Chapter 7 - Everything is Better with Friends

~~~~~Fluttershy's Cottage~~~~~

Rainbow Dash was really a pony to be admired, at least in Sunset Shimmer’s opinion. She among them, Sunset was sure most ponies would have reacted to being caught dominating her partner by yelling nonsense and slamming the door in the face of whomever had been stupid enough to stand there gawking. Not Rainbow Dash though. She’d played it off, smiling with an all too knowing look at Mistress Twilight and Sunset and directing them to the couch.

In a few short moments, Fluttershy had been untied and had her gag removed, after which she obediently moved off to her kitchen to make tea under Dash’s instruction. Rainbow chose not to speak to Mistress or Sunset while she waited, gently tapping her hooves on the floor. She was thinking, gathering her thoughts and ways to explain. Sunset certainly would have been. And when Fluttershy returned bearing the tea tray, she set it on the small table between the chairs and couch before taking a lying position at the foot of Rainbow’s chair.

And while Mistress took the initiative, pouring tea, Sunset watched with rapt attention as Rainbow bent down, lovingly caressing Fluttershy’s mane and whispering in her ear. The smallest of cute nods followed from Flutters, and Rainbow Dash answered with a small peck on the cheek and quick ruffle of Fluttershy’s flowy mane. Sunset began filing it all away for later when an almost instinctual, primal urge tugged at her: showing her the one detail she had blatantly neglected. Almost as though she were in a daze, Sunset crawled off the couch, nestling beneath where Mistress Twilight sat. Her proper place. It felt right… good. And a quick glance at Fluttershy from her new vantage point revealed an assuring and approving nod from the cream-coated pegasus.

Dash cocked an eyebrow at her and took a deep breath before speaking again. “So. I’m sure this is a little…” She waved her hoof at Fluttershy and the discarded pile of fetish gear. “Well, a little strange, I guess. But, personally? I’d like to know when you two made things all official. Last I heard from Shims, you were as clueless as ever about this sort of thing, Twi.” Dash was very clearly eyeballing the collar around Sunset’s neck, and there was a coy sort of smile on her face. “And then you walk in with that cute little filly all collared up, and your hooves practically all over her. What gives, Twi?”

“My hooves were not ‘all over her’, Rainbow,” Mistress ardently defended herself, though Sunset could hear the denial in her tone. “And… it seems like it’s been longer than a day, but that’s all.”

Rainbow gave off a little giggle, as did did Fluttershy. The sound of the pair of them was very appealing, given how their voices mingled together. “Wow. That fast?” She grinned at Sunset and waggled her eyebrows. “Hats off to you, Sunset Shimmer. I thought it’d take months to get the egghead here out of her shell… And speaking of which, Twilight, you knew exaaaaactly what you were doing there. And that’s good!” Sunset dared to peek around, and saw Mistress’ eyebrows shoot upward. “I mean, it’s good to let them know how appreciated they are, yanno?” Dash’s hoof came down and ran lovingly though Fluttershy’s mane, who leaned up into the touch like a cat.

Sunset tried to keep her face expressionless, but her heart was struck by a precision blade at the sight of Rainbow and Fluttershy. She forced down the whining voice in her head that was only jealous of the two of them, but she could not help but wish Mistress would just... pet her that way. She loved Mistress’ hooves in her mane, curling her locks and smoothing her twirls. She hummed happily at the thought, and would have probably closed her eyes had a pressure not extended to her head. Her eyes popped open to full awareness, and she felt her mouth open slightly as Mistress caressed her mane. Just the touch made it as though she were at home in the library, no worries or anything else around her.

“Yeah, just like that!” Dash said brightly, and Fluttershy smiled in broad approval. “Get behind her ears. Flutters’ loves that. But seriously though. Why so fast, Twilight?” Dash’s tone was arched, and she leaned back into the soft sofa and gave them both a beady sort look. “Not that I’m not happy to see that poor filly finally look like she’s found her balance, but you don’t usually rush into things like this unless you’ve got a good reason.”

Twilight’s voice above her head was just as sharp, “She was a good filly. Did most of the work for me, but honestly, I could ask you two the same thing.” There was a shifting, but Mistress’ hoof didn’t leave her head. It gently moved its way behind her ears and gave a slow and affectionate rubbing there… and Sunset had to admit, it felt awesome

Much to her surprise, Fluttershy piped up. “Um… We’ve kind of… known each other like this since Cloudesdale Academy.” Her words ended in a mild squeak, and Dash’s stroking hoof gently touched her shoulder. Fluttershy lifted her own hoof to return the touch and continued speaking in a much calmer voice. “We’ve never really gotten all that formal about it, so it’s kinda been off and on over the years. Da-” Fluttershy squeaked again and blushed a bright red. “Um, Mistress always said we needed to wait to see if it was right for both of us and our lives.”

Dash nodded once, looking quite proud of the other pegasus. “I’ve always been kinda pushy in bed.” Sunset didn’t even have to look around to know Mistress was rolling her eyes at that one. She was doing the same thing. “Yeah, yeah, it’s obvious,” Dash grumbled, sticking out her tongue. “When I reunited with Fluttershy at the academy, she was kind of an emotional wreck when it came to sex. So I kinda just… helped her up, you know? We were pegasi, we were curious, and trust me when I say we were hardly the only two fillies on campus getting up to this sort of thing.” She grinned broadly, almost as though she wanted to tell tales… but probably wouldn’t, since that was hardly her style.

Fluttershy picked up the conversation, looking up with a fondness at Rainbow Dash. “We learned a lot of words, and lots of different ponies showed us lots of different things. We figured out what worked for us, and… Well, I’ve always trusted Rainbow Dash with everything.” Her cheeks went faintly pink as she turned to regard Sunset. “So it wasn’t hard to trust her when she started tying me up, and I… kinda sorta…” Fluttershy’s words trailed off as she seemed to realize what she was saying.

“But… is it just about… you know, getting off between you two?” Mistress asked, not exactly upset, but more confused and lost. She had stopped petting Sunset, that much she was acutely aware of and mildly disappointed by. “I don’t think it’s just about sex with me and Sunset.”

“Ha! You say that now, but… hey, you two have gotten the goods on each other at least once right?” Rainbow asked them both, hoof darting between her and Mistress.

“I gave Mistress everything she wanted last night,” Sunset spoke up, following Fluttershy’s lead, though she allowed a touch more pride in her voice.

Fluttershy nodded, a faint smile on her face. “Me and Mistress… We don’t know if we want to be formal yet.” She sighed a little, dipping her head. “We both have dreams and responsibilities, and neither of us want to hurt each other if those things separate us.”

Dash’s hoof came down and squeezed Fluttershy’s shoulder. “I don’t know how things are going to shake out with the Wonderbolts yet, and the last thing I want to do is leave poor Shy here attached to a mare who’s gonna be on the road most of the year.” Dash’s voice was quiet, but it was screamingly obvious to Sunset that about the only thing keeping them from doing things up formally was the worry of being pulled apart. If that problem wasn’t there… Sunset’s mind immediately began to turn, the gears of old habits throwing themselves into motion.

