The last light of sunset was fading on the horizon, while overhead the sky was a deep, indigo blue. The moon was up, and the first stars had begun to shine. Only a narrow strip of this celestial glory, however, was visible from the alley where Ember's stood. The pony who now approached the red-lit door didn't even look up at it.

She was an earth pony mare, a bit taller than average, but otherwise fairly unremarkable. Her coat was a light tan, her mane and tail a mousy brown. Her cutie mark showed a white china teapot pouring a cup of tea. She moved slowly down the alley, glancing around frequently as though afraid she were being followed.

The mare slipped in through the front door so quietly that Far Gaze almost didn't notice her. It wasn't until she made a tiny, timid throat-clearing sound that his head lifted from the paperwork before him. His eyes ran over her swiftly, registering both the obvious and the less easily seen. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, he gave her a warm smile and said, "Welcome to Ember's, ma'am."

"Thank you," said the mare with an almost formal nod.

"I can take your bits here, and then Ember will be happy to see you inside," he said, with a nod to the door that led deeper within. "It's fifty per session."

"Of course," said the mare again, with a second nod. She trotted forward and deposited her money on the desk.

Far glanced down at it, nodded, and lit his horn to open the door to the room beyond. The mare glanced around once again, even though the room was empty other than Far Gaze and herself, before stepping inside.

Inside, the space was opulently furnished, but the mare didn't even look at the lush carpeting or printed wall paper. Her eyes went straight to Ember, who lounged on a couch in the middle of the room.

"Hello, and welcome," she said as she looked over this new arrival and tasted the first hints of her emotions. "I'm Ember."

"I'm Darjeeling Cup," said the mare, giving that formal little nod again. Then she ducked her head a little and added, "Though some ponies call me Dar."

"Dar. That’s a very charming name." Ember smiled carefully, trying to make the sharp-fanged expression as unthreatening as possible. Dar tasted strongly of nervousness, with a faint hint of shame mixed in. It was a taste that Ember was all too familiar with, but thankfully it was usually easy enough to dispel. "Would you be more comfortable if I took a pony form?"

Dar frowned faintly, apparently considering the question very seriously, then shrugged. "Not unless you would prefer to."

"You aren't here for me to be a particular pony for you, then?" said Ember.

Dar shook her head. "No."

"Ah. May I ask what brings you here, then? Besides the obvious, that is." Ember garnished the question with a little wink.

Dar actually cracked a smile at that, but it vanished almost immediately in a fresh wave of nervousness. She hid it well—it didn’t show on her face at all, but Ember could taste it clearly. "I've... heard that you are very discreet."

Ember nodded. "Yes. I never discuss my clients with anyone, except in the most general of terms. I never name names and I never speak with reporters."

"That's... very good." Dar shifted from hoof to hoof, then added, "They also say that you, ah, engage in various, uhm, fetishistic activities."

Ember chuckled softly. "There are very few things I won't do, yes."

"May I ask what those few things are?"

"I will never do anything to a pony without their full, informed consent, for one. That is why I greet ponies”—she gestured to herself with a hoof—"like this. I want them to understand what payment I take before I draw on their emotions, even though the process does them no harm. I will also never do anything that will damage a pony's love for another. That’s just as abhorrent to a changeling as it is for a pony. So, in particular, I will not help ponies cheat on those they love. Those they do not love, well... that is another story, of course.” There was a brief shrug before she continued, ”Lastly, I will not do anything that will permanently harm a pony, physically or mentally, nor anything that would permanently harm myself. Some situations aren't so clear-cut, I know, and I am not perfect, but I abide by my rules as best I can."

"Interesting." There was a gleam of approval in Darjeeling's eyes.

"So whatever it is that interests you, the odds are good that I'm willing to provide it."

Dar hesitated a moment longer, then nodded firmly. "Very well. I, ah..." She scuffed the floor for a moment, trying to decide how to phrase her desires. "My daily life has many responsibilities," she finally said. "I want to get as far away from that stress as possible. I work at the palace, you see, which is a rather high-pressure environment. I want to be free of that. I want, well... I want somepony else to take control of me. To, ah, restrain me, perhaps even to hurt me. I want to be taken out of my life." Her cheeks were flushing brightly, and Ember could taste embarrassment strongly, a cinnamon-spice hanging in the air. "I realize that it's a little bit peculiar..."

