Rarity inspected her model carefully, keeping a tape measure, a needle and thread, and several ribbons up in her magic. “You know, Rainbow Dash, you’re actually looking younger than you were yesterday. Did you put on any cream after the party?”

Rainbow Dash looked away, still standing perfectly still in the uniform, in a pose she’d found in that book on jock pets, though she’d never let Rarity know that. She was wearing a chest armour piece much like that of the Royal Guard, as well as metal shoes, but unlike the Royal Guard’s uniforms she had to wear a dark fabric underneath, as well. The sleeves of the shirt went all the way over her front hooves, and her hind hooves were covered by soft black socks that reached up to her haunches.

More importantly, her wings had a pouch on the sides of the shirt to keep them warm.

Rainbow Dash blushed. With her hooves feeling so much better after yesterday, she almost forgot Rarity had asked her a question. “Um, no, not really. I’m doing some breathing exercises. Why, is it showing?”

Rarity circled around again, shaking her head. “Something certainly is. Your coat is shinier than I can remember it being since… well, ever, your eyes are a lot brighter than usual, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear your mane and tail are at least two inches longer than yesterday. What’s your secret?”

Rainbow’s ears perked. Well, now that you mention it, yesterday I masturbated with rubber socks on, and I came pretty hard. After that I rubbed myself wherever it felt good until every single muscle in my body felt nice and relaxed. Actually, you might wanna avoid putting any kind of hoofwear on me for a couple of days, unless you want to know what I smell like when I’m hot. And Twilight’s been putting images in my head that I’m pretty sure get stronger every time I come. She turned to look at herself in the mirror and check. “Oh, that? Yeah, that’s just a growth spurt, my breed gets that every now and again. I just need to make sure to get it cut in time.”

“Or you could leave it, darling. It does look rather fetching on you, and it keeps those ugly spikes in your hair down a notch.” Rarity moved to adjust some of the stitching on the side of the chest.

“Thanks, but I can’t fly right when it gets too long. It starts tickling on one of my wings, it’s too distracting. Plus, it throws my balance off, and I kinda like those spikes, actually.” Rainbow kept on standing still, not even budging her wings as Rarity worked.

The unicorn stepped back again and inspected her work. “There, that’s looking fine, isn’t it? Could you try bucking for me?”

Rainbow braced herself, then gave a careful buck with her hind legs. The shoes shuffled slightly. “I think the shoes are still a little loose, Rarity. If you buck hard with this, they’ll fly off.”

Rarity narrowed her eyes and pouted, her usual thinking pose. “Indeed. Can’t have that, even on a ceremonial thestral uniform.”

“They’re not called ‘thestrals’, Rarity, that’s a made up word from a kid’s book. They’re called Rousettus ponies, or rousettes, or flying fox ponies. They’re not bat ponies and they’re definitely not thestrals.” Rainbow put a hoof to her mouth right after she said it. That’s what I get from hanging around Twilight too much.

Rarity grinned at her. “So it’s true, then.”

Stupid, stupid, she baited you into that. You let her bait you into it.

“You did have a talk with Scootaloo about pony breeds.”

Oh. Okay, not the worst thing she might have thought of. “Um, yeah, I did. I didn’t really know what else to say. I mean, I know she’s only a fan who wants to hang out with me, but…”

Rarity nodded, walking back to adjust the straps on the metal boots. “And she’s not the only one, you know. Sweetie Belle told me Snails did a presentation about you a few weeks ago.”

Rainbow bit her lip. “Yeah, I know. Only Snails doesn’t go around trying to do stunts like me, or follow me and study my moves when he thinks I’m not looking. Scootaloo does.”

Rarity paused once the boots were on tighter. Rainbow looked back and shook her hind hooves. Her nether regions clenched ever so slightly at the sensation of being covered in a snug armour. She pushed the distraction aside. “I’m responsible, at least for part of what she does. So I did the responsible thing and told her what I thought. Nothing else to it.”

Rarity picked up one of Rainbow’s hind hooves and rattled the boot around. “That doesn’t hurt at all? No chafing against the socks?”

