“Yeah, this is the spot. We’re here, Bruises.” She had come to a stop in front of The Tall Tail and looked it over, clearly impressed. Despite the persistent, if diminishing pain in my hips, I smiled. My club was my pride and joy, and seeing it make an impression was always a nice ego boost.

“Ya really own this, boss? Like, it’s all yours?” She stared wide-eyed through the glass front at the posh trimmings inside. Bruises’ incredulity was sort of endearing, but it wasn’t getting me in and back to work—or just as likely, to bed to continue recovering from the rough time earlier.

From Bruises’ back, I did my best to make a sweeping gesture she could see. “That’s right. All mine. Which means we can go inside now.” I could feel her jump just a bit beneath me as she realized that was a hint, and restrained a laugh at her expense.

“Right! I was just… let’s go in, boss.” I figured she was trying to hide a blush when she lowered her head and let her mane fall forward. Before I had to prod again, though, in she went, and her head came right back up to look around at the show floor. Her jaw hung a bit slack, and I grinned as she walked aimlessly, like a country girl’s first time in the big city. When I realized that meant she’d never seen anyplace this nice, my grin at her expression slipped. The Tall Tail was classy, but not so high end it should be out of anypony’s reach once in a while. They say a rising tide lifts all ships. I decided to lift the rest of Manehattan with me.

Bruises and I were both jarred out of our thoughts when a scream came from the stage. “Mr. Deal! Oh no, oh no! Pirouette! Pirouette! Bright Jade! Day Planner! Somepony, help!” One of the showmares had taken the stage alone for early rehearsal, and stood dancing in place nervously at the sight of her beaten boss. I waved a hoof, trying to calm her, just in time for Pirouette, Day, and Jade all to stick their heads out, see me, and join the screaming. Poor, spooked Bruises had backed right up against a wall. I buried my face in her mane and silently begged Celestia to make the noise stop before my head split.

My bedroom was an odd scene. Day, Pirouette, and Bruises had all been let into my apartment by Jade, as if it were completely natural. I lay on my back, a pillow under my aching head, with Pirouette and Day Planner on one side, and Bruises and Jade on the other. I’d refused any explanations until I was comfortable, but now that I was, I was also cornered. None of the mares were willing to leave until they knew what had happened, and as little as I wanted to recount being screwed unconscious, these three mares in particular deserved answers. Bruises, already knew of course, and simply didn’t seem to want to leave. Though all four were waiting quietly, somehow I wanted to wriggle out from under their stares.

No point delaying any further. I began to explain. “Alright. Day, you sent me out to get a bouncer. I picked Parapet. You know that. When I got to her place, she was… well…”

“A jerk.” I looked over at Bruises, whose ears were laid flat. Her head hung clear below her shoulders, and she still stood inches higher than Bright Jade beside her. I smiled at her from my bed.

“Head up, Bruises. Ears too. You’re one of mine now, so we’ll just leave that in the past. Got it?”

Bruises’ head and ears jerked up immediately, and her over-enthusiastic “Yes, sir!” came with a comedic, sharp salute. Mother hen Pirouette gave Bruises an encouraging smile, for which I was grateful—especially since she’d run up to Bruises with a broom in her mouth earlier, and started hitting her with it. My new hire’s welcome had left rather a lot to be desired; I could scarcely blame her for being easily upset.

“As I was saying,” I continued, “She was hostile. One insult after another, and I lost my temper. Then… well.” I gestured at Bruises. “Pirouette, it’s like what my smoke did to you, but out of control.”

To my left, Jade shuddered at the mention of the smoke, and from opposite sides of my bed, Day Planner and Bruises echoed each other. “Smoke?”

Pirouette cocked her head and looked back and forth between the two who’d had to ask. “You mean you two don’t know?”

I facehoofed. “Did you have to say it like that, Pirouette?” At least she had the decency to look embarrassed. Before I could continue, Jade spoke up, her expression uncomfortable, and her tone reluctant.