"It isn't peculiar at all," said Ember, shaking her head. "In fact, restraint and light pain-play are among the most common requests I get."

"Oh?" Dar looked at Ember, her hazel eyes filled with a thoughtful curiosity.

"Certainly. The release from stress provided by pain, or by restraint, or by submission is something that a great many ponies enjoy." She rose, smiling down at Dar warmly. "Which means that I have lots of fun toys to use on you! So why don't we retire to the bedroom, where we can work out the details of just exactly what will best help you forget your job and relax?"

Dar smiled, some of the nervousness dropping from her. "That sounds delightful."

As they walked towards the bedroom, Ember glanced over her shoulder at Dar. "I should ask how you feel about sexual contact as part of this evening's events."

Dar looked puzzled. "Isn't that a given, here?"

Ember chuckled. "You might think so, but no. Not all ponies come here wanting sex. Many who enjoy submission, bondage, masochism, and so on actually prefer such activities without sex."

"Ah, I see. I'm afraid my experience with this sort of thing is, ah, limited."

"There's no shame in that. We were all new at some point. I personally do prefer such activities with sex, but that decision is entirely in your hooves. Once we've agreed on what you do and don't want, well... then I shall have my way with you, one way or another. But first I want to know what it is you want most. You will be submitting to me, yes, but I am here to serve you all the same."

"Then I'd rather have it with sex as well." Dar blushed a bit as she spoke, but she also shot Ember a small smile.

Ember smiled back. "It's always good when the client's tastes are in line with my own." She swung the bedroom door open as she finished speaking and stepped inside, Dar at her heels.

Inside, Dar looked around the luxurious room with curiosity. She didn't seem impressed with it, as many clients were, but then if she worked in the palace she had no doubt seen much more opulent chambers. There were no kinky toys lying out to shock her either, all of those were stowed carefully away where they wouldn't bother clients not so inclined. Dar did, however, notice a small detail that most clients missed. "May I ask what that is for?" she said, pointing at a heavy eye bolt that was driven into one of the beams that supported the ceiling.

"That—” Ember replied, glancing up at the anchor point with a slight smile, “—is for me to hang ponies from.”

"I see." Dar's cheeks were heating again, but it wasn't quite embarrassment that Ember tasted this time. It was spicy, yes, but tasted less of cinnamon and more of the peppery heat of lust.

Ember’s smile grew slightly sly. "You like the idea of being suspended?"

"I, ah... I've had the chance to fly by chariot a few times, and I love being in the air. But somehow the idea of combining that freedom with restraint... Yes, I like the idea."

"I can tell you that it is wonderfully freeing," said Ember with a nod. "It can also be quite intense, so I'd prefer to start simpler. If you react to it at all like I do, you may not be in a mental state to appreciate much else. It can take you very far out of yourself."

Dar nodded. "I could see that. I'll let you guide me in this, you are obviously far more experienced than I, here."

Ember smiled, inclining her head slightly in acknowledgement. "Is there anything else you are particularly interested in tonight?"

"I, ah... forgive me, I'm not even certain what the options are. I haven't done anything like this in so long..."

"Well, why don't I get out my toys, and you can see if they suggest something to you."

"That sounds like an admirable plan."

"Make yourself at home, then, while I get everything." Ember gestured towards a chaise lounge that sat against one wall, opposite the bed. Dar went over and settled herself on it, folding her long legs neatly beneath her.

Ember, meanwhile, went to a door, which proved to lead into a large, walk-in closet. She vanished within, and shortly emerged holding several boxes in her magic. She set them down in front of Dar. "Here's a few of the favorites. Now, as I said, right now this is all in your hooves. Pick the toys you want, and tell me if there's anything in particular you’d like me to do with them. Once we begin I will quite definitely be in charge. I'll use them in the order I like, and do what I like—within the bounds you've set. You'll be able to let go of everything and just enjoy yourself." She flashed Dar another wink. Dar let out a tiny giggle, still obviously a little nervous, but also obviously very intrigued.

The boxes were all fairly large, but Ember began with the smallest. "This one has sex toys," she said. "I can shape any of these myself as well, of course. but some ponies enjoy the fact that it's a toy as part of the play."