“Nope, no chafing on my legs. This is nice stuff, you know, really warm.”

Rarity nodded. “It has to be, darling. Rousettes don’t have the luxury of preening any feathers, so their winter uniforms need to keep their extremities warm. Can you move about in it, though?”

Rainbow Dash stretched out this way and that, curling her arms and legs as far as she could. “Looks fine to me.”

“And for combat? Any remarks?”

Rainbow Dash carefully extended a hoof to punch, then kick, then spin and kick. She did the same motion faster, then did a quick spin around the dressing room, settling back down easily. She rubbed her chest. “There’s a little chafing around here, I think the shirt just drops down after a while.”

Rarity leaned in close, leaving Rainbow Dash to get a good whiff of the fancy shampoo she used in her mane. Unabashed, Rarity pulled and tugged at the fabric that had slipped. “Ah, there it is. Nothing a little clip won’t solve.”

Blushing at the close presence of another mare other than her Mistress, Rainbow Dash just let it all happen.

Rarity fiddled around with the costume, not even looking her friend in the eye. “Do tell me when you’re feeling bored, will you? I wouldn’t want to be getting on your nerves.”

Rainbow chuckled. “It’s fine, Rarity. I promised I’d help, I’m the only pony around who’s got the right muscle for it, and a Night Guard winter uniform is a lot more awesome than those fancy dresses, no offense.”

“None taken. Though I will admit, I’m surprised you’re lasting this long.” Rarity backed away. “Normally you’re fidgeting around or flying off while I’m working. Are you really that concerned about Scootaloo?”

No, actually I’m just preparing for the hypnosis Twilight promised me this afternoon, and I need to practise my posing with somepony. You know, since hypnosis makes you be still and all, it’s kinda hot. I wish we didn’t have to force it into our schedules and plan it so much, but you can’t have everything, I guess. “I’ve got a lot going on right now, but that’s on the list, yeah.”

“I see.” Rarity gestured with her horn and had Rainbow carefully shed the shoes, chest piece, shirt and socks for Luna’s Royal Guard.

Rainbow didn’t get off the stand. “Do you know anything more? About Scootaloo, I mean. I haven’t seen her around the past few days.”

Rarity took a dramatic breath and put a hoof to her heart. “Me? Darling, I hardly know that girl, why should she ever talk with me? I assure you, Scootaloo has not told me anything.”

Rainbow Dash glared at the unicorn. Unsurprisingly, Rarity buckled slightly. “But there’s a good chance Scootaloo told Sweetie Belle about her doctor’s visit, or Apple Bloom, or Applejack, or Cheerilee.”

Rainbow kept her glare up.

Rarity bit her lip. “And possibly, maybe, I might have been so bold as to ask Sweetie Belle, or Apple Bloom, or Applejack, or Cheerilee.”

Still, the glare would not relent.

Rarity smiled sheepishly. “Or all of them. Just out of curiosity, of course.”

Rainbow Dash stepped down from the stand. “Why would you want to know? Scootaloo’s not related to you, is she?” Not that I’d be too surprised, knowing what her actual family is.

Rarity snorted ever so gently. “That girl? Heavens, no. She’s a ruffian, she’s impatient, she’s reckless, she’s-”

“-like me.”

Rarity sighed. “Indeed. She’s a friend of my Sweetie Belle’s, Rainbow Dash, and as much as I dislike her uncouth behaviour sometimes, I can’t deny she’s helping my little sister stick up for herself. So yes, I did inquire about her as soon as I heard.”

Rainbow shrugged. “And? If she knows what’s wrong, why’s she avoiding me? What did the doctor say?”

“As I understand it, Rainbow, the doctor said her wings are a fine size for her age. She had her blood checked, and you were right in thinking she’s a… I think it was a dodo?”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “That’s what the breed’s called. It’s a pegasus thing.”

“Of course. The, ah, ‘issue’ Scootaloo is having isn’t related to her breed or a handicap, it’s related to her diet. Apparently a pegasus pony’s ability to fly is affected by what they eat, and Scootaloo is now seeing a dietician from out of town. From what I hear, it’s the same mare who is in charge of the Wonderbolts Academy dietary regimes. A pegasus pony, a very capable one, I’m told.”