“Sometimes smoke comes out of Mr. Deal, and it goes into other ponies. Once it’s in them, they do what he says. I guess he can change them, too. I saw it on the train here.” Not the most eloquent explanation, but it saved me having to think of one. I patted the side of her neck, and she seemed to relax a bit.

Bruises just looked confused. Day Planner, on the other hoof, was fairly clearly running things through that sharp mind of hers, and sat quietly. I gave her time to think, and turned back to Jade. “What’s the matter?”

It’d been quite some time since I’d seen Bright Jade this uncomfortable—probably not since I’d used the smoke on that lazy train attendant, weeks ago. “Your smoke… It reminds me a little of King Sombra, sir.” Suddenly Jade panicked, and waved her forehooves in the air frantically. “Not that you’re anything like Sombra! You’re kind and encouraging, and a little strict, but never ever mean, and… oh, please don’t be mad, sir! It’s just what the smoke looks like! I didn’t mean to say you’re like King Sombra! The smoke’s actually kind of nice, it’s just before it’s in and, and—”

I sighed heavily, and let my head sink back into my pillow. I’d never once regretted making Jade one of mine, but she certainly was exhausting sometimes. “Jade. Relax. I’m all beat up, and you’re wearing me out! I’m not mad. What do you mean it reminds you of him? Reminds you how?”

Jade fidgeted as she spoke. Well… the princesses turned him into smoke, and sent him away for hundreds of years. When he came back, he was a huge pillar of just smoke at first! At the end, right before he was destroyed, it’s like he was riding on the smoke! And you… with yours… But it’s totally different! You gave me a job, and made me yours, and Pirouette can dance now, and Day Planner stayed, and it smells nice…” Jade slipped back into frantic denials of my being anything like Sombra, and I just let her go. I had the part I wanted to hear.

At last, Day Planner finished looked up. “Mr. Deal, did you use this ‘smoke’ to make me choose to stay?” I’m sure she wasn’t trying to be, but somehow that razor sharp stare of hers, with me laid up in bed, was profoundly intimidating. I had no reason to lie anyway; she wasn’t so foolish she’d fall for anything I thought up on the spot. She’d caught me out more times than I could count in her first month on the job.

“Yeah. You were walking out, and you’re the best secretary I’ve ever had. I wasn’t about to let the mare who keeps this place ticking just wander away, you know?” The answer was surprisingly easy to give. And why wouldn’t it be, after all? She was mine; all I’d done was keep her.

Day Planner just nodded, and walked over to sniff at one of my forelegs. “I thought I’d smelled something a bit smoky when helping you relax during the day, Mr. Deal. Interesting. And very efficient, if I do say so. Certainly far faster than continuing to try to talk me out of going would’ve been.”

“Glad you see it my way, Day.” I was, too. If she’d turned and walked, I wasn’t sure my smoke had recovered enough just then do anything about it. I relaxed a little on my bed. This whole bizarre meeting was going a great deal better than I expected.

Day Planner smiled down at me, and adjusted my crooked pillow. “Of course, Mr. Deal. I’m your secretary, after all. My entire point is to keep you achieving your goals. What they are isn’t really important. Not from my position.”

It was Pirouette’s turn to ask. “So, we know how Parapet got the way she is. How’d you end up like that?” I could see it in her eyes. Pirouette already knew the answer to her question, and was just twisting the knife a bit, but with Day Planner and Jade chiming in that they were curious too, there would be no putting it off. Any relaxation I’d felt a moment before went out the window as Bruises’ and my cheeks lit up.

Bruises protested immediately. “Ya don’t really wanna know that! I uh, he fell down the stairs as we were walkin’ back! That’s all! Nothin’ excitin’ there!” Celestia bless her, Bruises tried to get us out of it.

Day Planner shook her head. “He’s only hurt around his hips, tail, and the back of his head, Ms. Parapet. There’s no way he fell down stairs.”

Pirouette nodded, grinning ear to ear, and looking me right in the eyes as she spoke. “I’m pretty sure it was more interesting than that! C’mon, hun, tell us!”

