Leaving the property never felt so draining, in fact it made me stop short of the gate, just staring at the two different color stones. Master’s property had perfectly white stones, while Canterlot’s stones were a light grey, and Master’s stones were much flatter and more perfectly cut.

My hoof hovered over the line, going over it before retreating. I did this several times before stomping on the stones as hard as I could wanting them to break, but they didn’t, making me that much madder at them.

“Stupid stones,” I growled. The sound of armor moving made me look up at the gate keeper which was staring at me. “Close the stupid gates! I’m not leaving am I?!” I shouted at him and turned around stomping on the ground.

“Sorry Madam.” He closed the gate behind me as I started to look around for something breakable.

The front was empty, only the fountain was there. In fact I never remembered any statues or anything like that out front, which made it even more maddening to me. I really wanted to smash something, but what would the point of that be? At what point would any of this matter to anyone but me? Master had done a lot of bad stuff, but so what? What exactly was leaving going to do?

Sitting down I looked up at the sky. Clouds were covering the sky, so there was a stiff chilled breeze in the air. It felt good to finally be outside, it felt good to finally not have to be trapped inside a house, or some place that I couldn’t get away from.

My wings unfolded, cracking a bit, wrapping myself up. It was nice to have large wings, if only Master had a pair, then he’d be able to wrap me up in them. It’d be sweet and loving. It’d be everything my world needed.

What now? Do I just go back, run, hide? If I just disappeared then Master would have little reason to kill my family. Everyone would forget about me and nothing would matter anymore, nothing. Master wasn’t the problem here, I was. Everything was my fault in the end, if I had managed to kill myself, none of this would have happened, none of this would’ve become a problem, none of it.

One thing that I know, I’m not going back until Master comes and gets me. I got up and walked over to the corner of the property and laid down on the soft grass, managing to wrap my wings around myself to warm me up.

That feeling of wings wrapped around me, it reminded me of my dad causing a jolt of pain to shoot into my belly, making me unwrap myself and fold up my wings, rolling into a tight ball trying to mold with the wall’s corner. Maybe it was a good thing Jerard didn’t have wings, it’d drive me crazy.

Shutting off my thoughts wasn’t hard, I just counted each blade of grass that I could see, each and every speck of something attached to the wall, until I fell asleep again. It really wasn’t hard to do.

“Scootaloo.” His voice shocked me awake, but I didn’t answer or move. “Are you done, or do I need to call off the ball? I can let you lay out here all night and day for as long as you want to.” Silence, I could feel Master’s stare baring down at me. “The ball is in three hours, I need to know before ponies start to arrive.” A few minutes passed. “Scootaloo.” Master put his hoof on my side and shook me. “Answer me.” Panic, I could feel it. “Scootaloo, do not play with me.” He turned me over, making me look at him. “Say something.”

“Why do you love me?”

“Love doesn’t need a reason, I just do. Everything from how you look, to taste, to feel, everything that you are. I simply love it. It makes me happy.”

“I don’t benefit you, if you had choose another, some random pony from some out of the way village, took her away in the night and made her your wife, you’d never have a problem, all I do for you is make problems. Why me? You could love anypony, even some random pony that looks just like me, that acts just like me. I mean, if you just dropped me off in Ponyville, all your problems would go away. Twilight and the rest of them would have no reason to come after you without me.”

“There isn’t one like you.”

“I’m sure you could find one. We’ve only known each other for a few weeks, a few months since we first met. You can’t love me that much, you can’t be that obsessed with me over nothing. So tell me what about me makes you so obsessed with me that you’d go so far with all this?”

Seconds ticked by, nothing came out of his mouth. Did he not even know why he was obsessed with me? Just that he was? What a joke, but after everything, I need him to be obsessed with me, I just need him. But what was more important was an answer, I needed to hear him say something, it didn’t matter what.

“The reason I fell in love with you was.” He sighed sitting down, and I turned over sitting up to look at him as he looked down at me. “Was because I happened to come to Ponyville one day for no more reason than a simple suggestion by, actually I can’t remember who suggest it, there wasn’t a big reason for me to go. I was actually in a very bad mood that day when I went to Ponyville, and I saw you playing.” Master stopped, looking around. “Can we talk about this inside, and you still haven’t told me about the ball?”

“If you tell me we can go inside, and no matter your answer, I’m still your wife and I still need to meet them tonight. I just want something, an answer, a good one.”