Dar looked at the assortment in the box, in all their shapes, sizes, and colors. She licked her lips as her eyes darted to and fro. "That does sound... fun." She was flushing again, and a stronger flavor of spice came from her.

Ember grinned. "Any one in particular catch your eye?"

"Ah... They all look... interesting. Just... use a small one? I don't do this very often." Some of the items in the box were intimidatingly large.

"Of course." Ember set that box aside. She opened another one. "These are various restraints. There are a few different sets of hoof cuffs." She started removing bits of black leather and metal from the box. "And here are some bridles. This one has a bit, this other one doesn't. I think either of those might fit you. And there's also a show harness here." Another jumble of straps followed, this one decorated with bright brass and colorful plumes. Dar made a face at the sight of it, and Ember laughed. "Not that one, hmm?"

"No. But maybe one of the others..."

"All right. Hoof cuffs too?"

"Well... what about rope? I thought, with suspension..."

"Oh yes, plenty of rope for that. But I want to tie you down for a bit of a warm up. I can use rope for that too, if you don't like cuffs."

"No, I like cuffs, cuffs are fine!" Dar was still blushing brightly. Ember pulled in a few tendrils of the effervescent anticipation that had begun to radiate from her. It was pleasant. Not as nourishing as love, nor even as good as lust, but a very enjoyable flavor all the same.

"Cuffs it is, then. Now, on to the really fun part!" She opened the largest box. Her magic began pulling objects from it, one by one. Dar watched in absolute fascination. "These are floggers," said Ember as she extracted a half dozen or so multi-thonged, short leather whips. "They're my personal preference for hitting ponies." She grinned, a sudden flash of fangs. "They can look intimidating, and some of them will hurt like Tartarus, but many of them are as much sensual as they are painful. Here, feel." She held out one to Dar, who ran a hoof along the strands.

"It's suede!" she said, surprised.

"Yes. It can still sting, but it can also feel more like a massage than like a whipping. Now these, on the other hoof..." She put down the suede flogger and pulled a pair of single-tailed whips from the box. "These can be used delicately as well, but with any but the lightest of touches they will definitely hurt. They can raise welts and even draw blood-—if that’s what you want."

Dar shook her head rapidly. "No. Pain yes, but not like that. No welts, no blood. I just... want to feel something."

"I understand." Ember set the whips down. "I have a few canes as well. They're another toy that can be gentle if used with care, but they can do some real damage too. And a crop, if you like that sort of play. It's fairly good for beginners, though I personally prefer the floggers. Also several paddles, and a few other odds and ends." She spread out a collection of other implements, mostly smaller ones. Dar looked over them, but shook her head. None of them had caught her eye.

"In that case, I believe we are ready to begin. If at any point you become in the least uncomfortable, emotionally or physically, with anything I do, do not hesitate to say so. Do you have any questions?"

Dar shook her head. "I can't think of any."

"Very well. Time for the fun part." Ember smiled. This time the smile was rather predatory, her fangs gleaming and her eyes glinting with an eager sort of light. Her horn lit, and her magic pulled a set of hoof cuffs from the pile of toys. She set them down next to Dar and proceeded to buckle them on, one at a time. Soon both front and back hooves were wrapped in a padded leather bands, and Ember could see and feel it as Dar relaxed a little bit more each time a cuff was snugged down.

Next, Ember once again lit her horn and picked up a small bench that stood near where Dar sat. It was a bit unusual—narrower than a normal bench and only long enough to seat one pony; perhaps two if they were very friendly. It was padded and upholstered in a durable, dark fabric. Ember positioned the bench in the center of the room's open space. She spent a long moment positioning the bench just so, then, suddenly, her magic wrapped completely around Dar, lifting her off the lounge and into the air. Dar let out a startled squeak and kicked for a moment, struggling instinctively. Then she relaxed, and kept still as Ember floated her over and positioned her on the bench. She was set straddling it, one leg near each of the four corners. The bench's legs were of wrought iron, in a filigree pattern. Four steel carabiners soon clipped each of the cuffs to the legs of the bench, passing through the holes in the filigree. Dar tugged at them testingly. She could move each hoof a few inches, but no more. Ember put a hoof on Dar's withers, pushing down, forcing Dar down to lie on the bench and take her weight off her legs. A little thrill went through her. She was already quite helpless, and Ember wasn't done yet.