Bruises looked at me pleadingly, but what was I supposed to do? I sighed and shrugged. “Sorry, Bruises. Good try, but Pirouette’s already figured it out anyway.” With emphasis, I reminded Pirouette just how lucky she was to be a close friend before I continued. Bruises looked ready to die of embarrassment.

“After that out of control change, Bruises was kind of… randy. She more or less pounced on me, and… she’s a lot of mare.” I crossed my forelegs over my chest. That was all the more they were getting. Jade’s jaw hung open, and the ever prim Day Planner covered her muzzle with a hoof to avoid snickering. Pirouette avoided nothing, and laughed openly. Hunched over, Bruises walked over to sit right next to my head with her ears down, looking horribly unhappy, and I frowned.

“That’s enough. Bruises had it rough, and doesn’t need to be laughed at. No teasing her until she’s comfortable around here, got it? And while we’re at it, no pony calls her Bruises but me. She’s gonna protect The Tall Tail, but we’re going to make sure she’s finally happy somewhere. Understood?” Pirouette hadn’t meant anything by her teasing, but it’d still upset Bruises, and I’d given my word.

“Hey, Parapet—sorry, hun.” Pirouette circled the bed to stand next to Bruises, who shrank away in response. “Aw. Here.” With no more warning than that, Piroutte wrapped Bruises in a hug. Bruises blinked in surprise, and carefully wrapped a foreleg around Pirouette.

I smiled and patted Bruises’ side, unable to reach her head from the bed. “Pirouette’s a good friend, Bruises. It was friendly teasing, but you’re gonna need time for that kind of thing. I promised you a safe place, and you’re gonna get one.” Bruises looked on the verge of tears, and threw both forelegs around Pirouette, far too tightly if Pirouette’s strangled gasp was any indication. I smirked as she did her best not to look uncomfortable in Bruises’ embrace. She’d earned that. Though Pirouette gasped for air when Bruises released her, she stayed close, and smiled up at the skittish unicorn. Pirouette always had made friends in an instant.

Scooting up a bit in my bed, I tried to draw the awkward staff meeting to a close, now that everypony’s fears for my health were dealt with, and Bruises had been introduced less dramatically. “Alright, alright. Poor injured boss needs some rest, and I’m pretty sure everypony but Bruises here has work to be doing. So get to it!” Jade and Day Planner nodded, wished me well, and headed back to the club below.

Bruises remained at my side. Pirouette patted her on the shoulder and jerked her head toward the door. “C’mon, Parapet. I’ll show you around.”

Reluctant, Bruises looked to me, then back to Pirouette. “Hey, can I have a few minutes with the boss? It’s kinda my fault he’s in bed, ya know?” Her sheepish expression still seemed totally out of place on such a massive, powerful body.

Pirouette shrugged and looked at me. “His call. If he’s okay with it, I’ll go straighten out my girls. They’re probably all chatting like a bunch of fillies about how you came in when they ought to be rehearsing.”

I tried to stretch nonchalantly in bed, and ended up yelping instead. After a sigh at my own physical condition, I agreed. “I don’t mind. You’ll probably station her in here until we open anyway, just to make sure I don’t try to get up.”

Pirouette laughed as she left the room, calling back over her shoulder, “You know me so well! Come down when you’re done in there, Parapet.”

As soon as Pirouette as gone, Bruises turned to me, practically dancing in place. I winced at the thought of those massive hooves tap dancing on my beautiful hardwood. “Boss! She hugged me! And she let me hug her, too! D’ya think she could be my fillyfriend?”

Bruises’ enthusiasm made me smile, but I shook my head. Watching her smile fall wilted my own. “Sorry, Bruises. I need to find you a mare who doesn’t work here. It’ll take a bit, and I need to get back on my hooves first, but a promise is a promise. You’ll have a fillyfriend. A pretty one, and you’ll be happy together. But I need my girls focused at work, not flirting. Got it?”

Bruises nodded, and I didn’t see a hint of disappointment left in her face. “Got it, boss. But… hugs are okay, right?”

Celestia help me; I laughed. “Hugs are fine, Bruises. The Tall Tail’s a family, and we take care of each other. Just be careful; you’re strong enough you might hurt if you’re not gentle!”