“Very well. When I saw you playing, I stopped cold in my tracks, sat down on a nearby hill and stared. I couldn’t believe it, there you were—a—a clone of my dead daughter. You have no idea, there, I.” He sighed, stopping for a few seconds wiping his eyes. “I thought, or I, I didn’t, do you really need to know this?”

“Yes, I really do.” However why Master was acting like this right now confused me greatly, in fact him allowing me to even leave the house or talk back to him or demand something of him baffled me. This was odd, Master was planning something, I just wasn’t sure what. He had to be mad.

“When I saw you, I watched, then I followed you home. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought, oh my god, I’ve been fooled, my daughter is alive. She is with her mother, and they are somehow in hiding from me. That’s what I thought.”

“And what?”

“I saw your father and mother. I was.” Master looked down. “I checked after that, after I saw them. I, had to know everything about you. I found out that you weren’t her. The pain of that day left me choking on tears.”

“So you decided to try and murder me? If I look like a clone of your daughter, then you tried to kill, her? Me, whatever, both of us. Why?” I asked unsteady.

“My daughter, when she died.” Master took in a deep breath. “I hated her for leaving me like her mother, like my mother, like everyone I’ve ever loved has left me.” A ripple or a pulse of some kind went under his skin. He laid down on his back. I moved onto his chest and he hugged me. “I snapped after she died, and when I met you. I became obsessed, of course you looking like my daughter and being so much like my wife, it infuriated me. It was like some god was playing a joke on me and everything I had lost.”

“So because I look so much like her and act like your old wife, you became obsessed with me?”

“Yes, at first, but you act so much like my wife, that it just locked everything possible down. You’re my daughter and wife mixed, that’s why I’m so obsessed with you, but after everything, I’ll burn the world down for you. That’s how much I want you, I’ll do literally anything to keep you. I’ve told you all this before, but, you’re just everything I ever lost in one pony that I can have.”

“So what, you couldn’t just rip out my guts, stuff me and put me on a shelf?” He chuckled, wiping away his tears. “Why didn’t you steal me away? Store me in a dungeon, throw away the key. Visit me every day, torture me, beat me, you have enough money.”

“Should I have? I suppose I should’ve made you my wife earlier, I should’ve told your parents after the fact and been done with that. All this would exist behind closed doors and I’d have been fine. It’d be as simple as that.”

“But why didn’t you? You could’ve done any number of things. I know I’ve asked all this before, but, why didn’t you do it differently. You could’ve done this all better, I know you could have.”

“Scootaloo, I can’t change the past, but even if I knew what I knew now, nothing would’ve been different with you.”

“And what would you do different if you could start from the beginning?” Master let out a breath. “Like jump back to when you were a colt, or any point.”

“A colt, hmmm. Well for one thing I’d have saved my mother first, then my wife, if we had the medical practices that we have now, or better ways of helping with the small problems that killed her, I’d have done that. My daughter didn’t die of a rare infection, it was from an infection she got when she cut her leg, if I had known about it sooner, she’d have lived. I would’ve become something entirely else, I would’ve moved away, and never lived in Equestria at all. In fact my wife and I were planning on moving.”

“Really?” We both turned to Rainbow Dash sitting on the wall, watching us. She wasn’t in her armor.

“Yes, really, we had bought tickets and everything. We were going to move to an island and I would have closed all my businesses, collected my accounts and lived on that island with my wife and foal for the rest of my life, maybe come back to visit once in awhile, but I’d have been gone.”

“That’s lame,” Rainbow Dash said, chuckling.

“Yes, it is, but at the same time, I wouldn’t have been to war, I wouldn’t have done all I have, saved thousands of lives, changed the notion of what a nation is, what an army is. The world would be so different. Canterlot wouldn’t be this large, among the thousands of other things I’ve done. But that’s not really important, none of that can be changed. However, what is important is that you’re back Ms. Dash.”

“I saw Scootaloo out and about in her yard, and I thought of snatching her up.”

“Yes, I noticed you watching her sleeping in the corner, it’s why I came out. Would you care for some drinks?”

“No, I’ve thought of another idea, a trade.”

“Trade?” Master asked eyeing Rainbow Dash lightly.

“Scootaloo for me, I’ll be your beloved tortured wife, and you let her go, never to see her again.”