Twilight spoke up a moment later. “I’m fortunate enough… or, maybe it’s better to say we are fortunate that isn’t an issue, but…” She took a deep breath and exhaled it. “I want to take this risk, Dash. It’s unquestionably been a whirlwind so far, but…” She shrugged, and her hoof softly tangled itself in Sunset’s mane. “I’m willing to take the chance that it’ll all go up in flames for what it might gain me. Maybe it’ll work out, maybe it won’t, but we’re going to give it a try anyway. Besides, now that I know I’ve got a pair of experts to draw upon…” Mistress Twilight’s voice turned positively gleeful. “Oh, goodness. That will make things ever so much easier!”

“Well, I won’t say I’m an expert…” Dash drawled, brash confidence oozing out of her tone, “but I can show you some knots your filly won’t be able to undo.” Sunset’s heart lept at the thought, as the knotting itself had been one of the few things she had not found specifics about and the only books on the subject she was sure were on Equestrian coasts. Mistress must have found the idea just as enticing, for she undid her hoof from Sunset’s mane to stroke her cheek.

Fluttershy’s eyes widened and nibbled at her lip for a moment before shifting in place, her right hoof stroking along her own thigh and her left tugging at Dash’s petting hoof. “M-mistress…” she whimpered a little, and Dash blinked down at her. Fluttershy’s eyes went straight to the floor, and she whispered softly. “I can’t… hold it back, Mistress. I’m still… Um…”

Mistress Twilight’s jaw dropped a little, as Dash gave a soft laugh and slipped down next to Fluttershy, gently squeezing her body close to Dash’s. Fluttershy spoke in a gentle, low voice as Dash’s hooves stroked over her body. “She’s much more of an expert than she claims, T-” Fluttershy bit at her lip, and gave off a soft sigh of something like pleasure and relief. “Mistress Twilight. She’s really quite talented. I’ve… I never feel safer or more confident than when I’m with her. I know she’ll keep me safe and keep me from doing anything stupid.”

“Hush, you,” Dash murmured, gently pressing her hoof to Fluttershy’s lips. “You’ve never done anything stupid in your life, except maybe listening to that minotaur.” Her lips went to Fluttershy’s ear and gave them a firm nip before she went back to stroking her hooves down into much naughtier regions. “Forgive her, Twilight. She’s been super pent up recently,” Dash threw an apologetic look at Twilight… and unless Sunset was imagining it, a subtle wink of encouragement at her.

But Mistress didn’t respond. She merely stared as Rainbow Dash began rubbing her hoof around Fluttershy’s nethers, and while Sunset found her own arousal becoming more and more pronounced again, Mistress needed her attentions more. Ever so slowly, Sunset slinked up to Mistress, bringing them eye-level with one another. Sunset curved her body, throwing her slim lines into sharp relief and grinning suggestively with the gasping and sopping noises in the background. “Shall I help you refocus, Mistress?” Sunset asked, moving in closer for a kiss.

What came next should have been expected, but it really wasn’t. Mistress Twilight’s horn blazed to life, and a firm and broad bar of telekinetic energy hit her flank with an audible smack. The pain was instant and searing, and sent an electric arc straight up her spine and a yelp bursting out from between her lips. Mistress’ gaze and arched eyebrow at her said everything that needed to be said, but her lips twitched open anyway with a faintly amused tone. “Did I tell you to come up here, Sunset?”

“I’m sorry, Mistress,” Sunset recoiled back onto the floor. “I was a bad filly. I deserved a spanking.” And now that the initial pain had subsided, Sunset found the burning in her flank to be only complementing the warmth and moistness flowing from her folds. It was an intoxicating combination, and she wanted it again. “Must I be spanked any more?”

“That depends on if you think you need it.” Mistress’ voice was almost serene, full of a certain sweet reason that immediately reminded Sunset of Celestia. “Do you think what you did was appropriate, hm?”

“I deserve to be punished!” Sunset wailed out. “I was too forward for a pet!”

“Yeah Twi, hammer that lesson home on that filly’s flank!” Rainbow called out, only for her mouth to become occupied by Fluttershy’s eager tongue.

“Pet, huh?” Mistress Twilight’s voice became speculative, and without warning a second firm blow came crashing in on Sunset’s flank, this time on the other side. “Is that how you see yourself, Sunset?” Her voice was soft, and a telekinetic grip slid around the front of her collar and tugged gently on it like an invisible leash.

She hadn’t been ready the second time either, but it was twice as good and twice as painful for it. She squealed past her teeth as the shock of the smack sent shivers through her and excited her marehood more than anything she’d ever experienced before. There was no doubt about it now, she was dripping all over the floor. “Yes! I am your pet, Mistress. I need to be taught how to behave!”

For just an instant, Sunset worried that Mistress Twilight wasn’t going to go through with it. Even through her haze of excitement, she worried that things were moving far, far too fast for Mistress. Her face was almost unreadable in that moment, until she took a deep breath and gave a little smile. “Then put your flank in the air and count for me.” Her voice was rough with a primal lust. “And remember to thank me for taking the time to teach you your lessons.”

Sunset felt a thrill of pride for her Mistress and complied instantly, turning on the spot and presenting her flank to Mistress Twilight, bending her head low to the ground… only to see Fluttershy in a similar position. The pegasus smiled at her, and a hoof snaked out to grasp her own as the sounds of Mistress standing up from her chair rustled behind her. She swished her tail to the side briefly, hoping to please Mistress with a look of her wetness. And again without warning, the blow came hard against her right cheek and sent a fierce stinging straight up her spine. Sunset could hear her own voice cry out instinctively, “One! Thank you for teaching me Mistress!”

There was only a brief pause, and the second blow came. In that very moment, Sunset felt all the world narrow down to just her, Mistress, and Fluttershy’s hoof on hers. It was a perfect storm of sensuality and sensation. “Two! Thank you for teaching me, Mistress!” she cried out, feeling her back arch in pleasure at the warm burn on her skin. There was another brief pause, this one faintly longer than the last, and two more blows came in rapid succession. These were different, coming in mere moments after each other and striking at her in a back and forth pattern. If she hadn’t been entirely in control, she might very well have orgasmed there and then. “Three, Four! Thank you for taking your time to teach me, Mistress!” Her voice came out ragged, and she could feel her tail twitching wildly.

The final wait seemed to stretch on for eternity, but the last blow was the firmest of them all. It nearly sent her tumbling rump over head, but was not so powerful as to cause a bad kind of pain. It was simply much larger in volume than the last, as though Mistress had found some magical way to swat her entire flank at once. She sucked in a joyous and flinching breath, crying out, “Five! Thank you, Mistress. Thank you!”

There was a pause as the pleasure coursed through her veins, and Mistress Twilight’s cheek nuzzled gently against hers. “Are you… okay?” she asked hesitantly, and Sunset did not wait a second to nod her head enthusiastically, putting on her best smile. Mistress sucked in a deep breath and nodded. “I… Okay… I need to… to take a quick breather, and I…” And suddenly she was gone, and a shot of concern pierced through the haze of pleasure. She knew, instinctively, that something was very wrong… but that it had nothing to do with her being wrong. Mere seconds later, Rainbow Dash gave Fluttershy a single look and quickly blazed off in the same direction Mistress had gone, leaving her just a little confused.

