as Dash licked and sucked in time.

Applejack looked down, and while Dash's muzzle was hidden between her hind legs, Dash's eyes were open and looking squarely at her, full of trust and admiration. At that second, Dash drove her face even deeper into AJ's sex and all of the pleasure building in Applejack exploded. For a few moments, the world was nothing but the passionate magic Dash was working beneath her, and without words her voice let Dash hear that in no uncertain terms.

AJ practically fell off of Dash, both of them panting and out of breath.

“Did I do good, Boss?”

“You did real good, sugarcube.” Applejack smiled, wrapping her forelegs around Dash's body. But it wasn't time for cuddling yet. AJ ran a hoof down between Dash's hind legs, finding it even wetter than before. She rubbed the spot firmly, drawing a moan from the pegasus.

“Thanks, Boss. Thankyouthankyouthankyou.” Dash said, squirming happily under AJ's hoof.

“Just what a good pony like you deserves.” Applejack said, shifting down between Dash's legs. “I'd say you earned a little treat, since I'm a nice boss and all.”

“You're the best boss, AJ. You're. . . perfect.” Dash said with as much sincerity as Applejack had ever heard from her.

Applejack smiled, then her lips pressed hard to Dash's soaking wet slit, and her tongue attacked the sensitive button, firm rubbing interspersed with sharp flicks. This wasn't an invitation to come, it was an order, and Dash was forced to comply immediately. Her body tensed violently, all four limbs straining at the ropes, her wings aching to burst free.

“Aaaargh! AJ! Oh please, AJ! Please!”

Applejack didn't let up for a second. As her tongue switched to Dash's twitching opening, her mouth and lips worked over the rest of the dripping blue marehood, keeping steady pressure over the sensitive clit. But the firm flicks from before were now directed at the rim of Dash's passage, a feeling that spurred Dash's mind to even greater incoherence as her entire sex was ravished at once.

“AAAH! OH CELEST- OH HAY! NNARGH!”

Dash got just a second to catch her breath as Applejack came up for air. But in no time AJ returned to it with even more hunger, grinding her muzzle against the slick flesh and sending shockwaves of pleasure straight up Dash's spine. Every muscle in her body tensed, her face twisted in a scream, but she couldn't make a noise, she was frozen in impossible pleasure. Applejack kept at her until Dash relaxed into a panting mess.

AJ slowly pulled away from Dash, and moved up to lay next to her. She stroked Dash's mane and said softly, “Sugarcube, I just wanted ya' to know, I did all that with ya', and I still think you're one of the toughest ponies around.”

Dash looked over, and her ears drooped, tears filling her eyes. She fought them back and bit her lip, but her eyes never left Applejack.

“Dash, what's wrong?”

“That was too good.” Dash choked out. “And- this is our last time. Nothing else is gonna be as cool as that.”

Applejack nodded, and thought for a moment. “Ya’ know, Marmalade told me that if I wanted to, she’d keep me on just for you. I wouldn’t mind that, sugarcube. I’d wanna tell the girls, but I’ll leave you out of it if ya’ want. You can trust me.”

“I don't want you to be my call mare, AJ. I never wanted that. I just wanted. . .” She sniffed and tried to pull herself together.

“Oh sugarcube.” AJ moved quickly to release Dash, intending to wrap her in a hug, but Dash stopped her.

“Could you leave me tied up for a minute? There's something I have to say, and. . . when I'm like this, it's easier to be honest about stuff.”

Applejack shrugged. “Well. . . I guess.”

“Come here. I need to look at you.”

AJ returned to her side, and looked down into those big magenta eyes.

“The other day, when I wanted to do you, it was ‘cause I wanted to show you how awesome and sexy I could be. I wanted you to be as hot for me as I am for you. And when I saw how much you like feathers. . . well, I thought you might understand. I know you were just doing a job, just like tonight, but I wasn’t. It felt real for me, like you wanted me so bad. So, um, thanks, I guess.” Dash finished, glancing down.

“That was real, sugarcube,” Applejack said softly. “Your feathers hit me hard. You’re a sexy pony, Rainbow Dash.”

“I know.” Dash said with a smirk painted over her true emotions. “I wanted to make sure you know. I- I have to say something, and it’s so hard. . .”

Applejack could see how uncomfortable Dash was, and itched to untie her. She had to be better off being able to fly around, feeling like she could escape. Then she remembered why Dash liked to be tied down, to have another pony take control of her. Applejack looked her in the eye and said firmly, “Rainbow Dash. You’re gonna tell me what ya’ need to say, right now. Gimme the truth.”