The next thing Ember did was to slip a bridle over Dar's head. She carefully pushed the bit into Dar’s mouth before expertly buckling it into place so that it could make its presence known without causing pain. "Now, can you still speak?" she asked.

"Yeth," managed Dar around the bit.

"Good.” Ember’s voice had changed, subtly. She’d shifted to a lower register, hardened her tone-—adopted a voice that brooked no argument. “Speak up if you feel any discomfort, or need me to stop for any reason. But otherwise, I don't want to hear a word. Make as much noise as you like, but no. Talking. Is that clear?"

Dar nodded, another little thrill shivering through her. She watched with interest as Ember lifted another leather cuff. This one was wider, but a smaller diameter than the ones around her ankles. It puzzled her for a moment, until Ember's magic grasped the base of her tail. Then she gasped and flushed, realization dawning. Ember secured the cuff around her dock, pulling it up over her back and leaving her feeling terribly exposed. Or perhaps it was wonderfully exposed. Dar would have flicked her tail in confusion, but Ember's magic still held it tight.

A moment later Ember had flipped the reins attached to the bridle over her back and looped them through the steel ring set onto the tail cuff. Ember pulled the reins tighter until Dar's tail was lifted as far as it could be without strain, while her head was pulled back just slightly, then tied the reins off there. Dar could lower her tail, but only by arching her neck in an uncomfortable position.

Dar was breathing a little bit faster now. The pleasure, anticipation, and spicy lust pouring off of her were filling the room, saturating Ember with their wonderful flavors. It was enough to make her almost giddy. Dar felt things very strongly, it seemed.

She stepped close to Dar and ran a hoof slowly along her side, and Dar shivered at the touch. Ember could tell, though, that it was the right kind of shiver. It was a shiver of eager anticipation, mixed with that unique thrill of not-quite-fear, that came from being helpless in the hooves of someone you trusted. Ember savored the taste of it as she ran her hoof over the curves of Dar's body. Dar was slender, but she had enough padding in the right places. Ember let her hoof trace along Dar's flank, over her cutie mark. Dar's breath came a little bit faster. Her tail twitched, trying to flick. Her legs moved, tugging at the restraints that held her, not so much trying to escape as trying to somehow move into Ember's teasing, tantalizing touch.

Tease was all that Ember did for now, though. She lifted her hoof up as she walked behind Dar, then once again brushed it against her flank on the other side. Dar let out a tiny, almost whimpering sound of need, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment that mixed pleasantly with the taste of arousal that was growing steadily stronger. Ember wasn't going to give her what she wanted that easily, though. It would be all the sweeter for the delay, she knew. Instead she continued to circle Dar, touching her here and there, nuzzling against her, nipping lightly at her ears, teasing her until she was squirming and whimpering almost constantly.

Ember smiled and picked up the flogger in her magic. She trailed the soft strands of it along Dar's back, and a shudder of anticipatory pleasure ran through the mare. Ember lifted the flogger, then let it fall, the strands falling onto Dar's flank lightly, hardly an impact at all. Dar sighed softly, the sound almost a moan.

She knew what was coming.

Ember let the tails of the flogger fall lightly across Dar’s other flank, dragging the suede across the pouring teapot. Dar shifted, squirming a little bit as the anticipation built.

Suddenly, Ember flicked the flogger sharply, hitting Dar's cutie mark with a light, stinging thwap of leather. Dar gasped and twitched. Ember immediately struck the other side as well, making Dar twitch again, though she hadn't caught her breath enough to gasp. Ember swiftly set up a rhythm, hitting one side and then the other, flicking lightly each time.

Dar let out a soft moan, relaxing onto the bench, giving in to the sensation. It wasn't really pain, not yet, but it was wonderfully intense all the same.

Keeping the rhythm, Ember began to slowly ramp up the sensation, gradually hitting harder, letting Dar adjust to the new level of intensity, then raising it again. Dar's soft moans soon turned into gasping cries as the strikes became hard enough to cause real pain. There was pleasure mixed liberally with the pain, though. Ember could taste it pouring off of Dar, filling the room with a heady, intoxicating energy. She drank deeply, taking it in eagerly. Wanting more, she kept hitting harder, until Dar's cries were nearly screams, and the earth pony was tossing her head, jerking her tail up, her legs pulling and straining at the restraints holding them as she writhed. The taste of pleasure and pain both had become so intense they were almost overwhelming, the scent of arousal mixing with them in the air, and Ember wondered if Dar might orgasm from the flogging alone. Some ponies could, though it was rare.