~~~~~

Twilight didn’t slam the door behind her. She didn’t even close it all the way as she rushed past the wooden thing out into Fluttershy’s backyard. The sun was shining high up in the sky, marred only by a few banks of cloud that were shading the day from the heat. She ran for at least a full minute past the animal pens until she reached Fluttershy’s supply sheds, where she ducked behind one and pressed her back into the wood.

Her breathing was coming in hard gasps, and she dug her hooves into the wood trying to get some sort of sensation into them beyond the rippling pulse of pleasure from deep in her core. She had been beating Sunset, and she had been enjoying it. It was one thing to read about that sort of thing in a book, and another entirely to actually do it! The ropes, the toys, the clothing, the psychological stuff had all been fascinating enough, but this… she hadn’t anticipated this. She’d been sure she could avoid it, avoid needing to do it by being careful and firm and….

She was panicking, and she knew it. Her breathing was rapid and uneven, and everything around her was spinning to the point of near nausea. She had to stop, or she was going to hyperventilate, and then she would pass out, and Sunset would blame herself, and it would just get worse, and- “TWILIGHT!” Rainbow Dash’s shout penetrated her mental spiral as perfectly as it had ever done so before. Twilight felt her rump hit the grass next to the shed and the world came to a crashing, but blessed halt.

Dash’s bright magenta eyes were staring into her own pupils a split second later, and her hoof was pressed to her forehead. “Don’t talk, egghead. Just do what I say. Breathe in slowly, focus on something stupid but simple, like my nose. Let all that adrenalin out.” Twilight might have argued that Dash’s nose was stupid, but it was right in front of her face and perfectly simple to focus in on. There was something about Rainbow Dash’s commanding tone and confidence that made it much easier to do what she said than to argue, so she breathed slowly, and waited for the thrills in her body to slowly subside.

It took a minute. Or it might’ve only taken fifteen seconds. Or an hour. Twilight wasn’t really sure about time in that moment, only the feeling of coming down off of some kind of insane high. She couldn’t exactly pin down when she knew she was returning to sanity again, but as the more coherent, fully formed thoughts began inching through her skull, she felt a measure of relief wash all of it away. “I am such a flankhead,” Dash muttered softly, as sense and sensibility returned to the world. “I knew you were a newbie and a virgin, and I let myself get carried away with how hot it all was… stupid, stupid, STUPID. Never let a new flier do a divebomb!” Dash facehoofed hard enough for Twilight to wince at it.

“I’m… not a virgin, Dashie,” Twilight muttered, feeling her cheeks flame up. “Well… not technically, anyway.” It was a really lame line, but Twilight felt the need to at least correct the error. It gave some stability to the world.

“Whatever. That’s not the point,” Dash answered, taking her own deep breath. “So, you doin’ any better now? You need to talk it out if you can.”

“How would that help any more than writing it out, or thinking it out, or any number of things?” Twilight asked, wishing she could keep the panic out of her voice. It was never fun when something happened, and you genuinely couldn’t understand it!

“Because I said so,” Dash stated rather matter-of-factly. “And to be straight with you, I didn’t have anypony to talk it out with, and it wasn’t pretty for a while. So go on, get it out of your system.”

“Fine!” she snapped and felt her wings flare out and go stiff on her at exactly the wrong time for it. “What in the name of Luna’s Moon happened to me in there!? I just… I got sucked into… whatever that was! I… I was hurting her, and I liked it, and then I got turned around and confused, and I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest and-and-and-” She stopped mid-word, taking in a deep rasping breath and blowing it out. “I… I wanted to do much, much more to her,” she half whispered, staring at the grass. “And it had nothing to do with hooves.”

