Smoke

I woke the next morning from the same dreams of power and expansion, but with a new addition, and I didn’t need a special talent in psychology or dream analysis to know it was the drunk from the day before who had caused the change. In addition to the usual ponies pleading for my good graces or serving my ends, I dreamed of opposition, of ponies in the way, and of crushing them. After all, that’s what opposition is: an impediment to be flattened.

I also woke to a strange tickling feeling on my neck. Blinking away the sleep, I turned my head, wincing a bit at sun streaming in the window and bruises on my face, to find Bright Jade’s muzzle all but pressed against me, sniffing. That explained part of it. I wasn’t angry, but I was more than a little confused. “Jade, what are you doing?”

Jade looked up at me slowly, her eyes not quite focused. She spoke sluggishly, as if it were difficult. “Sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to wake you, but… you smell nice. Sort of like the smell when you had me last night. Smoky and… nice. I don’t know how I never noticed before.” Jade sounded half drunk, which was a turn-on all its own.

Raising an eyebrow, I sniffed my foreleg. I certainly didn’t smell it, but as long as it didn’t get in the way of Jade’s work, there were worse things than having her affectionate and dreamy in bed. For the moment, though, work mattered more. Muttering about getting up before noon when I ran a nightclub, I slid away from Jade and to my hooves, ignoring her sigh.

“There’s work to do, and you just got promoted. You want to be useful, right?” I already knew the answer. Bright Jade was easily spurred to work.

Already much more alert, Jade’s reply was immediate. “Yes sir!”

“Then get to it. You’ll be lying next to me again tonight.” Jade’s eagerness as she rushed out of the bedroom to prepare for work earned her retreating tail an approving nod, and I set about getting ready for the day myself. First order of business: finding something to take for the pain in my battered face.

When I stepped through the door into my office, Day Planner was arranging paperwork on my desk as usual. One glance at me, though, and the papers were reorganized, with some taken from my desk entirely, replaced by a handful of what looked like resumes, right in the top priority position.

Day answered the question before I could ask it; she was getting eerily good at reading my mind. “Next month’s budget can wait for tomorrow, sir. Pirouette stopped me on the way in to warn me about the brouhaha that took place last night, as if I hadn’t heard a dozen rumors as I walked here. I hadn’t expected you to be in such rough condition, though. Clearly finding some security for the club needs to be your first task for the day. Your only task, if need be.”

I frowned as Day Planner started to walk back to her desk, and gently ran a hoof along the side of my swollen face, wincing at the sudden pain. “Do I really look that bad, Day?” Taking a seat as Day Planner answered, I began to skim what was in front of me.

“Worse, Mr. Deal. If finding us a bouncer weren’t so clearly important right now, I would honestly recommend you take the day off.” I was surprised by the plain concern in Day’s expression. She’d been so business-like since my return from the Crystal Empire that I was sometimes surprised when she was anything else.

I ignored the papers a moment longer to offer Day Planner a reassuring smile. “But if I took a day off, I’d fall behind, and you’d end up bringing me my paperwork in bed!”

For the first time since I’d convinced her to stay, I heard Day Planner laugh. “Keep teasing, Mr. Deal, and I’ll show you just how efficiently I can make you work, hurt or not!”

She returned to her work, and I returned to what she’d left before me. “Just how did you get these together so quickly, Day? It can’t have been more than an hour or two since you got in, and the fight was just last night.”

Without looking up from whatever she was writing, Day explained. “If you notice, Mr. Deal, each candidate has a recent, but minor, run-in with the law. I simply checked the last few days of newspapers. I suppose that in this instance, it’s just as well you forgot to throw them out when I reminded you. I pulled together whatever facts I could; you’ll need to get real details by meeting them. In any case, all four of them will have some motivation to work well for you. Finding employment will be slightly more difficult for them right now, making any offer enticing, and you’ve displayed an uncanny knack for getting your way of late, the roughhousing last night notwithstanding.”

I looked back over the papers in my hooves. Day was right; each had been in some trouble lately. I frowned. “Day, I’m trying to reassure the girls. I want somepony now, but criminals?” Laying the papers down, I looked over at Day Planner. “I’m not sure that’s a good plan.” I could force them to play nice, of course, fill their heads too full of smoke to even think of making trouble. Nothing would be easier. But my girls deserved better.