Rainbow tilted her head back and thought. “Oh. That doesn’t sound too bad. So why wouldn’t Scootaloo tell me when she found out?”

Rarity winced. “I’m no expert, but I’d say it’s out of your hooves at this point. It’s a matter between Scootaloo and her mother. They had a bit of a row afterwards, and it’s probably best if you don’t try and step in. You’d only make the gap between them greater.”

Rainbow frowned. “Why?”

Rarity sighed. “Pegasus ponies, and I’m only repeating what I heard, need certain things in their… well, their gut. And these things can only come into the gut one way, namely by ingestion.”

Rainbow shrugged. “So what’s the problem? If it’s just her food and not her genes, that’s good, right?”

Rarity bit her lip. “Genes are not the only thing a mother gives to her infant, Rainbow Dash. There are… other things that are given to babies after they’re born, and that is where, I’m told, Scootaloo was lacking. Or rather, her mother was.”

To say that the realisation hit her would have been an understatement. Oh. So that’s why she hasn’t talked about it yet. She gulped. “Right, I think I’m getting the picture. But what about Pound Cake? He should have the same thing, right? His mom’s an Earth pony, too.”

Rarity made some notes and folded up the uniform in a trunk. “How do you know Scootaloo’s mother is an Earth pony?”

“She told me. And she told me her dad is a paediatrician. Aloe and Pokey Pierce, right?”

Rarity nodded and mumbled to herself, before speaking up. “Right, I suppose she would. As for Pound Cake… his mother knew, I suppose, Scootaloo’s mother did not. Or perhaps she did and it just didn’t take, I didn’t pry. At any rate, I don’t think it would be wise to try and have another talk, not now. Scootaloo might get upset, given, you know… No sense in rushing into things.”

Rainbow sighed. “No. Thanks for the headsup, though. You need anything else?”

“No, I do not. Do you need anything else, Rainbow Dash?” Rarity cocked her head to the pegasus.

“Why would I?”

“No real reason, I just couldn’t help but notice you’re more focused than usual, or more distracted, it’s hard to tell. Are you seeing anypony, per chance?” Rarity rubbed up against Rainbow’s neck, cutely begging for the information.

Rainbow felt her jaw clench as she walked to the exit. “Why does me staying still more mean I’m seeing somepony?”

“You’re not flying off, for one thing. Normally, ponies can’t even breathe the word ‘sentiment’ around you without getting some response, and yet here you are, calmly inquiring about something very near and dear to you. I’d have expected you to be kicking the air by now, honestly, that’s what’s you always do. Whether you notice it or not, you’re looking a lot better than usual, and I mean that in the most flattering way possible, darling. Besides that, and I suppose I am cheating just a bit here, I happen to have it on good authority that there was no book convention in Baltimare when you and Twilight left.”

Rainbow froze. A single bead of cold sweat ran down her neck. “Excuse me?”

“There was a convention for knitting, one for terrarium owners, and one that was, shall we say, for ‘special interest’ groups. You went to the latter, no?” Rarity pushed the edge of her mane up and down, taking the excuse to look away.

“H-how do you know about that?”

“Not going to pretend you were getting Tank some new things?” Rarity smirked.

Rainbow Dash planted a hoof to her forehead. “Is it too late to?”

“Very much so.”

“Okay, fine. Me and Twilight went to this other thing. But if you tell anypony about it-”

“-I sell my edible boots there.”

Rainbow stopped midway her threat. “You what?”

“Every once in a while, I make a shipment of edible boots for a special crowd of ponies, and that gathering is one of the places where I can sell those goods. By proxy, naturally, not in pony. There’s a reason they hold that convention in fashion’s off season, you know.”

Rainbow put her hoof down, surprised. “So… you’re not gonna tell anypony?”

“Of course not, Rainbow Dash, why would I? I think it’s very endearing that Twilight would accompany you to such a place. I can’t imagine it was easy for her to admit she was clueless.”

“Umm, yeah, it wasn’t.”

“Then again, she hardly seems the type to know much about stallions, does she?”