Dash waited patiently for her last word to tumble out, squatting down to get at eye level with her and giving her a strange sort of look. “First off, you got what pegasi call Fledgeling Madness. You had just leapt out of your safe, secure little nest into something way more intense than anything you’ve ever done before, and the pure sensory overload basically locked your brain up.” Dash tapped Twilight’s forehead with a little smile. “Nice to know even your big brain isn’t perfect. Anyway, you were kinda in the equivalent of a dive from really high up. Just a pure rush of pleasure and excitement, and then all of a sudden you realized you were about to plummet straight into the ground, and you freaked.”

Dash paused, rubbing her nose for a moment. “It’s actually pretty common. You tripped into your instincts on dealing with danger, and it short-circuited everything logical, so you ran for it.” Dash’s hoof took up her own and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “And that’s my fault. I knew you were still new to this sort of thing, and I forgot how super intense it can be that first time. Especially given how enthusiastic Shims is, she just kept feeding off you, and you were doing the same.”

That was…. surprisingly logical and almost scientific, coming from Rainbow Dash, who was grinning shyly. “Now before you start getting moody on me, Twi, as to the second thing… Yeah, of course you were loving it. Your sub was reveling in it, and you were exercising all those domme aspects I’ve known you had for years. If you were doing a single thing unsafely, Twi, I would’ve stopped you dead in your tracks, but I don’t think you could have. You’ve got such strong instincts for keeping others safe…” Dash shook her head slowly, with a confident smile on her face.

“I thought I did…” Twilight muttered, more to herself than Rainbow. Of course she naturally wanted to keep other ponies from harm. Princess Celestia was devoted to that ideal, and Twilight had been her personal student. But Twilight couldn’t help keep thinking that she wasn’t Celestia, no matter how much she tried to emulate the princess’ actions. “Who’s to say I don’t have it in me to… to… torture another pony. Can you hear me Rainbow? I was enjoying it! I was enjoying causing somepony else pain!”

“Woah… woah,” Rainbow eased out the words, flicking her mane and pointing a hoof to Twilight’s heart. “Yeah, you were enjoying it, but there’s only one reason for that. I’ll make it more obvious. You enjoyed spanking Shims because Shims enjoyed you spanking her. It went both ways, and that’s the reason you don’t gotta worry. If Shims hadn’t been taking to it, then we could talk, but she was digging it Twi, as in, she was super digging it. Was pretty sure she was gonna cum before you left.”

“I… What?” Twilight stumbled over that seemingly nonsensical thought, but then… “Wait. The books.” Twilight felt the stiffness slowly leave her wings, and she smacked her forehead. “Oh, for the love of Celestia, I’m supposed to remember the things I read. The first bloody book talked about how physical sensations of pain could be pleasurable!” Twilight wanted to smack her head into a desk, but with none available, she just smacked her head into Rainbow’s shoulder.