Day stopped working to answer. “If I may, sir, I don’t believe the issue is as big as you think. Also consider the PR benefits. The day after being savagely attacked by a drunk in your very own establishment, you set out not only to find protection for your employees, but to help somepony turn his life around. I believe Mr. And Mrs. Orange are due for their monthly visit soon; you know how they love looking philanthropic. They’d eat it up, Mr. Deal.”

Twisting my mouth into a displeased expression hurt, but I knew Day was right. I’d have Pirouette reassure the girls, and send any who balked to me for extra convincing. Showing off for old money like the Oranges was always worth the trouble. A grunt of something like concession was my only reply as I turned back to the files, the first of which I discarded immediately. Violent offense, and the stallion had used a knife. Absolutely out of the question. The second candidate was certainly more plausible, but the third was another instant reject; I had no use for an embezzler. It was the fourth that caught my eye.

Lifting the sheet to eye level, I leaned back and read aloud. “Parapet, a.k.a ‘Bruises.’ Unicorn mare. Got in trouble for tossing a brick through a wall on her last job, accidentally striking somepony on the other side. Not deliberate, no serious injury. Quit a string of construction jobs, attitude problems. Extremely adept with magical telekinesis, used for her construction work.” Attitude problems were something I could fix, and if she lived up to Day’s note on her magic, she could shut down a fight before it started. I figured it’d be easier to calm down the dancers over a mare with a reputation problem than a stallion, too.

I tossed the paper back on top of the others and stood. “Looks like this one’s a keeper. Any idea why she’s called ‘Bruises,’ Day? Your notes don’t mention fighting.”

Day Planner dropped her quill, and I could see her blush clear to her ears from behind. “I… I can’t believe I didn’t think the photograph would be relevant! I’m sorry, Mr. Deal; the photo should’ve been in the notes. ‘Bruises’ just refers to her coloration—her coat is very dark gray, and her mane is navy blue. You may wish to save her for last, sir; she’s got a court date coming up yet.”

I shook my head as I walked toward the door and the stairs. “Nothin’ doin’, Day. By your logic, a new boss showing up beside his troubled employee will be good press. Not to mention I think Pirouette’s girls will be more comfortable with a mare.” With a wave of my hoof, I grabbed my fedora from the rack and headed out the door for the address in the file.

Living in Manehatten my entire life, I’d seen a few blocks here and there that left things to be desired. This was one of them. I imagine it wasn’t actually a particularly dangerous place to live, but in a city where everypony’s looking for his share of the bits, there are only so many to go around. My upcoming hire’s neighborhood was for the ponies who never quite got their shares. Cracks marred brick buildings, litter lay ignored in the street, and few of the ponies I passed met my gaze, much less offered a greeting. As I approached the ratty building that matched the address Day had given me, I started considering this ‘Bruises’ mare an investment. She’d need enough for a place closer to The Tall Tail, a decent place. No mare of mine was going to live in that part of town.

Inside the building, I was relieved to find the condition of the place at least marginally better than it had been outside, and set to climbing stairs to reach Parapet’s apartment. Halfway down a poorly lit hall, I finally found the door I was after, and knocked politely. The response was immediate, and shouted from the other side.

“Who in Tartarus is knocking on my door? If you’re another bill collector, I swear on Celestia’s salty snatch, I will shove your tail so far down your throat that taking a shit’ll be the fastest way ta get it back where it started!”

I blinked at the door, and nervously looked up and down the hall. I’d expected Parapet to be in a bad mood, but this was not a good start. I cleared my throat to introduce myself through the door, but before I could speak it was flung open. On the far side stood a charcoal gray mare with the navy blue mane Day Planner had mentioned, flaring her nostrils angrily. That she was only average size, perhaps even a bit short, was a surprise to me considering her work in construction, but Day had mentioned a talent for telekinesis, after all. I made out a patch of red on her flank before shouting brought my eyes back to hers.

“Whatdya want? Whatever it is, I don’t have it!” Parapet was only slightly quieter for having no door between us.