Stallions. Of course.

“And I’ll wager she got you some good material for your new gentlecolt friend, no?”

Rainbow gulped. “Umm, yeah, she did get me some good books.”

Rarity prodded Rainbow’s flank. “So who’s the lucky fellow? Anypony I know?”

“Umm… it’s not any stallion you know, no.” Hey, that was pretty clever, I gotta remember that one. Nopony’ll ever suspect me with that.

Rarity backed away, clearly surprised. “Oh, not a stallion? That just leaves…”

Rainbow Dash tensed up. Uh oh.

“Rainbow Dash, are you dating a griphon? I should think that’s a bit exotic, even for you.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. You and your fantasies… or fetishes… or both. “Could we not talk about it, please? It’s kind of embarrassing.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry. But if you ever need advice on dating stallions, feel free to ask, dear, I won’t tell anypony. Mum’s the word.” Rarity made a zipping motion over her lips to illustrate.

“I am not pregnant!”

Rarity blinked, surprised.

“Oh, that was a figure of speech, right?”

Wordlessly, Rarity nodded.

“Sorry, I’ve just got a lot of stuff on my mind right now. If I ever need advice on stallions, I’ll be sure to come to you. Guess you would know that better than me.” Let’s hope Twilight never masters that mare-to-stallion spell, then.

“I may have had one or two experiences in the matter. Although it would help if I knew who your partner is, of course.”

Rainbow took a deep breath and and blew it out, almost fuming. “Rarity, I don’t want ponies to know who I’m seeing. It’s bad enough that you know I’m seeing anypony as it is, but I am keeping this a secret and I’ll expect you to do the same. So please, as a friend, could you just let it go?”

“Of course, Rainbow Dash. That was out of line, and I apologise. I shan’t mention it again, but please, do think to ask if you need help? Love is a very complicated matter, and you, well… I’d hate to think you make a novice mistake and drive your true love away. No offense.”

Rainbow chuckled softly. “I see your point. I’ll be careful, I promise, but I’m fine now, honest. If I ever do need advice, I’ll be sure to ask you next time, I promise. Thanks for the talk.”

“And thank you for the modelling, dear. I’m sure princess Luna’s guards will feel much better at the next Grand Galloping Gala.”

“See you around.” Rainbow Dash took off, tense with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

Today’s the day. Today’s the day me and Twilight finally do it for real.

The smell of wood and books greeted her as she entered the library. Twilight gestured towards the open basement door, Rainbow walked in without a word.

Finally, some peace, quiet, and privacy.

Relief washed over Rainbow’s body, the tension just washing away. Twilight took notice. “Wow, you must be really eager to get started.”

Rainbow Dash closed the basement door behind her. “It’s not that. It’s just keeping this whole thing a secret, it’s getting harder. I think Rarity might figure it out.”

Twilight bit her lip. “That might be a problem. But let’s focus on the here and now.” She sat down on the pillows amidst the book cases. “Are you feeling okay? Did you find your present?”

Rainbow Dash chuckled and got in close to nuzzle Twilight’s neck. “I did, and I loved it. I never felt so good in my whole life, well, not without flying, at least. Did you put a suggestion in me to come?”

Twilight blinked. “Um, no. Did you come?”

“Yeah, I came hard. And if you didn’t put that in me, that means I mean I can come on my own now, right? It means I’m fixed, I’m normal now.”

Twilight pouted ever so slightly. “And you don’t really need me for your pleasure.”

Rainbow reached up to stroke Twilight’s face. “I don’t need you for getting me off. That doesn’t mean I don’t need you for anything else. I still want to do this with you, Twilight, and I still want to be with you. So what do you want me to do? Did you read up on anything fun?” She sat upright, neck stretched out and face forward to present herself like a good pet.

Twilight smiled. “I did. And I’m guessing you did, too?” She circled around her pet, gauging the changes to that lithe physique.

“I did read a little bit on jocks and pets. You like my pose?” Rainbow kept on staring straight ahead.

Twilight approached her from behind and gave her a hug. Even in so little time, Twilight’s arousal scents had started to spread. “I love it, my little showoff. And I like your shiny coat, too. Have you noticed any increased speed or strength anywhere?”