Dash just laughed, gently patting her back. “You are such an egghead, Twilight Sparkle.” The words were fond and affectionate, and Dash’s hooves on her back were actually quite nice. “Um…” Dash’s voice hesitated for a moment as Twilight looked up, and wondered why she hadn’t considered any of her friends in that sort of light before. “We should probably get back. Fluttershy’s really good with newbies, but Shims is gonna need you.” Dash wasn’t quite stammering, but it was clear she didn’t want to broach this topic quite yet… which Twilight was just fine with. Sunset Shimmer was enough of a hoof-full.

~~~~~~

Sunset couldn’t completely register what had just happened. In one glorious, ecstasy-filled moment, Mistress had been spanking her senseless, sending tingles of pain and pleasure surging from her spine to her hoof tips. And in the next second, there was nothing. Silence. Rainbow Dash was gone. Mistress was gone. And with the way Fluttershy didn’t talk much or make herself the deliberate center of attention, Sunset found herself as lonely as she had been the first day she had entered the other world. It was like being devoid of everything she had come to love about being back in Equestria.

Gradually, as if unwilling to accept it wouldn’t be receiving any more punishment, Sunset’s rump fell to the floor, the light thump perfectly matching the hollowness in her mind from Mistress’ sudden departure. She knew her eyes were glazed over in shock, but she couldn’t bring herself to move them. She’d scared Mistress; gotten too into her own sensuous ordeal.

A lone tear was beginning to trickle out of her left eye when it was delicately wiped away and followed by the ginger embrace of a certain yellow pegasus. “Your mistress will be okay,” Fluttershy said, her voice muffled in Sunset’s thicker coat. Any objections she might have had were suddenly smothered in feather soft hugs. “My mistress will make sure of it. It’s what she does best, supporting her friends when they need it.”

“But… but…” was the only word Sunset could intelligibly form. She tried anyway, but the more she did, the less she could get out, eventually allowing her own confused, desperate emotions to simply flow through her, easing the tension in her body and allowing her to lean into Fluttershy.

“Hush now,” Fluttershy admonished her, gently tapping her nose with a gentle hoof and sending her cross-eyed. “No wonder you’re so pent up, you’re nearly as bad as I was in the beginning.”

“I… I really didn’t hurt Mistress did I?” Sunset asked, trying but failing to keep the tremor out of her voice. She knew Flutters had already answered the question, but there was something cathartic about asking it directly… and having it answered just as directly. A clearer confirmation in a way.

“Oh no!” Fluttershy reprimanded, though sweetly. “She just scared herself more than anything. It happens all the time in the beginning.”

“Your… your mistress too?” Sunset broached carefully.

“Oh, goodness, yes,” Fluttershy giggled, her hooves hiding her mouth and the blush in her cheeks. “I um… I really don’t mind her being rough with me, but she’s so very strong that she was a little afraid at first. The first time I actually got her to let loose, I passed out from how wonderful the experience was…” Fluttershy’s ears drooped cutely, and her smile took on a more sheepish look. “She really didn’t take it well. It took me a whole month to convince her it had been a good thing.”

“She thought she’d knocked you out…” Sunset concluded. “But I didn’t pass out when Mistress was spanking me. I was just about to cum too…” she couldn’t help but add with a note of mild disappoint. “Why? I didn’t show any signs of anything harmful really. At least I don’t think I did.”

Fluttershy looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking even more slowly than she normally did. “Twilight has… always been very cautious about how she uses her power. The few times she’s ignored that caution, it’s caused quite a few problems.” Fluttershy shifted in place, and made sure Sunset was firmly cuddled up against her. “It only became worse after she became a princess. Most of the girls don’t know it, but… she’s been afraid that she might turn into something horrible if she’s not careful. She’s seen too many other powerful unicorns like that.”

“I can’t imagine who,” Sunset growled, grinding her hoof into the floor in frustration. Fluttershy didn’t have to say it outright for her to know she’d been part of that line of thought in Mistress.

“Don’t put it all on yourself,” Fluttershy said, nuzzling her to ease out the force she was directing into her hoof. “I don’t think anypony could be as terrible as King Sombra. Or Trixie with the Alicorn Amulet.” She paused again, looking faintly amused. “Or Nightmare Moon.”

“Does that really count?” Sunset’s factual mind taking slight offense to placing the Mare in the Moon on the same level as a unicorn, enhanced shadow magic or ungodly artifacts or no. Though it still privately amused her that Trixie, of all the creatures in the world, had ended up like that here. “Nightmare Moon was an alicorn, not a unicorn.”

Fluttershy just nodded once, to her sudden confusion. “Yes. And so is Twilight now.” That statement resonated through the air, almost like a physical blow. “And not just of the Moon, but of Magic itself. She’s scared of just how easily she could walk down that road… if she’s not careful.” Fluttershy shivered a little, but brightened with a smile. “Of course, Nightmare Moon never had friends like us.”