I clenched and quickly unclenched my teeth, already tired of being abused. Reminding myself why I was there, and that I had the power to straighten out this mare’s attitude, I forced myself to reply politely. “My name is Done Deal. I’m actually here to help you with those bill collectors you were complaining about, Parapet.” I removed my hat to bow, tossing it back onto my head afterward. “Let’s talk.”

Parapet immediately rolled her eyes and snorted. “Great, another conpony. Beat it, Deal. Your face is lumpy enough without getting on my bad side.” Before I could respond, she began to shut the door.

I could feel my irritation swelling, and the smoke within me swirled, but I forced both down and blocked the door with a hoof. “I’m no conpony, Parapet; I’m here to offer you a job.”

Parapet quit pushing on the door and narrowed her eyes, suspicious, but she lowered her voice at least. “Why?”

Reminding myself that progress was progress, I spoke with patience I didn’t feel. “Because you need a job, I need to hire today, and we can both help each other’s reputations.” With Parapet right in front of me, looking at her colors, it was difficult not to call her Bruises, but a good businesspony doesn’t get familiar with somepony before they’ve got a feel for them. “Talk with me; let’s help each other out.”

Parapet didn’t budge, either from her half closed door or from her suspicion. “I don’t trust you. Nopony just walks into this parta town with handouts, an’ nopony in any good parta town even knows my name unless they heard rumors ‘bout the mare who walked off every construction job in Manehatten. So what’s your game, Deal?”

Restraint was becoming more difficult as this ill-tempered mare badmouthed me over and over. I managed to remain calm, but spoke tersely. “No game. I own The Tall Tail, downtown. After a scuffle last I need a little security, and you—”

Parapet shouted as loudly as she had through the door moments before. “A bouncer? Ya want me ta work in some lousy bar? I knew y’were no good! Get lost!” Without another word, the door was slammed in my face.

I’d had far more than enough. I had come out to that forsaken part of town with an offer to turn a failure of a life around. I could get her into a decent place, make her somepony. What I got was abuse, insults, threats, a slammed door, and worst of all, she’d called the Tall Tail a “lousy bar.” The smoke boiled as wildly as it had the night before, and I reared up, slamming my forehooves against the door, and sending it flying wide open.

Eyes wide with shock, Parapet spun to face me. I opened my mouth, ready to tear into her as ferociously as she’d done to me, but before I could say a word, smoke blacker than I’d ever dredged up rushed like a wave from my entire body. Parapet twisted aside, but the black mass twisted with her, and engulfed the entire mare while I wobbled on unsteady hooves. Spots flashed before my eyes, and my forelegs gave out, making me dimly aware of my sudden, raging erection as it scraped the floor. With effort, I forced myself back up and stepped into the dingy apartment, just aware enough to nudge the door shut behind me as I did.

Parapet was struggling on the carpet, completely cocooned in smoke so thick the mare herself wasn’t visible at all. A kicked table scooted several inches as she thrashed, helpless to get free. I took a seat, feeling strangely calm about the scene before me. Parapet was getting what she deserved; and the show was going a long way toward soothing my temper.

At last, the struggling slowed and stopped. Far more smoke than had wrapped Pirouette engulfed Parapet, and though it began to sink into Parapet’s body, it was also pushing itself into every opening she had—mouth, nose, ears, even flowing into her vagina and ass. I simply watched, intrigued, as the mare’s body bulged and stretched to contain what was entering her. The bulging didn’t stop, though. Intrigue turned to amazement as I saw the pony on the ground in front of me ripple and grow. Her legs lengthened, her torso swelled, her neck grew thick, and her head large. Ordinary flanks swelled with muscle, and legs lanky from their sudden growth became thick and powerful. Parapet’s hooves, on the small side moments before, stretched as if malleable and held their new form, heavy enough to crush cinder blocks. I simply sat, stunned.

A groan came from the massive mare in front of me, and I rose feebly to walk over. When she groaned a second time and barely moved, I arrogantly prodded her with a hoof. “Don’t ever piss me off.”