There came a point, though, when the strength of the flavors began to fade, even though Ember had not stepped down the strength of her blows with the flogger. Such a peak of intense feeling could not last forever, and Ember stopped before pleasure and pain together could turn into pain alone. She lowered the flogger, and stepped close to gently run a hoof over Dar's flanks. They were hot and reddened beneath the sleek fur, and her sides were darkened with a sheen of sweat.

"Having fun still?" she asked gently.

"Mmm hmm." The sound was dazed, yet blissful. Dar's eyes were half closed, her expression euphoric. She was doing everything but actually purring.

Ember chuckled softly. "Good. Time to try something else, I think." She untied the reins from the tail cuff, though she paused with the cuff itself still held in her magic, Dar's tail still pulled up high, and blew teasingly under it, making Dar shudder and moan softly. The scent of Dar's arousal was almost stronger than the taste of her pleasure. Ember grinned as she removed the cuff, letting Dar's tail fall. "You're going to like this next part."

She took the cuffs from Dar's hooves as well, then flipped the reins over her head and used them to tug the mare to her feet. Dar stood, trembling slightly from both the aftermath of what Ember had already done and the anticipation of what she might do next.

Ember picked Dar up in her magic, flipping her onto her back suddenly enough that Dar gasped in surprise. Emotional energy fed Ember’s magic, and the quantity still radiating from Dar was more than enough to let Ember keep her suspended in mid air without a second thought—which left plenty of attention for the long coil of rope she lifted into the air along with the pony.

She worked with a kind of sensual deliberation, slipping each coil over Dar slowly, the rope sliding across her hide. Ember first passed a series of loops around Dar's shoulders and back. Some of the strands twisted around her upper legs too, making an elaborate harness that supported her torso. Ember gradually loosened the grip of her magic, letting Dar's upper body slowly come to rest on the ropes, and Dar let out a soft sigh as she felt the ropes take her weight. Her head tipped back, hanging loosely below her. Her eyes were closed, and the taste of her emotions was a delightful mix of arousal and relaxation.

Pulling in still more energy—and starting to feel quite intoxicated with it—Ember continued. She passed several loops of the rope under Dar's head, none of them tight, but rather forming a kind of cradle, and pulled it up into a more comfortable position. Then she started working the ropes around Dar's hindquarters. She let some of them brush between Dar's legs as she worked, but none stayed there. Ember wanted that area to stay readily accessible. Dar shuddered and let out a low moan.

Ember took more rope and pulled Dar's legs together in a kind of hog tie, keeping them above her, and pulling her back feet forward far enough to leave her vulva fully exposed, her tail hanging down unsupported below. With the final set of ropes in place, Ember gently relaxed her magic, letting Dar settle fully into the support of the rope. Dar sighed again, sounding utterly blissful as she relaxed even further.

With a grin, Ember made her tense again by lowering her head and blowing gently across her exposed lower lips. Dar twitched, her tail flicking, and let out a soft gasp. Ember lightly licked there, letting her tongue tease across the surface, tasting Dar's juices. Dar was already dripping wet, obviously more than ready, so Ember decided to not linger and tease further this time. Instead, she lifted her head and picked up a dildo from her box. She chose a smallish one, remembering Dar's request, but not too small. With how wet Dar was, Ember was fairly certain that she could be stretched a bit. Certainly she wasn't going to need any lube. She set the head of the dildo against Dar, resting it there for a moment, letting Dar anticipate it. She rubbed the head back and forth, unable to resist teasing just a bit more, until Dar let out a needy whimper. Her tail, the only part of her that she could move to express her need, was arched back as far as it could be and twitched periodically to one side or the other.

Taking the obvious invitation, Ember began to push the dildo slowly into Dar, and immediately Dar moaned loudly as it started to sink in.

She moaned again as it slid slowly deeper. Ember pushed it in all the way, grinding the base against Dar's lips, which made the bound mare shudder and let out a louder moan. Ember slowly pulled it back, then pushed it in again, working it back and forth gradually, savoring the sounds Dar was making almost as much as the taste of her emotions. It was obvious that the earth pony had finally let go of her former tight control and self-consciousness; she was moaning and writhing shamelessly in the ropes.