“... Alicorn of Magic…” Sunset murmured. She admitted she had never actually considered the source of Mistress’ powers as a princess. But with the entire fabric of the world, no, the universe, at the tip of her horn; and of all the ponies she could have picked, Mistress had chosen her to be her pet. It sent a silly little giggle up her throat, and Fluttershy joined her in the comforting, soothing sound.

The door slipped open a moment later, framing Rainbow Dash and Mistress Twilight in it quite picturesquely. Twilight slipped in first, trotting over to where the pair of them were embracing on the ground and bowing her head. “I’m sorry I freaked out on you, Sunset. I um… I got a little carried away there.” Twilight was rubbing at her foreleg and blushing in an entirely too adorable manner.

“You don’t have to apologize to your pet, Mistress,” Sunset replied, wanting to kiss her but not sure if the time was right. “And the more you spanked me Mistress, the better it got. I was in a heaven of pain. Does that make any sense?” She was sure it didn’t, but she couldn’t find the words to properly express having her flank whacked by Mistress.

Twilight’s eyebrows both went up at once in surprise at that statement… before she gave off a rueful chuckle. “I think I can understand now. At least a little bit.” She smiled at Rainbow Dash, who grinned back at her. “Just promise me you’ll make sure I never take things too far, okay? I know you’re perfectly capable of teleporting.” Twilight’s smile turned into a wicked sort of grin. “So don’t be afraid to stop me if I uhm…”

She appeared to be searching for the right way to say it, but Sunset couldn’t help herself. “Are about to put on a black cape and stroke a mustache while laughing maniacally?” she suggested archly, feeling a sly smile cross her lips. “Recruit some brainless minions to do your evil bidding? I don’t suppose Snips and Snails are just as gullible here as they were behind the mirror, so we’d probably have to recruit your friends and…” Sunset couldn’t help it, she kept her tone vibrantly humorous and layered on the teasing. It was appropriate, as she knew it would help Mistress calm her own fears.

Sure enough, Twilight burst into laughter at the suggestion of the evil cackling, and by the time Sunset got to Snips and Snails, she was doubled over with giggles. “Stop! Oh, Celestia, they are, but they’re still just little colts here.” Twilight shoved her hooves up to her mouth, a wide grin behind them. “Fine, fine, I’m letting my own worries get the better of me. Thank you, Sunset.”

“Would you pet me then, Mistress?” Sunset broached. Of all the things their budding relationship had brought, Sunset found being stroked and petted the most invigorating. It was just sexual enough to be exciting, but there was a genuine warmth in it too.

Mistress Twilight didn’t even hesitate this time. She lifted her hoof and rubbed it vigorously and lovingly right behind her ears, tickling at them in a pleasing way. “If you keep this up, pet, I’m going to start treating you like a cat,” Twilight muttered affectionately, and Sunset felt a lightning bolt of pleasure shoot through her entire body.

She called me pet.

That electric surge went straight to her hooves, and she shot up to tightly embrace Mistress. She had no intentions to say anything, only feel Mistress’ coat and smell her mane, but rather of their own accord, the words spilled out anyway. “I love you, Mistress,” she whispered, almost cooing to her.

Fluttershy gave off a bright giggle, and Rainbow Dash just laughed softly. Mistress Twilight… smiled, and held her in close. She was gentle, but not overly so in her embrace, and she nuzzled her cheek firmly against Sunset’s, leaning in for a moment to whisper…. “Did I tell you it was okay to pounce on me?” There was a sly humor there, and a definite hint of firm command… and she was unquestionably teasing her now.

Sunset felt the blush creep into her cheeks, but Mistress was very pointedly not letting her go. “Um… No?” she queried, half in embarrassment. She’d done this three times today now, and she was starting to think Mistress describing her as a cat was all too accurate a description.

Twilight grinned faintly, wiggling up a free hoof to stroke her cheek. “For future reference, you do have permission to pounce me like that so long as I’m not busy, but we must be consistent if this is going to work in the least.” Twilight’s horn slowly came to life, and the feel of that firm, invisible bar of hard energy stroked up against her flank. “So I think you’re going to need at least ten this time to learn your lesson about asking my permission to do anything.”

“I… oh… I guess I have been a misbehaved pet…” Sunset nearly whimpered in anticipation.

Twilight grinned, and made a little circular motion with her hoof. Sunset obediently turned herself around, feeling her tail unconsciously flagging up in anticipation. Fluttershy was smiling with pride at her, and Rainbow Dash was holding Fluttershy’s hoof firmly in her own. It was an odd thought to have at that moment, but Sunset resolved to ensure the two got together and stayed together. They needed one another… like she needed her own Mistress. “Oh… and Sunset? Don’t forget to count. Now, show me that flank that needs a good spanking.”

SMACK! “Ahn! One!” Sunset moaned out at the sudden hard impact.

“Mmh… I really should write a letter asking Cadence about this sort of thing,” Twilight mused in the lull, and then….

SMACK! “AH! T-Two!”