“As, tempting as that is, I’ll pass.”

“Like that filly pussy too much?”

“Actually no, I don’t enjoy a hole five sizes too small Ms. Dash, it’s very uncomfortable in all honesty.”

“Then why?”

“It’s because I love who she is, and your personality is, well, it’s too, competitive for my tastes. I could never hold you down long enough to make a family, you’d end up bitter and resentful.”

“Oh? And you wanting to rape me doesn’t change anything?”

“I never said I wanted to, just for you to stay.”

“Master, I don’t want her here,” I said, frowning.

“I talked to Twilight, she gave me the green light to stay with you,” Rainbow Dash said, smirking.

“No, don’t!” I snapped, standing up on Master’s chest and looking at Rainbow Dash.

“Quiet Scootaloo,” Master growled with an almost chilling anger, I shut up. Rainbow Dash clearly couldn’t tell, but I could feel that fear again, it was, nightmarish. “Really now,” Master said, raising an eye brow, getting up and setting me to the side.

“Yep, and I think I’ll stay for a while. However there are conditions.”

“Which are?”

“You can’t hurt Scootaloo, or if you do, she must tell you, and there can be no cue or any suggestion whatsoever about you wanting her to do anything. Any abuse must be entirely her idea. However her hurting you is fine by me.” She jumped down. “Second, sex, basically the same as the abuse.”

“Those sound perfectly reasonable.”

“You may not threaten anything, even a fly. I am not to be touched by you or anypony in any way, not even a pat on my shoulder. I get Scootaloo while I’m staying here, that means she sleeps with me, not you.”

“Yet again, reasonable. Is that all?”

“And anything I think of later.”

“Then you may leave Ms. Dash, I have no interest of keeping you here all you’ll do is take my wife away.”

“Then I’ll leave,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Good bye then,” Master said.

“Wait, what exactly would you agree to?”

“You won’t find common ground Ms. Dash, there is no trade or agreement by which we could come to terms.”

“Fine, what would be the closest?”

“Terms?”

“Yes.”

“Very well, the torture can be on the table, cruel painful sex and—myself or any of my servants harming you. However, in turn I’d be free to touch you, not violently of course, but if I want to hug you, or rub you, then you’d have to let me. We’d sleep altogether, Scootaloo in the middle between us.”

It was clear Rainbow Dash was thinking about it, I had to stop her. “Dash, please don’t,” I begged.

“Quiet,” both of them said at the same time, making it feel like I got punched in the gut by two ponies at once.

Something was wrong with Rainbow Dash, she wouldn’t just do something like this, I hated she was even discussing this. How was any of this alright, all she was doing was making this my worst nightmare. Sweetie Belle is one thing, but Dash is my hero. If she stayed here, she’d know I had become something monstrous it’d be the most horrid thing I could possibly imagine.

“Well?” Master inquired, a smile across his face.

“I’m thinking, wait, no sex with me right?”

“No sex required, of course I’ll still enjoy my wife no matter what, you’re free to watch if you like, but that’s just because you are Scootaloo’s hero.”

Disgust went across her face, but she sighed. “No torture at all.”

“If Scootaloo wants to be tortured that’s a different story, but torturing her would be something I’d be willing to trade. I’m sure you staying here will be a considerably plentiful experience of learning.”

“I accept.”

“Wonderful, however you’ll have to join us during my ball tonight, and you’ll have to wear a dress of my choosing.”

“Fine.”

“And—”

“Can I cut in?” I asked, and they looked at me.

“What?” Master asked.

“I’m not happy with you being here Rainbow Dash, it makes me sad and scared. Do you know what happen with Sweetie Belle?”

“Yes, I know, that’s why I came back,” Dash said, losing any expression of happiness she had.

“But, why?” my voice cracked.

“Because knowing what he did to her and has done to you is, well it’s worth it if I can save you even one second of pain and suffering. Just because you’ve been brainwashed doesn’t mean I’m leaving you to die.”

“I’m not worth it.”

“Yes you are,” they both said at the same time, and they turned to each other, before looking back at me.

“Scootaloo, I’ve never believed you to truly be less than amazing,” Master said, picking me up with his magic. “I never break a real agreement.” He floated me over to Dash. “And I think this will be good for all of us.” Rainbow Dash took me, hugging me warmly, oh it felt good to be embraced by her again. I loved the feel of her no matter what, it was like being wrapped up in a tender yet firm blanket of love.