The pegasus pet kept her composure as best she could. “Nothing yet.”

Twilight broke the hug and walked to Rainbow’s front again. “That’s odd, it should have shown something by now. So, are you ready for this?”

Rainbow braced herself, then nodded. “How long do we have?”

“An hour or so. Spike’s helping out Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner, Owloiscious is out hunting, and the library’s marked as closed. No one will disturb us. Are you absolutely sure this is okay? I’m not going to give you that much control over your body, you’ll be… licking me down there.”

“As long as it’s not dirty, I’m okay with it. You know what I can and can’t do, Mistress.”

“Okay, then, here we go. Dive down deep, pet.” Twilight tapped Rainbow Dash’s forehead.

Rainbow never quite got used to the sensation of falling down into deep relaxation. All her thoughts slowed, her body went limp and weak, and Mistress approved. Her head felt light, swaying back and forth and left and right, eyes staring into nothingness. Her breath slowed down, and her wings dropped lazily to her sides.

Twilight smiled at the response. “You’re a good pet. Repeat that for me.”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes stayed half-lidded. “I’m a good pet.”

Twilight’s smile went wider, giddily so. “Good pets get rewards. Repeat.”

“Good pets get rewards.”

Rainbow Dash could see Mistress get excited, those big purple wings stiff and erect. It didn’t register enough for her to react, though.

Twilight continued, as per her schedule. “Now, pet, you’re going to grow aroused for me, with the trigger your Mistress implanted. As you grow more aroused, I will run my hooves over parts of your body, and as I do, you’ll feel that part of your body lose control, to be replaced by my control. It will be as if you are moving with puppet strings attached to you, and you’ll feel great pleasure in submitting. Do you understand?”

Rainbow smelled her own arousal, along with that of her Mistress. It didn’t bother her in the slightest. “Yes, Mistress.”

Twilight went to her pet’s left side. “Dashie wanna play?”

The pegasus kept her eyes staring straight forward, even as Mistress unwound the nerve endings on her left shoulder, rendering her arm useless. The trigger sent waves of pleasure up and down her spine, almost making her moan.

“Dashie wanna play?”

Rainbow moaned against the arousal as she lost control of her left leg. More pleasure, more obedience, came flooding in through every fibre of her being.

“Dashie wanna play?”

Rainbow Dash whimpered at the building arousal. She caved in. Her body just gave up.

Twilight carefully stroked her right leg, then her belly. “Dashie wanna play?”

Everything went white.

Rainbow came to with her nose in front of Twilight’s marehood. It didn’t look like anything special, but that may have had something to do with the addled state of her mind. She caught her tongue lapping out at the outer lips, then pressing inside while she kissed them and rubbed her lips against it. Every so often her tongue would seek out the nub above, then she’d find her snout lowered again, tongue back at the lips and nose nuzzling Twilight’s clit. She was moving on instinct, barely aware. She wasn’t in control of herself, but it didn’t bother her. Twilight was enjoying it. Mistress was enjoying it.

How long was I out? Did Mistress knock me out?

Rainbow became aware of the weight on her shoulders, as well as her hooves wrapped around Twilight’s legs. She stroked along their length, feeling out the supple musculature of her cannons.

Twilight lay panting on the pillows, stroking over Rainbow’s head with her front hooves while her legs rested on that hard pegasus back. “Keep going, pet. Just relax. Are you with me again?”

Good pets let go. Good pets lick. Good pets lick and nuzzle and kiss. Good pets get rewards.

Rainbow blinked to try and focus. Her tongue kept on moving, but that was the only thing she was really aware of. Mistress didn’t taste bad, either, mildly fruity. She stopped for only a second, vaguely realising she had another planted suggestion to follow. She made sure to keep her mouth close enough for her hot breath to tingle over Twilight’s nether regions, though. “I am with you again, Mistress.”

“Good pet.”