Again, Bruises nodded. “Uh… about that. I’m real sorry. I hurt you, boss. C-can I make it up to you?” Just as she had back in her dingy apartment, Bruises tapped her hooves together nervously. On a normal mare, I’d have called it adorable, but on Bruises, I had no idea what to call it. There was no question that she was sincere, though.

Slightly afraid of her answer, I asked the obvious question. “Make it up to me how?” I felt my left ear flick, an old nervous habit that hadn’t shown itself in years.

“W-with my mouth.” Bruises was talking to the floor, but the red in her face was no less visible. I was more than a little surprised—she’d said she didn’t like stallions, and now this?

Concerned that she was doing it out of guilt, I reached up to pat her side again. “Bruises, I thought you only liked the fillies. You don’t have to do this to make up for anything. Really.”

My attempt to dissuade her didn’t pan out at all, but it did get her to look at me when she spoke. “It’s not like that, boss! Like I said back in my apartment, you’re different now. I don’t know why. C-can I?”

I’d cornered myself. If I refused, she’d feel rejected, which was precisely what I didn’t want her to feel. If I accepted… well, it was the better option, and I could always just close my eyes and ignore the muscle. “Sure. If that’s really what you want.”

I pushed down the sheets, and Bruises stared at my lower half, trembling a bit. She must’ve come to some final decision, because suddenly her head lowered, and she more or less engulfed… everything. Though I wasn’t erect, I could feel myself growing in her mouth, and having even my balls in there left me gasping for breath, both from pleasure and surprise. Bruises looked at me sidelong, and my expression must’ve given me away; she began licking at my stiffening stallionhood with considerably more confidence, lifting her head as it hardened. Lifted or not, no part of my dick ever slid from her mouth. What I had imagined would be disconcerting was its own pleasure: Bruises’ size allowed her to take my full length in her mouth, easily, and slide her tongue to my balls, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. I lay back and sighed again, happily this time.

As enjoyable as it was, Bruises’ lack of experience began to show. It felt great, but I wasn’t going to get off. Shutting my eyes, I felt for the trickle of smoke inside me that had reappeared. Not much, but it was there. Bruises couldn’t help but see it snake toward her, but as I opened my eyes again, if anything, she seemed excited. It slipped gently into her ears, unnoticeable against her dark coat. With such a thin trickle, Bruises’ eyelids barely even sagged, but there was no question there was an effect. It was enough.

I didn’t need to change Bruises; just ease her into this.

“Relax, and use your tongue more. You did this because you wanted me to feel good, didn’t you? Your tongue feels wonderful.” Commands that should’ve embarrassed Bruises, she followed easily, and her blush had largely faded. With the smoke in her ears, this wasn’t difficult for her at all. I coached, and Bruises began to caress my cock with her lips, panting hot breath on it as her horn lit to magically toy with my balls. Finally, I had her begin bobbing her head like any other mare, letting my shaft slide in and out between her pressed lips as she sucked. “Like that, Bruises. Keep doing what you’re doing.”

As I lay back with a massive mare contentedly fellating, I thought back to Jade’s words. “Like Sombra,” she’d said. If I’d somehow picked up power from the dead Crystal King, there were going to be changes. I was nothing like that monster. Tales of ponies in chains were nearly endless. It’s no wonder such brutality was thrown down. No, I’d use my power to quietly make ponies’ lives better. Naturally, I’d have to practice, get a better grasp on how the smoke worked, and what I could do with it. What I could get ponies to do thanks to it.

I finally released into Bruises’ waiting mouth, shooting seed all over the large tongue that had gone to such lengths. The smoke continued to trickle into Bruises’ head. Even a thin wisp grew into a cloud over time, and while Bruises swallowed attentively, her expression was more slack than before. “You enjoyed that quite a lot. It was delicious, and I deserved it—after all, I’m the boss.” Bruises nodded, a slight smile forming on her lips.

Well, maybe one small change. She was mine, after all.

Author's Note

Perhaps not the best way to return after a two month hiatus, but it sets up a fair bit of what's to come. Thanks for your patience, everyone.