Gratitude flashed across Dash’s face, before being replaced by cringing fear as Dash forced out the words. “I love you, AJ. I wasn't going to tell you. Like, ever. I didn't want to make things messy or weird, and I was worried you'd think I was a wimp 'cause of stuff like this, so I. . . I just got some ponies who looked like you for the sex, and I kept on being your best friend. But now, I mean, I guess things are gonna be kind of weird anyway, and I- I had to tell you the truth, Boss. And I totally understand if you never wanna talk about anything that happened tonight, ever again.”

Applejack couldn't remember seeing a pony more vulnerable than Dash looked at that moment, fighting between trying to watch Applejack or turn away. She was completely exposed, body and soul. And both were beautiful, if a bit messy and disheveled at the moment. It added something deeper to her understanding of her best friend, and made the feelings she had been having since Dash made love to her stand out in her heart.

“Dash, sugarcube, I think I love you too,” Applejack admitted. “I never thought 'bout it before I knocked on the door to this room the first time. But, through this whole, crazy thing, you've been the best friend, and the best lover I coulda asked for. When ya' put those together, well. . . it sure feels like love to me.” Applejack smiled down at Dash, as a surprised and euphoric grin spread across Dash's face. AJ leaned down and went on in a whisper, “And I think you're awful cute all tied up like that, too.”

Dash lifted her head and caught AJ's lips in a deep kiss. Applejack pressed it back until Dash's head was on the pillow again, and continued for a long time. When it finally broke, they just smiled at one another blissfully, and Applejack tried to understand how so many wrong turns brought her someplace so right.

Finally, she nuzzled Dash's face and said, “Why don't I untie you, and we'll go give Marmalade her share of the money and explain this whole mess, and why you won't be needin' her girls no more.”

“Awesome.” Dash grinned as AJ undid the ropes. As soon as her her limbs were free she stretched and flew into the air. “And you are so getting a tip this time.”

“Aww, that's- Hey, I didn't get no tip last time!” Applejack raised an eyebrow.

“I thought you'd be offended,” Dash said with a shrug.

“I was suckin' your apple for bits, and you thought I'd mind ya' offerin' me extra?”

Dash giggled. “I didn't know, things were all messy then.”

“Things ain't messy now, are they, sugarcube?” Applejack reared on her hind legs and planted a kiss on Dash's lips.

“Nope. Now things are more awesome than I ever thought they could be,” Dash said, landing in front of her.

“Then I reckon ya' owe me a nice, big tip.” Applejack leaned in and gave Dash another, longer kiss.

“How about all my money, ever?” Dash offered dreamily. “Is that good for you?”

“I can leave ya' a bit to buy food.” Applejack chuckled. “Now we just gotta figure what we're gonna tell our friends 'bout how we got together. I’d kinda like to tell ‘em the truth.”

Dash looked confused. “Um, why? You’re done with this, we could just say we ran into each other and they’d never have to know.”

“I know. But I ain’t ashamed no more, and I want other ponies to know that if you’re doin’ this job clean and right, and makin’ ponies happy, it’s nothin’ to be ashamed of.”

“Um, you do know that if you tell Pinkie this is a way to make ponies happy, she’s gonna open Ponyville’s first brothel, right?”

“And where’s the harm in that? Maybe there are ponies in town who need it, and maybe she’d be good at it.” Applejack smiled. “I’ll pick up some cards from Marmalade, see if the other girls wanna give it a try on either side of that fence. I guess they all ain’t gonna meet their special somepony, but it really gives ya’ a different way of lookin’ at things.”

“Hey, you don’t have to tell me. I’ve met some really nice ponies who were call mares.” Dash grinned. “But you were my favorite.”

“You okay with tellin’ the girls you were usin’ call mares? It’s okay if ya’ ain’t.”

“If you’re gonna admit to being a call mare, I guess I can tell them I was hiring girls. I’ll tell them that Marmalade’s girls needed lessons on how to be awesome in bed, so they came to the best!” Dash gave a toss of her mane and struck a pose.

“Is that so?” AJ said dryly.

“I’ll tell them I taught you everything you know.” Dash smirked.

Applejack got an evil grin on her face. “You tell 'em that, and you're gonna be real sorry next time I get ya' tied up. I’ll show ya’ some things you’ll know ya’ didn’t teach me.”

Dash leaned in, grinning and gazing into Applejack's eyes. “Make me sorry, Boss.”

“My pleasure.” Applejack laughed.