“It’s alright Scootaloo,” she whispered into my ear. Tears started flowing as I buried my face. I didn’t deserve this, no matter what, this was too good for me. No amount of kindness could stop this or make it alright. Future me lied.

“And Scootaloo really misses her sister, who am I to say no to such a thing?”

“We’re not related,” Rainbow Dash said.

“You have quite the affection for somepony you’re not related to, or rather, can’t be related to.”

For a single moment, I thought she was going to snap his neck, but her rage disappeared as fast as it had come. “You’re right, I’m not related, and I can’t be to somepony as wonderful as she is, but I don’t care if we’re not blood. I’ll protect her like she is my own, because as far as I’m concerned, she is.”

“Yet you so beautifully left her. Even when you found out.” Master started to chuckle smiling widely. “You allowed her to stay in my presence. My, I’d dare say everything's your fault for staying away, you must’ve enjoyed watching her suffer. If you had come before Canterlot, I bet Sweetie Belle wouldn’t have bled as she did.”

“Yes, that is my fault for not killing you when I first learned about it,” Rainbow Dash said, gritting her teeth. “But at the same time, it was never a choice to run away. You never gave her that choice, you scared her so much that she still believes that she loves you because she thinks it’ll protect her family from you.”

“I had a choice,” I said, and she looked down at me, still in her embrace.

“Did you really?” Master asked in my ear, and I looked at him.

“Y-” Master’s small little quivers told me my answer. “I didn’t have a choice, I’m sorry Master.”

A feeling of surprise went through Dash, she held me up in front of her. “Scootaloo! You know you didn’t have a choice, and that’s all Celestia needs to hear to have you taken away from this monster.”

“I’m not leaving him Rainbow Dash.”

“Can’t blame me for trying,” she said, smirking.

“We’ll have to get ready for the ball. Shall we?” Master inquired, standing up.

Those beautifully powerful wings tensed almost making it feel like the air around us vibrated. Master and Rainbow Dash stared at each other. It was clear they were both playing some kind of game.

“Lead the way,” Rainbow Dash said, smiling. Her steps were so graceful, like her body weighed nothing as she seemed to glide across the ground. Even Master couldn’t ignore the feeling she gave off. It was, I didn’t know it. I couldn’t even understand it, but the feeling was nullifying every ounce of strength in my body.

“Say, now that I see your body up close, you seem different,” Master said, looking at her shoulders.

A simple sense of peace seemed to spread throughout her body. “Thank you for noticing, I’ve been really taking my training to ten lately. It really has done wonders for me. It feels almost like years have passed in the short time I’ve trained.” She chuckled. “I really feel at peace with myself now.”

“I’d love to see you train, I’m sure Scootaloo would enjoy it.”

“Actually, I finished training for now, I’m taking a break for a while. Once I start training again, I wouldn’t mind showing you.” We went back inside.

“Al,” Master called, and Al came from the ballroom.

“Sir.”

“Please ready both Scootaloo’s and Ms. Dash’s dress for the ball.”

“Yes sir.” Al bowed and left.

“You had a dress for me?”

“Of course, actually, tomorrow, why don’t you come with me on a trip. If all goes well tonight, then how about a trip around the world?”

Every cell in her body seemed to stop for a single moment in time. It was almost like the motion which propelled her body couldn’t stop as quickly and kept going for a single instant before it reversed time and moved back to her. I was almost like her very soul had visibly left her body.

“Excuse me? Leave Equestria tomorrow, just like that?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I don’t understand.”

“Of course, I have to go on trips all the time, tomorrow Scootaloo and I will be taking a nice long trip. It’ll be for probably be for around a whole year, she can hold off on Canterlot University for a while. You see I want to have Scootaloo getting familiar with all my settlements I have. We’ll of course go by airship, but she’ll get so much culture for traveling all over the world. Though, Scootaloo and I have been talking about moving lately. With everything that’s happen, it might be best to find somewhere to settle anew.”

My heart stuttered. I never considered leaving Equestria, but—that would protect every pony I loved. It wasn’t like Master could just bring them along “Really?” I asked, and Master smiled at me.

“I thought about it, and I even talked to Princess Celestia about it. She said it was a great idea. If we left Equestria then I’d be able to more easily act as her diplomat, and then we could have some real fun without worrying about how ponies look at us.”