Slowly, Parapet’s eyes opened, bloodshot and unfocused. They fell on me, and I sneered down at her, waiting for fear or confusion to show on her face. Neither did. What I saw instead, as Parapet lifted herself from the floor, was hunger. Her eyes fell on my still hard shaft, and she licked her lips. Suddenly concerned, I backed up one step, and then another. Parapet didn’t bother to follow; she just watched.

I was halfway to the door when the colossal mare’s horn lit up, and I was lifted, then dropped to the ground on my back unceremoniously. I struggled against the glow of magic holding me in place but it just made my dick wave in the air, attracting Parapet’s attention. She stepped over me and lowered her front half, pushing my forelegs to the side and holding them down with her own, effortlessly. Parapet released the magic, and I tried struggling again, only to find myself even more firmly held than before.

She began to lick at my neck and I tensed, torn between dismay and my own arousal. The licking felt no worse for Parapet’s size, and the heat of her breath fueled my erection, but the creature holding me down had to weigh four times what I did. When I saw the glow of magic around Parapet’s horn again and felt my cock move under its control, I stammered, afraid.

“W-wait! Stop, Parapet! Just let me go!” Again I struggled, but Parapet’s hard body didn’t give at all. Without a word, Parapet cut me off with a kiss. Even Parapet’s tongue was powerful as it slipped between my lips and drowned out my protests. Silenced, I could only wait as Parapet’s magic forced my hind legs wide, making room for her to drop down on my rod.

I inhaled deeply through my nose, startled at the softness encasing my dick. Though nearly everything else might as well have been made of stone, Parapet’s pussy was as soft as any other. As she raised her haunches, I relaxed in spite of myself. Her hips dropped again, and I moaned into Parapet’s mouth, helpless to do anything but enjoy the sensations she forced on me. Though I was pinned by muscle and magic, Parapet’s body was surprisingly light each time it slid down. Within seconds, I began to push back up, no longer caring who was in control.

My bucking encouraged Parapet, and her motions became faster and stronger. She tightened herself around my shaft, and all I could do was moan in delight as she fucked me and lapped again at my neck. Each push from her haunches came faster, stronger than the one before, and each time she tightened further. For all my dismay at Parapet’s size, I was in heaven. The increasing force and tightness just kept going, better and better, and I began returning Parapet’s affection, kissing her mane as she licked.

The ramping passion didn’t plateau however. As I released inside of her, Parapet became more frenzied still, slamming herself down, and squeezing my shaft so tightly that when she rose, I was lifted. I let her go for a moment, but before long my tail struck the floor hard enough to hurt.

“Ow! Parapet! No, stop!” I struggled again; my tail, hind legs, and cock all were increasingly hurt by Parapet’s pounding. At last I managed to raise my head from the floor when Parapet lifted her head for a breath, but I saw in her wild eyes that she was lost to the world. She roughly forced my head back down with a kiss, slamming it against the floor with enough power that the world went dark. As everything faded away, I wished to Celestia that I’d had time to pick a safeword.

My own groaning woke me. I had been moved onto soft cushions, and opened my eyes to stare at the ceiling, realizing quickly the pain in the back of my head, and all around my groin and tail. With a deep sigh, I settled into the couch I was on. There was no point trying to move; I knew it could only end badly.

Parapet’s unhappy voice came from out of sight beside me. “Uh. I’m really sorry.”

I turned my head to find her, no smaller than before, seated on the floor next to me, tapping her hooves and staring down guiltily. Not at all what I’d expected. “So now what? I can’t get away. Just standing up is probably more than I can handle now.”

Parapet didn’t look up, but she sounded even more upset. “I know. I dunno what happened. I just… what didja do ta me? I got all big, and then I… I had to! It’s like just had ta have, you know… you.” Parapet continued at a mumble. “I don’t even like stallions.”

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to make sense of the mare beside me. This was nothing like the pony who’d “greeted” me at the door. “I can’t explain it. But what’s with you? You were yelling, threatening me, throwing insults, and now here you are, tapping your hooves like a little filly. You asked what my game is. What’s yours?”

Parapet quit tapping her hooves and looked at me before returning her gaze to floor. “I can trust you, right? Because we had… I can trust you?”