~~~~The Crystal Empire~~~~

“Shiny! We’ve gotten a letter from Twily!”

Princess Mi Amore Caden- Cadence. Princess Cadence, and by Celestia if she never had to hear that absurd title again in her life it would be too soon, cheerfully trotted into her private chambers in the Crystal Palace, where her most handsome husband was vigorously applying a buffing cloth to his royal armor. “Ugh, I swear I can’t get this… wait, did you say a letter from Twily?” Shiny was never the best of listeners, but there wasn’t a single word in the Equestrian language that got his attention better than the name of his sister. “There’s no problems with that weird filly Princess Celestia sent her are there?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Cadence answered. “I haven’t even opened it.”

“Then go ahead. And would you mind reading aloud, dear?” Shining asked, his tone becoming flat again: indicating he had returned to cleaning his armor. “I swear, that is the last time I accept training advice from Pinkie Pie. I don’t care how effective pies are at helping somepony avoid missiles!”

Cadence just rolled her eyes. Personally, she really hoped Pinkie would keep it up. The training ground had been the funniest thing she’d seen in months. A quick touch of magic broke the seal and and uncoiled the thick scroll. Twilight apparently had quite a lot to talk to them about, and Cadence instantly squashed her natural worry for the poor filly. Celestia really needed to give Twilight a break one of these days. “Ahem. Dear Cadence and Shining Armor,” she began, putting on her best cute Twilight impression, which got a little snort of laughter out of Shiny.