“So you could murder Scootaloo without repercussions?” Rainbow Dash asked, and we looked at her.

“I’d never kill her,” Master said.

She sighed. “It’d take me a day or two for me to leave, but I’d come with you, so long as our arrangement applies to the trip as well.”

“I don’t know about that, but it’d certainly be a reason for me not to hurt Scootaloo as we traveled. However, you’d have to sort everything out tonight after the ball. Leaving tomorrow is something we simply must do. You see a certain foreign royal is coming here tonight, and we’ll be leaving at the same time.”

“I’ll see what I can do, but who’s the royal?”

“You’ll meet him at the party tonight.” Al came out, floating a dress in the air for Rainbow Dash. It was bountiful, but seemed a bit showy however. It was beautiful fabric, but didn’t act excessively as a dress, mostly because the fabric was more like an inlay pattern with holes to highlight the fabrics glimmering white color and compliment her blue coat. It covered her from behind and in front, but displayed her legs perfectly. A mask floated up next to it having much of the same design.

“That dress is very, showy, and why the mask?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Oh yes, the ball will be a masquerade. Al please have her fitted, I’ll dress Scootaloo while you do that.”

“No, I have Scootaloo,” Rainbow Dash stated, fluffing up her wing a bit in defense. Master looked at Al for a moment. “I can dress her.”

“Ms. Dash,” Al said, and she looked at him. “Scootaloo’s outfit was already fitted to her, yours has not. It will take considerably longer to properly fit your attire. While I understand that you wish to protect Scootaloo, I assure you, she shall not be harmed before the ball. Her bleeding in her dress is the last thing Prince Jerard desires.”

“I promise I won’t harm a single hair on her head while you’re fitted,” Master said, and I looked at him. Something was bugging me, I didn’t know what, but something was off about this whole situation.

“I don’t want Scootaloo to leave my sight.”

Master groaned a bit. “Fine, you can both be properly fitted in the same room. Al please lead the way.” Al floated us all to the second floor on the right side going down to a large white wooden double door with roses carved into it. We entered the room displaying something similar to a boutique, but square in shape. There were even dressing rooms to the right and several outfits on mannequins. Overall the room looked a lot like Rarity's house back home, just not as well decorated.

The dress Al was floating in the air, moved over to a white unicorn with blue spots all over their coat. To be honest, I couldn’t tell if it was a he or she when I saw them. But they had a bow-tie with a tie’s end attached at the bottom around their neck.

“Muddle, I’m glad you came,” Master said, walking over and both of them bowed for a moment. “Tonight, needs to go according to plan.”

“I shall see that it does,” it said happily. A slightly weird curiosity came over me, the voice gave nothing away. Either this was a very pretty stallion or this was a very imposing mare, I couldn’t tell. “What a lovely mare.” It walked over to Rainbow Dash. “You’ll fit perfectly with the dress.”

“Thanks, but do you have anything a little less flashy?”

“Nope,” Muddle said with a small smile. “Now please, step upon the stand so we way get started. This will take at least an hour or so before you’ll be taking a shower and actually be dressed.”

“An hour?” Rainbow Dash asked, and chuckled. “Come on, my friend Rarity would be able to make a dress better than that and have me fitted in half that time.”

“Rarity, you know Rarity?” Muddle asked, rolling her eyes. “Listen, do not mistake me for such an, amateur. I make outfits for royals across the planet and even Celestia herself. I do not lower myself to the idea of common filth like what Rarity does. Making outfits is a task of lordship, not vermin.”

“You wanna repeat that bitch?” Rainbow Dash asked, getting in Muddle’s face and making it back up startled, as she moved forward causing Muddle to back up into a wall scared out of its mind. “Rarity has more talent than anypony on this planet. I don’t even know who you are, but I don’t care who you’ve made dresses for, because all that makes you is some no name rich pony’s dress whore.”

“I will not be treated as such,” Muddle said, shaking.

“Ms. Dash, stop,” Master said, and she didn’t turn away. “This is the sixteenth royal offspring of Lord Val of Icelin. You need to respect personal space.”

“I don’t care if he is a royal, he’s a fucking prick to me!”

“Then leave!” Master growled, making Rainbow Dash sigh. “Either respect my guests or leave.”

“Fine,” she groaned, clearly unhappy, turning around and going over to the stand, looking at Muddle.