Ember pushed the dildo in deeply once more, and this time left it there. She picked up a second toy. This one was shaped a bit differently. Instead of resembling a stallion's cock, this was an abstract sort of shape, with a broad base, a narrow neck above it, then a wider flare that tapered to a blunt tip. It too was fairly small; certainly much smaller than the dildo, but this toy Ember coated liberally in lube.

Dar hung panting in the ropes, her tail flicking back and forth. Ember could taste a hint of curiosity from her, nearly drowned in the arousal and passion. Dar was apparently still at least slightly capable of rational thought. Ember grinned. If she had her way, that would soon change.

She took the new toy and touched the slick tip of it to the spot just below Dar's tail.

Dar went absolutely rigid, shock radiating from her. Immediately embarrassment followed it, but so did a wave of desire. She was panting hard now, and trembling.

"I'll stop if you want me to," said Ember softly, but there was a knowing smile in her voice.

Dar said nothing, though her tail flicked back and forth. Ember tasted Dar's emotions carefully, trying to catch every nuance. There was a bit of conflict there; apparently Dar was old-fashioned enough to find this shocking and perhaps even shameful, but the overwhelming feeling was still desire. So Ember began to push the anal plug slowly in. Dar whimpered, her tail flicking faster. The taste of pleasure from her spiked, a hot spiciness on Ember's tongue. Ember half-closed her eyes, feeling almost drunk from the strength of it. She pushed the toy in further, and Dar moaned, a long, drawn-out sound of pleasure and need. Ember knew that with the dildo already inside her, the plug would make her feel incredibly full, a sensation that some mares found to be nearly overwhelming.

When the plug was all the way in, Ember paused once more. Dar was panting hard, her tail still flicking. Her coat was soaked with sweat, and her emotions were soaking Ember almost as thoroughly. They tasted so very good! She couldn't help but want more, even though she already had more than she really needed for food. She'd never met a pony who gave off as much emotional energy as Dar did. Ember bent her head and lapped at Dar's clit, just above where the base of the dildo rested. Dar cried out at the sensation, jerking in the ropes, her whole body tensing with pleasure. Ember could tell that she was already very close.

Ember licked slowly, drawing her tongue over Dar's clit. Dar whimpered and moaned, her tail flicking madly. Ember let out a soft moan of her own. She felt wonderfully dazed, drunk on lust, and she was only able to control her pace because she knew that the final payoff would be that much better if she drew it out.

Dar's teeth were clamped on the bit still in her mouth, her body arched, her legs straining against the ropes. She was moaning loudly around the bit, shuddering and squirming, her tail lashing still faster, as Ember lapped at her, her tongue probing for the most sensitive spots, teasing them with slow, light motions, then diving in with firm strokes, before pulling back to tease again. Dar was on the very edge now, and Ember let out another muffled moan, suddenly unable to hold back any more. She lapped rapidly, pushing her tongue against Dar's clit, working it with everything she had.

Dar went suddenly silent, her entire body tensed, then let out a muffled cry of bliss as she tipped over the edge into orgasm. Ember didn't stop, she kept working, building the intensity further, pushing Dar into a chain of shuddering paroxysms that made her nearly bite though the bit as she came hard and repeatedly.

A sudden feeling of heat, and the sensation of a powerful magical field washing over her, made Ember jerk her head back in confused surprise. Golden magic that seemed to be half made of fire licked over Dar. Her tan coat and brown mane and tail seemed to burn away beneath the magical flames. Ropes charred and snapped, sending Dar crashing to the floor, but the figure that got to her hooves a moment later was no longer the mousy form of Darjeeling Cup, but an elegant, white-coated shape even taller than Ember herself, whose multi-hued mane and tail flowed around her in an unseen breeze.

Princess Celestia's eyes were wide in absolute panic as they met Ember's startled gaze. She opened her mouth as if to say something, the bridle and somewhat tooth-marked bit still in the way, then she flushed, her ears going back flat with shame and fear that Ember could taste, and she vanished in a flash of golden magic.

Author's Note

Now with a bit of relevant artwork: Darjeeling Cup (Not explicit, but does depict bondage.)