Any other day, I might’ve laughed at the huge pony next to me acting so shy. I wasn’t in a laughing mood, though, after being held down and fucked so hard I didn’t dare sit up. Just what kind of trust the mare was after, I didn’t know, but I could offer some decency, even after what she’d put me through. “I can keep a secret, if that’s good enough.”

Parapet nodded and mumbled at the floor. “I… you’re different now. I dunno why. I don’t like—I like mares, y’know? But now… why’s this so hard?” Parapet punched the floor in frustration, leaving a deep indentation where carpet tucked into a new hole underneath. I actually felt like some mercy was in order.

“Relax, Parapet. Slow and steady.”

She nodded and continued, actually looking at me while she spoke for once. “You’re different now. I dunno why; you’re a stallion, but I… kinda want you still.” She paused, but continued before I felt the need to press. “I’m sorry for before. Not just for… ya know. For at the door, too. Ponies always make things hard on me. Call me “Bruises,” pick on me for being such dark colors, make fun ‘cause I can’t do any magic ‘cept movin’ stuff around. So I get mad. I yell, and I curse, and ponies leave me alone.” Parapet lowered her eyes again. “And it’s better that way.”

Half of me wanted to throw the pillow under my head at Parapet for acting like such a textbook angsty filly, but even if she was giving over-emotional mares everywhere a bad name, it wouldn’t help. Besides, after what she’d done to the back of my head, I needed the padding. More importantly, if she was talking like this, I was out of trouble for now.

“Alright, so you’ve had it rough. You just want to be left alone? I don’t know how you plan on paying the rent like that, but now that you’re being civil, if you want, I can just walk away. Well, in a few hours, maybe. I can find somepony else.” Parapet’s ears drooped, and she didn’t answer.

I sized up the mountain of mare next to me though, and the dreams from that morning came back to mind. With this pony on my side, I’d have the force to back things up if starting my little empire went wrong. As much as we’d had gotten off on the wrong hoof, Parapet was the key to getting things started. “Or, we can talk about that job.” Parapet’s ears and head snapped up, and her jaw dropped as I continued. “My place isn’t ‘some bar.’ It’s a classy club. Nopony on my staff will give you trouble. I’m the boss; I can promise that. I can get you out of this part of town. If things go right, one day I could even fix this part of town, make it shine. With a body like yours, I can start really doing things. Just one rule: you do exactly what I tell you, every time. You in?”

Parapet stared at me for a moment, then bobbed her huge head excitedly. “You’ll still hire me?” Her cheeks flushed as she added, “I… I could see you more?”

I winced inside at the thought of another round, but there ways to handle that, and it gave me leverage. “You’d have to see me, every day. But I don’t take no for an answer. You want to ask questions, fine. You have a problem and want to see if something else is okay, fine. But if I put my hoof down and you say no, you’re gone. I’m the boss.”

Smiling for the first time, Parapet stood up quickly, knocking over a table in the process. She didn’t even look back; she just echoed me. “You’re the boss!”

With a serious tone, I gave one last warning. I didn’t think she’d refuse. “This is bigger than just a bouncer job now. I might tell you to hurt ponies who are in my way. You sure you’re in?”

Parapet nodded again, and bucked the air behind her for emphasis, her hooves landing with a loud thud. “Whatever ya say, boss!”

I smiled back at my new hire, pleased things had worked out after all, and confident it had been worth the pain. “You’re hired. First job: Find me a taxi. I really don’t want to try to walk home.”

“Um, boss? I could just take you back. I’m pretty sure you’re light, and taxis don’t really come this way…” That sheepish, hoof tapping expression was back on Parapet’s face, but I didn’t remember seeing any taxis on the way, so whatever ulterior motive she might’ve had, I suspected she was telling the truth.

“Fine. Just be gentle. I really hurt.” I tried to get off the sofa, only to be stymied by shooting pain from my flanks. With a small scream I froze halfway before tilting to fall to the floor.

“Boss!” Parapet’s huge hoof was under me in a heartbeat, holding me up. “I’m really, really sorry, boss. Here, stay put.” Parapet’s horn glowed, and I was lifted into the air with a pillow, landing gently on her broad back, the pillow under my injured junk. “I’ll just walk you home this way, okay? I can keep you up there; you won’t fall.”