“Please Muddle, fit her.”

Muddle let out a breath. “Fine, but I’ll have you know Ms. Dash, I am a hermaphrodite, so I am both.”

“Both?” Both Rainbow Dash and I asked at the same time.

“Yes, I have working sex organs of a stallion and a mare. So a shim would be used instead of he or she.”

“I, just get me fitted.”

Muddle rolled its eyes. “Ms. High-Blood, would you mind retreating to the floor for a moment, please.” Master floated me off Rainbow Dash’s back.

“Wait,” Rainbow Dash said.

“We’re not leaving, just get fitted and you can have her back,” Master said. Rainbow Dash sighed, but let Muddle get to work. Master and I looked at each other and I looked away from him as I floated next to his head.

“Kiss.” He sat down, floating me into his embrace, forcing me to look up at him. He kissed me, and I held back for a moment before kissing him back and hugging him. It was nice feeling a real loving kiss. Master broke the kiss, making my heart jump. “Don’t be mad. I promise you I won’t hurt her. She’s perfectly safe here, I promise.”

“Okay then.” I nuzzled his neck and he smiled. “I love you, Master.”

“Ms. Dash, do you mind Scootaloo and I taking a shower?” Master inquired, and she frowned. “Or I can lick her clean here.” She looked at Muddle. “The showers are right there.” He pointed to the left at a door marked showers.

“Fine.”

Master picked me up, and we went into the shower room. It wasn’t huge, but large enough with three stalls for quick showers. He took off everything, along with me, setting my gifts to the side before moving into the shower.

Master wasn’t using this time to have sex with me or anything, this was purely to get me cleaned up. In fact it felt odd how Master handled me. He thoroughly cleaned me up, making sure all my wounds weren’t bleeding. Once both of us were clean he dried us off and slowed to a stop as he pulled my gifts over that he had put in a box.

“Master, what’s happening? You’ve been off since Sweetie Belle left, you’ve been really lax. What’s wrong?” I asked, and he glanced at me.

“This ball is rather important. My guests are very important for all of Equestria and then some. However, we don’t need to speak of this now, as you meet them all tonight. In fact Lord Val is one of the guests.”

“So, I assume we need to be polite to his, um.”

“Offspring, foal, yes, we do, however Lord Val isn’t exactly known for loving his offspring. Muddle works because it has to, Lord Val doesn’t give money or pay his heirs any money unless they prove to him they are worth of being his blood, otherwise he kills them after a point.”

“That’s sad.”

“Yes, well, Lord Val is not a pony you want to disgrace or anger.”

“Better not tell Rainbow Dash.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Why is Rainbow Dash here?”

Master went up to my ear and spoke very softly. “One of my guests really wants to meet her.” He cleared his throat. “You’ll understand at the ball.” He started to put back on my gifts, making sure to do it gently, clipping my necklace last and kissing me. “Let’s go back out and get you dressed.

We went out and Sig had come into the room while we were in the shower and assisted Muddle with Rainbow Dash. They were half holding her up and helping with adding and removing lengths of fabric from the complicated dress.

“Wow,” I said, staring at Dash, she was beautiful.

My dress floated over to us, and Master slowly dressed me, all the while kissing my skin and feathering my coat with his hoof. It felt like Master was trying to relax me and give me a feeling of love as he dressed me.

The outfit was a fabric of an almost gemmed onyx weave with a flow of seemingly liquid ruby and diamond. Unlike Rainbow Dash’s dress, mine covered me almost completely, but highlighted my gifts being the brightest things on me. The dress was so soft and warm, but breathed perfectly against my coat. Though it felt odd to be dressed like this when Rainbow Dash’s dress was so, sexy? She had plenty of curves and muscles. It was so reviling, but made her look so mature.

“Scootaloo,” Master said, and I looked at him. He put the mask on me. It moved along my snout and covered the top part of my head with my ears pointing out. It was gemmed with a rainbow of gems however. “You’re such a gem, I love dressing you up.” His soft lips pressed against mine, making me kiss him. “But I hate having you wear clothes. I can’t feel your lush skin.”

“I love you Master, thank you for dressing me.”

“Of course, but I’ll have fun after the ball of undressing you.” I giggled imagining it, this was going to be fun.