“My work here with Sunset Shimmer has proceeded in an entirely unexpected, but positive direction. While I was initially concerned about the content of her actions, it turns out there is a deeply seeded desire in her to improve herself and atone for her misdeeds. Well, that’s certainly promising,” Cadence remarked, uncoiling a bit more of the scroll. “This has also led me down a new path of study of my own. For many years I have neglected certain physical needs in deference to the other intellectual pursuits I believed were more important. But I am now convinced I have done myself and the world a disservice by neglecting this all too important facet of pony culture.”

Shiny had stopped polishing his armor and was looking up at her with both eyebrows raised. Cadence continued unrolling the scroll, feeling a little knot of worry forming at her middle, and found her lips forming the words on the scroll automatically. “I have therefore begun a more thorough personal study on the subject of BDSM, as it is termed by a number of books I’ve found hidden away in my library. Sunset, it seems, is a strong example of a submissive and has been extremely enthusiastic in encouraging me to explore these concepts. I must admit, I didn’t think I would find the prospect of spanking another pony, or allowing them to tongue-worship my horn to be so exciting and invigorating, but it’s been an experience unlike any other.”

If Cadence had perhaps been any other pony, she might’ve stopped reading there. But she wasn’t just any other pony, and Twilight wasn’t just any other mare. There were far, far deeper connections now forcing her along, even as she tried to ignore… well, just how incredibly erotic it was. “Sunset has encouraged me to more fully share our experiences with somepony I trust, and while I deeply love Princess Celestia, I fear she might be a little too above it all to understand the depths of what I’m feeling right now. Though the exercise of power over another pony can be frightening at times, I cannot deny the pleasure I’ve gained from commanding her to lick me to a shivering orgasm, nor how much I enjoy correcting her firmly when she strays from proper behavior.”

Cadence felt her hoof straying, and in that moment realized with a pulse of shock exactly what Twilight was describing. She also realized that her body was reacting to those descriptions in a very deep, intimate way. A way that had resulted in her being rather… aroused. No, she had to be honest. Very aroused. “I have also begun to experiment with the subject of ropes and other accessories, which Rarity has been so kind as to provide me with a number of-”

“Ah, Caddy, dear,” Shining interjected, his deep voice cutting through the mesmerizing thoughts, though it was filled with awkward lilts. “You don’t have to keep on touchi-… reading, reading I mean.” Cadence felt embarrassment overtake her in that moment, and her hoof pulled suddenly away from her marehood, finding the tip almost dripping with arousal. Her eyes darted up to Shiny, who had turned his torso to face away from her and was looking over his shoulder with a stare of both shock and confusion.

She must’ve let her magic get away with her. That was clearly the ticket. There were advantages to being specialized in such magic, but occasionally things did get out of hoof. She tried to surreptitiously brush the moistness from her hoof into something that would absorb it, but found the nearby chair cushion to be unwelcoming to the moisture. Arousal turned to anxiety, and sudden concern for Twilight welled up in her chest stronger than it had been even when she had escaped her playpen when she had just been a foal. She had never, not once, expressed any sort of dominant attitude in Cadence’s presence. What in the name of the Goddess was going on in Ponyville?

Concern and worry galvanized her into action. “Shiny, I’m going to go tell the conductor to get the train ready. We need to get to Ponyville and find out what’s really going on.”

“Ah, about that ‘we’ bit…” Shining trailed off, and the shame in his voice was plain as Celestia’s sun. “You’d better go alone. I… I don’t think I’d be able to not seriously hurt that filly if she’s messed up my little sis’s head.”

Cadence knew it was a dodge. That was far from the thing most concerning Shining Armor right then… and if she was being honest, it was pretty far from the thing most concerning her too. “She’s going to need us both if she’s been manipulated, Shining Armor. She was there for us when Chrysalis…” She trailed away, and firmly stamped on that name. “We’re both going. Stallion up and get your dick in gear, Prince Armor, or I’ll tell Princess Luna about those pictures you took!”

“Woah! Hey, you don’t need to go waving those… Wait, how’d you know about that!?” Shining threw up his hooves before whirling on her in near horror… and of course, revealing what he’d been trying to hide.

Cadence couldn’t help but admire him for a moment. His physique was only one small part of why she loved him so very much, but she had to admit it was a very nice part. “Because you’re even worse than your sister at trying to hide things from me,” she purred back at him, flicking her tail as she marched toward the door. “Besides, you think I can’t appreciate something like that scene too? Now stow that baggage, soldier. We’ve got a mystery to solve.”