Embarrassing as it was, I didn’t see an alternative other than healing up in that dingy apartment. “Alright. Let’s get going, Bruises; my staff’s going to get worried soon.” When Parapet didn’t take a step, I realized that I’d slipped and used her nickname—the one she’d just mentioned upsetting her.

I couldn’t see Parapet’s face, but she didn’t sound happy anymore. “Boss… I don’t like that name.”

I patted her side, sure I could make lemonade from this. “I like it. Fits your new job, and it’s sorta cute.” Once again, I saw the tips of Parapet’s ears turn pink.

“W-well… just you. Nopony else?”

I nodded. “Nopony else. But if they mess up, you tell me, no yelling.” I stroked Bruises’ side soothingly and she nodded back silently. My new mare was hard as a rock, but pretty soft inside.

As we left her apartment, Bruises spoke up again. “Hey, boss? Do you think mares will like me better now? I’m all big and strong. I don’t look like a mare anymore.”

I didn’t have the heart to point out that she wasn’t exactly what most mares had in mind. “You still look like a mare, Bruises. You’re a big one, but nopony’s going to mistake you for a stallion. Tell you what. You do a good job, and I’ll find you a fillyfriend.” I felt the the tiny remnants of my smoke growing inside me again. After what it had done to Bruises it might take a while, but she was one of mine now, and I meant to look after her, same as any of my other mares.

Her excitement was obvious, even without the twitching ear. “Boss, if you find me a pretty fillyfriend, I swear I’ll do anything for you!” I knew she would anyway, but she didn’t need to know that.

As we reached the edge of the dilapidated part of town, a trio of stallions stepped away from the wall of a nearby building. The bandage on the pegasus’ head gave him away before he spoke. “You really blew it, old man. You fucked with the wrong pony, then you headed into our part of town. Now, it looks like you can’t even walk.” The three punks fanned out around us as the now sober troublemaker kept talking. “We’re gonna pay you back for what you did to me last night. When we’re done, you’ll be so wrecked your whores won’t even know who you are.” He turned his eye toward Bruises and made a shooing gesture with one hoof. “This isn’t your problem. Just drop him and beat it.”

With Bruises under me and the area mercifully empty of witnesses, I was less worried than annoyed. “Glad to see the guards are doing such a wonderful job keeping menaces like you off the street. Bruises, the one with the bandage is the one who left my face like this.”

The words were no sooner out of my mouth than Bruises’ horn glowed, and the nearest pony was tossed back into the wall the three had been leaning on, bouncing to the ground. The bandaged pegasus and his remaining friend charged. Bruises reared, her magic keeping me tight against her back, and brought a hoof down on the head of her second victim. The glancing hit was more than enough to drop him, and I was relieved she went no further.

The pegasus, however, flapped out from under Bruises’ other falling hoof, and up over my back, foreleg pulled back to strike. He managed only the word “now” before Bruises’ horn glowed again and tossed him to the ground, face first. He rolled to his back quickly, afraid of a followup, but she just held him in place again.

Bruises raised a colossal hoof over his head, ready to bring it down on a moment’s notice. “Boss? What do you want me to do with him?” The anger in her tone was surprising; I was relieved she stopped to ask.

I leaned to the side for a look. The pest was struggling just as I had earlier, and with as much success. Nasty scrapes and abrasions marked his face, and his muzzle bled as badly from impact with the street as he’d made mine. He stared up at Bruises’ hoof, eyes wide and trembling. “That’s enough, Bruises. That toss did about as much as his hooves did to me. I just don’t ever want to see him in my club again.”

Bruises brought her hoof down with devastating force on the cobblestones beside the pegasus’ head, shattering them, and released her magic. Whimpering, the pegasus skittered away, never taking his eyes from my new enforcer.

“Not bad, Bruises.” I patted her side again. “When you’re bouncing, don’t be so rough, but if ponies are picking fights, this is just what I want. Knock ‘em around. Make ‘em never want to start anything again, and then let them go.”

All of the anger was gone from her voice when Bruises spoke; with the conflict behind her, it might as well never have happened. “Thanks, boss. Which way again?”

I pointed the way with a hoof, and was on my way back home with my newest employee.