Rainbow shuddered at the praise, bringing her to full awareness. Twilight had put her legs comfortably on Rainbow’s shoulders, just far enough for the tips of Rainbow’s wings to be able to stroke her cannons. Like a good pet, Rainbow kept up her administrations, carefully licking and nipping where she could, keeping her rhythm slow and steady just like the commands ringing in her head told her to. Twilight’s voice was everywhere, but just a little too quiet to register. All Rainbow Dash had to do was listen and obey and lick and quiver like a good pet. Her face was already covered in Twilight’s juices. Mistress was eager.

“It seems you blacked out with sheer pleasure, pet.” Twilight pressed Rainbow’s muzzle in deeper, prompting her to suckle ever so gently over Twilight’s sensitive nub. “You went deeper than you were supposed to. But that’s okay, it just means you needed that break. And you’ve been so very good in the meantime.”

Another shudder, and only now Rainbow realised her own nether regions were throbbing in the afterglow of orgasm. She wasn’t sure how many, though. I came? I came without Mistress allowing it? Or did she make me without me remembering?

“Just like that, pet, hold.” Twilight gripped Rainbow’s head tighter just as Rainbow Dash circled her tongue around a fleshy nub.

Clitoris. It’s called a clitoris, Rainbow, you know that. Just keep going. Circle, up, nuzzle, circle, up, nuzzle, circle, up, nuzzle, and moan for a little vibration, that’s what Mistress wants. That’s how it has to be to be right.

Twilight gasped for air. “A-almost there, such a good pet, obeying so well. Almost… ah!”

Rainbow kept licking in the same spot, following the same programmed rhythm with her snout deep in Twilight’s private regions. Twilight’s juices poured out, but to a good pet like Rainbow that wasn’t an issue. She just lapped all the sweet nectar -- undoubtedly altered by another suggestion, but a welcome one -- up with the same dedication she had been licking her Mistress with.

Twilight panted, riding the throes of her climax. “Now, come for me, pet. Feel yourself go back to normal as you climax for your Mistress.”

Rainbow felt her loins clench, another climax wracking her already tired body. Her wings went flush in a heartbeat, and even with Twilight’s legs over her like that her ears somehow managed to get even hotter.

She was pretty sure she’d blacked out again when she felt Twilight’s arms around her. They were together, just lying there on the pillows, Twilight sporting a content smile while Rainbow tried to make sense of things. “Twilight? What happened? Was it good?”

Twilight clenched Rainbow tighter, before planting a kiss on her forehead. “It was perfect, exactly the way I wanted. I love you, Rainbow.”

Rainbow chuckled and rubbed her now sore nether lips. “I love you too, Twilight. I’m sorry I blacked out, though. I don’t think I was supposed to.”

“I didn’t expect you to, but that’s normal. Just the act of submitting can do that, it’s a survival thing. I thought it’d be best if you stay like that, keep things going ‘till you came back up at your own pace. You did like it, didn’t you? Is it coming back to you?”

“I loved it. And I think I do remember some of it. You made me see another image before we started, right?”

“Right.”

“And then you got me started on getting used to your taste, how to lick and nuzzle… wow, you were really technical about it. I didn’t know you wanted it to be that specific.”

Twilight winced. “Was it too much?”

Rainbow Dash reached up and kissed Twilight’s cheek, reminding them both she was now covered in Twilight’s scent. “Nah, it was fine. I wanted to do it right for you, and that’s the best way of doing it. I had fun, and you got to get something exactly the way you wanted it. I’m glad you’re happy.”

Twilight nuzzled her. “Excellent, pet. But now, I think we both need a shower.” She sniffed Rainbow Dash’s face, and only now did they both notice the actual smell hanging over Rainbow. She picked up the now stained pillows in her magic. “You know where the bathroom is, don’t you?”

Rainbow Dash stretched out and flapped her wings once, then took off towards the door at the top of the stairs. “I know.”

Twilight came trotting behind her. “Start the water up, then, but don’t go in the tub.”

Rainbow walked out into the main room of the library and turned her head back. “We’ll shower together?”

Twilight shrugged, before walking off with the pillows. “Might as well. I’ll just toss these into the washer.”

Before long, the two mares were wet again, except this time it was in a clean sort of way. Twilight rinsed Rainbow’s face off with the showerhead, then picked up a bottle of soap.