“And what about you Master? You’re not dressed.” He set me down and I sat down as he went over to one of the changing rooms, and went inside for a minute before coming back out in a heavy suit of sorts. The suit covered him quite a bit, with a long tail to his suit’s coat which went over his flank. His mask was black with spirals of orange like his suit. Master looked good in anything.

“Clearly.” Master came over to me and pulled me close. It felt a bit odd to have clothes against clothes, but it was warm.

“Please, go take a shower,” Muddle said, and Rainbow Dash groaned, but turned leaving for the showers.

“Sir,” Al said, entering the room. “Al-Asitis has arrived.”

“Already? He’s early,” Master said, getting up, and floating me onto his back. “We better go greet him. Muddle, have Ms. Dash come to the ballroom as soon as she is ready. I need to greet my guests.” Master didn’t bother waiting for Rainbow Dash to come out, he left going to the front door where Velvet was waiting with Al-Asitis.

“Sire, please, come inside,” Master greeted, as he jumped down to the first floor and went over. Al-Asitis was I a plain suit with a black mask.

“Thank you for the invitation,” Al-Asitis said, and his two slaves walked into the room behind him. They were in sluty costumes. While everypony was naked, these costumes displayed their privates, the magic which hid their privates had been removed by the costumes making their everything almost visible. If it wasn’t for the fact they were covered, they’d actually be showing themselves. Their outfits were black and white with blue masks.

“Thank you my prince,” they both said, bowing.

“Please, come in, you’re the first to arrive, but that was expected. The Gentle Colt Guild has provided entertainment, and music.”

“That is wonderful, and congratulations on your marriage, Ms. High-Blood.”

“Thank you King Al-Asitis,” I said, smiling.

“I am fine with entertainment, I’d actually enjoy laying down with my slaves. Perhaps in the ballroom.”

“I have a pillow din set up in the ballroom currently.”

“That sounds lovely.” He walked past Master, and the two mares bowed as they passed by him. “Oh, I almost forgot,” Al-Asitis said, stopping at the entrance to the ballroom. “I have several wedding gifts for you on my carriage, and I brought a bit of my country’s best dishes to have served.”

“I’ll have my staff retrieve them.”

“Very good.” Al-Asitis went into the ballroom.

“Al, please retrieve everything and set up the dishes.”

“Yes sir, Velvet, go gather a few helpers and meet me outside.”

“Right away,” Velvet said, running away, and Al went out.

“So what now?” I asked.

“Well, there are only five ponies which we need to greet personally. Otherwise our help will greet them for us. If this wasn’t a masquerade ball, we’d have them introduced as they entered the ballroom. However other than us, not knowing whom ponies are is the fun of a masquerade. All will call us when we’re needed.”

“Right.”

“However, we will be going and making sure everything is ready, food, entertainment and decorations.” Master walked outside, I gripped his neck a bit, still on his back. The outside had been transformed, it was no longer empty, it had been changed to something of a nightmare night theme graveyard. The moon seemed to glow red and even the clouds in the sky seemed menacing. Mist covered the ground around us.

“Wow, they really changed things up, what’s with the graveyard?”

“It’s a theme of the party. This is more about having fun than the meeting, though the meeting is the most important part. So we’ll strike a balance.” He turned around and went back inside. We went to the kitchen, and they were cooking quickly. A few maids were setting up a small stand for extra masks and to hold coats. It was off to the side of the entrance. We checked on several other things locking rooms and heading to the pool. There was a good dozen or so mares in outfits that only hid their privates, nothing else.

“Hello sir,” a yellow Pegasus said, walking up to Master.

“Where is your manager?”

“He’s in the ballroom sir, making sure the band is ready.”

“My guests will arrive within an hour, are all of you ready?”

“Yes sir,” a blue unicorn said, smiling. All of them had masks on, but they only really highlighted their eyes than covered their faces.

I went to Master’s ear. “Are they um,” I whispered, glancing at them. They clearly couldn’t hear me.

“Yes, they are call mares, they will do anything for my guests, even sex. Is that correct madams?”

“Yes sir,” all of them said at the same time.

“Good.” Master started walking leaving them. We checked several other things, locking the last door.

“Sir, Lord Val has arrived,” Kila said, and Master turned to Kila. He was in very heavy battle armor and had swords at his side with a shield on his back.

“Perfect.” Master went to the entrance.

Author's Note

Editing done by wubsy mcwubsington