Rainbow grimaced. “Um, not the lavender, Twilight.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow.

Rainbow smiled sheepishly. “Please not the lavender, Mistress?”

“Why not, pet?”

“Don’t get me wrong, I like the smell, but I don’t like smelling that way. I’d rather use Spike’s soap again, if that’s okay.”

Twilight frowned. “You like smelling like a stallion?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I like smelling strong and powerful. I don’t think they make mare soap that does that.”

“Point taken.” Twilight fetched Spike’s soap and worked it into her hooves. “Sit down for me, pet.”

Rainbow sat down in the tub and closed her eyes, letting Twilight work the soap into her face. She unwound, her breath slowing down again, all on its own. Her head bobbed back and forth with Twilight’s gentle caresses, only a little twitch in her left ear kept her from nodding off entirely.

“You still with me, Rainbow?”

“I’m still with you. I think I might be floating in and out of it, though. Is that supposed to happen?”

Twilight gently rubbed the soap into Rainbow’s ears, making them twitch even more cutely. “It’s been known to happen, yes. When you act submissive to a certain degree, sometimes your consciousness blocks things out. I guess it’s even more true when hypnosis is involved. But this isn’t hypnosis you’re feeling, just pure submission. It shouldn’t be too unpleasant.”

Rainbow got a dopey smile on her face as her Mistress washed off the scents of their lovemaking. “It’s not, just a little weird. Nice, though.”

“And just so you know, that is something that happens to good pets, I looked it up. So you are getting better at it, in case you were wondering.”

Rainbow felt the relief wash over her again just as Twilight rinsed the soap off her face. “Thanks, Twilight. That’s really good to know.”

They snapped their heads towards the bathroom door when they heard a pounding.

“Twilight?”

Twilight gulped. “Yes, Spike?”

“Is that Rainbow Dash in there again? Is she using my soap?”

Twilight shrugged. Rainbow winced. Twilight gestured to the door for her to answer, and Rainbow obeyed. “Um, yeah, it’s me. Sorry, Spike, I’ll start bringing my own from now on.”

Twilight’s face contorted in panic, her voice lowered to a whisper. “Please don’t question it, please don’t question it…” Rainbow shot her a questioning glance.

“Oh, okay. But, Twilight? What are you doing in there, and why are you doing it with Rainbow Dash?”

Author's Notes:

Since the story is getting closer to the end, you will start to notice reader feedback just a little more, here specifically regarding Scootaloo. I had Rarity broach the topic because I wanted Scootaloo to get the amount of attention she would be getting without making the story too much about her. If you can't tell what her problem is based on what the mares are discussing... well, use your head and think what mothers give their newborn children, aside from genes. Again, this wasn't meant to be too original, it's just an angle I hadn't used yet, and it's a deep enough cause to warrant some time alone to let it sink in. I got the idea from Grant Morrisson's The Invisibles, btw, so this is really not that original. If you've got the comics, I was inspired by something Edith said about the Ganges river just before she , not the obvious Miss Dwyer scene.

References to my other stories? What references? There are no references to my other works here. And I'm certainly not using the term 'rousettes' in a future fic, the very nerve. *sarcasm detector explodes* I will admit I refuse to use 'thestrals' because Harry Potter uses the term. I'm just not a fan, and I thought I could do better. I picked rousettes, btw, because those are fruit-eating bats (big deal when you're dealing with herbivore ponies), but they haven't lost the echolocation ability, unlike most other fruit bats. So basically, the Rousettus bats are in between fruit bat and regular insect-eating bat, the way Rousettus ponies are between bat and pony. Seemed appropriate, and it has a nice ring to it.

There may be a grammar issue regarding the sentences being interrupted, but I'll work that out when I come back to edit it again. I need to find a better resource for grammar, because the ones I've got now are contradicting one another, I think.

The sex scene was actually edited at the last minute, to make it longer and more involving from Rainbow's perspective. The process Twilight describes is referred to as 'subspace' in BDSM circles, it's not directly related to hypnosis.

As for Spike? Or the rest of the gang? Next chapter.